| Thermal printers are totally different and distinct from | | | | There are newer thermal printers now that go through |
| your normal inkjet printers or even laser printers. These | | | | a different printing process. These newer models use |
| printers were introduced in the 1970s, the period in | | | | ribbon cartridges (instead of printer ink cartridges). The |
| between the introduction of laser printers and inkjet | | | | ribbon cartridges contain printer ink that is made of |
| printers to the world. Just as its name suggests, | | | | wax or resin or even a combination of both materials. |
| thermal printers use heat to print on paper, rather than | | | | This type of ink melts, when activated by heat, to form |
| the usual ink cartridges used by other types of printers. | | | | the text or images on the paper. These types of ink |
| It also has an interesting printing process that differs | | | | can also produce colored images using CMY or |
| from regular printers. This process is one that is used | | | | CMYK colored panels. |
| by machines such as faxes, label printers, ultrasound | | | | Thermal printers are used for many different purposes |
| machines and bar code machines. | | | | and in many different ways. They are sometimes |
| Thermal printers contain four main components. The | | | | even more economical than printers that use printer ink |
| thermal head is the part that generates heats, while | | | | cartridges, since most of these printers only need |
| the rubber roller that feeds paper is called the platen. | | | | heat-sensitive paper to print. The ribbon cartridges |
| These printers also have a spring, which puts pressure | | | | used by the newer thermal printers are also more |
| on the thermal head, which then makes it come in | | | | affordable than regular ink cartridges. These printers |
| contact with heat-sensitive (or thermo-sensitive) paper. | | | | are usually found in cash registers, voucher printers, |
| They also have controller boards, which handles and | | | | fax machines and even ultrasound machines. |
| controls the mechanism. Newer models of thermal | | | | But although these printers may be less expensive |
| printers use Ribbon Printer Cartridges instead of | | | | than their other counterparts, one disadvantage is that |
| normal printer ink cartridges to print. | | | | their printouts tend to fade over time. This is the |
| Older thermal printers require heat-sensitive or thermal | | | | reason why important receipts or documents printed |
| paper. This is inserted into the machine (between the | | | | using thermal printers should be scanned or |
| thermal head and the platen). When activated, the | | | | photocopied for posterity. The printouts of these |
| printer sends an electrical current, which causes the | | | | printers are also of poorer quality than those from |
| printer to generate heat in a preset pattern. The heat | | | | inkjet and laser printers. Thermal printers still have a |
| of these thermal printers activates the heat-sensitive | | | | long way to go before they become comparable to |
| layer of the paper when the paper is pushed by the | | | | the print quality of inkjet or laser printers but they are |
| platen and a pattern of color (usually, black) emerges in | | | | practical enough to be used for most businesses and |
| response. | | | | commercial applications. |
