Star Micronics TUP900 Integration Manual page 13

Near End Paper Sensor - By monitoring the amount of paper on a roll, a near end
paper sensor is able to alert an operator when the paper roll is about to be
depleted. This allows the operator time to arrange for replacement of the
depleted roll.
Paper Clutching Mechanism – A paper clutching mechanism avoids excessive
wear on the paper feed mechanism of the printer by absorbing the initial force
required to get the paper roll moving and allowing a more gradual effort to be
exerted by the printer.
Paper Roll Diameter – The diameter of a paper roll specifically refers to the
outside diameter of the paper roll. A larger diameter means more paper which in
turn means less paper roll changes.
Paper Roll Holder – A paper roll holder supplies the printing mechanism with a
continuous supply of paper in a manner that fits that specific printer. As a
printing mechanism pulls paper from the roll, more resistance equals more strain
on the mechanism. By providing an efficient paper roll holder, the stress and
wear on the mechanism is lessened. This equals a longer life for the mechanism
and more reliable operation.
Power Supply – Any printer will require a source of power. Power supply
specifically refers to the unit that will provide the printer with the amount and
intensity of power it requires. Printer power supplies generally have AC
(Alternating Current) input and DC (Direct Current) output. The voltage and
amperage required by a specific printer will be provided in the Specifications and
Operations manual in most cases.
Presenter – A presenter, also known as a "document presenter", will contain the
document during printing and only allow the user access to the document after
printing has completed. This ensures that the user will not attempt to remove the
document prior to completion of printing. By not allowing the user to prematurely
remove the document from the printer, paper jams and damage to the printing
mechanism will be eliminated. Some presenters offer the added functionality of
retracting the document into the enclosure if the user does not remove the
document in due time. The amount of time elapsed between presentation and
retraction is typically pre-determined by command.
Remote Monitoring – Remote monitoring refers to the ability to retrieve an
electronic report of the operational status of a printer via remote communication.
This feature is commonly used to monitor maintenance intervals that are based
on the amount of use the printer gets. However, remote monitoring can also be
used to keep a close eye on paper levels in unattended applications where a
"paper out" condition can be quite costly.
Utilities – Configuration of printers generally depends on the use of explicit
commands. Utilities use graphical interfaces to automate these command
procedures to make use and implementation simpler. Utilities can load graphics
to the printer's memory for faster printing or make configuration changes to the
printer, for example. Utilities aid in the simple integration of a printer to a
specific application.