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Glossary Terms starting with P

Definitions of terms starting with P

p
1.  Staple position appropriate for a document finished in a 'portrait' orientation.
page description language
1.  A language recognized by computers and printers that define the physical characteristics of a page, including fonts, graphics, margins, spacing and...
page storage
1.  The number of pages a fax machine can hold in memory in the event that the machine runs out of paper.
pages per minute
1.  The number of A4- or Letter-size pages a device can output per minute.
panel
1.  Exterior cover of machine.
pantone
1.  A spot color matching system supported by most computer desktop publishing and graphics design software.
paper
1.  A form of medium that is used by printers, copiers, multi-function units, etc.
paper capacity
1.  Maximum number of sheets of paper a copier can store in the paper tray.
paper feed roller
1.  The rubber rollers that take the paper up out of the cassette or tray.
paper feed tire
1.  The rubber rollers that take the paper up out of the cassette or tray.
paper guides
1.  Adjustable plastic dividers that help hold paper in the proper alignment in a printer's paper feed tray. These guides can be moved to fit different...
paper pickup roller
1.  The rubber rollers that take the paper up out of the cassette or tray.
paper stopper
1.  Sharp terminology for registration roller or registration shutter.
paper take-up roller
1.  The rubber rollers that take the paper up out of the cassette or tray.
paper tray
1.  Removable cassette; where blank paper is stored for copying.
paper weight
1.  Thickness/ weight of paper(s) that is recommended for use in the copier. Usually measured in pounds or GSM (grams per square meter). Typical copy...
parallel communications
1.  A method of sending data from one computer to another over several wires simultaneously, which results in faster transfer rates.
parallel interface
1.  Interface standard for parallel data transmission by cable (originally designed for use with Centronics printers). The transmission of several bits...
parallel port
1.  A port on the back of your computer where you can plug in a scanner if the serial (COM) port is unavailable. The parallel port is also often used...
pause key
1.  Will usually interrupt operation of machine, including exposure settings, reduction, sorting etc. Also described as the "interrupt" key.
PBX
1.  An acronym for private branch exchange. A PBX telephone system is an in-house telephone system that allows internal calling within an...
pc
1.  An acronym for photoconductor.
PC
1.  An acronym for personal computer. PC's are computers that are designed for one user. (Also known as work stations).
PCL
1.  An acronym for Printer Command Language. PCL is a page description language that is used by most Non-PostScript printers.
2.  An acronym for preclean lamp.
PCX file
1.  A graphics file format used by many popular paint programs, such as PC paintbrush.
PDF file
1.  An acronym for Portable Document Format. A PDF is a document file format originally developed by Adobe and later incorporated into an ISO standard...
PDL
1.  An acronym for print description language.
Peer-to-peer
1.  Most basic network system. Does not require NIC. Not suitable for large networks.
peta
1.  A prefix meaning 1,000,000,000,000,000 (one quadrillion). For example, petabit (Pb).
PFA
1.  An acronym for perfluorine alcoxl. It resins (fuser heat roller coating).
photo cell
1.  A device which reacts to light by changing it's voltage output.
photo interrupter
1.  In most scenarios, a black plastic lever, the LED, and the photo-diode are all one unit. When a piece of paper passes through the fax machine, it...
photo mode
1.  A resolution setting that uses varying shades of grey for the best representation of photographs.
photo transistor
1.  A transistor which reacts to light by changing it's output voltage.
PI
1.  An acronym for photo interrupter. In most scenarios, a black plastic lever, the LED, and the photo-diode are all one unit. When a piece of paper...
picker finger
1.  Fuser pawl or drum separator.
pickup roller
1.  The rubber rollers that take the paper up out of the cassette or tray.
pickup tire
1.  The rubber rollers that take the paper up out of the cassette or tray.
PictBridge
1.  PictBridge allows digital cameras, camcorders and other image-capture devices to connect and print directly to photo printers and other output...
piercing tap
1.  Another term for AUI.
piezoelectric inkjets
1.  Most commercial and industrial ink jet printers use a piezoelectric material in an ink-filled chamber behind each nozzle instead of a heating...
pitch
1.  Distance between successive points. Print pitch is a horizontal measure of the number of characters per inch.
pixel
1.  One dot of an image that is scanned digitally. The basic unit of programmable color on a computer display or in a computer image.
pixmap
1.  A bitmap is an uncompressed image format. In a bitmap image, each pixel corresponds to one or more bits in memory. The number of bits per pixel...
PLA
1.  Polylactic acid. A plant-based filament material used in 3D printing. PLA is made from renewable natural resources such as corn starch and sugar...
platen
1.  Glass that the document is placed on for copying/scanning if not fed through document feeder.
platen cover
1.  Item that covers original document and platen glass if no document feeder present.
platen glass
1.  Glass that the original document is placed on to make a copy.
platen memory
1.  Allows original (thick, odd-sized, delicate) to be scanned into memory one by one from the platen before output is requested.
plot
1.  A graphical representation of data used to show a relationship between two or more variables. Types of plots include scatter plots, histograms,...
plotter
1.  A type of printer that works by moving a pen or instrument across the surface of a large piece of paper. Plotters are designed to print vector...
PM
1.  An acronym for preventive maintenance.
PM count
1.  Number of copies/prints since the last preventive maintenance.
PM cycle
1.  Amount of copies/prints between scheduled PMs.
point size
1.  The height of characters in a font, usually measured in points. Fonts are often referred to in terms of size (eg. 16 point Helvetica) which is the...
polling
1.  The ability of the fax machine to call remote locations and to retrieve any waiting fax messages.
port
1.  parallel, serial, ethernet, etc.
port connection
1.  A communication link between hardware components. Types of connections include firewire, parallel, USB, serial, and SCSI. See also firewire, USB,...
port polling
1.  A procedure performed by Windows® each time the computer is booted and each time a print job is sent from an application. The operating system...
portrait
1.  Pertains to the positioning of an original (ex. 8 1/2 x 11) on the platen so that its longer side (ex. 11" of an 8 1/2 x 11 document) is the...
PostScript
1.  PostScript is a programming language that describes the appearance of a printed page. PostScript handles industry-standard, scalable typeface in...
PostScript printer description
1.  An acronym for PostScript printer description. A file that describes the fonts, paper sizes, resolution, and other capabilities that are standard...
pot
1.  Potentiometer; variable resistor. This refers to an adjustment; usually performed by the technician.
power source board
1.  Terminology for DC power supply.
power supply
1.  The unit which brings in AC wall voltage and converts it to the various voltages that the fax machine components and circuits need to operate such...
power surge
1.  A short burst of voltage which can damage electronic components. The most common component that is susceptible to damage is the power supply.
PPD
1.  An acronym for PostScript printer description. A file that describes the fonts, paper sizes, resolution, and other capabilities that are standard...
PPM
1.  An acronym for pages per minute.
PPS
1.  Pulses per second. In rotary dialing phone systems this is known as the amount of clicks that you hear each second when dialing. In the U.S. always...
preclean lamp
1.  Used to discharge the drum.
pressure fusing
1.  A fusing system that uses pressure only (without any heat). In pressure fusing, there are two steel fuser rollers that are pressed together with...
pretravel
1.  The distance of the actuator movement from free or resting position to operating position.
preventive maintenance
1.  Scheduled routine cleaning and replacement of certain items; designed to minimize future breakdowns.
primary charge
1.  Charge corona. (Canon terminology).
primary colors
1.  The dominant regions of the visible spectrum--red, green, and blue--and their opposite colors cyan, magenta, and yellow.
primary corona
1.  Name used by Canon for the charge corona.
priming
1.  The terminology for installing a new drum with starting powder (zinc stearate) to prevent the new drum and blade from binding up and causing damage...
print buffer
1.  A separate, standalone print spooler with its own built-in memory that connects a computer and printing hardware. The print buffer can spool print...
print driver
1.  A specialized type of software that converts an application's print request into a language that is recognized by the printer hardware. Examples...
print head
1.  The component in inkjet printing responsible for placing the ink on the paper.
print reduction
1.  Reduces the size of faxes received.
print server
1.  A computer or device that is connected to one or more printers and to client computers over a network, and can accept print jobs from the computers...
print widths
1.  Refers to the selection of width sizes available; narrow, standard, wide.
print zone
1.  The portion of the paper that the printer is capable of printing on.
printer booth
1.  A box made of fiberglass or plexiglas, insulated to reduce noise, that encloses a printer. A printer booth is opened to add paper and retrieve...
Printer Control Language
1.  Also known as PCL. A set of printer commands that provide access to printer features. PCL printers are compatible only with MS-DOS and Microsoft...
printer emulation
1.  A printer emulation enables a newer printer to "act like" an older, widely used printer so it can recognize and print documents formatted for that...
printer language
1.  A set of commands used to communicate with printers. Each printer company has its own language.
printhead
1.  The component in inkjet printing responsible for placing the ink on the paper.
Priport™
1.  Ricoh trade name for Digital Duplicators.
privileges
1.  A Windows® feature that enables the system administrator to change the user privileges for a specific printer. Privilege settings can prevent...
processor
1.  Also known as CPU.
protocol monitor
1.  Optional printout of a fax machine that lists the conditions of the phone line during recent communications and detailed report of the...
protocols
1.  A set of communications conventions which depict the format, content, and speed of messages/data over a network, i.e. EtherTalk, TCP/IP, SPXlIPX, etc.
PS
1.  An acronym for paper stopper (as in paper stopper roller or paper stopper clutch). Terminology used by Sharp for registration.
2.  An acronym for PostScript. See PostScript for definition.
PSB
1.  An acronym for power supply board.
PSTN
1.  Public switching telephone network. Standard phone lines that require no special procedures.
PSU
1.  An acronym for power supply unit.
PT disk
1.  A device, usually a rotating disk with small holes and a photointerrupter. As the disk rotates the photo interrupter's light beam is observed and...
pulse
1.  Rotary dialing.
punching/ punch
1.  Some sorters, often referred to as finishers, will punch collated and stapled copies for ease of filing e.g. 2/3/4-hole.
PWB
1.  Printed wiring board. Another name for a circuit board.