Zebra S-Series User’s Guide 93
Print speed — The speed at which printing occurs. For thermal transfer
printers, this speed is expressed in terms of ips (inches per second). Zebra
offers printers that can print from 2 ips to 12 ips.
Printhead wear — The degradation of the surface of the printhead and/or
the print elements over time. Heat and abrasion can cause printhead wear.
Therefore, to maximize the life of your printhead, use the lowest print
darkness setting (sometimes called “burn temperature” or “head
temperature”) and the lowest printhead/toggle pressure necessary. Also,
use ribbon that is as wide or wider than the media to protect the printhead
from the rougher media.
Reflective media sensor — A sensor that detects a black mark on the back
of media by measuring the reflectivity of the media. This mark helps the
printer determine label size and print registration.
Registration — Alignment of printing with respect to the top of a label/
tag.
Ribbon — A band of inked material that is pressed by the printhead
against the media to transfer an image onto the media, which in turn is
pressed against the platen. A ribbon consists of a base film coated with
wax or resin “ink.” Zebra ribbons also have a back coating that protects
the printhead from damage. The ribbon transfers ink onto the media when
heated by the printhead.
Ribbon wrinkle — A wrinkling of the ribbon caused by improper
alignment of the strip plate and/or printhead pressure. This wrinkle can be
seen just above the strip plate. Ribbon wrinkle can cause voids in the print
and/or the spent ribbon to rewind unevenly. This is a condition that should
be corrected by performing adjustment procedures.
Roll media — Media that comes supplied rolled up on a core (usually
cardboard). Contrast this with fanfold media, which comes folded in a
rectangular stack.
Supplies — Supplies is a general term for ribbon and media.