Often we are amazed by how a photocopier or copier can duplicate so many documents quickly and accurately. Makes us want to open the contents that are in it.
How to use a copier can sometimes seem easy. To make it easier to understand how a copier works, let’s discuss its components one by one:
1. Photoreceptor Drum
Inside the copier is a special drum. This drum has a very similar function to a balloon working with static electricity. The photoreceptor drum is the heart of the system. These drums are basically metal rollers covered by a layer of photoconductive material.
When the drum rotates in the direction the light beam moves across the original, you can create a strip by strip image.
Meanwhile, the previously exposed part of the drum swings into contact with the toner, and then with the paper.
The copier also contains a very fine black powder known as toner. The drum is then charged with static electricity to attract toner particles. The drum actually has to be cleaned, refilled with toner several times in order to fully duplicate the original.
In a copier you make a copy of the image by static electricity on the surface of the drum. On the dark side it will attract toner and on the white it won’t. It is in this dark area that the toner that acts as ink will stick and give color to your white paper.
2. Toner
Toner is a fine powder that is sensitive to static electricity which will stick to the photoreceptor drum and will turn into ink when heated.
When the photoreceptive drum receives negative electricity transmitted by the corona, the toner will be attracted to the coordinates formed by the image captured from the reflector lens.
When an image is formed and captured by the lens, the drum will create a kind of coordinate that guides the flow of static electricity to inhabit the side of the drum.
On the electrified area, the toner will stick, and on the non-energized area, the area will become white.
So that the appropriate duplication is formed and the precision is similar to the document you want. The toner needs to be refilled so you will need to check this section regularly.
3. Corona Cable
The corona cable serves to coat the photoreceptive drum and photocopy paper with a layer of positively charged ions.
For the copier to work, a positive charge field must be generated on the surface of the drum and the copy paper. These tasks are completed by the corona cable. These wires are subjected to a high voltage, which is then transferred to the drum and paper in the form of static electricity.
One of these wires is stretched parallel to the surface of the drum and fills the photoconductive surface with positive ions, and the other wire is positioned to coat the surface of the paper as the paper travels toward the drum.
This section consists of the upper and lower coronas. In the lower corona, this section serves to regulate the entry path of paper when it enters the photoreceptor drum.
The quality of the lower corona also affects the quality of the duplication of your document. This section is located close to the heating area. This part must also be cleaned regularly so that it is not easily damaged.
The next part is the upper corona. This section has a function that is almost similar to the lower corona. Located adjacent to the drum unit for drum balance. This part needs to be kept clean because it can cause the results of the duplication process to be not optimal if it is damaged.
4. Lamp
A device on a photocopier which job is to highlight the document you want to duplicate with very bright ultraviolet light and project it on the lens.
The light that shines on the document will display white and gray reflections which will then be passed on to the drum that captures the shadow.
5. Automatic Document Feeder
Automatic Document Feeder / ADF functions to make it easier for you to duplicate documents without having to open the inner machine. This component will duplicate the document as many times as you want.
6. Paper Tray
This component is a container that is used to temporarily hold paper that will be used as a medium for photocopying. This component is usually located below on one side of the photocopy. So that paper can be stacked more efficiently with less risk of paper falling from the printer exit rack.
7. Duplex
This feature is found in the latest copiers that can copy back and forth automatically. As for old photocopies you have to flip through your documents manually.
Duplex is usually installed inside or outside the copier depending on the brand of copier you are using.