Kopírky

Kopírky, often referred to as photocopiers, are electronic devices that produce copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. The process, known as xerography, was invented by Chester Carlson in 1938. Early copiers were mechanical and required manual operation. Modern digital copiers use a scanning process to create a digital image, which can then be reproduced multiple times.

The basic principle of xerography involves a photoconductive drum. This drum is first electrostatically charged. When light from the document is reflected onto the drum, the charged areas that are not exposed to light retain their charge, while the illuminated areas lose their charge. A dry powder, called toner, is then applied to the drum, and it adheres only to the charged areas. The toner is then transferred to a piece of paper, which is heated to fuse the toner permanently onto the paper, creating a copy.

Copiers are now ubiquitous in offices, schools, and homes. They have evolved significantly from their early iterations. Beyond simple copying, many modern machines offer advanced features such as scanning to email or cloud storage, faxing capabilities, stapling, collating, and duplex printing (printing on both sides of the paper). The development of color copiers has further expanded their utility, allowing for the reproduction of images with full color fidelity. The technology continues to advance, with a focus on increased speed, higher resolution, energy efficiency, and greater connectivity.