CLA-2-84:RR:NC:1:110 B85425
Mr. Leo Jeffries
Kintetsu Intermodal (U.S.A.), Inc.
1035 Watson Center Road
Carson, California 90745
RE: The tariff classification of thermal transfer printers from
Canada.
Dear Mr. Jeffries:
In your letter dated May 2, 1997, on behalf of TEC America
Inc., you requested a tariff classification ruling.
The merchandise under consideration involves thermal
transfer printers which are known as the TEC models B-411, B-421,
B-472, B-572, B-872, and the CB-416. These thermal transfer
printers are designed for printing bar codes and graphics on
items such as labels, label tags, and receipts.
The B-411 portable printer which weighs less than 4 pounds,
measures approximately 7.1 inches in width by 2.6 inches in
depth, and 6.6 inches in height. This printer may be carried
over the shoulder, or by its grip handle, and is battery powered.
The B-411 utilizes a RS-232 computer interface and is designed
for the easy loading of continuous label rolls. It can print bar
code and other graphic labels.
The TEC B-421 direct thermal printer is a desk-top printer
which allows labels to be printed in continuous batch mode, or
dispensed one at a time with the backing paper peeled. It weighs
approximately 5 pounds, and measures 7.7 inches in width by 7.6
inches in depth, and has a height of 5.5 inches. The standard
RS-232 port lets you drive the printer at up to 19,200 baud, and
it can be interfaced with a computer, hand-held terminal, or a
programmable scanner.
The B-472 and the B-572 TEC are desk-top thermal printers
which employ a "FETHR" (Floating Edge-Type Head Revolution) which
permit lighter head pressure to print on various face stocks from
thick to thin, and on various smoothness of papers. They feature
a dot resolution of 203.2 dots per inch (DPI) for the B-472 to
305 DPI for the B-572. A straight through paper path allows the
printers to automatically adjust to print on various thickness of
label and tag materials. Both the TEC B-472 and B-572 employ a
RS-232C interface.
The TEC B-872 is a desk-top thermal printer which features a
305 DPI (12 dots per mm) print speeds of up to 8 inches per
second (200mm/second). This printer also incorporates ribbon
save and it employs the "FETHR" technology which permit it to
handle a wide range of media types. The B-872 interfaces include
a RS-232C Centronics parallel port, a flash memory card slot, and
expansion I/O interfaces.
The TEC CB-416 is a desk-top thermal printer which can
produce color labels and tags at the print speed of 6 inches per
second. It has 4 high resolution 305 DPI printheads, and uses
four color ribbons (cyan, yellow, magenta and black) to produce
process colors in a single pass. A high speed interface ISA
board increases data throughput over the industry standard
parallel and serial interfaces. The TEC CB-416 "Windows" print
driver permits the user to print using an application within
"Windows".
These TEC thermal transfer printers appear to incorporate
the special design characteristics which are common to the
printing units used with automatic data processing (ADP)
applications. Noting Legal Note 5(D) to Chapter 84 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), these thermal transfer printers
would satisfy the conditions of Paragraphs (B)b) and (B)(c) of
Legal Note 5(B).
The applicable subheading for the TEC model thermal transfer
printers noted above will be 8471.60.5500, Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTS), which provides for thermal
transfer printer units, assembled, incorporating at least the
media transport, control, and print mechanisms. The rate of duty
will be 1.5 percent ad valorem.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177
of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above
should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time
this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions
regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Art
Brodbeck at 212-466-5490.
Sincerely,
Robert B. Swierupski
Chief, Metals & Machinery Branch
National Commodity
Specialist Division