8 Things You Didn’t Know About Laser Printing

05/06/2017

Links To Photocopying

Laser Printing was invented by then Xerox product developer, Gary Starkweather in 1969. Already working within the photocopying market, Starkweather had the idea of using a laser beam to draw an image on paper. He later adapted a Xerox photocopier, which became one of the first commercial laser printers on the planet.

No Liquid Ink Involved

In contrast to the liquid ink used within inkjet printing, laser printing uses toner powder to produce a print. Toner powder, sometimes simply referred to as toner, is made from solid particles in appose to liquid. During the laser printing process, these solid particles are melted to the page with the heat and pressure of a fuser.

However, Plastic And Wax Are

In the early days of laser printing, toner powder was made of simple carbon powder. However, plastic or wax polymers were introduced in order to improve quality, and made printing with toner cartridges more affordable. The introduction of plastic and wax also allowed people to use toner powder on a wide range of print media.

Static Electricity Is Used

Within the cartridge, toner powder particles move between the components using static electricity. Each particle is engineered to hold a specific charge and travels with extreme precision.

Toner Can Be Manufactured In Two Ways

Toner powder is manufactured in one of two ways – either by grounding, or by growing. With conventional toner powder, ingredients are compounded into a slab. They are then ground or pulverized into a fine powder, resulting in toner granules varying in both size and shape. In a chemically produced toner powder, or CPT, particles are grown through a chemical process to the desired shape and size. This consistent size and shape enables enhanced toner charging and placement, as well as improved wear characteristics. Ultimately, this provides higher print quality and lower energy use.

The First Laser Printer Was Rather Costly

The first desktop laser printer that used toner cartridges was released in 1984. The HP designed LaserJet printer initially had a staggering $3,495 price tag – that’s the equivalent of £2,838!

Toner Cartridges Can Be Recycled

97% of all the materials and components in a typical toner cartridge can be recycled and re-used. Organizations such as The Recycling Factory allow you to recycle your toner cartridges, and even reward your business, school, favourite charity or you personally for doing so. For more information on the benefits of cartridge recycling, check out this infographic.

…And Remanufactured

Toner cartridges that are sent for recycling can then be remanufactured. In fact, a toner cartridge can be remanufactured between three and seven times. Remanufactured toner cartridges, like the ones sold by Red Bus Cartridges, are original versions that are cleaned, with any worn or damaged parts being replaced so that performance is not affected. The cartridges are then refilled and tested before being sold.