Print Wheels

Print Wheels

Print wheels are a type of printing mechanism used in impact printers. They are circular disks with raised characters or symbols on their surface, which are inked and pressed against a sheet of paper to create a printed image. Print wheels can be made of various materials, such as metal, plastic, or rubber, and can have different sizes and fonts depending on the printer model and application. Print wheels were widely used in typewriters and early computer printers, such as dot matrix printers. They were popular because they allowed for easy font changes by simply swapping out the print wheel. This made it possible to produce different styles of text without having to purchase a new printer or type element. Print wheels were also relatively inexpensive to manufacture and replace, making them a cost-effective printing solution. However, print wheels have largely been replaced by other printing technologies, such as laser and inkjet printers, which offer higher quality and faster printing speeds. Nevertheless, print wheels are still used in some specialized applications, such as in the printing of checks, where their ability to produce clear and consistent images is highly valued.

printing mechanism, impact printers, raised characters, inked, typewriters

— Jeffrey Taylor