Impact Printers:
A Visual Guide
Impact printers, a relic from a bygone era of technology,
were once the workhorses of the printing world. These
mechanical marvels harnessed the power of physical force to
create images on paper. Their unique mechanism involved
striking an inked ribbon against the paper, leaving behind a
permanent mark. Though overshadowed by modern inkjet
and laser printers, impact printers still hold a special place in
our technological history and find niche applications today.
by Shreejal Dharel
Daisy Wheel Printer
Mechanical Printing High-Quality Print Drawbacks
This type of printer used a daisy The impact of the daisy wheel Unfortunately, the mechanical
wheel, a rotating wheel with against the ribbon created nature of the daisy wheel
characters at its edge. When a crisp, clean characters, which printer came with its
key was pressed, the wheel were perfect for documents limitations. It was relatively
spun to align the desired requiring a professional look. slow, printing only one
character with the ribbon. Then, From business letters to formal character at a time. Also, the
a hammer struck the back of reports, the daisy wheel printer printer had limited font options,
the wheel, forcing the character delivered quality that rivaled relying on the characters pre-
to press against the inked even the finest typewriters. It set on the daisy wheel. To
ribbon and onto the paper. It was the go-to choice for change fonts, you would have
was a surprisingly effective, anything that needed to make a to physically swap the daisy
albeit slow, method of printing. good impression. wheel, a process that could be
tedious and inconvenient.
Daisy Wheel Printer: Inside the
Machine
Daisy Wheel
The daisy wheel is the heart of the printer. It's a circular piece of metal with
characters etched around its circumference. When a key is pressed, the
wheel rotates to align the chosen character with the ribbon.
Ribbon Cartridge
The ribbon cartridge is a replaceable component that holds the inked ribbon
used to transfer ink to the paper. It's a vital part of the printing process,
ensuring that each character is printed with crisp, legible ink.
Carriage Assembly
The carriage assembly is the mechanism that holds the daisy wheel and
moves it horizontally across the paper. This assembly is crucial for ensuring
accurate placement of characters, resulting in clean and well-aligned text.
Daisy Wheel Printer: The
Printing Process
Character Selection
When you press a key, the printer receives the corresponding
character code. This code tells the printer to rotate the daisy wheel
until the desired character is in position.
Ribbon Strike
Once the character is aligned, a hammer strikes the back of the
daisy wheel, forcing the character to press against the inked
ribbon. This action transfers ink from the ribbon onto the paper,
creating a visible impression.
Paper Advancement
After each character is printed, the paper is advanced one line. This
ensures that the next character is printed on a fresh line,
maintaining the integrity of the text and preventing overprinting.
Dot Matrix Printer
1 Impact Printing
Unlike the daisy wheel printer, the dot matrix printer didn't use characters but instead
utilized a print head with tiny pins. These pins struck the inked ribbon, creating a pattern of
dots that formed the desired characters. This was a more versatile method, as it could print
text, graphics, and even barcodes.
2 Versatile Printing
The dot matrix printer could handle a wide range of printing tasks, from simple text
documents to complex barcodes used for labeling and tracking. Its versatility made it a
popular choice for many industries.
3 Multiple Copies
One of the key advantages of dot matrix printers was their ability to create multiple copies.
Using carbon paper or multi-part forms, they could print multiple copies simultaneously,
making them ideal for invoices, receipts, and other documents requiring duplicate copies.
4 Lower Print Quality
While versatile, dot matrix printers had a downside: the characters they produced weren't as
sharp or clear as those from daisy wheel printers. The dot pattern could sometimes appear
grainy, especially when compared to the crisp, high-resolution output of modern printers.
Inside a Dot Matrix Printer
Print Head The print head is the primary component, containing tiny pins
that strike the ribbon. It's the heart of the dot matrix printing
mechanism.
Ribbon Cartridge Similar to the daisy wheel printer, the dot matrix printer uses
a ribbon cartridge to hold the inked ribbon. This cartridge can
be replaced when the ink runs out.
Paper Feed Mechanism This mechanism handles the paper feeding process. It moves
the paper through the printer, ensuring that it's positioned
correctly for printing.
Dot Matrix Printer: The Printing
Process
1 Character Encoding
When you send a character to the printer, it first needs to be
translated into a pattern of dots. This pattern is represented as a
specific arrangement of "on" and "off" pins in the print head.
2 Print Head Movement
The print head moves horizontally across the paper, striking the
ribbon with the appropriate pins to create the desired dot pattern.
The pattern of dots is then transferred to the paper, forming the
character.
3 Paper Advancement
After each line is printed, the paper is advanced to the next line,
ready for the next row of characters. The process repeats for each
line of text, building up the complete printed document.
Line Printer
High-Speed Printing
Line printers were designed for speed. They printed an entire line of text at once, making them significantly faster than
character-based printers like the daisy wheel and dot matrix. They were perfect for applications where large volumes of
documents needed to be printed quickly, such as for invoices, reports, and financial statements.
Bulk Printing
Line printers were built to handle large print jobs. They could effortlessly churn out thousands of pages, making them a popular
choice for businesses and organizations with high printing demands. They were the workhorses of the printing industry, capable
of handling massive printing tasks with ease.
Loud Operation
The speed and power of the line printer came at a cost: noise. The mechanical hammers striking the ribbon created a distinct
"clatter" that was quite loud, making them less suitable for quiet environments. This sound was a hallmark of the line printer, a
reminder of its raw power and mechanical might.
Lower Print Quality
While fast and efficient, line printers often produced less crisp characters compared to daisy wheel printers. The print quality
was sufficient for everyday documents, but not ideal for high-resolution graphics or documents requiring a refined aesthetic.
Why Impact Printers Still
Matter
You might be wondering, in this age of sleek inkjet and laser
printers, why are impact printers still around? The answer lies in
their unique strengths. Impact printers are incredibly durable,
capable of withstanding harsh conditions and handling heavy
workloads. They're also reliable, providing consistent printing
quality even after years of use. And in some cases, their ability to
print on multi-part forms is unmatched.
While they may be overshadowed by modern printers in most
applications, impact printers continue to hold their own in specific
niches. In industries like logistics and warehousing, they are used
for printing labels, shipping documents, and other materials that
require durability and resistance to fading or smudging. They are
also found in some financial institutions, where the need to print
multiple copies on multi-part forms remains a necessity.
A Look Back
Impact printers, with their mechanical precision and ability
to produce permanent, high-quality prints, played a crucial
role in the evolution of printing technology. They shaped the
way we communicated, documented, and shared
information. While they may be a fading memory in our
digital world, their legacy lives on. As we move forward with
newer technologies, we can appreciate the impact these
early printers had on the printing industry and the evolution
of information sharing.
