Printers are output devices which are used for producing hardcopy output on the paper. Printers can print images, graphs, or text depending on the type of printer.
Based on technology, printers are of mainly two types:
- Impact printers
- Non-impact printers
Impact printers
Impact printers are printers in which the print head comes into direct contact with the paper. Impact printers are further divided into two types:
A. Character printers: -
• Dot Matrix Printer
• Daisy wheel printer
B. Line printers: -
• Drum printer
• Chain printer
A. Character printer
In character printers, the printer prints only one character in one printing cycle i.e. one character at a time. That is why, these printers are called character printers. Character printers are slow and cannot print one line at a time.
• Dot Matrix printers
Dot Matrix printers contain a matrix of needles. These needles are arranged in rows and columns. The characters are attached with pins. An ink ribbon is placed between the pins and the paper. The print head moves and when it reaches the correct position, the pins hit the ribbon and an impact is made on the paper.
Dot matrix printers are more durable than other printers. These printers have low cost and are good for printing multiple copies. However, these Printers create a lot of noise and have a low speed. These printers also have limited print quality.
• Daisy wheel Printers
Daisy wheel printers are so called because their print head resembles a daisy flower. These printers have circular printing mechanism.
The printer rotates the disc and when the desired character appears, it hits the connected ribbon, and the characters are printed on the paper.
Daisy wheel printers produce less noise compared to Dot matrix printers. These printers can print high quality characters. The disadvantage of daisy wheel printers is that they are slower than other printers such as Dot Matrix printers.
B. Line Printers
Line printers are another type of impact printer. They can print one line at a time i.e. one line in one printing cycle. Therefore, line printers are fast compared to character printers.
• Chain printers
A chain printer has a moving chain or print chain that has a set of characteristics on its surface. The chain rotates continuously and when the desired character comes, the print head strikes the inked ribbon on the paper and creates the imprint on the paper.
Chain printers are used for printing large quantities. They cannot be used for printing graphics such as charts or graphs. They create a lot of noise during operation.
• Drum Printers
Drum printers are another type of line printer which contains a cylindrical drum with a set of characters on its surface. On receiving the print command, the drum rotates and when the desired character comes under the hammer, the printer strikes the hammer with the inked ribbon, leaving an impression on the paper. The drum printer completes one rotation to print one line. These printers are fast compared to chain printers but also produce a lot of noise such as dot matrix printers.
Non-impact printers
In non-impact printers, there is no contact between the printer head and the paper. Non-impact printers are fast compared to impact printers.
The printing quality of non-impact printers is high as compared to impact printers. In non-impact printers, there is no mechanism of hammer striking and it does not use inked ribbon. Instead, these printers use different technologies like laser, heating and spray. Types of non-impact printers: -
A. Inkjet Printers
B. Laser printers
Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers are mainly used for color printing. Cartridges containing ink are used for the printing process in inkjet printers. Different colored cartridges are used for printing different colored images. Mainly four colors are used in inkjet printers which are cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Different colour paintings are produced by a combination of these four colours.
You Inkjet printers generate prints by spraying ink droplets on the paper with the help of a nozzle. The ink of these printers is manufactured in such a way that it dries as soon as it reaches the paper. A nozzle is an opening through which ink is sprayed onto the paper.
Inkjet printers are used for high quality colour printing. These printers are good for office and home use because of their compact size. The cost of ink cartridges used in inkjet printers is quite high because they have to be purchased repeatedly.
Laser Printers
Laser printers are another type of non-impact printers which use laser and heating technology for the printing process. When print command is triggered, the printer generates a laser beam that print impressions on the paper. The paper is fed to the heater, which fixes ink to the paper.
Laser printers are fast as compared to inkjet printers, especially in black and white printing. These printers have a lower cost of printing as compared to inkjet printers. Colour printing on these printers may not be as good as inkjet printers. The purchase cost of laser printers is also higher than that of inkjet printers.
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