Century Hawk 4, Hawk 4S User Manual

FCC Notice

This equipment may generate, use and/or radiate radio frequency energy. If not
installed and used in full accordance with this instruction manual, interference to
radio communications may occur. This equipment complies with the limits for a
Class A computing device pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are
designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference when operated in
a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area may
also cause interference. In such case the user will be required, at their expense, to
correct the interference using whatever means necessary.

Trademarks

ARM is a registered trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Century is a registered trademark of Century Systems.
PS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Hawk Label Printer User’s Manual
8th edition April 2008

ii

Disclaimer

This manual has been validated and reviewed for accuracy. The instructions and
descriptions it contains are accurate for the Century Hawk Label Printer at the time
of this manual’s printing. However, succeeding printers and manuals are subject to
change without notice. Century assumes no liability for damages incurred directly or
indirectly from errors, omissions or discrepancies between the printer and this
manual.

Although this manual describes and details many issues, which could possibly occur,
the manufacturer cannot warrant against unpredictable conditions during the printing
process. For problems such as the printer not working, lost or unclear print content,
etc., the manufacturer and resellers are responsible for correcting these issues
(according to Century Printer Warranty Clauses). In no event shall the manufacturer
or the resellers involved 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 from the use of, the results of
use or inability to use this product, even if the manufacturer has been advised of the
possibility of such damages.

iii

Important Safety Instructions

◆ Only qualified and trained service technicians should attempt to repair the printer.

◆ Do not place the printer on or near a heat source.

◆ Be sure that the output of the power adapter is 24VDC and your power source

matches the rating listed on the power adapter. Be certain your power source is
grounded.

◆ To avoid getting an electric shock, do not use a worn or damaged power cord. If

the power cord becomes damaged or frayed, replace it immediately.

◆ Do not insert anything into the ventilation slots or openings on the printer.

◆ The printer and power adapter should never be operated in a location where either

one can get wet. Personal injury may result.

◆ The printhead becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the

printhead and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the printhead.

◆ To get increased printhead longevity and higher quality printouts, always use

approved labels, tags and thermal transfer ribbons. Approved supplies can be
ordered from your dealer.

◆ Static electricity that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other

surfaces can damage or destroy the printhead or electronic components in this
device. DO NOT touch the printhead or the electronic components with bare
hands.

◆ Place the printer on a flat, firm, solid surface.

Possible Corrective Action

◆ Never jam or block the air vents, or operate in a high temperature environment.

◆ Turn off the power when not in use for extended periods.

◆ Follow all recommendations and setup instructions included in this manual.

iv

Contents

Preface....................................................................................1

Chapter 1 Introduction..........................................................2

Specifications...................................................................................2

Specifications for Printer..........................................................2

Specifications for Power Adapter.............................................3

Unpacking and Inspection................................................................3

Chapter 2 Getting Started.....................................................6

Setting up.........................................................................................6

Main Parts and Features................................................................... 7

Connecting the Printer ...................................................................10

Power Connection..................................................................10

Interface Connection..............................................................10

Loading the Ribbon........................................................................ 11

Loading the Media.........................................................................18

Adjusting the Position of Media Sensor.........................................23

Operation Basics............................................................................26

Power Switch .........................................................................26

The Front Panel......................................................................26

System Mode..........................................................................28

LCD Panel Operation.............................................................29

DIP Switch at the Back Panel.................................................32

Windows Driver Installation ..................................................33

Label Edition Software ..................................................................34

Chapter 3 Maintenance.......................................................35

Cleaning the Printhead...................................................................35

Cleaning the Platen Roller .............................................................36

v

Cleaning the Printer Interior...........................................................36

Chapter 4 Troubleshooting..................................................37

Error Indications ............................................................................37

Miscellaneous ................................................................................38

Others.............................................................................................39

Appendix A: Interface Specifications..................................40

Appendix B: ASCII Table....................................................43

1

Preface

Welcome to the Century Hawk label printer. The Hawk is
designed to provide general-purpose and high-performance
printing capabilities.

Century Hawk barcode label printers are a new generation of
printing equipment featuring high performance coupled with
multiple functions. They stand out with their modern
appearance and excellent functionality, while utilizing a series
of new and cutting edge technologies. Relying on our wealth of
experience, the printers were carefully designed to be not just
rugged and durable, but also easily operated and maintained.
We utilize a 32-bit embedded ARM CPU and a High-tech
system platform to guarantee the highest performance and
quality possible.

This manual explains how to set up and begin using your Hawk
printer. It also provides detailed information on configuring
your printer, basic operations, care and troubleshooting.

Please read this manual carefully before using your Hawk
printer.

2

Chapter 1 Introduction

Specifications

Specifications for Printer

Model CH-4204 & CH-4204S CH-4303 & CH-4303S

Printing method Direct thermal & Thermal transfer
Printing resolution 203dpi (8dots/mm) 300dpi (11.8dots/mm)
Max printing speed 4ips (101.6mm/s) 3ips (76.2mm/s)
Max printing width 4.25” (108mm) 4.17″ (106mm)
Max printing length 40″ (1016mm)
Memory 2MB/4MB* FLASH ROM, 4MB SDRAM
Media

Roll-feed, die-cut, continuous, fan-

fold, tags, tickets in plain

paper or thermal paper
Width：4.3″（110mm）max.，0.98″（25mm）min.
Supply roll: OD 6″(152mm) max., ID 1″(25.4mm) min.

Ribbon

Wax, Wax/Resin, Resin
Ribbon roll: OD 2.75″(70mm) max., ID 1″(25.4mm) core
Max width: 110mm; Max length: 300M

Fonts

Windows True Type Fonts (when using Windows drivers);

Built-in ASCII font and a 24×24 dot matrix Chinese font.

Bar Code Types***

1D Barcode : Code 39，Code 93，Code 128/subset A,B,C，
Codabar， Interleave 2 of 5，UPC A/E 2 and 5 add-on，
EAN-13/8/128，UCC-128，Postnet，Plessey，HBIC， Telepen，
FIM ,etc；
2D Barcode : PDF417, Data Matrix, QR, Maxicode

Media sensor Reflective (Adjustable)/Transmissive
Interfaces RS-232 serial, USB (and/or Centronics)**, PS/2*
LCD Display 2 line graphic*

3

Power rating 24 VDC, 2.0A****
Weight 3.5kgs
Dimensions W256 x D329 x H200mm
Operation environment

Temperature: 40F–100F (0C – 40C)
Relative humidity: 5% - 85% non condensing

Optional items Internal 100/10M Ethernet Interface card, Centronics

* 4MB Flash ROM, PS/2 port and LCD display are only provided for

CH-4204S and CH-4303S

** The Centronics interface is not a standard component and is an optional

item. Please verify your requirements before ordering;

*** Theoretically, the printer can print any type of barcode, as determined by

the software you are using;

**** Power for the barcode label printer is provided via an external power

adaptor.

Specifications for Power Adapter

Input

AC 100~240V, 47~63HZ

Output

DC 24V, 2.0 A

Environment

0C ~ 40C

Unpacking and Inspection

Inspect the shipping carton(s) for possible shipping damage. If
damage is discovered, notify the shipping company to report the
nature and extent of the damage.

Please check the items according to the Packing List. If there are any
items missing, notify your authorized reseller.

4

Packing List（Figure 1）:

1. Printer 1 pcs

2. Power Adapter 1 pcs

3. Ribbon Spindle 2 pcs

4. Media Spindle 1 pcs

5. Core Adapter 2 pcs

6. Media Roll Guide 2 pcs

7. Ribbon 1 pcs

8. Sample Media 1 pcs

9. CD Rom 1 pcs

5

Figure 1 Printer and accessories

Ribbon Spindle

Printer

Power Adapter

Media

Spindle

Core Adapter

Media Roll Guide

Ribbon

Sample Media

CD-Rom

6

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Setting up

Before setting up the printer you should consider the following:

1. Make sure there is adequate space around the printer for loading
consumables and proper ventilation.

2. Make sure the printer is close to the host so the interface cable is
easily accessible at either end.

7

Main Parts and Features

Figure 2

1. PAUSE Button 2. FEED Button 3. CANCEL Button

4. READY Indicator 5. MEDIA Indicator 6. RIBBON Indicator

7. Media Exit Path 8. Cover Handle 9. Bottom Case

10. Top Cover 11.Left Side Cover

3 1 2 4 5 6 8 7 11

10

9

8

Figure 3

1. Printhead Module 2. Printhead Bracket 3. Printhead

4. Transmissive Sensor 5. Reflective Sensor 6. TPH Release Lever

7. Media Guide 8. Ribbon Loading Knob 9. Ribbon Supply Spindle

10. Media Compartment 11.Guide Wheel 12. Platen Roller

2 1

3 4 12 6 7 8 9 10

11

5

9

Figure 4

1. RS232 Serial Port 2. DIP Switches 3. USB Port

4. PS/2 Port 5. DC IN Port 6. Ethernet Port

7. Centronics Port

Note: The above figure illustrates all possible interface ports on a

Century Hawk printer, but some ports may not be available for
your printer. Please check your requirements when purchasing
the printer.

1 2 3

4 5

7 6

10

Connecting the Printer

Power Connection

Caution:(1) Use of the wrong adapter could damage your printer.

Century Systems assumes no liability for any damage in
such case. The rating for the printer is 24VDC.

(2) Do not use the printer near liquids or corrosive chemicals.

1. Make sure the printer is switched OFF.

2. Connect the power cord to the Power Adapter.

3. Connect the Power Adapter’s DC output plug to the DC IN port on the
back of the printer.

4. Plug the power cord into a live wall outlet.

Interface Connection

Caution: Make sure the printer is switched OFF before connecting the
interface cable.

The interface between the printer and the host will use either a serial or
USB（or parallel）cable. Contact your reseller for Ethernet connection
options.

1. The printer identifies the communication port automatically.

2. The default values of printer port can be obtained from the self-test

report. (See Chapter 2 Operation Basics - System Mode - Self Test)

3. Cable configurations for serial (RS-232C) and parallel

(Centronics) interfaces are shown in Appendix A of this guide.

11

4. Please take the following measures to reduce cable noise.

a. Reduce the length of the interface cable (keep the cable length

under 1.83 meters / 6 feet) if required.

b. Keep the communication cable separate from power cords.

Loading the Ribbon

Caution: (1) Make sure the ink side of your ribbon faces outwards.

Always make sure the ink side of the ribbon faces the
media and NOT the printhead.

(2) The maximum width of the ribbon is 110mm. When

using a ribbon roll with a width less than 110m,
please place the ribbon roll in the middle of the
Ribbon Spindle corresponding to the symmetry
symbol (→|←).

(3) This section is not applicable to direct thermal printing.

1. Lift the top cover (Figure 5-1).

2. Push the TPH release lever to release the Printhead Module.

3. Lift the Printhead Module to expose the ribbon supply holder (Figure
5-2).

4. Unwrap the ribbon roll pack and separate the ribbon roll and the core
(Figure 5-3).

5. Slide the roll of Ribbon onto one of the Ribbon Spindles and the core
onto the other spindle (Figure 5-3).

6. Load the Ribbon Spindle into the printer and route the ribbon through
the Printhead Module as shown in Figure 5-4.

7. Wrap the end of the ribbon around the core (Figure 5-5).

8. Load the core into the Ribbon rewinder (Figure 5-6).

9. Turn the guide wheel on the left of the core to take up the loose ribbon
and tighten the ribbon.

12

10. Close the Printhead Module and press down until it locks into place.

Figure 5-1

13

Figure 5-2

14

Figure 5-3

15

Figure 5-4

16

Figure 5-5

17

Figure 5-6

18

Loading the Media

Century Hawk printers can be operated in three different modes:
Standard mode, Peel-off mode, or Cutting mode.

-- In Standard mode, each printed label remains on the backing
liner.

-- In Peel-off mode, each printed label is peeled away from the
backing liner automatically.

-- In Cutting mode, the printer automatically cuts the label after it is
printed.

Standard Mode

1. Lift up the top cover to expose the media compartment (Figure 6-1).

2. Load a roll of media (labels facing up) on the Media Spindle, then
slide the two Media Roll Guides with their smooth sides toward the
media onto the Media Spindle from each end until snug against the
media. If you are placing a roll of media with a 3″ ID core, please
slide the two Core Adapters onto the Media Spindle first (Figure 6-2).

3. Insert them into the printer.

4. Corresponding to the scale on the Media Spindle, position the media
roll in the middle of the Spindle.

5. Release and lift the Printhead Module.

6. Route the media as shown in Figure 6-3.

7. Slide the Media Guide to the edge of the media.

8. Close the Printhead Module and press down until it locks into place
(Figure 6-4).

9. Close the cover and press the ‘Feed’ button to feed the media and
ensure proper tracking. If the printer does not correctly sense the top
of each label it may be necessary to perform the Calibration Procedure
in the Operation Basics section.

19

Peel-off Mode: The loading guide will be provided with the peeler kit.

Cutting Mode: The loading guide will be provided with the cutter kit.

Figure 6-1

20

Figure 6-2

21

Figure 6-3

Label

Media Guide

Media Leader

Platen Roller

22

Figure 6-4

23

Adjusting the Position of Media Sensor

Note: Only applies to the reflective sensor.

1. Lift the top cover.

2. Push the TPH release lever to release the Printhead Module.

3. Lift the Printhead Module to expose the media sensor cover. (Figure
7-1).

4. Remove the media sensor cover and slide the media sensor to the
appropriate position (refer to Figure 7-3, Figure 7-4 and Figure 7-5).

5. Replace the media sensor cover.

Figure 7-1

Reflective media

sensor cover

24

Figure 7-2

Figure 7-3

Media gap

2 – 5mm

Media sensor

25

Figure 7-4

Figure 7-5

Media gap

Media gap

26

Operation Basics

Power Switch

The power switch is on the back panel of the printer. The symbols on the
switch are defined as follows:

━ —— ON
〇 —— OFF

The Front Panel

The Front Panel of the printer consists of:

- Three Indicator Lamps: MEDIA, READY and RIBBON

- Three multi function buttons: PAUSE, FEED and CANCEL

Indicator Lamps

The three lamps indicate the status of the printer (please refer to Chapter
4 for error indications)

- Solid: Indicates the printer is in the normal state.

- Solid: Indicates the printer is in the normal state;

- Blinking simultaneously with READY: Running out
of media;

- Blinking: Indicates the printer is in the ‘PAUSE’ state.

- Solid: Indicates thermal transfer printing;

- Off: Direct thermal printing (no ribbon installed);

READY

MEDIA

RIBBON

27

- Blinking simultaneously with READY: Running out
of ribbon.

Buttons

The three buttons perform different functions based on the mode the
printer is in. The printer operates in one of the following modes:
Normal Mode: Normal printer functions (i.e. Pause, Feed, and Cancel).
See the following table.
System Mode: Allows the printer to perform Reset, Media Sensor
Calibration and Self-testing. See the following table at section ‘System
Mode’.

Mode Normal Mode System Mode
FEED

Feed one label Media Sensor Calibration

PAUSE

- Press once to pause
current print job

- Press a second time
to resume printing

Self-test:
The Printer performs a

self-test and prints out a
configuration report

CANCEL

- Cancel current batch
of labels

- Forces the printer to
continue working
after an error has
been corrected

Reset:
Resets the printer to Factory

Default Settings

LCD Display

A 2 line graphic LCD display is affixed to the front panel (For
CH-4204S and CH-4303S only). Data in the form of characters,
letters and numbers are shown on the LCD display. Please see below
“LCD Panel Operation”.

28

System Mode

In the System Mode the printer’s buttons allow for the performance
of Reset, Media Sensor Calibration and Self-testing. The printer
cannot receive commands from the host when in the System Mode.

- Entering: Press and hold the CANCEL button for 4 seconds, the three
blinking lamps indicate the printer is in System Mode. The LCD will
display SYSTEM MODE on Hawk 4S printers.

- Exiting: The printer will exit the System Mode automatically if no
operations are performed within 4 seconds of entering into the System
Mode.

Reset – Reset the Printer to the Factory Default Settings

Following the steps listed below allows you to reset the printer to the
factory default settings.

1. After entering System Mode, press the CANCEL button.

2. The three indicators stop blinking and remain lit. The printer is now in
its normal state.

The following parameters have automatically been reset:

- Label

- Print darkness

- Speed

- Others

Note：The printed label count and printed length may not be reset.

Media Sensor Calibration

It is necessary to perform a Media Sensor Calibration after a new roll of
media has been loaded.

1. After entering System Mode, press the FEED button.

2. The three indicators continue blinking.

29

3. The printer will feed approximately 200mm of media, and then the

three indicators will stop blinking and remain lit. The printer is back
to a normal state.

Self Test

1. After entering System Mode, press the PAUSE button.

2. The printer will print out a configuration report and the three

indicators will stop blinking and remain lit. The printer is back to a
normal state.

3. The following information will be printed on the self-test report:

- Font list

- Hardware configuration and status

- DIP switch settings

- Label parameters

-Firmware version

LCD Panel Operation

Only the two models, CH-4204S and Ch-4303S, have an LCD display.
LCD can display printer status, printed label quantity, error messages,
and can also assist in configuring the printer.

30

1． Examples of LCD display

2．Button functions

BUTTON FUNCTION DESCRIPTION
PAUSE + FEED

Entering the
Main Menu

Press and release PAUSE, then press
and hold FEED for 4 seconds

PAUSE ( )

Item/Parameter
Selection

Descending Item/Parameter selection

CANCEL ( )

Item/Parameter
Selection

Increasing Item/Parameter selection

FEED ( ) Confirmation

Confirm selection

MAIN MENU

Common Settings

READY[203DPI]
Total:00000888

PAUSE
Total:XXXXXXXX

MEDIA ERROR
YYYY/XXXXXXX

In normal printing mode, display
only XXXXXXXX as total
number of pages printed. In copy
printing mode, display
YYY/XXXXXXXX,

YYYY：number of pages not
printed
XXXXXXXX：number of pages
printed.

Ready to print.
Total = number of pages printed.
Note: when the printer is powered
off, the counter reverts to 0.

Main Menu

TEAR OFFSET

XXXX

Parameter Setting

IP Address:199.

009.100.001

Network Configuration

31

3．Items to be set and operating guide

MAIN MENU SUB MENU DESCRIPTION

Darkness

Speed

When set at ‘0’, the printer will accept
the default setting or command setting,
if not, the printer will not accept the
default setting or command setting.

Common Settings

Return Return to main menu.
Tear Offset

Positioning Offset
Cutting Offset
Peeling Offset

The increment for the Hawk 4S
CH-4204S is 0.125mm, Hawk 4S
CH-4303S is 0.085mm.

Offset settings

Return Return to main menu.
IP Address

Port
Subnet Mask

Gateway

The range of XXX is 0-255, press
PAUSE( )to decrease, CANCEL( )
to increase, FEED( )to move to
next XXX. Upon completion, pressing
FEED( )will proceed to the
“Save/Cancel” screen.

Network
Configuration

Return Return to main menu.
Chinese
English

Language
Selection

Return Return to main menu.
Settings

Clears only those settings
accomplished through the front panel.

Graphics To View, or Del All, or Del 1 by 1.

Clear

Return Return to main menu.
Execute Execute stored forms.
Delete All Delete all stored forms.
Delete 1 by 1 Delete selected stored form.

Stand Alone
Printing*

Return Return to main menu.

Exit Exit

* Requires a PS/2 keyboard and the downloading of the Forms.

32

DIP Switch at the Back Panel

Note: Please turn off the printer before setting the DIP switches.

1 2 3

4

5 6

7
8

OFF

ON

33

Windows Driver and hawklabel Software

The printer driver supports Windows 2003/XP/2000/NT/ME/98/95/Vista
operating systems. Each Century Hawk printer comes with powerful bar
code software hawklabel and operating instructions. Both the Windows
driver and hawklabel are available on the manufacturer’s CD-ROM
shipped with the product.

DIP Bit Functions Remarks

1

ON: Direct thermal print
OFF: Thermal transfer print

Printing type settings
Default: OFF

2

ON: Enable Back feed
OFF: Disable Back feed

Back feed settings
Default: OFF

3

ON: Cutter is installed
OFF: Cutter is not installed

Cutter settings
Default: OFF

4

ON: Peeler is installed
OFF: Peeler is not installed

Peeler settings
Default: OFF

5

ON: Transmissive Sensor
OFF: Reflective Sensor

Select Media Sensor
Default: OFF

6

ON: Enable IP setting
OFF: Disable IP setting

IP address setup
Default: OFF

7

8

8 | 7
0 | 0 – 9600,n,8,1
0 | 1 – 19200,n,8,1
1 | 0 – 38400,n,8,1
1 | 1 – 57600,n,8,1

RS232 Serial Port
baud rate setting
0: OFF, 1: ON
Default: 00

34

Note: If you need to update the driver, please remove any old versions of

the driver before continuing.

Label Edition Software

Each Century Hawk printer comes with powerful bar code software
hawklabel and operating instructions, which are available on the
manufacturer’s CD-ROM shipped with the product.

35

Chapter 3 Maintenance

Warning:

1. Make sure the printer is turned OFF before performing any
maintenance operations.

2. The printhead becomes hot while printing. Be careful when
performing maintenance on the printhead.

3. Use only the cleaning agents indicated. Century Systems will
not be responsible for damage caused by any other cleaning
materials used on the printer.

4. Anhydrous isopropyl alcohol is solvent containing no more
than one percent water. Isopropyl alcohol is a flammable
solvent; always take the proper precautions when using this
solvent.

Cleaning the Printhead

The printhead is easily damaged due to its precision construction. A
printhead damaged by misuse is not covered under the terms of the
warranty. To ensure longevity of the printhead, please note the
following:

1. Always use proper cleaning materials and techniques to clean the
printhead. Never use hard materials for scraping the printhead.

2. Always use high-quality consumables. When the TPH module is
closed, pressure is placed directly on the TPH; dirt such as paper
scraps, sand, dust and glue can scrape or damage the printhead.
The TPH is also easily damaged by static electricity, which may be
generated by poor quality ribbons.

36

3. After every roll of ribbon or every three rolls of media, the

printhead should be cleaned with anhydrous isopropyl alcohol.
a. Turn off the printer and open the cover.
b. Release and lift the Printhead Module.
c. Remove the ribbon (if applicable).
d. Using a Cotton Swab dipped in anhydrous isopropyl alcohol, rub

the Swab along the printhead.

Cleaning the Platen Roller

Debris or dirt accumulated on the platen roller should be cleaned
after every three rolls of media.

a. Turn off the printer and open the cover.

b. Release and lift the Printhead Module.
c. Rotate the platen roller and clean it thoroughly with anhydrous

isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.

Cleaning the Printer Interior

Clean with a brush or a vacuum cleaner, as needed.

37

Chapter 4 Troubleshooting

Occasionally situations occur that require some troubleshooting.
Possible issues and potential solutions are listed in this section. While
not every situation is addressed, you may find some of these tips
useful.

Error Indications

Typically, when the printer is not functioning, one or two of the three
indicator lamps will begin blinking. The possible situations addressed by
the status of the three indicator lamps are listed bellow.

READY and MEDIA Lamps blink simultaneously

Possible Cause Recommended

Solutions

Remarks

Cannot detect the
media gap or black
line

a. Check the media

path

b. Check the position

of the media sensor

c. Perform media

sensor calibration

If you are using
continuous media,
be sure you have the
correct settings in
your software

Media run out Load a roll of media
Media jam Clear the jam
The Media Roll

Guides are not
firmly positioned
against the media

Adjust the Media Roll
Guides to firmly press
against the media

Media sensor error Service media sensor

38

READY and RIBBON Lamps blink simultaneously

Possible Cause Recommend Solutions Remarks

Run out of ribbon Load a roll ribbon
Ribbon jam Clear the jam
Ribbon Sensor
error

Service Ribbon Sensor To be serviced only

by qualified
personnel

Only READY Lamp blinks

Possible Cause Recommend Solutions Remarks

Serial I/O error Check DIP switches for

the baud rate settings

Memory overflow a. Restart the printer

b. Perform Reset

Miscellaneous

Vertical blank lines

Continuous vertical blank lines in printout indicate a dirty or faulty
printhead as shown below:

If the problem cannot be solved by cleaning the printhead, replace the
printhead.

The host shows ‘Printer Timeout’

1. Check if the interface cable is connected.

2. Check if the printer is turned on.

If the situation remains unsolved, please contact your reseller or our

39

customer service engineer.

The data has been sent, but not printing

1. Verify you have chosen the correct Windows printer.

2. Reset the printer.

If the situation remains unsolved, please contact your reseller or our
customer service engineer.

Print quality problems

1. Adjust Print Darkness setting.

2. Adjust Print Speed setting.

3. Clean the printhead and platen roller.

4. Make sure the correct media/ribbon is loaded.

5. Use only high-quality Media, replace if necessary.

Recovery

After the corrective action is taken press the CANCEL button to clear
the alarm, the printer will get back to work automatically.

Others

Contact a qualified Service Engineer from your reseller or
Century for troubles that persist or are not covered in this
section.

40

Appendix A: Interface Specifications

RS232 Serial

The RS232 connector on the printer is a DB9F：

Pin Direction Definition
1 / /
2 Out TX
3 In RX
4 In CTS
5 - Ground
6 Out RTS
7 In DSR
8 Out DTR
9 / /

Connection with host:

Host 25S Printer 9P Host 9S Printer 9P
TX 2 ……… 3 RX RX 2 ……… 2 TX
RX 3 ……… 2 TX TX 3 ……… 3 RX
DSR 6 ……… 8 DTR DTR 4 ……… 7 DSR
DTR 20 ……… 7 DSR DSR 6 ……… 8 DTR
RTS 4 ……… 4 CTS RTS 7 ……… 4 CTS
CTS 5 ……… 6 RTS CTS 8 ……… 6 RTS
GND 7 ……… 5 GND GND 5 ……… 5 GND

41

Alternately you can just connect the 3 wires as follows:

Host 25S Printer 9P Host 9S Printer 9P
TX 2 ……… 3 RX RX 2 ……… 2 TX
RX 3 ……… 2 TX TX 3 ……… 3 RX
GND 7 ……… 5 GND GND 5 ……… 5 GND
pin 4 pin 4
pin 5 pin 6
pin 6 pin 7
pin 20 pin 8

Baud rate: 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600

(Baud Rate set by DIP switches 7–8)

Data format: always 8 data bits, 1 start bit and 1 stop bit.

Parity: always non parity.

Flow control: RTS/CTS (Hardware flow control).
If you are using software or drivers under the Windows environment, the
flow control must be set to “hardware”

42

Parallel (Centronics)

The parallel port is a standard 36-pin Centronics interface. Its pin

assignments are as follows:

Pin Direction Definition Pin Direction Definition
1 In /STROBE 13 Out SELECT
2 In Data 1 14,15 NC
3 In Data 2 16 - Ground
4 In Data 3 17 - Ground
5 In Data 4 18 NC
6 In Data 5 19~30 - Ground
7 In Data 6 31 NC
8 In Data 7 32 Out /Fault
9 In Data 8 33~36 - NC
10 Out /ACK
11 Out BUSY
12 Out PE

Any communications port can transmit data from the host (Centronics,
RS232, Ethernet, and USB). Preliminary communications settings are
not required since the printer will automatically detect which port is
active.

Note: Never send data from 2 ports at the same time. Data cannot be sent
to more than one port simultaneously or data corruption and print errors
may occur.

43

Appendix B: ASCII Table

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0

NUL 0 @ P ` p

1

SOH XON ! 1 A Q a q

2

STX “ 2 B R b r

3

XOFF # 3 C S c s

4

$ 4 D T d t

5

NAK % 5 E U e u

6

ACK & 6 F V f v

7

BEL ‘ 7 G W g w

8

BS ( 8 H X h x

9

) 9 I Y i y

A

LF * : J Z j z

B

ESC + ; K [ k {

C

FF , < L \ l |

D

CR - = M ] m }

E

SO RS . > N ^ n ~

F

SI US / ? O _ o DEL

Remark: The € sign is included in the embedded table at DEC128 or

HEX 80.