Understanding Printers Flashcards
Understanding Printers
Laser Printer
• Uses heat and pressure to
melt toner pellets onto the page
Advantages
+ Very high quality
+ Fast printing speeds
Disadvantages
- Many moving parts
- Requires memory in the printer
- Requires high voltage
Print to File
• Print to the driver, but save it as a file
• File will be in a output format specific to that printer
• Must copy the file to the printer:
copy filename LPT1:
Inkjet Printer
• Prints with very fine drops of ink
+Inexpensive technology
+ High quality
+Relatively quiet
- Ink is expensive and proprietary
- Eventually fades
- Print head clogs easily
Print to PDF
• One-way print from app to PDF • Requires specialized software to create and view a PDF • PDF viewers built into many Internet browsers • Many third party tools available
Thermal Printer
• Applies heat to special paper
+Very inexpensive
+Almost silent
- Requires a specially coated paper
- Sensitive to light and heat
- Image degrades rapidly
Print to XPS
• Microsoft XML Paper Specification • Similar use case to Adobe PDF • Print to XPS, view in any operating system
Impact Printer
• Printer head strikes a ribbon and the paper
+Low cost per page
+Good for multiple copies
- Very noisy
- Poor graphics
Print to image
• Print to a graphics image
• Not integrated into the OS
• Some third-party image
print drivers are available
The Laser Printing Process
Step 1: Processing
• Build the entire page in memory
Step 2: Charging
• Prepare the drum with a
negative electrostatic charge
Step 3: Exposing
• Write the image with the laser
Step 4: Developing
• Add toner to the charged areas
of the imaging drum
Step 5: Transferring
• Move the toner from
the drum to the paper
Step 6: Fusing
• Heat and pressure
Step 7: Cleaning
• Remove excess toner
Laser Printer Maintenance
Toner Cartridge Replacement
• Replace cartridge when output is faded
• Keep in the bag to protect OPC from light
• Power down printer before replacement
• Remove packing strips from the new cartridge
Laser Printer Maintenance Kit
• Periodic maintenance based on page count
• Replacement feed rollers, transfer rollers,
pickup rollers and fuser unit
• Power down during maintenance
• Reset the page counter when done
Thermal Printer Maintenance
Thermal Paper Replacement
• Relatively inexpensive
• Must use the correct size
• Replace spool and feed through the printer
Cleaning the Heating Element
• Use an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) cleaning pen
• Follow printer manufacturer recommendations
• Usually a small area
• Cleaning cards can be used for the paper path
Impact Printer Maintenance
Printer Ribbon Replacement
• Self-contained cartridge
• Replace when output is faded
• Modular design, replace in a few minutes
Print Head Replacement
• Gets very hot during use
• Another modular part, look for release bar
• Consider replacing both head and ribbon simultaneously for
best effect
Inkjet Printer Maintenance
Cleaning print heads
• Output may have streaks or sections of missing color
• Cleaning process can be started manually
• Some print heads/cartridges can be
removed and cleaned manually
Replacing the Inkjet Cartridge
• Usually separate colors
• Takes seconds to replace
Inkjet printer calibration
• Align nozzles to the paper
• Printer includes a calibration option
