A printer is an output device that is attached to the computer. The printer takes the input in the form of text and graphics and transfers this information onto the paper. In this way, it transfers the digital information into a hard copy. There are different types of printers available in the market.
Printers accept the print command from the user on the computer to which printer is attached or even from the other devices to which the printer is connected. Printers were first invented in the 18th century and since then it has been improved to add more and more features.
Specification of a Printer
1. Color
Earlier when the printers were introduced in the market they used to print only in black and white color. But with the continuous progress in technology-colored printers have evolved which print colored documents.
You can even print black and white documents with the colored printer. Comparatively the colored printers are more expensive than black and white printers.
2. Speed
It depends on your use whether you print rarely or you require a print frequently. Usually, the faster printers print at a high speed and are expensive and the slower printers print only 3 to 6 prints in one minute. As the speed of the printer increases its price also increases. So, speed is one of the important factors while purchasing a printer.
3. Resolution
A printer with a high resolution is considered a superior printer. The resolution of a printer can be measured in a unit that we refer to as dpi i.e., dots per inch.
The printer with high resolution is expensive as compared to the printer with lower resolution.
4. Memory
Although a small amount of memory is associated with each printer. But this memory is expandable. The increased memory of a printer increases the speed of the printer and it also improves the performance of the printer.
Types of Printers
Printers can be classified into two types depending on the way they print and the quality of the print they produce. The two kinds of printers are:
- Impact Printer
- Character Printer
- Dot Matrix
- Daisy Wheel Printer
- Line Printer
- Drum Printer
- Chain Printer
- Character Printer
- Non-Impact Printer
- Inkjet Printers
- Laser Printers
1. Impact Printer
The impact printers print characters onto the paper by striking the ribbon against the paper.
i. Character Printer
Character printer prints only one character at a time. Character printer can be further classified as dot matrix printer and daisy wheel printer.
a. Dot Matrix Printer
The dot matrix printer prints the character in the forms of dots. The head of the printer has matrix of pins that helps in printing the character. Each pin of the head can be activated individually. There is an ink coated ribbon that lies between the paper and the head of the printer.
As the pin in the head strikes the ribbon, it makes a small dot on the printer and combination of these dots makes the character. Usually, the railway tickets are printed with the dot matric printer.
b. Daisy Wheel printer
The daisy printer produces letter quality print. The daisy wheel has a disk, on this disk the characters are arranges in the petal structure on its outer edge. Whenever a character has to be printer the daisy wheel or the disk is rotated until the desired character faces the paper.
Then with a hammer strikes the character hits the ink coated ribbon that is between the paper and the character. In this way a character is printed on a paper in daisy wheel printer.
ii. Line Printer
The line printer prints an entire line at once. This is a little faster than character printer.
a. Drum Printer
The drum printer has a cylindrical drum that has character carved on it in the form of a vertical band. When the desired character appears at the selected position the hammer hits the paper from behind and it is pushed on the ribbon thereby striking the character on the drum.
b. Chain Printer
In a chain printer, the character-carved badges are linked together in a chain. This chain spins horizontally around a set of hammers. When the desired character comes in front of the selected print column the hammer hits the paper and strikes on the ribbon against the paper and the character is printed.
2. Non-Impact Printer
The non-impact printer prints text or images without direct contact between ink-coated ribbon and paper. The non-impact printers are faster as compared to the impact printer.
a. Ink Jet Printer
The inkjet printer prints text or images on the paper by spraying ink onto the paper. The head of the printer has several nozzles or jet. These nozzles have fine holes from which it sprays ink on the paper that forms text or images on the paper.
b. Laser Printer
The laser printer uses light to print on the paper. A laser beam is fired on a mechanical cylinder that act as a photoreceptor. Thus, the photoreceptor gets coated with the toner which is special power substance. This toner sticks on the paper due to electrical charges. The paper is heated to fuse toner onto the paper.
These are the kinds of printers. We have covered both the categories i.e., impact printers and non-impact printers.
