What is a KIOSK Printers?
A KIOSK Printer refers to a dedicated operational printer incorporated into machines, including kiosk terminals.
Kiosk terminals, found in places like convenience stores, allow users to purchase tickets and perform other self-service transactions using touch panels or keypads. The definition of a KIOSK Printer is somewhat ambiguous, as it not only includes printers embedded in kiosk terminals but may also encompass industrial equipment not generally considered kiosk terminals.
In cases where specific business applications are loaded onto versatile PDAs like iPads for self-service use, PDAs fall under the category of kiosk terminals, and their accompanying external printers may be referred to as KIOSK Printers.
This explanation primarily focuses on machine-integrated printing devices used for specific purposes within information processing machines.
Uses of KIOSK Printers
With the proliferation of automation and streamlining processes in society, kiosk terminals facilitating self-service ticket purchases and reception processing have become diverse. Correspondingly, the applications and target items for KIOSK Printers have also become varied.
Common examples include kiosk terminals in convenience stores. These terminals issue tickets for movies, concerts, and express buses, as well as receipts adapted for various deposit transactions. KIOSK Printers are also utilized in airport self-check-in machines for printing boarding passes and in hospital re-visit reception machines for printing medical visit tickets. Even in the broader sense of kiosk terminals, KIOSK Printers are employed in bank ATMs for printing deposit balances, deposit/withdrawal receipts, and transfer receipts.
Machines embedded with printers for illuminating product labels are also considered KIOSK Printers in the context of being integrated into information equipment.
Principle of KIOSK Printers
The predominant printing method is thermal transfer, utilizing a holder for attaching roll-shaped thermal transfer paper and a cutter for cutting the printed paper. Communication with the computer inside the kiosk terminal is established using USB or LAN cables.
As KIOSK Printers operate based on signals sent from devices like kiosk terminals acting as hosts, there is no direct interface for users to interact with during printing. Communication ports for most models include USB and LAN (RJ45) connectors. However, older industrial machines may have printers equipped with serial transmission ports following the RS-232C standard.
To prevent printing issues during use in scenarios where employees may not be nearby, mechanisms are implemented. For instance, machines include sequences that respond to users pulling or holding the paper during printing.
Additionally, anticipating situations where users may leave without taking the printed material, some KIOSK Printers automatically initiate sequences to retrieve the printout if it remains unclaimed for a specified period.
Structure of KIOSK Printers
Designed for integration into devices for usage, KIOSK Printers lack external aesthetics compared to general-purpose printers used in offices or homes. They are encased in metal with brackets for mounting on racks.
1. Printing Method
The thermal transfer method is commonly employed. This method uses inkless printing, eliminating the need for ink replenishment, which is a significant advantage. In some printers, such as those used for thick paper in parking ticket machines, dot impact printing is utilized.
2. Print Paper
Roll paper is often used to reduce the frequency of replacement and simplify the process. The printer’s rear exterior includes a holder for setting long rolls of paper. Compatible papers for KIOSK Printers include heat-sensitive paper, thick paper, label paper, and linerless label paper (label without backing).
3. Ejection Port
Printed material exits through the printer’s ejection port, often integrated with the device’s print material retrieval point. Some printers have LED lights at the ejection port, illuminating when print material is dispensed, notifying users. An auto-cutter is positioned just before the ejection port, automatically cutting the paper when printing is complete, making it easy for users to retrieve the printed material.