The laser printer we use today can produce high quality prints at a very reasonable cost. With the massive demand it has become a cheap and effective asset for anyone who wants to add it to their computer package. First discovered over forty years ago it was modernized and mass produced to accommodate the demand as a peripheral device of the personal computer or general office use.
This copier can reproduce color but it is very much more expensive. Printers need to be specifically designed to make sure of the print colors lining up correctly when producing color. Toner is obtainable in cyan, magenta, yellow and black. A laser beam is used to scan the print and send it to the photoreceptor. The process consists of seven steps. Steps are carried out simultaneously making it very rapid.
Most of this process is very technical but a few points are important for the average user to be aware of. Cleaning is done my means of a soft plastic blade that wipes the photoreceptor and deposits excess toner into a waste bin. When the machine is due for maintenance or a paper jam occurs this can cause toner spill which is too excessive to be cleaned by the plastic blade. This must then be done manually.
The toner used to create the image is stored in a cartridge. This is a replaceable consumer item. The photoreceptor, blades and waste bin and toner cartridge are normally all replaced together. Excess toner needs to be vacuumed or wiped from affected parts. Rollers and other parts can be wiped with a damp lint free rag or with commercially available suitable fluids.
Further maintenance needs to be done on a regular basis. Some machines have a counter and will alert the operator when a service is due. Alternatively one must be aware of image quality and unnecessary paper jams to replace worn parts and clean the machine. The user life is normally gauged by the number of copies and not the time it is used.
As with many electrical appliances care must be taken to avoid contact with parts that might have a high voltage electrical charge. Micro particles escaping from the machine could also be hazardous to humans and cause respiratory damage. Due to ongoing research most manufacturers are aware of this hazard and now fit carbon filters to avoid pollution to the office or home environment.
Cleaning can be carried out by means of a vacuum cleaner but conventional types must not be used. The micro particles will pass through normal filters. Electrically charged micro particles could accumulate in the filter bag and cause and explosion. Vacuums with specially fitted nozzles and filters are available. If such a vacuum is not available a lint free cloth is recommended or use a commercially available fluid designed for the purpose.
Although these copiers are not suitable for every type of printing their advantages make them growingly popular for the office and home. Their speed, high quality and low cost per print make them very attractive. The previously popular dot matrix and similar models are now growing towards the old fashioned compared to this useful new innovation.
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