USB-A Host Capabilities
Using Universal Serial Bus communication, the C-Series printer is capable of using, or hosting, a wide variety of devices. These devices are connected to the printer using the USB-A port indicated in the figure below.
USB-A
- USB HID Class Communications
One example of a USB device which the printer can use is a keyboard or keypad. With a special program or script loaded into the printer and a keyboard or keypad connected directly to the USB port, you can control the printer without the need for a computer. This is most useful for mobile applications where you can’t have a computer next to the printer.
- USB to Memory Stick Communications
Another example is the common USB flash drive. A USB drive is a portable memory device which can be used to store anything that computers normally store in memory or on disk. When a USB drive is plugged into the printer, the printer sees it as a memory store and looks through it to see if there’s anything it can use. If you’ve put printer configuration files in the proper place on the USB drive, the printer will find them and reconfigure itself. This includes loading new fonts, settings parameters (such as print speed, darkness, etc.) and upgrading the printer’s firmware (i.e., the software which controls the printer and resides inside the printer).
A number of USB devices can be connected to the printer at the same time using a USB hub such as the one in the picture below. Here you can see two devices connected to the front of the hub. The wire running out from the back of the hub is connected to the printer. This effectively causes a connection from both devices to the printer at the same time.
