Specifications

P4T/RP4T User Guide
6
P4T Overview
Manual
Introduction
Printer Preparation
Connecting the
Printer
Radio Regulatory
Information
RP4T Printers
Maintenance Troubleshooting Specifications Appendices Index
P4T User Guide
6
Printer Preparation
Connecting the
Printer
Radio Regulatory
Information
RP4T Printers
Maintenance Troubleshooting Specifications Appendices Index
P4T Overview
Manual
Introduction
TheP4TSeriesintroducesseveralnewtechnologiestotheZebra
Mobile Printer product line.
Smart Battery
TheP4TSeriesbatterypackcontainselectronicswhichallowthe
printer to monitor its operating parameters. Among these are the
battery’s charge state, the number of charge cycles it has under-
gone, and its date of manufacture. Using these parameters, the
P4TSeries’softwarecanmonitorthebattery’sconditionandalert
the user when to recharge, re-condition or remove the battery from
service.
 Useofanybatterypackotherthantheonemanufacturedby
ZebraspecicallyforusewithP4TSeriesprinterswillnot
beabletousethediagnosticfeaturesoftheZebraSmart
Batteryandwillnotworkwiththeprinter.
Printing Technology
TheP4TSeriesusestwomethodstoprinthumanreadibletext,
graphicsandbarcodes:DirectThermal,andThermalTransfer
DirectThermal
Directthermalprintingusesheattocauseachemicalreactionon
speciallytreatedmedia.Thisreactioncreatesadarkmarkwher-
ever a heated element on the printhead comes in contact with the
media. Since the printing elements are arranged very densely at
203d.p.i.(dotsperinch)or8dotspermm,highlylegiblecharacters
and graphic elements may be created a row at a time as the media
is advanced past the printhead. This technology has the advantage
of simplicity, as there is no requirement for consumable supplies
suchasinkortoner.However,sincethemediaissensitivetoheat,
it will gradually loose legibility over long periods of time, especially
if exposed to environments with relatively high temperatures.
ThermalTransfer
Thermal transfer printing uses the same basic technology as direct
thermal, except that the printhead elements react with a transfer
film which passes between the printhead and the media. The print-
ing process fuses the thermal transfer material to the media being
printed and creates characters and graphic images that are very
dark,andmorepermanentthanthosecreatedbydirectthermal
printing. Offsetting this advantage is the extra cost of the thermal
transfer film and printing speeds slower than those required for
direct thermal printing.
Foreaseofinstallation,P4TSeriesthermaltransferlmissupplied
as a cartridge. Typically a thermal transfer film cartridge will be
able to print two rolls of media before needing replacement. This
ratiomayvaryconsiderablybasedontheamountoflabelstock
per roll.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
AP4TSeriesprinterequippedwithanRFIDencoderallowsitto
encode information on special label media using radio frequen-
cies in addition to using conventional thermal transfer technology.
These printers are identified as RP4Tprinters.
RFIDencodedinformationcanberetrievedusinganRFIDscanner
from a distance of inches to several yards from an encoded label.
Zebra’s implementationofRFIDfollowsacceptedindustry stan-
dards.Asanexample,theRP4Tveriestheinformationencoded
on the label media after it is transmitted and voids the label if the
dataisincorrect.MoreinformationconcerningRFIDmaybefound
in Zebra’s
RFIDProgrammingManual, available for download on
Zebra’s Web site.
P4T Series Technology