QuickLabel Systems QLS-4100 User manual

Digital Color Label Printer
Operation & Setup Guide
Part Number 22834667-EN-E
Revision 1.0
4/17
Firmware V 2.3
Specifications are subject to change without notice
___________________________________________
QuickLabel, An AstroNova™ Division
World Headquarters
600 East Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.QuickLabel.com
___________________________________________
Technical Support
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]
www.QuickLabel.com/support/

© 2017 AstroNova, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved. No part of this manual
may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or
translated into any language in any form by any means without written
permission of QuickLabel.
Trademarks
Microsoft Word™ and Windows™ are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
PostScript™ and Adobe Illustrator™ are trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.
CorelDRAW!™ is a trademark of Corel Corporation
PCL™ is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Corporation
Ethernet™ is a trademark of Xerox Corporation
QuickLabel® is a registered trademark of AstroNova, Inc.
Custom QuickLabel™ and RibbonRation™ are trademarks of AstroNova,
Inc.
UFST® is a trademark of Monotype Imaging Inc. registered in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in certain
jurisdictions.
Limited Warranty
QuickLabel, An AstroNova Division, warrants this product against defects in
materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original
purchase. This warranty excludes printhead and print platen, which are
separately warranted. If the customer discovers a defect, this defect must be
reported promptly to QuickLabel.
QuickLabel will, at its option, repair or replace the defective component at
no additional charge. Repair parts and replacement parts will be furnished
on an exchange basis and will be either reconditioned or new. All replaced
parts become the property of QuickLabel. Travel, freight and other expenses
related to warranty repairs are not covered. Service Agreements are available
for purchase and may provide on-site service and/or loaner equipment.
QuickLabel warrants the printhead and the platen from the date of purchase
for a period of 90 days or for 1 million inches of thermal transfer ribbon,
whichever comes first, contingent upon the use of QuickLabel thermal
transfer ribbon. QuickLabel printheads are calibrated for use with
QuickLabel thermal transfer ribbon and perform optimally only when used
with this ribbon. This specific printhead warranty does not apply to
printheads damaged by accident, abuse, neglect, misapplication or the like.

This warranty is void if the product has been damaged by accident, abuse,
neglect or misapplication, or if the product has been improperly installed, or
if the product has been modified without the express written permission of
QuickLabel.
QuickLabel makes no warranty, either express or implied, with respect to
this product’s fitness for a particular purpose.
Obtaining Service
To obtain warranty service, call QuickLabel Technical Support at 401-828-
4000 or Toll-Free in the USA and Canada at 877-757-7310. QuickLabel, An
AstroNova Division, is not responsible for products lost or damaged in
transit.
Contact Information for Factory Sales and Service Centers
QuickLabel USA and World Headquarters
600 East Greenwich Avenue
West Warwick, RI 02893 USA
Toll Free: [phone]
Toll-Free Sales: [phone]
Toll Free Technical Support: [phone]
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.QuickLabel.com
Sales E-mail: [e-mail]
Technical Support E-mail: [email protected]
QuickLabel Canada
#111 – 3555 Isabelle, Brossard, QC J4Y 2R2 Canada
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.QuickLabel.ca
Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Technical Support e-mail: [email protected]

QuickLabel Deutschland
Senefelderstraße 1/ T6 D-63110 Rodgau
Tel. [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.QuickLabel.de
Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Technical Support e-mail: [email protected]
QuickLabel France
Parc Euclide
ZA la Clef de St Pierre
10A Rue Blaise Pascal
78990 ELANCOURT
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.QuickLabel.fr
Sales E-mail: [e-mail]
Technical Support E-mail:[email protected]
QuickLabel United Kingdom
Westacott Way, Maidenhead
Berkshire, SL6 3RT
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.QuickLabel.co.uk
Sales e-mail: [e-mail]
Technical Support e-mail:[email protected]

Ownership Information
Congratulations and thank you for your business. Your purchase of a quality
QuickLabel product is an investment in the finest of state-of-the-art printing
and labeling technology. Please use the spaces below to list the model
name/number and serial number of your product.
Model Name/Number: ____________________
Serial Number: ____________________
FCC Compliance Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of 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 residential environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and radiates radio frequency energy, and if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur. If this
equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged
to correct the interference by one of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase separation between the equipment and receiver.
•Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from which the
receiver is connected.
•Consult QuickLabel Technical Support.
Warning: Modifications not expressly approved by Quick Label could void
user authority to operate the equipment.
Canadian Compliance Statement
This Digital apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numerique respecte les exigences du Reglement sur le material
broilleur du Canada.

ETL Certification
This product has met the United States of America and Canada electrical
product safety requirements and has earned the ETL Listed Mark.
RoHS Compliance
We declare that the QLS-4100 Xe complies with The European RoHS
Directive 2002/95/EC (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous
Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment), as of 6/6/2007.
This declaration is based on information provided by suppliers based on
reasonable inquiry. This declaration is rendered invalid if the product is
altered by someone other than AstroNova, Inc.

Declaration of Conformity
Declaration de Conformité
Ubereinstimmungserklärung
Dichiarazione di Conformità
ID DoC-22834486
Manufacturer’s name and address
Nom et adresse du fabricant
Hersteller
Nome del costruttore
AstroNova, Inc.
600 East Greenwich Avenue
West Warwick, RI 02893 USA
Model No.
Modele No.
Model Nr.
Modello No.
QLS-4100 Xe
Standards to which conformity is declared
Standards auquel la conformité appartient
Normen für welche Übereinstimmung erklärt wird
Norme per le quali si dichiara la conformità
Safety: UL 60950-1
CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1, Second Edition
EMC: CISPR 22 Ed. 6.0 2008
CISPR 24 Ed. 2.0 2010
IEC 61000-3-2 ed3.2 (2009-04)
IEC 61000-3-3 ed2.0 (2008-06)
IEC 61000-4-2:2008
IEC 61000-4-3:2006+ A1:2007+ A2:2010
IEC 61000-4-4:2004
IEC 61000-4-5:2005
IEC 61000-4-6:2003
IEC 61000-4-8:1993
IEC 61000-4-11:2000
Application of Council Directives
Application des Decisions du Conseil
Anwendbar fur die Richtlinien
Applicazione delle Direttive del Comitato
2004/108/EC
2006/95/EC
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the equipment specified above conforms to the above Directive and Standard.
Je, Soussigné, déclare que l’équipment spécifié ci-dessus est en conformité avec la directive et le standard ci-dessus.
Ich, der unterzeichnende erkläre hiermit, daß das oben beschriebene Gerät den vorgenannten Richtlinien und Normen entspricht.
Il sottoscritto dichiara che l’apparecchio sopra specificato è conforme alle Direttive e Norme sopra specificate.
Steven Holbrook
Quality Assurance Manager
AstroNova, Inc.
Date of issue: 4/13/2017
Place of issue: West Warwick, RI
European Contact: Your local AstroNova, Inc. Sales and Service Office.
FRANCE - Parc Euclide, ZA la Clef de St Pierre, 10A Rue Blaise Pascal 78990 Elancourt
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
GERMANY - Senefelderstrasse 1/T6, D-63110 Rodgau
Tel. [phone], Fax: [phone]
UNITED KINGDOM - Westacott Way, Maidenhead Berkshire, SL6 3RT
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]

QLS-4100 Xe i
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Quick Start ...........................................................................1-1
QuickLabel media...................................................................................................... 1-2
Quick Start Guide ......................................................................................................1-3
Chapter 2: Physical Setup.....................................................................2-1
Unpacking the Printer...............................................................................................2-2
Printer Orientation.....................................................................................................2-3
Features of the QLS-4100 Xe..................................................................................... 2-4
Side view................................................................................................................2-5
Rear Panel View ....................................................................................................2-6
Installing the Media Unwind Mandrel...................................................................2-7
Power Connection .....................................................................................................2-8
Computer Connections.............................................................................................2-9
Centronics Parallel Port........................................................................................2-9
RS-232 Serial Port................................................................................................2-10
Ethernet Port and TCP/IP Communication.....................................................2-11
Print Servers.........................................................................................................2-12
Utility Port Connection........................................................................................... 2-13
Compressed Air Connection..................................................................................2-14
Preparing the Air Regulator .............................................................................. 2-14
Connecting the Air Supply................................................................................2-14
Chapter 3: Loading Media and Calibration .........................................3-1
Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon..........................................................................3-2
Loading Label or Tag Media....................................................................................3-4
Adjusting the Media Sensor.....................................................................................3-7
Calibrating for Media Types ....................................................................................3-8
Calibrating Gap Media.........................................................................................3-8
Calibrating Reflective Media.............................................................................3-11
Calibrating Continuous Media..........................................................................3-13
Calibrating Inverted Gap Media.......................................................................3-13
Chapter 4: Keypad Controls and Menus.............................................4-1
Keypad Layout and Functions................................................................................. 4-2
Print/Pause............................................................................................................. 4-3
Form Feed/Advance .............................................................................................4-3
Cancel .....................................................................................................................4-3
Menu Overview .........................................................................................................4-4
Ready State & Adjust Menu.....................................................................................4-9
Print Intensity........................................................................................................ 4-9

ii QLS-4100 Xe
Print Speed...........................................................................................................4-11
Print Line Adjustment........................................................................................4-12
Cross Web Adjustment.......................................................................................4-14
Vertical Offset......................................................................................................4-16
Horizontal Offset.................................................................................................4-17
Display Counter ..................................................................................................4-19
Cut Offset .............................................................................................................4-20
Label Reprint .......................................................................................................4-21
Form Stop Adjust ................................................................................................4-21
Peel Delay.............................................................................................................4-22
Cal & Setup Menu....................................................................................................4-23
Calibrate ...............................................................................................................4-23
Test Print ..............................................................................................................4-24
Vertical Baseline ..................................................................................................4-25
Horizontal Baseline.............................................................................................4-26
Printer Settings ....................................................................................................4-27
Variable Maximum Gap.....................................................................................4-29
Cutter Baseline.....................................................................................................4-30
Operation Menu.......................................................................................................4-31
Pull Back...............................................................................................................4-31
Label Reprint .......................................................................................................4-34
Synchronize Labels .............................................................................................4-35
Ribbon Menu ............................................................................................................4-37
Ribbon Type.........................................................................................................4-37
Drop/Lift Adjust..................................................................................................4-38
Ribbon Sensor......................................................................................................4-40
Communications Menu...........................................................................................4-41
Data Port...............................................................................................................4-41
Parallel Mode.......................................................................................................4-42
RS232 Baud Rate..................................................................................................4-43
RS232 Handshaking............................................................................................4-44
TCP/IP: IP Address .............................................................................................4-45
TCP/IP Subnet Mask...........................................................................................4-46
TCP/IP Gateway..................................................................................................4-47
TCP/IP Connections............................................................................................4-48
System Menu............................................................................................................4-49
Display Counter ..................................................................................................4-49
Memory Card - Write Protection ......................................................................4-50
Front Panel Lock/Unlock....................................................................................4-51
Memory Card - Formatting ...............................................................................4-54
Time ......................................................................................................................4-55

QLS-4100 Xe iii
Date....................................................................................................................... 4-56
Factory Reset........................................................................................................ 4-57
Options Menu...........................................................................................................4-59
Mirror Mode ........................................................................................................ 4-59
Cutter.................................................................................................................... 4-60
Cut Flag ................................................................................................................4-61
Pull Back - Enable/Disable.................................................................................4-63
Applicator ............................................................................................................4-65
Image Normalization..........................................................................................4-66
“No Air” Warning...............................................................................................4-67
Ignore Host Commands.....................................................................................4-68
System Configuration......................................................................................... 4-69
Print & Peel..........................................................................................................4-70
Chapter 5: Operation..............................................................................5-1
Printing with the QLS-4100 Xe.................................................................................5-2
Powering the Printer On ...................................................................................... 5-2
Operating Without Compressed Air..................................................................5-3
Memory Card Detection.......................................................................................5-3
Printer Indicators .......................................................................................................5-4
Error Messages...........................................................................................................5-5
Color Alignment ........................................................................................................5-9
Common Adjustments and Tasks .........................................................................5-11
Test Patterns ........................................................................................................5-11
Print Line Adjustment........................................................................................5-11
Cross Web Adjustment ......................................................................................5-11
Advancing the Media......................................................................................... 5-11
Print Speed...........................................................................................................5-11
Evaluating Print Quality.........................................................................................5-12
Enabling and Disabling RibbonRation™..............................................................5-14
Printing Labels .........................................................................................................5-15
Chapter 6: Advanced Adjustments.......................................................6-1
Printhead Tangency Alignment...............................................................................6-2
Printhead Angularity Adjustment ..........................................................................6-3
Ribbon Wrinkling Adjustments...............................................................................6-4
Printhead & Drive Station Lift ................................................................................. 6-6
Vertical Baseline.........................................................................................................6-7
Horizontal Baseline ...................................................................................................6-8
Chapter 7: Maintenance and Repair....................................................7-1
Recommended Tool List...........................................................................................7-2
Routine Cleaning .......................................................................................................7-3

iv QLS-4100 Xe
Printhead Replacement.............................................................................................7-5
Platen Replacement ...................................................................................................7-7
Drive and Pinch Roller Replacement ......................................................................7-9
Drive roll replacement..........................................................................................7-9
Pinch Roller Replacement..................................................................................7-10
Changing the Fuse or Line Voltage.......................................................................7-11
Firmware Upgrades.................................................................................................7-12
Upgrading additional printers with the CompactFlash card........................7-15
Chapter 8: Print & Peel ..........................................................................8-1
Print & Peel System Overview.................................................................................8-2
Compatibility Notes..............................................................................................8-2
Compatible Media.................................................................................................8-3
Important Safety Features....................................................................................8-4
Print & Peel Installation ............................................................................................8-5
Refitting an Existing QLS-4100 Xe......................................................................8-6
Installing the Print & Peel System ......................................................................8-8
Print & Peel Setup....................................................................................................8-11
Enabling/Disabling Print & Peel............................................................................8-13
Printing and Peeling Labels....................................................................................8-15
Adjusting the Liner Guide......................................................................................8-16
Liner Guide Adjustment Notes.........................................................................8-17
Print & Peel Adjustment Options..........................................................................8-19
Form Stop Adjust ................................................................................................8-19
Peel Delay.............................................................................................................8-20
Appendix A: Physical Data................................................................... A-1
Appendix B: Specifications.................................................................. B-1
Appendix C: Replacement Parts.......................................................... C-1
Appendix D: Custom QuickLabel®setup............................................ D-1
Appendix E: Windows Printer Driver Setup........................................E-1
Appendix F: Format error codes ..........................................................F-1
Appendix G: Menu Structure ...............................................................G-1

QLS-4100 Xe 1-1
Chapter 1:
Quick Start
Congratulations ! You have purchased QuickLabel’s best digital color label
printer - ever. The QLS-4100 Xe represents years of careful research and
development to perfect digital color label printing technology.
The QLS-4100 Xe represents . . .
QuickLabel’s Best Image Quality - Ever The all-new print station design
maintains a high degree of color registration - down to ± 1/2 dot throughout
an entire print run.
QuickLabel’s Enhanced RibbonRation™ system which further economizes
the use of ribbons making it even more cost-effective for long and short label
runs.
QuickLabel’s Easiest Printer to Use featuring a virtually adjustment free
platform that ensures consistent, smooth operation and repeatable print
quality, day after day.
QuickLabel’s Most Reliable Printer featuring industrial-grade, all-metal
construction, large rollers, long-life bearings, and highly accurate media
sensing just to name a few enhancements resulting in trouble-free operation.
This Operation and Setup Guide provides all the information you will need
to operate and maintain the QLS-4100 Xe. This Quick Start chapter provides
a step-by-step guide for experienced or trained users to quickly get up and
running.

1-2 Quick start
QuickLabel media
Your QLS-4100 Xe has been designed to provide optimal print quality only
when used with Genuine QuickLabel Labels, Tags and Thermal Transfer
Ribbon. QuickLabel Thermal Transfer Ribbon is formulated to provide the
most vibrant and durable image while helping to maintain long printhead
life.
QuickLabel offers a unique media purchase program called a Media
Requirements Contract (MRC). With an MRC, your media costs will be
tailored to annual usage, not individually-purchased quantity. The benefit to
you is fixed low pricing for the products you plan to purchase anyway. The
benefit to us is the ability to plan our production more efficiently. You will
also receive free printhead replacement for the duration of the contract.
Some benefits of an MRC include:
Flexible Ordering - Order what you need, when you need it. An MRC never
locks you into purchasing media you don’t want. There is no minimum
spending requirement, no frequency requirement, no advance payment, and
you may add new items at any time.
Freeze Your Costs - Your one-year commitment to purchase your ribbons
and labels commits us to sell you media only at the contracted price. And,
with an MRC your costs will remain fixed, so you can safely budget expenses
as far as a year in advance.
Free Printhead Replacement - As an added incentive, QuickLabel
guarantees you free and unlimited replacement of all printheads worn by
normal use during the life of your contract. You can be confident that your
printhead wear will be “normal” because you will be using only the ribbons
and labels for which your printer was designed.
Fast Delivery - Your MRC is designed to let you place your label and ribbon
orders as you need them, anywhere from a week to a year in advance of
shipping. You decide the products you need and leave the rest to us. Your
ribbon and labels will arrive on schedule so you never experience production
downtime.
Contact your QuickLabel Media Sales Specialist for more information or to
enroll in the MRC program.

QLS-4100 Xe 1-3
Quick Start Guide
If you are an experienced user of a QuickLabel Digital Color Printer or you
have attended QuickLabel College training, use this Quick Start Guide as a
reference to begin producing beautiful color labels immediately.
In general, these operations should be performed in the sequence listed
below, skipping over any items that may have been previously completed.
Page 2-2 Unpack the printer
Page 2-7 Install the media unwind mandrel
Page 2-8 Connect the AC power cord
Page 2-9 Connect the host computer interface
Page 2-14 Connect the compressed air source
Page 3-2 Load thermal transfer ribbon
Page 3-4 Load label or tag media
Page 3-7 Adjust the media sensor
Page 3-8 Calibrate the printer to the appropriate media type
Setup software parameters
Appendix D Printing from Custom QuickLabel
Appendix E Printing from a Windows application with the QuickLabel
Windows Printer Driver

1-4 Quick start

QLS-4100 Xe 2-1
Chapter 2:
Physical Setup
This chapter will help you to familiarize yourself with the orientation and
components of the QLS-4100 Xe. This chapter also covers the various
connections that need to be made to the printer before it can be operated.
This chapter provides the following information:
•Instructions on unpacking and orienting the printer
•An overview of the features and components of the printer
•Instructions for connecting power and communication cables to the
printer
•Instructions for connecting compressed air to the printer

2-2 Physical setup
Unpacking the Printer
1Remove the printer from the packing carton.
2Ensure that the printer has suffered no visible signs of damage during
shipment.
3Verify that the following items have been included in the packing carton:
•AC Power Cord
•Media Retainer
•Memory Card
•Warranty Registration Card
•Operation & Setup Guide
•Windows Printer Driver CD
Note: Retain all packaging should the printer need to be transported at a
later time.

QLS-4100 Xe 2-3
Printer Orientation
The illustration below is provided to orient you to the QLS-4100 Xe printer.
The keypad and display is the printer’s user interface.

2-4 Physical setup
Features of the QLS-4100 Xe
Facing the left side of the QLS-4100 Xe with its cover lifted, you can view the
media unwind, print stations, and related mechanical parts.
The items below identify the QLS-4100 Xe components as shown in the side-
view illustration on the following page:
1Media Retainer
2Media Supply Mandrel
3Thermal Transfer Ribbon Rewind - print station # 4
4Thermal Transfer Ribbon Supply - print station # 4
5Thermal Transfer Ribbon Rewind - print station # 3
6Thermal Transfer Ribbon Supply - print station # 3
7Thermal Transfer Ribbon Rewind - print station # 2
8Thermal Transfer Ribbon Supply - print station # 2
9Thermal Transfer Ribbon Rewind - print station # 1
10 Thermal Transfer Ribbon Supply - print station # 1
11 Print Station Lift Lever
12 Drive Roller Lift Lever
13 Drive Roller
14 Pinch Roller
15 Print Station # 1
16 Print Station # 2
17 Print Station # 3
18 Print Station # 4
19 Media Speed Roller
20 Media Sensor Assembly - Gap and Reflective
21 Lower Media Guide Roller
22 Media Dancer Arm
23 Upper Media Guide Roller