Copy machines have evolved, quite a bit, since their inception in the fifties. Today’s photocopier is a multitasking juggernaut with the ability to copy, print, fax and scan documents- all in one compact machine. So what exactly has enabled this change? Photocopiers have switched from an analog system to using digital technology that allows the machines to accomplish a multitude of tasks at the touch of a button.
When Xerox introduced the first copy machine in 1959, the hot technology at the time was heat and light. Copiers of this era used mirrors to place an image of the master document onto a drum and then use a combination of static electricity and toner to copy the image on the drum onto a piece of paper. A heating element would finish up the process by drying the toner in place to prevent smearing.
In contrast, a digital copier takes a snapshot of the master document and saves it in memory. The image is then imprinted on the drum by a laser and the copying process continues as normal. However, because the image is stored in memory, it can also be sent to a computer for use in other programs or relayed through the telephone lines as a fax.
A few manufacturers still produce analog machines. Because digital copiers are so prevalent, you can often get analog copy machines at very low prices. These types of copy machines are great when you want something simple for basic copying needs.
However, if you want a single machine that does four times as much work, then a digital copier is the right device for you.
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