Definitions for "Dot Matrix Printers"
Keywords:  ribbon, matrix, pin, printers, ink
An early high speed printer, these printers use a set of pins to print ink onto the paper.
This type of printer produces characters and illustrations by striking pins against an ink ribbon to print closely spaced dots in the appropriate shape. Dot matrix printers can print to multi-page forms. Dot-matrix printers vary in two important characteristics: speed: Given in characters per second (cps), the speed can vary from about 50 to over 500 cps. Most dot-matrix printers offer different speeds depending on the quality of print desired. print quality: Determined by the number of pins (the mechanisms that print the dots), it can vary from 9 to 24.
Dot matrix printers work by placing dots on a coordinated matrix. The data sent to the printer specifies which dots to print, making up the letters on the paper. The first color printers were dot matrix. This is part of the hardware. See printers.