Laserprinting - Star Micronics LaserPrinter4 Operation Manual

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Withthis capability,the StarLaserPrinter4 will operatewith a widerange
of applicationsprograms on the market, both old and new. Chapter 7
providesthe informationthat will allow you to use yourprinter with four
popularapplications programs:Lotus1-2-3,WordPerfect, M icrosoftWord,
and MicrosoftWindows.
Chapter8 and9 describethe maintenance andtroubleshooting operationsto
keep your Star LaserPrinter4 workingin "perfect"condition.
1.1 LASERPRINTING
BeforeyoubeginlearningaboutyournewStarLaserPrinter4,youmayfind
it helpfulto know somethingaboutlaser printingitself.
A laser is actually a beam of light of just one wavelength(Laser is an
acronymfor Light Amplificationby StimulatedEmissionof Radiation).
Such a beam of light,describedas "highlycoherent",can be focusedvery
sharply.Lasers,generatedby gases,liquidsor semiconductors, a ~ widely
used in applicationsrangingfrom surgeryto the visualarts.
Laserprintingis a processthat uses a laser beam— in this case,generated
by asemiconductor-to activateportionsof anelectrically chargedsurface.
Theseactivatedparts representthe words,numbers,or graphicsbeingsent
fromthecomputerforprinting.Otherpartsof thepnntertransferthis image
to paper,then clean the surfaceand prepareit to receivemore information
to be printed.
Inotherwords,thisprocessis atypeoflaser-activated temporaryengraving.
In the Star LaserPrinter4, two intercomectedunits producethe complete
printingprocess:the tonercartridgeand the printerbody.
The tonercartridgecontainsthe drum,whichis the rotatingsurface.In the
darknessof the tonercartridge,the drumholdsa negativechargeplacedon
it by the primarycoronawire in the printer.Shutterson the bottomof the
tonercartridgeassurethat no unwantedlightpenetratesits interior.
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