72 dpi 300 dpi 600 dpi
Thermal transfer printing in detail
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There are essentially three different ink ribbon types . Wax ribbons are optimally designed for printing on paper . Resin ribbons , in contrast , are particularly well-suited for foil and plastic printing . They are resistant to a variety of environmental influences . Mixed ribbons made of wax and resin lie between the two types of ribbon in terms of their properties .
The printing method
In thermal transfer printing , the ink ribbon is fed along the print head in synchronization with the marking material . The heating elements of the print head are heated according to the desired print image . The heat and contact pressure initiate precise ink transfer to the marking material .
( 1 ) Print head ( 2 ) Ink ribbon ( 3 ) Marking material
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The structure of the ink ribbon
The ink ribbon consists of three layers . To protect the print head , the top layer is designed for the lowest possible friction and reduced static charge . There is a polyester foil in the middle that has a heat-sensitive ink ribbon layer on one side .
( 1 ) Top layer ( 2 ) Polyester foil ( 3 ) Ink ribbon layer
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The structure of the print head
A print head has hundreds of computer-controlled heating elements that transfer the print image . The indicator “ dpi ” ( dots per inch ) specifies the number of these elements per inch . The larger it is , the higher the resolution . When a heating element is controlled and heated , the ink layer melts and is transferred to the marking material .
72 dpi 300 dpi 600 dpi
Phoenix Contact 9