Define the uses and types of printer?
Use of Printer:
Printers are the most commonly used output devices. They are used to print the
output on the paper. The output may be in the form of characters, symbols and
graphics. information printed on paper is called hardcopy.
Types of Printer:
Impact Printers:
The types of printers that produce output on paper by striking the print hammer
or wheel against an inked ribbon are called impact printers. The- examples of
impact printers are dot matrix printer, daisy wheel printer, and line printer,
Non-impact Printers:
The printers that produce output on paper without striking the paper are known
as non-impact printers. They use electrostatic, inkjet, and thermal technologies
for printing. The examples of non-impact printers are laser printer; inkjet
printer, and thermal printer.
Dot atrix Printer:
A dot matrix printer is an impact character printer. It makes a hardcopy by
printing one character at a time. Its printing speed is from 200 to 1000 or more
characters per minute. Dot matrix printer contains a print-head with a matrix of small pins arranged in rows and columns. Dot Matrix printer produces
output on paper by striking pins (with different combination of pins) against an
ink ribbon.
Daisy Wheel Printer:
Daisy wheel printer is an impact character printer. It is similar to
typewriter. It has a print wheel with, a series of petals. This wheel is known
as daisy wheel. Each petal of the daisy wheel contains a character at its end. A
motor rotates the wheel. When the desired
character reaches at the print position on the paper, a hammer strikes a petal
against the ribbon. In this way, a character is printed on the paper.
Laser Printer:
LASER stands for Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation. A laser
printer is the fastest and high quality non-impact printer. It works like a
photocopier. The laser printer transfers the image of output on paper using
LASER technology and toner. Toner is an ink powder.
Inkjet Printer:
Ink-jet printer is a type of non-impact printer. It creates output on paper by
spraying tiny drops of liquid ink. Inkjet printer has a print-head that can
spray very fine drops of ink. It consists of print cartridge filled with liquid
ink and has small nozzles in the form of matrix. The combination of nozzles is
activated to form the shape of character or image on the paper by spraying the
liquid ink.
Thermal Printer:
Thermal printer is another type of non-impact printer. It can only print output
on a special heat sensitive waxy paper (waxy means polish or shine). The image
of the output is created on the waxy paper by burning dots on it. For colored
output, colored waxy sheets are used.
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