Printer and its classifications

Introduction

A printer is peripheral device,which receives data from computer and prints it on a paper.That is it simple acts like an output device for the system.Printer are classified mainly in two types -

• Impact Printers
• Non impact printers

Impact printer:

An impact printers are those in which the characters are printed by impacting the print head or hammer to the roller or platen. In this type of printer the print head makes a contact with the paper physically.There are several types of impact printers-

• Dot Matrix printers(DMP)
• Band printers
• Drum Printers
• Daisy wheel printers

The general features of impact printers are-

• Uses force by applying hammer pins to strike the paper
• Slow speed in characters per second
• Prints on most paper types
• Transparencies not supported
• Multiple copies may be printed at once

Advantages:

• Very low operating costs.
• It can print on continuous stationary.
• Dot matrix priters can create carbon copies when carbonated paper is used.

Disadvantages:

• The print quality is very poor.
•  Very slow going machine-it ranges from 40 character per second (cps) to about 1000 cps.
• The machine is very noisy-can not be used near a telephone line.
• It cannot produce color copies.

Non-Impact printers:

Non impact printers are those printers,which prints the characters by image formation similar to Xerox. In this type the print head never touches the paper physically. The outputs of these printers are of better quality compare to the impact printers. Most over it we compare the speed bettween impact and non-impact printers the non-impact printers are faster than the impact printers.These are several types of non-impact printers.

• Laser Printers
• Ink Jet Printer

 The general features of non-impact printers are-

• Print head does not make contact with the paper
• Higher speed in characters per second is posible
• Prints on most paper types but better quality obtained with better paper 
• Transparencies usually supported

 Advantages:

• It is a high resolution machine which range from 300 to 600 dpi (dots per inch).
• They are comparatively small and lighter in weight.
• It is almost noiseless.
• Very high quality printout.
• Less costly.

 Disadvantages:

• It is slow as compared to laser printer.
• The cartridges cost more per pages than laser printer cartridge.
• Cartridges need to be replaced more frequently than the laser printer.
• Can not be used continuously for log
• Color printing can take 25-30 seconds each page.

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