Barcode printers are specialized printers designed for printing barcodes on labels, tags, receipts, documents, and other media. Unlike regular printers, barcode printers can print extremely small details and textures required for machine-readable barcodes.
Barcode printers work by converting input data into a machine-readable code and printing the barcode symbology onto a surface. This enables quick and accurate data capture throughout supply chain, retail, healthcare, and other industries.
How Barcode Printers Work
The key components of barcode printers include:
- Print engine – This is the internal mechanism that physically prints the barcodes onto the label material. Direct thermal and thermal transfer are common print technologies.
- Printhead – This is the component that heats up and transfers ink or activates the thermal paper to print the barcodes.
- Media handling – This includes rollers and guides that smoothly transport label/tag media through the printer.
- Processor – This encodes the input data into the correct barcode symbology and controls the print engine.
- Connectivity – This includes wired or wireless interfaces like USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth, etc. to connect to devices.
- Software – Barcode printer software controls formatting, printing parameters, monitoring, and configuration.
Overall, the processor takes input data, encodes it into the correct barcode symbology, and controls the printhead and media handling components to print the machine-readable code onto the label/tag media fed through the printer.
Types of Barcodes
Some common barcode symbologies printed by barcode printers include:
- UPC-A/E – Used for retail products
- Code 39 – Used in healthcare, logistics, and other industries
- Code 128 – Very flexible with upper/lower case letters and special characters
- EAN-13/8 – Common in consumer goods and retail
- 2D Codes like QR Codes – Store more complex data like websites, emails, etc.
There are one-dimensional “linear” barcodes and two-dimensional matrix barcodes capable of storing more data. Barcode printers can be configured to print different symbologies as per application requirements.
Barcode Printer Technologies
The two major technologies used in barcode label printer today are:
- Direct Thermal – Uses heat from the printhead to activate heat-sensitive label material to print barcodes. No ink ribbon is required. Fast and cost-effective printing.
- Thermal Transfer – The printhead heats an ink ribbon to transfer ink onto the label surface. Creates highly durable prints suitable for industrial use.
Other technologies like inkjet and dot-matrix printing are also used in niche barcode printing applications.
Benefits of Using a Barcode Printer
Specialized barcode printers offer many benefits when used for printing machine-readable codes compared to standard printers:
Improved Accuracy
Barcode printers allow accurate and consistent printing of even minute details required for barcode scannability. This minimizes human errors like poorly printed barcodes that fail to scan.
Enhanced Efficiency
Instantly printing barcodes on demand increases efficiency. Workers don’t have to manually enter data, as barcode scanning automates the process.
Better Inventory Management
By labeling products, parts, assets, etc. with unique barcodes, organizations can track them simply by scanning. This provides excellent visibility into inventory.
Streamlined Processes
From inventory management to shipping, compliance labeling, retail checkout, document management and more, barcodes allow streamlining cumbersome manual processes.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Barcode Printer
Choosing the right barcode printer depends on your specific needs. Here are some key factors to consider:
Print Resolution
Higher print resolution produces sharper, crisper barcodes. Industrial printers offer 203-600 dpi while desktop printers print at 300-355 dpi. Higher resolution is better.
Print Speed
From 2 to 14 inches per second, print speed impacts label throughput. Industrial printers are faster than desktop models. Choose as per volume requirements.
Connectivity
Wired (USB, Ethernet, RS-232) and wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) connectivity allows easy integration into systems.
Print Volume
Print volume requirements determine whether an industrial or desktop barcode printer suits best. Industrial printers handle high daily volumes more reliably.
Barcode Types
1D or 2D barcodes, the number of barcode symbologies supported, etc. play a role if you need to print different barcode types.
Form Factor
Desktop, mobile, ultra compact and industrial/warehouse grade barcode printers are available to suit different environments.
Top Barcode Printers on the Market
Here are some excellent barcode printers to consider across desktop and industrial categories:
Zebra ZD420d
The Zebra ZD420d is a rugged thermal transfer and direct thermal industrial barcode printer suitable for high print volumes. It supports both 1D and 2D barcodes.
Honeywell PC42t
Honeywell’s PC42t is an easy-to-use, compact industrial barcode printer offering high-quality printing on a wide range of media.
iDPRT iT4S
iDPRT iT4S is a thermal transfer desktop barcode printer known for its speed (5 ips at 203dpi, 4 ips at 300dpi), large memory (128MB RAM, 256MB Flash), and big ribbon capacity. It offers automatic resolution and speed adjustment and supports multiple languages including ZPL-II, EPL2, TSPL, and DPL.
Epson TM-T88VI
The TM-T88VI is a versatile Epson POS barcode printer with smart media sensing and fast print speeds of 300 mm/second.
TSC TTP-246M
The TTP-246M from TSC prints 1D/2D barcodes and offers triple connectivity of Ethernet, USB and serial interfaces.
Brother QL-1110NWB
A compact direct thermal desktop barcode printer from Brother supporting wireless printing from mobile devices. Ideal for lower volume labels.
Tips for Using Barcode Printers Effectively
Follow these tips to maximize value from your barcode printing investments:
Choose the Right Barcode Symbology
Select barcode symbologies based on application needs. Read range, data representation and density requirements matter.
Maintain Print Quality
Use high-quality media, change printheads when needed, and follow manufacturer cleaning procedures to maintain crisp, scannable barcodes.
Pick the Right Label Stock
Match label materials, adhesives and durability to usage environments. Thermal papers vs. polyester labels, glossy/matte finish, etc. also impact print quality.
Position Barcodes Strategically
Place barcodes strategically on labels to ensure easy scanning, away from edges or obstructions. Avoid folds passing through the code.
Test Extensively Before Deployment
Conduct extensive testing of barcode print quality and scanning across expected usage conditions before full-scale deployment.
The Future of Barcode Printing
Barcode printing technology continues to evolve:
2D and QR Code Growth
2D barcodes are seeing increased adoption thanks to their ability to encode more complex data in a small footprint. QR codes are becoming ubiquitous.
Mobile Printing
More barcode printers now integrate with mobile devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc. This allows greater flexibility in printing barcodes on the go.
Cloud-Based Management
Printers are increasing able to be managed and configured remotely via cloud-based interfaces for more centralized control and easier management.
In summary, barcode printers are specialty devices designed to print scannable barcodes for a wide variety of industries and applications. Choosing the right barcode printer and using it effectively enables businesses to maximize the benefits of accurate auto-ID and greater operational efficiency.
Conclusion
Barcode printers are an indispensable technology for businesses across industries looking to improve efficiency, accuracy and visibility into their operations and inventory. Specialized barcode printers can print labels and tags with machine-readable codes that help streamline workflows when scanned. By considering factors like print technology, volume requirements, barcode symbologies and connectivity, businesses can choose the right barcode printer model suitable for their needs. Configuring and maintaining the printers properly ensures consistently high-quality barcode output. As barcode applications continue to expand, the capabilities of barcode printers also grow to better serve evolving business requirements.
FAQs
What are the main advantages of barcode printers?
The main advantages of barcode printers are high print quality and precision suited for barcodes, capacity to print various barcode symbologies, fast print speeds, automated printing that eliminates manual errors, and specialized connectivity and configuration options.
What industries commonly use barcode printers?
Barcode printers are extensively used in retail, transportation & logistics, manufacturing, food and beverage, healthcare, government and many other industries.
What barcode symbologies are best for inventory management?
Code 128, UPC-A, EAN-13 and 2D barcodes like Data Matrix are commonly used in inventory management for their data representation abilities, density and scanning reliability.
What features should you look for in an industrial-grade barcode printer?
Key features in industrial barcode printers include high print speeds, rugged build, steel case, advanced media handling capabilities, high duty cycles, multiple connectivity options and support for printing linear and 2D barcodes.
How can you ensure optimal barcode print quality?
Using manufacturer-recommended label media, changing printheads when needed, regularly cleaning the printer, positioning barcodes strategically, and testing barcode quality across expected scanning conditions ensure optimal print results.
