Apple Portable Stylewriter Service Manual

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Portable StyleWriter

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Basics

Portable StyleWriter

Basics Introduction - 1

Introduction

The Portable StyleWriter is
a bubble jet ink-on-demand
portable printer that works
with any PowerBook,
PowerBook Duo, or
Macintosh computer with
system software 7.0.1 or
later.

The Portable StyleWriter
prints up to 1.5 pages per
minute at a resolution of
360 dpi in best mode.

Basics Introduction - 2

Features

The Portable StyleWriter offers

• 39 scalable fonts

• Operation in horizontal or vertical positions, allowing it
to be used in confined spaces

• Versatile printing on envelopes, labels, transparencies,
letterhead, or plain paper

• Optional automatic sheet feeder that holds up to 50 sheets

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Specifications

Portable StyleWriter

Specifications Characteristics - 1

Characteristics

Print Methods

Throughput

Print Head

Print Head Life

Input Buffer

Bubble jet ink-on-demand

360 dots per inch (dpi) for text and graphics (best mode)

1 by 64 nozzles

Approximately 500 pages (normal mode)

10K

Specifications Graphics - 2

Graphics

Resolution

360 dpi (best mode)

Specifications Paper Handling - 3

Paper Handling

Paper

Envelopes

Size: LTR, LGL, A4, B5
Weight: 17–24 lb.
Capacity: 50 sheets (A4, LTR) (with optional sheet feeder)
Commercial number 10 size only (4.1 in. by 9.5 in.)

Coated transparencies or most inkjet transparencies

Specifications Ink Cartridges - 4

Ink Cartridges

Type

Ink Color

Ink Amount

Life

Ink cartridge

Black

Approximately 28 g (per cartridge)

Approximately 500 pages

Specifications Environmental - 5

Environmental

Acoustic Noise Level

Temperature

Humidity

Approximately 45 dB (reference level)

41–95° F (5–35° C)

10–90% (no condensation)

Specifications Electrical - 6

Electrical

Power Source

Power Supply

U.S./Canada: 120 VAC, 60 Hz, 30 W
U.K./Australia: 240 VAC, 50 Hz, 25 W
Europe: 230 VAC, 50 Hz, 25 W

AC adapter or optional NiCad battery pack

Specifications Physical - 7

Physical

Dimensions

Weight

Height: 1.9 in. (48.5 mm)
Width: 12.2 in. (310 mm)
Depth: 8.7 in. (221.3 mm)

Approximately 3.7 lb. (1.7 kg)

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Troubleshooting

Portable StyleWriter

Troubleshooting General/ - 1

General

The Symptom Charts included in this chapter will help you
diagnose specific symptoms related to your product. Because cures
are listed on the charts in the order of most likely solution, try
the first cure first. Verify whether or not the product continues to
exhibit the symptom. If the symptom persists, try the next cure.
(Note: If you have replaced a module, reinstall the original module
before you proceed to the next cure.)

If you are not sure what the problem is, or if the Symptom Charts
do not resolve the problem, refer to the Flowchart for the product
family.

For additional assistance, contact Apple Technical Support.

Troubleshooting Error LEDs/ - 2

Error LEDs

The Portable StyleWriter has three LEDs that can aid in
troubleshooting the printer.

The LEDs indicate the state of the printer or whether an error has
occurred (e.g., carriage control error, paper jam).

The chart below provides a summary of error codes and printer
states.

If an error is indicated, check the chart to identify the error and
then go to Symptom Charts, “Error LEDs.”

Software Error Message

(from printer driver)

None No status lights

Printer beeps 2 or 3 times Out of paper

Printer beeps continuously Paper jam

Printer beeps continuously Carriage position error

Printer beeps 5 times Printer startup error

Printer beeps 3 times Printer error

Power light blinks once every
second

Power light blinks once every
half second

Printer beeps 5 times and
Power light blinks every half
second

LEDs

Power Error Online

Symptom

(see Symptom Charts)

Battery being charged

Battery low

Battery empty

Printer beeps 5 times and two
lights blink alternately

Battery error

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 3

Symptom Charts

Preliminary Checks

Computer cannot find printer

No lights or movement

Print quality problems

1 Verify that correct printer driver is installed.
2 Verify that Chooser and Control Panel settings are correct.
3 Verify that serial cable is connected.
4 Replace serial cable.Ê

1 Verify that printer is turned on and plugged into wall socket.

If running off battery, verify that battery is known-good and
charged.

2 Replace printer.

1 Use 16–24 lb. cotton bond paper.
2 Purge ink cartridge.
3 Replace ink cartridge.
4 Replace printer.Ê

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 4

Mechanical problems 1 Use 16–24 lb. cotton bond paper.

2 Clear paper jam.
3 Verify that cut sheet feeder aligns with printer.
4 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 5

Error LEDs

No status lights 1 Verify that printer is turned on and plugged into wall socket.

If running off battery, verify that battery is known-good and
charged.

2 Replace printer.

Out of paper 1 Add paper.

2 Replace printer.Ê

Paper jam 1 Check cables.

2 Check for paper jam; remove jam and then press power

switch. If status light comes on steadily, problem is solved.

3 Replace printer.Ê

Carriage position error

1 Carriage has not returned to home position. Turn printer off.

Wait a few seconds, then turn printer on.

2 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 6

Printer startup error 1 Turn off printer. Wait a few seconds, then turn printer on.

2 Replace printer.Ê

Printer error 1 Turn off printer. Wait a few seconds, then turn printer on.

2 Replace printer.Ê

Battery being charged 1 Wait for battery to finish charging.

2 Replace printer.Ê

Battery low 1 Recharge battery.

2 Replace printer.Ê

Battery empty 1 After 5 minutes printer beeps again, then shuts off

automatically. Recharge battery.

2 Replace printer.Ê

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 7

Battery error 1 Recharge battery two or three times.

2 Replace battery.
3 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 8

Printing

No printing 1 Verify that serial cable between printer and computer is

tightly connected.
2 Make sure printer is selected in Chooser.
3 Purge ink cartridge.
4 Replace ink cartridge.
5 Replace printer.Ê

Garbled printing 1 Verify that serial cable between printer and computer is

tightly connected.
2 Purge ink cartridge.
3 Replace ink cartridge.
4 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts/Printing - 9

Overprinting 1 Verify that program being used is set for correct line

spacing and line length.
2 Verify that correct printer driver is installed.
3 Replace printer.

Image too light or too dark

White lines in printing

1 Purge ink cartridge.
2 Use 16–24 lb. cotton bond paper.
3 Verify that forms thickness lever is set correctly (up for

standard paper and down for envelopes, transparencies,

labels, and heavy paper).
4 Replace ink cartridge.

1 Purge ink cartridge.
2 Replace ink cartridge.
3 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 10

Page prints off center; images are out of place

Ink appears on back of paper

Image wavy, splotchy, or distorted

1 Use 16–24 lb. cotton bond paper.
2 Verify that sheet feeder holds no more than 50 sheets.
3 Verify that paper is inserted properly.
4 Verify that margins in document and paper size in Page Setup

are set correctly.
5 Replace printer.Ê

1 Clean platen with soft, dry cloth.
2 Replace printer.Ê

1 Purge ink cartridge.
2 Replace ink cartridge.
3 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 11

Carrier Movement

Erratic carrier motion

Power light is on; carrier does not move

Printer does not
perform self-test;
ready light is on

Carrier grinds, hums loudly, or locks

Replace printer.

1 Make sure carrier area is clear of obstructions.
2 Replace printer.

Replace printer.Ê

Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 12

Paper Feed

No paper feed 1 Verify that cut sheet feeder aligns with printer.

2 Make sure paper path is clear of obstructions.
3 Replace printer.Ê

Grinding during paper feed

1 Make sure paper path is clear of obstructions.
2 Verify that forms thickness lever is set correctly (up for

standard paper and down for envelopes, transparencies,

labels, and heavy paper).
3 Verify that cut sheet feeder aligns with printer.
4 Replace printer.Ê

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 13

Binding or tearing during paper feed

Envelope feed problems

1 Verify that forms thickness lever is set correctly (up for

standard paper and down for envelopes, transparencies,

labels, and heavy paper).
2 Make sure paper path is clear of obstructions.
3 Verify that paper is inserted properly.
4 Use 16–24 lb. cotton bond paper.
5 Verify that cut sheet feeder aligns with printer.
6 Replace printer.Ê

1 When printing envelopes,

• Adjust paper thickness lever

• Do not run cut sheets and envelopes in same print job

• Reset paper thickness lever after printing envelopes

2 Replace printer.

Troubleshooting Symptom Charts - 14

Miscellaneous

Control panel buttons don’t work

Software-specific problem

1 Replace control panel assembly.
2 Replace printer.Ê

1 Verify that software is known-good.
2 Verify that software is compatible with TrueType fonts.

(Check your software application manual.)

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T ak e Apart

Portable StyleWriter

Take Apart Stand - 1

Stand

No preliminary steps are
required before you begin

Stand

this procedure.

Take Apart Stand - 2

1 Turn the stand to the

upright position.

Stand

Take Apart Stand - 3

2 Lift up the upper corner

of the stand to clear the
cover tab.

Cover Tab

Stand

Take Apart Stand - 4

3 Turn the stand until the

mounting tab clears the
slot and remove the
stand.

Slot

Mounting Tab

Stand

Replacement Note:

Press
down in the center of the
stand to seat the
mounting tab in the slot.

Take Apart Battery - 5

Battery

Before you begin, remove
the stand.

Battery

Take Apart Battery - 6

1 Pull up the two latches

and remove the battery
cover.

Battery Cover

Latches

Take Apart Battery - 7

2 Grasp one end of the

battery and remove the
battery from the
printer.

Battery

Replacement Note:

Be
sure to reinstall the
battery with its arrow
facing the same way as
the arrow in the battery
compartment.

Take Apart Control Panel Assembly - 8

Control Panel Assembly

Before you begin, remove
the following:

• Stand

• Battery

Review the ESD precautions
in Bulletins/Safety.

Control Panel
Assembly

Take Apart Control Panel Assembly - 9

1 Turn over the printer.

2 Using a Phillips

screwdriver, remove
the case screw.

Case

Screw

Take Apart Control Panel Assembly - 10

3 Release the four latches

and remove the bottom
case.

Bottom

Screw

Take Apart Control Panel Assembly - 11

4 Using a small flat-blade

screwdriver, release the
latches and remove the
control panel assembly.

Control
Panel

Assembly

Take Apart Automatic Sheet Feeder - 12

Automatic Sheet Feeder

Automatic
Sheet Feeder

No preliminary steps are
required before you begin
this procedure.

Note:

The automatic sheet
feeder is an optional
accessory.

Take Apart Automatic Sheet Feeder - 13

1 Press the two release

levers and remove the

Automatic
Sheet Feeder

Release Lever

automatic sheet feeder.

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Additional Procedures

Portable StyleWriter

Additional Procedures Purge Ink Cartridge - 1

Purge Ink Cartridge

No preliminary steps are
required before you begin
this procedure.

Ink Cartridge

Caution

on your hands or clothes.
Although the ink is water
soluble, it contains dyes that
will stain.

Note:

cartridge to correct blurred
characters, horizontal white
streaks, and missing dots
caused by clogged nozzles.

: Do not get the ink

Purge the ink

Additional Procedures Purge Ink Cartridge - 2

Note

: Cleaning the ink
cartridge uses a small
amount of ink.

1 Make sure the printer

is turned off and a sheet
of paper is loaded.

2 Hold down the FWD ADJ

and REV ADJ buttons and
press the Power button.

3 The printer then beeps.

REV ADJ Button

FWD ADJ Button

Power Button

Additional Procedures Purge Ink Cartridge - 3

4 Keep pressing the FWD

ADJ and REV ADJ buttons
and release the Power
button.

5 The printer beeps again.

REV ADJ Button

FWD ADJ Button

Power Button

Additional Procedures Purge Ink Cartridge - 4

6

Note:

The Online light
blinks as long as the
cleaning process goes
on. The cleaning process
stops automatically and a
test pattern is printed.
To clean the ink
cartridge without
printing the test
pattern, do not press the
LF/FF button.

REV ADJ Button

FWD ADJ Button

LF/FF Button

7 Release the FWD ADJ and

REV ADJ buttons and
immediately press the
LF/FF button.

Additional Procedures Purge Ink Cartridge - 5

8 The test pattern should

look like the pattern
shown. The lines on the
test pattern should all be
connected with no

Cartridge Status OK

breaks.

9 If any lines are missing,

repeat the purging
process.

Repeat Purging

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Exploded V ie w

Portable StyleWriter

Exploded View 1

Automatic

Sheet Feeder

661-0831

Battery

661-0866

Printer

Whole Unit

661-0830

Control Panel Assembly

922-0430

922-0429

Stand

110V Power Adapter

922-0423