inkjet printer

(hardware, printer)

A class of printer in which small ink droplets are sprayed electrostatically from a nozzle onto the paper.

Inkjet printers are very quiet in comparison to impact printers.

A popular example is the Olivetti BJ10.

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inkjet printer

A printer that propels droplets of ink directly onto the medium. Today, most inkjet printers are color printers that use four inks packaged in separate cartridges: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK. The four "CMYK" cartridges are individually replaced, but beware single CMY cartridges, because when any one color runs out, the entire cartridge must be replaced. Inkjet printers run the gamut from less than a hundred to a couple hundred dollars for home use to thousands of dollars for commercial poster printers. See inkjet cartridge.

Consumables Add Up
Low-cost inkjet printers wind up costing more than many people realize because the cost of ink cartridges add up over time. It is prudent to purchase the extra-large cartridges if available.

Resolution Quality
For resolution quality, look at a text sample, not graphics. Graphics always look better than text. For color quality, be sure that samples from different models are printed on the same kind of paper. Coated specialty papers, although costly, greatly improve the printed results because they do not absorb the ink like regular copy paper. See solid ink printer, IRIS printer, printer and ink coverage.

First Inkjet Technology

The nozzle sprayed continuous droplets onto the paper or into the gutter. The nozzle synchronized the ink from the pump, while the charging tunnel selectively charged the ink into the gutter. The uncharged ink reached the paper.

Drop on Demand Printheads

In the thermal drop on demand method used by HP and Canon, ink droplets are forced out of the nozzle by heating a resistor, which causes an air bubble to expand. Epson uses a piezoelectric technique that charges crystals and expands the bubble.

Letter Size

The majority of desktop inkjet printers support standard letter-size or legal-size paper; however, printers that handle larger paper are widely available. This is one of HP's earlier DeskJets, which popularized the inkjet printer and helped bring prices down for the home and small business. (Image courtesy of Hewlett-Packard Company.)

Wide-Format Printers

Inkjet printers like these in VUTEk's datacenter have revolutionized the printing industry, enabling large, attractive graphics to be created one at a time. Such machines support up to eight colors and can print on a variety of media, including vinyl and textiles. (Image courtesy of VUTEK, a division of Electronics for Imaging, Inc., www.vutek.com)

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References in periodicals archive

Steven Sloan, a spokesman for the AccuFILL ink-jet refill systems offered by Academy Corp., asserts that drug stores are uniquely positioned to succeed in this area because of the success they have demonstrated in their photo departments.

Ink-jet refills now part of the mix

Ink-jet printing is commonly used to deposit solutions of functional materials in specific locations on a substrate and can provide fast deposition of polymer films over a large area.

US company makes solar cells using ink-jet process

"Growing demand for Kodak's ink-jet printers validates our reasons for entering the category--consumers are looking for high-quality, affordable solutions to home ink-jet printing," states Kodak president and chief operating officer Phil Faraci.

Printing at retail wins adherents

Reis, Direct ink-jet printing and low temperature conversion of conductive silver patterns, Journal of Materials Science, Vol.

Ink jet printing for high-frequency electronic applications: nanoparticle inks and drop-on-demand ink jet printers offer a unique opportunity to generate fine-line additive circuits on flexible, three-dimensional substrates

Furthermore, several inherent issues work against the use of ink-jet technology.

A splash of color, a dash of learning: the reduced costs of laser printers have helped bring the educational benefits of using color to the classroom

Amorphous and precipitated silica and silica gels, prepared by the acidification of a solution of sodium silicate, are commonly used in premium matte coated ink-jet papers.

Summaries of February 2005 peer-reviewed papers

Whatever the requirement, AMPI's ink-jet systems maintain production rates of 10 to 12 cartons a minute, says Turner.

Ink-jet and labeling systems identify broad product range: Associated Milk Products labels up to 12 cartons per minute with its new ink-jet system

A digital ink-jet marking system originally designed for printed circuit boards is said to be a cost-effective alternative to pad printing for marking a wide range of parts from electronic and automotive components to medical devices and writing pens.

Decorating & printing: the Chicago show presented a whole new way to decorate. There were also plenty of improvements in ink-jet and pad printing, hot stamping, laser marking, and surface treating

With ink-jet printers usually having a lifetime of three years, the amount spent on ink equates to pounds 210 - twice the price of the average printer.

OFT warns of hidden costs in PC equipment

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of the Foundation, said: 'Toner and ink-jet cartridges are the most valuable items to be found in office waste bins.

Toner and cartridges plea by charity

said Wednesday it will shut down and liquidate an k-jet printer factory in Mexico by the end of May in order to improve efficiency in the ink-jet printer business.

Canon to close Mexico plant