IMPACT AND NON-IMPACT PRINTERS

NAME : SALMAN HUSSAIN

CLASS : BS-1

SUBJECT : INTODUCTION OF
COMPUTER

DATE : 2009
Q: Study the functions of Impact and Non-
Impact printers?

ANS: INTRODUCTION

The printer is a device that prints documents and images on paper.

It is a peripheral output device. It prints data that is processed by
the computer. Printer is broadly classified in two groups, impact &
non-impact printers, impact printers include dot matrix printers and
non-impact printers and laser printer.

TYPES OF PRINTERS

There are two types of printer.

• Impact printer
• Non-impact printer

IMPACT PRINTERS:
Types of impact printers:

• DMP printers
• DFY printers
• Passbook printers
• Link printers

NON-IMPACT PRINTERS:
Types of non-impact printers
 • Inkjet printer
• Laser printer

FUNCTION OF IMPACT AND NON-IMPACT

PRINTERS

IMPACT PRINTERS NON-IMPACT PRINTERS

• Impact printers are used for • The non-impact printers are

printing documents as well as characterized by quiet operations.
graphics.

• The working of impact printers • Inkjet and laser printers are type
is very similar to that of the of non-impact printers
typewriter.

• Impact printers are those printers • Physical contact is not established

where a physical contact is between print head, cartridge
established between print head, (ribbon) and media (paper).
cartridge (ribbon) and media
(paper)

• Impact printers place characters • Non-impact printers relied on

on the page by causing a hammer special heat-sensitive or
device to strike an inked ribbon. chemically reactive paper to form
The ribbon, in turn, strikes the characters on the page.
printing surface (paper).
Q: Explain the difference of operations and
perform a comparative analysis of both
the printers?

ANS: COMPARITVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACT &

NON-IMPACT PRINTERS

Dot-Matrix Printers
Dot-matrix characters are not fully formed characters.
Instead, dot matrix characters are printed in the form of dot
patterns that represent the characters. The reader’s eye fills in the
gaps between the dots.
Dot matrix printers are the “original” type of printer used in
PCs; they have been around for a long time. Fortunately, they are
no longer used much except for specialized business uses such as
printing multiple-page receipts or forms. Dot matrix printers are so
named because they use a matrix of pins to create dots on the
paper. Each pin is attached to a solenoid, which, when activated,
forces the pin toward the paper. As the print head (which contains
the pins) moves across the page, different pins are forced forward
to strike a printer ribbon against the paper. Because of this action,
dot matrix printers fall into the impact printer category. This
process of the print head or pins physically striking the paper often
sounds like a horde of mad hornets, and is often very loud.
Furthermore, because their printouts are created line by line, dot
matrix printers are also considered line printers.

The print head in a dot-matrix printer is a vertical column of

print wires controlled by electromagnets. Dots are created on the
paper by energizing selected electromagnets, which extend the
desired print wires from the print head. In the print head, the
permanent magnet keeps the wires pulled in until electromagnets
are energized, causing them to move forward. The print wires
impact an ink ribbon, which strikes the paper. Remember that the
entire character is not printed in a single instant of time; it is
printed in steps.

A typical print head may contain 9, 18, or 24 print wires. The

number of print wires used in the print head is the major
determining factor associated with a printer’s character quality. A
9-pin print head generally delivers draft-quality print, whereas 24-
pin print heads approach letter-quality print.

The components of a typical dot-matrix printer are depicted

in Fig 1.1. They consist of a power-supply board, a main control
board, a print head assembly, a ribbon cartridge, a paper-feed
motor (along with its mechanical drive gears), and a print head
positioning motor and mechanisms.

Fig 1.1 Parts of a dot-matrix printer

 Dot matrix printers use a continuous form feed to move
special paper through the printer. A continuous form feed (also
called a tractor feed) comprises two wheels, one on either side of
the paper. Each wheel contains “spokes,” or sprockets, that fit into
corresponding holes at each edge of the paper. As the wheels turn,
the paper is pulled through the printer. The perforated sides of the
paper can be removed once the printout is complete, and the pages
can be removed from each other or left attached to each other in a
continuous string of pages.

Because of the print process they use, dot matrix printers do

not provide very good resolution. That is, text and images usually
appear grainy, and if you look closely at a dot matrix printout, you
will be able to see each individual printed dot. Furthermore, dot
matrix printers are limited in their ability to use color. Most of
these printers can use one printer ribbon only (typically black,
although another color can be substituted). Although some dot
matrix printers can use ribbons with more than one (up to four)
colors and or more than one (up to four) printer ribbons, dot matrix
printers are not capable of producing as many color combinations
as other printer types.

One advantage of dot matrix printers is that they are

relatively inexpensive. Additionally, because they are impact
printers, they can be used for making carbon duplicate or triplicate
forms. Because of their simple design, dot matrix printers are also
easier to troubleshoot than other printer types.
The printer’s interface may contain circuitry to handle serial
data, parallel data, or a combination of the different interface types:

Centronics parallel, RS-232 serial, SCSI, USB, or IrDA. At

the printer end of a Centronics parallel port, a 36-pin connector. Of
course, the computer end of the cable should have a connector that
is compatible with the interface being used (for example, a DB-
25M connector to plug into the system’s DB-25F LPT port).
Laser Printers:

The laser printer modulates a highly focused laser beam to

produce CRT-like raster-scan images on a rotating drum. This
process was developed by Xerox and is referred to as electro
photographic reproduction.
The drum is coated with a photosensitive plastic, which is
given a negative electrical charge over its surface. The modulated
laser beam creates spots on the rotating drum. The spots written by
the laser take on a positive electrical charge. A negatively charged
toner material is attracted to the positively charged, written areas
of the drum. The paper is then fed past the rotating drum, and the
toner is transferred to the paper. A pair of compression rollers and
a high-temperature lamp work together to fuse the toner to the
paper. Thus, the image written on the drum by the laser is
transferred to the paper.
The laser beam scans the drum so rapidly that it is not
practical to do the scanning mechanically. Instead, the beam is
bounced off a rotating, polygonal (many-sided) mirror. The faces
of the mirror cause the reflected beam to scan across the face of the
drum as the mirror revolves. Using the highest dot densities
available, these printers produce characters that rival typeset text.
Laser printers are perhaps the most commonly used printers in
office environments. They also provide the best quality and have
the most complex structure and process. A laser printer is shown in
figure.
Laser Print Process

From manufacturer to manufacturer, and model to model, the exact

arrangement and combinations of components may vary in laser
printers. However, the order of operations is always the same.
Although some laser printers use slightly different processes, the
one described here is the generally accepted order of events.

The six stages of operation in a laser printer include

1. Charging
In the charging step, the printer’s high-voltage power supply
(HVPS) conducts electricity to the primary corona wire, which in
turn passes the voltage on to the printer’s drum. This voltage is
around –5000vDC.
Note: Some newer laser printers use charged rollers instead of corona
wires to pass voltage to the drum.

2. Writing
 The photosensitive drum now contains a very high negative
charge. In the writing step, the printer’s laser begins to move along
the drum, creating a negative of the image that will eventually
appear on the printout. Because the drum is photosensitive, each
place that the laser touches loses most of its charge. By the end of
the writing step, the image exists at around
–100vDC, while the rest of the drum remains charged to –
5000vDC.

3. Developing
In this stage, the cover on the printer’s toner cartridge is
opened. The toner itself contains small particles that are attracted
to the less negatively charged (–100vDC) areas of the drum. By the
end of this stage, the drum contains a toner-covered image (in the
shape of the final printout), and the remainder of the drum remains
at –5000vDC.

4. Transferring
At this point, the paper begins to move through the printer,
past the drum. The transfer corona wire is responsible for applying
a small positive charge to the paper as it passes through. This
positive charge “pulls” the negatively charged toner from the drum
onto the paper.

5. Fusing
The only thing holding the toner to the paper at this point is
electrical charges. The toner itself contains resin, which melts
when heated. As the paper leaves the printer, it passes through a set
of fusing rollers, which have been heated by a fusing lamp. The
rollers press the toner onto the paper and the heat on the rollers
causes the toner to melt, or fuse, to the paper.

6. Cleaning
When the printout is complete, the drum moves across a
rubber-cleaning blade to remove residual toner. The toner is then
deposited into a small reservoir or returned to the toner cartridge.
Next, one or more erasure lamps expose the drum to high intensity
light. The drum is photosensitive and the light eliminates any
remaining charge. The printer is now ready to create another
image.

Q: Identify at least one product/model/make of

either Impact or Non Impact Printer and discuss
its functions, refilling, prices and operations etc?
ANS:
Samsung CLP-600N color laser printer:

Product information:

• Its brand name is Samsung. Its model number is CLP-600N.

• Its hardware platform is PC and Mac.
• Its ram memory size is 32MB.
• Device type is workgroup printer and its technology is laser
printer.
• Its output is color and its connectivity is wired.
• Its maximum media size is Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), A4 (8.25 in
x 11.7 in).
• Its maximum resolution in horizontal is 2400 Dots Per Inch.
• Its maximum resolution in vertical is 600 Dots Per Inch.
• Its maximum print speed (black and white) is 20.
• Its maximum print speed (color) is 20.
• Its media type is Envelopes, Transparencies, Labels, and
Plain paper, Cards.
• Its maximum sheet capacity is 350.
• Its has no scanner capability.
 • Its networking server is print server.
• Its system requirement is Sues Linux 8.2, Red Hat Linux 9,
Apple MacOS X 10.3 - 10.4, SuSE Linux 9.2, Red Hat Linux
8.0, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows
98SE/2000/ME/XP.
• Its width is 18.3 inches
• Its printer interface is USB, Ethernet 10/100Base-TX.

PRICE OF SAMSUNG CLP-

600N COLOR LASER
PRINTER:

In Pakistan its price is

Rs.37, 385.00

PRINTER WORKING:

The new network-ready Samsung CLP-600N color laser printer

gives you speed with new single pass network-ready color laser
printing, offering 21 ppm in both color and black & white. The
exclusive NO NOISE print engine keeps the noise level low, and
offers easy drawer-style toner and paper access. Your first page is
out in less than 20 seconds and then the pages keep coming from
paper load trays that have up to a 350-sheet capacity. With up to
2400 x 600 effective resolution, you don't have to sacrifice sharp
laser text for fast, vibrant color. Even at its busiest, the CLP-600N
is extremely quiet (less than 50db). There is a 250-sheet cassette
and 100-sheet multipurpose tray. It uses black and color toner
cartridges that yield up to 4,000 black or color pages. The CLP-
600N offers a high-speed USB 2.0 port and an Ethernet port for
workgroup network connectivity. 45,000 pages per month duty
cycle High-speed USB 2.0 and Ethernet network connectivity Print
Speed - Color and B&W Up to 20 ppm in A4 (21 ppm in Letter)
Interface USB 2.0, Ethernet 10/100 Base TX Color Profile - ICC
Technology Media Size - 3.5 x 5.5 inch - 8.5 x 14 inch (90 x 140
mm - 216 x 356 mm) Noise Level - Less than 50 dBA
Compatibility - Windows 98SE, Me, NT4.0, 2000, XP, 2003,
Various Linux OS including Red Hat 8.0 - 9.0, Fedora Core 1 - 3,
Mandrake 9.2 - 10.1, SuSE 8.2 - 9.2, Mac OS 10.3 - 10.4 Net
Dimension - Width 18.3 x Depth 18.3 x Height 17.5 inches (Width
465 x Depth 465 x Height 445 mm)

CONCLUTION:

In all of my research of impact and non-impact printers. We can

see that impact printers like dot matrix printers work physical
contact is established between print head, cartridge (ribbon) and
media (paper) and impact printers prices is very low then the
comparison of non-impact printers because its printer like laser
printer work relied on special heat-sensitive or chemically reactive
paper to form characters on the page that’s why non-impact
printers price is very high. I think in point of view laser printer is
very good because its compulsory use in offices and school,
colleges. Its price is expensive but its work is good.
URL OF MY REASEARCH WORK:

www.google.com.pk

www.wikipedia.org

www.google.com.pk

www.scribd.com

www.beliscity.com

www.google.com/pictures