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A little care for portable printers
Added: (Thu Jan 24 2008)
FOR PORTABLE PRINTERS, A LITTLE CARE
GOES A LONG WAY
Pity the poor portable printer.
It’s counted on to print everything from customer receipts to full-blown schematics. It’s expected to do so with superior resolution, time after time, with minimal or no maintenance.
And what does it get for faithfully performing these functions? It gets abused like a rented mule. It’s subjected to harsh environments and extreme temperatures. It’s dropped on the ground repeatedly. It gets clogged with dirt, splashed with water, and saturated with chemicals. It can be a sad existence, to be sure.
However, it’s not all bad news. The fact is, many portable printers are built to withstand this kind of mistreatment and continue to function properly. What’s even better is that with just a minimal amount of care, a printer’s life can be substantially extended. Let’s examine the various elements that can impact printer life and performance and how they can be effectively remedied:
Standards. The European Committee for Electro Technical Standardization has developed the most comprehensive set of guidelines to which portable printers should adhere. Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings specify the environmental protection that an enclosure provides from both solid debris and liquids. IP certification is most effectively used as a supplement to existing IEC 68 certification, which certifies operating and storage temperature, humidity, shock, vibration, and drop to concrete. With an IP rating of at least 54, customers can be sure that the printer is highly resilient against moisture and dust penetration. Printers that have been favorably evaluated against both of these standards are likely to last longer and be less susceptible to a wide spectrum of destructive circumstances.
Temperature. Extreme temperatures are perhaps the most powerful enemy of portable printers, both extreme heat and cold. Under intense heat, the printer can deform and moving parts can become sluggish. In severe cold, such as those conditions that might be experienced in the world’s northernmost areas (as seen in outdoor applications like forestry), similar performance issues can occur. Using printer materials that will provide sustained performance in high or low temperatures is critical, as is the fundamental design of the product, both internally and externally.
The key factor is to make certain that the lubrication used in the printer has been tested, and will perform, under very high and very low temperatures. In the end, the degradation of the lubrication will spell doom for the printer faster than any other single element.
Interestingly, a few printers on the market actually employ a lubrication mechanism used in petrol pump applications that helps them remain impervious to extreme temperature. The petrol pump mechanisms are typically used in places like northern Minnesota, where winters can bring dramatically low temperatures. The lubricant in these mechanisms is capable of functioning down to -40º F.
Battery Life. The battery is one of the most critical ingredients in the printer’s operation. In fact, because printers utilize quite a bit of current, it’s essential to pay close attention to the battery to make sure its power level is always at an optimal level.
Most quality portable printers are currently employing lithium-ion batteries. Manufacturers of lithium-ion cells have very strict guidelines in charge procedures, and the pack should be charged as per the manufacturers “typical” charge technique. Typically, lithium-ion batteries should be changed every 12 months.
The recommended storage temperature for most batteries is 15 degree Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit. While lead-acid batteries must always be kept at full charge, nickel and lithium-based chemistries should be stored at 40 percent the state-of-charge (SoC). This level minimizes age-related capacity loss, yet keeps the battery in operating condition even with some self-discharge.
It’s also important that the battery be able to work in severe temperatures, particularly cold. Lithium-ion batteries can at times be problematic in this instance: below -20 degrees Fahrenheit, the chemistry can solidify and as a result, not produce the necessary power. This problem, however, can actually be alleviated just by putting the battery in the hand for a little bit to warm it up.
Charging. At the end of the workday, it’s likely that the printer will need charging. If your company has a high volume of printers, it’s advisable to designate a specific location to conduct the charging procedure, with a specific spot for each printer within that location. By doing so, you’ll always be using the same charger and same battery for the same printer. Consequently, if a printer is not charging properly, one of the first things you can do is check the adapter to determine whether power is actually being received.
Printers should not simply be piled one on top of the other, as this will not allow sufficient air flow around the printers during the charging process, which can cause batteries to overheat during the charge. Also, in some instances people have placed the printer in a metal case during the charge which, naturally, prohibits the charge from taking properly.
Paper Quality/Dust. Since the fundamental purpose of the printer is to produce an image on a piece of paper, close attention must be paid to paper quality. Ultimately, it’s imperative that the paper is of high quality and will not clog the printer mechanism or damage the head. The primary concern is that if the paper is too porous, it will degrade easily and create dust – particularly in extreme temperatures - which can clog vital printer parts.
Paper isn’t the only way that dust can become embedded in the printer. Certainly, there are a number of environmental conditions – both indoor and outdoor – in which dust, dirt or sand are present. A sound preventive measure is to clean or blow out the entire inside area of the printer, particularly around the print head and other moving parts, at least once a week.
Impact. Most quality printers are tested to ensure their ability to withstand multiple drops onto hard surfaces. The fact is, the chances of dropping a portable printer, particularly in an outdoor environment, are quite high.
Ideally, the printer should be fastened to the user’s belt or mounted in a vehicle to reduce the chances of falling. What’s more, if the printer is carried by hand, there is a greater possibility that the user, when finished, will simply throw it into a tool box and subject it to a greater level of impact. In field service situations especially, this scenario is not uncommon.
Most printers are equipped with a durable case to minimize the damage from impact. In addition, printer manufacturers are constantly researching the use of softer outer materials to create more resilience. Still, it goes without saying that dropping a printer should be avoided. One or two drops from a low height may have no effect, but multiple impacts from elevated perches will take their toll, especially in terms of print-head damage. The bottom line? Mount it or carry it. And be careful.
Storage. It’s a good idea to have a regular spot for the printer to “live,” aside from the charging process. When it’s not being worn – or if it isn’t mounted in a vehicle - then placing it on a bracket on a wall is going to keep it out of harm’s way. Ideally, the printer should be stored in an area with no wild fluctuations in temperature that is largely dust-free and where humidity and moisture are at an absolute minimum.
Regardless of how much care is taken, printers do not last forever. Different environments and conditions will shorten a printer’s useful existence to varying degrees, but in the end, each machine will find its way to the printer graveyard.
In large part, the outcome depends on the application. For example, a field installation of 7500 printers completed in 1999 will not call for a change until at least 2009, a 10-year life. And this customer has done little more than routine maintenance.
On the other hand, in some applications where the users are printing three or four rolls of paper per day per printer, the printer may only last three years. In the end, the printer, the battery, and the paper are all consumables with a temporary life span.
In the final analysis, portable printers work hard, produce documents of excellent quality, and ask for nothing in return. If we give them just a little care and preventive maintenance, they will be our faithful companions for years to come.