Thermal transfer printer
|
|
Thermal wax transfer printers function by adhering a wax-based ink onto paper. As the paper and ribbon travel in unison beneath the thermal print head, the wax-based ink from the transfer ribbon melts onto the paper. When cool, the wax is permanent. This type of thermal printer uses an like-size panel of ribbon for each page to be printed, regardless of the contents of the page. Monochrome printers have a black panel for each page to be printed, while color printers have either three (CMY) or four (CMYK) colored panels for each page. Unlike dye-sublimation printers, these printers cannot vary the dot intensity, which means that images must be dithered. Though not bad, the printouts from these printers cannot compare with modern inkjet printers and color laser printers. Nowadays, this type of printer is rarely used for full-page printing, and is now commonly employed for industrial label printing due to the waterfastness and speed. These are also highly reliable printers, thanks to the small number of moving parts. Printouts from these printers are sensitive to abrasion, as the wax ink can be scraped or rubbed off, or smeared.
Tektonix/Xerox Solid-Ink
So called "Solid-Ink" printers (tradename) were developed by Tektronix and later by Xerox. (Xerox bought Tektronix) Printers like the Xerox Phaser 8400 use wax blocks of aprox. 1 in³ which are loaded into a system similar to a stapler magazine in the top of the printer. The wax blocks are melted and the wax is transferred onto the paper. Printout properties are similar to those mentioned above, but this newer type of printer has the advantage that it is far more economical, as it only uses the wax needed for the printout, not a whole ribbon panel. Handling and usage of Phaser Solid-Ink printers are similar/the same as comparable color laser printers.