Batch Coding Machine: What You Need to Know

The Right Batch Coding Machine You Can Use for Quality Marking

Batch coding can be challenging when you lack the experience/expertise, materials selection knowledge, and of course, the right batch coding machine. There are many machines based on different processes you can use. Common ones include thermal inkjet marking machines and laser marking machines. Before jumping into details about these machines and how to use them, why not know about the batch coding machine that guarantee maximum marking efficiency? Below are a few ones you could consider.

The product marking market comprises many machines and marking methods. Therefore, it is no surprise that getting the right expiry date printing machine can be a confusing and massive decision. In batch coding, there are many types of batch coding machines, or as they are commonly called, expiry date printing machines to use. Each one runs under different technologies. Undoubtedly deciding on the perfect batch coding machine will be a daunting decision. However, we are here to help.

This article will introduce the batch coding process and the most efficient machines and processes you can use for your project. Are you looking for the perfect batch printing machine, or do you want to know about the process? Read this article to make such a decision undaunting.

What is Batch Coding?

Before running on to the details of choosing a batch coding machine, why not check through the basics.

Batch coding is a process that involves the inscription of codes (numbers and letters) on products that are identical in terms of production time, date, and location. It is an important process crucial in traceability during production, processing, and distribution.

Types of Batch Coding

Knowing the different batch coding processes will help you select the right expiry date printing machine for your project. Below are the three types of batch coding solutions.

· Manual Batch Coding

A manual batch printing machine mode of operation is by hand. Therefore, it is only suitable for small projects and is used by small manufacturers. Being manual, this machine has a lower production efficiency. Examples include traditional hot stamps and sticker roller coding machines.

· Semi-Automatic Batch Coding

Semi-automatic batch coding machines have both manual and automatic attributes. The automatic moiety is evident in its electronic and automatic application of codes. Its manual attribute is evident in its hand-driven product feeding and collection. A semi-automatic batch printing machine is suitable for medium-scale production that values efficiency and quality batch coding process.

· Automatic Batch Coding

Automatic batch coding machines can work without any operator intervention. On setting them up with the required code, there is automation in product feeding and printing. This occurs until you need to change the product or code. An automatic batch coding machine is the most suitable batch coding machine in large-scale production.

Contact or Non-Contact Batch Coding?

These are two categories that every expiry date printing machine you choose, whether manual, semi-automatic, or automatic, falls. Choosing between the two categories depends on the product you are marking and the features of the different batch coding machines you want to use.

· Contact Batch Coding Machines

A contact batch printing machine must come in direct contact with the product. It is an ideal machine for products that are stable to mechanical stress. Examples of contact batch coding machines include the traditional stamps and automatic thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) machines.

· Non-Contact Batch Coding Machines

Non-contact batch coding machines do not come in direct contact with the product or package. Therefore, they are ideal for products that are stable or not stable to mechanical stress. These machines use mechanisms such as lasers, ink sprays for code inscription. They are also ideal for batch codes that need frequent changing. Examples are continuous inkjet (CIJ) and thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printers and laser coders.

How Does a Coding Machine Work?

After the introduction to batch coding, we must now talk about how coding machine works. However, before then, we must discuss the different techniques and necessary machines use in batch coding. Here, we will talk about two major techniques that are common batch coding processes with many manufacturers. These are thermal inkjet printing and laser marking.

What is Thermal Inkjet Printing?

Thermal inkjet printing is a process that involves using a thermal inkjet printer or thermal foaming inkjet printer to mark a product. The thermal inkjet printer heats the ink and uses it in batch coding.

Thermal inkjet printers are easy to operate and install. They are powerful printers that can print real-time data, barcode, 2D code, date, serial number, and other characters on any product. The machines also have a powerful editing function. Therefore, you can edit up to 9 lines beyond 99% of the small character inkjet coder.

Consequently, there are many types of thermal inkjet printers with differences based on features and portability. Here, you will learn about their designs and structure, how they work, advantages and disadvantages, and what they can do for you.

Design and Structure of Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) Printers

Thermal inkjet printers have a simple structure. They generally have three parts: host, power supply, and print heads.

They do not require filters, cleaning, and maintenance. Therefore, you can have multi-head printers and supports many print heads to work at the same time. You can replace other color ink cartridges at any time. Common color supports include black, yellow, red, blue, white, and other colors. As a result of their design and structure, which boost operations, thermal inkjet printers are now on the rise for providing solutions to labeling companies.

How Does a Thermal Inkjet Printer Work?

The thermal inkjet technology principle involves the use of thin-film resistors.

The ink in the ink ejection zone will be instantly heated (more than 300 ℃) to form numerous tiny bubbles. These ink bubbles travel at a very high speed and expand into large bubbles. Consequently, they force the ink droplets from the nozzle to eject to form the desired text, numbers, barcodes.

When the bubble continues to expand, in the continuous inkjet operation, it fades back into the resistor. When the bubble disappears, the ink in the nozzle shrinks back. Then the surface tension will generate suction, and then draw new ink to replenish the ink ejection area to prepare for the next cycle of printers.

This mechanism of working improves the ease of using these printers by old and new users. Therefore, their printers are widely popular in the market and used in almost all industries.

How Many Types of Thermal Industrial Ink Printer?

There are two main types of thermal inkjet printers you can use as a batch printing machine. Below is a discussion on their features.

– Handheld Inkjet Coding Printer

These thermal inkjet printers are compact, easy to carry, and can work on a product at any place. They are more suitable for printing medium labels or large labels for products and can print high-quality labels on products made of paper and other materials

The ink cartridges can be used easily as portable devices, and you can print 2-d and QR codes and labels easily. Furthermore, handheld inkjet printers have a low cost and can use multiple inks of different colors for colorful marking solutions

– Online Or Inline Industrial Printers Machine Systems

These thermal inkjet printers are mainly used for batch printers of medium or tiny products such as date printing, serial number printing. They are also ideal for product printing, brand names, or QR codes. However, while they are suitable industrially, the continuous quality of marking/print is high.

What is the Thermal Inkjet Printers Price?

Before choosing a thermal inkjet printer, you would have to wonder how much a thermal inkjet printer costs or how to get a fair price or final price?

The prince of a thermal inkjet printer is due to its different structural designs. These include a software function, printers’ area, printers DPI, motherboard stability, etc.

A portable inkjet printer of high-quality costs from $300.00 to $1500, which is low if you compare it with other marking solutions.

An inline industrial printer cost is from $650 to $3000. However, if you want to buy overseas, add the fee of tax, customs clearance, and shipping costs to the final price for this type of printer.

What are the Advantages and Benefits of Inkjet Printers Applications?

Why then should thermal inkjet printing be your go-to method for batch coding? Below are a few reasons why they are the ideal batch coding machine to use.

– Sealed Ink Cartridges

There is no leakage and waste from the non-porous ink cartridge. Therefore, there is better cost control for customers to save more on the procurement cost of consumables during use. Consequently, thermal inkjet printers are the first-choice printers for printing labels for many.

– Low Maintenance

The printer maintenance and use costs are low. Since the solvent-based ink is sealed in the ink cartridge, thermal inkjet printers are almost no require common maintenance. When you use up the ink cartridge, just replace the new ink cartridge. As a result, this reduces the difficulty of the operation and use by customers and reduces the technical requirements for the production line workers.

The non-requirement of maintenance is one reason thermal inkjet printers are good batch coding machines

– Printer Systems for High-Volume Print

One of the advantages of thermal inkjet printers used to print high volumes of paper-based labels. These thermal printers are designed to sustain a high volume of paper print for batch labeling.

How To Use an Industrial Thermal Inkjet Printer Systems?

On getting a thermal inkjet printer for batch coding, the next thing you will probably worry about is how to use it. Below is a step wise way of using a thermal inkjet printer.

Note: The first thing you should pay attention to is to move the printer carefully and do not plug and unplug the ink cartridge after power on to avoid burning the nozzle.

– Check Out the Thermal Inkjet Printer

Spray some cleaning fluid on the surface of the printer’s nozzle first, and then gently squeeze the ink bag after one minute to let the ink flow out of the nozzle.

Put a piece of white paper in front of the printhead of the printer. Press the printing button and move the paper in front of the printhead of the printer. If there is no white line, it can be used normally.

If a white line appears in the middle of the spray, squeeze the ink bag again and repeat the previous work until the printing result is normal before spraying. This is a good way to test the printhead and easier available solutions.

– Edit the Batch Code

After confirming the good printing result of the printer on paper, edit text, date, number in the software. You can also import the pattern that needs to be printed into the machine through the U disk.

– Print the Batch Code

Move the nozzle to the position where you need to print and spray the code.

– Post Printing Process

After printing, remember to remove the ink cartridge from the printer and put it back into the original protective cover. Otherwise, the nozzle may dry out and block it if exposed to the air for a long time.

How You Can Maintain a Thermal Inkjet Coding Printer?

Thermal inkjet printers are easy to use and have a wide range of uses. However, you must use the thermal printer safely to avoid accidents. Below are a few precautions you can take.

– The Effect of Static Electricity

The inkjet printer equipment relies on static electricity to deflect. Therefore, you must properly ground them before use. If you do not, it can cause problems such as poor printer quality and poor ink dot splitting. In severe cases, the accumulation of static electricity to a certain extent may cause sparks and may cause fires.

– Ink and Water

You should not mix the ink drop, solvent, cleaning fluid, and other consumables of the handheld inkjet printers with water. This is because the ink drop of the inkjet printer is very sensitive to water.

– Ink and its Corrosive Property

The ink drop and solvent of the inkjet printers are corrosive. During use, avoid these substances from contaminating the skin, eyes, nose, and other parts. If you accidentally get a drop of ink onto them, you should rinse them with a lot of water for a quarter of an hour. If you feel unwell due to the ink onto your body, then you may need to seek medical attention.

– Lubrication

You might need to lubricate your inkjet printers every month after. After each use, pay attention to maintaining the cleanliness of the inkjet printer device to keep the machine in good condition.

Other than this, there is no requirement of any additional repair other than this on the printer systems. Therefore, the low upkeep cost of this type of batch coding machine makes it one of the most popular names in the market to mark projects.

What is Laser Marking?

Laser marking machines can also be ideal batch coding machines for several products. This is because they can produce codes of high readability necessary in some industries.

Types of Laser Marking Process and Machines You Can Use

Batch coding can occur via laser marking processes such as laser engraving, laser annealing, and laser etching. These laser marking processes form batch codes on the product using a laser beam. Below is an explanation of how they work:

– Laser Engraving

Laser engraving is a popular batch coding process that involves using a laser beam from a laser marking machine to remove parts of a material surface. Consequently, this leads to the inscription of the batch on the products. Laser engraved batch codes are highly readable.

– Laser Annealing

Laser annealing is another batch coding process that involves heating a metallic product to change its color. The color change represents the batch codes. However, while popular as a marking process, laser annealing is not popular in batch coding.

– Laser Etching

Laser etching is a batch coding process that inscribes batch does on products by melting and expanding the product surface. The formation of the raised mark leads to the marking.

Where You Can Use Laser Marking Machines for Batch Codes

Thermal inkjet printers are ideal for batch coding. However, at some point in time, you might need to use laser marking. For example, if you want to print batch codes on products of beverage industries, you must have a marking process that can print on foil seals, PET, and glass. This can be comfortably done by laser marking machines such as the CO2 laser and the fiber laser marking machine.

For some applications, a non-ink-based batch coder may present the best solution. For example, in the beverage sector, printing batch codes on the bottom of beer cans, wine bottles, and water bottles will require a system capable of printing on foil seals, PET, and glass, such as ascribing laser.

Get the Best in Terms of Batch Code

Batch codes are codes on products that are identical that are important for traceability. Therefore, selecting the right batch coding process and machine is an important task. Of the many marking processes available currently, this article will discuss thermal inkjet printing and laser marking and their use in batch coding.

Batch coding must be smooth and seamless. Therefore, you should trust a company that encourages that. Here, at HeatSign, you will enjoy a smooth and seamless batch coding operation. Also, you can get access to batch coding machines that promises you effectiveness, efficiency, and quality marking. We are your best bet amidst the uncertainty that exists in the market.