CAB Gemini, Operator'S Manual

Page 1: ...Gemini Thermal Thermal Transfer Windows Label Printer Operator s Manual Edition 6 00 ...

Page 2: ...vement we reserve the right to alter specifications without notice Données technique modifiables sans prévais cab Produkttechnik Gesellschaft für Computer und Automations Bausteine mbH Co KG Postfach 19 04 D 76007 Karlsruhe Wilhelm Schickard Str 14 D 76131 Karlsruhe Telefon 0721 66 26 0 Telefax 0721 66 26 249 http www cabgmbh com e mail info cabgmbh com ...

Page 3: ...l All rights reserved including those of the translation No part of this manual nor any translation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any purpose other than the purchaser s personal use without the express written permission of cab Produkttechnik GmbH Karlsruhe Edition 6 00 Printed in Germany ...

Page 4: ...necting the Printer 17 Connection to a Computer 17 Connection to Power Supply 17 6 Media loading 18 Processing Mode 18 Loading Labels 19 Ribbon Loading 22 7 Adjustments Concerning the Labels 23 Adjustment of the Printhead Support 23 Adjustement of the Transfer Ribbon Feed 24 8 Installing and Using the Software 25 Introduction 25 Installation information 25 Updates 25 The Gemini Control Panel Appli...

Page 5: ...s from the Dispenser Roller 36 11 Printhead Horizontal Alignment 37 12 Troubleshooting 39 EC Conformity Declaration 40 Trademarks Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Data Computer Corpora tion Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation TrueType is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc Easylabel is a registered trademark of Tharo Systems Inc ...

Page 6: ...tionally quick time to first label printing The Gemini is built to work only with Windows and takes full advantage of Windows features Its simple design requires a minimum of effort and expertise for loading and maintaining the printer From configuration and setup to ongoing operation use of the online Gemini Control Panel Application simplifies the operator s job Extensive Online Help is provided...

Page 7: ... 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 instructions in this manual it may cause harmful interference to radio communications Operation of this equipment in a residential area ...

Page 8: ... Windows Bar Code Symbologies Barcode symbologies along with a variety of check character options are provided as fonts in the Gemini Driver These include Codabar Code 128 Code 39 Code 39 Mod 43 EAN13 EAN8 Interleaved 2 of 5 Interleaved 2 of 5 Mod 10 MSI 10 PDF417 POSTNET UCC UPC EAN 2 digit Add On UPC EAN 5 digit AddOn UPC A UPC E0 UPC E1 Bar Code Density Fixed choices are available which further...

Page 9: ...ermal Thermal Transfer and various Synthetics including thermal transfer plaincoated papers vinyl Mylar metalized paper non woven fabric fine woven fabric thermal visible light scannable paper infrared scannable paper thermal ticket tag stock thermally sensitive plastic stock Transfer Ribbon Width up to 4 5 114mm Length 1182 360m Rolls up to 3 75mm diameter on 1 25mm cores Printer Memory Internal ...

Page 10: ...dication LED on front panel uses slow blink to indicate pause and rapid blink to indicate error Status provided through the on screen Gemini Control Panel application includes Number of labels left in printer Out of labels Out of ribbon Printer state paused or not paused Demand Mode indication Miscellaneous error messages Sensors See through media photosensor at 0 7 17 5 mm from the paper edge Dem...

Page 11: ...wer outlet with a grounded contact Power must be off before plugging in any accessory connecting to a computer and before performing any maintenance on the printer Do not expose the printer to any moisture or use in damp or wet areas The printer will operate with the cover open when necessary This is not recommended as it might allow debris to collect within the printer If the printer must be oper...

Page 12: ...ance of moisture damage during shipment Please keep the original packaging in case the printer must be returned Equipment Supplied Your Gemini shipping container will contain the following standard components Gemini Thermal Transfer Printer Power Cord Cardboard Core for the transfer ribbon rewinder Gemini User Manual Gemini Windows Software Diskette Note We offer additional items that may be inclu...

Page 13: ...13 cab Produkttechnik GmbH Co KG 4 Printer Component Location Figure 4 a Frot view 1 Cover 2 Power LED 3 Power Switch 1 2 3 Gemini ...

Page 14: ...rodukttechnik GmbH Co KG 1 Ribbon Take Up Hub 2 Ribbon Supply Hub 3 Media Retainer 4 Media Hub 5 Media Retainer Knurled Screw 6 Media Guide 7 Media Assist Bar Figure 4 b Side view with cover open 1 2 5 3 4 7 6 ...

Page 15: ... Printhead 2 Printhead Adjustment Screw 3 Printhead Locking Lever 4 Label Edge Sensor 5 Dispenser Locking Lever 6 Dispenser Locking Roller 7 Dispenser Drive Roller 8 Media Feed Roller 9 Tear Off Peel Off Plate 10 Transfer Ribbon Shield 11 Present Sensor 12 Tear Off Plate 10 12 8 2 4 7 6 8 9 10 11 1 2 3 1 3 4 5 ...

Page 16: ...16 cab Produkttechnik GmbH Co KG 1 Centronics Parallel Port 2 Specifications Label power supply and voltage information 3 Power Cord Connection 4 Fuse Holder Figure 4 d Rear View 1 2 3 4 ...

Page 17: ...lable power supply voltage corresponds with the voltage shown on the printer s specification label 2 The voltage requirement shown will designate either 230 V 50 Hz order 115 V 60 Hz Do not connect the printer to the power supply until the voltage has been verified After inserting the power cord into the power supply socket 3 at the rear of the printer connect the power cord to a grounded power ou...

Page 18: ...ing operation methods are available For Tear off operations the labels are loaded so that they exit the printer straight out the front as in Batch Mode The label exits the printer still attached to the backing How far the label protrudes can be adjusted with Presentation Position parameter in Printer Setup When the label has been torn off the present sensor registers the removal and the next label...

Page 19: ...il it rests on the media supply hub 4 against the side of the label roll Retighten the knurled screw 5 5 Slide the media guide 6 outward allowing enough clearance for the label stock s width when loaded 6 Unroll a length of label stock from the media roll From the side slide the media under the media assist bar and inside the media guide 6 as shown in Figure 6a It is particularly important to ensu...

Page 20: ...e media strip forward straight through the front of the printer as shown in Figure 6a 9 Check the position of the media guide 6 and if necessary slide it inward until it lightly touches the sides of the media strip 10 Adjust the media roll to remove any slack then lower the printhead by rotating the printhead lever 1 counterclockwise until it stops Make sure that the dispenser locking roller 10 is...

Page 21: ...er locking lever 9 clockwise until itstops to lift the dispenser locking roller 10 from dispenser drive roller 11 11 Feed the folded backing strip downward in front of the peel plate 12 and behind the dispenser drive roller 11 as shown in Figure 6b Continue feeding the backing strip through until the leading edge appears below the dispenser drive roller 11 12 Grasp the edge of the folded backing s...

Page 22: ...d the broken line presents a ribbon with ink on the outer side 3 Slide a cardboard core 2 onto the ribbon take up hub 3 4 From the side slide the transfer ribbon along the path as shown in Figure 6c than attach it to the cardboard core use adhesive tape or a label 5 Rotate the printhead locking lever 1 counter clockwise until the printhead is lowered and is placing light pressure on the ribbon Rem...

Page 23: ...e adjustment slot 3 This will cause the cam shaped printhead support 4 to rotate in effect providing a higher or lower base on which the printhead mounting 1 rests 3 When using wide labels start with a setting of 2a this places the printhead support at its lowest position providing the most complete contact of the printhead to the drive roller along the entire width When using very narrow labels a...

Page 24: ...the ribbon should be made even from the left to the right by moving the ribbon shield 4 up or down 1 Loosen the locking screw 3 2 Shift the transfer ribbon shield 4 sideways into the direction of the wrinkle Moving it to the left will increase the tension on the left Use the scale 2 provided to monitor the adjustments made If the screw is in position 1 the tension is highest on the outside and if ...

Page 25: ...esign Not intended as an accurate representation 3 Gemini Control Panel Application Provides control of the printer and current print job Gemini drivers are available for Windows 95 98 ME as well as for Windows NT 4 0 2000 XP and greater Installation information Depending on the Windows version used the Gemini Printer software needs to be installed through either the setup program of the software ...

Page 26: ... pause the printer and so on Detailed information on the options currently provided with the Gemini Control Panel is available through Online Help and will not be included here To start the application double click on the Gemini program group then double click on the Gemini icon Once started this application should be left open as long as the printer is turned on Figure 8a Startup window of the Ge...

Page 27: ... test pattern and the following information Firmware Version The Gemini s current firmware version Gemini Printer Driver Version The current version of the Gemini Windows Printer Driver Gemini Control Panel Version The current version of the Gemini Control Panel software Windows Version The version of Windows the Gemini Control Panel software is running on Total Print Length The total length in in...

Page 28: ...his list you must select those symbologies that should be made available to your Windows applications Detailed information on the features and options currently available in Printer Setup is available through Online Help and will not be included here Printer Setup can be reached in a variety of ways This can take place from Windows Control Panel Printers group or from various application software ...

Page 29: ...29 cab Produkttechnik GmbH Co KG Figure 8e Printer Setup Printer Mode Window under Windows 95 98 and ME Figure 8f Printer Setup Add or Delete Barcode Font Window under Windows 95 98 and ME ...

Page 30: ... NT 4 0 2000 and XP Figure 8h Printer Setup Document Properties Window under Windows NT 4 0 Overview 2000 and XP Figure 8g Printer Setup Printer Properties Window under Windows NT 4 0 2000 and XP Window accesseable from Gemini Control Panel by the Properties button only ...

Page 31: ...KG Figure 8k Printer Setup Document Properties Window under Windows NT 4 0 2000 and XP Section Bar Code Options Figure 8i Printer Setup Document Properties Window under Windows NT 4 0 2000 and XP Section Print Mode and Media Control ...

Page 32: ... label considering the label s dimensions even if your application does not display a work area that matches the actual label size place text graphics and barcode fields within the dimensions of your label 6 If possible use Print Preview to assist in proper field placement 7 Print a single test label to see actual layout and size of the fields This is the only way to see an accurate representation...

Page 33: ...d After solving the problem the print job is continued by clicking OK in the error message window If the problem is corrected the print job will continue However If the problem still exists the message box will reappear Additionally an error is indicated by a rapid blinking LED on the printer s front panel A Slow blinking LED indicates the printer is paused The following table contains a reference...

Page 34: ...be needed If a different type or width of ribbon is loaded adjustment of the transfer ribbon feed may be needed to maintain wrinkle free operation Before beginning any maintenance turn off the power and disconnect the power cord General Cleaning Remove particles of dust and paper that have accumulated inside the printer with a soft brush Wipe the cover with a standard non abrasive cleaner as neede...

Page 35: ...ting at every label roll change Thermal Transfer printing at every ribbon change Do not use sharp objects for cleaning the printhead Do not touch the protective layer of the printhead with your hands To clean the printhead 1 Turn the printer power off and disconnect the power cord 2 Raise the printhead as far as possible 3 Remove the labels and the ribbon from the printer 4 Clean the surface of th...

Page 36: ...o rotate and feed the paper towel through 6 Wrap the soaked paper towel around the Dispense Drive Roller as completely as possible and leave it for about 5 minutes When the WD 40 has softened the adhesive remove the paper towel 7 Begin peeling through the layers of label until you can grasp a section Pulling all layers from an area at once rather than peeling each layer separately generally works ...

Page 37: ...rizontal Alignment Adjust the printhead as follows 1 You may leave the transfer ribbon 1 inside the printer and simoply poke through it with your tools 2 Loosen thelocking screw 2 on the printhead by half a turn This will allow for the required horizontal adjustment of the printhead 3 By turning the two screws underneath 3 you may shift the printhead as follows The overall distance for adjusting i...

Page 38: ...ened after every single adjustment step to make the change effective 5 Tighten the locking screw 2 6 Perform a test print for instance a wide black line over the whole width of the label and review the results 7 Repeat steps 2 to 6 as necessary to complete the adjustment ...

Page 39: ...lue preceding the ohm W sign on the printhead and enter it under Windows 95 Windows 98 ME in the Gemini Control Panel Replace Printhead function or under Windows NT 4 0 2000 XP in the Gemini Control Panel Printer Properties Set Printhead Resistance function Print density is uneven the image is light on one side of the label The printhead is adjusted for a narrow label Readjust the printhead suppor...

Page 40: ...ions of the EU Rules for Safety and Health In the event of any alteration which has not been approved by us being made to any machine as designated below this statement shall thereby be made invalid Description Type Transfer Printer Gemini Applied EU Regulations and Norms EC Machinery Regulations 98 37 EU Machine Safety EN 292 2 1991 EC Low Voltage Regulations 73 23 EEC Data and Office Machine Saf...