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P4T/RP4T
User Guide
35
The information in this sec tion is provided for your
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information.
The RP4T printer is equipped with an RFID encoder/reader, which
is integrated into the printer’s printhead assembly. The RP4T en-
codes (writes) information on ultra-thin UHF RFID transponders
that are embedded in “smart” labels, tickets, and tags. The printer
encodes the information; verifies proper encoding; and prints bar
codes, graphics, and/or text on the label’s surface. The RP4T printer
uses Zebra’s extensive set of RFID commends running under ZPL
programming language emulation.
The RFID transponder is sometimes called the RFID tag or an inlay.
The transponder is usually made of an antenna that is bonded to
an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The IC chip contains the RF circuit,
coders, decoders, and memory. If you hold an RFID label up to the
light, you can see the transponder’s antenna, and you can feel a
bump in the label where the IC chip is located.
The RP4T can encode and verify EPC (Electronic Product Code)
Generation 2 Class 1 UHF passive RFID tags, in addition to printing
human readable text and conventional 1 and 2-D barcode informa-
tion on Zebra supplied RFID thermal transfer media.
EPC is a product numbering standard that can be used to identify
a variety of items by using RFID technology. EPC Generation 2 tags
offer advantages over other tag types. The tag identification (TID)
memory in a Generation 2 tag includes the chip manufacturer and
model number information, which can be used to identify which
optional features are present on the tag. These optional features
include those for data content and security.
Gen 2 tags typically have a 96-bit EPC identifier, which is different
from the 64-bit identifiers common in early EPC tags. The 96-bit
EPC code links to an online database, providing a secure way of
sharing product-specific information along the supply chain.
Gen 2 tags also support much larger data structures. The size of
user memory available (if any) varies by the model and manufac-
turer of the tag.
Print quality will be reduced when attempting to print over
the transponder portion of an RFID label. It is recommended
that RFID label layouts should not allow printing over the
RFID transponder portion of a label.
Generation 2 Class 1 UHF Passive Tags Supported By The P4T
Alien Squiggle
Avery Dennison
Raatac Onetenna
Omron Wave
Encoding and printing of an RFID label usually are completed on the
first try, but some failures may occur. If you experience consistent
encoding failures, it may signal a problem with the RFID tags, your
label formats, or with the transponder placement.
If an RFID tag cannot be encoded, “VOID” will be printed on the
label. The printer then attempts to read/encode “n” labels before
the next format is attempted, where “n” is specified by the ZPL
programming language “^RS” command. Acceptable values of “n”
are 1 to 10 and the default is 3. After printing the defined number of
voided RFID labels, printer will go into an error mode. The printer
response to an error is defined by the RFID Setup command and
will allow:
1. No Action (Label format causing the error is dropped)
2. Notification to the Host of the details of the error (Label format
causing the error is dropped).
The user has control of where on the label the VOID is printed.
More information on the “^RS” command may be found in Zebra’s
RFID Programming Guide available on the corporate Web site.
Model RP4T RFID Encoder
Printer Preparation
pg. 7
Connecting the
Printer pg. 27
Radio Regulatory
Information pg. 31
RP4T Printers pg.
35
Maintenance pg. 36
Troubleshooting pg.
38
Specications pg.
43
Appendices pg. 46 Index pg. 52
P4T Overview-
pg. 5
Manual
Introduction pg. 4