How photocopiers work

The Explained Channel
25 Oct 201602:16

Summary

TLDRThis video explains how a photocopier works in a simple and engaging manner. It describes the key components of a photocopier, including the halogen lamp, photo-sensitive drum, toner, and conveyor belt. The process starts when a document is placed on the glass, and a light beam scans it. This light interacts with the photo-sensitive drum, creating an electrical shadow of the document. The toner is then transferred to this image, and a piece of paper is charged to accept the toner. Finally, heat and pressure from rollers fuse the toner onto the paper, creating a final copy.

Takeaways

  • πŸ˜€ A photocopy machine has key components: a halogen lamp, photo-sensitive drum, toner, and conveyor belt for loading blank papers.
  • πŸ˜€ The process starts by placing a document upside down on the glass and pressing the start button.
  • πŸ˜€ An intense beam of light scans the document from top to bottom, reflecting off the page and falling on the photo-sensitive drum.
  • πŸ˜€ The photo-sensitive drum is made of metal, coated with selenium, and electrostatically charged by a corona wire.
  • πŸ˜€ Selenium acts as an insulator in the dark and becomes conductive when exposed to light, which is key to the photocopying process.
  • πŸ˜€ The reflected light from white areas of the document makes the corresponding areas of the drum conductive, leaving a negatively charged electrical shadow of the document.
  • πŸ˜€ The electrical shadow on the drum attracts toner, which is positively charged, creating an inked image of the document.
  • πŸ˜€ A blank sheet of paper is fed from the hopper and given a strong electrical charge to attract the toner.
  • πŸ˜€ The toner image is transferred from the drum to the paper, completing the copying process.
  • πŸ˜€ The paper passes through hot rollers that apply heat and pressure to fuse the toner onto the paper, ensuring the image sticks.
  • πŸ˜€ The final copy feels warm due to the heat from the rollers, completing the photocopying process.

Q & A

  • What are the main components of a photocopy machine?

    -A photocopy machine has a halogen lamp, a photo-sensitive drum, a toner or ink drum, and a conveyor belt for loading blank papers.

  • How does the photocopier start the copying process?

    -When you place the document upside down on the glass and press the start button, an intense beam of light scans the document from top to bottom.

  • What happens when light is reflected from the document during scanning?

    -The light gets reflected and falls on the photo-sensitive drum, which is key to creating an image of the document.

  • What is the role of the photo-sensitive drum in the photocopying process?

    -The photo-sensitive drum is a metal roller that is electrostatically charged and coated with a photosensitive chemical called selenium. It reacts to light, becoming conductive where the light falls and remaining charged where it does not.

  • Why is the photo-sensitive drum coated with selenium?

    -Selenium is a semiconductor, meaning it acts as an insulator in the dark and conducts electricity when exposed to light, which is crucial for creating the electrical shadow of the document.

  • What is the significance of the corona wire in the photocopying process?

    -The corona wire electrostatically charges the photo-sensitive drum with high voltage, which is necessary for the drum to hold the image of the document.

  • How is the electrical shadow of the document created on the drum?

    -When the light reflects off the document, areas that are exposed to light lose their charge, while areas that are not exposed to light (such as printed text) retain a negative charge, creating an electrical shadow of the document.

  • What role does the toner play in the photocopying process?

    -The toner is positively charged, and it sticks to the negatively charged areas of the photo-sensitive drum, forming an inked image of the document.

  • How is the toner image transferred onto paper?

    -A blank sheet of paper is fed from the hopper and given a strong electrical charge. The toner image is then transferred from the drum onto the paper.

  • What happens after the toner is transferred to the paper?

    -The paper passes through two hot rollers, where heat and pressure permanently fuse the toner particles onto the paper, creating a final copy.

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Related Tags
photocopymachine componentstonerphoto sensitive drumelectronicsprinting processtechnologyoffice equipmentmechanical engineeringautomationphotocopying process