LabelStation Pro200 series User manual

©Advanced Labelling Limited July 2008
- 1 - LabelStation Pro Series Set Up Manual July 2008
LabelStation Pro200/300
User Guide

©Advanced Labelling Limited July 2008
- 2 - LabelStation Pro Series Set Up Manual July 2008
Contents
1. GETTING STARTED
1.1. Unpacking your LabelStation Pro Series
1.2. Equipment Checklist
1.3. Getting to Know your LabelStation Pro Series
1.3.1. LabelStation Pro Series Printer External View
• Fig.1. Top Front View
1.3.2. LabelStation Pro Series Printer External Rear View
• Fig.2. External Rear View
1.3.3. LabelStation Pro Series Printer External Label Roll Mount
• Fig.3. External Label Roll Mount
2. SETTING UP YOUR LABELSTATION PRO SERIES
2.1. LabelStation Pro Series to PC Connection
• Fig.4. Attach power supply to printer
2.2. Loading the Print Ribbon
2.2.1. Installing the Print Ribbon into the LabelStation Pro Series printer
• Fig.5. Ribbon Installation 1
•
Fig.6. Ribbon Installation 2
2.3. Loading Label Stock
• Fig.7. Label Roll Installation
• Fig.8. Pull the lever to open the cover
•
Fig.9. Correct Label Installation
2.3.1. Using the External Roll Holder
• Fig.10. Attaching the External Roll Holder
•
Fig.11. External Roll Mount Label Installation 1
•
Fig.12. External Roll Mount Label Installation 2
2.3.2. Loading Labels with the Cutter Unit Attached (optional)
• Fig.13. Label Installation in Cutter Mode
•
Fig.14. Complete Label Installation in Cutter Mode
2.3.3. Closing the Top Cover
2.3.3.1. To Open
• Fig.15. Top Cover Support is fixed at Position 2
2.3.3.2. To Close
• Fig.16. Top Cover is fully open & ready to close
•
Fig.17. Use both hands to close the Top Cover
2.4. Printing from Windows Software
3. LABELSTATION PRO SERIES SPECIFICATIONS
3.1. Power On Utilities
3.1.1. Ribbon Sensor Calibration
3.1.2. Gap Sensor Calibration Utility
3.1.3. Self Test Printout
3.1.4. Dump Mode
3.1.5. Printer Initialisation
3.2. Maintenance
3.2.1. Cleaning

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3.3. Troubleshooting
3.3.1. LED Status
3.3.1.1. No Power
3.3.1.2. The Printer is on and ready to use
3.3.1.3. The Printer is paused
3.3.1.4. The Printer is out of labels or ribbons or the printer setting is not correct.
3.3.2. Print Quality
3.3.2.1. Continuous feeding labels
3.3.2.2. No print on the label
3.3.2.3. Poor print quality
3.4. LED & Button Operation
3.4.1. LED
3.4.2. Button Operation
3.5. Specifications and Warranties
3.5.1. Printer Specifications
3.5.2. Label Stock Specifications
3.5.3. Ribbon Stock Specifications
3.5.4. Options
3.6. Compliances
3.7. Warranty Information
3.7.1. Thermal Print Head
3.7.2. Warranty Service Procedures
3.7.3. General Warranty Provision
3.7.4. Limitation of Liability

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1. GETTING STARTED
1.1. Unpacking your LabelStation Pro Series
The printer has been specially packaged to withstand damage in the shipping process. However,
upon receiving the LabelStation Pro Series printer, carefully inspect the package and the
device. In case of evident damage, contact Advanced Labelling Systems directly to specify the
nature and extent of the damage. Please retain the packaging materials in case you need to reship
the printer.
1.2. Equipment Checklist
•LabelStation Pro Series printer
•Ribbon paper core
•Ribbon supply/rewind spindle (2 pcs.)
•Label supply roll spindle (1 inch diameter core)
•Auto Switching Power supply
•Power cord
•Parallel interface cable
•USB cable
•Installation guide
•Label design software CD-ROM
If any parts are missing, please contact the customer service department of Advanced
Labelling Systems – 01202 683212
Separately purchased items may also be included, please check these items against your order or
delivery note.
These additional items may include:
•Continuous Rolls, Die Cut Labels, Cable Markers
•External Label Roll Holder
•Print Ribbon (this is usually fitted to your printer prior to dispatch).
•Memory module
•Cutter Unit (this is usually fitted to your printer prior to dispatch).
•Portable mini keyboard
•LabelStation Pro Series Industrial Symbols CD-ROM

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1.3. Getting to Know your LabelStation Pro Series
This section shows the various parts of the LabelStation Pro Series printer. We recommend
that you familiarize yourself with these parts.
1.3.1. LabelStation Pro Series Printer External View
Fig. 1. Top front view
1.3.2. LabelStation Pro Series Printer External Rear View
1. USB Interface
2. Parallel Interface
3. RS-232 DB-9 Interface
4. Power Jack
5. Power Switch
6. Rear Paper Guide
Fig. 2. External Rear View
1. Clear Window
2. Ribbon Access Window
3. LED indicator
4. Feed Button
5. Printer Top Cover
6. Cover release button
6.

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1.3.3. LabelStation Pro Series External Label Roll Mount (optional)
This is used when a larger diameter roll of labels or heat shrink tubing is being used (in excess of
100mm). The label mount sits behind the printer and the labels feed through a slot in the back of
the printer. This is an optional extra.
Fig. 3. External label roll mount

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2. SETTING UP YOUR LABELSTATION PRO SERIES
2.1. LabelStation Pro Series to PC Connection.
•Place the printer on a flat, secure surface.
•Make sure the power switch is off.
•Connect the printer to the computer with the Centronics Parallel or USB cable
PLEASE NOTE IF USING USB FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE YELLOW LABEL ON THE TOP OF THE PRINTER.
•Plug the power cord into the power supply connector at the rear of the printer, and then
plug into the mains.
Fig.4. Attach power supply to printer
2.2. Loading the Print Ribbon
The printer automatically detects if a ribbon is installed after power on and will switch to thermal
transfer or direct thermal printing mode. If printer does not detect the ribbon, the motor that
drives the ribbon rewind spindle will be turned off.
If the ribbon is installed, but the printer is not winding it on, please refer to the ribbon
calibration procedure to calibrate the ribbon sensor sensitivity. (Chapter 5.1.1. Ribbon Sensor
Calibration)
2.2.1. Installing the Print Ribbon into the LabelStation Pro Series printer.
•Push down on the ribbon access window to unlock and open the cover.
•Place a paper core onto the front ribbon rewind spindle.
•Mount this empty spindle on the front hub.
•Install a ribbon on the back ribbon supply spindle.
•Mount the ribbon supply spindle on the rear hub.
•Attach the ribbon leader to the ribbon rewind paper core.
•Rotate the ribbon rewind paper core until the ribbon leader is thoroughly, firmly
encompassed by the black section of the ribbon.
Mains Power
Plug
Power
Switch
Power supply
Power
Cable
U
SB
Centronics
Parallel
RS
-
232

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•Close the ribbon access window.

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Fig.5. Ribbon Installation 1
Fig.6. Ribbon Installation 2
Ribbon Access Window
Paper Core
Ribbon Spindle
Back Hub
Front Hub
Ribbon Rewind Paper Core
Rear Hub
Ribbon Leader
Ribbon Supply Spindle

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2.3. Loading Label Stock
•Turn off the printer and open the printer cover
If your label core is 1 inch, remove the 1.5” core adapter from the fixed tab. If label width is 4
inch wide, two fixing tabs are not required.
•Slide the label supply roll spindle through the core of a label roll and attach the fixing tabs
onto the spindle.
Fig. 7. Label Roll Installation
•Open the printer’s top cover by releasing the green top cover open levers located on each
side of the printer and lifting the top cover. A top cover support at the rear of the printer
will hold the printer top cover open.
•Place the loaded label spindle onto the center of the paper roll mount.
•Feed the labels, printing side face up, through the Teflon bar and the paper guide and pass
over the platen.
•Adjust the green paper guides to slightly touch the edges of the label backing paper.
•To close the printer top cover, lift the cover to the ultimate open angle then use both
hands to close the cover gently. Close the printer top cover slowly and make sure the cover
locks latch securely.
1.5” Core Adaptor
Printing Side
Face Up
Label Roll
Fixed Tab
1”
Label Spindle
Fig. 8 Pull the lever to open the cover

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Make sure hands are not placed in the printer when closing the top cover.
Do not free fall the top cover.
Failure to securely close and lock the cover will result in poor print quality.
Fig. 9. Correct Label installation
2.3.1. Using the External Roll Holder (Optional)
Fig.10. Attaching the External Roll Holder
•Attach an external roll holder to the bottom of the printer by lining up the notches on
the holder to the holes on the base of the printer
•Open the printer top cover by pushing forward the top cover open levers.
•The top cover support will hold the printer top cover.
•Install a roll of labels (loaded onto the label spindle) on the external paper roll mount.
•Feed the labels through the external label feed opening through the rear paper guide.
Printer Top
Cover
Teflon Bar
Support Bar
Paper Roll Mount
Top Cover Open Lever
Paper
Guide

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Fig. 11. External Roll Mount Label Installation 1
•Feed the labels, printing side face up, through the paper guide and pass over the
platen.
•Adjust the paper guides by removing them left or right to fit the paper width.
•Close the printer top cover by lifting up the support and close the printer top slowly.
Fig. 12. External Roll Mount Label Installation 2
PLEASE NOTE WHEN YOU ARE USING HORTICULTURAL LABELS
MAKE SURE THE LABELS ARE INSTALLED IN THE PRINTER SO THE
LABELS ARE COMING OFF THE BASE OF THE ROLL NOT OFF THE TOP.
THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE DIAGRAM ON THE BASE
External Roll
Holder
External Label
Feed Opening
Rear Paper
Guide
Front Paper
Guides
Platen
Top Cover
Support

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2.3.2. Loading Labels with the Cutter Unit Attached (Optional)
•Insert the label spindle into your label roll (as section 2.3.)
•Open the printer top.
•Install the label roll on the paper roll mount.
•Feed the labels, printing side face up, through the paper guide and pass over the
platen.
•Lead the labels through the cutter paper opening.
•Adjust the paper guides by moving left or right to fit the labels width.
Fig.13. Label installation in cutter mode
•Close the top cover by lifting up the top cover support and close the top cover slowly
Fig.14. Complete label installation in cutter mode
Paper Guide
Cutter
Platen
Top Cover
Support
Top Cover

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2.3.3. Closing the Top Cover
Please take care when opening or closing the printer’s top cover by carefully following
these instructions.
2.3.3.1. To Open
•When facing the front of the printer pull the cover release levers on both sides
of printer towards you.
•Lift up the top gradually.
•There are two stop positions for the top cover. Position 1 and 2 are indicated on
the label below.
To hold the cover open at position 1, you must lift the cover higher than the stopping point at
position 1 and gently lower the cover to stopping point 1. Do not let the cover free fall!
•Fully open the top cover and gently lower it to stop position 2.
Fig. 15. Top cover support is fixed at position 2
2.3.3.2. To Close
•To close the cover, lift up the top cover to the ultimate angle then close the top
cover gently and it will be kept at a stop position between 1 and 2 for a while.
•Use both hands to gently push down the top cover to close it and make sure the
cover is latched on both sides.
Fig.16. Top cover is fully open and ready to close

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Fig.17. Use both hands to close the top cover
Do not place your hands between top cover and lower cover when closing the top cover!
Do not force the cover!
If you are not sure if top cover is fixed at stop position, please do not push top cover to close it
or the top cover will be damaged.

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3. LABELSTATION PRO SERIES SPECIFICATIONS
3.1. Power On Utilities
There are three power-on utilities to set up and test printer hardware. These utilities are activated
by pressing FEED button and by turning on the printer power simultaneously.
3.1.1. Ribbon Sensor Calibration
Please follow the steps below to calibrate the ribbon sensor.
1. Turn off the power.
2. Press and hold the FEED button then turn on printer power.
3. Release the button when LED turns red (but within the 5 flashes).
The LED color will be changed as following pattern.
Orange Red (5 flashes) Orange (5 flashes) Green (5 flashes) Solid green
This will tell the printer to check if there is a ribbon loaded.
3.1.2. Gap Sensor Calibration Utility
Gap/black mark sensor sensitivity should be calibrated at the following conditions:
•Abrand new printer
•Change of label stock.
•Printer initialization.
The printer will remember the sensor setting in the last print job - Please follow the steps below to
calibrate the sensor.
1. Turn off the power.
2. Press and hold the FEED button then turn on printer power.
3. Release the button when LED turns orange (within in the 5 flashes)
The LED color will be changed as following pattern:
Orange Red (5 flashes) Orange (5 flashes) Green (5 flashes) Solid green
The printer performs the following items:
•Calibrate label pitch
•Print out thermal print head check pattern
•Print out the internal settings
•Enter dump mode
Reset the printer by turning the POWER switch off and on.

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3.1.3. Self Test Printout
The Self-test printout can be used to check if there is any dot damage on the heater element,
printer configurations and available memory space.
Following the check pattern, the printer prints internal settings as listed below:
•Printer model and firmware version
•Firmware Checksum
•Mileage
•Serial port setting
•Country code setting
•Print speed setting (inch/sec)
•Print darkness
•Label size setting (inch)
•Gap distance (inch)
•Gap/black mark sensor sensitivity
•Number of Download Files
•Total and available Memory space
3.1.4. Dump Mode
After the self-test, the printer enters the dump mode. In this mode, any characters sent from the
host computer will be printed in two columns, as shown.
The characters received will be shown in the first column, and their corresponding hexadecimal
values, in the second. This is often helpful to users for the verification of programming commands
or debugging of printer programs.

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•Reset the printer by turning the POWER switch off and on.
3.1.5. Printer Initialization
Printer initialization is used to clear DRAM and restore printer settings to defaults. The only one
exception is ribbon sensitivity, which will not be restored to default.
Printer initialization is activated by the following procedures.
1. Turn off printer power.
2. Press the FEED button and then turn on power. The LED will become red, orange, green
with 5 blinking (around 5 seconds) for each colour.
3. Release the FEED button when LED becomes green (within the 5 flashes)
The LED color will be changed as following pattern:
Orange Red (5 flashes) Orange (5 flashes) Green (5 flashes) Solid green
Printer configuration will be restore to defaults as below after initialization.
Parameter Default setting
Speed 127 mm/sec (5 ips)
Density 7
Label Width 4.25” (108.0 mm)
Label Height 2.5” (63.4 mm)
Sensor Type Gap sensor
Gap Setting 0.12” (3.0 mm)
Print Direction 0
Reference Point 0,0 (upper left corner)
Offset 0
Tear Mode On
Peel off Mode Off
Cutter Mode Off
Serial Port Settings 9600 bps, none parity,
8data bits, 1 stop bit
Code Page 850
Country Code 001
Clear Flash Memory No
Note: When printer initialization is done, please calibrate the gap sensor again – see 5.1.2 Gap
Sensor Calibration Utility.

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3.2. Maintenance
3.2.1. Cleaning
Use one or more of the following supplies that meets your needs:
•Cleaning pens.
•Cleaning swabs
•Lint-free cloth.
The cleaning process is described as following
Printer Part Method
Printer Head Let the print head to cool for one minute.
Use a cleaning pen to swab the print elements.
Platen Roller Rotate the platen roller and wipe it thoroughly
with 70% alcohol and a cleaning swab, or
lint-free cloth.
Exterior Wipe it with water-dampened cloth.
Interior Brush or air blow
3.3. Troubleshooting
This section lists the common problems you may encounter when operating the LabelStation Pro
Series printer. Also, it provides solutions.
3.3.1. LED Status
LED Status/Colour Printer Status Solution Number
Off Off 5.3.1.1.
Solid Green On 5.3.1.2.
Green flashing Pause 5.3.1.3.
Red flashing Stopped 5.3.1.4.
3.3.1.1. No power.
•Turn on the power switch.
•Check if the green LED is lit on power supply. If it is not lit on, power supply is
broken.
•Check both power connections from the power cord to the power supply and from
the power supply to the printer power jack.
3.3.1.2. The printer is on and ready to use.
•No action necessary.
3.3.1.3. The printer is paused.
•Press the feed button to resume printing.

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3.3.1.4. The printer is out of labels or ribbon or the printer setting is not
correct
•Out of label or ribbon
oLoad a roll of label and follow the instructions in 2.3. Loading the Paper then
press the feed button to resume printing.
oLoad a roll of ribbon and follow the instructions in 2.2.Loading the Ribbon
then press the feed button to resume printing.
•Printer setting is not correct.
oInitialize the printer by following the instructions in “Power on Utility”.
oLabel Setup is not correct.
3.3.2. Print Quality
3.3.2.1. Continuous feeding labels
•The printer setting may go wrong. Please do the Initialization and Gap/Black Mark
Calibration.
3.3.2.2. No print on the label
•Is the label or ribbon loaded correctly?
oFollow the instructions in 2.3. Loading the Paper or 2.3. Loading the Ribbon.
•Does the ribbon run out?
oFollow the instructions in 2.2. Loading the Ribbon.
3.3.2.3. Poor print quality
•Top cover is not closed properly. Close the top cover completely and make sure the
right side and left side levers are latched to top cover properly.
•Clean the thermal print head.
•Check the ribbon is fitted correctly.
•Adjust the print density setting.
•Ribbon and paper media are not compatible.
If the printer still does not function after all suggested solutions have been invoked, please
contact Advanced Labelling Systems on 01202 683212.
Emailed requests for support should be directed to [email protected]
Our technical support is available to you during working hours, please call with any problems you
may have. Tech Support Line – 01202 683212