Glossary of printing terminology
Not sure what type of equipment will meet your needs? Maybe you want to know more about the technology.
Contact Printing:
Thermal Transfer Printing
The thermal transfer process is accomplished in a thermal transfer printer by applying a voltage to the printhead that consists of 200 to 600 resistive heating elements per linear inch of printhead (dpi-dots per inch). The resistive material is covered by a thin coating or "glaze" that protects the heating elements from abrasion as the thermal transfer ribbon makes contact with it.
The line of printhead elements is in direct pressure contact with the back side of the thermal transfer ribbon. The ink side of the ribbon is in direct contact with the receiver or label stock. This ribbon and receiver "sandwich" is driven by a rubber-covered platen roller under the printhead print line at a speed consistent with the heating cycle time of the printhead.
Heat from the printing elements raises the ink to a temperature above its melting point. At this time the ink from the ribbon transfers to the receiver and adheres to it. Together, the ribbon and receiver continue to move from under the printhead for a short distance before separation of ribbon and receiver occurs. It is at this point that the image is formed.
Direct Thermal Printing
Similar to thermal transfer printing however a ribbon is not used. A special label stock is required. The direct thermal label stock is a heat sensitive film or paper material. The printed image appears as the label stock passes the face of the printhead.
Hot Ink Roll Printing
Hot Melt Ink Rolls are specialized foam rolls that are friction loaded with a variety of Hot Melt Inks for use in Hot Ink Contact Coders. The ink is transferred to steel type and then on to the film surface. Hot melt ink rollers can perform from 200° F (93° C) - 325° F (163° C).
Hot Foil Printing
Hardened steel type is heated and pushed against a hot stamp ribbon which is coated with a pigment. The pigment is transferred on to the product surface. Hot stamp printing is a simple and cost effective method for lot and date coding. Hot stamp ribbon comes in various colors. Hot stamp imprinters are commonly used to lot and date code on label applicators or on the film on a flexible packaging machine.
Non contact printing:
Continuous Inkjet (CIJ):
Printers generate a steady stream of ink, deflecting drops electronically onto the printing medium. Continuous inkjet, an established technology, is used in high-speed production lines to print small characters on product surfaces. The process usually uses solvent-based inks.
Laser
Industrial laser coding uses CO2 laser technology to mark products by producing intense pulses of light which are deflected to form characters (a 'steered beam laser'). Laser marking is achieved by removing material or a coating from the product or packaging, or by changing the surface of the substrate. The latter will cause a colour change in some plastics to produce a discernable mark.
Thermal Inkjet (TIJ):
Printers use heat to generate vapor bubbles, ejecting small drops of ink through nozzles and placing them precisely on a surface to form text or images. Its advantages are small drop sizes, high printhead operating frequency, excellent system reliability and highly controlled ink drop placement. Integrated electronics mean fewer electrical connections, faster operation and higher color resolution. Originally developed for desktop printers, thermal inkjet is designed to be inexpensive, quiet and easy to use.
Piezoelectric Printing technology
Commonly called xaar, a piezo device pumps ink through nozzles using pressure, like a squirt gun. The printhead regulates the ink by means of an electrical current passed through a material that swells to force ink onto the paper. Piezo printheads require vacuum pumps and large ink-absorbent pads to keep nozzles printing reliably. Piezo mechanical stability is also highly sensitive to small air bubbles, and the system must be flushed with ink to purge trapped air, a process that wastes a lot of ink.
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