Monarch Paxar 9450 RASCAL Service manual

TC9450OH Rev. DA 8/99 ©1994 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Operator’s Handbook
Published by the Technical Communications Department.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Monarch®9450
RASCAL®Printer
For supplies, service, or assistance call:
TOLL FREE:
1-800-543-6650 (In the U.S.A.)
1-800-263-4650 (In Canada)
www.monarch.com

Each product and program carries a respective written warranty, the only
warranty on which the customer can rely. Monarch reserves the right to make
changes in the product, the programs, and their availability at any time and
without notice. Although Monarch has made every effort to provide complete
and accurate information in this manual, Monarch shall not be liable for any
omissions or inaccuracies. Any update will be incorporated in a later edition of
this manual.
WARNING
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at his own expense.
CANADIAN D.O.C. WARNING
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of
Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Réglement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique édicte par le ministère des Communications du Canada.
Trademarks
Monarch and RASCAL are registered trademarks of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
9450 and 9459 are trademarks of Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
Paxar is a trademark of Paxar Corporation.

Preface
This Operator’s Handbook describes how to
Fcharge the battery.
Fload supplies.
Fset up communications.
Fsend a print job.
Fcare for and maintain the printer.
Fsolve any problems that may occur.
It also contains product specification and accessories
information.
Audience –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This manual has a dual-purpose audience. It is intended
primarily for Operator of the printer. However, the System
Administrator who sets up print jobs for the Operator should
be familiar with the following topics:
F"About Sleep Mode" (Chapter 1)
F"Loading Supplies" (Chapter 2)
F"Printing" (Chapter 4)
F"Care and Maintenance" (Chapter 5)
F"Problems and Solutions" (Chapter 6)
Also, "Setting Communications Parameters" (Chapter 3) is
included, and is intended for the System Administrator only.
i

Terms to Know –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The following terms are used in this manual.
Communications
Parameters Settings that define how the printer and host communicate with each other. The
parameters (baud rate, flow control, data
bits, and stop bits) must match on both
devices.
Continuous Mode Default print mode in which the printer
feeds one or more supplies without
operator intervention.
Format The design of a printed label.
Host Any mainframe, minicomputer, data
collection terminal, or personal computer
attached to the printer.
Indexed supply Supplies that enable the printer to sense
where a label begins or ends. One type of
indexed supplies have black marks on the
back to accomplish this task.
Non-indexed
supply Supplies that do not enable the printer to sense where a label begins or ends.
Non-peel Mode Feed mode in which the printer does not
peel labels from the backing paper while
printing.
On-demand Mode Print mode in which the printer prints one
label each time you press [Feed].
Online Direct communication between host and
printer.
Peel Mode Feed mode in which the printer peels
labels from the backing paper while
printing.
9450 Operator’s Handbook
ii

Print Job A command or commands sent from the
host to the printer that results in one or
more labels being printed.
Sleep Mode Operation mode in which the printer
conserves energy while retaining the print
job.
Supplies The media (paper or synthetic) the printer
prints on.
Top-of-form Position where the supply stops before
printing the next label. You may adjust the
top of the form to compensate for supply
variations and the peel mode used.
Preface
iii

9450 Operator’s Handbook
iv

TableofContents
Chapter 1. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Using the Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Charging the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Removing and Loading the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Removing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Loading the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
About Sleep Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Attaching the Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Chapter 2. Loading Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Loading for Peel Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Loading for Non-Peel Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Removing Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Chapter 3. Printer Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Setting Communications Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Connecting the Communications Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Removing the Communications Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Chapter 4. Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Printing in On-demand Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Removing Backing Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Printing in Continuous Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Pausing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Clearing a Print Job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
v

Chapter 5. Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Clearing Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Inserting the Supply Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Cleaning the Printhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Cleaning the Platen Roller and Peel Blade. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Chapter 6. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Printing a Test Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
LED Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Chapter 7. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Supply Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Communications Cable Pin Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
9450 Operator’s Handbook
vi

Chapter1. GettingStarted
The 9450RASCAL®printer is a portable, thermal-direct
printer. This chapter tells you how
Fto use the buttons on top of the printer.
Fto charge and use the battery.
Fsleep mode works.
Fto attach the belt.
1-1

Using the Buttons ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
On the top of the printer, there are two buttons and an LED
indicator, as shown.
[Feed] Use to
Ffeed or advance the supply for printing.
See Chapter 4, "Printing," for
information about the different print
modes.
Fpause the printer during printing.
Fset the communication parameters in
the printer to match your host. See
"Setting Communications Parameters"
in Chapter 3.
Fclear most error conditions.
Fprint a test label. See Chapter 6,
"Troubleshooting," for information.
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1-2

[On/Off] Use to
Fturn the printer on and off.
Fwake the printer from sleep mode. See
"About Sleep Mode," later in this
chapter.
Freset the printer to normal operation
mode after printing a test label. See
Chapter 6, "Troubleshooting," for
information.
LED Indicator Indicates certain printer conditions or
communication problems. The LED
indicator can be amber, green, or alternate
between these colors. It can also blink or
be a solid color.
See Chapter 6, "Troubleshooting," for a
list of possible LED indicator conditions
and descriptions.
Charging the Battery ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
A 6-volt NiCd battery powers the printer. Charge the battery
Fwhen you receive the printer.
Fwhen the LED indicator shows a battery condition (slow
blinking green or blank).
In general, NiCd batteries require 5-8 charge/deplete cycles to
reach full charge.
nWhen first charging a battery, charge it for 14 hours,
regardless of whether you’re using the fast or trickle charger.
When you’re not charging or using the battery, it loses 2-3% of
its charge daily. Extremely hot environments increase this
charge loss rate and extremely cold environments decrease
this charge loss rate.
Chapter 1. Getting Started
1-3

If the battery loses power in the middle of a printing session,
replace or recharge the battery. The printer remembers the
print job.
When you use or store your charger, do not:
Fwrap the cord around the charger.
Fpull or put unusual stress on the cord.
wBefore using the charger, inspect the cord for bare wires. Do
Not use a charger with bare wires. Only use a charger
approved for use with this printer.
To charge the battery:
1. Remove the battery, as described in "Removing the
Battery."
2. Plug the small, round connector on the charger cord into
the socket on the battery, as shown. The charger’s LED
indicator is solid amber when the charger is fully
connected.
3. Plug the charger into a 115V electrical outlet. A full initial
charge takes approximately 14 hours.
nAreas using 220V or 240V electrical outlets will receive a
charger designed for these voltages. See Chapter 7,
"Specifications," for information.
Small Round
Connector
Socket
9450 Operator’s Handbook
1-4

4. When charging is complete, unplug the charger from the
battery.
5. Load the battery, as discribed in "Loading the Battery."
6. Press [On/Off] to resume printing.
For more information, see your Fast Charger Addendum.
Removing and Loading the Battery––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
You don’t need to turn off the printer before removing or
loading a battery.
Removing the Battery
The battery side tabs are stiff and require more force to press
when new. After you remove the battery for charging a few
times, the tabs become easier to press, requiring less force to
remove.
To remove the battery:
1. Hold the printer as shown.
Prongs
Slots
Bottom
Tabs
Side
Ta b s
Battery
Chapter 1. Getting Started
1-5

2. Squeeze the side tabs on the battery and pull the battery
away from the printer.
Loading the Battery
To load the battery:
1. Insert the bottom tabs on the battery into the slots at the
bottom of the battery well.
2. Push the top of the battery onto the prongs until the
battery snaps into place.
About Sleep Mode ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
When the printer is inactive for a certain period, it goes into
sleep mode to conserve battery power. During sleep mode,
the printer retains all print jobs, but isn’t operational.
See your System Administrator to set the time the printer waits
before going into sleep mode. The default is 2 minutes, but it
can range from 10 seconds to 2.7 hours. Your System
Administrator can also disable sleep mode entirely. If sleep
mode is disabled, an F appears on the test label before the
delay time.
To recover from sleep mode, press [On/Off]. The printer takes
100 milliseconds to recover.
nDo Not send a print job during this interval. It will be lost.
9450 Operator’s Handbook
1-6

Attaching the Belt–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Your printer comes with a belt for portable printing.
To attach the belt:
1. Lift one of the clips and slip the belt under it.
2. Release the clip.
3. Repeat these steps for the other clip.
nMake sure the belt is completely under the clips.
Clips
Belt
Chapter 1. Getting Started
1-7

9450 Operator’s Handbook
1-8

Chapter2. LoadingSupplies
The printer accepts labels, tags, and thermal paper. Labels
can be indexed or non-indexed. They also can have a core or
be coreless. Use synthetic (non-paper) labels to print serial or
high-density bar codes.
You can load supplies two ways:
FPeel mode peels the label from the backing paper while
it feeds through the printer. This mode requires
indexed labels. The printer must be in On-demand
mode. A solid green LED indicator implies On-demand
mode. Ask your System Administrator to set the mode,
if necessary.
FNon-peel mode feeds without peeling labels from the
backing paper. Use this mode for printing label strips
or printing on tags or thermal paper. The printer must
be in Continuous mode. A solid amber LED indicator
implies Continuous mode. Ask your System
Administrator to set the mode, if necessary.
nBefore loading supplies, make sure the supply chute is clean.
Refer to Chapter 5, "Care and Maintenance."
2-1

Loading for Peel Mode–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In Peel mode, use die-cut labels only. Use supplies up to a
maximum of 2.05 inches. Contact Monarch at the number at
the back of this manual if you have special label requirements.
nIt doesn’t matter if the printer is off or on while you are loading
supplies.
To load supplies for Peel mode:
1. Remove the supply holder from the supply well as shown.
2. Push the printhead lever up to open the printhead.
Supply
Holder
Printhead
Lever
Support Frame
Ta b s
Supply
Well
9450 Operator’s Handbook
2-2

3. Squeeze the tabs on both sides of the support frame and
pull it open.
4. Insert the leading edge of the supply into the supply guide
while dropping the supply roll into the supply well. Push
the supply against the back of the well. Use your finger to
push the supply through the supply chute.
Support
Frame
Tabs
Supply
Guide
Supply
Well
Leading
Edge of
Supply
Chapter 2. Loading Supplies
2-3

5. Place the supply holder against the supply roll in the
supply well. Make sure the supply turns freely in the well.
6. Feed the supply through the printer, as follows.
FPush the printhead lever down to close the printhead.
If the printer is off, turn the knob clockwise to manually
feed the supply through the supply chute.
FPush the printhead lever down to close the printhead.
If the printer is on, the printer feeds the supply
automatically.
7. Feed the supplies behind the support frame as shown.
8. Remove labels from the backing paper.
nMake sure the supplies rest against the back wall of the
printer as they exit the supply chute. If not, open the
printhead and realign the supplies. Close the printhead.
Support
Frame
Supply
Guide
Supply
Holder
Knob
Printhead
Lever
On/Off
Button
Supply
9450 Operator’s Handbook
2-4