AP 5.

4 RFID-Kit
Installation Manual

Contents
GENERAL NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Explanation of symbols in this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Layout of safety notes in the text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supplemental Information about RFID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4
4
5
5

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Protect against injuries that can result from electrical current . . . . 6
Protect against injuries that can result from mechanical actions . . 6

PREPARING THE ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Unpacking the RFID-kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preassembling the board unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Preassembling the antenna unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

MOUNTING THE RFID-KIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Mounting the board unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Mounting the antenna unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

SETTING UP THE PRINTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Updating the printer firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parameter setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Function test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Read test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19
19
19
19

General Notes
This installation manual should enable any person with
the abilities and knowledge on the level of a technician, to
successfully install the RFID kit into an AP 5.4 printer.
System requirements
Hardware

UHF-RFID kit (part no. X1445 for EU or X1450 for US)

AP 5.4 printer (all serial numbers)

Software

Printer firmware version: 2.50 or higher

Reader firmware version:
EU: 2.05 B or higher
US: 2.17 M or higher
Explanation of symbols in this manual
Sentences that are introduced by the arrow shown below
contain action instructions; sequence not stipulated:
Carry out the action in the described manner.
Sentences that are introduced by a number contain procedural instructions; they have to be carried out one after
another:
1. Switch off the printer.
2. Open the hood.
3. Remove the label stock.
Sentences that are introduced by the arrow shown below
contain special notes regarding an action; pay attention
to it!

The file name has to comply with the MS-DOS

formatting conventions.
Gray text which is depicted as shown below, indicates a
parameter name, including the path to it (separated by
>-signs. The parameter menu is entered by pressing
the Esc button, when the printer is in offline mode.
Menu name > Submenu name > Parameter name

Layout of safety notes in the text

WARNING!
A warning notice indicates risks which could result in
death or serious injury of the personnel!
The notice contains safety instructions on how to safeguard possibly affected personnel. The instructions
must be followed.
CAUTION!
A caution notice indicates risks which, if unheeded,
could lead to material damage or bodily injury (minor
injuries).
The notice contains instructions on how to prevent
damage or injury. The instructions must be followed.
Supplemental Information about RFID
How to RFID

For more detailed information about RFID - what it is and

how it works - refer to the How to RFID manual, which
is delivered with the printer. This manual also contains a
description of the RFID-specific Easy-Plug commands

RFID Quickstart
Guide

A manual providing the basic essentials to guide the

reader to some first encouraging results in RFID reading/
writing.

Safety instructions
WARNING!
Improper usage of the machine can lead to accidents,
material damage and loss of production!

Only operate this machine in accordance with information contained in this manual.

Do not put the machine into operation without the

required safety equipment in place.

Only make adjustments to the machine in accordance

with this manual and with all due care.
Protect against injuries that can result from
electrical current
WARNING!
The machine is connected with the mains supply!
Contact with energised components can result in lifeendangering currents through the body as well as
burns.

Only put the machine into operation when installed in a

correctly installed housing.

The housing may only be opened by trained personnel

when the machine is de-energised.
Pull out the mains power connection plug from the
socket before cleaning and maintenance.
Protect against injuries that can result from
mechanical actions
WARNING! - Risk of injury due to moving or rapidly
rotating parts!

Keep a distance from running machines. Wear snug-fitting clothing and, if necessary, hair nets.

Switch off the machine before performing mechanical

adjustment tasks.
Do not wear ties, loose garments, jewellery, watches or
similar articles on the body when in the machine
vicinity.
6

Preparing the assembly

Unpacking the RFID-kit
Mounting Plate
Antenna
holder

Power supply
cable

Mounting
Bracket
I/O board

RFID Reader
Antenna

Data cable
Antenna cable
[1]

Flat ribbon
cable

Parts, which are contained in the RFID-kit.

Preassembling the board unit

1. Plug the flat ribbon cable [2A] into the RFID reader [2B]
as pictured.

A
B

[2]

Flat ribbon cable (A) and RFID reader (B) assembled.

2. Remove the screws [3A] from the positions [3B] at the

bottom side of the RFID reader.
3. Screw the RFID reader to the mounting plate, using the
tapped holes [3C].

A
B

[3]

RFID reader (left) and mounting plate (right), both viewed

from the bottom side.

4. Screw in the four M3x12 hex spacers [4A] as well as the

single M3x50 hex spacer [4B] as illustrated.

A
B
[4]

Mounting the spacers.

5. Screw the mounting bracket [5A] to the plate as

illustrated.

[5]

Mounting the bracket (A).

6. Screw the board onto the hex spacers on the mounting

plate as illustrated [6].

[6]

The board unit completely preassembled.

10

Preassembling the antenna unit

1. Connect the antenna cable [7C] to the antenna [7A] as
pictured in [8].

B
C

[7]

Components of the antenna unit: antenna (A), antenna

holder (B) and antenna cable (C).

2. Assemble antenna holder and antenna as pictured. Use

Loctite 406 glue to fix the assembly at the indicated
position [8, arrow].
Antenna and antenna holder must flush at the right
end [8, arrow].

[8]

Complete antenna unit assembly.

11

3. Attach two stripes [9A] of double-side self-adhesive

ribbon to the antenna holder.

[9]

Prepare the antenna holder with stripes of double-side

self-adhesive ribbon (A).

12

Mounting the RFID-kit

Mounting the board unit
Required tool

Torx 20 screwdriver.
1. Remove the rear hood of the printer.
2. Remove the cables from the upper cable holders [10A]
and insert them into the holders [10B] underneath.

B
[10] The cables moved to the new position (B).

3. Remove the output stage board (to gain better access

for the following operations).
Leave the cables connected to the board.

[11] Position of the ouput stage board (A). Screws to

remove (B).

13

4. Remove the two screws [11B].

5. Insert the reader module [12C] so, that the mounting
bracket [12B] is placed behind the cables.
6. Gently force the upper right edge into the pictured
position [13, circle].
7. Fix the bracket with two screws M4x12 [12A].

B
C
A

[12] Fixing screws (A) at the reader module (C).

[13] Position of the upper right edge of the reader module

(circle).

14

8. Connect the flat ribbon cable [14B] to the RFID reader

[14A] and to the I/O-board [14C].
Place the cable behind the edge of the board as
illustrated.

A
B

[14] Connecting the flat ribbon cable (B).

9. Remove the voltage supply cable [14D] from the output

stage board and plug in the orange plug [15A] of the
power supply cable [15C], which came with the kit.
10. Connect the white connector of the power supply cable
to the connector you removed in step 9.

[15] Connecting the power supply cable (C).

15

11. Connect the red connector [15B] to the I/O-board as

illustrated.

A
D

[16] Connecting the data cable (B).

12. Connect the data cable [16B] to the CPU board [16A]
(CN904) and to the I/O-board [16C].
13. Fix the cable with cable straps at the points [16D].

[17] Fixing the cables.

14. Gather the cables and fix them with two cable straps
[17A].

16

Mounting the antenna unit

1. Thread the antenna cable from the printhead side
through the opening in the printer wall.
Use the same opening, where the printhead cable
passes through.

The cable should come out on the opposite side close

beneath the I/O-board [18, arrow].

[18] Where the antenna cable should come out (arrow).

2. Pull the backing paper off from the self-adhesive stripes

and attach the antenna unit to the position illustrated in
[19].

[19] Antenna position in the AP 5.4.

17

3. Connect the antenna cable [20A] to the RFID reader

[20, circle].

[20] Connecting the antenna cable (circle).

4. Lay the antenna cable into a loop and fix it, using two
cable holders [21A].

[21] Fixing the antenna cable.

5. Reassemble the rear hood of the printer.

18

Setting up the printer

Updating the printer firmware
The printer firmware must be of version 2.50 or higher.
Load a new firmware version to the printer, if necessary.
P The current firmware version is contained on the RFID
help CD, which comes with the RFID-kit.
Parameter setting
Set parameter INTERF. PARAM. > OPTIONS > RFID option to
Serial Com3.
P For further information about RFID specific parameters,
refer to the manual RFID quickstart guide, which comes
with the RFID-kit.
Function test
Call parameter RFID parameter > FW Version.
If the firmware version of the RFID-reader is displayed,
the communication between printer and RFID-reader
works.
FW Version
FW Ver 2.05 B

Display for the EU version

of the reader firmware.

Read test
1. Set the transponder type (parameter RFID parameter >
Tag type).
2. Hold a RFID-tag with its transponder close to the
antenna in the printer.
3. Call parameter RFID parameter > Read EPC.
If the reading was successful, the EPC will be displayed.
P A detailed description of this and other functions is contained in the manual RFID quickstart guide, which
comes with the RFID-kit.

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Avery Dennison Deutschland GmbH

Ohmstrae 3
D-85386 Eching
Germany

Telephone: + 49-8165-925-0
FAX: +49-(0)8165-3143
http://www.machines.averydennison.com

Document properties
Part number: A7407
Revision: 00
Release date: 8/05