Description Of Components And Operation - Hengstler TS-56 Operating Manual

TwinSide TS™ Thermal Printer Family

2.3. Description of Components and Operation

There are several key components or modules to the TwinSide TS™ family of thermal
printers. (Please refer to Fig. 1 and Fig. 1a.) The thermal printheads (not shown) are
positioned above their respective platens. The platens acts as rollers to advance the paper at
the same time they act as a surface against which the spring-loaded printhead presses the
paper to insure good thermal conductivity. The interface, motor used to turn the platen (not
visible in Fig. 1), sensors, printhead, and paper cutter are all connected to the controller,
which sends commands and causes these components to function at the proper time. The
cutter separates the paper from the paper roll when instructed to do so. Several sensors
monitor progress as the printed document is created. All these items are mounted in a
conductive plastic housing to discharge any static and to provide electrical noise shielding.
The paper chute is a short chute protruding from the front of the printer. It snaps in and out
without tools when the printer is not equipped with the optional presenter. The paper chute
should be present for most normal printing applications, but it should be removed for
applications where the printed document is expected to fall freely into a chute or other
pathway. In these cases, the chute may interfere with the free fall of the printed document.
Please note that the chute sensor is located just before the chute, so removing the chute
does not interfere with the chute sensor.
When paper is inserted, the entrance sensor detects its presence and signals the controller.
The controller causes the paper advance motor to turn the platens to draw paper into the
printer. As the paper reaches the first platen, it is pulled under the first , and then the second,
printhead. The paper continues to advance and enters the paper cutter, where it passes
between the cutter blades and into the presenter, passing over the presenter entry sensor.
This signals the printer as to the location of the paper end. The paper is then reversed to the
park position. If the Coating Side detector is enabled by the configuration settings, the
TwinSide TS-56 then attempts, by default, to print a small black mark on both sides of the
paper. It then reverses the paper and sensors detect these printed marks.
information, the printer determines whether 2ST™ or one-sided paper is installed, and, if one
sided, which side can be printed. If the Coating Side detector is disabled, this step will be
skipped. User printing can now begin. After paper loading, the printer will not reverse the
paper except when a printer reset command is issued. This is done to minimize possible
Part No. D 691 023A
Figure 1a
Mod. No. 4 120912 LEV
HENGSTLER
From this
page 11 of 34
®