Main types of printers

Just a couple of decades ago, no one thought that such office devices as printers, in time will become part of almost any home computer. The emergence of inkjet printing models with incredibly low cost has seriously shaken the position of "veterans" - matrix printers.
And other modifications have fallen in price. As a result, there is a situation where when purchasing a personal computer or laptop, a printer is also purchased. This is where the first difficulty arises, because the future owner does not know what printers are. After all, price is just one of many characteristics, and not always the most important. Of course, you can ask a consultant in the store, but in order for him to tell what kinds of printers exist, it takes time, which, for obvious reasons, he does not have. In this situation, a person chooses one of two extremes - he buys the cheapest or the most expensive model (which has enough money). That is why on the pages of online auctions at bargain prices different types of printers with burnt out nozzles and damaged printheads are realized. Also often near the home computer you can see an expensive model of the printer, most of the functions of which the user simply is not used. Thus, you can make the best choice only if you know what kinds of printers exist. In fact, they are few, and you do not need to remember a huge list.

Next, we list the main types of printers. All of them can be divided into several groups: matrix devices, inkjet, laser. Sometimes mention another group, which includes the printer sublimation. These models use thermal printing technology, when the solid-state dye is fixed in the structure of the material by heating.

Some of the simplest are matrix ones. They appeared first, therefore, practically rid of "childhood diseases". The principle of operation is simple: the print head contains thin needles controlled by miniature electromagnets. Between the head and paper is a tape, almost the same as in typewriters. Each stroke of the needle forms a point from which you can create any image or symbol. Disadvantages of the technology: the print speed is too low, images can not be output in color (although there are trade-off solutions, for example, LX-300), noise during operation. Cash registers use exactly the matrix types of printing devices.

All these drawbacks are completely solved in inkjet printers. In them, needles are replaced by a number of micro-nozzles, from which microdroplets of liquid ink are squeezed onto the paper by pressure or high temperature.

The noise level is significantly reduced, the printing speed has increased several times. In addition, inkjet models are the most profitable acquisition for output of color images. However, they have drawbacks. So, with prolonged non-use, ink in the nozzles wither, and the device requires service. The cost of replaceable ink cartridges is quite high, therefore, external printers are often installed on such printers.

Laser technology has unsurpassed speed of printing, high resistance of prints to dampness, a significant resource of the cartridge. In such printers, a special coloring powder is fixed on the paper by temperature influence. Preliminarily the symbols are formed by a laser beam.