Evolis Pebble User manual

User’s Guide
Plastic Card Printer
Pebble User’s Guide part number: KU03E, Rev. A2
March 2006 © Evolis Card Printer
1

Copyright Information
Evolis Card Printer © January 2006. All rights reserved.
Copyright Notice
Users must respect the copyright laws applicable in their country. This manual must not be photocopied, translated,
reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part for any reason and by the means that might be, albeit electronic or
mechanical, without the express, written authorisation of the company Evolis Card Printer.
All information contained herein may be subject to modification without prior notice.
Evolis Card Printer accepts no liability for any possible errors herein, nor for any accidental damage or damage cau-
sed through the dissemination or the use of this manual.
Trademarks
Dualys is a trademark and Evolis is a registered trademark of Evolis Card Printer.
Windows and MS.DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks or registered trademarks
are marks of their respective holders. eMedia Card Designer is a trademark of Mediasoft Technologies.
Icons
Throughout this manual, different icons highlight important information, as follows:
Note
Indicates information that emphasizes or supplements important points of the main text.
Important
Advises you of information that is essential to complete a task, or points out the importance of speci-
fic information in the text.
Caution
Advises you that failure to take or avoid a specific action could result in physical harm to you, or could
result in physical damage to the hardware.
Warranty Information
Refer to the Warranty booklet enclosed with your Evolis printer for terms and conditions.
Return Materials Authorization
In order to make a warranty claim you must contact an Evolis Reseller. You will be responsible for packaging the prin-
ter for shipment and the costs of shipping and insurance of the printer from the point of use of the printer to the
Evolis Reseller. The Evolis Reseller will bear the costs of shipping and insuring the printer from the repair location to
the address from which the printer was shipped.
Before returning any equipment for in-warranty or out-of warranty repair, contact an Evolis Reseller or an Evolis Repair
Center (ERC) for a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number. Repack the equipment in the original packing mate-
rial and mark the RMA number clearly on the outside of the box. For more information about RMA or Evolis warran-
ty statements, refer to the Warranty booklet enclosed with your Evolis printer.
Product Disposal
WEEE Directive
This symbol indicates that when the last user wishes to discard this product, it must be sent to
appropriate facilities for recovery and recycling.
By not discarding this product along with other household-type waste, the volume of waste sent
to incinerators or landfills will be reduced and natural resources will be conserved. Your Evolis
printer should be recycled according to your local standards. For more information, please
contact Evolis at: [email protected].
2

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................... 4
Chapter I • Starting up ................................................................ 5
Choice of a location ........................................................................... 5
Unpacking the printer ........................................................................ 5
Description of the printer and its functions ............................................... 6
Installation of the interface cable and power supply ..................................... 8
Stand by ........................................................................................ 8
Ribbon installation ............................................................................ 9
Card loading ................................................................................. 10
Placing the cards in the feeder ..................................................... 10
Installing the manual feed tray and loading the cards .......................... 11
Adjusting the card thickness ....................................................... 12
Removing the printed cards ........................................................ 13
Other stages to the installation ............................................................ 13
Chapter II • Printing ................................................................. 14
Installation of the driver .................................................................... 14
For Windows users .................................................................. 14
For Windows users with a USB interface ........................................ 15
Printing parameter setup .................................................................. 16
Printing ....................................................................................... 18
Chapter III • Cleaning ................................................................ 21
Cleaning the interior of the printer ....................................................... 21
Maintaining the print head ................................................................. 23
Maintaining the cleaning roller ............................................................ 24
Chapter IV • Breakdowns ........................................................... 25
Interpretation of the printer control panel ............................................... 25
Printing and interpreting a test card....................................................... 28
Printing quality problems.................................................................... 29
Correcting card jamming ................................................................... 31
Changing a print head ..................................................................... 31
Customer service ............................................................................ 33
Chapter V• Technical specifications ........................................... 34
Chapter VI • Supplies ................................................................. 35
Appendix A • Magnetic encoding .............................................. 37
Appendix B • Chip card contact station .................................... 39
3

Introduction
We congratulate you on choosing a Pebble printer!
Pebble printers are the ideal solution for all printing of plastic cards and badges, student cards, employee
badges, access control badges, membership cards, loyalty cards and all other applications requiring color
printing on one side of the card …
This product comes with a wide range of assistance services from the company Evolis and its partners,
specially selected to help you effectively and professionally.
4

5
Chap.1
Starting up
Choice of a location
The Pebble printer must be set up on a flat surface and in a dust-free environment.
Access to the printer must be possible from all directions for its installation and use.
Unpacking the printer
Proceed as follows in unpacking the printer:
1. Remove the upper protection foam.
2. Lift the printer out of its box, remove the protection bag and set it in the chosen place.
3. Remove all adhesive from the outside of the printer.
It is recommended to preserve all packing material in case the printer has to be
moved or returned.
The following elements are supplied with your Pebble printer:
■A power supply and supply cable
■USB interface and Centronics parallel cables
■A Quick Operating Guide
■A User’s Guide (this guide)
■A Pebble CD (Drivers & Documentation)
■A cleaning kit
■A warranty booklet
■A certificate of conformity with CE and ECC safety regulations
If any of the elements are missing from your package, contact your Evolis reseller.

6
Description of the printer and its functions
We invite you to check the different components of your printer on the following drawings, to which
we will refer in this manual.
AOutput hopper Collects the printed and/or encoded cards
BCover lever Enables the printer cover to be opened and closed
CCard feeder Receives the cards for printing
DControl panel Shows the printer activity
EManual feed tray Enables the cards to be inserted one by one (optional)
FCarrying handle Enables the printer to be carried
GElectrical connector Enables the printer to be connected to its power supply
HCentronics parallel port (std) Enables data to be received and sent from and to the computer
IUSB port (std) Enables data to be received and sent from and to the computer
JDB-9 connector (optional) Enables data to be received and sent from and to the computer or
a coupler to be connected for chip cards personalization
KMagnetic encoder Enables cards with magnetic tracks 1, 2 and 3 to be encoded
LCleaning roller Removes all dust before the cards are printed
MCard thickness gauge Enables the thickness of the card to be adjusted from 0.25 mm to 1 mm
NThermal print head Enables the cards to be printed in 300 dpi
OIdentification label Indicates the model and the serial number of the printer
FH
I
G
J
E
D
A
N
O
B
C
M
L
K
FH
I
G
J
E
D
A
N
O
B
C
M
L
K

7
Printer control panel
A control panel is available on the top of the printer.
Four lights are associated with symbols indicating the printer activity.
These lights indicate the following:
Refer to chapter 4 of this manual for further information on interpreting the messages of
the control panel.
Turned on
Data reception
(Pushbutton)
End of
ribbon
No card in
the feeder or
feeder not
present
Cleaning
signal
Cover
open

Installation of the interface cable
and power supply
If you wish to use your Pebble printer with the USB port, install the Windows driver before connecting
this port.
1. Connect the interface cable supplied with your printer as indicated in the following
2. Connect the other end of the cable to the corresponding port on your computer
3. Connect the cable from supply to supply and then connect the power cable to the printer.
4. Then connect the end of the power supply cable to an earthed socket
5. The printer is under power. The light on the control panel comes on and the print head rises and
falls to indicate the correct mechanical working of the printer. If the light fails to come on, this means
that the installation has not been carried out correctly or possibly that the printer is not working pro-
perly. Check the installation.
Stand by
The Pebble printer may be left in stand-by at any time by pressing the push button as indi-
cated. The green light on the push button goes out.
To reactivate the printer, press the push button for one second. The green light on the
push button comes on.
The printer automatically goes into stand-by after 10 minutes of inactivity.
8
Turn off the printer by pulling the
plug out of the socket, which must
always be accessible.
This product must be connected to
an electrical installation that is cor-
rectly protected and grounded.
FI: "Laite on liitettävä suojamaa-
doitus koskettimilla varustettuun
pistorasiaan"
NO: "Apparatet må tilkoples jor-
det stikkontakt"
SE: "Apparaten skall anslutas till
jordat uttag"
This product is also designed for IT
power distribution system with
phase-to-phase voltage 230V.
Power
Parallel

9
Ribbon installation
The ribbon must be correctly installed for the printer to work. Only use Evolis ribbons. Evolis
declines all responsibility if the printer or the print head are damaged through the use of an
unapproved ribbon.
The ribbon is automatically positioned each time the cover is closed.
1. Open the printer cover by
pressing the opening lever
then turn it.
3. Close the
printer cover.
2. Install the ribbon in
the printer as shown.

10
Card loading
Placing the cards in the feeder
Card thickness:
• Pebble printers admit cards with a thickness of 0.25 mm to 1 mm.
Advice on card selection:
• Only use the type of cards appearing in the Technical Specifications in this manual
• Do not touch the printing surface of the cards, as this would affect the quality of the printing
• Do not use damaged or folded cards or cards with a raised texture
• Always keep new cards in a clean, dust-free place
2. Lower the spring system as shown and
insert 100 cards of 0.76 mm at most.
1. Remove the feeder from the
printer as shown.
3. Put the feeder back in the printer.
Then press on the top of the feeder
until it clicks.
CLIC
max.max.
max.max.
max.max.max.

11
Installing the manual feed tray and loading the cards
The Pebble printer may be optionally fitted with a manual supply tray for inserting cards one by one.
Manual card feeder option should be set through the driver Properties. In the Tools tab click
on Dialog box button. Then select Manual feed option in Source Tray menu and in Output
Tray menu choose the option according to the required operation mode for the card exit.
`Click on the Set button to confirm.
The manual supply tray is installed as follows:
2. Using the lever, adjust the thickness
of the card to MAX.
1. Remove the feeder from
the printer as shown.
3. Place the manual supply tray in the printer as
indicated. Then press on the top of the tray
until it clicks.
Adjusting the card thickness
The Pebble printer is fitted with a manual adjustment system for the thickness of the cards that is acces-
sible either from inside the printer or when the cover is open.
Pebble printers accept card thickness from 0.25 mm (10mil) to 1 mm (40mil).
Factory setting for card thickness is 0.76 mm (30mil).
CLIC
4. Insert the card as shown.

12
To adjust the thickness of the cards using the feeder cage:
2. Adjust the thickness
of the cards used by
moving the handle from
right to left on the
required card thickness
1. Remove the feeder
from the printer as
shown.
3. Put the feeder back in the
printer. Then press on the top
of the feeder until it clicks.
max.max.
To adjust the card thickness from inside the printer:
CLIC
2. Remove the ribbon if there
is one in the printer. Then
adjust the thickness of the
cards used by moving the
handle from right to left
on the required card
thickness.
1. Open the printer
cover by pressing the
opening lever and
then turn it.
3. Reinstall the ribbon in the
printer and close the cover.
CLIC

Removing the printed cards
The Pebble printer is fitted with an output hopper with a capacity for 50 cards in 0.76 mm (30mil) format.
This is intended to receive the printed and/or encoded cards.
Other stages to the installation
You have now completed the installation (material) of your Pebble printer. For the moment, we would
urge you to carry on reading this manual and we would inform you that there are still two extra stages
to be followed to make your Pebble printer fully operational:
■Installation of the driver
■Printer cleaning
13
1. Locate the output hopper.
2. Remove the printed
and/or encoded cards as
shown.

Chap. 2
Printing
Installation of the driver
Before using your Pebble printer, you must install its driver.
Reminder: the driver and Pebble printer operate under Windows 2000, NT 4.0 and Xp.
The CD provided with the printer includes a utility which automates the
installation of the printer driver. This utility installs the right
driver for your configuration.
• Insert the DRIVERS & DOCUMENTATION CD-Rom in your CD-Rom reader
• Wait a few seconds until the CD welcome programme tells you to choose your language
•Click on the flag of the required language.
• Another menu appears telling you to install the printer driver. Follow the instructions below to set up your
Evolis printer.
You use Windows, your printer is connected to the mains, the Parallel cable or USB is not connected.
■Make sure the Parallel or USB cable is not connected to the printer
■Click on Driver installation.
■An installation menu appears suggesting you preserve the installations previously performed.
By default the cases are hidden and the installation programme will delete all existing set-ups.
■Click on Install to start the procedure.
■When told to do so, choose the type of interface you wish to use to connect your Evolis printer:
USB or Parallel.
WARNING
The installation programme asks you to turn on the printer. Carefully follow the instructions
below:
■Connect the USB or Parallel cable between the PC and the printer.
■The system will automatically detect your peripheral and start the Add Printer
assistant after a few seconds.
■Select Next, the Finish.
■Click OK in the Information window.
■The installation is complete, click on End.
■Click on Quit to close the installation programme
Your Evolis printer is ready to personalise your cards once more.
In the event of any incident in the installation, consult the chapter Windows Users - Manual Installation
NOTE !
The installation of a driver under Windows NT, 2000 or XP may require the authorisation of the system
administrator. In the event of any problem, contact this administrator to advise you on the installation
method and the associated rights of access.
14

Windows Users - Manual Installation
■Close all applications before installing the pilot.
■Do not connect the USB or Parallel cable before the installation is complete.
■Insert the DRIVERS & DOCUMENTATION CD-Rom in your CD-Rom reader.
■On the Windows menu bar, click Start, Parameters and then Printers.
■Double-click on Add printers.
■Select Local Printer.
■Select the LPTx printer port (even if you wish to connect the printer on USB).
■When the assistant displays a series of printer manufacturers,
click on Disk supplied.
■Choose the letter of the reader corresponding to the CD-Rom reader
and then click on Next.
■In the CD-Rom, click on Drivers.
■Select the directory for your Windows environment:
Windows 95 and Windows 98: WIN95-98
Windows 2000 and Windows XP: 2000XP
Windows NT4: NT4.0
■Choose the file Youn.inf (or Younbw.inf), click on Open and then OK.
■The Evolis printer appears on a grey background, click on Next.
■Choose to replace the current driver, then click on Next.
■State whether you wish to use the Evolis printer as your default printer
and then click on Next.
■Do not share and then click on Next.
■Do not print out a test page and click on Next.
■Click on Finish to install the driver.
For operation on Parallel port, connect the cable between the PC and the printer and the installation is
complete.
For a USB connection, the following adjustments must be made
■Connect your USB cable between the printer and the PC.
■Windows detects a new printer and starts the Add Printer Assistant, click on Next.
■The system looks for a file Youngi.dll (Youbwgi.dll).
■In the CD-Rom, click on Drivers.
■Select the directory for your Windows environment:
Windows 95 and Windows 98: WIN95-98
Windows 2000 and Windows XP: 2000XP
Windows NT4: NT4.0
■Choose the file Youngi.inf (or Younbwgi.inf), click on Open and then OK.
■Click on Finish.
A new Evolis driver (Copy1) has been created for the printer on USB port, the installation is complete.
15

Printing parameter setup
Before using your Pebble printer, it is best to check / modify the default parameters of the driver. Furthermore,
if you have options installed, you must declare them to the driver.
Your printer has numerous functions that can be parameterised in the printing manager. These printing para-
meters are accessible:
■ From Start in the Windows bar, Parameters and then Printers
1. Select Evolis Pebble
2. In File in the menu bar of Windows, select Default Document
■ From your Windows software:
1. In File in the menu bar of your application, select Print or Printing Set-up.
The procedures vary along with the type of software used and the Operating System.
Before using the printer, make sure that it is correctly selected as the default printer.
Selection of the Pebble printer as default
Proceed as follows to select the Pebble printer by default:
1. Click on Start in the Windows bar, select Parameters and then Printers.
2. Click on the Evolis Pebble icon and then point to File in the menu bar.
3. Select Define default and close the window.
Definition of the properties of your Pebble printer
Different dialog boxes enable you to:
■Perform adjustments such as the orientation and the printing quality.
■Manage the different printing modes and the use of suitable printing ribbons.
■Select the printing port.
■Activate the different control and maintenance functions of the printer.
Use of on-line help
A help file guides you in the use of each of the prin-
ting management parameters, depending on the dif-
ferent printing modes and criteria retained. In order to
familiarise you with these parameters, we recommend
you consult this help before any modification.
“Main” dialog box
This dialog box enables you to select:
Type of ribbon: the type of ribbon used
Orientation: the orientation of the printout in portrait
or landscape and the rotation of the printout 180º
Copies: the number of copies required of the card
16

If you previously selected a black ribbon in the Main
dialog box, the Graphic dialog box allows you to
select:
Black sensitivity: the placement or more or less ink.
Printing quality: the quality of the placement of the ink.
17
“Graphic” dialog box
If you previously selected a color ribbon in the
Characteristics dialog box, the Drawing dialog box
allows you to select:
Black panel: the use of the black panel.
Varnish panel: the varnish application of a color rib-
bon depending on a deliberate choice or a kind of
card requiring a covering reserve.
The More options button enables action on certain
printing parameters, such as the contact and intensity
of the colors.

18
“Tools” dialog box
This dialog box offers first level help for your Pebble
printer.
If your Pebble printer has an option with a magnetic
encoder, now proceed to set it up by clicking on the
Encoding Definition button. For further informa-
tion concerning this printer option, consult Annexe A
of this manual.
We also recommend you print a Test Card on the first
use, and to keep it. This card records the information
you might be asked for if you call the after-sales service.
Observation: The “Dialog with printer” option is only available if the driver has been installed with
the installation program of the CD.
“General” dialog box
This dialog box is a Windows information window that allows a test page to be printed only to check
the communication between the computer and the printer.
“Details” dialog box
This dialog box is a Windows control window allowing the selection of the printing port and confir-
ming the use of the correct driver on the printer. The displayed parameters must only be modified by
a person with advanced competences.
“Color management” dialog box
This dialog box enables the printing to be associated with a defined color management profile.
Printing
A large number of Windows applications allow a
document to be printed (Word - Access - Excel, for
instance). In order to familiarise you with putting a
card on a page and the parameterisation of the prin-
ting, we propose the following example.
Under Microsoft®Word
After installing the Pebble printer as default:
1. Start Word and in File click on Page setup.
2. The Paper dialog box proposes Paper format, select
Youn Card.

3. In the Margin dialog box, select 0 cm for all
margins, then in Orientation, select
Landscape
4. Close the window by clicking OK.
Your Word window should now be like this:
You are ready to personalize your card by entering
the different composition elements:
■Logo and Illustration
■Identity photo
■Constant and variable texts
■Barcode, etc.
Example:
Note that this example does not intend to teach
the operator about the working of the Word
application. The only aim is to establish a rela-
tionship between the design of a card and the
parameters management of the Pebble necessary
for its printing.
19

Parameterising the Evolis Pebble Driver
To access the parameters from the Word window:
1. In the menu bar, point to File and select Print.
2. The dialog box tells you that the Evolis printer has been selected. Then click on Properties.
The dialog box of the Evolis Pebble driver opens.
The printing parameters for this example are:
1. Main dialog box, select:
■ Type of ribbon: Standard 5 panel ribbon (YMCKO)
■ Orientation: Landscape
■ Copy (number to be determined)
2. Graphic dialog box, select:
■ Black panel: All black points
■ Varnish panel: All the surface
3. Click on Apply if you modify a parameter, then on OK to successively close each dialog box.
4. Having returned to the main window, click OK to start printing.
Consult the help of each dialog box, if necessary. See the « Use of on-line help » paragraph
above for further information.
20