Non-impact printers - SS1 ICT Lesson Note

Impact printers have some distinct advantages, such as the ability to print on multipart forms, carbon copies, and continuous paper. They are also suitable for certain industrial and rugged environments due to their durability. However, they are generally slower and noisier than non-impact printers.

With the advancement of non-impact technologies like inkjet and laser printing, impact printers have lost popularity in many mainstream applications. Non-impact printers have revolutionized the printing industry by providing efficient, high-quality, and versatile printing solutions. 

Non-impact printers are a category of printing devices that create images or text on paper or other media without using any direct physical contact between the print mechanism and the paper. These printers are known for their quiet operation, high-quality output, and versatility. There are several types of non-impact printers, each with its own technology and applications. 

Types of non-impact printers:

1. Laser Printers: Laser printers use laser technology to create images on paper. Here is how they work:
• A laser beam scans across a drum, creating static electricity patterns corresponding to the content to be printed.
• Toner, a dry powder, is attracted to the charged areas on the drum.
• The toner is then transferred from the drum onto the paper.
• Heat is applied to fuse the toner onto the paper permanently.

Laser printers are known for their high-speed printing, sharp text and graphics, and suitability for office environments where high-volume printing is required.

 

1. Inkjet Printers: Inkjet printers spray tiny droplets of ink onto paper to create images or text. They come in various forms:
• Thermal Inkjet: Uses heat to vaporize ink, creating bubbles that expel ink droplets onto the paper.
• Piezoelectric Inkjet: Utilizes a piezoelectric crystal to create pressure that forces ink droplets onto the paper.

Inkjet printers are versatile and capable of producing high-quality color prints. They are popular for home use, photo printing, and small office tasks.

 

1. Dye-Sublimation Printers: Dye-sublimation printers use heat to transfer dye onto various media, including paper, plastic, and fabric. This process creates continuous-tone images with vibrant colors. Dye-sublimation is commonly used for printing photographs, ID cards, and specialty items like mugs and apparel.
2. Solid Ink Printers: Solid ink printers use solid ink sticks that are melted and sprayed onto the paper to create images. These printers produce vivid color output and are suitable for graphics-intensive applications.
3. LED Printers: LED printers are similar to laser printers, but they use an array of LEDs to create the image on the drum instead of a laser. LED printers tend to be compact, reliable, and offer good print quality.
4. Photo Printers: Photo printers are specialized inkjet printers designed for producing high-quality photo prints. They often support various media sizes and produce images with rich colors and fine details.