Product Chronology

To go through a brief chronology of Canon’s printing and copying history - Canon successfully developed the laser beam printer in 1975. In 1982, the PC-10 and PC-20, the world's first personal copying machines with replaceable cartridges, were introduced. Canon, in collaboration with IBM Japan, Ltd., developed the world’s first notebook PC with an installed printer in 1993.

Bubble Jet Discovery

One of canon’s most interesting discoveries in the field of printing technology was the bubble jet printing technology. Researchers while working on the inkjet printing technology hit upon the discovery when a hot solder gun accidentally touched the tip of an ink-filled needle due to which ink sprayed out! Therefore, the researchers concluded that heat instead of pressure could be used to eject the ink on the media. The development of this technology gave the world it’s first bubblejet printer in 1981.

Laser Beam Printing

Another important technology in the field of printing by Canon was the development of laser beam printers (LBP). It started research on laser as a means of writing as early as 1962. However it was unable to develop a practical laser source and hence could not acquire the patents it had applied for due to which the research and development was suspended.

In the 1970s when lasers came into practical application fields Canon resumed its research on laser beam printers and developed the LBP’s of today combining their electro photographic technologies with laser technology.

The development of lasers imprinting also gave birth to a number of high-speed copy machines by Canon such as The NP-8500, the world's first retention-type copying machine in 1978.

The NP-8500 SUPER, an ultrahigh speed-copying machine capable of producing 135 copies per minute 1981; and the PC-10 and PC-20, the world's first personal copying machines with replaceable cartridges were introduced by Canon in 1982.