Cognitive Solutions Label Maker LXG UG00000 User Manual

Advantage LX Desktop Label Printer

USER GUIDE

LXG-UG00000 Rev. B 11/12

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction.......................................................................................4

Welcome ......................................................................................................4

Package Contents.....................................................................................4

Operating Environment..........................................................................4

Printer Feature Overview .......................................................................5

Chapter 2: Printer Installation...........................................................................8

Setting up the Advantage LX Printer.................................................8

Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon.................................................... 10

Self-Testing:.............................................................................................. 12

Chapter 3:

Installing CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator and Print Drivers...... 13

Downloading CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator................... 13

CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator Utility................................... 14

Chapter 4: Cleaning and Maintenance....................................................... 23

Cleaning the Printer.............................................................................. 23

Cleaning Supplies.................................................................................. 23

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting & Default Settings ...................................... 24

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome

Congratulations on the purchase of a CognitiveTPG Advantage LX desktop label

printer. The Advantage LX carries on the well-known durability of the widely used

Blaster printer line.

CognitiveTPG is committed to providing a reliable product and user experience.

This user guide provides information on how to install the printer and includes all

necessary user support information.

Package Contents

The Advantage LX box will contain the following parts:

•

(1) Advantage LX Printer

(1) Quick Start Guide

(1) Auto Ranging Power Supply (24 DC output)

(1) Power Cord (Included only on LBxxx-2xx3-01x models)

(1) Spindle and Media Guide (Installed in Printer)

IMPORTANT!

ADvANTAGE LX

PRINTERS WITh

SERIAL NUMbERS

STARTING WITh“L”

hAvE bEEN UPDATED

TO USE A 24 vDC AUTO

RANGING POWER

SUPPLy (INCLUDED

WITh PRINTER).

PREvIOUS 19vAC

POWER SUPPLIES WILL

NOT WORk WITh ThE

UPDATED PRINTERS.

(Power cord included only

on LBxxx-2xx3-01x models)

Operating Environment

•

41ºF to 104ºF (5ºC to 40ºC)

20% to 85 % non-condensing R. H. (relative humidity)

Storage and Transportation Environment

•

-4.0ºF to 122ºF (-20ºC to 50ºC)

5% to 95% non-condensing R. H. (relative humidity)

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Printer Feature Overview

Front/Rear view

Front View

Rear View

Serial, Parallel, Ethernet

(4-inch Model Shown)

Component

Function

A - Power Indicator

Indicates power status

ON – printer on and ready to print

OFF- no power applied

B - Ready Indicator

Indicates printer status

GREEN – printer ready to accept data

RED – printer error, empty media roll, or paused operation

during batch mode processing

OFF- no power applied

C - Feed Button

Press to advance media

Press and hold while turning unit on to initiate self test and

print conﬁguration label

D - On/Oﬀ Switch

Turns printer power On/Oﬀ

E - Power Connector Input for auto-ranging power supply

F - Serial Port

Serial (DB9) bidirectional communications port - DTE device

(Use null modem cable)

G - Ethernet Port

10/100 Ethernet port

H - Parallel Port

Parallel (1284-B 36-Pin Centronics) unidirectional

communications port

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Advantage LX Communication Interfaces (2” and 4” Model Detail)

2”

4”

kEy

SERIAL 9-PIN

(DTE Device)

EThERNET

CENTRONICS

Parallel 1284-b

NOTE: Interfaces shown apply to Advantage LX printers with S/N’s starting with “L”

Inside view

Common Components for All Models (Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer)

(TT Printer Shown)

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Component (DT & TT Models)

A - Printhead

Function

Printing mechanism

B - Platen Roller

Friction feed printing surface

Latches for printhead mechanism

Holds and guides label roll

C - Printhead Latches

D - Media Guide & Spindle

Components for Thermal Transfer Models

Component (TT Models)

E - Ribbon Take-up Driver

F - Ribbon Take-up Mount

Function

Ribbon take-up core mount and driver

Flexible arm for ribbon take-up core mounting

G - Ribbon Supply Core Mounts Holds ribbon supply roll

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Chapter 2: Printer Installation

Setting up the Advantage LX Printer

Connecting the Interface and Power Cables

IMPORTANT! PRIOR

TO CONNECTING ANy

INTERFACE CAbLE

AND POWER CAbLE TO

PRINTER, MAkE SURE

PRINTER IS OFF.

POWER OFF

2. Connect power cable to AC adapter

1. Make sure power switch is OFF

4. Plug the power cable into an AC

outlet

3. Connect the AC adapter to the power

connector on the printer

5. Connect the interface cable to the rear of the printer. For Serial or Parallel cables, securely

fasten the interface connector screws or clips.

PARALLEL

COM/SER

NOTE: ThE ADvANTAGE

LX IS CONFIGURED TO

USE A STANDARD NULL

MODEM CROSSOvER

SERIAL CAbLE WhEN

USING ThE COM/SER

PORT TO CONNECT TO

A DTE DEvICE SUCh AS

A COMPUTER.

I O I O

Power OFF

Parallel

(Mini-Centronics)

Serial

(DB9)

EThERNET

Power OFF

Ethernet

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CAUTION!

CAUTION: DO NOT

TOUCh PRINThEAD.

ELECTROSTATIC

DISChARGE (ESD)

FROM ThE hUMAN

bODy OR OThER

ObJECTS CAN

DAMAGE PRINThEAD.

PLEASE USE STATIC-

SAFE PROCEDURES

WhEN WORkING

WITh PRINThEAD.

PRINThEAD MAy bE

hOT AFTER PRINTING.

1. Unpack and prepare outward

wound or inward wound media for

installation into printer.

NOTE: USE ONLy

COGNITIvETPG



APPROvED

MEDIA. FOR MORE

INFORMATION ON

COGNITIvETPG

APPROvED SUPPLIES,

800-732-8950 OR AT

COGNITIvETPG.COM.

2. Use paper guide and spindle to install media roll as shown.

Label roll

NOTE: PRINTER IS

ShOWN WITh MEDIA

COvER REMOvED FOR

CLARITy. ThERMAL

TRANSFER (TT)

Paper spindle

MODEL USED FOR

ILLUSTRATION.

Printhead

Paper guide

Printhead release

Drive roller

ON/OFF switch

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Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon

1. Position ribbon in front of printer

with supply core closest to printer

and text on ribbon leader facing

down. Raise dust cover.

NOTE: ThIS STEP

IS FOR ThERMAL

TRANSFER (TT)

ADvANTAGE LX

PRINTERS. USE ONLy

COGNITIvETPG

APPROvE ThERMAL

RIbbON. FOR MORE

INFORMATION ON

COGNITIvETPG

APPROvED

SUPPLIES, CALL

800.732.8950 OR

vISIT OUR WEbSITE

COGNITIvETPG.COM

2. Unlatch printhead and fully raise

the printhead mechanism.

3. Place the left side of the ribbon

supply core into the left supply

core mount.

4. Gently pull the right supply core

mount open and place the right

side of the ribbon core on the

mount.

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Loading Thermal Transfer Ribbon (Continued)

5. Gently lower the printhead but DO

NOT LATCh printhead at this time.

6. Align the notch on the left side of

the ribbon take-up core with the

left ribbon take-up driver.

7. Gently pull the right ribbon take-

up mount and insert the right side

of the ribbon take-up core.

REMINDER: ThE TEXT

ON ThE RIbbON

LEADER ShOULD bE

FACING OUT AND

vISIbLE

8. Latch both sides of the printhead

and turn the power on to take up

the slack in the ribbon leader.

hELPFUL TIP: IF

POWER IS ALREADy

ON, ThE ADvANTAGE

LX WILL TAkE UP

Click!

ANy EXCESS RIbbON

UPON LATChING ThE

PRINThEAD

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NOTE: AFTER

PRINTING A SELF-

TEST, PRINTER IS

IN hEXIDECIMAL

DUMP MODE.

Self-Testing:

CyCLE PRINTER’S

POWER TO RETURN

TO NORMAL

OPERATION.

1. Press and hold the feed button while

turning printer ON.

2. Release feed button when printing

begins and printer will conduct a self-

test and print a conﬁguration label.

OFF

3. Power OFF printer to end

hexadecimal dump mode.

4. Power ON printer for normal

operation

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Chapter 3: Installing CognitiveTPG Printer

Administrator and Print Drivers

NOTE: INSTALLING

COGNITIvETPG

PRINTER

ADMINISTRATOR

WILL ALSO LOAD

PRINT DRIvERS

FOR COGNITIvETPG

LAbEL PRINTERS.

COGNITIvETPG

PRINTER

ADMINISTRATOR

UTILITy IS vERy

USEFUL FOR

CONFIGURING,

TROUbLEShOOTING,

AND UPDATING

ThE ADvANTAGE

LXPRINTER.

The updated Advantage LX (S/N starting with“L”) is compatible with existing Advantage

LX drivers and the Cognitive Printer Conﬁguration Utility. Additionally, it can be used

with the latest utility -- CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator.

CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator is a Java based utility designed for installation on

various operating system platforms. Administrator allows complete control over the

proﬁles and settings of the Advantage LX printer.

Downloading CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator

In order to easily make printer conﬁguration changes, install the CognitiveTPG Printer

Administrator Utility. Follow the CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator installation

instructions at http://www.CognitiveTPG.com/resources_utility.aspx for the Advantage

LX printer. You can also follow this path: http://www.CognitiveTPG.com > Downloads

> Utility. This process will also install Windows driver for the printer on your computer.

Note that Ser/COM, or Ethernet connection is preferred for use with this utility. Parallel

connection provides limited functionality with Administrator Utility.

After downloading and installing CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator and driver ﬁles,

connect the printer to your computer and power it on. Use the“Add A Printer”wizard to

add the appropriate driver. For reference, driver ﬁles are downloaded to the following

location on the computer: C:\Program Files\Cognitive\Drivers.

NOTE: MAkE

SURE yOU hAvE

ADMINISTRATIvE

RIGhTS TO yOUR

COMPUTER TO

DOWNLOAD ThE

UTILITy AND

DRIvERS.

NOTE: FOR bEST

RESULTS, POWER

OFF PRINTER PRIOR

TO INSTALLING

COGNITIvETPG

PRINTER

ADMINISTRATOR

AND PRINTER

DRIvERS.

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CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator Utility

Connection Settings

Connecting Via Serial

1. Select Use Serial Connection radio dial

2. Select the Com Port to which the printer is connected

3. Select the printer’s baud Rate setting

4. Click Connect.

NOTE: FOR SERIAL

CONNECTION, ThE

ADvANTAGE LX

DEFAULT bAUD RATE IS

9600.

NOTE: WhEN

PRINTER IS PROPERLy

CONNECTED,

COGNITIvETPG

PRINTER

ADMINISTRATOR WILL

DISPLAy CONNECTED

IN A GREEN bOX IN

UPPER RIGhT CORNER.

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Serial Connection Parameters

•

Baud Rate

XON/XOFF

Buﬀer Size

Buﬀer Overﬂow

hELPFUL TIP: PRINT

A SELF TEST TO

DETERMINE PRINTER’S

CURRENT SETTINGS.

A SELF TEST CAN

bE PERFORMED by

hOLDING ThE FEED

bUTTON WhILE

Connecting Via Ethernet

1. Select the Use Network Connection radio dial

2. Input the printer’s IP Address if static IP Address is to be used, otherwise, with

DHCP enabled, your server will assign an IP Address to the printer

3. Input the printer’s RTEL port number

Ethernet Connection Parameters

•

IP Address

Net Mask

Gateway

DHCP

LPD

RTEL

TURNING PRINTER

POWER ON. CONTINUE

TO hOLD ThE FEED

bUTTON UNTIL SELF

TEST PRINTS.

RTEL Port

Ethernet Text Buﬀer

Connecting Via Parallel

1. Select the Use Parallel Connection radio dial

2. Select the Parallel (LPT) Port to which the printer is connected

3. Click Connect

Printer Settings

NOTE: USING ThE

PARALLEL PORT

Print Speed

CONNECTION WITh

ADMINISTRATOR

The Print Speed value sets the printing speed of the printer.

PROvIDES LIMITED

FUNCTIONALITy DUE

TO ThE PRINTER’S

UNI-DIRECTIONAL

COMMUNICATIONS ON

ThIS PORT. SETTINGS

CAN bE SENT vIA

•

Low = 2 inches per second

Normal = 2 inches per second

high = 3 inches per second

ADMINISTRATOR, bUT

ThEy WILL NOT FILL IN

ON SCREEN.

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No-Media Timeout

The no media timeout value represents the number of inches of media fed through the

printer without detecting an index mark prior to reporting an error.

EXAMPLE: IF NO MEDIA TIMEOUT IS SET TO 12, THE PRINTER WILL CONTINUE TO FEED

12 INCHES OF MEDIA WITHOUT DETECTING AN INDEX MARK BEFORE REPORTING AN

ERROR.

Debug Report Level

Speciﬁes the method by which the printer reports error.

values:

•

None = Turns error reporting Oﬀ.

Serial = Printer sends error report to host device via serial port.

Serial & Label = Printer sends error report via serial port and prints an error

label.

Auxiliary Power ON

Check Auxiliary Power ON to enable the 5V serial port output.

Enable Automatic Reprint

Checking the Enable Automatic Reprint box prompts the printer to reprint a label in

the event the printer detects an index mark prior to completing the requested label.

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Media Adjust

Adjusts print contrast on object leading edges for optimum print quality. Adjustment

of this parameter is not normally required; refer to Cognitive Programming Language

(CPL) Programmer’s Guide for more detail.

Pitch

The pitch represents the dots per inch (dpi) setting for the printer.

values:

100 or 200 for 200 dpi printers

Darkness

The Darkness value adjusts the print darkness.

Darkness range: -200 to 800

NOTE: THE FACTORY DEFAULT FOR DARKNESS IS 0.

Primary Language

Selects the primary command language the printer uses. The Advantage LX is defaulted

to CPL (Cognitive Programming Language). AUTO, EcPL, and ZcPL are used for other

printer models.

NOTE: THE Advantage LX DOES NOT SUPPORT TPCL COMMAND LANGUAGE

Thermal Mode

IMPORTANT! ThERMAL

TRANSFER MODE

REqUIRES ThE USE OF

A ThERMAL TRANSFER

PRINTER AND

Select direct thermal or thermal transfer based on the model of Advantage LX printer

and the type of media being used. Thermal transfer Advantage LX printers can be set to

operate in direct thermal mode.

ThERMAL TRANSFER

PRINT RIbbON. DIRECT

ThERMAL MODE

Label Positioning

REqUIRES ThE USE

OF DIRECT ThERMAL

MEDIA.

Print Width

The Print Width value adjusts the printing width of the printer for the particular media

being used.

Maximum print width is 4.1”(104 mm), media width range is 2.0 to 4.25”

(50 to 108 mm) for 4-inch Advantage LX (LBD42 and LBT42) models.

Maximum print width is 2.2”(56 mm). Media width range is 1.0”to 2.4”(25 to 61 mm) for

2-inch Advantage LX (LBD24 and LBT24) models.

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Auto Recalibration

Check and Apply Enable Auto Recalibration and the printer will automatically

attempt to recalibrate in the event an index mark is not detected.

Auto Top Of Form

Check and Apply Enable Automatic TOF and the printer will feed a label when the

printer is turned ON or the printhead is latched.

Indexing

Indexing indicates to the printer the index type of the media being used. The

Indexing On check box must be checked when using Bar, Gap, or Notch style

indexing. Uncheck the Indexing On box when using continuous media.

Label Presentation

NOTE: WhEN TIME IS

SET TO 0 FOR LAbEL

PRESENTATION, ThE

LAbEL WILL REMAIN

ADvANCED UNTIL

ThE NEXT LAbEL IS

PRINTED.

Label presentation advances media out of the printer after printing a label and then

retracts the media prior to printing the next label.

•

Advance = Distance the media advances after printing a label.

Retract = Distance the media retracts prior to printing a label.

Time = Amount of time in seconds the label remains presented prior to

retracting.

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Top of Form Adjust

Top of Form (TOF) sets the top of the label with relation to the print head. Increasing

the TOF value moves the printed text down the label. Decrease the TOF setting to

move the printed test up the label. This value is set at the factory and typically will not

need to be changed.

Shift Left

Shift left moves the printed image left across the label.

Fonts and Objects

The Fonts and Objects tab lists the Fonts, Formats and Graphics currently stored in the

printer.

Loading Fonts and Objects

NOTE: GRAPhICS MUST

bE MONOChROME

IN .bMP OR .PCX FILE

FORMAT TO bE STORED

IN PRINTER MEMORy.

FILE NAME MUST bE 8

ChARACTERS OR LESS.

1. Select the Fonts and Objects tab.

2. Click the Load Objects to Printer button.

3. Select the Font or Object to be stored and click Ok.

Deleting Fonts and Objects

1. Select the Fonts and Objects tab in CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator.

2. Highlight the Font, Object or Graphic to be deleted.

3. Click the Delete Selected Objects button.

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Profile Management

Manage the settings of the Advantage LX using the Proﬁle Management section of

CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator. Proﬁle Management displays a list of the printer’s

current variable settings.

Obtaining Printers Current Proﬁle

1. Select the Proﬁle Management tab in CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator.

2. Click the Get Printer’s Current Proﬁle button.

Saving the Current Printer’s Proﬁle

1. Select the Proﬁle Management tab in CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator.

2. Click the Get Printer’s Current Proﬁle button.

3. Click the Save Proﬁle to File button.

Applying a Saved Proﬁle to the Printer

1. Select the Proﬁle Management tab in CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator.

2. Click the Open Stored Proﬁle button.

3. Select the desired Stored Proﬁle and click Ok.

4. Click the Apply Proﬁle to Printer button.

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Firmware Upgrade

1. Select the Firmware Upgrade tab.

CAUTION! TURNING

ThE PRINTER OFF

DURING FIRMWARE

INSTALLATION COULD

DAMAGE ThE PRINTER.

NOTE: IF yOUR

COMPUTER IS

CONNECTED TO

ThE INTERNET, USE

ThE “GET LATEST

FIRMWARE FROM

COGNITIvETPG”

bUTTON. ThIS ACTION

WILL ALSO LOAD

CURRENT FONTS.

UPDATE WILL TAkE A

FEW MINUTES.

2. Click the Select Firmware File button.

3. Select the appropriate Firmware ﬁle and click Ok.

4. Click the Update Firmware button.

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Script Editor

Use the Script Editor in CognitiveTPG Printer Administrator to send programming

language code to the printer. For more information on programming CPL please

refer to the CPL Programmers guide located on the CognitiveTPG Web site www.

CognitiveTPG.com.

Sample Test Script in CPL:

! 0 100 195 1

VARIABLE WIDTH 200

TEXT 3 5 15 PRINTER TEST

END

For a simple printer test, type in the sample code shown above in the“Printer Input”

window and click“Send to Printer”button. The printer should print the phrase“Printer

Test.”

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Chapter 4: Cleaning and Maintenance

For optimal printhead performance CognitiveTPG recommends cleaning the interior

components (printhead, platen roller, media sensor, peel bar (if installed), ribbon,

and media paths) every 20,000 inches (508 m). The thermal printhead should be

cleaned every 5,000 inches if pre-printed labels are used. Proper maintenance

reduces replacement costs by extending the life of the printhead and improves the

performance of the printer.

IMPORTANT!

DISCONNECT POWER

PRIOR TO CLEANING

ThE ADvANTAGE LX.

Cleaning the Printer

Clean the exterior of the printer and the media tray using a lint-free cloth, and if

necessary, a mild detergent solution.

Cleaning the Thermal Printhead and Platen

WARNING!

INCORRECTLy

1. Open the print mechanism.

CLEANING PRINTER

WILL CAUSE

PERMANENT DAMAGE

AND vOID WARRANTy.

COGNITIvETPG

RECOMMENDS USING

A CERTIFIED CLEANING

PEN FOR CLEANING

ThERMAL PRINThEAD.

2. Gently clean the printhead (A), platen roller (B) and media path using a

CognitiveTPG approved cleaning pen, card or a soft, lint-free cloth saturated

with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Cleaning Supplies

Advantage LX Cleaning Supplies

Part #

14-00-0001

14-00-0002

Size (inches)

Items per box

Description

Cleaning card

Cleaning pen

4.5”x 6”

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Chapter 5: Troubleshooting & Default Settings

Use the chart below for troubleshooting your Advantage LX printer prior to contacting

Technical Support. If you are unable to resolve the problem using the chart below,

please contact our Technical Support.

Symptom

Red Ready Light

Possible Cause