Impact Printers 3.7

Impact Printer

Introduced in the 1970s and 80s; still in production; uses physical striking to print.

Impact Printer Mechanism

Works by physically striking the printhead to the print surface, similar to a typewriter.

Electromagnetic Impulse

Enables a small hammer to strike the printhead when data is received.

Character-style Printhead

Prints fully formed characters; includes daisy wheel and ball-style printers.

Dot Matrix Printhead

Uses a grid of pins to form characters and limited graphics; faster than character-style.

Line Matrix Printer

Prints an entire line at a time using a comb-like printhead with 132 pins; very fast.

Daisy Wheel Printer

Printhead with spokes, each having a character; rotates to position and strikes to print.

Ball-style Printer

Printhead shaped like a ball with characters; rotates and strikes to print; interchangeable fonts.

Dot Matrix Printer

Best-known impact printer; uses pins to form characters; print quality ranges from 100 to 400 dpi.

9-pin Printhead

Common configuration for dot matrix printers; forms characters with 9 pins.

24-48 pin Printhead

Higher quality printheads; fill in gaps between dots for better print quality.

Line Matrix Printer

Fastest impact printer; prints full lines at a time; used in industrial environments.

Comb Printhead

Contains 132 pins; each can print independently; allows for high-speed printing.

LPT

Line Printer; legacy term used in many operating systems.

Printhead

Physically strikes the inked ribbon and paper; mounted on a carriage assembly.

Reusable Ribbon

Made of cloth or nylon soaked in ink; advances between spools; reverses when reaching end.

Cartridge Ribbon

Newer system; simplifies replacement; may use carbon film on thin plastic.

Platen

Hard rubber roller that holds the paper and provides a surface for the printhead to strike.

Tractor Feed

Uses sprockets to feed paper with perforated edges; ensures consistent paper alignment.

Multipart Forms

Ideal for printing multi-part forms with carbon or carbonless paper.

Media Flexibility

Can print on various media types, including labels, cardstock, and cloth.

Barcode Printing

Unmatched capability for printing barcodes compared to laser or inkjet printers.

Continuous Paper

Supports continuous scrolls of paper; ideal for data logging.

Cost

Long lifespan (7–10 years); low energy usage; affordable consumables.

Performance

Line matrix printers can print up to 3,000 lines per minute.

Operations

Does well in harsh environments; less maintenance required; ribbons don't dry out quickly.

Replace Printhead

When worn out; usually modular and easy to change.

Replace Ribbon

When print becomes too light; ensure correct ribbon type for printer model.

Replace Paper

Align sprockets with paper holes; run test pages to check alignment and print quality.

Impact Printer Multipart Paper

Paper designed for impact printers that creates multiple copies by using carbonless or carbon paper layers.

Purpose of Multipart Paper

Allows simultaneous printing of multiple copies without separate print passes.

How Multipart Paper Works

Pressure from the impact print head transfers ink through the layers to create duplicates.

Carbonless Copying

Uses micro-encapsulated ink on the back of the first sheet and a clay surface on the second sheet; impact activates the ink and clay to produce copies.

One Pass Printing

One pass through the printer creates multiple copies by duplicating the impact from the top sheet onto the pages underneath.

Health Considerations

Chemicals in carbonless paper can cause irritation to some people due to the inks and clays used.

Organizational Trends

Many organizations print additional copies instead of using multipart paper because it’s harder to find and manage.

Cost and Management

Carbonless paper is less expensive and easier to manage than traditional multipart paper.

Printer Compatibility

Impact printers (dot matrix, daisy wheel) support multipart paper; laser or inkjet printers generally do not.

Popularity Note

Dot matrix printer use is declining, so alternative printing methods are becoming more common.

Common Use Cases

Used in invoices, receipts, and forms where duplicate or triplicate copies are needed instantly.

Advantages of Multipart Paper

Reduces manual copying, speeds up documentation, and provides immediate duplicates.

Types of Multipart Paper

Carbon paper (requires separate sheet) and carbonless paper (chemically treated to transfer ink).

Considerations

Ensure proper alignment and stacking to avoid print errors or smudging.