also: かんねつしきプリンタ
noun
A printer that uses heat to produce an image on special paper; common in receipt printers and label printers.
レジの感熱式プリンターがレシートを印刷した。
The thermal printer at the register printed the receipt.
感熱式プリンターはインクが不要なので、メンテナンスが楽だ。
Thermal printers don't need ink, so maintenance is easy.
A laser printer uses toner and a laser beam, suitable for high-volume printing, unlike a thermal printer which is often used for receipts and labels.
Standard spelling with プリンター; widely used in modern Japanese.
Alternate spelling with プリンタ; also common, especially in technical contexts.
Compound of 感熱 (kan'netsu, 'heat-sensitive') + 式 (shiki, 'type') + プリンター (purintā, 'printer').