Printer ribbons are a type of printing consumable with which we are quite familiar. From the earliest mechanical impact-type typewriters to the later computer dot-matrix printers, printer ribbons have been used throughout. The working principle of a printer ribbon involves using the dot matrix pins inside the print head of a dot-matrix printer—or the letter-striking mechanisms in a typewriter—to strike the ribbon, thereby producing a printed image on the paper.
The composition of a printer ribbon is very simple: it consists of a ribbon base woven from nylon threads that has been soaked in ink and dyed. A high-quality printer ribbon should have a durable base with high elasticity that does not fuzz, break, or fray along the edges even after prolonged use. Its quality is primarily reflected in a smooth surface free of protruding fiber knots, a uniform and tight weave density, straight and even cut edges, and no signs of scorching. To the touch: A high-quality ribbon base feels soft and smooth, with a silky texture. It exhibits good elasticity and excellent recovery when stretched. Poor-quality printer ribbon bases suffer from severe thread breakage and fraying; they feel stiff to the touch, have uneven cut edges, and show significant scorching along the edges. They lack elasticity and have poor recovery when stretched, often causing the ribbon to get caught during printing, leading to fraying, clogged print heads, and ribbon jams.
In addition to the ribbon base, the ink is another crucial factor determining the quality of a printer ribbon. High-quality ink has very fine particles that do not clog the print heads; it has excellent flow properties, a consistent pH level, strong adhesion during application, and good moisture retention. It is durable and ensures smooth color transitions during printing. High-quality ink is organic, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and odorless; it does not become sticky after dyeing and dries easily. Poor-quality ink has large particles, is viscous and sticky to the touch, and does not dry properly after being applied to the ribbon. Ribbons produced with this ink stick together severely, easily clogging the print heads during printing and preventing the print heads from moving freely, which can lead to print head breakage. A way to tell the difference is that when you touch a printer ribbon made with high-quality ink, your fingers will not be left with noticeable ink marks. There is no noticeable difference in print quality between the beginning and end of the ribbon. Poor-quality ink, on the other hand, feels greasy to the touch and leaves your fingers covered in ink marks. Although it may appear to have plenty of ink, it results in excessive ink density during printing—meaning that touching the printed paper with your hand will leave a smudged, blurred mark. Low-quality ink not only results in poor print quality but can also seep through the print needle guide holes into the gaps between the print head needles, where it solidifies and clogs the print needles. This prevents the printer from printing normally. In severe cases, it can lead to serious malfunctions such as increased resistance during needle ejection causing the print needles to break, damage to the parallel grooves of the print needles, or burnout of the print head drive chip or the printer ribbon motor.
The consumables used in dye-sublimation printers for printing photos and ID cards are sometimes also referred to as “printer ribbons,” but their operating principles and prices are entirely different from the printer ribbons we commonly refer to, and the two should not be confused.