10Oct Dot-Matrix Printer

The components of a dot matrix printer are: a power supply board, a main control board, a printhead assembly, a ribbon catridge, a paper feed motor (along with its mechanical drive gears), and a printhead positioning motor and mechanisms.

The power supply:

The power supply board is called on to provide various voltages to power the electronics on the control board.It also drives both the printhead positioning and paper feed motors, and energises the wire of the printhead.

The main control board:

The control board is typically divided into four functional sections. They are:-

• The interface circuitry
• The character generation circuitry
• The printer controller circuitry
• Motor control circuitry

Printhead mechanisms:

The printhead is a collection of print wires set in an electromagnetic head unit.The printhead assembly is made up of a permanent magnet, a group of electromagnets, and a housing. In the printhead, the permanent magnet keeps the wires pulled in until electromagnets are energized, causing them to move forward.

Paper handling:

The paper feed motor and gear train, move the paper through the printer. This can be accomplished by driving the platen assembly. The platen can be used in two different ways. The feed motors gear train can also be used to drive the extended gear train of a tractor assembly when it is installed. The gears of the feed motor mesh with those of the tractor, calling it to pull, or push, the paper through the printer. To use a tractor, the friction-feed feature of the planet must be released. Otherwise, the tractor and the platen may not turnand the paper will rip or jam.

Other Printers:

There are various other type of printers like inkjet Printers, Photo Printers and Laser Printers. You will find these things in topics later to be published. These type of printers help you to get good quality printing. Hence, opting for this would be good if you are into graphics related printing.