Types of Printers Based on Impact

Printers are classified into two main categories based on their printing mechanism: Impact
Printers and Non-Impact Printers. The key difference lies in how the characters or images are
printed on paper.

1. Impact Printers
Impact printers physically strike the paper to create an impression. They are similar to
typewriters, where an inked ribbon is pressed against the paper to transfer ink.
Types of Impact Printers
1.1. Dot Matrix Printer
 Printing Method: Uses a matrix of tiny pins to strike the ribbon, creating dots on the
paper.
 Speed: Moderate (40 to 600 characters per second).
 Print Quality: Low resolution (between 72-240 dpi).
 Noise: Noisy due to the mechanical movement of pins.
 Media: Can print on multi-layered (carbon copy) paper.
 Usage:
o Used in billing, invoices, and receipts in retail stores.
o Preferred in environments where multi-part printing is required.
 Advantages:
o Can print on multi-layer forms.
o Low running costs.
 Disadvantages:
o Noisy and slow.
o Poor print quality compared to modern printers.

1.2. Daisy Wheel Printer

 Printing Method: Uses a rotating wheel (like a flower daisy) with characters on each
petal. When the required character aligns with the print position, a hammer strikes it to
print.
 Speed: Slow (10-75 characters per second).
 Print Quality: Better than dot matrix but limited to predefined fonts.
 Noise: Noisy due to hammering action.
 Media: Prints on single sheets of paper.
 Usage:
o Used for printing legal documents and forms requiring high character quality.
 Advantages:
o High print quality for characters.
 Disadvantages:
o Limited to fixed fonts (no graphic printing).
o Very slow and noisy.
o Cannot print images or graphics.
1.3. Line Printer
 Printing Method: Prints an entire line of text at a time.
 Types:
o Drum Printer: Uses a rotating drum with pre-embossed characters.
o Chain Printer: Uses a chain containing the characters, which rotates until the
desired character is aligned.
 Speed: Very fast (up to 3000 lines per minute).
 Print Quality: Moderate; supports only text-based printing.
 Noise: Noisy due to the fast and continuous impact.
 Media: Used for large volumes of paper (often continuous feed).
 Usage:
o Used in data centers, banks, and large corporations where large volumes of
reports are printed.
 Advantages:
o High-speed printing (suitable for large volume jobs).
 Disadvantages:
o Can only print text, not graphics.
o High noise level and bulkier in size.

Summary of Impact Printers

Type Printing Method Speed Print Quality Nois Usage
e
Dot Pins strike ribbon 40-600 Low (72-240 High Retail receipts, bills,
Matrix cps dpi) invoices
Daisy Wheel petals 10-75 High (like High Legal documents,
Wheel strike ribbon cps typewriter) formal letters
Line Prints full line at 3000 Medium High Bank reports, large
Printer once LPM datasets

2. Non-Impact Printers
Unlike impact printers, non-impact printers do not make physical contact with the paper. They
use advanced technologies to spray ink or use heat to transfer toner onto paper.

2.1. Inkjet Printer

 Printing Method: Sprays tiny droplets of liquid ink directly onto paper.
 Ink Type: Uses liquid ink, either water-based or dye-based.
 Resolution: High resolution (300 to 1200 dpi or higher), suitable for photo-quality
printing.
 Speed: Slower compared to laser printers.
 Print Media: Works on plain paper, photo paper, and specialty media.
 Usage:
 o Used in homes, small offices, and photography studios.
o Ideal for photo printing, small office tasks, and personal use.
 Advantages:
o High-quality image and photo printing.
o Can print on various media types (glossy, matte, etc.).
o Compact and affordable initial cost.
 Disadvantages:
o Slower print speeds.
o Higher cost of ink cartridges.
o Requires frequent maintenance (cleaning print heads).

2.2. Laser Printer

 Printing Method: Uses a laser beam to form an electrostatic image on a drum, which
attracts powdered toner that is fused to the paper using heat.
 Toner Type: Uses dry powder toner instead of liquid ink.
 Resolution: High (600 to 2400 dpi), suitable for sharp text and graphics.
 Speed: Faster than inkjet printers (up to 60 pages per minute).
 Print Media: Works best on plain paper but can also print on card stock and labels.
 Usage:
o Commonly used in offices, schools, and businesses.
o Ideal for high-volume document printing (like text-heavy reports).
 Advantages:
o Fast printing, especially for large volumes.
o Low cost per page (toner lasts longer than ink cartridges).
o Crisp, high-quality text printing.
 Disadvantages:
o High initial cost for the printer.
o Limited color range compared to inkjet (for color laser printers).
o Bulky in size compared to inkjet printers.

2.3. Thermal Printer

 Printing Method: Applies heat to heat-sensitive paper to produce images or text.
 Types of Thermal Printers:
o Direct Thermal Printer: Uses chemically coated paper that turns black when
heated.
o Thermal Transfer Printer: Uses a ribbon that melts onto the paper to create text
or images.
 Resolution: Moderate (200 to 300 dpi), suitable for receipts, labels, and barcodes.
 Speed: Fast, as it does not require ink or toner.
 Print Media: Special thermal paper, labels, and tags.
 Usage:
o Used in point-of-sale (POS) systems, ATMs, shipping labels, and barcode
printing.
 Advantages:
o Low maintenance (no ink or toner required).
 o Fast and efficient for receipt printing.
 Disadvantages:
o Print fades over time due to exposure to light or heat.
o Can only print in black (for direct thermal printers).
o Requires special thermal paper.

2.4. LED Printer

 Printing Method: Similar to a laser printer but uses an LED array instead of a laser
beam.
 Toner Type: Uses dry toner.
 Resolution: High (similar to laser printers, around 600 to 1200 dpi).
 Speed: Similar to or faster than laser printers.
 Print Media: Works on plain paper, cardstock, and labels.
 Usage:
o Used in offices and small businesses.
o Ideal for high-volume printing at lower costs.
 Advantages:
o Faster and quieter than traditional laser printers.
o Energy efficient (no moving parts like lasers).
 Disadvantages:
o Higher cost than laser printers.
o Quality is similar but not significantly better than laser printers.

Comparison of Non-Impact Printers

Print Printi Resolu Spe Usag Cost
er ng tion ed e
Type Meth
od
Inkjet Sprays High (300- Slow Photo Low initial,
Print liquid ink 1200 dpi) printing, high ink cost
er home use
Laser Toner via High (600- Fast Office, High initial,
Print laser 2400 dpi) documen low running
er beam t printing cost
Ther Heat- Moderate Very POS Low
mal sensitive (200-300 fast systems, maintenance
Print printing dpi) receipt , low cost
printing
er
LED Toner via High (600- Very Offices, Similar to
Print LED 1200 dpi) fast high- laser printers
er beam volume
printing