Inkjet/bubblejet printer

Inkjet/bubblejet Printer:

A computer peripheral which produces inexpensive colour output to paper by spraying droplets of ink, allowing us to view the data away from the computer.

Used for Computer printouts such as;
- Home based letters (word processing)
- House plans (CAD - often a plotter used)
- Colour brochures, fliers, small publications (Desktop publishing )

[Hewlett-Packard deskjet 690c]

Features

Inkjet

[Hewlett-Packard deskjet 690c]

These are non-impact character matrix printers which fire ink droplets onto the paper by using an 'electrostatic field'.

Ink may be 'fired' at the paper, through small holes in the print head
cartridges holding the ink are used, and generally discarded when ink runs out.
Quiet in operation
Has a selection of Print speeds and quality.
May use tractor feed or A4 cut sheet
Use subtractive colours (unlike the VDU) - cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black. We view colours as the result of light bouncing off the ink. (On a VDU colour is transmitted from the light source).
Photo quality may use a six colour system CcMmYK (Cyan, Light cyan, Magenta, light magenta, Yellow and blacK). Example: Epson Photo Reproduction Quality (PRQ).

Case studies Hewlett Packard DJ 500

Bubblejet

[Canon bubble jet printer]

Provides durability and makes it possible to reduce the size of the print mechanism
Permits the nozzles to be packed more closely, thus improving print quality. The Canon BJ300/330 prints up to 360 dpi.
Greatly reduces operating noise. (The Canon BJ300.330 noise level is about 45 decibels).

Classification

Print method

[HP Inkjet printer]

Pixel Printers
which print one column of pixels at a time

Impact or non-impact printers.

[HP Laser Printer]

Non-impact
Spray droplets of ink onto paper..

Dot Matrix or Shaped

Dot matrix character
each character is produced by printing the most appropriate dot combination.

Speed

Low speed
(10 characters per second to approximately 300 lines per minute.)
Examples include; Dot Matrix, Daisy Wheel, Thermal, Inkjet, Lasers

When working with a printer there are many skills you need to be "printer competent". Once a printer has been correctly connected, and the proper drivers installed for your software, you will need basic skills to operate it.
These include;

Changing Paper
Setting/changing form length
Changing an ink cartridge
Changing Mode

For your printer these are outlined in the manual that should have been supplied with your printer.

Changing Paper

Cut Sheet
Ensure 'correct side' printed on (photocopy paper has a right side and wrong side for printing) This will improve print quality

Continuous
Ensure top of form is set once paper is loaded.

Setting/changing form length

May be set with 'dip switches' inside the printer.
Watch for bottom margin settings, this may cause a blank page to be ejected when printing documents that require a full page, where first the printer, then the Software send a form feed command!

Changing an ink cartridge.

Ink-jet
Once ink has run out cartridges are usually thrown out
Jets may become blocked. There is usually a procedure for unblocking them (refer to your manual).

Changing Mode.

Quality
Draft mode - high speed/fewer dots printed giving a lighter text.
Letter Quality - slow speed with the maximum number of dots printable by this printer for characters. Sometimes referred to as NLQ (Near Letter Quality) on a dot matrix printer.

Font
Type of print eg. Times Roman, Courier, Helvitica

Controls

Most Printers Contain a Front panel of switches to manage their features; some important ones include;

online
* On Allows the printer to communicate with the PC
* Off Allows you to set printer characteristics via the front panel.

form feed
* For continuous stationery will feed the paper the 'pre-set' number of lines (often 66), from a 'pre-set 'top of form'
* For Cut sheet, this will eject the current page and set up the next page for printing.

line feed
* Feeds paper one line at a time.

Diagnosis

Exercise

List steps you should take if your printer does not print. You should refer to the manual supplied with the printer you use.
Troubleshooting