Printing With Bluetooth®

Published 7th July 2008

Wireless technology opens up a wealth of opportunities for printing in a diverse range of applications. In particular, Bluetooth is enabling end users to increase productivity and minimise costs, by eliminating the need for inconvenient, costly, and potentially hazardous cables...

An introduction to Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a secure short-range wireless communications technology, which enables a wide array of portable or fixed electronic devices to be connected without the need for cables. The technology can operate over a distance of 10 meters or 100 meters depending on the Bluetooth device class. Unlike other wireless technologies, Bluetooth does not require these devices to be positioned with a clear line of sight, making it extremely flexible and reliable.

Bluetooth enabled devices use short-range, ad hoc networks known as piconets to connect and communicate wirelessly. Each device can simultaneously communicate with up to seven other devices within a single piconet, and each device can also belong to several piconets simultaneously. These piconets are established dynamically and automatically as Bluetooth enabled devices enter and leave radio proximity.

With Bluetooth technology now accepted globally as a standard wireless communications protocol, the number of Bluetooth enabled devices in use has exceeded 1 billion, making Bluetooth applications extremely simple and cost effective to implement. Additionally, due to the popularity of the technology, entry level Bluetooth chips now cost as little as a few pounds, although integration costs can increase this a little.

Bluetooth and printing
Bluetooth wireless technology is ideal for printing applications, due to its ability to offer a more efficient and convenient alternative to cables. The applications in which the technology can boost productivity and profitability are diverse and vast, ranging from mobile printing applications in warehouses and delivery vehicles, to fixed printer environments in retail and hospitality environments.

The benefits of printing using Bluetooth
Cabling has long been a bugbear in many printing applications, limiting flexibility, leading to high replacement costs, and contributing to costly downtime while new cables are sourced and delivered.

By using a wireless alternative to conventional connections, such as USB cables, these problems can be overcome, allowing end users to streamline processes and increase productivity levels. In comparison with other wireless protocols, such as Wireless LAN, Bluetooth is extremely energy efficient and cost effective, making it ideal for applications where a constant connection is not required.

As it is omni-directional and able to penetrate solid objects, therefore, not requiring line-of-sight positioning, Bluetooth is ideal for busy working environments where space is limited, such as warehouses. Likewise, with sensitive information often required to be printed confidentially, Bluetooth offers the option of creating a secure connection.

Opportunities for Bluetooth printing
Bluetooth offers benefits in virtually anywhere printers are required relatively close to computers or handheld input devices. The specific advantages are dependent on the application, and range from increased flexibility to improved productivity levels.

Perhaps the most obvious applications to which Bluetooth is suited are those where handheld devices are used in conjunction with a portable printer, which is also carried or worn. This is ideal where receipts or tickets are needed to be printed on the spot. Bluetooth removes the need for cables in these instances, giving users added mobility, and making printing simple and safe.

Likewise, where vehicles are used, whether in the warehouse or on the road, Bluetooth can make much faster printing achievable. For example, printers can be mounted on materials handling vehicles, such as forklift trucks, removing the need for warehouse staff to go to a central printer to print off pick lists or labels. This can save a considerable amount of time and, therefore, lead to increased productivity. Similarly, where delivery drivers need to print off receipts or invoices at the point of delivery, a Bluetooth printer can be mounted on the vehicle dashboard so that documentation can be issued immediately, speeding up processes considerably and optimising customer service levels.

It is also worth noting that Bluetooth can offer significant benefits in fixed printer applications as well as mobile. For example, in retail environments, the health and safety issues associated with cabling can be eliminated, allowing staff to work freely and safely. Furthermore, multiple users can use a single printer, minimising hardware costs and enabling more efficient processes.

Common to all of these applications is Bluetooth’s ability to minimise the downtime that comes from damaged cabling and connectors, while at the same time eliminating replacement cable costs, which can have a considerable effect on a company’s bottom line.

Bluetooth and Citizen printers
Citizen’s PD24 and CMP-10 portable printers with Bluetooth functionality offer an ideal wireless printing solution.

The PD24 has been designed to provide fast and quiet printing in a compact, lightweight, yet robust unit. Offering an efficient solution in a wide range of applications, including printing receipts for customers, producing packing lists for products, or documents from a PDA, the machine allows printing of up to 2 inches per second on a standard 4” wide roll and is capable of producing a receipt 6” or 150mm long in just 3 seconds.

Designed to be simple to use, the PD24 features Citizen’s innovative easy-to-load clamshell mechanism, manufactured from a robust elastomer, and an intuitive VuePrint™ menu system for quick configuration, with all data entry being via three keys located at the front of the unit. The PD24 uses proven direct thermal print technology and incorporates a long-life print head, capable of giving over 30 million pulses under normal operating conditions and of producing high resolution print-outs.

Completely compatible with Bluetooth technology, the printer provides and excellent wireless solution in a diverse range of applications. In addition, the PD24 can be operated from a number of different power supplies and is supplied with an easy-to-change internal lithium Ion battery and an AC adapter, designed to power both the printer and charge the batteries simultaneously. Alternatively, an optional two-station external battery charger can be used to recharge batteries overnight or between shifts.
For vehicle users, a car power adapter is available to operate and/or charge the printer. To further complement the portability of the PD24, a specially developed in-car mount is available in order to secure the printer in the vehicle to ensure that is does not slip or roll around during transit. Easily fitted, the holder connects securely with the mounting points underneath the PD24 and allows users to transport the printer easily without fear of damaging it. A new version using magnetic strips in order to make attaching and detaching the printer as quickly as possible is also available.

Where smaller print outs are required, the CMP-10 can offer a beneficial solution, able to produce 2 inch wide receipts quickly and simply. The CMP-10 is a small, lightweight mobile receipt printer that brings added functionality and convenience to any mobile environment.

Printing at 50 mm/sec, the printer affords wireless freedom through its Bluetooth interface. Weighing less than 330 grams, the CMP-10 uses a long-life lithium-ion battery that supplies up to 40,000 lines of 8 dots/mm (203 dpi) thermal printing on a single charge.

® Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG inc.