Brother P-Touch 1280TH User Manual
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USER'S GUIDE
USER'S GUIDE
www.brother.com
INTRODUCTION
With your PT-1280, you can create labels for any application. Select
from the many frames, character sizes and styles to design beautiful
custom labels. In addition, the variety of tape cartridges available
allows you to print labels with different widths and exciting colours.
Read this manual carefully before starting and keep the manual in a
handy place for future reference.
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes
that do not have the
mark.
• Do not clean the machine with alcohol or other organic solvents.
Only use a soft, dry cloth.
• Do not touch the print head mechanism. Use a soft wipe (e.g. a
cotton swab) when cleaning the print head.
• To avoid injuries, do not touch the edge of the cutter.
• To prevent damage or breakage of the glass, do not press hard on
the LCD display.
• Do not put any foreign objects into or heavy objects on the
machine.
• Do not leave any rubber or vinyl on the machine for an extended
period of time, otherwise the machine may be stained.
• Do not get the machine wet, such as by touching with wet hands
or spilling beverages on to the machine.
• Do not expose the machine to extremely high temperatures or high
humidity. Never leave it on the dashboard or in the back of your
car, near heaters or other hot appliances. Keep it out of both direct
sunlight and rain.
• Avoid using the machine in extremely dusty places.
• Do not pull on the tape being fed from the P-touch, otherwise
the tape cassette may be damaged.
• Do not attempt to cut the tape while printing or feeding since this
will damage the tape.
• Do not try to print labels using an empty tape cassette set in the
P-touch. Doing so will damage the print head.
• Remove the batteries and disconnect the AC adapter if you do not
intend to use the machine for an extended period of time.
(Note: When power is disconnected for more than three minutes, all
text shown in the display and any text files stored in the memory will
be lost.)
• Do not use old and new batteries together or mix alkaline batteries
with other type batteries, or set the positive and negative end in the
wrong position. Otherwise the batteries may have leakage or
fracture.
• Use only the suggested AC adapter for this machine to prevent
any damage or failure.
1
1
MAKING TEXT
Switching the character for entry
[English/Thai]
English
Thai
Switching Upper Case/Lower Case
Upper case (
ON)
Lower case (
OFF)
Making Two Line Text
Move the cursor to where the second line starts and press
Use either 9 mm or 12 mm wide tape for two line texts.
Display
Label image
Entering Symbols
>
Group
Symbols
Group
Symbols
1
7
2
8
3
9
4
10
5
11
6
• To go to the next group, press
.
• To cancel operations, press
.
To Clear
(
+
Entries will be deleted backwards.
All text will be cleared.
>
>
[
Clear
]
[
Text Only
]
All text and settings will be cleared.
>
>
[
]
[
]
Clear
Text & Format
1
1
PREPARATION
Power Supply & Tape Cassettes
Make sure that the power is turned off when replacing batteries or tape cassette.
Open the back cover by pressing in the rough area at the top end of the
Thai
machine.
If a tape cassette is already
Printed in China
installed, remove it by pulling it
LW1380001
A
straight up. Also, if batteries are
already installed, remove them.
Insert six new AAA-size alkaline batteries (LR03), making sure that their
poles point in the correct directions. Always replace all six batteries at the
same time using brand new ones.
Insert a tape cassette, making sure that it snaps into place.
End of tape
Toothed Wheel
Tape guide
• Make sure that the end of the tape feeds under the tape guides.
• If the ink ribbon is loose, use your finger to wind the toothed wheel in the
direction of the arrow on the cassette.
• Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine.
Securely close the back cover, making sure that it snaps into place.
After you have installed the tape,
feed the tape (see Feeding)
once and then push in the tape
cutter lever to cut the tape.
When using optional AC adapter (model G1)
Insert the plug on the adapter cord into
the adapter jack on the top end of the
machine.
Insert the plug into the nearest standard
electrical outlet.
For memory back up, when the AC adapter
is unplugged, please use AAA-size alkaline
batteries (LR03).
2
2
DESIGNING LABELS
Setting [Size]
>
>
[
]
[
Size
Large
[Large]
[Medium]
Automatically adjusts the Large, Medium and Small text size according to the
tape width.
Setting [Width]
>
>
× 2
[
Width
]
[
×
[Normal]
[
2]
Setting [Style]
(Vertical)
>
>
[
]
[
Style
Vertical
[Normal]
[Bold]
[Shadow]
[Italic]
.
[Italic Outl](Italic Outline) [Italic Shadow]
Setting [Underline/Frame]
>
[
Underline/Frame
]
[Off]
[Underline]
[Round]
[Callout]
[Banner]
[Wooden]
Frames will not be printed on 3.5mm tape.
Setting [Tab]
You can make aligned texts by setting tabs.
Example: To set a tab between "ABC" and "D"
The cursor should be positioned where you set a tab.
>
>
Display
Label image
/
+
)
Setting [Tab Length]
(Auto / 0 - 100mm)
>
>
[
]
Tab Length
• You can also select the length by entering the length with Num keys.
• To return to [Auto], press
.
Setting [Label Length]
>
>
[
Label Length
]
• You can also select the length by entering the length with Num keys.
• To return to [Auto], press
.
Setting [Auto Format]
You can choose label length from six formats to create labels for various ap-
plications.
>
>
[
]
Auto Format
Application
Length
VHS Spine
140 mm
CD Case Spine
MiniDV Spine
42 mm
File Tab
Audio Tape
89 mm
Divider Tab
2
2
OPERATION
Keyboard & LCD
Size
Cursor
Caps
Print head
Tape cutter lever
Power key
Function key
Memory keys
(Favorite Label Memory)
Character keys
Shift key
Caps key
3
3
REFERENCE
Troubleshooting
Error message
Cutter's edge
Message
Battery Weak!
Check Battery!
Invalid!
Tape exit slot
No Text!
Line Limit!
No Cassette!
Cutter Error!
Full!
Text Too Long!
No Frame OK?
No Vertical OK?
3
3
PRINTING LABELS
Text Preview
(
+
)
You can preview the text before printing.
]
[Small]
• The LCD shows the whole text and the label length (mm), then returns to the original text.
• Only the text can be previewed, but not the font, style, size, underline/frame or any
additional features.
Feeding
(Tape Feed)
(
+
)
+
]
Printing
×
[
1/2]
(
+
)
• To cut off the label, push in the tape cutter lever on the upper-right corner of the machine.
• To prevent damage to the tape, do not try to cut while the message "Print" or "Feed"
]
is displayed.
Setting [Margin]
[Outline]
>
[Margin]
[Italic Bold]
[Full]/[Half]/[Narrow] is for leaving equal margins on both sides of the text.
NOTE: Cut along the printed dots (:) with scissors so the text is centered in the label.
[Vertical] English only
Full
ABC
25mm
25mm
(
+
)
[Chain Print] is for printing more than 1 copy of a label with minimum margin
>
<e.g. 1>. You can also create a label containing texts in various styles; print
[
Underline
]
a text in one style, and before feeding, enter the second text in another style
[Candy]
<e.g. 2>.
FEED THE TAPE BEFORE USING THE CUTTER (see Feeding/Printing).
Otherwise A PART OF THE TEXT MAY BE CUT OFF. Do not try to pull the
tape since this may damage the tape cassette.
Chain Print
<e.g. 1>
(
+
)
ABC
ABC
ABC
Using [Print Options]
[
]
Tab
[Copies]
You can print up to 9 copies of each label.
>
[
Print Options
ABC
D
Tab
(
+
)
You can also select the number of copies by entering with Num keys.
[Numbering]
You can print many copies of the same text while increasing a selected
number by 1 after each label is printed.
Example: To print copies of a label containing a serial number (0123, 0124 and 0125)
(Auto / 30 - 300mm)
(
+
)
[
Numbering
You can also print Thai numbers the same as above by entering Thai numbers.
(
+
)
Select the highest number you wish to be printed when setting the number.
[Mirror]
>
[
Print Options
[VHS Spine]
Application
Length
113 mm
Use clear tape in [Mirror], so the labels could be read correctly from the op-
82 mm
posite side when attached on glass, windows or other transparent surfaces.
42 mm
What to do when...
The display stays
Width
blank after you have
Style
turned on the
machine.
The machine does
not print, or the
Underline/Frame
printed characters
Label Length
are blurred.
The printed
characters are not
formed properly.
The memory has
Print key
cleared on its own.
Cursor key
Preview key
A blank horizontal
OK key
line appears through
ESC key
the printed label.
Backspace key
Enter key
Thai/Eng key
The machine has
Symbol key
"locked up" (i.e.,
Shift key
nothing happens
Space key
when a key is
pressed, even though
the machine is on).
Specifications
Dimensions
Weight
Power supply
Cause/Remedy
Tape cassette
The batteries are weak.
The installed batteries are about to run out.
Accessories
• There is no text above the cursor when you set
Numbering.
• Invalid character is selected for Numbering.
• Invalid number is selected for Tab Length or Label
Length.
• You try to print a text file when there is no data stored
Tape Cassettes
in the memory.
• The Print key is pressed when no text is entered.
AC adapter
• You try to set Copies, Numbering or Mirror when no
Cutter unit
text is entered.
• You try to enter a 3rd line by pressing Enter key.
If the cutter blade becomes blunt after repetitive use and the tape cannot be
• You try to print a 2 line text when 3.5 mm or 6 mm
cut cleanly, replace with new cutter unit (stock no. TC-5) by obtaining from an
tape is installed.
authorized brother dealer.
You try to print a label when there is no cassette
installed.
Contact Information
Tape Cutter lever is used in the middle of printing
process.
Contact may differ by country. See the Web site. (http://www.P-touch.com/)
The maximum number of characters (80 characters)
have already been entered.
The text length exceeds the selected label length or the
selected Auto Format setting length.
Printing on 3.5 mm tape with invalid Frame setting ON.
(Select
to print with no Frame,
to cancel.)
Vertical printing is impossible if entry was made in Thai
characters.
(Select
to print no Vertical,
to cancel.)
4
4
Peel the printed label from the backing and apply the label.
Favourite Label Memory
You can save frequently used texts in the memory and print directly or open
to edit if needed. You can save one text into each key (
(Tape Margin)
3 texts).
(
+
)
To Save:
>
[Full]
To Print:
Half
Narrow
:
ABC
:
ABC
To Open:
12mm
12mm
4mm
4mm
When the saved text contains more than 8 characters, use
text.
Function Shortcuts
In addition to the basic steps to search for a function, PT-1280 provides you
with function shortcuts so you can easily jump to a frequently used function
<e.g. 2>
just by pressing
ABC
ABC
firm, press
DEF
(feed & cut)
(feed & cut)
Key
(
+
/
+
)
>
>
]
[
]
Copies
>
>
>
[
Print Options
]
>
]
>
>
]
[
]
Mirror
[Mirror Print?]
[GETTING STARTED]
Problem
Solution
• Check that the batteries are correctly inserted.
• If the batteries are weak, replace them.
• Check that the suggested adapter is correctly
connected.
• Check that the tape cassette has been inserted
correctly.
• If the tape cassette is empty, replace it.
• The batteries may be weak. Replace them.
• The batteries may be weak. Replace them.
• There may be some dust on the print head. Remove
the tape cassette and use a dry cotton swab to gently
wipe the print head with an up-and-down motion.
• The print head can be cleaned more easily if the
optional print head cleaning cassette (TZ-CL3) is used.
• Turn off the machine, and then while holding down
and
, press
to turn the machine back on.
Finally, release
and
.
• Note: The text and formats in the display and all text
files stored in the memory are erased.
Item
Specification
160 mm (W) × 151 mm (D) × 60 mm (H)
470 g (without batteries and tape cassette)
Six AAA-size alkaline batteries (LR03) or optional AC
adapter (model G1)
Brother TZ tape (width) :
3.5 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm
(Supplies may differ by distribution.)
Accessories
Stock No.
See the attached TZ Tape Catalogue.
model G1
TC-5 (replacement)
[CREATING LABELS]
COMPLETED LABELS
USEFUL FUNCTIONS
~
) (Maximum:
>
>
>
>
to scroll the
(
+
and the shortcut key shown in the table below. To con-
.
Function
Key
Function
[Size]
[Label Length]
[Width]
[Auto Format]
[Style]
[Margin]
[Underline/Frame]
[Print Options]
[Tab]
[Clear]
[Tab Length]
)