Ink Jet Printing Technology
TMC offers Ink jet printing and product identification solutions for any application. Using several inkjet printing technologies we offer both small and large character marking solutions. Continuous ink jet “CIJ” technology is used primarily in industrial packing applications. Drop On Demand “DOD” printers are available using Valve Jet (electronic valves), Piezo (piezoelectric crystal technology) or Thermal Ink Jet “TIJ” to print both large or small characters on both primary and secondary product coding applications. Because there are often several solutions for today’s coding and marking applications we have the application expertise and product mix so we can help you find the right one to fit your needs.
Continuous Ink Jet “CIJ” Technology
Continuous Ink Jet or “CIJ” technology is a non-contact form of high-speed printing used to apply fixed or variable information such as dates, text, batch codes, sequential numbers, bar codes, product names and logos onto individual products on the production line at production speeds. CIJ ink-jet printing is very fast, flexible, versatile and can print on almost any material regardless of size, shape and texture. Because of its speed and flexibility combined with a wide variety of inks CIJ technology is used to print on products in almost any industry like; Beverage, Food, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics, Contract Packaging, Wire or Auto parts Manufacturing and Mailing and Commercial Printing applications just to mention a few.
CIJ printers work by pushing a pressurized stream of ink through a nozzle from 35-70 microns in size. This steady stream of ink is broken into identical controlled small droplets at a rate of up to 120,000 per second. These droplets are then selectively charged and deflected to print dot matrix characters on the product as it passes by the printhead, or the printhead is traversed pass a stationary product. Any drops not used in the printing process are re-circulated.
All CIJ printers’ use the same basic technology, but they aren’t designed the same. The CIJ printers TMC offers include unique design features that make all the difference in ease of use, performance, reliability and total cost of ownership.
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Drop On Demand “DOD” Technology
With “Drop on Demand Inks” Drop On Demand “DOD” technology instead of a continuous stream of drops, only the drops that are required for printing are produced and they are produced on demand. The primary forms of DOD technology include the following;
Thermal Ink Jet
“TIJ” like with a bubble jet printer primarily water-based inks are used. The water is quickly heated which causes a large pressure increase in a series of tiny chambers, propelling a droplet of ink through the nozzle onto the paper until bubbles form, and the ink is forced. We offer TIJ Printing solutions using Hewlett Packard “HP” or Lexmark print engines. The Thermal Ink Jet coding solutions we offer provide optimum solutions for any user. They mark products and outer packaging with variable data such as best-before date, barcodes, 2D codes, logos and batch numbers. These codes can ensure “Anti Diversion” traceability and security against forgery in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical packaging and cosmetics industry.
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Piezo (piezoelectric printers)
An electrical voltage is generated causing piezo crystals to expand and forcing the ink through a fine nozzle opening. The drop volume is regulated via an electric pulse. We offer Piezo Printing solutions using Xaar and Trident print engines. TMC offers Piezo Printing Solutions for many applications. Although the primary application in packaging is for corrugated boxes especially for HR printing of multiple lines of mixed font text, barcodes and logos, there are some primary product coding applications, many commercial printing, and narrow web applications that are well suited for this technology. Especially on a porous material or when there is ample time for the ink to dry. In addition with the availability of Solvent systems and UV inks many non-porous products can be marked with speed and durability. TMC has solutions that can print on glass, metal cans, plastic containers, shrink wrap, mailing, and continuous web printing.
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Valve Jet (pressure valve printers)
are only used in industrial applications. The ink is under pressure on the input side of an array of micro valves, and the output sides of these valves are connected an array of small nozzles which only open to allow drops to leave the nozzle. The primary application in packaging for this technology is for large characters on corrugated boxes. Although TMC is pleased to offer Valve Jet technology that can successful print on paper, metal, glass, ceramics, stone, wood, plastic, rubber, foils, carpet, textiles and non-woven fabric and organic surfaces.
Print & Apply, Label Application Systems
Typical applications for both Label Applicators and Print and Apply Applicators include product content labeling, in-motion weight capture and labeling, order fulfillment labeling, product order price labeling, and carrier and vendor compliance labeling including barcodes, 2D codes and RFID Tags.
Label Applicators are available in automatic or semiautomatic systems. They apply preprinted pressure-sensitive labels to all types of products and packages. There are many models and each is uniquely designed to address specific labeling requirements.
Print and Apply Label Applicators are also available in automatic or semiautomatic systems. These systems are designed to print the required information on blank pressure-sensitive labels in real time prior to being applied. Like Label Applicators there are many models and each is uniquely designed to address specific labeling requirements.
