Zebra R2844-Z - Manuals

INSPECTING THE PRINTER (continued) After opening the printer, check the media compartment. 4 980476-001A

Closing the printer Hold the top cover and press the“kick-stand” cover lock to release. Lower the top cover. The ribboncarriage automatically folds up into place. Press down until the cover snaps closed. 980476-001A 5

Reporting Damage If you discover damage or missing parts: ■ Immediately notify and file a damage report with the shipping company.The manufacturer is not responsible for any damage incurred duringshipment of the printer and will not cover the repair of this damageunder its warranty policy. ■ Keep th...

Getting Started This section describes how to set up your printer for the first time and usethe most common operating procedures for loading media in tear-off modeand loading ribbon. Modes of Printing You can operate this printer in different modes: ■ Standard tear-off mode allows you to tear off ea...

Attaching Power Supply Check the power supply to make certain it is appropriate for your inputvoltage. Caution • Use the power supply that came with your printer. Never operate theprinter and power supply in an area where they can get wet. Serious personal injurycould result! 1. Make sure the power ...

Loading Roll Media When you load media, you must place the roll on the media hangers andthen adjust the media guides. You must use the correct media for the type of printing you require. Whenprinting without a ribbon, you must use direct thermal media. When usingribbon, you must use thermal transfer...

Adjusting the Guides The adjustable guides direct the mediatoward the platen and print head. 1. Open the media guides by turning the guide adjuster knob to the rear. 2. Thread the media through the guides. 3. Close the media guides by turning the guide adjuster knob to the front. Theyshould just tou...

Using the Optional Media Adapter Plates If your media roll has a larger diametercore, you can use an accessory to adaptthe core to the media holders. 1. Note which position will fit the diameter of the roll core. 2. On the left side plate, align the pegs with the screws and use a smallPhillips drive...

Loading Ribbon You must use thermal transfer media (accepts wax and/or resin transferredoff a ribbon) when you use a ribbon. When loading ribbon, you install thesupply and take-up rolls, then tighten the ribbon on the carriage. Install the Ribbon Supply Roll Before following these steps, prepare the...

Attach and Tighten the Ribbon You must align the ribbon so that it willbe taken straight onto the core. 1. Attach the ribbon to the take up core. Use the adhesive strip on new rolls;otherwise, use tape. 2. Turn the ribbon take-up gear counter-clockwise (top moves towardrear) to remove slack from the...

Operator Controls Power Switch Press up to turn ON or down to turn OFF the printer. CAUTION • The power should be turned off before connecting or disconnecting thecommunications and power cables. Feed Button Press once to feed one blank label. Press once to take the printer out of a “pause” conditio...

Printing a Test Label Before you connect the printer to yourcomputer, make sure that the printer is inproper working order. You can do this byprinting a configuration label. 1. Make sure the media is properly loaded and the top cover of the printeris closed. Then, turn the printerpower on if you hav...

Hooking Up the Printer and Computer Your printer will have one of two combinations of interfaces: ■ Universal Serial Bus (USB), parallel and serial ■ USB, ethernet, and serial Each specific interface option—USB, parallel, ethernet, serial—is discussedindividually. You must supply the required interf...

Parallel Interface Requirements The required cable (IEEE 1284-compliant is recommended) must have astandard 36-pin parallel connector on one end, which is plugged into theparallel port located on the back of the printer. The other end of the parallelinterface cable connects to the printer connector ...

Communicating with the Printer Universal Serial Bus (USB) Communications The printer is a terminal device when using a universal serial bus interface.You can refer to the Universal Serial Bus Specification for details regardingthis interface. Parallel Communications When using the parallel port, typ...

Serial Communications Serial communications between the printer and the host computer can be setby either autobaud synchronization or the ^SC command. Autobaud Autobaud synchronization allows the printer to automatically match thecommunication parameters of the host computer. To autobaud: 1. Press a...

Adjusting the Print Width Print width must be calibrated when: ■ You are using the printer for the first time. ■ There is a change in the width of the media. Print width may be set by way of the five-flash sequence in “Feed ButtonModes” (see page 70) or refer to the Print Width ( ^PW ) command (cons...

Operation & Options This section helps you get the most from your printer. You must use programming to control many of the printer ’s functions. Afew examples: ■ The ~JL command controls label length. ■ The ^XA^MTD^XZ command changes the printing mode to direct thermal; the ^XA^MTT^XZ command ch...

Replacing Supplies If labels or ribbon run out while printing, leave the printer power on whilereloading (data loss results if you turn off the printer). After you load a newlabel or ribbon roll, press the Feed button to restart . Always use high quality, approved labels, tags and ribbons. If adhesi...

Printing in Peel-Mode The optional dispenser allows youto print in “peel-mode” where thelabel backing follows a different path andthe labels are presented one at a time forsubsequent placement. Before using peel-mode, you must sendthe programming commands ^XA ^MMP ^XZ^XA ^JUS ^XZ to the printer. Ref...

Printing on Fan-Fold Media Printing on fan-fold media requires you toset both the media hangers and the mediaguides in position. 1. Open the top cover. 2. With a sample of your media, adjust the media hangers to the width of themedia. The hangers should just touch,but not restrict, the edges of them...

RFID Guidelines The Zebra R2844-Z Smart Label Printer and Encoder serves as dynamictool for both printing and programming smart labels and tags. These labelsand tags are usually made from two components, media and an RFID (radiofrequency identification) transponder. ■ The media is comprised of synth...

If an RFID tag is declared defective (fails to program correctly or cannot bedetected) the printer ejects it and prints the word "void" across the entirelabel (see samples on page 45). If problems persist, this process—using thesame data and format—will continue from one to ten tags; you set...

Supported Transponders Use transponders specifically approved for use in the R2844-Z printer.Failure to do so may result in the inability to read or write to imbeddedRFID tags. For a current list of approved transponders, contact ZebraTechnologies Corporation or visit the website (http://www.rfid.ze...

Transmission and Identification Standards ISO-15693 ISO-15693 is an international standard for 13.56 MHz RFID devices. Asthis is a public standard, tags and integrated circuits may be produced by awide variety of manufacturers. The current standard stipulates thatmanufacturers may configure memory i...

Manufacturers and Brands In your printer, you can use these brands of transponders: ■ Texas Instruments® Tag-it™ ■ Philips® I•Code ■ Inside Technologies Picotag® 2K ■ Infineon Technologies® my-d vicinity 30 980476-001A

Texas Instruments® Tag-it™ Transponders Texas Instruments transponders are high frequency (13.56MHz) RFIDdevices. Each transponder has 256 bits of memory. Data is segmented into4-byte (32-bit) blocks that are uniquely addressable, for a total of 8 blocks.Each memory block is lockable using the write...

Philips® I•Code Transponders Philips I•Code transponders are high frequency (13.56MHz) RFID devices.Each transponder has 512 bits of memory. Data is segmented into 4 byte(32 bit) blocks that are uniquely addressable for a total of 16 blocks. Eachmemory block is lockable using the write protect funct...

Inside Technologies Picotag® Transponders Inside Technologies Picotag® transponders are high frequency (13.56MHz)RFID devices. Each transponder has 2048 bits of memory. Data issegmented into 8 byte (64 bit) blocks that are uniquely addressable for atotal of 31 blocks. Blocks 6 to 12 are lockable usi...

Infineon Technologies® my-d vicinity Transponders Infineon Technologies® my-d vicinity transponders are high frequency(13.56MHz) RFID devices. Each transponder has 10,000 bits of memory.Data is segmented into 128 pages where each page has 8 bytes data storageand 2 bytes administrative storage. Infin...

ZPL II Commands for RFID Valid programming requires that printer instructions begin with the StartFormat command (^XA) and finish with the End Format command (^XZ);they are the opening and closing brackets, respectivley, of a label formatinstruction. This subsection describes the RFID-related comman...

^WT – Write Tag The format for the ^WT instruction is: ^WTb,r,m,w,f,v where the parameters are: b = block number Default value: 0Other values: 1 to n, where n is the maximum number ofblocks for the tag This is the starting block number. If the user sends more than a block of data itwill overflow int...

^RT – Read Tag (continued) Example: This reads a block from a tag, and prints it on a label: ^XA ^RS1,0^FS ^FO20,120^A0N,60^FN1^FS ^FO20,100^A0N,20^FN2^FS ^RT1,7,3,0,5,0,0^FS ^RT2,2,2,0,5,0,0^FS ^XZ The first ^RT command automatically detects the tag type, starting at block7, reads three blocks of d...

^RI – RFID Get Tag ID The format for the ^RI instruction is: ^RI#,f,r,m where the parameters are: # = field number to store the unique ID Default value: 0Other values: 1 to 9999 f = format Default value: 0- MSB first for ISO15693. LSB first in other tags. Other value: 1- LSB first for ISO15693. MSB ...

^RE – Enable/Disable Electronic Article Surveillance Bit Use this command to set the Electronic Article Surveillance (E.A.S.) bit.This command has no effect on transponders (such as the Texas InstrumentsISO 15693) that do not support E.A.S. capabilities. The format for the ^RE instruction is: ^REt,r...

RFID Programming Examples ZPL II TM is Zebra Technologies Corporation’s Zebra Programming Language II label design language. ZPL II lets you create a wide variety oflabels from the simple to the very complex, including text, bar codes, andgraphics. This subsection is not intended as an introduction ...

Sending ZPL Commands to the Printer For your programming, do the following: 1. Set up the printer and turn the power on. 2. Use any word processor or text editor capable of creating ASCII-only files (for example, Microsoft Word® and save as a .txt file) and type inthe label format exactly as shown i...

Handling Voided Transponders Line # Type this label format Resulting printout 1. ^XA See next page 2. ^RS,800,,2,P^FS 3. ^XZ Line 1 Indicates start of label format.Line 2 Moves the media to 800 dots from the top of the media (or label length minus 800 from the bottom (leading edge) and voids the res...

Maintenance Cleaning When you clean the printer, use one or more of the following supplies thatbest suits your needs: CLEANING SUPPLIES Cleaning pens (12) Cleaning swabs (25) Cleaning cards, 4-in wide (25) Save-a-Print Head film, 4-in wide (3) The cleaning process takes just a couple of minutes usin...

Adhesives and coatings of media can over time transfer onto the printercomponents along the media path including the platen and print head.This build-up can accumulate dust and debris. Failure to clean the printhead, media path and platen roller could result in inadvertent loss of labels,label jams ...

Platen Considerations The standard platen (drive roller) normally does not require cleaning. Paperand liner dust can accumulate without effecting print operations.Contaminates on the platen roller can damage the print head or cause themedia to slip when printing. Adhesive, dirt, general dust, oils a...

Replacing the Platen Removal Open the printer and remove any media. 1. Using a pointed stylus (such as tweezers, small slot-head screwdriver,or razor-knife), unhook the tabs on theright and left sides. Then rotate themforward. 2. Lift the platen out of the printer’s bottom frame. Assembly Make sure ...

Replacing the Print Head In the event you need to replace the print head, read the procedure andreview the removal and installation steps before actually replacing the printhead. Prepare your work area by protecting against static discharge. Your workarea must be static-safe and include a properly g...

Thermal-Transfer TLP Model Before following the steps in thisprocedure, open the printer bypulling the release latches forward thenlifting the top cover. Remove any ribbonfrom the carriage. Removal 1. Grasp the print head spring and pull it to the left; then, slide it free of thecarriage. 2. Use the...

Troubleshooting Resolutions 1. The printer is not receiving power. ■ Have you turned on the printer power? ■ Check power connections from the wall outlet to the power supply, andfrom the power supply to the printer. 2. The printer is on and in an idle state. ■ No action necessary. 980476-001A 61 Wha...

3. The printer has failed its power on self test (POST). ■ If this error occurs right after you turn on the printer, contact anauthorized reseller for assistance. There is a shortage of memory. ■ If this error occurs after you have been printing, turn the printer poweroff and on. Then, resume printi...

7. The print head is under temperature. ■ Continue printing while the print head reaches the correct operatingtemperature. The print head is over temperature. ■ Printing will stop until the print head cools to an acceptable printingtemperature. When it does, the printer will automatically resumeoper...

Print Quality Problems No print on the label. ■ You must use the correct media for the method of printing you require.When printing without a ribbon, y ou must use direct thermal media.When using ribbon, you must use thermal transfer media. The printer 'sribbon sensor detects motion of the supply sp...

The printing does not start at the top of the label, or misprinting of one to three labels. ■ The media may not be threaded under the media guides. Refer to“Loading the Media” on page 9. ■ The printer needs to be calibrated. Refer to “Auto Calibration” on page14. ■ The correct media sensor may not b...

RFID Symptoms External reader cannot confirm RFID tags are programmed. ■ Is the printer set up correctly? Print a configuration label to verify RFIDversion. See “Auto Calibration” on page 14. ■ Check if supported RFID media is loaded correctly. VOID messages are printed across media. ■ Verify tag ty...

Manual Calibration Manual calibration is recommended whenever you are using pre-printedlabels (or label backing) or if the printer will not correctly auto calibrate. 1. Turn on the printer power. 2. Remove approximately 4" (102 mm) of labels from a section of backing material. Load the media so ...

Troubleshooting Tests Printing a Configuration Label To print out a listing of the printer’s current configuration, refer to theone-flash sequence in “Feed Button Modes” on page 70. Recalibration Recalibrate the printer if it starts to display unusual symptoms, such asskipping labels. See “Auto Cali...

Feed Button Modes Power Off Mode (Communications Diagnostics Mode) With the printer power off, press and hold the feed button while you turn on the power. The printer prints out a listing of its current configuration (see Figure 22). After printing the label, the printer will automatically enter a d...

Appendix Interfaces Universal Serial Bus (USB) Connector The figure below displays the cable wiring required to use the printer ’sUSB interface. For printer supported operating systems and drivers, see the software anddocumentation CD or visit the Zebra printer web site at: http://www.zebra.com For ...

Parallel Interface Technical Information The maximum current available through the interface port is not to exceed atotal of 0.75 amps. Pin No. Description 1 NStrobe/Host Clk 2-9 Data Bits 1-8 10 nACK/PtrClk 11 Busy/Per Busy 12 PError/ACK Dat Req. 13 Select/Xflag 14 NAuto Fd/Host Busy 15 Not Used 16...

ZebraNet® PrintServer II for Ethernet Networks This interface uses an RJ-45 straight-through cable type. The table belowprovides the pinout assignments. Signal Pin Pin Signal Tx+ 1 1 Tx+ Tx- 2 2 Tx- Rx+ 3 3 Rx+ --- 4 4 --- --- 5 5 --- Rx- 6 6 Rx- --- 7 7 --- --- 8 8 --- You can refer to the ZebraNet...