Zebra QL 220, QL 220 Plus, QL 320 Plus, QL 320, QL 420 Quick Start Manual

QL Series Overview

(QL 220 Plus illustrated)

12

11

1

2

Loading Media

Open Media
Compartment

Media Ro ll

Note direction me­dia pulls off the roll.

Pull Media out
of Printer

QL 220/220 Plus QL 320/320 Plus QL 420/420 Plus

Zebra® QL and QL Plus Series
Mobile Printers

Qui ck Sta rt Gui de

Introduction

Thank you for choosing one of our Zebra QL Series
Mobile Printers. These rugged printers will become pro
ductive and efficient additions to your workplace thanks to
their innovative design. Because theyʼre made by Zebra
Technologies you can be assured of world-class support
for all of your bar code printers, software, and supplies.

This document provides an easy reference for operating
and maintaining the QL Series of Mobile Printers.
Complete documentation for each model printer is
provided by the QL and QL Plus Series User Guide
available either on the CD-ROM provided with the printer
or via the Internet at: http: //www.zebra.com/manuals

© ZIH Corp. 2005 QSG-Q LS-001 rev. A

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10

9

8

1 Platen Roller

2. Bar Sensor

3. Media Suppor t

4. Latch

5. Latch Release Button

6. “D” Ring

7. Contro l Panel

8. QuickLink™ Module

9. Printhead

10. “E-Z Peel” Label Peeler

11. Media Support Disks

12. Media Cover

13. Belt Clip

14. Kickstand (optional)

15. RS232 Communicati ons Por t

16. Bat tery Charging
Recept acle
17 USB Port (QL Plus mo dels only)
18 Battery

3

4

5

6

7

13

6

18

17

14

15

16

Latch flips open

Open the QL 220 & 420

Latch flips open

Press Latch

Button

Open Media
Compartment

Rotate Latch
Levers (both
sides

Open the QL 320

Flip Peeler Bar up if
you will be peeling
off labels.

Pull Media Supports

apart.

Load the Media Roll

(common for all models)

Close the Cover

(common for all models)

Close Media Cover

Close Latch
Assembly

Regulatory Information for QL Series Printers

Agency Approvals for QL and QL Plus Series Printers

Canadian Compliance Statement

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme á la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Additional Agency Approvals for QL Series Printers Only

Warning - Static Discharge and Thermal Printing

N2557 156461

Static Discharge :

The discharge of electrostatic energy can damage or destroy the print­head or electronic components used i n this device. DO NOT TOUC H the
printhead or any exp osed electronic compone nts.

Thermal Printing:

The printhead becomes hot while printing. Use only the cleaning pen to
perform maintenance on the printhead.

Installing the Battery

Rotate th e Belt Clip
out of the way of the
Battery

QL 220/ 320 Bat tery

Batteries are shipped uncharged.
Remove protective shrink-wrap and
labels fro m new bat tery packs and
allow to charge completely prior to

QL 420 Bat tery

Charging Batteries

Using the Single Charger

Insert the plug from the
charger cable into the
batteryʼs Charger Jack.
Plug the Charger into the
A.C. outlet.

A steady indicator light
means the battery is being

SIngle

Battery

Charger

charged.

A blinking light means the
battery is ready to use.

Charger
Jack

Using the Quad Charger

Consult the supplied Userʼs Guide for information on using the L I72-4 Quad
Charger

Connect the Printer

Terminal

Communications Cable to
Terminal

Communications Port

Connect With a Cable

Refer to the Label Vista™ application available on the Internet at
http:// ww w.zebra.com/SD/product_LabelVista.htm for help on set ting up the

QL printer

with Wireless

option

Terminal with wireless

Connect by Radio

Refer to the Wireless Quick Start Guide on the product support CD or on the Internet

http://ww w.zebra.com/manuals for help on set ting up your wireless printer.

at

communicati ons ability

Printer Controls

Green LED

Power Button

Press to turn unit on.

Press again to turn

unit off

Special functions that are set by

your printer’s application.

Steady Light indicates power on
and/or established Radio link.
Fast Blink indicates no Radio link
Slow Blink means low battery.

Function Button

Standard Control Panel

Press to advance a

Feed But ton

blank label or a pre­determined length
of journal media.

Optional Control Panel

Refer to the User’s Guide for complete information

Printer Status Ic ons

Refer to troubleshoot­ing section on next

Power Button

Press to turn unit on. Press
again to turn unit of f.

Yellow LED

Steady Light
indicates printer
is out of media
or media cover
not closed.
Fast Blink indi­cates Radio ac
tivity on printers
with a Radio.
Fast blink with
beeper indi
cates no appli
cation is loaded.

Feed But ton

Press to advance a blank la­bel or a predetermined length
of journal media.

Scroll B utton

Press to scroll
through the menu
choices on the
display.

Select Button

Press to select a
menu choice on
the display.

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Over

Cleaning the Printers

Peeler Rollers

Label Presenc e

Tear Bar

Printhead

Element s

Peeler Bar

Avoid using alcohol on

linerless platen surface

QL220 (SHOWN) & QL 320 QL420

Platen Sur face

Bearin g Points

Linerless

Platens only

Linerless units only

Suppor t Disks, Inner

surfaces on both sides.

Linerless units only

Scraper

Sensor

Gap Sensor

Bar Sensor

Media Ro llers (on QL 420
only)

Avoid using alcohol on
linerless media roller
surfaces

Suppor t Disks, Inner
surfaces on both sides.

Linerless units only.

Peeler Bar or

Scraper

Linerless units

Platen
Surfac e

Avoid us­ing alcohol
on liner

­less platen
surface

Area Cleaning Method Interval

Printhead

Platen
Roller

Linerless
Platen Roller

Peel bar

Scraper
(Linerless units
only)

Tear bar

Exterior

Interior

Interior of units
with linerless
platens:

Use the supplied cleaning pen to clean the
print elements from end to end (the print
elements are located in the thin gray line
on the printhead).

Rotate the platen roller and clean it
thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

Units with linerless platens: Rotate platen
& clean bearing points only. Avoid use
of alcohol on the surface of linerless
platens!

Clean thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

Clean thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

Clean thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

Wipe with water-dampened cloth.

Brush/air blow. Ensure the Bar Sensor, Gap
Sensor and Label Present Sensor windows
are free of dust.

Clean inside surfaces of Media supports &
Media Support Disks with the supplied cleaning
pen or 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.

After every five
rolls of media
(or more often, if
needed)
Linerless
media requires
more frequent
cleaning

As needed

After every five
rolls of media
(or more often, if
needed)

As needed

After every five
rolls of media
(or more often, if
needed)

Using the Accessories

Belt Clip (standard on all
printers)

To use: hook the clip over your belt,
and ensure that the clip is securely
attached to the belt. The belt clip will
pivot to allow you to move freely while
wearing the printer.

Clip printer to belt

Printer can pivot
freely

Adjustable Shoulder Strap (optional)

Refer to figure below. Snap each end
of the shoulder strap into the “D” rings
in the top of the printer. Slide the buckle
away from or towards the printer until you
achieve the desired length.

Pull Strap here
to lengt hen

Hold Buckle

Pull Strap here
to shor ten

Snap in to
“D” rin gs on
printer

Using the Accessories

Kick Stand

Refer to the figure below. The Kickstand option allows
users to use the printer on a desktop. To use the optional
Kickstand: Flip the Kickstand on the back of the printer
open until it locks in place. The printer will now sit at an
angle on a desktop.

Rotate
Kickstand until
it locks into
position

Desk Stand

Refer to the figure opposite. To use the Desk
Stand: Slide the printer onto the Desk Stand
as shown. The printerʼs belt clip will hook onto
the Desk Stand and retain it in place. Ensure
that the clip is securely attached to the Stand
and the media compartment of the printer is
seated securely in the stand.

Holes are provided to secure the Desk Stand
to the work surface. The charger and data I/O
cables may be plugged into the printer in the
usual manner.

Printerʼs Media

Compar tment

sits in cutout

Hook Belt Clip
over the Stand

Troubleshooting

Standard Control Panel

Refer to the chart below to find the state of the two LEDs on the Control
Panel. Then refer to the Troubleshooting topic referenced in the chart to re
solve the problem.

Green LED Yellow LED Indication Topic #

Steady Off Normal Operation, n/a
and/or RF Link established
Off Off Power Off 1

Fast Blink Off No RF Link 5, 10
Slow Blink Off Low Battery 3, 5, 6
Steady Steady Out of media, or 8, 10

Media Cover not closed
Steady Fast Blink Normal RF activity 7

Steady Fast Blink, No application 7
Beeper Sounds

Optional LCD Control Panel

The top of the display shows several icons which indicate various printer
functions. Check the indicator status and refer to the Troubleshooting topic
referenced in the chart.

Status Icon Condition Indication Topic #

Steady Bluetooth Link established n/a
Flashing Data transmission via Bluetooth n/a
Off No Bluetooth link 5

Steady RF Link established n /a

Off No RF Link 5

Flashing Low Battery 3, 5, 6

Flashing Head latch not closed 8, 10

Flashing Printer is receiving a file 7

Flashing Out of media, 8, 10

Blank Screen n/a No application 1,12

Troubleshooting Topics

1. No power:

• Check that battery is installed properly.

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• Recharge or replace batter y as necessary.

2. Media does not feed:

• Be sure printhead is closed and latched.

• Check spindle holding media for any binding.

• If unit is equipped with label presence sensor, ensure most recently printed
label is removed.

• Ensure label sensor is not blocked.

3. Poor or faded print or flashing:

• Clean printhead.

• Check battery and recharge or replace as necessary.

9. Skips labels:

• Ensure correct media is being used.

• Ensure bar/ or gap sensor is not blocked.

10. Communication Error:

• Check media is loaded, head is closed and error
light is off.

• Replace cable to terminal.

11. Label Jam:

• Open head release latch and media cover.

• Generously apply alcohol to printer in area of
jammed label.

12. Blank LCD Screen (units with optional LCD control panel):

• No application loaded or application corrupted: program must be reloaded.

• Check quality of media.

4. Partial/missing print:

• Check media alignment.

• Clean printhead.

• Ensure printhead is properly closed and latched.

5. No print:

• Replace battery.

• Check cable to terminal.

• (Wireless units only) Restore wireless connection.

6. Reduced battery life:

• Check battery date code — if battery is one to two years old, short life may
be due to normal aging.

• Replace battery.

7. Yellow error light or flashing:

•Units without a wireless option: No application or application corrupted;
program must be reloaded.

Product Support

For product support, contact Zebra Technologies at:

www.zebra.com

Zebra Technologies International, LLC

333 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061-3109 USA
Phone: [phone] or +1.800.423. 0422
Fax: [phone]

Zebra Technologies Europe Limited

Zebra House
The Valley Centre, Gordon Road
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire HP13 6EQ, UK
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Zebra Technologies

Latin American Sales Office
9800 NW 41ST Street
Suite 220
Doral, Florida 33178 USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific, LLC

1 Sims Lane, #06-11
Singapore 387355
Phone: [phone]

•Wireless units only: flashing error light or icon indicates data transmission.

8. Yellow error light always on, or flashing:

• Check that media is loaded and that printhead is closed and

securely latched.