Star Printer Chassis Upgrade

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Building on its successful TUP500 kiosk printer series, Star Micronics has developed the TUP500DP chassis upgrade, which end-users can either install themselves with training or have a Star reseller install on request.
 
The TUP500DP is a direct response to requests for a more compact TUP500 series that still provides the reliability and flexibility of an open frame printer designed specifically for the kiosk market. The TUP500DP takes up to 25% less space than the TUP500, yet can still accommodate a 10cm diameter paper roll. Key features of this series include a print speed up to 220mm per second alongside a 45 - 82.5mm adjustable paper width and a 203 dpi print resolution on media up to 0.15mm in thickness.
 
In terms of customer firmware and software tools, Star has developed a number of solutions which include remote firmware update capability (all its latest thermal printers can be sent remote upgrades); auto recovery after power loss which ensures that the printer resumes operation regardless at what point power is lost; and actual print verification status, so that accurate status reports verify when or whether a ticket has been printed. While this may seem a simple tool it is a particularly valuable facility for a wide range of kiosk applications and is not always provided by other kiosk printer manufacturers.
 
With relationships developed with industry leaders such as Microsoft and Apple, as well as the UPOS committee, Star drivers support industry standards from Windows 7 to Linux or POS.NET. Star is also prepared to share certain source code samples for those kiosk builders who prefer to communicate directly with the printer’s port, thus providing flexibility at all levels.
 
Recognising the importance of the end-user experience, Star has developed a range of easy to install paper exit guides with flashing LEDs. Initially designed for the TUP500 series, Star has taken the technology and developed similar guides for its TSP700II packaged printer. The paper exit guides provide a low cost, yet extremely effective, means of enhancing paper delivery within a kiosk. Users can be guided to take the printed output and, via the bezel’s internal sensor, it is also possible to determine exactly when and whether the ticket or receipt has been taken and then return the result as part of the printer’s normal status response. This increases security for kiosk installations that require such a solution.