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TSC Alpha-4L series User Manual

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  • Page 1 pha-4 4L Se ries arcode e Prin nter ER’S MANU...
  • Page 2 Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of TSC Auto ID Technology Co. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, for any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal use, without the expressed...
  • Page 3 Agenc y Complia ance and A Approvals E CLASS B N 55022:201 10/AC:2011 1, EN61000 0-3-2:2014,E EN61000-3- -3:2013 N 55024:201 10 ,IEC6100 00-4-2,IEC6 61000-4-3, IEC61000-4 4-4, IEC610 000-4- 5, I IEC61000-4 4-6, IEC610 000-4-8, IEC C61000-4-1 N301489-1,E EN301489-1 17,EN3003 28,EN3018 893, N50556:201 3,EN62311...
  • Page 4 Battery safety warning: DO NOT throw the battery in fire. DO NOT short circuit the contacts. DO NOT disassemble the battery. DO NOT throw the battery in municipal waste. The symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal waste.
  • Page 5 & your body. For body worn operation, this device has been tested and meets the FCC RF exposure guidelines when used with the belt clip accessory provided by TSC. Use of other accessories may not ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines.
  • Page 6 RF exposure warning (WiFi) This equipment must be installed and operated in accordance with provided instructions and must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. End-users and installers must be providing with antenna installation instructions and transmitter operating conditions for satisfying RF exposure compliance.
  • Page 7 Informations concernant l'exposition aux fréquences radio (RF) La puissance de sortie émise par l’appareil de sans fil Dell est inférieure à la limite(1.6W/Kg) d'exposition aux fréquences radio d'Industry Canada (IC). Utilisez l’appareil de sans fil Dell de façon à minimiser les contacts humains lors du fonctionnement normal.

  • Page 8: Table Of Contents

    Contents 1. Introduction ........................ 1 1.1 Product Introduction ..................... 1 1.2 Product Features ....................2 1.2.1 Printer Standard Features ....................2 1.2.2 Printer Optional Features ....................3 1.3 General Specifications ..................5 1.4 Print Specifications ....................5 1.5 Media Specifications ..................... 6 2.
  • Page 9 4. Power-on Utilities ....................28 4.1 Power-on Utility for Standard Panel ..............28 4.1.1 Media Sensor Calibration .................... 29 4.1.2 Self-test and Dump Mode..................... 29 4.1.3 Printer Initialization ..................... 30 4.2 Power-on Utility for LCD Panel (Option) ............31 4.2.1 Media Sensor Calibration ..................... 31 4.2.2 Self-test and Dump Mode ....................
  • Page 10 6.6 Language ......................56 6.7 Service ......................... 56 7. Troubleshooting ....................... 57 8. Maintenance ......................59 Revise History ....................... 60 - ix -...

  • Page 12: Introduction

    To print label formats, please refer to the instructions provided with your labeling software; if you need to write the custom programs, please refer to the TSPL/TSPL2 programming manual that can be found on the accessories CD-ROM or on TSC website at http://www.tscprinters.com.

  • Page 13: Product Features

    1.2 Product Features 1.2.1 Printer Standard Features The printer offers the following standard features. Product standard feature Direct thermal printing Black mark reflective sensor (center position , black mark in back side) Gap transmissive sensor (Fixed, center of offset 2.75 mm to right from center) Head open sensor Peeler sensor 2 operation buttons (On/off and feed)

  • Page 14: Printer Optional Features

    Code page ‚ Codepage 437 (English - US) ‚ Codepage 737 (Greek) ‚ Codepage 850 (Latin-1) ‚ Codepage 852 (Latin-2) ‚ Codepage 855 (Cyrillic) ‚ Codepage 857 (Turkish) ‚ Codepage 860 (Portuguese) ‚ Codepage 861 (Icelandic) ‚ Codepage 862 (Hebrew) ‚...
  • Page 15 Mini USB cable Mini USB to RS-232 (serial) converter cable IP54-rated environmental case with shoulder strap (for standard model) IP54-rated environmental case (for standard model) IP54-rated environmental case with shoulder strap (for linerless model) IP54-rated environmental case (for linerless model) Shoulder strap Vehicle power adaptor DC 7.2V/5800 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery...

  • Page 16: General Specifications

    1.3 General Specifications General Specifications Physical 160 mm (W) x 191.6 mm (H) x 79 mm (D) dimensions Mechanism Plastic with rubber over molded Weight 0.945 kg (w/o battery) External power adapter Power Input: AC 100-240V Output: DC 12V 1A Operation: -10 ~ 50˚C (14 ~ 122˚F) Storage: -40 ~ 60 ˚C (-40 ~ 140˚F) Environmental...

  • Page 17: Media Specifications

    1.5 Media Specifications Media Specifications Media roll capacity Max. 2.65” (67.3 mm) OD Media core diameter 12.7 mm ~ 25.4 mm (0.5” ~ 1”) ID core Continuous, die-cut, black mark, External fan- Media type fold, receipt, Linerless label (w/ linerless kit) Media wound type Outside wound Media width...

  • Page 18: Operations Overview

    2. Operations Overview 2.1 Unpacking and Inspection This printer has been specially packaged to withstand damage during shipping. Please carefully inspect the packaging and printer upon receiving the bar code printer. Please retain the packaging materials in case you need to reship the printer. Unpacking the printer, the following items are included in the carton.

  • Page 19: Printer Overview

    2.2 Printer Overview 2.2.1 Front View Power on/off button Feed button Printer status LED indicator Battery status LED indicator Media cover release button Peel-off sensor (Without for linerless model) Print head Transmissive sensor – Gap sensor Media holder lock switch Media holder Media cover Reflective sensor –...

  • Page 20: Rear View

    2.2.2 Rear View Li-ion battery Belt chip Battery open clasp Hanger for shoulder strap External label entrance chute USB interface * MicroSD card socket Power jack Note: * Recommended MicroSD card specification. SD card spec SD card capacity Approved SD card manufacturer V1.0, V1.1 MicroSD 128 MB Transcend, Panasonic...

  • Page 21: Operator Control

    2.3 Operator Control 2.3.1 LED Indication and Keys Keys Function Press and hold for 2-3 seconds to turn on the printer Press and hold for 2-3 seconds to turn off the printer Ready status: Feed one label Printing status: Pause the print job Status Indication LEDs...

  • Page 22: Led Indication And Keys For Lcd (Option)

    2.3.2 LED Indication and Keys for LCD (Option) Keys Function Display the printer information Button for LCD setting menu Enter the printer setting menu Button for LCD setting menu Press and hold for 2-3 seconds to turn on the printer Press and hold for 2-3 seconds to turn off the printer Button for LCD setting menu Ready status: Feed one label...

  • Page 23: Setup

    3. Setup 3.1 Insta ll the Be lt Clip an nd Batter Insert the e belt clip fi irst. Insert the e left side to o install th battery at t the rear o of the printer. Push the right side of the battery.

  • Page 24: Charge The Battery

    3.2 Charg ge the Ba attery It take es 5~6 hou urs to fully charge the e battery be efore the f irst time us sage. The lifetime of the ba attery is 30 00 times fo r charge/d ischarge c cycles.

  • Page 25: Loading The Media

    3.3 Loadi ing the M Media 3.3.1 Load ding the M Media Open the e printer m media cover by y pressing t media co over releas button. Pull the m media hold ders apart to f fit the labe l roll width.
  • Page 26 Tu urn on the p printer and open/clos se the medi a cover then it wi ill calibrate t sensor au utomatically * Please re efer to video o on TSC YouTube or driver C - 15 -...

  • Page 27: Loading Media In Peel-Off Mode

    3 3 .3.2 Load d ing Media a in Peel-o o ff Mode Please re efer to bsection 3.3.1 to l loading the e media roll into t the printer. Note: Please cal ibrate the g ap/black mark sens sor after load ding media in p peel-off mod...
  • Page 28 Feed the e liner go th hrough the peele er module. figure sh hown) Pull the l liner tightly 6. M Move the p eeler modu ule to near r the peele er bar by pu ushing eac ch side of p peeler module.
  • Page 29 7. P Press down n the peele er module t to lock it. Loos se the peel ler module in the reve erse proce e dures: - 18 -...

  • Page 30: Loading The Fan-Fold/External Media

    3 3 .3.3 Load d ing the Fa a n-fold/Ex x ternal Me edia 1. Ope en the print ter media c cover by pres ssing the m media cove rele ase button n. Pull the media hold ders apart t to fit the m media widt...
  • Page 31 4. Pres ss each sid de of medi ia cover to c lose the m media cove r and ke sure the e media co over clos sed correct tly. Note Pleas se calibrate the gap/bla ack mark sens or when cha anging med dia.

  • Page 32: Loading The Linerless Media (Option)

    3 3 .3.4 Load d ing the Li i nerless Media (Opti ion) 1. Plea ase refer to subsectio on 3.3.1 to lo oading the media roll into the prin ter. 2. Pus sh down ea ach side of f media hold der lock sw witch to fix...

  • Page 33: Connecting The Printer

    3.4 Conn ecting th he Printe The p printer mus st establish communic cation with h a host ter rminal whic ch sends t he data to be pri nted. Ther re are three e ways to c connect fo or Alpha-4L L series, By a cable...

  • Page 34: Install The Ip54-Rated Environmental Case With Shoulder Strap (Option)

    3 3 .5 Install the IP5 5 4-rated Environ mental C C ase with h Shoulde er Strap (Option) 1. Ope en the cas se top ver. 2. Put t the printe er into the 3. Clo ose the cas se top ver.

  • Page 35: Install The Adapter For 0.75" And 1" Paper Core (Option)

    3 3 .6 Install the Ad d apter for 0.75” a and 1” P P aper Cor re (Optio 1. Chec ck the parts ‚ A dapter x 2 ‚ S crew x 2 ‚ N ut x 2 2. Put th he nut on t the media holder.
  • Page 36 4. Pull the media holders apart. Push down another side of media holder lock switch to keep the media holder in max width. 5. Tighten the screw on nut for fixing the adapter on media holder. Note: Press the nut with hand when tighten the screw.

  • Page 37: Install The Belt Strap (Option/ Standard For Linerless Model)

    3 3 .7 Insta ll the Be lt Strap (Option/ Standar rd for line erless mo odel) 1. Tigh ten 2 screw ws on the printer. For line rless mode 2. P Pull up the e belt strap to lock it o on the screws.
  • Page 38 - 27 -...

  • Page 39: Power-On Utilities

    4. Power-on Utilities There are three power-on utilities to set up and test printer hardware. These utilities are activated by pressing FEED button ( ) then turning on the printer power ( ) simultaneously and release the button at different positions of LED indicator. 4.1 Power-on Utility for Standard Panel Please follow the steps below for different power-on utilities.

  • Page 40: Media Sensor Calibration

    4.1.1 Media Sensor Calibration Please follow the steps below to calibrate the media sensor. 1. Turn off the printer power switch. 2. Hold on the FEED button ( ) then turn on the power switch ( 3. Release the power switch ( ) when LED color turn on amber.

  • Page 41: Printer Initialization

    4. The printer will beep sound twice later, then release the FEED button ( ) when the indicator becomes and blinking. 5. Printer will calibrate the sensor and print out the internal settings, then enter the dump mode. Note: Turn off/on the power or press FEED button to resume printer from dump mode to normal printing mode.

  • Page 42: Power-On Utility For Lcd Panel (Option)

    4.2 Power-on Utility for LCD Panel (Option) Please follow the steps below for different power-on utilities. 1. Turn off the printer power switch. 2. Hold on the FEED button ( ) then turn on the power switch ( 3. Release the power switch ( ) when “Error”...

  • Page 43: Self-Test And Dump Mode

    Note: In this moment, you should still hold on the FEED button. 4. The printer will beep sound twice later, then release the FEED button ( ) when LCD showing “Calibrate…..”. 5. Printer will calibrate the gap/black mark sensor sensitivity. Note: You also can do this function by open/close the media cover when turn on the printer.

  • Page 44: Printer Initialization

    Beep sound twice Æ Calibrate….. (5 dots) Æ Æ Initialize….. (5 Self Test….. (5 dots) dots) Æ Turn on the printer 4.2.3 Printer Initialization Printer initialization is used to clear DRAM and restore printer settings to defaults. Printer initialization is activated by the following procedures. 1.

  • Page 45: Self-Test

    4.3 Self-test Printer will print the printer configuration after media sensor calibration. Self-test printout can be used to check if there is any dot damage on the heater element, printer configurations and available memory space. Note: Self-test printout requires 4” wide paper width. Printer model name &...

  • Page 46: Dump Mode

    4.4 Dump mode Printer will enter dump mode after printing printer configuration. In the dump mode, all characters will be printed in 2 columns as following. The left side characters are received from your system and right side data are the corresponding hexadecimal value of the characters.

  • Page 47: Printer Defaults

    4.5 Printer defaults Printer configuration will be restored to defaults as below after initialization. Parameter Default setting Speed 50.8 mm/sec (2 ips) Density Media Width 4” (101.5 mm) Media Height 4” (101.5 mm) Sensor Type Gap sensor Print Direction Reference Point 0,0 (upper left corner) Gap Offset Post-Print Action...

  • Page 48: Diagnostic Tool

    5. Diagnostic Tool TSC’s Diagnostic Utility is an integrated tool incorporating features that enable you to explore a printer’s settings/status; change a printer’s settings; download graphics, fonts and firmware; create a printer bitmap font; and send additional commands to a printer.

  • Page 49: Printer Function

    5 5.2 Print er Funct tion 1. Co onnect the printer an d compute er with a ca able. Note: * The printe er connects with the com mputer via U USB to USB B cable or US SB to RS-23 32 cable (option).

  • Page 50: Setting Wi-Fi By Diagnostic Tool (Option)

    5.4 Setting Wi-Fi by Diagnostic Tool (Option) 1. Connect the printer and computer with the cable. Note: * The printer connects with the computer via USB to USB cable or USB to RS-232 cable (option). 2. Turn on the printer power switch. 3.

  • Page 51: Lcd Menu Function (Option)

    6. LCD Menu Function (Option) The Alpha-4L series offer the LCD panel for selection to further enhance its capabilities to meet the demands of a wide range of printing solutions. This option feature includes LCD control panel, 4 buttons and 2 LED display. Please press the “M” button to enter the setting menu.
  • Page 52 Icon Function Display printer information Enter setting menu Power switch Scroll up Scroll down Return to previous menu Enter to next menu Enter setting mode Exit setting mode Save the selected settings and return to previous menu Select Alter to OFF Alter to ON For example: Change the speed setting, please following steps as below.
  • Page 53 3. At this status, you can scroll up or scroll down to select the value of print speed. Then press button to save the selected value into the printer. Press “ ” butter to back to “Ready mode”. - 42 -...

  • Page 54: Main Menu Overview

    Main Menu Setup File Manager Diagnostics Language Service Printer DRAM Print Config. English Initialization Sensor FLASH Dump Mode Serial Battery *Wireless Print Head Bluetooth Date Time Display Note: * The Wireless LAN function is optional for Alpha-4L series. - 43 -...

  • Page 55: Setup

    6.3 Setup This “S Setup” categ gory can se et up the se nsor, serial comm., wir reless, date e time and d display setting 6.3.1 Print ter Setup 6.3.1-1 P Printer set tup for TS SPL2 Speed Density Directio Print Mo Offset Main M...
  • Page 56 This item is used to set the print mode. There are 3 modes as below, Printer Mode Description Next label top of form is aligned to the print Batch None Print mode head burn line location. (Tear Off Mode) Mode Once image is printed completely, label gap/black mark will be fed to the tear plate Batch Mode...

  • Page 57: Printer Setup For Zpl2

    6.3.1-2 P Printer set tup for ZP Density int Speed Tear Off rint Mode rint Width ist Fonts st Images Main Men Setu ZPL2 st Formats ist Setup ntrol Prefix rmat Prefix imiter Char Medi a Power Up ead Close ft Position Item Descri...
  • Page 58 This feature is used to print current printer available fonts list to List Fonts the label. The fonts stored in the printer’s DRAM, Flash or optional memory card. This feature is used to print current printer available images list to the label.

  • Page 59: Sensor

    6 6 .3.2 Sens Black Mar Calib bration Continuou Scan Scan Ba acking aper Scan Manua al Setup Black Mar Scan n Mark Paper Scan emove Continuou Label Paper Main Setup Sensor Menu Auto Thre eshold Fixed ximum ngth Adva anced Min.

  • Page 60: Serial Comm

    6 6 .3.3 Seria al Comm. 1200 bps 2400 bps 4800 bps 9600 bps d Rate 19200 bp 38400 bp 57600 bp 115200 bp None Main Menu etup Serial Comm arity Even ta Bits Stop p Bit(s) Item Descripti Defa ault Baud Rate...

  • Page 61: Wireless Lan

    6 6 .3.4 Wire eless LAN Infrastr ructure Opera ating Mode Ad-h n Menu Setup reless LAN can AP DHCP Item Descri iption Default This ite em is used t to set the o perating mo ode of wirel less local a rea network ks to conne...

  • Page 62: Date Time

    6 6 .3.5 Date e Time Date Main Me Setup te Time Time Item Descripti Default This item is used to s set the date e. (ex: 2013- -05-30) This item is used to s set the time e. (ex: 19:20 0:02) - 51 -...

  • Page 63: Display

    6 6 .3.7 Disp Always On Always Off 5 Seconds 10 Second Contras 30 Second Main Menu Setup splay Backligh 1 Minute 5 Minutes 10 Minutes 30 Minutes 1 Hour 5 Hours Item Descripti Default ntrast This item is used to s set the cont trast for disp play.

  • Page 64: File Manager

    6 6 .4 File M Manager This fe ature is use ed to check the printer available m memory and d file list. DRAM Save ed file list Available m memory) FLASH Saved d file list Main M Menu File Manager Available m emory)

  • Page 65: Diagnostics

    6.5 Diagn nostics Main Men Diagnostic Prin nt Config. Dump Mode Batte Print t Head 6.5.1 Prin nt Config. Main Men Diagnostics int Config. This feature is u used to prin nt current pr rinter config guration to th he label. On n the config guration...

  • Page 66: Battery

    6.5.3 Batte Main Men Diagnostics Battery This feature is u used to che eck the print ter battery v voltage. 6.5.4 Print t Head Main Men Diagnostics Print Head This feature is u used to che eck the print ter tempera ture, resista a nce, and b bad dots for print head.

  • Page 67: Language

    6.6 Langu uage Main Men Language English This option is us sed to setu p the langu age on LCD D display. 6.7 Servi Main Men Service itialization This feature is u used to rest tore printer settings to defaults. Pl ease refer t section 4 4.5.

  • Page 68: Troubleshooting

    7. Troubleshooting The following guide lists the most common problems that may be encountered when operating this bar code printer. If the printer still does not function after all suggested solutions have been invoked, please contact the Customer Service Department of your purchased reseller or distributor for assistance.
  • Page 69 * Reload the supply. * Clean the print head. * Media is loaded incorrectly * Clean the platen roller. * Dust or adhesive accumulation * Adjust the print density and print on the print head. Poor Print Quality speed. * Print density is not set properly. * Run printer self-test and check the * Print speed is not set properly.

  • Page 70: Maintenance

    8. Maintenance This session presents the clean tools and methods to maintain your printer. 1. Please use one of following material to clean the printer. „ Cotton swab „ Lint-free cloth „ Vacuum / Blower brush „ 100% Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol 2.

  • Page 71: Revise History

    Revise History Date Content Editor 2013/10/4 Modify section 2.3.2 Camille 2013/10/31 Modify section 1.3 and 3.2 Camille * Modify section 1.2.2 2014/1/8 Camille * Add section 3.6 (Install the adapter for 0.75” and 1” paper core) 2014/1/23 Modify section 1.3 Camille 2014/4/30 Add section 3.7 (Install the belt strap)
  • Page 73 9F., No.95, Minquan Rd., Xindian Dist., No.35, Sec. 2, Ligong 1st Rd., Wujie Township, New Taipei City 23141, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Yilan County 26841, Taiwan (R.O.C.) TEL: +886-2-2218-6789 TEL: +886-3-990-6677 FAX: +886-2-2218-5678 FAX: +886-3-990-5577 Web site: www.tscprinters.com E-mail: printer_sales@tscprinters.com TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd. tech_support@tscprinters.com...

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