PrintersPrinters

How Printers WorkHow Printers Work

Connect to a PC by parallel, serial, USB, Connect to a PC by parallel, serial, USB, IEEE 1394, or SCSI port, or by infrared, IEEE 1394, or SCSI port, or by infrared, wireless, PC Card, or network connectionwireless, PC Card, or network connection

Can be combined with fax machines, Can be combined with fax machines, copiers and scanners in the same copiers and scanners in the same machinemachine

Most often use AC powerMost often use AC power

Major Categories of Major Categories of PrintersPrinters Impact printersImpact printers

– Dot-matrix – the noisiestDot-matrix – the noisiest

Non-impact printersNon-impact printers– Laser (highest quality)Laser (highest quality)

– InkjetInkjet

– Solid inkSolid ink

– Dye-sublimationDye-sublimation

– ThermalThermal

Laser PrintersLaser Printers

How a Laser Printer How a Laser Printer WorksWorks Places toner on electrically Places toner on electrically

charged rotating drumcharged rotating drum

Deposits toner on paper as paper Deposits toner on paper as paper moves through system at same moves through system at same speed the drum is turningspeed the drum is turning

Six Steps of Laser Six Steps of Laser PrintingPrinting

1.1. CleaningCleaning

2.2. ConditioningConditioning

3.3. WritingWriting

4.4. DevelopingDeveloping

5.5. TransferringTransferring

6.6. FusingFusing

Take place inside Take place inside toner cartridgetoner cartridge

Use components Use components that undergo the that undergo the most wearmost wear

77

Six Steps of Laser Six Steps of Laser Printing (Printing (continuedcontinued))1. Cleaning1. Cleaning Cleans drum of residual toner & Cleans drum of residual toner &

electrical chargeelectrical charge

2. 2. ConditioninConditioningg

Conditions drum to contain high Conditions drum to contain high electrical chargeelectrical charge

3. Writing3. Writing Laser beam discharges a lower charge Laser beam discharges a lower charge to only those places where tone is to to only those places where tone is to gogo

4. 4. DevelopingDeveloping

Toner is placed onto drum where the Toner is placed onto drum where the charge has been reducedcharge has been reduced

5. 5. TransferringTransferring

Strong electrical charge draws toner Strong electrical charge draws toner off drum onto paper; takes place off drum onto paper; takes place outside the cartridgeoutside the cartridge

6. Fusing6. Fusing Heat and pressure fuse toner to paperHeat and pressure fuse toner to paper

Six Steps of Laser Six Steps of Laser Printing (Printing (continuedcontinued))

Step 1: CleaningStep 1: Cleaning

Any leftover toner from previous printing is brushed from the drum, which is then exposed to a high intensity light that erases any traces of previous images on the drum.

Step 2: ConditioningStep 2: Conditioning

Also referred as electrostatic charging. A uniform static charge is applied to the surface of the drum

Step 3: WritingStep 3: Writing

The image to be printed is written on the drum by the laser

Step 3: WritingStep 3: Writing

Data from PC is received by formatter (1) Data from PC is received by formatter (1) and passed to DC controller (2) which and passed to DC controller (2) which controls laser unit (3)controls laser unit (3)

Scanning mirror (4) is turned clockwise by Scanning mirror (4) is turned clockwise by scanning motorscanning motor

Laser beam is reflected off scanning mirror, Laser beam is reflected off scanning mirror, focused by focusing lens (5) and sent to the focused by focusing lens (5) and sent to the mirror (6)mirror (6)

Mirror deflects laser beam to a slit in Mirror deflects laser beam to a slit in removable cartridge and on to the drum (7)removable cartridge and on to the drum (7)

Step 3: Writing Step 3: Writing ((continuedcontinued))

Step 4: DevelopingStep 4: Developing

Step 4: Developing Step 4: Developing ((continuedcontinued))

Toner material is extracted from the toner cartridge and attracted to the image written on the drum

Step 5: TransferringStep 5: Transferring

The toner image is transferred from the drum to the paper

Step 6: FusingStep 6: Fusing

The toner image is pressed into the paper and method to permanently affix it to the paper

Laser Printing Laser Printing OperationsOperations

1. Cleaning – Any leftover toner from previous printing is brushed from the drum, which is then exposed to a high intensity light that erases any traces of previous images on the drum

2. Conditioning – (also referred as electrostatic charging) A uniform static charge is applied to the surface of the drum

3. Writing – The image to be printed is written on the drum by the laser

4. Developing – Toner material is extracted from the toner cartridge and attracted to the image written on the drum

5. Transferring – The toner image is transferred from the drum to the paper

6. Fusing – The toner image is pressed into the paper and method to permanently affix it to the paper

Inkjet PrintersInkjet Printers

Inkjet Printers Inkjet Printers ((continuedcontinued)) Use ink-dispersion printingUse ink-dispersion printing

Popular: small and print color Popular: small and print color inexpensivelyinexpensively

Most give photo-quality resultsMost give photo-quality results(eg, PhotoREt II color technology)(eg, PhotoREt II color technology)

Paper quality affects quality of printed Paper quality affects quality of printed outputoutput

Slower than lasersSlower than lasers

How an Inkjet Printer How an Inkjet Printer WorksWorks

Print head moves across paper, Print head moves across paper, creating one line of text with each passcreating one line of text with each pass

Shoots ionized ink at a sheet of paper Shoots ionized ink at a sheet of paper in a matrix of small dotsin a matrix of small dots

Several technologies are used to form Several technologies are used to form ink droplets (eg, bubble-jet)ink droplets (eg, bubble-jet)

Require ink cartridgesRequire ink cartridges Nozzles tend to clog or dry outNozzles tend to clog or dry out

– Can be cleaned automaticallyCan be cleaned automatically

Inkjet Printer Ink Inkjet Printer Ink CartridgesCartridges

Dot-Matrix PrintersDot-Matrix Printers

Less expensive; lesser qualityLess expensive; lesser quality

Print multicopy documents (impact Print multicopy documents (impact printer)printer)

Print head moves across the paper, Print head moves across the paper, using pins to shoot against a cloth using pins to shoot against a cloth ribbon and print a matrix of dotsribbon and print a matrix of dots

If print head fails, buy a new printerIf print head fails, buy a new printer

Dot-Matrix Printers Dot-Matrix Printers ((continuedcontinued))

Thermal Printers and Thermal Printers and Solid Ink PrintersSolid Ink Printers

Relatively new printer Relatively new printer technologiestechnologies

Non-impact printers that use heat Non-impact printers that use heat to produce printed outputto produce printed output

Epson - TM-T88IV Thermal Printer

Thermal PrintersThermal Printers

Use wax-based ink heated by pins Use wax-based ink heated by pins that melt ink onto paperthat melt ink onto paper

Popular in retail for printing bar Popular in retail for printing bar codes and price tagscodes and price tags

Variation: dye-sublimation printerVariation: dye-sublimation printer

Solid Ink PrintersSolid Ink Printers

Store ink in solid blocks that melts into Store ink in solid blocks that melts into print head which spans width of paperprint head which spans width of paper

Print head jets liquid ink onto paper as Print head jets liquid ink onto paper as it passes by on the drumit passes by on the drum

Simple design, excellent print quality, Simple design, excellent print quality, easy to set up and maintaineasy to set up and maintain

Takes print head ~15 minutes to heat Takes print head ~15 minutes to heat upup

Tektronix's Phaser 300X

Installing and Sharing Installing and Sharing a Printera Printer Local printersLocal printers

Network printersNetwork printers

Default printerDefault printer

Installing a Local Installing a Local PrinterPrinter Physically attach printer to computerPhysically attach printer to computer

Install printer driversInstall printer drivers

– Have Windows do itHave Windows do it

– Use printer manufacturer’s installation Use printer manufacturer’s installation program (recommended)program (recommended)

Test the printerTest the printer

Sharing a Printer with Sharing a Printer with Others in a WorkgroupOthers in a Workgroup

To share a local printer using WindowsTo share a local printer using Windows

– File and Printer Sharing must be installedFile and Printer Sharing must be installed

To use a shared printer on a remote PCTo use a shared printer on a remote PC

– Client for Microsoft Networks must be Client for Microsoft Networks must be installedinstalled

Using a Shared PrinterUsing a Shared Printer

Approaches to installing shared Approaches to installing shared network printer drivers on remote network printer drivers on remote PCPC

– Use drivers on CDUse drivers on CD

– Use printer drivers on host PCUse printer drivers on host PC

Using a Shared Printer Using a Shared Printer ((continuedcontinued))

Using a Shared Printer Using a Shared Printer ((continuedcontinued))

Using a Shared Printer Using a Shared Printer ((continuedcontinued))

Ways to Make a Ways to Make a Printer Available on a Printer Available on a NetworkNetwork Attach regular printer to a PC using a port Attach regular printer to a PC using a port

on the PCon the PC

– PC can share printer with networkPC can share printer with network

Connect network printer with embedded Connect network printer with embedded logic to manage network communication logic to manage network communication directly to network with its own NICdirectly to network with its own NIC

Use a print server to control several Use a print server to control several printersprinters

Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Guidelines for PrintersGuidelines for Printers

How Windows handles print jobsHow Windows handles print jobs

Printer maintenancePrinter maintenance

General printer troubleshootingGeneral printer troubleshooting

How to troubleshoot problems specific How to troubleshoot problems specific to laser, inkjet, and dot-matrix printersto laser, inkjet, and dot-matrix printers

How Windows Handles How Windows Handles Print JobsPrint Jobs

Windows NT/2000/XP or Windows 9x using a Windows NT/2000/XP or Windows 9x using a PostScript printerPostScript printer

– Converts print job data to PostScript Converts print job data to PostScript languagelanguage

– Windows 2000/XP can also use Printer Windows 2000/XP can also use Printer Control Language (PCL)Control Language (PCL)

Windows 9x using a non-PostScript printerWindows 9x using a non-PostScript printer

– Converts print job data to Enhanced Converts print job data to Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF)Metafile Format (EMF)

How Windows Handles How Windows Handles Print Jobs (Print Jobs (continuedcontinued))

Text data lacking embedded Text data lacking embedded control characters is sent as raw control characters is sent as raw data (DOS)data (DOS)

SpoolingSpooling

Printer Maintenance Printer Maintenance ProceduresProcedures Vary depending on manufacturer and Vary depending on manufacturer and

printerprinter

Make sure consumables for printer are on Make sure consumables for printer are on handhand

Research printer documentation or Research printer documentation or manufacturer’s Web site for specific manufacturer’s Web site for specific maintenance tipsmaintenance tips

During routine maintenance, clean inside During routine maintenance, clean inside and outside of the printerand outside of the printer

Using Printer Using Printer Manufacturer’s Web Site Manufacturer’s Web Site as a Resourceas a Resource

Online documentationOnline documentation

Knowledge base of common problems and Knowledge base of common problems and what to do about themwhat to do about them

Updated device driversUpdated device drivers

Flash BIOS updatesFlash BIOS updates

Catalog of options and upgrades for Catalog of options and upgrades for purchasepurchase

Using Printer Using Printer Manufacturer’s Web Site Manufacturer’s Web Site as a Resource (as a Resource (continuedcontinued))

Replacement partsReplacement parts

Printer maintenance kitsPrinter maintenance kits

Additional softwareAdditional software

General Printer General Printer TroubleshootingTroubleshooting Isolate the problemIsolate the problem

– Application attempting to use the printerApplication attempting to use the printer

– OS and printer driversOS and printer drivers

– Connectivity between PC and printerConnectivity between PC and printer

– Printer itselfPrinter itself

Verify that a printer self-test page can printVerify that a printer self-test page can print

Isolating a Printer Isolating a Printer ProblemProblem

Problems with Laser Problems with Laser PrintersPrinters Poor print quality or a Toner Low Poor print quality or a Toner Low

message is displayedmessage is displayed

Printer stays in warm-up modePrinter stays in warm-up mode

Paper jam occurs or Paper Out Paper jam occurs or Paper Out message appearsmessage appears

White streaks appear in the printWhite streaks appear in the print

Problems with Laser Problems with Laser Printers (Printers (continuedcontinued))

Print appears speckledPrint appears speckled

Printed images are distortedPrinted images are distorted

Printing is slowPrinting is slow

Portion of the page does not printPortion of the page does not print

Problems with Inkjet Problems with Inkjet PrintersPrinters Poor print qualityPoor print quality

Intermittent or absent printingIntermittent or absent printing

Lines or dots missing from printed Lines or dots missing from printed pagepage

Ink streaks appear on the printed Ink streaks appear on the printed pagepage

Problems with Inkjet Problems with Inkjet Printers (Printers (continuedcontinued))

Problems with Dot-Problems with Dot-Matrix PrintersMatrix Printers

Print quality is poorPrint quality is poor

Print head moves back and forth Print head moves back and forth but nothing printsbut nothing prints

Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Printer ProblemsPrinter Problems

Problems printing from WindowsProblems printing from Windows

Troubleshooting printing from Troubleshooting printing from applicationsapplications

Troubleshooting networked Troubleshooting networked printersprinters

SummarySummary

Main types of printers and how they Main types of printers and how they workwork– LaserLaser

– InkjetInkjet

– Dot-matrixDot-matrix

How to install a printerHow to install a printer How to share a printer with others on a How to share a printer with others on a

networknetwork How to troubleshoot printer problemsHow to troubleshoot printer problems