DNP Laboratory Troble Shooting Services 2012

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Laboratory & Trouble Shooting Services

DNP IMS America Pittsburgh

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DNP Pittsburgh’s Applications Lab is known as the quickest, most responsive testing laboratory in the industry (less than 3 day turnaround).

Capabilities: Compatibility TestingCo-supplier TestingChemical Resistance TestingRibbon RecommendationsDurability TestingTroubleshootingCompetitive Ribbon Substitutions

Applications Laboratory

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Applications LaboratoryMeet our Lab Technical

Support Team:NevinMaryAnnLarry andMike

• Product Applications 24 to 48 hr turn around

• Quality Trouble Shooting • Call us Direct

800# 855-669-4367

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Applications Laboratory

There are over 70 thermal transfer printers availablein the Quality / Applications lab for testing.

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Applications Laboratory

DNP Pittsburgh Standard Test Label Format

Rotated Barcode(ladder barcode)Scan: ANSI Grade A

Non-rotated Barcodes(picket fence barcodes)

Scan: ANSI Grade AScan grading basedon the AmericanNational StandardsInstitute (ANSI)

Density Box

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Quality / Applications LaboratoryAB-301 Colorfastness Tester

(Used for smudge and scratch testing)

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Smudge Testing:

50 cycles for wax and wax/resin ribbons, 100 cycles forresin ribbons with 500g downward force

500g weight

Cotton Cloth

Quality / Applications Laboratory

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Scratch Testing:

20 cycles for wax and wax/resin ribbons, 50 cycles forresin ribbons with 200g downward force

200g weight

Stainless SteelTip

Quality / Applications Laboratory

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DNP Pittsburgh’s Quality Laboratory is quick and responsive to production and customer needs.

Capabilities: Specification Testing of CoresSpecification Testing of WebsCustomer IssuesJumbo Roll QualityTroubleshooting in Production and FinishingPhysical Property Ribbon TestingTrial Qualifications

Quality Laboratory

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Quality Laboratory

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Troubleshooting

Guide

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Common Maintenance Tips

Recommend your customers clean their print heads after every rollof ribbon with a non-abrasive cloth soaked with Isopropyl Alcohol(IPA).

Improper use of print head cleaning cards can result in print headdamage.

Vacuum and dust printers frequently.

Always recommend your customers use ribbons which are slightlywider than the label stock. Too wide will cause ribbon wrinkleduring printing. Too narrow causes a white wear mark onprint head resulting in print head damage.

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TroubleshootingThe Ribbon Does Not Print; Why?

Print Temperature - (i.e. heat setting on the printer) - too low, no image

Print Speed - ex. Too slow with too high heat or too fast without enough heat

Print head Pressure - Optimize according to OEM guidelines, uneven causes light and dark print across printed label

Winding Tensions - Unwind and rewind spindles

Dust Voids - Small circular areas on a printed image where ink didn’t transfer

Ink Wind -Ink wound direction is per printer OEM specifications. Reversingrolls is not approved.

Label Incompatibility - Ribbon not designed for label resulting in poor print quality

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The Ribbon Does Not Print; Why?

Printer location: Is the printer located in a cold, warm, or dusty environment?

What type of label stock and ribbon is being used?

What type of printer is being used?

What is the print speed, and temperature?

What type of ribbon is being used?

What is the ribbon lot, part or other identification number?

Troubleshooting

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OBSERVATION: Print Voids

Possible Causes:

Dust on label stock from shipping material, storage, or the label core.

Atmospheric Dust - from storage for long periods of time.

Solutions:

Clean label with compressed air, a vacuum, or use static tinsel.

Remove a few feet of label stock exposing the protected inner surface which is free of dust and dirt.

When storing, cover or place labels in plastic.

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Possible Causes:

Fingerprints - handling of label stock; skin oils adhere to surface.

Label Surface - Uncoated and/or rough surface.

Adhesive Ooze.

Solutions:

Wipe label stock with cloth, or remove a few feet of the label to expose a clean area. Handle labels by the edges.

Use smooth (coated) label stock, or use a soft wax for printing.

Use new label stock, adhesive ooze is observed in aged label stock.

OBSERVATION: Print Voids Due to label stock Surface

Troubleshooting

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OBSERVATION: Vertical Line Through the Printed Image

Possible Causes:

Dirt on printhead

Damaged printhead

Solutions:

Clean printhead with IPA.

Inspect printhead for visual damage if cleaning does not eliminate the problem.

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Possible Causes:

Unwind and rewind shafts on printer out of sync.

Uneven printhead pressure.

Printhead misaligned.

Solutions:

Reset tension on shafts.

Adjust printhead pressure to spec.

Realign printhead to ensure uniform pressure.

OBSERVATION: Ribbon Wrinkling

Troubleshooting

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Possible Causes:

Printer heat setting too high.

Ribbon much wider than label stock.

Laying down an excessive amount of ink.

Solutions:

Print at lowest temperature which gives a satisfactory image.

Use ribbon that is slightly wider than label stock.

Reduce size of density box, or lower print temperature.

OBSERVATION: Ribbon Wrinkling

Troubleshooting

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Possible Causes:

Unfamiliarity with near edge ribbons and printers.

Results in ribbon flaking during printing and poor image quality.

Solutions:

Use near edge type ribbon.

Near edge ribbons are formulated for quick release of the ink from the base film.

OBSERVATION: Using non-near edge ribbon on near edge printer.

Troubleshooting

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OBSERVATION: Ribbon images well, but scratches off easily

Possible Causes:

Improper ribbon/label combination

Solutions:

Usually observed with a wax or wax/resin on a polyester or other high end synthetic label stock. Use proper ribbon/label combination.

Troubleshooting

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Possible Causes:

Improper wind for printer.

Buildup of debris on printhead.

Printer in direct thermalmode

Solutions:

Ensure proper ribbon configuration for the printer being used.

When improper ribbon is run, ink melts on printhead. Printhead should be thoroughly cleaned.

Ensure printer is in thermal transfer mode. Be familiar with printer setup.

OBSERVATION: Printing does not result in an Image

Troubleshooting

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Possible Causes:

Excessive printhead heat.

Ribbon flow is halted. Tension on ribbon is too great.

Head pressure too high.

Solutions:

Ensure printing is performed using the lowest temperature which results in a satisfactory image.

Ensure ribbon flows properly through the printer.

Reduce head pressure manually or using software. Ensure pressure setting is correct.

OBSERVATION: Ribbon Breakage

Troubleshooting

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Possible Causes:

Unwind tension too high. Increases tension on ribbon as it is pulled through the printer.

Printer set in direct thermal mode.

Solutions:

Reset unwind shaft to printer specification.

Ensure printer is in thermal transfer mode.

OBSERVATION: Ribbon Breakage

Troubleshooting

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Thank YouFor Your Time

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