Printers

Unit objectives Compare and contrast printing

technologies Install, configure, and manage printers Perform routine maintenance tasks for

printers Troubleshoot printer problems

Topic A

Topic A: Printing technologies Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer optimization and

maintenance Topic D: Printer troubleshooting

Dot-matrix printer

Can print multipart forms Slow and noisy compared to other

printer types Impact printer

– Use mechanical means to press ink onto a page

Near letter quality (NLQ)

Dot-matrix printer components

9- or 24-pin print head Pins pushed forward in patterns to strike ink

ribbon 9-pin quality not as good as 24-pin Tractor feed and friction feed Horizontal and vertical perforations in paper Banners Preprinted forms require careful alignment Friction feed for envelopes and single-sheet

papers

Dot-matrix printer connections

Serial Parallel Rare network interface Some have both serial and parallel

Dot-matrix options

Font card slots Memory Paper feeders

Other impact printers

Daisy wheel Band printer

Activity A-1

Examining the dot-matrix printing process

An inkjet printer

Ink dispersion Forces ink through nozzles Nozzles are 50 to 60 microns in

diameter Two methods:

– Thermal bubble– Piezoelectric bubble

Inkjet process

Thermal bubble technology Piezoelectric technology Ink cartridges Dithering Print heads

Inkjet cartridge print heads

Print head part of cartridge New ink cartridge = new print head Makes cartridge more expensive

Inkjet print quality

Standards– Laser printer for text– Darkroom photographs for graphics

Affected by:– Resolution (dpi) of printer– Quality of paper– Quality of ink if printed page gets wet

Straight-through paper path

Curved paper path

Inkjet photo printers

Good print quality Quality not quite as good as that of

chemically produced prints Use special photo paper Some printers allow you to print

CD/DVD labels

Printing onto a CD

Activity A-2

Examining how inkjet printers work

Laser printer

Standard of quality for other printer types High-quality, high-volume Black-and-white, and color Dropping in price

– Consumables can cost as much as printer

Laser printer components

Toner cartridge Laser scanning assembly Power supplies Paper control and transport assembly Transfer corona assembly Fusing assembly Electronic control package

Toner cartridge components

Hopper filled with toner EP drum Blade to remove used toner Corona charging assembly

Laser scanner assembly

Laser Mirror Lens, or lenses

Power supplies

High-voltage power supply (HVPS) Converts 120 volt, 60 Hz AC to high-

voltage electricity used by EP process DC power supply (DCPS) used to

power components that don’t require high voltages

Paper control and transport assembly

Paper moves through series of rollers Rollers

– Some guide paper– Some apply pressure to fuse toner

Transfer corona assembly

Primary charge roller charged by HVPS

Primary charge roller charges paper to accept toner

Static charge eliminator strip drains charge

Fusing assembly

Composed of rollers and heating lamp Applies heat and pressure to adhere

toner to page

Electronic control package

Also known as “printer control circuitry” or “main logic assembly”

Communicates with – Printer memory– Control panel– Computer

Laser printing process

continued

Laser printing process, continued

1. Cleaning and erasing

2. Charging or conditioning

3. Writing or exposing

4. Developing

5. Transferring

6. Fusing Note: Some sources place the cleaning and

erasing stage at the beginning of the process. Others place it at the end of the process. In either case, it prepares the drum for receiving and printing the next image.

Activity A-3

Examining how laser printers work

Other printer types

Solid-ink Dye sublimation Thermal

– Thermal wax transfer– Direct thermal– Thermal autochrome

Plotter

Creates line images Uses pens Often available in large format for CAD

drawings Draws smooth lines and curves

Additional printer types

Snapshot printers Large-format printers Art printers

Activity A-4

Identifying other printer technologies

Topic B

Topic A: Printing technologies Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer optimization and

maintenance Topic D: Printer troubleshooting

Main Windows print processes

Client Spooler Printer

Activity B-1

Examining the Windows printing process

Inkjet printer installation

Connect via USB Windows autodetects and installs

drivers Can install additional software from

manufacturer

Ink-level monitoring utility

Printer interfaces

USB Parallel SCSI Serial Wired or wireless Ethernet network

connections

Inkjet communications interfaces

Parallel interface USB interface

Configure the connection type

SCSI — Assign a unique device ID Parallel — Specify the correct LPT

port Serial — Specify the correct COM port

Parallel port in Device Manager

Installing an inkjet printer

1. Connect the printer to a computer, using the correct interface

2. Plug the printer in

3. Power it up

4. Windows will probably recognize the new device and install drivers for it

5. If drivers aren’t installed automatically, do it manually with materials that shipped with the printer

Upgrading a device driver

Use Device Manager utility Follow prompts in wizard or use printer

installation file Configure options Calibrate for best performance

Laser printer installation

Remove packaging Install toner cartridge

– Rock from side to side

Might need to install drum or other components

Remove Styrofoam and tape before installing toner and using printer

Laser printer interfaces

Parallel SCSI USB Serial IEEE 1394/FireWire Wired or wireless Ethernet network Infrared ports

Communications interfaces

Installing a laser printer

1. Connect the printer to the network or a computer, using the correct interface

2. Plug the printer in

3. Power it up

4. Windows will probably recognize the new device and install drivers for it

5. If drivers aren’t installed automatically, do it manually with the materials that shipped with the printer

Activity B-2

Installing a local printer

Topic C

Topic A: Printing technologies Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer optimization and

maintenance Topic D: Printer troubleshooting

Printer configuration options

Orientation Collation Copies Quality Color Order Switch print trays Spool settings Some configuration can be done

through buttons on printer itself

Print queue

Queue - waiting to be output on the printer

To view - double-click printer’s icon in the Printers utility

Users with Print permissions can, for their own documents:– Pause– Resume– Restart– Cancel

Activity C-1

Configuring printing

Printer options

Dot-matrix printer options and upgrades– Paper park– Input/output trays– Font cartridges– Paper cutter

Inkjet printer options and upgrades– Vary by manufacturer– Scanner head– Multifunction devices– Additional paper trays – Alternative media holders– PostScript upgrade kit continued

Printer options, continued Inkjet printer options and upgrades,

continued– Batteries– Bluetooth adapter– Network card

Laser printer options and upgrades– Page description languages– Input and output trays– Network connection– Internal hard disk– Duplexers

Other types of printers options and upgrades

Activity C-2

Installing printer add-ons and upgrades

Maintenance

Common tools– Cleaning solutions, including rubbing

alcohol– Cleaning equipment, including soft cloths

and cotton swabs– Lubricants– Compressed air– Toner vacuums and toner rags, or

extension magnet brushes – Screwdrivers (to open compartments)– Chip puller

Dot-matrix printer maintenance

Compressed air to blow out paper, dirt, and debris

Mild household cleaners on exterior Rubbing alcohol to clean roller Use ESD precautions and remove

neckties, watches, and jewelry

Inkjet printer maintenance

Consumables– Change low ink cartridges– Paper

Clean print nozzles and recalibrate printer

Remove dust Adjust ink output calibration for color

matching Proper ventilation Use ESD precautions and remove

neckties, watches, and jewelry

Laser printers maintenance

Scheduled maintenance and unscheduled service calls

Routine maintenance– Replace toner cartridges– Clean and lubricate components– Replace components (parts-life counters)– Check and update firmware– Remove accumulated toner– Maintain adequate ventilation– Test page

Consumables

Keep adequate supply on hand Store in cool, dry locations

Activity C-3

Performing inkjet and laser printer maintenance tasks

Topic D

Topic A: Printing technologies Topic B: Printer installation Topic C: Printer optimization and

maintenance Topic D: Printer troubleshooting

Printer troubleshooting

Application trying to print Printer Operating system and drivers Connection

Testing the application

Restart the application If you can print other files from that

application, troubleshoot the file that wouldn’t print

If other files won’t print, try printing from another application

If you can print from another application, troubleshoot the application that’s causing problems

If you can’t print from any applications, test the printer

Testing the printer

Verify that it’s online and ready Check service error messages

– “Add media” – “Add supplies” or “Add toner”– “Regular maintenance”– “Paper jam”– “Incorrect media”

Engine test page

Operating system and drivers

Print test page from printer’s Properties dialog box

If test page prints, troubleshoot the application and driver settings

If test page doesn’t print, check:– Printer status– Driver– Port settings– Accessories and options– Event logs

Connections

Network– Test TCP/IP connectivity– Consult with network technician

Local– Cable– Different computer

continued

Connections, continued

Connectivity issues– Loose, broken, damaged, or improperly

wired cables– Broken or malfunctioning network

devices– Incorrect protocol, network settings, or

TCP/IP settings– Bad network cards– Firmware– EMI– Wireless connection problems

Dark images

Application settings Printer settings

Light or weak images

Low toner Laser failing Incorrect paper

Repetitive image defects

Drum defect Faulty registration rollers Debris on heated roller

Ghosting and shadows

Residual toner on drum Drum not discharging properly Primary corona

Smearing

Dirty or worn registration rollers Dirty or worn registration assembly Dirt or debris on polygon mirror Damp or moist paper Incorrect paper Fuser not at correct temperature

Banding

Paper feed problem Specially coated paper Registration roller worn or dirty HVPS ground loose (heavy banding) Laser/scanner assembly failure (white

horizontal lines)

Focus

Not enough toner on drum Loose or improperly mounted laser

assembly Incorrect paper Fusing temperature or pressure too

low HVPS failing

Voided areas

Paper entering printer too early Damaged drum Limited memory Slipping gear; failing motor drive

Registration, jitters, skew

Problems with pickup roller or separation pad

Faulty rollers or roller assembly Drive train worn or clogged Paper path obstructions Damaged paper tray Special paper Paper in paper path at wrong angle

Misaligned color registration

Misaligned print heads on inkjet printers

Misaligned or worn transfer belt

Weak color, missing color

Low toner supply (laser printer) Low ink supply (inkjet printer) Dried ink in nozzles (inkjet printer) Incorrect paper

Vertical and horizontal lines

Misaligned beam detector (horizontal black lines)

Dirty transfer corona (vertical white lines)

Blocked laser beam or LED (vertical white lines)

Failed or failing beam sensor (horizontal white lines)

Debris in toner cartridge (vertical white lines)

Black or blank pages

Damaged primary corona (black pages)

Faulty drum (blank pages) Defective logic board (black pages,

banding) Defective toner cartridge

Transport/feed issues

Media jamming Skewing Creasing, wrinkling, folding, and

tearing Multiple sheets feeding in at one time

(multifeeding); misdirected media (misfeeding)

Burning

Transport/feed causes

Foreign objects Damaged media Media feed problems Media feed timing Separation Duplex Fusing Media exit and delivery Faulty sensors

Activity D-1

Troubleshooting printer problems

Unit summary

Compared and contrasted printing technologies

Installed, configured, and managed printers

Performed routine maintenance tasks for printers

Identified and resolved problems with printers