TSC 342M, 244ME Label Printers Quick Installation Guide

Below you will find brief information for 342M, 244ME. This Quick Installation Guide provides comprehensive instructions for setting up your new label printer, covering all essential steps from connecting the printer to your computer and power outlet, to installing the ribbon and label rolls. It also details crucial power-on utilities like self-test and gap sensor calibration, ensuring a smooth initial operation of your device.

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Quick Installation Guide
Printer Components:
label roll guard
ribbon supply spindle
ribbon rewind spindle
ribbon
upper cover
empty paper core
printhead
label stripper
label roll mount
self-peeling rod
4. Open the printer cover and install the label roll
ribbon mechanism
i.
peel off sensor power
carriage release lever
backing paper outlet
front panel
label dispense opening
Lower the label roll guard to the horizontal position, slide the label roll into onto the (external) label roll
mount, and then flip back the label roll guard.
ii. Disengage the printer carriage by pulling the carriage release lever upwards.
iii. Install the label so that it goes (when using an external label roll mount: through the label feed slot ) in the
direction of the ↓ LABEL label and under the ribbon mechanism to lay upon the platen.
iv. To use the self-peeling function, tear off the first few labels, turn the carriage release lever backwards,
guide the backing paper over the (metal) label stripper and then downwards insert it between the platen
and the self-peeling rod.
v. Adjust the label guide to fit the width of the label.
vi. (Manually) Rotate the label roll until it is stretched tight.
vii. Engage the printer carriage.
label roll
A: Hardware Installlation:
1. Connect the printer to the computer with the provided printer cable.
2. Plug one end of the power cord into the power connector at the rear of the printer, and then plug the other
end into a properly grounded wall outlet.
3. Open the printer cover and install the ribbon
label guide
i. Place an empty paper core onto the ribbon rewind spindle. (It is to be noticed that in the absence of an
empty paper core, error may occur when the printer is in operation.)
ii. Install ribbon on the ribbon supply spindle in the direction so that the ribbon routes as described in step iv.
iii. Disengage the printer carriage by pulling the carriage release lever upwards.
iv. Following the direction of the ↓ RIBBON label, pull the transparent ribbon leader to the front from under
ribbon
carriage release lever
the ribbon mechanism. Attach the ribbon leader to the empty parper core on the ribbon rewind spindle
(with a tape)
v. Manually rotate the the ribbon rewind spindle until the ribbon overlaps the ribbon leader and stretches
tight.
vi. Engage the printer carriage.
5. Close the printer cover.
6. Switch on the printer. Press the FEED button a few times until the ON-LINE indicator illuminates, and the
printer is ready to print.
Note: When switched on, the printer will automatically detect whether ribbon is installed to judge
whether the printer is in thermal direct or thermal transfer mode. As such, to use thermal
transfer mode, be sure to install the ribbon, the label, and engage the ribbon mechanism before
you switch on the printer. To use thermal direct mode, install the label and engage the ribbon
mechanism before switching on the printer.
When the printer is out of ribbon or label, the ON-LINE LED will not come on and the ERROR
LED will flash. Reload the ribbon or media without turning off the printer. Press the FEED button
a few times until the ON-LINE LED illuminates, the printing job will be resumed without data
loss.
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B: Power-On Utilities
Self Test
Install the label first. Press the FEED button and then turn on the printer. Do not release the FEED button until
the printer feeds labels. The printer performs the following items:
1. Calibrate label pitch
2. Print out thermal print head check pattern
3. Print the internal settings
4. Enter into dump mode
Gap Sensor Calibration
This utility is used to calibrate the sensitivity of the gap sensor. Users may have to calibrate the gap sensor on
two occasions:
1. Changing to a new type of label
2. Initializing the printer
Note: The ERROR LED may flash if the gap sensor is not calibrated properly.
Please follow the steps below to calibrate the gap sensor.
1. Turn off printer power and install blank (i.e., without any logos or characters) label roll on the printer.
2. Hold down the PAUSE button while turning on printer power.
3. Release PAUSE button when the printer feeds label. Do not turn off printer until the printer stops and the
two green LEDs light on.
Printer Initialization
Printer initialization clears all downloaded files resident in flash memory, sets printer parameters to default
values.
Please follow the steps below to initialize the printer:
1. Turn off the printer power.
2. Hold down the PAUSE and FEED buttons while turning on the printer power.
3. Do not release the buttons until the three LEDs flash in turn.
Note: When printer initialization is done, please calibrate the gap sensor again.
For further information on printer operation, please refer to the user's manual in Driver CD disc.
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P/N: 39-0000096-20LF
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Key features

Quick and easy hardware installation
Supports both thermal direct and thermal transfer printing modes
Automatic ribbon and label detection upon power-on
Self-peeling function for labels
Adjustable label guide for various label widths
Gap sensor calibration utility for new label types or initialization
Printer initialization to clear memory and restore default settings
FEED button for on-line status and print job resumption

Frequently asked questions

Place an empty paper core onto the ribbon rewind spindle, install the ribbon on the ribbon supply spindle, disengage the printer carriage, pull the transparent ribbon leader under the mechanism to the front, attach it to the empty core with tape, manually rotate the ribbon rewind spindle until the ribbon is tight, and then engage the printer carriage.

Open the printer cover, lower the label roll guard, slide the label roll onto the mount, flip back the guard, disengage the printer carriage, install the label under the ribbon mechanism, and for self-peeling, guide the backing paper over the label stripper and between the platen and self-peeling rod. Adjust the label guide, manually rotate the roll until tight, and engage the carriage.

First, install the label. Then, press and hold the FEED button while turning on the printer. Do not release the FEED button until the printer feeds labels, and it will perform the self-test.

You may need to calibrate the gap sensor when changing to a new type of label or when initializing the printer. This ensures proper label detection and prevents errors.

Turn off printer power and install a blank label roll. Hold down the PAUSE button while turning on printer power. Release the PAUSE button when the printer feeds a label. Do not turn off the printer until it stops and the two green LEDs light up.

Turn off the printer power. Hold down both the PAUSE and FEED buttons while turning on the printer power. Do not release the buttons until all three LEDs flash in turn. After initialization, remember to calibrate the gap sensor again.