Anser A1 User manual

User Manual

A1 Thermal Inkjet Printer

Version 1.0, April 12, 2023

change without notice. Reproduction, adaptation or translation without prior

written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.

ANSER CODING INC. i Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................... i

List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................................... v

List of Tables...........................................................................................................................................................ix

Revision History...................................................................................................................................................... x

1A1 User Interface............................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Getting Started with A1 User Interface......................................................................................................2

1.2 A1 Wizard Setup .........................................................................................................................................3

1.2.1 Create a Production Line........................................................................................................................5

1.2.2 Production Line Settings ........................................................................................................................5

1.2.2.1 Assign Print Message ................................................................................................................8

1.3 Getting to Know the Homepage...............................................................................................................15

1.4 Getting to Know the Message Editor .......................................................................................................18

1.4.1 Adding Message Objects ......................................................................................................................20

1.4.1.1 Add Object: Text......................................................................................................................21

1.4.1.1.1 Adjust Size and Position.........................................................................................24

1.4.1.1.2 Font and Language Supported...............................................................................26

1.4.1.2 Add Object: Date/Time ...........................................................................................................28

1.4.1.3 Add Object: Barcode ...............................................................................................................31

1.4.1.4 Add Object: Variables..............................................................................................................33

1.4.1.5 Add Object: Counter, Image, Shape, and Shift........................................................................35

1.4.2 Message Related Settings ....................................................................................................................37

1.4.3 Printing a Message ...............................................................................................................................38

1.5 Getting to Know the Device Configuration Page......................................................................................40

ANSER CODING INC. ii Table of Contents

1.5.1 Production Line & Print Station Page...................................................................................................40

1.5.2 Print Station Settings............................................................................................................................42

1.5.2.1 Single Print Station Mode .......................................................................................................42

1.5.2.1.1 Print Station Delay .................................................................................................42

1.5.2.2 Stitch Print Station Mode........................................................................................................43

1.5.3 Printhead Settings ................................................................................................................................44

1.5.4 External Devices ...................................................................................................................................46

1.5.4.1 Wi-Fi ........................................................................................................................................46

1.5.4.2 Ethernet ..................................................................................................................................47

1.5.4.3 USB ..........................................................................................................................................47

1.5.4.4 RS-232 .....................................................................................................................................48

1.5.4.5 Scan Selector ...........................................................................................................................49

1.5.4.6 Scan & Print.............................................................................................................................49

1.5.4.7 Scan & Select...........................................................................................................................51

1.6 Getting to Know the Settings Page...........................................................................................................53

1.6.1 System Settings ....................................................................................................................................53

1.6.2 Template Management........................................................................................................................55

1.6.3 File Management .................................................................................................................................56

1.6.4 Account / User Management...............................................................................................................57

1.6.5 Report...................................................................................................................................................59

1.6.6 About Printer........................................................................................................................................60

2A1 Printing Setup.......................................................................................................................................... 61

2.1 Production Line Setup ..............................................................................................................................61

2.2 Print Station Setup....................................................................................................................................63

2.3 Printhead Settings ....................................................................................................................................64

ANSER CODING INC. iii Table of Contents

2.3.1 Pre-Purge..............................................................................................................................................65

2.3.2 Cartridge Idle Alert...............................................................................................................................66

2.3.3 Stitching Alignment ..............................................................................................................................67

2.4 Quick Edit..................................................................................................................................................68

2.4.1 General.................................................................................................................................................69

2.4.2 Counter.................................................................................................................................................69

2.4.3 Variable Input.......................................................................................................................................69

2.4.4 Database...............................................................................................................................................69

2.4.5 Repeat Print..........................................................................................................................................69

2.4.6 Stitch ....................................................................................................................................................70

3A1 Operation................................................................................................................................................ 71

3.1 Usage of the Variable Object....................................................................................................................71

3.1.1 Internal Variable Table .........................................................................................................................72

3.1.2 Excel Files or Database.........................................................................................................................72

3.1.3 Data Update Using Communication Protocol (0xCA)...........................................................................73

3.1.4 Data Stream Using Communication Protocol (0xCF) ...........................................................................73

3.1.5 Data from USB......................................................................................................................................73

3.2 Format Preferences ..................................................................................................................................74

3.2.1 Customized Month...............................................................................................................................74

3.3 Export and Import Data............................................................................................................................75

3.3.1 About Printer........................................................................................................................................75

3.3.2 File Management .................................................................................................................................76

3.4 File and System Backup ............................................................................................................................78

3.5 I/O Management ......................................................................................................................................79

3.5.1 I/O Assign .............................................................................................................................................79

ANSER CODING INC. iv Table of Contents

3.5.2 I/O Edit .................................................................................................................................................80

3.5.3 Advanced Action Settings.....................................................................................................................84

4Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................................... 85

4.1 Fault Messages and Warnings ..................................................................................................................85

4.1.1 Ink Cartridge Fault................................................................................................................................85

4.2 Status Definition .......................................................................................................................................86

4.2.1 UI Icon Status .......................................................................................................................................86

4.2.2 UI and Warning Light............................................................................................................................86

4.2.3 Printer LED Status.................................................................................................................................87

Appendix.............................................................................................................................................................. 88

ANSER CODING INC. v List of Figures

List of Figures

Figure 1-1. A1 Printer Manu Tree ..................................................................................................................... 1

Figure 1-2. A1 System Login Page ..................................................................................................................... 3

Figure 1-3. Initial Setup – System Time............................................................................................................. 4

Figure 1-4. A1 Printing Setup Diagram.............................................................................................................. 5

Figure 1-5. Initial Setup – Production Line Settings (1) ...................................................................................... 5

Figure 1-6. Initial Setup – Production Line Settings (2) ...................................................................................... 6

Figure 1-7. Initial Setup – Production Line Settings (3) ...................................................................................... 7

Figure 1-8. Initial Setup – Create Message (1) ................................................................................................... 8

Figure 1-9. Initial Setup – Create Message (2) ................................................................................................... 8

Figure 1-10. Initial Setup – Create Message (3) ................................................................................................. 9

Figure 1-11. Initial Setup – Select from Template (1)....................................................................................... 10

Figure 1-12. Initial Setup – Select from Template (2)....................................................................................... 11

Figure 1-13. Initial Setup – Select from Template (3)....................................................................................... 11

Figure 1-14. Initial Setup – Select from Template (4)....................................................................................... 12

Figure 1-15. Initial Setup – Import File (1)....................................................................................................... 13

Figure 1-16. Initial Setup – Import File (2)....................................................................................................... 13

Figure 1-17. Initial Setup – Import File (3)....................................................................................................... 14

Figure 1-18. A1 System Homepage................................................................................................................. 15

Figure 1-19. A1 Message Editor Page.............................................................................................................. 18

Figure 1-20. Add Eight Types of Object ........................................................................................................... 20

Figure 1-21. Add Object – Select a Text Template ........................................................................................... 21

Figure 1-22. Add Object – Edit a Text.............................................................................................................. 22

Figure 1-23. Add Object – Text Settings .......................................................................................................... 22

Figure 1-24. Add Object – Edit Text Styles....................................................................................................... 23

Figure 1-25. Add Object – Adjust Object Size .................................................................................................. 24

Figure 1-26. Add Object – Adjust Message Height........................................................................................... 24

ANSER CODING INC. vi List of Figures

Figure 1-27. Add Object – Hold to Adjust Position........................................................................................... 25

Figure 1-28. Add Object – Adjust Position in Clipboard ................................................................................... 25

Figure 1-29. Add Object – Date/Time Template .............................................................................................. 28

Figure 1-30. Add Object – Date/Time Format Preference ................................................................................ 29

Figure 1-31. Add Object – Creating Date/Time Template ................................................................................ 29

Figure 1-32. Add Object – Date/Time Settings ................................................................................................ 30

Figure 1-33. Add Object – Select Barcode Type ............................................................................................... 31

Figure 1-34. Add Object – Edit Barcode Content ............................................................................................. 32

Figure 1-35. Add Object – Barcode Settings .................................................................................................... 32

Figure 1-36. Add Object – Variables................................................................................................................ 33

Figure 1-37. Add Object – Variable Settings .................................................................................................... 34

Figure 1-38. Add Object – Counter, Image, Shape and Shift............................................................................. 35

Figure 1-39. Add Object – Counter, Image, Shape and Shift Settings................................................................ 35

Figure 1-40. Message Delay ........................................................................................................................... 37

Figure 1-41. Homepage and Select Message ................................................................................................... 38

Figure 1-42. Select a Production Line.............................................................................................................. 38

Figure 1-43. Print Message............................................................................................................................. 39

Figure 1-44. Production Line & Print Station Page........................................................................................... 40

Figure 1-45. Production Line Settings Page ..................................................................................................... 41

Figure 1-46. Print Station Settings – Single Mode............................................................................................ 42

Figure 1-47. Print Station Delay...................................................................................................................... 42

Figure 1-48. Print Station Settings – Stitch Mode ............................................................................................ 43

Figure 1-49. Printhead Settings Page .............................................................................................................. 44

Figure 1-50. External Devices Page................................................................................................................. 46

Figure 1-51. Wi-Fi Settings Page ..................................................................................................................... 46

Figure 1-52. Ethernet Settings Page................................................................................................................ 47

Figure 1-53. RS-232 Page................................................................................................................................ 48

Figure 1-54. Scan Selector Page...................................................................................................................... 49

ANSER CODING INC. vii List of Figures

Figure 1-55. Scan & Print Page ....................................................................................................................... 49

Figure 1-56. Scan & Select – Enable Data Key.................................................................................................. 51

Figure 1-57. Scan & Select – Enable Rule 1...................................................................................................... 52

Figure 1-58. A1 System Settings Page ............................................................................................................. 53

Figure 1-59. The Template Management Page................................................................................................ 55

Figure 1-60. The File Management Page......................................................................................................... 56

Figure 1-61. The Account Page ....................................................................................................................... 57

Figure 1-62. The Report Page ......................................................................................................................... 59

Figure 1-63. The About Page .......................................................................................................................... 60

Figure 2-1. Production Line Settings Page ....................................................................................................... 61

Figure 2-2. Production Line — Encoder Settings.............................................................................................. 62

Figure 2-3. Print Station Settings.................................................................................................................... 63

Figure 2-4. Printhead Settings ........................................................................................................................ 64

Figure 2-5. Printhead Settings — Pre-Purge .................................................................................................... 65

Figure 2-6. Printhead Settings — Cartridge Idle Alert ...................................................................................... 66

Figure 2-7. Printhead Settings — Stitching Alignment ..................................................................................... 67

Figure 2-8. Quick Edit – General, Counter and Variable Input .......................................................................... 68

Figure 2-9. Quick Edit – Database, Repeat Print and Stitch .............................................................................. 68

Figure 2-10. The Repeat Print Settings Page.................................................................................................... 69

Figure 2-11. Repeat Print – Initial Delay ......................................................................................................... 70

Figure 3-1. Variable Message Sources Diagram............................................................................................... 71

Figure 3-2. Variable Input Sources Diagram .................................................................................................... 72

Figure 3-3. The Scan and Print Page................................................................................................................ 73

Figure 3-4. Add Format Preference Template Page ......................................................................................... 74

Figure 3-5. Import from USB (1) ..................................................................................................................... 76

Figure 3-6. Import from USB (2) ..................................................................................................................... 77

Figure 3-7. Import from USB (3) ..................................................................................................................... 77

Figure 3-8. The Restore & Backup Page .......................................................................................................... 78

ANSER CODING INC. viii List of Figures

Figure 3-9. External Devices Page................................................................................................................... 79

Figure 3-10. I/O Management Page................................................................................................................ 79

Figure 3-11. I/O Edit Settings Page ................................................................................................................. 80

Figure 3-12. I/O Edit – Event List (1) ............................................................................................................... 80

Figure 3-13. I/O Edit – Event List (2) ............................................................................................................... 81

Figure 3-14. Action Settings – Digital Output .................................................................................................. 84

ANSER CODING INC. ix List of Tables

List of Tables

Table 1-1. Options in Production Line Settings (2)............................................................................................. 6

Table 1-2. A1 System Homepage Settings....................................................................................................... 16

Table 1-3. A1 Message Editor and Settings ..................................................................................................... 19

Table 1-4. A1 Fonts Supported ....................................................................................................................... 26

Table 1-5. A1 System Languages and Virtual Keyboards Supported ................................................................. 27

Table 1-6. Message Related Settings .............................................................................................................. 37

Table 1-7. Production Line and Print Station Settings...................................................................................... 41

Table 1-8. Detailed Printhead Settings Description ......................................................................................... 45

Table 1-9. Scan & Print Settings Definition ..................................................................................................... 50

Table 1-10. Scan & Select Settings Definition.................................................................................................. 52

Table 1-11. A1 System Settings Description .................................................................................................... 54

Table 1-12. Detailed Descriptions in Template Manage Settings ..................................................................... 55

Table 1-13. A1 User Accounts Management Table .......................................................................................... 58

Table 2-1. The Example of Repeat Print Settings............................................................................................. 70

Table 3-1. Variable Input Methods ................................................................................................................. 72

Table 3-2. Customized Inputs ......................................................................................................................... 74

Table 3-3. I/O Edit – Event List Definition ....................................................................................................... 82

Table 3-4. I/O Edit – Logical Operand Definition ............................................................................................. 83

Table 3-5. I/O Edit – Action List ...................................................................................................................... 83

Table 4-1. Ink Cartridge Fault and Description ................................................................................................ 85

Table 4-2. UI Icon Status Definition ................................................................................................................ 86