Zebra Technologies P720 User Manual

1

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Part Number: 980367-001Rev.C

© ZIH Corp.

Welcome to your new
ZEBRA P720

User’s Manual

Printer
Solutions

2

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

FOREWORD

This manual contains installation and operation information for the Zebra P720 Series card printers manufactured
by Zebra Technologies Corporation.

RETURN MATERIALS AUTHORIZATION

Before returning any equipment to Zebra Technologies Corporation for in-warranty or out-of-warranty 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 T echnologies Corporation

Card Imaging Division

1001 Flynn Road

Camarillo, CA. 93021-8706.USA

Phone: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

For Europe, Asia and Pacific:

Zebra Technologies Inc. France

Card Imaging Division

Zone Industrielle, Rue d’Amsterdam

44370 Varades, France

Phone: + 33 (0) 240 097 070

FAX: + 33 (0) 240 834 745

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This document contains information proprietary to Zebra Technologies Corporation. This document and the
information contained within are Copyrighted by Zebra Technologies Corporation and may not be duplicated in full
or in part by any person without written approval from Zebra. While every effort has been made to keep the
information contained within current and accurate as of the date of publication, no guarantee is given that the
document is error-free or that it is accurate with regard to any specification. Zebra reserves the right to make
changes, for the purpose of product improvement, at any time.

TRADEMARKS

P720 is a service mark and Zebra is a registered trademark of Zebra T echnologies Corporation. Windows and MS.DOS
are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are marks of their res­pective holders.

Printer
Solutions

3

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Printers:

All Zebra Card Printers are warranted against defects in material or workmanship for twelve (12) months from the
purchase date.
Proof of purchase or shipment date is required to validate the warranty period. The warranty becomes void if the
equipment is modified, improperly installed or used, damaged by accident or neglect, or if any parts are
improperly installed or replaced by the user.
Note: Products returned must be packaged in the original or comparable packing and shipping container. In the
event equipment is not so packaged, or if shipping damage is evident, it will not be accepted for service under
warranty. Surface transportation charges for return to customer s in the continental United States is paid by Zebra.
Otherwise, Zebra pays CPT (carriage paid to) nearest airport, customer pays customers, duties, taxes, and freight
from airport to destination. If Zebra determines that the product returned for warranty service or replacement is not
defective as herein defined, the customer will pay all handling and transportation costs.

Printheads:

Since printhead wear is part of normal operation, the original printhead is covered by a twelve (12) month
warranty. Warranty period begins on purchase date.
To qualify for this warranty, the printhead must be returned to the factory or to an authorized service center.
Customers are not required to purchase Zebra supplies (media and/or ribbons) for warranty qualification.
However, if it is determined that the use of other manufacturer supplies has caused any defect in the printhead for
which a warranty claim is made, the user is responsible for Zebra's labor and material charges required to repair the
defect. The warranty becomes void if the printhead is physically worn or damaged; also if it is determined that
failure to follow the preventive maintenance schedule listed in the User's Guide has causes defect in the thermal
printhead for which a warranty claim is made.

Spare Parts:

All parts, maintenance kits, options kits, and accessories are warranted to be free of defects in material and
workmanship for 90 days (except where otherwise denoted) from date of purchase. This warranty become void if
the item is modified, improperly installed or used, or damaged by accident or neglect.

Printer
Solutions

4

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

DECLARATIONS OF CONFORMITY

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 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 harmfull
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.

73/23/EEC modified

by 93/68/EEC

EMC Directive

EN 500082-1,1992

Immunity to

Electromagnetic

Disturbances

European Council Directive

Compliance to Standards

89/336/EEC

modified by

92/31/EEC and

93/68/EEC

Emissions control

Low voltage

Directive

EMC Directive

EN 60950

EN 55022-B

Product safety

Model: P720 conforms to the following specification:
FCC Part 15, Subpart A, Section 15.107(a) and Section 15.109(a)
Class A digital device

Printer
Solutions

5

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing the Zebra P720 Plastic Card Printer.
Zebra’s P series card printer s offer a low cost, high quality solution to those requiring computer-controlled printing

and encoding of credit card style plastic cards, Card applications include personalized high security identification,
access control, visitor, membership, badges and tags.

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

P720 PRINTER MODELS

The Zebra Product Number tells a story:
Here is a quick review of the Zebra Card Printer Series numbering and lettering system to help you.
The P720 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:

Smart Card:

O = No
E = Yes

Magnetic Encoder:

O = No
M = Yes

Magnetic Encoder Options:

O = No
1 = Stripe down HICO
2 = Stripe Down LOCO

Memory:

O = Standard

Interface:

U = USB standard
P = Centronic Parallel, optional

}

Ship-away kit

P720 C - X X X X X - X X X

D = Drivers & Documentation CD

Power Cord:

I = 120 V + 220 V
U = UK

O= No Demo Software

Printer
Solutions

6

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

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.

Elevated temperature hazard, capable of producing a burn.

Keep Card Printer clean by minimizing cover open time.

Printer
Solutions

7

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

1

2

3
4

5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9

1•1 Unpacking your P720 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9
1•2 Indicators and control • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11

1•3 Printer Installation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 12

OPERATION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 13

2•1 Printer Features • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 13
2•2 Loading Printing Ribbons • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 14

2•3 Loading Laminate ribbon • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16
2•4 Loading cards • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18

A- Card Feeder • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19
B- Card Thickness Control Lever • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19

C-Card Output Hopper • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19

2•5 Reject Card Box • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 20
2•6 Feeding one card at a time • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 22
2•7 Printing a test card • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 23
2•8 Printer menu information • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 24
2•9 Under stand the Printing Process • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 28
2•10 Under stand the Lamination Process • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29

PRINTING A SAMPLE CARD • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 30

3•1 Install Using Install Wizard • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 31
3•2 Set Printer Driver Option • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 32

3•3 printing a Sample Card • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 33

CLEANING (Printer & Laminator cleaning cycle) • • • • • • • • 34

4•1 Cleaning the Printhead • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 35
4•2 Cleaning Magnetic Encoder (optional item) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 36

4•3 Cleaning Laminator • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 37
4•4 Cleaning complete P720 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 39
4•5 Card Cleaning Cartridge • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 40

TROUBLESHOOTING • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 41

5•1 Interpreting LCD Display messages • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 41

A-About the Printing Station • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 41

B-About the Laminator Station • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 44

5•2 Print Quality Issues • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 45

Printer
Solutions

8

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

6

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 48

APPENDIX A • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 52

Introduction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 52

A- Media Loading orientation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 53

B- Magnetic Encoder Cleaning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 54

APPENDIX B • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 55

Introduction • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 55

A- Media Loading orientation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 56

B- Smart Card Contact Station Interface • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 57

APPENDIX C • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 57

Ribbons • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 58

Cards & Patches • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 59

Accessories • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 60

WORLD WIDE SALES & SUPPORT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 61

Printer
Solutions

9

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

1

GETTING STARTED

1 • 1 Unpacking your card printer

Your P720 printer ships in a carton and protective anti-static bag. Keep all packaging 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.

Printer
Solutions

10

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

In addition to user documentation on CD, make sure the following items are included with your P710 printer:

CLEANING KIT

POWER CABLE

PRINTER DRIVER CD

& Documentations

CARD HOPPER

CLEANING CARTRIDGE

CENTRONICS CABLE

UPPER laminate cassette for Mag patch

If any items are missing, please contact your dealer.
To reorder, please refer to Appendix C of this manual.

LOWER laminate cassette for Smart patch

Printer
Solutions

11

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

1 • 2 Indicators and Control

Your P720 printer has an LCD Display, two LED’s and two Panel Buttons.

The 16 character LCD Display is used for :

• Showing the printer’s current status

• Providing operator and service messages
(chapter 5)

The two LEDs are used for:

• Green: Power LED

• Amber: Alert LED (with Beeper)

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 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.

Printer
Status

Laminator

Status

P720

LCD Display

Menu Button “Next”

Clear Button “Select”

Power LED

Alert LED

LCD

Display :

LEDs:

Panel

Buttons:

Printer
Solutions

12

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

1 • 3 Printer Installation

The following will guide you through the installation of your P720 printer.

CAUTION: Limit AC power supplied to the P720 Printer to 110 - 230 V AC, 60 - 50

Hz for an associated 1,7A - 0,75A. 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.

There should be a minimum of 2”(5cm) from the back of the printer to a wall.

The printer should never be operated while resting on its side or upside down.

2 • Place the printer’s power switch in the OFF (O) position.

3 • Insert the power cable to the printer power socket and attach to grounded electrical sock et 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.

Printer
Solutions

13

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2

2 • 1 Printer Features

The following shows the features found on your P720 Printer:

Standard Features:

1 • Card Cleaning Cartridge
2 • Card Thickness Control Lever
3 • LCD Display and two panel Buttons
4 • Card Feeder
5 • Rejected Card Box
6 • Print Head
7 • Upper Laminate Cassette
8 • Laminator Station
9 • Lower Laminate Cassette
10 • Printing Ribbon

Optional Features:

A • Smart Card Contact Station
B • Magnetic Encoder Station

OPERATION

Printer
Solutions

14

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 2 Loading Printing Ribbons

The P720 Printer requires approved ribbons (see Appendix C). The Resin Thermal Transfer and Dye Sublimation
ribbons and Lamination are specifically designed for your P720 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 Printer 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.

3 • Load ribbon onto the supply spindle “1”(under print head carriage) and empty core ( with tape attached) onto

the take-up spindle “2”.

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.

Printer
Solutions

15

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Please note that the ribbon automatically synchronizes 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.

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

Printer will not print if cover is open.

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

2

1

Printer
Solutions

16

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 3 Loading Laminate Ribbons

The P720 Printer requires approved liner-less patches (see Appendix C).
Clear patches, hologram patches are specifically designed for your P720 Printer.
For optimum performance and printer life (Laminator), always use approved ribbons.

Your printer is equipped with two Laminate cassettes located at the upper and lower of the lamination station. To
load the laminates into the cassette and place the cassette into the printer, plese consider the following instructions.

1 • Remove patch from packaging.

2 •With printer power ON and printer Ready status, open both cover doors.

3 • Get the Upper cassette out of the printer by pulling the handle towards yourself .

4 • Open the cassette by pulling up the blue lock, place new laminate ribbon into

the adapted location , pull the equivalent lengh of one patch and stretch it out on
the tray.

5 • Close the cassette and make sure an audible “click” confirm the lock position.

6 • Insert the Upper cassette gently back into the lamination station holding the

handle. Contol that the pin situated on the right of the cassette fits into the
according slot in the printer.

To load patch in the lower cassette proceed the exact same manner.

Printer
Solutions

17

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Upper Patch

Lower Patch

Each time you remove either the upper or lower cassette, make sure you
also remove the patch currently loaded into the upper or lower

laminator.

Printer
Solutions

18

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 4 Loading Cards

To help you load, print, and collect cards, the P720 has the following items:

A - CARD FEEDER

This items is used for loading cards.

1 • Open Card Feeder Cover by put ting 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.

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.

Printer
Solutions

19

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Card thickness:

A - 50mil (1.27mm)
B - 40mil (1.016mm)
C - 30mil (0.762mm)

B - CARD THICKNESS CONTROL LEVER

This items is operated by the user to prevent more than one card feeding into the printer at the same time and
causing a jam.

Open cover, and adjust lever to the correct position for the card thickness you are
using. Repeat for different card thickness. (Factory setting is for 30 mil (0,762 mm)
card thickness). See diagram below:

Note: When laminating cards, always use 30 mil PVC Composite Cards.

C - CARD OUTPUT HOPPER

This items is used for printing cards.

Install card Output hopper onto printer by hooking over bottom edge of card
exit aperture.

Printer
Solutions

20

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 5 Rejected Card Box

The P720 Printer is equipped with a Rejected card Box. When an encoding can not be completed, the card is ejected
into the Rejected Card Box. The P720 Printer counts the number of cards which go into the Reject Card Box. After 10
cards the printer stops, the Amber LED Flashes and a LCD Message is displayed indicating the need to empty the
reject box.

WHEN TO MAINTAIN

When the LCD screen reports message

HOW TO MAINT AIN

1 • Press the top of the Rejected Card Box Door as shown. Allow the door to swing

down and open.

2 • Remove all cards from the Rejected Card Box.

REJECT BOX FULL

Printer
Solutions

21

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

3 • Swing the Rejected Card Box Door and press the top. An audible “clic k” signals the

locked position.

4 • Press the Clear Button on the front panel to re-start the current printer job and to

clear the rejected cards counter.

Printer
Solutions

22

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 6 Feeding one card at a time

A Manual Feed Slot is avalable on the side of the Card Feeder cover for feeding single cards. Cleaning Cards are fed
manually through this slot.
The F

eeder must be empty for manual card feeding to work properly.

For one-at-a-time printing, feed cards through slot on side of Feeder.

Do not feed more than one card at a time.

Printer
Solutions

23

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 7 Printing a Test Card

With printing ribbon, patch ribbon cassette and cards loaded, your P720 printer is ready to print. To check the
operation of the printer and the laminator you should print a test card.

1 •When the printer displays READY, press the “Next” button (left) on your Control

Panel to “SELF TEST CARD MENU” , then the “Select”button (right).

2 • Press “Next” to the SELF TEST CARD Print parameters, and then “Select”.

3 • A test card will print after a few seconds. LCD display will show printing status.

Test Card is printed on both sides of the card.

This is an example of the test card.

7

2.46b

1800

X010 - Y018

90

P720 LAM V0.15

Serial number: L720-00000000
Laminating counter: 00000000
Timing Lamination: 10.0s

Cassette

Upper Lower

Lamination
Ribbon
Temperature
X Offset
Y Offset

ON

ON

50

50

10 10

180 C 180 C

XXXXXX- 001

XXXXXX- 002

Cooling: 00.0s

Front Side: Printer Operation

Back Side: Laminator Operation

Printer
Solutions

24

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 8 Printer Menu Information

The printer is equipped with an LCD Display and two key buttons which gives access to printer menus.
When the printer status shows READY, press the Menu button to enter the Menu Mode

Menu Button “NEXT”(left)

Clear Button “SELECT”(right)

When you are in Menu Mode the top line display shows menu information and the second
line of display clarifies the function of the two “NEXT” and “SELECT” key but tons relative
to the current menu item.
The printer will return to READY Mode if either of the two key Buttons is not
pressed within ten seconds of entering Menu mode.
In the printer Module menu and Laminator Menu, press “Select” to hold the
parameters or information on the display.

P720 LCD Menu Tree: Next pages

Printer
Solutions

25

Card

Dual-sided Lamination

READY

Printer info

Printer Model number

Printer Firmware Version

Number of Impressions

Reject Box status

To show the number of

cards remaining in the

reject box

N

S

N: NEXT
S: SELECT

Menu Printer

N

Printer Defaults

Ribbon T ype

To show the type of ribbon

installed.
It may not match the ribbon
physically installed until the

installed ribbon has been

selected through the driver.

S

Offset X: aa-Y:bb

To show the X print

location offset value in pixels (aa)

To show the Y print

location offset value in pixels (bb)

Mag. Option: cccc

To show the setting of the

magnetic encoder as (cccc),

which can be:

-HICO (high coercivity)

-LOCO (low coercivity)

-NONE (no encoder present)

Color Parameters

To show the intensity values

of yellow (Y), Magenta (M)

and Cyan (C) panels and

contrast value of black Resin

(K) panel.

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

Printer Eject Card

S

N

Eject Card Processing

S

N

Menu Lamination

Printer
Solutions

26

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Menu Lamination

Laminator Info

Model Number

P720 Laminator

Firmware: V1.00

Selt T est Card Menu

N

N

S

N

S

Counter

Laminator Parameters

UP: 80015-401

DOWN: 80015-402

S

UP: X=1 0 Y=10

DOWN: X=10 Y=10

N

UP: 185°C

DOWN: 185°C

N

LAMINATION: 10.0s

COOLING: 0.0s

N

N

N

Printer
Solutions

27

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Cleaning Menu

S

*If the printer is equipped with a Magnetic Stripe Encoder

Selt T est Card Menu

S

Selt T est Card

Test Pattern

Test Pattern

Processing

S

N

Selt T est Card

Print Parameters

Print Parameters

Processing

S

N

Selt T est Card

Mag Parameters

Mag Parameters

Processing

S

N

Selt T est Card

Laminator Card

Laminator Card

Processing

S

N

Cleaning

P720

P720 Cleaning

S

N

Cleaning

Printer

Printer

Cleaning

S

N

Cleaning

Magnetic Head

Magnetic Head

Cleaning

S

N

Cleaning

Laminator

Laminator

Cleaning

S

N

READY

N

N

Printer
Solutions

28

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 9 Understand the printing process

The process of encoding, printing and applying overlaminates on both sides of the card in dual sided P720 series is
made of the following steps, once the printer is powered, the driver is correctly set up, all eventual errors are
recovered, all media are installed, and a printing command has been sent to the printer:

When installing cards in the feeder, the magnetic stripe of the card must be down, and the smart chip must be up.
The cards are drawn from the feeder to the flip over by a roller at the bottom of the feeder. The automatical weight
on the top of the card stack allows a good contact between this roller and the card. When exiting the feeder, an
adjustable gauge hampers any multi card feeding.

In the flip over module, one roller is driving the card, and optical sensors control its position. If needed, the card is
flipped by the rotation of the cage. Some sensors detect the final angular position of the cage.
Then the card is drawn into the printer station. Five rollers drive the card through the printer station.
All rollers are positioned such that the card is always in contact with at least two of the rollers during the printing
and shuttling processes.

Two optical sensors locate the card during printing and encoding processes.

The first process in the printing station is the card cleaning: the first driving roller in the printer station is creating a
contact between the card and a tacky cleaning roller. This cleaning roller is part of a removable cleaning cartridge,
and removes dust and debris from the top surface of the card.

The second process in the printing station is the electrical encoding when the smart card contact option is installed.
Smart card programming is handled by the customer supplied programming module.

The third step in the printing station can be the encoding of the magnetic stripe (Warning: no reverse encoding
option is available on P720) or the driving back to the flip over (when the electrical encoding failed, so that the card
is rejected).

The fourth step in the printing station can be the driving back to the flip over (when the first side to be printed is not
the encoded card side, or when the encoding failed), or the printing of the top side of the card by the thermal print
head. Printing a color image requires three printing passes minimum. A ribbon is driven and detected by the
module in order that it is well positioned between the print head and the card. The colors are yellow, magenta, and
cyan (YMC). A resin blac k panel is available in the 4 and 5 panel ribbon to print bar-code and text with higher contrast.

Warning : this overlay is not compatible with the adhesive of the laminates. Some monochrome ribbons are
available, which require one pass only.

Warning: holographic overlays are not compatible with the adhesive of the laminates.

The fifth step in the printing station is the driving of the card back to the flip over in order to process to the cleaning
and the printing of the second card side.

Printer
Solutions

29

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

2 • 10 Understand the Lamination process

Five roller systems drive the card through the laminator station. The rollers are positioned so that the card is always
in contact with at least two rollers during the laminating and cooling processes. Two optical sensors locate the card
during laminating and cooling processes.

The first process in the laminating station is the synchronization of the card. The first roller and the fir st optical
sensor synchronize the position of the front edge of the card.

The second step of the process is the separation and the synchronization of the patc hes. Two rollers drive the patches
in each cassette and separate them. Then the patches are driven and synchronized in X and then in Y by two stacking
rollers thanks to four optical sensors which detect the edge of the patches.

The third step of the process is the application of the patches on the top and the bottom of the card by the stacking
rollers.

The fourth step in the process is the simultaneous heating of the card & patches assembly by the two hot rollers at
the same time. These rollers are independently temperature controlled.

The fifth step of the process is the cooling. The card enter s the fourth roller, and the cooling cycle starts.
Then the card is exited by the laminator station and drops into the output hopper

Do Not Touch the Sensors.

Printer
Solutions

30

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

3

PRINTING A SAMPLE CARD

Printing with the P720 Printer requires the Windows Printer Driver, your card design/issuing software or printer
command level programming through the printer interface.

The P720 Card Printer can be used with any Windows 95/98, 200 0, ME or Windows NT 4.0 software application
program, using the drivers provided with the printer.

This section contains information on the printing and lamination of a dual-sided card in color (using the 5-Panel color
ribbon YMCKK) and the Windows Printer Driver.

Printer
Solutions

31

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

3 • 1 To install the P720 Printer Driver Automatically on all

Operating Systems, Use the Zebra Install Wizard

To ensure the accuracy of driver installation, it is recommended that you use the Zebra Install Wizard that is

provided with your documentation CD.

The Wizard will:
a • Check to see which operating system you are using
b • Delete previous version of the driver and clean up any necessary Registry entries
c • Install the new driver files and Registry entries to their correct location

from the main menu of your documentation CD, select your disired language and then select “DRIVERS” from the
subsequent menu. The Install Wizard will walk you through the appropriate steps.

On NT systems, ensure that you have administrative privileges to
perform this installation or contact your IT department.

For USB driver applications be sure to follow steps in install wizard.
Do not connect your USB cable to the printer until
prompted during driver installation.

Printer
Solutions

32

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

3 • 2 Set Printer Driver Options:

The P720 Printer screen appears. Change the options as follows:

- On the P720 tab configure the magnetic encoder feature. If your Printer is equipped with a Magnetic Encoder
option, select Magnetic Encoder option.

- On the Card Design tab select “Advanced Options” for card orientation:
Landscape or portrait - Select “Landscape”.

- On the printer tab, select the Ribbon Type. Select YMCKK for the standard 5-panel ribbon.

- In the card design tab, select YMC+K at the front and K at the back.

- Close the Zebra P720 Printer Properties screen.

Now that you have loaded media and set up the printer driver, the P720 Printer is ready to print.

Printer
Solutions

33

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

3 • 3 Printing a sample card:

Follow the steps to print your first card

- Go to the Microsoft Word Software.

- If the printer was not selected as the default printer, go to the file menu and Select Printer and choose Zebra
P720 Card Printer in the printer names list. Then Close the print dialog box.

- Come back to file menu and choose Page Setup.

- Select Paper Size tab and in Paper Size choose Card. Then select the orientation: “landscape”.

- Go to Margins tab, Set the Top, Bottom, left and right margins to O (zero) values.

- Press OK to close Page Setup window.

- The card appears on the screen.

- Design a card with 2 sides as follow:

- Once you are ready to print, go to File and point Print

- The printer will feed in a card and start printing (the data download time will vary depending on the
complexity of the card design and the processing speed of the computer).

- Once the printing job is achieved the card is ejected from the printer.

Front Side:

Back Side:

Printer
Solutions

34

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

4

CLEANING

PROTECT Y OUR FACTOR Y WARRANTY!

The recommended maintenance procedures must be performed to maintain your
factory warranty . Other than the recommanded cleaning procedures described in this
manual, allow only Zebra authorised technicians to service the P720 Printer.

NEVER loosen, tighten, adjust, or bend, etc. a part or cable inside the printer.
NEVER use a high pressure air compressor to remove particles in the printer.

Printer
Solutions

35

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

PRINTER AND LAMINATOR CLEANING CYCLES

Routine printer and laminator cleaning is recommended to maintain high print quality, ensure proper magnetic
encoding, and maintain reliability of laminator. The printer is equipped to automatically notify user to when to clean
printer or user can manually select to clean printer (more frequent cleaning is preferred when printer is used in a
environment exposed to high amounts of dust and debris).

Automatic Cleaning:
The printer will automatically notify you when the cleaning counter reaches the manufacturer’s
selected limit (panels printed counter over 4000, 1,0 0 0 cards using YMCK), the READY message will be replaced by
a cleaning message to prompt you to clean printer.

Manually Selected Cleaning:
You can also manually select to clean printer by pressing the Left Panel button until LCD screen shows “Cleaning
Menu.” Press the Right Panel button to select option. Press button again to begin cleaning process.
Cleaning cycles can also be done through the Escape command.

Four types of cleaning cycles are available to clean your P720.

4•1 Cleaning the Printhead
4•2 Clean the Magnetic Encoder Only (optional item)
4•3 Clean the Laminator Only
4•4 Clean Complete P720 (all steps)
4•5 Card Cleaning Cratridge

NOTE: In the event of a patch or card jam in the laminator hot roller area, the lamination rollers stop and the lami-

nator temperature is automatically shut off. An error message will appear on the LCD. You will have to remove the
upper cassette, remove the top roller brac ket, then remove the melted card or bad patch. It is better to remove these
types of errors when the laminator rollers are still warm. Be careful when touching hot surface of laminator . R emove
any debris that still remains.

4 • 1 Cleaning Printhead only

Your P720 Printer includes a simple cleaning system using the Pre-Satured Cleaning Cards provided. The regular use
of these cards will clean and maintain important parts of your printer that cannot be reached: including the Print
Head, the Lamination station and Transport Rollers.

WHEN TO CLEAN
When the LCD screen reports messages: ”Cleaning Printer”.

HOW TO CLEAN

• Leave power on.

Open Cover and release Print Head Bracket to remove ribbon.
Close Print Head Bracket
Close Cover. Remove cards from Card Feeder.

• Insert one Pre-Saturated Cleaning Card (provided) through slot on the side of the Card feeder Cover.

• Press the right panel button for a few seconds. The card will feed into printer and carry out the cleaning process.

repeat the process with a new Cleaning card if necessary.

Printer
Solutions

36

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

A cleaning using the cleaning system with cards usually suffices. However, a separate Print head cleaning using
swabs can remove more stubborn deposits when print anomalies persist. To avoid deposits, only use foam-tipped
swabs.

1 • Switch power Off, open cover, raise Print Head and remove the Ribbon.

2 • Clean Print Head by moving alcohol-moistened swab tip side-to-side across Print

Head elements. Only use moderate force.
Make sure the elements are dry before switching on.
(To reorder swabs see Appendix C).

Never use a sharp object to scrape deposits from the print head. Permanent dama­ge will result.

4 • 2 Cleaning Magnetic Encoder only

WHEN TO CLEAN

When the LCD screen reports messages : “Cleaning Magnetic Endoder”

HOW TO CLEAN

• Leave power on.

Open Cover and release Print Head Bracket to remove ribbon.
Close Print Head Bracket
Close Cover. Remove cards from Card Feeder.

• Insert one abrasive Pre-Saturated Cleaning Card (provided) through slot on the side of the Card feeder Cover.

• Press the right panel button for a few seconds. The card will feed into printer and carry out the cleaning process.

repeat the process with a new Cleaning card if necessary.

Printer
Solutions

37

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

4 • 3 Clean the laminator only

Warning: This cleaning cycle must be performed prior to daily operation or when laminator has been in “stand-by”
mode due to high temperature within the laminator hot rollers.

Remove upper and lower laminate cassette.

Remove upper and lower laminate patches already
engaged.

Insert one Pre-Saturated Cleaning Card through slot on the side of the Card feeder Cover.
In the Cleaning Menu select “ Cleaning Laminator”. The card will feed into printer and carry out the
laminator cleaning process. repeat the process with a new Cleaning card if necessary.

Note: In the event of a patch or card jam in the laminator hot roller area, the lamination rollers stop and the

laminator temperature is automatically shut off. An error message will appear on the LCD.
You will have to remove the upper cassette, remove the top roller brac ket, then remove the melted card or bad patch.
It is better to remove these types of errors when the laminator rollers are still warm. Be careful when touching hot
surface of laminator. Remove any debris that still remains.

Upper Patch

Lower Patch

Printer
Solutions

38

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

A cleaning using the Cleaning System with cards usually suffices, moreover your printer is equipped with two
cleaning rollers situated before the card enter the Laminator.

The upper roller has a coating that collects any loose particles on the surface of cards. However, a separate
Laminator Station cleaning can remove more stubborn deposits.

To avoid deposits, only use foam-tipped swabs.
Never touch the rollers with fingers.
It is recommended to perform this cleaning function prior to daily operation or
when laminator has been in “stand-by” mode due to high temperatures.

WHEN TO MAINTAIN

Cleaning frequency varies with different environments. Clean when lamination
anomalies persist.

HOW TO MAINTAIN

1 • S

witch OFF your printer and open cover.

2 • Unplug the two connectors “1”.

3 • Turn knob ”2” in the appropriate direction until you release the Top laminator

bracket.

4 • Pull the Top laminator bracket and access the laminator roller s for cleaning

withfoam-tipped swabs.

5 • Make sure the roller s are dry before Pushing down the braquet and switching

on your printer.

Printer
Solutions

39

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

4 • 4 Clean the complete P720

WHEN TO CLEAN

When the LCD screen reports messages:”P720 Cleaning”

HOW TO CLEAN

1 • Leave power on.

Open Cover and release Print Head Bracket to remove ribbon.
Close Print Head Bracket.
Turn the two knobs on the laminator station in the appropriate direction.
Close Cover. Remove cards from Card Feeder.

2 • Insert one Pre-Saturated Cleaning Card (provided) through slot on the side of the

Card feeder Cover.

3 • Press the right panel button for a few seconds. The card will feed into printer and

carry out the cleaning process. repeat the process with a new Cleaning card if
necessary.

Note: For a printer cleaning prior to the WHEN TO CLEAN signal, press the Left Panel button until the LCD screen

shows “CLEANING MENU”.
(Repeat first steps 1 & 2 above).

Although the CLEAN PRINTER message is displayed until the cleaning process has
been performed, the printer will continue to operate.

Printer
Solutions

40

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

4 • 5 Card Cleaning Cartridge

Your P720 Printer also has a Card Cleaning Cartridge. This item cleans the cards entering the printer. To ensure print
quality, the cleaning roller requires periodic replacements.

WHEN TO MAINTAIN

When LCD screen reports message.
Run a printer cleaning first.
(see 4.1 Cleaning System for more instructions).

HOW TO MAINTAIN

1 • Open Cover and locate Cleaning Cartridge

2 • Gently remove Cleaning Cartridge by rotating up and away from printer.

CLEAN PRINTER

Printer
Solutions

41

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

3 • Remove Cleaning Roller from Cartridge and discard.

4 • Install new Cleaning Roller into Cartridge*. To avoid contamination, always hold

the Cleaning Roller assembly by the ends.

5 • Carefully peel off wrapper from new Cleaning Roller while in Cartridge.

6 • Replace Cartridge into printer. Make sure the arrow on top of the assembly is

facing towards the rear of the printer. Hook assembly into slot on printer and rotate
down. Ensure the assembly locks in place.

DO NOT touch the roller surface that contacts the cards.

7 • Close Cover

¨See Appendix C for replacement Cleaning Rollers.

Although the CLEANING PRINTER message is displayed until maintenance has been
performed, the printer will cotinue to operate.

Printer
Solutions

42

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

5

TROUBLESHOOTING

This section offers solutions to potential problems you may experience with your P720 printer. The table below lists
the screen messages that will be displayed on the printer’s LCD, both during normal operation and to alert operator
of any error conditions. Note that a beeper will sound in case of a mechanical error or consumable error: OUT OF
CARD, OUT OF RIBBON, ROTATION ERROR, HEAD OPEN, COVER OPEN, TEMPERATURE ERROR, MECHANICAL
ERROR, MAGNETIC ERROR, READING ERROR.
There is also some additional information dealing with quality issues concerning printing onto cards.

5 • 1 Interpreting LCD Display messages

A • About the Printing Station

SCREEN MESSAGE

INITIALIZING

READY

WAIT TEMPERA TURE

SELF TEST

DOWNLOADING DATA

PRINTING YELLOW

PRINTING MAGENTA

PRINTING CYAN

MEANING

The printer is performing
an internal test before use

Ready for use
Print Head cool down

mode
Self test card printing

The card data is being
transmitted

The yellow panel is being
printed
The magenta panel is
being printed
The cyan panel is being
printed

ACTION

Wait for the ready message

Wait for card printing to start

Printer
Solutions

43

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

SCREEN MESSAGE

PRINTING BLACK

PRINTING V ARNISH

CLEAN PRINTER

CLEAN MAG HEAD

CLEANING

REMOVE RIBBON

OUT OF RIBBON

MECHANICAL ERROR

OUT OF CARD

ROTATION ERROR

COVER OPEN

HEAD OPEN

COMMAND ERROR

PARAMETERS ERROR

ENCODING ERROR

MEANING

A monochrome panel is
being printed

The overlay is printing
The printer is prompting

operator maintenance

The printer is prompting
operator

The printer is performing an
internal cleaning routine

The ribbon has not been
removed while the cleaning
operation is in progress

The printer ribbon has run out

The printer has an error
moving the card internally

The card feeder is empty
The printer has an error

moving the card in the flip
The cover is open

The print head is not locked
into position

The data being sent from the
host is not recognised

The features of the card are not
recognised

Data cannot be written or read
from the card’ s magnetic stripe
Data cannot be read from the
card’ s magnetic stripe
The reject box is full
The printer cannot detect a
magnetic stripe on the card

Carry out the cleaning
procedure as detailed in
section 4 of this manual
Carry out the cleaning
procedure as detailed in
Appendix A of this manual

Remove ribbon

Replace printer ribbon
Remove the jamed card.

Ensure the card is not
out of specification

Add more cards or adjust
the card feeder to accept
the cards

Remove card
Close the cover

Lock the print head in its
lower position

Check that the data is sui­table for printing. Try
reprinting a card from
known “good” data

Check the windows driver
options and printer type
Check that the cards are
loaded with the magnetic
stripe in the correct orien­tation. Check whether high
or low coercivity cards
have been specified. Check
that the data conforms to
ISO specifications. See
Appendix A of this manual
for further information.

ACTION

Printer
Solutions

44

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

SCREEN MESSAGE

READING ERROR

REJECT BOX FULL

MAGNETIC ERROR

FLASH ERROR

NO ACCESS

MEANING

Data cannot be read from
the card’s magnetic stripe

The reject box is full
The printer cannot detect a

magnetic stripe on the card

ACTION

Check that the cards are
loaded with the magnetic
stripe in the correct orienta­tion. Check whether high or
low coercivity cards have
been specified. Check that
the data conforms to ISO
specifications.See
Appendix A of this manual
for further information.

Empty the reject card box and
press the right panel button

Check the card orientation

Contact your dealer for
technical support

Ribbon Errors: Check that the print ribbon has not “run out”. Lock and then unlock the print head assembly; this resyn-

chronises the ribbon automatically. When using a color ribbon, it should advance automatically so that the leading edge
of the yellow panel is beneath the print head. Ensure that the correct ribbon type has been specified in the Windows dri­ver.

Card Feed & Mechanical Errors: Ensure that the card thickness adjustment has been set-up correctly to allow one card

to feed.

Magnetic Encoding Errors:Check that the cards are inserted correctly in the printer. Ensure that the cards are low or high

coercivity as required, and are set-up correctly in the printer driver.

Cleaning Alert: The printer has counted the number of cards printed and has automatically flagged that a cleaning

routine needs to be carried out. (See Chapter 4).

Printer
Solutions

45

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

B • About the Laminator Station

MEANING

Laminator is ready
The upper patch is bad
The lower patch is bad
The upper laminate ribbon is wrong
The lower laminate ribbon is wrong
The upper patch has to be removed
The lower patch has to be removed
The upper laminate ribbon has to be removed
The lowerr laminate ribbon has to be removed
No upper laminate ribbon loaded in the upper cassette
No lower laminate ribbon loaded in the lower cassette
No patch recognized while feeding the upper cassette
No patch recognized while feeding the lower cassette
The patch is misfed under the sensor while feeding it

from the upper cassette
The patch is misfed under the sensor while feeding it

from the lower cassette
The card is in the hot roller areas
The card is in the cooling area
The laminator is warming up
The card is misfed in the entry sensor or is not seen by

the sensor after lamination or is misfed under the exit
sensor

No card has been recognized in feeding into the entry
mechanism

A temperature error has occured
The printer/laminator is in Stand by mode

ACTION

remove upper patch

READY

BAD UPR PATCH
BAD LWR PATCH

WRONG UPR PATCH
WRONG LWR PATCH
REMOVE UPR PATCH

REMOVE LWR PATCH
REMOVE UPR LAM

REMOVE LWR LAM
NO UPR LAMINATE
NO LWR LAMINATE

NO UPR PATCH
NO LWR PATCH

UPR PATCH JAM

LWR PATCH JAM

LAMINATING
COOLING

WARMING UP

CARD JAM

remove lower patch

Check the laminate ribbon
Check the laminate ribbon

Remove upper patch
Remove lower patch

Remove upper laminate ribbon
Remove upper laminate ribbon

Load upper laminate ribbon

Remove lower laminate ribbon

Reload laminate
Reload laminate

Refer to section “B” of your

clean/jam Label

Wait for correct lamination temp

SCREEN MESSAGE

You can send a command

Reload cards

ERROR NO CARD

TEMPERATURE ERR
ST AND BY MODE

Check where it comes from

Refer to section “B” of your

clean/jam Label

Printer
Solutions

46

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

5 • 2 Print Quality Issues

This section will help you resolve print quality problems. The print quality is dependent on several factors. The two
most important factors that will increase your print quality are cleanliness and card stock. To diagnose and fix print
quality problems,follow the troubleshooting procedure below:

• Small spots appear on the printed card with a non-printed area or a different color.

Possible Cause

A • Contamination on the card surface.

B • Dust inside the printer and/or dirty Cleaning Roller.

>> Solution
A1 • Check that cards are stored in a dust free environment

A2 • Use a different supply of cards.

B1 • Perform a Cleaning of the printer (see Cleaning section).
B2 • Replace Cleaning Roller (see Cleaning section)

• There are non-printing horizontal lines (white) on the card surfaces.

Possible Cause

A • Ribbon is not correctly positioned.

B • Print Head may be dirty.

C • Print Head elements may have been damaged

(e.g. scratched or burnt).

>> Solution
A1 • Open cover and press down the Print Head Unloc k Lever to open the P rint Head car riage. The Print Head

will move up.

A2 • Check that the ribbon is properly rolled onto the ribbon cores and there are no wrinkles in the ribbon.
A3 • Push down on the Lock Lever until an audible “click” signals the locked-down position.
A4 • Ribbon will automatically synchronize.
A5 • Print again.

B1 • Perform a Cleaning of the Print Head (see 4 • 2 Cleaning the Print Head).

C1 • Call service for Print Head replacement information.

Printer
Solutions

47

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

• Printing shows very pale or inconsistent results.

Possible Cause

A • Ribbon have been stored improperly or is damaged.
B • Cards may not meet specifications.
C • Contrast and/or Intensity may be set to values which are too high.
D • Dust or embedded contamination on elements of the Print Head.

>> Solution
A1 • Change ribbon and print again.
B1 • Use a different supply of cards.
C1 • Adjust Contrast and/or Intensity values in software.
D1 • Perform a Cleaning of the Print Head (see 4 • 2 Cleaning the Print Head

• Printing shows blurry printed image.

Possible Cause

A • Ribbon may not be correctly positioned.
B • Ribbon may not synchronized on the correct color panel position.
C • Cards may not meet specifications.
D • Dust inside the printer and/or dirty Cleaning Roller.

>> Solution
A1 • Open cover and press down the Print Head Unloc k Lever to open the P rint Head car riage. The Print Head

will move up.

A2 • Check that the ribbon is properly rolled onto the ribbon cores.
A3 • Push down on the Print Head Lock Lever until an audible “click” signals the locked-down position.
A4 • Ribbon will automatically synchronize.
A5 • Print again.

B1 • Open cover and press down the Print Head Unlock Lever to open the Print Head carriage. The Print Head

will move up.

B2 • Push down on the Print Head Lock Lever until an audible “click” signals the locked-down position.
B3 • Ribbon will automatically synchronize.
B4 •Print again.

C1 • Use a different supply of cards.
D1 • Perform a cleaning of the Print Head (See 4 • 2 Cleaning the Print Head).

D2 • Replace Cleaning Roller (See 4 • 3 Cleaning Cartridge).

Printer
Solutions

48

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

• No printing on the card.

Possible Cause

A • Ribbon may not be installed in the printer.
B • Cards may not meet specifications.
C • Cable on Print Head may be disconnected.
D • Print Head elements may be scratched or burnt.

>> Solution
A1 • Check for ribbon in the printer.
B1 • Use a different supply of cards.
C1 • Power off the printer and check the Print Head cable connections.
D1 • Call Service for Print Head replacement information.

For optimum print quality, always keep cover of the printer closed except during
ribbon loading and card thickness control procedures.

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

Printer
Solutions

49

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

6

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

General • High speed printing

•YMCK & 1.0 mil lamination on both sides of card, 120 cards per hour

25 seconds per card (5 panel printing on single side edge to edge)

• Small footprint

•Windows Drivers for 95/98/2000/ME and NT 4.0

• One year printer warranty

• One year print head warranty(unlimited passes)`

Color Printing • Color dye sublimation or monochrome thermal transfer printing

• 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm) print resolution

• Edge to edge printing standard

Bar Code • Code 39

• Code 128 B & C with & without check digit

• 2 of 5 & 2 of 5 industrial

• UPCA

• EAN8 &EAN13

• PDF 417 2D bar code and other symbologies available via customer selected software.

Fonts •True Type fonts available via Windows Driver

Cards •Types PVC, Composite

• Card width/length: ISO CR-80 - ISO 7810,

2.125” (54mm) by 3.375” (86mm)

• Option: Magnetic Stripe - ISO 7811

• Option: Smart Card - ISO 7816-2

• Card thickness: 30mil (0,76mm) to 50mil (1,27mm)

• Card Feeder capacity: up to 20 0 cards (30mil)

• Card Output Hopper capacity: 100 cards (30mil)

Printer
Solutions

50

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Ribbons • Monochrome: 1000+1500 cards/roll

• Monochrome colors: back, red, blue, green, silver, gold, white.

• K-resin + O: 500 cards/roll

• K-dye + O: 500 cards/roll

•YMC: 300 cards/roll

•YMCK: 250+400 cards/roll

•YMCK-K: 200 cards/roll

•YMCKO: 200+350 cards/roll

•YMCKOK: 170 cards/roll

Patches • 1.0 mil thick Linerless Laminate Patches 80 0 patches/roll

• Clear Patch

• Clear Patch for mag. stripe

• Clear Patch for smart card

• Signature panel Patches

• Hologram Patch

• Custom Holograms

Interfaces • Centronics Parallel Standard

• USB port

Mechanical •Width: 37,2” (947mm)

• Depth: 10,9” (258mm)

• Height: 12,4” (228mm)

•Weight: 61 Ibs (28 kg)

Electrical • 110 ~ 230 Volts AC, 60 ~ 50 Hz

• FCC Class A, CE, UL, and CUL approved

Environmental • Operating Temperature: 60 to 86°F (15 to 30°C)

• Operating Humidity: 20 to 65% non condensing

• Storage Temperature: -23 to 158°F (-5 to 70°C)

• Storage Humidity: 20 to 70% non condensing

•Ventilation: Free air

Dye sublimation printing requires dye sublimation ribbons,with either black or cyan, magenta, and yellow (plus black
resin) panels.

Options • Smart card Contact Station (0.76mm cards only)

• Magnetic Encoder (0.76mm cards only)

• Cleaning supplies

Printer
Solutions

51

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

CARD DIMENSIONS

ISO STANDARD DIMENSIONS FOR PLAIN CARD

ISO STANDARD DIMENSIONS FOR MAGNETIC STRIPE CARD

Printer
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52

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

CHIP POSITION FOR SMART CARD

Printer
Solutions

53

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

A

APPENDIX

Magnetic Card Stripe Encoder

This section contains information on the additional operations of the P720 Printers with Magnetic Card Stripe
Encoder.
(See Chapter 2 for location.)

INTRODUCTION

Operation and maintenance requirements for the P720 Printer with the optional magnetic card stripe encoder.
(See Chapter 2 for location.)
The magnetic encoder can be set for either high or low coercivity.

Printer
Solutions

54

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

A • MEDIA LOADING ORIENTATION

The magnetic encoder is a factory installed item with the read/write head positioned
below the card path, available with HICO encoding or LOCO encoding.

When loading cards into the Card Feeder, please ensure that the magnetic stripe is
facing down and closest to the rear.

Note:

M1 = Stripe Down HICO
M2 = Stripe Down LOCO

approved HICO & LOCO PVC cards are available. (See Appendix C).

ONLY USE cards that comply with ISO 7810 & 7811 standards for magnetic stripe
cards. The magnetic stripe must be flush to the surface of the card to work properly.
Never use cards which have taped-on magnetic stripes.

Printer
Solutions

55

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

B • MAGNETIC ENCODER CLEANING

There exists two different processes to clean the Magnetic stripe Encoder.
The first process consists of a standard cleaning of the printer. This cleans the most important parts of the printer;
including the print Head, Transport Roller and Magnetic Stripe Encoder (refer to chapter 4 “Cleaning” for more
instructions.)

The second process consist of a cleaning of the Magnetic Encoder using the Menu Button from the LCD Display.
To access the Magnetic Cleaning Menu proceed as below:

1 • Leave power on.
2 • Remove cards from the card feeder.
3 • Insert one presaturated card (provided) through slot on the side of the Card

Feeder.

4 • Press the Menu button until the LCD screen shows CLEANING MENU.
5 • Press the Select button to select.
6 • Press the Menu button again until the LCD screen shows CLEAN MAG HEAD.
7 • Run this operation by pressing the select button.

ISO STANDARD ENCODING

Track # Field Separator Track density Valid Characters # of characters

1^210BPI* Alphanumeric 79***

(ASCII 20 - 95**)

2=75BPI* Numeric 40***

(ASCII 48 - 62)

3=210BPI* Numeric 107***

(ASCII 48 - 62)
* Bit per inch
** Except the “?” character
*** Including Start, Stop and LRC characters. Also note that these 3 characters are

automatically managed by the magnetic encoder according to the ISO Standard norms.

NOTE:Refer to the Card Printer Programmer’s Manual for complete programming information.

Printer
Solutions

56

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

B

APPENDIX

Smart Card Contact Station

This section contains information on the additional operations of the P720 Printers with Smart Card Contact Stations.
(See Chapter 2 for location.)

INTRODUCTION

Your P720 may be equipped with an optional Smart Card contact station.
Smart Cards can store fingerprints, voice recognition patterns, medical records and other such data.
This printer model basically responds to commands that position the cards to the contact station, where the printer
connects the pins to the contacts connector on the Smart cards.
An external “encoder/reader” is necessary for programming Smart Cards (ISO 7816). All other printer operations
remain the same as the standard P720 model.

Printer
Solutions

57

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

DB - 9 SMART CARD DB - 9 SMART CARD

PINS CONTACT POINTS PINS CONTACT POINTS

1 CI (VCC) 6 C6 (Vpp)
2 C2 (Reset) 7 C7 (I/O)
3 C3 (Clock) 8 C8 (RFU)
4 C4 (RFU)
5 C5 (GND)

9 (GND when chip is at station)

A • MEDIA LOADING ORIENTATION

Position the cards with the Smart Card Chip at the top of the card and towards the printer.

B • SMART CARD CONTACT STATION INTERFACE

When a command to the parallel printer interface sends a card to the Smart Card
Contact Station, the printer connects the Smart Card Contact Station to the female
DB-9 connector on the rear of the printer.
An attached external Smart Card Programmer can be used to program Smart card
chips

Refer to the Card printer programmer’s Manual for complete programming information.
DO NOT position printing over the Smart Card Chip.

Printer
Solutions

58

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

C

APPENDIX

Accessories & Supplies

Please contact your Zebra authorized dealer to place an order for accessories and supplies.

Use only Zebra-approved card, ribbon and patches media. Using
non-approved card or ribbon media can void your warranty.

Refer to the Accessories section for more information about Card and
Ribbon Media available from Zebra Technologies Corp.

Printer
Solutions

59

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

Part Number Description Patch 1 mil

800015-101 to 109 Monochrome Ribbon no
800015-140 YMCKO no*
800015-145 YMCK yes
800015-148 YMCKOK no*
800015-150 Kdye-0 no*
800015-160 KO no*
800015-170 YMC yes
800015-180 YMCKK yes
800015-301 Monochrome Ribbon no
800015-340 YMCKO no*

RIBBONS :

NOTE:*These ribbons can possibly be used without using the “O”-Panel.

‡These ribbons can only be used with the full overlay Part Number 800015-125 and not with the 800015-131.

Always use 30 to 50 mil cards PVC composite whenever possible to ensure
compliance of the finished card to ISO flatness guidelines.

PRINTING STATION compatibility LAMINATOR STATION

Printer
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60

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

CARDS :

PATCHES FOR LAMINATION:

Part Number D escription Cards/roll

Linerless & Precut Clear Patch 1 mil

800015-712 clear patch 1 mil with coverage for Mag. Stripe Cards 800
800015-713 clear patch 1 mil with coverage for Smart Cards 800
800015-714 clear patch 1 mil full coverage 800

Linerless & Precut holographic Patch 1 mil

800015-715 holographic Patch 1 mil full coverage (World Globe image) 800
800015-716 holographic Patch 1 mil full coverage (Genuine Secure Text) 800
800015-717 Matte Patch 1 mil full coverage 800
800015-718 Matte Patch 1 mil full Mag Stripe coverage 800
800070-xxx Custom Holograms 800

Part Number Description Card/pack thickness
104524-102 premier plus grade composite LoCo 100 30mil

104524-103 premier plus grade composite HiCo 100 30mil

Printer
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61

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

ACCESSORIES

Accessories available for P720 printers appear below. Always refer to the part number when placing an order.

Printer supplies

Part Number Description
300320-001 Centronics Parallel cable (36 pins)

206851-001 Additional Card Output Hopper
105909-112 Replacement Print Head Kit

Cleaning Supplies

Part Number Description
105909-169 Premier Cleaning Kit (25 swabs, 50 cards)

105912-003 Adhesive Cleaning Roller Kit (set of 5)
105912-002 Cleaning Cartridge, complete
104531-001 Cleaning Card Kit (box of 100 cards)
105909-057 Cleaning Swab Kit (box of 25 swabs)

Miscellaneous

Part Number Description
105598-001 CD ROM (Drivers & Documentation)

806503-001 Card Punch (slots card for lapel clip)
104527-0 01 Lapel Clips (pack of 100 clips)

Printer
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62

Card

General information

Getting started

Operation

Cleaning

Specifications

Appendix A

Appendix B

Troubleshooting

Printing a card

Dual-sided Lamination

P720 Plastic Card Printer

Appendix C

World Wide Sales and Support:

Zebra T echnologies Corporation
Card Imaging Division

1001 Flynn Road
Camarillo, CA 93021-8706.USA
Phone: + 1(805) 579 1800
Fax.: + 1 [phone]
Toll Free in US: (80 0) 452-4056
e-mail: [e-mail]

Zebra T echnologies Corporation
Card Imaging Division, (Europe, Middle East, Africa)

The Valley Centre, Gordon Road, High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire HP13 6EQ, England
Phone: + 44 (0) 870 241 1527
Fax.: + 44 (0) 870 241 0765
e-mail: [e-mail]

Zebra T echnologies Corporation
Card Imaging Division, Latin America

6175 NW 153rd Street, Suite # 121
Miami Lakes, FL 33014 USA
Phone: + 1 [phone]
Fax: + 1 [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]

Zebra T echnologies Corporation
Card Imaging Division,Asia/Pacific

1 Sims Lane # 06-11
387355 Singapore
Phone: + 65 84 20 322
Fax.: + 65 84 20 514
e-mail: [e-mail]

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Zebra T echnologies Corporation

333 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061-3109 USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax.: + 1 (847) 93 8766
e-mail: [e-mail]

Web Site:

www.zebracard.com
Click Assist

Printer
Solutions