IBM 4610
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer peripherals |
| Predecessor | IBM Printer Model 4 |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | IBM |
| Fate | Discontinued, replaced by Toshiba 6145 series |
| Successor | Toshiba 6145 series |
| Owner | IBM (original), Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions (current) |
The IBM 4610, also known as SureMark, is a thermal receipt printer initially created by IBM and currently marketed by Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions following IBM's Retail Store Solutions acquisition. Introduced in 1996, this printer is utilized by leading retailers such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Costco, Tesco, and Best Buy. The 4610 succeeded the IBM Printer Model 4. Toshiba began gradually discontinuing the 4610 lineup in 2018 with the launch of the 6145 series, fully retiring all 4610 models by 2020.
All variants employ thermal printing technology for receipts; certain models also feature impact printers with optional MICR readers to facilitate cheque processing. These printers are closely integrated with IBM SurePOS systems operating on the 4690 OS through dedicated APIs and hardware compatibility. They generally support solenoid mechanisms to control cash drawer operations.
Model overview
IBM introduced several versions of the 4610 printer, often available in two color schemes that corresponded to their respective point-of-sale systems. Models beginning with TG- and TF- feature "iron gray" casings, while TI- and TM- versions come in "pearl white." The second generation eliminated these color distinctions.
Notable shared characteristics include:
- 256 KB flash memory supporting custom messages, logos, code pages, and journaling
- Capability to generate barcodes
- Downloadable fonts and code pages tailored to specific needs
- Proportional and scalable font options, including upside-down printing
- Firmware that can be updated
- Utilization of 85mm paper rolls (with TG6/TM6 models using 90mm rolls)
Interface options evolved from initial RS-232 and RS-485 ports to incorporate USB and Ethernet connections. Early models featured removable interface cards combining power and data transmission; later second-generation printers adopted fixed interface boards offering choices such as USB (requiring separate power), PoweredUSB, RS-232, or RS-485.
| Model | Thermal printer | Impact printer | MICR-Reader | Cheque flipper | Document scanner | Introduced | Replaced by | Other features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TI1 / TG1 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 1996 | TI3 / TG3 | Lacks Euro symbol |
| TI2 / TG2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | TI4 / TG4 | Lacks Euro symbol | |
| TI3 / TG3 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 2NR | ||
| TN3 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Three-station design with built-in paper journaling | ||
| TN4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Similar to TN3 but includes cheque processing | ||
| TI4 / TG4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |||
| TI5 / TG5 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 1999 | Designed for Chinese market with DBCS support; marginally slower speed | |
| TI8 / TG8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TI9 / TG9 | Powered cheque flipper; flexible flash memory capacity | |
| TI9 / TG9 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2CR | Complies with Check 21 regulations | |
| TF6 / TM6 | Yes | No | No | No | No | =1NR / 1NA / 1ND | Features audible alarm; wall-mountable; spill-resistant; optional external paper roll and power switch | |
| TF7 / TM7 | Yes | No | No | No | No | Chinese market variant of TF6/TM6 with DBCS support; slower printing speed | ||
| 1NR / 1NA / 1ND | Yes | No | No | No | = {{no} } | =2009= | =6145-1TN= | Second generation featuring redesigned chassis; enhanced print speed; integrated SBCS/DBCS fonts; global (1NR), US-only (1NA), UK-only (1ND) versions |
| 2NR | = {{yes} } | = {{yes} } | = {{no} } | = {{no} } | = {{no} } | =2008= | =6145-2TN= | Second generation dual-station model with improved speeds; supports SBCS/DBCS |
| 2CR | = {{yes} } | = {{yes} } | = {{yes} } | = {{yes} } | = {{no} } | =2008= | =6145-2TC= | Second generation dual-station printer without document scanning; supports SBCS/DBCS |
Models marked with a D suffix denote alternative warranty service arrangements ("Depot repair" versus "IOR 24x7") limited to the first generation.
Fiscal variants offer features such as paper journaling or RS-232 auditing ports and occasionally include integrated power supplies. Examples encompass KR3/KD3, KR5/KD5, KC4, KC5, FV5, GR3/GB3/GE3, GR5/GB5. In cases where fiscal hardware modules were not provided by IBM but required by regulations, third-party vendors supplied compatible solutions utilizing either fiscal-ready or standard models.
No three-station printers were introduced in the second generation as many regions shifted toward electronic journaling driven by fiscal compliance requirements.
Interface
Printers equipped with RS-485 interfaces receive 35V power directly through the data cable. In contrast, models utilizing RS-232 or USB connections (depending on the specific model and interface card) require an independent 24V power source. This power can be delivered either via a PoweredUSB cable linked to the point-of-sale system or through an external power adapter. It is important to note that the PoweredUSB cable provides power exclusively and does not carry data signals.
The supported interface data rates are:
- RS-232: 9600 and 19200 bit/s, with 115200 bit/s available for Tx8 and Tx9 variants
- RS-485: 185.5 kbit/s
- USB: up to 12 Mbit/s
IBM offers detailed programming and interface manuals for the 4610 printer series, facilitating seamless integration into diverse commercial environments.
Interface examples
Consider a scenario where a Linux machine connects to the printer via a USB-to-serial converter recognized as /dev/ttyUSB0. Sending a simple text print command involves writing directly to the device: <syntaxhighlight lang="console"> $ echo "Hello World" > /dev/ttyUSB0 </syntaxhighlight>
It is also possible to transmit binary instructions; for instance, this command initiates a paper cut: <syntaxhighlight lang="console"> $ echo -e -n "\x0c" > /dev/ttyUSB0 </syntaxhighlight>
Printer status
The printer replies to certain commands with status responses that include at least 8 bytes containing general status, error codes, and microcode version information. For example, if bit 8 of byte e is set, it indicates that fewer than 1k characters remain in the printer buffer, signaling the controlling system to reduce or discard further data transmission.
When responding to specific queries such as "Request printer ID," status messages incorporate command-specific details. The first two bytes specify the message length. The following Python snippet illustrates how to request and parse the printer ID to determine model type and features: <syntaxhighlight lang="python"> import serial import struct
with serial.Serial("/dev/ttyUSB0", 19200, timeout=5) as ser:
ser.write(b"\x1d\x49\x01")
message_length_data = ser.read(2)
message_length = struct.unpack(">H", message_length_data)[0]
print("Message length: {}".format(message_length))
raw_data = ser.read(message_length - 2)
if raw_data[4] & (1 << 0) != 0:
if raw_data[8] == 0x30:
print("Type: non-Tx8/Tx9 or Tx8/Tx9 in TI4 emulation mode")
elif raw_data[8] == 0x31:
print("Type: Tx8 or Tx9 model")
device_id_map = {
0x00: "Models TI1 and TI2 (impact DI/thermal CR)",
0x01: "Models TI3, TI4, TI8, TI9, TG3, TG4 (high speed; impact DI/thermal CR)",
0x02: "Models TI3, TI4, TG3, TG4 with 2MB option",
0x03: "Models TF6 and TM6 (512K; thermal CR)",
0x04: "Models TI3, TI4, TG3, TG4 with 8MB option",
0x05: "Models TF6 and TM6 with 8MB option",
0x06: "Reserved (0x06)",
0x07: "Models TF6 and TM6 with 2MB option"
}
print("Device ID:", device_id_map.get(raw_data[9], "Unknown"))
# Bytes 11 and 12 convey features such as MICR-reader availability, check flipper function, emulation modes, or dual-color capability.
print("Printer microcode level: {:02X}".format(raw_data[12]))
</syntaxhighlight> For a TF6 unit, sample output might be: Message length: 15 Type: non-Tx8/Tx9 or Tx8/Tx9 in TI4 emulation mode Device ID: Models TF6 and TM6 (512K; thermal CR) Printer microcode level: 44