How can you determine the type of your printer and why do you have to know
about this? You must have thought this about your home printer which you
might have brought from the office or bought from a garage sale.
Nevertheless, let’s find the answer to our questions.
What is the need of knowing your printer’s model?
It is an essential piece of information if you use your printer regularly,
such as for printing labels from Google Docs, because what if your printer
runs out of ink or paper, or just stops working all of a sudden? Software
support in the form of drivers for printers, buying labels, and ink, and
buying replacement parts; for all of these, it is required that you know
your printer’s model. Or else, you are going to end up buying the wrong
accessories or parts for your printer owing to the fact that different
models mean different kinds of printers. A correct model means that you
know what kind of printer you own.
What are the different kinds of printers?
Let’s get ourselves familiarized with some of the most common kinds of
printers used for printing labels from Google Docs and all sorts of other
stuff.
1. Inkjet Printer
2. Laser Printer
3. Solid Ink Printer
4. Continuous Ink Printer
5. LED Printer
6. Dot Matrix Printers
7. Thermal Printers
8. And many more.
How to check your printer’s model?
If you use a printer regularly, at your home or your office, to print stuff
from Google Docs or images, you must know your way around it. The most
recommended and easiest method to check the model of your printer is to
look for a label on your printer. Usually, the model is written printer on
a label, or it is printed onto the body of the printer itself. Most of the
times, it is written on the front side of your printer, so be sure to check
properly.
What to do if you cannot find where the model is written?
Well, in a scenario where you have completely checked the body of your
printer and cannot locate the model on a label or printed directly, it is
most likely that it got erased. In this scenario, what you can do is that
if you still own the user manual or the box, look at it. Once you find the
model, Google search it and it will explain to you what kind of printer you
own.
In case you do not have the box or the manual either, what you need to do
now is ask yourself the following question “Do I buy sheets or rolls for my
printer?”
This question will differentiate your standard desktop printers from your
thermal printers.
If you use sheets, then you most likely own a simple Laser or Inkjet
Printer. To confirm your deduction, it is advised that you check the
following things. First off, we shall have a look at the cartridge.
- A bulky cartridge means it’s a toner from a laser printer. Whereas,
smaller cartridges are found in Inkjet Printers. - Running your fingers across an Inkjet printer printed sheet immediately
shall cause the ink to smudge or spread. - Laser Printers can go way hotter than Inkjet ones.
If you are using Rolls, then you might be having a direct thermal, thermal
transfer or Roll Inkjet Printer. In order to differentiate between these,
see if
- There are mounts for two rolls. If so, you own a thermal transfer
printer. - There is a spot for ink cartridges, meaning that the printer is Inkjet.
- There is a place for only the roll of labels. Direct Thermal printers
do not need anything else for printing labels from Google Docs.
Summary
Printers are a device that are used in every office, school and even in
many homes. Since they are one of the main ways to get a hard copy of a
digital photo, document, or label etc., one should keep them maintained.
And to do so, knowing the type of printer you own is very essential.
Labels, sheets, cartridges, spare parts; a lot of printer related stuff
varies with the model and type of your printer. If you can find the model
number, you may Google it, or use our method to know the type of your
printer.