Printronix T4204 User Manual

User’s Manual

T4204 Label Printer

Software License Agreemen t

CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE USING THIS PRINTER. USING THIS PRINTER INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, PROMPTLY RETURN THE PRINTER AND ALL ACCOMPANYING HARDWARE AND WRI TTEN MATERIALS TO THE PLACE YOU OBTAINED THEM, AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE REFUNDED.

Definitions.

"Software" shall mean the digitally encoded, machine-readable data and program. The term "Software Product" includes the Software resident in the printer and its documentation. The Software Product is licensed (not sold) to you, and Printronix, Inc. either owns or licenses from other vendors who own, all copyright, trade secret, patent and other proprietary rights in the Software Product.

License.

1. Authorized Use. You agree to accept a non-exclusive license to use the Software resident in the printer solely for your own customary business or personal purposes.

2. Restrictions. a. To protect the proprietary rights of Printronix, Inc., you agree to

maintain the Software Product and other proprietary information

concerning the typefaces in strict confidence. b. You agree not to duplicate or copy the Software Product. c. You shall not sublicense, sell, lease, or otherwise transfer all or any

portion of the Software Product separate from the printer, without the

prior written consent of Printronix, Inc. d. You may not modify or prepare derivative works of the Software

Product. e. You may not transmit the Software Product over a network, by

telephone, or electronically using any means; or reverse engineer,

decompile or disassemble the Software. f. You agree to keep confidential and use your best efforts to prevent

and protect the contents of the Software Product from unauthorized

disclosure or use.

3. Transfer. You may transfer the Software Product with the printer, but only if the recipient agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Your license is automatically terminated if you transfer the Software Product and printer.

Limited Software Product War ranty

Printronix, Inc. warrants that for ninety (90) days after delivery, the Software will perform in accordance with specifications published by Printronix, Inc. Printronix, Inc. does not warrant that the Software is free from all bugs, errors and omissions.

Remedy

Your exclusive remedy and the sole liability of Printronix, Inc. in connection with the Software is replacement of defective software with a copy of the same version and revision level.

Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Remedies

1. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY ARE EXCLUDED. Printronix, Inc. does not warrant that the functions contained in the Software will meet your requirements or that the operation of the Software will be uninterrupted or error free. Printronix, Inc. reserves the right to make changes and/or improvements in the Software without notice at any time.

2. IN NO EVENT WILL PRINTRONIX, IN C. BE LIABLE FOR LO ST PROFITS, LOST DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, OR ANY OTHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INAB IL ITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT, EVEN IF PRINTRONIX, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE ABUSE OR MANIPULATION OF THE SOFTWARE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

3. Printronix, Inc. will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by delay in furnishing a Software Product or any other performance under this Agreement.

4. Our entire liability and your exclusive remedies for our liability of any kind (including liability for negligence except liability for personal injury caused solely by our negligence) for the Software Product covered by this Agreement and all other performance or nonperformance by us under or related to this Agreement are limited to the remedies specified by this Agreement.

5. California law governs this Agreement.

Termination of License Agreement

This License shall continue until terminated. This license may be terminated by agreement between you and Printronix, Inc. or by Printronix, Inc. If you fail to comply with the terms of this License and such failure is not corrected within thirty (30) days after notice. When this License is terminated, you shall return to the place you obtained them, the printer and all copies of the Software and documentation.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights

Use, duplication or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at FAR 242.227-7013, subdivision (b) (3) (ii) or subparagraph (c) (1) (ii), as appropriate. Further use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions applicable to restricted rights software as set forth in FAR 52.227-19 (c) (2).

Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE TH AT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE BOUND BY ANY STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT. NO CHANGE IN THIS AGREEMENT IS EFFECTIVE UNLESS WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY PROPERLY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH PARTY. BY USING THIS PRINTER, YOU AGR EE TO ACCEPT THE TER MS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Communication Notices

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Statement: This equipment

has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provided reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

Properly shielded and grounded cables and connectors must be used in order to meet FCC emission limits. Printronix is not responsible for any radio or television interference caused by using other than recommended cables and connectors or by any unauthorized changes or modifications to this

equipment. Unauthorized changes or modifications could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interferenc e that may cause unde si r ed operation.

Canadian Department of Communications Compliance Statement: This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Avis de conformite aux normes du ministere des Communcations du Canada: Cet appareil numerique de la classe A est conform á norme NMB-

003 du Canada.

European Community (EC) Conformity Statement:

This product is in conformity with the protection requirements of EC Council Directive 89/336/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility. Printronix cannot accept responsibility for any failure to satisfy the protection requirements resulting from a non-recommended modification of the product, including the fitting of non-Printronix option cards.

German Conformity Statement:

Zulassungsbescheinigung Gesetz über die elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit von Geraten (EMVG) vom 30. August 1995

Dieses Gerät ist berechtigt in Übereinstimmung mit dem deutschen das EGKonformitätszelchen - CE - zu führen.

Der Außteller der Konformitätserklärung ist die Printronix......(1)

Informationen in Hinsicht EMVG Paragraph 3 Abs. (2) 2:

Das Gerät erfüllt die Schutzanforderungen nach EN 50082-1 und EN 55022 Klasse A.

EN 55022 Klasse A Geräte bedürfen folgender Hinweise: Nach dem EMVG: “Geräte dürfen an Orten, für die sie nicht asreichend entstört sind,

nur mit besonderer Genehmigung des Bundesminesters für Post und Telekommunikation oder des Bundesamtes für Post und Telekommunikation betrieben werden. Die Genehmigung wird erteilt, wenn keine elektromagnetischen Störungen zu erwarten sind.” (Auszug aus dem EMVG, Paragraph 3, Abs. 4) Dieses Genehmigungsverfahren ist nach Paragraph 9 EMVG in Verbindung mit der entsprechenden Kostenverordnung (Amtsblatt 14/93) kostenpflichtig.

Nach der EN 55022: “Dies ist eine Einrichtung der Klasse A. Diese Einrichtung kann im Wohnbereich Funkstörungen verursachen; in diesem Fall kann vom Betreiber verlangt werden, angemessene Maßnahmen durchzuführen und dafür aufzkommen.”

Anmerkung: Um die Ein hal tung des EMVG sicher zus tellen sind die Ge räte, w ie in den Handbüchern angegeben, zu installieren und zu betreiben.

This product has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A Information Technology Equipment according to European Standard EN

55022. The limits for Class A equipment were derived for commercial and

industrial environments to provide reasonable protection against interference with licensed communication equipment.

Warning

This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.

T rade mark Ack nowledgemen ts

Printronix, IGP, IGP/Auto Label Mapping, LinePrinter Plus, PGL, ThermaLine, and PrintNet are registered trademarks of Printronix, Inc.

HP is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company. PCL is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company. Code V is a trademark of QMS , Inc. QMS is a registered trademark of Quality Micro Systems, Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp. MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Centronics is a registered tradem ark of Genicom Corporat ion. Ethernet is a trademark of Xerox Corporation. IEEE is a registered service mark of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic

Engineers, Inc. ANSI is a registered trademark of American National Standards Institute, Inc. EIA is a registered service mark of Electronic Industries Association.

Valeron is a registered trademark of Van Leer’s Vatenfabrieken N.V. Mylar and Tyvek are registered trademarks of E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. UL is a registered certification mark of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. CSA is a registered certification mark of the Canadian Standards Association. TUV is a registered certification mark of the TUV Rheinland of Noarth America, Inc.

IMPORTANT WARRANTY INFORMA TION

PRINTER WARRANTY

Printronix printer (excluding the thermal printhead) purchased hereunder shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of shipment from Printronix.

Consumable items such as media and ribbons are not covered under this warranty. This warranty does not cover equipment or parts that have been misused, altered, or used for purposes other than those for which they were manufactured. This warranty also does not cover loss, shipping damage, damage resulting from accident or damages resulting from unauthorized service.

THERMAL PRINTHEAD

Printronix warrants the printhead for a period of ninety (90) days, or 1,000,000 linear inches (Thermal Transfer/Direct Thermal) of use, whichever comes first. The warranty does not cover printheads that have been misused, damaged due to improper cleaning, or damaged due to use of improper ribbons or media.

SUPPLIES

warrants to purchaser that under normal use and service, this

For the number of the nearest Printronix full-service distributor that carries Printronix genuine supplies, please call 1-800-733-1900 or fax 714-368-2354. Supplies design, specification, and selection are critical and integral to the development of any computer imaging system. Printronix’s extensive manufacturing and research capabilities, along with years of experience in the design of printers and their applications, assures that you will receive the exact materials that you require to maximize the performance of your Printronix printer. Further information can be obtained by calling the Printronix ThermaLine Help Desk at 714-368-2488 or from the Printronix Web Page at www.printronix.com.

ON-SITE MAINTENANCE SERVICE

Printronix offers on-site support services in the United States. Please contact the Printronix Maintenance Contracts Group at (714) 368-2798, for detailed service agreement information.

This document contains propriety information protected by copyright. No part of this document may be reproduced, copied, translated or incorporated in any other material in any form or by any means, whether manual, graphic, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Printronix

Table of Contents

1 Introduction........................................................ 13

Printronix ThermaLine Help Desk........................................................ 13

Warnings And Special Information ...................................................... 13

The T4204 Label Printer......................................................................14

Thermal Printer Technology ................................................................ 15

Media Selection ...................................................................................16

Ribbons................................................................................................ 16

Emulations........................................................................................... 16

Unpacking The Printer......................................................................... 18

Printer Installation................................................................................ 21

2 Operation............................................................ 25

Controls & Indicators ........................................................................... 25

The POWER Switch ............................................................................ 26

Powering On The Printer ..................................................................... 26

Operating Modes .................................................................................27

Primary Control Panel Keys................................................................. 27

Secondary Control Panel Keys............................................................27

Loading Media ..................................................................................... 28

Loading Roll Media.............................................................................. 29

Loading Fanfold Media ........................................................................ 34

Loading Ribbon.................................................................................... 38

Label Rewinding ..................................................................................41

Label Peel Off...................................................................................... 44

Label Variations And The Label Sensor .............................................. 47

Sensor Assembly Horizontal Adjustment............................................. 47

Calibrating The Transmissive And Reflective Sensors........................ 48

Run Calibrate Procedure ..................................................................... 49

Cleaning The Printhead............................... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... . 50

3 Configuring The Printer ...................................... 51

Overview.............................................................................................. 51

Menu Navigation..................................................................................51

Using The Secondary Control Panel............................................. 53

Moving Within The Configuration Menu ........................................53

Selecting A Menu Option .............................................................. 55

Table of Contents

Changing Printer Settings ............................................................. 56

Saving A Configuration ...... ....... ...... ...... ....... ...... ....... .................... 57

Modifying A Saved Configuration.................................................. 59

Printing A Configuration ................................................................ 60

Menu Options ...................................................................................... 65

CONFIG. CONTROL Menu........................................................... 65

Active IGP EMUL Menu ................................................................ 67

Emulation Menu ............................................................................ 68

MAINT / MISC Menu .................................................................... 69

HOST INTERFACE Menu............................................................. 77

ETHERNET PARAMETERS Menu ...............................................90

Printer Control Menu..................................................................... 91

Font Memory Menu............................... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... . 97

DIAGNOSTICS Menu ................................................................. 100

IGP/PGL Emulation ........................................................................... 102

IGP/PGL Features....................................................................... 102

Configuring The Emulation With The Control Panel ................... 103

IGP/PGL Submenu ..................................................................... 104

IGP/VGL Emulation ........................................................................... 112

IGP/VGL Features....................................................................... 112

Configuring The VGL With The Control Panel ............................ 113

IGP/VGL Submenu ..................................................................... 114

LinePrinter Plus Emulation ................................................................ 124

LinePrinter Plus Submenus

LinePrinter Plus P-Series Emulation........................................... 132

LinePrinter Plus P-Series XQ Emulation..................................... 136

LinePrinter Plus Serial Matrix Emulation .................................... 139

LinePrinter Plus Proprinter XL Emulation.................................... 142

Proprinter XL Character Set Menu.. ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ............ 144

LinePrinter Plus Epson FX Emulation ......................................... 145

LinePrinter Plus Epson FX Character Set Menu......................... 147

Coax/Twinax Emulation..................................................................... 148

Standard C/T Interface................................................................ 148

Simple Protocol Converter ................................. ......................... 148

Coax Emulation Menu................................................................. 150

Twinax Emulation Menu.............................................................. 158

SPC Coax Params...................................................................... 163

SPC Twx Params........................................................................ 165

Loading Flash Memory ...................................................................... 167

Downloading Software To Flash Memory ................................... 167

Downloading Optional Font Files To Flash Memory ................... 170

....................................................125

Table of Contents

4 Interfaces.......................................................... 177

Overview............................................................................................ 177

Centronics Parallel Interface.............................................................. 178

Centronics Parallel Interface Signals .......................................... 179

IEEE 1284 Parallel Interface.............................................................. 180

Compatibility Mode...................................................................... 180

Nibble Mode................................................................................ 180

Byte Mode.......................... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ..... 180

Signals ............ ...... ....... ...... ...... ....... ....................................... ..... 181

Terminating Resistor Configurations........................................... 183

RS-232 And RS-422 Serial Interfaces............................................... 185

RS-232........................................................................................ 185

RS-422........................................................................................ 186

5 Diagnostics And Troubleshooting..................... 187

Printer Self-Test................................................................................. 187

Troubleshooting Common Situations................................................. 188

Improving Processing Time................... ....... ...... ......................... 188

Data Exchange............................................................................ 188

Controlling Print Quality............................................................... 190

Other Printer Problems................................................................ 191

Printer Alarms ............................................................................. 194

Fault Messages........................................................................... 194

A Specifications................................................... 201

B Printer Options ................................................. 207

Hardware Options.............................................................................. 207

Interface Options......................................................................... 208

Supplies And Accessories................................................................. 209

Genuine Printronix Thermal Transfer Ribbons............................ 209

Genuine Printronix Media............................................................ 210

Accessories................................................................................. 212

C Setting The Page Length................................. 213

D ASCII Control Codes........................................ 215

E Glossary........................................................... 219

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

Printronix ThermaLine Help Desk

The Printronix ThermaLine® Help Desk offers technical support with:

• Installation

• Configuration and Setup

• Operation and Supplies Loading

• Specifying the proper media and ribbon

• Post sales service support questions

Call the Printronix ThermaLine Help Desk at (714) 368-2488 or visit the Printronix Web Page at www.printronix.com.

W arnings And Special Information

WARNING

W A RNUNG

AVISO

AVERTISSEMENT

AVVERTENZA

CAUTION

IMPORTANT

For your safety and to protect valuable equipment, it is very important that you read and comply with all information highlighted under special headings:

Conditions that could harm you as well as damage the equipment. Achten Sie auf folgendes, um keine Personen in Gefahr zu bringen bzw.

das Gerät zu beschädigen. Condiciones que pueden causar daños a personas y equipos.

Conditions à respecter pour éviter tout danger corporel et dommage matériel.

Condizioni che possono arrecare danni alle persone e alle apparecchiature.

Conditions that could damage the printer or related equipment. Information vital to proper operation of the printer.

NOTE: Information and helpful tips about printer operation.

Chapter 1 The T4204 Label Printer

Conventions

Throughout this manual, keys and possible key settings or positions are printed in UPPERCASE typ e.

In most cases, messages displayed in the liquid crystal display (LCD) are shown in the following format:

PRINTER CONTROL Print Speed

The T4204 Label Printer

The T4204 is a high quality, direct thermal and thermal transfer printer specifically designed for printing labels and tags, from any MS-DOS Windows

, or ASCII based compatible computer.

Features

• Thermal transfer and direct thermal printing.

• Supports over 20 types of bar codes.

• Download forms, fonts and graphics to printer memory.

• High resolution print head for sharp graphics and text.

• Built-in label rewinder for batch processing or label Peel-Off operation.

• Label Taken Sensor for detecting removal of labels in Peel-Off or Tear-

Off modes.

• Peel-Off mode for peeling off labels one at a time, before printing the next

label.

• Tear-Off mode for positioning the label at the tear off position and

detecting its removal before printing the next label.

• Tear-Off Strip mode for automatically positioning the last label of the print

job at the tear off position when the print buffer is empty.

• 4MB DRAM memory.

• 4MB Flash memory.

Printronix Dynamic Print Control provides exceptional print quality. A circuit monitors the data to be printed and automatically adjusts the energy applied to the thermal printhead for maximum performance.

The printer can be connected to communicate with the host via RS-232 and RS-422 serial, Centronics parallel, and, optionally, coax/twinax host connections or Ethernet 10Base-T, or 10/100 Base-T. The interface cable needed to connect the printer to the host device must be supplied by the user.

-compatible parallel, IEEE® 1284 compliant

Thermal Printer T echnology

Quiet and fast, with excellent print quality, the T4204 multifunction label printer uses an inline thermal printhead. The operation of a thermal printer is different from that of a line-matrix or laser printer. The thermal printer uses a printhead with heating elements and special paper or ribbon.

The Printing Process

The thermal printhead allows two modes of operation:

• Direct Thermal

During

direct

thermal printing, the thermal printhead selectively heats small, rectangular paper, the dyes and developers in the coating react to the heat and develop an image. This mode of printing is generally used for short-term labeling applications.

• Thermal Transfer

thermal

dots. When these contact the coated thermal

During thermal thermal ribbon. The heat reacts with the ribbon and bonds the image to the paper. This method is used especially for abrasive, long-storage applications and for specialized applications, such as in extreme environmental conditions or where tamper-proofing is required.

transfer

printing, the heated thermal dots contact a

Dynamic Print Control

Print quality largely depends on how the thermal paper or the thermal ribbon and thermal transfer paper responds to the heat of the thermal printhead. During printing, the thermal printhead must reach a set temperature in the shortest possible time. Then it must cool down to the original temperature in the shortest possible time after printing. Thus print quality is dependent on the precise control of the energy supplied to the thermal dots.

The thermal printer has a unique feature that provides excellent print quality by preventing unevenness of print density. Unevenness is usually caused by the stored heat from previous dots. The Dynamic Print Control is a history control whose output is based on the results of the previous printing. The printer predicts the quantity of heat required to print dots and regulates the electrical energy applied to the printhead. This prevents unevenness of print density and results in the printing of narrow-ladder bar codes or vertical grid lines that are straight from the microscopic viewpoint.

Chapter 1 Media Selection

Media Selection

Since there are two print modes of operation, there are two kinds of thermal media: Direct thermal media

and Thermal transfer media.

Ribbons

Direct thermal media accelerator, acceptor dye and binder. During direct thermal mode, the heat from the thermal printhead contacts the paper and causes a chemical reaction to take place.

NOTE: Do not attempt to use direct thermal media with ribbon. The printable

surface of direct thermal media is very slick and will fail to advance ribbon at the proper speed resulting in poor print quality.

Thermal Transfer Media Once your specific label requirements are identified, you will need to select the ribbon and media combination that will satisfy you needs.

NOTE: The term “media” used in this manual refers to all the different kinds

of paper or tag stock that can be used in the printer.

You should use a Genuine Printronix Thermal Ribbon in your printer. Printronix offers a wide range of thermal transfer media, such as film or synthetic paper substitutes that are excellent in their ability to transfer an image (print quality) and in scratch resistance (long storage). Most of these media options can be die-cut for easy label applications. The wide selection of media sizes and face stocks have been tested with Printronix ribbons for print quality and usage. Consult your Genuine Printronix Supplies Catalog or contact the factory. Further information can be obtained by calling the Printronix ThermaLine Help Desk at (714) 368-2488 or from the Printronix Web Page at www.printronix.com.

is paper coated with special chemicals that act as an

is paper designed to be used with a transfer ribbon.

Emulations

The T4204 has the standard Printronix LinePrinter Plus® (LP+) emulation

which provides direct compatibility with Printronix P-series printers. In addition, the printer has co-resident Printronix IGP emulations which provide printer system commands for text, barcodes, graphics, lines, and boxes.

/PGL® and IGP/VGL

Hardware Options

Ask your Printronix representative about the following options, which can enhance the versatility of your printer.

• Fonts

A selection of fonts is available to extend the capabilities of the standard resident fonts.

• Media

Cutter

The cutter is used to automatically cut printed media when the media exits the printer.

• Label/Tag Catcher Tray

Used with the Media Cutter option to catch the cut media and collect it away from the Media Cutter Assembly.

• Twinax/Coax Host Interface

Provides connection to an IBM host computer system using a coax or twinax interface.

• PrintNet

Servers

Allows the user to attach the T4204 to a LAN (Local Area Network) rather than attaching it directly to a host system. PrintNet servers support Ethernet only.

PrintNet servers are available as an internally installed factory option, mounted inside the printer with the 10Base-T (UTP) connection only.

PrintNet servers are also available as an externally mounted factory or field option with either a 10Base-T (UTP) or 10/100 BaseT connection. The external PrintNet field option is user installable and connects to the Centronics parallel port at the back of the T4204 printer.

NOTE: When the Twinax/Coax Interface option is installed and a PrintNet

option is also required, an External PrintNet option must be used. The Internal PrintNet option is not supported with the Twinax/Coax Interface option installed.

Labels can be designed and printed using the following:

• Printronix LP+

• Printronix IGP/PGL or IGP/VGL graphics languages

Chapter 1 Unpacking The Printer

Bar Code Verification

The most important consideration when printing a bar code is to ensure the bar code will be scanned properly. Incorporating a bar code quality procedure in the printing process is the best way to ensure that bar codes are being printed correctly. A properly implemented verification procedure will increase overall bar code quality, reduce waste from misprinted bar codes, and achieve high first time read rates, which is an increasingly important factor in newer, more efficient systems, where manually entered data is not acceptable as a back up function. Verification also minimizes the costs of returned products due to poor reading or unaccountable bar codes.

RJS designs and manufactures the world’s most complete line of bar code verification products, including their portable Inspector and Laser Inspector models, On-Line Inspector and AutoScan II series. For more information on RJS bar code verifiers, contact their corporate headquarters at 562-994-0930, or visit their web site at www.rjs1.com.

Unpacking The Printer

CAUTION

The printer is shipped in a carton and protective bag. Keep all packing material in case you need to move or ship the printer again. Avoid touching the electrical connectors to prevent electrostatic discharge damage while setting up the printer.

The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the print head or electronic components used in this device.

Damage to the printer interface connector may result from placing the T4204 printer on its backside during unpacking or handling.

Open the top (and right side) cover by lifting the lip on the lower right side of the cover.

Legend:

1) Lip on lower right side of cover

2. Remove the tape securing the label rewind clip to the label rewind

spindle.

3. Place the Media Roll Guide in the down position.

4. Remove the sample roll of Printronix ribbon and media from the support assembly and set them to one side.

Legend:

1) Tape securing label rewind clip

2) Media Roll Guide

3) Ribbon and Media Sample Rolls

Chapter 1 Unpacking The Printer

Check List

Your T4204 kit contains the items listed below.

• The T4204 printer.

• AC Powercord (not illustrated)

• Programmer’s Manual Order Card (not illustrated).

• Printer User’s Manual (not illustrated).

• Printhead Cleaning Pen (not illustrated)

• Terminating Resistor Packs (not ill ustrated)

• Ribbon Take-Up Core (cardboard) mounted in printer.

• Label Rewind Bracket mounted in printer

• Sample Roll of Printronix Prime Wax Ribbon 4.33” x 164’

• Starter Kit Roll of Printronix 110 Media (100 4.0” x 6.0” labels)

NOTE: If any items are missing, contact your dealer for replacement parts.

Legend:

1) Ribbon Take-Up Core (cardboard)

2) Label Rewind Bracket in stored position

3) Sample Roll of Prime Wax Ribbon

4) Sample Roll of 110 Media

Printer Installation

The following sections will guide you through the installation of the T4204.

WARNING

W A RNUNG

AVISO

AVERTISSEMENT

AVVERTENZA

The printer should never be operated in a location where the operator and printer can get wet. Personal injury could result.

Der Drucker sollte grundsätzlich nicht an einem Ort aufgestellt und betrieben werden, an denen der Benutzer oder der Drucker naß werden könnten, da dies zu Schäden führen könnte.

La impresora nunca deberá utilizarse en un lugar en el que el operador y la impresora puedan sufrir los efectos de la humedad. De lo contrario, podrían producirse daños a personas.

Ne faites jamais fonctionner l'imprimante dans un endroit où l'opérateur et l'imprimante peuvent être mouillés. Il y a risque de préjudice physique.

Onde evitare il rischio di lesioni personali, non utilizzare mai la stampante in luoghi in cui l'operatore e la stampante possano venire a contatto con liquidi.

1. Place the printer in a suitable location that allows easy access to all sides of the printer. The printer should never be operated while resting on its side or upside down.

2. Check that the printer power switch is in the OFF (0) position.

3. Attach the AC power cord to the AC power receptacle in the rear of the printer.

Chapter 1 Printer Installation

WARNING

W ARNUNG

AVISO

Legend:

1) AC Power Cord

2) Power Switch Off (0) Position

3) Power Switch On (l) Position

Verify the required voltage on the printer’s model number label on the rear of the printer.

Überprüfen Sie die erforderliche Spannung an dem Modellschild auf der Druckerrückseite.

Compruebe el voltaje requerido que figura en la etiqueta del número de modelo de la impresora que figura en su parte posterior.

AVERTISSEMENT

AVVERTENZA

Vérifiez la tension requise sur l'étiquette du numéro de série de l'imprimante, qui est accolée sur la partie arrière de l'imprimante.

Verificare la tensione richiesta sulla targhetta del numero di serie posta sul retro della stampante.

4. Attach the AC power cord to a grounded (three prong) electrical outlet of the proper voltage.

5. Attach The Interface Cable a. Parallel Interface

Attach a suitable parallel printer cable from the computer to the Centronics interface connector at the back of the printer. Snap the bail locks to the Centronics connector to secure the interface cable to the printer.

Legend:

1) Centronics parallel interface cable

2) Bail lock

Chapter 1 Printer Installation

b. Serial Interface

Attach a suitable serial printer cable from the computer to the DB-25 RS-232 Serial interface connector at the back of the printer. For additional information on serial cable wiring, refer to Chapter 4, page

185.

NOTE: The printer supports simultaneous connection of the Parallel and

Serial interfaces using the Auto Switching feature. See Auto Switching described on page 78.

2 Operation

Controls & Indicators

All of the T4204 printer controls and indicators, except for the power switch, are located on the front panel of the printer, on either the Primary Control Panel (upper keys), or the Secondary Control Panel (lower keys).

9 8

Legend:

1) LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

2) ONLINE Status Indicator

3) CLEAR Key

4) PRT CONFIG Key

5) JOB SELECT Key

6) ENTER Key

7) Directional “Arrow” keys (4)

8) TEST Key

9) CANCEL Key

10) FEED Key

11) PAUSE Key

The Primary Control Panel is located at the top left of the printer, on the front panel. It is accessible with the printer front door either opened or closed. The panel has a back-lighted Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), ONLINE status indicator, and PAUSE, FEED, CANCEL, and TEST keys.

Chapter 2 The POWER Switch

The Secondary Control Panel is behind the front door assembly below the Primary Control Panel. It consists of UP, DOWN, PREV, and NEXT arrow keys to navigate through the printer configuration menus, and CLEAR, PRT CONFIG, JOB SELECT, and ENTER keys for performing specific functions in the offline mode or within the printer configuration menu.

The POWER Switch

The POWER SWITCH is located on the back panel of the printer, in the bottom left corner. Placing this switch in the ON (1) position applies power to the printer. An illuminated LCD Message Display indicates the printer power is ON.

Legend:

1) Printer Power Switch

Powering On The Printer

When you power on the printer, the T4204 executes a self-test. The default power-up state is online. Once the printer has successfully initialized, the ONLINE status indicator light will go on, and the LCD indicates the communication interface selected and the type of emulation installed. The interface is indicated by PARL for parallel and SERL for serial.

If there is a fault during the self-test, the ONLINE status indicator flashes, and a fault message appears on the display. The alarm may also sound, if it is configured to do so.

Operating Modes

Online - In online mode, the printer can receive and print data sent from the host. Pressing the PAUSE key toggles the printer between the online and offline mode. The ONLINE status indicator is lit in online mode.

Offline - In offline mode, you may perform operator functions, such as loading media, or navigating through the printer configuration menu to make changes or verify option settings. Pressing the PAUSE key toggles the printer from offline to online mode. The ONLINE status indicator is not illuminated in offline mode.

Fault - In fault mode, a fault condition exists that must be cleared before printing can continue. The ONLINE status indicator flashes, the alarm beeps (if configured to do so) and a descriptive fault message displays.

The current operating mode can be selected through the control panel keys, or may result from routine operations such as powering on the printer.

Primary Control Panel Keys

PAUSE - Toggles the printer between online [twinax only] and offline modes. FEED - Advances the media one forms length (active in online or offline

modes). CANCEL - Cancels all data in the printer (active in online or offline modes).

This key is set to disable from the factory. CANCEL can be enabled in the MAINT/MISC menu.

TEST - Selects the self-test menu (offline mode only). Pressing the ENTER key with a Diagnostic Test displayed initiates the test. Pressing the ENTER key again terminates the test. Press FEED to advance media and clear test data from the print buffer before returning the printer to the online mode.

Secondary Control Panel Keys

CLEAR - If a fault condition exists, pressing the CLEAR key clears the fault message and returns the printer to offline mode.

NOTE: If the fault condition has not been corrected before pressing CLEAR,

the fault message appears again when attempting to place the printer

to online status. PRT CONFIG - Prints the current printer configuration menu settings. JOB SELECT - Selects a specific printer configuration menu (offline mode

only). ENTER - Selects the current value within the printer configuration menu

(offline mode only) and displays an asterisk (*) next to the value. If the ENTER

key is locked, the value will not be selected and an “ENTER SWITCH LOCKED” message displays for one second, followed by a display of the previously selected value. Pressing the UP and DOWN keys at the same time unlocks the ENTER key and permits value selection.

Chapter 2 Loading Media

5) - Navigates the printer menu one level up (offline mode only).

UP ( DOWN ( PREV (

menu (offline mode only). NEXT (

menu (offline mode only). UP+DOWN (

the printer menu (offline mode only). NEXT+PREV (

soft reset (offline only).

Loading Media

The term “media” as used in this manual refers to all the different kinds of paper, label, or tag stock material that can be printed on by the printer.

Your T4204 can print on continuous paper, adhesive backed labels or nonadhesive tags packaged in roll or fanfold form.

See Appendix B for a list of supplies available from Printronix.

CAUTION

DO NOT TOUCH the Printhead or the electronic components under the Printhead Assembly. The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the printhead or electronic components used in this device.

6) - Navigates the printer menu one level down (offline mode only).

3) - Navigates between options on the current level of the printer

4) - Navigates between options on the current level of the printer

5+6) - Simultaneously pressing these keys unlocks or locks

4+3) - Simultaneously pressing these keys enables a printer

CAUTION

IMPORTANT

Adhesive backed labels that DO NOT lay flat on the backing liner may jam the printer. This can cause the label to peel off the liner. The exposed edges may stick to the label guides and rollers inside the printer. Genuine Printronix Supplies can be ordered from the Printronix Distributor where you purchased this printer. Please refer to Appendix B for sizes and part numbers.

If you run out of labels while printing, do not turn the power switch to the OFF position while reloading labels. Lost data may result. Prior to printing labels, it is also recommended you enable the Error Recovery sub-menu of the PRINTER CONTROL menu, and save it as the power-on default. Error Recovery forces t he printer to automatical ly reprin t a label that may have been partially printed prior to the LOAD PAPER fault message, after additional labels are properly loaded.

Loading Roll Media

1. Open the top (and right side) cover.

2. Open the front door.

3. Slide the media roll guide down to the end of the media support

assembly.

4. Open the printhead assembly by pushing the release lever towards the

back of the printer. The Printhead assembly will swing upwards.

Legend:

1) Top Cover

2) Front Door

3) Printhead Assembly Release Lever

4) Media Roll Guide

5) Media Support Assembly

Chapter 2 Loading Roll Media

5. Slide the media width adjustment tab to the outside stop of the media sensor assembly and rotate the tab up.

Legend:

1) Media Width Adjustment Tab

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