What Is a Laser Copier?
With the digital age came an evolution of office machines, including copiers. Since the first copier was developed in 1959--the Xerox 914, based on Chester Carlson's xerographic process which he invented in 1938--copiers have been improved to increase speed, size and color capability. The use of a laser to create the image has broadened the scope of this office staple.
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Laser vs. Light Lens Copiers
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Newer laser copiers differ from their older, light-lens counterparts in the way the image to be copied is exposed onto the photoreceptor or drum. As the name indicates, a laser copier employs a laser to etch the image onto the drum, while the light lens versions use more traditional photographic methods. In essence, laser copiers use digital technology and their counterparts use analog technology.
Scan Once, Print Many
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The laser copier scans the document once and converts the information into a digital file that is stored in memory. This information is then transferred onto the drum and multiple images can be made from the initial scan. Conversely, analog copiers must make a scan for every single copy of an original. For example, 10 copies would require 10 scans. Because the laser copier only makes a single scan, it is inherently faster.
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Imaging the Drum
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The photoreceptor, or drum, is the main component in the laser copier. It is coated with a photo-receptive element like selenium. The drum receives an electrostatic charge, and the laser etches the image on to the surface. The charge is removed from the drum wherever the laser touches it. The toner, or ink, has the opposite charge, so it's attracted to the deleted areas on the drum. This is the basic principle of all copiers whether they are digital or analog-type machines.
Transferring the Image to Paper
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The laser copier's drum rotates with toner adhering to it by the principles of static electricity. At the same time, the paper also receives an electrostatic charge. As the drum rotates past the paper, opposing charges pull the toner off the drum and on to the paper in the exact position of the image. A cleaning blade then wipes any excess toner off the drum readying it for the next image.
Fusing
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When the toner is transferred to the paper, it is simply sitting on the surface of the sheet. The fusing process actually bakes the toner into place and makes the image permanent on the paper. The laser copier's fuser is composed of a heat roller that melts the toner and a pressure roller that presses it into place. These two rollers work in conjunction with each other with paper passing between them.
Benefits of Laser Copiers
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Laser copiers offer many benefits that light lens copiers do not. Because the images are scanned and stored in memory, it's easier to print a number of different images within the same print run. Many brands provide permanent storage of jobs that are frequently reprinted, eliminating the need for subsequent scanning. Page order and duplexing commands can be rearranged in the laser copier's job memory as well.
Since the machine is digitally based, these copiers can act as computer printers, scanners and fax machines as well as combining elements of all of these into a single multifunction machine.
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