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Printer 82240 colliding lines
06-23-2021, 08:53 PM
Post: #1
Printer 82240 colliding lines
Being the proud owner of a DM41, I have encountered a problem.
Printing the register(s) of the DM41 to the 82240 thermal printer, the bottom dots of a previous printed line almost collides with the top dots of the next row.

How do I enlarge the spacing between the rows?
Any settings in the printer? Any settings in the DM41 printer module?
It seems to do ok when I connect the printer to my HP19BII, leaving some space between the rows.


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06-23-2021, 09:14 PM
Post: #2
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
Please post a photo of some printed output, so folks here can look at it and compare it their own printed output. "Almost collides", "close", "nearly" and similar terms are subjective, while actual output can be directly measured/compared, etc.

But there is no interline setting/adjustment control or option, so most likely it is what it is, but best to see it before reaching any conclusions.

--Bob Prosperi
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06-25-2021, 10:19 PM
Post: #3
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
Posting a picture ... will do, but it will take some week(s) due to travel.
I’ll be back (think ”dark voice with german accent”).


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07-02-2021, 10:40 PM
Post: #4
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
The lines has zero spacing. Is this correct, or is the spacing adjustable?


Attached File(s) Thumbnail(s)
   


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07-03-2021, 12:42 AM
Post: #5
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
Spacing is not adjustable as answered above.

The lines in that sample do look closer together than normal, looks like something is up.

Things to check:

--Are you using the correct width paper (is is HP paper)? Even slightly too wide will cause trouble.

--Is there "loose" paper between the roll and the input?

--Is there anything in the paper path (dust, sand, etc.) that could be interfering with smooth paper flow?

--When you use the paper advance, does the paper move in step sizes consistent with these?

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07-03-2021, 04:28 AM (This post was last modified: 07-03-2021 04:28 AM by Hans Brueggemann.)
Post: #6
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
to identify the source of the problem (either DM41 or HP82240), do a self test on the HP82240. if it hasn't correct line spacing (one-pixel blank row in beween printed lines, iirc), then there are two main causes:

1. the more likely source of positional errors between printed lines is paper slippage, caused by friction due to build-up of paper dust in the path of the paper, too "slippery" paper, (unlikely) a too heavy paper roll, or worn out or (likely) dirty feed rollers.

2. carriage has probably too much friction. again, this is just from memory: carriage is moved to and fro by controlling the direction of the drive motor. but unlike the HP82143A, the HP82240 doesn't have any positional feedback. hence it can't compensate for position errors and is relying on the motor to be able to move freely.
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07-03-2021, 06:22 AM (This post was last modified: 07-04-2021 08:56 AM by dmh.)
Post: #7
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
What a coincidence, I was just about to start a thread on the same topic :-)

Could I get a rating on the print quality and line spacing on the attached sample from those with experience with this printer?

Just wondering if this is:

1 - terrible
2 - ok but should be better even at this age
3 - typical for this printer these days
4 - very good
5 - prints like it did when it was new

Depending on the feedback I'll see if it's worth disassembly and checking the other tips provided.

The printer is a 82240A and the test prints are from a 41CV and a 28C.

TIA, dmh

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iarpylketyepzx...t.jpg?dl=0

[Image: 82240A%20Print.jpg?dl=1]

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07-03-2021, 07:58 AM (This post was last modified: 07-03-2021 08:00 AM by Hans Brueggemann.)
Post: #8
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
can't view the picture, but from my experience with various HP82240, incoherent line spacing or vertical misalignment of columns were never an issue. also, coherence of pixel intensity was always very good w/ black-printing paper.
however, uniformity of print intensity depended heavily on paper type and on intensity setting, due to poor thermal compensation of the print-head's self-heating.
(but then again, that's an issue you can observe basically on all printers, be it HP82143, HP82162 or HP-97's internal printer).
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07-03-2021, 08:36 AM
Post: #9
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
Tips on embedding dropbox pictures:
  • replace dl=0 by dl=1 at the end of the picture url
  • scale appropriately the image, for ex. I've replace the image tag img by img=600x800

(07-03-2021 06:22 AM)dmh Wrote:  Could I get a rating on the print quality and line spacing on the attached sample from those with experience with this printer?

[Image: 82240A%20Print.jpg?dl=1]
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07-03-2021, 12:07 PM
Post: #10
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
thx, didier.
the print quality in the picture is as good as it gets on an HP82240.
the uneven darkness of the printout, for example in the label-tags, is due to poor or over-aged thermal paper.
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07-03-2021, 08:57 PM
Post: #11
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
My problem with colliding lines seems to stem from mech issues.
If I print on a piece of paper ripped off the roll, all is fine.
If the mechanism has to drag/rotate the roll as well, the feed mechanism slips a bit.

Is there any disassembly instructions here on HP-Museum?
I can’t even find any screws to open the printer!


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07-03-2021, 09:10 PM
Post: #12
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
Oooops!
Found a youtube clip describing the teardown!


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07-04-2021, 09:00 AM
Post: #13
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
(07-03-2021 12:07 PM)Hans Brueggemann Wrote:  thx, didier.
the print quality in the picture is as good as it gets on an HP82240.
the uneven darkness of the printout, for example in the label-tags, is due to poor or over-aged thermal paper.

Just to confirm you are talking about my sample (BP and HA program listings)?

What about the line spacing?

It looks like to varies from 0 pixels to 1. Is 1 what it should be? Doesn't seem like much and makes some things difficult to read.

If that's considered as good as it gets then so be it.

I assume the 82240B will be the same (except for the additional character set)?

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07-04-2021, 10:28 AM (This post was last modified: 07-04-2021 10:32 AM by toml_12953.)
Post: #14
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
(07-04-2021 09:00 AM)dmh Wrote:  
(07-03-2021 12:07 PM)Hans Brueggemann Wrote:  thx, didier.
the print quality in the picture is as good as it gets on an HP82240.
the uneven darkness of the printout, for example in the label-tags, is due to poor or over-aged thermal paper.

Just to confirm you are talking about my sample (BP and HA program listings)?

What about the line spacing?

It looks like to varies from 0 pixels to 1. Is 1 what it should be? Doesn't seem like much and makes some things difficult to read.

If that's considered as good as it gets then so be it.

I assume the 82240B will be the same (except for the additional character set)?

I have the 82240B and the print quality is excellent. It's dark and sharp. The label markers are solid black. I use new paper rolls available on eBay. If I use original HP paper, the quality varies from roll to roll since each one ages differently. Try adjusting the darkness with the control next to the on-off switch.

[Image: HP.jpg?raw=1]

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07-04-2021, 10:41 AM
Post: #15
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
(07-04-2021 10:28 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  
(07-04-2021 09:00 AM)dmh Wrote:  Just to confirm you are talking about my sample (BP and HA program listings)?

What about the line spacing?

It looks like to varies from 0 pixels to 1. Is 1 what it should be? Doesn't seem like much and makes some things difficult to read.

If that's considered as good as it gets then so be it.

I assume the 82240B will be the same (except for the additional character set)?

I have the 82240B and the print quality is excellent. It's dark and sharp. The label markers are solid black. I use new paper rolls available on eBay. If I use original HP paper, the quality varies from roll to roll since each one ages differently. Try adjusting the darkness with the control next to the on-off switch.

[Image: HP.jpg?raw=1]

Thanks, your sample looks great - both the quality and the line spacing. I did have the darkness set to max.

Do you have a brand or reference for the new paper you use?

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07-04-2021, 02:12 PM
Post: #16
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
(07-04-2021 10:41 AM)dmh Wrote:  Thanks, your sample looks great - both the quality and the line spacing. I did have the darkness set to max.

Do you have a brand or reference for the new paper you use?

I usually get it at

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DVTSSD2/

it's 85' long or about 26 meters.

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07-04-2021, 09:03 PM (This post was last modified: 07-05-2021 05:15 PM by Christoph Giesselink.)
Post: #17
RE: Printer 82240 colliding lines
(07-04-2021 09:00 AM)dmh Wrote:  I assume the 82240B will be the same (except for the additional character set)?

Thats's wrong. The 82240B comparing to the 82240A is using a slight different font. The 82240A font has a height of 7 pixel on characters without descender use, the HP82240B font a height of 6 pixel. You may have a look on the '8' character to see the difference.

My HP82240B printer simulator also can be switched from HP82240B to HP82240A, this also change the font in the graphic view. To see the complete font you may execute the printer sefttest ESC sequence on a capable calculator emulation.

Attached the output of the printer simulator. First output of the HP82240A then output of the HP82240B font.

   
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