Language
Country/Area
No result found
The story behind the receipt: How thermal paper is revolutionizing our transactions?
In modern business, receipts are an integral part of every transaction. However, have you ever thought about the hidden stories behind these seemingly ordinary receipts? Since its introduction, thermal paper technology has profoundly changed the way we trade, not only improving business efficiency, but also reshaping the consumer shopping experience to some extent.
What is thermal paper?
Thermal paper is a special kind of delicate paper whose surface is coated with a material formulated to change color locally when exposed to heat. This makes it ideal for use with thermal printers, especially in low-cost devices such as cash registers and small portable printers.
“Thermal paper technology not only increases the speed of transactions, it also changes our perception of receipts.”
The history of thermal paper
The history of thermal paper can be traced back to the 1960s. NCR Corporation and 3M developed the first thermal papers, and Texas Instruments invented the thermal printhead in 1965. In 1969, the Silent 700 was released, becoming the first computer terminal to use thermal paper. Since then, this technology has been rapidly adopted by large companies such as Hewlett-Packard into their products to meet growing market demand.
How the thermal printer works
The working principle of a thermal printer is relatively simple and mainly consists of a transport mechanism and a hot spot matrix print head. As the paper is dragged, the little nods heat up quickly and then cool down quickly to leave an imprint on the paper.
The secret of chemical composition
The color generation process in thermal paper involves four chemical ingredients: leuco dyes, developers, sensitizers and stabilizers. These chemical components work together to ultimately form the visible printed image.
Application of thermal paper
Today, thermal paper has been widely used in receipt printing, logistics and label printing in the retail industry. Coupled with the development of portable printing technology in recent years, thermal paper can shine in many fields. "Human Perseverance and Innovative Spirit" continues to open up new areas for the application of thermal paper.
"The multi-color technology of thermal paper was launched in 1993, further expanding its application range."
Health and environmental issues
However, the use of thermal paper is not limited to its convenience. Some thermal papers contain BPA, an endocrine disruptor, in their coating, which raises health concerns. As more and more people come into contact with thermal receipts for a long time, there is a heated discussion in society about how to use this technology safely.
The future of thermal paper
Despite health and environmental challenges, new technologies are constantly being improved, such as the development of phenol-free thermal paper formulations, which promise to reduce environmental impact without sacrificing quality.
The revolution of thermal paper lies not only in technological innovation, but also in how it changes our daily lives. In the future, with the advancement of technology and changes in market demand, what new developments will there be in this field?
