SATO cx208 Software Guide
LABEL SENSING
The CX208/212 printers can use eye-mark (black bar), gap or notch label sensing.
The gap and notch sensor is a transmissive or see-thru type with an infrared light
source directed through the label/ribbon combination from above and detected by a
separate sensor underneath the label. A reflective sensor is used to detect eye-marks
printed on the bottom of the label liner or tag. The eye-mark must not reflect more
than 12% of the light. Since the same receiving sensor is used for all three types of
sensing, it must be calibrated with the media that will be used. The ribbon must be
installed while the calibration is being performed for thermal transfer printing.
When calibrating the printer sensors, the gap or eye-mark sensor type must be
selected first using the <ESC>CI command and then the Direct Thermal or Thermal
Transfer print mode must be specified with an <ESC>CP command. These two
commands are followed by an <ESC>CA calibrate command to instruct the printer to
preform the calibration procedure. The resulting calibration values are stored in the
printer and used until the unit is recalibrated. A separate value is stored for direct
thermal and thermal transfer modes because the settings will differ significantly
because of the inclusion of the ribbon for thermal transfer. For example, the following
SATO CX208/212 Printers
PN 9001092 Rev.
B
Page 8
CX208/212 Programming Guide
Note 1: The the trailing-edge of the black eye-mark can be positioned anywhere
within the 0 to +98mm range of sensor offset adjustment and the first print line
(V=000). The first print line position can be adjusted to the desired position
using the <ESC>CB Label Tear-Off command. If the pitch offset is 19 mm (the
factory setting), placing the eye-mark trailing edge at 0 mm will place the first
print position at the top edge of the label.
Label
Feed
Direction
Center
Line
Gap, Notch or Bar Width
Min: 0.125" (3.2 mm)
Max: 1.0" (25 mm)
Fixed Position
Sensor
Min Label Pitch
0.375" (9.5 mm)
See
Note 1
0.75"
(19 mm)
Print Head
(V = 000)
4.250 "(108 mm) = max label width
0.125” (3.2 mm)
Eye-Mark centered
on underneath side
of label
Min. Length = 1"
(25.4mm)