POS Receipt Printer

POS Receipt Printer Buying Guide

Star TSP143iii USB Receipt Printer

Receipt printers are used to print receipts for business purposes. Receipt printers connect to a computer via an Ethernet cable, USB, serial, or parallel connection. There are also handheld receipt printers available to purchase that work wirelessly and do not need to be connected directly to a computer. The data that is printed is received from software that is downloaded onto a computer. The data is interpreted by the driver on the device and then printed by the receipt printer. There are several main types of receipt printers available on the market. The choice of which receipt printer to buy depends on factors such as how often the printer will be used, how fast the printer must be, and whether the receipt needs to be printed in different colours. Briefly assessing their needs will help buyers determine which printer is right for them.

Impact Receipt Printer

An impact receipt printer is also known as a dot matrix receipt printer. It uses an ink ribbon to print the receipt. The characters on an impact receipt printer are formed using very tiny dots and sometimes appear pixelated. These receipt printers can print more than one copy of a receipt at a time, which is called two-ply paper printing. A copy can then be kept by the business, and the other copy is given to the customer.

These machines do not print receipts very quickly and tend to be quite noisy. Impact printers are still commonly used in restaurants because the heat of the kitchen can often fade receipts, but this is not the case when using impact receipt printers. Industries such as gaming and banking have regulations that state receipts must be keep for a certain length of time. Because of this, ink receipts are preferred as they last much longer.

Once an ink ribbon does not print clearly anymore, it is easy to replace the ribbon. Ribbons can be purchased in a wide variety of different colors. Impact receipt printers are usually less expensive to purchase than other types of receipt printers. An impact printer has many moving parts inside, so they generally need more repairs than other types of receipt printers, which can mean higher maintenance costs down the road.

Thermal Receipt Printers

Thermal receipt printers do not require a ribbon to print receipts. Instead, they use a special chemically treated paper that reacts to heat. The advantage of using thermal paper is that there are no messy ribbons to change. These printers are also very quiet and popular in establishments where a noisy printer could be an issue, such as a library. The print head in the printer heats the paper via small holes, which create letters and characters.

Thermal receipt printers are considered the fastest type of receipt printers available. They are often capable of producing nearly 10 inches of printing per second. This fast thermal receipt printer is often used in retail and fast food service establishments where customers must move through the cashier line quickly.

One disadvantage to using thermal receipt printers is that the receipt will fade if it is left in the sun. If the paper is subjected to heat, it will turn black. The more expensive thermal receipt printers are capable of printing in two colours, but this technology has proven to be unreliable and of poor quality, so it is not commonly used. The thermal paper used in thermal receipt printers tears very easily, and the paper can easily become jammed in the receipt printer. The special thermal paper is also more expensive than other types of receipt paper. Additionally, thermal printers cannot perform two-ply printing.

Inkjet Receipt Printers

Inkjet receipt printers are considered the successor to the impact receipt printer, as they use ink to print the receipts, but the quality of the printing is far superior. Inkjet receipt printers function in a similar way to a regular PC printer because they have the capability to produce images, such as logos. The printer has cartridges inside that allow for printing in different colors. Many businesses prefer to use inkjet receipt printers as the different colors allow them to print colored logos and promotions and coupons, all in an attempt to persuade customers to return to the business.

Inkjet receipt printers are not particularly quick, and the ink cartridges are not always easy to change. The receipts do not fade as quickly as with other papers. Many businesses choose to use inkjet receipt printers because they are capable of using recycled paper. Recycled rolls of paper can be 50 percent less expensive than non-recycled paper.

Portable Receipt Printers

Portable receipt printers can be carried anywhere and are powered using rechargeable batteries. The data is sent to the printer using Bluetooth or wireless technology. Portable receipt printers can be either inkjet, thermal, or impact. They are usually more expensive to purchase than printers that need to be connected directly to a computer. They are ideal for mobile sales teams or outdoor marketing teams that need to print receipts when they are not near a computer. Some retail stores use mobile receipt printers, as do many delivery services.

Point of Sale Receipt Printer

A point of sale receipt printer is commonly known as a POS printer. These are connected to a cash register and are used in the retail industry. The software used with a point of sale receipt printer is usually specific to a particular retail company. POS receipt printers can be either inkjet, thermal, or impact. They are usually much smaller in size than a standard receipt printer.

Software

It is important to recognise that not all computer software is compatible with different types of receipt printers. Specific receipt printers may either be sold with the software required to run the printer, or the software may be sold separately. It is important to check when purchasing a receipt printer whether the software is included in the cost. Some software can also be downloaded from the Internet. The software is also used if the receipt printer is connected to a cash drawer. The software sends a code to printer, which then sends a code to the cash drawer, which opens. Star Receipt Printers are very common for use with PC, iOS & iPad POS System applications.

Contact Cash Register Warehouse on 1300 137 941 or visit www.cashregisterwarehouse.com.au