Ref: "Ap1400ProgGuide1_2.docx" Page 4 of 42
Document Revision: “1.2”
Document Date: “9 Apr. 2013”
3. Modes of Operation
Please refer to the Installers’ Guide for an overview of the modes of operation, including idle mode
and spool mode (where applicable).
Some of the host-selectable features may be retained during power off by storage in non-volatile
memory (FLASH), but the others are lost. This is clearly shown in the individual command
descriptions below. The user must ensure that any changes to the printer’s internal parameters are
saved to non-volatile memory (FLASH), either manually or by timed auto-save.
Operational status is indicated by factory-programmable colour combinations on the front-panel LED.
These can indicate input voltage, buffer mode, paper status and so on. Refer to the User Guide for
details.
Paper Feed Button
No external power switch is fitted, so additional functions have been assigned to the paper feed
button.
A single press and release of the button:
- in idle or spooling mode, advances paper, also prints any partial line data from the buffer;
"Double-clicking" the button:
- in idle mode, prints a demo/test message including the firmware version, encoded calibration
data, and optionally the full character set and sample bar codes;
- in spooling mode, prints any stored data and enters idle mode.
Double-clicking means pressing and releasing twice in quick succession, in a similar manner to a PC
mouse.
Some functions of the paper feed button can be invoked or disabled by the host. The button is also
disabled for 0.25 seconds after each data byte is received, to prevent the user from prematurely
printing partial lines (Data from the host will generally be continuous).
Printing Method
Each printer mechanism has 384 horizontally-arranged elements, printing a single dot line across the
full width of the paper at once. The paper is advanced past the print head by a rubber platen driven
by a stepper motor. Typical print speed is 60 mm/s at an input voltage of 7 Volts, the maximum is
80mm/s at an input voltage of 8.5 Volts. Each printed dot is nominally 0.125 mm square. The paper
may only be fed through the printer in the forward direction.
It is not possible to print partial lines in isolation: if such a line remains in the buffer, it will not be
printed until flushed out by: a line terminator; some following data; a programmable timeout; or by the
user pressing the paper feed button, if enabled. Once a partial line has been flushed out, it may not
be extended. Any following data will be printed on the next line.
Character lines may be printed in single or double width, single or double height, and underlined.
These three text mode attributes may be combined at will. If single and double height characters are
mixed in a line, the bottom of the characters will be aligned.
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