Hellermann Tyton TT320SM User manual

TT320SM
Thermal Transfer Printer
USER GUIDE

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iii
Proprietary Statement
This manual contains proprietary information of the manufacturer. It is intended solely for the
information and use of parties operating and maintaining the equipment described herein. Such
proprietary information may not be used, reproduced, or disclosed to any other parties for any
other purpose without the expressed written permission of the manufacturer.
Product Improvements
Continuous improvement of products is a policy of the manufacturer. All specifications and signs
are subject to change without notice.
FCC Compliance Statement
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable pro-
tection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guar-
antee that the interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different than that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced Radio/TV technician for help.
NOTE: This unit was tested with shielded cables on the peripheral devices. Shielded cables must
be used with the unit to insure compliance.
“The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufac-
turer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.”
Liability Disclaimer
The manufacturer takes steps to assure that its published Engineering specifications and Manuals
are correct; however, errors do occur. The manufacturer reserves the right to correct any such
errors and disclaims liability resulting therefrom.
No Liability for Consequential Damage
In no event shall the manufacturer or anyone else involved in the creation, production, or deliv-
ery of the accompanying product (including hardware and software) be liable for any damages
whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interrup-
tion, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or the results
of use of or inability to use such product, even if the manufacturer has been advised of the possi-
bility of such damages. Because some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability
for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.
Copyrights
This copyrighted manual and the label printer described herein are owned by the manufacturer.
All rights are reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of this manual or the software in the label
printer may result in imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to $10,000 (17 U.S.C.506).
Copyright violators may be subject to civil liability.
©2004 All rights reserved.

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Shock Hazard
The printer and power supply should never be operated in a location
where either one can get wet. Personal injury could result.
Media and Ribbon
Always use high-quality, approved labels, tags and ribbons. If adhesive
backed labels are used that DO NOT lay flat on the backing liner, the
exposed edges may stick to the label guides and rollers inside the printer,
causing the label to peel off from the liner and jam the printer. Permanent
damage to the print head may result if a non-approved ribbon is used as it
may be wound incorrectly for the printer or contain chemicals corrosive to
the print head. Approved supplies can be ordered from your dealer. If
labels or ribbon run out while printing, DO NOT turn the power switch
OFF (0) while reloading or data loss may result. After loading new sup-
plies, press the feed button to resume printing.
Static Discharge
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. DO NOT TOUCH the print
head or the electronic components under the top cover.
Thermal Printing
The print head becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the
print head and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the print head. Use
only the cleaning pen to perform maintenance.

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vi
Introduction
Hello! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
What's in the Box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Inspecting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Opening the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Closing the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Reporting Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Related Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Getting Started
Modes of Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Attaching Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Loading Roll Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment . . . . . . . . . .9
Adjusting the Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Loading Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Install the Ribbon Supply Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Install the Take-Up Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Attach and Tighten the Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Operator Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Power Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Feed Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Status Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Media Length Sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Hooking Up the Printer and Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Interface Cable Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
USB Interface Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Parallel Interface Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Ethernet Interface Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Serial Interface Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Communicating with the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
CONTENTS

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Universal Serial Bus (USB) Communications . . . . . . . . .17
Parallel Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Internal Ethernet Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Serial Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Adjusting the Print Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Adjusting the Print Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Operation & Options
Thermal Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Replacing Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Adding a New Transfer Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Replacing a Partially Used Transfer Ribbon . . . . . . . . . .22
Printing in Peel-Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Printing on Fan-Fold Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Using the Cutter Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Maintenance
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Print Head Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Media Path Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Cleaning Card Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Platen Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Replacing the Platen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Replacing the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Thermal-Transfer TLP Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Troubleshooting
Print Quality Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Manual Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Resetting the Factory Default Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Communications Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Feed Button Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Appendix
Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Parallel Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Internal Ethernet PrintServer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Serial (RS-232) Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

1
INTRODUCTION
This section describes what you get in your shipping box and provides an overview of
printer parts. This section also has procedures that describe how to open and close the
printer and report any problems.
Hello!
Thank you for choosing a HellermannTyton TT320SM™ printer, a high-quality on-
demand printer.
Your printer is a high-quality on-demand printer. The printer provides thermal-transfer
printing (which uses ribbon) and direct-thermal printing. This manual provides all of
the information you will need to operate your printer on a daily basis. To create label
formats, refer to your programming guide. This guide is available by contacting your
distributor or dealer.
NOTE: Many printer settings may also be controlled by your printer’s driver or label
preparation software. Refer to the driver or software documentation for more informa-
tion.
Your printer, when connected to a host computer, functions as a complete system for
printing labels and tags.

2
What's in the Box?
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 inspect-
ing the printer to familiarize yourself with printer parts so you can follow the instruc-
tions in this book.
Documentation
and Warranty Printer
Power Supply and CordsRibbon Take-Up
Core
Cleaning
Pen

3
Inspecting the Printer
Look at the outside of the printer and make sure that all parts are present.
To access the media compartment, you must open the printer.
Pull the release levers towards you and lift the cover.
Opening the printer
Feed
Button Status
Light
Power
Switch Power
Supply
Receptacle
Interface
Connectors
(vary by option)
Release
Latches

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INSPECTING THE PRINTER (continued)
After opening the printer, check the media compartment.
Supply Hub
Take-Up Hub
Take-Up Gear
Peel-Off Option
Ribbon
Carriage
Tear Bar
Print Head
Cover
Lock
Lock-down
Screw
Ribbon
Sensor
Gap
Sensor
Media
Guides Platen
Roller
Bar
Roller Sensor

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Closing the printer
Press down until the cover snaps closed.
Hold the top cover and press the
“kick-stand” cover lock to release.
Lower the top cover. The ribbon
carriage automatically folds up into place.

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If you discover damage or missing parts:
• Immediately notify and file a damage report with the shipping company.
The manufacturer is not responsible for any damage incurred during ship-
ment of the printer and will not cover the repair of this damage under its
warranty policy.
• Keep the carton and all packing material for inspection.
• Notify the authorized reseller
Reporting Damage

7
This section describes how to set up your printer for the first time and use the
most common operating procedures for loading media in tear-off mode and loading
ribbon.
Modes of Printing
You can operate this printer in different modes:
• Standard tear-off mode allows you to tear off each label (or a strip of
labels) after it is printed.
• In optional peel-off mode, the backing material is peeled away from the
label as it is printed. After this label is removed, the next one is printed.
• In optional cutter mode, an attached unit cuts through the media.
The printer typically uses roll media, but you can use fan-fold or other
continuous media as well.
For procedures to use optional modes and features, refer to the Operation
and Options section.
GETTING STARTED

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Attaching Power Supply
Plug
Varies by
Country
AC
Power
Cord
Power
Supply
Power
Switch
Power
Supply
Receptacle
Barrel
Connector
Check the power supply to make certain it is appropriate for your input voltage.
Warning: Use the power supply that came with your printer.
Never operate the printer and power supply in an area where
they can get wet. Serious personal injury could result!
1. Make sure the power switch is in the off position (down).
2. The DC power supply has a barrel connector on one end that must be inserted into
the power supply receptacle on the back of the printer.
3. Insert the separate AC power cord into the power supply.
4. Plug the other end of the cord into an appropriate AC electrical outlet.

9
Loading Roll Media
Placing the Roll in the Media
Compartment
Whether your roll media is inside or out-
side wound you load it into the printer
the same way.
1. Open the printer. Remember that you
need to pull the release levers toward
the front of the printer.
2. Remove the outside length of media.
During shipment, the roll may become
dirty when handled or dusty when
stored. Removing the outside length
avoids dragging adhesive or dirty
media between the print head and
platen.
3. Place labels on the optional caddy 5.0.
4. Orient the media roll so that its print-
ing surface will be up as it passes over
the platen.
5. Lower the roll between the hangers
and close them onto the core.
When you load media, you must place the roll on the media hangers and then adjust
the media guides. You must use the correct media for the type of printing you require.
When printing without a ribbon, you must use direct thermal media. When using rib-
bon, you must use thermal transfer media. The printer's ribbon sensor detects motion
of the supply spindle.

10
The adjustable guides direct the media
toward the platen and print head.
1. Open the media guides by turning
the guide adjuster knob to the rear.
2. Thread the media through the guides.
3. Close the media guides by turning
the guide adjuster knob to the front.
They should just touch, but not
restrict, the edges of the media.
4. Unless you need to load ribbon, close
the top cover. Remember that you
need to release the cover lock, lower
the top cover, and press down until
the latches snap into place.
Adjusting the Guides

11
Loading Ribbon
Install the Ribbon Supply Roll
Before following these steps, prepare the
ribbon by removing its wrapping and
pulling its adhesive strip free.
1. Thread the ribbon through the carriage.
2. Press the right side onto the supply
hub.
3. Align the notches on the left side and
mount onto the spokes of the left hub.
1. Press the right side onto the take-up
hub.
2. Align the notches on the left side and
mount onto the spokes of the left hub.
You can find your first ribbon take-up core
in the packing box. Subsequently, use the
empty supply core to take up the next roll
of ribbon.
Install the Take-Up Core
You must use thermal transfer media (accepts wax and/or resin transferred off a ribbon)
when you use a ribbon. When loading ribbon, you install the supply and take-up rolls,
then tighten the ribbon on the carriage.

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Attach and Tighten the Ribbon
You must align the ribbon so that it will
be taken straight onto the core.
1. Attach the ribbon to the take up core.
Use the adhesive strip on new rolls;
otherwise, use tape.
2. Turn the ribbon take-up gear counter-
clockwise (top moves toward rear) to
remove slack from the ribbon.
3. Close the top cover. Remember that you
need to release the cover lock, lower
the top cover, and press down until the
latches snap into place.