Thermal printing

Q1. What is a thermal printing?

Thermal printing is generated by a printer equipped with a thermal print head which is composed of hundreds of small resistors (dots) which convert electrical energy into heat (Joule effect).


Q2. What is the difference between direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing?

For thermal papers printing, thanks to the heat induced by the thermal print head, the thermal revelation is initiated thanks to the chemical agents contained in the different layers of the thermal paper.

For thermal transfer printing, the heat from the print head induces a transfer of the melted ink from the thermal transfer ribbon to the receiving material (paper, fim or textile).

Q3. What is the maximum printing speed for thermal papers?

To this date, the maximum printing speed for RICOH thermal papers is 300 mm/s. In our product range, thermal paper with a reference beginning with "130" can be printed at speeds up to 200 mm/s, and those beginning with "150" up to 300 mm/s.
 

Q4. What is the maximum printing speed for thermal transfer ribbons?

To this date,the maximum printing speed for RICOH thermal transfer ribbons is 600 mm/s on a near-edge printer (for direct printing on packaging). In our product range, wax-resin ribbons can be printed at speeds up to 300mm/s and resin ribbons can be printed up to 250 mm/s.