Xerox QLS-8100XE Operation & Setup Manual

d i g i t a l c o l o r l a b e l p r i n t e r Operation & Setup Guide

Operation & Setup Guide Part Number 22834-505 Version 1.5 12/04 Firmware V 1.2 Specifications are subject to change without notice ___________________________________________ QuickLabel Systems an Astro-Med, Inc. Product Group 600 East Greenwich Avenue West Warwick, RI 02893 Toll-Free: 1.877.757.7978 (USA & Canada only) Tel: 1.401.828.4000 Fax:1.401.822.2430 [email protected] www.quicklabelsystems.com ___________________________________________ Technical Support 1.877.757.7978 [email protected] www.quicklabelsystems.com/support/

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 Systems. 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 Astro-Med, Inc. Color QuickLabel™ and RibbonRation™ are trademarks of Astro-Med, Inc. Limited Warranty QuickLabel Systems, An Astro-Med Inc. Product Group, 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 Systems. QuickLabel Systems 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 Systems. 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 Systems warrants the printhead from the date of purchase for a period of 90 days or for 1 million inches of thermal transfer ribbon, whichever comes first, based upon the use of QuickLabel Systems thermal transfer ribbon. QuickLabel Systems printheads are calibrated for use with QuickLabel Systems thermal transfer ribbon and perform correctly 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

QuickLabel Systems. QuickLabel Systems 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 Systems Technical Support at 401.828.4000 or Toll-Free in the USA and Canada at 877.757.7978. QuickLabel Systems, An Astro-Med Inc. Product Group, is not responsible for products lost or damaged in transit. Contact Information QuickLabel Systems An Astro-Med Inc. Product Group Astro-Med Industrial Park 600 East Greenwich Avenue West Warwick, RI 02893 Toll-Free: 1.877.757.7978 (USA & Canada only) Tel: 1.401.828.4000 Fax: 1.401.822.2430 Web: www.quicklabelsystems.com Email: [email protected] Ownership Information Congratulations and thank you for your business. Your purchase of a quality QuickLabel Systems 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: ____________________

Manufacturer’s Name: Astro-Med, Inc. Manufacturer’s Address: Astro-Med, Inc. 600 East Greenwich Avenue West Warwick, RI 02893 USA declares that the product Product Name: 8100 Xe Printer conforms to the following product specifications: Safety: EN 60950-1 EMC: EN 55022, Class A EN 55024 Relevant Directives are 89/336/EEC and 73/23/EEC Steven Holbrook / Quality Assurance Manager 10/23/2003 European Contact: Your local Astro-Med, Inc. Sales and Service Office. FRANCE – Astro-Med SNC, Parc dʹActivities de Pissaloup, 1, rue Edouard Branly, 78190 Trappes (Tel. 331-3482-0900 Fax: 331-3482-0571 Email:[email protected]) GERMANY – Astro-Med GmbH, Senefelderstrasse 1/T6, D-63110 Rodgau (Tel. 49-6106-75033 Fax: 49-6106-771121 Email: [email protected]) UNITED KINGDOM – Astro-Med, Inc., Astro-Med House, 11 Whittle Parkway, Slough, SL1 6DQ. (Tel. 44-1628-668836 Fax: 44-1628-664994 Email: [email protected]) ITALY –Astro-Med S.R.L, Via Plezzo 8, 20132 Milano. (Tel. 39-02-26411909 Fax: 39-02-26412828 Email: [email protected])

Chapter 1: Quick Start ...........................................................................1-1 QuickLabel Systems 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-8100 Xe.....................................................................................2-4 Side view................................................................................................................2-5 Rear Panel View ....................................................................................................2-6 Installing the Media Unwind Mandrel...................................................................2-7 Installing the Water Cooling System.......................................................................2-8 Power Connection ...................................................................................................2-11 Computer Connections...........................................................................................2-12 Centronics Parallel Port......................................................................................2-12 RS-232 Serial Port................................................................................................2-13 Ethernet Port and TCP/IP Communication.....................................................2-14 Print Servers.........................................................................................................2-15 Utility Port Connection...........................................................................................2-16 Compressed Air Connection..................................................................................2-17 Preparing the Air Regulator ..............................................................................2-17 Connecting the Air Supply................................................................................2-17 Cover Switch ............................................................................................................2-18 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

Print Intensity ........................................................................................................4-8 Print Speed...........................................................................................................4-10 Print Line Adjustment........................................................................................4-11 Cross Web Adjustment.......................................................................................4-13 Vertical Offset......................................................................................................4-15 Horizontal Offset.................................................................................................4-16 Display Counter ..................................................................................................4-18 Cut Offset .............................................................................................................4-19 Label Reprint .......................................................................................................4-20 Cal & Setup Menu....................................................................................................4-21 Calibrate ...............................................................................................................4-21 Test Print ..............................................................................................................4-22 Vertical Baseline ..................................................................................................4-23 Horizontal Baseline.............................................................................................4-24 Printer Settings ....................................................................................................4-25 Operation Menu.......................................................................................................4-27 Pull Back...............................................................................................................4-27 Label Reprint .......................................................................................................4-29 Synchronize Labels .............................................................................................4-30 Ribbon Menu............................................................................................................4-32 Ribbon Type.........................................................................................................4-32 Drop/Lift Adjust..................................................................................................4-33 Ribbon Sensor......................................................................................................4-35 Communications Menu...........................................................................................4-36 Data Port...............................................................................................................4-36 Parallel Mode.......................................................................................................4-37 RS232 Baud Rate..................................................................................................4-38 RS232 Handshaking............................................................................................4-39 TCP/IP: IP Address .............................................................................................4-40 TCP/IP Subnet Mask...........................................................................................4-41 TCP/IP Gateway..................................................................................................4-42 System Menu............................................................................................................4-43 Display Counter ..................................................................................................4-43 Memory Card - Write Protection ......................................................................4-44 Front Panel Lock/Unlock....................................................................................4-45 Memory Card - Formatting ...............................................................................4-48 Time ......................................................................................................................4-49 Date.......................................................................................................................4-50 Factory Reset........................................................................................................4-51 Options Menu...........................................................................................................4-53

Cutter....................................................................................................................4-54 Cut Flag ................................................................................................................4-55 Pull Back - Enable/Disable.................................................................................4-57 Applicator ............................................................................................................4-58 Chapter 5: Operation..............................................................................5-1 Printing with the QLS-8100 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 ......................................................................................................5-10 Common Adjustments and Tasks .........................................................................5-12 Test Patterns ........................................................................................................5-12 Print Line Adjustment........................................................................................5-12 Cross Web Adjustment ......................................................................................5-12 Advancing the Media.........................................................................................5-12 Print Speed...........................................................................................................5-12 Evaluating Print Quality.........................................................................................5-13 Enabling and Disabling RibbonRation™..............................................................5-15 Printing Labels .........................................................................................................5-16 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 Refilling the Cooling System....................................................................................7-5 Uninstalling the Cooling System.............................................................................7-6 Printhead Replacement.............................................................................................7-9 Platen Replacement .................................................................................................7-12 Drive and Pinch Roller Replacement....................................................................7-14 Drive roller replacement....................................................................................7-14 Pinch Roller Replacement..................................................................................7-15 Changing the Fuse or Line Voltage.......................................................................7-16

Appendix A: Physical Data................................................................... A-1 Appendix B: Specifications.................................................................. B-1 Appendix C: Replacement Parts.......................................................... C-1 Appendix D: Color QuickLabel 99® Pro setup.................................... D-1 Appendix E: Windows Printer Driver Setup........................................E-1 Appendix F: Format error codes ..........................................................F-1 Appendix G: Menu Structure ............................................................... G-1

label printer - ever. The QLS-8100 Xe represents years of careful research and development to perfect digital color label printing technology. The QLS-8100 Xe represents . . . QuickLabel Systems’ Best Image Quality - Ever The all-new print station design maintains a high degree of color registration - down to ± 1 dot throughout an entire print run. QuickLabel Systems’ Enhanced RibbonRation™ system which further economizes the use of ribbons making it even more cost-effective for long and short label runs. QuickLabel Systems’ Easiest Printer to Use featuring a virtually adjustment free platform that ensures consistent, smooth operation and repeatable print quality, day after day. QuickLabel Systems’ 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-8100 Xe. This Quick Start chapter provides a step-by-step guide for experienced or trained users to quickly get up and running.

Your QLS-8100 Xe will provide correct print quality only when used with Genuine QuickLabel Systems Labels, Tags and Thermal Transfer Ribbon. QuickLabel Systems Thermal Transfer Ribbon is designed to function as an integral part of the QLS-8100 Xe printing system and is formulated to provide the most vibrant and durable image while helping to maintain long printhead life. QuickLabel Systems 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 discounted 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. Discounted Printhead Replacement - As an added incentive, QuickLabel Systems guarantees you discounted 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 Systems Media Sales Specialist for more information or to enroll in the MRC program.

If you are an experienced user of a QuickLabel Systems Digital Color Printer or you have attended QuickLabel Systems 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 water cooling system Page 2-11 Connect the AC power cord Page 2-12 Connect the host computer interface Page 2-17 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 Color QuickLabel 99 Pro Appendix E Printing from a Windows application with the QuickLabel Systems Windows Printer Driver

components of the QLS-8100 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 the water cooling system to the printer • Instructions for connecting power and communication cables to the printer • Instructions for connecting compressed air to the printer

1 Remove the printer from the packing carton. 2 Ensure that the printer has suffered no visible signs of damage during shipment. 3 Verify that the following items have been included in the packing carton: AC Power Cord Centronics Parallel Cable (IEEE-1284) Media Retainer Memory Card Warranty Registration Card Operation & Setup Guide Windows Printer Driver Diskette Water Cooling System Kit Note: Retain all packaging should the printer need to be transported at a later time.

The keypad and display is the printer’s user interface.

Facing the left side of the QLS-8100 Xe with its cover lifted, you can view the media unwind, print stations, and related mechanical parts. The items below identify the QLS-8100 Xe components as shown in the side- view illustration on the following page: 1 Media Retainer 2 Media Supply Mandrel 3 TTR Rewind - print station # 4 4 TTR Supply - print station # 4 5 TTR Rewind - print station # 3 6 TTR Supply - print station # 3 7 TTR Rewind - print station # 2 8 TTR Supply - print station # 2 9 TTR Rewind - print station # 1 10 TTR 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 Cover Switch 20 Media Speed Roller 21 Media Sensor Assembly - Gap and Reflective 22 Lower Media Guide Roller 23 Media Dancer Arm 24 Upper Media Guide Roller

Facing the rear panel of the printer, you will observe the air intake regulator, power connection, and other interface connections as shown in the illustration below.

Your QLS-8100 Xe was shipped with the media unwind mandrel uninstalled to protect it from damage during transit. The mandrel is easily installed by following the procedure outlined below. Tools Needed: 1/8” Allen Wrench 1 Slide the media unwind mandrel onto the shaft until the back plate flange is seated firmly against the collar located on the inside of the shaft. The outside of the shaft should be flush with the surface of the mandrel. 2 Firmly tighten the supplied Allen set screw against the shaft.

The cooling system circulates cool water through the printhead mounting blocks to aid in maintaining optimum printhead temperature. The water cooling system is shipped uninstalled to protect it during transit. Use the following instructions to install the water cooling system. Tools Needed: Phillips Screwdriver It may be helpful to refer to the following assembly diagram when installing the water cooling system. #6 Flat Head Phillips Screw (1) #6 Pan Head Phillips Screw (3) & #6 Flat Washer (3) Mounting Screws Furnished with Cooling System Kit (4) 1 Fasten the water cooler mounting bracket to the printer using the three #6 Pan Head Phillips screws and #6 Flat Washers. Then use the #6 Flat Head Phillips screw to fasten the inside of the mounting bracket to the printer. A screwdriver hole is present on the outside of the mounting bracket.

water tubing must face toward the printer. 3 Connect the water tubes for each cooling drive to the printer. Then connect the power cord for each cooling drive to the printer. The top cooling drive water tubes connect to the top water connectors on the printer. Likewise, the water tubes from the bottom drive connect to the lower water connectors. Push firmly on the connectors to snap them into place. The top cooling drive power cord connects to the top power connector on the printer. Likewise, the power cord from the bottom drive connects to the lower power connector. Top Water Cooling Drive Water Tube Connectors Top Water Cooling Drive Power Connector Bottom Water Cooling Drive Power Connector Bottom Water Cooling Drive Water Tube Connectors 4 Use the Mounting Screws to fasten the water cooling drives into the mounting bracket. Two screws are used for each drive.

with the supplied distilled water. Ensure that the water level is between the HIGH and LOW indicators. Then replace the reservoir caps. HIGH LOW Warning: Only use non-conductive, distilled water. Other liquid can cause oxidation or corrosive damage to the cooling mechanism. Note: Once the remaining setup processes in this chapter are complete, and the printer power is turned on, check the water level. The water level may lower due to the liquid entering the printer. It may be necessary to add more water to the reservoirs. Note: During printer operation, the water level must stay between the HIGH and LOW indicators. If the water level is below the LOW indicator, the cooling system will become ineffective. It is recommended that you check the water level periodically and add water if necessary. Warning: If the printer will be shipped to another location, it is necessary to uninstall the water cooling system and purge the remaining water from the printer. For more information about uninstalling the water cooling system, refer to Chapter 7: Maintenance and Repair.

2 Plug the power cord into the printer. Be sure to use only the AC Power Cord supplied with the printer. Ensure that the power switch is in the OFF position before proceeding to the next step. 3 Connect the opposite end of the AC Power Cord into an earth grounded AC receptacle. Do not power the printer on until you have finished making the remaining connections described in this chapter. Warning: Do not use any type of receptacle adapter or AC Power Cord that has not been supplied with the unit. Doing so can result in damage to the printer. Note: The printer has been set at the factory for the correct line voltage for your country. The voltage setting can be viewed in a window at the top of the AC Power Input. If this setting needs to be changed, refer to the procedure in Chapter 7 of this manual. Note: It is recommended that an AC line conditioner / surge suppressor is used. Select a unit that is capable of handling the power requirements of the printer and protecting from surges and spikes. A VA rating of at least 350 VA is required.

the host computer to the printer. A high-speed parallel cable (IEEE-1284) is supplied with the printer. The RS-232 Serial Port is a secondary method of sending data to the printer, if a parallel port is not available on the host. Data transmission via the serial port is much slower and therefore, the parallel port is recommended. An ethernet connection is also available to provide a high-speed, bi-directional connection to the printer in networked environments. Centronics Parallel Port 1 Using the parallel cable supplied with the printer, connect the larger connector to the parallel port on the printer. Note: Only the supplied parallel or high-speed IEEE-1284 parallel cable should be used to ensure reliable performance. This cable should be stamped with an “IEEE-1284” marking to indicate that it is a high-speed parallel cable. 2 Lock the two metal rings on the parallel port into the connector to secure it to the printer. 3 Connect the opposite end of the parallel cable to the host computer. Be sure to note which port (LPT1, LPT2, etc.) you have connected the printer to as this will later be needed for driver or software setup. Note: The maximum recommended parallel cable length is 10 feet (3 m).

1 Using a standard (straight through connection) RS-232 serial cable, connect the appropriate mating end of the cable into the printer. 2 Tighten the cable securing screws into the serial port to secure the cable to the printer. 3 Connect the opposite end of the serial cable to the host computer. Be sure to note which port (COM1, COM2, etc.) you have connected the printer to as this will later be needed for software setup. Pin Assignments Pin Signal 1 N/C 2 TXD 3 RXD 4 DTR 5 GND 6 DSR 7 RTS 8 CTS 9 N/C 5 1 9 6 Note: The maximum RS-232 serial cable length is dependent on the communication parameters being used. For best performance and reliability, only serial cables supplied by QuickLabel Systems should be used.

The QLS-8100 Xe is a 10Base-T device that provides a 10Mbps ethernet connection. Using hubs and routers, the printer can be connected directly into a network using standard Category 5 (CAT5) cable or similar with a RJ-45 connector. TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) communication provides a direct link to the QLS-8100 Xe printer via the ethernet port. Using standard twisted-pair wiring, the printer can be connected to your existing network and shared by all network users. This method of communication provides a fast, bi-directional, real-time link to the printer. However, it does not provide print server functionality. If you require print server functionality and protocols other than TCP/IP, refer to the following section for print server information. Every ethernet device on the network contains a unique ethernet address known as the MAC address. This address is programmed at the factory and cannot be modified. Additionally, each device contains a TCP/IP layer identified by a configurable IP address. Every TCP/IP device on the network contains a unique IP address. Your network administrator must assign IP addresses for your QLS-8100 Xe printers. This is a common task performed on computers, printers, fax machines, etc. to identify the devices by their unique IP addresses. The QLS-8100 Xe printer does not support Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which automatically assigns an IP address to each device on the network. For simple printer/computer networks, you can assign IP addresses and subnet masks manually and ensure that all devices are identified by unique addresses. The default gateway address can remain at the default factory setting of 0.0.0.0. For detailed information on the topic of networking, refer to documentation applicable to your network environment and/or contact your network administrator.

appropriate external print server. The print server must be capable of passing ASCII data to the printer without corrupting or modifying the data stream. Any printer language emulations such as PostScript™ or PCL™ should be disabled. QuickLabel Systems can supply a compatible print server to be used in PC- based or midrange/mainframe-based host environments. Please contact QuickLabel Systems for additional information. QuickLabel Systems PS-ENET Print Server for Windows Networks. QuickLabel Systems Print Server for AS/400 Networks.

On the rear panel of the printer, the Utility Port permits connection to external devices such as the optional QuickLabel Systems Cutter and Cutter/Stacker or a label applicator system. The assignment of pin functions on the utility port depends on the mode of operation. For additional information regarding applicator mode operation, please contact QuickLabel Systems. Standard Mode Pin Signal Notes 1 N/C 2 Ground 3 Cutter On/Off Output (1=on 0=off) 4 5 VDC 1A max 5 Cutter Error Input (1=error 0=no error) 6 Cutter Pulse ~ 250 nsec pulse output 7 N/C 8 Pause Input (1=print 0=pause) 9 Error Applicator Mode Pin Signal Notes 1 N/C 2 Ground 3 Printing Output (1=printing) 4 N/C 5 N/C 6 N/C 7 N/C 8 Go Input (1=initiate print) 9 Skip/Apply Output (1=apply 0=skip) 5 1 9 6 Note: If you are using a cutter or cutter/stacker, refer to the unit’s setup and operation manual for information on setting up the unit with your printer. Warning: Exceeding the limits of the utility port signals can result in damage to the printer.

Preparing the Air Regulator When you receive the QLS-8100 Xe Printer, the Air Regulator is ready for operation. The air pressure regulator has been set at the factory for the proper air pressure. You only need to connect your in-house air supply to the printer. QuickLabel Systems can supply you with a portable, quiet air compressor suitable for office use should you not have a source of compressed air. Connecting the Air Supply 1 Obtain a suitable source of in-house air. This air should be dry, clean, and oil-free. Be sure to turn off the supply of air to this connection before making any connections. 2 Attach an appropriate threaded fitting to the Air Intake Regulator using Teflon tape on the threads to seal the fitting. 3 Attach your in-house air source to the Air Intake Regulator. 4 Turn on the supply of air to this connection. 5 Check the indicator dial to ensure that the regulator is set to 70 PSI. 6 If adjustment is required, pull down on the regulator knob to unlock it and turn the knob until the desired pressure level is reached: • Turn the knob clockwise to increase air pressure • Turn the knob counterclockwise to decrease air pressure 7 When finished adjusting the pressure, push the regulator knob upwards to lock it into place. Note: The QLS-8100 Xe can be used without compressed air, but the RibbonRation system cannot be used. Refer to Chapter 5 for information on how to disable the RibbonRation system.

safety feature helps ensure that during normal operation, the printer will run only when the cover is closed. If the printer cover is open, the printer will not print and the following message will appear on the display. Note: Some printer adjustments require access to the print stations. Therefore, the cover switch can be temporarily disabled to allow access to the print stations while printing. With the cover open, pull the cover switch plunger outward. It will lock in the outward position and allow printing with the cover open. To return the cover switch to normal operation, close the printer cover or push the switch inward to its original location. Caution: Do not remove or otherwise attempt to defeat the cover switch safety feature. Running the printer with the cover open can result in personal injury. Door Is Open

made to the printer, you are ready to load label or tag stock, thermal transfer ribbon, and calibrate the printer in preparation for printing. This chapter provides the following information: • Instructions on loading thermal transfer ribbon • Instructions on loading label or tag stock • Instructions on calibrating the printer for the installed media

Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon The QLS-8100 Xe is capable of printing using Spot Color or Process Color thermal transfer ribbons. When using Spot Color ribbons, each of the four stations prints a fully saturated color. Any color can be installed on any print station and the location of each color is defined in Color QuickLabel 99 Pro software or the QuickLabel Systems Windows Printer Driver. When using Process Color ribbons, each of the print stations prints a dot pattern of a primary color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, or Black). These primary colors overlap each other on the label to produce a wide range of colors. Process Color ribbon must be installed on specific print stations as defined below. CMYK printing is commonly used while some specific applications may call for KCMY printing where the black ribbon is printed last. CMYK KCMY Print Station 1 Cyan Black Print Station 2 Magenta Cyan Print Station 3 Yellow Magenta Print Station 4 Black Yellow As an aid, a threading diagram displaying the thermal transfer ribbon path is printed on the center plate of the printer.

1 Fully seat a roll of coated-side-in ribbon on the print station’s Supply Mandrel. You will feel resistance as the spring clip on the mandrel secures the roll. Ensure that the ribbon unwinds to the right and under the roll. 2 Fully seat an empty cardboard takeup core on the associated Rewind Mandrel. 3 Flip the Print Station Lift Lever counterclockwise to open the printhead. 4 Thread the ribbon over the ribbon guide roller located closest to the Rewind Mandrel, then downward towards the print station. 5 Thread the ribbon around the lower print station ribbon guide roller and under the print station. 6 Continue to thread the ribbon up around the front edge of the printhead then between the ribbon guide roller at the front of the print station and the anti-static brush support shaft. 7 Finally, wrap the ribbon up and over the empty takeup core. Secure the end of the ribbon with a small piece of adhesive tape. 8 Turn the ribbon rewind knob clockwise to take up any slack in the ribbon. 9 Flip the Print Station Lift Lever clockwise to close the printhead. 10 Repeat this process to install ribbon on each of the print stations.

Loading Label or Tag Media The QLS-8100 Xe is capable of printing on a wide variety of media types and sizes and is designed to accept media up to a 12” OD (outside diameter) roll capacity on a 3” ID (inside diameter) core. The QLS-8100 Xe positions the printed image correctly by utilizing either a transmissive or reflective sensor to detect the beginning of a label or tag. In some applications, a continuous media without notches or reflective marks can be used, and the length of the printed image is dictated by software. When using the transmissive method of sensing, the media should have at least a 0.125” (3 mm) gap or notch. When using a reflective sensing method, the media should have a 0.078” (2 mm) solid black reflective mark on the back that extends a minimum of 0.5” (12 mm) from the inside edge of the media. As an aid, a threading diagram showing the media path is printed on the center plate of the printer. To load label or tag media: 1 Lift the printer’s cover. 2 Flip each Print Station Lift Lever counterclockwise to open the printheads.

4 Remove the Media Retainer from the media supply mandrel by first loosening the small nylon retaining screw then sliding the Media Retainer away from the printer and off the mandrel. 5 Orient the roll so that the labels are coming off the top and to the right. Using the media retainer to push the roll, slide the roll onto the mandrel until it is firmly seated against the back plate. You will feel resistance as the spring clip on the mandrel secures the roll. Note: If the media is not fully seated against the back plate, an unprinted vertical area or void will appear on the printed label. 6 Ensure that the Media Retainer is firmly against the media roll and hand- tighten the nylon retaining screw to secure the Media Retainer to the mandrel. 7 Lift the Media Dancer Arm to the right and upwards to relieve back- tension on the media supply roll. Unroll approximately a 3-foot length of media. 8 Thread the media down and to the left, then around the Media Dancer Arm. 9 Remove the Media Guide Collar from the lower Media Guide Roller. 10 Continue to thread the media over and around the Upper Media Guide Roller then under and around the Lower Media Guide Roller. 11 Thread the media through the Media Sensor Assembly and then through the Media Travel Roller assembly.

12 Continue to thread the media through each of the print stations over the platen rollers. 13 Finally, thread the media between the drive roller and pinch roller so that it exits from the front of the printer. 14 Ensure that the media rests against each of the four Media Guide Rollers located just behind the print stations on center plate. 15 Flip each Print Station Lift Lever clockwise to close the printheads. 16 Flip the Drive Roller Lift Lever counterclockwise to close the drive roller. 17 Reinstall the Media Guide Collar until it just rests against the outer edge of the media.

The QLS-8100 Xe is equipped with two intelligent media sensors. One sensor is used for gap, or notched media types, and the other is used for reflective media types. Under normal operation, the sensor has to be calibrated to the media type being used only once. When changing from gap to reflective media types or vice-versa, a re-calibration is required. The Gap/Notch Sensor is positioned above the media on a movable shaft which can be adjusted out up to 2.5“ (64 mm) from the inside edge of the media. The Reflective Sensor is positioned below the media in a position fixed at 6 mm from the inside edge of the media. Before calibrating the printer for gap or notched media, you must adjust the position of the sensor so that it clearly “sees” the gap or notch. The illustration below shows how to adjust the sensor. To adjust the media sensor: 1 Turn the knob clockwise to move the sensor toward the outside edge. 2 Turn the knob counterclockwise to move the sensor toward the inside edge.

Calibrating for Media Types Calibrating the printer for the type of media being used is essential and is the first procedure that must be performed prior to printing and whenever the media type is changed. If the printer is not properly calibrated, any of the following may occur: • Printer will not initiate printing • Media advances but no image is printed • Printer will report a Media Out error • Image placement is incorrect or the printed image is clipped • Color QuickLabel 99® Pro software reports an error The calibration process automatically senses any gap, notch, or index mark on the media. This allows the printer to position widely varying types of media automatically and correctly. The printer stores the last calibration in non-volatile memory. The printer’s internal label queue is reset during the calibration process. Any labels pending in the queue are terminated. Use the procedures on the following pages to perform a media calibration. Note: Calibration need not be performed frequently if you use the same type of label or tag material, regardless of size. Calibrating Gap Media 1 Lift each of the printheads for this calibration routine in order to conserve ribbon. Leave the drive roller engaged. 2 Remove a label from the liner between the Media Dancer Arm and the Upper Media Guide Roller (skip this step if using notched or hole-punched media). 3 Press the PRINT/PAUSE key until the printer is in a paused state. 4 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed, then press the SELECT key. 5 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Calibrate menu is displayed. Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

7 Press the SELECT key. The display will show the following prompt: 8 Press and hold the FORM FEED/ADVANCE key until the liner is inside the sensor bracket. On notched media, temporarily slide the media out so that it is completely clear of the sensor assembly. 9 Press the SELECT key. The display will show the following prompt: 10 Press and hold the FORM FEED/ADVANCE key until the next label is inside the Gap sensor. 11 Press the SELECT key. The display will show the following prompt: 12 Press and hold the FORM FEED/ADVANCE key until the next gap is positioned behind the Media Sensor Assembly and in close proximity to the guide arrow indicated on the center plate. 13 Press the SELECT key and observe the gap size on the display. The gap size should be the same as the measured gap of your media and the following message will be displayed: Gap Calibration OK Place Gap @ Arrow Then Press Select Place Media @ Sensor Then Press Select Place Liner @ Sensor Then Press Select Calibrate Gap

If calibration was unsuccessful, the following message will be displayed: The user must re-initiate the calibration procedure. 14 After successful calibration, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to return the printer to a Ready state. Note: The QLS-8100 Xe is capable of sensing media with a maximum gap or notch size of 50 mm. Gap Calibration Bad

1 Lift each of the printheads for this calibration routine in order to conserve ribbon. Disengage the drive roller by turning the Drive Roll Lift Lever clockwise. 2 Position the reflective mark so that the red light from the reflective sensor passes through the mark. The light will typically pass through most media allowing you to view the mark from above. On more opaque media, you may have to view the mark from the bottom. 3 Engage the drive roller by turning the Drive Roll Lift Lever counterclockwise. 4 Press the PRINT/PAUSE key until the printer is in a paused state. 5 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed, then press the SELECT key. 6 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Calibrate menu is displayed. 7 Press the + or - key until Reflective is displayed. 8 Press the SELECT key. The display will show the following prompt: 9 Press the SELECT key again. The display will show the following prompt: Place Media @ Sensor Then Press Select Place Mark @ Sensor Then Press Select Calibrate Reflective Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

10 Reposition the media by pressing and holding the FORM FEED/ADVANCE key until the red light no longer shines through the mark but through the media. 11 Press the SELECT key. The display will show the following prompt: 12 Press and hold the FORM FEED/ADVANCE key until the reflective mark is positioned behind the Media Sensor Assembly and in close proximity to the guide arrow indicated on the center plate. 13 Press the SELECT key and observe the Reflective mark size on the display. If calibration was successful, the following message will be displayed: If calibration was unsuccessful, the following message will be displayed: The user must re-initiate the calibration procedure. 14 After successful calibration, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to return the printer to a Ready state. Reflective Calibration Bad Reflective Calibration OK Place Mark @ Arrow Then Press Select

1 Press the PRINT/PAUSE key until the printer is in a paused state. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed, then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Calibrate menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or - key until Continuous is displayed. 5 Press the SELECT key. The printer will feed a short length of media and will then be calibrated for continuous media. The display will show the following prompt: 6 Press the PRINT/PAUSE key to return the printer to a Ready state. Calibrating Inverted Gap Media Some examples of inverted gap media include clear labels with an opaque liner, a material which has sensing marks on the label itself, or a material on which you must sense on a preprinted image. When using media of this type, the printer is calibrated using the Gap Calibration method outlined previously in this chapter. The only difference in the procedure is that you would align the sensing mark when the printer prompts for placement of the liner or gap. Continuous Media Calibrated Calibrate Continuous Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

LCD display, status LED indicators, and a multi-function keypad. The control panel permits the user to change settings and make adjustments on- the-fly without the need for a host computer. This chapter provides the following information: • Information on the layout and function of the keypad • An overview of menu functions and range of settings • Detailed descriptions for each menu function

Keypad Layout and Functions The keypad buttons perform the following general functions. PRINT/PAUSE Toggles the printer between Ready and Pause states Pauses or resumes printing If viewing a sub-menu, returns you to main Pause menu FORM FEED/ADVANCE When the printer is in a Pause state, feeds the media by one calibrated label length each time the key is pressed, or continually advances the media when the key is held CANCEL Cancels the current label(s) or test pattern PREVIOUS/NEXT Cycles the display though menu choices Displays current settings for various printer parameters + Increases values within menus - Decreases values within menus SELECT Accepts the displayed setting Pressing select twice returns user to top-level menu

toggle the printer between a Ready state and a Pause state as indicated on the display. While the printer is printing labels, pressing the PRINT/PAUSE key will put the printer in a Pause state and label printing will halt until the PRINT/PAUSE key is pressed again. Ready state: Pause state: Certain function menus are only available when the printer is in the Pause state, as described in the following sections. Form Feed/Advance The FORM FEED/ADVANCE key serves two functions. If the key is pressed momentarily and released, the printer will advance the media by one calibrated media length. If the key is pressed and held, the printer will advance media until the key is released. Cancel While a batch of labels or the test pattern is being printed, pressing the CANCEL key will display the following message: Pressing SELECT will immediately cease printing, canceling any pending batches from memory and will return the printer to a Ready state. Deletes all labels SELECT to confirm Pause Ready

Menu Overview The following list outlines all of the menus that are accessible via the user interface. Some menus, as noted, are only accessible when the printer has been paused using the PRINT/PAUSE key. Some menus, like the Cutter menus, are only available when a specific option is enabled or in use. The menus are organized in two levels. Top-level menus include Adjust, Cal & Setup, Operation, Ribbon, Communications, System, and Options. By choosing a top-level menu and pressing the SELECT key, you can scroll though functions related to the top-level menu. Pressing the SELECT key twice returns you to the top-level menu. Note: For a detailed illustration of the printer menu structure, refer to Appendix G: Menu structure. Ready State & Adjust Menu Options are available in a Ready or Pause state. Intensity Adjusts the printhead intensity. Possible values range from 1 – 32. Speed Adjusts the print speed. Possible values range from 2 – 5 inches per second. Print Line Adj Adjusts the print line for printheads 1 - 3. Possible values range from -240 to +240. Cross Web Adj Adjusts the cross web for printheads 1 – 4. Possible values range from <-16 to -> 16 dots. Vertical Offset Adjusts the print registration vertically. Possible values range from -1200 to +1200 dots. Horizontal Offset Adjusts the print registration horizontally. Possible values range from <-600 to -> 600 dots. Display Cntrs Adjusts the display of the label counter. Possible values are Off, Batch, or Total. Cut Offset Available if cutter is enabled. Adjusts the position of the cut line. Possible values range from -1200 to +1200 dots.

using the Windows print driver. (Available only from Ready state) Cal & Setup Menu Options are available in a Pause state only. Calibrate Calibrates the printer to media type. Possible values are Gap, Reflective, or Continuous. Test Print Prints test patterns. Possible values are: Test Pattern 2”, 4”, 6”, 7”, 8” Block Pattern (All) Proc. Block (CMYK) Proc. Block (KCMY) Horiz. Line Pattern Large Blocks 2”, 4”, 6”, 7”, 8” Vertical Baseline Synchronizes the vertical registration across multiple QLS-8100 Xe printers. Possible values range from -120 to +120 dots. Horizontal Baseline Synchronizes the horizontal registration across multiple QLS-8100 Xe printers. Possible values range from <-120 to -> 120 dots. Printer Settings Prints all of the current settings for the printer. Operation Menu Options are available in a Pause state only. Pull Back Requires special hardware. Contact QuickLabel Systems for more information on this function. Label Reprint Reprints up to 999 copies of the last label printed, if using the Windows print driver. Synchronize Labels Synchronizes labels when using printer/applicator.

Ribbon Menu Options are available in a Pause state only. Ribbon Type Selects printhead intensity tailored to a specific media type. Possible values are Standard and Resin/Synthetic. Drop/Lift Adjust Adjust the drop and lift point for printheads 1 – 4. Possible values are 0 to +40 mm. Ribbon Sensor Used by QuickLabel Systems’ technicians when performing factory diagnostics. Possible values are Enabled and Disabled, but in general use, the sensor should always be enabled. Communications Menu Options are available in a Pause state only. Data Port Selects the data input interface used by the printer. Possible values are Parallel, Serial, or Ethernet. Parallel Mode Specifies the mode of connection for the parallel port. Possible values are Auto or Standard. RS232 Baud Rate Specifies a baud rate for the RS232 serial port. Possible values are 4800, 9600, 19200, or 38400. RS232 Handshaking Specifies a handshaking method for the RS 232 serial port. Possible values are Hardware or XON/XOFF. TCP/IP Address Specifies the IP address of the printer for ethernet purposes. TCP/IP Subnet Mask Specifies the subnet mask. TCP/IP Gateway Specifies the default gateway.

Display Cntr Adjusts the display of the label counter. Possible values are Off, Batch, or Total. Memory Card Selects whether to write-protect the memory card. Possible values are Write Protect ON or Write Protect OFF. Format Memory Card Formats the memory card. Front Panel Lock/Unlock Locks/Unlocks the front panel with a password. Time Sets up the time on the built-in, real-time clock. Date Sets up the date on the built-in, real-time clock. Factory Reset Returns the printer settings to the factory defaults. Options Menu Options are available in a Pause state only. Mirror Mode Activates mirror mode. Possible values are ON or OFF. Cutter Activates the cutter accessory. Possible values are Enabled or Disabled. Cut Flag Activates the cut flag. Possible values are ON or OFF. This option is available only if the cutter is enabled. Pull Back Enables/disables the pull back function. Possible values are Enabled or Disabled. This option requires special hardware. Contact QuickLabel Systems for more information. Applicator Activates the label applicator mode. Possible values are Enabled or Disabled.

Ready State & Adjust Menu Options in this category are accessed in two ways. You can access these options by pressing the NEXT or PREVIOUS keys while the printer is in a Ready state, or you can pause the printer and access them via the Adjust menu. The following sections detail each of the features within this menu category. Print Intensity The printhead intensity determines the temperature of the printhead heating elements. The amount of heat applied to the thermal transfer ribbon determines the darkness of the print. The amount of heat that is actually applied to the film by the printhead is determined by two factors: • Length of time that power is applied to the printhead • Rate at which the media is traveling under the printhead The print intensity setting determines the first factor and the second is controlled by the print speed. The printer has 32 discrete heat settings. A setting of 1 is the coolest setting, resulting in the lightest print. A setting of 32 is the hottest setting, resulting in the darkest print. The appropriate heat setting will vary depending on the media and ribbons being used as well as the print speed setting. As a general guideline, the ribbon types listed below will function best in the following print intensity ranges: Ribbon Type Range Wax 1 - 12 Wax / Resin 10 - 20 Resin 16 - 32 In general, lower-quality media that requires more heat to produce a satisfactory image is less advantageous in terms of speed and performance than higher-quality media that images easily and quickly at lower temperatures. If you use media that requires more heat, it is recommended that you set the print speed to a slower rate. Note: Some thermal transfer ribbon (typically, Resin type) reacts differently, actually printing lighter if too much heat is applied. This is a result of over- burning the ink. If this occurs, decreasing the heat will darken the printed image.

1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Intensity menu for the print station you want to adjust is displayed. Note: Head 1 is the station closest to the media exit. Heads 2, 3, and 4 are positioned sequentially behind head 1. 3 With the desired print station appearing on the display, press the + or – key until the print intensity setting you want is displayed. Intensity settings range from 1 to 32. Note: In most cases, higher intensities result in darker prints. Similarly, lower intensities generally result in lighter prints. 4 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Intensity Head 1 = 16 Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

Print Speed This function allows you to choose the printing speed. The printer is capable of printing at speeds of 2 – 5 in/s (inches per second) in 1 in/s increments. To set the print speed via the front panel: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Speed menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key until the desired print speed is displayed. Available print speeds are 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches per second. 4 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Note: Setting the print speed via software will always override this setting. You can set the print speed via Color QuickLabel 99 Pro or the QuickLabel Systems Windows Printer Driver. Note: The printer’s maximum speed will depend on the content of the format. For example, formats with incrementing or database fields may have to be printed at slower speeds. Speed 3 in/s Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

Print line adjustments allow you to align the printing of each of the four print stations to obtain accurate color registration in the media travel direction. These adjustments are made for print stations 1, 2, and 3 using print station 4 as a stationary reference. As such, there is no print line adjustment available for print station 4. Print line adjustments are used to compensate for minor variations in printhead or media positions, and may be needed when media is changed or a printhead is replaced. Once this procedure has been performed, it rarely needs to be repeated during normal operation. Print line adjustments are best performed dynamically while the QLS-8100 Xe is printing a block test pattern. To perform a print line adjustment: 1 Select the slowest print speed for the adjustment process to conserve media and ribbon. For more information on changing print speed, refer to the print adjustment menu functions described in this chapter. 2 Print the Proc. Block Pattern (CMYK) test pattern. For more information on printing the test pattern, refer to the cal & setup menu functions described in this chapter. Printing will continue throughout the adjustment process until the printer is paused or the operating state of the printer is changed. The pattern on the test labels will show each of the current print stations providing a visual indication of how much adjustment each print station location needs. 3 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

4 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Print Line Adj menu for the printhead you want to adjust is displayed. 5 Press the + or – key to shift the selected print position in the desired direction. Increasingly positive values will move the print position up on the label. Increasingly negative values will move the print position down on the label. 6 When you are satisfied with the position, press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. 7 Repeat steps 4 – 6 until each of the printed bars for stations 1, 2, and 3 are properly aligned with the bars for station 4. Note: An efficient way to shift the print line for a given print station is to measure the variation from the reference bar in the test pattern. Recall that print stations 1, 2, and 3 are adjusted while referencing print station 4. For example, if the bar printed on station 1 is measured to be misaligned with the reference bar printed on station 4 by 2 millimeters, you know that you need to shift station 1 by 24 pixels. The direction of misalignment will dictate whether you move the print line +24 or -24. Negative values adjust the line on the label away from the printer; positive values adjust the line toward the printer. Print Line Adj Head 1 = +0

Cross Web Adjustments allow you to align the printing of each of the four print stations to obtain accurate color registration across the width of the label. These adjustments can be made for print stations 1, 2, 3 and 4. One print station is typically used as a reference and left unchanged while the other three stations are adjusted relative to the reference station. Cross web adjustments are used to compensate for minor variations in printhead position, and may be needed when a printhead is replaced. This procedure is typically performed in conjunction with a Print Line Adjustment. Once this procedure has been performed, it rarely needs to be repeated during normal operation. Cross web adjustments are best performed dynamically while the QLS-8100 Xe is printing a block test pattern. To perform a cross web adjustment: 1 Select the slowest print speed for the adjustment process to conserve media and ribbon. For more information on changing print speed, refer to the print adjustment menu functions described in this chapter. 2 Print the Proc. Block Pattern (CMYK). For more information on printing the test pattern, refer to the calibration & setup menu functions described in this chapter. Printing will continue throughout the adjustment process until the printer is paused or the operating state of the printer is changed. The pattern on the test labels will show each of the current print stations providing a visual indication of how much adjustment each print station location needs. 3 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

4 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cross Web Adj menu for the printhead you want to adjust is displayed. 5 Press the + or – key to shift the selected print position in the desired direction. The value range is <16 to 16>. The direction of the arrow indicates the position of the print relative to the center of the printhead. The total range is 32 dots with 16 dots to the left and right of the printhead center. 6 When you are satisfied with the position, press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. 7 Continue making adjustments until you observe that the blocks in the test pattern are horizontally aligned. When all the blocks are aligned in the media travel and the cross web directions, and the black block prints without any color shadows, the color alignment is optimal. Cross Web Adj Head 1 = <-2

marks, etc.), the printer will place the label image area between the registration marks. You can vertically adjust the print registration in fine increments to move the printed image relative to the sensor mark. Adjusting the vertical offset affects each of the four print stations at the same time. To adjust the print stations individually, refer to the section on print line adjustments. To set the vertical offset via the front panel: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Vertical Offset menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key until the desired vertical offset setting is displayed. Offset settings range from – 1200 to + 1200 pixels (or dots). On the QLS-8100 Xe, there are 12 pixels per millimeter. Vertical Offset = + 16 Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

Negative values move the image down on the label (out away from the printer). Positive values move the image up the label (in toward the printer). 4 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Note: Setting the offset via software will always override this setting. You can set the offset via Color QuickLabel 99 Pro or the QuickLabel Systems Windows Printer driver. Horizontal Offset You can horizontally adjust the print registration in fine increments to move the printed image. Adjusting the horizontal offset affects each of the four print stations at the same time. To adjust the print stations individually, refer to the section on cross web adjustments. To set the horizontal offset via the front panel: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Horizontal Offset menu is displayed. Horizontal Offset = < 16 Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

displayed. Offset settings range from <– 600 to -> 600 pixels (or dots). On the QLS-8100 Xe, there are 12 pixels per millimeter. The final image position will be constrained by the label width. 4 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Partially printed labels under the printheads will finish printing using the previous offset to ensure color alignment. During this time, you cannot adjust the cross web or horizontal offset values. The new horizontal adjustment will affect subsequent labels. Note: Setting the offset via software will always override this setting. You can set the offset via Color QuickLabel 99.

Display Counter The printer can dynamically display either the ongoing total number of labels that have been printed since the printer was last powered up or the number of labels that have been printed within any specific batch or print job. The printer’s label counting feature can also be turned off. Note: The counter will disappear while menus are being navigated during printing. The counter will be displayed and updated when the QLS-8100 Xe resumes printing labels. To set up the counter: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Display Cntrs menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key until the desired counter setting is displayed. The following options are available. Off – No counter is displayed. Total – Count of labels printed since last power on is displayed Batch – Count of labels printed in current batch is displayed The selected counter mode will now appear on the display while printing. Display Cntr Off Pause: System Press SELECT

etc.), the printer will place the label image area between the registration marks. If necessary, you can adjust the location of the cut line relative to the printed image. The cut offset can be used to move the cut line forward or backward with respect to the top of the label. To adjust the cut position: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Adjust menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cut Offset menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key until the desired cut offset setting is displayed. Cut offset settings are –1200 through +1200 dots. Negative values move the cut line toward the bottom of the tag. Positive values move the cut line toward the top of the tag. 4 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Note: Setting the cut offset via software will always override this setting. You can set the cut offset via Color QuickLabel 99 Pro or the QuickLabel Systems Windows Printer driver. Note: The vertical offset will affect the cut offset. As a rule, the vertical offset should be set first. Cut Offset +0 Pause: Adjust Press SELECT

Label Reprint When using the QuickLabel Systems Printer Driver for Windows to print to the QLS-8100 Xe, data is transmitted from the PC software application to the printer as a bitmapped image. You can use the Reprint option to quickly print any quantity of the last label printed. To reprint labels: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Operation menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Label Reprint menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key to specify the number of the last labels you wish to reprint. You can reprint up to 999 copies. 4 Press the SELECT key. The quantity you specified will be printed. Label Reprint Copies = 1 Pause: Operation Press SELECT

Calibration & setup options are accessed via the Cal & Setup menu. The following sections detail each of the features within this menu category. Calibrate Calibrating the printer for the type of media being used is essential and is the first procedure that must be performed prior to printing and whenever the media type is changed. If the printer is not properly calibrated, any of the following may occur: • Printer will not initiate printing • Media advances but no image is printed • Printer will report a Media Out error • Image placement is incorrect or the printed image is clipped • Color QuickLabel 99® Pro software reports an error The calibration process automatically senses any gap, notch or index mark on the media. This allows the printer to position widely varying types of media automatically and correctly. The printer stores the last calibration in non-volatile memory. The printer’s internal label queue is reset during the calibration process. Any labels pending in the queue are terminated. Refer to the calibration procedures outlined in Chapter 3 for detailed information about calibrating the printer.

Test Print The QLS-8100 Xe is equipped with a number of built-in test patterns used for checking color alignment, print quality, and printhead integrity. To perform a test print: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Test Print menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the test pattern is displayed. The following test patterns are available. Test Pattern 2”, 4”, 6”, 7”, 8” – Prints a crosshatch pattern to check print quality. Block Pattern (All) – Prints a spot color block pattern used for color alignment. Proc. Block (CMYK) – Prints a process block pattern used for color alignment. Proc. Block (KCMY) – Prints a process block pattern used for color alignment. Horiz. Line Pattern – Used to check printhead angularity. Large Blocks 2”, 4”, 6”, 7”, 8” – Prints a solid block of each color. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Test Print Test Pattern = 2 in. Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

test pattern. Printing will continue until the printer is paused or the CANCEL key is pressed. Vertical Baseline This function is used to synchronize printing when using multiple QLS-8100 Xe printers. If you are sending the same image file to two or more printers and notice that the image prints in different vertical locations, you can use this function to move the vertical baseline of a printer. To adjust the vertical baseline: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Vertical Baseline menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired baseline setting is displayed. Baseline settings range from -120 through +120 dots. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the baseline. 6 Repeat this process on each printer requiring a baseline adjustment. Vertical Baseline Baseline = +0 Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

Horizontal Baseline This function is used to synchronize printing when using multiple QLS-8100 Xe printers. If you are sending the same image file to two or more printers and notice that the image prints in different horizontal locations, you can use this function to move the horizontal baseline of a printer. To adjust the horizontal baseline: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Horizontal Baseline menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired baseline setting is displayed. Baseline settings range from <-120 through -> 120 dots. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the baseline. 6 Repeat this process on each printer requiring a baseline adjustment. Horizontal Baseline Baseline = 0 Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

printhead of your choice. To print current printer settings: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cal & Setup menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Printer Settings menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key to specify the printhead that will be used to print the settings. 5 Press the SELECT key to print out a listing of current settings for the QLS-8100 Xe. Printer Settings Print With Head 1 Pause: Cal & Setup Press SELECT

The sample report shown below indicates the type of information that will be printed. Note: The OFFSET line displays the vertical offset, vertical baseline (in parentheses), horizontal offset, horizontal baseline (in parentheses), and the cut offset. The “fmt err” value reports the last format error generated. This value will be 0 if no format errors have occurred since power-up. QLS-8100 Xe Settings: SPEED = 2 INCHES/SEC INTENSITY (1, 2, 3, 4): 15, 15, 15, 15 OFFSET: V = 0 (0), H = 0 (0), C = 0 PRINT LINE ADJ (1, 2, 3): -23, -9, -8 CROSS WEB ADJ (1, 2, 3, 4): 0, 0, < 7, <8 DROP/LIFT (1,2,3,4): 22, 22, 22, 22 CONTINUOUS MEDIA 100 mm (1200 pixels) CALIBRATION: YES (gap = 38 pixels) COMPACT FLASH: YES v01.1 (0x00:00:00:1E) (fmt err=0) MEDIA USE: (101) 198 meters FILM 1 USE: (56) 56 meters FILM 2 USE: (167) 167 meters FILM 3 USE: (146) 146 meters FILM 4 USE: (80) 80 meters HEAD 1 USE: (31) 31 times HEAD 2 USE: (54) 54 times HEAD 3 USE: (42) 42 times HEAD 4 USE: (20) 20 times

sections detail each of the features within this menu category. Pull Back When the QLS-8100 Xe stops printing, a section of blank media will extend from the printhead near the rear of the printer (print station #4) to the front of the printer. When you start printing again, this section of blank media will be advanced out of the QLS-8100 Xe as printing begins. The pull back function allows you to pull back the blank media section. When the next print job begins, the section will be used for printing. This feature requires a compressed air connection and special hardware. It should only be used in applications that have been pre-qualified by QuickLabel Systems. Contact QuickLabel Systems for more information on the pull back function. Note: The pull back feature must be enabled before use. The Pull Back Enable/Disable function is available from the Options menu. There are two ways to activate media pull back. One method involves selecting it from the Operation menu. Alternately, the FORM FEED button can be used to quickly activate the media pull back function. To activate media pull back with the Operation menu: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Operation menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Pull Back menu is displayed. Pull Back Press SELECT Pause: Operation Press SELECT

4 Press the SELECT key. A message will be displayed to confirm Pull Back operation. 5 Press the SELECT key. The printer will begin rewinding media until the last unprinted label is positioned just behind the media sensor. If a Pull Back operation has been requested and a print batch has not been sent to the printer or the media has been moved in any way (i.e. Form Feed, Calibrate, Test Print, etc.) the following error message will be displayed. To activate media pull back with the FORM FEED button: 1 While the printer is in a Ready state, press the FORM FEED key. The printer will begin rewinding media until the last unprinted label is positioned just behind the media sensor. If a Pull Back operation has been requested and a print batch has not been sent to the printer or the media has been moved in any way (i.e. Form Feed, Calibrate, Test Print, etc.) the following error message will be displayed. Note: The FORM FEED key will activate the pull back feature only when the printer is in the Ready state. If the printer is paused, the FORM FEED key will operate normally, advancing the media when pressed. Pull Back Off Media Moved / No Batch Pull Back Off Media Moved / No Batch Pull Back SELECT to confirm

the QLS-8100 Xe, data is transmitted from the PC software application to the printer as a bitmapped image. You can use the Reprint option to quickly print any quantity of the last label printed. To reprint labels: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Operation menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Label Reprint menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key to specify the number of the last labels you wish to reprint. You can reprint up to 999 copies. 4 Press the SELECT key. The quantity you specified will be printed. Label Reprint Copies = 1 Pause: Operation Press SELECT

Synchronize Labels This function applies only to users integrating the printer with an applicator system. The synchronize labels function synchronizes the printing of labels with the applicator. This process is an initialization of the printer and media. A synchronization must be performed after the following conditions: • Power up • Media out, after the media has been replaced • TTR out, after the ribbon has been replaced • After running the test pattern • After performing a media calibration • After performing a form feed • After performing a media advance Note: You should never perform calibration, form feed, media advance, or test pattern functions while labels are printing. Any of these operations will clear all label formats from the internal queue and require synchronization. To synchronize labels: 1 When the printer is in the “Applicator Paused” state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Operation menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Synchronize Labels menu is displayed. Pause: Operation Press SELECT Synchronize Labels Press SELECT

be ready for applicator mode operation. If no labels feed, the printer did not require synchronization. • If the following message appears, the front panel pause is enabled and the synchronize function will not operate. The printer must be in the “Applicator Paused” state to perform the synchronize function. • If the following message appears, the printer is calibrated for continuous media. Continuous media cannot be used with an applicator system. Cannot Synchronize Continuous Media Cal Cannot Synchronize Printer Is Paused

Ribbon Menu Ribbon options are accessed via the Ribbon menu. The following sections detail each of the features within this menu category. Ribbon Type Selecting a ribbon type allows you to select a printhead heat and history profile that has been tailored to a specific media and ribbon combination. This feature enables the QLS-8100 Xe to print on an even wider range of specialty materials. To change the ribbon type: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Ribbon menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Ribbon Type menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired ribbon type is displayed. You can choose from standard or resin/synthetic ribbon. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your ribbon choice. Note: The standard profile should be selected for most applications unless otherwise specified by QuickLabel Systems. Ribbon Type Standard Pause: Ribbon Press SELECT

RibbonRation™ technology. This feature automatically determines when to enable or disable each of the four print stations, thus consuming thermal transfer ribbon only when a particular color is needed. In some cases, multiple drop/lift points will be used on individual labels. The number of drops and lifts depends on the size of the label. The following diagram illustrates sample drop/lift points, and the resulting ribbon savings, for a particular print station. The Drop/Lift Adjust function enables you to fine tune the point at which a printhead will drop for printing of a subsequent color. In some applications, dropping the printhead earlier results in smoother color application and reduces the tendency for film wrinkle. Note: In most cases, the default drop values will be optimal. However, if film wrinkling seems excessive, use the following procedure to change the drop point of the corresponding print station.

To use the Drop/Lift Adjust function: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Ribbon menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Drop/Lift Adjust menu for the desired printhead is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired drop setting is displayed. Drop settings range from 0 to 40 mm. The default value is 6. Increasing this value will cause the printhead to drop sooner, and decreasing the value will cause the printhead to drop later. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Any changes will take effect only after a new label is sent. Drop/Lift Adjust Head 3 = 6 Pause: Ribbon Press SELECT

performing diagnostics at the factory. In general use, the TTR Sensor should always be enabled. To adjust the ribbon sensor: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Ribbon menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Ribbon Sensor menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired sensor setting is displayed. Available options are Enabled or Disabled. Under normal operating conditions, the sensor should be enabled. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Caution: This capability is intended for factory diagnostics only. Do not disable the sensor. Use of the printer with the ribbon sensor disabled could result in damage to the printhead (due to overheating) and/or poor print quality. Ribbon Sensor Enabled Pause: Ribbon Press SELECT

Communications Menu Communications options are accessed via the Communications menu. The following sections detail each of the features within this menu category. Data Port The host computer transfers label formats, images, and fonts to the printer via a designated data port. The host computer transfers information about the printer’s status via a status port. Either the parallel port, serial port, or ethernet connection can be used as the data port. Only one of these communication channels be used as the data port; the others are used as status ports. However, a data port can also be used as a status port if the channel is bi-directional, which means it can transmit and receive data. The parallel port is the default data port. However, you can change the data port using the Data Port menu option. Note: If data port-specific commands are received via the status port, an error will occur. To select a data port: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Data Port menu is displayed. Data Port Error Check Comm Setup Data Port Parallel Pause: Communications Press SELECT

options are Parallel, Serial, or Ethernet. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Parallel Mode If you are using the parallel port to connect the printer to a host computer, you can select a parallel port mode. The parallel port mode determines the method of communication used between the host and the printer. The default setting is Auto mode. Auto mode attempts to communicate via an ECP (Extended Capabilities Port) connection. If it cannot communicate via this method, it will automatically switch to standard mode, which uses a common Centronics method of communication. The supplied parallel or high-speed IEEE-1284 parallel cable should be used to ensure reliable performance. To select a parallel mode: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Data Port menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired parallel mode is displayed. Available options are Auto, or Standard. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Parallel Mode Auto Pause: Communications Press SELECT

RS232 Baud Rate If you are using the RS232 serial port connection, you can configure the printer to use one of four specific baud rates. To select a baud rate: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the RS232 Baud Rate menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired baud rate is displayed. Available options are 4800, 9600, 19200, or 38400. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your baud rate choice. RS232 Baud Rate 19200 Pause: Communications Press SELECT

printer handshaking method. To select a handshaking method: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the RS232 Handshaking menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired handshaking method is displayed. Available options are Hardware or XON/XOFF. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your handshaking choice. RS232 Handshaking Hardware Pause: Communications Press SELECT

TCP/IP: IP Address A TCP/IP address uniquely identifies each device connected to your network. If you are using ethernet to connect your printer to a network, you will need to assign a TCP/IP address to your QLS-8100 Xe printer. The default TCP/IP address is 192.168.255.1. Note: For more detailed information on the topic of networking, refer to the documentation applicable to your network environment and/or contact your network administrator. To set the TCP/IP address: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the TCP/IP Address menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the first number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the second number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the third number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the fourth number in the address, then press the SELECT key. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the TCP/IP address. TCP/IP Address 192.168.255.1 Pause: Communications Press SELECT

You will use the TCP/IP Subnet Mask option in the Communications menu to set a subnet mask for the QLS-8100 Xe printer. The default subnet mask is 255.255.255.1. Note: For more detailed information on the topic of networking, refer to the documentation applicable to your network environment and/or contact your network administrator. To set the TCP/IP subnet mask: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the TCP/IP Subnet Mask menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the first number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the second number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the third number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the fourth number in the address, then press the SELECT key. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the TCP/IP subnet mask. TCP/IP Subnet Mask 255.255.255.1 Pause: Communications Press SELECT

TCP/IP Gateway You will use the TCP/IP Gateway option in the Communications menu to set a subnet mask for the QLS-8100 Xe printer. The default gateway is 0.0.0.0. Note: For more detailed information on the topic of networking, refer to the documentation applicable to your network environment and/or contact your network administrator. To set the TCP/IP gateway: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Communications menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the TCP/IP Gateway menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the first number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the second number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the third number in the address, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the fourth number in the address, then press the SELECT key. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the TCP/IP gateway. TCP/IP Gateway 0.0.0.0 Pause: Communications Press SELECT

detail each of the features within this menu category. Display Counter The printer can dynamically display either the ongoing total number of labels that have been printed since the printer was last powered up or the number of labels that have been printed within any specific batch or print job. The printer’s label counting feature can also be turned off. To set up the counter: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, proceed to the next step. If the printer is in a Pause state, press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Display Cntrs menu is displayed. 3 Press the + or – key until the desired counter setting is displayed. The following options are available. Off – No counter is displayed. Total – Count of labels printed since last power on is displayed Batch – Count of labels printed in current batch is displayed The selected counter mode will now appear on the display while printing. Display Cntr Off Pause: System Press SELECT

Memory Card - Write Protection Memory cards allow you to save fonts, bitmap images, and other configuration information in a portable format. Memory cards use non- volatile memory, so the contents of the card remain intact even after the printer is powered off. You can write protect memory cards to prevent contents from being accidentally erased while using the printer. However, write protection will not protect the memory card data if the card is used with a PC reader. To write protect the memory card: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Memory Card menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired memory card protection setting is displayed. Possible settings are On or Off. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Memory Card Write Protect ON Pause: System Press SELECT

The Front Panel Lock/Unlock feature allows you to lock the menu, preventing unauthorized users from modifying printer settings. The front panel is locked and unlocked with a user-defined four-digit password. When the front panel is locked, users can scroll through the menus, but cannot make any changes. The only available features are PRINT/PAUSE, FORM FEED/ADVANCE, Printer Settings, and Front Panel Unlock. An “X” character will appear on the Ready and Pause displays to indicate the front panel is locked. To lock the front panel: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Front Panel Lock menu is displayed. Front Panel Lock 0000 Pause: System Press SELECT Pause X Ready X

4 Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the first number in the password, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the second number in the password, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the third number in the password, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the fourth number in the password, then press the SELECT key. 5 Press the SELECT key to lock the front panel using the specified password. To unlock the front panel: 1 If the locked printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Front Panel Unlock menu is displayed. Front Panel Unlock 0000 Pause: System Press SELECT

password, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the second number in the password, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the third number in the password, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key to increase or decrease the fourth number in the password, then press the SELECT key. 5 Press the SELECT key to unlock the front panel using the appropriate password.

Memory Card - Formatting Memory cards must be formatted before they can be used. If you have a memory card inserted in the memory card slot, which is located on the rear panel, use the following instructions to format the card. The memory card write protection setting must be off to allow memory card formatting. Note: Use caution when formatting memory cards. Formatting a memory card permanently erases all data on the card. To format the memory card: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Format Memory Card menu is displayed. 4 Press the SELECT key. A confirmation message will be displayed before the memory card is formatted. 5 To confirm the formatting, press the SELECT key. To cancel formatting and return to the main Pause menu, press the PRINT/PAUSE key. When you confirm formatting, a status message will display. Format Complete Volume: QLSXE_00 SELECT to Confirm Format Memory Card Press SELECT Pause: System Press SELECT

displaying the time and date. It is also used to provide a time/date stamp for fonts and images. You will use the Time menu option to set the time for the clock. To set the time: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Time menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired hour setting is displayed, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key until the desired minute setting is displayed, then press the SELECT Key. Press the + or – key until the desired am/pm setting is displayed, then press the SELECT Key. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the time. At this point, the time is stored with seconds set to zero. Time 10:42 am Pause: System Press SELECT

Date The QLS-8100 Xe provides a built-in, real-time clock that is used for displaying the time and date. It is also used to provide a time/date stamp for fonts and images. You will use the Date menu option to set the date. To set the date: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Date menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired year setting is displayed, then press the SELECT key. Press the + or – key until the desired month setting is displayed, then press the SELECT Key. Press the + or – key until the desired day setting is displayed, then press the SELECT Key. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm the date. Date 2002, Aug 26 Pause: System Press SELECT

through the printer’s front panel to their factory default values. Use the procedure in this section to perform a factory reset to return the printer to the default values listed below. Factory default values TCP/IP address 192.168.255.1 TCP/IP mask 255.255.255.1 TCP/IP gateway 0.0.0.0 Data port Parallel Parallel mode Auto Baud rate 19200 RS232 handshaking DTR/DSR Calibrate Continuous Speed 3 in/sec Intensity (heads 1-4) 16 Vertical offset 0 Horizontal offset 0 Counter Off Mirror mode Off Cut flag Off Cut offset 0 Print line adj. (heads 1-3) 0 Cross web adj. (heads 1-4) 0 Vertical baseline 0 Horizontal baseline 0 Drop/Lift Adjust 6 Cutter Disabled Ribbon sensor Enabled Ribbon type Standard Pull back Disabled Applicator Disabled Memory card write protect Off

To perform a factory reset: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the System menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Factory Reset menu is displayed. 4 Press the SELECT key to reset parameters to the factory default values. Note: It is recommended that you print the printer settings before performing a factory reset to aid in restoring color alignment at a later time. Factory Reset Press SELECT Pause: System Press SELECT

detail each of the features within this menu category. Mirror Mode The QLS-8100 Xe has the ability to print labels in a mirror image format. This format is useful when printing on transparent media to be applied to a transparent surface such as glass. This mode mirrors the printed image horizontally. To enable or disable mirror mode: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Options menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Mirror Mode menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired setting is displayed. Available options are On or Off. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Mirror Mode Off Pause: Options Press SELECT

Cutter If using an optional cutter or cutter/stacker accessory, you can enable it using the Cutter menu option. To enable or disable the cutter: 1 If the printer is in a Ready state, press the PRINT/PAUSE key to pause the printer. 2 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Options menu is displayed. Then press the SELECT key. 3 Press the NEXT or PREVIOUS key until the Cutter menu is displayed. 4 Press the + or – key until the desired setting is displayed. Available options are Enabled or Disabled. 5 Press the SELECT key to confirm your choice. Cutter Enabled Pause: Options Press SELECT