What and How Does an Industrial Inkjet Printer Work?

The industrial inkjet printer plays a crucial role in marking, coding, and labeling various products. These advanced printers have evolved significantly, employing cutting-edge technologies to meet the demands of modern industries.

However, there are several types of inkjet printers with different technologies and work mechanisms, including continuous inkjet (CIJ), thermal inkjet (TIJ), and piezoelectric inkjet printers. So, let’s explore the types and each detail here.

What is an Industrial Inkjet Printer?

Industrial printers are essential components in workplaces globally, contributing to the efficiency of marking products with batch codes, best-before dates, barcodes, and other crucial information.

Picture your regular office printer, but now imagine it tailored for heavy-duty tasks in industries. So, unlike traditional printers, these printers of industrial inkjet are designed for high-speed, large-scale printing on various materials used in manufacturing processes.

Types of Industrial Inkjet Printer

In the dynamic landscape of industrial printing, there are three main types of inkjet printers that stand out for their precision, efficiency, and versatility. Let’s take a closer look below:

Continuous Inkjet Printers

Continuous Inkjet Printers (CIJ) are known as one of the versatile and widely used technologies in industrial printing.

Historically, CIJ has been favored for its capacity to use solvent-based inks, facilitating quick drying and better adhesion to a wide range of substrates.

But in general, these printers operate by emitting a continuous stream or jet of ink through a nozzle, forming uniform droplets. The charged droplets are then guided by an electromagnetic field to the precise location needed for clear and readable printing.

Moreover, CIJ printers excel in high-speed printing applications, making them ideal for tasks like coding on beverage cans, where frequent and rapid printing is crucial.

One remarkable feature of CIJ is its ability to print on various surfaces, thanks to the high falling speed of the ink droplets (approximately 50 m/s). This allows for a considerable distance between the printhead and the printing material.

Thermal Inkjet

Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) technology takes a different approach by utilizing a cartridge-based ink system. This technology provides high resolution, up to 600 DPI, making it suitable for various applications, including batch coding and text printing.

In theory, inkjet technology is simple – the printhead releases a pattern of small ink droplets onto the media without actually touching it. In this technology, ink formation occurs by rapidly heating resistive elements within a confined space containing ink.

The temperature of the resistive element rises to 350-400ºC, causing the thin layer of ink above the heater to evaporate into rapidly expanding bubbles. This process creates a pressure push, compelling a droplet of ink through the nozzle.

The expulsion of ink droplets then leaves an empty space, subsequently filled with a replacement liquid in preparation for the creation of the next droplet.

The advantages of thermal inkjet technology include the potential for extremely small droplet sizes and high nozzle density. The high nozzle density results in a compact device, lower printhead costs, and the potential for native high-resolution printing.

Another advantage of this industrial inkjet printer is its low maintenance. Unlike other printers, TIJ eliminates the need for regular printhead servicing. In case of issues, simply replacing the ink cartridge often swiftly resolves the problem.

Piezoelectric Inkjet Printers

Drop on Demand (DOD) is the broad category that encompasses Piezoelectric Inkjet Printers, where ink is expelled from the printhead only when required.

As the name suggests, piezoelectric technology employs piezo crystals to create pressure, resulting in the controlled ejection of ink droplets from the nozzle. That’s why piezoelectric inkjet printers offer precise control and reliability in inkjet printing.

The crystals, often made of lead zirconate titanate, undergo distortion when an electric field is applied. This distortion generates pressure in the ink chamber, leading to the expulsion of droplets.

In industries, various architectures of piezo inkjet exist, including tube, edge, face, moving wall, and piston, each with unique configurations of crystals and nozzles.

How Does an Industrial Inkjet Printer Work?

The operation of a printer of industrial inkjet involves intricate processes and technologies that contribute to its efficiency and versatility.

Overall, to print, the inkjet printer relies on a print system, which can be either Scan Printing or Single Pass Printing.

Scan Printing involves the lateral movement of the print head with multiple passes, while Single Pass Printing keeps the print head stationary, and the media moves using a flat surface. The choice between these systems depends on the specific printing requirements.

Meanwhile, two main technologies employed by printer of industrial inkjet are Thermal Bubble and Piezoelectric.

Thermal Bubble systems create tiny bubbles of ink through resistors that create heat, leading to ink vaporization and bubble formation. On the other hand, piezoelectric technology uses an electric charge and piezo crystals to spray ink on command.

Why You Need Industrial Inkjet Printer?

Because of its system and technology, these advanced printing solutions offer a multitude of benefits that significantly contribute to the efficiency and productivity of various industries, such as:

Versatility in Printing Tasks

First and foremost, the versatility of inkjet printers for industry is a key reason. These printers are capable of handling a wide range of printing tasks, from generating batch codes and best-before dates to producing high-quality labels and intricate barcodes.

The ability to adapt to diverse printing requirements makes them an essential tool for manufacturers aiming for flexibility in their production processes.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cost-effectiveness is another compelling factor that underscores the need for printers of industrial inkjet.

Over time, the growing popularity of these printers has led to a decrease in prices, making them an attractive and affordable option for businesses of all sizes.

High-Speed Printing

Speed is of the essence in the industrial and manufacturing world, and inkjet printers deliver on this front.

With the technology, these printers can achieve high-speed printing capabilities, ensuring swift and efficient production processes. This is especially crucial for industries that deal with bulk orders and require fast turnaround times.

Versatility in Ink Options

Moreover, the ability to use various types of ink adds a layer of versatility to printers of industrial inkjet.

From dye-based inks suitable for everyday use to pigment-based inks for professional photos and UV-based inks for solid labels, these printers cater to a spectrum of printing needs according to specific applications.

Overall, the industrial inkjet printer is a valuable asset for the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing operations. If you are in search of high-quality inkjet printers, visit our page now at Markcom Global.

Read About: Best Industrial Printers that You Should Use

References

https://arrsys.com/how-does-an-industrial-inkjet-printer-work/

https://leibinger-group.com/industrial-inkjet-printer

https://metrixinspira.co.id/jenis-jenis-teknologi-inkjet-printer-industri-inkjet-coder/

https://metrixinspira.co.id/panduan-mengenai-teknologi-inkjet-pada-inkjet-printer-industri/

https://megasatriahiciter.com/industrial-thermal-inkjet-printer/