Zebra QL Plus 220 Plus, 320 Plus, 420 Plus Mobile Printer Quick Start Guide

In tro du ct n io

Introduction

Thank you for choosing one of our Zebra

QL Plus Series™ Mobile Printers. These rugged printers will become productive and efficient additions to your workplace thanks to their innovative design.

Because they are made by Zebra Technologies you can be assured of world-class support for all of your bar code printers, software, and supplies.

QL Plus Series Overview

(QL 220 Plus Illustrated)

QL220 Plus

Media width:

.75 in. to 2.12 in.

(16 to 53.8 mm)

L: 7.52 in. [191.0 mm]*

W: 3.57 in. [90.7 mm]

H: 3.61 in. [91.7 mm]*

*w/ belt clip

QL 320 Plus

Media width:

1.5 in. to 3.1 in.

(38.1 to 78.4 mm

L: 8.16 in. [207.4 mm]*

W: 4.67 in.[118.7 mm]

H: 3.9 in [100.2 mm]*

*w/ belt clip

QL 420 Plus

Media width:

2 in. to 4.1 in.

(50.8 to 104.1 mm)

L: 8.20 in. [208 mm]*

W: 6.1 in.[154.9 mm]

H: 3.5 in. [89 mm]*

*w/ belt clip

QSG-QLP-001 Rev. A

This document provides an easy reference for operating and maintaining the QL Plus Series of Mobile Printers.

Complete and current documentation for each model printer is provided by the QL Plus Series User Guide available on the Internet at: www.zebra.com/manuals .

Always refer to the Important Safety Information data sheet shipped with each printer and the Technical

Bulletin shipped with each battery pack. These documents detail procedures to ensure maximum reliability and safety while using this printer.

1 Platen Roller

2. Bar Sensor

3. Media Support

4. Latch

5. Latch Release Button

6. “D” Ring

7. Control Panel

8. QuickLink™ Module

9. Printhead

10. “E-Z Peel” Label Peeler

11. Media Support Disks

12. Media Cover

13. Belt Clip

14. Kickstand (optional)

15.

16.

17.

18.

RS232 Communications Port

Battery Charging Receptacle

USB Port

Battery

© ZIH Corp 2007

1

Ge tti ng S ta rte d

Charge the Battery

Batteries are shipped uncharged. Remove protective shrink-wrap and labels from new battery packs and allow them to charge completely prior to initial use.

Do not charge the battery while using the printer!

Charge the battery pack when removed from the

Printer for best results.

Charger Jack

Install the Battery

Rotate the Belt Clip out of the way of the Battery

Battery

Pack

LI72 Single Battery

Charger

Using the LI72 Single Charger

Insert the plug from the charger cable into the battery pack’s charger jack. Plug the charger into the A.C. outlet.

The light on the front of the charger will indicate the battery pack’s charge status.

Consult the QL Plus User’s Guide available at www.zebra.com/manuals for complete information on using the various versions of the Model LI72 Single Charger.

QL 420 Battery

Rotate the Belt Clip out of the way of the Battery

QL 220/ 320 Battery

2 Load the Media

Open the Media Compartment

Ge tti ng S ta rte d

Latch flips open

Press Latch Button

Open the QL 220 & 420

Pull Media Supports apart where shown.

Open the Media Compartment

Media Roll

Note direction media pulls off the roll.

Flip Peeler Bar into position if you will be peeling labels as you print.

Load the Media Roll

(common for all models)

Close the Cover

(common for all models)

Latch flips open

Open the QL 320

Rotate Latch Levers

(both sides

Pull Media out of

Printer

Close Media

Cover

Close Latch

Assembly

3

Ge tti ng S ta rte d

Connect the Printer

Connect The Printer With a Cable

You can connect your printer to a terminal or a PC using either RS232C or USB protocols. Refer to the Label

Vista™ application available on the QL product CD or at www.zebra.com/software for help on setting up communications with your printer.

Terminal Communications

Port

RS232C or USB

Communications Cable to

Terminal

Refer to Appendix A in the QL Plus

User Guide for part numbers.

Cable Communications with a Terminal.

RS-232C or USB Communications

Cable to Computer

Refer to Appendix A in the User Guide for part numbers.

Connect the Printer by Infrared (IR) or Radio

If your QL Plus printer has the optional IR module, you can make wireless line-of-sight connections to other IR equipped devices using the standard IrDA protocol.

If your QL Plus printer has a radio option, you can connect wirelessly to either a terminal or a wireless network (WLAN.) Refer to the Mobile Printer Wireless Configuration Guide available on the product CD or at www.zebra.com/manuals for help on setting up wireless communications with your printer.

QL Plus printer with

Wireless option

Terminal with wireless communications ability

RS232

Connector

USB

Connector

Cable Communications with a P.C.

If you are using a USB cable to connect to a PC you may need to install the Zebra Universal Driver available at: www.zebra.com/drivers.

4 Printer Controls

Standard Keypad

Refer to the QL Plus User’s Guide for complete information.

Green LED

Steady Light indicates power on and/or established Radio link.

Fast Blink indicates no Radio link

Slow Blink means low battery.

Yellow LED

Steadily lit indicates printer is out of media or media cover not closed.

Fast Blink indicates Radio activity on printers equipped with a Radio.

Fast blink with beeper indicates no application is loaded.

Us in g t he

Pri nt er

Power Button

Press to turn unit on. Press again to turn unit off

Function Button

Used for special functions set by your printer’s application.

Optional LCD Keypad

Refer to the QL Plus User Guide for complete information.

Feed Button

Press to advance a blank label or a predetermined length of journal media.

Feed Button

Press to advance a blank label or a predetermined length of journal media.

Printer Status Icons

Refer to the Troubleshooting section for more information on the status icons.

Scroll Button

Press to scroll through the menu choices on the display.

Refer to the QL Plus

User Guide for more complete information.

Power Button

Press to turn unit on. Press again to turn unit off.

Select Button

Press to select a menu choice on the display.

5

Cleaning the Printers

Tear Bar

Printhead

Elements

Caution • To avoid possible personal injury or damage to the printer never insert sharp or pointed objects into the printer mechanism.

Peeler Rollers

Label Presence Sensor

Gap Sensor

Us in g t he

Pri nt er

Peeler Bar

Scraper

Linerless units only

QL220 Plus (shown)

& QL 320 Plus

Media Rollers (QL 420 Plus only)

Avoid using alcohol on linerless media roller surfaces

Bar Sensor

Platen Surface

Avoid using alcohol on linerless platen surface

Support Disks, Inner surfaces on both sides.

Linerless units only

Platen Surface

Avoid using alcohol on linerless platen surface

Bearing Points

Linerless Platens only

Peeler Bar or Scraper

Linerless units

Support Disks, Inner surfaces on both sides.

Linerless units only.

QL420 Plus

Area

Printhead

Platen Surface

Linerless Platen

Surface

Peel bar

Scraper (Linerless units only)

Tear bar

Exterior

Interior

Interior of units with Linerless

Platens

Cleaning Method

Use the supplied cleaning pen to clean the print elements from end to end (the print elements are located in the thin gray line on the printhead).

Interval

Rotate the platen roller and clean it thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

Units with linerless platens: Rotate platen & clean bearing points only. Avoid use of alcohol on the surface of linerless platens!

Clean thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed) Linerless media requires more frequent cleaning

As needed

After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed)

Clean thoroughly with the cleaning pen.

Wipe with water-dampened cloth

Brush/air blow. Ensure the Bar Sensor, Gap Sensor and

Label Present Sensor windows are free of dust.

As needed

Clean inside surfaces of Media Supports & Media

Support Disks with the supplied cleaning pen or 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.

After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed)

6

Troubleshooting

LCD Control Panel

The top of the display shows icons indicating various printer functions. Check the icon’s status and refer to the referenced Troubleshooting topic on the following pages.

Icon Status Indication

Off

Bluetooth Link established

No Bluetooth Link

Bluetooth link established

Ref. to Topic # on next page n/a

5 n/a

Off No Bluetooth link 5

Flashing

Off

Transmitting/Receiving data

802.11x RF Link established

No 802.11x RF Link n/a n/a

Flashing Low Battery 3, 5, 6,

Flashing

Head latch not closed

Indicates Printing activity

9, 11 n/a

Tr ou ble sh oo tin g

Steady Data processing in process 7

Flashing Out of Media

Blank Screen n/a

9,11

No application

QL series printers may be built with one of two LCD types. LCDs using the Bluetooth icon (highlighted by a gray background in the table above) will gradually replace LCDs with the “light bulb” icon indicating Bluetooth activity. Printers with either type of display will function identically.

Standard Control Panel

Refer below to find the state of the two LEDs on the Control Panel. Then refer to the referenced Troubleshooting topic on the following pages.

Green LED Status

Steady

Off

Fast Blink

Slow Blink

Steady

Yellow LED Status

Off

Steady

Fast Blink

Fast Blink, Beeper

Indication

Normal Operation and/or RF Link established

Power Off

No RF Link

Low Battery

Out of media, or Media Cover not closed

Normal RF activity

No application

Ref. to Topic # n/a

5, 10

3, 5, 6

8, 10

7

Tr ou ble sh oo tin g

Troubleshooting Topics

1. No power:

• Check that battery is installed properly.

• Recharge or replace battery as necessary.

2. Media does not feed:

• Be sure printhead is closed and latched.

• Check media support components for any binding.

• If unit is equipped with label presence sensor, ensure the most recently printed label is removed.

• Ensure label sensor is not blocked.

3. Poor or faded print or

• Clean printhead.

icon flashing:

• Check battery. Recharge or replace as necessary.

Always dispose of batteries properly. Refer to Appendix E of the QL Plus User Guide for more information.

• Check quality of media.

4. Partial/missing print:

• Check media alignment.

• Clean printhead.

• Ensure printhead is properly closed and latched.

5. No print:

• Replace battery.

• Check cable to terminal.

• Wireless units only: Restore wireless connection.

6. Reduced battery life:

• Check battery date code. If battery is one to two years old, short life may be due to normal aging.

• Replace battery.

7. Yellow error light or icon flashing:

• Units without a wireless option: No application loaded or application corrupted; program must be reloaded.

• Wireless units only: flashing error light or icon indicates data transmission.

8. Yellow error light always on, or flashing:

• Check that media is loaded and that printhead is closed and securely latched.

9. Skips labels:

• Ensure correct media is being used.

• Ensure bar/ or gap sensor is not blocked.

10. Communication Error:

• Check media is loaded, head is closed and error light is off.

• Replace cable to terminal.

8

Tr ou ble sh oo tin g

11. Label Jam:

• Open head release latch and media cover.

• Generously apply alcohol using either the cleaning pen supplied with the printer or an alcohol-saturated cotton swab to the area of jammed label.

Caution- Never use sharp or pointed objects when attempting to remove a label jam.

12. Blank LCD Screen:

• No application loaded or application corrupted: program must be reloaded.

9

Accessories

LI72-4 Quad Charger

1. Slide Battery Pack into a Charger bay

2. Rock Battery

Pack into place

Power Supply

Fast Ch arge

Fault

Full Cha rge

Ready

Amber

Indicator

Green

Indicator

Fast Ch arge

Fault

Full Cha rge

Ready

Fast Ch arge

Fault

Full Cha rge

Ready

Charger Bay

Fast Ch arge

Fault

Full Cha rge

Ready

Power

Power Indicator

Belt Clip (standard on all printers)

To use: hook the clip over your belt, and ensure that the clip is securely attached to the belt. The belt clip will pivot in all directions to allow you to move freely while wearing the printer.

Acce sso rie s

Clip printer to belt

The UCLI72-4 Quad Charger is designed to charge up to four QL series battery packs simultaneously.

Plug a battery pack into any one of the four charging bays as shown opposite, noting the orientation of the battery pack. Slide the battery pack into the charging bay until it stops. Then rock the battery pack back until it snaps into place. The amber indicator directly under the battery being charged will turn on if the battery is properly inserted.

The indicators under the battery will allow you to monitor the charging process per the table below:

Amber Green Battery Status

On Off Charging

Off

Flashing

Off

80% charged

(O.K. to use)

Completely

Charged

Fault

Notes: For more information refer to the instructions included with the LI72-4 Quad Charger, or to the more detailed discussion of the quad charger in the QL Plus User Guide.

The UCLI72-4 Quad Charger has a safety feature which stops charging a battery after six hours regardless of its charge state.

Printer can pivot freely

10

Adjustable Shoulder Strap

Pull Strap here to shorten

Hold Buckle

Pull Strap here to lengthen

Kick Stand

Refer to the figure below. The Kickstand option allows users to use the printer on a desktop. To use the optional Kickstand: Flip the Kickstand on the back of the printer open until it locks in place. The printer will now sit at an angle on a desktop.

Rotate Kickstand until it locks into position

Acce sso rie s

Snap in to “D” rings on printer

Refer to figure above. Snap each end of the shoulder strap into the “D” rings in the top of the printer. Hold the buckle and adjust the strap as shown until you achieve the desired length.

Desk Stand

Refer to the figure opposite. To use the Desk

Stand: Slide the printer onto the Desk Stand as shown. The printer’s belt clip will hook onto the

Desk Stand and retain it in place. Ensure that the clip is securely attached to the Stand and the media compartment of the printer is seated securely in the stand.

Holes are provided to secure the Desk

Stand to the work surface. The charger and data I/O cables may be plugged into the printer in the usual manner.

Do not charge the battery while printing.

Printer’s Media

Compartment sits in cutout

Hook Belt Clip over the Stand

11

Product Support

For product support, and the latest versions of all customer documentation, contact

Zebra Technologies at: www.zebra.com

Refer to Appendix D in the QL Plus User Guide for more detailed contact information

I n the

A merIcAs contAct

Zebra Technologies International, LLC

333 Corporate Woods Parkway

Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061-3109 USA

Phone: +1.847.793.2600 or +1.800.423. 0422

Fax: +1.847.913.8766

I n

e urope

, A frIcA

, the

Iddle

Ast

And

I ndIA contAct

Zebra Technologies Europe Limited

Zebra House

The Valley Centre, Gordon Road

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire HP13 6EQ, UK

Phone: +44.1494.472872

Fax: +44.1494.450103

I n the

A sIA

AcIfIc regIon contAct

Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific, LLC

Go to www.zebra.com/contact

Phone: +65-6858 0722

Fax: +65-6885 0838

for complete contact information.