Laser 'unprinter' vapourizes photocopied ink from paper

Note: This is not the actual laser unprinter.

London Researchers have developed a new laser powered device to “unphotocopy” toner ink from paper. The process, developed by engineers at the University of Cambridge, involves using short laser pulses to erase words and images by heating the printed material to the point that they vaporise, the BBC reported.

The researchers have insisted that it works with commonly used papers and toner inks and is more eco-friendly than recycling. “When you fire the laser, it hits the thin toner layer and heats it up until the point that you vaporise it,” the team’s lead author, David Leal-Ayala said. “Toner is mostly composed of carbon and a plastic polymer. It’s the polymer in the toner that is vaporised.”

The engineers acknowledge that they are not the first ones to have thought about this idea. But they asserted that others who have attempted to solve the problem have found that they damaged and/or discoloured the paper in the process, or needed specially formulated toner.

After several tests Leal-Ayala and his colleagues discovered that the best setting was green laser pulses, lasting just four billionths of a second in duration, which removed all but a hint of the print.

The engineers now plan to develop a prototype device suitable for an office.

-ANI