Photocopier: Xerography Or Electrophotography

A photocopier is a machine which produces copies of documents, photos et cetera, nowadays usually using a dry photocopying technique called xerography or electrophotography. Other methods of copying include unpopular thermography and wet electrostatic photocopying no longer in use because of high risk to human health. The process of creating a photocopy begins with charging a photoconductor – a semiconductor which becomes conductive when exposed to light. Then, a lamp illuminates the document placed on the glass above and the white parts of the document reflect the light on the photoconductor, which causes the parts of the photoconductor that’ve been shone on to become conductive and discharge. The photoconductor begins to rotate, moving

If not for photocopiers, people would be limited to working on only a single document, which would a great obstacle, or in case of, for instance, a map from an atlas or a chapter from a textbook, they’d be forced to purchase the given document – or, of course, they could use the internet to pass an electronic version of the document. Although internet is gradually gaining more popularity as a mean of spreading information, especially between the younger generations, as it gives the opportunity to reach a wide audience, it’s rarely comparable to photocopies. Usually, someone in need of creating photocopies wishes to give them out to a small, but specific audience – although that could be done via internet as well, not everyone in the given group could have a device that’d allow them to use the internet, especially if the document needs to be discussed at a particular time, such as a lesson. Or they simply could not have access to the internet in that moment. Our society isn’t yet technologically advanced enough to rely only on electronical documents, which, despite being an alternative to photocopies, won’t be replacing them in the nearest future.

However, despite their usefulness and handiness, photocopiers have their disadvantages, mainly posing a threat to humans’ health and the

Another issue are used toner cartridges, which, when not disposed of correctly or recycled, can leak toxic chemicals into the earth. Moreover, by definition large numbers of paper are used for making photocopies, which later results in paper waste – though paper can be recycled, still a lot of energy is consumed by manufacturing, transporting and burying or reprocessing paper