A printing machine is an electrical apparatus that prints documents on paper or other materials. There are a number of different types of printing machines, and each type has its own specific functions. For example, a digital printer typically prints documents using an electrostatic charge. A cylindrical drum inside the machine is charged with photoconductive material, and a bright lamp scans the document that needs to be duplicated. The parts of the document that are black reflect off of the drum and remain charged, while the other parts are picked up by the toner and fused onto the document using heat.
In the old days, a large printing press was used to print books, newspapers, and magazines. These were usually standing mechanisms that were 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m) long, 3 feet (0.91 m) wide, and about 7 feet (2 m) tall. Small individual metal letters, known as type, were set into a frame called a galley. This was then inked by a roller, and the paper was run over it to transfer the inked text to the page.
A more modern and less space-consuming device is a copier. These are usually used for making duplications of documents, but some models also have faxing, scanning, and hole punching capabilities. They can be as simple as a standalone printer or as complex as a high-end office multifunction device. Choosing the right model for your business depends on the amount of documents you need to make each week and how much functionality you require.