Understanding Printer Cartridges or Opting for Office Automation
There are various types of printers, from units capable of printing onto fabrics for clothing manufacture, to devices that print consumer goods packaging. Virtually all print technologies contain a kind of consumable substance to produce the image that ends up on the substrate being printed on. The enclosure or container that the consumable comes in is often not just a simple bottle or tub but is specifically designed and shaped to fit a particular type and model of printer. These kinds of consumable containers are referred to as printer cartridges.
Although there is a myriad of print technologies, the printers most people are likely to encounter are laser and inkjet machines. Laser and inkjet printers predominate in office and home environments but the two could not be more different in the way in which they print. The printer cartridges for the two technologies are consequently also totally different.
Inkjet Printer Cartridges
Inkjet printers spray tiny droplets of wet ink onto the substrate in a precisely controlled manner. The process can re-produce subtle tonal variations and allows for extremely accurate colour blending. Inkjet printers can print photo-realistic graphics on a wide range of substrates, including high-gloss papers and flexible plastics.
Inkjet printers use a variety of ink-filled cartridges. The ink they contain is generally a liquid with the viscosity of water. In fact, many inkjet printer cartridges use water as the carrier for the pigment in the ink. The pigment is either held in suspension in the water or dissolved into it. When the water is absorbed into the paper, the pigment is left behind.
Some ink-type cartridges use a volatile solvent in place of the water which does not soak into the substrate but evaporates to leave the image behind. Solvent-based inks are designed for non-absorbent surfaces like vinyl or similar plastics.
Laser Printer Cartridges
Laser printers produce prints by depositing ultra-fine dry toner particles onto paper using static electricity. A laser or bank of LEDs transfers a charge to the paper which determines where the toner will adhere. The toner is a mixture of pigment and a fine plastic powder. It is melted onto the surface of the paper using a combination of heat and pressure. Laser technology is better for higher volume, lower quality sensitive print output.
Alternatively, Automate Your Office
You can become an expert on printer cartridges, or you can automate your office instead. Office automation is aimed at increasing the administrative efficiency of a business by enhancing inter-personnel communication and streamlining office processes. Systems usually look at integrating and improving e-mail, voice mail, print production, desktop publishing, and word processing, among other office activities. A good system will include automated monitoring and ordering of all print consumables for printers and multifunctional devices in your organisation. This includes printer cartridges for any device that uses them.
Contact the Specialists at Raydian
Raydian is an office automation specialist with a large base of successful office automation system installations. We also provide managed print solutions and service printers, multifunctional devices, and other office automation equipment. We can provide printer cartridges and other consumables for all the leading brand manufacturers’ machines. Call Raydian today and let us provide the right consumables for your equipment while improving your productivity and maximising your efficiency.