User's Manual

35
Printer Setup
Ribbon Overview
5/12/08 ZM™ Series/RZ™ Series User Guide 79695L-002 Rev. A
Ribbon Overview
Ribbon is a thin film that is coated on one side with wax, resin, or wax resin, which is
transferred to the media during the thermal transfer process. The media determines whether
you need to use ribbon and how wide the ribbon must be.
When ribbon is used, it must be as wide as or wider than the media being used. If the ribbon is
narrower than the media, areas of the printhead are unprotected and subject to premature wear.
When to Use Ribbon
Thermal transfer media requires ribbon for printing while direct thermal media does not.
To determine if ribbon must be used with a particular media, perform a media scratch test.
To perform a media scratch test, complete these steps:
1. Scratch the print surface of the media rapidly with your fingernail.
2. Did a black mark appear on the media?
Coated Side of Ribbon
Ribbon can be wound with the coated side on the inside or outside. The ribbon used must
match the Thermal Transfer option installed. The standard Thermal Transfer option (black
ribbon spindle) uses ribbon coated on the outside, and the alternate Thermal Transfer option
(gray ribbon spindle) uses ribbon coated on the inside. If you are unsure which side of a
particular roll of ribbon is coated, perform an adhesive test or a ribbon scratch test to
determine which side is coated.
Adhesive Test
If you have labels available, perform the adhesive test to determine which side of a ribbon is
coated. This method works well for ribbon that is already installed.
To perform an adhesive test, complete these steps:
1. Peel a label from its liner.
2. Press a corner of the sticky side of the label to the outer surface of the roll of ribbon.
3. Peel the label off of the ribbon.
If a black mark... Then the media is...
Does not appear on the media Thermal transfer. A ribbon is required.
Appears on the media Direct thermal. No ribbon is required.
Printer Setup
Ribbon Overview
36
79695L-002 Rev. A ZM™ Series/RZ™ Series User Guide 5/12/08
4. Observe the results. Did flakes or particles of ink from the ribbon adhere to the label?
Ribbon Scratch Test
Perform the ribbon scratch test when labels are unavailable.
To perform a ribbon scratch test, complete these steps:
1. Unroll a short length of ribbon.
2. Place the unrolled section of ribbon on a piece of paper with the outer surface of the
ribbon in contact with the paper.
3. Scratch the inner surface of the unrolled ribbon with your fingernail.
4. Lift the ribbon from the paper.
5. Observe the results. Did the ribbon leave a mark on the paper?
If ink from the ribbon... Then...
Adhered to the label The ribbon is coated on the outside and can be
used with the standard Thermal Transfer
option (black ribbon spindle). In the ribbon
loading procedure, instructions are marked
with this symbol.
Did not adhere to the label The ribbon is coated on the inside and can be
used with the alternate Thermal Transfer
option (gray ribbon spindle). In the ribbon
loading procedure, instructions are marked
with this symbol.
If the ribbon... Then...
Left a mark on the paper The ribbon is coated on the outside and can be used with
the standard Thermal Transfer option (black ribbon
spindle).
Did not leave a mark on the
paper
The ribbon is coated on the inside and can be
used with the alternate Thermal Transfer
option (gray ribbon spindle). In the ribbon
loading procedure, instructions are marked
with this symbol.