Seiko SII LTP01-245-11 Use and care manual

LTP01-245-11/12/18
THERMAL PRINTER MECHANISM
TECHNICAL REFERENCE
U00129248807

LTP01-245-11/12/18 THERMAL PRINTER MECHANISM TECHNICAL REFERENCE
U00129248800 November 2012
U00129248801 January 2013
U00129248802 March 2013
U00129248803 April 2013
U00129248804 June 2013
U00129248805 November 2013
U00129248806 August 2014
U00129248807 July 2015
Copyright © 2012-2015 by Seiko Instruments Inc.
All rights reserved.
Seiko Instruments Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "SII") has prepared this manual 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 (hereinafter referred to as "manual") describes the specifications and basic operating
procedures for the LTP01-245-11/12/18 thermal printer mechanism (hereinafter referred to as "printer").
The printer has the following models.
LTP01-245-11
LTP01-245-12
LTP01-245-18
This manual usually describes information common to any printer unless otherwise specified.
If the information is different depending on model, 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 manual. Fully
investigate the intellectual property rights of these circuits before using.
It is possible to use the LTP01 series for replacing LTPZ245M-C384-E thermal printer mechanism (hereinafter
referred to as "LTPZ245M").
In this manual, the description of negative logic has an additional "/" in the beginning of the terminal name.
The input/output direction is described from the product side.
The printer complies with EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)
The printer contains "Pb". The details are described below.
a particular free-cutting steel parts, a particular component in glass of the electronic parts
*: Lead-containing items listed above are exempt from RoHS (2011/65/EU).
PREFACE-1

Identifying the parts of the printer as follows.
The following describes identifying the parts of the LTP01-245-11, LTP01-245-12, and LTP01-245-18 as an
example of the LTP01-245-11. The figure of LTP01-245-12 and LTP01-245-18 illustrates only the differences
from LTP01-245-11.
Thermal head
Connecting terminals
Platen gear
Platen
Platen unit
Printer main body
Out-of-paper sensor
Motor
Platen position sensor
LTP01-245-12
LTP01-245-18
Printer mechanism
PREFACE-2

TOC-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER1 PRECAUTIONS 1-1
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....................................................................................1-5
1.2.3 Precautions on Discarding ............................................................................1-6
CHAPTER2 FEATURES 2-1
CHAPTER3 SPECIFICATIONS 3-1
3.1 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ..............................................................................3-1
3.2 PRINT CONFIGURATION.....................................................................................3-3
3.3 STEP MOTOR.......................................................................................................3-4
3.3.1 General Specifications ..................................................................................3-4
3.3.2 Sample Drive Circuit......................................................................................3-5
3.3.3 Excitation Sequence......................................................................................3-7
3.3.4 Motor Start/Stop Method...............................................................................3-8
3.3.5 Motor Drive Method.......................................................................................3-9
3.3.6 Motor Drive Precautions..............................................................................3-15
3.4 THERMAL HEAD ................................................................................................3-16
3.4.1 Structure of the Thermal Head....................................................................3-16
3.4.2 Print Position of the Data.............................................................................3-17
3.4.3 Electrical Characteristics of Thermal Head.................................................3-18
3.4.4 Timing Chart................................................................................................3-20
3.4.5 Thermal Head Heat Element Resistance....................................................3-20
3.4.6 Maximum Current Consumption .................................................................3-20
3.5 CONTROLLING THE ACTIVATION PULSE WIDTH FOR THERMAL HEAD....3-21
3.5.1 Calculation of Activation Pulse Width..........................................................3-21
3.5.2 Calculation of Printing Energy.....................................................................3-22
3.5.3 Adjustment of Thermal Head Resistance....................................................3-22
3.5.4 Adjustment of Thermal Head Drive Voltage................................................3-23
3.5.5 Setting of Activation Pause Time ................................................................3-23
3.5.6 Adjustment by Thermal Head Activation Cycle...........................................3-24
3.5.7 Calculation Sample for the Activation Pulse Width.....................................3-25
3.5.8 Temperature Characteristics of the Thermistor ..........................................3-26
3.5.9 Detecting Abnormal Temperature of the Thermal Head.............................3-28
3.6 PLATEN POSITION SENSOR............................................................................3-29
3.6.1 General Specifications ................................................................................3-29
3.6.2 Precautions for the Platen Position Sensor.................................................3-29
3.7 OUT-OF-PAPER SENSOR.................................................................................3-30
3.7.1 General
Specifications ................................................................................3-30

TOC-2
3.7.2 Precautions for the Out-of-Paper Sensor....................................................3-30
CHAPTER4 CONNECTING TERMINALS 4-1
4.1 RECOMMENDED CONNECTOR FOR EXTERNAL CIRCUITS..........................4-1
4.2 CONNECTING TERMINALS.................................................................................4-1
CHAPTER5 PRINT DRIVE METHOD 5-1
5.1 MOTOR AND THERMAL HEAD DRIVE METHOD ..............................................5-1
5.2 THERMAL HEAD DIVISION DRIVE METHOD.....................................................5-3
5.3 PRECAUTIONS FOR PRINT DRIVE....................................................................5-3
CHAPTER6 OUTER CASE DESIGN GUIDE 6-1
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.................................................................................6-2
6.1.3 Precautions for Securing the Printer Main Body...........................................6-2
6.2 SECURING THE PLATEN UNIT
(RECOMMENDED SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS) .................................................6-3
6.2.1 Recommended Shape of the Platen Holder..................................................6-3
6.2.2 Dimensions for Positioning and Securing the Platen Holder ........................6-4
6.2.3 Precautions for Securing the Platen Holder..................................................6-5
6.3 LAYOUT OF THE PRINTER MECHANISM AND THE THERMAL PAPER .........6-6
6.4 WHERE TO MOUNT THE PAPER HOLDER .......................................................6-7
6.5 DESIGN THE PAPER OUTLET............................................................................6-8
6.5.1 Design the Shape of the Paper Outlet ..........................................................6-8
6.5.2 Mount the Paper Cutter.................................................................................6-9
6.6 HOW TO CONNECT A PAPER WINDER...........................................................6-10
6.6.1 Precautions for Connecting the Paper Winder............................................6-10
CHAPTER7 EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS 7-1
CHAPTER8 HANDLING METHOD 8-1
8.1 INSTALLING/UNINSTALLING THE THERMAL PAPER ......................................8-1
8.1.1 Procedures for Installing/Uninstalling the Thermal Paper.............................8-1
8.1.2 Precautions for Installing/Uninstalling the Thermal Paper............................8-2
8.2 CLEANING THE THERMAL HEAD.......................................................................8-2
8.2.1 Procedures for Cleaning the Thermal Head .................................................8-2
8.2.2 Precautions for Cleaning the Thermal Head.................................................8-3

TOC-3
FIGURES
Figure 3-1 Print Dot Pitch................................................................................................3-3
Figure 3-2 Print Area.......................................................................................................3-3
Figure 3-3 Sample Drive Circuit 1...................................................................................3-5
Figure 3-4 Sample Drive Circuit 2...................................................................................3-6
Figure 3-5 Input Voltage Waveforms for the Sample Drive Circuit.................................3-7
Figure 3-6 Motor Start/Stop Timing Chart.......................................................................3-8
Figure 3-7 Thermal Head Block Diagram......................................................................3-16
Figure 3-8 Transfer Data and Print Position..................................................................3-17
Figure 3-9 Thermal Head Drive Timing Chart...............................................................3-20
Figure 3-10 Time from the start of the preceding thermal head activation to the start of
the current thermal head activation (W')......................................................3-24
Figure 3-11 Temperature Characteristics of the Thermistor...........................................3-26
Figure 3-12 Sample External Circuit of the Platen Position Sensor................................3-29
Figure 3-13 Sample External Circuit of the Out-of-Paper Sensor...................................3-30
Figure 4-1 Connecting Terminals....................................................................................4-1
Figure 5-1 Timing Chart for Division Printing ..................................................................5-1
Figure 6-1 Dimensions for Positioning and Securing the Printer Main Body..................6-1
Figure 6-2 Dimensions for Positioning and Securing the Platen Unit.............................6-3
Figure 6-3 Dimensions to Mount the Platen Unit ............................................................6-4
Figure 6-4 Recommended Layout between the Printer Mechanism and
the Thermal Paper.........................................................................................6-6
Figure 6-5 Recommended Paper Holder Dimensions ....................................................6-7
Figure 6-6 Paper Path.....................................................................................................6-8
Figure 6-7 Blade Edge.....................................................................................................6-9
Figure 7-1 External Dimensions of the Platen Unit.........................................................7-1
Figure 7-2 External Dimensions of the Printer (LTP01-245-11/18).................................7-2
Figure 7-3 External Dimensions of the Printer (LTP01-245-12)......................................7-3
Figure 8-1 Shape of the Thermal Paper Edge................................................................8-1
Figure 8-2 Cleaning Position of the Thermal Head.........................................................8-3

TOC-4
TABLES
Table 3-1 General Specifications...................................................................................3-1
Table 3-2 General Specifications of the Step Motor......................................................3-4
Table 3-3 Excitation Sequence......................................................................................3-7
Table 3-4 Maximum Motor Drive Pulse Rate.................................................................3-9
Table 3-5 Maximum Motor Drive Pulse Rate (During auto-loading)..............................3-9
Table 3-6 Acceleration Steps.......................................................................................3-11
Table 3-7 Maximum Continuous Drive Time and Drive Ratio......................................3-12
Table 3-8 Maximum Continuous Drive Time (min) and Paper Feed Length (m) at
Temperature Rise 50°C...............................................................................3-13
Table 3-9 Maximum Continuous Drive Time and Drive Ratio
(When the Same Control as the LTPZ245M Is Used).................................3-13
Table 3-10 Maximum Drive Time (min) and Paper Feed Length (m) at Temperature
Rise 50°C (When the Same Control as the LTPZ245M Is Used)................3-14
Table 3-11 Maximum Drive Time (min) and Paper Feed Length (m) at Temperature
Rise 75°C (When the Same Control as the LTPZ245M Is Used)................3-14
Table 3-12 DST and Activated Heat Elements ..............................................................3-17
Table 3-13 Electrical Characteristics of Thermal Head (Vdd: 3.0 V to 3.6 V)................3-18
Table 3-14 Electrical Characteristics of Thermal Head (Vdd: 4.75 V to 5.25 V)............3-19
Table 3-15 Thermal Head Heat Element Resistance ....................................................3-20
Table 3-16 Standard Printing Energy and Temperature Coefficient..............................3-22
Table 3-17 Activation Pulse Width.................................................................................3-25
Table 3-18 Temperature Characteristics of the Thermistor...........................................3-27
Table 3-19 General Specifications of Platen Position Sensor .......................................3-29
Table 3-20 Out-of-Paper Sensor ...................................................................................3-30
Table 4-1 Recommended Connectors...........................................................................4-1
Table 4-2 Terminal Assignments of the Connecting Terminal.......................................4-2

CHAPTER 1
PRECAUTIONS
Read through this manual 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 manual 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 and all claims, actions, lawsuits, demands, costs, liabilities, losses, damages
and/or expenses that are caused by improper handling of the printer, any use not contained in this manual or
that result from the outer case, unless such damages and/or loss originate from the printer itself.
SII makes no warrant that your products into which built the sample circuits included in this manual can work
properly and safe. You shall evaluate and confirm sufficiently that such products can work properly and safe,
and shall be liable for any and all claims, actions, lawsuits, demands, costs, liabilities, losses, damages and/or
expenses arising out of or in relating to such products.
SII has not investigated the intellectual property rights of the sample circuits included in this manual. 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. Our sales representative should be informed as such in advance.
Follow the precautions listed below when designing your product for using safely. Include any necessary
precautions into your operation manual to ensure safe operation of your product by users.
1-1

1.1 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Follow the precautions listed below when designing your product for using safely. 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 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 drive not to drive
when the outer case and the platen unit is 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.
1-2