Chapter 11: Printers IT Essentials v6.0 ITE v6.0 1
Chapter 11 - Sections & Objectives 11.1 Common Printer Features Explain the purpose and characteristics of different types of printers. 11.2 Installing and Configuring Printers Install a printer. 11.3 Sharing Printers Configure printer sharing. 11.4 Maintaining and Troubleshooting Printers Explain how to improve printer availability 11.5 Chapter Summary ITE v6.0 2
11.1 Common Printer Features ITE v6.0 3
Introduction Printers produce paper copies of electronic files. Hard copies of computer documents remain important today. The technician must understand the operation of various types of printers to be able to install, maintain, and troubleshoot any problems that arise. ITE v6.0 4
Characteristics and Capabilities Characteristics to consider when choosing a printer Capabilities and speed Color or Black and White Quality Reliability Warranty Schedule Servicing Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) ITE v6.0 5
Wired Printer Connection Types To access a printer, a computer must have a compatible interface with it. The following are common interface types: Serial Parallel Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) Universal Serial Bus (USB) Firewire Ethernet ITE v6.0 6
Printer Types Inkjet High quality printer Spray technology Laser High-quality, fast printer Uses a laser beam to create an image Thermal Some retail cash registers or older fax machines Uses heat for image generation Impact Has carbon-copy printing ability Print heads strike an inked ribbon Virtual Sends the print job to a file or to a remote destination in the cloud ITE v6.0 7
Inkjet Printers Use ink-filled cartridges that spray ink onto a page through tiny holes, or nozzles. The ink is sprayed in a pattern on the page. Two types of inkjet nozzles: Thermal Head create a bubble of steam in the chamber. Piezoelectric Vibration causes the ink to vaporize. They produce high quality prints, are easy to use, and are less expensive than laser printers. However, the nozzles are prone to clogging and the ink is wet after printing. A feeding mechanism draws paper in and the paper passes by the print head where ink is sprayed onto it. Tractor-feed Friction-feed ITE v6.0 8
Inkjet Printers (cont.) Advantages: Initial low cost High resolution Quick to warm up Disadvantages: Nozzles are prone to clogging Ink cartridges are expensive Ink is wet after printing Quality of the image affects the speed of the printer ITE v6.0 9
Laser Printer Operation Printer operation after processing: 1. Cleaning* 2. Charging or Conditioning* 3. Exposing or Writing* 4. Developing* 5. Transferring 6. Fusing *Takes place inside the Toner Cartridge on most printers ITE v6.0 10
Laser Printer Operation Cleaning 1. After image has been deposited on the paper and the drum has separated from the paper 2. Removes toner from the drum 3. Uses a blade 4. Excess toner falls away 5. Excess toner stored in a used toner container ITE v6.0 11
Laser Printer Operation Conditioning 1. Removes latent image from the drum 2. Conditions drum for new image 3. Uses special wire charged to about -6000 volts DC 4. Referred to as the primary corona wire 5. Remaining charge -600 to -1000 Volts DC ITE v6.0 12
Laser Printer Operation Writing 1. Scans photosensitive drum with laser beam 2. Exposed portion reduced to about -100 Volts DC 3. Lower negative charge than rest of drum 4. Creates invisible image ITE v6.0 13
Laser Printer Operation Developing 1. Toner applied to drum 2. Plastic covered Magnetic particles 3. Toner charged to around -200 volts DC 4. Attracted to the more positive (-100 volts DC) areas of the photosensitive drum 5. Repelled by the more negative (-600 volts DC) areas of drum ITE v6.0 14
Laser Printer Operation Transferring 1. Toner transferred to paper 2. Transfer, or secondary corona places a positive charge on the paper 3. Attracts the negative toner image from the drum to the paper 4. Image held on paper by the positive charge ITE v6.0 15
Laser Printer Operation Fusing 1. Paper rolled between a heated roller and a pressure roller 2. Fuser roller heated to about 350 degrees 3. Melts the plastic particles 4. Paper moved to output tray ITE v6.0 16
Laser Printers (cont.) Advantages: Low cost per page High ppm High capacity Prints are dry Disadvantages: High cost startup Expensive toner cartridges Require high level of maintenance ITE v6.0 17
Thermal Printers A thermal printer uses chemically-treated paper that becomes black when heated. A thermal transfer printer uses heat-sensitive ribbon, which the print head melts onto the paper. Thermal printers have a longer life because there are few moving parts. ITE v6.0 18
Thermal Printers (cont.) Advantages: Longer life because there are few moving parts Quiet operation No cost for ink or toner Disadvantages: Paper is expensive. Paper has a short shelf life. Images are poor quality. Paper must be stored at room temperature. ITE v6.0 19
Impact Printers Impact printers have print heads that strike an inked ribbon, causing characters to be imprinted on the paper There are two types: Daisy-wheel Dot-matrix ITE v6.0 20
Impact Printers (cont.) Advantages: Uses less expensive ink than inkjet or laser printers Uses continuous feed paper Has carbon-copy printing ability Disadvantages: Noisy Low-resolution graphics Limited color capability ITE v6.0 21
11.2 Installing and Configuring Printers ITE v6.0 22
Installing and Updating a Printer Follow the manufacturer s directory when connecting the printer. Printer software can be installed using the installation CD or tools from the manufacturer s website. Use the latest version if available. Every printer uses its unique printer driver and software that allows communications between printer and computer. PDL describes the appearance of the document Postscript allows fonts and text types to be identical on the screen and on paper Check regularly for printer driver updates from the manufacturer After printer installation or printer driver updates, print test pages to verify the printer is working properly. Roll back the update if necessary. ITE v6.0 23
Configuring Options and Default Settings Some common printer configuration settings are: paper type, print quality, and paper size. Can you name a few more? Printers can be configured using the global or per document methods From the Control Panel in the Printers and Faxes or Devices and Printers section, a default printer can be set for all the print jobs. ITE v6.0 24
Optimizing Printer Performance Most printer optimization is done through software supplied with the printer driver. Printer spooling settings Color calibration Paper orientation Some printers updated through hardware optimization Firmware upgrades Printer memory upgrades ITE v6.0 25
Installing and Configuring Printers When purchasing a printer, the installation and configuration information is usually supplied by the manufacturer: Installation media that includes drivers, manuals, and diagnostic software. Also available as downloads from the manufacturer's website. Although all types of printers are somewhat different to connect and configure, there are procedures that should be applied to all printers. ITE v6.0 26
Installing and Configuring Printers (Cont.) Connect the Printer Connect the appropriate data cable to the communication port on the back of the printer. Attach the power cable to the printer. Warning: Never plug a printer into a UPS. The power surge that occurs when the printer is turned on will damage the UPS unit. ITE v6.0 27
Installing and Configuring Printers (Cont.) Printer Driver A printer driver is the software program that enables the computer and the printer to communicate with each other. Converts a document into the format that a printer can understand. It is recommendable to find out if a newer driver is available on the manufacturer s website. The printer driver needs to be installed first before the printer is connected. ITE v6.0 28
Installing and Configuring Printers (Cont.) Test Page Printing After installing a printer, you should print a test page to verify that the printer is operating properly. You can print a test page manually, from an application such as Notepad, or from the Command Line. ITE v6.0 29
Common Configuration Settings Configuration Options and Default Settings include: Paper type - Standard, draft, gloss, or photo Print quality - Draft, normal, or photo Color printing - Multiple colors is used Black-and-white printing - Only black ink is used Grayscale printing printing using only black ink in different shades Paper size - Standard paper sizes or envelopes and business cards Paper orientation - Landscape or portrait Print layout - Normal, banner, booklet, or poster Duplex - Two-sided printing Collate print sets of a document with multiple pages ITE v6.0 30
Default Printer The Default printer will be the first option a computer chooses for printing. To check which printer is the default to go: 1. Devices and Printers 2. Check mark in a green circle 3. Right-click to set ITE v6.0 31
Print Queue 1. Prioritized list 2. Maintained by operating system 3. Queue is a service ITE v6.0 32
Global and Individual Document Options Global and Individual Document options Global method settings that affect all documents. In Windows 7, use this path to change global settings: Start > Devices and Printers> right-click the printer Per Document Method change the document print settings for specific documents. Overrides global options ITE v6.0 33
Software Optimization Most optimization is completed through the software supplied with the drivers Tools to optimize performance: Print spool settings - Cancel or pause current print jobs in the printer queue. Color calibration - Adjust settings to match the colors on the screen to the colors on the printed sheet. Paper orientation - Select landscape or portrait image layout. ITE v6.0 34
Hardware Optimization Firmware - controls how the printer operates. Check the manufacturer s homepage for the availability of new firmware. Printer Memory upgrading memory increases the printing speed and enhances complex print job performance. Additional upgrades: Duplex printing to enable dual-sided printing Extra trays and/ or specialized trays Network cards to access a wired or wireless network Firmware upgrades to add functionality or to fix bugs ITE v6.0 35
11.3 Sharing Printers ITE v6.0 36
Operating System Settings for Sharing Printers Printers can be shared on a network or using wireless or Bluetooth connections. Printer sharing can be configured in the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel. Shared printers can be connected using wired or wireless methods. To connect to a shared printer, navigate to the Control Panel. Choose Printers or Devices and Printers to add a printer. ITE v6.0 37
Configuring Printer Sharing In Windows 7, to connect to the printer from another computer follow these steps: Step 1. Choose Start > Devices and Printers > Add a Printer. Step 2. The Add Printer wizard appears. Step 3. Select Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer. Step 4. A list of shared printers will appear. If the printer is not listed, select The printer that I wanted is not listed. Step 5. After selecting the printer, click Next. Step 6. A virtual printer port is created and displayed in the Add a Printer window. The required print drivers are downloaded from the print server and installed on the computer. The wizard then finishes the installation. ITE v6.0 38
Wireless Printer Connections Wireless printers allow hosts to connect and print wirelessly using Bluetooth, 802.11x, or infrared (IR). Bluetooth - both the printer and the host device must have Bluetooth capabilities and be paired. 802.11x - printers are equipped with installed wireless NICs and connect directly to a wireless router or access point. IR (infrared) - requires transmitters and receivers on both devices and a clear line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. ITE v6.0 39
Print Servers Print servers allows multiple computer users to access a single printer. Print servers has three functions: Provide print resources to all connected client computers Store print jobs in a queue until the printer is ready Provide feedback about documents Three types of print servers Software installed on a client computer Hardware connects the network and communicates with the printer Dedicated used in a large network with multiple LANs and provides the most functions and capabilities. Can you name the print server type used based on the topology below? ITE v6.0 40
Print Servers Windows allows computer users to share their printers with other users on the network. There are two steps: Configure the computer attached to the printer to share the printer with other network users. Configure a user's computers to recognize the shared printer and print to it. ITE v6.0 41
Sharing a Local (Directly Connected) Printer To share a printer, go to: 1. Start Devices and Printers Right-Click the printer Printer Properties 2. Share the printer 3. Give it a name You must enable File and Printer Sharing before a user can connect. The Additional Drivers button allows you to add drivers for other operating systems. ITE v6.0 42
11.4 Maintaining and Troubleshooting Printers ITE v6.0 43
Preventive Maintenance Techniques Preventive maintenance decreases downtime, increases service, guarantees good quality prints, and ensures uninterrupted operation. Most manufacturers sell maintenance kits for their printers. For laser printers, the kit might contain replacement parts that often break or wear out: Fuser assembly Transfer rollers Separation pads Pickup rollers ITE v6.0 44
Printer Preventive Maintenance Follow vendor s guidelines when performing preventive maintenance to keep the printer in good condition Replace consumables using the manufacturer s recommendations Keep the printer clean using the manufacturer s instructions Clean the print heads on inkjet printer Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner to remove toner particles in a laser printer Clean the heating element with isopropyl alcohol on a thermal printer Calibrate the printer Clean the pickup rollers Reset the page counters if available Keep the environment dry and clean Store printers and supplies in a cool, dust-free, dry environment Keep the glass clean on the copier / scanner ITE v6.0 45
Preventive Maintenance Techniques (Cont.) Paper and Ink: Using the correct type of paper can help ensure that the printer operates longer and prints more efficiently. Types of printer paper available include inkjet and laser. Some papers, especially photo paper and transparencies, have a right and wrong side marked by an arrow on the package. Manufacturer will recommend the brand and type of ink to use. Do not refill ink cartridges because the ink may leak. ITE v6.0 46
Preventive Maintenance Techniques (Cont.) Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines when cleaning printers. CAUTION: Unplug printers before cleaning to prevent danger from high voltage. Use the utility supplied by the manufacturer to clean the ink jet print heads. When cleaning a laser printer, use a specially designed vacuum cleaner to pick up toner particles. To extend the life of the thermal printer, clean the heating element regularly with isopropyl alcohol. ITE v6.0 47
Troubleshooting Process Computer problems can result from a combination of hardware, software, and network issues. Computer technicians must be able to analyze the problem and determine the cause of the error to repair the computer. This process is called troubleshooting. Step 1 Identify the problem Step 2 Establish a theory of probable causes Step 3 Test the Theory to Determine cause Step 4 Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem and Implement the Solution Step 5 Verify Full System Functionality and Implement Preventative Measures Step 6 Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes ITE v6.0 48
Common Problems and Solutions for Printers Some printer problems are more common than others. Printer problems are usually caused by hardware, application or configuration issues. A few common printer problems include: Printer is powered off or in standby mode. Printer has an error, such as out of paper, paper jam, or out of toner / ink. Printer does not print Driver or cable issue Printer prints unknown characters Drive issue Print jobs are faded Low toner Users receive the message Document failed to print Printer is printing incorrect colors - Calibrate Printer does not have enough memory to buffer an image. Printer Jams Caused by high humidity or the wrong type of paper. Print spooler error Restart the print spooler ITE v6.0 49
11.5 Chapter Summary ITE v6.0 50
Summary This chapter introduced the printers. The following concepts from this chapter are important to remember: Various types of printers and connections Depending on the output, the printer is either suitable for commercial or home use. Different speeds affect the quality of print. Different printer connections, such as serial, parallel, USB, Firewire, or Bluetooth Printer installation Automatic installation from the computer Tools from manufacturer s website CD supplied by the manufacturer Share a printer Preventive Maintenance Keep the printer and supplies clean, dry, dust-free Always follow safety procedures and manufacturer s guidelines when servicing the printer ITE v6.0 51
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