Printers

A printer is an external output device that takes data from a computer and generates output in the form of graphics or text on a paper.

 

Non-impact printers

Non- impact printers do not use a striking device to produce characters on the paper; and because these printers do not hammer against the paper they are much quieter. Following are some non-impacted printers:

 

 

a) Ink-jet Printers

• A type of printer that works by spraying ionized ink at a sheet of paper. Magnetized plates in the ink’s path direct the ink onto the paper in the desired shapes. Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print approaching that produced by laser printers. A typical ink-jet printer provides a resolution of 600 dots per inch, although some newer models offer higher resolutions.

 

 

b) Laser Printers

• A type of printer that utilizes a laser beam to produce an image on a drum. The light of the laser alters the electrical charge on the drum wherever it hits. The drum is then rolled through a reservoir of toner, which is picked up by the charged portions of the drum. Finally, the toner is transferred to the paper through a combination of heat and pressure. This is also the way copy machines work.

 

 

c) Photo Printers

• A type of printer use for printing photographs.

 

 

d) All-in-One Printers

• A printer than can also do scanning, fax and make copies.

 

 

e) 3D Printers

• 3D printer also known as additive manufacturing (AM), refers to processes used to create a three-dimensional object in which layers of material are formed under computer control to create an object.

 

 

f) Thermal Printer

• Thermal printer is a type of printer that produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermo-chromic paper, or thermal paper as it is commonly known, when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated which then produce an image.

 

 

g) Mobile Printers

• Small, lightweight, battery-powered printer that allows mobile user to print from notebook computer, Tablet PC, or PDA while traveling.

 

 

h) Label Printers

• A small printer that prints on an adhesive type material that can be placed on a variety of items. Most also print bar codes. Some have built in digital scales and can print e-stamps.

 

 

i) Plotters Printers

• A large device use to print large posters and document.

 

 

j) Large-Format Printers

• Printers-Operates like an ink-jet printer, but on a much larger scale. It creates photo-realistic quality color prints. Normally used by graphic artists.

Impact printers

An impact printer makes contact with the paper. It usually forms the print image by pressing an inked ribbon against the paper using a hammer or pins. Common examples of impact printers include dot matrix, daisy-wheel printers, and ball printers.