Star TCP300 SERIES User Manual

THERMAL RE-WRITABLE

CARD READER / WRITER

TCP300 SERIES

•

User’s Manual

•

This ‘User’s Manual’ describes important information to enable you to use
the reader/writer safely.

Carefully read this manual before using the reader/writer and observe the
descriptions herein.

CARD SYSTEM SALES SECTION OVERSEAS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
STAR MICRONICS CO., LTD. STAR MICRONICS AMERICA, INC.

536 Shimizuanatsushinnya, Shizuoka, 1150 King Georges Post Road, Edison,NJ 08837-3729 U.S.A.
424-0066 Japan Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone] http://www.starmicronics.com

STAR MICRONICS U.K. LTD.

Please access the following URL

Star House, Peregrine Business Park, Gomm Road,

http://www.star-micronics.co.jp/service/

High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 7DL, U.K.

frame_sp_car_e.htm

Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]

for the lastest revision of the manual. http://www.starmicronics.co.uk

2003.09.01

Printed in Japan, 59082065

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Precautions for Safe Use ........................................................ 1

2. General Description ................................................................ 4

3. Unpacking ............................................................................... 5

4. External Appearance and Part Names .................................... 6

5. Connect to and Setting External Devices ................................7

6. Interface Board Replacement (RS-232C to USB) ................. 10

7. Cleaning Cards...................................................................... 11

8. Troubleshooting.....................................................................12

9. General Specifications .......................................................... 14

– 1 –

1. Precautions for Safe Use

Carefully read and obey the following items to prevent injury to yourself or to others
and to prevent damaging property.

Precautions for Reader/Writer Setup

1. Setup the reader/writer in a solid, and level location. Do not physically jar or shake
the reader/writer.

This can damage it or lead to injury.

2. Place the reader/writer in a location out of the reach of children.

Allowing children to touch the reader/writer can lead to injury.

3. Do not use or place the reader/writer in areas exposed to direct sunlight, or in high
temperatures areas such as next to fire or electric or kerosene heaters.

Exposing the reader/writer to excessive heat will cause it to become hot and break­down, mis-operate or become burned.

4. Avoid using or storing the reader/writer in locations where liquids such as water or oils
can enter the internal reader/writer mechanisms, or in areas of high humidity.

Exposing the reader/writer to excessive moisture will cause it to become hot and can
cause electric shock, mis-operate or reader/writer failure.

5. Avoid using or storing the reader/writer in locations where dust or metallic powder can
enter the internal reader/writer mechanisms.

Exposing the reader/writer to excessive dust will cause it to become hot and can
cause electric shock, mis-operate or reader/writer failure.

6. Avoid using the reader/writer in locations where corrosive gases, ignition gases, chemi­cals or vapors are emitted.

Exposing the reader/writer to vapors will cause it to become hot, burn, cause electric
shock, or cause reader/writer failure.

7. Avoid using near objects that emit a magnetic field.

Magnetic fields can erase the information recorded on cards.

8. Use the appropriate power conditions for the TCP300 series.

The wrong type of power will cause the reader/writer to become hot and can cause
mis-operate or reader/writer failure.

9. Use an outlet that can easily be connected to and disconnected from.

10. Do not get power from a circuit to which electrical devices that generate electrical
noise are connected.

Using the same circuit can cause the reader/writer to mis-operate or can cause reader/
writer failure.

11. Allow plenty of space around the reader/writer for ventilation of heat and operation.

Not enough space will cause the reader/writer to become hot and can cause mis­operate or reader/writer failure.

Always observe the following items.

– 2 –

12. Do not store the accessory cleaning liquid in a location that is exposed to direct sun­light or near heat generating devices.

Storing near heat can cause fires.

13. Do not allow the accessory cleaning liquid to get in your eyes and do not drink it.

Drinking the liquid can cause health problems.

14. Do not store the accessory cleaning liquid in a location where children have access to it.

Drinking the liquid can cause health problems in children.

Precautions for Reader/Writer Use

1. Use only Star recommended cards.

The reader/writer and the card may not operate normally if other cards are used.

2. Do not use cards that are dirty or oily or wet in any other manner. Also, do not handle
cards with dirty or wet hands. Do not apply tape or glue to cards.

The reader/writer will not operate normally.

* If a card is dirty, clean the card and the reader/writer.

See section 7. Cleaning Cards for details on how to clean.

3. Do not store cards near devices that generate magnetic fields (such as cellular tele­phones, speakers, televisions, etc.) or approach magnets toward them.

Magnetic fields can erase the information recorded on cards.

4. Do not store cards in high temperature areas (such as dashboards in automobiles).

Storing in high temperature areas can cause cards to bend or it can erase the infor­mation recorded on cards.

5. Do not used bent cards.

Using bent cards can cause them to become jammed.

6. Insert cards in the indicated direction.

Inserting them incorrectly can cause mis-operation or it can erase the information
recorded on cards.

7. Absolutely never insert anything other than cards into the reader/writer.

Inserting other objects can cause the reader/writer failure or electrical shock.

8. Do not obstruct the inserting or discharging of cards.

Obstructing can cause the reader/writer failure, mis-operation or injury.

[TCP300]

(Figure for Reference)

– 3 –

9. Do not cut the power while a card is being processed.

Cutting the power can erase the information recorded on cards.

10. In case of reader/writer error (abnormal sounds, abnormal odors, smoke, fire) turn off
the reader/writer immediately and unplug it from the power outlet.

Continuing use under such errors will cause the reader/writer failure or burns. Re­quest repairs from the sales outlet.

11. Always hold the plug to unplug the power cord from its outlet. Pulling on the cord will
damage the cord. Do not pull on the cord. Do not place heavy objects on the power
cord. Do not use power cords that are damaged or deformed. Consult with your
sales outlet.

12. When discontinuing use for prolonged periods, always remove the power plug from
the outlet.

13. Avoid sudden changes in environment, such as changes in ambient temperature and
humidity.

Sudden changes can cause condensation and mis-operation. Allow the reader/writer
to sit in its new environment for at least one hour before use in the event there has
been a sudden change.

14. Do not use the reader/writer in an environment where condensation has formed.

Using the reader/writer in such an environment can cause the reader/writer to mis­operate, electrical shocks or it can cause reader/writer failure.

15. To ensure reader/writer reliability, clean the reader/writer everyday, or when the cleaning
lamp has lit.

Continuing use without cleaning will cause the reader/writer errors. See section 7.
Cleaning Cards for details on how to clean.

16. Do not disassemble or modify the reader/writer.

Disassembling or modifying the reader/writer can cause the reader/writer to mis-op­erate, reader/writer failure or injury. If the reader/writer mis-operates, or appears to
need repair, contact your sales outlet.

17. Do not expose cards to direct sunlight or fluorescent lights for extended periods of
time.

Exposure to bright light will discolor cards.

18. When the print has faded:

Magnetically encoded information still remains on the card even when the print has
faded due to high temperatures. The card may be reprinted.

19. When cards are excessively dirty:

If cards are dirty or oily, problems can easily occur in reading and writing or cause
missing print and incomplete erasing of information.

* In such cases, clean the card and the reader/writer.

See section 7. Cleaning Cards for details on how to clean.

20. To use repeatedly:

To repeatedly print to the same card, allow for at least three minutes between prints.
When printing repeatedly to different cards, no wait is required.