Dot Matrix Printers

Dot Matrix Printers

Dot matrix printers are a type of impact printer that uses a print head containing a series of pins to strike an ink ribbon, producing a series of dots that form characters and images on paper. These printers were widely used in the 1980s and 1990s for their ability to produce carbon copies and multipart forms, and for their durability and low cost of operation. The print head of a dot matrix printer typically contains between 9 and 24 pins, arranged in a vertical column. As the print head moves across the paper, the pins strike an ink ribbon, transferring ink onto the paper in the shape of characters and images. Because the pins strike the paper with force, dot matrix printers are able to produce carbon copies and multipart forms by using multiple layers of paper and ink ribbon. While dot matrix printers have largely been replaced by inkjet and laser printers, they are still used in some industries where their durability and ability to produce carbon copies are important. For example, dot matrix printers are often used in the banking industry for printing checks, as well as in the manufacturing industry for printing labels and barcodes.

impact printer, print head, ink ribbon, carbon copies, multipart forms

— Matthew Johnson