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3. PRINTER OPERATION
EO1-33029
3.1 Overview
3- 1
3. PRINTER OPERATION
3.1 Overview
3.2 Operating Modes
This section provides a functional overview of how the printer receives print
data from your host computer and how it will operate in the various
operating conditions. This section also shows you how to install the TEC
Printer Drivers into your computer.
Labels will be created on the host computer connected to your printer,
using either a commercially available label creation program or using the
TEC Command Program Language. Or if the optional PCL5 Interface
Board has been installed, the printer will be able to print from any
software using the HP-PCL5 Printer Command Language. The label
information sent from your host computer will consist of a series of
commands that inform the printer of the labels size, layout, orientation,
and number of copies to print and will also contain the print data
including scaleable text, graphics, and bar codes. The printer electronics
will decode the commands and manipulate the data to create a bit graphic
image of the label that will be stored in the printer’s memory. The printer
electronics will then transfer the image as a series of dots, one line at a
time, to the thermal print head.
The thermal print head consists of a line of 2560 thermal elements with
each element shaped like a tiny dot. The dot line is 8.5 inches (216.8
mm) in length resulting in a dot density of 300 DPI. As the paper is
advanced through the printer by the paper feed mechanism, the thermal
head continuously prints the image as a series of dot lines at a resolution
of 300 dots per inch, horizontally and vertically.
Precision feeding and back feeding of the label or tag stock is
accomplished through the use of specialized stepping motors and photo-
sensors. The label gap sensor or the black mark sensor tells the printer
electronics when the label or tag stock is properly positioned under the
head for accureate printing.
1.
Tear Off Mode – In this operation mode, when the media has stopped
feeding after printing, the label should be in a position that the
operator can simply pull the media downward against the tear off bar
to tear off the printed label.