1. Slot Tech Magazine’s TechFest 15
Servicing & Troubleshooting TransAct / Ithaca brand thermal ticket printers for the gaming industry
Presenter: Russell Wigé

2. Handouts & Course Agenda TechFest 15
Don’t forget to pickup your:
TransAct’s Presentation Handout
850 Top-Of-Form Calibration Chip
Course Agenda:
Event / Company Information 0:10
General Ticket Printers 0:20
Series 700 Ticket Printer 0:15
Series 800 Ticket Printer 0:30
Epic 950 Ticket Printer 0:30
Questions & Answers 0:15
2:00

3. Technical Support Company Info
(877) Option 3
Online support
Website:
FTP Site:
User ID: tran_gaming
Password:
Product distributor
JCM American (U.S. distributor for the Epic 950)
(702)

4. Parts and Service Company Info
Parts and service by phone
(877) Option 2
Obtain a repair RMA online
JCM printer exchange program
Casino’s can participate in JCM’s quick turn, printer exchange program. Available onsite exchange when located within close proximity to one of the following JCM Depot centers.
Nevada (Las Vegas)
Nevada (Reno)
Chicago
Mississippi
New Jersey

5. Ticket Printers Company Info
Epic 950
Series 850
Series 750

6. Spare Printer Pool Common Standards
Label storage area
Manufacture & firmware version
Good printers
Insert printer test ticket in print head
Bad printers
Tag with error description
WMS N00523
IGT V00130

7. Loading Tickets Common Operation
Standard
Ticket orientation
Loading direction
Warning
m750 non-standard
Top-box clearance

8. Bezel Flash Patterns Common Operation
Ready – Waiting for cashout
Disabled – Printer disabled
Busy – Printing / Ticket not taken
Warning – Paper low / Door open
Issue – Paper out
Fault – Paper jam, etc…

9. Clearing Stacked Errors Common Practices
Some games stack multiple errors at once, the method to clear depends on platform!
IGT
Lift/drop door lever
Bally
Open/close door
Wait for count down to zero
Note: All stacked errors need to be cleared before normal game operation can continue.

10. Cashout Ticket Process Common Practices
Cashout sequence of events
Node
Backend
Printer
Game
Valid ?
Error ?
Print ticket
Printer Error
Hand-pay N Y
Pre-issued ticket number
<<< Activate ticket w/ amount <<<
Note: If game goes into hand-pay, verify if game displays a printer error!

11. Printer Swap-out Common Practices
Before swapping-out the printer, always try to print a game test ticket first!
Eliminates
Backend system
Verifies
Communications
Mechanical operation
Print quality

12. Printer Swap-out Common Practices
Don’t forget to swap other hardware & verify firmware
Ticket tray »
Printer bezel »
Verify firmware »
Ticket tray
Bezel
Firmware

13. Series 700 Ticket Printer

14. Loading Tickets Normal Operation
Pull release knob
Slide chassis out
Replenish tickets
Slide chassis in
Release knob locked

15. Loading Tickets Normal Operation
Ticket Orientation:
Insert blank side up
Motor grabs ticket
Aligns to TOF mark
Remove blank Ticket

16. Switches & Status LED Normal Operation
Status LED defined:
OFF No power
ON Normal operation
FLASH Error, Out of tickets

17. Reset Printer Normal Operation
To reset the controller board:
Press and hold “Test” button
Wait until the LED goes OFF

18. Printing Test Ticket Printer Information
Hold “Test” button
Hold “Ticket Feed” button
Release “Test” button
Release “Ticket Feed” button
Printer will print Test Ticket
Operation puts printer in Hex Dump mode
Reset printer when done

19. Reading Test Ticket Printer Information
Printed Information:
Model number
Firmware ID
Checksum
Interface settings

20. Main Assemblies Key Components
Ticket Supply Box
Main Chassis
Printer Chassis
Bezel Option
Drawer Chassis

21. Ticket Supply Box Key Components
Ticket Size Options:
Short Ticket
Standard Ticket

22. Printer Chassis Key Components
Firmware EPROM
Thermal Print Head
Ticket Present Sensor
Black Dot Sensor PCB
Main Controller PCB

23. Controller PCB Key Components
Firmware EPROM
Interconnect Cable
Black dot Sensor
Stepper Motor
Ticket Sensor
Print Head

24. Interface PCB Key Components
Interface Board
Flex Cable
Card Reader
OEM Interface

25. Printer Chassis Assy Printer Swap-Out
Pull release knob
Slide out main chassis
Pull side release button
Remove printer chassis
Unplug harness from controller board

26. Main Chassis Assy Printer Swap-Out
Pull release knob
Slide out main chassis
Release slide rail stop
Remove main chassis
Flip main chassis over
Remove cable clips
Undo flex cable at interface board

27. Transfer Firmware Printer Swap-Out
Verify Firmware
Print Test Ticket
Swap Firmware
Remove Printer Chassis
Remove EPROM on controller PCB
Replace EPROM on controller PCB
Printer’s firmware requires regulatory approvals, Use approved firmware only!

28. Series 800 Ticket Printer

29. Switches & Sensors Key Components
Paper Low
Top of Form
Ticket Taken

30. Ticket Feed Button Key Components

31. Print Head Key Components

32. Controller Board Key Components

33. Game Interfaces Key Components
SERIAL
NETPLEX

34. Outer Chassis Assembly Key Components

35. FEED & Status LED’s Normal Operation
Chart also available in Series 850 flip book
Condition
Status LED/Bezel
Unit Ready On
Head Up
Med Blink
Door Open
Paper Out
Slow Blink
Temperature Error
Fast Blink
Paper Jam
4 Blinks Pause
Ram Error
2 Blinks Pause
Checksum Error
5 Blinks Pause

36. Printing Test Ticket Printer Information
Block chassis sensor
Hold FEED button
Apply power

37. Reading Test Ticket Printer Information
Printer model
Firmware ID
Revision no.
Checksum
Interface settings

38. Printer Firmware Printer Information
AABBCC Rev DD
Description
PPxxxx Rev nn
Onetime programmable
PExxxx Rev nn
Programmable Erasable
XX85xx Rev nn
Serial Interface
XX87xx Rev nn
Series 860 Printer (RAP)
XX88xx Rev nn
Netplex Interface

39. Removing Bad Printer Printer Swap-Out
POWER DOWN
Detach ribbon cable
Slide all the way out
Remove the cover

40. Verify Firmware Printer Swap-Out
Check firmware
Swap if necessary
WARNING:
TOF auto-calibration may trigger
Pre-position ticket just in case!

41. Installing Good Printer Printer Swap-Out
POWER DOWN?
Attach ribbon cable
Power up
WARNING:
Hot connecting the ribbon cable will damage boards

42. New Cable Management Service Bulletin
Ribbon cable rigidly lost due to heat
Racking-in pinches ribbon cable
Shorts out the boards
New cable management solution!

43. Shorting Out Boards Service Bulletin
WARNING:
Hot connecting the ribbon cable damages boards
POWER DOWN
Attach ribbon cable
Power up

44. Firmware Families Service Bulletin
WARNING:
Changing firmware families will trigger the Top of Form (TOF) auto-calibration routine.
Failure to properly insert ticket correctly before first power up cycle, can lead to ticket alignment problems!

45. Not Aligning to TOF Mark Service Bulletin
Power down
Undo ribbon cable
Un-rack inner chassis
Remove cover
Remove firmware

46. Not Aligning to TOF Mark Service Bulletin
Insert new firmware Note chip orientation
Re-install cover
Rack-in inner chassis
Connect ribbon cable

47. Not Aligning to TOF Mark Service Bulletin
Un-latch top cover
Insert ticket, leading edge flush with front
Latch top cover
Apply power
Wait for BEEP
DONE!

48. Epic 950 Ticket Printer

49. TicketBurst™ Design Features
Fully prints ticket before dispensing
Internal separation by dual motors
No more customer interference issues

50. HotSwap QDT™ Design Features
Quick Disconnect Technology
Hot swappable
Power pins are longer then I/O pins.
Note: Some slot manufactures & slot managers have mandated powering down the game first!

51. Loading Tickets Normal Operation
Caution: don’t pull release lever while sliding out, the printer may become completely detached!
Slide printer out using detent in top cover
Load tickets (as mentioned earlier)
Note: printer latches when all the way out!
Pull release lever and slide printer back in

52. FEED & Status LED’s Normal Operation
Chart also available in Epic 950 flip book
Condition
Ready LED
Paper LED
Open LED
Fault LED
Unit Ready On
Off
Cover Open
Chassis Open
Blink
Ticket Out
Ticket Low
Temperature Error
Paper Jam
Ram Error
2-Blink
Checksum Error
4-Blink

53. Printing Test Ticket Printer Information
To printout a printer generated test ticket
Un-rack printer »
Open top cover »
Hold FEED button until OPEN goes out »
Close top cover »
Un-rack
Cover

54. Reading Test Ticket Printer Information
Model number
Firmware version
System CRC
Date manufactured
Serial Number
Baud Rate RS
Netplex 19200

55. Printer Firmware Printer Information
VERSION
FIRMWARE DESCRIPTION
Sxxxxx
SERIAL INTERFACE
Vxxxxx
NETPLEX INTERFACE (IGT)
Nxxxxx
NETPLEX INTERFACE (WMS)
Ixxxxx
I2C INTERFACE
Pxxxxx
DUAL PORT
Uxxxxx
USB INTERFACE
Gxxxxx
USB INTERFACE (IGT)
Dxxxxx
DEMO FIRMWARE
Fxxxxx
FACTORY FIRMWARE

56. Main Assemblies Key Components
Outer chassis »
Interface board »
Ticket Tray »
Controller board »
Inner chassis »
Print Head »
Outer chassis
Interface board
Inner chassis
Controller board
Ticket Tray
Print head Assy

57. Main Connectors Key Components
Flex Cable »
Game interface »
HotSwap QDT™ »
Bezel lamp »
ImPort »
Game Interface
Flex cable
HotSwap QDT™
Bezel lamp
ImPort Download & Configuration

58. Game Interfaces Key Components
Standard Interfaces:
USB »
Netplex »
RS232 »
Dual Port Interface
2nd port option for printing promotional coupons directly from player/slot tracking system.
USB Standard
Netplex (10-pin)
RS232 (14-pin)
Slot System
Slot Machine with
Epic 950™ Printer
Dual wire OR
Player Rating System (CRM)

59. Switches & Sensors Key Components
Chassis open sensor »
Cover open switch »
Top-of-Form sensor »
Burst sensor »
Ticket taken sensor »
Chassis Open
Cover Switch
TOF Sensor
Burst Sensor (hidden)
Ticket Taken Sensor

60. DIP Switches Key Components
Chart also available in Epic 950 flip book SW
Description 1
Switch 1 is reserved and must be in the Disabled position 2
Switch 2 configures Ticket Low 3
Switch 3 activates Demo mode 4
Switch 4 activates the Error log 5
Switch 5 activates Com Save 6
Switch 6 is reserved 7
Switch 7 activates the Smart Suite features 8
Switch 8 activates 2-color operation

61. Removing Bad Printer Printer Swap-Out
Before removing suspected bad printer, always attempt to print a game test ticket first!
Pull on ticket cover until latches catch
Pull release lever while pushing drawer in slightly then pull completely out until detached

62. Installing Good Printer Printer Swap-Out
Caution: Avoid damaging flex cable!
Align w/ outer chassis »
Pull release lever »
Rack-in printer
Load tickets
Print game test ticket
Pull lever
Align with outer chassis

63. Damaged Flex Cable Service Bulletin
Avoid snagging, lifting and pushing on flex cable »
Connector latched? »
Printer on chassis »
Support by hand »
Pull release lever
Slide in parallel
Engage connectors
Rack all the way back
Sliding connector assembly
Support printer on chassis
WARNING Don’t snag, lift or push
Support by hand when possible
Latches

64. Printer COMM Errors Service Bulletin
When re-installing printer, verify that the connectors are fully seated
Re-install printer
Rack-in all the way
Push back on printer
Note:
Connectors are fully seated when chassis is flush as shown
GOOD
BAD

65. Replacing Flex Cable Service Bulletin
Form flex cable bow »
Note bend direction »
Rear connector »
Loop over rear tab »
Loop over front tab »
Front connector »
Note: can be difficult with chassis in game
Form cable with bow to create pressure against side wall
Bends away from wall
Attach rear connector
Loop over rear tab
Loop over front tab
Attach front connector