Star Micronics SCP700 Series Programmer's Manual

COMBINATION PRINTER

SCP700 SERIES

Programmer’s Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Outline ....................................................................................... 1

Chapter 2: DIP Switch Settings ................................................................. 2

Accessing the DIP switches ....................................................... 2

Available DIP switch settings .................................................... 3

Chapter 3: Memory Switch Settings .......................................................... 6

Chapter 4: Control Panel Operations ....................................................... 7

Indicator lights ........................................................................... 7

Buttons ....................................................................................... 8

Producing a test print ................................................................. 8

Adjusting the slip printer’s dot alignment ................................. 9

Hexadecimal dump .................................................................. 11

Errors ....................................................................................... 11

Chapter 5: Standard Serial Interface ...................................................... 13

Standard serial interface pins and signal names ...................... 14

Interface connections ............................................................... 15

Data protocol ............................................................................ 16

Chapter 6: Optional Interface .................................................................. 19

Optional serial interface ........................................................... 19

Optional serial interface pins and signal names ....................... 20

Interface connections ............................................................... 21

Data protocol ............................................................................ 21

Optional parallel interface ....................................................... 22

Optional parallel interface pins and signal names ................... 23

Chapter 7: Peripheral Unit Driver Circuit ............................................. 25

Modular plug ............................................................................ 25

Drive circuit ............................................................................. 26

Chapter 8: Automatic Cutter ................................................................... 27

Chapter 9: Control Codes ......................................................................... 28

Appendix: Character Code Tables .......................................................... 77

1

Chapter 1: Outline

The SCP700 Series combines both a quick, quiet and highly reliable thermal
receipt printer with an impact dot slip printer, enabling printing on single or
multiple sheets of slip paper of an unspecified size.

The thermal printer enables receipt printing without a thermal ribbon and makes
paper insertion extremely easy.

The biggest advantage of combining the two printer mechanisms into one unit
is that less space, only one power supply and only one port are necessary,
compared with using a slip printer which is separate from a thermal receipt
printer, each requiring space and a power supply.

Thermal printing on receipt paper is quiet and fast.

For improvement purposes, the descriptions and specifications in this
manual are subject to change without notice.

2

Chapter 2: DIP Switch Settings

The printer’s DIP switches let you change communications parameters, thermal
printing density, interface type, input buffer size, and emulation. This chapter
explains the settings you can make and tells you how to actually change DIP
switch settings.

Accessing the DIP switches

The DIP switches are located inside the printer, underneath the document table.
Use the following procedure to remove the document table so you can operate
the DIP switches.

❏

Make sure that the printer is turned off and unplugged from its wall outlet.

❏

Open the printer cover.

❏

Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the two screws that secure the
document table in place.

3

❏

Carefully work the document table loose and slide it to the left of the
printer out of the way. It is not necessary to remove the document table
complete, just move it enough so you can get at the DIP switches inside.

❏

After the document table is opened sufficiently, use a thin flat-blade
screwdriver or some other similar object to change DIP switch settings.

❏

Carefully return the document table to its original position and secure it in
place with the two screws.

Available DIP switch settings

There are two DIP switches inside the printer, named DIP Switch 1 and DIP
Switch 2. DIP Switch 1 controls data communication parameters, while DIP
Switch 2 controls other settings.

ON

OFF

ON

OFF

4

DIP Switch 1

The following table shows all the possible settings for DIP Switch 1. This
switch sets the transmission parameters of the Standard Serial Interface. All
switch settings, except for 1-7 and 1-8, are ON when the printer is shipped from
the factory.

DIP Switch 2

The following table shows all the possible settings for DIP Switch 2. The
factory default setting for this switch is all ON.

Switch Parameter ON OFF

1-1

Baud Rate See table below

1-2
1-3 Data Length 8 bits 7 bits
1-4 Parity Check Disabled Enabled
1-5 Parity Selection Odd Even
1-6 Handshake DTR/mode XON/XOFF mode
1-7 Serial I/F Pin 6 Reset Signal Active Inactive
1-8 Serial I/F Pin8 Reset Signal Active Inactive

Baud Rate Switch 1-1 Switch 1-2

2400BPS OFF OFF
4800BPS ON OFF
9600BPS ON ON

19200BPS OFF ON

Switch Parameter ON OFF

2-1

Thermal Print Density See table below

2-2
2-3 Input Buffer Size 4 KB 45 bytes
2-4 Always ON

5

2-5 Interface Standard Option
2-6 Always ON
2-7 Not Used
2-8 Not Used

Thermal Print Density Switch 2-1 Switch 2-2

Light OFF OFF

Standard ON ON

Heavy ON OFF

Very Heavy OFF ON

Switch Parameter ON OFF

6

Chapter 3: Memory Switch Settings

Each memory switch is a 16-bit word store in EEPROM. For details on the
functions and settings of memory switches, refer to “Chapter 9”.

The table below shows the factory settings for the memory switches.

Memory Switch Hexadecimal Code

0 0000
1 0000
2 0000
3 0000
4 0000
5 0000

7

Chapter 4: Control Panel Operations

The control panel gives you some push-button control over the printer’s receipt
and slip printer operations. It also includes indicator lights, which tell you the
current status of the printer at a glance.

Indicator lights

The following table describes the meaning of indicator lights when it is on, off,
or flashing.

* All indicators flash to indicate a non-recoverable error.

Indicator Light On Off Flashing (slow) Flashing (fast)

POWER

Power on Power off

Dot adjustment

mode

Automatic

recovery Error

SLIP

Slip paper

released

Slip paper

engaged

Request

slip paper

Slip printer error

RECEIPT

Receipt printer

ready

Receipt printer

not ready

Out of receipt

paper/Near end

Receipt printer

error

RECEIPT

RECEIPT SLIP POWER

SLIP/RESUME

8

Buttons

The following table describes the function of the two control buttons of the
control panel.

Producing a test print

The following procedure can be used at any time to test the receipt printer and
the slip printer.

❏

Turn on the printer and insert a piece of paper into the slip printer. Also
make sure that roll paper is loaded for the receipt printer.

Note:

If you want to produce a test print on the receipt printer only, simply don’t
insert paper into the slip printer.

❏

Turn off printer power.

❏

While holding down the RECEIPT button, turn printer back on. Keep

RECEIPT depressed for a few moments until the printer beeps and the

receipt printer test print starts.
After the receipt test print is complete, the slip printer will produce a test

print on the paper you inserted in the first step of this procedure. The slip
printer test will continue until it reaches the end of the paper.

Note:

The slip printer momentarily releases the slip paper when you turn printer
power back on. If you ar e using a lar ge piece of paper, it may fall out of the slip
printer when this happens, causing the slip printer test to be skipped. Because
of this, it is a good idea to keep hold of the paper in the slip printer when you
turn power back on.

Button Description

RECEIPT

Press to feed the thermal paper. Holding down this button feeds paper
at high speed.

SLIP/RESUME

1. Press this button to release or engage slip paper from the slip
printer. (Switching from releasing to engaging is only possible if
slip paper is inserted.)

2. Press this button to clear the errors of the slip printer and receipt
printer.

9

Adjusting the slip printer’s dot alignment

You may never have to use the procedure described in this section, but after you
have been using your printer for some time you may find that the dots of some
graphics do not align correctly. For example, what should look like:

may come out looking like one of the following:

This is caused when mechanical parts of the printer get out of alignment. This
happens only rarely and you may never experience it at all throughout the life
of the printer. If you do have problems, use the following procedure to correct it.

❏

Execute the test print

❏

When the slip printer produce the test print, hold down the control panel’s

RECEIPT and SLIP/RESUME buttons, to enter the Dot Alignment

Adjust Mode. The POWER indicator flashes slowly to indicate this mode.

Entering the Dot Alignment Adjust Mode causes seven blocks of characters to
be printed as shown below. An asterisk to the left of the blocks indicates which
setting is currently selected. Use the RECEIPT button to specify which block
has the best aligned characters. Press RECEIPT once to specify the first block,
twice to specify the second block, and so on up to seven times to specify the
seventh block. Pressing the RECEIPT button more than seven times specifies
the seventh block, no matter how many times it is pressed.

or like this

10

To exit this mode, press the SLIP/RESUME button. The dot alignment adjust
mode setting is stored in the memory, a pattern using the selected setting,
followed by “Adjust Completed” is printed, and the printer ejects the slip paper.

Note:

If you press the

SLIP/RESUME

button without pr essing the

RECEIPT

button
after entering the Dot Alignment Adjust Mode, the printer assumes that you do
not want make any settings, so it prints the message “Adjust Complete!” and
exits the mode.
If a paper feed error occurs during this mode, the printer ejects the paper and
this mode is cancelled.

11

Hexadecimal dump

This procedure prints in hexadecimal format all codes (character codes and
control codes) that are sent to the printer by the computer. The printer does not
execute any control codes (such as 0A - linefeed), it just prints them out. The
hexadecimal dump is useful when you are writing programs for printer control.

❏

Make sure that roll paper is loaded in the receipt printer.

❏

Turn off the printer.

❏

While holding down the control panel’s SLIP/RESUME button, turn the
printer back on to enter this mode. The printer beeps once to indicate in this
mode.

❏

The printer will now print out the hexadecimal values of any data that is
subsequently sent to it from your computer. The last line buffer should be
flushed by pressing the RECEIPT button.

❏

To exit this mode, turn the printer off.

Errors

There are three types of errors: automatic recovery errors that clear
automatically after some condition is attained, recoverable errors that require
some action by you before they clear, and non-recoverable errors that require
servicing by an authorized dealer. If a slip printer error occurs, the SLIP
indicator flashes quickly. If a receipt printer error occurs, the RECEIPT
indicator flashes quickly.

Automatic Recovery Error

Error Name Cause

POWER

Flashing Pattern

Recovery

Head Temperature Error Abnormal thermal head

temperature

Fast Recovery occurs automatically after

head temperature returns to normal.

12

Receipt Printer Recoverable Errors

Slip Printer Recoverable Errors

Non-recoverable Errors

First try turning the printer off and then on again. If the error persists or if a non­recoverable error is indicated by all indicators flashing, contact your nearest
authorized dealer.

Error Name Cause

RECEIPT

Flashing Pattern

Recovery

Paper Out Error No roll paper Slow Insert paper and press SLIP/RESUME.
Head Up Error Raised receipt printer

head

Fast Lower head and press SLIP/RESUME.

Near End Roll paper near end Slow Press SLIP/RESUME to resume

printing.

Cutter Error Error during roll paper

cutting

Fast If the blade is in the home position,

press SLIP/RESUME to continue
printing. If the blade is not in the home
position, this is a non-recoverable error.

Error Name Cause

SLIP

Flashing Pattern

Recovery

Slip printer mechanism
error

• Carriage motor lock

• Timing signal defect

• Abnormal home
position check

Fast Correct the problem and press SLIP/

RESUME.

13

Chapter 5: Standard Serial Interface

❏

This chapter provides detailed specifications for the printer’s standard serial
interface (Connector Type: D-sub 9-pin).
Set the transmission parameters with DIP Switch 1.

Transmission type............Asynchronous serial interface

Baud rate (bps).................2400, 4800, 9600, or 19200

(Selected by DIP switch)

Word format

Start bit:................1

Data bits: ..............7 or 8 (Selected by DIP switch)

Parity:...................Odd, Even, or None

(Selected by DIP switch)

Stop bit:................1

Signal polarities

RS-232C...............Mark = Logic “1” (–3V to –15V)

Space = Logic “0” (+3V to +15V)

Handshaking ....................DTR or XON/XOFF mode (Selected by DIP switch)

Input (RXD, DSR)

Output (DTR, FAULT, TXD, RTS)

b0 b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 (b7)

ABCD

Mark [1]

Space [0]

A: Start bit
B: Data bits
C: Vertical parity bit
D: Stop bit

Printer Host computer

75188 or equivalent

Printer Host computer

14

Standard serial interface pins and signal names

Pin
No.

Signal
Name

Direction Function

1 FG — Frame Ground
2 RXD IN Receive data
3 TXD OUT Transmission data
4 DTR OUT Data terminal ready signal. This signal changes to SPACE when the printer is ready to

receive data.
5 SG — Signal ground
6 DSR IN Signal line that indicates if the host computer can receive data.

SPACE: host can receive

MARK: host cannot receive

The status of this signal is not confirmed.

This signal can be specified as an internal reset signal using Switch 7 of DIP Switch 1

(page 4). MARK of 1ms or longer activates the reset.
7 RTS OUT Same as DTR (Pin 4).
8 INIT IN This signal can be specified as an internal reset signal using Switch 8 of DIP Switch 1

(page 4). SPACE of 1ms or longer activates the reset.
9 N/C — Not connected

Receipt printer head-up error
Receipt printer auto cutter erro

r

Receipt printer thermistor error
Cover open error
Slip printer mechanical error
1: Error


Buffer empty

Receipt paper empty error (incl

u

1: Empty

15

Interface connections

❏

Refer to the interface specifications for the host computer for details on
connecting to its interface connector. The following illustration shows a
typical connection configuration.

RS-232C

1
2
3
4
5

7
8
9

1
2
3
4
5

6
7

8

20

F-GND
TXD
RXD
RTS
CTS
DSR
S-GND
DCD
DTR

F-GND
RXD
TXD
DTR
S-GND

6DSR
RTS
INIT
N/C

Printer side

(D-sub 9 pin)

IBM PC side

(D-sub 25 pin)

1
2
3
4
5

7
8
9

1
2
3
4
5

6
7

8
9

DCD
RXD
TXD
DTR
S-GND
DSR
RTS
CTS
RI

F-GND
RXD
TXD
DTR
S-GND

6DSR
RTS
INIT
N/C

Printer side

(D-sub 9 pin)

IBM PC side

(D-sub 9 pin)

16

Data protocol

❏

DTR mode

This mode is accessed when the DIP switch 1-6 is set to ON.
Signals are controlled using the DTR line as a BUSY flag.

Immediately after power on (provided that no error occurs), the printer sets DTR
to “SPACE” to indicate that it is ready to receive data. When the host detects
that DTR is in “SPACE” condition, it begins sending text data over the RXD
line.

When the printer’s remaining buffer space falls to *256 bytes or less, the printer
sets DTR to “MARK.” The host responds by halting the data transfer. However,
note that the printer remains capable of receiving data until the buffer becomes
full.

Available buffer space increases as the printer prints the buffered data. When
the printer has cleared all but the last *256 bytes of data, it sets DTR back to
“SPACE” to indicate that it is ready to receive more data.

* 16 bytes when the buffer size is set to 45 bytes

RXD

DTR

Data Data Data

Buffer full Buffer empty

Printing

Power ON

Data buffer full Nearly full

Nearly empty Empty

DTR
“MARK”

DTR
“SPACE”

*256 bytes 
remaining

*256 bytes

17

Error Condition
Upon detecting an error, the printer immediately sets DTR to “MARK” and

goes off-line. If the printer recovers from the error, DTR is set to “SPACE” and
the printer goes back on-line.

RXD

DTR

OFF LINE ON LINE

When paper is out

Printing

Printer error

Power ON

Error

Recovery

18

❏ X-ON/X-OFF mode

This mode is accessed when DIP switch 1-6 is set to OFF.

The output timing conditions for X-ON and X-OFF are set using Memory Switch
4-C. If memory switch 4-C is set to 0 (factory setting), 1 byte is output for the X­ON signal when switching from Off-line (Printer Busy) to On-line (Printer
Ready), while 1 byte is output for the X-OFF signal when switching from On-line
(Printer Ready) to Off-line (Printer Busy). If Memory Switch 4-C is set to 1, the
X-ON signals are output every three seconds.

Immediately after power on (provided that no error occurs), the printer informs
the host that it is ready to receive data by outputting the X-ON signal (control code
DC1; valve = 11H) over the TXD line. If necessary the printer repeats the signal
every three seconds until the host begins sending text data over the RXD line.

When the printer’s remaining buffer space falls to *256 bytes or less, the printer
begins to output X-OFF signals (DC3, value = 13H) over the TXD line. The host
responds by halting the data transfer. Note that the printer remains capable of
receiving data until the buffer becomes full. If Memory Switch 4-C is set to 1,
the X-OFF signal is output each time 1 byte of data is received.

Available buffer space increases as the printer prints the buffered data. When the
printer has cleared all but the last *256 bytes of data, it again outputs the X-ON signal.

* 16 bytes when the buffer size is set to 45 bytes

TXD

RXD

X–ON X–OFF X–ON X–OFF X–ON

Printing

Printer error

Data Data Data

Power ON

Bufferfull Bufferempty

Error Recovery

Data buffer full Nearly full

Nearly empty Empty

*256 bytes

Printer outputs 
X-OFF.

*256 bytes 
remaining

Pinter outputs 
X-ON.

19

Chapter 6: Optional Interface

Optional serial interface

Use a thin flat-blade screwdriver or some other similar object to change DIP
switch settings on the optional serial interface board.

The following table shows all the possible settings for the DIP switches. All
switch settings, except for 1-7 and 1-8, are ON when the printer is shipped from
the factory.

Switch Parameter ON OFF

1

Baud Rate See table below

2
3 Data Length 8 bits 7 bits
4 Parity Check Disabled Enabled
5 Parity Selection Odd Even
6 Handshake DTR/DSR XON/XOFF
7 Serial I/F Pin 6 Reset Signal Active Inactive
8 Serial I/F Pin 25 Reset Signal Active Inactive

Baud Rate Switch 1 Switch 2

2400BPS OFF OFF
4800BPS ON OFF
9600BPS ON ON

19200BPS OFF ON

ON

OFF

12345678

20

Optional serial interface pins and signal names

Pin
No.

Signal
Name

Direction Function

1 FG — Frame Ground
2 TXD OUT Transmission data
3 RXD IN Receive data
4 RTS OUT Data terminal ready signal. This signal changes to SPACE when the printer is ready to

receive data.

6 DSR IN Signal line that indicates if the host computer can receive data.

SPACE: host can receive
MARK: host cannot receive
The status of this signal is not confirmed.
This signal can be specified as an internal reset signal using of DIP Switch 7 (page 19).
MARK of 1ms or longer activates the reset.

7 SG — Signal ground
20 DTR OUT Same as RTS (Pin 4).
25 INIT IN This signal can be specified as an internal reset signal using of DIP Switch 8 (page 19).

SPACE of 1ms or longer activates the reset.

13

25

1

14

21

Interface connections

❏

Refer to the interface specifications for the host computer for details on
connecting to is its interface connector. The following illustration shows a
typical connection configuration.

Data protocol

❏

The specifications for the DTR and X-ON/X-OFF modes are the same as
for the Standard Serial Interface.

1
2
3
4

6

1
2
3
4
5

6
7

8

20

F-GND
TXD
RXD
RTS

DSR

20
25

7

S-GND
DTR

INIT

Printer side

(D-sub 25 pin)

IBM PC side

(D-sub 25 pin)

F-GND
TXD
RXD
RTS
CTS
DSR
S-GND
DCD
DTR

1
2
3
4

6

3
2
7
8

6
5

1
4

F-GND
TXD
RXD
RTS

DSR

20
25

7

S-GND
DTR

INIT

Printer side

(D-sub 25 pin)

IBM PC side

(D-sub 9 pin)

F-GND
TXD
RXD
RTS
CTS
DSR
S-GND
DCD
DTR

22

Optional parallel interface

Interface: Conforms with Centronics parallel interface standard
Data transfer speed: 1000 ~ 5000 CPS
Synchronization: External strobe pulse
Handshaking: Using ACK and BUSY
Logic level: TTL-level compatible

TTT

A C K

DATA

STROBE

BUSY

T: At least 0.5ms

Approx. 9ms

23

Optional parallel interface pins and signal names

Signal Name Sample Circuit

Input

DATA 1
DATA 8

STROBE

Output

BUSY

ACK

4.7kW

74LS-equivalent

1kW

100W

1000pF

74LS-equivalent

1.8kW
74LS-equivalent

(18) (1)

(36) (19)

24

Pin

No.

Signal Name Direction Function

1 STROBE IN

Signals when data is ready to be read. Signal goes from HIGH to LOW (for at
least 0.5 µs) when data is available.

2 - 9 DATA 1 - 8 IN

Information on the first eight bits of parallel data. Each signal is HIGH for logical 1

and LOW for logical 0.
10 ACK OUT 9µs LOW pulse to acknowledge receipt of data
11 BUSY OUT Printer is ready to receive data when LOW. HIGH indicates one of the following

conditions.

• Data being entered

• Printer off line

• Error condition
12 PAPER OUT OUT Normally LOW, this signal goes HIGH when the printer is out of paper.
13 SELECTED OUT HIGH when the printer is on line
14 — IN This signal is not checked by printer.
15 N/C — Not connected
16 SIGNAL GND — Signal ground
17 CHASSIS GND — Chassis ground (isolated from logic ground)
18 +5VDC — +5V DC (max. 50mA)

19 - 30 GND — Twisted pair return signal ground level

31 RESET

IN LOW when printer is reset to power-on defaults

32

ERROR

OUT Normally HIGH, this signal goes LOW to signal that printing is disabled due to an

error condition.

33 EXT GND — External ground

34 - 35 N/C — Not connected

36 — IN This signal is not checked by printer.