New VIAjet T-Series E nearly doubles ink throw distance

The new VIAjet T-Series E (short for “Enhanced”) high-resolution Piezo inkjet printer from Matthews Marking Systems is designed to support production line speeds up to 50 percent faster than the previous model. It is also capable of printing high-resolution messages while doubling the distance between the print head and marked surface.

This is a cost-effective alternative to adhesive-backed paper labels and pre-printed corrugated cartons according to Matthews and delivers on-demand branding to secondary packaging lines. The T-Series E marks images, text and barcodes across blank boxes for dynamic data, serialization, custom logo placement or private labeling applications.

The T-Series E comes in three models:

• T50E – Horizontal orientation printing of 25 lines of text or images up to 50 millimeters (2 inches) tall.
• T100E – Horizontal orientation printing of 50 lines of text or images up to 100 millimeters (4 inches) tall.
• T100SE – Vertical orientation for down/right-angle printing of 50 lines of text, or images up to 100 millimeters (4 inches) tall.

The new print head enables carton marking at production line speeds up to 50 percent faster than the previous model.

“We’ve successfully proved that a production line utilizing the standard print engine —running at 260 feet per minute with ink coverage of about 18 percent of the side of a white corrugated box — can be increased to 320 feet per minute with the enhanced print engine,” said Ray Fortuna, technical product manager at Matthews Marking Systems. “No shadowing or ghosting of text or barcodes were observed, and the barcodes repeatedly scanned as A grades.”

In addition to keeping up with faster production line speeds, the new print head also allows for an increased throw distance, he said.

“Previously, for maximum mark clarity and readability, the print head had to be positioned 1 to 3 millimeters (less than 1/8-inch) away from the substrate; the new model allows us to increase that throw distance to 6 millimeters (1/4-inch) without any loss of barcode quality,” he said, adding that text can be printed up to 12 millimeters (1/2-inch) away.

Further, the extra distance is intended to minimize the risk of a slightly bulging box side coming into contact with the printer, which prevents dust build up in the ink nozzles, reduces maintenance and extends the life of the print head.

Fortuna also said that by grouping multiple print heads message sizes far larger than a standard four by six-inch label can be achieved. This messaging includes large stitched images, logos and multiple lines of text, as well as dynamic data such as “best by,” production time and lot coding information.