Why Are Inkjet Printers So Widely Used?

Inkjets are the most popular form of printer today. They operate by expelling droplets of ink onto paper to create a digital image. The idea of inkjet printing was first developed in the 19th century but it was only in the 1970s that they began producing digital images. All of the major printer manufacturers, including Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Canon and Lexmark now have their own versions of inkjets. Inkjet printers have many advantages for the user, but first let’s look briefly at the two main varieties available: thermal and piezoelectric.

The largest percentage of inkjet printers used today are thermal inkjet. All those made by Canon, HP and Lexmark are of this variety. They work using a heating element within the ink reservoir that has a tiny metal plate. A signal from the printer will send a current through the plate to make it warm and the ink will then form a bubble inside the nozzle. Eventually a droplet of ink will be forced out of the ink cartridge.

Piezoelectric inkjet technology was developed by the Japanese manufacturer Epson and all its printers still use this system today. This uses a piezoelectric crystal in each ink cartridge nozzle. Piezoelectricity is a charge that occurs in some solid materials in response to mechanical stress. When a stress, or current, is applied to the crystal it changes its size, which forces a drop of ink from the nozzle.

Whichever type of inkjet printer is used, they offer an advantage in offices or home studies owing to the relatively small amount of space they take up compared to alternatives such as laser printers. This is because, whilst laser printers need large rollers, drums and toner areas, inkjet printers simply need replaceable ink cartridges. It means that there is still space in the office environment to incorporate other necessary appliances such as fax machines, scanners or photocopiers.

Inkjet printers are also able to offer a consistently high level of printing quality, particularly when it comes to colour printing. This is because they can operate slowly if the job requires it, which gives a great deal of precision and accuracy. They also have a great deal of flexibility in terms of colour variety as they can mix inks during the printing process.

Lastly, inkjet printers offer an advantage in terms of convenience and money saving. If the user wants to they can refill the ink cartridges when they are empty rather than buying entirely new ones. If the user does want to buy replacement cartridges rather than refilling then they can usually be bought at lower prices in bulk online. Either way, they are cheaper to run than laser printers.