subject: Printer – A detailed overview [print this page] Printer A detailed overview Printer A detailed overview
A Printer is an electronic device which makes a hard copy of documents stored in the computer. It does so with the help of an external print media such as paper and other transparencies. Most printers are used as a local peripheral connected by means of a printer cable. Nowadays printers come along with an USB cable which serves as a document source. Some printers known as network printer can make hard copy of documents for any user on the network. These printers have built-in interfaces, primarily wireless/Ethernet based. A few modern printers can directly interface with other tech gadgets such as memory cards, digital cameras, and scanners. There are also printers that are combined with tech gadgets such as scanners or fax machines in a single unit. These printers which are capable to perform tasks other than printing are called MFP (Multi Function Printers). Apart from printing, MFP has scanning and copying among its other features.
Printing technology- Printers one of the popular tech gadget, are classified according to the technology they employ. Listed below are some of the modern printing techniques.
Toner-based Printers-A laser printer uses this technology, where the image is produced by the direct impression of a laser beam across the printer's photoreceptor.
Another printer that uses this technology is the LED Printer, where an array of LEDs is used instead of a laser to cause toner linkage to the print drum. Liquid-inkjet printers-Inkjet printer uses this technology by thrusting variably-sized droplets of liquid or molten material (ink) onto any sized paper. These are the most commonly used printers.
Solid-ink Printers-This technology uses sticks of colored ink, similar to a candle wax, which are melted and poured into a crystal operated print-head. The print-head then sprays the ink on a rotating, oil coated drum. Lastly the paper passes over the print drum, and in the process the image is generated or transfixed to the page.
Dye-sublimation printers-These printers incorporate a printing process which uses heat to transfer dye into a medium such as plastic card, paper, or canvas. The process generates one color at a time using a ribbon that has four panels.
Thermal Printer- This tech gadget employs a printing process where a heat-sensitive paper is heated in regions selectively. Colors can be produced with special papers, varied temperatures and heating rates of different colors.
UV Printer-This technology is still in the development phase, In this process a special reusable paper coated with a few micrometers of UV light is used. Printing is done by using a special UV light bar that is capable to write and erase paper. Since 2005, the world's best-selling inkjet and laser printers has been HP. It now has 46% sales in inkjet, and 50.5% in laser printers.
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