Reference sheet prepared by Jolene M. Morris, District Technology Director, Grand Co. School District
Types of Printers
There are many types of printers: daisy-wheel printers, dot-matrix printers, laser printers, ink jet printers, paint jet printers, line printers, etc. This reference sheet will discuss three general categories of printers: dot-matrix, ink/paint jet, and laser.
Computer users, especially those on a network, have more questions about printers and have more trouble getting documents to print than all other types of problems combined. It is easier to use printers on Macintosh and in Windows than with DOS and network programs.
Dot-matrix printers
Dot-matrix printers closely resemble a typewriter. They have a platen and take a printer ribbon. They will print on single sheets of paper or on continuous paper with pinfeed holes along the edge. These printers print by means of a print head with metal pins on it. The computer tells the printer which pins to extend, then the print head is hit against the printer ribbon. The metal pins form an impression on the paper -- a pattern of dots.
Dot-matrix printer heads may have nine pins or 24 pins to print each character. Printers with 24 pins are able to place the dots closer together so the characters are easier to read and are better quality.
Dot-matrix printers used to have a platen and a platen knob to adjust the paper. Newer dot-matrix printers still have the platen (to absorb the shock of the print head), but they no longer have platen knobs. You should never turn the platen knob to adjust the paper when the printer is turned on -- it could break the plastic spokes which hold the paper. Older dot-matrix printers often had broken platens and the printer often printed skewed.
Instead of a platen knob, newer printers now have eject and load buttons to adjust the paper. If your dot-matrix printer has a platen knob, be sure to turn off the printer before turning the knob!
On the face of a printer, you'll see several buttons (in addition to the eject and load buttons, if they exist). There are usually three buttons:
online -- this button toggles the printer between computer control and manual control. If the printer is online, the computer is controlling the printer. If the printer is offline, you can use the other buttons on the printer (or the platen knob) to adjust the paper and ribbon.
line feed -- this button only works when the printer is offline. Pressing this button will advance the paper one line at a time.
form feed -- this button only works when the printer is offline. Pressing this button advances the paper one page at a time.
When you get ready to start a print job, be sure the perforation of the continuous paper is at the top of the printer ribbon. Many users will align the perforation with the top edge of the cut/tear strip on the printer; but then their printing is too far down on the page.
Laser Printers
Laser printers are more expensive than dot-matrix printers. They are also electronic printers, whereas dot-matrix printers are mechanical printers. Laser printers print on single sheets of paper by burning toner onto the paper -- this same technology is used in copy machines. The quality of laser printing is very good.
The laser printer will have an online, form feed, and line feed button. It will probably also have a menu, test, and font button. Be sure to read your manual to see how these buttons work.
Laser printers are of two different types: PCL5 and PostScript. PC (DOS) computers can print on either PCL5 or PostScript. A Macintosh computer can only print on a PostScript printer. PostScript printers are more expensive.
Paper has a grain to it. When you open a package of paper to put it in your laser printer (or copy machine), look on the edge of the package. You'll see an arrow (Boise Cascade paper puts a tree on their packages instead of an arrow). This arrow (or tree) points to the top side of the paper. Always place the paper into the printer top side up. If you don't, the paper may jam (especially if you're printing on both sides of the paper or if the printer/ copier is getting hot).
Laser printers should be internally cleaned about once a year. This should be done by a qualified technician. The paper path should also be cleaned once or twice a year -- this is done with a special piece of paper you send through the paper path. Contact your office supply store for laser paper path cleaner.
Ink/Paint/Bubble Jet Printers
Ink jet, bubble, and paint jet printers were created to keep the cost low like a dot-matrix printer but make the quality of the output higher like a laser printer. Many ink jet and paint jet printers can also print in color.
This printers print with a technique that is close to a miniature spray can of paint. They literally spit ink onto the paper. These types of printers are being improved. When they first came out on the market, their colors were faded -- the black was never black but was a shade of grey. Reds were pink and other colors were equally faded.
These printers will print on single sheets of paper (and some will print on continuous, pinfeed paper). The smoother the paper, the cleaner and crisper the image. Do not use bond or rag paper in an ink, bubble, or paint jet printer.
When not in use, you should remove the ink pens and cover them. You may also want to place the covered pens in a ziplock bag to further keep them from drying out.
