Intermec 3400

3400, 3440, and 3600 Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual
HelvC
NugFont
Code39
5-10
Increasing Throughput
To print labels as quickly as possible, you must adjust the print speed in
conjunction with the number of image bands (one image band equals 1 inch of
label). The print speed and image band settings determine the rate at which the
printer processes the images of your labels. This rate in turn affects the
throughput of the entire printing process.
The printer begins imaging the label as soon as it receives the command to
select a format. Since the printer starts imaging the label so early, the chance
that the imaging process will be unable to keep up with the print speed
decreases and throughput improves. However, if the number of image bands is
too low, the imaging process is unable to keep up with the print speed. In this
case, the printer stops printing and starts again at the lowest print speed with
the maximum number of image bands. If the image band command is set too
high, the printer spends more time than necessary imaging and slows down
label production.
What Is an Image Band?
Image bands are a section of memory where a picture of a label format is
drawn. This drawing process is known as imaging. Once the picture is imaged,
the printer loads the picture from the image bands to the printhead for printing.
Each image band is equal to 1 inch of length of the label format. The number of
image bands you use may be less than the length of the label being printed. The
number of image bands (in inches) does not have to equal the length of the
label since the printer recycles the image bands. Once the contents of an image
band have been printed, it may be reused to image the next section of the label.
Keep in mind that the more complex the label, the longer it will take to image
each section, thus requiring a slower print speed. To use a higher print speed,
use more image bands to allow more of the imaging process to complete before
printing begins.
How Does the Image Bands Command Work?
The image bands command controls the amount of memory allotted to the
imaging process. When you increase the image band adjustment to a higher
number, you are adding more buffers to the imaging memory. By doing this,
more of the label format is imaged before printing begins.
The minimum number of required image bands is dependent upon the print
speed and the complexity of the label. Labels that contain numerous fields with
different rotations, graphics, or combinations of any number of these
formatting options may require a higher number of image bands.
To set the number of image bands, use PrintSet or the IPL command. For help,
see the PrintSet online help or the
IPL Programming Reference Manual
.