BIXOLON BK3-21 User manual

User’s Manual
BK3-21
KIOSK PRINTER
Ver. 1.00
http://www.bixolon.com

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
Product Approval Sheet
Product Name BK3-21
Manufacturer BIXOLON
Product
Specifications
BK3-21 User’s Manual Rev.1.00
Customer
Approved Date
Signature
※
Be sure to read the warnings and cautions ( ) in the instruction
manual.

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
Introduction
BK3-21 printers have been designed to be connected to various types of kiosk system.
※
The main features of the printer
1. KIOSK PRINTER
2. Thermal Receipt Printer
3. Maximum 250mm/s printing speed
4. External size
- Diameter Φ 80: 109 x 130 x 91 (W x D x H)
- Diameter Φ 102: 109 x 137 x 99 (W x D x H)
- Diameter Φ 120: 109 x 144 x 105 (W x D x H)
5. Serial/USB communication
6. Equipped with data buffer (receives print data even while printing)
7. Can print a range of barcodes
8. Range of printing density selectable(controlled with virtual memory switch management)
It is advisable to read the contents of this manual carefully before using the printer for the first
time.
※
Use only authorized supplies that can be trusted!
- We are not responsible for quality and service for damage caused by the use of
unauthorized products(or recycled ones).
Safety Information
Warning: Warnings must be heeded carefully in order to prevent serious
physical harm.
Caution: Cautions must be heeded in order to prevent minor injuries, equipment
damage, or data loss.

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BK3-21
Table of Contents
1. Installing Printer and Getting Started............................................................................... 5
1-1 Unpacking.......................................................................................................................5
1-2 Interface and Power port.................................................................................................6
1-2-1 Serial Interface Signal Description(DSUB 9P) ..........................................................7
1-2-2 Serial Interface Signal Description(Connector 5P)....................................................7
1-2-3 USB Interface Signal Description(Connector 4P)......................................................7
1-2-4 Power Signal Description(Connector 2P)..................................................................7
1-3 Power Supply Port and Connecting Power Supply .........................................................8
1-4 Reconfiguration of Printer..............................................................................................10
1-4-1 DIP Switch 1 ...........................................................................................................10
1-4-2 MSW (Memory Switch) ........................................................................................... 11
1-5 Product Part Names......................................................................................................17
1-6 Installing & Replacing Paper.........................................................................................18
1-7 Adjusting Near End Sensor...........................................................................................21
1-8 Removing Paper Jam....................................................................................................22
1-9 Using Printer Functions.................................................................................................23
2. Self-Test ............................................................................................................................ 24
3. Automatic calibration of Black-mark sensor ................................................................. 27
4. Cleaning Printer................................................................................................................ 28
5. Specifications................................................................................................................... 29

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
1. Installing Printer and Getting Started
1-1 Unpacking
• Check the following contents list, and contact your dealer for assistance if any item is
missing or incorrect.
- Product
BK3-21
BK3-21V
(Vertical Type)
- Optional Components
Power Cord
AC/DC Adaptor(2P)
AC/DC Adaptor(DC-Jack)
v
Serial Cable
(9pin - 9pin) Connecter Cable (5pin – 9pin) USB A-B Cable

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BK3-21
1-2 Interface and Power port
• Connect the printer to the host computer using the right interface cable that complies with
the specifications of the interface
1. BK3-21a Model: DC Jack Power + Serial Dsub 9P + USB B
2. BK3-21b Model: 2P Connector Power + Serial Dsub 9P + USB B
3. BK3-21c Model: DC Jack Power + Serial 5P Connector + USB B
4. BK3-21d Model: 2P Connector Power+ Serial 5P Connector + USB B
⑤①
○
5○ 4○ 3○ 2○ 1
○
9○ 8○ 7○ 6
○
5○ 4○ 3○ 2○ 1
○
9○ 8○ 7○ 6
○
5○ 4○ 3○ 2○ 1
○
5○ 4○ 3○ 2○ 1
○
2○ 1
○
2○ 1
USB Port
Serial Cable Port
Power Port
USB Port
Serial Cable Port
Power Port
USB Port
Serial Cable Port
Power Port
USB Port
Serial Cable Port
Power Port

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BK3-21
5. BK3-21e Model: 2P connector Power + Serial 5P Connector + USB 4P Connector
1-2-1 Serial Interface Signal Description(DSUB 9P Type)
Pin No
Signal
Direction
Function
1
NC
-
-
2
RxD
Input
Receive Data
3
TxD
Output
Transmit Data
4
DTR
Output
Data Terminal Ready
5
GND
-
Signal Ground
6
DSR
Input
Data Set Ready
7
RTS
Output
Ready To Send
8
CTS
Input
Clear To Send
9
NC
-
-
1-2-2 Serial Interface Signal Description(Connector 5P Type)
(Connector Part Number: 20017WR-05A00, Manufacturer: Yeonho Electronics)
Pin No
Signal
Direction
Function
1
CTS
Input
Clear To Send
2
RxD
Input
Receive Data
3
TxD
Output
Transmit Data
4
RTS
Output
Ready To Send
5
GND
-
Signal Ground
1-2-3 USB Interface Signal Description(Connector 4P Type)
(Connector Part Number: 20017WR-04, Manufacturer: Yeonho Electronics)
Pin No
Signal
Function
1
D-
Differential Data Line
2
D+
Differential Data Line
3
GND
Signal Ground
4
VBUS
Host Power: DC5[V] / 500[mA]
1-2-4 Power Signal Description(Connector 2P Type)
(Connector Part Number: YH396-02, Manufacturer: Yeonho Electronics)
Pin No
Signal
Function
1
VCC
Power(24Vdc)
2
GND
Frame Ground
○
5○ 4○ 3○ 2○ 1
○
4○ 3○ 2○ 1
○
2○ 1
USB Port
Serial Cable Port
Power Port

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
1-3 Power Supply Port and Connecting Power Supply
1) Make sure the product is turned off before connecting the power supply.
2) Connect the power cable with the flat side pointing downward of the printer, as shown in
the diagram below.
Power Port
Power Cable

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
Caution
- Only use a power supply provided by Bixolon. Bixolon shall
bear no responsibility for damage caused by using a third-party
power supply.
- Check the power supply’s label to check its electronic specs.
- When removing the power supply, make sure you have a firm
grasp of the plug terminal of the power cable and the printer
and pull horizontally.
- When connecting or disconnecting power, make sure to remove
the power supply from the power outlet before removing.
- Pay attention to the direction in which you insert the power
cable.
Warning Do not connect a voltage out of the specifications of the power
supply. It can cause damage to the product or a fire.
O
X
O
X

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
1-4 Reconfiguration of Printer
• This product supports dip switch. In order to change the product settings, change the dip
switch setting or use the virtual memory switch utility. Use virtual memory switch
management function for self-diagnosis.
1-4-1 DIP Switch 1
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1-1
Baud rate selection
(bps)
* Refer to following Table 1
OFF
1-2
OFF
1-3
-
-
-
OFF
1-4
Black mark mode
Enable
Disable
OFF
* Table 1 – Baud rate (bps) selection
Baud rate (bps)
1-2
1-1
Default
115,200
OFF
OFF
115,200
38,400
OFF
ON
19,200
ON
OFF
9,600
ON
ON
* Flow control, data length, and parity bits can be changed via virtual memory switch settings
(Refer to MSW 8).

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
1-4-2 MSW (Memory Switch)
1) MSW 1
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1-1
Select print
speed * Refer to following Table 2
OFF
1-2
OFF
1-3
OFF
1-4 -- -OFF
1-5
-
-
-
OFF
1-6
Select print
density * Refer to following Table 3
OFF
1-7
OFF
1-8
OFF
* Table 2 – Print speed selection
Print speed 1-3 1-2 1-1 Default
250mm/s
OFF
ON
OFF
200mm/s
230mm/s
OFF
OFF
ON
200mm/s
OFF
OFF
OFF
170mm/s
OFF
ON
ON
150mm/s
ON
OFF
OFF
130mm/s
ON
OFF
ON
120mm/s
ON
ON
OFF
100mm/s
ON
ON
ON
* Table 3 – Print Density Selection
Print Density 1-8 1-7 1-6 Remark
Density Level 5
ON
OFF
ON
Dark
Density Level 4
ON
OFF
OFF
Density Level 3
OFF
OFF
OFF
Default
Density Level 2
OFF
OFF
ON
Density Level 1
OFF
ON
OFF
Light

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
2) MSW 2
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
2-1
Specification for
destination
Double byte
country
Single byte country OFF
2-2
-
-
-
OFF
2-3
Code page selection * Refer to following Table 4
OFF
2-4
OFF
2-5
OFF
2-6
OFF
2-7
OFF
2-8
OFF
* Table 4 – Code page selection
2-8
2-7
2-6
2-5
2-4
2-3
Character Table
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 0 437 (USA, Standard Europe)
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 1 Katakana
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 2 850 (Multilingual)
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
Page 3 860 (Portuguese)
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 4 863 (Canadian-French)
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 5 865 (Nordic)
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 16 1252 (Latin I)
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
OFF
Page 17 866 (Cyrillic #2)
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 18 852 (Latin 2)
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 19 858 (Euro)
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 21 862 (Hebrew DOS code)
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
Page 22 864 (Arabic)
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 23 Thai42
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 24 1253 (Greek)
OFF
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 25 1254 (Turkish)
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
Page 26 1257 (Baltic)
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 27 Farsi
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 28 1251 (Cyrillic)
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 29 737 (Greek)
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
Page 30 775 (Baltic)
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 31 Thai14
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 32 Hebrew Old code
ON
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 33 1255 (Hebrew New code)
ON
OFF
ON
ON
ON
OFF
Page 34 Thai11
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 35 Thai18
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 36 855 (Cyrillic)
ON
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 37 857 (Turkish)
ON
ON
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
Page 38 928 (Greek)
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
Page 39 Thai16
ON
ON
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
Page 40 1256 (Arabic)
ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
Page 41 1258 (Vietnam)
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
Page 42 Khmer (Cambodia)
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
Page 47 1250 (Czech)
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
Page 49 TCVN-3
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
Page 50 TCVN-3 (Capital)
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
Page 51 VISCII

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
3) MSW 3
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Select emulation * Refer to following Table 5
OFF
2
OFF
3
OFF
4
-
-
-
OFF
5
Printing mode for
Thai character
3 PASS 1 PASS OFF
6~8
-
-
-
OFF
* Table 5 – Emulation selection
Emulation
3-3
3-2
3-1
Remark
Emulation 1
OFF
OFF
OFF
Emulation 2
OFF
OFF
ON
BXL / POS
Emulation 3
OFF
ON
OFF
Emulation 4
OFF
ON
ON
Emulation 5
ON
OFF
OFF
* Supports all BIXOLON software only when set to Emulation 2 (BXL / POS).
4) MSW 4
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Swap font B and C
Enable
Disable
OFF
2
Printer buffer
initialization
Enable Disable OFF
3
Single byte font
selection
(Default font)
* Refer to following Table 6
OFF
4 OFF
5~8
-
-
-
OFF
* Table 6 – Single byte Font Selection
Single byte font selection
4-4
4-3
Default
Font A (12 x 24)
OFF
OFF
Font A
Font B (9 x 17)
OFF
ON
Font C (9 x 24)
ON
OFF
-
ON
ON
* The printer buffer initialization function works when the printer cover is opened and closed.

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
5) MSW 5
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Auto cutter selection * Refer to following Table 7
OFF
2
OFF
3
Paper save mode * Refer to following Table 8
OFF
4
OFF
5
Paper save mode
cutting correction
Enable Disable OFF
6
Auto line feed
(CR mode)
Enable
(LF)
Disable
(Ignore)
OFF
7 ---OFF
8
Near-end sensor
Disable
Enable
OFF
* Table 7 – Auto Cutter Selection
Auto Cutter Selection
5-2
5-1
Remark
Full cut
OFF
OFF
Default
Partial cut
OFF
ON
Programmable cut
ON
OFF
No cut
ON
ON
*Programmable cut is operated according to the parameters of GS V command, while others
operate as partial cut.
* Table 8 – Paper save mode
Paper save mode
5-4
5-3
Remark
Disable
OFF
OFF
Default
Level 1
OFF
ON
Level 2
ON
OFF
Level 3
ON
ON
6) MSW 6
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1~8
-
-
-
OFF
7) MSW 7
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Print width selection * Refer to following Table 9
OFF
2
OFF
3
-
-
-
OFF
4
-
-
-
OFF
5
-
-
-
OFF
6
-
-
-
OFF
7
black mark sensor
selection
Right Left OFF
8
-
-
-
OFF
* Black mark sensor selection applies only when DIP switches 1-4 are ON.
* Select sensor from paper exit as standard.

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
* Table 9 – Print width selection
Print width
7-2
7-1
Default
54mm (432dot)
OFF
OFF
54mm
48mm (384dot)
OFF
ON
12mm (96dot)
ON
OFF
8) MSW 8
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Data length
7 bit
8 bit
OFF
2
Parity check
YES
NO
OFF
3
Parity selection
EVEN
ODD
OFF
4
Data receive error
Ignore
Print “?”
OFF
5
Baud rate selection * Refer to following Table 10
OFF
6
OFF
7
OFF
8
Serial interface
selection
Memory Switch DIP Switch OFF
* The memory switch setting for 8-5 to 7 (Baud rate selection) applies only when memory
switch 8-8 is ON.
* The setting for DIP switch is not considered when memory switch 8-8 is ON.
* Table 10 - Baud rate selection
Baud rate
8-7
8-6
8-5
Default
115,200bps
OFF
OFF
OFF
115,200bps
57,600bps
OFF
OFF
ON
38,400bps
OFF
ON
OFF
19,200bps
OFF
ON
ON
9,600bps
ON
OFF
OFF
4,800bps
ON
OFF
ON
2,400bps
ON
ON
OFF
115,200bps
ON
ON
ON
9) MSW 9
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Serial communication
flow control
* Refer to following Table 11
OFF
2
OFF
3~8
-
-
-
OFF
* Table 11 - Serial communication flow control
Serial communication flow control
9-2
9-1
Default
Hardware(DTR/DSR)
OFF
OFF
Hardware
(DTR/DSR)
Software(XON/XOFF)
OFF
ON
None
ON
OFF
Hardware(DTR/DSR)
ON
ON

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
10) MSW 10
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1~8 ---
OFF
11) MSW 11
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1~8
---
OFF
12) MSW 12
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1
Select double byte
country * Refer to following Table 12
OFF
2
OFF
3
OFF
4~8 ---OFF
* Table 12 - Select double byte country
Select double byte
country
12-3 12-2 12-1 Remark
STD
OFF
OFF
OFF
Single byte font
KOR
OFF
OFF
ON
KS5601
CHN
OFF
ON
OFF
BIG5 or GB2312
JPN
OFF
ON
ON
SHIFT-JIG
13) MSW 13
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1~8 ---
OFF
14) MSW 14
Switch
Function
ON
OFF
Default
1~8 ---
OFF
Note
- Use unified utility or self-test mode to change the virtual memory switch
setting.
- Refer to the utility and service manual for more information.
Caution
- Make sure to turn the printer off and on again after using the virtual
memory switch utility to adjust the settings of the product.
- To change the DIP switch setting, turn off the printer power. Changing
the DIP switch setting while the power is on may cause a short circuit
and result in printer malfunction.
- Supports all BIXOLON software only when set to Emulation 2 (BXL /
POS).

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
1-5 Product Part Names
Paper Supply Block
Main Board Block
Mechanism Block
Paper Bezel
Horizontal Standard Type
Vertical Type
Paper Bezel
Mechanism Block
Paper Supply Block
Main Board Block

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
1-6 Installing & Replacing Paper
1) Open the print cover by pulling the Lever-Lock.
Caution Do not open the print cover while the printer is operating,
otherwise the printer may be damaged.
Lever-Lock

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
2) Install and change paper by adjusting the holder-paper as shown below.
Caution
Check the orientation of the roll paper when inserting it into
the printer.
O
X
Holder-Paper

Ver. 1.00
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BK3-21
3) Pull out a small amount of paper as shown in the picture, and close the cover.
Caution
- When closing the cover, hold down the center of printer cover
firmly so that paper roll is loaded correctly.
- Use paper suitable for the standards.
- Change paper when the printer does not receive data. Otherwise,
data loss can be caused.