Printer types Flashcards
Laser Printer
Laser printers create entire pages at once by storing the page in memory before printing.
Laser Printer Components
1 Imaging drum
2. Fuser assembly
3. Transfer belt/roller
4. Pickup rollers
5. Paper separation pad
6. Duplexing assembly
Laser Printer Printing Process
- Printer formats data into a bitmap image.
- Imaging drum is uniformly negatively charged.
- Laser light neutralizes specific areas on the drum to form an image.
- Toner is applied to the neutral areas of the drum.
- Toner is moved from the drum to the paper.
- Heat and pressure bond the toner to the paper.
- Drum is cleaned for the next print job.
Toner
Dry plastic powder combined with carbon and coloring agents.
Toner Cartridge
- Contains toner and often the imaging drum.
- Home/office printers: Combined drum and toner.
- Enterprise printers: Separate drum and toner for cost-efficiency.
Toner Lifespan
- Toner: ~2,500 pages.
- Drum: ~10,000 pages.
Memory and Processing
- Laser printers use RAM to store images.
- Insufficient memory may result in incomplete printouts.
- Memory upgrades often use SODIMM modules.
Color Laser Printing
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK).
Two methods:
- Four Passes: Paper cycles through for each color.
- Single Pass: All colors applied in one go.
Color printers use four toner cartridges, one per color.
Common Issues with Laser Printers
- Fuser problems: Lead to smudged prints.
- Memory issues: Cause incomplete pages.
Consumable Replacement
Laser Printer Maintenance
Replace paper, toner cartridges, and maintenance kits as needed.
Maintenance kits typically include feed rollers, transfer rollers, and fuser units.
Follow page count recommendations for replacements.
Safety Precautions
Laser Printer Maintenance
Turn off and unplug the printer before maintenance to avoid burns and electrical shock.
Allow components like the fuser unit to cool down before handling.
Handle high-voltage components (e.g., primary charge roller, corona wire) with care.
Paper Handling
Laser Printer Maintenance
Use paper designed for laser printers.
Store paper in a dry, climate-controlled area to avoid jams.
Properly align paper before loading to ensure smooth feeding.
Toner Cartridge Maintenance:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Shake toner cartridges gently to redistribute toner when they report low levels.
Dispose of toner cartridges properly, following local hazardous waste regulations.
Use high-yield toner cartridges for increased page output.
Maintenance Kits:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Replace worn components like feed rollers (prevent misfeeds), transfer rollers (prevent image blur), and fuser units (ensure toner adhesion).
Reset the page count after installation.
Calibration:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Adjusts print density and color balance for optimal print quality.
Can be initiated via the printer’s control panel or software.
Cleaning:
Laser Printer Maintenance
Use a toner-safe vacuum or a damp cloth to remove excess toner.
Avoid compressed air, which can spread hazardous toner dust.
Replace or clean printer filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
Inkjet Printers
A printer that sprays ink onto paper to create an image, ideal for low-print environments.
Inkjet printer Usage
Common in small office and home office environments.
Lower initial cost compared to laser printers, but higher cost per page due to expensive ink and specialized paper.
Ideal for photo-quality prints on appropriate paper.
Inkjet printer Printing Process:
Line-by-line printing (not page-based like laser printers).
Relies on commands from the operating system’s print spooler.
Printhead moves back and forth, spraying ink to form an image
Inkjet printer Components:
1.Ink Cartridges
2. Printhead:
3. Roller
4. Feeder
5. Duplexing Assembly
6. Carriage Belt/System
Ink Cartridges
Contain ink; may include black, cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMYK) or additional high-quality photo inks.
Printhead:
Directs ink onto paper using:
Piezoelectric Method: Changes voltage to pump ink (used by Epson).
Thermal Method: Heats ink to create bubbles that spray ink (used by HP, Canon, Lexmark
Roller:
Advances paper through the printer line by line.
Feeder:
Selects and feeds paper to the roller.