|
|
Types of Barcode Printers
Barcode printers have become very significant ever since bar codes infiltrated our lives. They are used in grocery stores, hospitals, farms, departmental stores and even in homes.
What do they do?
Barcode printers produce bar codes in printed form with the help of symbology which is a language in bar code technology which allows the printer to understand the information that is required to be converted into a label.Symbologies are basically machine readable bars and lines containing stored information. Printers that can print composite bar code symbologies are also available.
Features
These printers may have features like copying and scanning abilities, color printing, data storage through integral memory, cutters and application software. They may also feature a digital interface allowing them to form an integral part of PCs and front office equipment.
Technologies used
These printers use diverse technologies like daisy wheel, thermal transfer, direct thermal, screen printer, ink jet and laser, LCD and LED, rotary press, letter press, dot matrix and rotogravure.
The daisy wheel printers print barcodes using a small wheel that has a pin for each character. Screen printers block out the area around the image and transfer solely the image onto a mesh screen. Direct thermal technology uses heat to transfer images on smudge proof, straight and heavy thermal paper. Thermal transfer technology transfers resin based ink from a ribbon onto paper using pressure and heat.
Letter press printers use die with raised type to transfer text on a page like a simple printing press. Rotary presses place the raised type on a roller rather than on flat die. Ink jet technology sprays ink through a nozzle for printing. Laser printers use laser technology to create an image on a drum. LED technology uses light emitting diodes and LCD technology uses liquid crystal displays to print images. Rotogravure technology uses photographic methods for printing.
Types of bar code printers
Flexographic printers are used to print on plastic, cardboard and paper. Pad printers are used to print small bar code images on contoured and plastic surfaces. Plotters use a pen to produce line art on paper and other media. There are special printers for printing bar codes on fan fold, single sheet or corrugated paper. Some others are specially designed to print on glass, metals, wood, fabrics, and electronics and semi conductors. Barcode printers that produce industrial field bus protocol adhering signals are also available.
|
|