Date Coder Equipment and Date Coding Technologies

Inkjet date coders come with specific benefits, such as high-speed printing, variable data printing, and wide substrate compatibility. Below is a more comprehensive list of benefits provided by inkjet date coders.

• High-speed printing — Continuous inkjet date coders rely on the highly pressurized continuous flow of ink for operation, allowing them to print onto substrates at an exceptional rate, especially compared to other industrial printing machines. Most models typically max out around 500 meters per minute, though some high-end models may print as fast as 1,000 meters of single-line text. This rapid printing speed allows for efficient and fast production lines, increasing productivity.
• Variable data printing — Variable data printing means the date coder is capable of printing different information, such as product manufacturing date, serial number, and other coding types. Furthermore, these settings should be accessible and adjustable from the printer’s interface. This capability ensures flexibility in the coding process and eliminates the need for manual coding or switching machines, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.
• Print resolution — Inkjet date coders are specifically designed to print high-resolution, crisp, clear, well-detailed date codes and simpler images. This is particularly crucial in industrial settings where print quality and legibility are important for reasons such as logistics, traceability, clarity, and legibility.
• Print quality — The overall print quality is another critical feature. It indicates that the date code produced by the inkjet date coder is legible, crisp, and without any smearing or other defects. Print quality is especially important for businesses dealing in consumer-facing products, mainly for maintaining brand standards. This ensures that date codes and other information remain clear and readable throughout the product's supply chain, from production to consumer’s hands.
• Wide substrate compatibility — Wide substrate compatibility, or the ability to print on a wide variety of different materials, is one of the biggest benefits of industrial inkjet date coders. These devices are capable of printing on metal, plastics, glass, paper, and a variety of other materials as well. Furthermore, the printer  can be adjusted to the specific material needs and substrate shapes, making them highly versatile and adaptable for different production environments. Businesses can use the same device for coding multiple types of products, saving time and resources.

KEYENCE’s MK-G Series continuous inkjet date coder has a fantastic set of specific features that separate it from its competitors.

One of the most unique features of the MK-G Series that it can link up to various vision/inspections systems via a simple LAN connection. KEYENCE is the only company to manufacture marking and inspection systems. Turn on the built in IV link to instantly start presence absence inspecting your parts for the printed code from your MK-G Series inkjet coder. Take it a step further with CV link to fully OCR verify the contents of the printed codes. This eliminates the complex setup on the inspection systems as the MK-G Series populates all of that content with the push of a button.

More importantly, the MK-G Series inkjet date coder is the world’s first self-troubleshooting continuous inkjet printer with plenty of troubleshooting and maintenance features. The inkjet date coder is capable of self-diagnosis and troubleshooting advice, which streamlines maintenance in case of common coding and printing errors, such as dirty print heads, clogged nozzles, and part replacements.

Uniform cleaning

There’s no need to clean the print head manually. Necessary operations can be completed by simply pressing a button, from cleaning to troubleshooting.

Optimized solvent usage

The printer performs a self-diagnosis and optimizesthe cleaning process, which also reduces theamount of solvent used.

Though often taken for granted by end-consumers, date coding conveys important product-related information. For example, date coding on perishable goods serves to help consumers and retailers determine product freshness and remaining shelf life, while lot and production batch numbers help manufacturers identify defective products.

This type of coding is often mandated by regulatory bodies governing different industries, as it relates to safety information and compliance, on top of inventory management and brand integrity.

Interested in improving your date coding process? Look no further than KEYENCE's MK-G Series continuous inkjet printers! With advanced features such as LAN connectivity and self-troubleshooting capabilities, our printers provide unparalleled reliability and print quality.

Contact us now to learn more about the MK-G Series and how it can benefit your business.