Zebra TLP2844 - Manual

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. 980487-001A 5 MOVIE

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. Warning: Use the 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 sure the power 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...

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...

Media Length Sensing Before you connect the printer to your computer, make sure that the printeris in proper working order. You can do this by making the printer measuremedia and print a status printout. After loading media, perform thefollowing procedure that measures thelength of each label or tag...

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...

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 regardingthis interface. Parallel Communications When using the parallel port, typ...

Serial Communications Serial communications between the printer and the host computer can be setby the Y command. Y Command Use the serial port setup ( Y ) command to change the communications settings on the printer. 1. With the host computer set at the same communications settings as the printer, ...

Adjusting the Print Width Print width must be calibrated when you use a roll with a different widthfrom previous media. Print width may be set by using the Set Label Width ( Q ) command (described in the programming guide). Adjusting the Print Quality Print quality is influenced by the heat of the p...

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 Q command (set form length) controls label length. ■ The O command (hardware options) has a parameter "D" that changes the...

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 allowsyou to print in “peel-mode”where the label backing followsa different path and the labelsare presented one at a time forsubsequent placement. 1. Remove several labels from the backing material. 2. Open the top cover. 3. Open the dispenser door. 4. S...

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: 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 What the Status Light is Telling You Color Status Solution or Reason None off 1. Check power connection from the A.C. outlet to powersupply to printer. Green constant 1. Printer printing (normal operation). 2. Printer paused; ready to receive data (normal operation). 3. Printer pause...

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. A label format was sent to, but not r...

Manual Calibration Manual calibration is recommended whenever you are using pre-printedmedia or if the printer will not correctly auto calibrate. 1. Make sure the printer power is off and that media is loaded. 2. Press and hold the feed button then turn on the printer power. 3. Continue to hold the ...

Feed Button Modes Printer Condition Feed Button Action Printer is OFF Printer is off. Tapping or holding the button has no result. Printer is ON Cover is open Tapping or holding the button has no result. Labels, tags orfan-fold forms areloaded. Tap the button once to perform a "form feed." H...

Appendix Interfaces Universal Serial Bus (USB) Connector The figure below displays the cable wiring required to use the printer ’sUSB interface. For information on the USB interface, go to the USB web site at: Http://www.usb.org 980487-001A 43 Pin Signal 1 Vbus - N/C 2 D- 3 D+ 4 Ground Shell Shield/...

Parallel Interface The figure below displays the cable wiring required to use the printer 'sCentronics parallel interface. 44 980487-001A PRINTER DB-25 Pin No. Centronics Pin No. Male DB-25 to Male Centronics (Cable) HOST STROBE~ DATA 0DATA 1DATA 2DATA 3DATA 4DATA 5DATA 6DATA 7 ACK~ BUSY PAPER ERR. ...

Internal Ethernet PrintServer 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 --- 980487-001A 45 Pin 4Pin 3Pin 2Pin 1 Pin 5Pin 6...