Thermal Inkjet

Contents

    What does Thermal Inkjet mean?

    The "thermal inkjet" process is a type of inkjet printing that transfers a printed image to the carrier medium contactlessly and precisely via small ink drops. In thermal inkjet printers, the ink droplets are shot out of the print nozzle by heating them up to 300° C. The ink is then used for printing. An alternative is the "piezo inkjet" process, in which the droplets are conveyed by mechanical displacement.

    Thermal inkjet has been considered the standard in the industrial sector since its development in the 1980s. The technology has become established as it enables inexpensive, flexible and fast product marking. The TJ500 and TJ1000 models available from us offer reliability, quality and accuracy. Both printers are quick to install and easy to use.

    Thermal Inkjet - TJ1000
    Thermal Inkjet Printer TJ1000
    Thermal Inkjet - TJ1000
    Thermal Inkjet Printer TJ1000
    Thermal Inkjet - TJ500/1000

    TJ500 and TJ1000

    Thermal Inkjet - TJ1000 open

    Easy exchange of cartridges

    Thermal Inkjet - TJ1000 open with cartridges

    Versatile ink selection

    Thermal Jet print example, Pharma
    The use of thermal inkjet in the pharmaceutical industry is not uncommon.

    How the thermal inkjet process works

    The ink cartridges of thermal inkjet printers have heating elements that generate high temperatures of up to 300° C and thus heat the ink beyond its boiling point. With the temperature-induced change of the aggregate state from liquid to gaseous, the volume of the printing ink expands - a vapor bubble is formed. This results in a high pressure, which conveys the droplets required for the printing process out of the nozzle. They are delivered to the substrate with pinpoint accuracy. The ink then cools rapidly and returns to its liquid state. The vacuum that is now created causes new ink to be conveyed into the nozzle.

    Thermal Inkjet

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Fast, simple setup of the thermal inkjet printer

    Print and barcode quality are precise and high quality

    Good print results, even after a longer downtime

    Easy handling: clean, fast cartridge changeover

    Thermal inkjet printers are cheap to buy

    Thermal inkjet printers are cheap to buy

    As a non-contact process, thermal inkjet is able to reliably mark products and packaging, some of which are uneven, moving and sensitive.

    Flexible applications: The industrial printers are used in numerous industries as well as on different materials such as cardboard, plastics, metals, foils or wood

    Diagraph inkjet printer prints food cartons
    Diagraph inkjet printer prints food cartons

    The cartridges' low filling volume of 42 ml can prove to be a disadvantage. For larger imprints per product, frequent cartridge changes are required. In this case, it may be advisable to switch to a different printing technology that is suitable for larger quantities.

    Thermal Inkjet vs Continuous Inkjet
    Inkjet printer comparison

    In an industrial context, continuous inkjet printers and drop-on-demand printers are as established as they are proven. Both solutions belong to the inkjet printers. However, the printing technologies are based on different technical principles. Both technologies work contact-free and ink drops are transported through the air over a distance from the product. Texts, barcodes and logos are thus applied to the product by means of targeted electronic control.

    A technology in which a continuous stream of ink is conveyed through the print nozzle. The ink jet is separated into droplets at the charging electrode. At the deflection electrode, the droplets are deflected as needed to create the printed image on the product. Unused ink drops are returned.

    Drop on Demand (DOD)

    Characterized by the fact that the ink is located in a chamber behind the print nozzle. Ink delivery is controlled by positive and negative pressure in the chamber. Basically, only that ink is discharged from the nozzles and transferred to the product which is required for the respective print. DOD printing technology is divided into two approaches: Piezo Inkjet (PIJ) and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ).

    Bedrucken von Verpackungen für RCP Ranstadt GmbH

    Drop on Demand (DOD)
    DIFFERENT PROCEDURES

    Procedure Technique Strenght
    Piezo Inkjet (PIJ)Short-term generation of high pressure on the print nozzle by means of deformation of the piezo element based on an applied voltage. Ink drops are ejected from the print head by mechanical displacement.- very long service life of the print heads
    - for larger quantities.
    Thermal Inkjet (TIJ)Electrically heated chambers are integrated in the ink cartridges. A steam bubble is created in the chambers, which causes the ink droplets to be ejected onto the material.- easy to handle
    - for smaller quantities

    Procedure
    Piezo Inkjet

    Technology
    Short-term generation of high pressure on the pressure nozzle by means of deformation of the piezo element based on an applied voltage. Ink drops are ejected from the printhead by mechanical displacement.

    Strengths

    • very long life of the push buttons
    • for larger quantities

    Procedure
    Thermal Inkjet (TIJ)

    Technology
    Electrically heated chambers are integrated in the ink cartridges. A vapor bubble is created in the chambers, which causes the ink droplets to be ejected onto the material.

    Strengths

    • easy to handle
    • for smaller quantities

    Printing examples thermal inkjet

    In industry, thermal inkjet printers are often used in packaging labeling. You can see some examples here:

    What our customers say

    RCP Logo

    We were looking for a cost-effective and flexible marking solution for our production. We have made a very good choice with the TJ500.

    Björn Ickes, Head of the Application Engineering / R&D Department at RCP Ranstadt

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    Thermal Inkjet Printer at Diagraph

    We offer our customers modern printing technologies for industrial applications. Simply contact us now for your TJ500 or TJ1000 thermal inkjet printer. We will get back to you in the shortest possible time.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Thermal Inkjet

    Do you have further questions? Here you can find more details.

    First of all, the term thermal means that a thermal process takes place. Thermal inkjet is thus a process based on the targeted application of heat. The heat in the printer's nozzle causes the ink to be precisely delivered to the surface to be printed. Targeted control produces the desired print image on the product.

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    Contact

    ITW Diagraph GmbH

    Friedrich-Bergius-Ring 30

    97076 Würzburg

    SALES

    Tel. +49 931 25076 0

    Fax +49 931 25076 50

    [email protected]

    TECHNICAL SUPPORT

    Tel. +49 931 25076 911

    [email protected]

    Office hours

    Monday to Thursday

    08:00 - 17:00

    Friday

    08:00 - 14:00

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