07/15 Rev. 02
USER MANUAL
Functionality
AP 5.4 – AP 5.6
5
Functionality
AP 5.4/5.6 without dispenser
[1] Material and foil path inside the AP 5.4/AP 5.6.
A
Printhead
B
Foil unwind mandrel
C
Foil rewind mandrel
D
Material unwinder
E
Print roller
The label printers AP 5.4 and AP 5.6 only differ in the print width. The functionality is
the same for both printers.
The printing principle is based on the thermal printhead [1A]. The core piece of the
printhead, the thermal edge, consists of a row of dot elements, which can be controlled
and heated separately. Each heated dot element leaves a black dot on the label ma-
terial.
With thermo printing, the black dot results from the reaction of the thermosensitive la-
bel material. With thermo transfer printing, the black colour is transferred from the ther-
motransfer foil to the label material.
In order to add the dot lines to an image, the label material has to be passed under-
neath the printhead during printing. This material feeding is accomplished by the print
roller [1E], which is motor driven. By moving the label material, it is unwound from the
label roll [1C].
When using thermotransfer printing, the thermotransfer foil is fed together with the la-
bel material underneath the printhead. The foil position is between label material and
printhead, the colour side facing the label material. The full foil roll is plugged on the
foil unwinder [1B]. After passing the printhead, the used foil is wound onto the foil re-
winder [1C], which is motor driven. If the foil roll is completely rewound, a new roll has
to be inserted.
Material end and foil end are detected by sensors and are displayed on the operation
panel (optionally by a sound signal).
The label beginning is detected by a light transmission sensor with punched label ma-
terial and by a reflex sensor (option) with endless material.
1
2
3
4
5
6 0
A
B
C
C
E
