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Glossary Of Card Printer Terms

Posted on July 11, 2021February 11, 2023 by Adminsoft

Glossary of common card printer terms

Find definitions for printing terms and learn the jargon of the profession. To get what you need it helps to have the tools to describe it.

1: Barcode: It consists of a set of bars and spaces with different widths and different reflectivity. Combining according to the specified encoding and rules, it is used to represent a set of symbols for data.

2: Color matching: There are several color matching modes in the printer, these options are built in the original printer driver for easy selection. Color printing can be more clear, fine and accurate.

3: Contact IC card encoder: It is connected to the GEMPLUS GEMCORE 410 inside the printer through the ISO standard pins on the E-CARD platform. GEMCORE 410 converts the signal to RS-232 signal, and the application program can access it through the 9-pin communication port on the outside of the printer.

4: Non-contact IC card encoder: It is connected to the device through the antenna on the E-CARD platform. The application program can communicate with it through the external DB-9 pin communication port of the printer.

5: Printing Cards: The direct-to-card process is the process of printing digital images directly onto plastic cards with a smooth, clean, PVC surface.

6: Dpi (dots/inch): The unit of measurement for printer resolution. For example: 600DPI means that the printer can produce 600 dots per inch on the card. Note: 2400DPI in inkjet printing is equivalent to 300DPI in dye sublimation printing.

7: Double card feeder: Choose a printer with a capacity of up to 200 double card feeders. That is to say, you can load 200 same cards or 100 different cards into different card feeders at a time, which will be more effective. For example, if you use cards with gold and silver backgrounds, it is easier to distinguish the type of members, etc.

8: Dye-sublimation: It is the printing technology used by printers, which can produce smooth continuous tone, photo-quality images. This technology utilizes a dye-sublimation dye-based ribbon: the ribbon is divided into three color patches of yellow, magenta, and cyan. When the ribbon and card pass through the print head, tens of thousands of heat elements heat the dye on the ribbon, and the dye will vaporize and penetrate into the card surface after being heated. Different heat produces different color saturation and continuous color Mixed together, a continuous-tone, photo-quality color image is produced.

9: Edge-to-edge printing: used to refer to the larger printing surface of the card: printers with edge-to-edge capabilities can print to the edge of the card, without “white edges”.

10: Large-capacity printing: use less time to load and unload consumables and maintenance to produce cards quickly and excellently.

11: High resolution printing: This refers to printing full-color images onto the transfer film. The film is then transferred to the card by heat pressing. This revolutionary technology not only enhances the card’s durability and excellent color, but also can print to rough surface card. Such as: ID card and smart card.

12: High-speed printing: The card printer is the fastest among desktop printers. High-speed printing can make us produce cards more efficiently-saving time, money, and resources.

13: ISO: Magnetic stripe encoding specification defined by the International Organization for Standardization. The encoder supports high and low magnetic and 1, 2, 3 magnetic tracks.

14: Liquid crystal display: In the current operation mode of the printer, LCD-full crystal display-it shows the current working status and changes of the printer, and the LCD uses text to display error messages. This is easier to read than flashing lights.

15: Lockable card feeder: Some printers provide a lockable card feeder door. This lock is used to prevent white cards from being stolen, this feature is very useful when printing valuable cards. Such as prepaid cards, smart cards or cards with security features.

16: Magnetic stripe: The magnetic stripe refers to the black and brown magnetic stripes stuck on the card. The higher the density, the more difficult it is to read and write information on the magnetic strip. Magnetic stripes are commonly used in access control, attendance, dining, libraries and other fields.

17: Card output box: store printed cards. Sequence is FIFO – to issue and print sequential cards more quickly.

18: Lamination: Protective transparent or holographic laser anti-counterfeiting material covered on the card to increase the security and durability of the card. Thermal transfer film is a 0.25 mil TP material that enhances card security and durability. Polyguard film thickness is 1 mil and 0.6 mil; it can provide stronger protection, this kind of card is usually used in the field of high wear-resistant card.

19: Laminated color block: The transparent laminated color block is usually on the sublimation ribbon. This color block is automatically printed onto the card to prevent premature wear and fading of the image due to UV rays. All dye sublimation images must be covered with this film, laser security film to be protected.

20: Overedge: Refers to the larger printing area of the card. Printers with an over-edge feature can print cards that are completely borderless.

21: Contactless card: Use the built-in antenna to realize non-contact use.

22: Resin thermal transfer: This technology is used to print clear black text information and barcodes that can be read by infrared and visible light barcode scanners. It can also be used to print fast, cheap monochrome cards. Like Dye Sublimation. It is similar to using the print head to transfer the color from the ribbon to the card, but the difference is that when the heat and pressure are applied, the color image penetrates below the surface of the card. This technology is used for monochrome cards for production.

23: Smart card: It has embedded a computer integrated circuit with a memory chip microprocessor chip. Several common types are: storage IC card, non-contact IC card, hybrid card, dual interface card, proximity card, etc.

24: Intelligent anti-counterfeiting: It enables the printer to print cards with custom anti-counterfeiting patterns, and the anti-counterfeiting patterns will fluoresce under the ultraviolet light.

25: Standard card: The size of the standard card is CR-80. CR-80 size is 85.6mm x 54mm.

26: Thermal transfer lamination: It is an anti-counterfeiting film for cards, with a thickness of 0.25 mil, which can increase the security and anti-counterfeiting of cards. It is often used in moderate security and anti-wear fields.

Cleaning Cards Essential To Keep Your Printer Running Efficiently.

Posted on June 22, 2021May 5, 2023 by Adminsoft

Cleaning cards are cheap insurance to maintain business operating efficiently.

The majority of today’s customer transactions are facilitated through the use of electronic media. No more so than at the frontline of business – businesses such as retailers, supermarkets, hospitality, hotels, transit, airlines, banking, gaming, logistics, and security.

Cleaning Cards are the preferred method to clean the internal mechanisms of these devices. Dirty equipment leads to card rejections, repeated insertions,

These transactions not only rely on the connection between the customer’s card and the device that reads that card but also on the verification of the transaction by printing a docket or label.

Card Reader Cleaning Card · Cleaning Card for banknote acceptors · Cleaning Stripe for banknote acceptors · EFT/POS & Retail Cleaning Card · Special Cleaning Cards.

Transactions that rely on electronic devices include:

•Card reading – purchases, ATMs transactions, hotel door locks, health insurance claims, loyalty card identification, security access, time card, kiosks
•Printed receipts, tickets, labels, and dockets – airline baggage tags and boarding passes, parking receipts, EFTPOS receipts, shipping labels, inkjet, laser, and dot matrix printers, kiosks
•Currency note recognition – gaming machines, retail, and supermarket self-serve aisles, car washes, vending machines, currency counters
•Financial transactions – cheque readers, cheque scanners

Thermal Printer Cleaning Cards

Posted on June 21, 2021March 1, 2025 by Adminsoft

Maintaining your thermal printer's performance and print quality requires regular cleaning, and thermal printer cleaning cards are an effective solution for this purpose.

What Are Thermal Printer Cleaning Cards?

Thermal printer cleaning cards are specially designed tools pre-saturated with cleaning solutions, typically containing high-purity Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). These cards are engineered to remove contaminants such as dirt, ink residue, adhesives, and other debris that accumulate on the print heads, paper guides, and paper paths of thermal printers. Regular use of these cleaning cards helps in maintaining optimal print quality and prolongs the lifespan of the printer components.

Thermal Printer Cleaning Cards

Clean your Thermal Printer with every media roll change or at least twice per month. Printers become dirty from "paper dust" and adhesives as well as environmental contaminants such as airborne grease particles.

This cleaning card removes burnt-on paper particles and adhesive residue that build up on a printer’s thermal print head.

The minimum temperature of the print head is 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Which will burn foreign material to the print head causing streaks and fading of the printed label or receipt.

The cleaning card is the most versatile method of cleaning a print head as it does not require the print head to be easily accessible or exposed.

In most cases, with the power off, you insert it as you would the print media and just pull the card through.

The most commonly used size of thermal printer print head. It is suitable for most thermal printers, including barcode printers, label printers, receipt printers. The card is soaked in the IPA solution to make it effectively remove the residual oxide on the print head. It has a flat surface and thin thickness, reducing material costs while also meeting cleaning requirements. Because the print head and platen rollers are also flat. Good absorbency and long-lasting cleaning.

It is recommended by thermal printer manufacturers to clean the print head with every change of paper or label stock for crisply printed material.
For the most thorough cleaning use the Yousite Thermal Printer Cleaning Cards.

These unique cleaning cards will not only clean the print head but rotate the platen rollers as they clean to remove contaminates that normally would just migrate back to the print head.

The combination of scrubbing waffles and the ability to rotate the platen rollers makes this product by far the choice of OEMs.

Product Options:

Here are some thermal printer cleaning cards available in the market:

Usage Instructions:

Power Down the Printer: Ensure the printer is turned off and unplugged to prevent any electrical issues.
Prepare the Cleaning Card: Remove the cleaning card from its packaging.
Insert the Cleaning Card: Place the card into the paper feed path as you would with regular media.
Initiate Cleaning Cycle: If your printer has a cleaning function, activate it. Otherwise, manually feed the card through the printer to allow it to clean the print head and paper path.
Repeat if Necessary: For heavily contaminated printers, multiple passes may be required.
Dispose of the Used Card: After use, discard the cleaning card appropriately.
Power Up and Test: Plug in and turn on the printer, then run a test print to ensure optimal performance.

Recommended Cleaning Frequency:

It's advisable to clean your thermal printer at regular intervals, such as every time you change the media (labels, paper rolls, etc.), or after a specific number of prints as recommended by the printer manufacturer. Regular maintenance helps in sustaining print quality and extending the printer's operational life.

Incorporating thermal printer cleaning cards into your routine maintenance schedule is a cost-effective way to ensure consistent performance and longevity of your printing equipment.

Zebra T-shape Long Cleaning Card

Posted on May 21, 2021March 1, 2025 by Adminsoft

The Zebra T-Shape Long Cleaning Card is a specialized maintenance tool designed to clean Zebra card printers effectively. Its unique T-shape allows it to reach and clean areas within the printer that are otherwise difficult to access, ensuring optimal performance and print quality.

Long T–Shape Cleaning Kits for P120i Card Printer 105912-312, 50/Bag(50pcs Cleaning Cards, Length 320mm): Cleaning Kits .

Zebra T-shape long Cleaning Card

1. Blending polyester, spun lace, cellulose, and PVC card.
2. For cleaning contaminants from Zebra printers.
3. Hot-press compound.

Description

The Zebra P330I cleaning kit includes 25 standard cleaning cards (CR80 cleaning cards), and 25 T-size cards (print engine cleaning cards). Zebra 105912-913.

The saturated disposable cleaning card is designed for cleaning effectively dirt, magnetic oxides, oils, debris, lotions, and other contaminants from all kinds of ID card printers, scanners, readers, and barcodes. It is a cost-effective way to maintain your card readers and increase the service life of the magnetic heads We can produce different cleaning cards for different printer numbers according to your requirements.

Features

Material Composition: Typically made from a blend of spunlace, polyester, cellulose, and PVC materials, providing excellent absorbency and durability.
Pre-saturated with IPA Solution: Infused with an electronic-grade Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) solution, which effectively removes dirt, magnetic oxides, oils, debris, and other contaminants from the printer components.
Packaging: Each cleaning card is individually sealed in an aluminum foil pouch, ensuring longevity and preventing contamination before use.

Usage Instructions:

Power Down the Printer: Before cleaning, turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source to ensure safety.
Access the Card Path: Open the printer’s card feeder or input hopper to access the card path.
Insert the Cleaning Card: Place the T-shape long cleaning card into the card feeder just as you would with a standard card.
Initiate the Cleaning Cycle: Refer to your specific Zebra printer model’s manual to start the cleaning cycle. Some models have a dedicated cleaning button or option within the printer’s software interface.
Run the Cleaning Card Through the Printer: Allow the cleaning card to pass through the printer. The pre-saturated card will absorb and remove contaminants from the rollers and internal components.
Repeat if Necessary: For printers with significant buildup, it may be beneficial to run a second cleaning card to ensure all contaminants are removed.
Dispose of the Used Cleaning Card: After use, discard the cleaning card appropriately. Single-use
Power Up and Test: Plug the printer back in, power it on, and run a test print to ensure optimal performance.

Recommended Cleaning Frequency:

Regular Maintenance: For environments with heavy printer usage, it’s advisable to clean the printer every 1,000 card prints or once a month, whichever comes first.
Signs of Contamination: If you notice print anomalies such as streaks, missing colors, or other print defects, perform a cleaning cycle immediately.

Purchasing Options:

Zebra T-Shape Long Cleaning Cards are available through various suppliers. Here are a few options:

YOUSUTO: Offers T-shape long cleaning cards compatible with Zebra printers.
Amazon: Various sellers offer presaturated long T-shape cleaning kits suitable for Zebra card printers.

Regular use of these cleaning cards helps maintain the longevity and performance of your Zebra card printer, ensuring consistently high-quality prints.

HDP5000 Card Printer Cleaning Kit Special Items

Posted on March 18, 2021November 18, 2022 by Adminsoft

HDP5000 Card Printer Cleaning Kit special items

Fargo card printer in the print industry is also a very good quality printer, but the printer itself received the surrounding environment, such as prolonged use of the print head has accumulated a lot of dust, or due to other causes the printer can not be used, it needs to be clean up.

This paper is to tell you about a special cleaning kit Fargo HDP5000 This item has what Card Printer.

89200/88933 Cleaning Kit 4 Printer Head Cleaning Swabs · 10 Cleaning Cards · 10 Cleaning Pads · 3 Alcohol Cleaning Cards · Compatible with HDP6600 & HDP8500.

First, the four printhead cleaning swabs to clean the printer head.

The printhead is an important part of the card printer, the printhead must be cleaned on a regular basis.

Second, the 10 clean wipes for cleaning the printer’s interior and exterior.

Some fine dust is because of the electrostatic adsorption inside the printer or external, which will lead to a printer or inside the dust being very thick.
Third, 10 sheets of clean paper cards, clean the printer roller.

The wheel is transmitted card components, if the wheel itself carries dust, card-making, will inevitably affect the quality.

Four, or three alcohol cleaning cards, to clean the printer roller.

Our main point is to use the sticky card to the printer wheels are clean. If the effect is not very satisfactory, using alcohol to clean the card can be icing on the cake.

For more card printer cleaning kit items, welcome to our company or contact our sales staff on the site.

Print Issues On Card Printer

Posted on March 18, 2021February 27, 2025 by Adminsoft

Print Issues On Card Printer

The print is too light

Possible Causes:

Low or inconsistent ribbon quality
Dirty printhead
Incorrect printer settings
Low-quality cards or damaged cards

Troubleshooting:

Clean the printhead: Dust, debris, or ink residue can affect print quality. Use a printer-specific cleaning kit or cleaning cards to clean the printhead.
Check the ribbon: Make sure you’re using the correct ribbon type for your printer. A faulty or low-quality ribbon can cause poor print quality.
Adjust printer settings: Check the print density and contrast settings in your printer driver. Ensure they are optimized for your current print job.
Use quality cards: Ensure that you’re using high-quality cards suitable for your printer. Damaged or low-quality cards can cause print quality issues.

Spotty on barcode

Possible Causes:

Printhead misalignment
Ribbon wrinkles or damage
Incorrect card thickness
Faulty printhead

Troubleshooting:

Check for ribbon damage: Make sure the ribbon is properly aligned and not wrinkled or torn.
Re-align the printhead: Some card printers allow you to recalibrate the printhead for even prints.
Inspect the cards: Ensure that you’re using the correct thickness of cards for your printer’s specifications. Cards that are too thick or too thin can cause uneven printing.
Check the printhead: If the printhead is damaged or not making good contact with the card, it could cause lines or stripes. In some cases, you may need to replace the printhead.

White or colored spots on cards

1. Cards or print heads have contamination. Use cleaning cards.
2. Spots may be shown due to dirt on the transport roller. The transport roller may need cleaning.

Yellow spots

This may be caused by oil residue on the transport roller. Use a cleaning card to clean the transport roller.

Color Inaccuracy or Misprints (Wrong Colors)

Possible Causes:

Incorrect ribbon installation (wrong color panels installed)
Incorrect printer color settings
Printhead damage
Dirty or misaligned printhead

Troubleshooting:

Check the ribbon cartridge: Ensure the ribbon is installed correctly, with the correct color panels in place. If the ribbon is reversed, it will cause color issues.
Verify color settings: Ensure that the color profiles and settings in your printer driver match the desired output.
Clean the printhead: A dirty printhead can cause misprints and color inaccuracies. Use a printer cleaning kit to clean the printhead.

White horizontal lines

1. Dust or particles are stuck to the printhead. Use a Cleaning Card to clean the printer or use a Cleaning Pen or Cleaning Swab to clean the printhead manually.
2. Printhead has damaged elements and needs to be replaced.

Blurry letters or images

The card may not be traveling properly due to dirty rollers. This disturbs the timing of when the color panels on the ribbon lay down on the card as it prints. Run a cleaning procedure.

The Special Cleaning Card For Printer

Posted on March 10, 2021November 19, 2022 by Adminsoft

The printer is divided into different types, such as thermal printers, inkjet printers, card printers, and thermal printers, are mainly used for Adhesive Card, cleaning pens and cleaning foam swabs to clean up, but the card printer and inkjet printers can be used to clean. Now there are a lot of Adhesive Card manufacturers on the market, how do buy printer cleaning cards?
Under normal circumstances, each will have a different type of printer, the printer of the imports and exports also have different widths, so they need the corresponding printer, Adhesive Card.

Some friends will ask, why can’t I make a similarly sized card to clean?

Cards clean the printhead and any build-up on the printer’s rollers. Clean when experiencing poor print quality, illegible receipts, paper jams, or print voids.

Two can also be used for cleaning soaked with IPA card, the effect of other products can not compete.

Yousite company carries cleaning kits for ID card printer manufacturers including Zebra (Eltron), Magicard, Fargo, Evolis, and Datacard(Entrust).
Now Yousite also pays close attention to its own brand of products, we believe that Yousite’s printer cleaning kit will gradually occupy the market.

How to Clean Fargo DTC4500 Card Printer

Posted on February 17, 2021November 18, 2022 by Adminsoft

How to clean the Fargo DTC4500 card printer.

Recommended to clean your Fargo DTC4500 card printer when you change your ribbon. All you need is a Yousite long cleaning card compatible with Fargo DTC4500.

Steps for cleaning Fargo DTC4500:

1: The maintenance and working environment of the card printer is an important factor affecting the operation and service life of the printer. So please try not to place the printer in a workplace with too much dust or strong sunlight.

2: Regular cleaning of the printer can keep the printer in a better condition, print better quality results, and avoid failures.

3: Before cleaning the printer, please clean the dust around the inside of the printer. And then Clean the card reader ribbon with a cleaning card.

4: Recommended to clean your Fargo DTC4500 card printer when you change your ribbon

If the machine is in a relatively bad working environment, please shorten the interval between two cleanings and increase the number of cleanings.

5: The cleaning of any printer consists of three parts. The cleaning wheel cleans the card; the cleaning pen cleans the print head; the cleaning card cleans all the rollers in the machine.

Three parts are indispensable: Use the cleaning pen to clean the print head. It can better protect the print head and prolong its service life of the print head.

Recommended purchasing related cleaning kits.

6: Before cleaning the printer, please use a cleaning stick to clean the dust inside the printer and around the printer (the dust floating inside the printer may be charged with static electricity due to the operation of the cooling fan during the working process of the printer, and it is easy to be adsorbed on the print head and cause broken needle in the print head), and then clean it with the cleaning kit.

7: Please do not reuse the cleaning card: After the cleaning card is used once, there is very little detergent on the cleaning card, and the cleaning effect cannot be achieved.

8: Be careful not to damage the print head when opening or closing the case cover.

9: Do not carry hard objects such as watches and rings when checking the machine, as they are easy to touch and damage the print head.

Rio Pro Card Printer Cleaning

Posted on January 17, 2021November 17, 2022 by Adminsoft

Printer cleaning consists of three parts. The cleaning rollers clean the card; the cleaning pen cleans the print head; the cleaning card cleans all the rollers in the machine.

Three parts are indispensable: Use the cleaning pen to clean the print head. It can better protect the print head and prolong its service life of the print head. It is recommended to purchase related cleaning kits.

Rio Pro Card Printer Cleaning

To keep your Rio Pro working properly, you should clean the printer every time you change the dye film ribbon.
To do this, you need a Rio Pro turned on, a new cleaning card, and a cleaning pen as well as the new Cleaning Roller Assembly.

Magicard M9005-761 Card Printer Cleaning Kit 10 T-Type Long Card, 1 Cleaning Pen, 5 Cleaning Rollers. For the Magicard Rio, Tango and Avalon printers.

Steps for cleaning Rio Pro:

It is recommended to use a cleaning card to clean all the spindles in the machine and replace the cleaning rollers after each roll of ribbon is used. If the machine is in a relatively bad working environment, please shorten the interval between two cleanings and increase the number of cleanings.

1. First, remove the card hopper and open the printer to remove the dye film ribbon and the blue sticky roller underneath it. Remove the metal bar from this blue roller, and set it aside in a safe place.
2. Use the menu on the front of the printer and navigate to the cleaning rollers option. Use the keys to work through the guidance messages ensuring your printer is ready for cleaning.
3. Open the pouch containing the new cleaning card and remove the card. Select “yes” on the printer, and insert the cleaning card. While the card is in the printer, the parts left by the printing process are removed with the alcohol in the card.
4. Flipping the card and repeating this process at least two to four times in order to get everything really clean. The cleaning process takes only a few seconds, and when it’s done you can clearly see the result.
5. Sometimes the Rio Pro’s rollers may be really dirty. In this case, you need to manually clean. Leave the automatic clean mode, and select move card from the main menu.
6. For the cleaning card in half, press it onto the main middle roller while holding down one of the move card buttons. Move the cleaning card back and forth for around 15 to 20 seconds. You can clearly see the dirt and debris removed by this process.
7. You may also wish to clean the Rio intake roller. Turn the printer around and pulled the upward move card button while pressing the cleaning card onto the Rio roller for 15 to 20 seconds. Again, this cleaning process leaves a clear result.
8. Finally, it is important to clean the printhead on the Rio pro. Gently move the pen across the printhead to remove any dust or residue.
9. After cleaning you’ll install a new sticky roller to the printer. Remove the roller from the dye film box, and insert the metal bar which you set aside earlier. Unwrap the roller and snap it into place directly above the orange roller towards the back of the unit. Removed the new roller dye film from the box and unwrap it. Place the dye film into the printer.
10. Gently close the lid of the printer and replace the card hopper in the back of the unit.
Your Rio Pro is clean and ready to print.

Have You Cleaned Your Card Printer?

Posted on November 17, 2019November 17, 2022 by Adminsoft

How often do you clean your card printer? Which brand you are using? Evolis, Magicard or Datacard ?

Do you remember when was the last time you cleaned your card printer? If not, you should pay more attention to your printer cleaning.

Many card printers contain a cleaning system to clean card when it is printing. But the components very easy to attract dust and debris as plastic cards have a high static charge. So if you have not cleaned your card printer regularly, it will reduce the quality of the print, resulting in fuzzy images.

It takes you just a short time and a few steps to do the cleaning job.

Have You Cleaned Your Card Printer?

Here are three basic steps:

1. Remove the ribbon.

2. Insert the cleaning card into the feeder.

3. Put back the ribbon.

Where do you get the printer cleaning kits?

Yousite provides various cleaning kits compatible with most hot brands in the market, such as Evolis, Magicard, Datacard, and many more. Click here for more information about Yousite cleaning kits.

How often should you clean your printer?

If you are using color ribbons, it is the best time to perform a cleaning cycle when you change your ribbon. When you use monochrome ribbons, you can perform a cleaning cycle per week or per month depending on the usage frequency of printing. It is recommended to set the firmware prompt to approximately every 250 cards.

If there are unprinted lines on the card printed, you should clean the printhead. We supply thermal printer cleaning pens and cleaning swabs to effectively clean the contaminant build-up on the printhead. If unprinted lines still exist, they may have permanent damage to your printhead. You will have to replace it.

Clean your printer regularly to prevent jams or other minor issues by using the automatic cleaning feature that’s available on most printers. Manually clean the paper rollers with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris.

So if you want to buy any cleaning products for card printer cleanings, such as cleaning pens, cleaning swabs, cleaning wipes, or cleaning kits, please just feel free to contact us!