Seiko LTPD245E Use and care manual

LTPD245E, LTPD345E
THERMAL PRINTER MECHANISM
TECHNICAL REFERENCE
U00112676500

LTPD245E, LTPD345E THERMAL PRINTER MECHANISM TECHNICAL REFERENCE
Document Number U00112676500
First Edition July 2008
Copyright © 2008 by Seiko Instruments Inc.
All rights reserved.
Seiko Instruments Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “SII”) has prepared this technical reference for use by SII
personnel, licensees, and customers. The information contained herein is the property of SII and shall not be
reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written approval of SII.
SII reserves the right to make changes without notice to the specifications and materials contained herein and
shall not be responsible for any damages (including consequential) caused by reliance on the materials
presented, including but not limited to typographical, arithmetic, or listing errors.
is a trademark of Seiko Instruments Inc.

PREFACE
This technical reference describes the specifications and basic operating procedures for the LTPD245E and
LTPD345E thermal printer mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “printer”).
The printers have the following models.
•LTPD245E-384-E
•LTPD345E-576-E
This technical reference usually describes information common to any printer unless otherwise specified. If the
information is different depending on models, specific model names are mentioned clearly.
Chapter 1 “Precautions” describes safety, design, and handling precautions. Read it thoroughly before
designing so that you are able to use the product properly.
SII has not investigated the intellectual property rights of the sample circuits included in this technical reference.
Fully investigate the intellectual property rights of these circuits before using. In particular, SII reserves the
industrial property rights for the heat storage simulation described in Chapter 3. Using it for the other printers
is infringement on the industrial property rights.
The printer complies with EU RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC)
The printer contains “Pb”, the details are described below.
•Printer mechanism：a particular copper alloy parts, a particular component in glass of the
electronic parts
＊Lead-containing items listed above are exempt from RoHS (2002/95/EC).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
PRECAUTIONS
1.1 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.................................................................................................1-2
1.2 DESIGN AND HANDLING PRECAUTIONS ....................................................................1-3
1.2.1 Design Precautions .....................................................................................................1-3
1.2.2 Handling Precautions ..................................................................................................1-4
1.2.3 Precautions on Discarding ..........................................................................................1-5
CHAPTER 2
FEATURES
CHAPTER 3
SPECIFICATIONS
3.1 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS .........................................................................................3-1
3.2 HEAT ELEMENT DIMENSIONS......................................................................................3-3
3.3 STEP MOTOR..................................................................................................................3-7
3.3.1 General Specifications.................................................................................................3-7
3.3.2 Sample Drive Circuit....................................................................................................3-8
3.3.3 Excitation Sequence....................................................................................................3-9
3.3.4 Motor Start/Stop Method ...........................................................................................3-10
3.3.5 Motor Drive Method...................................................................................................3-11
3.3.6 Motor Drive Precautions............................................................................................3-16
3.4 THERMAL HEAD............................................................................................................3-17
3.4.1 Structure of the the Thermal Head............................................................................3-17
3.4.2 Print Position of the Data...........................................................................................3-18
3.4.3 Electrical Characteristics of Thermal Head...............................................................3-19
3.4.4 Timing Chart..............................................................................................................3-21
3.4.5 Thermal Head Heat Element Resistance..................................................................3-21
3.4.6 Maximum Current Consumption................................................................................3-22

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3.5 CONTROLLING THE ACTIVATION PULSE WIDTH FOR THERMAL HEAD...............3-23
3.5.1 Calculation of Activation Pulse Width........................................................................3-23
3.5.2 Calculation of Printing Energy...................................................................................3-23
3.5.3 Adjustment of Thermal Head Resistance..................................................................3-24
3.5.4 Adjustment of Thermal Head Drive Voltage..............................................................3-24
3.5.5 Setting of Activation Pause Time ..............................................................................3-24
3.5.6 Adjustment by Thermal Head Activation Pulse Period .......................................... 3-24
3.5.7 Calculation Sample for the Activation Pulse Width .................................................3-25
3.5.8 Temperature Characteristics of Thermistor .............................................................3-27
3.5.9 Detecting Abnormal Temperature of the Thermal Head .........................................3-29
3.6 OUT-OF-PAPER SENSOR............................................................................................3-30
3.7 PLATEN POSITION SENSOR.......................................................................................3-31
3.7.1 General Specifications...............................................................................................3-31
3.7.2 Platen Position Sensor Precautions..........................................................................3-31
CHAPTER 4
CONNECTING TERMINALS
4.1 RECOMMENDED CONNECTOR FOR EXTERNAL CIRCUITS .....................................4-1
4.2 CONNECTING TERMINALS............................................................................................4-1
CHAPTER 5
PRINT DRIVE METHOD
5.1 MOTOR AND THERMAL HEAD DRIVE METHOD..........................................................5-1
5.2 THERMAL HEAD DIVISION DRIVE METHOD................................................................5-4
5.3 PRECAUTIONS FOR PRINT DRIVE .............................................................................5-5
CHAPTER 6
OUTER CASE DESIGN GUIDE
6.1 SECURING THE PRINTER MAIN BODY ........................................................................6-1
6.1.1 How to Mount the Printer Main Body...........................................................................6-1
6.1.2 Recommended Screws...............................................................................................6-3
6.1.3 Precautions for Securing the Printer Main Body.........................................................6-3
6.2 CONNECT THE PRINTER TO FRAME GROUND (FG) .................................................6-4
6.2.1 How to Connect the Printer to Frame Groung (FG)....................................................6-4
6.3 DESIGN THE PLATEN RELEASE LEVER......................................................................6-5
6.4 LAYOUT OF THE PRINTER AND THERMAL PAPER....................................................6-6
6.5 WHERE TO MOUNT THE PAPER HOLDER ..................................................................6-7
6.6 DESIGN PAPER EXIT......................................................................................................6-9

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6.6.1 Design the Shape of the Paper Exit............................................................................6-9
6.6.2 Design the Paper Cutter............................................................................................6-10
6.7 PRECAUTIONS FOR DESIGNING THE OUTER CASE...............................................6-11
CHAPTER 7
EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS
CHAPTER 8
HANDLING METHOD
8.1 PROCEDURES FOR INSTALLING/UNINSTALLING THERMAL PAPER ......................8-1
8.1.1 Procedures for Installing/Uninstalling the Thermal paper...........................................8-1
8.1.2 Precautions for Installing the Thermal paper ..............................................................8-2
8.2 PROCUDURES FOR CLEANING THE THERMAL HEAD..............................................8-3
8.2.1 Procedures for Cleaning the Thermal Head................................................................8-3
8.2.2 Precautions for Cleaning the Thermal Head...............................................................8-3

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FIGURES
3-1 Heat Element Dimensions (LTPD245E)...........................................................................3-3
3-2 Print Area (LTPD245 E)....................................................................................................3-4
3-3 Heat Element Dimensions (LTPD345E)...........................................................................3-5
3-4 Print Area (LTPD345E).....................................................................................................3-6
3-5 Sample Drive Circuit.........................................................................................................3-8
3-6 Input Voltage Waveforms for the Sample Drive Circuit....................................................3-9
3-7 Motor Start/Stop Timing Chart........................................................................................3-10
3-8 Thermal Head Block Diagram (LTPD245E)...................................................................3-17
3-9 Print Position of the Data (LTPD245E)...........................................................................3-18
3-10 Thermal Head Drive Timing Chart..................................................................................3-21
3-11 Thermisitor Resistance vs. Temperature .......................................................................3-27
3-12 Sample External Circuit of the Out-of-Paper Sensor......................................................3-30
3-13 Sample External Circuit of the Platen Position Sensor ..................................................3-31
4-1 Connecting Terminals.......................................................................................................4-1
5-1 Timing Chart for Driving Using Six Divisions (LTPD245E)...............................................5-2
5-2 Timing Chart for Driving Using One Division (LTPD245E)...............................................5-2
6-1 Dimensions for Positioning and Securing the Printer Main Body (LTPD245E)................6-2
6-3 External Dimensions and Motion of Platen Release Lever..............................................6-5
6-4 Recommended Layout between the Printer and the Thermal paper .............................6-6
6-5 Recommended Paper Holder Dimensions.......................................................................6-7
6-6 Recommended Separator (LTPD245E)...........................................................................6-8
6-7 Recommended Separator (LTPD345E)...........................................................................6-8
6-8 Paper Path........................................................................................................................6-9
6-9 Blade Edge.....................................................................................................................6-10
7-1 External Dimensions of the Printer (LTPD245E)..............................................................7-2
7-2 External Dimensions of the Printer (LTPD345E)..............................................................7-3
8-1 Thermal Paper Edge.........................................................................................................8-1
8-2 Releasing the Platen Block...............................................................................................8-2
8-3 Cleaning Position of the Thermal Head............................................................................8-3

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TABLES
3-1 General Specifications......................................................................................................3-1
3-2 General Specifications of the Step Motor.........................................................................3-7
3-3 Excitation Sequence.........................................................................................................3-9
3-4 Maximum Motor Drive Pulse Rate..................................................................................3-11
3-5 Acceleration Steps (LTPD245E).....................................................................................3-13
3-6 Acceleration Steps (LTPD345E).....................................................................................3-14
3-7 Maximum Drive Time and Drive Ratio............................................................................3-15
3-8 DST Blocks and Activated Heat Elements (LTPD245E)................................................3-18
3-9 DST Blocks and Activated Heat Elements (LTPD345E)................................................3-18
3-10 Electrical Characteristics of Thermal Head (LTPD245E)...............................................3-19
3-11 Electrical Characteristics of Thermal Head (LTPD345E)...............................................3-20
3-12 Thermal Head Heat Element Resistance.......................................................................3-21
3-13 Standard Printing Energy and Temperature Coefficient ................................................3-23
3-14 Activation Pulse Width....................................................................................................3-25
3-15 Temperature Characteristics..........................................................................................3-28
3-16 Out-of-paper Sensor.......................................................................................................3-30
3-17 General Specifications of Platen Position Sensor..........................................................3-31
4-1 Recommended Connectors..............................................................................................4-1
4-2 Terminal Assignments of the Connecting Terminal (LTPD245E) ....................................4-2
4-3 Terminal Assignments of the Connecting Terminal (LTPD345E) ....................................4-4

CHAPTER 1
PRECAUTIONS
Read through this technical reference to design a product and to operate the printer properly. Pay special
attention to the precautions noted in each section for details. Information contained in this technical reference
is subject to change without notice.
For the latest information, contact our sales representative.
Sufficient evaluation and confirmation should be performed with the designed outer case mounted, to ensure
proper use of the printer.
SII shall not be liable for any damages and/or loss that are caused by improper handling of the printer, any use
not contained in this technical reference or that result from the outer case, unless such damages and/or loss
originate from the printer itself.
SII has not investigated the intellectual property rights of the sample circuits included in this technical reference.
Fully investigate the intellectual property rights of these circuits before using.
The printer is designed and manufactured to be mounted onto general electronic equipment. If high reliability
is required of the printer in respect to hazardous influences on the body or life and loss to property, redundant
design of the entire system should be carried out and verify the performance with your actual device before
commercialization. And our sales representative should be informed as such in advance.
Follow the precautions listed below when designing a product using the printer. Include any necessary
precautions into your operation manual to ensure safe operation of your product by users.
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1.1 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Follow the precautions listed below when designing a product using the printer. Include any necessary
precautions into your operation manual and attach warning labels to your products to ensure safe operation.
•Precautions to prevent the thermal head from overheating
When the thermal head heat elements are continuously activated by a CPU or other malfunction, the
thermal head may overheat and may cause smoke and fire. Follow the method described in
Chapter 3 “Detecting abnormal temperatures by hardware” to monitor the temperature of the thermal
head to prevent overheating. Turn the printer off immediately if any abnormal conditions occur.
•Precautions for rising temperatures of the thermal head
Temperature of the thermal head and its peripherals rises very high during and immediately after
printing. Be sure to design the outer case to prevent users from burn injuries by touching them.
Place warning labels to warn users to ensure safe operation. As for thermal head cleaning, warn
users to allow the thermal head to cool before cleaning. In order to allow cooling, secure clearance
between the thermal head and the outer case when designing the outer case.
•Precautions for rising temperatures of the motor
Temperature of the motor and its peripherals rises very high during and immediately after printing.
Be sure to design the outer case to prevent users from burn injuries by touching them. Place
warning labels to warn users to ensure safe operation. In order to allow cooling, secure clearance
between the motor and the outer case when designing the outer case.
•Precautions for sharp edges of the printer
The printer may have some sharp edges and cutting surfaces of the metal parts. Be sure to design
the outer case to prevent the users from injuring himself/herself by touching the sharp edges and
place warning labels to warn users to ensure safe operation.
•Precautions for motor drive
The hair may get caught in the exposed platen and the gears. Control the motor not to drive when
the outer case and the platen block are in open state. Also, make sure to design the outer case so
as not to touch the platen and the gears and also prevent any objects from getting caught. Place
warning labels to warn users to ensure safe operation.
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