Zebra Technologies P420 User Manual

User's Manual

P420

Part Number No. 980292-001 Rev.A

 Zebra Technologies Corporation

FOREWORD

This manual contains installation and operation information for the Eltron P420 Series card printers
manufactured by Zebra Technologies Corporation.

RETURN MATERIALS AUTHORIZATION

Before returning any equipment to Zebra Technologies Corporation for in-warranty or out-of­warranty repair, contact Repair Administration for a Return Materials Authorization (RMA)
number. Repack the equipment in the original packing material and mark the RMA number
clearly on the outside. Ship the equipment, freight prepaid, to the address listed below:

For USA and Latin America:

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Camarillo, CA. 93021-8706.USA

For Europe, Asia, and Pacific:

Eltron International, Southern Europe

Zone Industrielle, Rue d'Amsterdam

1001 Flynn Road

Phone: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

44370 Varades, France

Phone: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This document contains information proprietary to
document and the information contained within are copyrighted by
poration

and may not be duplicated in full or in part by any person without written approval

from

Zebra
current and accurate as of the date of publication, no guarantee is given or implied that the
document is error-free or that it is accurate with regard to any specification.
right to make changes, for the purpose of product improvement, at any time.

. While every effort has been made to keep the information contained within

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Zebra Technologies Cor-

Zebra

reserves the

. This

TRADEMARKS

P420 is a service mark and Eltron is a registered trademark of Zebra Technologies Corpora­tion. Windows and MS.DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks
or registered trademarks are marks of their respective holders.

iii

WARRANTY INFORMATION

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!

To establish your warranty period and provide access to technical support, send us your
warranty registration card today!

Zebra warrants the mechanism, control electronics and power supply, under normal use and
service, to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of twelve (12)
months from the date of purchase by the end user. Zebra warrants the print head, under
normal use and service, to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of
twelve (12) months from the date of purchase by the end user. Proof of purchase or Product
registration is required. If proof of purchase or product registration cannot be established,
shipment date to the original buyer (dealer or distributor) will be used to establish the warranty
period.

Failure to exercise caution to protect the equipment from electrostatic discharge damage,
adverse temperature and humidity conditions or physical abuse, including, but not limited to,
improper packaging, shipping, service or repairs performed by personnel not authorized by
Zebra may void the warranty. Failure to use only Zebra approved media may void the warranty.
Zebra will, at its option, repair or replace the equipment or any parts which are determined to be
defective within this warranty period, and which are returned to Zebra.

The warranty set forth above is exclusive and no other warranty, whether written or oral, is
expressed or implied. Zebra specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability
and fitness for a particular purpose.

DECLARATIONS OF CONFORMITY

European Council Directive

89/336/EEC

modified by

92/31/EEC and

93/68/EEC

73/23/EEC modified

by 93/68/EEC

EMC Directive

EMC Directive

Model: P420 conforms to the following specification:
FCC Part 15, Subpart A, Section 15.107(a) and Section 15.109(a)
Class A digital device

Supplemental Information:

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference , and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmfull 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 harmfull
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause harmfull interference in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.

Compliance to Standards

EN 55022-B

EN 500082-1,

1992

EN 60950 Product SafetyLow voltage Directive

RF Emissions

Immunity to

Electromagnetic

Disturbances

control

INDUSTRY CANADA NOTICE

This device complies with Industry Canada ICS-003 class A requirements.
Cet équipement est conforme à l'ICS-003 classe A de la Norme Industrielle Canadienne.

iv

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing the Eltron P420 Plastic Card Printer.

These printers produce cards ideal for personalised identification, access
control, visitor, membership, promotion and luggage card, badges and tags.

This manual guides you to efficient start up and operation of your new Card
Printer.

P420 PRINTER MODELS

The

Eltron

Product Number tells a story:

Here is a quick review of the Eltron Card Printer Series numbering and
lettering system to help you.

The P420 Plastic Card Printer employs Dye Sublimation and Resin Thermal
Transfer technologies. Model numbers include identifiers that specify options
are shown using the following lettering conventions:

v

ICONS

Throughout this manual, different icons highlight important information, as follows:

Important general information

Mechanical hazard, such as one associated with
moving parts, capable of resulting in equipment

damage or personal injury.

Electrical hazard, such as an exposed voltage point,
capable of causing electrical shock and personal

injury.

An area where electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause
component damage. Use a grounding wrist band.

vi

Elevated temperature hazard, capable of producing a
burn.

Keep Card Printer clean by minimizing cover open
time.

Table of Contents

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

GETTING STARTED ........................................................... 1

1

1.1 Unpacking your card printer ............................................... 1

1.2 Indicators and controls ....................................................... 3

1.3 Printer installation .............................................................. 4

OPERATION ...................................................................... 5

2

2.1 Printer Features .................................................................. 5

2.2 Loading ribbons .................................................................. 6

2.3 Loading cards .....................................................................

A- Card Feeder ..................................................................... 8

B- Card Cleaning Cartridge ...................................................

C- Card Thickness Control Lever ..........................................

D- Card Output Hopper .......................................................

2.4 Reject Card Box .................................................................. 12

2.5 Feeding one card at a time .................................................. 14

2.6 Printing a test card ............................................................. 15

2.7 Printer menu information ................................................... 16

PRINTING A SAMPLE CARD ............................................ 19

3

A- Install Driver on windows 95/98 ...................................... 20

B- Install Driver on windows NT4

C- Set Printer Driver Options ................................................

D- Printing a Sample Card .................................................... 22

.0.......................................... 21

8
10

11
11

21

CLEANING ....................................................................... 23

4

4.1 Cleaning system.................................................................. 24

4.2 Cleaning the print head ...................................................... 25

4.3 Card Cleaning Cartridge ..................................................... 26

TROUBLESHOOTING ........................................................ 29

5

5.1 Interpreting LCD Display Messages ..................................... 29

5.2 Print Quality issues ............................................................. 32

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .......................................... 35

6

vii

APPENDIX A - MAGNETIC CARD STRIPE ENCODER ......... 39

Introduction .................................................................. 39

A- Media Loading Orientation ............................................... 40

B- Magnetic Encoder Cleaning .............................................. 41

APPENDIX B - SMART CARD CONTACT STATION .............. 42

Introduction .................................................................. 42

A- Media Loading Orientation ............................................... 43

B- Smart Card Contact Station Interface ............................... 43

APPENDIX C - ACCESSORIES & SUPPLIES ....................... 44

Ribbons ............................................................................... 44

Cards ................................................................................... 45

Accessories .......................................................................... 46

viii

GETTING STARTED

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

1.1 Unpacking your card printer

Your P420 printer ships in a carton and protective anti-static bag. Keep all
packing material in case you need to move or re-ship the printer.

While unpacking, inspect the carton to ensure that no damage occured during
shipping.

Please ensure that you have a clean and nearly dust free environment for
proper operation and storage of the printer.

1GETTING STARTED

In addition to user documentation, make sure the following items are included
with your P420 printer:

CLEANING KIT

POWER CABLE

PRINTER DRIVER DISK (floppy or/and CD)

CARD OUTPUT HOPPER

CLEANING CARTRIDGE

If any items are missing, please contact your dealer.

To reorder, please refer to Appendix C of this manual.

2

GETTING STARTED

1.2 Indicators and Controls

Your P420 printer has an LCD Display, two LED's and two Panel Buttons.

LCD Display

Power
LED

Clear Button
[Select]

Menu Button [Next]Alert LED

LCD Display :

The 16 character LCD Display is used for :

 Showing the printer's current status
 Providing operator and service messages (Chapter 5)

LED's :

The two LED's are used for :

 Green: Power LED
 Amber: Alert LED (with beeper)

This Alert LED is on when an error condition exists.
The Beeper will sound three alert "Beeps" and the LCD Display will show
the associated error message.

PANEL BUTTONS:

The Menu Button (left) is a push button used for:

 Bringing printer into Menu Mode when pressed with the printer showing

READY on the LCD Display.

 Using in Menu Mode to scroll through Menu Options.

The Clear Button (right) is a push button used for:

 Clearing an error status (when LCD Display shows an error report and

Alert LED is on).

 Invoking automatic retry of the operation which gave the error.
 Selecting a Menu Option when in Menu Mode.

NOTE: the buttons beep when pressed

GETTING STARTED

3

1.3 Printer Installation

The following will guide you through the installation of your P420 printer.

CAUTION : Limit AC power supplied to the P420
Printer to 110 - 230 V AC, 60 - 50 Hz for an
associated 680 mA - 310 mA. Limit excess current
draw to 16 amps or less, using an associated cir­cuit breaker or other such device. Never operate
the printer in a location where operator, computer,
or printer can get wet. Personal injury could result.
The printer must be connected to an earthed
electrical power supply and properly protected
against electrical surges and grounding faults.

1. Place the printer in a location that allows easy

access to all sides. The printer should never be
operated while resting on its side or upside down.

2. Place the printers power switch in the OFF

(0) position.

3. Insert the power cable to the printer power socket

and attach to grounded electrical socket of the
proper voltage and type.

4. Attach interface cable to printer and computer and

then secure.

5. Switch power on.

CAUTION: Intermittent or unpredictable operation
may occur from unsecured connectors. If damaged,
the power cable must be replaced by an exact
equivalent.
Use only Parallel Cable under 3 Meters in length.

4

GETTING STARTED

OPERATION

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

2.1 Printer Features

The following shows the features found on your P420 Printer:

1

2

3

A

4

B

STANDARD FEATURES

1. Print Head

2. Print Head Unlock lever

3. Manual Holder

4. Card Output Hopper

5. Card Cleaning Cartridge

6. Rejected Card Box

7. LCD Display & 2 Panel Buttons

8. Card Feeder + cover

9. Card Thickness Control Lever

PLEASE NOTE : Any blue items inside the printer can be operated by the user.

OPERATION

OPTIONAL FEATURES

A. Magnetic Encoder Station
B. Smart Card Contact Station

9

8

7

5

6

5

2.2 Loading Ribbons

The P420 Printer requires approved ribbons (See Appendix C).
The Resin Thermal Transfer and Dye Sublimation ribbons are
specifically designed for your P420 Printer. For optimum perfor­mance and printer life (Print Head), always use approved ribbons.

DO NOT TOUCH the print head or the
electronic components on the print head
carriage. Discharges of electrostatic charge
from the human body or other surfaces can
damage the print head or other electronic
components used in this device.

1. Remove ribbon from packaging.

2. With printer power ON and READY

status, open cover and press down on the
Print Head Unlock Lever to open the print
head carriage. The print head carriage
will pop open.

Continued on next page ......

6

OPERATION

SUPPLY SPINDLE

TAKE UP SPINDLE

`CLICK'

3. Load ribbon onto the supply spindle
(under print head carriage) and empty
core (with tape attached) onto the take­up spindle. Make sure the ribbon comes
off the top of the supply spindle and feeds
to the top of the take-up spindle.

4. Push down on the Print Head Lock Le­ver until an audible 'click' signals the
locked-down position.

5. Close Cover.

OPERATION

Please note that the ribbon automatically synchro­nises whenever the print head lock down occurs.

The card flipper will not operate and an error will
be indicated if you try to flip a card when the cover
is open.

7

2.3 Loading Cards

To help you load, print, and collect cards, the P420 has the following
items:

A - CARD FEEDER

This item is used for loading cards.

1. Open Card Feeder Cover by putting your
fingers on both sides and rotating the cover in a
clockwise direction to the open position.

2. Install cards into Feeder* as shown.

3. Close Card Feeder Cover.

8

OPERATION

DO NOT bend cards or touch print surfaces
as this can reduce print quality. The sur­face of the cards must remain clean and
dust free. Always store cards in an enclosed
container. Ideally, use cards as soon as pos­sible. If cards stick together, carefully shuffle
them.

* See Chapter 6, Technical Specifications, for card requirements
and capacities.

OPERATION

9