Printers Unit objective: Identify printing processes, and install and maintain printers

Topic A Topic A: Imaging processes Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer maintenance

An inkjet printer Ink dispersion Forces ink through nozzles Nozzles are 50 to 60 microns in diameter Two methods: –Thermal bubble –Piezoelectric bubble

Inkjet process Thermal bubble technology Piezoelectric technology Ink cartridges

Inkjet cartridge print heads Print head part of cartridge New ink cartridge = new print head Makes cartridge more expensive

Inkjet print quality Standards –Laser printer for text –Darkroom photographs for graphics Affected by: –Resolution (dpi) of printer –Quality of paper –Quality of ink if printed page gets wet Calibration Dithering, also known as half-tones

Straight-through paper path

Curved paper path

Photo printers Good print quality Quality not quite as good as that of chemically produced prints Use special photo paper Some printers allow you to print CD/DVD labels

Printing onto a CD

Laser printer Standard of quality for other printer types High-quality, high-volume Black-and-white, and color Dropping in price –Consumables can cost as much as printer

Laser printer components Laser scanning assembly Toner cartridge Power supplies Paper control and transport assembly Transfer corona assembly Fusing assembly Electronic control package

Laser printing process continued

Laser printing process, continued 1.Cleaning and erasing 2.Charging or conditioning 3.Writing or exposing 4.Developing 5.Transferring 6.Fusing Note: Some sources place the cleaning and erasing stage at the beginning of the process. Others place it at the end of the process. In either case, it prepares the drum for receiving and printing the next image.

Dot-matrix printer Can print multipart forms Slow and noisy compared to other printer types Impact printer –Use mechanical means to press ink onto a page Near letter quality (NLQ)

Dot-matrix printer connections Serial Parallel Rare network interface Some have both serial and parallel

Other impact printers Daisy wheel Band printer

Other printer types Thermal –Thermal wax transfer –Direct thermal Solid-ink Dye sublimation Plotters

Topic B Topic A: Imaging processes Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer maintenance

Inkjet printer installation Most local printers connect via USB Windows autodetects and installs drivers Can install additional software from manufacturer

Ink-level monitoring utility

Printer interfaces USB Parallel SCSI Serial Wired or wireless Ethernet network connections

Inkjet communications interfaces Parallel interface USB interface

Configure the connection type Parallel Specify the correct LPT port –Usually LPT1 Serial Specify the correct COM port –Usually COM2 –COM1 used for modem

Port identified for the printer

Installing an inkjet printer 1.Connect the printer to a computer, using the correct interface 2.Plug the printer in 3.Power it up 4.Windows will probably recognize the new device and install drivers for it 5.If drivers arent installed automatically, do it manually with materials that shipped with the printer

Upgrading a device driver Use Device Manager utility Follow prompts in wizard or use printer installation file Configure options for best performance

Laser printer setup Unpack from packaging Remove all packaging materials and tape Install toner cartridge –Remove tape insert from toner –Rock from side to side Might need to install drum or other components

Printer interfaces USB Parallel Serial IEEE 1394/FireWire SCSI Wired or wireless Ethernet network

Communications interfaces

Installing a laser printer 1.Connect the printer to the network or a computer, using the correct interface 2.Plug the printer in 3.Power it up 4.Windows will probably recognize the new device and install drivers for it 5.If drivers arent installed automatically, do it manually with the materials that shipped with the printer

Installing a network printer in Windows 7 1.In Windows 7, open Devices and Printers 2.Click Add a printer 3.Click Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer 4.Select the desired printer and click Next, or click The printer that I want isnt listed 5.If prompted, click Install driver 6.Enter a name for the printer and click Next 7.If desired, set as the default printer and print a test page 8.Click Finish

Topic C Topic A: Imaging processes Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer maintenance

Printer maintenance Follow manufacturers guidelines Common tools –Cleaning solutions and sprays (isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol) –Cleaning equipment (soft cloths, cotton swabs) –Lubricants –Compressed air –Toner vacuums and toner rags or extension magnet brushes –Screwdrivers (to open compartments) –Chip puller Safety Consumables

Inkjet printer maintenance Change low ink cartridges Use recommended supplies Clean print nozzles and recalibrate printer Adjust ink output calibration for color matching Proper ventilation Remove dust Test page Calibrate ink output for color matching if available Set up with proper ventilation

Laser printer maintenance Scheduled maintenance and unscheduled service calls Routine maintenance –Replace toner cartridges –Clean and lubricate components –Replace components (parts-life counters) –Check and update firmware –Remove accumulated toner –Maintain adequate ventilation –Test page Follow safety precautions handling toner and around high-voltage power supplies

Thermal printer maintenance Clean heating element Remove debris Replace paper

Impact printer maintenance Compressed air to blow out paper, dirt, and debris Mild household cleaners on exterior Rubbing alcohol to clean roller Use ESD precautions and remove neckties, watches, and jewelry; pull back and secure hair

Unit summary Identified printing processes, and installed and maintained printers