When printing receipts or invoices, many accounting and point-of-sale programs enable the usage of common desktop printers. Receipt printers, on the other hand, typically have a smaller footprint and consume less ink and paper than ordinary printers. This equals more profit and savings for your company. Therefore, we will explain everything you need to know about how to use a receipt printer.
What is a receipt printer?
In the retail and restaurant industry, a receipt printer is a crucial part of a point of sale (POS) system. As stated in its name, they are used to print credit card slips and client receipts. In retail stores, a receipt printer is used after customers have made transactions. This system is also used in restaurants to print orders in the kitchen or at the bar.
Types of receipt printer
Thermal printer
Thermal printers use thermal printing paper, which is chemically made and heated to execute printing tasks, rather than ink or printing ribbons. Many retail establishments, particularly supermarkets, prefer thermal receipt printers because of their quickness. The graphics on the receipts, however, do not endure for a long time, especially when exposed to long durations of sunshine.
Inkjet printer
Inkjet receipt printers, unlike thermal printers, use ink and printing ribbons to complete their printing operations. These printers can print in a variety of colors, making it simple for retailers to showcase their brands in a more vibrant way.
Impact printe
Impact printers are comparable to inkjet printers, however, they do not create pictures on receipts that are as high-quality or as long-lasting. With or without printing ribbons, an impact printer can still be used. When the printer is used without a printing ribbon, a special type of paper is used that contains ink micro-capsules that break open when impacted.
Dot-matrix printer
Dot-matrix receipt printers are popular among enterprises that require duplicate receipts. These printers are capable of printing on many pieces of receipt paper at the same time. Dot-matrix receipt printers are commonly used by businesses that require identical copies of receipts.
How to use a receipt printer?
Now that you know the most popular types of receipt printer, here is how to use them.
First, you need to connect your receipt printer to an electric socket. Using a USB cable, connect the printer to the computer. Many businesses nowadays use a point of sale (POS) system to synchronize other data, such as customer information to the printer. Then, make sure the receipt paper is correctly loaded: Not down from the top, but up from the bottom.
Make sure you’re using the right kind of receipt paper. For example, if you are using a thermal printer, it needs to be thermal printing paper.
Last but now least, to make sure the paper is ready to go, press the “Start” button. The system should print the receipt on paper, which will come out immediately and can be torn easily.
If you have any trouble with the printer or the other end (such as POS), we would recommend contacting the customer service of your provider, if the information cannot be found on the Internet. They are the ones who understand your system the most.
Conclusion
We hope that you can gain a better understanding of how to use a receipt printer after reading this blog. Being a leading point of sale provider for retailers across different countries, ConnectPOS can support different types of receipt printers. Contact us if you have any questions!
ConnectPOS is a all-in-one point of sale solution tailored to meet your eCommerce POS needs, streamline business operations, boost sales, and enhance customer experience in diverse industries. We offer custom POS with features, pricing, and plans to suit your unique business requirements.
