Coder cuts downtime

UK-based Interactive Coding Equipment has launched a thermal transfer coder that claims to be the first to use an entirely electronic ribbon drive system. The coder meets the performance levels being achieved by the latest generation of packaging machines, while reducing downtime lost due to ribbon replacement and product changeovers, the company says.

The Zodiac has a solid state, bi-directional drive system that ensures constant ribbon tension and provides accurate and consistent ribbon advance. It measures and adjusts ribbon tension after each print ensuring crisp, legible images with no risk of overlapping prints. The end result is a high level of reliability coupled with low ownership costs, Interactive Coding Equipment says.

The Zodiac is capable of speeds up to 1000mm/second at 12 dots/mm resolution and is suitable for printing text, graphics, and barcodes. Maximum print width is 53mm and length is up to 136mm. The ribbon drive system allows ribbon lengths of up to 1000m to be used at widths ranging from 20mm up to 55mm, while the simple cassette design has no mechanical parts prone to wear.