Inkjet Printers (47 Photos): What Are They? Pros And Cons Of Color And Black-and-white Printers For Home, Principle Of Operation And Characteristics

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

In modern life, you cannot do without a printer. Almost every day you have to print various information, working documents, graphics and much more. Most users prefer inkjet models . They are comfortable, compact, and most importantly, fast. Their main feature is high quality printing. However, this aspect is determined by the cost of the device. The higher the price tag, the better the printed information will be. However, there are still a lot of nuances that you should pay special attention to when choosing an inkjet printer.

What it is?

An inkjet printer is a device for displaying electronic information on paper .… This means that the presented device allows you to print any information from your computer, for example, a report or an Internet page. Thanks to their unique properties, inkjet printers can be used at home and at work.

A distinctive feature of the presented models is the coloring agent used . The ink tanks are not refilled with dry toner, but with liquid ink. During printing, the thinnest drops of ink fall on the paper carrier through miniature nozzles, or, as they are also called, nozzles, which are impossible to see without a microscope.

The number of nozzles in conventional printers varies from 16 to 64 pieces.

However, in today's market you can find inkjet printers with a lot of nozzles , but their purpose is purely professional. After all, the larger the number of nozzles, the better and faster the printing.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to give a precise definition of an inkjet printer. Its description can be found in any book or on the Internet, but it will not be possible to get a specific answer what kind of device it is. Yes, this is a device with a complex mechanism, certain technical characteristics and capabilities. BUT to understand the main purpose of creating an inkjet printer, it is proposed to briefly get acquainted with the history of its creation.

William Thomson is considered the indirect inventor of the inkjet printer . However, his brainchild was a "jet" designed for recording messages from the telegraph. This development was presented to the society in 1867. The principle of operation of the device was to use electrostatic force to control droplets of liquid paint.

In the 1950s, Siemens engineers revived the technology . However, due to the lack of a powerful breakthrough in the technical world, their devices had a lot of shortcomings, among which the huge cost and low quality of the information displayed stood out.

After some time, inkjet printers were equipped with piezoelectric … In the future, Canon has developed a new way to squeeze the colorant from the ink tanks. The high temperature caused the liquid paint to vaporize.

Moving closer to modern times, HP decided to create the first color inkjet printer … Any shade of the palette was created by mixing blue, red and yellow paints.

Pros and cons

Any modern technology is a complex multifunctional mechanism with individual advantages and disadvantages. Inkjet printers also offer a number of benefits:

• high speed printing;
• high quality of the displayed information;
• output of color images;
• low noise during operation;
• acceptable dimensions of the structure;
• the ability to refill the cartridge at home.

Now it is worth touching on the disadvantages of inkjet printer models:

• high price of new cartridges;
• the print head and ink elements have a certain service life, after which they have to be replaced;
• the need to purchase special paper for printing;
• the ink runs out very quickly.

But despite the tangible disadvantages, inkjet printers are in high demand by consumers … And the main thing is that the cost of the device allows you to purchase it for both work and home use.

Device and principle of operation

In order to understand how the printer works, you need to get acquainted with its filling, namely, with the details of the mechanism.

Cartridge

Any printer user has seen this design element at least once. Outwardly, it is a box made of durable plastic . The longest ink tank is 10 cm. The black ink is contained in a separate part called black. Colored ink can be combined in one box, divided by walls.

The main characteristics of cartridges include several indicators

1. The number of flowers in one plastic container ranges from 4-12 pieces. The more colors, the higher the quality of the shades transferred to the paper.
2. The size of the ink droplets is different depending on the design of the printer. The smaller they are, the brighter and clearer the displayed images are.

In modern printer models, the printing head is an independent component and not part of the cartridge.

PZK

This abbreviation stands for refillable cartridge … It becomes clear that we are talking about the possibility of refueling ink. Each compartment of the cartridge is equipped with two holes: one is for refilling ink, the other is responsible for creating pressure inside the container.

However, the shut-off valve has many disadvantages

1. We have to frequently refuel.
2. To check the amount of ink in the tank, you need to remove the cartridge. And if the inkwell turns out to be opaque, it is impossible to understand how much dye is left.
3. Do not have a low ink level in the cartridge.

Frequent removal will wear out the cartridge.

CISS

This abbreviation stands for Continuous Ink Supply System . Structurally, these are 4 or more ink tanks with thin tubes, which can hold no more than 100 ml of paint. Topping up ink with such a system is rare, and filling containers with paint is not difficult. The cost of printers with this feature is much higher, but their maintenance does not affect the wallet in any way.

However, CISS, despite many positive aspects, has some drawbacks

1. A free-standing CISS device requires additional space. Moving it from place to place may cause settings to fail.
2. The paint containers must be protected from the sun.

Paper feed

This process involves tray , rollers and motor … The tray may be located at the top or bottom of the structure, depending on the printer model. The motor starts, the rollers are activated, and the paper enters the inside of the printing system.

Control

The operating panel of the printer can be equipped with several control buttons, display or touch screen . Each key is signed, making it easy to operate the printer.

Frame

The main function of the case is to protect the inside of the printer . Most often it is made of reinforced plastic and is black or white.

Motors

There are 4 small motors in the printer, each of which has a specific purpose:

• one - activates the paper pick-up roller and traction inside the printer;
• the other is responsible for the auto-feed;
• the third one activates the movement of the print head;
• the fourth is responsible for the "delivery" of ink from the containers.

Special attention should be paid stepper motor … This structural element is used for the movement of paper sheets and head.

Having dealt with the device of an inkjet printer and its structure, you can find out how it works

1. The paper feed mechanism comes into action first. The sheet is pulled into the structure.
2. Ink is supplied to the print head. If necessary, the paint is mixed, and through the nozzles it falls onto the paper carrier.
3. Information is sent to the print head with the coordinates of where the ink should go.

The printing process occurs due to electrical discharges or exposure to high temperatures.

What are they?

Inkjet printers have gone through several stages of transformation since their inception. Today they differ in several ways. One of them is the colorant used for printing:

• water-based ink suitable for home appliances;
• oil-based ink for office use;
• pigment base allows you to print high quality photos;
• the hot press is used on an industrial scale for processing A4 and larger images.

In addition, inkjet printers are classified according to the printing method:

• piezoelectric method based on current action;
• gas method based on heating of nozzles;
• drop on demand is an advanced gas application technique.

The presented classification allows you to determine which type of printer is best suited for home use, office or professional use.

Colored

The print quality of inkjet printers cannot be called ideal, but if you do not look closely at the output image, you cannot find any flaws. When it comes to pricing, the cost of purchasing a color printer can be significant, but follow-up service will make it clear that the large initial investment has proven to be reasonable.

Color inkjet printers are ideal for home use . They are quiet, unpretentious and do not harm human health. In modern models of color inkjet printers, there is a cartridge, inside which there are walls that divide the plastic box into several parts. The minimum number is 4, the maximum is 12. During printing, the ink composition at a certain pressure in the form of small droplets penetrates the paper through the nozzles . Several colors are mixed to create different shades.

Black and white

Black and white devices are more compact than color printers . Moreover, they are more economical in service. According to average statistics, a black and white printer can print about 30-60 pages of text information in 1 minute. Every other model is equipped with network support and a paper output tray.

Black and white inkjet printer ideal for home use where children and adolescents live. It is very convenient to print abstracts and reports on it. Mothers of young toddlers can print tutorials for the development of their children.

And for offices, this device is simply irreplaceable.

Review of the best brands

To date, it has been possible to compile a rating of the best inkjet printers, which includes models for comfortable use at home, in the office and on an industrial scale.

Canon PIXMA TS304

Ideal inkjet printer suitable for home use . A great option for families with schoolchildren and students. The original design of the structure stands out from the general background of its fellows. The edges of the printer cover hang over the body, but its main role is to accommodate the copied material. This is not an error, this device is capable of making copies, but only with the help of a mobile phone and a special application.

The print quality is not bad. The printer uses pigment ink to output black and white information, and water-soluble ink for color images. This printer model can even print photos, but only the standard size of 10x15 cm.

The advantages of the model include the following indicators:

• printing of documents by transmission over a wireless network;
• cloud service support;
• the presence of an XL-cartridge;
• small size of the structure.

To the disadvantages can be attributed to the low print speed and a single design of the color cartridge.

Epson L1800

The presented model in the top of the best printers is ideal for office use . This device is a striking representative of the "printing factory". This machine stands out for its compact size, ease of use and 6-speed printing.

The main advantages of this model include many characteristics:

• high printing speed;
• high quality printing;
• long resource of the color cartridge;
• built-in CISS.

To the disadvantages can be attributed only to a noticeable noise during the operation of the printer.

Canon PIXMA PRO-100S

The perfect solution for professionals. A distinctive feature of this model is the presence of a thermal jet operating principle . In simple terms, the permeability in the nozzles depends on the temperature of the paint. This method ensures that the print assembly is resistant to clogging. An important feature of this model is the presence of separate ink tanks in black, gray and light gray colors.

Output paper can be of any size and weight.

The advantages of this model include the following characteristics:

• high quality color printing;
• excellent elaboration of solid colors;
• access to the cloud service;
• support for all formats.

To the disadvantages include the high cost of consumables and the lack of an informative display.

Expendable materials

Speaking of consumables for the printer, it becomes clear that we are talking about ink and paper … But professional printers used in production can easily display color and black-and-white information on transparent film and even on plastic. However, it makes no sense to consider complex consumables in this case. For a home and office printer, paper and ink are sufficient.

Inkjet ink is divided into several types

• Water soluble … It is ideally absorbed into paper, lies flat on the main surface, conveys a high-quality palette of colors. However, when exposed to moisture, the dried water-based paint will disintegrate.
• Pigment … It is most often used on an industrial scale to create wallpaper. The pigment ink stays bright for a long time.
• Sublimation … The texture is similar to pigment ink, but differs in properties and scope. It can be used to apply designs to synthetic material.

Next, it is suggested to consider the types of paper that can be used for printing on an inkjet printer

• Matt … Such paper is used for displaying photos, since there are no glare on it, no fingerprints remain. Pigment and water-soluble paints are best applied to matte paper. The finished prints, unfortunately, fade with prolonged exposure to air, so they should be stored in albums or frames.
• Glossy … The paper that conveys the vividness of colors. It is good to display diagrams of any complexity, advertising brochures or presentation layouts on it. The gloss is slightly thinner than matte paper, leaving fingerprints on it.
• Textured … This type of paper is designed for artistic printing.

The topmost layer of the sheet has an unusual texture that makes the displayed image three-dimensional.

How to choose?

Having figured out the design and characteristics of an inkjet printer, you can safely go to a specialized store to purchase a similar model. The main thing is to be guided by some criteria when choosing a device.

1. Purpose of Acquisition . In simple terms, a device is purchased for a home or office.
2. Required characteristics … You need to make a choice in favor of print speed, high resolution, the presence of a photo output function and the amount of built-in memory.
3. Follow-up service . It is necessary to immediately clarify the cost of consumables so that their price does not turn out to be higher than the cost of the device itself.

Before picking up the printer from the store, you need to check the print quality . Thus, it will be possible to check the operability of the device and its capabilities.

How to use?

Before proceeding with the output of information on the printer, you must tune … And first of all connect the printing machine to the PC.

1. Most printers connect to a computer using a USB cable. To begin with, the device is placed in a convenient place. It is important that you have free access to the paper input and output trays.
2. Power cable included. To connect it, you need to find the corresponding connector in the device case, fix it, only then connect the printer to the PC.
3. The next step is to install the drivers. Without them, the printer will not function properly. Text documents and images will appear washed out or washed out. After connecting the printer, the operating system of the PC independently finds the necessary utilities on the Internet.

Any printer model is equipped with wide functionality that affects the quality and speed of output. You can make changes to them through the "Printers and Faxes" menu. It is enough to right-click on the device name and get into its properties.

After installation, you can start working.

Having opened any image or text file, press the Ctrl + P key combination on the keyboard, or on the working panel of the program, click on the icon with the corresponding image.

Possible malfunctions

The printer may sometimes experience some malfunctions … For example, it happens that immediately after installation, the device was unable to print a test page. To solve the problem, you need to check the connection wires, or run a fault diagnosis.

• Very rarely myself new printer installation fails without any explanation … Most likely, drivers are already installed on the computer, but for a different printing device, which is why a conflict occurs.
• The installed printer is not detected by the computer system … In this case, it is necessary to check the compliance of the utilities with the device.