How Do You Clean A Thermal Print Head

Clean Thermal Label Printer Printhead

Make clean your thermal characterization printer printhead?
by Timmy Thermal

Yous know I'm always advocating for the proper maintenance of your thermal label printers, only information technology occurred to me that some of you lot may non know exactly how ane does that.
Today I want to focus on the printhead, specifically how to clean information technology. Among the different consumables that go with a thermal transfer printer at that place is the characterization, the barcode ribbon and the printhead. A new printhead tin be quite plush (sometimes thousands of dollars!) if y'all end upward having to replace information technology, so cleaning it on a regular basis is a good idea if you lot want to relieve time and money.
Why is it exactly that printheads need to exist cleaned in the outset place? Over time, residue builds up from the barcode ribbon and the adhesive from labels. That residue clogs the printhead and forces the printhead to work harder. If it isn't cleaned, information technology can cause serious problems for your printer and your business. For case, a printhead that is designed to print i meg labels might exist rendered useless after 100,000. confused about thermal printhead
When practise you desire to make clean the printhead? In the case of a thermal transfer printer, it is a generally accepted rule of thumb to clean the printhead every time you lot supercede the ribbon. For direct thermal printers the rule of thumb is to clean the printhead when y'all change a curlicue of labels.
Actually cleaning the printhead is fairly easy, likewise. Look for a release that enables the printhead to open up. The simplest way to clean the printhead is with a rag and alcohol. Pour a small corporeality of alcohol on the rag and wipe the printhead clear of any residue. Information technology's a adept thought to wipe the platen roller, too. Supplant your labels and ribbon, put everything back in identify and you lot're good to become.
Cleaning kits that come pre-soaked in alcohol can also be used and are even easier to use than the rag and alcohol solution. Just place the booze-soaked pad that comes in the kit in the open up printhead, shut it and and then feed the pad through, cleaning both the printhead and the platen roller simultaneously.
Interesting fact: if you are noticing that your labels accept a line running through them, it could be a result of a scratch in the platen roller. While cleaning the printhead and platen roller, you might desire to check for scratches. Here is a video on cleaning the printhead for a Zebra Xi4:
Simple as that, your printhead is clean, and you've extended its life and saved yourself money and reanimation. However, even the most diligent of printhead cleaners will 1 day demand to supercede their printheads. That's why MIDCOM is here. Give us a call at (800) 643-2664 to set up a service call for all of your industrial printer needs. You can also notice the states on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.