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Qls 2000 Series Operation & Setup Manual

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QLS™ 2000/3000 Series
Digital Color Printers
Operation & Setup Guide
Part No. 22834-451
03/05
Firmware V 1.3
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
____________________________________________________
QuickLabel® Systems
an Astro-Med, Inc. product group
600 East Greenwich Avenue
West Warwick, RI 02893
Tel 1.401.828.4000
Fax 1.401.822.2430
www.quicklabelsystems.com
____________________________________________________
Technical Support 1.800.343.4039

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  • Page 1 QLS™ 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Operation & Setup Guide Part No. 22834-451 03/05 Firmware V 1.3 Specifications are subject to change without notice. ____________________________________________________ QuickLabel® Systems an Astro-Med, Inc. product group 600 East Greenwich Avenue West Warwick, RI 02893 Tel 1.401.828.4000...
  • Page 2 QuickLabel® Systems. LRU, CQL, QLS, QuickLabel, Range Boss, and Top Hand are trademarks of QuickLabel Systems. MicroCell and RibbonRation are trademarks of Astro-Med, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
  • Page 3 Serial No. _____________________ Contact QuickLabel Systems Contact QuickLabel Systems to pass along your comments about any QLS product, Astro- Med, Inc. Data Acquisition Instrument, Grass Instruments, or related software products. To contact the QuickLabel® Systems Development Group, call 401-828-4000 or e-mail us at...
  • Page 4 Manufacturer’s Name: Astro-Med, Inc. Manufacturer’s Address: Astro-Med, Inc. 600 East Greenwich Avenue West Warwick, RI 02893 USA declares that the product Product Name: QLS-2000 QLS-2001 QLS-3000 QLS-3001 conforms to the following product specifications: Safety: EN 60950-1:2001 CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-03...

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    User Interface .............................. 5 Keypad & Indicator Lights......................5 Chapter 2 Printer Setup............................... 7 Assembly..............................7 QLS 2000/3000 Series Printers ....................7 Cutter, Cutter-Stacker, or External Rewinder................7 Communications............................7 Printer Drivers..........................7 Platforms Supported........................7 Comm Protocol .......................... 8 Comm Port..........................
  • Page 6 QLS 2000/3000 Digital Color Printers Test Print Quality........................21 Heat Intensity .......................... 23 Printhead Pressure ........................24 TTR Media Tension......................... 26 Print Position............................. 26 Print and Cut Offset......................... 26 Web Alignment ........................27 Mirror Images.......................... 28 Image Area ..........................29 Speed.................................

  • Page 7: Before You Get Started

    QLS 3000 Model ......Prints three spot colors or full process color on one side of the media. QLS 3001 Model ......Prints two colors on one side of the media and one color on the opposite side simultaneously. 2000/3000 Digital Color Printer Specifications Print Method .........
  • Page 8 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Pin table for the serial interface is: 1 ........not used 2 ........TXD (transmit data) 3 ........RXD (receive data) 4 ........DTR (data terminal ready) 5 ........ground 6 ........DSR (data set ready) 7 ........internally connected 8 ........internally connected 9 ........not used...

  • Page 9: Comm Ports

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Label Print Software ..... optional Label Design Software....optional Standard Bar Codes ...... all standard, plus Agfa® True Type™ scalable fonts Power Requirements ..... 110/240V A/C, 50/60 Hz, 400W Dimensions ........20” x 17” x 22”...

  • Page 10: Internal Components

    Internal Components All models contain mechanisms similar to those shown on the 3000 model illustrated. Figure 2, Interior - QLS 3000 Digital Color Printer thermal transfer ribbon (TTR) rewind mandrel (front print station) TTR tension switch TTR unwind mandrel (front print station)

  • Page 11: User Interface

    Keypad & Indicator Lights When power is on, indicator lights provide a visual indication of the printer’s current status. The buttons on the front panel provide access to menus: Figure 3, QLS 2000/3000 Keypad & Indicator Lights Before You Get Started...
  • Page 12 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Print/Pause LED Illuminates when pressed, when the printer is paused, when an error occurs, and when TTR or label media runs out. LCD Display Up Arrow Cycles through settings within a menu; cycles through submenus.

  • Page 13: Chapter 2 Printer Setup

    Communications Printer Drivers Refer to the printer driver documentation for software installation instructions. QLS 2000/3000 series printers can be addressed by a Windows™ driver, by QuickLabel Systems CQL 99™ software, and by third-party software. Platforms Supported IBM-compatible PCs and Macintosh workstations are supported.

  • Page 14: Comm Protocol

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers QLS 2000 and 3000 Series printers can receive data through either a serial or parallel connection. Bidirectional communication (send and receive) is supported serially. TO CONNECT THE PRINTER TO A WORKSTATION: Be sure power is Off.

  • Page 15: Comm Port

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers You will be prompted to confirm that you want to permanently change the communications parameters. To save communications parameters, move the cursor before Yes, then press Select. With the on-display indicator positioned before Delim press Select.

  • Page 16: Baud Rate / Handshaking

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Baud Rate / Handshaking If the Comm Port setting is RS-232 or RS-422, set Baud Rate and Handshaking to match host workstation settings. The default baud rate is 19,200. TO SET BAUD RATE AND HANDSHAKING METHOD: Press the Menu button to display the main menu.

  • Page 17: Media

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Media Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon (TTR) Media If your printer is a QLS 3000 model and you are setting up for process color printing, load ribbon in the following sequence: Front Printhead ......Cyan TTR Center Printhead ......
  • Page 18 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO LOAD TTR: Be sure power is Off. Raise the printer cover. Fully seat TTR roll on the TTR unwind mandrel. Ensure that the ribbon unwinds to the left of and beneath the roll.

  • Page 19: Loading Label Media

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Loading Label Media The Media menu allows you to tell the printer what type of media is loaded on the printer: sensors, image dimensions, label dimensions, and any offsets. Figure 5, Label Media Path, 2000/3000 Series Printers...
  • Page 20 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO LOAD LABELS: Be sure power is Off. Raise the printer cover. To open each printhead, flip the cam lever on each (counterclockwise on standard printheads, clockwise on inverted printheads). Figure 6, Standard Printhead Open...
  • Page 21 Thread the media around the media guide roller and through the media travel sensor housing. On QLS 2001 models, thread media under the media index roller. On all other models thread media over the media index roller. On models with standard print stations, thread the media over the platen rollers and under the guide rollers (if present).

  • Page 22: Specify Media Type

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Specify Media Type Press the Menu pushbutton to display the Main menu. Use the arrow buttons to move the on-display indicator to the Media position, then press the Select button to display the Media menu.
  • Page 23 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers The printer’s internal label queue is reset during calibration. Any labels pending in the queue are terminated. TO CALIBRATE THE PRINTER: Press the Pause/Print button to pause the printer. Press and hold the Form Feed/Advance pushbutton until the gap, notch, or index mark separating labels on the media roll is positioned within two inches of the media travel sensor housing.

  • Page 24: Label Length

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Confirm that the correct type of media (gap, continuous, inverted gap, or mark) is specified. Press Calibrate. Confirm that the correct type of media appears on the display. If the media type displayed is not the actual type loaded, select No and return to step 4.

  • Page 25: Chapter 3 Printing

    Press the Menu button to toggle between the Setup menu and the Operation menu. The Operation menu provides: current printer status ..... Ready, Printing, Paused, Feeding, or Advancing current protocol......QLS-3000, QLS-3001, QLS-2000, or QLS-2001 (standard, for use with Color QuickLabel¨ for Windows) or Graphics (for other Windows applications) current media type......

  • Page 26: Operation

    QuickLabel Systems for use with QLS printers. Printing from CQL 99 or from any Windows compatible third-party application is supported by the printer if the Windows printer driver from QLS is installed. Refer to the CQL 99 documentation or the doumentation for third party products for instructions.

  • Page 27: Advance Media

    The text test pattern allows you to examine the quality of text printing. In particular, while printing process color on the QLS-3000, the text test pattern allows you to ensure the fine color registration required for text. If the black text appears fuzzy or with color shadows, you will want to fine tune web alignment.
  • Page 28 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO SELECT AND PRINT A LINE, TEXT, OR FLOOD TEST PATTERN: Press Menu. Select the Print submenu, then select Test. Select a test pattern. To specify the number of test patterns that you wish to print, use the arrow buttons to move the cursor to the quantity field.

  • Page 29: Heat Intensity

    Examine alignment of the blocks within the test pattern. If registration is off on block edges or the pattern is not square, realign print stations. On the QLS-3000, the process black block should appear black without any other color along an edge. If cyan, magenta, or yellow appears along an edge, realign that print station.

  • Page 30: Printhead Pressure

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO SET HEAT INTENSITY: Press the Menu button. Use the arrow buttons to select Intensity. Press the Select button. On the Intensity menu, use the arrow buttons to select a setting from 1 (coldest) to 32 (hottest) for each printhead: Press the up/down arrows to increase/decrease heat intensity for each individual printhead.
  • Page 31 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO ADJUST PRESSURE ON INDIVIDUAL PRINTHEADS: For standard printheads, flip each printhead cam lever counterclockwise to relieve pressure on and open the printheads, (flip levers clockwise on inverted printheads). Do not lock printheads into the up position.

  • Page 32: Ttr Media Tension

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TTR Media Tension Normally, this adjustment should not be required during the life of a film roll. However, if you notice film wrinkling or one of the colors smudging, you can adjust the tension to alleviate these conditions.

  • Page 33: Web Alignment

    Web Alignment Alignment is particularly important for process color printing on the QLS-3000. Adjust Web Alignment to modify registration at each print station individually. Adjust Print Offset to modify the alignment of all print stations simultaneously.

  • Page 34: Mirror Images

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO ADJUST WEB ALIGNMENT: Press the Menu pushbutton to display the Main menu. Use the arrow buttons to move the on-display indicator to Media, then press Select. The Media menu will be displayed. Select Align.

  • Page 35: Image Area

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Image Area If using CQL 99 or a third-party application to create labels, the width and length of the image area are set within the application. The Image menu in this case will report these parameters as set, and will not require input.

  • Page 36: Job Reprints

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Job Reprints When printing from a Windows application, the last job sent to the printer can be reprinted. TO REPRINT THE LAST JOB STORED IN MEMORY: Use the arrow buttons to select Previous from the Print menu.

  • Page 37: Printer Maintenance

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Chapter 4 Printer Maintenance Routine Cleaning Printer parts accumulate residue, especially those in direct contact with the film. To maintain clear, crisp printing, clean the printer regularly. Cleaning after using a full roll of TTR media is recommended.
  • Page 38 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Use an Astro-Med cleaning pad, a cotton swab, or a soft lint-free cloth wet with isopropyl alcohol and run it on underside of each printhead, especially on the hairline rows of print elements and along the edge of the struts.

  • Page 39: Replacing Parts

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Replacing Parts Printheads TO REMOVE AND REPLACE PRINTHEADS: Turn the printer off and unplug it. For standard printheads, flip the printhead cam lever counterclockwise to relieve pressure on and open the printhead. For inverted printheads, flip the cam lever clockwise to open the printhead.
  • Page 40 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Cable harness Platen roller E-ring/washers securing platen roller Platen support strut Bolt securing platen support strut Printhead retaining plate Center retaining screw Figure 19, Printhead & Platen Roller Installation/Removal Reinsert and tighten the printhead’s captive retaining screw. Be sure the cable harness is not crimped or damaged when the printhead is attached to the printhead plate.

  • Page 41: Platen Rollers

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Platen Rollers Occasionally, you will need to replace the printhead platen rollers. After prolonged use, one or more rollers may develop flat areas, which will affect print quality. TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PLATEN ROLLERS ON STANDARD PRINTHEADS: Turn the printer off and unplug it.
  • Page 42 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers TO REPLACE THE PLATEN ROLLER ON INVERTED PRINTHEADS: Turn the printer Off and lift the cover. Flip the printhead cam down and lock open. Figure 20, Platen Roller Installation/Removal (Inverted Printhead) Platen roller Platen support strut...

  • Page 43: Drive Roller

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove the bracket on the platen roller assembly. The platen roller on the inverted printhead is held in place by a bracket that is screwed over the assembly. Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove the two screws and washers that secure the bracket.
  • Page 44 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers To provide more room to maneuver, the printhead cam on the print station to the right of the drive roller can also be removed. Pressure roller Allen screw Drive roller Drive roller retaining plate Figure 21, Drive Roller Installation/Removal To access the drive roller, lift the pressure roller off the drive roller.

  • Page 45: Upgrade Firmware

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers On the outside of the drive roller, remove the retaining bracket by removing the Phillips screw on the lower portion of the plate. Set the screw and the plate aside. Beside the drive roller, against the inside of the printer, locate the Allen screw.

  • Page 46: Parallel Upgrade

    Double-click on the Printers icon. With the right mouse button, click on any printer currently assigned to the LPT port to be used. (If you have installed the QLS Windows printer driver, the QLS printer should be set up in this manner.) Select the Properties menu item, then click on the Details tab in the Properties window.

  • Page 47: Serial (Rs-232) Upgrade

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Serial (RS-232) Upgrade Press Menu. Select System, then select Upgrade. Use the arrow keys to choose Yes to begin upgrading the printer software, or No to cancel. The printer will reset, and the display will read Waiting for serial data...

  • Page 48: Enable/Disable Ttr Sensors

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Enable/Disable TTR Sensors TO ENABLE OR DISABLE THE PRINTER’S THERMAL TRANSFER RIBBON SENSORS: Press Pause to pause the printer. Press the Menu button, select TTR Sensor Enabled or Disabled and press the Select button.

  • Page 49: Chapter 5 Troubleshooting

    QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers Chapter 5 Troubleshooting Solutions to Common Problems Mechanical Problems PROBLEM SOLUTION Ribbon on one or more of the Increase ribbon tension. Do not over- rewind mandrels is wrinkling. tighten the mandrel or the ink will begin to smudge.
  • Page 50 QLS 2000/3000 Series Digital Color Printers This page intentionally left blank. Troubleshooting...

  • Page 51: Index

    QLS 2000/3000 Digital Color Printers Index alignment............27 drive roller pressure assembly assembling the printer..........7 location............4 bar codes supported ..........3 drivers ............. 1, 7 baud rate............10, 41 DSR..............2 bidirectional communication .......9 Error light............6 block test pattern ..........21 external cutter............3 cable harness .............33 external rewinder..........3...
  • Page 52 QLS 2000/3000 Digital Color Printers current ............19 resolution ............1 memory ribbon............See TTR purge current batch........19 right arrow............6 reprinting from ..........30 RS232/RS422 ............. 1 Menu button............6 RXD..............2 mirror image ............. 28 Select button ............6 number of labels printed........
  • Page 53 QLS 2000/3000 Digital Color Printers This page intentionally left blank. Index...

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