Printhead - Intermec EasyCoder PC41 Service Manual

Chapter 4—Print Frame

4.5 Printhead

Description
22
Printheads need to be replaced at intervals depending on type of printing,
print speed, ambient temperature and other environmental conditions,
type of media and ribbon, etc.
Some simple measures can be taken by the user to prevent premature wear-
out:
• Clean the printhead regularly, as described in the EasyCoder PC41 User's
Guide. Not only will a dirty printhead result in an inferior printout, but
any residue on the dots will prevent heat to dissipate through the ribbon
and media.
• Follow the recommendations regarding print density, see the Dark
Adjust command in the IPL Programmer's Reference Manual. Too much
energy to the printhead will wear it out rapidly.
• Do not use higher print speed setting than necessary, see the Print
Speed command in the IPL Programmer's Reference Manual.
• Low ambient temperature requires more energy to the printhead dots
than room temperatures and will therefore cause more wear to the print-
head. High print speed accelerates the wear. Thus, at low temperatures,
select as low a print speed as is acceptable.
• Never print outside the media path. Dots that are not in contact with
the media will not be cooled properly.
• When using preprinted labels or labels with some type of varnish or
non-standard top coating for direct thermal printing, use original
Intermec labels or inks recommended by leading manufacturers of direct
thermal media. The labels must not contain any aggressive substances
such as chloride or grinding substances such as titanium dioxide.
• Only use original Intermec transfer ribbon or ribbons recommended by
Intermec.
Note: There are two different types of V-springs; a standard type for media
fulfilling the specifications in the EasyCoder PC41 User's Guide, and a
stronger type for thick and stiff media (>150µm/5.9 mils). The latter is
recognized by its yellow paint coating.
Intermec EasyCoder PC41—Service Manual