A photocopier is an electronic machine designed to make reproductions of documents. The first photocopiers used an early process of making copies called xerography. This process, utilizing a dry powdered chemical called "toner," was introduced by Xerox in the 1960s. Xerography is still used in many modern copiers. In fact, the basic technology has changed very little in nearly 50 years.

Today, xerography faces challengers as laser and inkjet copiers become commonplace. Their technology offers less expensive and lower maintenance copy machines at consumer price levels.

Traditional Xerography
To duplicate a document, a photocopier uses a process that combines static electricity with a dry chemical called "toner." Toner is a powdered ink pigment bonded in plastic. When exposed to high heat, the plastic in the toner melts and releases the ink pigment to the paper.

To make a copy, a document is placed on a sheet of clear glass located above the lamp. When the process is started, the lamp (a bright fluorescent or incandescent light) is drawn across the glass to illuminate one strip of the document at a time. The light bounces off the document onto a special rotating drum that is coated in a light-sensitive material. The pattern of the reflected light on the drum becomes charged with static electricity.

The toner sticks to the pattern on the drum until the paper rolls over it. At that point, the toner is transferred to the surface of the paper. The paper, its surface now coated with powdered toner, is passed through a very hot fuser where the toner is permanently fused into the fibers of the paper creating a single copy. To make multiple copies, the entire process repeats itself again.

Inkjet and Laser Copiers
An inkjet photocopier is really two devices: an electronic scanner and an inkjet printer. When the document is placed on the copier, a bright light is used to scan the image into a digital format. Once scanned, the image is printed directly on the paper using inkjet technology. Inkjet copiers have fewer moving parts and consequently are less expensive to purchase, maintain, and own. On the other hand, they make copies at a much slower pace and the wet inks can smear or smudge until they are completely dry. An inkjet copier is best suited for use in a low-volume copy environment such as a home, home office, or small business.

A laser photocopier is also a scanner, but it is coupled with the technology of a laser printer. A document is placed on the copier so the scanner mechanism can interpret the document into a digital format. That digital image is then sent through the laser printer mechanicals and printed. Laser photocopiers share many of the same advantages as the inkjet printers (less expensive to own and maintain when compared to a xerography copier) but they have the added benefit of speed. Most laser photocopiers can print as fast as a traditional xerographic copier, and with much greater reliability.

The Future of Photocopiers
The first xerographic photocopiers were very expensive. With an average purchase price measured in thousands of dollars, they were so cost prohibitive that most businesses leased them. With many moving parts, all exposed to clogging toner and high heat, maintenance was costly and frequent. Service contracts were often required to keep a photocopier in repair.

Present-day photocopiers include inkjet and laser technology, which make up the bulk of copier sales. These newcomers have cut the cost of copiers by tenfold, and nearly eliminated the need for professional maintenance. The copy machine is no longer an elite piece of office equipment-it is now a standard tool in nearly every business and home.