fast warehouse printer
Josh Levine
The warehouse I work in currently uses HP LaserJet 2200 printers to
print individual invoices to include in a customer's order. Each
printer might handle a hundred print outs a day, each a single sheet
long.
They work great except for the 15 second or so delay for the printer to
warmup between each print job (the worker has to sit and wait for it to
come out). From what I understand, this is normal for a LaserJet
printer, and there is no way to disable it.
So, does anyone have any suggestions on what we could replace these
printers with? I initially thought of dot-matrix printers, but I have
bad memories of paper jams and ripping pages.
Any and all suggestions and comments are welcome!
Thanks in advance,
Josh Levine
Gary Tait
Then there is inkjet, if not a dye-sub.
When they run well, Dot matrix would be fine.
Jerry Schwartz
you remember, but pricey and work best with sprocket-feed paper; and I
suspect inkjet printers would eat you alive with the cost per page.
You're right, there is no way to keep the laser hot enough to print except
by printing continuously; they have to be hot to fuse the toner to the page.
You might see if you can find some manufacturers or other companies with
warehouses that print picklists, and see what they use. Most of the folks in
this newsgroup play in a different arena.
--
Jerry Schwartz
FidoNet 1:142/928
http://www.writebynight.com
"Josh Levine" <josh...@levindustries.com> wrote in message
news:3ED57D60...@levindustries.com...
Josh Levine
>
> I think you're stuck. Modern dot-matrix printers are probably better than
> you remember, but pricey and work best with sprocket-feed paper; and I
> suspect inkjet printers would eat you alive with the cost per page.
Hmm, that's kind of what I figured. What do you think of the Epson
FX-880+?
> You're right, there is no way to keep the laser hot enough to print except
> by printing continuously; they have to be hot to fuse the toner to the page.
>
> You might see if you can find some manufacturers or other companies with
> warehouses that print picklists, and see what they use. Most of the folks in
> this newsgroup play in a different arena.
Good advice - thanks!
--Josh Levine
mag...@shinythings.com
<josh...@levindustries.com> wrote:
Um, there really isn't a 15 second warm up delay. The fuser warm up
time is almost immediate on those models as opposed to the older
lasers which used a quartz heating element. I would think the delay is
more likely caused by your network, if your printers are on one, or
else the application converting the data to something your printer can
actually use. A bit more information here would be usefull in order
to offer meaningfull suggestions.
Regards
Frank
Warren Block
[LaserJet 2200]
> Um, there really isn't a 15 second warm up delay. The fuser warm up
> time is almost immediate on those models as opposed to the older
> lasers which used a quartz heating element.
Unless they're coming out of power save mode, maybe. Worth checking the
config to see if the time to switch to power save mode can be extended.
> I would think the delay is more likely caused by your network, if your
> printers are on one, or else the application converting the data to
> something your printer can actually use. A bit more information
> here would be usefull in order to offer meaningfull suggestions.
That's an excellent point. Particularly in Windows, applications can
take a while to build a page bitmap, and then sending it over a network
can cause even more of a delay. I tested this with a Windows-generated
PCL-coded bitmap and a small hand-written PostScript program to print
the same image. It reduced the data size by something like 97% (from
something over a meg down to about 30K, at least AFAIR).
There was a noticeable pause while the bitmap downloaded, but the
PostScript printed immediately.
--
Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA
Jerry Schwartz
couldn't venture an opinion.
--
Jerry Schwartz
FidoNet 1:142/928
http://www.writebynight.com
"Josh Levine" <josh...@levindustries.com> wrote in message
news:3ED6CE13...@levindustries.com...
Josh Levine
> > Um, there really isn't a 15 second warm up delay. The fuser warm up
> > time is almost immediate on those models as opposed to the older
> > lasers which used a quartz heating element.
>
> Unless they're coming out of power save mode, maybe. Worth checking the
> config to see if the time to switch to power save mode can be extended.
There's no configuration on the printer itself, as far as I can see. No
display of any kind, and according to the manual, the windows drivers
don't let you change anything related to a powersave mode.
> > I would think the delay is more likely caused by your network, if your
> > printers are on one, or else the application converting the data to
> > something your printer can actually use. A bit more information
> > here would be usefull in order to offer meaningfull suggestions.
>
> That's an excellent point. Particularly in Windows, applications can
> take a while to build a page bitmap, and then sending it over a network
> can cause even more of a delay. I tested this with a Windows-generated
> PCL-coded bitmap and a small hand-written PostScript program to print
> the same image. It reduced the data size by something like 97% (from
> something over a meg down to about 30K, at least AFAIR).
>
> There was a noticeable pause while the bitmap downloaded, but the
> PostScript printed immediately.
That is a very good point - thanks, Frank and Warren. I actually
haven't spent any time watching the printers print, nor do I know many
technical details of how the document is generated (the system is
Windows based, and does print over a network). I will pass this
information on to the developers, though.
I'll post here when I know more.
Thanks for all of your help,
Josh Levine
Model Flyer
> Jerry Schwartz wrote:
> >
> > I think you're stuck. Modern dot-matrix printers are probably
better than
> > you remember, but pricey and work best with sprocket-feed paper;
and I
> > suspect inkjet printers would eat you alive with the cost per
page.
>
> Hmm, that's kind of what I figured. What do you think of the Epson
> FX-880+?
The OKI 3320 would be much better or whatever model is available in
the USA if that's where your from. With DM printers you want to use
pre-printed three or four sheet fanfold, you only get the printer to
print the data that's new, not the heading etc. This will make for a
much faster machine. With this printer you use the IBM Proprinter
driver and use Garamond Swiss Gothic, this will force the machine to
print in both directions.
You could perhaps setup the 2200 on a network, this makes for a much
faster machine. This would allow you to use one machine for many
sales positions.
--
.
--
Cheers,
Jonathan Lowe
modelflyer at antispam dot net
Antispam trap in place
Josh Levine
> > > I would think the delay is more likely caused by your network, if your
> > > printers are on one, or else the application converting the data to
> > > something your printer can actually use. A bit more information
> > > here would be usefull in order to offer meaningfull suggestions.
> >
> > That's an excellent point. Particularly in Windows, applications can
> > take a while to build a page bitmap, and then sending it over a network
> > can cause even more of a delay. I tested this with a Windows-generated
> > PCL-coded bitmap and a small hand-written PostScript program to print
> > the same image. It reduced the data size by something like 97% (from
> > something over a meg down to about 30K, at least AFAIR).
> >
> > There was a noticeable pause while the bitmap downloaded, but the
> > PostScript printed immediately.
>
> That is a very good point - thanks, Frank and Warren. I actually
> haven't spent any time watching the printers print, nor do I know many
> technical details of how the document is generated (the system is
> Windows based, and does print over a network). I will pass this
> information on to the developers, though.
>
> I'll post here when I know more.
Well, I've spent some time with the printer, and it does indeed look
like the delay is the printer warming up. It takes about 15 seconds
from the time I send the job to the locally connected printer until the
printout comes out. However, if I send two jobs in succession, the
second job will come out immediately behind the first. The problem
occurs when there is any delay between the two jobs - then the printer
has to warmup again. The printer has no configuration options on it,
but I've tried changing everything possible through the driver with no
luck. Looks like a dot-matrix may be our only option...
Warren Block
>
> Well, I've spent some time with the printer, and it does indeed look
> like the delay is the printer warming up. It takes about 15 seconds
> from the time I send the job to the locally connected printer until the
> printout comes out. However, if I send two jobs in succession, the
> second job will come out immediately behind the first. The problem
> occurs when there is any delay between the two jobs - then the printer
> has to warmup again. The printer has no configuration options on it,
> but I've tried changing everything possible through the driver with no
> luck. Looks like a dot-matrix may be our only option...
Or change to an older, non-power-saving laser like the HP 4. They're
common, and cheap--probably cheaper than an impact printer.
If you do go with an impact printer, benchmark it first. Even fast ones
have trouble keeping up with lasers.
not2...@myway.com
the customer to disable powersaver mode. Some printers use an
advances power saver mode that has no user adjustment at all.
The GENICOM printers I work with have an adjustable powersaver mode,
from 1 to 999 minutes. Check out the mL260 at
http://www.genicom.com/products/laser.htm.
Ed
On Thu, 29 May 2003 03:24:44 GMT, Josh Levine
<josh...@levindustries.com> wrote:
Model Flyer
> Josh Levine wrote:
>
> Well, I've spent some time with the printer, and it does indeed
look
> like the delay is the printer warming up. It takes about 15
seconds
> from the time I send the job to the locally connected printer until
the
> printout comes out. However, if I send two jobs in succession, the
> second job will come out immediately behind the first. The problem
> occurs when there is any delay between the two jobs - then the
printer
> has to warmup again. The printer has no configuration options on
it,
> but I've tried changing everything possible through the driver with
no
> luck. Looks like a dot-matrix may be our only option...
>
I've an LJ-4000 here for servicing connected to my own network, even
from sleep mode it only takes 7 seconds to warm up. Can't say much
for what ever machine you using but that's quick enough. However for
wearhouse work, the Dot Matrix printer is really king. Using
multipart pre-printed fanfold paper you only have to print the data
such as date, invoice no etc. By not having to print the Billhead you
speed up the whole process and as your printing four copies at once.
Don't bother with either 18 or 24 pin, you better off with a 9 pin
printer, if you get one of the OKI series, use the IBM proprinter
driver and "Garamond Gothic typeface", this will force the printer to
print bi-diroctionally, quickest mode.
I beleive a lot of people are using thermal printers for POS work, I
don't know if these are able to stand the strain of a wearhouse,
however they are used in lot's of stores you see them in use when you
by groceries etc.
--
.
--
Cheers,
Jonathan Lowe
modelflyer at antispam dot net
Antispam trap in place
Warren Block
>
> I've an LJ-4000 here for servicing connected to my own network, even
> from sleep mode it only takes 7 seconds to warm up. Can't say much
> for what ever machine you using but that's quick enough.
The LJ4000/4050 power save sleep timeout is configurable also, so it
could be set to a longer interval. Later models may not allow that.
> However for wearhouse work, the Dot Matrix printer is really king.
A better term is "impact printer". Lasers and inkjets are also dot
matrix printers.
> Using multipart pre-printed fanfold paper you only have to print the data
> such as date, invoice no etc. By not having to print the Billhead you
> speed up the whole process and as your printing four copies at once.
This trades the speed issue for others. Preprinted forms are usually
pretty expensive compared to plain paper, and there are issues of
storage, inventory, and stocking. (It's not good to run out!)
Really fast impact printers are expensive, and so are the maintenance
contracts. Inexpensive ones like the Oki may be cheap enough to treat
as disposable (around $500 for the 321, I think), but they're not that
fast, 400-600 cps, I think.
An example: we went from four big impact printers to about a dozen
LJ4050 lasers. Maintenance costs dropped from $4800 per year in
maintenance contracts to about $300 for the lasers (new fusers for two
lasers per year). Supplies went from about ten cents per page (custom
impact forms) to about one cent per page (two plain 8x11 sheets). This
is significant when some of these printers are printing thousands of
pages per month.
Speed improved because the lasers were faster, even when they had to
print multiple pages where the impact printer would print one. They
were also faster because there were more of them--the users could print
on an alternate printer instead of waiting.
More importantly, after two years, not one of the lasers has ever broken
down, where the impact printers were often broken, unusable, and waiting
on service. This in a really dirty warehouse environment with lots of
dust.