Published 2026-09-13 · Last Updated 2026-09-13 · SHICAI technical team · Industrial coding guide
A TIJ inkjet printer grows taller by adding heads, not by changing technology. Two 12.7 mm cartridges print 25.4 mm, four print 50.8 mm and six print 76.2 mm, while the controller, the ink and the mounting gap stay the same. Here is how to choose the head count.
How Head Count Sets Print Height
Every head in the S10 series is a 12.7 mm TIJ cartridge, and the frames stack them. Two heads give a 2-25.4 mm print height, four give 2-50.8 mm and six give 2-76.2 mm. Throw distance stays at 2-5 mm across the whole range, so the mounting gap does not change when you add heads.
That reduces the specification question for a TIJ inkjet printer in this class to two things: how tall a code you need, and whether the line presents the product steadily enough to hold a 2-5 mm gap. Ink colour, content and connectivity are common across the series.
Standalone or Splicing
The series splits two ways. A standalone frame carries its own heads and controller and mounts beside the conveyor. A splicing frame joins heads to double the print width on an existing line, which is the route when a code has to span a wide carton face or when a mount already exists and only the height is short.
Material range is common to all three: metal, plastic, pipe, foam and carton, with seven ink colours available. Content covers Chinese and English text, dates and QR codes throughout, and barcode output arrives with the four-head model. If your code has to carry a scannable symbol, that is the real dividing line between two heads and four.
Three Models, Side by Side
| Model | Heads and print height | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| S10-2 standalone | Two 12.7 mm heads, 2-25.4 mm | Compact frame for small product-level codes |
| S10-4 standalone | Four 12.7 mm heads, 2-50.8 mm | Barcode output plus a protective industrial body in aviation aluminium or stainless steel |
| S10-6 splicing | Six 12.7 mm heads, 2-76.2 mm | The widest mark in the series, spliced for wide faces |
Cost follows head count rather than features: the band runs from the entry-level two-head build to the six-head configuration, and every unit is quoted per configuration for ink, mount and integration. Treat that as a planning band rather than a price list; the published coding machine price guide carries the numbers. The droplet mechanism behind all three is the one described in the public reference on inkjet printing.
Why a Series Beats a Single Model
Buying into a series means the upgrade path is a head count rather than a replacement machine. A line that starts at two heads and later needs a taller code adds cartridges within the same family, and the operator keeps one interface. SHICAI builds the series in China, sells factory-direct, and confirms ISO 9001 quality management certification on request.
S10-4 online inkjet printer (standalone)
The mid-tier frame and the usual starting point: four 12.7 mm heads, barcode output, and a protective industrial body.
- 2-50.8mm print height
- Prints Chinese, English, date, QR code and barcode
- Marks metal, plastic, pipe, foam and carton
Head-Count Questions
- Can I add heads to a TIJ inkjet printer later?
- That depends on the frame, so ask before you order whether a model leaves room for more cartridges. A two-head frame will not necessarily become a six-head one in the field, and the answer is worth getting in writing.
- What is the difference between standalone and splicing?
- A standalone frame carries its own heads and controller and mounts beside the line. A splicing frame joins heads to double the print width on an existing line, which suits wide carton faces and tall codes.
- Which TIJ inkjet printer suits a fast packaging line?
- Head count is set by code height rather than by line speed, so match the height first and then confirm the speed rating against your conveyor. Send both figures and we will confirm the model in writing.
Where to Go From Here
- If your code stays under 25.4 mm, look at the S10-2 online inkjet printer (standalone) first.
- If the mark has to span a wide face, step up to the S10-6 online inkjet printer (splicing).
- Send code height, substrate and line speed to +86 17625427465 or kuangcy@126.com. We confirm the head count in writing and print a sample on your product before you order, at no charge and with no order required.
