PRINTING BARCODES WITH THE CL408e

Thermal transfer label printing of barcodes is a staple of modern merchandising. Barcode printers generally come in fixed sizes of 4 inches, 6 inches or 8 inches wide. Although a number of manufacturers have tried differing sizes in the past, most have standardized on these sizes. The main application for these printers is to produce barcode labels for shipping and product identification. Barcode printers use a fixed width thermal print head, pressing onto a paper or plastic label, over a driven rubber roller called a platen. Between the print head and the label is sandwiched a very thin thermal transfer ribbon which is a polyester film which has been coated on the label side with a wax, wax-resin or pure resin "ink".

The ribbon is spooled onto reels up to 625 meters long and is driven through the printing mechanism in sync with the labels, at speeds of up to 12 inches per second, although 6 inches per second is normal for most applications.

Each manufacturer has their own language and some are very difficult and complex to work with. For example, to print a barcode on a label, the control computer would send a series of codes to the printer, requesting a particular barcode type and specifying its location and size on the label, along with the data to be printed as a barcode.

The printer will then use pre-defined algorithms to construct the barcode, keeping very strictly to the resolution allowed by the printhead, to create the absolutely best possible barcode on that particular type of printer. Barcodes have very strict rules for accurate printing, to ensure readability in the widest range of circumstances.

The newest in barcode thermal transfer printing is the Sato CL408e printer. The CL408E is an advanced performance, high value printer. The CL408e features a 32-bit, high speed RSIC processor for maximum printer performance. It also includes the exclusive Sato printhead control feature, which constantly monitors printhead conditions and automatically adjusts print energy for the optimum, consistent print quality. The CL408e prints labels up to 4.1" wide at 203 DPI all at speeds of up to six inches per second.