Xerox Ink Sticks and Xerox Solid Ink for Phaser

Ink, traditionally speaking, is thought of as a liquid, but Xerox solid ink technology is as its name implies, solid. The ink starts in a solid state and is melted just prior to application. There are marked differences in the internal components of the solid ink printers form inkjet printers. All solid ink printers use an indirect printing method similar to an offset printing press. The image or data passed to the printer is literally sprayed onto a rolling drum. The print heads or nozzles are aligned in arrays containing separate nozzles for each colored toner, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta.

These nozzles apply the melted solid ink to the drum; there are multiple arrays of spray styled print heads contained in the printer itself to apply ink in a more uniform and precise manner. The print heads are made of stainless steel to ensure durability and long life; they are guaranteed for the life of the printer. Each time the drum makes a revolution any combination of toner colors may be transferred to the paper simultaneously creating any shade or hue needed for the data to be printed. After the toner is applied to the rolling drum it is offset, or transferred, to the media and the drum is reset for the next line of the document to be printed.

The solid ink does not become part of the fibers of the paper. It in fact freezes, or solidifies, on the surface of the page much like a laminate or sealer used on wood or paint. This allows the images and data to be more vibrant and more true to life in color. The fibers of the media in use can influence the color of the toner typically making them lighter and reducing the quality of the intended effect of color. After the page is finished printing the drum is simultaneously cleaned and reset for the nest print.