Thermal
Transfer
Label Printer
Print
labels on demand.
In
general, products sold in supermarkets
have a bar code already included in their
package, that is manufactured in large
lots and high volume. However there are
many products that according to their
nature, have individual information and
are very specific. These products require
a low volume on individual basis. For
example, electronic equipment that must
have unique serial numbers; each label is
different form its predecessor. Another
application is the short lot sizes like in
garment and shoe industries where the
size, color style and model must be
identified. The manufacture of stock
labeling becomes a waste of materials and
resources. In these environments in-house
label printing becomes a viable
enterprise.
To
print labels you only need a Thermal
Transfer Printer, a computer that will
send the information to the printer,
software to design le label with text, bar
codes, logos, a roll of labels
and
ribbon
that contain the ink.
Once
the equipment is connected, a label is
designed in the software. The user can
define fields with variable information
(size, color, style, model) and fixed
information (company info, brand names,
logos). Once the label is ready, the user
can generate a sample; if the design is
correct, then the printing may
proceed.
Thermal
transfer printers are very fast. They
print 100 labels in about one minute;
depending on the printing speed and the
label size.
When
variable information fields are present,
the user can make an external file with
this information. Then, form the software
we let it be known to take the information
form the file. This way we can print many
individual label with their own
information ( for example: 3 labels of
size 5, 12 labels of size 6, 23 labels of
size 8, etc.) The printer generates an
uninterrupted sequence of
labels.
Advantages:
- Print
labels only when needed.
- Information
can be different form one label to
another.
- Using
generic labels reduces label
inventories.
- Different
color can be used (black, blue, red,
green, gold).
- Labels
can be preprinted with your logo and
later can be personalized with variable
information.
- Low
initial investment.
- A
Thermal Tranfer Label Printer can print
on Direct Thermal Paper.
Printer
characteristics:
Even
though the specific characteristics vary
form printer to printer, there are general
similarities in Thermal Transfer Label
Printers. The following specs apply to
most printers in the market. Please verify
specification on particular
printers.
- Typical
print width - 4.2" inches. It is
possible to find wider and narrower
printers.
- Printing
speed - form 2.5" to 4"/second, some up
to 12"/s.
- Maximum
label length - from 8" to 14" depending
on the memory of the
printer.
- Resolution:
203 or 300 dpi, some up to 600
dpi.
Label
Specs:
- Roll
with 165, 250, or 500 ft. of
material.
- Width
depending on the label
size.
- There
may be more labels across. If the label
is small 2"x1", a roll may have 2
labels in the same line and could be
printed at the same time. This saves in
printing time and enhances the
printhead life.
- There
are many materials available depending
on the application; there may be more
uses than described here. Some of them
follow:
- Thermal
Transfer Paper - They are the
most highly used because of their
low cost. The material is coated to
have a better adhesion to the
ribbon.
- Direct
Thermal Paper - Well used in
applications where the half life of
the label is small. Supermarket
scales. With heat the label turn
dark and printing fades with time.
NO ribbon necessary.
- Polyester
- white or gray - Highly durable and
used in inventory control,
automotive labels. Identification of
electronic equipment.
- Tag
- Used for in-process control,
inventory tags, Garment tags,
cinemas.
- Nylon
- placed in garment
labeling.
- BOPP
(polypropylene). Low cost synthetic
material for identification of
buckets or drums in chemical
industries, Outdoor labels, luggage
tracking by airlines.
- Kimdura
- High cost synthetic material.
identification of buckets or drums
in chemical industries, Outdoor
labels.
- Tyvek
- Garment identification
- Valeron
- High strength material, almost
indestructible. used in rough
environments.
- Tire
Label - Because the chemicals
used during vulcanization, there
adhesives withstand before
deteriorating.
- The
dimensions and forms of labels are
manufactured according to customer
requests. They can be almost any shape
or form. The most usual are rectangular
labels with rounded corners. Usually
found 2"x1", 3"x2", 4"x2", 4"x6", etc.)
Ribbon
Specs:
- Rolls
with 1485, 1188, 990, 310, 250 ft.
depending on the printer
used.
- Width
depending on the printer and label
size. - 1.57", 2.36", 2.5", 3.0",
3.27", 4.0", 4.25", 4.33",
6.5"
- Ink
inside or Outside depending on the
printer.
- Several
colors to choose from (black, blue,
green, red, gold, among
others).
- There
are ribbons made out of
- Wax
- Soft , recommended anbd mostly
used for paper.
- Wax/Resin
- More resistent to abrassion. For
paper and some synthetic
materials.
- Resin
- Very resistant to outdoor
applications, used for Synthetic
materials.
- Ribbons
can only be used once.
- It
is recommended to use a ribbon slightly
wider than the label (1/8") to enhance
the printhead life.
Other
consumables:
It
is important to mention that printheads,
rollers and sensors are considered
consumables. These items must be changed
less often that labels and ribbons, but is
is good to know that will have to be
replaced regularly.
- Printhead:
- Printhead
life is a function of the
application
- Usual
printhead life is approx. one
million linear inches - or about 170
rolls with 495 ft of labels. We have
reported cases where a printhead
have lasted form 3 to 4 times the
normal printhead life.
- They
represent form 30 to 40% of the
printer cost.
- Their
durability depends on label quality,
cleanliness, and pressure applied on
the roller.
- Clean
the printhead gently with a soft
cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol
every time you change the
ribbon.
- The
poor quality of labels and ribbons
make head replacement more frequent.
The benefits of purchasing cheap
labels and ribbons is sometimes more
expensive.
- Printer
rolls.
- Printer
rolls are made form rubber, and they
wear out with usage.
- The
roller life is about similar to a
printhead.
- Sensors.
- With
time, sensor get dirty and must be
replaced.
- One
symptom that sensors need
replacement is when the label
printer does not detect the end of
label.
Cleaning
and maintenance:
If
the printer is used regularly, we
recommend to make a preventive maintenance
once every three months. During the
service, the technician will verify the
state of the printhead, the rollers and
sensors. He will calibrate the sensors and
prinhead pressure, will eliminate dust and
particles that come with the labels.
Normally a service should last about an
hour.
Dust
is the main enemy on printheads. Because
when it goes through the printhead that is
pressed against the label and roller, dust
has the effect of being sandpaper that
damages the pixels in the head. Once
damaged, a white line is clearly seen in
places that do not print
anymore.
Applications:
Thermal
transfer printing has many and various
applications. Some of them are as
follows:
- General
printing of labels for products, with
model, and serial number, lot size,
expiration dates, among
others.
- Clothing
and garment labels with brand name,
model, size, color.
- Label
printing with pricing and
barcodes.
Environments:
Thermal
transfer Label printing is used for
several purposes. Some as as
follows:
- General
Industry
- Retail
- Wholesale
- Garment
and shoe factories.
- Food
industry.
- Automotive
Industry.
- Importers
and Exporters.
- Import
brokers.
- Pharmaceutical
Industry.
- Agricultural
Industry.
- Exhibits
and events.
- Supermarkets
- Invitations
and Events.
- Schools
and Universities.
Printing
Volumes:
Depending
on the printing volume there is a printer
that fits your needs.
|
Volume
|
Labels/day
|
Printer
|
|
Low
|
1
- 100
|
ITT4100
|
|
Medium
|
100
- 1,000
|
ITT4300
|
|
High
|
1,000
o more
|
|
Costs:
Thermal
transfer Label printers have a price
depending on the use you want to give
them. Desktop printers are made form
plastic and have a small size; they have a
price range form US$400.00 to US$600.00.
Industrial Printers are made form metal
and their price range is form US$800.00 to
US$3,000.00. More specialized printers
have costs up to US$8,000.00 or
more.
Accessories:
It
is possible to find rewinders, cutters,
automatic labeling systems, manual
applicators, verifiers, among
others.
Additional
Information:
If
after analyzing this information you still
have questions about thermal transfer
printers or how they fit into your needs,
please contact our office to solve your
questions. We will be glad to help
you.
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