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| {{short description|Method of digital printing}} | |||
| : ''For the type of printer which uses sparks and aluminised paper (and is sometimes referred to as a "thermal printer"), see ].'' | |||
| {{for|the process which uses sparks and aluminised paper|spark printing}} | |||
| {{History of printing}} | {{History of printing}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| A '''thermal printer''' (or '''direct thermal printer''') produces a printed image by selectively heating coated ], or ] as it is commonly known, when the paper passes over the thermal ]. The coating turns ] in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Two-color direct thermal printers are capable of printing both black and an additional ] (often ]), by applying ] at two different ]s. GAY | |||
| '''Thermal printing''' (or '''direct thermal printing''') is a ] process which produces a printed image by passing paper with a ] coating, commonly known as ], over a print head consisting of tiny electrically heated elements. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermal+printer|title=Definition of THERMAL PRINTER|website=www.merriam-webster.com}}</ref> | |||
| ] is a related method that uses a heat-sensitive ribbon instead of heat-sensitive paper<ref>, RFID Radio</ref>. | |||
| Most thermal printers are monochrome (black and white) although some two-color designs exist. | |||
| ==Essential mechanisms== | |||
| ⚫ | A thermal printer |
||
| ] is a different method, using plain paper with a heat-sensitive ribbon instead of heat-sensitive paper, but using similar print heads. | |||
| ⚫ | *Thermal head |
||
| == Design == | |||
| ⚫ | *Platen |
||
| ] | |||
| *Spring — applies pressure to the thermal head, causing it to contact the thermo-sensitive paper | |||
| ⚫ | A thermal printer typically contains at least these components: | ||
| *Controller boards — for controlling the mechanism | |||
| ⚫ | * Thermal head: Produces heat to create an image on the paper | ||
| In order to print, one inserts thermo-sensitive paper between the thermal head and the platen. The printer sends an ] to the ] of the thermal head, which in turn generates heat in a prescribed pattern. The heat activates the thermo-sensitive coloring layer of the thermo-sensitive paper, which manifests a pattern of color change in response. Such a printing mechanism is known as a '''thermal system''' or '''direct system'''. | |||
| ⚫ | * ]: A rubber roller which moves the paper | ||
| * ]: Applies pressure to hold the paper and printhead together | |||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | Thermal paper is impregnated with a ] mixture of a dye and a suitable matrix, for example, a ] ] and an ]. When the matrix is heated above its melting point, the dye reacts with the acid, shifts to its colored form, and the changed form is then conserved in metastable state when the matrix solidifies back quickly enough, a process known as ]. | ||
| This process is usually monochrome, but some two-color designs exist, which can print both black and an additional ] (often red) by applying ] at two different temperatures.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Diamond|first=Arthur S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2K1DwAAQBAJ&q=two+color+thermal+printing&pg=PA445|title=Handbook of Imaging Materials|date=2018-10-08|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4822-7736-4|pages=445|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| In order to print, the thermal paper is inserted between the thermal head and the platen and pressed against the head. The printer sends an ] to the ] of the thermal head. The heat generated activates the paper's thermochromic layer, causing it to turn a certain color (for example, black). | |||
| Controller boards are embedded with firmware to manage the thermal printer mechanisms. | |||
| The ] can manage multiple bar code types, graphics and logos. They enable the user to choose between different resident fonts (also including Asian fonts) and character sizes. | |||
| Thermal print heads can have a resolution of up to 1,200 ] (dpi). The heating elements are usually arranged as a line of small closely spaced dots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hokuto.co.jp/eng/products/thermal/index.htm|title=Thermal Print Head | Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation|website=www.hokuto.co.jp}}</ref> | |||
| Controller boards can drive various sensors like paper low, paper out, door open, top of form etc., and they are available with the most commonly used interfaces, such as ], ], ] or ]. For ] application some boards can also control the ]. | |||
| ⚫ | Early formulations of the thermo-sensitive coating used in thermal paper were sensitive to incidental heat, ], ] (which can cause heat, thus darkening the paper), light (which can fade printed images), and ]. Later thermal coating formulations are far more stable; in practice, thermally printed text should remain legible for at least 50 days.{{cn|date=October 2019}} | ||
| ⚫ | ==Applications== | ||
| Thermal printers print faster and quieter than ]s. They are sometimes claimed to be more economical<ref>http://www.zebra.com/id/zebra/na/en/index/resource_library/faqs/thermal.html</ref> since their only consumable is the paper itself, but on the other hand thermal printer paper is more expensive than average paper which makes the claim dubious. There is also some question if this is true since thermal printers are a new technology and there is a developed market for dot matrix print cartridges. The printers can be rapidly refilled. Commercial applications of thermal printers include ] pumps, information ]s, ] systems, voucher printers in ], and for recording live rhythm strips on hospital cardiac monitors. | |||
| ⚫ | == Applications == | ||
| ⚫ | Through the 1990s, many ] |
||
| {{Unreferenced|section|date=August 2024}} | |||
| {{Update|date=August 2024|reason=Printing and display technology progresses. There's been less need for hard copies, and better non-thermal printers as well, shifting the demand and application of thermal printers. The comparison with the largely obsolete (for about 20 years!) technology of dot-matrix impact printing is very emblematic for this issue}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | The ], |
||
| Thermal printers print more quietly and usually faster than impact ]s. They are also smaller, lighter and consume less power, making them ideal for portable and retail applications. | |||
| ⚫ | Early formulations of the thermo-sensitive coating used in thermal paper were sensitive to incidental heat, ], ] (which can cause heat, thus darkening the paper), light (which can fade printed images), and ]. |
||
| === Commercial use === | |||
| Hospitals commonly record fetal ] scan images on thermal paper. This can cause problems if the parents wish to preserve the image by laminating it using a traditional ], as the heat will cause the entire page to darken. It is advisable to test the laminator using thermal fax paper, or an unwanted thermal POS receipt to see if this happens. As before, an option is to make a permanent ink duplicate of the image, and laminate that, testing first to ensure that the copying process won't darken the image either. | |||
| Commercial applications of thermal printers include ] pumps, information ]s, ] systems, voucher printers in ]s, ] labels for shipping and products, and for recording live rhythm strips on hospital cardiac monitors. | |||
| === Record-keeping in microcomputers === | |||
| Many popular microcomputer systems from the late 1970s and early 1980s had first-party and aftermarket thermal printers available for them, such as the ] printer for the ], the ] for the ], and the ] for the ] and ]. They often use unusually-sized supplies (10CM wide rolls for the Alphacom 32 for instance) and were often used for making permanent records of information in the computer (graphics, program listings etc.), rather than for correspondence. | |||
| === Fax machines === | |||
| ] with integrated answering machine, beginning of the 1990s. The thermal paper was sold in rolls which were inserted into a compartment in the device. After a completed transmission, the printed document was automatically cut off from the roll and remained in front of the machine.]] | |||
| ⚫ | Through the 1990s, many ]s used thermal printing technology. Toward the beginning of the 21st century, however, ], ], and ] printing technology largely supplanted thermal printing technology in fax machines, allowing printing on plain paper. | ||
| === Seafloor Exploration === | |||
| Thermal printers are commonly used in seafloor exploration and ] due to their portability, speed, and ability to create continuous reels or sheets. Typically, thermal printers found in offshore applications are used to print realtime records of ] and ] imagery. In data processing, thermal printers are sometimes used to quickly create hard copies of continuous seismic or hydrographic records stored in digital ] or ] form. | |||
| === Other uses === | |||
| Flight progress strips used in ] (]) typically use thermal printing technology. | |||
| In many hospitals in the ], many common ] ] devices output the results of the scan onto thermal paper. This can cause problems if the parents wish to preserve the image by laminating it, as the heat of most ]s will darken the entire page—this can be tested beforehand on an unimportant thermal print. An option is to make and laminate a permanent ink duplicate of the image. | |||
| ⚫ | The ], released in 1998, was a small thermal printer used to print out certain elements from some ] games. | ||
| == Health concerns == | |||
| Reports began surfacing of studies in the 2000s finding the oestrogen-related chemical ] ("BPA") mixed in with thermal (and some other) papers. While {{Citation needed span|text=the health concerns are very uncertain|reason=https://www.pca.state.mn.us/green-chemistry/bpa-thermal-paper|date=May 2022}}, various health and science oriented political pressure organizations, such as the ], have pressed for these versions to be pulled from market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-the-public/concerned-about-bpa-check-your-receipts|title=Concerned About BPA: Check Your Receipts |publisher=Science News |access-date=2021-04-19}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | == See also == | ||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| ⚫ | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| {{commonscat|Thermal printers}} | |||
| <references/> | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ⚫ | ==See also== | ||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:47, 3 September 2024
Method of digital printing For the process which uses sparks and aluminised paper, see spark printing.| Part of a series on the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Techniques
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Thermal printing (or direct thermal printing) is a digital printing process which produces a printed image by passing paper with a thermochromic coating, commonly known as thermal paper, over a print head consisting of tiny electrically heated elements. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image.
Most thermal printers are monochrome (black and white) although some two-color designs exist.
Thermal-transfer printing is a different method, using plain paper with a heat-sensitive ribbon instead of heat-sensitive paper, but using similar print heads.
Design
A thermal printer typically contains at least these components:
- Thermal head: Produces heat to create an image on the paper
- Platen: A rubber roller which moves the paper
- Spring: Applies pressure to hold the paper and printhead together
Thermal paper is impregnated with a solid-state mixture of a dye and a suitable matrix, for example, a fluoran leuco dye and an octadecylphosphonic acid. When the matrix is heated above its melting point, the dye reacts with the acid, shifts to its colored form, and the changed form is then conserved in metastable state when the matrix solidifies back quickly enough, a process known as thermochromism.
This process is usually monochrome, but some two-color designs exist, which can print both black and an additional color (often red) by applying heat at two different temperatures.
In order to print, the thermal paper is inserted between the thermal head and the platen and pressed against the head. The printer sends an electric current to the heating elements of the thermal head. The heat generated activates the paper's thermochromic layer, causing it to turn a certain color (for example, black).
Thermal print heads can have a resolution of up to 1,200 dots per inch (dpi). The heating elements are usually arranged as a line of small closely spaced dots.
Early formulations of the thermo-sensitive coating used in thermal paper were sensitive to incidental heat, abrasion, friction (which can cause heat, thus darkening the paper), light (which can fade printed images), and water. Later thermal coating formulations are far more stable; in practice, thermally printed text should remain legible for at least 50 days.
Applications
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Thermal printing" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Printing and display technology progresses. There's been less need for hard copies, and better non-thermal printers as well, shifting the demand and application of thermal printers. The comparison with the largely obsolete (for about 20 years!) technology of dot-matrix impact printing is very emblematic for this issue. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2024) |
Thermal printers print more quietly and usually faster than impact dot matrix printers. They are also smaller, lighter and consume less power, making them ideal for portable and retail applications.
Commercial use
Commercial applications of thermal printers include filling station pumps, information kiosks, point of sale systems, voucher printers in slot machines, print on demand labels for shipping and products, and for recording live rhythm strips on hospital cardiac monitors.
Record-keeping in microcomputers
Many popular microcomputer systems from the late 1970s and early 1980s had first-party and aftermarket thermal printers available for them, such as the Atari 822 printer for the Atari 8-bit computers, the Apple Silentype for the Apple II, and the Alphacom 32 for the ZX Spectrum and ZX81. They often use unusually-sized supplies (10CM wide rolls for the Alphacom 32 for instance) and were often used for making permanent records of information in the computer (graphics, program listings etc.), rather than for correspondence.
Fax machines
Through the 1990s, many fax machines used thermal printing technology. Toward the beginning of the 21st century, however, thermal wax transfer, laser, and inkjet printing technology largely supplanted thermal printing technology in fax machines, allowing printing on plain paper.
Seafloor Exploration
Thermal printers are commonly used in seafloor exploration and engineering geology due to their portability, speed, and ability to create continuous reels or sheets. Typically, thermal printers found in offshore applications are used to print realtime records of side scan sonar and sub-seafloor seismic imagery. In data processing, thermal printers are sometimes used to quickly create hard copies of continuous seismic or hydrographic records stored in digital SEG Y or XTF form.
Other uses
Flight progress strips used in air traffic control (ACARS) typically use thermal printing technology.
In many hospitals in the United Kingdom, many common ultrasound sonogram devices output the results of the scan onto thermal paper. This can cause problems if the parents wish to preserve the image by laminating it, as the heat of most laminators will darken the entire page—this can be tested beforehand on an unimportant thermal print. An option is to make and laminate a permanent ink duplicate of the image.
The Game Boy Printer, released in 1998, was a small thermal printer used to print out certain elements from some Game Boy games.
Health concerns
Reports began surfacing of studies in the 2000s finding the oestrogen-related chemical bisphenol A ("BPA") mixed in with thermal (and some other) papers. While the health concerns are very uncertain, various health and science oriented political pressure organizations, such as the Environmental Working Group, have pressed for these versions to be pulled from market.
See also
- Barcode printer
- Dye-sublimation printer
- Label printer
- Label printer applicator
- LightScribe
- Line matrix printer
- Line printer
- Thermographic printing
References
- "Receipt Paper: Why It Fades and How to Restore It?". Panda Paper Roll. 2018-12-10.
- "Definition of THERMAL PRINTER". www.merriam-webster.com.
- Diamond, Arthur S. (2018-10-08). Handbook of Imaging Materials. CRC Press. p. 445. ISBN 978-1-4822-7736-4.
- "Thermal Print Head | Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation". www.hokuto.co.jp.
- "Concerned About BPA: Check Your Receipts". Science News. Retrieved 2021-04-19.