SX™
Service and Maintenance Manual A-3
960714-02B © 2007 I2407
APPENDIX
PROTECTING YOUR PRINTHEAD
PROTECTING YOUR PRINTHEAD
How Thermal Transfer Ribbons Affect Printhead Life and Performance
Reprinted with permission from Sony Chemicals Corporation of America
For many years now, thermal printer users have selected ribbons based on image quality and price.
Recently, manufacturers of ribbons have been calling users' attention to a third consideration - printhead
life.
The printhead is, figuratively speaking, "where the rubber meets the road," in terms of getting a quality
thermal transfer image. So, it is worthwhile to consider how to optimize printhead performance over
extended periods of time.
The short course on this subject is:
1.
Select a good printer.
2.
Use it according to the OEM's recommended operating conditions and maintenance schedule.
3.
Select a compatible ribbon and substrate combination.
What follows is a somewhat longer Q&A discussion on the role ribbons play in optimizing printhead
longevity and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Why worry about printhead life? Why not buy the cheapest ribbon and replace the printhead
whenever it wears out?
A:
Print heads are expensive, ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars each. For
this reason alone, you want them to last as long as possible. However, there is an even more important
reason. When print heads wear out before their time, there usually is a period during which poor print
quality and marginally scanable and unscanable bar codes are generated. The longer the printhead lasts,
the less chance of generating non-readable bar codes. Therefore, it is essential to protect the printhead
with proper maintenance and use of a quality ribbon.
Q:
What does the printhead need to be protected from?
A:
Friction and prolonged use at unnecessarily high printhead energies (i.e., heat). In addition, excessive
build-up or residue on the printhead, misuse and abuse by the operator, and improper cleaning can also
damage the printhead.
Q:
How does a thermal transfer printhead work?
A:
A thermal printhead has a hard surface in which dot-shaped resistors are embedded. Resistance to
electrical current in selected dots generates a thermal energy pulse that melts or softens waxes and
resins in the ribbon, resulting in the transfer of an image in the shape of the heated dots onto the label
substrate. The faster the printhead can pulse and recover, the higher the potential speed of the printer.
Q:
What are the sources of abrasive damage to my printhead?
A:
A quality printhead will see at least one million or more inches of paper and ribbon pass across its
surface at high speeds before a change is necessary. If the printhead were not protected from abrasion,
its useful life would be far shorter. Ribbons have a lubricated backcoat designed to protect the printhead
