Zebra QL320 User Manual

UMAN-QL3 Rev. C February, 2002

ii QL 320 User’s Guide

Proprietary Statement

This manual contains proprietary information of Zebra Technologies Corporation. It is
intended solely for the information and use of parties operating and maintaining the
equipment described herein. Such proprietary information may not be used, reproduced,
or disclosed to any other parties for any other purpose without the expressed written per­mission of Zebra Technologies Corporation.

Product Improvements

Since continuous product improvement is a policy of Zebra Technologies Corporation, all
specifications and signs are subject to change without notice.

FCC Compliance Statement

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of 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.
WARNING: Exposure to Radio Frequency radiation. To conform to FCC RF exposure re­quirements this device shall be used in accordance with the operating conditions and
instructions listed in this manual.
NOTE: This unit was tested with shielded cables on the peripheral devices. Shielded ca­bles must be used with the unit to insure compliance
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by Zebra Technologies Cor­poration could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

Canadian Compliance Statement

"IC:" before the equipment certification number signifies that the Industry Canada techni­cal specifications were met. It does not guarantee that the certified product will operate to
the user's satisfaction.

Liability Disclaimer

Inasmuch as every effort has been made to supply accurate information in this manual,
Zebra Technologies Corporation is not liable for any erroneous information or omissions.
Zebra Technologies Corporation reserves the right to correct any such errors and dis­claims liability resulting therefrom.

No Liability for Consequential Damage

In no event shall Zebra Technologies Corporation or anyone else involved in the creation,
production, or delivery of the accompanying product (including hardware and software)
be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of
business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary
loss) arising out of the use of or the results of use of or inability to use such product, even
if Zebra Technologies Corporation has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Because some states do not allow the exclusion of liability for consequential or incidental
damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.

Copyrights

The copyrights in this manual and the system described therein are owned by Zebra
Technologies Corporation. All rights are reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of this
manual or the software in any of the system modules may result in imprisonment of up to
one year and fines of up to $10,000 (17 U.S.C.506). Copyright violators may be subject
to civil liability.
All products and brand names are trademarks of their respective companies. All rights
reserved.

©

2002 Zebra Technologies Corporation

Mobile Printer
User’s Guide

UMAN-QL3 Rev. A January 2002

iv QL 320 User’s Guide

Contents

Introduction ...........................................7

Unpacking and Inspection .......................................... 7

Reporting Damage .....................................................7

Getting Ready to Print............................9

Battery ........................................................................9

Installing the Battery ...................................................... 9

Charging the Battery ...................................................... 9

Loading the Media ....................................................10

Installing the Media ...................................................... 10

Operator Controls .....................................................13

Standard Keypad.......................................................... 13

LCD Control Panel ....................................................... 15

Verify the Printer Is Working .....................................18

Printing a Configuration Label...................................... 18

Connecting the Printer .............................................. 18

Cable Communications ................................................ 19

IR Communications ...................................................... 20

SRRF Communications................................................ 21

Zebra SRRF Network Overview ................................... 21

Bluetooth™ Networking Overview ............................... 23

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) ......................... 25

Setting Up the Software ............................................ 26

Adjustable Shoulder Strap ........................................ 27

Belt Clip ....................................................................28

Preventive Maintenance.......................29

Extending Battery Life...............................................29

Cleaning....................................................................31

Troubleshooting...................................32

Standard Control Panel.............................................32

Optional LCD Control Panel...................................... 32

Troubleshooting Topics ............................................. 33

Troubleshooting Tests ...............................................34

Printing a Configuration Label...................................... 34

Sample Configuration Label ......................................... 35

Communications Diagnostics ....................................... 37

Calling the Help Desk................................................... 37

Specifications ......................................38

Printing Specifications ..............................................38

Memory/Communications Specifications .................. 38

QL 320 User’s Guide v

Label Specifications .................................................. 39

Font/Bar Code Specifications ...................................39

Physical/Environmental/Electrical Specifications ...... 40

Communications Port ...............................................41

Agency Approvals ..................................................... 42

Accessories ..............................................................42

Appendix A..........................................43

Interface Cables

Appendix B..........................................46

Media Supplies

Appendix C.......................................... 47

Maintenance Supplies

Appendix D ..........................................48

Product Support

Index ................................................... 49

Patent Information.............................. 51

6 QL 320 User’s Guide

1 Platen Roller

2. Bar Sensor

3. Media Support

4. Peeler “Flip Strip”

5. Latch

6. Latch Release Lever

7. “D” Rings

8. Control Panel

9. QuickLink Module

10. Print Head

11. Media Support Disks

12. Media Cover

13. Belt Clip

14. Battery

15. Battery Charging Receptacle

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

7

8

10

11

12

13

14

15

9

QL 320 User’s Guide 7

Introduction

Thank you for choosing our Zebra QL 320 Mobile Printer. This
rugged printer is sure to become a productive and efficient addi­tion to your workplace thanks to its innovative design. Because it’s
made by Zebra Technologies Corporation, you’re assured of
world-class support for all of your bar code printers, software, and
supplies.

• This user’s guide gives you all the information you’ll need to
operate the QL 320 printer.

• The QL 320 uses the CPL programming language. To cre­ate and print labels using the CPL language, refer to the
Mobile Printer Programming Guide (p/n PRO-MAN) and our
Label Vista™ label creation program.

• The QL 320 can also use Zebra’s “ZPL II” programming lan­guage if equipped with the optional memory upgrade. You
can refer to the ZPL II Program Guide (part #46530L) for
information about Zebra’s label design programming lan­guage. If either manual was not ordered with your printer,
simply call your re-seller or Zebra Technologies Corporation
or visit the Zebra web site.

Unpacking and Inspection

Inspect the printer for possible shipping damage:

• Check all exterior surfaces for damage.

• Open the media cover (refer to “Loading the Media” in the
Getting Ready to Print section) and inspect the media com­partment for damage.

In case shipping is required, save the carton and all packing

material.

Reporting Damage

If you discover shipping damage:

• Immediately notify and file a damage report with the ship­ping company. Zebra Technologies Corporation is not re­sponsible for any damage incurred during shipment of the
printer and will not cover the repair of this damage under its
warranty policy.

• Keep the carton and all packing material for inspection.

• Notify your authorized Zebra re-seller.

8 QL 320 User’s Guide

F

IGURE

2

Battery

Belt Clip

Charger Jack

LI72 Charger

F

IGURE

3

Charger Jack

QL 320 User’s Guide 9

Getting Ready to Print

Battery

Installing the Battery

NOTE: Batteries are shipped uncharged. Remove protective shrink-

wrap and labels from new battery packs prior to use.

1. If the printer is so equipped, rotate the Belt Clip to allow ac­cess to the Battery compartment.

2. Insert the battery into the printer as shown in Figure 2,

3. Rock the Battery into the printer as shown until it locks in
place.

When the battery is first installed, the Control Panel indicators
may briefly turn on and then go off which indicates the battery is
not fully charged (see “Charging the Battery” below and “Operator
Controls”).

Charging the Battery

Refer to Figure 3. Your battery charger may look slightly differ­ent from the ones illustrated.

If you are using the LI 72 battery charger:

1. Install the battery in the printer and plug the Charger into
the appropriate A.C. wall receptacle. Then insert the
charge cable into the battery charger jack.

2. The charger LED will indicate the status of the charger as
follows:

• A steady light indicates the battery is undergoing a fast
charge.

•A slow blinking light indicates the charger is in trickle mode.
The battery is ready for use.

•A rapidly blinking light indicates a problem with the battery.
The battery may have an internal short, or its charge moni­toring circuitry may be malfunctioning. The battery should
not be used any further.

• Battery Packs may be charged either when installed in the
printer or when removed.

Do not attempt to charge batteries with the LI 72

while printing. Attempting to print while charging can
result in improperly charged batteries.

10 QL 320 User’s Guide

Loading the Media

You can operate this printer in one of two different modes: Tear­Off or Peel-Off. Tear-Off mode allows you to tear off each label (or
a strip of labels) after it is printed. In Peel-Off mode, the backing
material is peeled away from the label as it is printed. After you
remove this label, the next one is printed.

Installing the Media

1. Refer to Figure 4. Open the printer:

•Rotate the latch release levers on each side of the printer
as shown at “1” below.
The latch assembly will
flip open automatically
as shown at “2”.

•Rotate the media
Cover back as
shown at “3”, ex­posing the media
compartment
and the adjust­able media
supports.

F

IGURE

4

Media Supports

Media
Compartment

QL 320 User’s Guide 11

2. Refer to Figure 5. Load the media

• Determine that the core diameter of the media roll matches
the setting of the Media Disks. If it does not, adjust the me­dia disks per Figure 6 below.

• If the media support setting is correct, pull the media sup­ports apart, insert the roll of media between them, and let
the media supports close. Insure that the media pulls off
the core in the direction
shown in Figure 5. The
supports will adjust
themselves to the
width of the media,
and the media
should be able to
spin freely on the
supports.

continued on next page

F

IGURE

5

Media Roll

Note direction
media pulls off
the roll.

Media Disk

must match diame­ter of Media Core.

F

IGURE

6

Media Disk set for
3/4” core (factory
default).

Remove Media
Disk, rotate 180

∞

and replace for

1.40” core

12 QL 320 User’s Guide

3. Refer to Figure 7. Close the Media Cover

• If you plan to use the printer in the tear-off mode, close the
media cover as shown at “2”, then rotate the latch assembly
as shown until it locks into place, as shown at “4”.

• If you plan to use the printer in the peel-off mode, peel a
few labels off of the media roll and pull it out of the printer
as shown at “1”. Close the media cover as shown at “2”.
Rotate the Peeler Bar until it locks into place on the latch,
as shown at “3”, then rotate the Latch as shown until it
locks into place, as shown at “4”.

•Turn on the printer or press the Feed button if the printer is
already on.

The printer will advance the media to the next label, if print­ing labels. If you are printing on journal media, the printer
will advance a short strip of media and will then be ready
for printing.

F

IGURE

7

Media Cover

Peeler Bar

Flip down after
Latch is closed if
using media in
the peel-off
mode.

Latch Assembly

Pull Media out of
Printer

QL 320 User’s Guide 13

Operator Controls

The QL 320 will come with one of two possible control panels.
The standard control panel is detailed below and in Figure 8. The
optional control panel (Figure 9) features an LCD which allows
easy display and selection of many printer functions and is de­tailed on following pages.

Standard Keypad

The standard keypad has three control buttons and two multi­purpose indicators.

• The Power button turns the QL 320 on and off.

• The Feed button advances a length of media which is de­termined by the type of media being used. Label media will
be advanced to the next gap or bar sense marker. Journal
(plain) media will be advanced a length determined by the
printer’s software.

• The Function button is controlled by a printer’s specific ap­plication to support such functions as:

Print a battery Level reporting
Print the Local Area Network (LAN) status
Print a Short Range Radio Frequency (SRRF) status
Print a Media supply report

The green LED on the left side of the control panel indicates

the status of several printer features:

•A slowly blinking sequence indicates the printer’s battery
needs charging.

•Printers with a wireless QuickLink module installed: a quick­ly blinking sequence indicates the printer has not estab­lished a link to either a Local Area Network or a compatible
wireless equipped terminal.

•Printers with a wireless QuickLink module installed: A
steadily lit indicator shows that the printer has established a
wireless link, either to the LAN or to a compatible terminal.

A steadily lit green indicator on a non-wireless printer is a
power-on indicator.

The yellow LED on the right side of the control panel has two

indication conditions.

•A rapidly blinking yellow LED and a chime indicate that no
application has been loaded into the printer.

•Printers with a wireless QuickLink module installed: a rapid­ly blinking LED indicates normal data transmission.

14 QL 320 User’s Guide

•A steadily lit yellow LED indicates an error condition. This
can be caused by one of the following:

1. The media cover is not completely closed and latched.

2. The printer is out of media.

F

IGURE

8: S

TANDARD CONTROL PANEL

Green LED

Steady Light indicates power
on and/or established RF link.

Fast Blink indicates no RF link
(on RF equipped units only)

Slow Blink means low battery

Yellow LED

Steady Light indicates error
condition: out of media or
media cover not closed.

Fast Blink indicates RF activi­ty (on RF equipped units only)

Fast blink with beeper indi­cates no application loaded

Power Button

Press to turn unit on. Press
again to turn unit off

Feed Button

Press to advance the media
one blank label or a software
determined length of journal
media.

Function Button

Specific functions are under
printer application control.

QL 320 User’s Guide 15

LCD Control Panel

The optional LCD control panel has buttons for the power on/off
and media feed functions just as in the standard control panel. In
addition, it has two keys which allow easy navigation and selec­tion of menu options affecting many printer functions.

The “Scroll” button allows scrolling through the various options
and settings. The “Select” button allows selection of the option or
function displayed on the screen.

F

IGURE

9: O

PTIONAL

LCD C

ONTROL PANEL

Power Button

Press to turn unit on.
Press again to turn
unit off

Feed Button

Press to advance
the media one
blank label or a
software deter­mined length of
journal media.

Scroll Button

Press to scroll through the
menu choices on the LCD.

Select Button

Press to select a menu
choice on the LCD.

LCD

See LCD Functions Table for
an overview of menu options

Printer Status Icons

Indicates the status
of several printer
functions

16 QL 320 User’s Guide

The top of the screen has a row of status icons which indicate

the state of various printer functions:

Indicates that the printer is associated with a wireless Lo­cal Area Network (LAN). This icon is functional only with
QL 320N network printers.

A flashing icon indicates low battery status. You
should suspend any printing operations and recharge or re­place the battery Pack as soon as is convenient.

A flashing icon indicates that the media cover is open or

not properly latched.

A flashing icon indicates that a file is being downloaded

to the printer.

A flashing icon indicates that the printer does not detect

any media. This could indicate an out of media condition,
or improperly loaded media.

In addition to the status icons, the LCD control panel can display
many of the printer’s settings and functions as text. Applications
can be written to allow the user to view and /or modify these set­tings using the scroll and select keys on the display. Refer to the
“LCD Functions Table” on the following page for the full set of
printer features that can be made available with the LCD panel.

The LCD has a backlighting option which allows viewing of the
screen in a dark environment, or provides better contrast in a very
bright environment. Use of the display backlight will decrease the
time the printer will run between charges.