Brother PT-2400 User's Guide

2400/2410

USER’S GUIDE

• Read this User’s Guide before you start using your P-touch.

• Keep this User’s Guide in a handy place for future reference.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the P-touch 2400/2410! Your new P-touch will allow you to create labels and stamps for any need. Its versatility

enables you to design custom labels by choosing from a variety of frame designs and from many characters sizes and styles. In addition, the five tape widths (1/4” (6 mm), 3/8” (9 mm), 1/2” (12 mm), 3/4” (18 mm), and 1” (24 mm)) and variety of tape colors allow you to print personalized labels, useful for color-coded filing. With the easily make stamps for reusable pre-inked stamp holders.

You no longer have to worry about urgent tasks that require professional printing. In the office, the factory, the lab, and the home, the quality and performance of the P-touch 2400/2410 make it an extremely practical machine.)

(The PT-2400 and the PT-2410 models are equipped with the same functions; however, only the PT-2410 includes a carrying case and AC adaptor.)

FCC NOTICE

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 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 more of the following measures:

- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

Stamp

function, you can quickly and

Patent numbers and patent publication numbers which are related to this product are as below:

USP4839742 USP4983058 USP5120147 USP4927278 USP5009530 USP4976558 USP5069557

Use only the adaptor designed exclusively for this machine. See GENERAL PRECAUTIONS on page 4.

Getting Started

GENERAL DESCRIPTION .................................................................................... 2

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS................................................................................... 4

BATTERIES .......................................................................................................... 5

OPTIONAL AC ADAPTOR.................................................................................. 6

CONNECTING THE P-TOUCH TO A COMPUTER ............................................. 7

INSTALLING P-TOUCH EDITOR ........................................................................ 8

STARTING UP P-TOUCH EDITOR.................................................................... 15

DESIGNING AN AUTO FORMAT LAYOUT...................................................... 17

IMPORTING A GRAPHICS FILE ........................................................................ 20

READING THE USER’S GUIDE ......................................................................... 21

TAPE CASSETTE ................................................................................................ 23

ATTACHING LABELS ........................................................................................ 24

PRINT HEAD & ROLLERS ................................................................................. 25

Learning the Ropes

DOOR LABEL EXAMPLE ................................................................................... 28

ADDRESS LABEL EXAMPLE............................................................................... 32

STORAGE SHELF LABEL EXAMPLE ................................................................... 38

For Your Information

POWER KEY...................................................................................................... 46

CURSOR KEYS .................................................................................................. 47

CODE, ALT & SHIFT KEYS ................................................................................ 49

SPACE KEY........................................................................................................ 52

RETURN KEY .................................................................................................... 53

NEW BLOCK FUNCTION ................................................................................. 54

TAB FUNCTION ............................................................................................... 55

DELETE KEY ...................................................................................................... 57

LINE OUT FUNCTION...................................................................................... 58

CLEAR FUNCTION ........................................................................................... 59

ACCENT FUNCTION ........................................................................................ 62

SYMBOL FUNCTION........................................................................................ 64

AUTO FORMAT FUNCTION ............................................................................ 66

STAMP FUNCTION .......................................................................................... 76

LOCAL FORMAT FUNCTION........................................................................... 79

FONT FUNCTION ............................................................................................ 80

SIZE & WIDTH FUNCTIONS ............................................................................ 82

STYLE FUNCTION ............................................................................................ 86

UNDERLINE FUNCTION .................................................................................. 89

FRAME FUNCTION .......................................................................................... 90

TAPE MARGIN FUNCTION .............................................................................. 92

HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT FUNCTION ......................................................... 93

MIRROR PRINTING FUNCTION ...................................................................... 94

LENGTH FUNCTION........................................................................................ 95

BARCODE FUNCTION ..................................................................................... 97

AUTO CUT FUNCTION ................................................................................. 101

PRINT KEY AND FEED & CUT FUNCTION..................................................... 102

NUMBERING FUNCTION .............................................................................. 103

REPEAT PRINTING FUNCTION ...................................................................... 106

MEMORY FUNCTIONS .................................................................................. 108

TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................................... 112

ERROR MESSAGE LIST.................................................................................... 113

SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................ 118

ACCESSORIES ................................................................................................. 119

Getting Started

TOP VIEW

Keyboard

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Tape compartment cover

AC adaptor connector

Interface connector

LCD display

BOTTOM VIEW

Tape exit slot

Battery compartment cover

KEYBOARD & LCD DISPLAY

Mirror

Font Size Width Style Underline Frame Line out Clear

Font Size Width Style Underline Frame

Tab Length

Tab

QWERTYUI OP

Symbol Accent

Symbol Accent Local

ASDFGHJKL

Alt

Caps

Caps A.Cut Interface

Shift

3456

Tape

Align

ZXCVBNM

Feed&Cut New Block

Space

Code

Power key

Length Undl/Frm A.Format

Width

On Off

Memory

Store Recall M.Del

7890

Length

A.Format

Length

A.Format

Stamp

()

üí

Home

End

RepeatBarcode

éú

Line out Clear

Number

Off

Del

: ;

;

Return key

Cursor keys

Delete key

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the mark.

• Do not pull on the tape being fed from the P-touch. This may damage the tape cassette.

• Do not use the machine in dusty places, and keep it out of both direct sunlight and rain.

• Do not expose the machine to high temperatures or high humidity. Never leave it on the dashboard or in the back of your car.

• Do not leave any rubber or vinyl on the machine for an extended period of time. Doing so may cause staining.

• Do not clean the machine with alcohol or other organic solvents. Use a soft, dry cloth only.

• Do not put any foreign objects into or anything on the machine.

• To avoid injuries, do not touch the cutter’s edge.

• Use only the AC adaptor (model AD-60) designed exclusively for this machine. Use of any other adaptor will void the warranty.

• Do not try to disassemble the AC adaptor.

• When the machine is not being used for a long period of time and it is not necessary to keep the text ﬁles stored in the memory, disconnect the AC adaptor, and remove the batteries to prevent them from leaking and damaging the machine.

• If the AC adaptor is unplugged and no batteries are installed, all text ﬁles in the memory may be deleted.

• Use eight AA alkaline batteries in this machine.

BATTERIES

This lightweight and portable machine can be used anywhere by installing eight (8) AA alka-

line batteries . When you change the batteries, always replace all eight at the same time.

To change the batteries:

Remove the battery compartment cover on the back of the machine. If batteries are already installed, remove them. Insert eight new AA alkaline batteries, making sure that they face the correct direction. Attach the battery compartment cover.

☞

If alkaline batteries are not used, large fonts cannot be printed. Be sure to insert the new batteries within ﬁve minutes of removing the old ones,

otherwise the text shown in the display and any text ﬁles stored in the memory will be lost (unless the machine is plugged into an AC outlet with the AC adaptor).

Remove the batteries and disconnect the AC adaptor if you do not intend to use this machine for an extended period of time. When the power is disconnected, all text shown in the display and stored in the memory will be lost.

OPTIONAL AC ADAPTOR

The AC adaptor (model AD-60) allows you to use this machine wherever there is an electrical outlet.

To connect the optional AC adaptor:

Insert the plug on the adaptor cord into the connector marked DC IN 9.5V on the right side of the machine.

Insert the plug on the adaptor into the nearest standard electrical outlet.

Remove the batteries and disconnect the AC adaptor if you do not intend to use this

☞

machine for an extended period of time. When the power is disconnected, all text shown in the display and stored in the memory will be lost.

If the AC adaptor is unplugged and no batteries are installed, all text ﬁles in the memory may be deleted.

Only use the AC adaptor designed exclusively for this machine. It is recommended that you use the AC adaptor when printing large fonts or bar-

codes on 3/4” (18-mm)- or 1” (24-mm)-wide tape since these operations can quickly drain the batteries.

CONNECTING THE P-TOUCH TO A COMPUTER

This machine is equipped with an interface connector, allowing you to print labels and stamps that you have created with the P-touch Editor software installed on your IBM PC-compatible computer or Macintosh.

To connect the P-touch to the computer:

Turn off both the P-touch and the computer. Insert the small plug on the interface cable into the interface connector on the right side of

the P-touch.

☞

Only use the interface cable designed exclusively for this machine.

On an IBM PC-compatible: Insert the 9-pin plug into the serial (COM) port of your computer and tighten the screws to lock it into place. On a Macintosh: Insert the 8-pin plug into the printer (serial) port of your computer.

Turn on the P-touch, and then start up the computer.

Style

$ 4

Interface

mode.

57600 bps, 115200 bps

Hold down and press to enter

☞

In Interface mode, the baud rate of the P-touch can be changed by holding down

CodeCode

and pressing until the desired setting appears (

9600 bps

). Release the keys to apply the desired setting.

INSTALLING P-TOUCH EDITOR

Installing the P-touch Editor software and printer driver add even more illustration and layout features to the label-making possibilities available with your PT-2400/2410.

To install P-touch Editor and the printer driver on an IBM PC-compatible computer:

Check that your system configuration meets the following requirements.

Computer: IBM PC or compatible Operating system: Microsoft Windows Hard disk free space: At least 20 MB

☞

A few hundred megabytes of additional free space may be needed when printing long labels or large amounts of data.

Monitor: VGA or higher graphics card Serial port: 9-pin connector jack CD-ROM drive

Connect the PT-2400/2410 to the computer’s serial port and turn on both the PT2400/2410 and the computer.

Insert the P-touch Editor CD-ROM into the computer’s CD-ROM drive.

☞

The installers for the P-touch Editor program, printer driver and User’s Guide can also be copied from the CDROM onto ﬂoppy disks. Refer to the Readme ﬁle for more details.

95, 98 or NT 4.0

Click the Editor button to install the P-touch Editor software and the PT-2400/2410 printer driver.

☞

To install only the printer driver, click the Printer driver button, select the desired model, and then skip to step

5 Click the PT-2400/2410 button to start up the

InstallShield Editor software and the PT-2400/2410 printer driver.

6 In the Welcome dialog box, click the Next

button.

Wizard for installing the P-touch

7 In the User Information dialog box, type

your name and company’s name in the appropriate boxes to personalize your copy of P-touch Editor, and then click the Next button.

8 In the Registration Confirmation dialog box,

click the Yes button to register the entered information.

9 In the Setup Type dialog box, click Typical to

install all of the basic options, Compact to install only the minimum options necessary, or Custom to select the options to be installed.

☞

If you chose Custom, click the Next button. In the Option dialog box, select which options will be installed.

If you choose to install the User’s Guide onto your computer, it will quickly be available for reference.

0 Click the Next button to install the P-touch

Editor software.

A In the dialog box that has appeared, click the

Yes button.

B In the Driver Setup dialog box that has

appeared, select Install, and then click the Next button.

C For Windows

For Windows

95/98: Skip to step D.

NT 4.0: Click the Next but-

ton.

☞

If the Next button cannot be clicked, no PTCOM port is installed. In this case, click the Add button.

In the Port Name dialog box, select the port where the PT-2400/2410 is connected, and then click the OK button. After returning to the Driver Setup dialog box, click the Next button.

D In the Driver Setup dialog box that has

appeared, select the PTCOM port where the PT-2400/2410 is connected, and then click the Next button.

E In the Driver Setup dialog box that has

appeared, click the Next button to confirm the installation information and start installing the printer driver.

F In the Driver Setup dialog box that has

appeared, click the Next button to start up the Change Baud Rate Wizard.

G In the Change Baud Rate Wizard dialog box

that has appeared, select the serial port where the PT-2400/2410 is connected, and then click the Next button.

H In the Change Baud Rate Wizard dialog box

that has appeared, select the desired baud rate, and then click the Next button.

I If the settings are correct, click the Next but-

ton to enter the settings. To change the settings, click the Back button.

J In the Change Baud Rate Wizard dialog box

that has appeared, click the Finish button.

K In the Driver Setup dialog box that has

appeared, click the Finish button to finish setting up the printer driver.

L In the Setup Complete dialog box that has appeared, click Yes, I want to restart my com-

puter now., and then click the Finish button.

To install P-touch Editor and the printer driver on a Macintosh computer:

1 Check that your system configuration meets the following requirements.

Computer: Macintosh or Power Macintosh Hard disk free space: At least 20 MB

☞

A few hundred megabytes of additional free space may be needed when printing long labels or large amounts of data.

Operating system: System 7.5.3 or later

Printer (serial) port: 8-pin connector jack CD-ROM drive

2 Connect the PT-2400/2410 to the computer’s printer port and turn on both the PT-

2400/2410 and the computer.

3 Insert the P-touch Editor CD-ROM into the computer’s CD-ROM drive and double-click

the CD-ROM icon.

☞

The installers for the P-touch Editor program and the User’s Guide can also be copied from the CD-ROM onto ﬂoppy disks. Refer to the Readme ﬁle for more details.

4 Open the PT-2400/2410 folder, and then

double-click the P-touch Editor 3.0 Installer icon.

5 Click either the Install button to install all

options or the Custom Install button to select which options to install.

☞

If you clicked the Custom Install button, the dialog box at the right is displayed. After selecting the desired options, click the Install button to install the selected options.

6 In the dialog box that appears when installation is completed, click the Quit button. 7 In the next dialog box that has appeared, click the Restart button.

To select the PT-2400/2410 as the printer on the Mac: 1 Pull down the Apple menu and select

Chooser to display the Chooser window.

2 Click the PT-2400/2410 icon in the list on

the left.

3 Click the icon for the printer port in the list

on the right.

4 Close the Chooser window to confirm your

settings.

STARTING UP P-TOUCH EDITOR

The P-touch Editor application makes it easy for anyone to design and print labels for almost any need imaginable.

To start up P-touch Editor on an IBM PC-compatible computer:

By clicking the P-touch Editor icon:

• Double-click the P-touch Editor 3 icon in the P-touch Editor 3 group window.

With the Start button:

1 Click the Start button in the taskbar to display the Start menu. 2 Select Programs. 3 Select P-touch Editor 3. 4 Click P-touch Editor 3.

With Windows Explorer:

1 Start up Windows Explorer. 2 Select the drive and directory where P-touch Editor is installed. 3 Double-click Ptedit3.exe.

After P-touch Editor is started, the following window is displayed.

Menu bar

Standard toolbar

Property dock

Layout area

Print area

Draw toolbar

Object dock

Status bar

Title bar

Rulers

Cursor

To start up P-touch Editor on a Macintosh computer:

• Double-click the P-touch Editor Ver3.0 icon in the “P-touch Editor Ver3.0” folder installed on the computer.

After P-touch Editor is started, the following window is displayed.

Menu bar

Draw toolbar

Print toolbar

Database toolbar

Rulers

Layout Area

Print area

Title bar

Status bar

Object dock

Property dock

DESIGNING AN AUTO FORMAT LAYOUT

In addition to allowing you to draw pictures and arrange text using any of the available fonts, sizes, and styles, P-touch Editor comes with a variety of pre-formatted templates, which make creating label layouts quick and easy. Now let’s see how simple it is to create a label layout with the Auto Format command.

To design a layout on an IBM PC-compatible computer:

1 On the File menu, click the Auto Format

command.

2 In the Category list of the Auto Format Wiz-

ard (1/4) dialog box, click the desired cate- gory. As an example, let’s select NAMEPLT.

3 Click the Next button. 4 In the Template list view of the Auto Format

Wizard (2/4) dialog box, click the desired template. Here, let’s select the one named NAMEPLT2.LBL.

5 Click the Next button. 6 In the Auto Format Wizard (3/4) dialog box,

click the Next or the Previous button until the text that you wish to change appears in the Input edit box.

7 Type the new text into the Input edit box. 8 Repeat steps 6 and 7 until all of the text is

entered in the way that you want. For this example, let’s change the department name to “IMPORTS, INC.”, the title to “Manager” and the name to “BILL REYNOLDS”.

9 Click the Next button. 0 In the Auto Format Wizard (4/4) dialog box,

click the desired options.

A Click the Finish button. A new layout docu-

ment containing the pre-formatted text appears in the layout area.

To design a layout on a Macintosh computer:

1 On the File menu, click Auto Format com-

mand to display the Auto Format dialog box.

2 In the Category box, click the desired cate-

gory. For this example, let’s select shop.

3 In the Template box, click the desired tem-

plate. Let’s select the one named shop3.lbl.

4 Click the OK button. The pre-formatted tem-

plate appears in the layout area.

5 Click the Next or the Previous button until

the text that you wish to change appears in the Input edit box. Here, the first line of text that we wish to change, “CAMERA”, is already displayed.

6 In the Input box, change the text so that the

desired text is entered. We can start by changing the product name to “VCR”.

7 Repeat steps 5 and 6 to make the desired

changes to all of the text. Let’s finish editing the text by changing the original price to “$415.” and the sale price to “$215.”

8 Click the Close button. The new text appears

in the layout area.

IMPORTING A GRAPHICS FILE

With the P-touch Editor application, you can also import image files in a variety of formats (.bmp, .dib, .jpg, .gif, .tif, .ico, and .wmf on the PC or PICT, JPEG, TIFF and BMP on the Mac) into your layout.

To import a graphics ﬁle:

1 With a layout document displayed, select the Image command in the Insert menu (in the

PC software) or in the Object menu (in the Mac software). A dialog box that allows you to select the image file appears.

When using the P-touch Editor for the PC:

2 Select the graphic file that you wish to add to

the layout and double-click it. The image appears in the layout.

When using the P-touch Editor for the Mac:

READING THE USER’S GUIDE

The P-touch Editor User’s Guide can be read either by inserting the CD-ROM into the drive each time you wish to refer to it or by installing it onto your hard disk so that it is quickly available at any time. Since the User’s Guide is an HTML document, a browser is needed to read it. The installer for the Internet Explorer 4.01 browser is also available on the CD-ROM.

☞

The P-touch Editor User’s Guide can be read using other browsers; however, some pages may not be displayed correctly.

To install Internet Explorer 4.01 on an IBM PC-compatible computer:

1 Insert the P-touch Editor CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. A dialog box that allows you

to select what to install is displayed.

2 Click the bottom button to start up the Internet Explorer 4.01 Installer.

To install Internet Explorer 4.01 on a Macintosh computer:

1 Insert the P-touch Editor CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. 2 Double-click the Installer icon in the CD Distribution - ICP1 folder of the CD-ROM’s

P-touch folder.

To read the P-touch Editor User’s Guide on an IBM PC-compatible computer:

1 If the User’s Guide was not installed onto the computer’s hard disk, insert the P-touch Edi-

tor CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

2 Start up the User’s Guide.

By clicking the P-touch Editor icon:

• Double-click The User’s Guide PT-2400/2410 icon in the P-touch Editor 3 group

window.

With the Start button: (a) Click the Start button on the taskbar to display the Start menu. (b) Select Programs. (c) Select P-touch Editor 3. (d) Click The User’s Guide PT-2400/2410. With Windows Explorer: (a) Start up Windows Explorer. (b) Select the CD-ROM drive (if the User’s Guide is not installed on the hard disk), or

select the drive and directory where P-touch Editor is installed (if the User’s Guide is installed on the hard disk).

To read the P-touch Editor User’s Guide on a Macintosh computer:

1 If the User’s Guide was not installed onto the computer’s hard disk, insert the P-touch Edi-

tor CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

2 Double-click Main.htm in the User’s Guide folder of the CD-ROM’s P-touch folder (if the

User’s Guide is not installed on the hard disk), or of the installed P-touch Editor Ver3.0 folder (if the User’s Guide is installed on the hard disk).

TAPE CASSETTE

A single TZ tape cassette is supplied with this unit. However, since TZ tape cassettes are available for this machine in a wide variety of colors and sizes, it is possible to make distinctive color-coded and stylized labels.

In addition, this machine has been designed to allow you to change the tape cassettes quickly and easily.

To change the tape cassette:

1 Lift open the tape compartment cover. The installed cassette is also released. 2 If a tape cassette is already installed, remove it by pulling it straight up. 3 If the ink ribbon in the other tape cassette is loose, use your finger to wind the toothed

wheel in the direction of the arrow on the cassette until there is no slack in the ribbon. Also, make sure that the end of the tape feeds under the tape guides.

☞

If you are using a new tape cassette provided with a stopper, be sure to remove the stopper.

4 Insert the tape cassette firmly into the tape compartment, making sure that the entire back

of the cassette touches the bottom of the compartment.

☞

When inserting the tape cassette, make sure that the inner ribbon does not catch on the corner of the metal guide.

5 Close the compartment cover, then turn on the machine if it is off.

6 Hold down and press once to remove any slack in the tape and cut off the

CodeCode

excess.

Feed&Cut

Space

ATTACHING LABELS

ABCDEF

LAMINATED TAPE

The enclosed stick enables you to easily remove the backing from labels printed on laminated tapes.

1 Hold the tape in your left hand, with the printed surface facing up, and hold the stick in

your right hand.

2 Pass the tape halfway through the long narrow hole in the stick. 3 Turn the stick three-quarters of a turn towards you and pull the stick away from you as

shown below.

4 Peel off the label backing.

ABCDEF

FABRIC TAPE

Fabric tape is used to attach a piece of fabric printed with your text onto garments using an iron. After printing the text onto fabric tape and cutting off the label using scissors label on an ironed garment at the location where you wish to attach it in such a way that the printed text can be read correctly. Cover the label with another piece of cloth and use an iron set to a medium-high temperature (320 to 356 ˚F (160 to 180 ˚C)) to press down firmly for 10 to 15 seconds. For more details, refer to the instructions included with the fabric tape cassette.

☞

The label will have a white background on colored cloth.

, place the

STAMP TAPE

Refer to pages 76 through 78 for a detailed explanation on using the stamp tape to make stamps.

PRINT HEAD & ROLLERS

Occasionally, specks of dust or dirt become attached to the machine’s print head and rollers. This is particularly likely when you are using the unit outdoors or in a very dusty environment. If a section of the print head is covered with dust, a blank horizontal streak may appear through the label text. Therefore, as with a tape recorder, the machine’s head may need to be cleaned from time to time.

To clean the print head and rollers:

1 Turn off the machine. 2 Open the tape compartment cover, then remove the tape cassette if one is installed. The

print head and rollers are located in the tape compartment.

3 Print head: Use a dry cotton swab to gently wipe the print head with an up-and-down

motion. Rollers: Use a dry cotton swab to wipe each roller with an up-and-down motion while rotating them with your finger.

4 Install a tape cassette, close the tape compartment cover, and then try printing again. 5 If dust still remains, repeat steps 3 and 4 using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl (rub-

bing) alcohol.

If none of the above works, contact your service representative.

Print head

Rollers

Cotton swab

+ 172 hidden pages

Brother PT-2400 User's Guide

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

Getting Started

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

BATTERIES

OPTIONAL AC ADAPTOR

CONNECTING THE P-TOUCH TO A COMPUTER

INSTALLING P-TOUCH EDITOR

STARTING UP P-TOUCH EDITOR

DESIGNING AN AUTO FORMAT LAYOUT

IMPORTING A GRAPHICS FILE

READING THE USER’S GUIDE

TAPE CASSETTE

ATTACHING LABELS

PRINT HEAD & ROLLERS