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Label printers designed to produce monochromatic bar-coded graphics on paper or plastic (frequently self-adhesive) labels or tags; they may work as a computer-controlled peripheral. These printers typically include a thermal head that may transfer ink from a ribbon to the tag (thermal transfer printer) for a permanent print or perform temporary (up to a year) printing on heat-sensitive tag (direct thermal printer); bar-code printers usually include special feeding mechanisms to manipulate multiple tags provided either in tear sheets or in rolls. Bar-code printers are used in healthcare facilities to mark laboratory samples, for patient and/or equipment identification, and for inventories and other administrative purposes; they are frequently used as components of hospital bar-coded information systems.
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