Zebra ZXP Series 3 Service Manual

3: Theory of Operation
Card Movement During Printing
P1061317-002 Zebra ZXP Series 3 Card Printer Service Manual 83
Step 4. If the Printer includes an optional Smart Card Encoder, either contact-style or
contactless, the card is moved to the Encoder; and the smart card is encoded. As
the card is encoded, it is checked (external verification) to ensure that it was
encoded properly.
If encoding fails, the card is ejected into the Card Hopper. This is done to avoid
wasting time and ribbon panels on a defective card.
If the encoding is successful, the card is moved into the pre-print position, just
before the Printhead.
Step 5. The card is printed.
Dye-Sublimation Printing
The leading edge of the card is moved under the Printhead (over the Platen Roller),
and the Printhead is lowered. Lowering the Printhead reduces the space between
the Printhead, the ribbon, and the card, which produces sharper images.
The last time the Lid was opened and closed, the ribbon was automatically
synchronized, bringing the leading edge of the yellow ribbon panel (for a YMCKO
or YMCKOK ribbon) under the Print Head.
As the card and ribbon move along, each element of the Printhead receives a pulse
of variable width; a wider pulse results in a hotter element which melts a larger
amount of yellow dye onto that particular spot on the card.
After this yellow pass is completed, the Printhead is raised, the card is moved back,
and printing continues with the Magenta ribbon panel, then the Cyan panel, then
the Black panel if present, then an Overlay panel.
Thermal-Transfer Printing
If using a monochrome ribbon (used when printing a bar code on a card), the card
makes a single pass under the Printhead. The Printhead elements are energized to
either on or off. The on level actually transfers the spot of resin under the Printhead
element to the card. This results in the sharpest possible images; for bar codes you
want the sharpest edges and highest contrast between dark and un-printed areas.
Step 6. For dual-sided printing, the card is now moved back to the Card Flipper where the
card is turned over (rotated into the 180 position).
The card is moved into the Print Engine, passing the Cleaning Roller; this cleans
dust or dirt particles from the “back” of the card.
The card is printed (same as Step 5).
Step 7. When printing is completed, the card is moved to the Card Exit, where it falls into
the Hopper.

Zebra ZXP Series 3 Specifications

General

Color	No
Card size	54 x 86 mm
Card types	Magnetic stripe (ISO 7811), PVC, PVC Composite, Smart card
Card feeder	Yes
Print technology	Dye-sublimation
Maximum resolution	300 DPI
Print speed (color)	180 card/h
Print speed (monochrome)	750 card/h
Printing media thickness	762 µm
Duplex print speed (color)	140 card/h
Display	LCD
Certification	FCC, CE, UL, CUL
Product color	Grey, White
Internal memory	32 MB
Built-in barcodes	EAN13, EAN8, Interleaved 2/5, PDF417, UPC-A
Total input capacity	100 sheets
Display number of characters	16
Compatible operating systems	Windows
Storage temperature (T-T)	-5 - 70 °C
Operating temperature (T-T)	15 - 30 °C
Storage relative humidity (H-H)	20 - 70 %
Operating relative humidity (H-H)	20 - 65 %
AC input voltage	100 - 240 V
AC input frequency	50 - 60 Hz
Interface	USB
Optional connectivity	Ethernet, USB 2.0

Weight and Dimensions

Weight	5530 g
Dimensions (WxDxH)	201 x 368 x 309 mm