Code Soft s4 User Manual

CODE SOFT

s4 Label printer user’s manual

Version: 1.1

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Table of contents

1. Introduction............................................................................................................1

1.1 In the box......................................................................................................1

1.2 Printer Features..........................................................................................2

1.2.1 Front view...........................................................................................2

1.2.2 Rear view............................................................................................2

1.2.3 Interior view........................................................................................3

2. Getting start...........................................................................................................4

2.1 Loading the ribbon.....................................................................................4

2.2 Loading the media......................................................................................8

2.3 Connecting interfaces.............................................................................12

2.3.1 Centronics port (Parallel port).......................................................12

2.3.2 RS-232 port (Serial port)................................................................12

2.3.3 USB Slave........................................................................................13

2.3.4 Ethernet (Option).............................................................................13

2.4 Power on the printer................................................................................14

2.5 Control panel.............................................................................................14

3. Printer options.....................................................................................................17

3.1 Peeler installation.....................................................................................17

3.2 Cutter installation.....................................................................................24

4. LCD screen icons...............................................................................................30

4.1 LCD screen information .........................................................................30

4.2 Graphic symbol on LCD screen...........................................................31

5. Configuration.......................................................................................................32

5.1 Menu structure..........................................................................................32

5.2 Parameters setup.....................................................................................35

5.2.1 User Setup .......................................................................................35

5.2.2 Communication setup.....................................................................35

5.2.3 Print Setup........................................................................................37

5.2.4 Test....................................................................................................39

5.2.5 Memory.............................................................................................39

5.2.6 Form..................................................................................................39

5.2.7 Warning message...........................................................................40

5.2.8 Printer status....................................................................................41

6. Troubleshooting..................................................................................................42

6.1 LCD error message..................................................................................42

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7. Specifications......................................................................................................43

7.1 General specifications............................................................................43

7.2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) port pin assignment.............................45

7.3 Serial port pin assignment.....................................................................46

7.4 Ethernet module port pin assignment................................................46

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About this user ’s manual

This user’s manual is described with a large quantity of illustrations, let the
users understand, step by step, how to work this printer to its best. This
manual includes also the troubleshooting section which could provide a
pre-way to eliminate or find out the troubles, without the help of technician. If
users still cannot banish the troubles from the printer, please contact directly
the distributors.

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1. Introduction

1.1 In the box

After unpacking, please inspect carefully and make sure that you receive all
the necessary parts as below:

 Printer
 Power supply
 Power Cord (varies by country)
 Software CD ROM
 Quick start guide
 USB cable

If any parts are missing, please contact the service department of your
distributor.

Save the carton and all packing materials in case you need to reship back.

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1.2 Printer Features

1.2.1 Front view

1.2.2 Rear view

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1.2.3 Interior view

Media roll holder

Media guide

Adjustable media
gap sensor

Platen roller

Cover-up sensor

Media holder
lock latch

Supply spindles

Printhead

Array sensors

Take up spindles

Tear-o

ff

blad

e

Dispenser (option)

Peel-off roller

Peeler sensor

Peeler bar

Dispenser cover

Media sensor

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2. Getting start

2.1 Loading the ribbon

1. Pulling the release latches on two sides toward the front of printer to open
the printer cover.

2. Open the ribbon cover by pushing the ribs (as shown in green) of ribbon
cover. Do not open the ribbon cover by pushing the cover edge which
installed the blade to tear off the label. It might hurt your hands if you push it
hardly.

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3. Insert the ribbon roll to the supply spindle.

4. Rotate the supply hub until the notches align and lock in to the left side of
supply hub.

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5. Insert an empty media core into the take up spindle. Rotate the take up hub
until the notches align and lock on the left side of take up hub.

6. Pull the ribbon out from the roll and stick it with the adhesive tape on the
empty ribbon take up core.

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7. Rotate the take up hub on the left side of ribbon spindle till the ribbon is
pulled tight.

Note: The loading path of ribbon roll (outside wound)

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2.2 Loading the media

Whether the roll media is inside or outside wound, they could be used in this
printer and loaded in the same way.

1. Open the printer cover by pulling the release latch toward the front of
printer.

2. Press the holder latch and pull the media holders open. Place the media
roll on the holders and push media holder toward the roll by pressing the
holder latch. Release the latch when the media is on the holder firmly.

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3. Pull the media so it could extend out the printer. Please make sure the
printing surface is facing up.

4. Before pushing the media under the guides, adjust the label senor to
appropriate position to detect the labels with gap, hole or black mark.

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5. Push the media under the both sides of guides.

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Note: The loading path of label roll (inside and outside wound)

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2.3 Connecting interfaces

The following interfaces could be connected to PC to operate the printer:

2.3.1 Centronics port (Parallel port)

2.3.2 RS-232 port (Serial port)

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2.3.3 USB Slave

2.3.4 Ethernet (Option)

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2.4 Power on the printer

1. Make sure the printer power switch is off

2. Plug the power connector into the power socket at the rear side of printer.

3. Plug the power cord on the power outlet.

4. Turn the printer power switch to on.

Caution. Please ensure that the printer power is off

before connecting the interface cable. Connecting the
interface cable while printer power is on might cause the
damage on printer.

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2.5 Control panel

The key functions are available under the printer READY mode
Button Appearance Function

Menu

Enter the menu list to setup the printer configuration

Feed

Feed a blank label

The key functions are available under the printer PRINTING mode
Button Appearance Function

Cancel

 Stop and cancel the current printing job
 Removes the error status when problem is

resolved.

Pause

Stop and restart the printing process

The key functions are available in Menu System
Button Appearance Function

Return

Return back to previous menu level

Up

 Scroll up the menu options
 Increase the parameter values

Down

 Scroll down the menu options
 Decrease the parameter values

Enter

Confirm the selected option

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Buttons light

Cancel

Flash in red
Bi-sound

Error message

 Ribbon out (error)
 Label out (error)
 Top cover opened

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3. Printer options

3.1 Peeler installation

1. Push the platen bearing tabs on the right and left sides upwards and rotate
them backwards to the end.

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2. Lift vertically the platen from the bottom case of printer.

3. Lift vertically the front cover from the bottom case of printer.

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4. Insert the peeler cable to printer. (Please follow the correct connector side
as figure shown to insert the cable)

5. Insert firstly the right side of peeler module to the relative holes of printer
(arrow 1), press the lower part of left side of module (arrow 2), then push
the left side of module to the relative holes of printer to fix firmly the peeler
module on printer (arrow 3).

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6. Screw up the metal plate on the platen. The metal plate with arrow symbol
is upward side.

7. Put the platen screwed with metal plate back to printer

8. Assure the platen is fixed firmly in printer.

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9. Push the platen bearing tab forward to lock the platen.

10. Lead the label through the back of peel-off bar, as figure show.

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11. Close the top cover

12. Pull the label to the direction as the figure show, then push the peel-off
panel back to printer.

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13. Press the Feed button to test the peeler function.

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3.2 Cutter installation

1. Push the platen bearing tabs on the right and left sides upwards and rotate
them backwards to the end.

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2. Lift vertically the platen from the bottom case of printer.

3. Lift vertically the front cover from the bottom case of printer.

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4. Connect the cutter cable to printer

5. Slide vertically the hooks of cutter both side into the slot

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6. Push the cutter hooks to the bottom of two hooks slots, and make sure that
lower hooks are fixed firmly on the hooks holes.

7. Put the platen back in the printer.

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8. Lock the platen bearing tabs

9. Thread the label through the cutter inside slot and press the label under the
media guides.

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10. Close the printer top cover

Please do not touch or insert your fingers into the
cutter mouth while cutter is active. It will cause
extremely hurt.

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4. LCD screen icons

4.1 LCD screen information

LCD screen information consists 5 parts to show the printer status.

 Buttons status bar
 Device status (when printer is in Ready status)
 Printer current status and setting level
 Time and setting icon

 Menu pages



Printer current setting level, it shows only when printer is in menu function

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4.2 Graphic symbol on LCD screen

Device status bar

Symbol Description

Buzzer on (buzzer symbol will be shown when buzzer is set
to on)
SD card inserted (SD card symbol will be shown when SD
card is inserted)
USB master interface (keyboard or scanner) inserted (USB
master symbol will be shown when interface is inserted
RTC battery power is full

RTC battery power is running out

Button status bar: the symbol will be shown on the button status bar when
the button function is available.

Symbol Description

Feed labels.

Scroll down

Scroll up

Enter

Escape

Main menu

Pause

Cancel

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5. Configuration

5.1 Menu structure

Main menu Sub-menu Description

Information

Printer configuration information

Language

Change menu language

LCD Contrast

Contrast of LCD

Buzzer Volume

Adjust the buzzer volume

Date

Set the RTC Date

Time

Set the RTC time

Default

Initiate to factory default

User Setup

Password

Set the password to lock the change
of parameter

RS-232

Set RS-232 parameter

Comm. Setup

Ethernet

Ethernet status and set configuration

Transfer mode

Thermal transfer or thermal direct

Print mode

Set to peeler, cutter or tear off
function

Speed

Printing speed

Darkness

Printing heat value

Label type

Select the label type

Print Setup

Gap sensor

Select label sensor type

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Print width

Set the print width

Print X offs

Adjust the origin of printer horizontal
coordinate

Print Y offs

Adjust the origin of printer vertical
coordinate

TPH Y offs

Set the print head vertical offset

Back Y offs

Set the label stop position for peeler,
cutter or tear-off mode

Error reprint

Reprint the previous label when error
occurs

Cancel mode

Stop printing the current job

Print Config.

Print the printer configuration

Print test

Print the test pattern

Label calibration

Calibrate the label

Dump mode

Print the dump data

Test

Cutter

Test cutter function

Free size

Show the free memory size in
SDRAM and SD card

List

List the forms, images and fonts in
memory device

Delete files

Delete separately the stored forms,
images and fonts in memory

Memory

Clear memory

Delete all stored forms, images and
fonts in the memory

Run the form

Execute the stored form in memory

Form

Auto form

Execute automatically the selected
form as the printer is power on

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F/W update

Update firmware directly from the SD

card

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5.2 Parameters setup

5.2.1 User Setup

Parameter Explanation Default

Language

Change menu language

Languages: English, Traditional Chinese

English

LCD Contrast

Contrast of LCD display

Value: from 0~5

Level 2

Buzzer volume

Adjust the buzzer volume

Value: off, 1~3

Volume 1

Date

Set Real-Time clock date

This parameter allows users to set the date
Type: Year/Month/Date

None

Time

Set Real-Time clock time

This parameter allows users to set the time
Type: hour/minute/second

None

Default

Set the parameters to factory default

This parameter allows users to set all the parameters
back to factory default

None

Password

Set the password to protect the parameters

This function allows users to set the password to lock
the parameters change of User, Communication and
Print Setup to prevent the other users to change it
carelessly.
Password value range: 0000~9999

0000

5.2.2 Communication setup

Parameter Explanation Default

Baud rate

Selection: 1200 ~115200

9600

Parity

Selections: None, Odd, Even

None

Data bits

Selections: 7, 8 bits

8 bits

RS-232

Stop bits

Selection: 1, 2

1

Status (Ethernet)-Show only the Ethernet status

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Config. Method-DHCP or Static IP
IP address
Net Mask
Gateway
MAC address

Configure (Ethernet)-Configure the Ethernet

DHCP-Issuing the IP address by DHCP server
Static IP- Issu ing the IP address by operator

DHCP

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5.2.3 Print Setup

Parameter Explanation Default

Transfer mode

Change the printing mode

This setting could change the printing mode
Selection: By Command, Direct thermal, Thermal
Transfer

By command

Print mode

Select the print mode

This setting changes the label delivery mode.
Selection: Normal, Tear off, Peel off, cut

Normal

Speed

Adjust the printing speed

This setting could change the printing speed
Selection: 1, 2, 3, 4 dpi

3

Darkness

Adjust print darkness

This setting could adjust the printing quality by the
printing heat
Selection: 0~15

8

Label type

Select the label type

This setting could select the media.
Selection: Gap/Notch, Mark, continuous

Gap/Notch

Label sensor

Change the label sensor type

This setting could change the convenient sensor
type to detect the label.
Selection: By command, see-through, reflective

By command

Print width

Adjust the print width

This setting determines the printable area by
setting the printing dot.
Selection: 120~832 dot

832 dot

Print X offs

Adjust the horizontal origin of coordinate

Selection: -80~+80 dot

00

Print Y offs

Adjust the vertical origin of coordinate

Selection: -80~+80 dot

00

TPH Y offs

Adjust the print head vertical offset

Selection: -120~+120 dot

000

Back Y offs

Set the label stop position

Selection: -080~+120 dot

000

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Error reprint

Repeat the previous label when error occurs

When the error occurs and the printing stops, this
function will reprint the label which was
interrupted.
Selection: Enable, Disable

Enable

Cancel mode

Set the cancel mode

This function allows users to cancel printing
immediately or after completing a label
Selection: Page complete, immediate

Page
complete

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5.2.4 Test

Parameter Explanation

Print Configuration

Print all the printer configurations

Print test

Print the programmed file to verify if the printer works
properly

Label calibration

Calibrate the label

Dump mode

Print the Dump mode information

Cutter

Cutter function test

5.2.5 Memory

Parameter Explanation

Free size

Shows the available memory size on SD card and SDRAM

List

List the stored forms, images and fonts in SD card and
SDRAM.

Delete file

Delete the stored forms, images and fonts in SD card and
SDRAM.

Clear memory

Clear all the stored forms, images and fonts in SD card and
SDRAM

5.2.6 Form

Parameter Explanation

Run the form

Execute the form stored in the SD card or SDRAM

Auto form

This function allows users to run automatically the selected
form stored in memory when users re-power on the printer.

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5.2.7 Warning message

Icon Explanation

No form found

Form in SD card or SDRAM is not found.
Check if the files are exactly stored in the memory device

No Image found

Image in SD card or SDRAM is not found.
Check if the image is exactly stored in the memory device

No font found

Font in SD card or SDRAM is not found.
Check if the font is exactly stored in the memory device

No F/W found

Firmware files are not stored in the SD card when updating the
firmware.

No Batt. found

Battery is not installed in the printer when setting time and date
Check if the battery power runs out or not installed well

Password error

Wrong password is entered
Enter the correct password to modify the protected parameters

SD lock

Printer cannot write the data to SD card
Unlock the SD card

No cutter found

Cutter is not installed on printer when execute the cutter test

No SD found

SD card in not installed in printer when updating the printer
Check if printer is well inserted in printer

Cutter jam

Cutter jams when execute the cutter test
Check if the labels stick in cutter

No Ether found

Ethernet module is not installed in printer
Check if the Ethernet module is installed or well installed

Flash ROM Full

Internal flash ROM is full
Delete un-necessary files to store the current files

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5.2.8 Printer status

Icon Status description

Feed

Feeding the label

Cancel

Cancel the current printing job.

Pause

Pause the current printing job.

Wait peel

Wait to peel the printed label to print the next label

Wait on demand

Wait to press the feed button to print next label.
(*This function is available only on sending the command)

Value saved

Save the change of parameters to printer

Dumpping data

Catch the data from communication port and send to printer to
print out.

Push to cal

Press the “Feed” button to calibrate the label.
(*This function is available on “Label Cal”)

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6. Troubleshooting

6.1 LCD error message

LCD Displayed Possible problem Resolution

Improper sensor type Ensure the sensor type, reflective or

see-through, is selected correctly
Label senor cable is
disconnected or loose

Reconnect or tighten up the sensor

cable
Sensor windows are dirty Clean the receiver sensors and

emitter sensor
Improper media sensor
position

Adjust the media sensor to correct

position

Label gap out

Load the continuous label,
but the label type is set to
Gap/notch or Mark type

Load the correct media or set the

label type to current using media

type

Label out

Label runs out Reload new media roll

Ribbon runs out Reload new ribbon roll

Ribbon out

Ribbon roll is not loaded
correctly

Ensure the ribbon supply and take

up core are fixed correctly

Cover open

Printer cover is open Close the printer cover

Update fail

Firmware update fails Re-update the firmware

TPH cable is disconnected Connect the TPH cable

TPH fail

TPH is faulty damaged Replace a new TPH

Check sum error

Firmware update fails. Re-update the firmware

No cutter found

Cutter is not installed when
printing

Check if cutter is installed in printing

Cutter jam

Cutter jams when printing Check if labels stick in cutter

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7. Specifications

7.1 General specifications

Resolution 200 dpi (8 dots/mm)
Print mode Dire ct Thermal/Thermal Transfer
CPU 32-bit CPU
Memory RAM: 8MB SDRAM

ROM: 4MB Flash ROM
Expendable slot for SD card (up to 4GB)

Print speed 1” to 4” ips
Max. print length 150” (3810mm)
Print width 4.1” (104mm)
Sensor type Moveable see-through and reflective sensor

Label sensor
Ribbon sensor
Cover open sensor

Display Backlight LCD display 128x64 dots
Control panel 4 multi-functional keys

4 status LED light
1 error LED light

Media Maximum label width: 4.33” (110mm)

Minimum label width: 0.59” (15mm)
Maximum roll diameter: 5” (127mm)
Core diameter: 1.0” (25.4mm)
Media thickness: 0.002” (0.06mm) to 0.0075” (0.2mm)
Media type: Continuous, die-cut, tag, fan-fold, black mark

Ribbon OD: 1.535” (39mm)

Max length: 100m
Width: 1.0” (25.4mm) to 4.3” (110mm)
ID: 0.5” (12.7mm)
Ribbon type: Wax, wax/resin, resin

Interfaces Serial port-RS-232

Parallel port
USB master port
USB slave port

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Ethernet port 10/100Mbps (option)

1D barcodes

Code39 standard or extended, Code39 with check digit, Code93,
Code128 UCC, Code128 auto A,B,C modes, Codabar, EAN8, EAN8/13
2&5 digit add-on, EAN13, Interleaved 2 of 5, Interleaved 2 of 5 with check
digit, Interleaved 2 of 5 with human readable check digit, UCC/EAN 128,
UPC A, UPC A 2&5 digit add-on, UPC E, UPC E 2&5 digit add-on, UPC
Interleaved 2 of 5

2D barcodes

Data Matrix, MaxiCode, PDF417

Fonts 5 internal expandable bitmap fonts (alpha-numeric)

2 internal expandable bitmap fonts (numeric only)
Downloadable soft font
4 directions: 0, 90, 180, 270 degrees

Image PCX, Direct binary graphic
Options Peeler kit

Cutter
Ethernet module
Expansion memory card

Power Switching power adapter

Input: 100 to 240V, 1.8A, 50~60Hz
Output: 24V, 2.5A

Audio Beep sound when error occurs
Environment

Operation: 5℃ to 45℃(40℉ to 1 12.9℉)
Storage: -20℃ to 50℃ (-4℉ to 121.9℉)

Humidity Operation: 10% to 90% non condensing

Storage: 5% to 95% non condensing

Printer dimension Width: 200.00mm (7.83”)

Length: 263.19mm (10.36”)
Height: 188.29mm (7.41”)
Weight: 2KG

Certification CE, FCC class B

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7.2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) port pin assignment

Connector type: Type A and B

USB A (Master) USB B (Slave)

Pin Function
1 VBUS
2 D­3 D+
4 GND

Note: Master VBUS provides +5V max current 500mA. Slave VBUS is N/C.

For more information about USB, please visit the website:

www.usb.org

.

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7.3 Serial port pin assignment

Note: Serial port provides +5V max current 500mAh

7.4 Ethernet module port pin assignment

Pin Printer side
1 N/C
2 TXD
3 RXD
4 DSR
5 GND
6 DTR
7 CTS
8 RTS
9 +5V

Pin Signal
1 Tx+
2 Tx­3 Rx+
6 Rx-