How output devices work
Inkjet Printers
Photo Printing Technology for Optimal Quality and Speed
Inkjet printers, which enable almost anyone to easily create high-quality photo prints, are an integration of precision technologies, including those for ink and print heads. Canon's ability to combine component technologies has elevated the quality of inkjet printers to new heights.
How an Inkjet Printer Works
In Canon's unique Bubble Jet technology, a heater is used to create bubbles in the ink, which cause the ejection of microscopic ink droplets, creating an image on paper. The ejection of ink onto the paper is controlled by a print head mounted inside the carriage. The head moves perpendicularly across the paper as it prints. High resolution printing necessitates nanoprecision control and accurate paper transport, requiring advanced precision technologies.
Large-Format Inkjet Printers
Enabling the High-Speed Production of High-Definition Extra-Large Posters and Maps
The wide print heads used in large-format inkjet printers were developed based on FINE print head technology. High-definition, high-speed printing on large-scale media is used in a wide range of applications, including artwork to adorn walls and architectural CAD.
How a Large-Format Inkjet Printer Works
Using the same principle as a conventional inkjet printer, a heater causes bubbles to form in the ink, ejecting microscopic ink droplets to print on large-format media. Large-volume data, such as A0-sized documents, is temporarily stored in the printer's high-capacity HDD and analyzed by the image processor. The amount of ink ejected by the print head, and its ejection position, is controlled to the micron level, resulting in fast, high-resolution printing.
Commercial Photo Printers
The Culmination of Printer Technologies Providing Both High Image Quality and High Productivity
Canon's DreamLabo commercial photo printer, newly developed for the retail photo industry, employs a variety of printer technologies made possible by Canon's extensive product development ranging from consumer-use inkjet printers to commercial digital multifunction printers.
How a Commercial Photo Printer Works
The DreamLabo contains specialized print head technology capable of printing materials 12 inches (approx. 30 cm) wide, different from consumer-use inkjet printers. With a single pass of the printing paper while the print head remains in a fixed position, the DreamLabo makes possible high-speed printing. In order to achieve the high productivity required of professional printing equipment, DreamLabo uses a Double Paper Magazine System, which eliminates downtime to refill paper rolls, and a system preventing ink from running out.
Laser Printers/Laser Multifunction Printers
Electrophotographic Technology Meets Needs for Smaller, Slimmer Printers
To meet the demands of the times, Canon continues to develop laser printer/laser multifunction printer(MFP) products while striving not only to improve such basic performance aspects as image quality, speed, and ease of use, but also providing network compatibility, extensibility, and eco-friendly performance.
How a Laser Printer/Laser Multifunction Printer Works
Lasers draw printing images on static charged photosensitive drums inside their cartridges. Toner is then brought in proximity to the photosensitive drum, and it adheres to the parts of the drum which have had their static charge removed by the laser. After the toner has been transferred to the paper, it is heated, and the fixing roller is used to fix the toner to the paper. In color printing, four colors are placed on the intermediate transfer belt and transferred, overlapping, to the paper.
- High definition video can be viewed in the Canon Premium Library.
- Canon Premium Library: All-in-One Toner Cartridges (CG)
Office Multifunction Devices
Combining Advanced Technologies to Make Office Work Easier
Multifunction Devices(MFDs) perform multiple office imaging tasks, such as input, output, storage, and transmission of documents. They feature Canon's cutting-edge technologies, such as its advanced network, document processing, and software technologies.
How an Office Multifunction Device Works
Canon's dedicated Advanced iR Controller processor performs image and information processing, and is capable of simultaneous multitask processing of multiple printing and image scanning jobs. When printing, the laser unit uses laser light to paint the image to be printed on the photosensitive drum, based on commands from the Advanced iR Controller. Toner is then applied, and the toner is transferred to paper. The fix unit then fixes the toner to the paper.
- High definition video can be viewed in the Canon Premium Library.
- Canon Premium Library: Network Digital Multifunction Devices
Digital Production Printing Systems
Digital Imaging Technology to Satisfy Demanding Professionals
The imagePRESS Digital Production Printing System is Canon's first color on-demand printer for professional use. The imagePRESS achieves outstanding high-definition printout that approaches offset quality, and delivers high productivity and excellent durability and reliability for short run length print jobs.
How a Digital Production Printing System Works
The imagePRESS digital production printing system provides the functions needed by professional color on-demand printers. Laser light is used to paint the image to be printed on the photosensitive drum, based on commands from the iPR Controller. Toner that adheres to the image is then transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. High-precision positioning control is used to transfer the toner to the paper, and the fixing unit fixes it to the paper. The intermediate transfer belt is elastic, making high-resolution output possible even to media with an uneven surface.
Multimedia Projectors
Canon's Proprietary Optical System Achieves Image Quality Rivaling that of a Movie Theater
Multimedia projectors are continually evolving to produce clearer, brighter images, used in theaters and bright places. Canon has developed the LCOS reflective liquid crystal panel and the AISYS optical system, focused on further improving image quality.
How a Multimedia Projector Works
Light from the illumination lamp is separated into the three primary colors of red, green and blue, guided to the respective LCOS panel for each color, reflecting only the amount of light necessary for image output, and then combined and enlarged through the system's lens for projection on a screen.
- How the product's core technology was developed:
- How the product's core technology was developed:
- Interview with developers:
