Lämpökirjoittimet

Lämpökirjoittimet, known in English as thermal printers, are a type of printer that produce an image by selectively heating coated paper as it passes under a thermal printhead. This process creates a printed image without the use of ink or toner. There are two main types of thermal printing technology: direct thermal and thermal transfer.

Direct thermal printers work by heating a special type of paper that has a heat-sensitive coating. When the heated elements in the printhead come into contact with this coating, a chemical reaction occurs, turning the paper black and forming the desired text or image. This method is commonly used for receipts, shipping labels, and tickets. Direct thermal printers are known for their simplicity and low operating costs as they do not require ink cartridges or ribbons. However, the printed output can be susceptible to fading over time, especially when exposed to heat, light, or friction.

Thermal transfer printers, on the other hand, use a heated ribbon made of wax or resin. This ribbon is placed between the thermal printhead and the paper. As the printhead heats up, it melts the ink from the ribbon onto the paper. This method produces more durable and long-lasting prints compared to direct thermal printing, making it suitable for applications requiring higher resistance to environmental factors, such as barcodes, asset tags, and identification cards. Thermal transfer printers require the purchase of both paper and ribbons.