3: Theory of Operation
Card Movement During Printing
P1061942-001 Zebra ZXP Series 1 Card Printer Service Manual 85
Step 4. The card is printed.
Dye-Sublimation Printing
The leading edge of the card is moved under the Printhead (over the Platen Roller),
and the Printhead is lowered. Lowering the Printhead reduces the space between
the Printhead, the ribbon, and the card, which produces sharper images.
The last time the Lid was opened and closed, the ribbon was automatically
synchronized, bringing the leading edge of the yellow ribbon panel (for a YMCKO
ribbon) under the Printhead.
As the card and ribbon move along, each element of the Printhead receives a pulse
of variable width; a wider pulse results in a hotter element which melts a larger
amount of yellow dye onto that particular spot on the card.
After this yellow pass is completed, the Printhead is raised, the card is moved back
pre-print position, and printing continues with the Magenta panel, the Cyan panel,
the Black panel, and finally the Overlay panel.
Thermal-Transfer Printing
If using a monochrome ribbon (used when printing a bar code on a card), the card
makes a single pass under the Printhead. The Printhead elements are energized to
either on or off. The on level actually transfers the spot of resin under the Printhead
element to the card. This results in the sharpest possible images; for bar codes you
want the sharpest edges and highest contrast between dark and un-printed areas.
Step 5. When printing is completed, the card is moved to the Card Exit, where it falls into the
Card Output Hopper.
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