Termalitulostimet

Termalitulostimet, often translated as thermal printers, are a type of digital printing technology that produces printed images by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper. When the heated areas of the paper come into contact with a thermal print head, the coating turns black. This process is known as direct thermal printing. There is no ink, toner, or ribbon involved.

The core component of a thermal printer is the thermal print head, which consists of a line of tiny, electronically controlled heating elements. As the paper moves across the print head, the heating elements are activated in specific patterns, creating the desired text or image. The speed and temperature of the heating elements are carefully controlled to achieve the desired print quality.

Termalitulostimet are widely used for a variety of applications due to their simplicity, low maintenance, and quiet operation. Common uses include printing receipts in retail environments, labels for shipping and product identification, tickets for events, and medical monitoring strips. The thermochromic paper used is sensitive to heat, light, and prolonged exposure to certain chemicals, which can cause the print to fade over time. This makes direct thermal printing suitable for short-term use items rather than archival purposes.

Another related technology is thermal transfer printing, which uses a heated ribbon to transfer ink onto the printing surface. While also a thermal printing method, it differs from direct thermal printing in its use of a consumable ribbon.