25 Nov
2017
25 Nov
'17
3:27 p.m.
Hi folks,
I just picked up a Kodak Diconix 150 Plus portable inkjet printer. No
power supply or documentation, but it works fine. It appears to be a
variant of HP's Thinkjet (it certainly uses the same cartridges) tweaked
for portable use. Looking inside, it's full of Chinon ICs, and was
apparently made in Japan (from the baseplate).
This one needed some parts on the DC interface board resoldering, but
after that it worked fine.
Which brings me onto my question... Does anyone have any information on
this printer?
I'm mainly looking for a DIP switch table (annoyingly, it won't produce
a config print - just a test page). I'd also love to find some details
on the control codes, emulations and character sets it supports.
Also - does anyone know what the material on the printhead capping
station is, or if they're still available?
It looks like a cardboard or blotting paper pad with a plastic backing
card. This one is soaked in ink and looks like it could do with being
replaced. I assume it's to stop the cartridge from drying out?
I've put a HP 51604A (expired 2012!) cartridge in there, and it seems
happy enough.
Thanks,
--
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
25 Nov
25 Nov
10:17 p.m.
Also - does anyone know what the material on the
printhead capping
station is, or if they're still available?
It looks like a cardboard or blotting paper pad with a plastic backing
card. This one is soaked in ink and looks like it could do with being
replaced. I assume it's to stop the cartridge from drying out?
In the Thinkjet (I have several and the service manual) it doesn't
cap the printhead. It's just something for the printhead to spray
onto when it is priming it.
You got a new strip in the pack with the new print head cartridge.
-tony
26 Nov
26 Nov
4:32 a.m.
On 26/11/17 06:17, Tony Duell wrote:
No I didn't - the print head package only contained the cartridge (in a
foil bag).
There was a little piece of card attached to the cartridge sealing tape,
but that's it. Hence why I asked about the blotters :)
I wonder if the 51604A cartridges still need them.
Thanks,
--
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
Also - does
anyone know what the material on the printhead capping
station is, or if they're still available?
It looks like a cardboard or blotting paper pad with a plastic backing
card. This one is soaked in ink and looks like it could do with being
replaced. I assume it's to stop the cartridge from drying out?
In the Thinkjet (I have several and the service manual) it doesn't
cap the printhead. It's just something for the printhead to spray
onto when it is priming it.
You got a new strip in the pack with the new print head cartridge. 
5:01 a.m.
We used to provide every pharmaceutical field sales rep with a GRID Lite
laptop and Diconix printer. Very reliable printer. If I still have any
docs I will post them.
Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net
6:15 a.m.
On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 12:32 PM, Philip Pemberton
<classiccmp at philpem.me.uk> wrote:
On 26/11/17 06:17, Tony Duell wrote:
No I didn't - the print head package only contained the cartridge (in a
foil bag).
There was a little piece of card attached to the cartridge sealing tape,
but that's it. Hence why I asked about the blotters :)
I wonder if the 51604A cartridges still need them.
I can't remember the number of the cartridge I used, but it came in
a little foil tub (a bit like the ones you get jam in at hotel
breakfasts.). In the tub was the cartridge and the absorbing strip.
I don't remember any sealing tape on the cartridge either.
But since the 'squirt to prime the cartridge' is a printer function, and
since these cartrdges are totally dumb (just the heating elements, no
other electronics at all, no form of cartridge ID read out electrically) I
would assme all cartridges would need the absorbing strip.
-tony
Also -
does anyone know what the material on the printhead capping
station is, or if they're still available?
It looks like a cardboard or blotting paper pad with a plastic backing
card. This one is soaked in ink and looks like it could do with being
replaced. I assume it's to stop the cartridge from drying out?
In the Thinkjet (I have several and the service manual) it doesn't
cap the printhead. It's just something for the printhead to spray
onto when it is priming it.
You got a new strip in the pack with the new print head cartridge.
7:17 a.m.
On Sat, Nov 25, 2017 at 6:27 PM, Philip Pemberton via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
Hi folks,
I just picked up a Kodak Diconix 150 Plus portable inkjet printer. No
power supply or documentation, but it works fine. It appears to be a
variant of HP's Thinkjet (it certainly uses the same cartridges) tweaked
for portable use. Looking inside, it's full of Chinon ICs, and was
apparently made in Japan (from the baseplate).
This one needed some parts on the DC interface board resoldering, but
after that it worked fine.
Which brings me onto my question... Does anyone have any information on
this printer?
I'm mainly looking for a DIP switch table (annoyingly, it won't produce
a config print - just a test page). I'd also love to find some details
on the control codes, emulations and character sets it supports.
I checked and I have a Diconix 150 (not plus). I took photos of it should
that be of use to you. I took a picture of the switches as they are on my
unit, assuming this is the "normal operations" setting for a USA IBM
emulating printer, if that's what you're looking for. There are 9 posts, 6
is up the rest are down. Mine is a parallel printer (you can tell by the
port on the side not the dip switches)
http://vintagecomputer.net/kodak/diconix-150/
Also IF and this is a conditional IF, the 150 plus is only "plus" in some
other way other than switches here is the non-plus 150 switches' meanings:
ftp://csiph.com/incoming/jim/TSSPRT/acroread/tssfact/tfsprt/kodak/di150.pdf
(I posted a copy to my site as well)
The last three switches pertain to the country. USA is all down. 6 up
means IBM emulation.
Thanks for the tip about the HP 51604A as a replacement cartridge. Not
sure if it will work on the 150 non-plus but it's a clue.
Bill
30 Nov
30 Nov
11:33 a.m.
On 26/11/17 14:15, Tony Duell wrote:
Same with this cartridge.
I just found the blotter... stuck to one of the wheels on my chair.
It's now in the printer :)
I wonder if
the 51604A cartridges still need them.
I can't remember the number of the cartridge I used, but it came in
a little foil tub (a bit like the ones you get jam in at hotel
breakfasts.). In the tub was the cartridge and the absorbing strip. I don't remember any sealing tape on the cartridge
either.
It's a little blue strip of tape which seems to be there just to stop
the cartridge from leaking in transit.
But since the 'squirt to prime the cartridge'
is a printer function, and
since these cartrdges are totally dumb (just the heating elements, no
other electronics at all, no form of cartridge ID read out electrically) I
would assme all cartridges would need the absorbing strip.
I think I have the datasheet for the cartridge around here somewhere...
If not, I certainly have a copy of the "Inkjet Applications" book which
covered it.
One of these days I should pick up a cartridge carriage and have a play.
That said, I've got a Thinkjet cart with wires soldered on as a "who
knows if this'll work" experiment.
Thanks,
--
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
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