Cheshire Photocopiers – Consistently Cheaper On Price!
We consistently receive phone calls from further a field checking recommendations against more local competitors. Today was another one of those days and I was happy to hear that we are favourable in cost to other suppliers. At Cheshire Photocopiers we are always keen to win new business and our customer base has slowly been increasing over the course of 2010. From our base in Knutsford, we continue to distribute photocopiers, printers and office equipment across Cheshire and the North West.
Our core customer base centres largely around Cheshire, namely Knutsford, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Northwich, Middlewich, Mobberley, Sandbach & Crewe. Through the power of the internet and through personal recommendation, our business is now stretching further across the North West, including key accounts in Chester, Tarporley, Hale, Sale, Altrincham and Handforth.
We offer both new and refurbished copiers and printers, various leasing options and network solutions: supplying leading market names such as Sharp, Konica, Brother, HP, Xerox and Samsung to mention but a few. As representatives for Sharp, we have the added advantage of excellent back-up and support from one of the largest office equipment manufacturers today.
Whilst Cheshire Photocopiers core business remains the sale of photocopiers and printers and the necessary finance, our business offering has now extended to the provision of a full range of office equipment, office furniture, office stationery, PC networking and PC Support. These additions have become available through a network of Partners who share the same high standards as Cheshire Photocopiers.
For more details on how we can help your business contact our sales team on 01565 621 457.
Copier Technician Basics
COPIER TECH BASICS - What is a copier technician?
A copier technician is a technician that repairs the copier. That sounds easy enough. A technician that repairs the copier. This sounds like a very simple trite little saying but it contains so much. Lets unpack or truly define the term copier technician. Wikipedia has an interesting definition. A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert proficiency in technique. As such, technicians are generally much better versed in technique compared to average layman and even general professionals in that field of technology."
Copier Technicians are also often referred to as field engineers. Here is a good working definition of that term. A field engineer is a professional who works at job sites other than the main company office or headquarters. This person often services clients at their homes or businesses. He or she may work in a variety of fields, and can be responsible for installing hardware, servicing a machine, or the maintenance and repair of already-installed products.
Expertise in the area of service, including a strong familiarity with the product, creativity, and problem-solving abilities are all good skills for a field engineer to develop. Since field engineers typically work directly with clients, it can be beneficial to have strong communication skills as well. Good fine motor skills and dexterity are often required. Now what does that mean? It means this. The average copier technician can be considered as one having a practical knowledge of theoretical principles. This means that where as an average person can say there is a problem with the copier. A copier technician can define the problem. This also means that if an engineer can define the location of the problem then the copier technician can fix it.
What skills are required to be a copier technician?
If you are in high school and reading this then lets deal with the starting point of what will help you as a technician. Copier technicians are great puzzle solvers. This means any toys or games that involve solving puzzles is great help in developing the mental processes necessary to solve copier problems. Puzzles such as sudoku, jig saw puzzles, rubics puzzles and the like are good training for copier techs. Video games are also good training. If its an rts... this teaches you process... if its an srpg... this teaches management of resources. if its a sim... this teaches you relationships... Its also good to be mechanically inclined. that means you are the individual who would rather fix a computer problem than pay to have it done or cook a meal instead of buying it.
Now what kind of degree is required. To be honest none really but most companies are looking for an A+. An A+ means that you understand how computers work and you are familiar enough with them that you have taken an industry standard test that proves it. There is also the comptia pdi+ This is a straight out basic copier training that says you know the basics. Its also good if you have network background. A comptia n+ certification would also be something good to have. Concerning in service certifications and trainings from the manufacturer, these are generally provided by the dealer who employs you. If you get enough of these then you are generally very proficient at what you do and can really coast around from job to job but as with anything else you mileage will vary.
Learning basic copier theory.
If you have an old fax machine then you have enough to learn basic copier and printer theory and troubleshooting. Why? Well most fax comes with basic copying and printing capabilities and its a cheap way to learn.
- 1st. lets deal with paper path.
- Paper is fed from the trays or the input section
- it then travels by the drum where it recieves an image and then it goes to the fuser where that image is burned in. the paper then exits the copier and is picked up by the end user.
- lets say there is a paper jam.
- your fist step is to find out where the paper is stopping.
- once you know that then you have to see if its being blocked by a paperclip... a lose part or poor roller contact or a a broken gear.
- next lets deal with image problems
- in general the fax takes a picture of the image and then turns that image into electronic signals and then shoots them over to the drum where it is changes from a set of electronic signals into a text and images on paper.
lets start with lines on copies...
- do an internal print like meter report or a status report. then do a copy job. if you see lines on the copies but not the prints then the part that takes the picture is bad or possibly dirty. if there are lines on the prints but not the copies then the issue is with the original or there is an internal memory problem. if there are lines on both then you might have a dirty camera or laser or fuser.
- if the fax is making grinding noises there is a cracked or broken gear. if the fax is not turning on then check the switch the outlet it is plugged into... if fax still not turning on then test the power cable with a continuity test. if still not turning on then test the power supply... if still not turning on then goto the service manual
- if service manual not useful then check the manufacturer service line
- if manufacturer service line not helpful then check the tech forums
- if tech forums not helpful then Google the problem.
- if parts are broken check the parts manual and order.
- if unable to find parts then Google the part and order.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONSULT THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
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NORMAN DAVIS Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Norman_Davis |
“Photocopier Sickness” – How Photocopiers Can Affect Health
It's a little known fact that photocopiers can affect health. The increasingly sleek plastic exteriors and the ever-expanding level of functionality on photocopiers, hide for many what is in fact a potentially risky, high temperature chemical process taking place every time a page is printed. The electrostatic reactions which are at the heart of what a photocopier does, produce ozone, a type of oxygen molecule known to be harmful to human health. Toners may contain chemicals such as carbon black which are also hazardous and toner dust, whatever its composition, can be a respiratory irritant and is generally classified as a 'nuisance' substance. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) may also be emitted in the photocopying process, exposure to which is harmful. But modern photocopiers are by no means a 'death trap'. With the right equipment, maintenance and adequate ventilation, photocopiers shouldn't pose any significant health risks. Having said that, the safety of a photocopier should never be seen as a taken-for-granted fact. If devices are left unmonitored, misplaced or poorly maintained, they can pose a health risk, bellying the image many of us have of them as unshakeable office workhorses. This article aims to outline the potential health risks of photocopiers and what can be done to keep your office environment as safe as possible.
Ozone
Ozone is a naturally occurring gas produced by the rays of the sun and by lighting. In basic scientific terms, it is an oxygen molecule composed of three oxygen atoms - O3. It is present in the air at typical concentrations of between 0.002 and 0.05 parts per million (ppm). Ozone is also produced by many devices which involve electrostatic processes, such as in the motors of household hoovers or in the processes that take place on the drums of many photocopiers. Ozone decomposes relatively quickly into oxygen, given that it decomposes by half in around five minutes in an office environment. Most countries do impose regulations for occupational exposure to hazardous substances and in Britain the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for ozone is 0.2 ppm.
But even at levels like these and notwithstanding the relatively low half-life of ozone, exposure to the gas, even at apparently safe OEL levels can have some ill effects. Ozone can irritate the eyes nose and throat, even at concentrations of half the OEL. Significantly though, a Danish study a number of years ago showed that ozone levels in the workplace environment could be increased if devices were not correctly maintained (due to increased electrostatic 'sparking') or were in high humidity environments and its harmful effects on health (mice were used in the tests) were more pronounced when ozone would be in contact with certain types of furnishings. At higher concentrations of between 1 and 2 ppm, ozone can cause quite severe headaches, cheat pains and even extreme fatigue.
When buying a photocopier, it's advisable to choose a device from a leading, reputable manufacturer and ensure you choose a respected supplier when it comes to servicing and maintenance. Users should also consult the Product Safety Data Sheets (PSDS) for the photocopier they buy which provide full information of associated risks, siting guidelines and emissions levels. As a rule, photocopiers should be placed in well-ventilated areas where exhausts do not pass over workers and when placed in combination with other devices, an environmental assessment may be necessary to ensure emissions do not exceed safe levels. Most modern do feature air filters and air flow systems which can significantly reduce ozone emissions well below the OEL. Some photocopiers now also feature 'direct charge', which charge the photocopier drum directly and avoid the high voltage air exchange which creates ozone. On photocopiers with higher output speeds it is not always possible to employ 'direct charge' technology, so manufacturers will often supply devices with higher grade 'catalytic' filters rather than the more standard charcoal filters which are typically used.
Regular servicing of photocopiers and photocopier filter changes ensures that internal dust levels do not increase electrostatic activity and result in extra ozone emissions. Again, good ventilation and high quality filters should limit this.
Toner
Toner can be released from photocopier vents and where equipment is poorly maintained, it can back up from the waste compartment and will be emitted from a photocopier in greater amounts. Most toners used in photocopiers today contain few hazardous substances. All substances used in Canon photocopiers toners for instance, have been assured negative in the Ames test, a screening test for carcinogenicity. But toners do often contain amounts of up to 7% carbon black, known to be a nuisance dust which can irritate the skin and airways. If heated in a low oxygen atmosphere, carbon monoxide can be produced from carbon black which can cause headaches, drowsiness, faintness and increased pulse rates. Again regular maintenance of photocopiers and good ventilation would appear to be key.
Other Chemicals
Similar to ozone in its origins and effects, nitrogen oxide is produced when there is a high voltage discharge in the air. In terms of its effects on health, again they are almost identical to carbon monoxide at the lower end of the spectrum causing headaches and an increased pulse rate.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)
During the high temperature fixing process and the charging of materials on the photocopier drum, certain volatile organic compounds may be released. Whilst on modern photocopiers drum coating materials have also been tested for carcinogenicity and found negative on the Ames test, some coatings and their emissions can be an irritant. VOC emissions from older photocopiers where safety standards were not typically so high, have been known to include carcinogens such as decane, benzene and others compounds such as trichloroethane, isocoate, toluene and xylene which can also cause respiratory problems, skin irritations and fatigue. Again, good ventilation, regular photocopier maintenance and high quality filtration systems, where available, are crucial.
While well-maintained, up-to-date photocopiers should not pose health risks when placed correctly, studies have shown that poor photocopier maintenance, high humidity can push ozone levels in particular on some photocopiers to potentially hazardous levels. This is equally true for toner dust emissions and nitrogen oxide where poor maintenance can result in higher than normal discharges. Photocopier safety in recent years has come on a long way. Relatively low output photocopiers have been fitted with direct charge units which practically eliminate ozone gas emissions. Ozone producing photocopiers have been equipped with a much higher standard of filtration units which can significantly cut ozone output as well as other emissions. Efforts to reduce carcinogens mean that now almost all photocopiers feature Ames-negative drum photo-chemicals, so this is now much less of a concern as well.
But for all the considerable value of these advances in safety standards, all that technology can be effectively undermined when care and attention lapses. No matter how advanced the safety features on photocopiers becomes, photocopier buyers/users must always remain aware of the potential safety risks. Placement, ventilation and regular maintenance are absolutely key and in larger deployments or placement in more confined poorly ventilated areas, professional environmental assessments may be advisable.
For further information on photocopier safety, contact any accredited Canon Business Solution Partner.
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Clive Gilbert is a leading document imaging technology consultant and writer, covering all the latest developments in the field of photocopiers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clive_Gilbert |
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Comparison Between Canon and Xerox Photocopiers
With so many photocopier brands available in the market, picking the best one for yourself becomes quite difficult. If you are not able to decide whether to go for Canon or Xerox photocopiers, just check out the features offered by both the brands and invest in the one that suits your needs and budget well.
Xerox photocopiers can be easily recognized. These are highly respected equipments from one of the quality companies. Xerox is both trade and brand name. The brand has set the standard of the photocopiers that many people use word Xerox for referring a copy machine. Xerox is one of the oldest companies that have been producing fine quality photocopiers.
Quick initial page out technology makes Xerox a popular brand when it comes to photocopiers. In case you have ever used a big photocopier, you would know the amount of time it takes for warming up, for scanning the document and then printing it. It takes a long time for the first page to appear in big photocopiers but Xerox Photocopiers like Phaser have latest technology that offers first page within 5 seconds. The company understands the need of efficiency in the official operations.
Other features that are offered by Xerox Photo copy machines are that of trouble shooting and included software, which other companies offer at an additional price. The best part about buying the Xerox Photocopier is that you will not have a hard time finding technician to fix it as the brand has been around for a long time now. Lesser use of electricity, affordable prices and lesser ink wastage make Xerox Photocopy machines popular.
Canon photocopiers on the other hand are also from trusted and recognized brand of photocopiers. This brand offers solutions from the simple desktop copiers to the high-end multifunction machines that incorporate variety of functions including scanners features, fax machine and printer features in one box. Canon also offers industrial speed photocopy machines that are used by publishing and printing machines too.
Before you pick a canon photocopier for your use, you need to check out your requirements. Find out if you are looking for speed of printing and copying, amount of photo copies, types and sizes of paper and also the cost of photocopiers. If you have a limited budget, you can go for used photocopiers. Look online and find used photocopiers by various brands. You will not have difficulty in buying a photocopier after being acquainted with different features offered by both the companies.
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Know about photocopiers and latest color printers Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aditi_Malhotra |
Cheshire & North West Customer Base Is Expanding
Despite the economic climate, Cheshire Photocopiers customer base has slowly been expanding over the course of 2010. From our base in Knutsford, we continue to distribute photocopiers, printers and office equipment across Cheshire and the North West.
Our core customer base centres largely around Cheshire, namely Knutsford, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Northwich, Middlewich, Mobberley, Sandbach & Crewe. Through word of mouth, our business is now reaching further across the North West, including key accounts in Tarporley, Chester, Hale, Altrincham, Sale and Handforth.
Cheshire Photocopiers business offering has now extended from photocopier sales, printer sales and lease arrangements to the provision of a full range of office equipment, office furniture, office stationery, PC networking and PC Support. These additions have become available through a network of Partners who share the same high standards as Cheshire Photocopiers.
For more details on how we can help your business contact our sales team on 01565 621 457.
How Photocopier Leasing Is Working for Business
It was reported back in 2009 how the recession, which had then been biting for over a year, had been affecting the photocopiers industry. As one might have expected, photocopier sales were down but what was really interesting was the pattern of business that was emerging with the changing economic conditions. Photocopiers suppliers were witnessing a noticeable shift in business away from outright purchase of towards leasing. In fact, leasing levels in 2009 reached a new high of 61.9%, having been hovering around the mid-50's for several years previously. Well, the link between photocopier leasing and the recession seems even more tangible looking at the figures for 2010 - as much of 80% of new business last year came from photocopier lease customers. Here we'll examine why it is copier rental seems to have been working so well for UK businesses during the tougher economic times and what businesses looking for new photocopiers can expect from agreements.
A Dramatic Rise in Photocopier Lease Volumes
Photocopier leasing levels have been consistently growing since the start of the recession in 2008. From an almost even split between purchases and leases in previous years, 2009 saw photocopier leasing increase to over 60%. Falcon reported at the time that both the recession as well as the way photocopier companies had begun to respond to it, had been attracting a much greater proportion of customers to lease photocopiers rather than buy them outright. Well, with the economic situation not improving in 2010, that tendency on the part of customers towards photocopier leasing was even more pronounced. Across 2010, Falcon saw an average 75% of new business coming from customers looking to lease devices, as against 25% preferring to buy outright.
Why Are So Many Businesses Leasing Photocopiers?
Leasing photocopiers rather than buying outright has a number of advantages, many of which seem even more attractive to businesses as their economic fortunes become increasingly tenuous:
- Firstly, it offers businesses the chance to avoid any up-front payment. With the latest photocopiers costing as much as £10,000 or more, leasing doesn't require the initial cash (or perhaps credit) input that outright purchase would.
- Terms can be tailored to customer requirements, shorter or longer, as is needed, businesses never pay anything for photocopiers outside of the time they've agreed to lease.
- Leasing provides businesses with the opportunity to keep up-to-date with the latest technology and switch to newer technologies at the end of a term.
- With a lease agreement, businesses are often able to choose all-inclusive packages which can cover everything but the paper - that's toner, parts, maintenance and servicing and ensuring proper integration of photocopiers into back-end systems and networks upon installation.
Obviously, as cash flow for many businesses isn't what it was, the big advantage pf photocopier leasing is avoiding what could now seem almost punishing up-front costs. But significantly, more businesses that would not have been able to consider either photocopier leasing or photocopier purchases before the recession are now finding the structure of 'new style' photocopier leasing agreements is enabling them to lease photocopiers. Many photocopiers suppliers have responded to the recession by helping to improve access for businesses which might not have been able to risk photocopier leasing beforehand. Shorter typical lease terms, mean lower total outlay and also lower future financial commitment. Planning for the future has almost become an impossibility for businesses, so this sort of arrangement which minimises their exposure and also in fact accentuates some of the benefits, such as an even greater ability to take advantage of improvements in technology as they occur, provides businesses with much greater control. As well as the more flexible structuring of agreements, suppliers of photocopiers, aware of the growing difficulties for businesses as far as securing credit is concerned are providing added assistance to prospective customers to help ensure leases are approved by lease financers.
Since the dawn of the present recession back in 2008, suppliers of photocopiers have been witnessing unprecedented levels of leasing customers. Part of this growth is undoubtedly purely-and-simply a consequence of the financial circumstances many businesses have found themselves in. Lower business levels mean much-reduced cash flow and outright purchases on the scale of photocopiers become an impossibility. The contraction of credit from lenders, in spite of the lowest interest rates in a generation, means borrowing is not an option either. But besides this almost 'default' movement away from purchase, suppliers of photocopiers themselves have been highly responsive to prospective customer requirements reducing the duration of terms and assisting customers in being approved for lease finance.
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Falcon, as one of the UK's leading photocopiers suppliers, hopes the industry will continue assist businesses in their ongoing drive for maximum efficiency and economy in the office. Jeremy Samson is a leading imaging technology writing, covering all the latest developments in the document management industry. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Samson |
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Copier Printer Scanner Features – Terms and Accessories
The copier printer all in one industry has changed over the past three years. What use to be options now comes standard accessories on many copier models. If you plant to lease a copier or purchase a copier printer all in one it's important to know the features and what you actually need for your office equipment. What is an ADF or DADF (automatic documents feeder)? The ADF or DADF sits on the top of the copier printer scanner and gives you the ability to automatically feed a stack of papers to copy, fax out or scan to computer. Some brands of copiers still call this an option. However, a machine never goes out the door without this. Usually the feeder allows up to 50 pages (some up to 100 pages) at one time on your digital copier or multifunction printer.
What does digital sorting mean on Canon, sharp and Ricoh Copiers (other brands too)? All brands of color copiers and multifunction copiers for the past 5 years provide digital sorting without using an external optional mailbox finisher. Digital sorting means each copy, print or fax job is "offset" from the previous one (shifted side to side). This feature does not limit the number of document sets your copier can sort. If you had an optional external copier mailbox finisher then you are limited to the number of slots. What is a duplex unit? The duplex unit gives your digital copier the ability to do two sided printing and copying. It's an option on some brands. However the more recent models (3 years old or less) it's standard. On business class copiers (Canons, Sharp, Ricoh, Kyocera and other models) you can do two sided to one side, one to two, two to four copying and printing using the menu keys.
What are the paper Drawers options? All business class copier printer scanners come with two paper drawers. The lower end personal copiers usually come with one drawer. Each paper drawer "cassette" handles several size papers from A4 up to 11 x 17. Most of the current models can handle sizes A4 to Legal. Most mid-range digital copier's drawers handle paper up to 11 x 17 size pages. Paper Cassette Drawer Options include: Additional paper drawers (feeders) up to 3,000 pages on some models of copiers. The typical optional copier paper drawers handle 500 sheets of paper. If you are using heavy paper stock you may need to use a bypass tray on your laser printer copier. Are the copier printers green by saving on electricity? Energy compliant power save mode is a standard feature on most recent model digital copier scanners. Due to pressure from governments, end user and marketing professionals, power save mode is here to stay. Basically the color copier printer will put itself in a lower power usage stage waiting for printer copier jobs to process. Once it receives a job it powers back up quickly. This reduces electrical expenses and saves you money.
Do all copier scanners come with the fax option? Usually this is an option not a standard copier scanner accessory. This copier all in one option gives you the ability to send and received faxes. Plus, with most brands of photocopiers you get fax to email and fax to computers. If you have a network it will require the setting of mail boxes and installation of software of each computer. What are the security and client tracking or billing features? Lawyers are great at this. They charge their clients for every piece of paper produced on their printer copier scanner. One way they track the actual number of pages produce is through the digital photocopiers security measures. Most machines have the ability to assign access codes. You can assign a copier access code for each employee, client or department. Once setup you have to input a security code before a job will print or copy on the all in one printers.
At the end of the billing period just print an access report to get the total pages copied or printed by each access code. Not Sure What You need? Ask questions! If your sales person is all hype and no meat then go someplace else. Color printer copier features and options are designed for a specific purpose. Do not assume the digital copier scanner will do what you want. Ask for the specification sheet.
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Want more information contact me through our blog at Advanced Business Computers Inc. If you need help determining the best copier or printer then go to the copier printer help form (see above link). To get more information check out http://www.abctechsolutions.com. Advanced Business Computers, Inc. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Klein |
The Convenience of a Photocopier in Your Office
Photocopiers are a staple part of every office. They are extremely important because they are imperative for the everyday functions of an office. But why is a photocopier so important and convenient to have in the office?
Firstly, we have to look at the functions of photocopiers. Photocopiers are not simple machines; they are able to perform a variety of functions. Firstly, they are able to make exact copies of documents. In this manner, they are extremely useful. It is very common in the workplace for people to need to make copies of documents, so a photocopier most certainly comes in handy for this. It is also easier to make a lot of copies with a photocopier than it is to print a large number of documents out of a computer printer. Therefore, a photocopier takes a lot of hassle out of printing numerous amounts of documents.
Another great thing about photocopiers is that you can alter the style of the copy you are making. Photocopiers are able to resize and restructure the layout of the document being photocopied. Therefore, if you have the right photocopier, you can greatly enlarge a document or picture using the machine. In this way, photocopiers are extremely useful for important presentations. In the reverse, you may also use photocopiers to reduce image sizes. This works if you want to copy something multiple times on a piece of paper.
The great thing about photocopiers is that they can be easily made to collage certain documents. You will be better able to organise bulk bundles of paper, as they land excellently in the receiving tray of the photocopier.
In many ways it is extremely convenient having a photocopier in your office since it increases productivity time. Employees will not have to run out to nearby post offices and other printing places for their photocopying needs. In addition to this, a lot of photocopiers also have a great scanning facility. This means that you can send any document scanned through the copier to your computer. This makes it easier to email important things. A lot of photocopiers have a fax function, if you purchase the right one. This means that you can fax documents to other people at any given time. Naturally, this creates a whole new level of harmony with regards to communications and the like.
Photocopiers are very convenient because they are also more cost effective. A photocopier that copies, scans and faxes will save a business a lot of money with regards to printing costs, and also transport costs if employees had to previously leave the business premises to make photocopies or scans.
To conclude, it is very easy to see why photocopiers are convenient and useful in an office environment. It is tough to visit an office without seeing a queue of people or at least one person in line to use the photocopier. It is easy to find the right photocopier for your business, and there are even companies that will help you with a deal regarding that they will offer you monthly repayment deals.
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For the best photocopier solutions for your company visit http://www.pananet.co.za. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Tetluk |
Where Would Businesses Be Without the Printer and Copier?
Like many pieces of machinery that have become part of our lives we tend to take the office photocopier for granted.
Photocopiers that produce a reasonable quality print were only developed just over 70 years ago and the man who invented the concept of electro photography was someone who was fascinated with new concepts and ideas.
That man was Chester F Carlson and, yes, he was an American. He worked as a part time researcher, inventor and patent attorney in the patent office in New York, a job that meant he had to make a large number of copies of important documents.
Usually this would be done by typists on manual typewriters and using carbon paper to make copies. But there was a limit to how many legible copies could be produced in one go since the process depends on the typewriters' metal letter keys making a strong enough impression through several sheets of paper with carbon-coated sheets in between each and thus transfer the image clearly.
It was a tedious process and Carlson quickly discovered that there were never as many copies of the documents available as he needed.
Inevitably, given his background, he started looking for a more effective method of making copies.
From boyhood Carlson was fascinated with getting new knowledge and said of himself as a boy that he had turned toward interests "of my own devising, making things, experimenting, and planning for the future"
He said he idea of making an invention appealed to him as a means to improve one's economic status. But he was equally interested in technology and in making a contribition to society.
It may be also that his childhood situation influenced this outlook. He is known as a schoolboy to have published a chemical magazine to support his invalid parents.
But his education and subsequent career do underline an innate curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.
His achievements include working as a research engineer at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York and also achieving two degrees, one in Law in 1939 from the New York Law School and the second in physics from Caltech.
During his career he received 34 U.S. patents, of which 28 relate to electro photography, the technology that is the basis of the photocopier. Carlson also established the Chester F. The Carlson Centre for Imaging Science and the Chester F. Carlson Award to recognize outstanding work in the science or technology of electro photography.
He realised that his search for an office machine that could copy documents without a typist having to laboriously produce copies, that would then have to be proof read and corrected, would depend on document reproduction using light-reflecting properties.
In 1938 his first experiments resulted in a successful copy - made by laying an image on a glass microscope slide, then laid on a zinc plate coated with sulphur, whose surface was rubbed vigorously to create an electrostatic charge. Then the room was darkened and the strongest light that could be found was shone onto the surface.
The result was a success, though hardly something that could be regularly used in a busy office. But it was to be another 15 years before any company was willing to take the risk of developing this untried new technology and eventually in 1944 he signed an agreement with the Battelle Development Corporation, an organisation that sponsored new inventions.
Two years later, a company called The Haloid Company (now Xerox Corporation) got in touch with Carlson, a patent licence was obtained and in 1948 the first commercial xerographic equipment was developed and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers Firstcopy, Cambridge, UK supplies a range of sophisticated printers and copiers essential to businesses throughout East Anglia. Ali Withers traces the history of the printer/copier. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ali_Withers |
iPad Killed the Photocopier
Not since the IBM PC was developed has a computer hit the market that can change the way we view the world. While people talk about Apple's Tablet PC, the iPad, being a competitor to the notebook, there are larger implications. The iPad is the first computer that can change the way we view documents. It combines the visual appeal of print and the interaction of the web together in a way no product has done before. The iPad is the first step into a paperless world where all documents are viewed as data.
In the first 28 days since its release, Apple sold one million iPads. This figure is even higher than iPhone sales when it was launched. The iPad succeeds where previous products such as Amazon Kindle have failed, but it was not greeted with universal approval when launched. "Isn't it just a big iPhone?" was the most common remark, whilst others tagged it 'iLAME'. The popular Dom Jolly mobile phone sketch has even been recreated, using the iPad. The iPad name, which Apple purchased from Fujitsu, has also been the butt of jokes on twitter, where users made fun of its resemblance to a feminine hygiene product. One twitter user posted "I am already going through 4 - 5 iPads a day due to my heavy workflow". However, Apple have a loyal following in desktop publishing with the Steve Jobs/Jef Raskin Apple Mac, and the iPad appears to be exactly what Apple fans have been waiting for.
The tablet PC has been around for a while. Bill Gates's Microsoft made the term popular in 2001 when it launched Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. HP-Compaq developed the TC1100 series. In 2007 Axiotron produced a Modbook, this was a heavily modified Apple MacBook Tablet. Frontpath manufactured a Linux based tablet called the ProGear.
The iPad is the start of a new era that will see the transition from Print to Pixels, bringing the worlds of print and web publishing together. Impressive pages can now be created using interaction, animation and video streaming. Typography and design will no longer be compromised. Notebooks don't offer the same portability of the iPad, and the iPad is the best in the field for screen based reading.
Printers and Photocopiers could become a thing of the past in a few years with less and less output to paper. Magazines, books and newspapers are set to be reinvented online. By changing how we read documents, Apple have created the next big hardware battle. Already Chinese manufactured iPad clones, working on Google's Android Software, have started to appear. Microsoft Courier is set for release soon, a 7 inch dual screen booklet that will see Microsoft making further strides into hardware manufacture following on from Zune and Xbox.
The battle for the Screen Based Reader audience is unlikely to be defined by the operating system but by the hardware itself. Imagine a iPad that is wafer thin and you can roll up and put in your back pocket like a magazine. That is what the future holds.
Flexible display technology is close to production with a team in Ireland close to a touch screen prototype. Samsung unveiled their 7 inch flexible LCD screen in 2005 and Fujitsu have a 3.8 inch flexible LCD panel that does not require a power supply. Ultimately, it's the flexible screen technology in the near future that will see users finally turn away from paper based publishing. Apple have won 'round one' of the screen based reader and have brought their product to market before Microsoft's Courier, but this hardware battle has a long way to run. Google have already produced the Nexus One, an internet mobile dubbed the Google Phone, and the Android operating system may yet enter into screen based readers as well. Amazon potentially have the most to lose if the iPad continues to grow, with Apple's iBooks directly competing with another part of their core business, following the success of iTunes, so presence in the screen reader market will be essential for Amazon.
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Jennifer Robinson writes for Online Connect, suppliers of document management and photocopiers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_E_Robinson |