Toner facts for kids
Toner is a special powder used in machines like photocopiers and Laser printers. It helps these machines put words and pictures onto paper. Long ago, toner was just black carbon powder. Today, it's a mix of carbon, a type of plastic that melts easily (called thermoplastic), and other materials.
In older machines, people had to pour the toner into a part of the machine called a reservoir. Now, toner comes in sealed containers called cartridges. These cartridges are often made in a special way by each company. Even though they are designed to be unique, some companies refill empty cartridges. When you print, the toner particles melt from the heat inside the printer. This melting makes them stick firmly to the paper.
How Toner Can Affect Your Health
Toner is a very fine dust. Because it's so light, it can float in the air for a long time. Breathing in this dust can be a bit like breathing in any fine dust. It can be uncomfortable for anyone. However, it can be especially bothersome for people who have breathing problems. This includes conditions like asthma or bronchitis.
Toner and the Environment
Many companies that sell laser printers also offer a way to send back empty toner cartridges. These cartridges are often cleaned and refilled with new toner. This helps to reduce waste and is good for the environment. Today, many toner cartridges have small computer chips inside them. These chips tell the printer how much toner is left. When a cartridge is refilled, these chips also need to be reset or reprogrammed.
Images for kids
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Colored toner container
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The toner cartridge is a kind of toner container, that is also a consumable component of the printer.
See also
In Spanish: Tóner para niños
