Paxar 9840CL User Manual
User’s Manual
9840CL Printer
PAXAR Systems Group
Manual Edition 1.1
15 December 2000
Manual Part Number 441397
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Contents
Getting Started - 1 1
Audience.............................................................................................................................. 2
Unpacking the Printer........................................................................................................... 2
Connecting the Power Cable................................................................................................. 2
Establishing Communications...............................................................................................3
Default Printer Settings ........................................................................................................ 4
Using the Control Panel........................................................................................................4
Setting Dip Switches............................................................................................................6
Loading Supplies - 2 9
Loading Labels................................................................................................................... 10
Loading Ribbon ................................................................................................................. 15
Adjusting the Wide/Narrow Knobs.....................................................................................19
Connecting the Communication Cable .................................................................... 3
Default Serial Port Communication Values .............................................................3
Printer Status Lights ............................................................................................... 4
Button Functions ....................................................................................................5
Status Code Box.....................................................................................................5
DIP Switches .......................................................................................................... 7
Printing - 3 21
Printing.............................................................................................................................. 21
Printing an Error Label ......................................................................................... 21
Non-Printing Zone ............................................................................................................. 22
Preventing Jams.................................................................................................... 22
Printing Serial Bar Codes ................................................................................................... 23
Adjusting Print Positions.................................................................................................... 23
Adjusting the cut angle....................................................................................................... 24
Using the Knife.................................................................................................................. 25
Care and Maintenance - 4 28
Clearing Supply Jams......................................................................................................... 29
Clearing a Knife Jam..........................................................................................................29
Cleaning ............................................................................................................................ 30
Replacing the Printhead...................................................................................................... 32
Adjusting the Print Contrast ............................................................................................... 36
Replacing the Fuse............................................................................................................. 37
Lubricating the Knife ......................................................................................................... 38
Troubleshooting - 5 39
Printing a Test Label .......................................................................................................... 40
Troubleshooting................................................................................................................. 41
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Contents •• i
Error Messages................................................................................................................... 42
Data Errors........................................................................................................... 42
Communication Failures....................................................................................... 47
Data Formatting Errors......................................................................................... 48
Machine Faults..................................................................................................... 49
Specifications & Accessories - A 51
Printer................................................................................................................................51
Supply Specifications......................................................................................................... 52
Ribbon Specifications......................................................................................................... 53
Accessories........................................................................................................................ 54
Contacting Paxar 55
ii •• Contents Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
Getting Started - 1
The Paxar 9840CL Care Label printer lets you print text, graphics, and bar codes on
thermal transfer (ribbon) fabric labels.
This chapter includes information about
♦ unpacking the printer.
♦ connecting the power cord.
♦ connecting the communications cable.
♦ using the printer's control panel.
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Getting Started - 1 •• 1
Audience
The Operator's Handbook is for the person who prints and applies labels.
Unpacking the Printer
After you unpack the printer, you should have: a 9840CL printer, power cord,
communication cable and a ribbon take-up core (may already be on take-up reel).
Keep the box and packaging material in case the printer ever needs repair.
Power cords are not supplied with 230-volt printers. You need to purchase a power cord
separately. The power cord requires IEC 320 STD C13 end finish for the printer interface
and it must meet requirements for 1.6 Amps at 115VAC and 1 Amp at 230VAC.
Connecting the Power Cable
To connect the power cable:
1. Plug the power cable into the socket.
Plug the other end of the cable into a
grounded electrical outlet.
2. Turn on the printer. Press ( I ) to turn on
and ( O ) to turn off the printer.
For information about replacing the fuse,
see Chapter 4, "Care and Maintenance."
Power Cable
goes here
2 •• Getting Started - 1 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
Establishing Communications
Before the printer can accept print jobs from the host, you must:
♦ Connect the communication cable to the printer and to the host.
♦ Set the communication values on the printer to match those at the host. (Only required
if you are using the serial port.)
Connecting the Communication Cable
Make sure the printer is off before connecting the cable to the communication port.
Ask your System Administrator which method to use to communicate with the host:
♦ Serial Communication
9 to 25 pin cable
25 to 25 pin cable
♦ Parallel Communication
IEEE-1284 or Centronics mode cable
Parallel Port
Serial Port
See "Setting DIP Switches," for more information.
Connect the communications cable to the appropriate
port on your computer. If you are unsure where to
connect the cable, consult your computer
documentation.
Note: It is highly recommended that you use the
cable supplied with your printer. Paxar cannot be
responsible for communications problems when a non-Paxar cable is used.
Connect the other end of the communication cable into the appropriate port on the printer.
Secure the cable with the connecting screws (serial) or spring clips (parallel).
Default Serial Port Communication Values
If you are communicating with the host through the serial port, make sure the printer's
communication values match those at the host. The factory default values are: 9600 Baud,
8 bit data frame Word Length, 1 Stop Bit, no Parity, and XON/XOFF Flow Control.
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Getting Started - 1 •• 3
To change the printer's communication values, ask your System Administrator or see
"Setting DIP Switches" to change the DIP switch settings.
Default Printer Settings
These defaults can be changed using Paxar's PCMate software. Print Speed - 4.0 ips
(inches per second), Ribbon - High Energy, Supply Type - Black Mark, Contrast - 255,
Backfeed - Enabled, Dispense Position - 120 dots, Backfeed Distance - 110 dots.
Using the Control Panel
The control panel helps you check printer status, displays error codes, and allows you to
perform some basic printer functions.
Printer Status Lights
Power: The printer shows a steady green light when it is on.
Supplies: The printer shows a blinking amber light when it is out of
labels or ribbon, or when you have a supply jam.
Paused: The printer shows a steady amber light when paused.
The printer shows a blinking amber light when there is a
data, communication, or data formatting error. See the
status code box for the error code.The printer also shows
4 •• Getting Started - 1 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
a blinking amber light when it's ready to print a label in
the On-Demand mode. See Chapter 3, "Printing" for
more information.
Button Functions
Feed: Prints a label in the On-Demand mode.Feeds a blank
label if there is no print job.
Prints a label with error information that is useful to your
System Administrator if an error is displayed.
Pause: Pauses the current print job or resumes a paused print
job. When the Paused light is on, the job is paused.
Feed and Pause: Prints a test label when you press the buttons at the
same time.
Feed and Clear: Allows you to adjust print positions from paused mode.
See Chapter 3, "Printing" for more information.
Clear: Clears an error.
Cancels the current print job.
Cancels all queued print jobs if pressed for two seconds.
Also clears the communication queue and cancels any
packet being received.
To cancel a single or all queued print jobs, the printer must be in paused mode before
Clear is pressed.
Status Code Box
The status code box displays a three-digit error code to identify any problem the printer
may have. For a description of the problem, look up the error code in Chapter 5,
“Troubleshooting.”
_________
If there is no error, the display will be blank.
_________
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Getting Started - 1 •• 5
Setting Dip Switches
Upper DIP Switches
To change the DIP switch settings,
move the switches to the desired
position and then turn on the
printer. If you select Software
Controlled, the parameters in
Packet F will override the
communication settings. Software
Controlled uses the last sent Packet
F settings or the defaults. Turning
on the printer activates the DIP
switch settings. Make sure the DIP
switch settings match the printer's
setup for ribbon or supply type.
Lower DIP Switches
6 •• Getting Started - 1 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
DIP Switches
Upper DIP Switches
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Baud Rate
38400
19200
9600
4800
2400
1200
Software Control
Data Bits
7 Data Bits
8 Data Bits
Stop Bits
2 Stop Bits
1 Stop Bit
Parity
Even
Odd
None
Parallel Port
Centronics Mode
IEEE-1284
Values in bold indicate the default setting (9600 Baud; 8 Data Bits; 1 Stop Bit; No Parity;
and Centronics Mode).
Communication settings at the printer must match those at the host. Make sure your host
is capable of communicating at the speed you select for the printer.
ON ON OFF
ON OFF ON
ON OFF OFF
OFF ON ON
OFF ON OFF
OFF OFF ON
OFF OFF OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON OFF
OFF ON
OFF OFF
OFF
ON
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Getting Started - 1 •• 7
Lower DIP Switches
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Flow Control
XON/XOFF
RTS/CTS
DTR
ON OFF
OFF ON
OFF OFF
Diagnostics
Normal
Diagnostics Mode
Verifier
No Verifier
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
Verifier Installed
Supply Type
Die Cut or Edge Aperture
Black Mark
Continuous
Center Aperture
OFF OFF
OFF ON
ON OFF
ON ON
Ribbon
Transfer
Direct,
OFF
ON
Feed Mode
Disable On-Demand
Enable On-Demand
OFF
ON
Values in bold indicate the default setting (RTS/CTS Flow Control; Normal Mode; No
Verifier; Continuous Supply; Transfer; and Continuous Mode).
Shaded DIP switches are not enabled (verifier and feed mode).
8 •• Getting Started - 1 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
Loading Supplies - 2
This chapter describes how to load a roll of supply and a ribbon roll.
You can use Paxar's 9830CL fabric label kits containing perforated fabric labels and
ribbon. If you switch from black mark to continuous supplies make sure the DIP
switches are set correctly.
Make sure you use only approved Paxar supplies. See Appendix A, "Specifications
and Accessories" for a list of Paxar supplies or contact your Paxar Representative for
more information.
If you experience label jamming with narrow supplies in humid environments, store
supplies separately from the printer in a dry, less humid environment.
CAUTION
The width of the ribbon must be greater than the supply
width. Since some supplies are more abrasive to printheads
than others, using a ribbon wider than your supply helps
protect the printhead. Failure to do this may void your
prinhead warranty. Replacement printheads are expensive.
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Loading Supplies - 2 •• 9
Loading Labels
Make sure the printer is configured for the correct supply type.
To load a roll of labels:
1. Open the cover.
2. Unlock the printhead by turning the retaining latch.
10 •• Loading Supplies - 2 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
3. Lift printhead assembly using the printhead tab until the assembly locks into place.
CAUTION
Make sure you use only approved Paxar supplies. See
Appendix A, "Specifications and Accessories" for a list of
Paxar supplies or contact your Paxar Representative for
more information.
4. Place the roll of supply on the supply holder. Make sure the supply unrolls from the
top as shown.
Supply Guides
Do not pick up the printer
by the supply holder.
5. Adjust the supply holder guides so the sides barely touch the roll. Make sure the
supply roll turns freely.
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Loading Supplies - 2 •• 11
6. Push down on the supply lever to unlock the supply guides.
7. Lay the label strip across the supply guide. Lift the auxilliary pollers slightly and
thread the supply under the rollers until it appears in the knife opening.
Peel Bar
Ribbon Bar
CAUTION
Make sure the supply is straight in the supply path and
aligned with the printhead.
8. Tuck the supply under the nibs.
Nibs
Supply Lever
Make sure a few inches of supply are past the front end of the printer.
__________
__________
12 •• Loading Supplies - 2 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
9. Adjust the supply guides so they touch the supply. Push up on the supply lever to
lock the supply guides into place.
10. Hold the printhead assembly by the printhead tab while pressing down on the
printhead release.
11. Close the printhead by pressing down on the thumb well until you hear it click into
place.
Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer Loading Supplies - 2 •• 13
12. Close the cover.
13. Press Feed to position the supply under the printhead.
You may need to adjust the wide/narrow knobs depending on the width of your
supply. See Chapter 4, "Care and Maintenance" for more information.
If the printer will be unused for extended periods of time, leave the printhead
unlatched.
14 •• Loading Supplies - 2 Paxar Systems Group Paxar 9840CL Printer
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