Follow these rules to maintain the Sigma DS4 instant issue machine:
- Ensure the printer is set upon a hard sturdy surface to ensure a clear connection between the multi-hopper and the printer.
- Avoid overheating the machine. Do not place heat generating devices near the machine.
- Avoid contact with the following:
- Organic solvents, such as alcohol, film cleaner, diazo paper, etc.
- Soft vinyl chlorides and erasers
- Cosmetics, lotions, and hair products
- Do not introduce foreign objects (for example: pens, pencils, paper clips) into the machine.
- Never use compressed air in, on, or around the machine.
- Always wash your hands and handle cards by the edges, if not wearing approved gloves.
- Keep a spare ribbon on hand, just in case.
Click here for a helpful video to familiarize you with the Multi-hopper machine and maintenance.
Diagrams
Card Printer
Front Panel
Multi-Hopper
Opening the Machine
Open the Sigma DS4 machine using Entrust with authorization from two separate users, one with override capabilities (usually a Client Experience Manager (CXM)). Machines will be opened to load card stock, remove in-machine rejects, and perform maintenance.
Note: If a user with override capabilities is not present, use the barrel key to open the machine.
To open the machine, do the following:
- If Entrust is not running, log in to Entrust.
- Click Operations > Open Card Machine.
- Select Device - DS4.
- Enter the network username and password of a an Entrust user without override capabilities.
- Click OK.
- Enter the network username and password of an Entrust user with override capabilities.
- Click OK.
- Note: The machine has a 10-second unlock delay, beginning from the time it is completely authorized. It remains unlocked for only 15 seconds.
- Open the side door and card hopper immediately.
Changing Ribbons
Entrust alerts you when the ribbon life is low and must be changed.
To load the print ribbon cassette, log in to Entrust to open the machine and do the following:
- Open the printer cover and remove the print ribbon cassette. Discard the cassette.
- Remove the print ribbon cassette from its package.
- The cassette is shipped in a closed position.
- Extend the cassette to its fully open position.
- Pull out the front of the cassette until it clicks.
- Remove the protective wrapper from the cleaning roller.
- Install the cassette in the printer and close the printer cover.
Cleaning the Machine
If the machine frequently creates quality-rejected cards, it may be time to clean the machine.
To clean the machine, log in to Entrust to open the machine and do the following:
Run the Cleaning Card
- Unlock the printer, open the printer cover, and remove the print ribbon.
- Close the cover and lock the printer.
- Pull out the multi-hopper exception slide and insert the cleaning card.
- Push in the exception slide.
- Use the LCD menu system to start the cleaning cycle:
- Once the printer cleaning maintenance is complete, the cleaning card ejects into the printer reject tray.
- The cleaning card can remain in the printer reject tray until the next time the tray is to be emptied.
- Unlock the printer, open the printer cover, and replace the print ribbon cassette.
Clean the Printhead
The printhead does not require routine cleaning, however debris can get stuck on the printhead edge and cause horizontal lines in the printed image.
Use a Cleaning Swab to clean the printhead in the following situations:
- There are unprinted lines on the finished card
- This usually indicates dirt or contaminants on the printhead.
- The printhead is touched accidentally.
- Oils from the skin can affect print quality and damage the printhead.
- A ribbon break caused part of the ribbon to stick to the printhead or printhead cover.
- The printhead has been replaced.
To clean the edge of the printhead, do the following:
- Power off the printer.
- Unlock the printer and open the printer cover.
- Open and remove a cleaning swab from its package.
- Retract the printhead protective cover using side handles. Hold in the retracted position while cleaning.
- Hold the swab vertically and scrub the printhead edge back and forth from end to end while using your thumb to apply pressure
- Scrub back and forth quickly for at least 10 seconds.
- Scrub back and forth quickly for at least 10 seconds.
- Close the printer cover.
- Press down on the ridges on the front of the cover to make sure that it latches completely on both sides.
- Power on the printer.
Loading Cards
Instant Issue card stock is required to be kept in a dual control environment (vault) except for what is loaded in the machine.
Load debit cards in the following circumstances:
- Before you issue cards for the first time
- Low stock alert (5 cards remaining)
- Empty stock alert (0 cards remaining)
- After weekly balancing, if you have fewer cards left than usual for the week, load more cards.
To load cards into the multi-hopper, do the following:
- Unlock the multi-hopper lock.
- Slide the lock bar release button
- Rotate the lock bar to the left.
- Open the cartridge door.
- Lift the card weight and pull it forward until it locks in position.
- Load cards into the cartridge.
- Be sure the magnetic strip is on the right and the chip to the back of the hopper.
- Be sure the magnetic strip is on the right and the chip to the back of the hopper.
- Close the cartridge door.
- Repeat for both consumer and business cartridge.
- Return all locks to the locked position.
Clearing the Reject Bin
The Sigma DS4 machine automatically rejects some cards, usually due to chip defects. Rejected cards are stored in the reject bin. The bin’s capacity is 5 cards.
Remember: If the reject bin is full, it must be cleared before you can issue any more debit cards.
To clear the in-machine reject bin, do the following:
- Using Entrust, open the machine.
- Open the Reject Bin.
- Remove the rejected card(s).
- Close the printer access door to lock the machine.
- In the Destruction log, record the cleared cards.
- Inventory and destruction logs have a retention period of 2 years.
- Immediately destroy the cleared cards under dual control.