Argox R Series User manual

R-Series Technical Manual Rev. 1.02 November 24, 2008
Argox Information Co., Ltd.
R-Series Technical Manual
Rev. 1.02

R-Series Technical Manual Rev. 1.02 November 24, 2008
Argox Information Co., Ltd. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
R-Series Technical Manual...........................................................................................................1
1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................4
1.1 Scope.................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Printer description .............................................................................................................4
1.3 Related manuals ................................................................................................................4
2. PRINTER SPECIFICATION ..................................................................................................5
2.1 Printing..............................................................................................................................5
2.2 Fonts..................................................................................................................................5
2.3 Bar code.............................................................................................................................6
2.4 Media.................................................................................................................................6
2.5 Electrical and operating environment ...............................................................................7
2.6 Physical dimension............................................................................................................7
2.7 Agency list.........................................................................................................................7
2.8 Communication interface..................................................................................................7
2.9 Communication specifications..........................................................................................8
2.10 The difference between R- Series and R-xxxK Series....................................................9
3. CONTROLS AND INDICATORS.........................................................................................10
3.1 Front Panel ......................................................................................................................10
3.2 Rear Panel .......................................................................................................................11
4. OPTIONS.................................................................................................................................13
4.1 Cutter mechanism............................................................................................................13
4.2 FONT module..................................................................................................................14
4.3 Dispenser.........................................................................................................................14
4.4 RTC module ....................................................................................................................14
5. SETUP AND DIAGNOSTIC..................................................................................................15
5.1 Inlet power voltage and grounding..................................................................................15
5.2 Performing the self test ...................................................................................................15
5.3 Calibration.......................................................................................................................18
5.4 Printer reset .....................................................................................................................19
6. ADJUSTMENTS .....................................................................................................................20
6.1 Media sensor position adjustment...................................................................................20
7. OPTIONAL PARTS INSTALLATIONS...............................................................................21
7.1 Cutter Installation............................................................................................................21
7.2 Dispenser Installation......................................................................................................24
8. FIRMWARE UPGRADING...................................................................................................26
8.1 Upgrade Utility and Diskette...........................................................................................26
8.2 Upgrade through Printer Utility ......................................................................................29

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8.3 ROM files (R-200/R-200K, R-400/R-400K, and R-600) ...............................................31
8.4 Upgrade Firmware by Add-On Card (R-400plus/R-400Kplus Only).............................32
8.5 Verification......................................................................................................................32
9. MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING ...............................................................33
9.1 Printer status indication...................................................................................................33
9.2 Trouble Shooting.............................................................................................................34
9.3 Clearance.........................................................................................................................38
9.4 Replacement....................................................................................................................39
10. OPERATIONAL THEROREM...........................................................................................41
10.1 System block diagram...................................................................................................41
10.2 Panel board block diagram and description ..................................................................47
10.3 Sensor board diagram and description ..........................................................................47
10.4 Wiring diagram..............................................................................................................48
11. RECOMMENDED SPARE PARTS.....................................................................................50
12. ASSEMBLY DRAWING.......................................................................................................51

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1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 Scope
This manual contains the information necessary for the proper maintenance Refine series label
printers of ARGOX. Most of the information included relates to hardware and mechanical parts.
1.2 Printer description
The ARGOX R-Series printer is a high-performance low-cost direct thermal and thermal transfer
label printer. Its user-friendly design and affordable price set new standard for the heavy-duty
label printer in retail, office and industrial applications.
The printer is designed with the most efficient memory management technology- True Speed,
prints up to 4 inches/second for R-200/R-200Kand R-600; 6 inches/second for R-400/R-400K
and R-400plus/R-400Kplus. When bundled with its smart printer driver, the user can easily print
a label by using any Windows applications, e.g. Microsoft Word, ArgoBar, Codesoft, Bar Tender,
Nicelabel under Windows XP/2000/98/95, Me, and NT. All popular bar codes and fonts are
resident in the printer memory to handle versatile application.
The solidly designed mechanism allows quick and easy media and ribbon loading. The optional
dispenser and cutter provide the alternatives of fan-fold label and continuous media handling.
1.3 Related manuals
User’s manual (Part No. 49-R4002-003).
Programmer’s manual.

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2. PRINTER SPECIFICATION
2.1 Printing
R-200 R-200K R-400 R-400K
Type
Thermal transfer and direct thermal
Resolution
203 dots/inch (8 dots/mm)
Max print width
4.25” (108mm) 4.25”(108mm)
Max print length
8” (203mm) 43” (1066mm)
Max print speed
4”(102mm) per second 6” (152mm) per second
Memory
512K bytes DRAM 2M bytes DRAM
Ribbon
Inside coating ribbon Outside coating ribbon Inside coating ribbon Outside coating ribbon
Emulation
PPLB PPLA and PPLB
R-400plus R-400Kplus R-600
Type
Thermal transfer and direct thermal
Resolution
203 dots/inch (8 dots/mm) 300 dots (12 dots/mm)
Max print width
4.25” (108mm) 4.16”(104mm)
Max print length
43” (1066mm) 30” (762mm)
Max print speed
6”(152mm) per second 4” (102mm) per second
Memory
2M bytes DRAM
Ribbon
Inside coating ribbon Outside coating ribbon Inside coating ribbon
Emulation
PPLA, PPLB and PPLZ PPLA and PPLB
2.2 Fonts
Text fonts:
Printer Programming Language A (R-400/R-400K, R-400plus/R-400Kplus, and
R-600):
Courier (including PC set, Legal, ECMA94 and Roman-8), 7 alphanumeric fonts,
OCR-A/B, ASD smooth font. All fonts sizes are expandable by 24x24 (Refer to
the programmer’s manual).
Printer Programming Language B (R-200/R-200K, R-400/R-400K,
R-400plus/R-400Kplus, and R-600):
5 alphanumeric fonts. All fonts sizes are expandable by 24x24. (Refer to the
programmer’s manual).

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Printer Programming Language Z (R-400plus/R-400Kplus):
15 internal bitmap fonts (including OCR A/B and SYMBOL) and one scalable
font (CG Triumvirate Bold Condensed). (Refer to the programmer’s manual).
Character rotation: 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree, 4-direction rotation.
2.3 Bar code
Bar code type:
Printer Programming Language A:
Code39, Code93, Code128/subset A, B and C, Codabar, Interleave 2 of 5, UPC
A/E/2 and 5 add-on, EAN 13/8, UCC/EAN-128, UCC/EAN-128 Random Weight,
Postnet, Plessey, HIBC, Telepen, FIM. MaxiCode, PDF-417, Data matrix.
Printer Programming Language B:
Code39, Code93, Code128/subset A, B and C, Codabar, Interleave 2 of 5, UPC
A/E/2 and 5 add-on, EAN 13/8, UCC/EAN-128, Postnet, Matrix 2 of 5,
Code-128UCC, PDF-417 and MaxiCode.
Printer Programming Language Z:
Code11, Interleave 2 of 5, Code39, Code93, EAN 13/8, UPCA/E, Code128/subset
A, B and C, Industrial 2 of 5, Standard 2 of 5, Codabar, UPC/EAN Extensions,
MSI, Plessey, PostNet, PDF-417, MaxiCode, DataMatrix, and QR code.
2.4 Media
Media type:
Thermal direct:
Direct thermal paper or vinyl, visible light and infrared scannable label, tag stock,
butt cut or die cut, with various adhesives.
Thermal transfer:
All above media, plus thermal transfer paper and tags, butt cut or die cut with
various adhesives.

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Max label roll diameter: 6” (152mm) outside diameter.
Label indexing: Black stripe and gap.
2.5 Electrical and operating environment
Electrical (R-200/R-200K):
19V AC, 50~60Hz.
4 Amps
Electrical (R-400/R-400K, R-400plus/R-400Kplus and R-600):
90V AC to 250V AC, 50~60Hz.
2 Amps/110V AC, 1 Amps/220V AC.
Environment: Operation 40°~140(4°~38), 10~90% non condensing.
Storage -40~140(-4°~60)
2.6 Physical dimension
Weight: 8.41bs(3.85kg) ~ 9.31lbs(4.2kg).
Size: W12.4” x D9.1” x H8.6” (W314 x H231 x L218mm).
2.7 Agency list
CE, FCC class A, CCC, UL and CUL.
2.8 Communication interface
Serial interface: RS-232 serial (1200~38400BPS), 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
Parallel interface: Centronics parallel port.
USB interface: USB 2.0 Full Speed (R-400plus/R-400Kplus only).

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2.9 Communication specifications
Argox R-Series Label printers send and receive messages through serial, parallel or USB
(R-400plus only) communication interface. Printer checks each interface for incoming message
automatically.
2.9.1 Serial interface specification
The serial interface of R-Series printer is a standard RS-232C port with standard 9-pin
(DB9-S) connector located at the rear of the printer. The baud rate is user selectable by
sending command to the printer. Data bit number can be set as 7/8 data bits one/no parity
for both sending and receiving.
Figure 2-1
Pin No. Direction Description
1
Shorted to Pin – 6
2
IN RxD
3
OUT TxD
4
N.C.
5
GROUND
6
Shorted to Pin – 1
7
OUT RTS
8
IN CTS
9
OUT +5V
Table 2-1 Pin assignment and description of serial port
For recommended connection details between host and printer, please refer to the
user’s manual (Part No. 49-R4002-003).
2.9.2 Parallel interface specification
The parallel interface of the R-Series printer is standard Centronics port with standard
36-pin connector located at the rear of the printer. A standard parallel cable can be
used for the interconnection between the host controller and the R series label printer.

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Pin No. Direction Description Pin No. Direction Description
1
IN /STROBE 13 OUT SELECT
2
IN DATA1 14, 15 ---- N.C.
3
IN DATA2 16 OUT CROUND
4
IN DATA3 17 OUT CROUND
5
IN DATA4 18 ---- N.C.
6
IN DATA5 19~30 OUT GROUND
7
IN DATA6 31 ---- N.C.
8
IN DATA7 32 OUT /FAULT
9
IN DATA8 33~36 ---- N.C.
10
OUT /ACK
11
OUT BUSY
12
OUT PE
Table 2-2 Pin assignment and description of parallel port
2.9.3 USB Interface specification
This port complies with USB 2.0 Full Speed (R-400plus/R-400Kplus only).
Pin Signal Description
1
VBUS +3.3V
2
D- Differential data signaling pair-
3
D+ Differential data signaling pair+
4
GND
Table 2-3 Pin assignment and description of USB port
2.10 The difference between R- Series and R-xxxK Series
R-200, R-400, and R-400plus use BUSH-RIBBON (Part No. 42-R4023-001) for inside coating
ribbon.
R-200K, R-400K, and R-400Kplus use BUSH-RIBBON WHITE (Part No. 42-R4023-011) for
outside coating ribbon.

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3. CONTROLS AND INDICATORS
Figure 3-1
3.1 Front Panel
READY indicator
The READY indicator remains ON when the AC power switch is at ON position except the
following conditions:
Receiving data from host.
Out of ribbon, out of media, canceling a print job or printer fault.
MEDIA indicator
The MEDIA indicator will remain ON under normal operation. It will start blinking to
indicate:
The printer is out of media or fails to detect the gap of media.
The printer is at PAUSE state.
RIBBON indicator
When command of thermal transfer is sending to the printer, the RIBBON indicator is ON
for the normal operation and the Blinking indicates the printer is out of ribbon.
Top Cover
Power Switch