Definition of printers, history, functions, types, and how they work
Monday, March 29, 2021
Definition of printers, history, functions, types, and how they work - In today's computer development has progressed so rapidly. No exception to the world of other hardware such as printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, power supplies, and others.
Today many printers appear in different sizes, brands, and types. While printer manufacturers have always been the only players, namely Epson, Canon, Samsung, Brother, HP.
But do you know how the printer's history is, what are the types of printers and their functions? For this reason, in this article, Online will discuss all of that in full and in-depth. For that, see the description below.
Understanding Printer
In Wikipedia, a printer is a device that displays data in printed form, either in text or images/graphics, on paper.
Another definition of a printer is a device that can display text or images that originally came from digital software into a printed form on paper.
The printer comes from the word "Print," which means print, so a printer is a printing tool. In the computer world, a printer is an output peripheral that displays writing or images on paper or similar media.
Printer History
The beginning of the printer appeared in the 19th century. Then the electronic printer was first made by Epson with the name EP-101, which was launched in 1968. Epson itself is a Japanese company.
Furthermore, printers sold initially used a system of electric typewriters. Still, many wanted the speed to be higher so that the printer was headed for a better chance—the development of printers that use a new system that is more specific only for computers.
In the 1980s, there were several printer systems, namely daisy wheel, line printer, and dot matrix. The Daisy wheel has a concept similar to a typewriter. Meanwhile, line printers can display the same output, but the process is faster.
While the dot matrix can mix text and graphics, the print quality is still low. For those who want high-quality output, you must use a plotter.
In 1984, a laser printer was sold at an affordable price, starting with the emergence of the HP LaserJet. In the following year, there was the addition of PostScript created by Apple LaserWriter, which made a revolution in the world of printing known as Desktop Publishing.
Laser printers that use PostScript can combine text and images like a dot matrix, but the quality is better.
It continued in the 1990s that many print jobs were created on personal computers before they were printed using laser printers, making expensive printing systems neglected.
Before 1988, the HP Deskjet promoted the same advantages as laser printers in terms of flexibility and lower prices, but with lower output quality than laser printers.
The inkjet system could further replace the dot matrix and daisy well in the market. In fact, since the 2000s, many high-quality printers have started using this inkjet system, so it has become commonplace.
Then around 2010, three-dimensional (3D) printing began to become the topic of conversation. Printers used for 3D printing are still in the development stage and cannot be used in general.
Meanwhile, with the development of fast technology such as sending email and the internet, the printer is not something everyone should have. There are many ways to send files, such as using email, using chat applications, etc.
Printer Functions
The printer functions as a printing device or displays data from the computer to the user directly. This printed data can be anything, such as documents, letters, files, and important documents.
Nowadays, documents can be easily created using word processing applications or software such as Microsoft Office. There are Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Notepad types.
For document types in the form of images or photos, it can be printed through Adobe Photoshop and Coreldraw. To print an image is a little different from ordinary documents, both about the paper's size or quality used for printing.
Often, to print photos, a printer with high quality is needed to better the results displayed.
The development of printers is currently also growing rapidly. Some printers can print without connecting to a cable, namely a wireless printer or a wifi printer, and printers for printing banners, banners, and billboards.
Printers for printing banners, banners, invitations, screen printing also require different media. No longer using paper, but using a Klinik media, cloth to glass.
The next printer function is to add other features to the printer that can be used not only for printing. This function is to read documents and edit them into digital form or better known as scans.
In Indonesian, Scanner is a scanner that is a tool that can read documents on paper or in books and then convert them into digital media that can be changed or added. So, in brief, the printer functions, namely:
Enhancements for printing documents on paper and or other media
Tools for reading documents and converting them into digital data.
Types of Printers
Printers circulating in society today have many types, including:
Printer Dot Matrix
Dot-matrix printers are printers that use ribbons as a printing tool. This printer uses ribbons to display its output on paper. The printout of a dot matrix printer is rougher and less good.
This type of printer is currently rarely used, usually in offices, retail stores (Alfamart, Indomaret, and the like).
The way a dot matrix printer works is by pulling the ribbon, then the printer will move to the right and left to print the output on paper.
LaserJet Printer
Furthermore, the type of laserjet printer, which is a printer that uses a printing system with powdered ink or what is often called a toner that uses an infrared device. Laserjet printer printing results are better than dot-matrix types but are still below inkjet printers.
However, laserjet printers can print faster, and the results dry faster like the print on a copier. This printer works by pulling out the paper and printing it with toner or ink powder.
Printer Ink-Jet
An inkjet printer is a type of printer that can print using an ink system as a material for printing it. This printer can print better than dot matrix and laser types but for slower print speeds than laserjets.
Even so, inkjet printers are more widely used in society, both for personal use, business or offices, and agencies. Currently, there are many types of inkjet printers, such as multifunction printers (print, photocopy, scan), which are incorporated into one device.
Also, there are inkjet printers provided with IV tubes to make filling ink easier. Can print small to large paper sizes such as calendars, A3 paper, and others.
This inkjet printer works by pulling the paper, then the printer system will print the output with the ink in the cartridge. This type of printer experiences errors quickly, so Printer Service must be done.
Printer Label Inkjet
It is a type of inkjet printer used to print labels such as attachments to electronic products and others.
Label Printer
Is a type of printer that is small and is used to print labels in petite sizes. Usually, to stick to electronic products for laptops, smartphones, and so on.
Printer Thermal
Is a type of printer that is often used for shopping centers and fax machines. This type of printer works by taking a roll of paper that turns dark when heated.
How to work the print by dragging the paper next to the print head contains a sophisticated electronic heater and can display text and simple graphics. This printer type does not require ink, toner, or other equipment, making it easier to maintain.
3D printer (three dimensional)
This printer was first made by Charles W. Hull in 1984, a sophisticated printer, and now many are using it. The way to paper this printer is to use a digital image design, which is then printed into a 3D physical object.
The materials used for this printer's printing process are metal, polymer, wax, or plastic that have been adjusted according to the needs.
That's a complete description of the printer, its functions, history, and how it works. Hopefully, it can help those of you who need references to technical knowledge. Thank you for visiting, and look forward to the next article.
