Frequently Asked Printer Issues

SECTION 1 Introduction

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to describe the frequently raised printer issues and steps to resolve them.

Scope

This document will be referenced during the following phases of the application development life cycle.

Ø Maintenance

Ø Training

Target Audience

This document is intended for all personnel who are involved in printing process. They are:

Ø Support

Ø Field Engineer

Ø User

Abbreviation

Ø RFID-Radio Frequency Identification

SECTION 2 Frequently Raised RFID Printer Issues

1.1 Paper out error from the printer

Ø Check the tag roll is available in the printer.

Ø Check the tag roll is installed properly

· Media is in the correct slot going through the media path

· Either black mark or web sensing is on the red light sensor.

· The light sensor should be on the left wall.

Ø Check the Tag guider is moved to hold the media in place.

Ø Check any tag is stuck in the printer.

Ø Reconfigure the printer through zebra setup utilities.

1.2 Sending command to the printer but no action from the printer

Ø Check any task is pending on printer.

Ø Check whether you selected the proper printer.

Ø Check from zebra utility if the firmware is showing on dashboard.

Ø Disconnect the USB cable from machine and printer and re-connect.

Ø Connect the USB cable with another port of the computer.

Ø Make sure the USB cable is working.

Ø Re install printer driver.

1.3 Ribbon Out Error

Ø Check the ribbon is available in the printer.

Ø Ribbon is installed between the screws on the front plate.

Ø Check the ribbon is properly installed, the red light is on the left wall.

Ø Installing ribbon in dispensing roll should be pushed to left wall.

Ø Reconfigure the printer through zebra setup utilities.

1.4  Error Cleared Ribbon Out/Paper Out

Ø Press the pause button from printer

1.5 Printer throwing More VOID Tags

Ø Check any tag is stuck in the printer.

Ø Check the printer configurations from zebra setup utilities.

Ø Reconfigure the printer using zebra setup utilities.

Ø Run RFID calibration to reconfigure the printer for RFID, if still void occur then configure using zebra setup utilities.

Ø Select antenna position b1, b2, b3.

                                                                                    

Ø Check if tag spacing is consistent, if variation remove few tags from roll and try again to print.

Ø Perform hard reset

Ø Upgrade firmware to latest version.

Ø Downgrade firmware if upgraded firmware didn’t work.

1.6 The printer is not printing the tags on proper locations

Ø Check media roll placement is too tight or to loose.

Ø Check the tag roll is properly installed.

Ø Reconfigure the printer using zebra setup utilities.

Ø Adjust printing positions using set tag positions if issue is not resolved.

Ø If left or right position is wrong then do set tag positioning.

Ø If entire label needs to be moved up or down then do label top.

1.7 Printer only encoding the tag and Printing not happening

Issue: When command sent for printing and encoding, the printer only encoding the tag and Printing not happening

Ø Check the Tag locations are proper in the ZPL file and data is sent for printing

Ø Check the darkness is proper

Ø Verify whether ribbon is original and correct model number is installed

Ø Reconfigure the printer using zebra setup utilities

1.8 Printer only printing the tag and encoding not happening

Issue: When command sent for printing and encoding, the printer only printing the tag and encoding not happening

Ø Check if tag is stuck on platen roll

Ø Check if tag is stuck on any other parts

Ø Decrease/ increase RFID read write power

Ø Check on printer screen if RFID options are available

Ø Check with software if data is missing in ZPL file

1.9 Printer is stopping on the black line dot

Ø Printer is stopping on the black line dot (i.e. chip side half tag

Ø Move from mark sensing to web sensing.

Ø Open and close head, if head is not closed properly.

Ø Check tag measurement in zebra utility configuration.

Ø Try to restart the printer.

Ø Check if printer firmware is latest, and upgrade or downgrade firmware whichever is necessary.

1.10 Printing of Less Tags than actual command sent and no error shown

Ø Tags are finished in printer

Ø Check if tags are in stuck in printer while printing

Ø Ribbon is finished

Ø Glue build in printer (photos of areas)

Ø Check if ZPL file is correct

Ø Reconfigure the printer using zebra setup utilities

1.11 Printing on 1^st tag and Encoding the next tag

Ø Reconfigure the printer using zebra setup utilities,

Ø Verify tag measurements and measure actual tag

Ø Glue build up – clean

1.12 Repetition in printing of Tags

Ø Check printer log on pending tasks

Ø Clear printer

Ø Do hard reset

1.13 Printer is skipping full blank tag and the actual data printing on the next tag

            Ø Reconfigure the printer using zebra setup utilities.

Ø Check measurements are correct, measure tag.

1.14 The data on tag not clear low darkness

Ø Check the darkness is proper, if not increase the darkness.

Ø Change ribbon and check.

Ø Clean head.

1.15 The data on tag is not clear with too darkness, the bar code cannot be scanned

Ø Check darkness in zebra setup utilities, if it is too high then decrease the darkness

Ø If the existing ribbon is on end, Change the ribbon, reconfigure the printer and print

1.16 Head Open

Ø Open printer head and close properly then press pause button to make printer ready.

Ø Check for physical damage around printer. If the printer has fallen, head will not close.

1.17  Void tags coming after few tags

Ø Encoding is not correct after printing few tags and set tag position is getting change

Ø Check the tag roll

1.18 Glue Build Up

Ø Reduce darkness from zebra setup utilities

Ø Reduce pressure level on head

1.19 Prints one tag and skips two tag and then print on next tag

Issue: In R110Xi4 printer, it prints one tag and skips two tag and then print on next tag. While feed label instead of feeding one label it feeds three labels.

Ø This issue is due to Sensor position. The tag is Mark sensing. Since printer is not sensing tags properly change the sensing from Mark sensing to web sensing.

Ø Change the position of the sensor by moving it 1 to 2 cm right side.

1.20 Glue was bleeding from tags and stick to ribbon while printing

 Issue:Printer not used for many days and the AC is turned off. Due to which glue was bleeding from tags and stick to ribbon while printing. The ribbon also got torn off due to this.

Ø Remove first twenty tags and then try printing.

Ø Do not keep the printer in a hot place and keep the AC on.

Ø Print at least 4-5 tags per day to avoid this kind of issue.

1.21 In R110Xi4 Printer,Ribbon is cutting while printing

It is not necessary to calibration is user is very careful in installing the media. If the spindle is pulled on during installation of media or ribbon the calibration has to be done again.

Printer switches Off/On does not need calibration

Should you rewind tags after calibration – yes this is no issue.

1.23 Other Printer doesn’t want any calibration/setting, Why this printer has to do Label calibration?

An RFID printer senses the RFID tag while printing. It is sensitive to the response from the chip. If it finds a weak response or multiple responses from multiple tags it will throw voids. To ensure proper printing and encoding calibration is required.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.24 Can I do normal printing from RFID Printer?

Why do you want to do normal printing? What do you want to print. Yes you can print but this will require re calibration when printing/encoding RFID labels.

1.25 How can we reduce Printer noise?

Close the printer cover while printing. The RFID printer is slightly louder than regular printer as it holds and releases the tag to encode which makes noise

1.26 What is the meaning of Damage tag? How is it damaged?

When printing the printer has verified the tag is encoded and responding. Which means the tag was working when printed. The tag is damaged during operational use. The only way to damage a tag is to break one for the 6 legs attached from chip to inlay. This is usually done by pressing a ring over centre black chip of the tag. Or if the tag is bent exactly in the cetnre and pressed hard enough to break the connection

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Best Practice of Tagging>> Section 1.3

1.27 Printer showing Paper out message, what is that meaning and how can I fix this.

We have to check if the red light sensor is under the media. Followed with calibration.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.28 Printer showing Ribbon out message, What is that meaning and how can I fix this.

We have to check if the red light sensor is under the media. Followed with calibration.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.29 I selected one item for printing but nothing coming out from printer. What is the reason and how can I fix this.

We have to check as it could be for the following reasons: if you are using a usbcable , it might be loose.

1.30 I am facing lot of void tags issue, what is the reason and how can I fix this.

This happens if the RFID printer cannot sense the rfid tag. Usually either a tag is stuck inside or label calibration is required. We need to do label and rfid calibration to correct this.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.31 Tag is printing very light, what should I do?

Can you share any changes that were done to the printer recently? Have you changed the ribbon? Have you reset the printer or changed any settings.

If nothing is changed then we can increase the printer darkness or increase the printer head pressure.

1.32 Lot of blank tag is coming out from printer, what is the reason and how can I fix this.

This is not normal function of printer. We need to switch of printer in between to stop this. We can restart printer and do a label calibration with correct height and width of the tag

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.33 How can I measure Height & Width of tag

Use a ruler to measure this. You can do it cm on inches.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.34 I given 2 tags for printing, One printed fine but after that two blank tags came out and then second tag printed, why it’s happening and how can we fix it.

This sounds like a calibration issue. Can we calibrate with the correct height and width measurements.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2

1.35 While printing tags, tag is stuck with ribbon due to which tag is not printing properly. Can you please help us?

This means the tag is bleeding glue. Either 2 reasons can cause glue bleeding from tag. The tag was pressed under the printer head for very long. This happens is printer was not used for some time and the tag was under the head. Second reason is the temperature around the tag is over 25degrees.it is common for glue to leak if temperature rises which will start getting stuck in printer while printing. To avoid store tag roles and printer in a cool environment.

1.36 How can I connect Printer?

Do you have the physical printer available, we need to follow zebra manual from knowledge base.

1.37 How can I increase darkness in printer

Why would you like to increase darkness .Was it printing dark and now it is printing light. To increase darkness we can either increase head pressure or increase darkness from settings.

1.38 How do we know correct location for sensor

Depends on either mark or web sensing. Can you tell me which tag you have so I can suggest which one to do.

Please visit Knowledge Base>> Tagit Printer Calibration & Troubleshooting>> Section 2