Coding,
Printing and Marking Systems
Today's modern packaging environment offers a number of
choices for marking, coding and printing lot codes, barcodes,
2D codes, serial numbers, and contents in the form of labels
or direct printing on manufactured products, the packaging
that contains them and the final box and pallet labeling or
marking to identify a shipment. All of this is accomplished by
the utilization of industrial inkjet coders, hot stamp
coders, label printers, and combination print and apply
systems. In this regard the modernization of the packaging
machinery industry is the most evident compared to the days
when all marking was by contact or stencil.
Industrial Ink Jet Coder
One aspect of industrial inkjet printers that is the same
for all types is that they all depend on a product moving in
front of the printhead in a constant motion, since the
printhead is basically noting more that a vertical line of
nozzles that turn on and off at very high speeds as the
product passes in front of it, thus producing the characters
or image we wish to reproduce. But that similarity quickly
vanishes because the three types of inkjet coders have vastly
different capabilities in terms of speed, height, number of
lines, and resolution of the characters and images. The
differences are further delineated by the types of inks that
can be run on the inkjet printing system which can limit its
applicability depending on the substrate to be marked. In
order to categorize the industrial inkjet coder further we
divide the three types of inkjet coders, CIJ (continuous ink
jet), DOD (drop on demand), and cartridge into two categories:
Small Character inkjet coder and Large Character inkjet
coder.
Small
Character Ink Jet Coder
While there is some blurring of these lines, at Busch
Machinery we define a
small character inkjet
coder as being
capable of printing at least two lines of information in a
selectable font size down to at least 1/16" height, or one
line up to 12 mm height (0.47") and has the capability of
printing at least some versions of barcodes (most of our
systems can also print 2D codes). CIJ ink jet coders are the
best for virtually any application, but cartridge systems can
work well on porous and semi-porous surfaces for much lower
cost. (Click here to see our small character inkjet coders)
Large Character Ink Jet Coders
A
Large Character Inkjet Coder
is defined a capable of
printing a single line from 12 mm height to nearly 4 inches
high on a single printhead (nearly 8" when doubled up). Beyond
that there are two categories of large character inkjet
printing: high resolution and low resolution.
High
Resolution Large Character Industrial Inkjet Printers
With the improvement in inks and inkjet technology it is
now possible to print on corrugated and other large surfaces
with 300 dpi resolution in wide swaths of up to 4" high on a
single printhead, and up to 8" with dual printheads.
Furthermore inks are available that allow printing on
virtually any surface. A great way to eliminate more
expensive print and apply labeling systems with their higher
initial and operating costs. Print text, graphics, and
barcodes with 99.9% readability!
Low Resolution Large Character Industrial Ink Jet Printing
Low
Resolution Industrial Inkjet Printers are used for basic text
only printing on corrugated or other large surfaces with one
or two line print capability from 7 mm (about 7/32") to 60 mm
(2.37"). In some coding systems, these printheads can be mixed and
matched with High Resolution Inkjet Printers to complete your
inkjet coding system.
Print and Apply Labeling Systems
Print
and Apply labeling refers to systems that accept unprinted or
partially pre-printed label roll stock and prints the variable
data in either a direct print and apply or loose loop system
tied into a label applicator. In either case a number of
different configurations are available to apply the labels
onto cartons, pallets, or products. In most production
environments, print and apply systems are still the preferred method for
printing product information with barcodes. However, as
inkjet printing continues to improve, we suspect that more and
more manufacturers will move away from the relatively high
cost of operating print and apply systems to the more
environmentally friendly industrial inkjet coders. Consider
that the cost of the label is much higher than the cost of the
ink to print the same information directly on the carton.
Add to that the cost of thermal transfer ribbons and the fact
that ribbons and backing paper for the labels must be disposed
of, and ink jet printing only becomes much more attractive
both financially and environmentally. Busch Machinery
offers many types of print and apply systems, but we urge all
customers to at least consider inkjet coding as an
alternative.
Hot
Stamp Coders
Hot stamp coders are mainly utilized on labeling equipment
where a batch code or expiration (or both) can be printed
directly on the label just prior to application to the
product.
Hot stamp coders use metal type mounted onto
what is called a type chase. When the chase is installed into
the printer, it is heated. At the end of a label index cycle
the type chase is driven by pressure into a hot foil tape
which then dry transfers the code into the label. And while
thermal transfer printers and inkjet coders can be used to
print on labels, hot stamp coders still remain the most cost-effective
means of printing simple information such as
expiration dates and/or batch codes. However, if more
sophisticated information is needed such as bar codes or 2D
codes, inkjet coders and/or barcode printers are the best
alternatives.
Call Today if you would like to discuss your application
with our Sales Engineers.
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