| igital photocopier technology has replaced the | | | | than your original document. |
| analog photocopier in the workplace. Staff are no | | | | The Technical Stuff |
| longer queuing in the copy room to reproduce | | | | Inside your digital photocopier is a photoreceptor, |
| their documents, they request a lot of their | | | | this is a light sensitive surface consisting of a layer |
| copying and printing from the comfort of their | | | | of photoconductive material that is attached to a |
| office chair! The advanced digital technology is | | | | drum. In the dark the photoreceptor in insulating |
| better for the environment than old, analog | | | | but expose it to light and it becomes conducting. |
| machines and they are easier to maintain and | | | | High voltage produces an electrical field near |
| repair. Combining the functions of a photocopier, | | | | adjacent wires causing ionisation and create an |
| laser printer, a scanner and a fax machine the | | | | electric field across the photoreceptor. |
| digital photocopier has claimed a valuable place in | | | | The image is scanned by a laser or a diode image |
| the office where one machine has replaced | | | | bar, the areas of the photoreceptor that are |
| several. A digital photocopier is a wise investment | | | | exposed to the light are discharged causing a |
| for any workplace. | | | | reduction in the electric field. The darker areas |
| Old school, or analog (Xerography), photocopiers | | | | retain charge. |
| work by combining a positively charged drum and | | | | Toner is the powder used to develop the image. |
| negatively charged substance called toner to | | | | Toner is composed of colourant and plastic resin, |
| reproduce the image of the original document. | | | | the particles have electrostatic properties. |
| The original document would have to be | | | | Magnetised carrier beads transport the toner to |
| rescanned for each copy required. Digital | | | | the development area where they are charged |
| photocopiers scan the original document once and | | | | by static electricity (triboelectricity). The |
| store the data as a file on its hard drive so the | | | | photoreceptor sends a electrostatic force to the |
| document can be reprinted easily and it can even | | | | charged toner, this causes the toner to 'stick' to |
| be changed. | | | | the image. |
| The printing function of the digital photocopier is | | | | The image is transferred to paper by the toner |
| very like a modern laser printer. The printer | | | | coming in contact with paper and applying a polar |
| efficiently memorises the document scanned and | | | | charge opposite to that of the toner. A second |
| creates the page in the raster memory. Through | | | | charge releases the paper from the |
| lenses and mirrors, a laser reproduces the image | | | | photoreceptor, the image is now on the paper. |
| on paper, which is then made visible through toner | | | | To fuse the image the toner comprising the |
| with an opposite charge. | | | | image is melted and stuck to the paper. This is |
| Image quality is usually considerably higher on a | | | | achieved by passing the paper through rollers. A |
| digital copier than an analog model. The advanced | | | | heated roll melts the toner, which is fused to the |
| scanning technology means that duplicates can be | | | | paper with the assistance of pressure from the |
| indistinguishable from the original document. If the | | | | second roller. |
| original document is not clear or faded, digital | | | | The advanced capabilities of a digital photocopier |
| copiers have facilities that enable you to change | | | | make them faster, quieter and produce better |
| the intensity for the copies resulting in your | | | | quality reproductions than traditional, analog |
| duplicates being of a far more superior quality | | | | photocopiers. |