Printer

Classification

On the carrier printers are divided by the principle of transfer of the image on:

• matrix;
• laser (also LED printers);
• jet;

By amount of colors of printing — on black-and-white (monochrome) and color.

On connection with data source (from where the printer can obtain data for printing), or the interface:

• on wire channels:
• through a SCSI cable
• through a serial port
• via the parallel port (IEEE 1284)
• on the bus Universal Serial Bus (USB)
• through a local network (LAN, NET)
• using two ports, at the same time one of ports manages the CNC drive, through other port there are data on printing heads
• by means of wireless connection:
• through the IR-port (IRDA)
• on Bluetooth
• on Wi-Fi (including using AirPrint)

IK-connection is possible only with the device which is in direct visibility while the Bluetooth and Wi-fi interfaces using radio waves function at distance up to 10-100 meters.

Some printers (generally jet photoprinters) locate an opportunity autonomous (i.e. without computer means) printings, having the device of reading flash-cards or port of interface to the digital camera that allows to perform to print photos directly from the memory card or cameras. The printers supporting AirPrint technology give the chance to print documents and photos from directly mobile devices based on iOS without use of a cable (connection is performed on Wi-Fi). AirPrint is available to iPad and also to iPhone and iPod Touch not below third generation.

Dangerous network printers

On February 1, 2017 researchers of the university of the city of Ruhr in Germany detected a number of critical vulnerabilities in firmwares of some models of network printers. According to their research (official representation in May, 2017), by means of the detected vulnerabilities malefactors can receive copies sent for printing of documents and even to take control over corporate network.

For February 7, 2017 all printers during printing are controlled the computer using several special protocols and languages. In a case with network printers during printing the computer at first initializes the printer through the protocol of control of the device, then sets with it exchange to data through the network protocol then it sends it a task for printing at first on a job control language, and then on a page description language^[1].

You look in more detail Article:Cyber attacks.

Matrix printers

Matrix printers — the oldest of nowadays used types of printers, their mechanism it was invented in 1964 by the Japanese corporation Epson

The image forms the printing head which consists of a set of the needles (a needle matrix) put in action by electromagnets. The head moves line by line along the sheet, at the same time needles strike paper via the cartridge ribbon, creating the point image.

The main shortcomings of matrix printers are monochromaticism (though there were also color matrix printers, at very high price), very low speed of work and the high level of noise which reaches 65 dB.

Interfaces

• Standard bidirectional 8-bit bit-parallel interface with support of the semi-byte IEEE 1284 mode
• Serial interface EIA-232D
• Are issued also high-speed linearly - matrix printers in which a large number of needles are evenly located on the shuttle mechanism (fret) on all width of the sheet.

Matrix printers, despite their complete replacement from household and office sphere, are still rather widely used in some areas (banking — printing of documents under carbon paper, etc.)

Comparison with other types

Printing quality. Very low, comparable with quality of the typewriter. However, graphics is possible.

Color rendition. There were color matrix printers with several tapes, you should not have spoken about any color rendition. However, in those days (1980th) it was the only way of desktop printing in color.

Print speed. For "normal" 9-and 24-needle printers in an alpha mode — tens of seconds on the page, in graphic — several minutes. High-speed printers several times quicker.

Print cost. It is extremely low (a supply — the cartridge ribbon). Perfectly print on paper of extremely bad quality that else reduces cost. Non-standard formats of paper are possible, it is important for forms of the strict accounting which do of quality paper (for example, the train ticket of an ACS Express, 2011).

Resistance of a print to external influences. It is very good; prints are resistant to water and friction. Traces from needles in addition complicate forgery. Over time prints fade.

Possible length of a print. It is not limited. Restrictions of a print spooler are possible (as, for example, to Windows — printing goes only pages). Paper feed is manual (piece) and rolled.

Environmental friendliness. Loud noise.

Simplicity of service. Works in the most Spartan conditions. Before to come to an end, the cartridge warns about it low-contrast prints. Without having an opportunity to purchase a tape, users found methods to paint available, inserted into a cartridge a tape from typewriters, etc. At printing from a roll — paper practically does not hesitate.

Inkjet printers

The operation principle of inkjet printers is similar to matrix printers the fact that the image on the carrier forms from points. But instead of heads with needles in inkjet printers the matrix of nozzles (a so-called head) printing liquid dyes is used. The printing head can be built in cartridges with dyes. In other models of office printers replaceable cartridges, the printing head are used, when replacing a cartridge it is not dismantled. On the majority of printers of industrial function ink moves in the heads fixed in the carriage through the system of automatic feed of ink.

There are two methods of technical implementation of a method of spraying of dye:

• Piezoelectric Ink Jet — over the nozzle is located a piezocrystal. When on a piezoelement electric current moves, it (depending on type of the printing head) is bent, extended or pulls a diaphragm owing to what the local area of elevated pressure near the nozzle is created — the drop which is pushed out afterwards on material forms. In some heads the technology allows to change the drop size.
• Thermal Ink Jet (which is also called by BubbleJet, developer — Canon company, the principle was developed in the late seventies) — in the nozzle the microscopic heating element which when passing electric current instantly heats up to temperature of several hundred degrees is located, when heating in ink gas bubbles (engl. bubbles — from here and the name of technology) which push out liquid drops from a nozzle on the carrier are formed.

Printing heads of inkjet printers are created using the following types of supply of dye:

• Tractor feed (Continuous Ink Jet) — supply of dye during printing happens continuously, the fact of hit of dye is defined on the sealed surface by the dye flow modulator (affirms that the patent for this method of printing is granted to William Thomson in 1867 [the source is not specified 560 days]). In technical implementation of such printing head in a nozzle under pressure dye which at the exit from a nozzle breaks into the sequence of micro drops (amount of several tens picolitres) to which electric charge is in addition reported moves. Splitting a flow of dye into drops happens the piezocrystal located on a snivel on which the acoustic wave (with a frequency of tens kilohertzes) forms. The deviation of a flow of drops is made by an electrostatic yoke (deflector). Those drops of dye which should not get on the sealed surface gather in the collection of dye and, as a rule, come back in the main reservoir with dye. The first inkjet printer manufactured using this method of supply of dye was released by Siemens in 1951.

• Giving on demand — supply of dye comes from a nozzle of the printing head only when dye really has to be applied on the area of the sealed surface corresponding to a nozzle. This method of supply of dye also gained the widest circulation in modern inkjet printers.

Classification

As the printed material:

• Rolled — subhanks and reelings of rolled material are equipped with systems, are intended for printing on self-bonding, paper, a canvas, banner fabric
• Sheet firm — for printing on PVC, polystyrene, the penokartena. The sheet of material is fixed on the bed by means of a vacuum clip or clamps. The carriage (equipped with the drive of the movement on axis X) is fixed on the portal which together with the carriage moves over material (on a y axis).
• Souvenir — movement of procurement along the head, on a y axis, is provided with the servo actuator of a mobile table, besides the table is equipped with the mechanism of adjustment of distance between procurement and the carriage (for printing on procurements of different height). Are applied to printing on disks, phones, to marking of parts.
• Sheet flexible — for printing and a film of standard formats (A3, A4, etc.).

As the used ink:

• Solvent ink — the most widespread type blackened. Solvent ink is applied in large-format and interior printing. Are characterized by very high resistance to influence of water and an atmospheric precipitation. Are characterized by viscosity, granularity and the used fraction of the solvent.
• Spirit — were not widely used as the heads printing spirit ink very quickly dry.
• Oil — are used in the systems of industrial marking and for testing of printing heads.
• Pigmental — are used for high-quality image acquisition, in interior and in printing photo.
• UF-otverzhdayemye blackened — are applied as eco-friendly replacement to solvent ink and to printing on tough materials.
• Thermotransfer ink — distinctive feature of thermotransfer ink — an opportunity, by means of a thermopress, to transfer the printed image from a substrate to fabric. Are used for drawing logos on clothes.

To destination:

• Large-format — basic purpose of large-format printing — outdoor advertizing. Large-format printers are characterized by the big width of printing (most often 3200 mm), a high print speed (from 20 m ² per hour), not high optical resolution. In recent years the most part of large-format inkjet printers is manufactured in China.
• Interior — a scope of interior printing — printing of elements of a design of an interior, printing of posters, information stands, drawings. The main format — 1600 mm.
• Photoprinters — are intended for printing of photos, print on materials of small formats (usually on rolls 1000 mm wide). The color model is not worse, than CMYK+Lc+Lm (six color print), sometimes a color model is complemented with orange color, white paint, silver steel (for obtaining effects of metal), etc.
• Souvenir — are applied to printing on small parts, to printing on disks, and procurements of irregular shape.
• Office — differ, from photoprinters, in lack of layt and a sheet material feed.
• Marking — are included flow lines. The printing head which is not movably fixed over the conveyer belt applies marking on moving products.
• Manicure — are used for drawing on nails of the difficult drawing in a neyl-art salons.

On a feed system of ink:

• Continuous, about arrangement of subtanks and heads at one level (inlet pressure of the heads is regulated by height of subtanks).

Structure: canisters with ink-> a pump-> the filter-> a flexible path-> the carriage-> the check valve-> the subtank equipped with sensors of level of ink-> a head.

• Continuous, with the subtanks located above the heads. Pressure of a high column of ink upon the heads is counterbalanced with the vacuum system consisting of a vacuum pump and adjustment devices of a vacuum.

Structure: canisters with ink-> a pump-> the filter-> a flexible path-> the carriage-> the check valve-> subtanks, equipped with sensors of level of ink and connected to a vacuum system-> the heads.

• By gravity. The heads and canisters connect to ink the tubes passing through a flexible path. The only intermediate element — the damper filtering ink and extinguishing the pressure fluctuations arising at the movement of a flexible path.

Comparison with other types

Here it is about photoprinters — the basic for 2011 use of jet technology.

Printing quality. High quality is reached only on paper special coated. On normal office "shaggy" edges are visible.

Color rendition. The instability of flowers (different batches of paints, a paint sediment is possible at failure to act and stirring — during the work). But in general, because photoprinters can have 8 and more flowers, at regular calibration the color rendition is very good (comes very close to the leader of the industry — a chemical photo printing).

Print speed. It is comparable with a speed of the matrix printer — about a minute on A4 page. Printing of black-and-white documents it is normal quicker.

Print cost. It is very high, more than a dollar on the photographic page. Even the black-and-white text page is several times more expensive than similar laser.

Resistance of a print to external influences. Depends on composition of ink and material of printing. On normal office devices it is, as a rule, small: prints are spread at friction, fade and are afraid of water.

Possible length of a print. Theoretically it is not limited. Restrictions of a print spooler are possible (as, for example, to Windows — printing goes only pages). Cheap office printers can not have the feed gear of a continuous stationery.

Environmental friendliness. Low noise. Depending on chemical composition of ink, solvent evaporation is possible.

Simplicity of service. Are extremely whimsical, smooth operation is possible only if the printer periodically prints all the cartridges. In inexpensive office printers paint often came to an end, CISS mostly solved this problem.

Sublimation printers

Thermosublimation (sublimation) is a fast heating of dye when the liquid phase is passed. Steam is formed of solid dye at once. The less portion, the more photographic width (dynamic range) of a color rendition. The pigment of each of basic colors, and them can be three or four, is on separate (or on the general multilayer) a thin mylar tape (thermosublimation printers of Mitsubishi Electric company). Printing of final color occurs in several passes: each tape is consistently stretched under densely pressed thermohead consisting of a set of thermoelements. These last, heating up, sublimate dye. Points, thanks to small distance between a head and the carrier, steadily are positioned and turn out very small size.

To serious problems of sublimation printing it is possible to refer sensitivity of the applied ink to ultraviolet. If not to cover the image with the special layer blocking ultraviolet, then paints will soon fade. At use of solid dyes and the additional laminating layer with the ultra-violet filter for protection of the image, the received prints do not warp and well transfer humidity, sunlight and even aggressive environments, but the price of photos increases. It is necessary to pay for a full-chromaticity of sublimation technology in big time of printing of each photo (printing of one picture of 10×15 cm takes with the Sony DPP-SV77 printer about 90 seconds). Producer companies write about the photographic width of color to 24 bits, that more desirable, than valid. Really, photographic width of color no more than 18 bits.

Comparison with other types

It is only about a photo printing.

Printing quality. Good, without raster, the picture. On a lineature are close to the journal photo.

Color rendition. Good.

Print speed. About a minute on the photo 10×15. Professional printers of 6 — 15 seconds.

Print cost. On the household printer of 13 — 15 rubles for a print. On professional — less than 5 rubles.

Resistance of a print to external influences. Becomes covered by a film after printing. Protection against water and fading.

Possible length of a print. Only on a photo format, it is normal 10×15.

Environmental friendliness. Low noise.

Simplicity of service. More reliably than jet; idle times to sublimation printers are not terrible. Are afraid of dust.

Laser printers

The technology — the primogenitor of a modern laser printing appeared in 1938 — Chester Carlson invented the printing method called electrography, then renamed into a xerography.

The principle of technology consisted in the following. On the surface of the photoreel korotrony (scorotron) of a charge (a charge shaft) evenly distributes a static charge, after that by the LED laser (in LED printers — a LED line) in the right places this charge is removed — thereby on the surface of the photoreel the latent image is located. Further the toner is applied on a photodrum. The toner is attracted to the discharged sections of the surface of the photoreel which saved the latent image. After that the photodrum is rolled according to paper, and the toner is transferred to paper korotrony transfer (a transfer shaft). After that paper passes through the block of thermofixing (oven) for fixing of a toner, and the photodrum is cleaned from a remaining balance of a toner and discharged in a cleaning node.

EARS (Ethernet, Alto, Research character generator, Scanned Laser Output Terminal) invented and created in 1971 in Xerox corporation became the first laser printer, and their serial production was arranged in the second half of the 1970th. The printer of Xerox 9700 could be purchased at that time for 350 thousand dollars, but it printed with a speed of 120 p./min.

Comparison with other types

Printing quality. High, in expensive models approaches an offset printing (permission is limited about 1200 dpi).

Color rendition. The toner produced on the basis of paraffin has stable characteristics. However, the amount of paints cannot be increased infinitely as in inkjet printers — so manage standard four. Therefore the facsimile usually has a large raster, especially in light tones.

Print speed. Even in personal printers 10 — 20 of pages per minute.

Print cost. It is low (units of cents of the USA on the page for black-and-white printing and tens — for color). Gas station is expensive, but it also lasts for a long time (in personal printers — from 1.5 to 3 thousand pages).

Resistance of a print to external influences. Well hold color, waterproof, but at all do not maintain friction. Therefore the documents issued for a long time (for example, the passport), print or on printers of other types, or very greasy and accurate font.

Possible length of a print. A laser printing — continuous process, and the document should be zabuferizirovan and is prepared in memory of the printer; it limits printing on black-and-white printers. On color — also length of a tape of transfer on which all four toners are combined. Paper feed only automatic piece.

Environmental friendliness. Are almost silent. Contaminate air ozone and a toner.

Simplicity of service. Reliably works in usual house and office conditions. The printer usually "warns" bands on a print about fast replacement of a cartridge. However, the toner is soiled and difficult washes off therefore is not necessary in house conditions to fill an empty cartridge.

Other printers

Barrel printers (engl. drum printer). The first printer which received the name UNIPRINTER was created in 1953 by Remington Rand company for the UNIVAC computer. The rotating reel on which surface relief images of letters and digits were located was a basic element of such printer. Width of a drum corresponded to paper width, and the quantity of rings with the alphabet was to equally maximum quantity of characters in line. Behind paper the line of the hammers put in action by electromagnets was located. At the time of passing of the necessary character on the rotating drum, the hammer struck paper, pressing it via the cartridge ribbon to a drum. Thus, for one turnover of a drum it was possible to print all line. Further paper moved for one line and the machine printed further. In the USSR such machines were called the alphanumeric printing devices (APD). Their printouts can be recognized by the font similar to a font of the typewriter and letters "jumping" on a line. Output speed of the barrel printer was and remains to the highest among all known printing devices, but also it far was not a limit of a possibility of this technology. Printing was made on a continuous stationery because of what system analysts called result of printout "sheet".

Camomile (lobe) printers (daisywheel printer) by an operation principle resembled drum, however had one set of letters which is located on flexible lobes of a plastic disk. The disk rotated, and the special electromagnet pressed the necessary lobe to the cartridge ribbon and paper. As the symbol set was one, movement of the printing head along a line was required, and the print speed was much lower, than at barrel printers. Having replaced a disk with characters, it was possible to receive other font, and, having inserted a tape not of black color — to receive a "color" print.

Spherical printers (IBM Selectric) by an operation principle are similar to camomile printers, but the typing element (printing head) had the sphere form with convex letters. This image formed the Wikipedia logo basis.

Caterpillar printers (train printer). A set of letters is fixed on a caterpillar chain;

Chain printing devices (chain printer). Differed in placement of the printing elements on the plates connected in a chain;

Teletype printers consisted of the electromechanical part repeating the electric typewriter and the modem. So the electric keyboard, the electromechanical rychagovy character printer and the device of acceptance and information transfer on a communication channel were united in one block. The record-read device of a punched tape, usually 5-row (5-bit) was in addition connected.

Thermal printers of Xerox company. Are characterized by a supply — the substance on the basis of paraffin melting at the 60th a hail. Celsius.

The most eco-friendly printer. The Japanese company PrePeat seriously thought of environment protection and released the printer which is not requiring for work blackened, neither a toner, nor paper. For printing thin white plastic is used. Before a reprint the sheet is automatically cleaned in the printer.

The UF-printer is the universal device capable to perform printing the specific paints hardening under the influence of ultraviolet both on rolled materials, and on firm surfaces, such as PVC, laminate, metal, etc. Learn more: UF-printers also UF-blackened (world market)

Internet printers

Recently in the market of the office equipment there were printers which software supports direct connection to the Internet (usually via the router) that allows such printer to function irrespective of the computer. Such connection provides a number of additional opportunities:

• printing of documents or web pages directly from the display of the printer;
• printing of documents or web pages from any web device (including deleted) without the need for installation of the driver of the printer on it;
• viewing a status of the printer and job control of printing using any browser regardless of location;
• operational automatic update of the software of the printer.
  

Printer cartridge

Dye (ink, the toner) used in the printer is usually stored in cartridges.

Producers of printers recommend to fill their printers with an ink/toner of their production, however, technically to prevent use of an ink/toner from third-party producers difficult (as well as to make the car using only gasoline from the producer of the car).

Purchase of so-called corporate cartridges is more expensive, than refilling of cartridges ink or a toner from third-party producers. There is the whole industry of producers of ink which deliver them to producers of printers under OEM agreements and also directly to users under the trademark, for example, of inktec, ink-mate. In modern models of printers Canon Fine cartridges with the built-in chip which controls giving and level of an expense are used blackened. But it does not prevent refilling of such cartridges, even without reprogramming of the chip if after refilling there is information that ink reached a limit, the printer does not refuse to print, only announces refilling.

Cartridges allow their repeated gas station, at observance of certain requirements (either compatible ink, or washing of a cartridge and head, for inkjet printers are required).

Except the cartridge system of gas station, for inkjet printers there is also a feed system of ink from an external vessel (so-called CISS).

Printing head

The printing head — the mechanism by means of which there is actually a putting dye on the surface of material.

Maintenance of printing heads of inkjet printers

In printing process to the heads, inevitably, dust sticks, it leads to accumulation of paint near motes. Nozzles work, ink collects near a mote, the drop closing itself all new and new nozzles grows. The image becomes "striped". Besides dust can get into the head via the ink channel, together with ink, blocking work of piezoelements. Sometimes, for various reasons, together with ink, in the head, vials of air get. It leads to almost instant knocking-out of a large number of nozzles. The main method of recovery of normal operation of nozzles — washing. On the printers which are not equipped with the system of separate washing of heads when washing, there is a considerable consumption of ink. Some models of printers (Roland, Mimaki and the majority of office printers) are equipped with the system of the automatic rubbing of printing heads including a rubber vayper and the mechanism, the lifting vayper to head level. If the vayper works incorrectly, is strongly soiled or strongly worn-out, on the head, there are drops of ink that harmful affects printing quality. After printing the head parks (in manual or in the automatic mode, depending on construction of the printer). At abnormal termination of operation of the printer the head should be parked manually. At misoperation of the automatic parking (a distortion of rubber mouthpieces or a leaky prileganiye to the head), at illiterate use of manual head parking there is a drying of a remaining balance of ink in nozzles of printing heads. The majority of printers are equipped with the system of automatic washing of heads.

Anti-printers

Scientists from the Cambridge university (University of Cambridge, Great Britain) announced creation of a method of cleaning of paper from information printed on it using laser technologies. And after the procedure of cleaning standard sheet has no damages and again is ready to use.

One of scientists who is taking part in this project David Leal-Ayala, said to the New Scientist edition that the method is based on toning evaporation. The task consisted in adjusting laser power so that it effectively deleted ink, but did not damage paper. As a result the command managed to achieve the necessary result.

David Lil-Ayla also said: "We repeated printing process and removals of the text on the same sheet of paper three times and received very good results. However by what more time this procedure will be done, that high probability that the laser will damage paper, in particular, it can give it a yellowish shade".

In the publication New Scientist it is also said that scientists of the Japanese company Toshiba are engaged in similar developments. They also managed to create the anti-printings method, but for it the special blue toner made by the company is used. Scientists from Cambridge offer basic other not abrasive method for which chemical solvents are not required.

On video the technology of removal of the printing image developed by Toshiba is provided

The head of the Cambridge development team Julian Allwood noted that he under the influence of a blue toner of Toshiba and the correct effect of light printed on paper disappears, but "it works, only if you purchased a magic toner". "Our ambitious goal consisted in deleting a normal toner from normal paper that it could be reused. Toshiba offers other approach to this problem", - Allwood said.

The Cambridge scientists hope to provide shortly a prototype of the device in which their technology will be used further such devices could appear at offices. In case of success the technology will allow to cut down significantly expenses on processing and production of new office paper.

Famous producers

• Brother (Brazer)
• Canon (Canon Ru)
• Epson
• Hewlett-Packard (HP)
• Konica Minolta
• Lexmark
• Panasonic
• Ricoh (Rico Rus)
• Samsung
• Xerox

See Also

• List devices (world market)
• List devices (market of Russia)
• The market of inkjet printers in Russia