Learning How to Operate the Printer | IBM EasyCoder 3400e manual

Operating the Printer	2

Use this chapter to understand how to use the printer front panel, load roll media and media for self-strip printing, set the media sensitivity number, and communicate with the printer.

Learning How to Operate the Printer

To operate the printer, you need to understand:

Front panel Explains how light emitting diodes (LEDs) help you monitor the status of the printer and the various tasks the Feed/Pause button performs.

Loading media and ribbon Explains how to load roll media, thermal transfer ribbon, and the procedure for using the self-strip option.

Media sensitivity numbers Explain how to optimize print quality and print speed.

Communications with the printer Explains different methods for transferring information from the host to the printer and from the printer to the host.

Understanding the Front Panel

Use this section to understand the function of the front panel LEDs and the Feed/Pause button.

Power/Data

Alert

Empty/Pause

Feed/Pause

3XXXU.024

2-3

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IBM EasyCoder 3400e user manual Learning How to Operate the Printer, Understanding the Front Panel

Contents

EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer Page Contents Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality Inspecting the Printer Tools for Cleaning the Printer Printer Specifications A-3 Using Test and Service Mode Procedures Printer Serial Port C-11 Bar Code Symbologies Supported A-8Extended Character Sets B-6 Communication Protocols C-3 Vii Full Ascii Table D-3 Full Ascii Control Characters Table D-5Page Before You Begin Warranty InformationSafety Summary Avertissement EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual For Information On Refer To About This ManualWhat You Will Find in This Manual Convention Description Terms and ConventionsTerms Conventions Xiii Other Intermec ManualsPage Getting Started Page Getting to Know Your Printer LED Back View To plug in the printer Preparing the Printer for InstallationPlugging In the Printer To open the printer Opening the Printer To load media for fanfold printing Loading Media for Fanfold Printing Head lift lever Hardware Configuration Test Label Printing the Hardware Configuration Test LabelTo print the hardware configuration test label If a Hardware Configuration Test Label Does Not Print Connecting the Printer to Your SystemWhat the Hardware Configuration Test Label Tells You To connect your printer to a PC serial port Connecting Your Printer to a PCConnecting the Printer to a PC Serial Port Use Intermec Cable Part Number To connect your printer to a PC parallel port Connecting Your Printer to a NetworkConnecting the Printer to a PC Parallel Port Connecting Your Printer to a Network Connecting the Printer to an AS/400 Cabling in Noisy Electrical Environments Connecting the Printer to a Mainframe Parameter Description Configuring the Serial Port for CommunicationsTo configure the printer serial port DIP Switch Setting Descriptions Bottom Bank Switch Number To verify communications with your system Verifying Printer Communications With Your System At the DOS prompt, type this command and press Enter Operating the Printer Page Understanding the Front Panel Learning How to Operate the Printer LED Understanding the Front Panel LEDs Printer Mode You Want To What to Do Using the Feed/Pause Button To load the media Loading Media Into the PrinterLoading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing Loading Roll Media for Straight-Through Printing To load self-strip media Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing Loading Media for Self-Strip Printing To load thermal transfer ribbon Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon Setting the Media Sensitivity Number Sensitivity Media or Ribbon Number Description Setting the MSN for Intermec Media and RibbonTo print a software configuration label Approximate Sensitivity Maximum Setting the MSN for Other Media and Ribbon3400e Printer Direct Thermal Media Sensitivity Settings Numbers Setting Direct Thermal Media Print Speed Communicating With the Printer Using the PrintSet SoftwareUsing Third-Party Software Using Intermec Printer Language IPL Commands To print the test label Printing a Test LabelPage Maintaining the Printer Page Inspecting the Printer Tools for Cleaning the Printer Printer Component Maintenance Period Maintenance Schedule Locating the Printer Parts You Need to Maintain To clean the printhead Cleaning the Printhead Cleaning the Printhead Cleaning the Printer Covers To clean the drive roller and tear bar Cleaning the Drive Roller and Tear Bar To clean the media guides and media path Cleaning the Media Guides and Media Path To clean the label sensors Cleaning the Label Sensors Cleaning the Label Sensors Page Troubleshooting Page Symptom Possible Causes Troubleshooting ChecklistPrinter Operation Problems Troubleshooting Solution Symptom Possible Causes Solution Print Quality ProblemsTroubleshooting Printer Operation Problems Symptom Possible Causes Troubleshooting Print Quality Problems Communication Problems and Preventing Data Loss To check for communication problems Optimizing Printer Performance Page Correcting Uneven Print Quality Optimizing and Maintaining Print Quality To adjust the bias adjust screw To adjust the print darkness Adjusting the Print Darkness To adjust the label mark sensor Adjusting the Label Mark Sensor Platen roller Making the Most of Your Memory Using the Printer Memory EfficientlyHow Is the Printer Storage Memory Used? Increasing Throughput What Is an Image Band?How the Image Bands Command Works To optimize the number of image bands for your print speed Optimizing Print Speed and Image Band Setting Using Test and Service Mode Page To exit Test and Service mode Using Test and Service Mode ProceduresTo enter Test and Service mode Tests Test and Service DIP Switch Settings To print a test label Using Data Line PrintTo enter Data Line Print mode Printing Test Labels To use memory reset Setting Configuration Commands in Test and Service ModeResetting the Memory on Your Printer Configuration DIP Switch Settings Setting the Number of Dot Increments Bottom Bank To set the number of dot increments Adjusting the Label Rest Point Top Bank To adjust the label rest point Setting Description Setting Emulation ModeTo set the printer to Emulation mode using DIP switches Format Using Forms Adjust To set the X forms adjust Forms Adjust To set the Y forms adjust Specifications Page Specifications Printer Specifications Printing Speed Printhead 200 dpiPrinthead 400 dpi Ribbon Number Description Minimum Maximum Media Finishers Printer OptionsCommunication Interface Signal Pin Return Direction Description Specifications Hibc Bar Code Symbologies Supported 2D Matrix Symbologies 2D Symbologies2D Stacked Symbologies EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Character Sets Page Advanced Character Table International Character Sets IBM Translation Character Table Emulation Mode Character Table Code Page 850 Character Table 10 x 14 Standard Extended Character Sets Monospace fonts 6 point to 36 point OCR a Characters in Font C24 Page Communications Reference Page Printer Status Character Communication ProtocolsIntermec Standard Protocol XON/XOFF Protocol Software and Hardware Flow Control User-Defined Protocol Polling Mode DXON/XOFF, No Status Protocol Multi-Drop Protocol Character Protocol Affected RS-232 Serial Interface Communications InterfacesHost Requirements Communications Boundaries Interface Pin No Name Operation RS-422 Serial InterfaceRS-485 Serial Interface RS-232 Null Modem Cable for PC/AT Part Number RS-232 Null Modem Cable for PC/XT Part Number PIN Plug D-SUB Metal Backshell RS-422 Intermec Pin Assignments Printer Serial Port Page Full Ascii Table Page Binary0 Hex1 Dec2 C393 Full Ascii TableFull Ascii Table Binary0 Hex1 Dec2 C393 Control Character Definition Full Ascii Control Characters TablePage Glossary Page Backing ConfigurationData Line Print mode Glossary G Field Emulation modeDirect thermal Feed/Pause Ips Glossary G GraphicHuman-readable Image bands Imaging Multi-Drop protocol EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual MarginMedia Mnemonic code Printhead Polling Mode D protocolGlossary G Point size Print speed Self-strip SymbologyEasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual Scan Selective transfer XON/XOFF protocol User-Defined Characters UDCUser-Defined Fonts UDF Variable data fieldPage Index Page Index Numbers EasyCoder 3400e Bar Code Label Printer User’s Manual LED RAM XON/XOFF