Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product S4M Zebra Technologies
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S4M™ Midrange Printer User Guide.
© 2009 ZIH Corp. The copyrights in this manual and th e software and/or firmw a re in th e prin ter described therein are owned by ZIH Corp. Unauthorized reproducti on of this manual or the software and/or firmware in the printer may result in imprisonment of up to one year and fi nes of up to $10,000 (17 U.
3 Declaration of Conformity 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Declaration of Conformity I have determined that the Zebr a printers identified as the Stripe™ Series S4M manufactured by: Zebra T echnologie s Corporation 333 Corporate W oods Parkway V ernon Hills, Illinois 60061-3109 U.
Compliance Information Compliance Information 4 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Compliance Information FCC Compliance S tatement This device compli es with Part 15 rules. Operation is sub ject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful in terferen ce, and 2.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Contents Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents 6 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 2 • Printer Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Before Y ou Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 Contents 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 4 • Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Setup Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents 8 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 7 • Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 General S pecifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A About This Document This section provides yo u wit h cont act information, document structure and or ganization, and additional re ference documents. Content s Who Should Use This Document . . . . . . . . . . .
About This Document Who Shoul d Us e This Document 10 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Who Should Use This Document This User Guide is intended for use by any person who needs to operate o r troubleshoot problems with th e printer.
11 About This Document Contacts 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Contact s T echnical Support via the In ternet is available 24 hours per day , 365 days p er year . W eb Site: www .zebra.com E-mail Back T e chnical Library: E-mail address: emb@zebra.
About This Document Document Conventions 12 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Document Conventions The following co nventions are used throughout this do cument to convey certain information. Alternate Color (online only) C ross-references contain hot links to other sections in this guide.
13 About This Document Document Conventions 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Illustration Callout s Callouts are used when an illustrati on contains information th at needs to be labeled a nd described. A table that co ntains the labels and de scriptions follows the graphic.
About This Document Document Conventions 14 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Notes • ___________ ________________ ________________ __________________ ______ ___________ ________________ ___.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 1 Introduction This section shows the operational cont rols and location of major c omponents used when loading medi a and ribbon. Other features of the printer are discusse d. Content s External View . . . . .
Introduction External View 16 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 External V iew Figure 2 shows the outside of the printer. Figure 2 • Exterior of Printer 1 Control panel 2 Media door 3 Electr.
17 Introd uction Control Panel 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Control Panel All controls and in dicators for the printer are located on the control panel ( Figure 3 ). •T h e contr ol panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) shows the operati ng status and print er parameters.
Introduction Control Pane l 18 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Control Panel LCD The control pane l LCD functions dif ferently in dif ferent printer modes. •I n Operating mode , the LCD displays th e printer’ s status, sometimes in conjunction with a control panel light (see Contr ol Panel Lights on page 20 ).
19 Introd uction Control Panel 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A T able 1 • Control Panel Buttons Button Appearance Function/Description MENU Enters and exits Setup mode. ENTER If a pa rameter or option in Setu p mode needs to be selected , pressing ENTER selects the item.
Introduction Control Pane l 20 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Control Panel Light s Ta b l e 2 describes light s on the control panel that indicate differen t printer conditions. T able 2 • Control Panel Light s Light Appearance Function/Description POWER Indicates that the pri nter is on.
21 Introd uction Printer Media Compartment 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Printer Media Comp artment Figure 5 shows a simplified vi ew of the media compartment of your printer. Depe nding on installed optio ns, your printer may look sligh tly different.
Introduction Printer Language Modes 22 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Printer Language Modes Depending on how your printer was ordered , it came from the factory with firmwa re that operate.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 2 Printer Setup This section provid es the tasks that you must co mplete and the issues th at you must consider before you load a nd configure your printer. Content s Before Y ou Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printer Setup Before Y ou Begin 24 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Before Y ou Begin Review this checkl ist, and resolve any issues before yo u set up or use your printer. Unp ack and Inspect the Printer Have you unpacked the printer and inspected it for damage? If you have not, see Unpack an d Inspect the Printer on page 25 .
25 Printer Setup Handling the Printer 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Handling the Printer This section describes how to han dl e you r printer. Unp ack and Inspect the Printer When you receiv e the printer, immediatel y unpack it and inspect fo r shipping damage.
Printer Setup Select a Site for the Printer 26 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Select a Site for the Printer Consider th e followin g w hen selecti ng an appr op riate loca tion for your pr inter.
27 Printer Setup Select a Data Communication Interface 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Select a Dat a Communication Interface Ta b l e 5 provides basic information about data co mmunication interfaces that you can use to connect your printer to a computer .
Printer Setup Select a Data Communication Interface 28 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Dat a Cables and Wireless Cards Y ou must supply all data cabl es or wireless cards for yo ur application.
29 Printer Setup Select a Data Communication Interface 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Internal wired Ethernet print server Refer to the ZebraNet 10/100 Prin t Server User and Refer ence Guide for configuration i nstructions. A copy of this manua l is available at http://www .
Printer Setup Connect the Printer to a Power Source 30 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Connect the Printer to a Power Source The AC power cord must ha ve a three-prong fema le connector on one end that plu gs i nt o t he mating AC power connector at the rear of the printer.
31 Printer Setup Connect the Printer to a Po wer Source 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Power Cord Specifications Depending on how your p rinter was ordered, a power cord m ay or may not be included .
Printer Setup T ype s of Media 32 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 T ypes of Media Y our printer ca n use various types of media: • S tandar d media —Most standard media uses an adhesive backing th at sticks individual labels or a c ontinuous length of la bels to a liner .
33 Printer Setup T ypes of Media 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Non-Continuous Fanfold Media Fanfold media is folded in a zigzag pattern. Fanfold media can have the same label separation s as non-continuo us roll media. The separations would fall on or near the folds.
Printer Setup Ribbon Overview 34 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Ribbon Overview Ribbon is a t hin film that is coated on one side with wax, resin, or wax resin, which is transferred to the media duri ng the therm al transfer pr ocess. The medi a determine s wh ether you need to use ribbon and how wide th e ribbon must be.
35 Printer Setup Ribbon Overview 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Adhesive T est If you have lab els available, perform the adhesi ve test to determine which side o f a ribbon is coated. This method works well for ribbon that is already installed.
Printer Setup Ribbon Overview 36 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Notes • ___________ ________________ ________________ __________________ ______ ___________ ________________ ______________.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 3 Operations This section provides th e procedures for loading and calibrating the pri nt er. Note • Complete the tasks and resolve the issues in Printer Setup on page 23 before operating the printe r. Content s Print Modes and Printer Options .
Operations Print Modes and Printer Options 38 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Print Modes and Printer Options The printer can use dif ferent print mo des and options for label rem ov al ( Ta b l e 8 ). Use a print mode that matches th e media being used and the prin ter options available.
39 Operations Print Modes and Printer Options 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A S tart a Roll of Media Exposed medi a may become dirty when h andled or stored. T o start a roll of me dia, remove and discard one full revolution of label s or t ags and any liner .
Operations Print Modes and Printer Options 40 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Insert Media into the Printer This section shows h ow to insert roll or fanfold media into the p rinter. Fanfold media is load ed the same way as roll medi a, except the media is stored outs ide of the printer.
41 Operations Print Modes and Printer Options 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Fanfold Media T o insert fanfold media, complete these step s: 1. Flip down the media su pply guide. 2. Insert the fanfold media t hrough the fanfold media sl ot on the rear of the printer.
Operations Load Media in T ear-Off Mode 42 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Load Media in T ear-Off Mode Figure 9 shows roll and fanf ol d media loaded in T ear-Off mode, which is the default print mode. Figure 9 • T ear-Off Mode T o load media in T ear-Off Mode, complete these steps: 1.
43 Operations Load Media in T e ar-Off Mode 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 3. Press the printhead rele ase latch to open the prin th ead assemb ly .
Operations Load Media in T ear-Off Mode 44 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 6. Push the media to the back of the transmis sive sensor ( 1 ). Slide in the media guide ( 2 ) until it just to uches the edge of the med ia. 7. Close the pr inthead asse mbly .
45 Operations Load Media in Peel-Off Mode 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Load Media in Peel-Off Mode This section appl ies only if the Peel-Of f option is installed ( Figure 10 ). The peel assembly consists of several spring -loaded rollers to ensure the proper roller pressure.
Operations Load Media in Peel-Off Mode 46 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 T o load media in Peel-Off mode, complete these step s: 1. Press the printhead release latch to open the printh ead assemb ly . 2. Lift the pr inthead until it latch es open.
47 Operations Load Media in Peel-Off Mode 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 4. Feed the media under the dancer assembly ( 1 ), through th e slot in the transmissive sensor (2—standard transmi ssi ve sensor shown), and unde r the ribbon sens o r ( 3 ).
Operations Load Media in Peel-Off Mode 48 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 7. Remove the exposed labels so that only the liner remains. 8. Feed the liner over the tear -off/peel-off bar ( 1 ) and behind the peel assembly ( 2 ). Make sure that th e end of the liner falls outside of the printer.
49 Operations Load Media in Peel-Off Mode 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 10. Close the pr inthead asse mbly . 11 . 12. Set the printer to Peel-Of f mode. See Select the Labe l Removal Method on page 74 for instructions. 13. If the printer is paused (the P AU SE light is blinkin g), pr ess PA U S E to enable prin ting.
Operations Load Media in Cutter Mode 50 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Load Media in Cutter Mode Figure 9 shows roll and fanf old media loaded in Cutter mode. Figure 1 1 • Cutter Mode T o load media in Cutter Mode, complete these step s: 1.
51 Operations Load Media in Cutter Mode 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 3. Press the printhead rele ase latch to open the prin th ead assemb ly . Lift the printhea d u nt il it latches open. 4. Slide out the media guide. 5. Caution • The cutter blade is sharp.
Operations Load Media in Cutter Mode 52 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 6. Push the media to the back of the transmis sive sensor ( 1 ). Slide in the media guide ( 2 ) until it just to uches the edge of the med ia. 7. Close the pr inthead asse mbly .
53 Operations Load Ribbon 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Load Ribbon The ribbon suppl y spindle in your printer is a dual-tension variety . Most applicati ons require the spindle to be in the normal position. Th e low tension position is recommended only when a narrow ribbon is used or if normal tension hampers t he ri bbo n movement.
Operations Load Ribbon 54 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 T o load ribbon, complete these step s: 1. Set the ribbon suppl y spi ndle for normal or lo w tension. • T o place the ribb on su pply spind le in the normal position , firmly pull out th e spindle end cap un til it e xtends a nd clic ks in pl ace, a s shown in Figure 13 .
55 Operations Load Ribbon 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 3. Orient the ribb on with the loose end u nrolling clockwise. 4. Place the roll o f ribbon on the ri bbon supply spindle ( 1 ) and push it all the way back. 5. Pull the end o f the ribbo n unde r the pri nthead a ssembly ( 1 ) and out the front of the printer.
Operations Load Ribbon 56 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 6. Close the pr inthead asse mbly . 7. W ind the ribbon clockwise on to the ribbon take-u p spindle ( 1 ).
57 Operations Load Ribbon 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Remove Used Ribbon Remove used ribbon from the ribbon ta ke-up spindle each time you change the rol l of ribbon or when switching from thermal tran sfer mode to dir ect thermal mode. T o remove used ribbon, complete these step s: 1.
Operations Calibrate the Printer 58 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Calibrate the Printer The printer can be set to cal ibrate automatically , or you can cali brate it manually . Auto Calibration When the control p anel setti ng for automa tically c alibrates on po wer up or whe n the printh ead is closed.
59 Operations Select or Adjust the Media Sensors 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Select or Adjust the Media Sensors This printer uses tw o types of media sensors: tra nsmissive and reflective. Select the T ransmissive Sensor The standard transmissive sensor ( Figure 14 ) is in a fixed posi tion and enabled from the control panel .
Operations Select or Adjust the Media Sensors 60 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Figure 15 • Adjusting the Reflective Sensor T o adjust the reflective sensor , complete these step s: 1. See Figur e 15 . Press the printhead rel ease latch. 2.
61 Operations Adjust Printhead Pressure 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Adjust Printhead Pressure Y ou may need to adjust printhead pressure if printing is too li ght on one side, if you use thick media, or if the media drifts fr om side to side durin g pr inting.
Operations Adjust Printhead Pressure 62 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 2. If necessary , adjust the pressure adjustment dials as follows: If the media.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Content s Setup Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Enter Setup Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Configuration Setup Mode 64 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Setup Mode After you have inst alled the media and ribbon and the Power- On Self T e st (POST) is complete, the control panel displa ys PRINTER READY . Y ou may now set printer parameters for your application using the control panel LC D and the buttons direc tly below it.
65 Configuration Setup Mode 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Discard changes a. Press the up or down arrow to select NO . b. Press ENTER . The printer discar ds changes and exits Setup mode. Return to Se tup mode Press one of the follow ing buttons: • MENU returns you to the same parameter .
Configuration Password Protection of Parameters 66 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Password Protection of Parameters The printer has four levels of passwo rds. When you enter Setup mod e on the control panel, only those parameters that are not passwor d-p rot ected are displayed.
67 Configuration Password Protection of Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Note • When you enter a p assword at an ADVANCED SETUP prompt , the first paramete r that you see is dete.
Configuration Printing Configuration Labels 68 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Printing Configuration Labels After you load the medi a and ribbon (if neces s ar y), print a printe r co nfigurat i on label and a network configurat ion label as rec ords of your pr inter’ s current sett ings.
69 Configuration Printing Configuration Labels 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 4. Select the type o f label to print. T o print a... Then... Printer configuration label a. Scroll to SETTINGS . b. Press ENTER . A printer config uration label prints ( Figure 17 ).
Configuration Printing Configuration Labels 70 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Network configur ation label a. Scroll to NETWORK . b. Press ENTER . A network configuratio n label prints ( Figure 18 ). An asterisk design ates whether the wired or wireless print server is active.
71 Configuration Select a Display Language 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Select a Display Language The LANG UAGE parameter is included in passwo rd level 3 and level 4 so you c an easily re ach the parameter to selec t a familiar language if you cannot read the one be ing displayed.
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 72 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Control Panel Paramete rs Use the LCD on the contro l panel to adjust printer settings. Additional paramete rs appear in the following situ ations: • When a wired pri nt server is installed in the printer.
73 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A TEAR OFF Adjust T ear-Off Position This paramete r establishes the posit ion of the labels over the tear -off/peel-o ff bar after p rinting. Note • The printer appl ies and saves the tear -off setting immediately .
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 74 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 MEDIA TYPE Set Media T ype T ells the printer which type of media you are using. Selections: • GAP/NOTCH —Use for non-continuo us web media, non-con tinuous fanfold me dia, and tag stock.
75 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A PRINT SPEED Adjust Print Speed Adjusts the spee d for printing a label (giv en in whole numbers of inc hes per second). Slower p rint speeds typically yield better print quali ty .
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 76 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 CONTROL CODES (APL-D mode only) Set APL-D Co nt r ol Codes Allows you to sel e ct which set of languag e control codes will be sent to the printe r.
77 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Password Level 3 Parameters Ta b l e 1 5 shows parameters in th e order in which the y appear when you press the ri ght arrow after entering the Level 3 password.
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 78 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 MODULE A (APL-D mode only) Set Module A Storage Device for APL-D This parameter allows yo u to assign an actual 512 KB memory device to a module letter .
79 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A BAUD Set Baud The baud settin g of the printer must match the b aud setting of the host computer for accurate communic ati ons to take place. Select the value that matches the one being used by the host computer .
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 80 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 HOST HANDSHAKE Set Host Handshake The handshake protoc ol of the printe r must match the handshake protocol of the host compute r for proper commu nications to ta ke place.
81 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A DELIM. CHAR (ZPL mode only) Set Delimiter Char ac ter The delimiter character i s a two-di git hexadecimal value used as a parameter place marker in ZPL/ZP L II format instructions.
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 82 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 CHANGE RTC TIME Set R TC (Real-ti me clock ) T ime If R TC is installed, this p arameter allows you to set the R TC time. Note • The printer save s the R TC ti me immediately .
83 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A RIBBON Set Ribbo n Use Note • This parameter appears only for printers that have the Thermal T ransfer option installed. Specifies the printi ng method: thermal transfer (usi ng ribbon) or direct thermal (n o ribbon).
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 84 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 SENSOR PROFILE Print Sensor Pro file Use the sensor profile ( Figure 19 ) to troubleshoot registrati on problems that may occur if the media sens or detects preprinted areas on the media or if it experien ces difficulty i n determining web locatio n.
85 Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A MEDIA/RIBBON CALIBRATE (Thermal T ransfer only) MEDIA CALIBRATE (Direct T hermal only) Calibrate Me dia and Ribbo n Sensors Use this procedure to adjust the sensitivity o f the printer’ s sensors.
Configuration Control Pane l Parameters 86 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 LANGUAGE Select the Displ ay Language This paramete r allows you to di splay the control panel in the language of your choice. As soon as you select a l anguage, all parameters are displayed i n that language.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 5 Routine Maintenance This section provid es routine cl eaning a nd maintenance procedures. Content s Replacing Printer Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Routine Maintenance Replacing Printer Co mponents 88 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Replacing Printer Component s Some printer compon ents, su ch as t he printhead and platen rol ler , may wear out over ti me and can be repl aced easily . Regular cleaning may extend the life of some of these c omponents.
89 Routine Maintena nce Cleaning Schedule and Procedures 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Cleaning Schedule and Procedures Specific cleaning procedures are pr ovided on t he following pages. Ta b l e 1 6 shows the recommended cleaning schedule.
Routine Maintenance Cleaning Procedures 90 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Clean the Printhead and Platen Roller Y ou can minimize print head wear and maintain print quality wi th regular preventive measures.
91 Routine Maintena nce Cleaning Procedures 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A T o clean the printhead and platen roller , complete these step s: 1.
Routine Maintenance Cleaning Procedures 92 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 5. Reload media and ribbon, and cl ose the printhead assembly . Note • If performing this p rocedure does not improv e print quality , try cleaning the printhe ad with Save-A-Printhead cleaning film.
93 Routine Maintena nce Cleaning Procedures 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Clean the Media Compartment and Sensors T o clean the media comp artment and sensors, complete these step s: 1. Brush or vacuum any accumulated pape r lint and dust away fro m the media and ribbon paths.
Routine Maintenance Cleaning Procedures 94 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Clean the Peel Assembly The peel assembly , which is part of the Peel- Off option, consists of several spri ng -loaded rollers to ensure the proper roller pressure.
95 Routine Maintena nce Cleaning Procedures 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 4. While manually rotating the pinch roller , clean it tho roughly with the swab from th e Preventive Maint enanc e Kit (part number 4736 2).
Routine Maintenance Cleaning Procedures 96 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 7. 8. Close the media door . The printer is ready to operate. Caution • Use the peel release lever and y our right hand to close the peel assembly . Do not use your left hand to assist in closing.
97 Routine Maintena nce Cleaning Procedures 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Clean the Cutter Module If the cutter is no t cutting the labels cl eanly or if it jams with labels, clean the cutter . T o clean the cutter module, complete these step s: 1.
Routine Maintenance Cleaning Procedures 98 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 4. See Figure 22 . Using the swab from the Preventive Main tenance Kit (part n umber 47362), wipe along the upper cutting sur face ( 1 ) and the cutter blade ( 2 ).
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 6 Troubleshooting This section provides information about errors that y ou might need to troublesho ot. Assorted diagnostic test s are includ ed. Content s T roubleshooting Checklists . . . . . . . . . . . . .
T roubleshooting T roublesho oting Checklists 100 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 T roubleshooting Checklist s If an error condition exist s with the printer, review this checklist: Is there an error message on the LCD? If yes, see LCD Err or Messages on page 101 .
101 T roubleshooting LCD Error Messages 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A LCD Error Messages The LCD disp lays me ssages when there is an error .
T roubleshooting LCD Error Messages 102 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 The RIBBON light is on; the ERROR light flashes. The ALER T light flashes. Ribbon is loaded, bu t the printer is set for direct th ermal mode. Ribbon is no t req uired with direct thermal media.
103 T roubleshooting LCD Error Messages 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A The printer prints whi le the ALER T light flashes. Caution • An improperly connected printhead data or power cable can cause this error message. Th e printhead may be hot enou gh to cause severe burns.
T roubleshooting LCD Error Messages 104 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 The printer stops. Caution • The printhead may be hot enough to cau se severe burns.
105 T roubleshooting Memory Errors 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Memory Errors The memory errors in Ta b l e 1 8 indicate that the prin ter does not have enoug h memory to perform the funct ion shown on the second line of the LCD.
T roubleshooting Print Quality Problems 106 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Print Quality Problems Ta b l e 1 9 identifies problems with print quality , the possible causes, and the recommended solutions.
107 T roubleshooting Print Quality Problems 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Wrinkled ribbon Ribbon was fe d through the ribbon system inco rrectly . Load the ribbon correc tly . See Load Ribbon on page 53 . Incorrect burn temperature. Set the darkness to the lowest p ossible setting for good print qua lity .
T roubleshooting Print Quality Problems 108 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 V ertical drift in top-of-form position The printer is out of calib ration. Recalibrate th e printer. Normal tole rances of mechanical part s and printer modes. Note • A vertical drift of ± 4 to 6 dot rows (approximately 0.
109 T roubleshooting Calibration Problems 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Calibration Problems Ta b l e 2 0 identifies problems with calib ra tio n, the possible causes, and the recomme nded solutions. T able 20 • Calibration Problems Problem Possible Cau se Recommended Solution Loss of printing registra tion on labels.
T roubleshooting Communications Problems 110 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Communications Problems Ta b l e 2 1 identifies problems with communications , the possible causes, and t he recommended solutions.
111 T roubleshooting Ribbon Problems 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Ribbon Problems Ta b l e 2 2 identifies problems that may occur w ith ribbon, the possible causes, and the recommended solution s. Note • This section appli es only to printers that have the Thermal T ransfer option installed.
T roubleshooting Miscellaneous Printer Problems 112 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Miscellaneous Printer Problems Ta b l e 2 3 identifies miscel laneous problems with the pri nter, the possible cause s, and the recommended solution s.
113 T roubleshooting Miscellaneous Printer Problems 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Non-conti nuous labels ar e being tr ea te d as continuous labels. The printer was not calibrated for the media being used. Perform the calibration procedure in Calibrate Media and Ri bbon Sensors on page 85 .
T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 114 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Printer Diagnostics Self tests and other diagnost ics provide specific in formation about t he condition of th e printer. The self tests produce sample printouts and provide specific information th at helps determine the operating conditions for th e prin ter.
115 T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A CANCEL Self T est The CANCEL self test prints a configuration label ( Figure 23 ). T o perform the CANCEL Self T est, complete these step s: 1. Tu r n o ff ( O ) the printer.
T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 116 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 PA U S E S e l f Te s t This self test can be used to provide the t est labels required when makin g adjustments to the printer’ s mechanical assemblie s or to determine if any printh ead elements are not working.
117 T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A FEED Self T est Different types of media may require differen t darkness settings. This sect ion contains a simple but ef fective method for d etermining the ideal dark ness for printing bar cod es that are within specifications.
T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 118 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Figure 26 • Bar Code Darkness Comp arison T able 24 • Judging Bar Code Quality Print Quality Description To o d a r k Labels that are too dark are fai rly obvious. They may be readable but not “in-spec.
119 T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 5. Note the relat ive darkness value and the prin t speed printed on the b est test label. 6. Add or subtract th e relative darkness valu e from the darkness value spe cified on the configuration lab el.
T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 120 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 FEED and P AUSE Self T est Performing this self test temporarily resets the printer con figuration to the fa ctory default values. These v alues are active only unt il power is turned of f unless you sa ve them permanently in memory .
121 T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Communications Diagnostics T est The communicat ion d iagno stics test i s a troubl eshoot in g tool for chec king the int erconn ectio n between the prin ter and the host compu ter .
T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 122 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Sensor Profile Use the sensor profil e la bel to troubleshoot th e following types of p roblems: • If the media sensor ex periences diff iculty in determining gap s (web) between labels.
123 T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Figure 29 • Sensor Pr ofile (Media Section) 2 1 3 4.
T roubleshooting Printer Diagnostics 124 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Notes • ___________ ________________ ________________ __________________ ______ ___________ ________________ ______.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 7 Specifications This section provides the features of and specificatio ns for the printer. Content s General S pecifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Specifications General S pecifications 126 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 General Specifications General Specifications Height 1 1.6 in. 295 mm W idth 10.
127 Specifications Agency Approvals 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Agency Approvals Agency Approvals • IEC60950-1 • EN55022: Class B • EN55024 • EN61000-3 -2,-3-3 Product Markings .
Specifications Printing S pecificati ons 128 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Printing S pecifications Printing Specifications Print resolution 203 dots/inch 8 dots/mm 300 dots/inch 12 do ts/ mm Dot size (width x length) 203 dpi 0.00492 in. x 0.
129 Specifications Media S pecific ations 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Media S pecifications Media Specifications Label length Minimum (T ear-Off) 0.7 in. 17.8 mm Minimum (Peel-Off) 0.5 in. 12.7 mm Maximum 39 in. 991 mm Label width Mi n imum 0.
Specifications Ribbon S pecifications 130 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 Ribbon S pecifications Ribbon must be wound w ith the coated side out. Note • This section appli es only to printers that have the Thermal T ransfer option installed.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A A ZPL II Commands This section provides the ZPL II commands that were added or changed for t he S4M. Content s ^KP Define Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ZPL II Commands ^KP 132 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 06/15/2009 ^KP Define Password Description The ^KP command is used to define the password that must be entered to access the control panel switches and LCD Se tup mode. For more information about the password structure in this print er, see Passwor d Pr otectio n of Parameters on p age 66 .
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A End User License Agreement Please read the terms of this “End User Lic ens e Agreement” (the “Agree ment”) care fully .
End User License Agreement 134 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 3. Documentation. If the Software co ntains documentation w hich is provided only in electronic form, you may print one copy of such el ectronic docu mentation. Y ou may not copy the printed materials accompanying the Software.
135 End User License Agr eeme nt 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 10. Export Restrictions. Y ou agree th at you will not expo rt or re-export the Softw are, any part thereof, or any pro c ess.
End User License Agreement 136 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 IMPLIED W ARRANTIES ARE NOT ALLOWE D TO BE EXCLUDED IN THEIR ENTIRETY , THEY WILL BE LIMITED T O THE DURA TION OF NINETY (90) DA YS .
137 End User License Agr eeme nt 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A 16. Governing Law . T o the maximum extent permit ted by law , the laws of the State of Illinois, U .S .A., without ref erence to its co nf lict of laws p rovisions, will ap ply to this Agreement.
End User License Agreement 138 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 22. QUESTIONS. Sh ould you have any q uestions, or if you desi re to contact Zebra for a ny reason, please contact the Zebra su.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Glossary alphanumeric Indicating lette rs, numerals, and characte rs such as punctuatio n marks. backfeed When the printer pulls the medi a and ribbon (if used) backward into the printer so that the beginning of th e label to be printed is pr operly posit io ned behind the printh ead.
Glossary 140 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 direct thermal A printing me thod in whi ch the prin thead presses d irectly a gainst the media. Heating the prin thead el ements causes a discoloration of the heat-sensitive coating on the media.
141 Glossary 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A media sensor This sensor is located behind the prin thead to detect the presence of media and, for non-cont inuous media, th e position of th e web, hole, or not ch used to indic ate the start of each label.
Glossary 142 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 void A space on which printi ng should have occurred, but di d n ot due to an error condit ion such as wrinkled ribbon o r faul ty print elements. A void can cause a prin ted b ar code symbol to be read in co rrectly or no t a t all.
6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A Index A active control panel bu ttons, 18 adhesive test for ribbon coating, 35 adjustments label left side, 73 label top, 73 print speed, 75 print widt h, 75 .
Index 144 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 communications diagnostics t est overview , 12 1 selecting hex dump mode, 81 communications prob le ms, 110 components of pri nter , 21 configur ati.
145 Index 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A H handshaking p rot ocol, 80 HEAD COLD message cycling with other messa ges, 102 displayed alone, 103 displaying al one, 103 HEAD ELEMENT BAD messag.
Index 146 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 P parallel port characteristics of parallel connection, 27 connection and co nfigurat ion, 28 setting para llel communications, 78 parity , 79 passw.
147 Index 6/15/09 S4M User Guide 13290L-004 Rev . A S sales, 11 saving changes to parameters, 64 scratch test media type, 34 ribbon coated side, 3 5 self tests, 114 CANCEL, 115 communications diagnost.
Index 148 13290L-004 Rev . A S4M User Guide 6/15/09 W web media describe d, 32 wired print server characteristics, 27 internal w ired connection and co nfiguration, 29 wireless cards, 28 wireless prin.
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Zebra T echnologies International, LLC 333 Corporate W oods Parkway V ernon Hills, Illinoi s 60061.3109 U.S.A T : +1 847 793 2600 T oll-free +1 800 423 0422 F: +1 847 913 8766 Zebra T echnologies Euro.
An important point after buying a device Zebra Technologies S4M (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Zebra Technologies S4M yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Zebra Technologies S4M - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Zebra Technologies S4M you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Zebra Technologies S4M will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Zebra Technologies S4M, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Zebra Technologies S4M.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Zebra Technologies S4M. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Zebra Technologies S4M along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
