What is Printer? Explain Different Types on Impact & Non-Impact Printers

Printer

A printer is a device that produces a physical copy of a digital document or image. It takes electronic data stored on a computer or other device and transfers it onto a physical medium, such as paper or plastic. Printers are commonly used in homes, offices, and various other settings to create hard copies of documents, images, or other digital media. There are various types of printers available, including inkjet printers, laser printers, thermal printers, 3D printers, dot matrix printers, and dye-sublimation printers. Each type of printer uses different technology to create prints, and they have varying features and capabilities to suit different needs and preferences.

Types of Printers:

Impact and non-impact printers are two types of printers that differ in how they produce printed output.

Impact Printers:

An impact printer uses a print head that physically strikes the paper to create an image or text. The print head contains a series of pins or other mechanisms that press an inked ribbon against the paper, creating dots that form the printed characters. The impact creates a distinctive sound, similar to the sound of a typewriter.

There are three main types of impact printers:

Dot Matrix Printers:

Dot matrix printers are one of the most common types of impact printers. They use a print head containing a series of pins arranged in a grid pattern. As the print head moves across the paper, the pins strike the inked ribbon, leaving behind a series of dots that form the characters and images. Dot matrix printers are known for their durability and ability to print on a variety of surfaces, including multi-part forms.

Daisy Wheel Printers:

Daisy wheel printers are another type of impact printer that uses a circular print wheel with spokes that contain the letters and symbols to be printed. The print wheel rotates to the correct character, and a hammer strikes the back of the wheel, pressing the character against the paper. Daisy wheel printers produce high-quality text and are commonly used in word processing and other text-heavy applications.

Line Printers:

Line printers are a type of impact printer that print an entire line of text or characters at once. They use a print head containing a series of pins or hammers that strike an inked ribbon against the paper, creating a line of text or characters. Unlike dot matrix printers that create text and images by printing dots, line printers print complete lines of text, making them much faster and more efficient for printing large volumes of text.

Non-Impact Printers:

In contrast, non-impact printers do not use a physical print head to create images or text. Instead, they use other methods such as heat, light, or electrostatic charges to transfer ink or toner onto the paper. Non-impact printers are generally quieter than impact printers and can produce high-quality output at faster speeds.

There are several types of non-impact printers:

Inkjet Printers:

Inkjet printers use liquid ink that is sprayed onto the paper through tiny nozzles. The ink is deposited onto the paper in small droplets, creating high-quality text and images. Inkjet printers are popular for home and small office use because they are relatively inexpensive and can produce high-quality prints.

Laser Printers:

Laser printers use toner, a type of powdered ink, to create images and text on paper. The toner is transferred onto the paper using electrostatic charges, and then heat is applied to melt the toner onto the paper. Laser printers are known for their speed, high-quality output, and low cost per page, making them popular in business and office settings.

Thermal Printers:

Thermal printers use heat to transfer ink onto paper. They are commonly used for printing receipts, labels, and barcodes. Thermal printers are low-cost and produce high-quality output, but the images and text may fade over time.

Dye-Sublimation Printers:

Dye-sublimation printers use heat to transfer dye onto paper or other materials, producing high-quality prints with rich colors and sharp details. They are commonly used for printing photographs and other high-quality images.

Overall, the choice between an impact and non-impact printer depends on the specific needs of the user. Impact printers are durable and can produce multi-part forms, while non-impact printers are generally faster and quieter, and can produce high-quality output with a variety of materials.