Adkins Label Master User manual

User Guide
Desktop 'Label Master' Printer

This device complies with Part 15 rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B Digital
Devices, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protectionagainstharmfulinterferencewhentheequipmentisoperatedinaresidential
environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the product manuals, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, the user is encouraged to do one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver
is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced RF service technician for help.
The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved by A. Adkins and
Sons Limited could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. To ensure compliance,
this printer must be used with fully shielded communication cables.
Do not dispose of this product in unsorted municipal waste. This product is recyclable, and should
be recycled according to your local standards.
FCC Compliance Statement
Environmental Management

Contents
User Guide
Contents
Introduction
What's in the Box?
What's in the Box? 1
Your Printer 2
Opening the Printer 2
Printer Features 3
Operator Controls
Power Switch 4
Reset Button (Hidden) 4
Feed Button 5
Status Light 5
Closing the Printer 6
Printer Storage and Prolonged Inactivity 7
Getting Started
Attaching Power 8
Loading Roll Media 9
Preparing Media 9
Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment 10
Loading Transfer Ribbon 15
Printer Options
KDU Printer Accessory 19
Attaching KDU to Printer 20
Label Format 20
Connecting KDU Serial Cable to Printer 20
Maintenance
Cleaning
Cleaning the Print Head 21
Sensor Cleaning 22
Troubleshooting
Feed Button Modes 23
Status Light Descriptions 25
Status Light Error Resolutions 26
Print Quality Problems 28

Save the carton and all packing materials in case you need to ship or store the printer later.
After unpacking, make sure you have all parts. Follow the procedures for inspecting the
printer to familiarize yourself with printer parts so you can follow the instructions in this
book.
Unpack and Inspect the Printer.
When you receive the printer, immediately unpack it and inspect for shipping damage.
• Save all packing materials.
• Check all exterior surfaces for damage.
• Open the printer and inspect the media compartment for damage to components.
If you discover shipping damage upon inspection:
• Immediately notify the shipping company and file a damage report. A. Adkins &
Sons Limited is not responsible for any damage incurred during shipment of the
printerandwill not covertherepair ofthisdamageunder itswarrantypolicy.
• Keep all packaging material for shipping company inspection.
• Notify A. Adkins & Sons Limited.
What’s in the Box?
Introduction
What's in the Box?
1
Spare
Ribbon Core
Ink Ribbon
(already installed)
Quick Start Guide,
Printer Manual/Manual CD,
Training Video
DVD
Printer
Power Cord
(varies by locale or region)
Power Supply Label Roll

Your Printer
Opening the printer
To access the media compartment, you must open the printer. Pull the release latches
towardsyouandliftthecover.Checkthemediacompartmentforlooseordamaged
components.
Caution • The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the
human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the print head or electronic
components used in this device. You must observe static-safe procedures when
working with the print head or the electronic components under the top cover.
Status Light
Ring
Feed
Button
Release
Latches
Keyboard
Connection
DC Power
Receptacle
Power
Switch
Reset Button
Access Pinhole
Release
Latches
Introduction
What's in the Box?
2

Printer Features
Introduction
What's in the Box?
3
Supply Spindles
Print head
Ribbon Motion Sensor
Take Up Spindles
Print head
Roll Holders
Web (GAP)
Sensor
Media Guide
Adjustment
Media Guides
Black-Line
Sensor
Platen
Roller
Head-Up Sensor
(inside)

Power Switch
Reset Button (hidden)
Introduction
What's in the Box?
4
Power Switch OFF
Power Switch ON
Power Switch
Press the rear of the switch to turn ON or front of the switch to turn OFF the printer.
Caution • The printer power should be turned off before connecting or disconnecting the
communications and power cables
Use an opened paper clip as a probe to press the hidden reset button below the power switch.
Caution • Do NOT reset the printer power during defragmentation (status light
indicator flashing Red-Amber-Green). Doing so can damage the printer.
Operator Controls

Feed Button
Status Light
Located on the top case next to the feed button, the status light functions as a printer
operational indicator.
• Tap the Feed button once to force the printer to feed one blank label.
• Press the Feed button to take the printer out of a “pause” condition. The printer is put into
“pause” by either a programming command or an error condition.
• Use the Feed button for printer setup and status.
Feed Button
Status Light
Ring
Introduction
What's in the Box?
5

Closing the Printer
1
2
Introduction
What's in the Box?
6
1. Tolower the top cover, first press the top cover’s latching stand towards the centre of the
printer. Gently swing the top coverdown onto the printer’s base.
2. Press down on both sides until the cover snaps closed, typically with an audible sound.

Printer Storage and Prolonged Inactivity
If you are not placing the printer into immediate operation, repackage it using the original
packing materials.
• Storage Temperature Range: –40° to 60°C (–40°F to 140°F)
• Storage Humidity Range: 5% to 95% non-condensing
When storing the printer or if the printer is going to be inactive for more than a day, please
place a label on the platen (drive) roller before closing the printer. This keeps the print
head from sticking onto the platen roller.
When removing the printer from storage or after transportation, allow the printer to adjust
to the ambient environment’s temperature and humidity conditions.
• Operating Temperature Range: –5° to 40°C (23°F to 104°F)
• Operating Humidity Range: 10% to 90% non-condensing
•
•
•
Introduction
What's in the Box?
7

Attaching Power
Important • Setup your printerso thatyou can handlethe powercord easily ifneeded. To make
certain the printer cannot carry electrical current, you must separate the power cord from the
power supply receptacle or AC electrical outlet.
Caution • Never operate the printer and power supply in an area where they can get wet.
Serious personal injury could result!
1. Make sure the printer’s power switch is in the OFF position (0).
2. Insert the AC power cord into the power supply.
3. Plug the other end of the cord into an appropriate AC electrical outlet. Note: The active
power light will go on if power is on at the AC outlet.
4. Insert the power supply’s power connector into the printer’s power receptacle.
Note • Ensure the appropriate power cord with a three (3) prong plug and an IEC 60320-C5
connector are used at all times. These power cords must bear the relevant certification mark of
the country in which the product is being used.
Printer
Plug Varies
by Country
AC
Power
Cord
Power Receptacle
Power Connector
Power Switch Power
Supply
IEC 60320
C-5
Active Power Light
Getting Started
Attaching Power
8

Loading Roll Media
Preparing Media
When you load media, you must place the roll onto the media hangers.
You must use the correct media for the type of printing you require.
Whether your roll media is inside or outside wound, you load it into the printer the same
way.
• Remove the outside length of media. During shipment, handling, or storage, the roll
may become dirty or dusty. Removing the outside length of media avoids dragging adhesive
or dirty media between the print head and platen.
Getting Started
Loading Roll Media
9

1 inch
(25.4 mm)
diameter
1.5 inch
(38.1 mm)
diameter
Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment
Getting Started
Loading Roll Media
10
1. Open the printer. Remember that you need to pull the release latch levers toward the front of
the printer.
2. Check the core of the media roll and adjust the roll holder’sslide adjustment, if necessary.

Getting Started
Loading Roll Media
11
3. Open the media guides wider than the media width. Turn the media guides thumb wheel
towards the rear of the printer to open the guides wider.

Getting Started
Loading Roll Media
12
4. Open the media roll holders. Pull the media guides open with your free hand and place the
media roll on the roll holders and release the guides. Orient the media roll so that its printing
surface will face up as it passes over the platen (drive) roller.

6. Push the media under both of the media guides.
Getting Started
Loading Roll Media
13
5. Pull the media so that it extends out of the front of the printer. Verify the roll turns freely. The
roll must not sit in the bottom of the media compartment. Verify that media’s printing surface
is facing up.
Under Media
Guides

Getting Started
Loading Roll Media
14
7. Adjust the media guides so that the both sides of the media are just touching the inside of the
guides. Turn the media guides thumb wheel towards the front of the printer to made the guides
tighter (narrower).
8. Close the printer. To lower the top cover, first press the top cover’s latching stand towards the
centre of the printer. Gently swing the top cover down onto the printer’s base. Press down on
both sides until the cover snaps closed, typically with an audible sound.

Loading Transfer Ribbon
Getting Started
Loading Transfer Ribbon
15
Transfer ribbons come in several varieties and in some cases colours to match your application
needs. Adkins transfer ribbons are specifically designed for your media. Using non-Adkins brand
media or ribbon not approved for use in your Desktop 'Label Master' Printer may damage your
printer or print head.
• The media and ribbon types should be matched to provide you with optimal printresults.
• Always useribbon that is wider than the media to protect the print head from wear.
• For direct thermalprinting, do not load ribbon in the printer.
Before following these steps, prepare the ribbon by removing its wrapping and pulling its
adhesive strip free.
Note • DO NOT USE ribbon cores with damaged notches - rounded, frayed, smashed, etc. The
core notches should be square to lock the core on the spindle or the core may slip causing ribbon
wrinkle, poor end of ribbon sensing or other intermittent failures.
1. With the printer open, thread the ribbon through the hole beneath the supply spindles.
Right Side
(printer and Roll) Adhesive Strip
Notch

1
2
1
2
Getting Started
Loading Transfer Ribbon
16
2. First slide the ribbon roll onto the right hand supply spindle. Push the right spindle in and
swing theleft side of the ribbon roll onto the left side ribbon spindle. Rotate the ribbon roll on
the left spindle till it locks the ribbon roll’s core notches onto the spindle.
Rotate the roll until the notches align and lock into the left side of the supply hub.
3
3
4
4

Getting Started
Loading Transfer Ribbon
17
3. Place an empty ribbon core on printer’s take-up spindles. Rotate the ribbon core until the
notches align and lock into the left side of the take-up hub.
You can find your first ribbon take-upcore in the packing box. Subsequently, use the empty
supply core to take up the next roll of ribbon.
4. Pull the transfer ribbon’s leader around from below the ribbon frame. Attach it with the
adhesive strip on the leader to the empty ribbon core on the supply spindle. Centre the ribbon
on the ribbon core.