Zebra TLP 2844-Z
Contents
1. Pin No Description 1 Not used 2 RXD receive data input to the printer 3 TXD transmit data output from the printer DTR data terminal ready output from the printer controls when the S host may send data 5 Chassis ground 6 DSR data set ready input to the printer 7 RTS request to send output from the printer always in the ACTIVE condition when the printer is turned on 8 Not Used 9 5 V 0 75 A fused The maximum current available through the serial and or parallel port is not to exceed a total of 0 75 Amps When XON XOFF handshaking is selected data flow is controlled by the ASCII control codes DCI XON and DC3 XOFF The DTR control lead will have no effect Interconnecting to DTE Devices The printer is configured as data terminal equipment DTE To connect the printer to other DTE devices such as the serial port of a personal computer use an RS 232 null modem crossover cable Interconnecting to DCE Devices When the printer is connected via its RS 232 interface to data communication equipment DCE such as a modem a STANDARD RS 232 straight through interface cable must be used 50 980410 001 Rev B Connecting the Printer to a DTE Device DB 25S DB 9P DB 9S DB 9P Connector Connector Connector Connector to DTE Device PC to Printer to DTE Device PC to Printer N N Gem JO Oo P WH OMONOORWN oO JO OP h OMNOORWNh Connecting the Printer to2. lt lt a gt Head Up Sensor Lock down Screw Lengt A e e Gap S Ay Bor K Media Guide Sensor SEENEN A AB Adjuster De d S IHN Lh s Guides Peel Off Option Platen Roller 4 980410 001 Rev B Closing the printer For TLP printers hold the top cover and press the kick stand cover lock to release Lower the top cover The ribbon carriage automatically folds up into place Press down until the cover snaps closed 980410 001 Rev B O Reporting Damage If you discover damage or missing parts Immediately notify and file a damage report with the shipping company Zebra Technologies Corporation is not responsible for any damage incurred during shipment of the printer and will not cover the repair of this damage under its warranty policy Keep the carton and all packing material for inspection Notify the authorized reseller Related Documentation Depending on the options you have ordered or choose to use with your new printer you will find the following documents helpful ZPL II Programming Guide Universal Serial Bus Specification available from the USB Implementation Forum ZebraNet PrintServer II for Ethernet Networks Installation and Operation Guide customer order number 467 16L 980410 001 Rev B This section describes how to set up your printer for the first time and use the most common operating procedures for loading media in tear off mode and load
3. Feed Button Modes on page 45 Recalibration PRINTER CONFIGURATION Zebra Technologies ZTC TLP2844 Z 200dpi DARKNESS TEAR OFF PRINT MODE MEDIA TYPE SENSOR TYPE PRINT METHOD PRINT WIDTH LABEL LENGTH MAXIMUM LENGTH USB COMM PARALLEL COMM SERIAL COMM BAUD DATA BITS PARITY HOST HANDSHAKE PROTOCOL NETWORK ID COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL PREFIX FORMAT PREFIX DELIMITER CHAR ZPL MODE MEDIA POWER UP HEAD CLOSE BACKFEED LABEL TOP LEFT POSITION MARK MED S MEDIA LED RIBBON LED MARK LED MODES ENABLED MODES DISABLED RESOLUTION V45 11 1 FIRMWARE v09 00 0 31 HARDWARE ID CONFIGURATION RAM MEMORY CARD ONBOARD FLASH FORMAT CONVERT TWINAX COAX ID ZEBRA NET II FIRMWARE IN THIS PRINTER IS COPYRIGHTED Recalibrate the printer if it starts to display unusual symptoms such as skipping labels See Auto Calibration on page 13 980410 001 Rev B 43 Resetting the Factory Default Values Sometimes resetting the printer to the factory defaults solves some of the problems Follow the four flash sequence instructions in Feed Button Modes on page 45 Communications Diagnostics If there is a problem transferring data between the computer and printer try putting the printer in the communications diagnostics mode The printer will print the ASCII characters and their respective hexadecimal values a sample is shown below for any data received from the host computer To find out how ref
4. Part 980410 001 Rev B TLP amp LP 2844 7 Desktop Printers User Guide W Proprietary Statement This manual contains proprietary information of Zebra Technologies Corporation It is intended solely for the information and use of parties operating and maintaining the equipment described herein Such proprietary information may not be used reproduced or disclosed to any other parties for any other purpose without the expressed written permission of Zebra Technologies Corporation Product Improvements Continuous improvement of products is a policy of Zebra Technologies Corporation All specifications and signs are subject to change without notice FCC Compliance Statement NOTE This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that the interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or mor
5. z Universal Serial Bus USB parallel and serial USB ethernet using the Internal ZebraNet PrintServer IITM and serial Each specific interface option USB parallel ethernet serial is discussed individually You must supply the required interface cable for your application CAUTIONS Keep the power switch in the OFF position when attaching the interface cable The power supply barrel connector must be inserted into the power supply receptacle on the back of the printer before connecting or disconnecting the com munications cables This printer complies with FCC Rules and Regula tions Part 15 for Class B Equipment using fully Shielded six foot data cables Use of longer cables or unshielded cables may increase radiated emissions above the Class B limits Interface Cable Requirements Data cables must be of fully shielded construction and fitted with metal or metalized connector shells Shielded cables and connectors are required to prevent radiation and reception of electrical noise To minimize electrical noise pickup in the cable Keep data cables as short as possible 6 1 83 m recommended Do not tightly bundle the data cables with power cords Do not tie the data cables to power wire conduits 16 980410 001 Rev B USB Interface Requirements Universal Serial Bus version 1 1 provides a high speed interface that is compatible with your existing PC hardware USB s plug and play de
6. 3 Flashing Green Normal Operation 4 Flashing Red Stopped 5 Double Flashing Green Paused 6 Solid Amber Various 7 Alternately Flashing Green and Red Needs Service 8 Resolutions 1 The printer is not receiving power zm Have you turned on the printer power z Check power connections from the wall outlet to the power supply and from the power supply to the printer 2 The printer ts on and in an idle state m No action necessary 980410 001 Rev B 3 3 The printer has failed its power on self test POST If this error occurs right after you turn on the printer contact an authorized reseller for assistance There is a shortage of memory m If this error occurs after you have been printing turn the printer power off and on Then resume printing 4 The printer ts receiving data m As soon as all of the data has been received the status LED will turn green then the printer will automatically resume operation 5 Either the media or ribbon ts out m Load a roll of media following the instructions in Loading the Media on page 9 Then press the feed button to resume printing m Load a roll of ribbon following the instructions in Loading the Ribbon on page 12 Then press the feed button to resume printing The print head Is open m Close the top cover Then press the feed button to resume printing 6 The printer is paused Press the feed button to resume printing 38 980410 001 Rev
7. Adj s ne the Print Speed arena ses cued aden eee nes oe RH 20 Operation amp Options AiG Va Pn tr oe ee ee ne E ie RAR E eae oe 2d Replacing Supplies e EE Ne eria Aa EE E Brna 22 Adding a New Transfer Ribbon i264 Zeg ass u00 420000 22 Replacing a Partially Used Transfer Ribbon 22 Printing in Peel Mode u 0 200 0 E b Bo v 25 Printing on Fan Fold Media 2 22 04 n K b k nA 24 Using the Cutter Option zod dapradosn s ao as vh slad kvaka 23 Printing on Linerless Labels enc orere nee en ederra 26 Maintenance EE ins on dE E EE an zd hd na har 21 Print Head Considerations 2442424 nen rg ES 28 Media Path Consideratlons 02020 eee eee 28 Cleaning Card Considerations 28 Platen Considerations A ha honba ebe A e EA EE 29 Bol Tee zoo nenne O n n v 29 Rep eine the Platen ns r E o 30 Re Place the Print E conan en a Ghee Born ro Bees 31 Direct Thermal LP Model z 4 6244540464 cu mau 440 dod ous obs 2 Thermal Transfer TLP Model ca os nao kobka od 24020040045 ka 34 Troubleshooting Re OWN ee anne Gee en een 37 Print Quality Problems A a s k k kd db n n d b ehe 40 ENEE E CT e EE 42 Troubleshooting Tests ca ee dree ama ee 43 Printing a Configuration Label 43 RCCANDIMUOM sane s Grtaaua AE EE v 43 Resetting the Factory Default Values we eee 44 Communications Diagnostics nu sa s susanne dd R E 44 Peed Bunton Modos Ee REES 45 yI 980410 001 Rev B Appendix ege age 47 Unive
8. B 7 The print head s under temperature Continue printing while the print head reaches the correct operating temperature The print head ts over temperature z Printing will stop until the print head cools to an acceptable printing temperature When it does the printer will automatically resume operation 8 FLASH memory is not programmed Return the printer to an authorized reseller 980410 001 Rev B 39 Print Quality Problems No print on the label You must use the correct media for the method of printing you require When printing without a r bbon you must use direct thermal media When using ribbon you must use thermal transfer media The printer s ribbon sensor detects motion of the supply spindle Is the media loaded correctly Follow the instructions in Loading the Media on page 9 The printed image does not look right The print head is dirty Clean the print head according to the instructions on page 35 The print head is under temperature Adjust the print darkness and or print speed Refer to the six flash sequence in Feed Button Modes on page 45 or the PR and SD commands in the ZPL II Programming Guide The media being used is incompatible with the printer Be sure to use the recommended media for your application and always use Zebra approved labels and tags There are long tracks of missing print blank vertical lines on several labels z The print head
9. a DCE Device DB 25S DB 9P DB 9S DB 9P Connector Connector Connector Connector to DCE Device to Printer to DCE Device to Printer CT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OO DO rd OO P Ob gt oO OO P GObh gt 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 20 22 980410 001 Rev B 51 92 980410 001 Rev B N OWA Zebra Technologies Corporation
10. possibility of such damages Because some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages the above limitation may not apply to you Trademarks The Zebra logo and the zebra head design are both registered trademarks and TLP 2844 Z and LP 2844 Z are service marks of ZIH Corp Windows and MS DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders Copyrights This copyrighted manual and the label printer described herein are owned by Zebra Technologies Corporation All rights are reserved Unauthorized reproduction of this manual or the software in the label printer may result in imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to 10 000 17 U S C 506 Copyright violators may be subject to civil liability 2004 ZIH Corp All rights reserved 980410 001 Rev B 980410 001 Rev B gt gt Je Battery The main printed circuit board assembly includes a three volt lithium battery CAUTION Risk of explosion if battery is replaced with an incorrect type Note Recycle batteries according to local your guidelines and regulations Shock Hazard The printer and power supply should never be operated in a location where either one can get wet Personal injury could result Media and Ribbon Always use high quality approved labels tags and ribbons If adhesive backed labels are used that DO NOT
11. side of the carriage 3 Pull the print head and bracket forward 4 Use a 2 Phillips driver to remove the screw that holds the ground wire 5 Unplug both bundles of print head wires from their connectors 34 980410 001 Rev B Replacing the ILP Print Head Continued Assembly The new print head comes with the clip and ground screw attached 1 Align the print head and bracket to plug the left and right connectors into the black and white wire bundles 2 Attach the ground wire and secure it with the screw Use a 2 Phillips driver to tighten it 3 Insert the bracket pegs into the left side of the carriage 4 Align the right side of the bracket and insert the print head clip through the right side of the ribbon carriage into the bracket 5 Slip the left end of the print head spring into the left side of the ribbon carriage then slide the right end into the other side The angle of the V fits into the indent on top of the print head bracket 6 Clean the print head with the cleaning pen Reload media and ribbon Plug in the power cord turn on the printer and run an automatic or manual calibration to ensure proper function 980410 001 Rev B 29 36 980410 001 Rev B What the Status Light is Telling You Status LED Printer For a Resolution Condition and Color Status Refer to number Off Off 1 Solid Green On 2 Flashing Amber Stopped
12. speed needs to be adjusted refer to the Print Rate APR command in the ZPL II Programming Guide 20 980410 001 Rev B This section helps you get the most from your printer You must use programming to control many of the printer s functions A few examples m The JL command controls label length u The XA MTD XZ command changes the printing mode to direct thermal the XASMTT XZ command changes the printing mode to thermal transfer a The XA JUS XZ command saves the new settings to flash memory For detailed information about creating labels using ZPL II refer to the ZPL II Programming Guide or visit our web site at www zebra com To improve print quality changing both print speed and density may be required to achieve the desired results Your application s printer driver provides control of the speed and heat density Thermal Printing The print head becomes hot while printing To protect from damaging the print head and risk of personal injury avoid touching the print head Use only the cleaning pen to perform maintenance The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the print head or electronic components used in this device You must observe static safe procedures when working with the print head or the electronic components under the top cover You must use the correct media for the type of printing you require When p
13. to end NOTE You do not have to turn off the printer to do this As Print head l l l necessary If print quality remains poor after cleaning try the or after Save a Print Head cleaning film to remove buildup every five without damaging the print head Call your authorized rolls of reseller for more information media Manually rotate the platen roller Clean it thoroughly Platen roller with 70 isopropyl alcohol and a cleaning swab cleaning card or lint free cloth SE Det Clean it thoroughly with 70 isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab BE Terba Clean it thoroughly with 70 isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab As needed Exterior Water dampened cloth Interior Brush or air blow Cutter Use tweezers to remove scraps 980410 001 Rev B 2 Adhesives and coatings of media can over time transfer onto the printer components along the media path including the platen and print head This build up can accumulate dust and debris Failure to clean the print head media path and platen roller could result in inadvertent loss of labels label jams and possible damage to the printer Print Head Considerations Always use a new cleaning pen on the print head an old pen carries contaminants from its previous uses that may damage the print head Media Path Considerations Use a cleaning swab or pen to remove debris dust or crust that has built up on the holders guides and media path surfaces 1 2 3
14. toward rear to remove slack from the ribbon 3 Close the top cover Remember that you need to release the cover lock lower the top cover and press down until the latches snap into place 12 980410 001 Rev B Auto Calibration NOTE If you are using pre printed labels pre printed label backing or continuous media see Manual Calibration on page 42 An auto calibration 1s performed when the printer is turned on if media 1s loaded or after a media error 1s cleared When it is auto calibrating the printer sets the sensor levels for and determines the length of the label you are using If the status light flashes red refer to Manual Calibration on page 42 980410 001 Rev B 13 Operator Controls Power Switch Press up to turn ON or down to turn OFF the printer CAUTION The power should be turned off before connecting or disconnecting the communications and power cables Feed Button Forces the printer to feed one blank label Takes the printer out of a pause condition The printer is put into pause by either aZPL II command or an error condition See What the Status Light is Telling You on page 37 Use the Feed button for printer setup and status see Feed Button Modes on page 45 Status Light Functions as a printer operational indicator see What the Status Light is Telling You on page 37 Feed Button Status Light Power Switch 14 98041
15. 0 001 Rev B Printing a Test Printout PRINTER CONFIGURATION Zebra Technologies ZTC TLP2844 Z 200dpi DARKNESS TEAR OFF PRINT MODE MEDIA TYPE SENSOR TYPE PRINT METHOD PRINT WIDTH LABEL LENGTH MAXIMUM LENGTH USB COMM PARALLEL COMM SERIAL COMM BAUD DATA BITS PARITY HOST HANDSHAKE PROTOCOL NETWORK ID COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL PREFIX FORMAT PREFIX DELIMITER CHAR ZPL MODE MEDIA POWER UP HEAD CLOSE BACKFEED LABEL TOP LEFT POSITION MARK MED S MEDIA LED RIBBON LED MARK LED MODES ENABLED MODES DISABLED RESOLUTION V45 11 1 FIRMWARE v09 00 0 31 HARDWARE ID CONFIGURATION RAM z MEMORY CARD z ONBOARD FLASH FORMAT CONVERT TWINAX COAX ID ZEBRA NET II FIRMWARE IN THIS PRINTER IS COPYRIGHTED Before you connect the printer to your computer make sure that the printer is in proper working order You can do this by printing a configuration printout 1 Make sure the media 1s properly loaded and the top cover of the printer is closed Then turn the printer power on if you have not already done so 2 When the status light is solid green press and hold the feed button until the status light flashes once 3 Release the feed button The printer prints configuration information on the available media If you cannot get this printout refer to Troubleshooting on page 37 980410 001 Rev B lo Hooking Up the Printer and Computer Your printer will have one of two combinations of interfaces
16. 410 001 Rev B 41 Manual Calibration Manual calibration is recommended whenever you are using pre printed media or if the printer will not correctly auto cal brate 1 2 3 Make sure media is loaded Turn on the printer power Press and hold the feed button until the green status LED flashes once then twice Release the feed button The printer will set the media sensor for the label backing being used After it is done making this adjustment the roll will automatically feed until a label is positioned at the print head A profile of the media sensor settings similar to the example below will print Upon completion the printer will save the new settings in memory and the printer is ready for normal operation Press the feed button One entire blank label will feed If this does not happen try defaulting refer to the four flash sequence in Feed Button Modes on page 45 and recalibrating the printer NOTE Performing a manual calibration disables the auto calibration MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIN IA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA function To return to auto calibration default the printer see the four flash sequence in Feed Button Modes on page 45 080 060 ae on ID 42 980410 001 Rev B Troubleshooting Tests Printing a Configuration Label To print out a listing of the printer s current configuration refer to the one flash sequence in
17. Barrel Power Connector Cord Power Switch Power Supply Receptacle 8 980410 001 Rev B Loading Roll Media When you load media you must place the roll on the media hangers and then adjust the media guides You must use the correct media for the type of printing you require When printing without a ribbon you must use direct thermal media When using ribbon you must use thermal transfer media The printer s ribbon sensor detects motion of the supply spindle Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment Whether your roll media 1s inside or outside wound you load it into the printer the same way 1 Open the printer Remember that you need to pull the release levers toward the front of the printer 2 Remove the outside length of media During shipment the roll may become dirty when handled or dusty when stored Removing the outside length avoids dragging adhesive or dirty media between the print head and platen 3 Separate and hold open the media hangers 4 Orient the media roll so that its printing surface will be up as it passes over the platen 5 Lower the roll between the hangers and close them onto the core 980410 001 Rev B 9 Adjusting the Guides The adjustable guides direct the media toward the platen and print head Open the media guides by turning the guide adjuster knob to the rear Thread the media throush the guides Close the media guides by turning the guide
18. If sticking or jamming continues even after cleaning you must replace the platen The platen can be cleaned with a fiber free swab such as a Texpad swab or a lint free clean damp cloth very lightly moistened with medical grade alcohol 70 pure or better 1 Open the media door and remove the media 2 Clean the platen surface with the alcohol moistened swab Rotate the platen while swabbing Repeat this process two to three times with a new swab to remove residual contaminates Adhesives and oils for example may be thinned by the initial cleaning but not completely removed 3 Discard the cleaning swab or pen after use Allow the printer to dry for one minute before loading labels Lubrication No lubricating agents of any kind should be used on this printer Some commercially available lubricants if used will damage the finish and the mechanical parts inside the printer 980410 001 Rev B 29 Replacing the Platen Removal Open the printer and remove any media stylus such as Using a pointed P small slot head screwdriver knife unhook the tabs on the right and left sides forward tweezers or razor 3 Then rotate them e 2 Lift the platen out of the printer bottom frame Assembly Sc 44611 V Ya U d CV op KLAR d A A A wT U Y da AALA Make sure the right bearing is on the shaft of the platen A Align the platen with the gear to the left and lower it i
19. Mod s o PING e eege AE O O DA on ne 7 Attaching Power Supply nee cna rennen nee urn 8 Loading Roll Media gt sri b ba sau dd k abd hk ko k non enaages 9 Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment 9 Adj sting the Guides s n note dans cane oe ho S ia ni 10 Loadme RiDDO ras sova a nee iotas neda erinnerte 11 Install the Ribbon Supply Roll eee eee 1 Install EE RE E zod ah 11 Attach and Tighten the Ribbon eee 12 Anto alba On ae crete onan EE EE E Ged eG eee ere 13 Operator e Le CHE 14 Power SWIICH oc pat ae u Panda to eee E 14 Feed Buon acs vad seen ba b v b dvo na b E 14 Stas TAs on o o k b na o eo boda S so 14 Kr 34404600 denn banca uated hese sawanaas ee 15 Hooking Up the Printer and Computer rg hovo b RENE E 16 Interface Cable Requirements n n A EE Renee 16 USB Interface Requirements EE e EE EE gene 17 Parallel Interface Requirements 0 0 eee ees 17 Ethernet Interface Requirements s osa ok va no ERA aa ce 17 serial Interface ReJUITEMEN S z sr aaa n a eg nenne 17 980410 001 Rev B Communicating with the Printer ped eg A gn dE wea 18 Universal Serial Bus USB Communications 18 Parallel Communications EE ia 245645 28 arten 18 Internal ZebraNet PrintServer II Communications 18 Serial EIERE nasser nen anna u d he ee DAT 18 Adjusting the Print Width 20 Adjusting the Print Darkness sszstessa S ud eks k adhe A ee ernennt 20
20. Use the alcohol in the cleaning swab or pen to soak the debris so that it breaks up Wipe the area with the cleaning swab or pen to remove the debris Discard the cleaning swab or pen after use Cleaning Card Considerations Use a cleaning card to remove debris that has built up on the platen Avoid scrubbing or vigorously rubbing the platen otherwise the surface could be damaged 1 Open the printer and remove labels 2 Place the cleaning card into the label path so that it is under the guides and it extends between the print head and platen roller 3 Close and latch the printer 4 With the power switch on press the feed switch to move the cleaning card through the printer 5 Discard the card after use 28 980410 001 Rev B Platen Considerations The standard platen drive roller normally does not require cleaning Paper and liner dust can accumulate without effecting print operations Contaminates on the platen roller can damage the print head or cause the media to slip when printing Adhesive dirt general dust oils and other contaminates should be cleaned immediately off the platen However the non stick platen roller on linerless media printers requires frequent cleaning to keep adhesive buildup from occurring and transferring to the print head and the media path Keep a new platen available as a spare and install it whenever the printer has significantly poorer performance print quality or media handling
21. a adjust 3 4 5 6 Te the media hangers to the width of the media The hangers should just touch but not restrict the edges of the media Tighten the screw using a small Phillips driver 1 With a sample of your media adjust the guides to the width of the media The guides should just touch but not restrict the edges of the media Insert the media through the slot at the rear of the printer Run the media between the hangers and guides Close the top cover 24 980410 001 Rev B Using the Cutter Option Printers that have a bezel with a motorized blade can dispense one or more forms that are then automatically cut from the media supply This option cuts through continuous paper from rolls and liner between labels Keep the cutter dry Never use any solutions or solvents to clean the blade Use the MM command to activate the cutter and the LL command to set the form length and gap distance See the ZPL II programmer s manual If the blade cuts through labels adhesive can jam the cutter 1 Turn OFF O printer power and unplug the power and interface cables before clearing the cutter 2 After removing debris plug in the power and interface cables turn on the printer then test for normal operation 980410 001 Rev B Zo Printing on Linerless Labels Linerless labels are a special label stock without a backing material or liner on the adhesive side The media is wo
22. adjuster knob to the front They should just touch but not restrict the edges of the media Unless you need to load ribbon close the top cover Remember that you need to release the cover lock lower the top cover and press down until the latches snap into place 10 980410 001 Rev B Loading Ribbon You must use thermal transfer media accepts wax and or resin transferred off a ribbon when you use a ribbon in a TLP model printer When loading ribbon you install the supply and take up rolls then tighten the ribbon on the carriage Install the Ribbon Supply Roll Before following these steps prepare the ribbon by removing its wrapping and pulling its adhesive strip free 1 Thread the ribbon through the carriage 2 Press the right side onto the supply hub 3 Align the notches on the left side and mount onto the spokes of the left hub 1 Press the right side onto the take up hub 2 Align the notches on the left side and mount onto the spokes of the left hub You can find your first ribbon take up core in the packing box Subsequently use the empty supply core to take up the next roll of ribbon 980410 001 Rev B 11 Attach and Tighten the R bbon You must align the r bbon so that it will be taken straight onto the core 1 Attach the ribbon to the take up core Use the adhesive strip on new rolls otherwise use tape 2 Turn the ribbon take up gear counter clockwise top moves
23. ations settings as the printer send the SC command to change the printer to the desired settings 2 Change the host computer settings to match the new printer settings Refer to the ZPL IT Programming Guide for more information about this command Defaulting the Serial Parameters To reset the communications parameters on the printer to the factory defaults 9600 baud 8 bit word length no parity stop bit and XON XOFF do the following 1 Press and hold the feed button until the green status LED flashes once twice and then three times 2 While the status LED rapidly flashes amber and green press the feed button 980410 001 Rev B 19 Adjusting the Print Width Print width must be calibrated when You are using the printer for the first time There is a change in the width of the media Print width may be set by way of the five flash sequence in Feed Button Modes see page45 or refer to the Print Width PW command consult your ZPL II Programming Guide Adjusting the Print Darkness The relative darkness setting is controlled by either the six flash sequence in Feed Button Modes see page 45 or the Set Darkness SD ZPL II command follow the instructions in the ZPL II Programming Guide Adjusting the Print Speed Print quality is influenced by print speed and the media you are using Only by experimenting will you find the optimal mix for your application If you find that the print
24. d cables under the latch shaft and plug the print head cables into the receptacles on the print head Cu A amp 2 Hold the print head against the bracket while replacing the screws and washers attach the ground wire using the right screw and washer Use a 1 Phillips driver to tighten the screws V A D K S 2 ANN ia a 4 Q 3 Slip the left end of the print head spring into the left side of the latch bracket then slide the right end into the other side The angle of the V fits into the indent on the top of the print head bracket 4 Align the latch brack up to the top case and ensure that the cable are not bent or pinched 5 Replace the four screws that hold the latch bracket to the top case and use a 1 Phillips driver to tighten them 6 Clean the print head with the cleaning pen Reload media and ribbon Plug in the power cord turn on the printer and run an automatic or manual calibration to ensure proper function 980410 001 Rev B 33 Thermal Transfer TLP Model SV SS Before following the steps in this N SS procedure open the printer by pulling the release latches forward then lifting the top cover Remove any ribbon from the carriage Removal 1 Grasp the print head spring and pull it to the left then slide it free of the carriage 2 Use the spring to pry the print head clip off the right
25. e of the following measures H Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna E Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver E Connect the eguipment into an outlet on a circuit different than that to which the receiver 1s connected E Consult the dealer or an experienced Radio TV technician for help NOTE This unit was tested with shielded cables on the peripheral devices Shielded cables must be used with the unit to insure compliance The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Zebra Technologies Corporation could void the user s authority to operate the equipment Liability Disclaimer Zebra Technologies Corporation takes steps to assure that its published Engineering specifications and Manuals are correct however errors do occur Zebra Technologies Corporation reserves the right to correct any such errors and disclaims liability resulting therefrom No Liability for Consequential Damage In no event shall Zebra Technologies Corporation or anyone else involved in the creation production or delivery of the accompanying product including hardware and software be liable for any damages whatsoever including without limitation damages for loss of business profits business interruption loss of business information or other pecuniary loss arising out of the use of or the results of use of or inability to use such product even if Zebra Technologies Corporation has been advised of the
26. er to the power off mode procedure in Feed Button Modes on page 45 AFS SFO394 25 AA SE 46 53 DE 46 AE 33 39 34 20 32 35 SE 41 41 N 18 19 FDC OOOO 4E 20 31 38 20 31 36 DE 46 44 28 38 38 38 30 KA d dee dE EE dE A gt 29 39 39 39 2D 39 39 39 39 5E 46 53 BD BA FOO SO AAN 18 OE 46 4F 30 20 35 30 SE 41 41 4E 20 31 38 20 IO FDCENTER STA 31 38 DE 46 44 43 45 4E 54 45 52 20 53 54 41 44 980410 001 Rev B Feed Button Modes Power Off Mode Communications Diagnostics Mode printer With the printer power off press and hold the feed button while you turn on the power The printer prints out a listing of its current configuration After printing the label the printer will automatically enter a diagnostic mode in which the printer prints out a literal representation see Figure 23 of all data subsequently received To exitthe diagnostic mode and resume printing turn off and then turn on the Power On Modes With the printer power on and top cover closed press and hold the feed button for several seconds The green status LED will flash anumber of times in sequence The explanation at the right Action shows what happens when you release the key after the specific number of flashes Flash Sequence Action A configuration label prints The media sensor calibrates and a media sensor profile prints see Manual Calibration on page 42 To reset the communicati
27. ibbon To remove used transfer ribbon perform the following steps 1 Cut the ribbon from the take up roll 2 Remove the take up roll and discard used ribbon 3 Remove the supply roll and tape the end of any fresh ribbon to prevent it from unwrapping When reinstalling a partially used supply roll tape the cut end onto the empty take up roll 22 980410 001 Rev B Printing in Peel Mode The optional dispenser allows you to print in peel mode where the label backing follows a different path and the labels are presented one at a time for subsequent placement Before using peel mode you must send the programming commands AXA MMP XZ AXA JUS XZ to the printer Refer to your ZPL II Programmer s Manual 1 Remove several labels from the backing material 2 Open the top cover 3 Open the dispenser door 4 Switch on the label taken sensor 5 Insert the backing in front of the peel bar and behind the peel roller 6 Close the dispenser door 7 Close the top cover 8 Press the Feed button to advance the label During the print job the printer will peel off the backing and present a single label Take the label from the printer so it will print the next label 980410 001 Rev B 23 Printing on Fan Fold Media Printing on fan fold media requires you to set both the media hangers and the media guides in position L Open the top cover 2 With a sample of your medi
28. ing r bbon Modes of Printing You can operate this printer in different modes Standard tear off mode allows you to tear off each label or a strip of labels after it is printed In optional peel off mode the backing material 1s peeled away from the label as it is printed After this label 1s removed the next one is printed z In optional liner free mode labels have no backing This option is only available with the direct thermal LP model modified with a special platen In optional cutter mode an attached unit cuts through the media The printer typically uses roll media but you can use fan fold or other continuous media as well For procedures to use optional modes and features refer to the Operation and Options section 980410 001 Rev B Attaching Power Supply Check the power supply to make certain it is appropriate for your input voltage Warning Use the Zebra supplied power supply that came with your printer Never operate the printer and power supply in an area where they can get wet Serious personal injury could result 1 Make sure the power switch is in the off position down 2 The DC power supply has a barrel connector on one end that must be inserted into the power supply receptacle on the back of the printer 3 Insert the separate AC power cord into the power supply 4 Plug the other end of the cord into an appropriate AC electrical outlet Plug t Varies by Country AC
29. is dirty Clean the print head according to the instructions on page 35 The print head elements are damaged Replace the print head see Replacing the Print Head on page 34 The ribbon sensor settings did not print The printer is set for direct thermal printing use the XA MTT XZ command to reset the printer for thermal transfer printing and calibrate again 40 980410 001 Rev B The printing does not start at the top of the label or misprinting of one to three labels z The media may not be threaded under the media guides Refer to Loading the Media on page 9 The printer needs to be calibrated Refer to Auto Calibration on page 13 m The correct media sensor may not be activated Manual calibration selects the media sensing method for the labels being used refer to the MN command in the ZPL I Programming Guide m Verify that the Label Top LT command is correctly set for your application consult the ZPL H Programming Guide A label format was sent to but not recognized by the printer Is the printer in pause mode If so press the feed button If the status LED is on or flashing refer to What the Status LED is Telling You on page 37 z Make sure the data cable is correctly installed A communications problem has occurred First make sure that the correct communications port on the computer is selected Refer to Communicating with the Printer on page 18 980
30. lay flat on the backing liner the exposed edges may stick to the label guides and rollers inside the printer causing the label to peel off from the liner and jam the printer Permanent damage to the print head may result if a non approved ribbon is used as it may be wound incorrectly for the printer or contain chemicals corrosive to the print head Approved supplies can be ordered from your dealer If labels or ribbon run out while printing DO NOT turn the power switch OFF 0 while reloading or data loss may result The printer automatically restarts after you load a new label or ribbon roll Static Discharge The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the print head or electronic components used in this device DO NOT TOUCH the print head or the electronic components under the top cover Thermal Printing The print head becomes hot while printing To protect from damaging the print head and risk of personal injury avoid touching the print head Use only the cleaning pen to perform maintenance 980410 001 Rev B Introduction IE On ho o b ban dee ee aa anes 1 What Sin he BOX E ee d do o e b bl pne b 2 lnspec ne the EE ad anna er en 3 Openin gt he PUNE aa E euere deda doda obdo 3 Ee De Oilers nee a are sahen 5 Reporting Damage au gore cee tok ae ea ER N A VD on 6 Related Documentation ee A eet 4654 dena auch ann anni 6 Getting Started
31. nto the printer s bottom frame l 2 Rotate the tabs back and snap them into place 980410 001 Rev B 30 Replacing the Print Head In the event you need to replace the print head read the procedure for your model of printer either direct thermal LP or thermal transfer TLP and review the removal and installation steps before actually replacing the print head Prepare your work area by protecting against static discharge Your work area must be static safe and include a properly grounded conductive cushioned mat to hold the printer and a conductive wrist strap for yourself NOTE Turn the printer power off and unplug the power cord before replacing the print head 980410 001 Rev B 31 Direct Thermal LP Model Before following the steps n this procedure open the printer by pulling the release latches forward then lifting the top cover Removal 1 Usea l Phillips driver to loosen the four screws that hold the latch frame to the top case 2 Grasp the print head spring and pull it to the left then slide it free of the latch frame 3 Gently pull the wire bundles from the print head P 4 Use a 1 Phillips driver to loosen the two screws and washers and release N CH SS SE the print head from the latch frame ES Al l and bracket Seck EN 980410 001 Rev B Replacing the LP Print Head Continued 1 Assembly 1 Route the print hea
32. on parameters Press and release the feed button while the LED rapidly flashes amber and green For autobaud synchronization Send a ZPL Il format to the printer while the LED KEK rapidly flashes amber and green When the printer and host are synchronized the LED changes to solid green NOTE No labels will print during autobaud synchronization KX BE Resets the factory defaults auto calibrates and saves settings into memory XXX The print width calibrates While the status LED alternately flashes green and amber a series of stacking rectangles print on the label When the rectangle prints XXX nom to the outer edges of the label press and release the feed button The label width and current communication parameters will be saved into memory 23233 KX The print darkness calibrates A series of nine samples print starting with the or lightest and ending with the darkest image When the desired print darkness is EEK achieved press and release the feed button The print darkness will be saved into memory RRRRRR If the feed button remains pressed after a 7 flash sequence the printer will ignore the button when it is released 980410 001 Rev B 45 46 980410 001 Rev B Interfaces Universal Serial Bus USB Connector The figure below displays the cable wiring required to use the printer s USB interface Vbus N C Shell Shield Drain Wire For prin
33. rinting without a ribbon you must use direct thermal media When using ribbon you must use thermal transfer media The printer s ribbon sensor detects motion of the supply spindle 980410 001 Rev B 21 Replacing Supplies If labels or r bbon run out while printing leave the printer power on while reloading data loss results if you turn off the printer After you load a new label or ribbon roll the printer flashes double green until you press the Feed button to restart Always use high quality approved labels tags and ribbons If adhesive backed labels are used that don t lay flat on the backing liner the exposed edges may stick to the label guides and rollers inside the printer causing the label to peel off from the liner and jam the printer Permanent damage to the print head may result if a non approved ribbon is used as it may be wound incorrectly for the printer or contain chemicals corrosive to the print head Approved supplies can be ordered from your dealer Adding a New Transfer Ribbon If ribbon runs out in the middle of a print job the indicator lights orange and the printer waits for you to add a fresh roll 1 Keep the power on as you change ribbon 2 Open the top cover then cut the used ribbon so you can remove the cores 3 Load anew ribbon roll If necessary review the Ribbon Loading steps 4 Close the top cover 5 Press the Feed button to restart printing Replacing a Partially Used Transfer R
34. rs when connected to a host computer function as a complete system for printing labels and tags 980410 001 Rev B Many illustrations n this manual show the TLP printer While there are some physical differences between them you can operate both printers using the same procedures What s in the Box Save the carton and all packing materials in case you need to ship or store the printer later After unpacking make sure you have all parts Follow the procedures for inspecting the printer to familiarize yourself with printer parts so you can follow the instructions in this book Sample Labels Printer TLP model shown Your printer may Documentation be LP model and Warranty Cleaning Pen Take Up Core Power Supply TLP models only and Cord 2 980410 001 Rev B Inspecting the Printer Look at the outside of the printer and make sure that all parts are present Feed Status Button Light Release Latches Power Power Interface Switch Supply Connectors Receptacle vary by option Opening the printer To access the media compartment you must open the printer Pull the release levers towards you and lift the cover 980410 001 Rev B gt INSPECTING THE PRINTER continued After opening the printer check the media compartment Tear Bar Print Head Ribbon Carriage Supply Hub Take Up Hub Take Up Gear Ribbon Sensor a Cover FA V Lock N Media Vi em Hangers N N
35. rsal Serial Bus USB Connector 2 2222222222 47 Patallel Interlace euer ersehnten 48 ZebraNet PrintServer II for Ethernet Networks 49 Serial RS 232 Connector au svk dws SEIN hn nn ia 50 980410 001 Rev B Vil 980410 001 Rev B This section describes what you get in your shipping box and provides an overview of printer parts This section also has procedures that describe how to open and close the printer and report any problems Hello Thank you for choosing a Zebra 2844 Z printer a high quality on demand printer manufactured by the industry leader in quality service and value Zebra Technologies Corporation For over 25 years Zebra Technologies Corporation has provided customers with the highest caliber of products and support There are two models of printer P The LP 2844 Z printer provides direct thermal printing z TLP The TLP 2844 2 printer provides thermal transfer printing which uses r bbon and direct thermal printing This manual provides all of the information you will need to operate your printer on a daily basis To create label formats refer to the ZPL II Programming Guide This guide is available by contacting your distributor or Zebra Technologies Corporation NOTE Many printer settings may also be controlled by your printer s driver or label preparation software Refer to the driver or software documentation for more information Zebra 2844 Z printe
36. sign makes installation easy Multiple printers can share a single USB port hub Parallel Interface Requirements The required cable IEEE 1284 compliant is recommended must have a standard 36 pin parallel connector on one end which is plugged into the parallel port located on the back of the printer The other end of the parallel interface cable connects to the printer connector at the host computer For pinout information refer to page 48 Ethernet Interface Requirements Ethernet provides a powerful networking capability that can be of use in a variety of internet intranet printing solutions After you load media and close the top cover you can press the test button next to the connector on the rear of the printer to get an ethernet configuration label You can refer to the ZebraNet PrintServer II for Ethernet Networks Installation and Operation Guide part number 46716L for details regarding this interface Serial Interface Requirements The required cable must have a nine pin D type DB 9P male connector on one end which is plugged into the mating DB 9S serial port located on the back of the printer The other end of this signal interface cable connects to a serial port at the host computer Depending on the specific interface requirements this will most likely be a null modem cable For pinout information refer to page 50 980410 001 Rev B 17 Communicating with the Printer Universal Serial Bus USB Comm
37. ter supported operating systems and drivers see the software and documentation CD or visit the Zebra printer web site at Pin http www zebra com For information on the USB interface go to the USB web site at Http www usb org 980410 001 Rev B 47 Parallel Interface The maximum current available through the interface port is not to exceed a total of 0 75 amps Pin No Description 1 NStrobe Host Clk 2 9 Data Bits 1 8 10 nACK PtrClk 11 Busy Per Busy 12 PError ACK Dat Req 13 Select Xflag 14 NAuto Fd Host Busy 15 Not Used 16 17 Ground 18 5 V 0 75 A Fused 19 30 Ground 31 ninit 32 NFault nData Avail 33 34 Not Used 35 5 V throught 1 8 K Ohms Resistor 36 NSelectin 1284 active 48 980410 001 Rev B ZebraNet PrintServer I for Ethernet Networks This interface uses an RJ 45 straight through cable type The table below provides the pinout assignments Signal Pin Pin Signal Tx 1 1 Tx Tx 2 2 Tx Rx 3 3 Rx 4 4 5 5 Rx 6 6 Rx 7 7 8 8 Pin 4 Pin 5 Pin 3 Pin 6 Pin 2 Pin 7 Pin 1 Pin 8 Looking into the Printer s RJ 45 Modular Connector You can refer to the ZebraNet PrintServer II for Ethernet Networks Installation and Operation Guide part number 46716L for details regarding this interface 980410 001 Rev B 49 Serial RS 232 Connector
38. und upon itself with the adhesive on the back of the label n contact with the face of the label below Direct thermal LP printers can handle linerless labels when modified with a unique non stick platen coated with silicone Even so adhesives and coatings can transfer to the media path including the platen and print head this build up can accumulated dust and debris Maintaining a clean print head media path and platen roller ensures proper operation See the Maintenance section for cleaning instructions Linerless platens suffer wear more quickly than standard platens Keep a new platen available as a spare and install 1t whenever the printer has significantly poorer performance print quality or media handling If sticking or jamming continues even after cleaning you must replace the platen See the Maintenance section for platen replacement instructions 26 980410 001 Rev B Cleaning When you clean the printer use one or more of the following supplies that best suits your needs DESCRIPTION Cleaning pens 12 Cleaning swabs 25 Cleaning cards 4 in wide 25 Save a Print Head film 4 in wide 3 The cleaning process takes just a couple of minutes using the steps outlined below Printer Part Method Interval Let the print head to cool for one minute then use a new cleaning pen to swab the print elements the thin gray line on the print head from end
39. unications The printer is a terminal device when using a universal serial bus interface You can refer to the Universal Serial Bus Specification for details regarding this interface Parallel Communications When using the parallel port typically there 1s no setup is required once the cable is plugged in If you should encounter any problems consult the user s guide that came with your computer Internal ZebraNet PrintServer Il Communications You can refer to the ZebraNet PrintServer II for Ethernet Networks Installation and Operation Guide part number 46716L for details regarding this interface Serial Communications Serial communications between the printer and the host computer can be set by either autobaud synchronization or the SC command Autobaud Autobaud synchronization allows the printer to automatically match the communication parameters of the host computer To autobaud 1 Press and hold the feed button until the green status LED flashes once twice and then three times 2 While the status LED flashes send a ZPL II format to the printer 3 When the printer and host are synchronized the LED changes to solid green No labels will print during autobaud synchronization 18 980410 001 Rev B Serial Communications Continued SC Command Use the Set Communications SC command to change the communications settings on the printer 1 With the host computer set at the same communic
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search