Transcript
HAND HELD BATTERY- OPERATED THERMAL PRINTER LOMA IQ
1.
INTRODUCTION
The Loma hand held printer is a battery powered thermal printer with 36/42 - Column 252 dot line, which using RS 232C serial link and Hardware hand shaking for operation. 2.
OPERATING PRINTER
Connect serial Data link / power cable in to the printer via a 6-way (mini - DIN style plug), and connect the other end (16 way plug) in to the base of the metal detector. Connect battery charge plug in to socket to fully charge battery pack, the LED will indicate Green. Set-up serial link as described in section 7. Press paper feed button on the front of the printer to print any reports which are held in the Metal Detector Buffer / or Printer Buffer. Types of reports are described in the Users Manual under the reports section. 3.
MODE OF OPERATION
The printer has a user - replaceable battery pack. It can operate and accept data for printing with or without an external battery charger connected. Operation from the charger alone is not possible: a battery pack must always be fitted. The printer has three operating modes: - “ Idle Mode” : ready to accept data, but no data are in the buffer awaiting printing, and the print motor is not running ; - “Sleep Mode” : effectively switched off and awaiting either a press on the paper feed button, connection of the external charger, or some external data to exit sleep mode and enter idle mode ; - “Spooling Mode” : active, but storing data for later printing. Different colour combinations on the front panel LED indicate these Modes . Section 5). No light emitted in sleep mode.
(See
No hardware power switch is fitted, as power control is either automatic or by command from host. To save power, the printer enters sleep mode after a period of inactivity, which is approximately 30 seconds. Also it can be programmed for stay idle indefinitely or sleep on command. Page 1 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
3.1
IDLE MODE
In idle mode, the printer is ready to receive data, which will be printed as soon as complete lines or line pairs are decoded. It also responds to the paper feed button in the normal way, and can also produce a demonstration print by pressing the paper feed button twice. Power consumption is such that a fully-charged battery pack would last about 10 hours, but the printer will normally switch from idle mode into sleep mode when there is no activity, extending battery life. 3.2
SLEEP MODE
In sleep mode, the printer consumption is negligible, but data stored in the buffer are lost. Special routines allow for data to be printed out automatically before going to sleep. The system can maximise battery life by arranging that the printer is generally in sleep mode, except when printing. The printer enters sleep mode as follows:- By command from host - At the end of the period of inactivity. The printer will never enter sleep mode when: - A charger is connected. - In spooling mode. - A paper or head jam has occurred. The printer is woken up from sleep mode as follows: - By data stream from host. - By pressing and releasing the paper feed button. - By connecting the external battery charger. 3.3
SPOOLING MODE
In spooling mode, data are received and stored, but not printed. This is useful when printing needs to be suppressed during data transfer ( for example multi reports); or when the paper needs to be changed , or a jam cleared, and the buffer contains data. The buffer will automatically enter spooling mode by: - A paper low condition ( this is selectable ) - A paper jam It can also enter spooling mode by: - A command for host - The paper feed button being double- clicked. Power consumption in spooling mode is similar to that in idle mode. 3.4
CONTINUOUS OPERATION
The printer has an intelligent regulator to control battery charging from an external +12v DC charger. (See Section 7.2 ) Using the external battery charger to keep the battery fully charged can continuously operate the printer. Operation from the charger alone is not possible: a battery pack must always be fitted. Page 2 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
4.
BATTERY PACK
The printer has a replaceable battery pack, which clips into the underside of the printer and can be changed in seconds by the user. Note that while the printer has a non-volatile memory for its settings, which are retained even when battery is removed, any printable data stored in the buffer will be lost. The printer will not operate at all without a battery pack in place. WARNING ! The battery contacts are recessed, and the pack is fitted with an internal safety fuse, but the user must take care to avoid short circuiting the contacts, by preventing them from touching any metallic objects. Short circuiting the contacts of the battery pack will cause a heavy current to flow, which may lead to excessive heating of the battery pack and could cause burns or start a fire ! 4.1
REMOVING AND REPLACING BATTERY PACK
CAUTION ! It is strongly recommended that the external charger be disconnected whenever the battery pack is being replaced. To remove the battery pack: Lift the rear edge (marked by three moulded bars) and overcome the “click” detent. Slide the pack towards the rear of the printer and lift out. To replace the battery pack: The battery pack will only fit one way. First insert the edge with the metallic contacts, and then tilt the rear (sloping) edge downwards so that the pack enters the printer recess in a sliding motion. Press the pack into the printer until a distinct “click” is felt. After replacement of the battery pack, the printer will be in sleep mode. 4.2
BATTERY PACK CONDITION
The condition of the battery can be found out: - By a demo / test printout, which reports the voltage measured just before printing began. Indicated voltages between about 6.0v and 7.0v are the typical operating ranges. - From the indicator LED colour, which turns to flashing red if the battery voltage falls below about 6.0v and no charger is connected. At this point, very limited printing capacity remains. 4.3
BATTERY PACK CAPACITY
The capacity of a fully charged pack will normally be sufficient to print the demo / test message along about 1.5 rolls of paper in the printer. However, the amount of printing that can be achieved depends greatly on the printing density, idle time and other factors such as temperature and history of the battery pack. The printer can report both the battery voltage and the printed line count. With the printer awake but idle , a fully charged battery would last for about 8 hours, but in sleep mode can be 18 hours.
Page 3 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
4.5
BATTERY PACK CHARGING
The battery pack can be charged when installed in the printer, the printer controls the charge rate. This depends on the characteristics of the external recharge, temperature and condition of the battery pack. A flat battery can normally be completely recharged in about 5 hours. The battery pack should be capable of between 500 and 1000 complete charge and discharge cycles, and during battery charging, the printer may become quite warm. 5.
PAPER
Press the paper feed button when the printer is idle advances paper at 2.5 lines per second, however the feed button has several additional functions: A single press and release of the button: - In idle or spooling mode, advances two lines of paper (7.4mm) - Sleep mode, wakes up the printer into idle mode. - If jammed, attempts to clear the jam and if successful enter spool mode. “Double-clicking” the button: - Idle mode, prints a demo / test message including the firmware version. - In spooling mode, or having been out of paper, prints any store reports and enters idle mode. 5.1
LOADING PAPER
Mount the roll of paper between the bosses in the paper holder area: The right hand boss is on a sprung support, the paper must flow from he bottom of the roll. Prepare its end into a clean edge at right angle, and introduce it into the rear of the mechanism while pressing the paper feed button; - The target point its just above a bright metal strip, and the paper should be straight / pointing downwards into the printer. - Once the mechanism grips the paper, allow enough to feed through for good alignment, thread the paper through the exit slot and close lid. - Check that it still advances properly, and tear off any excess by pulling the paper sharply towards you across the serrated edges.
Page 4 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
See below for configuration:
5.2
PAPER LOW SENSOR
A paper sensor acts on the left-hand face of the paper roll, and switches when a metre of paper remains. The LED colour pattern will then include orange, and a status report is available. To avoid spurious `paper low` reports, ensure that the roll is correctly located on the bosses, and that the right hand paper support has returned to the vertical position. A small foam pad is fitted on some to maintain adequate pressure. 5.3
REMOVING PAPER OR CLEANING A JAM
If some paper remains in the printer when a new roll is required or a paper jam has occurred, you need to take special care not to pull the paper out of the printer in a reverse direction. This can cause permanent damage to the mechanism. When it is necessary to remove the paper from the mechanism, for example when replacing the paper before the end of a roll, or to clear a paper jam, proceed as follows: - Open the printer cover, and carefully remove the paper roll, allowing it to unroll. - Cut the paper straight across between the roll and the mechanism - Using the paper feed button, advance the remaining paper until it is completely out of the mechanism. If the mechanism and paper are jammed, carefully pull the paper by hand in the normal feeding direction, take care not to tear the paper or apply excessive force to any part of the mechanism. - With care, it should be possible to release the paper feed roller by pressing the black plastic collar of the drive gears inwards. ( See Diagram) - Press the paper feed button to exercise the printer for a few cycles and ensure that it is running freely. - Load a new roll of paper as described above. - Double-clicking the paper feed button will print out any stored data.
Page 5 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
See Diagram below
6.
LED INDICATIONS
If the LED indicator at the front of the printer is flashing on and off, it indicates that the printer is running from its battery pack; steady illumination means that the battery is charging. Green confirms that all is normal; Orange advises that the paper is low or the printer is in spooling mode; Red warns of a low battery or a head jam. No light indicates that the unit is in sleep mode, has a flat battery, or has no battery fitted. The LED has a number of colour combinations, which repeats in up to a 4 - phase pattern to provide more information: LED Pattern
Battery
Paper
Buffer Mode
Green Steady Green / Orange / Green / Orange Orange (Steady) Green / Off / Green / Off Green / Off / Orange / Off Orange / Off / Orange / Off Red / Off / Red / Off Red / Off / Orange / Off Red (Steady) No lights
Charging Charging Charging Running Running Running Low Low
OK Low * OK Low * Low Jammed
Normal Normal Spooling Normal Normal Spooling Normal Normal
Flat or Printer is in sleep mode
* Spooling may have resulted from paper becoming low.
Page 6 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
7.
PRINTER OPERATION
The printer has been set as follows:Baud Rate : Parity : Data Bits : Stop Bits :
9600 No 8 1
The Metal Detector Serial Link menu has to be set to as follows:Serial Link Link 3 Usage : Reports Baud Rate : 9600 Data Bits : 8 Stop Bits : 1 Parity : No Flow Ctrl : CTS - RTS The Metal Detector Reports menu is set as follows:Reports Options:
Form feed: All Reports:
No You may answer YES if all report types are required or if left at NO individual report types will follow after successive down arrow key presses. You may answer YES to each report as required.
Connection of serial link / power cable to the Metal Detector will down load any reports which has been sent when printer has been in sleep mode or has been disconnected. The printer has a normal 8k-byte buffer, which can hold approximately 15 Reports. The Loma IQ can support 42 reports in its memory. Consult User manual for reference on sending / generating reports.
Page 7 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
8 CONNECTIONS Serial Data Link / Power Cable connections:
9.
BATTERY CHARGER DETAILS
The recommended range of battery charger supply voltages is from +12V DC to +15V DC, at between 100mA and 400mA. The external charger must have an output voltage that remains within this range between these current extremes. Lower or Higher input voltages would reduce the battery-recharging rate: - below about 11V, the battery may not recharge at all ; - above about 16V, heat dissipated in the regulator may switch off the higher recharge rate and even prevent recharging altogether. Battery Chargers are available for different supply voltages:- 230V UK plug style - 230V Euro plug style - 110V USA plug style Page 8 of 8 Doc. Ref. : IQ_handheld_printer.doc
