Monarch 9400™ Series Thermal Printer Operator’s Handbook TC9400OH Rev.B 5/89 ©1988 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Each product and program carries a respective written warranty, the only warranty on which the customer can rely. Monarch reserves the right to make changes in the product and the programs and their availability at any time and without notice. Although Monarch has made every effort to provide complete and accurate information in this manual, Monarch shall not be liable for any omissions or inaccuracies. Any update will be incorporated in a late edition of this manual.
Preface Preface This manual contains the information an operator need to enter data and print a batch of supplies. Other manuals you might need are: Equipment Manual Contains general set-up and maintenance procedures. User’s Manual Tells about creating and entering formats. It also includes special configuration options for printing. Programmer’s Manual Gives communications and message structures for sending formats and batch data online. Messages Lists and describes offline and online messages.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Terms to Know batch A group of tags or labels that contain the same data. batch separator An extra tag at the end of a batch to separate the current batch from the next batch. character A letter, number or special symbol. cursor The underline on the screen, positioned where you are to enter a response or data. digits Numbers only. field An area on the supply defined for specific data. format The arrangement of the data printed on the supply.
Table of Contents 1. Getting Started ...............................................................1-1 2. Using Data Entry ............................................................2-1 Adjusting the Supply Sensor ......................................2-2 Entering a Batch.........................................................2-4 Prioritizing a Batch .........................................2-9 Separating Multiple Batches ..........................2-9 Batch Separators ...................................
9400 Series Operator’s Manual 4. Printing Online ...............................................................4-1 Auto-online Mode .......................................................4-1 Transmission Errors ...................................................4-2 5. Setting Printer Options..................................................5-1 Using Batch Separators .............................................5-1 Adjusting the Cut Position ..........................................
1. Getting Started This section gives you general information about using the printer. To enter data, refer to "Using Data Entry Mode." Daily Startup CAUTION Turning the printer on and off rapidly can cause it to malfunction. If you have turned the printer on (or off), wait 10 seconds before turning it back off (or on). 1. Turn the power switch on. If the printer was last turned off while batches were printing, the message Batches ready to print. Enter START key to begin._ will display briefly.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook 2. If you see the supply type prompt: Select Supply Type: B A)lign, B)lack Mark or D)ie Cut • Press E E for black-mark or aperture supplies. • Type D and press for die-cut supplies. 3. If you see the date prompt: Enter new date: 01/01/89 (MM/DD/YY) • Press E E only to keep the date shown, or to skip the prompt. • Enter a new date in the format shown in parentheses, and press . The date format is selected in Printer Configuration by management.
1. Getting Started 4. If you see the time prompt Enter new time: 00:01:04 (HH:MM:SS) • Press E E only to keep the time shown, or to skip the prompt. • Type a new time and press . Enter the time (1:24:35 p.m.) in military format as follows: 13 : 24 : 35 Hours Minutes Seconds The time advances only while the power is on. Getting Started 5. If you see the online prompt: Online Mode Ready: your printer is set for Auto-online. Refer to "Printing Online" for information about Auto-online. 6.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook U D E Use the or cursor movement keys to display each operating mode. When the screen shows the mode you want to use, press . You’ll then see the first screen for that mode. Refer to Section 2, "Using Data Entry Mode" for entering data and printing. To modify printing of batches, refer to Section 3, "Monitoring Batch Printing." Exiting an Operating Mode ! To exit any operating mode, press until you see Select Operating Mode.
1. Getting Started Using the Keyboard The keyboard contains 26 alphabetic keys, a calculator-like keypad and a few special function keys. UD LR C ! U D Use or to scroll through the Select Operation Mode menu, or a list of options, such as formats in Data Entry mode. Use to move the cursor left or right to correct the data. Clear Key. Clears data from the screen. Displays the previous prompt, or exits to the Select Operation Mode menu (main menu).
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Entering Special Symbols The symbols below are available for Standard (Std), Reduced (R), and OCR fonts. H To enter a special symbol, press (Shift), then press the required key. When you press the shift key, the keyboard locks in shift mode. Press the shift key again when you’re finished, to restore the keyboard to normal mode. Press To Print H 0= H 1= H 2= H 3= H 4= H 5= H 6= H 7= H 8= H 9= H /= H¢= H P= H$= H .
1. Getting Started Entering and Changing Data E The keyboard gives you the ability to enter numeric, alpha, or alphanumeric data. To send data to the printer, enter the desired data and press . The screen always shows a prompt with underscores to show the maximum length for the data. Format: SAMPLE Enter Batch Name:________ E H For example, this screen shows you can enter up to 8 characters before pressing . If you try to enter more than 8 characters, the printer beeps.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Correcting a Data Entry Error When you enter data incorrectly, the printer beeps and may display a message. Below is a list of conditions that cause error tones and the ways to correct them. Sometimes a problem with data entry may be a combination of these conditions. Problem Correction You entered alpha characters. This field requires numeric characters. Type the correct data and press . You entered numeric characters. This field requires alpha characters.
1. Getting Started Types of Data Entry The following are samples of the different types of data prompts you’ll see in Data Entry. Entering General Data When you see a prompt similar to the one below, you can enter a character for each blank. DEPT?____ General data fields can have numeric, alpha, or alphanumeric data. Entering a Price Getting Started At data entry, the price prompt includes the pricing symbols. Your price prompt may look like this PRICE? $.00 PRICE? 0¢ ...
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook With either prompt, you can enter and print: cent amounts, dollar and cent amounts, and unit prices. For example: 3 , $.59, 2/59¢ , 3/$1.00, or $15.98. To enter a unit price, type the units, press / (slash), then type the price as shown below. PRICE? 2/$1.00 Entering a Check Digit In the prompts below, the b shows that a check digit will be automatically calculated and placed in that position at printing. You cannot enter data in this position.
1. Getting Started The code that prints depends on the translation table. See "Defining a Cost Code" in section 5. Prompts Containing Fixed Characters When a field has fixed characters, those characters appear with the data entry prompt each time you use that format. The fixed data stays the same, and is printed on every tag that uses the format. Only the data you enter can be changed. In our example below, the first six digits are fixed characters.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook 1-12
2. Using Data Entry Before you enter data for printing, you’ll need to know: • The name of the format (print design) to use for printing. • The size of the supply needed for the format you’ll be using. • The batch name to assign to the data. For some batches, you might also need to enter: • The number of parts for the supply. • Whether to cut the supply between tags. • If you cut the supply, how many multiples of each tag you want to print between cuts.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Adjusting the Supply Sensor Each format design calls for a specific supply size. If you load supplies that are a different length than the format calls for, you’ll see an error message when you try to print a batch. To correct the problem, E • Load the correct supply size. • Press to clear the error message. If you have the correct supply size loaded and you still get the error message, the supply is not being fed at the correct length.
2. Using Data Entry To align the supply sensor with a feed aperture: 1. Pull the black indicator below the sensor adjustment knob (see the figure below) toward you until it stops. 2. Hold a sample of the supply loaded in the printer against the platen cover as shown in the figure. The pointer on the indicator shows where the sensor is located on the supply loaded in the printer. Sensor Adjustment Knob Black Indicator 4. Lift the front panel and snap the top corners closed.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Entering a Batch Before you enter batch data, you must assign a name to the batch. You can enter a unique name for each batch, or use the AUTO feature. The AUTO feature lets you enter multiple batches without naming each batch. For more information, see "Automatic Batch Naming." U 1. From the main menu, press or Entry and press . You’ll see E D Data Entry Mode Select Format: NAME to display Data ↓ __ 2. Select a format. E to use the format shown.
2. Using Data Entry 3. Enter a batch name. If the screen shows a blank: E E U E • Enter a 1-8 character name and press • Press E . only to let the printer name the batch. See "Automatic Batch Naming." If the screen shows a batch name: • Press only to copy the batch. Copying a batch lets you change the data you need to change, instead of re-entering all of it. See "Copying a Batch." • Press E to display a blank line, and enter a new batch name. Press to create a new batch.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Number of parts [1-5]:_ E Enter a number from 1-5 for the part number of parts for the supply and press . The number you type indicates the number of times you want the data printed across the tag width. The supply may be perforated or not perforated. For example, if you want the data to print only once across the tag, then type 1 for a one part supply. Cutting [Y/N]:_ E Enter Y or N and press . Y or N indicates whether you want cuts between each tag or set of tags.
2. Using Data Entry Cut Multiple [1-9999]:____ E Enter a number from 1-9999 and press . Type the number of tags or labels you want printed between cuts as a set. For example, if you want two copies of each tag, choose a cut multiple of 2. If you specify no cutting, then you must specify a print multiple. If you type N when you see the Cutting [Y/N] prompt, you’ll see the next two prompts. Cut between batches [Y/N]:_ E Type Y or N and press . Type Y to cut the supply between batches.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Quantity to Print [1-9999]:____ E Enter a number from 1-9999 and press . Type the number of tags, or sets of tags you want to be printed in a batch. For example, if you choose a cut multiple of 1 with a batch quantity of 30, you’ll print 30 tags. If you choose a print multiple of 2 with a batch quantity of 30, you’ll print 60 tags (30 sets of tags with 2 tags per set). 6. Enter the batch data by answering the rest of the prompts. 7.
2. Using Data Entry Prioritizing a Batch You can enter a batch to print immediately after the one currently printing. A prioritized batch name must begin with a decimal. Format: TEST Enter Batch Name: .NO8______ For example we have seven batches printing. On the screen above, we entered batch .NO8 to print immediately. NOTE: You cannot prioritize batches if the automatic batch naming feature is active. Automatic batch naming is selected in Printer Options.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook For online printing, you must use special commands to turn the batch separators on or off. Refer to the Programmer’s Manual for these commands. The next page shows an example of a regular tag, a 920 batch separator, and a 924 batch separator.
2. Using Data Entry Batch Naming As you printed batches of tags, you must name each batch. You can: • Name each batch manually. • Use AUTO batch naming (the printer names the batches for you). You don’t see a prompt for batch name during data entry. You select manual batch naming or automatic batch naming in Printer Options. You use manual batch naming or automatic batch naming at Data Entry. Selecting Batch Naming 1. From the main menu, select Printer Options. 2.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Using Batch Naming If you select Y at the Use Batch Names prompt (in Printer Options), the printer operates as follows at data entry. To name a batch manually: 1. From the main menu, select Data Entry. You’ll see Data Entry Mode Select Format: NAME ↓ __ D until you see the format you want and press E . You’ll see 2. Press Format: NAME Enter Batch Name:________ 3. Type a 108 character batch name (such as SAMPLE) and press . The characters can be numbers or letters.
2. Using Data Entry 2. Press press U or D until you see the format you want and E . You’ll see Format: NAME Enter Batch Name:___________ 3. Press E only. You’ll see NEW batch AUTO# Then you’ll then see the data entry prompts for the format you selected. 4. Enter your data. When you have finished entering data, the batch begins printing. If you select N at the Use Batch Names prompt (in Printer Options), the printer operates as follows at data entry. 1. From the main menu, select Data Entry.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook You can use the AUTO feature for multiple formats during printing. However, the numbering for AUTO does not start at 1 for each format. It continues sequentially, regardless of the format. For example, suppose you need to print four batches: two using Format 1, and two using Format 2. First, select Format 1 and print out batches with the AUTO feature; AUTO1 and AUTO2 are assigned to these batches. Next, switch to Format 2 to print the last two batches.
2. Using Data Entry Changing Formats and Supplies While in Data Entry mode, you may use several different formats to enter batch data. These formats may require a different supply size. See your management for a list of the formats and the required supply sizes. The supply size loaded in the printer and the supply size required by the format must match. If the supply loaded is not what the format requires, a message will tell you to check the supply.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook D until you see Define Supply Type, then press E . You’ll see 2. Press Select Supply Type: B A)lign, B)lack Mark or D)ie Cut 3. Type A and press E. Adjusting the Print Contrast You can adjust the print contrast to darken or lighten printing. You can also print a test tag to check the adjustments you make. The adjustment range is from -99 (lighter) to +20 (darker). NOTE: The normal print contrast setting (+00) prints accurate bar codes on most tag or label stock.
2. Using Data Entry NOTE: When you first receive the printer, the password is M9400. You’ll see the last setting, for example ↓ Print Contrast Adjustment +00 4. You can • press • C to reset the print contrast to 0 U to increase the print contrast 1 step press D to decrease the print contrast 1 step press E to print a test tag. You must have at least • press • ↑ one format defined to print a test tag. 5. Press ! or # to exit to the Print Contrast menu.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook 2-18
3. Monitoring Batch Printing You can use the Batch Control mode to check or change the status of batches in the print queue. You can: • Cancel the current batch (the batch that is printing). See "Canceling a Batch." • Delete a batch from the queue. See "Deleting a Batch." • Reprint the last batch. See "Reprinting a Batch." You can delete or reprint a batch while batches are printing. When you select Batch Control mode, the printer stops printing. To exit Batch Control, press after making your selections.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook I = Q = Image; second in the print queue for printing. Held in the print queue for printing. U D. To see which batches are in the print queue, press or Each time you press these keys, the screen shows a batch name and its printing status. ! To exit Batch Control, press . The screen displays the main menu and printing resumes. Canceling a Batch You can cancel a batch that has a print status of P or I.
3. Monitoring Batch Printing If you want to re-enter a canceled batch in the queue, press . When you see the batch you canceled (which shows a status of C), press . You’ll see D E Reprint [Y/N]: N Batch: NAME To re-enter the batch into the print queue, type Y and press . You’ll see the Batch Control menu. E If there are other batches you don’t want to print, you must delete them from the queue. The process is similar to canceling a batch. For more information on deleting a batch, see the next section.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook U D to display the batch name you want to delete E . You’ll see Press or and press Delete from Queue [Y/N]: N Batch: NAME E Type Y and press . The screen returns to the first batch name in the print queue. If you want to delete another batch, press or to display the remaining batches with Q status. Select the batch you want and delete that batch. U D If you want to re-enter a deleted a batch in the queue, press .
3. Monitoring Batch Printing Then, you’ll see Batch Control Mode Select Batch: NAME Press F) and Q__ U or D to display the last batch (with a print status of E . You’ll see Reprint [Y/N]: N Batch: NAME E The screen shows the batch name. Enter Y and press . The screen returns to the first batch name in the print queue. Press to display the batch you changed with the new print status of Q. If you enter N at the Reprint Y/N prompt, the batch status remains unchanged.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook 3-6
Printing Online 4. Printing Online In Online mode, formats and batch data are received online from your host computer. The printer must be in Online mode to receive this data. When transmission is successful, the batches automatically begin to print. 1. Make sure your host computer is ready to send the data. 2. From the Select Operating Mode menu select Online and press . You’ll see E Online Mode Ready: 3. Batches begin to print as soon as they are sent from the host computer. ! 4. Press to exit.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook 3. Batches begin to print as soon as they are sent from the host computer. When all batches have finished printing, you can • turn the printer off • exit Auto-online mode To exit Auto-online: 1. With the display showing Online Mode Ready, press You’ll see #. Enter password:__________ 2. Type the 1-8 character password and press E. NOTE: When you first receive the printer, the password is ONLINE. You’ll see the Main Menu.
5. Setting Printer Options 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Printer Option Default Use Batch Separators Adjust Cut Position Adjust Print Position Define Cost Code Define Supply Type Define Monetary Symbol Use Cent Sign in Price Fields Define Numbering System Define Print Mode Use Batch Names No Increase at 0 Increase at 0 None set Black Mark/Aperture Dollar ($) No English Continuous* No The procedure for changing each of these values is listed separately in this section.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook E 1. From the main menu select Printer Options and press . 2. When you see Select Printer Option: Use Batch Separators Press E ↓ __ to select this option. 3. You’ll see Use Batch Separators [Y/N]: N E E Press if you don’t want to use batch separators. The screen shows the Print Option menu. Or, type Y to use batch separators, and press screen shows: . The Adjust Separator Length [Y/N]: N E E 4.
5. Setting Printer Options Adjusting the Cut Position This feature adjusts where the tag is cut. For example: • You may need to adjust the cut up or down for aperture supplies. the cut up. The default is increase (1) from step zero (0). The steps are in 1/192 inches (one dot). A dot is the smallest area on which the printer can print. Increase moves the cut up; decrease moves the cut down. E 1. From the main menu select Printer Options and press . 2.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook E 4. Now you can either: Type I and press You’ll see to move the cut up. Amount of Cut increase [0-144]: 0___(Dots) E Enter a number form 0-144 for the amount of space to move the cut and press . For example, 10 moves the cut .052 inches (there are .0052" per dot). The screen then shows the Print Option menu. Type D and press You’ll see E to move the cut down.
5. Setting Printer Options The default is increase (I) from step zero (0). The steps are in 1/192 inches (one dot). A dot is the smallest area on which the printer can print. Increase moves the cut up; decrease moves the cut down. 2. When you see Select Printer Option: Use Batch Separators press E. D E Setting Printer Options 1. From the main menu select Printer Options, press . ↓ __ until you see Adjust Print Position, then press 3. You’ll see Print adjustment I)ncrement or D)ecrement? I 4.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook E Enter a number from 0-144 for the amount of space to move the data and press . The screen then shows the Print Option menu. 5. Select another print option, or press menu. ! to exit to the main Defining a Cost Code This function lets you define a code to translate data entered by the operator. Your code can be letters, numbers, or special characters (such as / or $). 1. From the main menu select Printer Options and press . E 2.
5. Setting Printer Options E Enter 10 characters for a translation and press . The characters can be letters, numbers, or special characters (such as / or $), but all ten must be different. When an operator enters data for a cost code field, the printer substitutes each "printed character" in your code for the corresponding "entered character.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Defining the Supply Type The printer contains a sensor to detect the supply. You must tell the printer the type of supply you’re using; die cut or black mark/aperture. This screen also allows you to recalibrate the printer if the format should become misaligned as you are printing batches. Aperture (through supply) E Black Mark (on back of supply) 1. From the main menu select Printer Options and press .
5. Setting Printer Options • Press E E E for black-mark or aperture supplies. • Type D and press for die-cut supplies. • Type A and press if the printing is not aligned properly on the supply. Recalibrating, please wait. 3. Select another print option, or press menu. ! to exit to the main Defining the Monetary Symbol The printer has ten different monetary symbols. The default is the dollar ($). 1. From the main menu select Printer Options, press E. 2.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook Press D to see the list of available symbols. $ £ v F Kr DM MK Rs United States dollar British pound Yen French franc Swedish krona German mark Italian lira Finnish markka Austrian schilling Indian Rupee When you see the symbol you want, press screen shows the Print Option menu. 4. Select another print option, or press menu. ! E . The to exit to the main Using the Cent Sign You can print amounts less than $ 1.
5. Setting Printer Options 3. You’ll see Use Cent Sign in Price Fields where applicable [Y/N]: N E . The screen shows the 4. Select another print option, or press menu. ! to exit to the main Defining the Numbering System You can select from three units of measurement to enter supply and field measurements: • English (measurements in inches) • Metric (measurements in millimeters) • Dots (measurements of 192 dots per inch) The default measurement is English.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook press press D until you see Define Numbering System, then E. 3. You’ll see Select Number System: English ___ U D Use or to display the unit of measurement you want, then press . You’ll see the Print Options menu. E 4. Select another print option, or press menu. ! to exit to the main Defining the Print Mode If your printer has a knife, Continuous is the only option for Define Print Mode.
5. Setting Printer Options Using Batch Names You can choose to name batches manually (Use Batch Names). Or, you can let the printer name the batches for you (AUTO batch naming). The default is No (Auto batch naming). E 1. From the main menu select Printer Options and press . 2. When you see ↓ __ Select Printer Option: Use Batch Separators press E. D until you see Use Batch Names, then press 3. You’ll see Use Batch Names: [Y/N]: N • Type Y and press manually.
9400 Series Operator’s Handbook 5-14
For supplies, service, or assistance call: TOLL FREE: 1-800-543-6650 (In the U.S.A.) 1-800-263-4650 (In Canada) Printed in U.S.A.
