Types of non impact printers are something that a lot of people have been asking about recently. However, the printer is one of the most important output devices that work after the input has been fed through the Computer system. This output is in the form of images and graphics in the form of hardcopy. This combination of characters is useful information that is often used in large-scale or more private applications. There are two types of Printers used:
- Impact Printers
- Non-Impact Printers
In this article, we will deal with the Non-Impact types of Printers and what are the different types of non-impact printers. But first, let us understand in depth about the Non-Impact printers and what are their advantages.
As the name suggests, the Non-Impact printers produce output without actually coming in contact with the paper. Here, the technologies involved are Electrostatic, Inkjet and Thermal. This printer type is also known to be faster than the two and offers high-quality results as compared to the Impact printers. However, these are also costly for the same reasons and also quite reliable. The printing range is 24 pages per minute and is also quite noisy when in operation. Let us explore a bit more about the types of non-impact printers.
The Non Impact Printers Type
There are majorly three different types of non-impact printers:
- Laser Printer
- Inkjet Printer
- Thermal Printer
Laser Printer
This might sound fancy, but the laser printer is an acronym for Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation. This type is the fastest of the lot and also offers great quality results. While it functions more like a photocopier, the image is transferred onto the paper with the help of LASER technology and ink powder known as ‘toner’. The toner is used both in Laser Printers and Photocopiers.
The mechanism of the Laser Printer includes a special drum within, where the first image is created. This image is then transferred onto the paper from the drum. This printer type is also known as the ‘Page Printers’, with a speed of 4 to 32 pages per minute in the case of the microcomputer. This speed further goes up to 200 pages per minute in the case of Mainframe Computers.
Inkjet Printer
This is among other popular example of non impact printers. Here, the output occurs by the process of spraying liquid ink. This printer comprises of print-head through which a very fine spray of ink is released. The process is done with the help of ink cartridges that comprise liquid ink and a tiny nozzle, much like a matrix. In this case, the nozzles are rearranged, quite similar to the Dot Matrix Printer. This combination of the nozzles forms the characters or the image according to the input. The output is sprayed onto the paper by spraying the ink, reflecting the patterns formed by the nozzles. The resolution in this printer type ranges from 300 to 720 dpi. This printer type is cheaper as compared to the Laser Printer and is also slower. The quality of the results is also not as good as the Laser Printers. The speed of this printer is 1 to 6 pages.
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Thermal Printer
Non-impact printers are known for their efficiency and fine results. However, the Thermal Printers are limited to printing output only on special heat-sensitive paper that is waxy. The trick is in the fact that the images are produced by burning dots onto the surface of the paper. In the case of coloured images, coloured wax paper is used. Nevertheless, the resulting images are of high quality and are quite expensive as well. This type finds wide-scale application in receipt printing and as CD/DVD, BluRay Disc markers.
Difference Between Impact Printers and Non Impact Printers
Now that we know about the various types of Non-impact printers, let us explore the basic differences between the Impact and Non-Impact printers:
IMPACT PRINTERS | NON IMPACT PRINTERS |
This type is relatively slow in printing | These are quick in comparison to the Impact printers |
The Ink Ribbon is utilized in this type | Here, Electrostatic and Thermal principles are used for the process of printing |
With the help of Carbonated paper, multiple copies of the same results are possible | Multiple copies of the same results are not possible |
Is cheaper in comparison | Is expensive to maintain |
Is noisy when under operation | Is silent when under operation |
The printing head comes in touch with the paper to produce images | No contact between the printing head and the paper |
Uses continuous paper for printing | Individual papers are used for printing |
The printing quality is quite low | The printing quality is quite good in comparison |
The speed is slow | The speed is faster |
Types of Non Impact Printers: The Conclusion
So, now that you know all about the two major printer types and their subsequent sub-types, let us understand how to select the right one for yourself:
Resolution: This is the density of the printed dots that make the images. Different printers support different images. So be sure to ask for the ‘resolution’ and buy accordingly.
The Speed: This is how quickly the paper gets printed. Hence, depending upon your mode of requirement, you need to decide upon the model.
The Consumables: These are the overall expenses that go into the working and the maintenance of the printer. This includes the cartridges, Ribbons, and more, depending upon the printer type. However, one must bear in mind that the Ribbon and inkjet Printers are more economical as compared to the Laser type. However, when it comes to price per page, laser printers are much cheaper.
Expenses: One needs to realize that the colour printers need multiple cartridges to operate. Hence they can be expensive as a result. These utilize Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black ink for printing. While these are quite popular but are less expensive when it comes to utilizing according to per cartridge consumption.
The Warranty: the Warranty of the printer generally ranges anywhere between ninety days to an entire year. So, be sure to check out the warranty period of your model accordingly.