Zebra TLP 3844-Z - Manual

Inspecting the Printer Look at the outside of the printer and make sure that all parts are present. Opening the printer To access the media compartment, youmust open the printer. Pull the release levers towards you and liftthe cover. 980441-001 Rev. A 3

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. 980441-001 Rev. A 5 MOVIE

Reporting Damage If you discover damage or missing parts: ■ Immediately notify and file a damage report with the shipping company. Zebra Technologies Corporation is not responsible for any damageincurred during shipment of the printer and will not cover the repair ofthis damage under its warranty po...

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. Warning: Use the Zebra-supplied power supply that came with your printer. Never operate the printer and power supply in anarea where they can get wet. Serious personalinjury could result! 1. Make s...

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...

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...

Auto Calibration NOTE: If you are using pre-printed labels, pre-printed label backing, or continuous media, see “Manual Calibration” on page 40. An auto calibration is performed when the printer is turned on (if media isloaded) or after a media error is cleared. When it is auto calibrating, theprint...

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 the communications and power cables. Feed Button Forces the printer to feed one blank label. Takes the printer out of a “pause” condition. (T...

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

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 (using the Internal ZebraNet® PrintServer II™) andserial Each specific interface option—USB, parallel, Ethernet, serial—isdiscussed indi...

USB Interface Requirements Universal Serial Bus (version 1.1) provides a high-speed interface that iscompatible with your existing PC hardware. USB’s “plug and play” designmakes installation easy. Multiple printers can share a single USB port/hub. Parallel Interface Requirements The required cable (...

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 regarding this interface. Parallel Communications When using the parallel port, ty...

Serial Communications (Continued) ^SC Command Use the Set Communications ( ^SC ) command to change the communications settings on the printer. 1. With the host computer set at the same communications settings as the printer, send the ^SC command to change the printer to the desired settings. 2. Chan...

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 43) 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 new label or ribbon roll, the printer flashes double-green until you press theFeed button to restart . Always use high quality,...

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...

Using the Cutter Option Printers that have a bezel with a motorized blade can dispense one or moreforms that are then automatically cut from the media supply. This optioncuts through continuous paper from rolls and liner between labels. Keepthe cutter dry. Never use any solutions or solvents to clea...

Maintenance Cleaning When you clean the printer, use one or more of the following supplies thatbest suits your needs: DESCRIPTION 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 using the ...

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. 980441-001 Rev. A ...

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 ofone 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 page13. ■ The correct media sensor may not be...

Manual Calibration Manual calibration is recommended whenever you are using pre-printedmedia or if the printer will not correctly auto calibrate. 1. Make sure media is loaded. 2. Turn on the printer power. 3. Press and hold the feed button until the green status LED flashes once, then twice. Release...

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 43. Recalibration Recalibrate the printer if it starts to displayunusual symptoms, such as skippinglabels. See “Auto Calib...

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 printerprints out a listing of its current configuration. After printing the label, the printer will automatically entera diagnostic mode in ...

Appendix Specifications Physical Specifications Size 7.8 inches wide / 6.8 inches tall / 9.4 inches long (depth)200 mm wide / 173 mm tall / 240 mm long (depth) Weight 3.6 pounds / 1.6 kilograms Environmental Guidelines Operating temp. 40 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit / 5 to 40 degrees Celsius Operating ...

Agency Approvals The thermal-transfer printer model TLP 3844-Z , manufactured by Zebra Technologies Corporation, complies with the applicable requirements: SUBJECT AGENCY COUNTRIES STANDARDS Emissions FCC United States Part 15, Subpart B VCCI Japan V-3/93.01 C-Tick AustraliaNew Zealand C-Tick CE Eur...

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 informati...

Parallel Interface 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 16-17 Ground 18 +5 V @ 0...

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...

Serial (RS-232) Connector Pin No. Description 1 Not used 2 RXD (receive data) input to the printer 3 TXD (transmit data) output from the printer 4 DTR (data terminal ready) output from the printer -- controls when thehost may send data 5 Chassis ground 6 DSR (data set ready) input to the printer 7 R...

Index A agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48attaching power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8auto calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13autobaud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 B bar codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47barrel connecto...