Zebra Technologies TTP 8000 - Manual (Page 89)

89 Page Setup
Aligning Preprint and Thermal Print
10/19/2009 TTP 8000 Technical Manual P1003638-003
Aligning Preprint and Thermal Print
The printer can synchronize the cutting of the printout with black-marks printed on the back of
the paper. You use this function when you have preprint on the media and you don't want a cut
in the middle of that preprint, or text printed on top of the preprint.
The sensor used to detect the black-marks is the same sensor as used for paper end detection.
The sensor sits 45 mm behind the cutter (as seen from the presenter [output] side of the
printer). It is adjustable sideways and can be positioned 22-42 mm from the left edge of the
paper entry. The sensor accuracy is about ±0.5 mm so avoid designing printouts with too high
demands for synchronization.
Figure 20 • Recommended Black Mark Size and Position
The sensor triggers on the black-to-white transition of the black-mark, which is when the black
print ends (trailing edge).
Since the same sensor is used for both paper end and black-mark detection, the printer must
know the length of the black-mark to avoid signaling end-of-paper when it detects a black-
mark. The default setting accepts black-marks in the range 5 –10 mm, and works perfectly
with the recommended black-mark length of 5 mm. Marks shorter than 3 mm are interpreted
as dirt, and marks longer than 10 mm as out-of-paper. You can change both these values with a
printer command, or by changing the printer default settings in the flash PROM.
Black mark mode is selected by setting parameter 36 to 2, and storing the parameters.
Important • It is essential that you set up the parameters in the printer for black mark
synchronization even if you enable black marks in the Windows driver. This is because
Windows is not used at paper loading, and feeding with the Feed button on the printer.
Preprinting not recommended
within this zone
Cut line
Paper viewed from
inner side (opposite
to thermal-coating side)
SW01010
Cut line
45 mm
≥ 93 mm
45 mm
22-42 mm,
adjustable
Punched hole
5 mm ∅
Paper
feed
direction
Black mark
size 5 x 10 mm
or