HOW DOES A LASER HOW DOES A LASER PRINTER WORK?PRINTER WORK?

Xiaoxia ZhaiXiaoxia Zhai

THE BASICS: STATIC THE BASICS: STATIC ELECTRICITYELECTRICITY

The laser printing process is based on some The laser printing process is based on some very basic scientific principles applied in an very basic scientific principles applied in an exceptionally innovative way.exceptionally innovative way.

The primary principle at work in a laser printer The primary principle at work in a laser printer is static electricity.is static electricity.

THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF THE BASIC COMPONENTS OF A LASER PRINTERA LASER PRINTER

THE BASICS: DRUMTHE BASICS: DRUM

This drum assembly This drum assembly is made out of highly is made out of highly photoconductive photoconductive material which can material which can be discharged by be discharged by light photons.light photons.

THE BASICS: FUSERTHE BASICS: FUSER

A fuser is a pair of A fuser is a pair of heated rollers.heated rollers.

It melts the toner It melts the toner powder attaching the powder attaching the powder onto the powder onto the paper permanently.paper permanently.

THE LASER SCANNING THE LASER SCANNING ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY

A LaserA Laser A Movable MirrorA Movable Mirror A LensA Lens

TONER BASICSTONER BASICS

A toner consists of a dry, powdery substance A toner consists of a dry, powdery substance that is electrically charged so that it adheres to that is electrically charged so that it adheres to a drum, plate, or piece of paper charged with a drum, plate, or piece of paper charged with the opposite polarity.the opposite polarity.

The powder has two main ingredients: pigment The powder has two main ingredients: pigment and plastic.and plastic.

THE CONTROLLERTHE CONTROLLER

The ConversationThe Conversation Page Description LanguagePage Description Language Setting Up The PageSetting Up The Page

COLOR LASER PRINTERSCOLOR LASER PRINTERS

ADVANTAGES OF LASER ADVANTAGES OF LASER PRINTERSPRINTERS

Three main advantages of a laser printer over Three main advantages of a laser printer over an inkjet printer: speed, precision and economy.an inkjet printer: speed, precision and economy.

It writes much faster than an inkjet, because It writes much faster than an inkjet, because laser moves quickly.laser moves quickly.

It draws precisely without spilling excess It draws precisely without spilling excess powder.powder.

It costs little to keep a laser printer running.It costs little to keep a laser printer running.

REFERENCESREFERENCES

Flash Magazine Editorial, The Underground GuFlash Magazine Editorial, The Underground Guide To Laser Printers, Addison-Wesley Pub Co; ide To Laser Printers, Addison-Wesley Pub Co; 1993.1993.

The PC Technology Guide, The PC Technology Guide, http://www.pctechguide.comhttp://www.pctechguide.com

How Stuff Works, How Stuff Works, http://computer.howstuffworkhttp://computer.howstuffworks.coms.com