Zebra QLN420, QLN220, QLN320 User Manual

QLn SeriesTM

Mobile Printers

User Guide

P1028026-005 Rev. A

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QLn Series User Guide

Table of Contents

Proprietary Statements......................................................................................	5
Document Conventions......................................................................................	7
Cautions, Important, and Note...........................................................................	7
Introduction to the QLn™ Series Printers........................................................	8
QLn Series Technology......................................................................................	9
Smart Battery......................................................................................................	9
Printing Technology...........................................................................................	10
Direct Thermal....................................................................................................	10
QR Code..............................................................................................................	11
Made for iPhone (MFi)........................................................................................	11
Near Field Communication (NFC).....................................................................	11
QLn Series Overview..........................................................................................	12
Getting Ready to Print........................................................................................	16
Installing the Battery..........................................................................................	16
Battery Safety.....................................................................................................	17
Charger Safety....................................................................................................	17
Charging Status Indicators...............................................................................	18
Battery Health Indicator.....................................................................................	18
SC2 Dimensions.................................................................................................	19
Model UCLI72-4 Quad Charger (AC18177-5).....................................................	19
AC Power Adapter (p/n P1031365-024).............................................................	21
Ethernet and Charging Cradles.......................................................................	22
Printer Operation with Cradle...........................................................................	26
Loading Media Procedure.................................................................................	27
Loading Media in Peel-off Mode (QLn220/320)...............................................	29
Loading Media in Peel-off Mode (QLn420)......................................................	30
QLn Healthcare Printers....................................................................................	31
Standard Control Panel.....................................................................................	33
LCD Control Panel.............................................................................................	35
Status Bar Icons................................................................................................	36
Main Menu Screen (QLn320/220)......................................................................	38
Programmable LCD Settings............................................................................	39
Home Menu Screen (QLn420 and QLn Healthcare Printers)..........................	40
Verify the Printer is Working.............................................................................	44
Printing a Configuration Label..........................................................................	44
Connecting the Printer......................................................................................	45
Cable Communication.......................................................................................	46
RS-232C Communications.................................................................................	46
USB Communications........................................................................................	46
Providing Strain Relief for Communications Cable.........................................	47
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QLn Series User Guide

Wireless Communications with Bluetooth.....................................................	49
Bluetooth Networking Overview......................................................................	49
WLAN Overview.................................................................................................	52
Setting Up the Software....................................................................................	52
Setting Up the Software....................................................................................	53
Near Field Communication (NFC).....................................................................	53
QLn Series Accessories....................................................................................	55
Swivel Belt Clip..................................................................................................	55
Soft Case............................................................................................................	56
Hard Case...........................................................................................................	56
Adjustable Shoulder Strap................................................................................	57
Hand Strap..........................................................................................................	58
Preventive Maintenance....................................................................................	59
Extending Battery Life.......................................................................................	59
General Cleaning Instructions..........................................................................	59
Troubleshooting.................................................................................................	62
Front Control Panel............................................................................................	62
LCD Control Panil Indicators............................................................................	63
Troubleshooting Topics....................................................................................	64
Troubleshooting Tests......................................................................................	66
Printing a Configuration Label.........................................................................	66
Communications Diagnostics...........................................................................	66
Specifications.....................................................................................................	71
Printing Specifications......................................................................................	71
Memory and Communications Specifications ...............................................	71
Label Specifications..........................................................................................	72
CPCL Font and Bar Code Specifications and Commands.............................	73
ZPL Font and Bar Code Specifications and Commands................................	74
Communication Ports........................................................................................	75
Physical, Environmental and Electrical Specifications..................................	76
QLn Series Accessories....................................................................................	80
QLn Series Accessories cont...........................................................................	81
Appendix A.........................................................................................................	82
Interface Cables (RS-232 Cables).....................................................................	82
USB Cables.........................................................................................................	83
Appendix B.........................................................................................................	84
Media Supplies...................................................................................................	84
Appendix C.........................................................................................................	84
Maintenance Supplies.......................................................................................	84
Appendix D.........................................................................................................	85
Appendix E.......................................................................................................	104
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QLn Series User Guide

Appendix F.......................................................................................................	105
Battery Disposal..............................................................................................	105
Product Disposal.............................................................................................	105
Appendix G......................................................................................................	106
Alert Messages................................................................................................	106
Appendix H.......................................................................................................	107
Using Zebra.com..............................................................................................	107
Appendix I.........................................................................................................	109
Product Support...............................................................................................	109

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QLn Series User Guide

Proprietary Statements

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.

Agency Approvals and Regulatory Information

Design Safety certified by TUV	EN55022 Class B European Electromagnetic
	Radiation Standard
EN60950-1: 2nd Ed. Safety Standard	EN55024: European Immunity Standard
NOM (Mexico)	RCM (Australia/NZ)
FCC part 15 Class B	RoHS II
Canadian STD RSS-210

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 label print engine described therein are owned by Zebra Technologies Corporation. Unauthorized reproduction of this manual or the software in the label print engine 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.

This product may contain ZPL®, ZPL II®, and ZebraLinktm programs; Element Energy Equalizer® Circuit; E3®; and AGFA fonts. Software © ZIH Corp. All rights reserved worldwide. ZebraLink and all product names and numbers are trademarks, and Zebra, the Zebra logo, ZPL, ZPL II, Element Energy Equalizer Circuit, and E3 Circuit are registered trademarks of ZIH Corp. All rights reserved worldwide.

Monotype®, Intellifont® and UFST® are trademarks of Monotype Imaging, Inc. registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

AndyTM , CG PalacioTM, CG Century SchoolbookTM, CG TriumvirateTM, CG TimesTM, Monotype KaiTM, Monotype MinchoTM and Monotype SungTM are trademarks of Monotype Imaging, Inc. and may be registered in some jurisdictions. 

HY Gothic HangulTM is a trademark of Hanyang Systems, Inc. AngsanaTM is a trademark of Unity Progress Company (UPC) Limited.

Andale®, Arial®, Book Antiqua®, Corsiva®, Gill Sans®, Sorts® and Times New Roman®  are trademarks of The Monotype Corporation registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

Century Gothic™, Bookman Old StyleTM and Century SchoolbookTM are trademarks of The Monotype Corporation and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

HGPGothicB is a trademark of the Ricoh company, Ltd. and may be registered in some jurisdictions.

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QLn Series User Guide

UniversTM is a trademark of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions, exclusively licensed through Linotype Library GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

Futura® is a trademark of Bauer Types SA registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in some jurisdictions.

TrueType® is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

All other product names are the property of their respective owners.

“Made for iPod”, “Made for iPhone”, and “Made for iPad” mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod, iPhone, or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod, iPhone, or iPad may affect wireless performance.

Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG.

© 1996–2009, QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved. Published under license by QNX Software Systems Co.

All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. ©2015 ZIH Corp.

Certified by:

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QLn Series User Guide

Document Conventions

The following conventions are used throughout this document to convey certain information:

Cautions, Important, and Note

Caution • Warns you of the potential for electrostatic discharge.

Caution • Warns you of a potential electric shock situation.

Caution • Warns you of a situation where excessive heat could cause a burn

Caution • Advises you that failure to take or avoid a specific action could result in physical harm to you.

Caution • Advises you that failure to take or avoid a specific action could result in physical harm to the hardware.

Important • Advises you of information that is essential to complete a task.

Note • Indicates neutral or positive information that emphasizes or supplements important points of the main text.

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QLn Series User Guide

Introduction to the QLn™ Series Printers

Thank you for choosing our Zebra® QLn™ Series Mobile Printers. You will find these rugged printers will become a productive and efficient addition to your workplace thanks to their innovative design and state of the art features. Zebra Technologies is the leader in industrial printers with worldclass support for all of your bar code printers, software, and supplies.

This user’s guide gives you the information you will need to operate the QLn420, QLn320, and QLn220 printers, including QLn Healthcare and Made for iPhone® (MFi) printers. MFi printers provide Apple co-processor (MFi) support which allows an Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad® to authenticate and connect over Bluetooth®.

These printers use CPCL and ZPL programming languages. To create and print labels using the CPCL and ZPL languages, refer to the Programming Guide for CPCL and ZPL (p/n P1012728-008). See Appendix G for instructions on how to access manuals on zebra.com.

QLn Series Software Utilities:

•Zebra Net Bridge™ : printer configuration, fleet management

•Zebra Setup Utility: single printer configuration, quick setup

•Zebra Designer Pro: label design

•Zebra Designer Drivers: Windows® driver

•OPOS Driver: Windows driver

•Multiplatform SDK

(These utilities can be found on the Zebra website at http://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads.html. See Appendix G.)

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QLn Series User Guide

Unpacking and Inspection

•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 com-

partment 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.

QLn Series Technology

The QLn420, QLn320 and QLn220 use several technologies made popular in other Zebra Mobile Printer product lines, as well as newer technologies.

Smart Battery

The QLn Series battery pack is a high capacity, smart Lithium Ion battery that contains electronics which allow the printer to monitor its operating parameters. Among these are the number of charge cycles it has undergone and its date of manufacture. Using these parameters, the printer’s software can monitor the battery’s condition and alert the user when to recharge or remove the battery from service.

Operating Temperature		Charging Temperature	Storage Temperature
-200C to +550C		00C to +400C	-250C to +650C
(-4oF to 131oF)		(32oF to 104oF)	(-13oF to 149oF)

The QLn Series printers will only function properly with genuine Zebra smart battery packs.

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QLn Series User Guide

The smart battery’s health has three states: GOOD, REPLACE, and POOR. The battery health factor determines whether or not the printer can operate and what is communicated to the user via the display.

	# of Charge Cycles		Health		Power-up Message
	<300		GOOD		None
	_
	>300 but <550		REPLACE		“Battery Diminished
					Consider Replacing” *
	_
	>550 but <600		REPLACE		“Warning-Battery
					Is Past Useful Life” *
	_
	>600		POOR		“Replace Battery
					Shutting Down” **

*Warning accompanied by one long beep.

**Warning will flash on and off accompanied by beeping at a rate of once per second. After 30 seconds the printer will shut down.

Note • Power down the printer before removing the battery to minimize the risk of corruption.

Printing Technology

The QLn Series printers use the Direct Thermal method to print human readable text, graphics and barcodes. It incorporates a sophisticated print engine for optimal printing under all operational conditions.

Direct Thermal

Direct thermal printing uses heat to cause a chemical reaction on specially treated media. This reaction creates a dark mark wherever a heated element on the printhead comes in contact with the media. Since the printing elements are arranged very densely at 203 d.p.i. (dots per inch) horizontal and 200 d.p.i. vertical, highly legible characters and graphic elements may be created a row at a time as the media is advanced past the printhead. This technology has the advantage of simplicity, as there is no requirement for consumable supplies such as ink or toner. However, since the media is sensitive to heat, it will gradually loose legibility over long periods of time, especially if exposed to environments with relatively high temperatures.

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QLn Series User Guide

QR Code

The QR barcode includes human readable text (URL) which links the user to printer information and short videos on topics such as buying supplies, features overview, loading media, printing a configuration report, cleaning instructions, and accessory information. (See Page 13 for each printer’s URL address.)

Made for iPhone (MFi)

QLn printers support communication with Apple devices running iOS 5 or later over a standalone Bluetooth 3.0 radio and the BT3.0 radio included with the 802.11n (dual) radio. Only printers with the “M” in the ninth digit spot of the part number support this feature, i.e. QNx-xxxxxMxx-xx.

Near Field Communication (NFC)

A passive NFC tag with the Bluetooth printer address will provide instant access to printer-specific information via an NFCenabled smartphone.

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QLn Series User Guide

QLn Series Overview

Figure 1: QLn320 Shown

13

1

			2
	3
	12		3
	4
	5
			6
14			7
11			8
	9
			10
1.	Platen Roller	15.	Belt Clip
2.	Black Bar Sensor	16.	Battery
3.	Media Support Disks	17.	USB/RS-232 Comm Ports
4.	Tear Bar	18.	MAC Address Label
5.	Label Presence Sensor	19.	Docking Contacts
6.	Peeler Lever	20.	DC Input
7.	Peeler Bail	21.	NFC (Print Touch Icon)

8.Latch Release Lever

9.Key Pad

10.Strap Post

11.Status Screen

12.Printhead

13.Media Cover

14.Gap Sensor

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QLn Series User Guide

17

15

16

18

19

Note: Scanning the QR code with a smartphone will provide printerspecific information at www.zebra.com/qln220-info and www.zebra.com/qln320-info.

Note: Tapping the Zebra Print TouchTM icon with a Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled smartphone will provide instant

access to printer-specific information. For more information about NFC and Zebra products, go to http://www.zebra.com/nfc.

Bluetooth pairing applications via NFC is also possible. Please see Zebra Multi-platform SDK for more information.

21	20
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QLn Series User Guide

Figure 2: QLn420 Shown

1

13

2

																								3
				4																		14
5																				12
	7
11
																									6
				9																							8
																										10
1.				Platen Roller								15.			Belt Clip
2.				Black Bar Sensor								16.			Battery
3.				Media Support Disks								17.			DC Input
4.				Tear Bar								18.			MAC Address Label
5.				Label Presence Sensor								19.			Docking Contacts
6.				Peeler Lever								20.				USB/RS-232 Comm Ports

7.Peeler Bail

8.Latch Release Lever

9.Key Pad

10.Strap Post

11.Status Screen

12.Printhead

13.Media Cover

14.Gap Sensor

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QLn Series User Guide

15

16

17

18

19

Note: Scanning the QR code with a smartphone will provide printerspecific information at www.zebra.com/qln420-info.

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QLn Series User Guide

Getting Ready to Print

Battery

Installing the Battery

Important • Batteries are shipped in sleep mode to preserve their maximum capacity while in storage prior to initial use. Plug in the AC adapter (see Pg. 19) or insert the battery into the Smart Charger 2 or Quad Charger (see Pg. 17) to wake it up before using for the first time.

1.Locate the battery compartment on the bottom of the printer.

2.Swivel the belt clip (if present) to access battery com- part-ment.

3.Insert the battery into the printer as shown in Figure 1. (It is not possible to insert the pack in an incorrect orientation.)

4.Rock the battery into the compartment 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.

Figure 3: Installing the Battery (QLn220 Shown)

Belt Clip

Battery

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QLn Series User Guide

Battery Safety

Caution • Avoid accidental short circuiting of any battery. Allowing battery terminals to contact conductive material will create a short circuit which could cause burns and other injuries or could start a fire.

Important • Always refer to the Important Safety Information data sheet shipped with each printer and the Technical Bulletin shipped with each battery pack. These documents detail procedures to ensure maximum reliability and safety while using this printer.

Important • Always dispose of used batteries properly. Refer to Appendix E for more battery recycling information.

Caution • Use of any charger not approved specifically by Zebra for use with its batteries could cause damage to the battery pack or the printer and will void the warranty.

Caution • Do not incinerate, disassemble, short circuit, or expose to temperatures higher than 65oC (149oF).

Charger Safety

Do not place any charger in locations where liquids or metallic objects may be dropped into the charging bays.

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QLn Series User Guide

Smart Charger-2 (SC2) Single Battery Charger (P1031365-063)

The Smart Charger-2 (SC2) is a charging system for use with the 2-cell and 4-cell lithium-ion smart batteries used in the QLn Series printers.

Charging Status Indicators

The SC2 uses a LED indicator to indicate the charge state in either Green, Yellow, or Amber as detailed below.

DC Power Input	Indicator	Battery Status
Present	Green	Battery not present
Present	Green	Fully charged
Present	Yellow	Charging
Present	Amber	Fault
Present	Off	Present and Battery
		Health = POOR

There will also be a battery charging graphic to indicate that this LED is the charging status indicator .

Battery Health Indicator

The SC2 features a tri-color (Yellow/Green/Amber) LED to indicate the health of the battery pack. An evaluation of the battery health begins upon insertion of the battery in the charger and results in the appropriate LED being illuminated as shown below. The LED will remain illuminated as long as input power is applied.

Battery	Indicator	Health Status
None or non-smart	Off
Smart battery present	Green	GOOD
Smart battery present	Yellow	CAPACITY DIMINISHED
Smart battery present	Flashing yellow	PAST USEFUL LIFE
Smart battery present	Amber	UNUSABLE-REPLACE
		(discard per Instructions in
		Appendix E

Note • For detailed information on the SC2, refer to the

Smart Charger 2 User Guide (p/n P1040985-001).

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QLn Series User Guide

Figure 2: Smart Charger-2 (SC2)

Smart Battery

Charge Status

LED Indicator

Health Status

LED Indicator

	Charge Status Icon		Health Status Icon
SC2 Dimensions
	Height		Width	Length
	65.1 mm (2.56 in.)	101.5 mm (4 in.)		120.9 mm (4.75 in.)

Model UCLI72-4 Quad Charger (AC18177-5)

The UCLI72-4 Quad Charger is designed to charge up to four (4) QLn Series battery packs simultaneously. Batteries must be removed from the printer to be charged in the Quad Charger.

1.Ensure that the charger has been installed properly per the Quad Charger instruction manual. Ensure that the power indicator on the front panel is on.

2.Plug a battery pack into any one of the four charging bays as shown in Figure 3, noting the orientation of the battery pack. Slide the battery pack into the charging bay until it stops and then rock the battery pack back until it snaps into place. The amber indicator directly under the battery being charged will turn on if the battery is properly inserted.

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QLn Series User Guide

The indicators under the battery will allow you to monitor the charging process per the table below:

	Amber	Green	Battery Status
	On	Off	Charging
	On	Flashing	80% charged (O.K.
			to use)
	Off	On	Completely Charged
	Flashing	Off	Fault-Replace
			Battery

Important • A fault condition is caused by a problem with the battery. The charger may indicate a fault because the battery is too hot or cold to charge reliably. Try to charge the battery again when it returns to the room’s ambient temperature. If the amber indicator starts flashing on the second attempt, the battery should be discarded. Always dispose of batteries in a proper manner as described in Appendix F.

Figure 3: Quad Charger

1. Slide Battery Pack	Power Supply
into Charger bay.

2. Rock Battery Pack into place.

Amber

Indicator

Green

Indicator

Charger Bay

Power Indicator

Quad Charger Cycle Times :

Battery Status	Standard Pack	Extended Pack
Battery 80% Charged	<2 Hrs.	<4 Hrs.
Battery Fully Charged	< 3 Hrs.	<5 Hrs.

Note • These times are for completely discharged batteries.

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QLn Series User Guide

Battery packs which are only partially discharged will take less time to reach their charged state. Batteries which have reached 80% of their charge capacity may be used, however, it is recommended that you allow the batteries to reach a full charge to maintain maximum battery life.

The UCLI72-4 Quad Charger has a safety feature which stops charging a battery after six hours regardless of its charge state. If not fully charged, it might be indicative of a battery that needs to be replaced.

Use care when installing the UCLI72-4 Quad Charger so that you do not block the ventilating slots on the top and bottom covers. Ensure that the charger is plugged into a power source which will not accidently be turned off if you will be charging batteries overnight.

AC Power Adapter (p/n P1031365-024)

Figure 4: Charging the Battery Pack with the AC Power Adapter

	AC Adapter
	AC Power Cord
	(varies with
	geographic
DC Input	location)

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QLn Series User Guide

•Open the protective cover on the printer to expose the DC input charger jack.

•Connect the appropriate AC power cord for your location to the adapter and then plug the power cord into an AC receptacle.

•Plug the barrel plug from the AC adapter into the charger jack on the printer.

•The printer will power up and begin charging. The printer can be left on or turned off at this point. Charging will continue in either state.

Note • Batteries are shipped in sleep mode to preserve their maximum capacity while in storage prior to initial use. Plug in the AC adapter (see Pg. 19) or insert the battery into the Smart Charger 2 or Quad Charger (see Pg. 17) to wake it up before using for the first time.

While it’s possible to charge the battery when using the printer, charge times will increase under this condition.

Ethernet and Charging Cradles

The cradle is an expansion base intended for use with the QLn Series printers. There is a four bay cradle (QLn-EC4) or a single bay option (QLn-EC) for use with the QLn220 and 320, as shown on pages 23 and 24. There is also a single bay Ethernet and charging option for the QLn420 (QLn420-EC) as shown on page 24.

The QLn-EC/EC4 cradles provide charging power to the docked printer as well as providing a standard 10/100Mb/S Ethernet port for communication to the printer. The QLn420EC also provides charging power to the docked printer, as well as a standard 10/100Mb/T Ethernet port for

communication to the printer. All cradles also supply battery charging power to the docked printer and acts as a supplemen-

tary power source for a functioning QLn printer.

All QLn Ethernet cradles feature two LED’s to indicate the status of the cradle: Solid green to indicate when power is provided to the input of the cradle; and blinking green to indi-

cate Ethernet activity.

The cradle allows the user to dock the printer easily and remove it with the push of a button. The printer shall remain

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QLn Series User Guide

operable while docked, i.e. display is viewable, charge LED status is viewable, and printer controls and data entry are available. The printer will still print while docked and the user shall be able to replace the media as well.

LED Status	Indication
Solid Green	Power On
Blinking Green	Ethernet Activity

Note • Remove the “Docking Cradle Access” label on the bottom of the QLn320 or QLn220 printers before docking the printer in the cradle.

DOCKING CRADLE ACCESS

Note • Clean the docking contacts with a Zebra cleaning pen to remove any residue left behind by the label.

The QLn420 does not use the above label over the docking contacts, but instead includes a plastic docking contacts cover secured by two screws. Remove the screws to remove the docking contacts cover from the printer and expose the docking contacts (as shown below).

Docking Contacts

Docking Contacts

Cover

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QLn Series User Guide

Figure 5: Ethernet Cradle (4-Bay for QLn220/320)

Docking Bay

Ethernet

Status Indicator

Release

Button

Power Status

Indicator

Height	Width	Length
66,7 mm (2.62 in.)	579,9 mm (22.83 in.)	150,57 mm (5.93 in.)

Note • The QLn220 and 320 extended battery capacity is not compatible with the QLn-EC and EC4 cradles.

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QLn Series User Guide

Figure 6: Ethernet Cradle Single Bay (QLn220/320)

Release Button

Release Button

Ethernet Status

Indicator

Cradle	Height	Width	Length
QLn-EC	66,7 mm	171,28 mm	150,57 mm
	(2.62 in.)	(6.74 in.)	(5.93 in.)
QLN420-EC	66,2 mm	137,7 mm	219,6 mm
	(2.60 in.)	(5.42 in.)	(8.64 in.)

Figure 7: Ethernet Cradle (QLn420)

Release Button

AC Adapter

Ethernet Status	Power Status
Indicator	Indicator
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	QLn Series User Guide

Printer Operation with Cradle

•All QLn Series printers will charge when placed in their supported cradles.

•Only QLn Series printers that have the Ethernet option installed

will connect to an Ethernet network. Check the PCC code on the back of the printer (see Appendix

D for location). Codes of the form QNx-xxxxx0xx-xx

do not support Ethernet, and codes of the form QNxxxxxxExxxx or QNx-xxxxxMxx-xx do support Ethernet

(where “x” means don’t care). You can also check the “Communications” sub-menu on the LCD (see Main Menu Screen on page 38). After selecting this sub-menu,

any communication options not installed will be so indicated.

•When power is applied to the cradle and the printer is docked, the printer charge LED indicates the charge status of the printer (see Figure 18).

•Docking the printer in the cradle will automatically turn

the printer on to ensure it is available to be managed remotely.

•When the printer detects input power from the cradle, and the presence of a live Ethernet link, it will automatically reboot and connect to the Ethernet network.

•For printers with an 802.11 radio, this interface will be turned off when the Ethernet link is active. It will turn back on if the Ethernet link is no longer active.

•For printers with a Bluetooth radio, this interface will remain active while the printer is in the cradle.

•The serial and USB ports will remain active while the printer is in the cradle.

•The DC input barrel jack connector (see Figure 7) cannot be used while the printer is in the cradle. The DC barrel jack should be plugged directly into the cradle instead.

Note • The printer provide over voltage protection such that no damage occurs when voltages from 0-36V are applied at the DC Power jack. Upon application of voltage greater than 36V, the DC line fuse will permanently open to reduce fire hazard. The battery is only charged when 12VDC is applied using the Zebra AC adapter.

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QLn Series User Guide

Loading the Media in the QLn Series Printers

You can operate QLn Series printers in one of two different modes: Tear-Off 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.

Loading Media Procedure

1. Open the printer (Refer to Figure 7).

•Press the Media Cover Button on the side of the printer as shown in “1” below. The Media Cover will open automatically.

•Rotate the Media Cover back completely as shown in “2”, exposing the media compartment and adjustable media supports.

Figure 8: Opening the Printer

Media Cover

Media

Compartment

Media Supports (opposite support not visible)

Latch Release

Lever

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QLn Series User Guide

2. Pull the media supports apart as shown in Figure below. Insert the roll of media (in the orientation shown) between the supports and let the supports secure the media in place. The supports will adjust themselves to the width of the media, and the media roll should be able to spin freely on the supports.

Figure 9: Loading Media

3. If you plan to use the printer in tear-off mode, close the media coveras shown below.

4

Pull Media out of

Printer

Close Media Cover

Note • Please refer to the Programming Guide (P1012728-xxx) for information on changing the setting to adjust the media feed length via a Set-Get-Do (SGD).

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QLn Series User Guide

Loading Media in Peel-off Mode (QLn220/320)

•If you plan to use the printer in the peel-off mode, peel a few labels off of the media and load the media as previously described.

•Push the peeler lever forward to release the peeler bail into the “up” position as shown at “3” and “4” in Figure 10.

•Close the media cover to lock the peeler bail in place. The media will feed between the peeler bail and platen.

Figure 10: Activating Peeler Bar (QLn320 Shown)

Peeler Bail (Pull up and flip down if using media in pell-off mode

4

Peeler Lever

Latch Release Lever

• Turn on the printer or press the Feed button on the front of the printer 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.

To disengage the peeler bail, first open the media cover as previously described. The peeler bail will automatically return to the

Up position.

Press straight down on the peeler bail to lock it in place in its original home position.

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QLn Series User Guide

Loading Media in Peel-off Mode (QLn420)

•If you plan to use the printer in the peel-off mode, peel a few labels off of the media and load the media as previously described.

•Close the media cover.

•Lift up on the peeler lever located on the side of the printer below the media cover button.

•Lock the peeler lever in the “up” position to fully engage the peeler bail.

Figure 11: Activating Peeler Bar (QLn420 Shown)

Peeler Bail

Media Cover

Button

Peeler Lever

• Turn on the printer or press the Feed button on the front of the printer 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.

Note • Peeler will not work with most synthetic label stock since that media is softer and tends to adhere to its liner. However, the QLn420 printer is fully capable of printing on synthetic labels.

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QLn Series User Guide