Laser printers use a technology called xerography, which was developed by Xerox Corporation in the 1960s. The process begins with a rotating photosensitive drum that is coated with a photoconductive material. The drum is given a negative electrostatic charge.
Next, a laser beam is used to create an image on the drum that corresponds to the text or image being printed. The laser beam is modulated by a rotating polygonal mirror, which reflects the beam onto the surface of the drum.
Wherever the laser beam strikes the drum, it removes the negative electrostatic charge from the photoconductive material, leaving a positively charged image. This image is made up of tiny dots, called pixels.
Then, the drum is rolled through a toner cartridge, which contains a fine powder made up of pigment particles and plastic resin. The positively charged areas on the drum attract the negatively charged toner particles, causing them to stick to the drum and form the image.
Finally, a sheet of paper is fed into the printer, and a transfer roller applies a positive charge to the back of the paper. The paper is then rolled against the drum, transferring the toner image onto the paper. A fuser unit then heats and presses the toner onto the paper, creating a permanent print.
Overall, laser printers are known for their high-quality output, fast print speeds, and low cost per page. They are commonly used in offices and other professional settings where high-quality and high-volume printing is required.
