Introduction; Copyright Notice And Disclaimer; Modes Of Operation; Idle Mode - ABLE Systems Ap890 User Manual

Hand held impact printer

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INTRODUCTION

This document is a User Guide, written for the person connecting and using the Able Systems Ap890

or Ap892 hand held impact printer. Please read this Guide carefully before making any connection.

The Ap890 and Ap892 are part of the Ap800 Series of Hand-Held Packaged Printers and share many

features of the range.

The Ap890 includes the EPSON M190 24-column impact printer mechanism

The Ap892 includes the EPSON M192 40-column impact printer mechanism

Throughout this User Guide the name Ap890 should be taken to refer to both the Ap890 and

the Ap892 where no distinction is necessary.

The Ap890 always requires a data input from a host. The power arrangement may be:

a battery pack (and optional charger) for mobile applications

a direct mains powered PSU unit

a direct vehicle adaptor for powering from a vehicle supply

The Ap890 contains the A191SC microcontroller, which is also featured in the Able Systems Ap24-XS

Panel Mounted printer range. The host programming control codes are identical for these products.

1.1

software) and circuit diagrams, pin connection lists and application data. No warranty in respect of

patent rights of Able Systems Limited or of third parties is given. Unauthorised reproduction or

amendment of controller firmware may result in prosecution.

Design Registration of the Ap800 printer has been applied for.

EPSON is a registered mark of its owner Seiko Epson Corporation. References to this or other

owners' marks in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

Able Systems do not assume responsibility for interchangeable functionality of other parties'

command sets.

The Ap890 has three operating modes:

"Idle Mode": awake and ready to accept data, but no data are in the buffer awaiting

printing, and the printer motor is not running

"Printing Mode": data received into the buffer is printed out

"Sleep Mode": effectively switched off, and awaiting a press on the paper feed button,

connection of the external charger, or some data from the host to exit sleep mode

Operational status is indicated by colour combinations on the front-panel LED. These can indicate

charger/battery status, paper status and so on. No light is emitted in sleep mode. (See section '6.1

Standard LED Patterns' for more details).

2.1

In idle mode, the printer is ready to receive data, which will be printed as soon as complete lines or

graphics patterns are decoded. It responds to the paper feed button by Fast Feeding paper. Power

consumption is such that a fully-charged battery pack would last up to 10 hours, but the printer will

normally switch from idle mode into sleep mode when there is no activity, extending battery life.

Ap890 and Ap892 User Guide Page 2 of 12

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