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Width Adjuster Unit

A Width Adjuster Unit (WAU) is available, which can be connected between the shaft encoder and the printer to intercept the shaft encoder signal. The WAU enables the printed length of a message to be more finely adjusted to suit the application than would be possible with the printer’s Pitch setting alone. Alternative values for print pitch are generated by the WAU to provide precise positioning of the code within a restricted space on a product.

Refer to the Width Adjuster Unit User Guide for details of how to set up and use the unit.

3.9.4 Alarm Output

The alarm internal switching signal can be used to operate either a 24 volts external alarm, or a mains-powered external alarm via a volt-free contact (VFC) relay.

The printer is shipped in the 24 volts alarm operation configuration, but the mains-powered external alarm capability is available as an option.

24 Volts External Alarm

CAUTION: Printer Electrical Damage. Do not connect the ALARM OUTPUT connector of the

printer to the mains electrical supply or any other power source. Damage to the printer can

occur if this caution is ignored.

The output circuit for the 24 volts external alarm is protected by a 200 mA, self-resetting thermal fuse, designated F3 on the IPM PCB. The alarm output is routed from connector PL10 on the IPM PCB to the Alarm PCB, which is fitted to the back of the ALARM OUTPUT connector. The output of the Alarm PCB is routed to the ALARM OUTPUT connector on the rear panel of the printer.

24 V QUADRATURE

SHAFT ENCODER

6900 PRINTER

24VF

5VF

470R

LK12

0VF

3

1

9

2

69090

QSE INPUT

SK1/SK2

3

2

1

IC11B

NOTE:

Connections and

LK12 shown for a

24 V Shaft EncoderANODE

OUTPUT

CATHODE

4

3

6

4 x 910R

Figure 3-68. 24 V Quadrature Shaft Encoder Connections

Figure 3-69. 24 Volts External Alarm Pin Connections

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Mains (VFC) External Alarm

For a mains-powered external alarm, the alarm switching signal is used to operate a

volt-free contact (VFC) relay (RLA1) on the IPM PCB.

WARNING: LETHAL VOLTAGE HAZARD. DANGEROUS VOLTAGE EXISTS IN THE PRINTER

WHEN IT IS DISCONNECTED FROM ITS MAINS ELECTRICAL SUPPLY, BUT A

MAINS-OPERATED EXTERNAL ALARM IS CONNECTED TO THE PRINTER. THERE CAN BE

MAINS VOLTAGE ON THE PCB ATTACHED TO THE ALARM CONNECTOR AND ON THE IPM

PCB IN THE AREA OF THE EXTERNAL ALARM RELAY.

WHEN THE PRINTER COVER IS REMOVED, DO NOT TOUCH THE ALARM CONNECTOR PCB,

OR THE IPM PCB IN THE AREA OF THE EXTERNAL ALARM RELAY.

THERE IS A DANGER OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK IF THIS SAFETY

WARNING IS IGNORED.

The alarm relay is protected by a 1 A, sand-filled, ceramic, slow-blow fuse (F2). The output is routed from connector PL11 on the IPM PCB to the Alarm PCB, which is fitted to the back of the ALARM OUTPUT connector. The output of the Alarm PCB is routed to the ALARM OUTPUT connector on the rear panel of the printer.

Either ‘normally open’ (NO) or ‘normally closed’ (NC) VFC relay contact operation is available at the ALARM OUTPUT connector. The external alarm equipment connected to this output should have its wiring connected in accordance with the following table.

VFC Relay Operation (Events Only)

In the following description of the VFC relay contact operation, it is accepted that all failure and warning events are set to ‘Pulsed’ on the Alarm Setup page.

Normally Closed (NC)

Before electrical power is applied to the printer, the NC relay contact is closed. When electrical power is applied to the printer, the NC relay contact state is determined by whether or not any failures or warnings are present. If no failures or warnings are detected, the alarm relay is not energized and therefore the NC relay contact remains closed. When any failures or warnings are detected, the alarm relay is energized and the NC relay contact opens. Note that with ‘Pulsed’ applied to all failure and warning events, the relay contact is activated twice for warnings, and remains open continuously for failures.

Normally Open (NO)

Before electrical power is applied to the printer, the NO relay contact is open. When electrical power is applied to the printer, the NO relay contact state is determined by whether or not any failures or warnings are present. If no failures or warnings are detected, the alarm relay is not energized and therefore the NO relay contact remains open. When any failures or warnings are detected, the alarm relay is energized and the NO relay contact closes. Note that with ‘Pulsed’ applied to all failure and warning events, the relay contact is activated twice for warnings, and remains closed continuously for failures.

Figure 3-70. Mains External Alarm (Volt-Free) Pin Connections

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VFC Relay Operation (Printing Only)

In the following description of the VFC relay contact operation, it is accepted that the ‘Printing’ event is set to ‘Constant’ on the Alarm Setup page.

Normally Closed (NC)

Before electrical power is applied to the printer, the NC relay contact is closed. When electrical power is applied to the printer, the alarm relay is not energized and therefore the NC relay contact remains closed. When the printer enters the ‘Printing’ state, the alarm relay is energized and the NC relay contact opens. Note that with ‘Constant’ applied to the ‘Printing’ event, the relay contact remains open continuously while the printer is in the ‘Printing’ state.

Normally Open (NO)

Before electrical power is applied to the printer, the NO relay contact is open. When electrical power is applied to the printer, the alarm relay is not energized and therefore the NO relay contact remains open. When the printer enters the ‘Printing’ state, the alarm relay is energized and the NO relay contact closes. Note that with ‘Constant’ applied to the ‘Printing’ event, the relay contact remains closed continuously while the printer is in the ‘Printing’ state.

3.9.5 Dual Alarm

The Dual Alarm upgrade for the 7300 printer allows both the Mains (VFC) External Alarm accessory and the standard 24 Volts External Alarm to be used. A replacement rear panel plate is supplied in the upgrade kit, which has two holes that allow the connectors of the two different alarms to be fitted.

A configuration code is required to enable the second alarm in the software. When enabled, Alarm 2 is available on the Alarm page (Print Monitor > Line Setup > Alarm).

The software detects the presence of the additional VFC Alarm accessory and controls the two alarm outputs. When an alarm condition is detected by the printer, the alarm software selects which output is triggered.

The following examples are a common arrangement:

The 24 volts external alarm is activated when there is a System Warning, for example, “Ink Low”, “Solvent Low”, or Printhead Cover Off”.

The VFC external alarm is activated when there is a Print Failure, for example, “Time of Flight Failure”, “Phase Failure”, or “Internal Spillage”.

Refer to the section ‘Maintenance Instructions’ in Chapter 5: ‘Maintenance’ for fitting instructions.

3.9.6 Multi-Stage Alarm

The 7300 printer can be fitted with an optional Multi-Stage Alarm accessory. To operate, this accessory also requires the Parallel I/O Interface Upgrade accessory to be installed. Up to four outputs are provided that are used to control multi-stage alarm beacons.

The purpose of a Multi-Stage Alarm is to provide more information on the printer status to operators who are at a distance from the printer. An example of a Multi-Stage Alarm is a three-stage alarm with three different coloured beacons. These beacons are configured as follows:

Green beacon for ‘printing’.

Amber beacon for ink or solvent low warnings.

Red beacon for ‘not printing’.

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The operator can configure the printer conditions that illuminate each beacon.

Two types of Multi-Stage Alarm accessory are available to replace the standard 24 V external alarm output or the VFC Alarm Conversion:

A 24 V Multi-Stage Alarm type.

A VFC Multi-Stage Alarm type.

For more information on alarms, see the section ‘Alarm Output’ earlier in this chapter.

Refer to the section ‘Maintenance Instructions’ in Chapter 5: ‘Maintenance’ for fitting instructions.

3.9.7 Serial Interface

The 7300 printer has a serial interface known as the Remote Communications Interface (RCI). This facility provides a method to control all the functions of the printer from a remote device, for example a PC or PLC, through the serial port. The printer is a ‘slave’ that receives commands from a remote host, and returns status information and data as requested.

The protocol used is defined by Linx and is described in detail in the Linx Remote Communications Interface Reference Manual.

The printer uses the RS232 interface as the standard, which gives point to point communications. The serial interface output can also be configured for RS422.

The selection of either RS232 or RS422 is determined by the positions of links LK22, LK24 and LK46. For RS232 communications, link LK22 must be fitted in position A (between pins 1 and 2). Also, all nine links of LK24 (RS232) must be fitted, and all nine links of LK46 (RS422) must not be fitted.

For RS422 communications, link LK22 must be fitted in position B (between pins 3 and 4). Also, all nine links of LK46 (RS422) must be fitted, and all nine links of LK24 (RS232) must not be fitted.

Cable Connections

Connection for the RS232 and RS422 interfaces is by the RS232 INTERFACE connector on the rear panel of the printer, which is a 9-way, D-type connector with numeric pin-out designations. Pin connections for the RS232 and RS422 interface cables are shown in the following two illustrations.

68047 PRINTER"RS232 INTERFACE"

COMPUTER

1

2

3

4

5

7

6

8

9

RxD

TxD

Gnd

RxD

TxD

Gnd

1 not connected

2

3

4 not connected

5

6 not connected

7 not connected

8 not connected

9 not connected

NOTE: The D-type connectors are to be marked either 'COMPUTER' or 'PRINTER' to ensure correct fitting orientation of the cable assembly.

Figure 3-71. RS232 Interface Cable Pin Connections