Drum Printer

Published: 23 Oct 2025

Many people today face problems when their printers print slowly or run out of ink. Long ago, there was a solution called Drum Printer. These machines printed fast and never ran out of ink easily. They were strong, steady, and made for heavy work, which is why offices loved them despite their noise.

Table of Content

Let’s learn about Drum Printers and see how to use them smartly for better and easier work

What is Drum Printer?

A Printer is a fast printing machine that uses a round metal drum to print letters on paper. It is an impact printer that works by hitting the paper through an ink ribbon. There are many letters on the drum that move while printing. When the drum spins, small hammers press the paper to make words. Drum Printers were used in old computer systems for reports and records. They are known for their high speed, strong design, and loud sound.

History of Drum Printers

The history of Drum Printers started in the early years of computer printing. It is one of the first types of impact printers made for high speed printing. These printers were first used in the late nineteen fifties when computers began to grow in size and power. There were many offices that needed fast and strong printing machines, and this printer became the best choice. The round drum design helped them print many lines in a short time.

Then line printers and chain printers came into use, but Drum Printers still stayed popular for many years. Later, new models like laser printers and inkjet printers replaced them. Even today, Drum Printers are known as an important part of computer printing history because they showed how printing speed and quality started to improve.

How Drum Printers Work

This printers work by using a round drum that carries many letters and numbers. This drum spins at a steady speed while tiny hammers and an ink ribbon help in printing. The full process looks simple but works with high speed and great timing.

1. The Rotating Drum

There is a metal drum that rotates at a fast speed.
The surface of the drum has all letters from A to Z and numbers from zero to nine.
Each line on the drum repeats these characters again and again.
The drum keeps moving while printing lines one after another.
This part is the heart of the drum printer mechanism.

2. Control Circuit

The control system sends signals to the hammers at the right moment.
It tells which hammer should hit and when.
The correct timing helps to print clear letters.
If the timing is wrong, the printed text becomes unclear.
This process shows the working of drum printer in a simple way.

3. Print Hammers

There are many small hammers behind the paper.
Each hammer is linked to one text column.
When the correct letter on the drum moves in front of a hammer, the hammer hits.
The hammer presses the paper and ink ribbon onto the drum.
This action prints one full line at a time.

4. Ink Ribbon

The ink ribbon lies between the paper and the drum.
It helps transfer the ink from the ribbon to the paper.
Every time a hammer hits, the ribbon adds ink to the character.
The ribbon is important for the drum printer printing system.

5. Paper Feed System

The paper feed system moves the sheet step by step.
After one line prints, the paper moves up for the next line.
The process continues until the full page is printed.
This part shows the drum printer process clearly.

6. Teamwork of All Parts

The drum, hammers, and ink ribbon work together.
If one part stops, the whole printing stops.
Together they make fast and strong printing possible.
These are the parts of drum printer that work like a team.

Speed of Drum Printers

Drum Printers are known for their very high printing speed. They can print many lines every minute because the drum keeps spinning without stopping. The hammers strike the paper very quickly while the drum moves. That is why Drum Printers were used for large reports and data printing in banks, offices, and computer centers.

Speed Features

There are Drum Printers that can print from 300 to 2000 lines in one minute.
It is one of the fastest types of impact printers ever made.
The speed depends on how many characters are placed around the drum.
More characters mean faster printing because less waiting is needed for each hammer to strike.
The drum rotates many times each second so the printing process feels continuous.
The control circuit keeps the timing of the hammers perfect to maintain the high speed.
There are some heavy models used in data centers that can print over 2500 lines in a minute.

Parts of Drum Printer

There are many important parts in a Drum Printer. Each part has a special job that helps the printer work fast and print clearly. Here are some of the main parts of drum printers.

Rotating drum
Print hammers
Ink ribbon
Paper feed system
Control circuit

Let’s explain the main parts of a printer in detail.

1. Rotating Drum

It is the main part that carries letters and numbers. The drum keeps turning when the printer runs. When the correct letter reaches the printing point, the hammer strikes it. That is how each character prints on paper.

2. Print Hammers

There are many hammers arranged in one straight line behind the paper. They strike the paper and ribbon against the drum. Every hammer hits at the right time to print the correct letter. It helps the printer make full lines quickly.

3. Ink Ribbon

It is a long strip of cloth that carries ink. It stays between the drum and the paper. When the hammer hits, the ink moves from the ribbon to the paper. The ribbon keeps moving slowly so fresh ink is always used for printing.

4. Paper Feed System

It is the part that moves the paper forward after each printed line. There are rollers that hold the paper and move it smoothly. It keeps the paper straight so that every line prints at the right place.

5. Control Circuit

It is the electronic part that gives signals to other parts. It reads printing data and tells which hammer should strike and when. It keeps the timing right between drum movement and hammer hits.

Types of Drum Printers

There are two main types of Drum Printers. Each one works in its own special way to print letters on paper.

Line Drum Printer
Character Drum Printer

Let’s explain the main types of drum printer in detail.

1. Line Drum Printer

A Line Drum Printer prints one full line at one time. It has many characters fixed around a fast-spinning drum. Small hammers strike when the right letters pass, printing a complete line together. It is very fast, strong, and mostly used in big offices for large printing jobs.

2. Character Drum Printer

A Character Drum Printer prints one character at a time. The drum turns until the correct letter reaches the print point, then the hammer hits and prints that letter. It is slower than the line type but simple, easy to use, and good for small printing tasks.

Features of Drum Printers

There are many features that make this printers unique and powerful. It is one of the earliest and fastest printing machines used in old computer systems. The Drum Printer is known for its strong body, quick speed, and long working life. It is made to print big reports and data without stopping. Even though it looks simple, it has many smart parts that help in fast and clear printing.

There is a rotating drum that holds letters and numbers on its surface.
It is very fast and can print one full line at one time.
The printing process uses small hammers that hit the drum to make letters appear on paper.
It is made of strong metal parts that help it work for many years without breaking.
There are fixed characters on the drum, so it cannot change font styles or print pictures.
It is known for its loud sound during printing because of the hammers hitting the drum.
It uses an ink ribbon that helps create dark and clear letters on plain paper.
The printed output is clean and easy to read with steady quality.
It is best for text printing like reports, bills, and data sheets.
It is reliable for heavy work and can print thousands of pages without stopping.
There are fewer printing errors because of its steady and balanced design.
It is not used for graphics or colorful prints but is great for plain documents.
It is one of the most durable printers ever made for early computers.

These are the most common characteristics of Drum Printer that made it a popular choice in the early days of computer printing. Even though new printers are faster today, the Drum Printer still holds a special place in the history of printing technology.

Uses of Drum Printer

This printer is a powerful machine that was used in many places for fast and steady printing. It is very helpful when large amounts of data need to be printed quickly. There are many uses of Drum Printer that made it popular in early computer systems and big offices.

Main Uses of Drum Printer

It is used in Post Offices to print letters, money order slips, and delivery records.
It is used in Banks to print account reports, customer lists, and transaction details.
It is used in Schools to print exam results, student data, and teacher records.
It is used in Factories to print product labels, inventory sheets, and production data.
It is used in Companies to print employee reports, bills, and financial summaries.
It is used in Shipping Companies to print delivery papers, order lists, and tracking reports.
It is used in Homes by people who work on old computer systems or keep data records.
It is used in Airports to print flight reports, passenger lists, and luggage slips.
It is used in Hospitals to print patient records, medicine lists, and lab reports.
It is used in Government Offices to print forms, bills, and daily reports.
It is used in Libraries to print book lists, membership details, and record sheets.
It is used in Supermarkets to print bills, product codes, and sales reports.

Difference Between Drum Printer and Chain Printer

Here is the different between Drum Printer and Chain Printer.

Feature or Aspect	Drum Printer	Chain Printer
Printing Mechanism	It is based on a rotating drum with characters on its surface	It is based on a moving chain with characters attached in sequence
Speed	They are very fast and can print one full line at one time	They are fast but slightly slower than drum printers for some reports
Noise Level	It is very noisy because of hammers hitting the drum	It is noisy but usually less loud than drum printers
Character Options	There are fixed characters on the drum so fonts cannot change	There are characters on the chain so font options are limited but can be slightly flexible
Durability	It is strong and can work for long hours without breaking	It is also durable but may need more maintenance than drum printers
Usage	They are used for large reports and text printing in offices and banks	They are used for similar bulk printing jobs and text reports
Printing Quality	They are consistent with clear text output	They are consistent but may have slightly uneven lines if chain speed changes
Applications	It is mostly for early computer text reports and bills	It is mostly for similar early data printing in offices and banks

Advantages and Disadvantages of Drum Printers

Slow printers can be frustrating. This printers were fast and reliable, but they had some limits. The Pros and Cons of Drum Printers show this clearly.

Advantages of Drum Printer

Drum Printers were very fast and strong. There are many benefits of Drum Printer that made them perfect for large printing jobs.

Pros of Drum Printer
It is very fast and prints one full line at one time. There is strong metal design that helps it last for many years. It is best for bulk printing and long reports. It gives clear and readable text output. It is dependable for nonstop printing work. It is easy to use with simple paper and ink ribbon. It can handle large data reports without slowing down. It is less likely to make printing errors. It works well in large offices and banks. It is one of the most durable impact printers ever made.

Pros of Drum Printer

It is very fast and prints one full line at one time.
There is strong metal design that helps it last for many years.
It is best for bulk printing and long reports.
It gives clear and readable text output.
It is dependable for nonstop printing work.
It is easy to use with simple paper and ink ribbon.
It can handle large data reports without slowing down.
It is less likely to make printing errors.
It works well in large offices and banks.
It is one of the most durable impact printers ever made.

Disadvantages of Drum Printers

Drawbacks of Drum Printers make them noisy and slow for modern use. They cannot print images or change fonts.

Cons of Drum Printer
It is very noisy while printing because of the hammers hitting the drum. It cannot print images or graphics. It has fixed characters so it cannot change font style or size. It is heavy and takes more space in offices. It needs more power to run for long hours. It is costly to maintain and repair. It is not suitable for modern color printing. It needs skilled workers for proper setup and handling. It does not print on different types of paper easily. It has been replaced by faster and quieter printers.

Cons of Drum Printer

It is very noisy while printing because of the hammers hitting the drum.
It cannot print images or graphics.
It has fixed characters so it cannot change font style or size.
It is heavy and takes more space in offices.
It needs more power to run for long hours.
It is costly to maintain and repair.
It is not suitable for modern color printing.
It needs skilled workers for proper setup and handling.
It does not print on different types of paper easily.
It has been replaced by faster and quieter printers.

FAQs About Drum Printer

Here are some common questions about Drum Printer asked by beginners.

What are the main parts of a Drum Printer?

They are the drum, print hammers, ink ribbon, paper feed system, and control circuit. Each part has its own job to make printing fast and steady.

What are the advantages of a Drum Printer?

They are very fast for printing full lines. They are strong and can work for long hours without stopping. They are reliable for heavy office work and create clear and readable text.

What are the disadvantages of a Drum Printer?

There are some limitations. It cannot print pictures or change font styles easily. They are large and noisy and need more space in offices.

Where were Drum Printers used?

They are used in banks, data centers, and offices. They were ideal for printing large reports, bills, and other text documents quickly.

Is a Drum Printer still used today?

They are mostly replaced by modern printers like laser and inkjet printers. They are now part of computer history but are still interesting for learning about old technology.

What is the printing speed of a Drum Printer?

It is very fast and can print hundreds of lines in one minute depending on the model. It is designed for bulk printing where speed is very important.

Why was the Drum Printer popular?

There are many reasons. It is fast, durable, and reliable. It made large volume printing easy and consistent. It is easy to maintain and works for long hours without problems.

What type of paper does a Drum Printer use?

It is best with plain paper. They are also compatible with continuous forms used in old offices. They do not work well with thick or colored sheets.

Conclusion

Drum Printers are one of the earliest high speed printers used in computer history. They are fast, strong, and reliable which made them popular in offices, banks, and data centers. They create clear and readable text and are perfect for printing large reports and bills. Although modern printers have replaced them, Drum Printers are still important for understanding the development of printing technology. Their design, speed, and durability show how early machines solved big printing problems efficiently.