We’ve been looking at various types of toners and printer accessories in these posts, but there’s one question that we haven’t touched on. We haven’t looked at the difference between ink jet printers and laser printers.
It’s an important question, because these printers work in very different ways, they are based on different technologies, and their parts are never interchangeable.
The Comparison
With all of their differences, laser and ink jet printers share one important similarity: neither is an ‘impact’ printer. Impact printers, such as old dot-matrix models, actually struck the paper with an ink ribbon to produce an image. The process was somewhat similar to a very advanced typewriter. In the more modern printers, nothing ever strikes the paper.
An ink jet printer, as its name suggests, sprays ink from a cartridge onto the paper. The jet of ink is controlled by the microchips in the printer. Ink jets are capable of printing in color or black and white, and can print fairly high-quality graphics. Their main drawbacks are a tendency for the ink to smudge, and a slow print speed.
Laser printers are bigger and more expensive, but they can print more pages, faster, and with less smudging than ink jets. In a laser printer, a laser beam writes the image onto the drum, which them transfers that image to the paper by means of electrical charge; it actually changes the ions in the surface of the paper. Toner is then applied to the paper, where it’s held loosely in place by the differing electrical charges. As a final step, the page is heated to melt the toner into place.
As you see, laser printers are more complex than ink jets. However, the laser accessories (drums, toners, photo units) last longer than ink jet cartridges, and laser printers can use cheaper paper, making them less expensive to operate in the long run.
The bottom line: ink jets are great for low-volume, non-professional jobs. Laser printers are best in high-volume, office environments.
Nomenclature Trivia
You will often hear laser printers referred to as ‘laser jets,’ even though they have no relation to the older, simpler, ink jet technology. The reason for this is based on the printers’ history: ink jets came first, and the term was well known when laser printers arrived. The ‘jet’ attached itself to laser printers, even though it didn’t really fit.
The technology is interesting, but there’s a lot in the names, too.
About Voltexx Inc
One of the leading suppliers of toners, laser cartridges and affordable ink, Voltexx.com has been in the market since 2001. Voltexx caters to private individuals and large businesses. The company’s niche is affordable, brand-name, accessories for printers, copiers, and fax machines. With the 100% satisfaction guarantee and superior customer service, Voltexx is here to stay. You can find out more about this remarkable company at http://www.voltexx.com/.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
How Does a Laser Printer Work, Anyway?
This is a great question. After all, how can a laser write on paper? The answer, of course, is that it doesn’t. It writes on an electrically charged drum, and uses the differences in electric potential to coat the drum with toner, and place the toner on the paper.
OK, that sounds like a mouthful, and it is, so we’ll look at it step-by-step.
The Drum
When a laser printer starts a print job, the first thing it does is apply a positive electrical charge to the drum unit. Afterwards, the laser system ‘writes’ the page image onto the drum with a negative charge, creating an electric “virtual negative” of the image.
The Toner
The drum unit rotates, and as the image is written on it, it picks up toner, the laser printer equivalent of ink. The toner is positively charged, and so it sticks to the image that the laser drew. The paper presses against the drum, and receives the toner image.
The Fuser
When the paper first picks up the toner, the image is not set. Toner is a dry, dusty material, and it the electric charge cannot hold it strongly to the paper. In order to make the image permanent, the paper runs through the fuser, which heats it, and melts the toner onto the page. The paper exits the printer, and that’s that.
See? That wasn’t too hard to follow…
OK, that sounds like a mouthful, and it is, so we’ll look at it step-by-step.
The Drum
When a laser printer starts a print job, the first thing it does is apply a positive electrical charge to the drum unit. Afterwards, the laser system ‘writes’ the page image onto the drum with a negative charge, creating an electric “virtual negative” of the image.
The Toner
The drum unit rotates, and as the image is written on it, it picks up toner, the laser printer equivalent of ink. The toner is positively charged, and so it sticks to the image that the laser drew. The paper presses against the drum, and receives the toner image.
The Fuser
When the paper first picks up the toner, the image is not set. Toner is a dry, dusty material, and it the electric charge cannot hold it strongly to the paper. In order to make the image permanent, the paper runs through the fuser, which heats it, and melts the toner onto the page. The paper exits the printer, and that’s that.
See? That wasn’t too hard to follow…
Toner Cartridges
Toner cartridges are a standard component of laser printers, photocopiers, and fax machines. They take the place of the ink cartridge or tape in a traditional printer.
The toner cartridge is generally 9 to 12 inches wide, somewhat wider than a standard sheet of paper. As the paper runs through the laser printer, a fuser melts the toner onto the page. The process generates a lot of heat, which is why fresh laser prints often feel warm to the touch. Toner cartridges for color copiers and laser printers are generally more expensive than standard black and white.
Types of toner cartridges
There are several different types of toner cartridges available on the market. They can differ widely in both price and quality, so it is good to become familiar with the lingo before shopping.
The main categories of toner cartridges are:
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges: This is the type of cartridge that comes with the printer. OEM cartridges are produced by the same manufacturer as the printer, and are also generally the most expensive type of cartridge.
The main advantage of using OEM parts is in the print quality. OEM cartridges, because they are specifically designed for their particular printer, produce an unbeatable print quality.
Compatible toner cartridge: As the name implies, these are cartridges that are compatible with a particular printer model. They are usually not manufactured by the same company as the printer. Rather, they are the printer world’s version of off-brand accessories.
Compatible toner cartridges generally match the quality of OEM, but they usually cost much less. For a user with a tight budget, this is a good option.
Remanufactured toner cartridge: Also known as recycled cartridges, these are toner cartridges which, when they were used up, were sent back to the original factory to be refilled and restored for additional use. After the remanufacturing process is complete, these cartridges are tested to ensure that they meet OEM standards.
There are two main benefits to remanufactured cartridges: First, is the price. While they cost more than compatible cartridges, they are generally much less than OEM. Second, is the good feeling they give the user, for keeping non-biodegradable waste out of the landfills.
About Voltexx, Inc.
Voltexx.com has been in the printer, fax, and copier supply business for 7 years. They’ve built their niche online by providing excellent prices and superior service on any printer accessory you need. Voltexx carries the big name brands, like HP, Brother, and Lexmark, as well as smaller, lesser known brands. Whatever you need for your printer, you are sure to find it at Voltexx.com
The toner cartridge is generally 9 to 12 inches wide, somewhat wider than a standard sheet of paper. As the paper runs through the laser printer, a fuser melts the toner onto the page. The process generates a lot of heat, which is why fresh laser prints often feel warm to the touch. Toner cartridges for color copiers and laser printers are generally more expensive than standard black and white.
Types of toner cartridges
There are several different types of toner cartridges available on the market. They can differ widely in both price and quality, so it is good to become familiar with the lingo before shopping.
The main categories of toner cartridges are:
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges: This is the type of cartridge that comes with the printer. OEM cartridges are produced by the same manufacturer as the printer, and are also generally the most expensive type of cartridge.
The main advantage of using OEM parts is in the print quality. OEM cartridges, because they are specifically designed for their particular printer, produce an unbeatable print quality.
Compatible toner cartridge: As the name implies, these are cartridges that are compatible with a particular printer model. They are usually not manufactured by the same company as the printer. Rather, they are the printer world’s version of off-brand accessories.
Compatible toner cartridges generally match the quality of OEM, but they usually cost much less. For a user with a tight budget, this is a good option.
Remanufactured toner cartridge: Also known as recycled cartridges, these are toner cartridges which, when they were used up, were sent back to the original factory to be refilled and restored for additional use. After the remanufacturing process is complete, these cartridges are tested to ensure that they meet OEM standards.
There are two main benefits to remanufactured cartridges: First, is the price. While they cost more than compatible cartridges, they are generally much less than OEM. Second, is the good feeling they give the user, for keeping non-biodegradable waste out of the landfills.
About Voltexx, Inc.
Voltexx.com has been in the printer, fax, and copier supply business for 7 years. They’ve built their niche online by providing excellent prices and superior service on any printer accessory you need. Voltexx carries the big name brands, like HP, Brother, and Lexmark, as well as smaller, lesser known brands. Whatever you need for your printer, you are sure to find it at Voltexx.com
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