Laser printer

Laser Printer

A laser printer is a type of printer that utilizes a laser beam to produce an image on a drum. The light of the laser alters the electrical charge on the drum wherever it hits. The drum is then rolled through a reservoir of toner, which is picked up by the charged portions of the drum. Finally, the toner is transferred to the paper through a combination of heat and pressure. This is also the way copy machines work.

History

The laser printer was developed at Xerox in 1969 by researcher Gary Starkweather by modifying a Xerox 7000 copier. Xerox released the 9700, the first commercial laser printer, in 1977. Laser printers were first used for mass-market computing on the IBM 3800 in 1976.

Technology

Laser printers function by following a multi-step process. First, the document is sent from the respective computing device to the printer. The printer's laser beam then prints the document on a photosensitive drum using electrical charges. After the image has been transferred onto the drum, it is then printed onto a sheet of paper.

Types of Laser Printers

There are two types of laser printers: monochrome (black and white) and color. Monochrome laser printers are more common in business environments, while color laser printers are more commonly used for graphic design and photography.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Laser printers have several advantages over other types of printers. They are known for their speed, precision, and economy of use, especially in high-volume printing environments. However, they are also more expensive than other types of printers and can be more expensive to maintain.

See Also

• Inkjet printer
• Dot matrix printer
• 3D printer
• Thermal printer