SATO 10e service manual General Description, Theory of Operation

Section 1: Introduction

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The M-10e printer is a wide carriage thermal printer designed specifically to address the need for large high resolution labels. It can print labels as large as 10.5 inches wide x 16.5 inches high with a resolution of 305 dpi (dots per inch) at speeds up to 5 inches per second, making it ideal for large compliance label applications. All printer parameters are user programmable using the front panel controls and DIP switches. All popular bar codes and 14 human readable fonts, including vector and two raster fonts, are resident in memory providing literally thousands of type styles and sizes.

The M10e is available in two versions. The M10eDT is a direct thermal only version and must use thermally sensitive paper to print. The M10eTT is a thermal transfer model and has provisions for using a thermal transfer ribbon. It can also print in a direct thermal mode if the ribbon is not used.

The printer uses the standard SATO Printing Language command codes. The primary differences between it and other SATO printers are the allowable values representing the print positions on the label. These values are specified in “dots” and will vary depending upon the resolution of the printer and the amount of memory available for imaging the label. The allowable range is specified in the SATO “e” Printer Programming Reference. This commonality makes it easy to convert labels from one SATO printer without having to create an entirely different command stream. There are some caveats that must be observed though to compensate for the different resolution print heads. The effects of the different print resolutions are best illustrated by taking a label designed for a 305 dpi printer and sending the command stream to a 609 dpi printer. The label printed will be an exact one half scale, including the fonts, bar code dimensions and line length/widths. The only exceptions are the Postnet bar code and OCR-A and OCR-B fonts that have only one legal size. Conversely, a label designed for a 609 dpi printer and sent to its 305 dpi cousin will be twice as large. It probably will be “truncated” if the resulting size is larger that the maximum allowable for the printer.

THEORY OF OPERATION

When activated, the media and ribbon (where applicable) are fed conjunctively past the print head by an integrated drive train. The drive train is electric motor driven, coupled to a belt/pulley configuration located on the right side of the printer chassis. Paper guides within the chassis assembly ensure that the media remains properly positioned during the printing process and is fed unimpeded through an opening in the front cover. The exhausted ribbon material is rewound onto a take-up core inserted onto drive-train driven, spring loaded spindles.

A series of strategically located sensors sends signals to the processing unit. The processing unit in turn sends response signals to the various features based on programmed and received data.

SATO M10e Service Manual PN: 9001113A Page 1-2