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61-453: In office copiers and scanners , the platen is a flat glass surface on which operators place papers or books for scanning. The platen is also called the flatbed. Platens are also used in some printers, such as the dot-matrix printer . In semiconductor manufacturing, specifically chemical-mechanical planarization , a flat, rotating platen covered with a pad is used to polish semiconductor wafers (see image). In textile screen printing ,

122-408: A marketing perspective, the manufacturer of the more expensive MFP would want to differentiate their product as much as possible to justify the price difference, and therefore avoids the segment definition. Many MFP types, regardless of the category they fall into, also come in a "printer only" variety, which is the same model without the scanner unit included. This can even occur with devices where

183-401: A multi-function printer : a device that combined the roles of a photocopier, a fax machine, a scanner , and a computer network-connected printer . Low-end machines that can copy and print in color have increasingly dominated the home-office market as their prices fell steadily during the 1990s. High-end color photocopiers capable of heavy-duty handling cycles and large-format printing remain

244-402: A special pattern . Color copying also raises concerns regarding the copying and/or forging of other documents, such as driver's licenses and university degrees and transcripts. Some driver's licenses are made with embedded holograms so that a police officer can detect a fake copy. Some university and college transcripts have special anti-copying watermarks in the background. If a copy is made,

305-535: A SOHO MFP will have basic Print, Copy, Scan and Fax functionality only, but towards the larger end of the scale, may include simple document storage and retrieval, basic authentication functions and so on, making the higher end of the "SOHO" scale difficult to differentiate from the lower end of the "Office" MFP scale. SOHO MFPs are usually networked, however may also be connected via USB or, less frequently, parallel. SOHO MFPs may have basic finishing functionality such as duplexing, stapling and hole-punching, however this

366-915: A central office system. These units are usually the most fully featured type of MFP. They include the basic Print, Copy and Scan functions with optional Fax functionality as well as networked document storage with security, authentication using common network user credentials, ability to run custom software (often a manufacturer will supply a Software development kit ), advanced network scan destinations such as FTP , WebDAV , Email , SMB and NFS stores, encryption for data transmission and so on. Office MFPs usually have moderately advanced finishing functions as options such as duplexing, stapling, holepunching, offset modes and booklet-creation. Office MFPs are almost always networked, however some have optional or standard (but infrequently used) USB and parallel connections. Most Office MFPs have their history in mid-range photocopiers (both colour and black-and-white), and

427-591: A computer, are essentially a type of computer themselves. They contain memory , one or more processors , and often some kind of local storage, such as a hard disk drive or flash memory . As mentioned in the Types of MFP section, the physical print engine may be based on several technologies, however most larger MFPs are an evolution of a digital photocopier . When disposing of old printers with local storage, one should keep in mind that confidential documents ( print , scan , copy jobs) are potentially still unencrypted on

488-604: A costly option found primarily in print and design shops. Chester Carlson (1906-1968), the inventor of photocopying, was originally a patent attorney , as well as a part-time researcher and inventor. His job at the patent office in New York required him to make a large number of copies of important papers. Carlson, who was arthritic , found this a painful and tedious process. This motivated him to conduct experiments with photoconductivity. Carlson used his kitchen for his " electrophotography " experiments, and, in 1938, he applied for

549-459: A method to communicate information to and from the MFP (often SOAP / XML based), running the operating code on a suitably powered computer on the network. This method has the advantage of being very flexible, in that the software is free to do anything that the developer can make the computer do. The only limit from the MFP itself is the capability of the MFP to display a user interface to the workings of

610-478: A non-profit organization in Columbus, Ohio , contracted with Carlson to refine his new process. Over the next five years, the institute conducted experiments to improve the process of electrophotography. In 1947, Haloid Corporation, a manufacturer of photographic paper, approached Battelle to obtain a license to develop and market a copying machine based on this technology. Haloid felt that the word "electrophotography"

671-410: A patent for the process. He made the first photocopy using a zinc plate covered with sulfur . The words "10-22-38 Astoria" were written on a microscope slide, which was placed on top of more sulfur and under a bright light. After the slide was removed, a mirror image of the words remained. Carlson tried to sell his invention to some companies but failed because the process was still underdeveloped. At

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732-428: A platen is a flat board onto which the operator slides the garment . It is generally made of either a plywood laminate or aluminum with a rubber laminate. Often the platen will be pretreated with a spray adhesive. This allows the garment to effectively become a rigid immobile substrate, especially important when printing multiple colors or utilizing an on-press infrared dryer. The screen is brought parallel and close to

793-463: A smaller footprint in a home or small business setting (the SOHO market segment), or to provide centralized document management/distribution/production in a large-office setting. A typical MFP may act as a combination of some or all of the following devices: email , fax , photocopier , printer , scanner . MFP manufacturers traditionally divided MFPs into various segments . The segments roughly divided

854-425: A standard PC scanner coupled to an inkjet or low-end laser printer, which are far slower than their counterparts in high-end copiers. However, low-end scanner-inkjets can provide color copying at a lower upfront purchase-price but a much higher cost per copy. Combined digital scanner/printers sometimes have built-in fax machines and can be classified as one type of multifunction printer . A negative photocopy inverts

915-409: A substantial pressure on the stock that tends to push the stock toward the infeed, the hold down shoes and rollers hold the workpiece down against the belt while it is moving through the machine in order to ensure uniform contact with the abrasive and continuous movement. In metal forming processes, a platen is the component that houses the mold for forging the required shape. The platen tends to be

976-608: A technology called xerography , a dry process that uses electrostatic charges on a light-sensitive photoreceptor to first attract and then transfer toner particles (a powder) onto paper in the form of an image. The toner is then fused onto the paper using heat, pressure, or a combination of both. Copiers can also use other technologies, such as inkjet , but xerography is standard for office copying. Commercial xerographic office photocopying gradually replaced copies made by verifax , photostat , carbon paper , mimeograph machines , and other duplicating machines . Photocopying

1037-487: A variety of different print engines for Production Printing MFPs, however in the "light" end of the Production Printing market, most are based on the large Office MFPs, which themselves are based on photocopier technology as described above. Production Printing MFPs may also be known as " Print on demand " devices, or " Digital presses ". This latter term can also be used to refer to the print controller controlling

1098-589: A variety of light sources are used. As glass transmits ultraviolet rays between 325 and 400 nanometers, copiers with ultraviolet-producing lights such as fluorescent, tungsten halogen, or xenon flash, expose documents to some ultraviolet. Concerns about emissions from photocopy machines have been expressed by some in connection with the use of selenium and emissions of ozone and fumes from heated toner. Similar to forensic identification of typewriters , computer printers and copiers can be traced by imperfections in their output. The mechanical tolerances of

1159-421: Is "automatic digital collation ". For example, when copying a set of 20 pages 20 times, a digital copier scans each page only once, then uses the stored information to produce 20 sets. In an analog copier, either each page is scanned 20 times (a total of 400 scans), making one set at a time, or 20 separate output trays are used for the 20 sets. Low-end copiers also use digital technology, but tend to consist of

1220-410: Is a small desktop unit, designed for home or home-office use. These devices focus on scan and print functionality for home use, and may come with bundled software for organising photos, simple OCR and other uses of interest to a home user. An All-in-one will always include the basic functions of Print and Scan, with most also including Copy functionality and a lesser number with Fax capabilities. In

1281-489: Is based either on a home desktop inkjet printer , or on a home desktop laser printer . They may be black-and-white or colour capable. Laser models provide a better result for text while inkjet gives a more convincing result for images and they are a cheaper multifunctional. Some of these devices, like the Hewlett-Packard Photosmart C8180 printer, have a DVD burner and LightScribe functionality where

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1342-504: Is common practice, as the cost of purchasing a book for the sake of one article or a few pages can be excessive. The principle of fair use (in the United States) or fair dealing (in other Berne Convention countries) allows copying for certain specified purposes. In certain countries, such as Canada, some universities pay royalties from each photocopy made at university copy machines and copy centers to copyright collectives out of

1403-428: Is often further divided into "light" production printing and "heavy" production printing, with the differentiating factor being the speed. A 100ppm device for example, falls into the light production printing category by the standards of most manufacturers. Because of the focus on printing, while most Production Printing MFPs have a scanner, it is infrequently used and often only has very basic functionality. There are

1464-452: Is rare. In general, document output offset, sorting and collation are standard capabilities. By comparison to an All-in-one product, a SOHO MFP is more likely to have an automatic document feeder, greater fax capabilities and faster output-performance. Most SOHO MFPs have their history in low-end black and white photocopiers , and the print engine is accordingly based around this type of technology. A mid-sized free-standing unit, designed as

1525-451: Is widely used in the business, education, and government sectors. While there have been predictions that photocopiers will eventually become obsolete as information workers increase their use of digital document creation, storage, and distribution and rely less on distributing actual pieces of paper, as of 2015, photocopiers continue to be widely used. During the 1980s, a convergence began in some high-end machines towards what came to be called

1586-522: The Color-in-Color copier, which used a dye sublimation process rather than conventional electrostatic technology. Xerox introduced the first electrostatic color-copier (the 6500) in 1973. Color photocopying is a concern to governments , as it facilitates counterfeiting currency and other documents: for more information, see § Counterfeiting . There is an increasing trend for new photocopiers to implement digital technology, thereby replacing

1647-553: The Late Twentieth Century , notes that during this period (1970s through 1990s) the copy machine played "an especially notable role in the era's punk, street art, and DIY movements." FedEx purchased the Kinko's chain in 2004, and its services were incorporated into the name FedEx Office in 2008. Colored toner became available in the 1940s, although full-color copiers were not commercially available until 1968, when 3M released

1708-402: The MFP, also run computer operating systems , with Linux and Microsoft Windows (often Windows NT 4.0 Embedded , Windows XP Embedded ). On top of the core operating system and firmware , the MFP will also provide several functions, equivalent to applications or in some cases daemons or services . These functions may include (amongst many others): Computer systems equipped with

1769-513: The MFP, however. It is useful to consider the features and functions of an MFP before integrating it into a home or office environment. It is possible to have an MFP with almost all of the features and functions listed below, however a typical AIO or SOHO MFP is unlikely to incorporate many of these. An (incomplete) list of features that an MFP may offer or will vary depending on the MFP under consideration (in any segment): MFPs, like most external peripherals that are capable of functioning without

1830-503: The MFPs according to their speed in pages-per-minute (ppm) and duty-cycle/robustness. However, many manufacturers are beginning to avoid the segment definition for their products, as speed and basic functionality alone do not always differentiate the many features that the devices include. Two color MFPs of a similar speed may end in the same segment, despite having potentially very different feature-sets, and therefore very different prices. From

1891-518: The US government has asked these companies to implement such a tracking scheme, so that counterfeiting can be traced. The EFF has filed a Freedom of Information Act request in order to look into privacy implications of this tracking. Photocopying, using liquid developer, was developed by Ken Metcalfe and Bob Wright of Defence Standards Laboratory in Adelaide in 1952. Photocopying, using liquid developer,

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1952-429: The application. As many of the applications are based around custom printing, scanning and authentication requirements, the MFP manufacturers that use this method gravitate towards these core technologies in the user interface. MFP internal software, by comparison, has the advantage of not requiring anything outside of the MFP. The software runs within the MFP itself and so even a complete network outage will not disrupt

2013-479: The commercial/enterprise area, most MFP have used laser-printer technology, while the personal, SOHO environments, utilize inkjet methods. Typically, inkjet printers have struggled with delivering the performance and color-saturation demanded by enterprise/large business use. However, HP has recently launched a business-grade MFP using inkjet technology . From the 1980's to the 2010's, multi-function printers often included fax functionality, contemporary with

2074-492: The company. Before the widespread adoption of xerographic copiers, photo-direct copies produced by machines such as Kodak 's Verifax (based on a 1947 patent) were used. A primary obstacle associated with the pre-xerographic copying technologies was the high cost of supplies: a Verifax print required supplies costing US$ 0.15 in 1969, while a Xerox print could be made for $ 0.03, including paper and labor. The coin-operated Photostat machines still found in some public libraries in

2135-424: The document's colors when creating a photocopy, resulting in letters that appear white on a black background instead of black on a white background. Negative photocopies of old or faded documents sometimes produce documents that have better focus and are easier to read and study. Photocopying material that is subject to copyright (such as books or scientific papers) is subject to restrictions in most countries. This

2196-587: The first xerographic copier, called the Model A. Seeing off computing-leader IBM in the office-copying market, Xerox became so successful that, in North America, photocopying came to be popularly known as "xeroxing". Xerox has actively fought to prevent Xerox from becoming a genericized trademark . While the word Xerox has appeared in some dictionaries as a synonym for photocopying, Xerox Corporation typically requests such entries be modified, and discourages use of

2257-414: The garment (often within 1/32") and the squeegee pressure then brings the screen into contact with the garment so that the ink transfer may occur. There are many special platen types, such as those for printing sleeves or pockets, vacuum platens, platens with clamps to hold bulky materials such as jackets, and even curved platens for printing on hats. In woodworking, wide belt sanders use platens to press

2318-555: The heaviest and strongest part of the press due to the massive forces that it has to withstand. A platen for a 5000-ton press can weigh up to 350 tons. In manufacturing, a platen is a flat plate of a press utilized in laminate , plastic and forest product industries. A platen is typically heated with oil, water, steam or electricity and is used in the production of furniture, tires, gaskets , particle board, composite heaters and plywood . In high frequency welding products, platens are used to put lines on PVC binders and folders down

2379-484: The late 1960s made letter-size copies for $ 0.25 each, when the minimum wage for a US worker was $ 1.65 per hour; the Xerox machines that replaced them typically charged $ 0.10. Xerographic-copier manufacturers took advantage of the high perceived value copying had in the 1960s and early 1970s and marketed "specially designed" paper for xerographic output. By the end of the 1970s, paper producers made xerographic "runability" one of

2440-531: The older analog technology. With digital copying, the copier effectively consists of an integrated scanner and laser printer . This design has several advantages, such as automatic image-quality enhancement and the ability to "build jobs" (that is, to scan page images independently of printing them). Some digital copiers can function as high-speed scanners; such models typically offer the ability to send documents via email or make them available on file servers. A significant advantage of digital copier technology

2501-716: The past, these devices were usually not networked, and were generally connected by USB or Parallel . As of 2013 even inexpensive all-in-one devices support ethernet and/or Wi-Fi connections. In some cases the wireless devices require connection to a host computer by wire (usually USB) to initialize the device, and once initial setup is done, support wireless operations for all the work performed thereafter. All-in-one devices may have features oriented to home and personal use that are not found in larger devices. These functions include smart card readers, direct connection to digital cameras (e.g. PictBridge technology) and other similar uses. The print engine of most All-in-one devices

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2562-411: The prevalence of fax machines in office communications. In any case, instead of rigidly defined segments based on speed, more general definitions based on intended target audience and capabilities are becoming much more common as of 2013 . While the sector lacks formal definitions, it is common agreed amongst MFP manufacturers that the products fall roughly into the following categories: An All-in-one

2623-654: The print engine is therefore based around this type of technology, however, Hewlett-Packard recently introduced two Office MFPs based on fixed-head inkjet technology. A large free-standing unit, designed as a central printing-device or reprographic-department device. These devices, while far larger and more expensive than Office MFPs, generally do not have all of the advanced network functionality of their smaller relations. They instead concentrate on high-speed, high-quality output, and highly advanced finishing functionality including book creation with cover insertion (including hot-glue binding) and so on. Production printing itself

2684-533: The printed pages, as fine and almost invisible patterns of yellow dots. Some sources identify Xerox and Canon as companies doing this. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has investigated this issue and documented how the Xerox DocuColor printer's serial number, as well as the date and time of the printout, are encoded in a repeating 8×15 dot pattern in the yellow channel. EFF is working to reverse engineer additional printers. The EFF also reports that

2745-540: The printer's local storage and can be undeleted . Crypto-shredding can be a countermeasure. MFPs also run a set of instructions from their internal storage, which is comparable to a computer's operating system . Generally, as the size and complexity of an MFP increases, the more like a computer the device becomes. It is uncommon for a small AIO or even a SOHO MFP to use a general purpose operating system , however many larger MFPs run Linux or VxWorks . Additionally, many print controllers, separate, but integral to

2806-789: The proper software must be able to take advantage of the MFP's capabilities, an important requirement to research when considering integrating an MFP with an existing office. Some or all of the following functionality might be provided: In addition to specific software packages, many vendors also provide the ability for the user to develop software to communicate with the MFP through a Software development kit . Different vendors have different licensing models, from completely "closed" proprietary systems (often with large costs involved) to open strategies with no direct cost involved. An incomplete list of these technologies is: In general, these technologies fall into one of two technical models - Server based, or MFP internal software. Server based technologies use

2867-487: The reader. To counter the risk of people using color copiers to create counterfeit copies of paper currency, some countries have incorporated anti-counterfeiting technologies into their currency. These include watermarks, microprinting, holograms , tiny security strips made of plastic (or other material), and ink that appears to change color as the currency is viewed at an angle. Some photocopying machines contain special software that can prevent copying currency that has

2928-515: The requirements for most of their office-paper brands . Some devices sold as photocopiers have replaced the drum-based process with inkjet or transfer-film technology. Among the key advantages of photocopiers over earlier copying technologies is their ability: In 1970, Paul Orfalea founded Kinko's retail chain, in Isla Vista, California. Starting with a single copier that year, this copy service chain would expand to over 1,000 locations around

2989-501: The revenues from the photocopying, and these collectives distribute resulting funds to various scholarly publishers. In the United States, photocopied compilations of articles, handouts, graphics, and other information called readers often require texts for college classes. Either the instructor or the copy center is responsible for clearing copyright for every article in the reader, and attribution information must be clearly included in

3050-405: The sanding paper into contact with the wood being sanded. The platen sits between two steel rolls which deliver the moving force to the sanding belt. Sanding heads with a platen are used on finish sanding with papers of finer grits, when the coarser ones are typically used with contact drum type sanding heads. Stock is fed into and out of the machine on a conveyor belt. Since the abrasive belt creates

3111-424: The scanner unit physically appears highly integrated into the product. As of 2013 , almost all printer manufacturers offer multifunction printers. They are designed for home, small business, enterprise and commercial use. Naturally, the cost, usability, robustness, throughput, output quality, etc. all vary with the various use cases. However, they all generally do the same functions; Print, Scan, and Photocopy. In

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3172-568: The software from working (unless of course the software requires a network connection for other reasons). MFP internal software is often, but not always, Java based and runs in a Java virtual machine within the MFP. The negative side to this kind of software is usually that it is much more limited in capabilities than Server based systems. MFP manufacturers/brands include Note that not all of these manufacturers produce all types of MFP - some may only focus on AIO products, whilst others may only focus on Production Printing, while yet more may cover

3233-461: The spine lines. Platens are utilized in impact testing in research; a specimen is crushed between platens. The platen also refers to the fixed part of a linear motor. Photocopying A photocopier (also called copier or copy machine , and formerly Xerox machine , the generic trademark ) is a machine that makes copies of documents and other visual images onto paper or plastic film quickly and cheaply. Most modern photocopiers use

3294-478: The term Xerox in this way. In the early 1950s, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) introduced a variation on the process called Electrofax , whereby images are formed directly on specially coated paper and rendered with a toner dispersed in a liquid. During the 1960s and through the 1980s, Savin Corporation developed and sold a line of liquid-toner copiers that implemented a technology based on patents held by

3355-492: The time, multiple copies were most commonly made at the point of document origination, using carbon paper or manual duplicating machines . People did not see the need for an electronic copier. Between 1939 and 1944, Carlson was turned down by over 20 companies, including IBM and General Electric —neither of which believed there was a significant market for copiers. In 1944, the Battelle Memorial Institute ,

3416-419: The toner and paper feed mechanisms cause banding , which can reveal information about the individual device's mechanical properties. It is often possible to identify the manufacturer and brand, and, in some cases, the individual printer can be identified from a set of known printers by comparing their outputs. Some high-quality color printers and copiers steganographically embed their identification code into

3477-444: The user could burn DVDs and create an image on a special Lightscribe DVD, or CD using special software like Roxio or Nero AG Software Suite to create the image. To create a Lightscribe image takes about 10 to 25 minutes. A large desktop or small freestanding unit, designed for Small Office/Home Office use. Often, the form factor of the MFP (desktop or freestanding) depends on the options added, such as extra paper trays. Generally

3538-408: The watermarks will become highly visible, which allows the recipient to determine that they have a copy rather than a genuine original transcript. Exposure to ultraviolet light is a concern. In the early days of photocopiers, the sensitizing light source was filtered green to match the optimal sensitivity of the photoconductive surface. This filtering conveniently removed all ultraviolet. Currently,

3599-653: The world. By the 1980s, Kinko's operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with customers using the copy center for academic and business work as well as personal publishing and advertising. By the 1990s, Kinko's had 700 locations around the United States, with 5 in Manhattan. In such urban areas, Kinko's became a place where a multitude of users could make their ideas "typed, designed and xeroxed, then transmitted by fax, computer disk and Federal Express." Kate Eichhorn, in Adjusted Margin: Xerography, Art, and Activism in

3660-469: Was too complicated and did not have good recall value. After consulting a professor of classical language at Ohio State University , Haloid and Carlson changed the name of the process to xerography , a term, coined from Greek roots, that meant "dry writing." Haloid called the new copier machines "Xerox Machines" and, in 1948, the term Xerox was trademarked . Haloid eventually became Xerox Corporation in 1961. In 1949, Xerox Corporation introduced

3721-406: Was used in 1967. Images from 'wet photocopying' do not last as long as dry toner images, but this is not due to acidity. Multi-function printer An MFP ( multi-function product / printer / peripheral ), multi-functional , all-in-one ( AIO ), or multi-function device ( MFD ), is an office machine which incorporates the functionality of multiple devices in one, so as to have

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