How did the first laser printer work?

The laser printing process works by using a laser beam to project an image onto an electrically charged, rotating drum. Photoconductivity allows the charged electrons to fall away from the areas exposed to light.

How did printers work in the past?

Another early predecessor to the computer printer was a telegraph machine, the Syphon Recorder, invented by Lord Kelvin in 1858. Line printers work in a similar way to typewriters, in that they press ink onto a piece a paper using a combination of an ink ribbon and raised metal type.

How much did the first laser printer cost?

The 9700 laser printer, Xerox’s first commercial laser printer, introduced in 1977, weighed more than a ton and was priced at $295,000. Mr. Starkweather’s persistence—and finesse in maneuvering around that boss—led to the introduction in 1977 of the Xerox 9700.

When did laser printers become popular?

Laser printers were first introduced for the workplace market in the 1970s at Xerox PARC, and then for the home market in succeeding years by IBM, Canon, Xerox, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and many others.

Why was a laser invented?

When it was first discovered, the laser gave rise to some foolish hopes and was heralded as the answer to all the world’s problems: it could be used to melt dangerous icebergs, replace the existing telephone network or carry millions of volts from one place to another.

What is a laser printer advantages and disadvantages?

	Laser Printer	Inkjet Printer
Advantages	The machine is relatively stable	Suitable for small prints
Low quality requirements for paper
Disadvantages	High initial investment cost	Slower print speed
Color toner cartridge are expensive	Need to print regularly, otherwise the nozzle will be easy to block

What did people do before Printers?

Life before the printing press Before the printing press was invented, any writings and drawings had to be completed painstakingly by hand. Several different materials were used to transcribe books: clay and papyrus, wax, and parchment.

How did old printing presses work?

In Gutenberg’s printing press, movable type was arranged over a flat wooden plate called the lower platen. Ink was applied to the type, and a sheet of paper was laid on top. An upper platen was brought down to meet the lower platen. The two plates pressed the paper and type together, creating sharp images on the paper.

What are some uses of lasers?

Lasers are used in optical disc drives, laser printers, barcode scanners, DNA sequencing instruments, fiber-optic, semiconducting chip manufacturing (photolithography), and free-space optical communication, laser surgery and skin treatments, cutting and welding materials, military and law enforcement devices for …