What is a Barcode Printer?

Barcode printers are designed specifically to print barcode labels and tags. The different types of barcode symbologies reside in the barcode printer like fonts. This allows the printer to process the label data much faster than laser or dot matrix printers which print barcodes like a graphic image. Barcode printers can also print high quality graphics and text on labels and tags.

Barcode printers use rolls of labels instead of sheets. Most of the time, barcode labels come off the roll one at a time. You can print just one label at a time or a large batch without wasting any labels. For special applications or tiny labels, there can be multiple labels across the liner.

The barcode printer’s print head uses heat to print the barcode and text on the label. The two methods for this are called direct thermal and thermal transfer.

In direct thermal, the print head is in direct contact with the label. The label has a special coating that turns black when exposed to the print head’s heat.

Thermal transfer printing requires a barcode ribbon. The ribbon has ink on one side. It passes between the print head and the label. The print head’s heat transfers the ink to the label. Barcodes printed with this method tend to last longer than with direct thermal.

How much detail a barcode printer can produce is determined by its print resolution. That is measured in dots per inch, or DPI. The common DPIs are 203, 300, 400, and 600. The higher DPIs allow for more detail and crisper lines. Higher resolutions may be required for printing graphics or logos or for printing on very small labels.

Barcode printers can be fitted with a number of different media handling options. There are cutters, rewinders, and peelers. These can make the finished labels more convenient to use in your application.

Cutters are used when the label’s liner isn’t perforated or when using continuous media. The result is a stack of labels instead of a long strip. This is useful when a batch of labels is divided among several workers to apply.

Rewinders wind printed labels on an internal spindle. The result is a neat roll of labels that are easily transported or stored. They are useful for printing large batches that will be applied later or in another location.

Peelers are also called Dispensers, Self Strip, or Present Sensors. Peelers separate the printed label from the liner so the label can be quickly applied. The liner is typically taken up by the printer on an internal rewind spindle. That makes it easier to dispose of the liner later.