Zebra Technologies 170PAX2TM manual Glossary

Glossary

fanfold media Media that comes folded in a rectangular stack. Contrast this with roll media.

firmware This is the term used to specify the printer’s operating program. This program is downloaded to the printer from a host computer and stored in FLASH memory. Each time the printer power is turned on, this operating program starts. This program controls when to feed the media forward or backward, when to print a dot on the label stock, when to activate the cutter, etc.

flash memory FLASH memory is non-volatile and will maintain the stored information intact when power is off. This memory area is used to store the printer’s operating program. In addition this memory can be used to store optional printer fonts, graphic formats, and complete label formats.

font A complete set of alphanumeric characters in one style of type. Ex: CG Times, CG Triumvirate Bold Condensed.

ips “inches-per-second” The speed at which the label or tag is printed. Zebra offers printers that can print from 2 ips to 12 ips.

label An adhesive-backed piece of paper, plastic, or other material on which information is printed.

label available sensor For printers equipped with the Peel-Off Option, this sensor detects a printed label waiting to be taken or “picked” by the operator. While it detects this label, the printer will not print additional labels. Once the label has been removed from the printer, the next label is printed. Also called the “take-label sensor”.

label backing (label liner) The material on which labels are affixed during manufacture and which is discarded or recycled by the end-users.

liquid crystal display The LCD is a back-lit display which provides the user with either operating status during normal operation or option menus when configuring the printer to a specific application.

light emitting diode LEDs are used as indicators of specific printer status conditions. Each LED will be either off, on, or blinking depending on the feature being monitored.

lock-upThis is the term generally used to describe a fault condition that, for apparently unknown reasons, causes the printer to stop working.

media Material onto which data is printed by the printer. Types of media include: tag-stock, die-cut labels, continuous (with and without backing material), fanfold, and roll.

media sensor This sensor is located behind the printhead to detect the presence of media and, for non-continuous media, the position of the web, hole, or notch used to indicate the start of each label.

media supply hanger The stationary arm that supports the media roll.

non-continuous media Consumable printing stock which contains an indication of where one label/printed format ends and the next one begins. Examples are die-cut labels, notched tag-stock, and stock with black mark registration marks

non-volatile memory Electronic memory that

retains data even when the power to the printer is turned OFF.

notched media A type of tag stock containing a cutout area that can be sensed as a start-of-label indicator by the printer. This is typically a heavier, cardboard-like material which is either cut or torn away from the next tag. (See non-continuous media.)

peel-offA mode of operation in which the label is separated from the backing material by a mechanical process. The backing material may be rewound onto a spindle or allowed to fall freely from the printer. A peel-off option must be installed to operate in this mode.

print speed The speed at which printing occurs. For thermal transfer printers, this speed is expressed in terms of ips (inches per second). Zebra offers printers that can print from 2 ips to 12 ips.

72 170PAX2-Series User’s Guide