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Printer Bridge

Admin

The Printer Bridge is a small utility that runs on a Windows PC and bridges USB-connected printers to the network. Brother POS sends print jobs over the network, and the Printer Bridge translates them into USB commands for your printer. This is only needed if your printers connect via USB rather than Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Hardware Settings

When You Need the Printer Bridge​

You need the Printer Bridge if:

  • Your receipt printer connects to your computer via USB (not Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
  • Your label printer connects via USB.
  • You want to use a USB printer with a cloud-hosted Brother POS instance.

You do not need the Printer Bridge if:

  • Your printers connect via Ethernet or Wi-Fi directly to the network.
  • Your printers support Star CloudPRNT (which uses HTTP polling).

How It Works​

Brother POS  ──(network)──>  Windows PC  ──(USB)──>  Printer
  (cloud)                  (Printer Bridge)        (USB receipt/label)

When Brother POS sends a print job to the Windows PC's IP address, the Printer Bridge receives it and forwards it to the appropriate USB printer. The Printer Bridge uses the Windows default printer unless a specific printer name is configured in the script.

System Requirements​

  • Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • Python: Python must be installed on the Windows computer
  • USB Ports: One per printer (one for receipt, one for label)
  • Network: The Windows PC must be on the same network as the POS device
  • Always On: The PC must remain powered on and the Printer Bridge must be running for printing to work
Dedicated PC

The Printer Bridge should run on a PC that is always on during business hours. A mini-PC or an inexpensive Windows laptop dedicated to this task is ideal. Do not rely on an employee's workstation that may be shut down or restarted.

Installation​

Step 1: Install Python​

The Printer Bridge is a Python script. Download and install Python from python.org if it is not already installed on the Windows computer.

Step 2: Get the Printer Bridge Script​

Download the Printer Bridge script from your Brother POS admin panel or request it from Brother POS support.

Step 3: Connect Your Printers​

  1. Connect your USB receipt printer to the Windows PC.
  2. Connect your USB label printer (if you have one) to a second USB port.
  3. Ensure the printers are powered on and detected by Windows (check Device Manager).

Configuration​

Identifying Your Printers​

The Printer Bridge uses the Windows default printer unless a specific printer name is configured in the script. To verify your printers are recognized:

  1. Open Device Manager on the Windows PC.
  2. Expand Printers or USB Devices.
  3. Confirm that your receipt and label printers are listed.

Running the Printer Bridge​

  1. Open a command prompt or terminal on the Windows PC.
  2. Navigate to the directory containing the Printer Bridge script.
  3. Run the script with Python (e.g., python printer_bridge.py).
  4. The Printer Bridge will begin listening for print jobs on the configured ports.
  5. You should see log output confirming the Printer Bridge is running and the printers are detected.
Auto-Start on Boot

To have the Printer Bridge start automatically when the PC boots:

  1. Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter.
  2. Create a shortcut to the Printer Bridge script in the startup folder, or create a batch file that runs the Python script.
  3. Alternatively, use Windows Task Scheduler to run the script at login.

Configuring Brother POS​

Once the Printer Bridge is running:

  1. Log in to the Admin Panel.
  2. Navigate to the Printers page.
  3. Add or edit a printer.
  4. Set the IP Address to the Windows PC's IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.150).
  5. The port settings will be configured automatically. If prompted, use the default values provided by the Printer Bridge.
  6. Click Save.
  7. Click Test Print to verify the connection.

Verifying the Connection​

Test Receipt Print​

  1. In the admin panel, go to the Printers page.
  2. Click Test Print next to your receipt printer.
  3. The print job travels: Brother POS -> Network -> Printer Bridge -> USB -> Receipt Printer.
  4. A test receipt should print within a few seconds.

Test Label Print​

  1. In the admin panel, go to the Printers page.
  2. Click Test Print next to your label printer.
  3. A test label should print.

If either test fails, check the Printer Bridge window for error messages.

Monitoring the Printer Bridge​

The Printer Bridge logs all activity to its application window and to a log file.

Log entries include:

  • Connection events -- When a print job arrives.
  • Print status -- Whether the job was sent to the USB printer successfully.
  • Errors -- USB disconnections, communication failures, or other issues.

Review the log if you experience intermittent printing issues.

Troubleshooting​

Printer Bridge Does Not Start​

ProblemSolution
Script fails to runVerify Python is installed and accessible from the command line.
"USB device not found"Reconnect the USB cable. Check Device Manager.
  1. Check the network -- Verify the Windows PC is reachable from the POS device. Ping the PC's IP address.
  2. Check the firewall -- Windows Firewall may be blocking incoming connections on the ports used by the Printer Bridge. Add a firewall exception (see below).
  3. Check the Printer Bridge -- Is the Printer Bridge script still running? It may have crashed or been closed.

Adding Firewall Exceptions​

  1. Open Windows Defender Firewall.
  2. Click Advanced Settings.
  3. Click Inbound Rules > New Rule.
  4. Select Port, click Next.
  5. Enter the ports used by the Printer Bridge (shown in the Printer Bridge window when it starts).
  6. Select Allow the connection.
  7. Apply to all profiles (Domain, Private, Public).
  8. Name the rule "Brother POS Printer Bridge" and save.

USB Printer Disconnects​

If the USB printer disconnects intermittently:

  1. Try a different USB cable.
  2. Try a different USB port on the PC.
  3. Avoid using a USB hub -- connect directly to the PC.
  4. Check that the printer's power supply is stable.
Do Not Close the Printer Bridge

If the Printer Bridge script is closed, printing will stop. The Printer Bridge must be running at all times during business hours. Consider using the auto-start method described above to ensure it launches when the PC boots.

Common Questions​

Can the Printer Bridge run on macOS or Linux? The Printer Bridge is currently designed for Windows only. Contact support if you need to use USB printers from a non-Windows computer.

Can one PC bridge multiple receipt printers? The Printer Bridge supports one receipt printer and one label printer per installation. For multiple receipt printers, contact support for guidance on your setup.

Does the Printer Bridge work over VPN? Technically yes, as long as the POS device can reach the Windows PC's IP address over the VPN. However, network latency may cause slow printing.

What's Next?​