What Is a Thermal Printhead
What Is a Thermal Printhead
What Is a Thermal Printhead
A thermal printhead is a key device used for the printing part of thermal type image output equipment.
The thermal printing method is used for label prints and receipts at retail stores, logistics, food barcode labels, ID cards, air and railway tickets, X-ray films, and food date printing. A thermal printhead has multiple heating elements (heaters) lined up in a row on a heat storage layer (glaze). It is a device that prints by transferring heat generated when electric current flows through the heater to the printing media (thermal paper or ink ribbon).
Product Characteristics
- Heater size is formed at the level of several tens of μm
- Heater temperature rises to several hundred degrees celsius momentarily
- ON/OFF of the heater can be controlled in the order of µsec
- Multiple heaters lined up can heat selectively
Types of Thermal Printing Methods
Thermal printing methods are classified into 3-types; Direct-Thermal, Melt Thermal-Transfer, and Dye-Diffusion Thermal-Transfer.
| Direct-Thermal | A method of printing on special paper that changes color when heated, such as thermal paper. Main applications POS receipts, train tickets, logistics labels |
|---|---|
| Thermal-Transfer | A method of transferring ink to image receiving paper by heating that ink ribbon (film with ink on one side) and image receiving paper transport while keeping close contact. Main applications Date codes, display labels, logistics labels |
|
Dye-Diffusion |
Basic mechanism is the same as the thermal transfer method. A method in which only the ink in the ink layer is transferred and the transfer amount can be controlled according to the amount of heat. Main applications Seals, ID cards, photo printing |
For more information on thermal printheads, click here.
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Description of Terms
- Dot Density
Describes heater density.
Mainly showed;
Dots per 1mm. [dot/mm]
Dots per 1inch. [dot/inch = dpi] - Dot Pitch
Describes the distance between each dot. The reciprocal of the dot density.
EX) Dot density 8dot/mm = 1/8 = Dot pitch 0.125mm - Heater Size
Describes the main scanning direction × sub-scanning direction.
For more information on the resistance value/applied energy/driving method, etc., click here.
