Epson 3260 User Manual

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

FOR UNITED STATES USERS

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment genera-, uses and can radiate
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
Increase the separation between the equipment
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the

receiver is connected
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will
invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause
exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the
user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this
equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to
unused interfaces.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the
user's authotity to operate the equipment.

radio

WARNING

limits are

frequency energy and, if not installed

and receiver

limits for a Class B

designed to provide

more

of the following measures.

interference levels which

digital

FOR CANADIAN USERS

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from

digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian

Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits readioélectriques dépassant les limites

applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le réglement sur le

brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le Ministére des Communications du Canada.

ii

Contents

Introduction

l

How to Use This Manual

......................

Features.. ..............................

Options and Accessories
Where to Get Help for United States Users
For United Kingdom Users
Important Safety Instructions

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer

Choosing a Place for the Printer

......................

...........

.....................

...................

.......................

..................

Ribbon Cartridges ..........................

Installing the Standard Black Ribbon Cartridge
Installing the Optional Color Upgrade Kit
Installing the Color Ribbon

Attaching the Output Guide
plugging in the Printer
Running the Self Test

........................

....................

....................

.......................

Loading paper into the paper cassette
Running the test

........................

Connecting the Primer to Your Computer
using software Programs

.....................

Microsoft Windows 3.1 and all Windows Programs
What is a Printer Driver?

Fonts with Windows
Non-Windows Software Programs
Trying it Out

.............................

....................

.....................

................

.........

............

...........

............

....

1
1
2
3

4
6

1-2
1-3
1-5
1-5
1-7
1-11
1-12

1-13
1-14
1-14
1-16
1-17
1-19
1-19
1-21
1-21

1-22

1-22

iii

Software Tips

Avoiding smudged pages
Printing landscape (horizontal) pages
Keeping page breaks in their proper place
Using fonts
Fonts and the control panel

Chapter 2 Paper Handling

................................

.....................

...........................

..................

.....................

.........

1-23
1-23
1-23
1-23
1-23

1-24

Printing on Single Sheets

Tips for using the paper cassette

Loading paper manually

Using Continuous Paper with Optional Push Tractor

Installing the push tractor
Loading continuous paper
Using the tear-off feature
Removing the push tractor.

Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets

Switching to single sheets
Switching to continuous paper

Printing on Special Paper

Adjusting the paper-thickness lever
Envelopes
Multi-part forms.
Labels

Chapter 3 Using the Printer

Operating the Control Panel

Indicator Lights

Buttons

Other control-panel features.

Selecting Character Fonts
Using the Default-Setting Mode

Changing the default settings

Default-setting features

............................

...............................

................................

......................

...............

....................

......

...................

...................

...................

..................

..................

................

......................

.............

........................

....................

..........................

.................

......................

..................

.................

...........

....

2-2
2-2

2-4

2-5

2-5
2-7

2-10

2-11
2-13

2-13

2-14
2-15

2-15

2-16
2-17
2-17

3-2
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-11

iv

Maintenance and Transportation

Cleaning the printer

......................

Replacing the ribbon cartridge
Transporting the printer

Troubleshooting

General problems
Printing problems

...........................

.......................

.......................

Color printing problems
Paper handling problems

Appendix

.................

................

...................

...................

...................

3-14
3-14
3-15
3-16
3-16

3-17
3-18
3-22
3-23

Technical Specifications

Printer specifications
Interface specifications

Command Summary

........................

Using the command summary

Generaloperation
Paperfeeding
Page format

..........................

...........................

Print position motion
Font selection.

.........................

Font enhancement
Spacing

.............................

Character handling

Bit image

Graphics
Color printing

Character Tables

............................

............................

.........................

...........................

Glossary

Index

......................

.....................

....................

................

.......................

.....................

.......................

......................

A-2
A-2
A-9
A-13
A-13

A-13
A-13
A-14

A-15

A-16

A-17

A-18

A-19

A-21

A-21

A-22

A-23

v

Introduction

How to Use This Manual

Here’s what you’ll find in this book:

Chapter 1 contains step-by-step instructions for unpacking.

setting up, testing, and connecting your printer. Be sure to

read and follow these instructions first.

Chapter 2 is a detailed discussion of paper handling.
Chapter 3 describes how to use the control panel. It also

contains maintenance and troubleshooting information
The Appendix includes the printer specifications,

commands, and character tables
A glossary of printer terms and an index are at the end.

Features

Your new Epson’ advanced 24-pin dot matrix printer combines
high performance with a wide range of features.

Fast printing speed-up to 270 characters per second in
15 cpi draft mode.

Color option kit is available. (See 'Options and
Accessories' below.)

Easy paper handling. The built-in paper cassette holds up
to 50 single sheets of paper. You can also insert pages
manually without removing your paper cassette.

Epson ESC/P 2 --enhanced printer control Language
provides scalable fonts and improved graphics for sharp
output

Introduction 1

Compatibility. Supports the Epson ESC/P® commands.
Two printer positions. You can set the printer vertical or

horizontal, whichever you prefer.
A range of popular fonts-one draft font, five letter-quality

fonts, and four scalable fonts for professional results.
Unique control-panel design. The sleek, two-button panel

makes it easy to customize the printer's default settings.

Options and Accessories

The following options and accessories are available for your
printer:

Epson Ribbon Cartridge (S015060)

Designed especially for your printer, this long-lasting fabric

ribbon is extremely easy to install.

Epson Color Ribbon Cartridge (S015061)

For use with the Color Upgrade Kit, this four color fabric
ribbon produces up to seven vibrant colors.

Color Upgrade Kit (C83201*)
Optional easy snap-in color kit adds splashes of color to
everything from banners and school reports to custom

designed

Tractor Unit (C80026*)

Optional push tractor allows you to print on continuous paper,

multi-part forms, banners and labels. Also you can switch
between single-sheet and continuous printing without

removing either paper supply.

* The last digit in this number varies by country.

2 Introduction

letterheads.

Where to Get Help for United States Users

Epson America provides local customer support and service
through a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers
and Service Centers.

Epson also provides the following support services through the
Epson Connection

TM

at [phone]:

Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized Epson

Reseller or Service Center

Technical assistance with the installation, configuration,
and operation of Epson products

Information on ESC/P 2 drivers for your software
Sales of the ESC/P reference manual, which contains

comprehensive information on ESC/P 2
Epson technical Information library fax service
Product literature with technical specific&ions on our

current and new products
Sales of ribbons, supplies, parts, documentation, and

accessories for your Epson product
Customer Relations
Information about user groups

Introduction 3

For United Kingdom Users

Epson product guarantee

Under the law, goods sold must comply with their description
and must be of merchantable quality and fit for their purpose
or correspond with any sample.

This guarantee does not affect the seller's legal obligation or
the rights of the consumer in the “consumer transactions”
under any Statute, including Sections 12 to 15 of the Sales of
Goods Act, 1979.

All Epson Products, other than OEM products, are fully
guaranteed against faulty operation or performance for a
period of ONE YEAR from the date of purchase by the user of
the product.

All claims under this guarantee MUST be supported by
evidence of purchase, normally the bill of sale invoice, and it is
the responsibility of the daimant to furnish such proof. Epson
(UK) Limited do not issue or operate any form of guarantee
registration card.

Claims are made by the user returning the product to the
supplier from whom it was purchased or, if this is impractical,
to any Epson supplier who also handles the same product. In
the event of any difficulty, users are requested to contact the
Service Co-ordinator Manager at Epson (UK) Limited.

This guarantee covers the cost of both the parts and labour
required to correct any u&unction of the equipment, but
specifically excludes wear and tear, consumables, physical
damage due to incorrect use or misuse and damage or faulty
operation due to unauthorized and inexpert repair.

4 Introduction

The guarantee is restricted to the performance of the product
alone, and Epson (UK) Limited does not accept responsibility

for any consequential loss or damage, nor daimed or implied
performance, when the product is used in any combination
with other equipment or program software.

Product guarantee may be invalidated as a result of excessive
or inappropriate use, use in adverse environment or conditions
outside the specifications or if the product has been subjected
to unapproved modifications.

The guarantee does not cover visits to the user's premises or
the repair of commissioning of the product on site.

Use of options

Epson (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or

problems arising from the use of any options or consumable

products other than those designated as Original Epson

Products or Epson Approved Products by Epson (UK) Limited.

Sofety information

Warning:

for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to

the supply voltage.

Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance

are coloured in accordance with the following code:
Green and yellow - Earth

Blue - Neutral
Brown - Live

This appliance must be earthed. Refer to rating plate

Introduction 5

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance
may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying
the terminals on your plug, proceed as follows:

The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal

in the plug which is marked with the letter E or with the earth

symbol ( ) or coloured green or green and yellow.

The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug

marked with the letter N or coloured black

The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug

marked with the letter L or coloured red.

If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a

qualified electrician

Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.

Important Safety Instructions

Read all of these instructions before you set up your printer.

1.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer.

2.
Unplug this printer from the wall outlet before you dean it.

3.
Use a damp cloth for cleaning and do not use liquid or
aerosol cleaners.

Do not use your printer near water or spill any liquid on it.

4.
Do not place the printer on an unstable cart, stand, table, or

5.
other surface that may allow the printer to fall.

6 Introduction

6.

Do not block any slots or openings in the cabinet. These are
provided for the ventilation necessary to ensure reliable
operation and protection from overheating. Placing the

printer on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface may

block the openings. Also, do not place the printer in a
built-in installation, such as a bookcase, unless proper
ventilation is provided.

7.

Never place the printer near or over a radiator or heat
register.

8.

Use the type of power source indicated on the label. If you
are not sure of the type of power available, consult your
dealer or local power company.

9.

This printer may be equipped with a plug having a third
(grounding) pin, which fits only into a grounding-type
outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert

the plug into the outlet, have an electrician replace your

obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the
grounding-type plug.

10. Do not put your printer where the cord will be walked on

11. If you use an extension cord, make sure that the total of the
ampere ratings on the products plugged into the extension
cord does not exceed the extension cord’s ampere rating.
Also, make sure that the total of all products plugged into
the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

12.

Never push objects of any kind into your printer as they
may touch dangerous voltage Points or short out Parts that
could result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

Introduction 7

13. Except as specifically explained in the user’s manual, do not
attempt to repair the printer yourself, Opening or
removing those covers that are marked “Do Not Remove”
may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks.
Refer all servicing in those compartments to service

personnel.

14. Unplug this printer from the wall outlet and have it repaired
by a qualified service person under the following

conditions:
A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
B.

If liquid has
C. If it has been exposed to rain or water.
D. If it does not operate normally when the operating

instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls

that are covered by the operating instructions since

improper adjustment of other controls may result in

damage and will often require extensive work by a

qualified technician to restore the printer to normal

operation.

been

spilled into it.

E. If it has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.

F.

If it exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating

a need for service.

8 Introduction

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your

equipment.

Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation.
of your printer.

Introduction 9

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Ribbon Cartridges
Installing the Standard Black Ribbon Cartridge
Installing the Optional Color Upgrade Kit
Installing the Color Ribbon

Attaching the Output Guide
Plugging in the Printer
Running the Self Test

Loading paper into the paper cassette

Running the test
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
using software Programs

Microsoft Windows 3.1 and all Windows Programs

What is a Printer Driver?

Fonts with Windows

Non-Windows Software Programs
Trying it Out

..........................

............

.....................

....................

.......................

........................

............

.........................

............

.....................

...................

......................

................

.............................

.........

....

1-5
1-5

1-7
1-11

1-12
1-13
1-14

1-14
1-16

1-17
1-19

1-19
1-21
1-21

1-22
1-22

Software Tips

Avoiding smudged pages

Printing landscape (horizontal) pages
Keeping page breaks in their proper place
Using fonts

Fonts and the control panel

............................

...................

.............................

..................

............

..........

Setting Up the Printer

1-23
1-23
1-23
1-23
1-23
1-24

1-1

Unpacking the Printer

Your printer box should include these items.

output guide

power cord

cable clip

ribbon cartridge

Note:
In some locations the power cord may be attached to the printer.

Caution:

Check that the voltage on your printer matches the voltage of

your power supply. If the lable on the back of the printer does

not show the correct voltage for your country, contact your

dealer.

1-2 Setting Up the Printer

Removing the protective materials

The printer is protected during shipping by several pieces of
packing material that must be removed before you turn on the
printer.

Please see the Notice Sheet inserted in your printer for
instructions on removing the protective materials. Then store
them with the other packing material.

c Caution:

Be

sure to

the printer.

remove

all

protective

materials before you turn

on

Choosing

The printer works horizontally or vertically, as shown below.
You can set it whichever

When selecting a place for your printer, follow these guidelines:

a Place for the Printer

way fits your

Place the printer on a flat, stable surface.

work space.

Setting Up the Printer 1-3

Do not slide the printer on rough surfaces; otherwise you
may damage the flap on the bottom.

Place the printer close enough to the computer for the cable
to reach.

Leave enough room for easy operation and maintenance.

Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive

heat, moisture, or dust
Use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug.

Place the printer where you can easily unplug the power
cord.

Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or
automatic timers. Avoid outlets on the same circuit as large
motors or other appliances that can cause power
fluctuations.

Keep the entire computer system away from potential

sources of electromagnetic interference, such as

loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones.

If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines:

Use a stand that supports at least 9 kg (20 lb).
With the optional push tractor, make sure to provide

enough clearance below the stand so your continuous

paper feeds smoothly.
With the optional push tractor, place cables so they do not

interfere with paper feeding secure them to a leg of the
stand if possible.

With the optional push tractor, align the paper stack so that
the paper feeds straight into the tractor's sprocket units.

1-4 Setting Up the Printer

Ribbon Cartridges

Two types of ribbon cartridges are available:

[ ] SO15060 Black
[ ] SO15061 Color (optional)

Before you can use a color ribbon you must install the optional

color upgrade kit. See page 1-7 for instructions.

Installing the Standard Black Ribbon Cartridge

1.

Make sure the power cord is not plugged into an electrical
outlet.

2.

Use the tabs on the front of the printer cover to lift it off the
printer. Then slide the print head to the middle of the

printer.

Setting Up the Printer

I-5

Caution:

Never move

the

print head while the printer is turned on; this

can damage the printer. Also, if you have just used the printer,

let the print head cool for a few minutes before you touch it.

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow

3.
to remove any slack in the ribbon.

Insert the ribbon cartridge into the printer as shown; then

4.
press both sides of the cartridge firmly to fit the plastic
posts into the slots.

1-6 Setting Up the Printer

5.

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to ease the ribbon into place.

Make sure it is not twisted or creased.

6.

Replace the printer cover by inserting its tabs into the holes
on the printer as shown below, then dose the cover.

Installing the Optional Color Upgrade Kit

Before installing the color ribbon cartridge, you must install
the optional color upgrade kit

After you install the color upgrade kit, see “Using Software
Programs” later in this chapter for instructions on how to set
up your software for a color printer. Then see your software
manual for instructions on how to use color in your
documents. The printer must receive color commands from
your software to print in color.

Setting Up the Printer

1-7

The optional color upgrade kit includes these items.

1.

Put the motor unit in the printer, as shown below, grasping
the installation tab.

1-8 Setting Up the Printer

Remove the connector cover on the printer. Next, insert the

2.

motor unit plug into the connector on the printer, as shown
below.

Attach the ribbon cartridge to the bracket. Next, remove the

3.
packing tape.

Setting Up the Printer

1-9

4.

Make sure the pins under the ribbon cartridge are placed
correctly inside of the bracket as shown below.

5.

Move the print head to the middle of the printer and move
the sliding part of the ribbon to the middle of the ribbon
cartridge.

1-10

Setting Up the Printer

6.

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow
to remove any slack in the ribbon.

Installing the Color Ribbon

The optional color upgrade kit must be instaIled before you
install the color ribbon.

1.

Insert the ribbon cartridge (installed in the bracket) into the.
printer as Shown; then press both sides of the cartridge
firmly to fit the posts into the slots.

Setting Up the Printer

1-11

2

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to ease the ribbon into place.
Make sure it is not twisted or creased.

3.

Replace the printer cover by inserting its tabs into the holes
on the printer as shown below; then dose the cover.

Attaching the Output Guide

You can install the output guide to support printed pages as
they come out of the printer. To install it, insert the tabs on the

guide into the mounting slots on the printer case as shown
below. Be sure to turn the guide over and install it in the
opposite direction when you use the printer in the vertical

position

1-12

Setting Up the Printer

Plugging in the Printer

1.

Make sure the power switch on the printer is turned off. It is
off when the 0 on the switch is pressed down.

2.

Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure the
voltage required by the printer matches that of your

electrical outlet.

Caution:
If the rated voltage and your outlet voltage do not match,

contact your dealer for for assistance. Do not plug in the
power cord.

3.

If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect it to
the AC inlet on the printer.

4.

Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical
outlet.

Setting Up the Printer

1-13

Running the Self Test

You can run the self test with either continuous paper or single

sheets; this

section describes the easiest way, with single

sheets.

Loading paper into the

1.

Pull the paper cassette out of the printer.

2.

Fan a stack of A4 or letter-size paper and then tap it on a flat
surface to even the edges.

paper cassette

1-14

Setting Up the Printer

3.

Pull out the paper support.

4.

We holding down the metal plate in the paper cassette, as

shown below, put the paper in the cassette. Make sure the
paper is underneath all five tabs, especially the small ones
on the top edge of the cassette.

5.

Insert the paper cassette into the printer as far as it will go.

The edge of the paper stack extends beyond the front of the

printer.

Running the test

1.

Make sure the printer is turned off.

2.

While

holding down the
on the printer. It loads the paper automatically and begins
the self test.

The printer prints characters in the current font and character
table. If the optional color upgrade kit is installed, the self
test is in color. Here is part of a typical self test:

1-16 Setting Up the Printer

FF (FORM FEED

) button, turn

Note:

If the paper cassette is empty when you turn the power on, the
printer beeps three times and the light blinks. Load paper as
described earlier in this chapter; then press the FF button to start

the

self test.

3.

To stop the self test, turn off the printer.

Each time you turn on the printer, it beeps four times -- two
long and two short.

Note:

If you hold down both the FF and the FONT buttons while you turn on
the printer, it prints a special demonstration page that describes and
illustrates many features.

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

If the self test prints correctly, you’re ready to connect your
printer to the computer. You need a shielded twisted-pair
parallel cable to connect your computer to the printer’s built-in
parallel interface.

Follow these steps to connect the parallel interface cable:

1.

Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off; then
plug the cable connector securely into the printer's
interface connector.

Setting Up

the

Printer

1-17

Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on

2.
either side.

Note:
If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the ground

connector below the interface connector.

Put the cable through the cable clip; then insert the clip in the

3.
slot on the bottom of the printer.

1-18

setting up the Printer

4.

Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. If there is a
ground wire at the computer end of the cable, attach it to
the ground connector at the back of the computer.

Note:

If you want the power cord or interface cable to be on the opposite side,
route it through the slot on the back

Using Software Programs

To take full advantage of your printer’s features, find the
instructions for your software programs below. Also see the
software tips at the end of this chapter.

Microsoft Whdows 3.1 and all Windows Programs

If Windows is already installed on your system, follow the

steps below to set it up with your printer. Then your printer
will work correctly for all your Windows programs, such as
Word for Windows, Lotus'1-2-3-' for Windows, and
CorelDRAW.'

Setting Up the Printer

1-19

If Windows is not already installed on your system, run the
setup program as described in the Windows documentation
and follow steps 4 through 10 below when you reach the

section for choosing a printer.

In the window labeled

1.

Main,

double

click the Control Panel

icon.
Double

2.
Choose the Add> button on the right side of the screen.

3.
In the list of printers

4.

click

the

Printers

box,

icon.

select

Epson

ActionPrinter 3260 or

LQ-150.

If ActionPrinter 3260 and LQ-150 are not available, select
Epson LQ-60 or Epson LQ-2550 if you plan to use color. If
you do not plan to use color, choose Epson Stylus 800,
Epson LQ-570+, Epson AP-3250, or Epson LQ-870.

Choose the

5.

install

button. A dialog box may instruct you to

insert a diskette.

If necessary, insert the diskette required

6.
Choose the Setup button

7.
Select 360 x 180 as the Resolution.

8.

9.

If you selected the LQ-860, LQ-2550, LQ-570+, or LQ-870

printer, select

Sheet Feeder - Bin 1 as the

Paper Source.

This step is very important for proper page breaks in your

documents

10. Choose the OK

11. Highlight
printer you added) and click the button labeled Set A

Default Printer.

1-20

Setting Up the Printer

button.

Epson ActionPrinter 3260 or LQ-150

(or the

S

12. Click the

Close

button.

You have now installed the printer driver for Windows.

What is a Printer Driver?

The software you use to enter and format your documents
sends codes that run (or ‘drive”) your printer. These software
codes select the font, margins, page size, line spacing, and

other features of the document you are printing. Therefore, it is

important that you choose the right printer driver and install it

correctly from your software package. If there is a problem
with the appearance of your document, a software setting
could be the cause.

Fonts with Windows

Microsoft Windows standard drivers use scalable TrueType
fonts rather than the fonts built into the printer. Windows fonts
look the same on the screen as they do in your printed

document, (This feature is called WYSIWYG, What You See Is
What You Get.) All programs that run under Windows can use
the Windows printer driver to print their files. Therefore, you
have access to the full range of TrueType fonts if you use one
of the Windows drivers listed above.

If you want to use the printer’s internal fonts as well as the
TrueType fonts, contact Microsoft Windows Product

Support

and ask for a driver that uses both kinds of fonts.

Setting Up the Printer

1-21

Non-Windows

Most application programs let you specify the type of printer
you use so that the program can take full advantage of the
printer's features. Many programs provide an installation or

setup menu that presents a list of printer&

To take the full advantage of your printer’s features, choose

ActionPrinter 3260 or LQ-150. If neither of those printers is
available, select LQ-860 or LQ-2550 if you plan to use color. If
you do not plan to use color, choose Stylus 800, LQ-570+,

ActionPrinter 3250, or LQ-870.

Note

For any of the LQ printers except
Feeder Bin 1 or the equivalent in the printer setup.

If you software program does not list the ActionPrinter 3260 or

the LQ-150, you can also contact the manufacturer of your

software to see if an update for your printer is available.

If none of the printers mentioned above is available in your

software program, you can choose LQ-570+, LQ570, or LQ-100

for good quality text and graphics but no color support. If

those printers are also not available, choose any Epson printer

or standard printer or draft printer.

Software

Programs

the

LQ-150 be sure to choose Sheet

Trying it Out

After you have set up your software programs for your printer

as described above, create a document using the

symbols, features,

then print the document This shows you how the printer

works with your software program.

1-22

Setting Up the Printer

and formats that you use most often and

fonts,

If the printing results are not what you expect, see

‘Troubleshooting” in Chapter 3, or consult your computer or
software manual.

Software Tips

Avoiding smudged pages

When

result may have a slightly smudged appearance. If this occurs,
choose 360 x 180 resolution using your application software.
You can also try adjusting the paper-thickness lever as
described on page 2-15.

you print full resolution graphics (360 x 360 dpi), the

Printing landscape (horizontal) pages

Dot matrix printers do not have built-in fonts for printing in
landscape. You may use Microsoft Windows or programs such
as Allways or Sideways to do this.

Keeping page breaks in their proper place

There is an area at the top and bottom edges of each sheet that
the printer must use to load and feed the paper. You cannot
print on these portions of the page.

If the margins and page breaks in your document do not take
into account these unprintable areas, you may find that the
printing position is too low on the page or that part of one page

is printed at the top of the next page. Your software may be set

to print on continuous paper or to print too many lines on a

page. To correct this problem, try the following:

Select single sheets or sheet feeder bin 1 in your software.

Setting Up the Printer

1-23

Reduce the maximum number of lines per page.
Reduce the top and bottom margins in your software.

Using fonts

There are two sources for the fonts you use in your documents:

internal and downloaded. In addition to the internal fonts built
into your printer, many programs can send their own fonts to
the printer in the same way they send your documents. For
instance, Lotus 1-2-3 creates and sends the fonts that it uses to
print spreadsheets.

Whether you use internal fonts or fonts downloaded from
software, you will most likely need to select your fonts through
your software.

Fonts

and the control panel

Your software sends font

to the printer. If these font commands

you selected on the printer’s control panel, the software

commands always override control panel settings. For this
reason, you need to make your font selections through
software.

Use the control panel for font selection only when you are

sending unformatted text to the printer directly from MS-DOS

or when you are using a simple software package that does not

include font selections.

1-24 Setting Up the Printer

commands

along with the document

are different from what

Chapter 2

Paper Handling

Printing on Single Sheets

Tips for using the paper cassette

Loading paper manually

Using Continuous Paper with Optional Push Tractor

Installing the push tractor

Loading continuous paper
Using the tear-off feature
Removing the push tractor

Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets

Switching to single sheets
Switching to continuous paper

Printing on Special Paper

Adjusting the paper-thickness lever

Envelopes.

Multi-part forms
Labels..

............................

.............................

......................

...............

....................

.....

...................

...................

....................

...................

...................

................

......................

.............

.........................

...

2-2
2-2
2-4

2-5
2-5
2-7

2-10

2-11
2-13

2-13

2-14

2-15
2-15
2-16
2-17
2-17

Paper Handling 2-1

Printing on Single Sheets

You can load standard-sized single sheets with the paper

cassette and you can load single sheets of paper from 148
(5.8 inches) to 257 mm (10.1 inches) wide with the manual
insertion slot.

mm

Tips for

using the paper cassette

To review the steps for loading paper in the paper cassette, see
“Loading paper into the paper cassette” on page 1-12. The tips
below help you get the best performance when printing with
the cassette.

Load paper in the paper cassette before you turn on the
printer. When the printer receives the data from the
computer, it loads a single sheet automatically and begins
to print

If the printer runs out of paper during a print job, reload
the paper cassette and press the

Press the
You can adjust the top-of-form position with the gear

under the printer cover. It is marked by + and - signs.
Open the printer cover and turn the gear to adjust the
position The notches on the ribbon mask indicate the base
line of printed characters. The gear adjustment affects only
the loaded page. If you want to change the top-of-form
position permanently, you can adjust it in the
default-setting mode described in Chapter 3. However,
most application software programs take care of the top
and bottom margins. You usually don’t need to set the
top-of-form position on the printer.

FF

button to eject a sheet of loaded paper.

FF

button to load the paper.

When you want to

push

the paper support back into the
paper cassette, first remove paper from the paper cassette.
Then push the paper support in while pushing down on
the locking tab.

The default page length for the paper cassette is 65 lines
(A4-size paper) and 61 lines (letter-size paper). If you need
to change it use your application software or printer

commands. See the Appendix for more about printer

commands.

Y

OU

can switch to manual

insertion or to the optional push
tractor without removing the paper cassette. For
instructions, see ‘Loading paper manually” or “Switching
Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets” later in this
chapter.

Paper Handling 2-3

Loading paper manually

You can load single sheets of paper from the rear manual
insertion slot. (If you have installed the optional push tractor,
remove it before loading paper manually.)

1.

Place the printer in the upright position and turn it on.

2.

Next, lower the flap on the rear slot. Then insert a single sheet
into the slot, aligning the paper edge with the arrow mark
on the printer case. The page loads automatically. When
the printer receives data, it begins printing.

Be sure to raise the flap when you are not using manual
insertion.

Caution:

Be sure to turn on the printer before you insert the page into
the slot. If you turn on the printer after insertion, the

printer prints on the platen without loading the paper.

You can adjust the top-of-form position for manual

insertion in the same way as you do for single sheets of

paper fed from the paper cassette. See "Changing the

default settings” in Chapter 3.

When you
button without inserting a page into the rear slot. The
printer loads the paper from the cassette.

want

to switch to the paper cassette, press the

FF

Using Continuous Paper with Optional Push Tractor

You can use the optional push tractor to print on continuous

paper from 101 mm (4 inches) to 254 mm (10 inches) wide.

Installing the push tractor

1.

Make sure the printer is turned off and in the horizontal
position. Remove the paper guide.

Paper Handling 2-5

2.

Make sure the paper-release lever is lowered to the

single-sheet position.

3.

Hold the tractor as shown and fit the edges of both sides into
the slots at the back of the printer. Then lift it straight up
until you hear the unit snap into place.

4.

Raise the paper-release lever and push it firmly into the
continuous-paper position.

2-6 Paper handling

Loading continuous paper

1.

Place the continuous paper supply below the printer so the
paper feeds smoothly into the printer as shown. (You can

also use a printer stand.)

Caution:

When you are using labels with the tractor, always put the
paper supply &low the printer and have the printed pages

feed out from the back of the printer. Otherwise, the labels

may come off their backing and cause a jam.

2.

Make sure the paper-release lever is in the upper position.

3.

Release the sprocket units by pushing the lock levers up.

Paper Handling 2-7

Adjust the right sprocket unit, aligning the paper edge with

4.
the arrow mark on the case, and lower the lock lever to lock

it in place. Then slide the left sprocket unit to match the

width of your paper, but do not lock it.

5.

Position the paper support midway between the two sprocket
units. Open both sprocket covers

2-8 Paper Handling

6.

Note that the printer prints on the underside of the paper.
Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. Fit the
first three holes of the paper over the sprocket pins, and
then close the sprocket covers. Slide the left sprocket unit
to remove any slack in the paper. Then push the lock lever
down to lock it in place.

7.

Turn on the printer. It advances the paper to the loading
position automatically upon receiving data.

Note:

If the printer runs out of paper during a print job, load additional
paper on the push tractor and then press the FF button.

Tips for using continuous paper

If you want to change the top-of-form position
permanently, adjust it with the default-setting mode as
described in Chapter 3.

Paper Handling 2-9

Each time you turn on the printer with paper loaded, it
reverses the continuous paper to the paper-park position
and then advances it to the next top of form. Always
remove your printed sheets before you turn off the printer
to keep the top-of-form position accurate.

You can adjust the top-of-form position temporarily. Open
the printer cover and turn the gear marked by + and ­signs to adjust the position. This adjustment is lost when
you turn off the printer or feed the paper backward to the
paper-park position by pressing the FF and FONT buttons

at the same time.

Using the fear-off feature

When you use continuous paper, the tear-off feature makes it
easier to tear off the last printed sheet and saves the paper
normally lost between documents.

Note

You can tell the printer to feed the perforation of your paper to either
the edge of the printer cover or approximately eight centimeters (three
inches) beyond by setting the tear-off feature as described in Chapter 3.

2-10

Paper Handling

Here’s how the tear-off feature works

1.

When the printer finishes printing the last page, and the print
head locates the top-of-form position on the next page, it
automatically advances the paper to the tear-off position.

2.

The READY 9 light blinks to indicate the printer is in the
tear-off mode.

3.

You can easily tear off the page along the perforation.

4.

When the printer receives data, it feeds the paper backward
to the top-of-form position and the printer begins printing.

Removing the push tractor

1.

Tear off the printed pages. Press the FF and FONT buttons at

the same time to feed the remaining paper backward to the
paper-park position. Remove the paper from the push
tractor.

Caution:

Always tear off the printed document and excess paper

before feeding paper backward. Never feed more than one

page backward through the printer.

2.

Turn off the printer.

Paper Handling

2-11

3.

Lower the paper-release lever to the single-sheet position.
Then pull the push tractor straight down and out of the
printer.

4.

Replace the paper guide.

2-12 Paper Handling

Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single
Sheets

When you use the push tractor, you can easily switch to

single-sheet printing without removing the continuous paper
supply.

Switching to single sheets

Here is how to switch from continuous paper to single sheets:

1.

If you have a printed document still in the printer, tear off the
printed pages and then press the FF and FONT buttons at
the same time. This moves the remaining paper back to the
paper-park position

Caution:

Always tear of printed pages befbre back-feeding;

back-feeding too many sheets can cause a paper jam.

Never feed labels backward. They can easily peel off of their
backing and jam the printer. See "Labels" later in

chapter for information on removing labels from the push

tractor.

this

2.

Lower the paper-release lever to the single-sheet position.

Paper Handling 2-13

Caution:

If you lower the paper-release lever while continuous paper
is still loaded, the printer beeps and the

READY

light goes

off. If this happens, raise the pap-release lever and press
the FF and FONT buttons at the same time to reverse the
paper to the paper-part position. You can then lower the
lever again.

3.

The printer is ready to print. When it receives data, it
automatically loads a single sheet from the paper cassette

and begins to print.

Switching to continuous

paper

To switch from single sheets back to continuous paper, follow
these steps:

1.

If a single sheet is in the paper path, p&s the

FF

button to

eject it.

2.

Push the paper-release lever firmly into the continuous-paper

position.

Caution:

If you raise the paper-release lever when a single sheet is in

the paper path, the printer beeps and the READY

off. In this case, lower the paper-release lever and press FF

to eject the page completely. You can then raise the lever

again.

3.

The printer is ready. When the printer receives data, it loads
continuous paper from the push tractor automatically and
begins to print.

light goes

2-14 Paper Handling

Printing on Special

In addition to printing on single sheets and continuous paper,
your printer can print on a wide variety of other paper types,
such as envelopes, labels, and multi-part forms.

Paper

Adjusting the paper-thickness lever

Before you print on special paper, you need to change the
paper-thickness setting for the paper you are using.

1.

Remove the printer cover and set the paper-thickness lever to

match the thickness of your paper. Choose the setting from
the table below.

Note

If you set the paper-thickness lever to 1 or 2, the print speed is
reduced.

Paper Handling 2-15

2. Replace the cover.

Envelopes

You can use the manual insertion slot to print on individual
envelopes.

Before loading an envelope, set the paper-thickness lever to
position 2 and lower the flap on the printer’s rear.

Always load envelopes manually through the rear slot. To
load an envelope, follow the steps described in ‘Loading
paper manually’ earlier in this chapter.

Always feed envelopes by inserting the wide edge into the
printer first, as shown.

Use envelopes under normal temperature and humidity
conditions.

2-16 Paper Handling

Caution:
Printing on the edge of an envelope can damage the print head.
Make sure your application program keeps the printing
entirely within

the

printable area of the envelope. For more

information on the printable area, see the Appendix.

Multi-part forms

You can use carbonless continuous multi-part forms consisting
of two sheets (one original plus one copy).

Use only multi-part forms joined with spot-gluing that is
free of wrinkles and waves. Never print on multi-part
forms joined with metal staples, tape, or continuous gluing.

Set the paper-thickness lever to position 0 when printing
on multi-part forms.

Load multi-part forms with the optional push tractor only.
You load multi-part continuous paper the same way as
ordinary continuous paper. For details, see ‘Loading
continuous paper” on page 2-7.

If you need to adjust the top-of-form position, use your
application software or change the default top-of-form
position as described in Chapter 3. You may have to
experiment to get the position you want.

Labels

You can use the push tractor to print on labels. For best results,
pay attention to these special considerations:

Always choose labels mounted on a continuous backing
sheet with sprocket holes for use with a tractor. Do not try
to print labels on single sheets because labels on a shiny

backing sheet almost always slip a little.

Paper Handling 2-17

Always set the paper-thickness lever to position 1.

Never feed labels backward. They can easily peel off the
backing and jam the printer.

Because labels are especially sensitive to temperature and
humidity, use them only under normal operating
conditions.

Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable
area of the labels. For more information on the printable
area, see the Appendix.

Never leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs. If
you turn on the printer with labels loaded, the printer feeds
them backward to the paper-park position, possibly
resulting in a paper jam

Removing labels from the printer

1.

Tear off the fresh supply of labels at the rear of the printer.

2.

Press the

FF

printer.

3.

Make sure the paper-thickness lever is set to match the
thickness of the paper you install next

2-18 Paper Handling

button to advance the remaining labels out of the

Chapter 3

Using fhe Printer

Operating the Control Panel

Indicator Lights
Buttons

Other control-panel features
Selecting Character Fonts
Using the Default-Setting Mode

Changing the default settings
Default-setting features

Maintenance and Transportation

Cleaningtheprinter
Replacing the ribbon cartridge.
Transporting the printer

Troubleshooting

General problems
Printing problems
Color printing problems
Paper handling problems.

..............................

.........................

...........................

....................

......................

.....................

.......................

....................

........................

........................

....................

..................

..................

.................

.................

................

...................

3-2
3-2
3-3
3-4

3-5

3-6
3-7

3-11
3-14

3-14
3-15
3-16

3-16
3-17
3-17

3-22
3-23

Using the printer

3-1

Operating the Control Panel

You can control the basic operations-form feed, paper loading
and ejecting, and font selection-with the buttons on the
control panel. The indicator lights help you monitor the

printer’s status.

lndicator lights

The control panel lights provide information on certain printer
conditions and settings.

READY

The READY

light is

from the computer.

conditions:

When you turn on the printer
When the printer runs out of paper
When the printer enters the tear-off mode (with the

optional push tractor only)
The print head is overheated. (In this case, the printer waits

until the print head cools and then resumes printing.)

3-2 Using the Printer

on

when the printer is ready to receive data

The READY light

flashes under these

When

an

error

occurs, the READY

FONT

light goes off.

The two font lights indicate the current font setting. These
lights change when you press the

FONT

button. Look at the

font menu on the control panel to determine which font is

selected. For instructions on selecting fonts with the

button, see page 3-5.

Buttons

The two buttons on the control panel perform different
functions depending on the printer mode.

FONT

FONT

Press the
font menu. The two

FONT

button to move through the font choices on the

FONT

indicator lights indicate the current
selection. For more about choosing a font with this button, see
page 3-5.

Hold down the FONT button while you turn on the printer to

enter the default-setting mode. When you are in the
default-setting mode, use this button to make your selection.

For more information about the default-setting mode, see page

3-6.

FF (FORM FEED)

Press the

FF

button during normal operation to load a single
sheet of paper or to advance continuous paper to the next top
of form. You can also press

FF

to eject a page.

When you are in the default-setting mode, use this button to

change the default settings. For more information about the
default-setting mode, see page 3-6.

Using the Printer 3-3

PAPER PARK

If you are using continuous paper, you can press the

FONT

buttons at the same time to move the paper back to the

FF

and

paper-park position

Never feed labels backward; they may peel off their backing
sheet and damage the printer. Use the FF button to feed them

forward.

Other control-panel features

The control panel also gives you access to three special features:

Self Test

Hex dump

Demonstration The demonstration page is a printout of text and

The self test lets you know if your printer is
operating properly. To run the self test, see
page 1-14.

The hex dump allows advanced users to pinpoint
communications problems between the printer
and computer. For instructions on running a
hex dump, see page 3-13.

type enhancements that shows you the unique
capabilities of your printer. To print the
demonstration page, see page 3-13.

3-4 Using the Printer

Selecting Character Fonts

To choose one of the resident fonts available with your printer,

press the

The two font lights come on (0), go off (0), and flash (0) to

indicate the current selection. The table below lists the resident
fonts and shows how the font lights appear for each selection.

FONT

button.

The Roman and Sans serif fonts can be scaled (or sized) from 8
to 32 points in 2-point increments, using your application

software or ESC/P 2
about controlling font size with your application software, see
your software user's guide. For a list of printer commands
available with this printer, see the Appendix.

mmands. If you need information

co

Using the Printer 3-5

Using the Default-Setting Mode

Your printer has internal settings that control such functions as

top-of-form position and page length. These settings are called
default settings because they take effect each time you turn on
the printer.

For most users, the factory settings are best, but you can
change these settings if necessary. The table below lists all the
settings you can change; the next section tells you how to
change them; and the last section describes each setting in
detail.

Note

Most application programs control the printer settings listed here. If

you can use your program to control the printer, you may

never need to use the default-setting mode. In fact, you may find find that
your program settings override your printer’s default settings. Se
your software documentation for more information.

3-6 Using the Printer

Changing the default settings

If you need to change default settings that cannot be changed

by using your software program, you press the control panel

buttons, and the control panel lights show your selections.

Follow the steps below to make your changes:

Note:

You can repeat steps 5

change. Also, you can turn off the printer and start over if you are not
sure about a setting.

1.

Make sure the printer is turned off and paper is loaded in the

paper cassette. If you installed the optional push tractor,

you can use continuous paper for the default-setting mode.

through 7 if you want

to make more than one

2.

To enter the default-setting mode, hold down the

button while you turn on the printer.

The printer automatically loads a sheet of paper and prints out
instructions and a table showing you the languages from
which you can choose. You can print the default-setting
mode messages in English, French, German, Italian, or
Spanish.

Using the Printer

FONT

3-7

3.

Press the

language of your choice; then press the

FONT

button until the

FONT

lights indicate the

FF

button to make

your selection.

Once you press the FF button, the printer prints the current

default settings and further instructions in the selected

language. After

4.

If you want more help text to be printed, press the FONT

printing is finished, go to the next

step.

button. After printing is finished, go to the next step.

If you do not want to print additional help text, press the FF

button and go to the next step immediately.

Note:

When you first use the default-setting mode, it is a good idea to
press the FONT button to print the help text before changing
default settings. The printed text guides you through the
operation. Once you are familiar with the operation, press the FF
button to skip printing.

5. Use the following table to chose the setting you want to
change. Then press the FONT button as many times as
necessary until the FONT lights match your selection.

3-8 Using the Printer

See the following tables in this section.

For example, if you want to change the character table, press
the

FONT

button until the left

the right FONT light is on.

6.

Press the

FF

button to

change the setting. The READY light

FONT light is flashing and

turns on or off to show your selection, as indicated above.
Your new setting is saved automatically and remains in

effect until you change it
If you are changing the character table, page length, or TOF

(top-of-form) position, go to step 7 next. Otherwise, go to
step 8.

7.

If you are changing the character table, page length, or TOF
position, you must make additional changes as shown in
the tables below. Press the

(the FONT lights

and

selection. Then press the

FF button until the set

the READY light) indicate your

FONT button to set the setting.

of lights

Using the Printer 3-9

Once you press the FONT button, the printer advances to the

next item in the previous table and your setting is saved
automatically. The new setting remains in effect until you
change it.

Character table

3-10 Using the Printer

8.

Turn off the printer to exit the default-setting mode. Any
changes you have made remain in effect until you change
them again.

Default-setting features
Character table

Character tables contain the characters and symbols used in
other languages. Your printer includes a wide variety of

character tables.

You can choose from these options:

PC 437 (US)
PC 860 (Portuguese)
PC 865 (Nordic)

Abicomp (Brazilian

PC 850 (Multilingual)

PC 863 (Canadian-French)

BRASCII (Brazilian Portuguese)
PC 861 (Icelandic)

Portuguese)

For specific characters, see “Character Tables’ in the Appendix.

Using the Printer 3-11

Page length

This option is only available when you use continuous paper

with the optional push tractor. You can set the page length to

8.5, 11, 12, or 70/6 (A4) inches.

Skip over perforation

When this option is set to on, the printer ships over the
perforations of continuous paper so that it provides a 1-inch
margin between the last line printed on one page and the first
line printed on the next page. Since most application programs

insert their own top and bottom margins, you should use this

feature only if your program does not provide it. This feature is

active only if you install the optional push tractor.

Tear-off position

When you use continuous paper with the optional push
tractor, this feature advances the paper so you can tear off the
printed page and then reverses the paper so you can use all of
the next sheet. You can choose from two tear-off positions with
this printer.

If you select On cutter, the printer feeds the paper perforation
to the paper cutter on the edge of the printer cover. If you
select Above cutter, the printer feeds the perforation about
25 mm (1 inch) beyond the printer cover.

TOF (top-of-form) position

Whenever you press the

FF

button or send the form feed
command, the printer loads paper to the set top-of-form (TOF)
position. The TOF position is factory set to the 0 position,

which is 8.5 mm (0.33

inches) from the top edge of the paper.

You can set this position from 5.5 mm (-3) to 11.5 mm (+3) in

1-mm increments.

Graphic print direction

You can choose unidirectional or bidirectional as the print
direction for graphics. The printer usually prints text
bidirectionally for fast printing and prints graphics
unidirectionally for precise vertical alignment of print dots. To
print graphics faster, select bidirectional printing. If you have
installed the motor unit included with the color upgrade kit,
make sure the printing direction is always unidirectional even
when you are using the black ribbon.

Download

You must turn on the download function before you download

fonts or other user-defined characters to the printer’s memory.
If you are not using user-defined characters, turn off download

to increase the printer’s memory capacity and the printing

speed.

Auto line feed

When the auto line feed feature is on, each carriage return (CR)

code is accompanied by a line feed (LF) code. If your printed
text is unexpectedly double spaced, set this option off. If text
lines print on top of each other, set it on.

Hex dump/Demonstration

The hex dump/demonstration feature lets you print a
hexadecimal dump or a demonstration page. If you choose hex

dump and then run an application program, the printer prints

the exact codes (in hexadecimal format) it receives from the

computer. You can analyze this information to isolate

communication problems If you select demonstration, the
printer prints a page of text and font selections available with
your printer.

Using the Printer

3-13

Once you select hex dump or demonstration, turn off the
printer and wait five seconds. To enter the hex dump mode or
print your selection, hold down both the

FF

and

FONT

while you turn on the printer.

Maintenance and Transportation

Cleaning the printer

To keep your printer operating at its best, you should dean it
thoroughly several times a year.

1.

Make Sure the printer is turned off. Then remove any paper
as well as the paper cassette and output guide. Also
remove the optional push tractor, if installed.

2.

Use a soft brush to carefully brush away all dust and dirt.

3.

If the outer case or paper cassette is dirty or dusty, clean it
with a soft, clean cloth dampened with mild detergent.
Keep the printer cover in place to prevent water from
getting inside the printer.

buttons

3-14

Caution:

Never use alcohols or thinners to clean the printer; these

chemicals can damage the components as well as the case.
Do not use a hard or abrasive brush.

Do not spray the inside of the printer with lubricants;
unsuitable oils can damage the mechanism. Contact your
dealer or a qualified service person if you think lubrication
is needed.

Be careful not to get water on the printer mechanism or

electronic components.

Using the Printer

Replacing the ribbon cartridge

When the printing becomes faint, you need to replace the
ribbon cartridge. Epson recommends the following ribbon
cartridge:

so15060
so15061

blackribbon cartridge
color ribbon cartridge

Caution:

If you have just used the printer, let the print head cool for a

few minutes before you touch it.

To remove the old ribbon cartridge, first move the print head
to the center of the printer. Then remove the cartridge by
lifting the posts on either side of the unit.

To replace the ribbon cartridge, follow the steps in “Installing
the Ribbon Cartridge” in Chapter 1.

Using the Printer

3-15

Transporting the printer

If you need to transport your printer some distance, carefully
repack it using the original box and packing materials as
described below:

1.

Turn off the printer.

2.

Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet; then

disconnect the interface cable from the printer.

3.

Remove the output guide.

4.

Remove the optional push tractor, if installed.

5. Remove the ribbon cartridge.

6.

Repack the printer, ribbon cartridge, output guide, and

power cord in the original packing materials and place
them in the printer's originalbox

Troubleshooting

Most problems you may encounter while operating your
printer have simple solutions. Read this section if you have a
printer problem.

You can check the operation of your printer using the self test
See “Running the Self Test” in Chapter 1. If the self test works
properly, the problem probably lies in computer, the
software, or the interface cable. If the self test does not work,
contact your dealer or a qualified

3-16 Using the Printer

service person for assistance.

General problems

the lights on the control panel do not come on.

Check that the power cord is properly plugged into the
electrical outlet

If the electrical outlet is controlled by an
automatic timer, use a different outlet.

Plug another electrical device into the outlet to determine

whether the outlet is operating properly.

The lights come on briefly and then go off. The lights stay off
even when the power is turned on again.

Check that the printer’s voltage rating matches the voltage of
your electrical outlet If the voltages do not match, unplug the
printer and contact your dealer immediately. Do not reconnect
the power cord to an electrical outlet

outside switch or

Printing problems

The READY light is on but nothing is printed.

Check that the software is installed properly for your printer.
Check the software's printer settings.

Checkboth ends of the interface cable between the
the computer. Make sure this cable is
parallel cable that meets both the printer and computer
specifications.

a shielded twisted-pair

Using the Printer 3-17

printer and

The READY

light is flashing and nothing

is printed.

The printer may be

The printer sounds like it is printing, but nothing is printed.

The ribbon

section on ribbon

The ribbon may be worn out.

described earlier in this chapter.

The printer makes a strange noise, the beeper sounds several
times, and the printer stops abruptly.

Turn off the printer and check for a paper jam, a ribbon jam, or

other problems. If the printer still does not print correctly,
contact your dealer.

The READY light is flashing, but the printer does not print or it

stops printing abruptly.

The print head is overheated. Wait a few minutes; the printer
resumes printing automatically when the print head cools.

cartridge may not be installed properly. See the

out of paper Load paper in the printer.

installation in Chapter

Replace the ribbon cartridge as

1.

The beeper sounds several times and the READY light goes off.

An error has occurred. Turn off the printer and turn it on

again. If the READY says off, contact your dealer or

qualified service person. (If an error occurs when you try to

switch between single sheets and continuous paper, see page

3-25.)

3-18

Using the Printer

Printed characters have parts missing at the bottom.

The ribbon cartridge may not be installed properly. See the

section on ribbon installation in Chapter 1.

The printout has a smudged appearance.

You

may be printing

at too high

a resolution. Select a lower

resolution using your application software.

The printout is faint

The ribbon may be worn out. Replace the ribbon cartridge as

described earlier in this chapter.
Check that the paper-thickness lever is set correctly for the

paper you are using. See “Adjusting the paper-thickness lever”
in chapter 2.

A line of dots is missing in the printout.

The print head is damaged. Stop printing and contact your

dealer to replace it.

Dots are missing in random positions.

Either there is too much slack in the ribbon or the ribbon has

come loose. Re-install the ribbon cartridge as described in
Chapter 1.

Using the Printer

3-19

The typestyles or characters you selected with your software are

not printed

Check that the software is correctly configured for your printer.
For instructions, see Chapter 1.

The font selected on the control panel does not print.

Your

software may be overriding your control panel setting.

Check the font sitting in your application program.

The wrong characters are printed

The wrong character table is selected. Check the default

character table setting as described in ‘Changing the default
settings" on page 3-7.

Printing starts too high or too low on the page, or the bottom part

of one page is printed at the top of the next page.

Reduce or eliminate the top margin with your application

software.

Use your application software to specify the type of paper you

are using (single sheet or continuous) and to set the
lines-per page setting. These settings take into account the

different requirements of the two printing methods.

Change the TOF position in the default-setting mode. See

"Changing the default settings" on page 3-7.

Also, it is possible to open the printer cover and turn the gear

to make minor adjustments to the loading position for the

current page only. See Chapter 2.

3-20 Using the Printer

All the text is printed on the same line.

Set the auto line feed to on in the default-setting mode so the
printer adds a line-feed code to each carriage return. See
“Changing the default settings” on page 3-7.

The text is printed with extra blank lines between the lines of text

Two line-feed signals are being sent. Set the auto line feed to
off in the default-setting mode. See “Changing the default
settings" on page 3-7.

Line spacing is incorrect. Adjust the line-space setting in your

application software.

Page length does not

match the

length of the paper.

Check the page length set by your application software and
adjust it if necessary.

If you are using continuous paper, change the page length in
the default-setting mode. See “Changing the default settings”
on page 3-7.

Regular gaps occur in the printout.

One-inch ship over perforation may be set. Set the skip over
perforation to off in the default-setting mode. See “Changing
the default settings” on page 3-7.

Vertical printed lines do not align.

Set the graphic print direction to Unidirectional for
unidirectional printing in the default-setting mode. For
instructions, see “Changing the default settings” on page 3-7.

Using the Printer

3-21

Note:

You can use hex dump mode to find the cause of communication
problems. See page 3-13.

If the printer still does not print correctly try the self test
described in Chapter 1. If the self test works properly, the printer

is all right and the problem probably lies in the computer, the

software, or the cable. If the self test does not work, contact your
dealer or a qualified service person.

Color printing problems

Characters are not printed during color printing.

Your software program may not be properly set up for color
printing. Use the program's setup (or install) procedure to
check the printer setting and adjust as needed.

The desired color is not printed

The printing color may not be set correctly. If your application
program is capable of sending control codes, select the color
using the ESC r command (See the “Command Summary”).

The ribbon cartridge may may be installed properly. Remove

the ribbon cartridge and reinstall it. See Chapter 1.

3-22

Using the Printer

The color ribbon angle may need adjusting. Move the color

ribbon adjustment lever to change the ribbon angle slightly as
shown below:

Move the lever towards "+” to increase the angle, or towards

"-” to decrease it.
The ribbon is too much slack, or the colors in the ribbon may

be bleeding slightly at the color borders. Stop printing turn off

the printer, and reinstall the ribbon cartridge. Printing may
also be improved by adjusting the color ribbon adjustment
lever as described above.

Paper handling problems

When the optional push tractor is installed, the platen does not
rotate and paper does not feed

Check that the paper-release lever is set at the lower

single-sheet position.

Using the Printer

3-23

The platen rotates but paper does

not

feed and the READY light

flashes.

The paper cassette is out of paper. Load paper in the cassette.

Paper feeding from the paper cassette is crooked or the paper jams.

Turn off the printer and pull out the paper. Remove the paper

cassette and make sure the paper is properly loaded in the

paper cassette.

Pages fed from the paper cassette do not fully eject.

Use the

FF

button to eject the pages.

Paper feeding from the manual insertion slot is crooked or the
paper jams.

Turn off the printer and pull out the paper. Insert a new sheet
straight into the paper slot. Make sure you are using the right

type of paper. See the paper specifications in the Appendix.

The paper inserted through the manual insertion slot does not

feed

Make sure the paper is far enough to the left

The paper fed from the manual insertion slot does not eject

completely.

The paper may be too long. Only use paper that within the

specified range. See the paper specifications in the Appendix.

3-24

Using the Printer

When you send data or press the FF button, the push tractor does
not feed the paper.

Check that the paper-release lever is in the raised, continuous­paper position

The paper has come off the push tractor. Reattach the paper to
the push tractor.

Paper feeding from the push tractor is crooked or the paper jams.

The position of your paper supply may be preventing it from

feeding straight. Make sure the paper supply is not obstructed

by a cable or some other object.
Make sure that your paper supply is positioned within 1 meter

(3 feet) of the printer.
Check that the holes on the sides of the paper are aligned with

each other. Also, make sure the sprocket units are locked and
their covers are closed.

Check that the paper-thickness lever is set correctly for the
paper you are using. See “Adjusting the paper-thickness lever”
in Chapter 2.

Check that the paper size and thickness are within the

specified range. See the paper specifications in the Appendix.

The paper fed from the push tractor

does

not eject properly.

The page may be too long. Tear off the fresh supply of paper
and eject the page from the printer. Use only paper that is
within the specified length range described in the Appendix.

Using the Printer

3-25

When you

switch

between single

sheets and

continuous paper, the

beeper sounds several times and the READY light goes off.

You have tried to change the paper-release lever position while

paper remained in the printer. Return the paper-release lever

to the previous position and eject paper (or feed paper to the

paper-park position). Then change the paper-release lever
position.

3-26

Using the Printer

Appendix

Technical Specifications

Printer specifications
Interface specifications

Command Summary

Using the command summary
General operation
Paper feeding

Page format
Print position motion
Font selection
Font enhancement
Spacing.
Character handling
Bit image

Graphics
Color printing

Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23

...........................

............................

...........................

..............................

..............................

..............................

...........................

......................

.......................

......................

........................

..................

.........................

.......................

........................

........................

A-2

A-2

A-9

A-13
A-13
A-13

A-13
A-14
A-15
A-16
A-17
A-18
A-19

A-21
A-21
A-22

Appedix A-1

Technical Specifications

Printer specifications

Printing

Printing method:
Printing speed:

24-pin impact dot matrix

Quality

Draft

Letter

Charactors per Inch

Quality

l

The

paper-thickness lever position or an overheated print bad may

slow down the printing speed.

Printing direction:

Bidirectional logic-seeking for text and

graphics. (Unidirectional for graphics can
be selected with the default-setting mode or
the proper software command.)

Line spacing:

1/6inch, 1/8inch, or programmable in
1/36-inch increments

Paper feed speed:

111 ms per l/64-inch line; 2.2 inches/second
with continuous feed and the paper
thickness lever position set to 0.

Input buffer:

11 KB when download default setting is

OFF

1.75 KB when the download default setting
is ON

Color printing (optional):

Method:
Color(s): Black, Magenta, Cyan, and Yellow

10
12

10

12

Charactors/second/line*

180

216

66

79

Shifting the print ribbon

A-2 Appendix

Printable columns:

Character fonts:

You can also select other font/pitch
combinations using ESC/P2 commands.
See the command summary later in this

Appendix for details.

Scalable fonts:

Character tables:
Character sets:

One italic and 8 graphics character tables

14 international character sets and one legal
character set

Appendix A-3

Paper

Single sheets (Paper cassette):

Size
Thickness

Weight

Quantity

Single sheets (Manual insertion):

Width
Length

Thickness
Weight

Continuous paper:

Width
Copies
Thickness

weight

Letter (85

0.065 to 0.14 mm (0.0025 to 0.0055 inches)
64 to 90 g/m2(17 to 24 lb)
50 sheets

148 to 257 mm (5.8 to 10.1 hches)
92 to 364 mm (3.6 to l4.3 inches)

0.065 to 0.14 mm (0.0025 to 0.0055 inches)
52 to 90 g/m2(14 to 24 lb)

101.6 to 254 mm (4 to 10 inches)

Two sheets (one original plus one copy)

0.065 to 0.10 mm (0.0025 to 0.0039 inches)
for one sheet

0.065 to 0.18 mm (0.0025 to 0.0071 inches)
total.

52 to 82 g/m2 (14

40 to 58g/m2(12 to15 lb)persheetin

multi-part forms

x 11 inches) or

Use only carbonless multi-part forms
and use them only with the optional

A4 (210 x 297

to 22 lb) for one sheet

mm)

push tractor.

Note:

You can use recycled paper with this printer under normal temperature

conditions; however, you may notice an increase in ribbon consumption and paper

jamming. If this occurs, use a higher grade of paper. Recycled paper and 24 lb

paper are recommended for use under the conditions from 15°C to 25°C and from

20% to 60% RH.

A-4 Appendix

Labels:

Size

Thickness

Weight

Envelopes:

Size

Thickness
Weight

102 to 254

(4

to 10 inches) width for

backing sheet

635 x 23.8 mm (2 l/2 x l5/16 inches)
minimum for a label

0.07 to 0.09 mm (0.0028 to 0.0035 inches)
for backing sheet

0.16 to 0.19 mm (0.0063 to 0.0075 inches)
total

64 g/m2 (17 lb)

Use continuous type labels only with the
optional push tractor.

Use labels only under normal
temperature and humidity conditions.

No. 6: 166 x 92 mm (65 x 3.6 inches)
No. 10: 240 x 104 mm (95 x 4.1 inches)

0.16 to 0.48 mm (0.0063 to 0.0189 inches)
45 to 75 g/m2(12 to 20 lb)

Use envelopes only under normal

temperature and humidity conditions.
Load envelopes with the longer side

inserted into the rear slot by manual
insertion only.

Appendix A-5

Printable area:

Single sheets (paper cassette and manual insertion) and envelopes

A The minimum top margin is 5.3 mm (0.2 inches).
B

The minimum left margin is 3 mm (0.12 inches).
The minimum right margin is:

3.8

mm (0,15 Inches) for the A4-size paper cassette

9.7

mm (0.38 Inches) for the letter-size paper cassette

3

mm (0.12 inches) for the manual Insertion slot

However, the maximum printable width 203 mm (8 inches).

C The minimum bottom margin is 9.0 mm (0.35 Inches).

A-6 Appendix

Continuous paper

A

The minimum top and bottom margins above and below the
perforation are 9 mm (0.35 Inches).

B

The minimum left and right margins ore 13 mm (0.51 inches).
However, the maximum printable width is 203 mm (8 inches).

Mechanical

Paper-feed methods:

Friction (the paper cassette and manual

insertion)

Push

tractor (optional)

Ribbon:

MTBF:
Print head life:

Blade ribbon cartridge S015060
Life expectancy: 2 million characters at
48 dots per character

Color ribbon cartridge SS015061
Life expectancy: (at 48 dots per character)

Black 1 million characters

Magenta. Cyan
Yellow

0.7 million characters

05

million characters
4000 power-on hours (10% duty)
200 million strokes/wire (using the black

ribbon cartridge)
100 million strokes/wire (using the color
ribbon cartridge)

Appendix A-7

Dimensions and weight:

Electrical

120 V model:

Height

Width

Depth
Weight

130 mm (5.1 inches)

375 mm (14.8 inches)

252 mm (9.9 inches)
45 kg (10 lb)

Rated voltage:
Input voltage range:
Rated frequency range:
Input frequency range:
Rated current:
Power consumption:

230 V model:

Rated voltage:

lnput voltage range:
Rated frequency range:

Rated current:
Power consumption:

Note:

Check the label on the back of the printer for the voltage of your printer.

AC l2O V
AC 103.5 to 132 V
50 to 60 Hz

49.5 to 60.5 Hz

1.4 A
Approx 30 W (during self-test printing in
draft mode at 10 cpi)

AC 220 V-240 V

AC 198 to 261 V

50 to 60 Hz

49.5 to 60.5 Hz

0.7 A
Approx. 30 W (during self-test printing in

draft mode at

10 cpi)

A-8 Appendix

Environmental

Temperature

Operation:

Operation (envelopts,
labels, or recycled paper):
Storage:

Humidity (without condensation):

Operation:
Operation (envelopes,
labels, or recycled paper):
Storage:

Sufety approvals

Safety standards:

US model:

European model:

R.F.I.

US model:
European model:

Interface specifications

5° to 35°C (41° to 95°F)
15° to 25°C

-20° to 55°C (-4° tto 131°F)

5% to 80% RH without condensation
20% to 60% RH

5% to 85% RH without condensation

UL1950 with D3, CSA22.2 No.950 with D3
EN 60950 (TUV), IEC 950 (SEMKO,

DEMKO, NEMKO, SETI)

FCC part 15 subpart B class B
Vfg243 VvDE0878 part 3, part 30),
EN55022 (CISPR PUB22) class B

Your printer is equipped with an 8-bit parallel interface.

Specifications and pin assignments

The built-in parallel interface has the following characteristics:
Data format:
Synchronization:
Handshake timing:
Signal level:

Connectors 36-pin 57-30360 Amphenol connector or

8-bit parallel
STROBE pulse
BUSY and ACKNLG signals
TTL compatible

equivalent

Appendix A-9

The table below provides the connector pin assignments and describes
their respective interface signals.

A-10 Appendix

Note:

The column heading "Direction" refers to the direction of signal flow as

viewed from the printer.

"Return" denotes the twisted-pair return, to be connected at signal ground

level. For the interface wiring, be sure to use a twisted-pair cable for each

signal and to complete the connection on the return side.

All interface conditions are based on the TTL level. Both the rise and fall

times of each signal must be less than 0.2 u.s.

Data transfer must be carried out by observing the ACKNLG or BUSY
signal. Data transfer to this printer can be carried out only after receipt of

the ACKNLG signal or when the BUSY signal is LOW.

Appendix A-11

Initialization

The printer can be initialized (returned to a fixed set of conditions) in
three ways:

Default settings

The table below shows the default settings that become valid when the
printer is initiated.

In addition, hardware initialization clears the data buffer.

A-12 Appendix

Command Summary

Using the command summary

The following section lists and describes all the ESC/P 2 commands by
topic. If a command has

parameters,

they are explained. The parameters are indicated by

no

parameters, it is merely listed. If it has

lowercase italicized letters, usually n. The examples below show how the
parameters are indicated.

ESC @ is a

ESC U 1/0 is a command
ESC $ n1 n2 is a command with two parameters.

ESC D nn is a

command with no parameters.

that uses 1 to turn the feature on and 0 to turn it off.

command with a variable number of parameters.

General operation

ASCII

ESC @

ESC U 1/0

ESC EM n

Paper feeding

ASCII
CR

FF
LF

ESC 0

ESC 2

ESC 3 n
ESC + n

Dec.

64 40

Hex.

85 55
25 19

Dec.

13 0D

12
10
48
50

51
43

Hex.

0C
0A
30
32

33

2B

Description

Initialize Printer

Turn Unidirectional Mode On/Off

Control Paper Loading/Ejecting
n = “R” Eject a sheet

Description
Carriage Return

Form Feed
Line Feed
Select 1/8-inch Line Spacing
Select 1 / 6-inch Line Spacing
Set n l 180-inch Line Spacing
Set n/360-inch Line Spacing

Appendix A-13

Page format

ASCII

ESC ( c nn

ESC ( C nn

ESC C n

ASCII

ESC C 0 n

ESC N n

ESC O

ESC 1 n

ESC Q n

Dec.

Hex.

40 99 28 63

40 67 28 43

67 43

Dec.

Hex.

67 43

78 4E

79 4F

108 6C

81

51

Description

Set Page Format
ESC ( c 40 m1 m2 n1 n2

m = m1 + m2 x 256

m: Top margin in defined units

n = n1 + n2 x 256

n: Bottom margin in defined units

Set Page Length in Defined Unit

ESC ( C 20 n1 n2

n = n1 + n2 x 256

n: Number of defined units

Set Page Length in Lines
n = Number of lines (1-127)

Description

Set Page Length in Inches

n = Number of inches (1-22)

Set Bottom Margin for Continuous

Paper

n = Number of lines (1-127)

Cancel Top/Bottom Margin for

Continuous Paper

Set Left Margin

n = Left margin column

Set Right Margin

n = Right margin column

A-14 Appendix

Print position motion

ASCII

ESC $ n1 n2

ESC \ n1 n2

ESC ( V nn

ESC

( v nn

ESC D nn,

Dec.

Hex.

36 24

92

5C

40 86 28 56

40 118 28 76

68 44

Description

Set Absolute Horizontal Print Position

n = n1 + n2 x 256

n: Specifies print position from left
margin in defined units

Before you define the unit, the

default is 1/60-inch for this

command.

Set Relative Horizontal Print Position

n= n1+ n2 x 256

n: Moves
defined units

Before you define the unit, the

Set Absolute Vertical Print Position
ESC ( V 2 0 n1 n2
n = nl + n2 x 256

n:

margin in defined units

Set Relative Vertical Print Position

ESC ( v 2 0 n1 n2

n = nl + n2 x 256

n:

defined units

Set Horizontal Tabs

Up to 32 tabs (1-255) entered in

ascending order Terminated by 0

current print position in

default is 1/ 120-inch in draft and

1/180-inch in LQ for this
command.

Specifies print position

Moves current print position in

from

top

HT

ESC B nn

VT

ESC J n

9

66 42

11

74 4A

09

0B Tab Vertically

Tab Horizontally

SetVertkalTabs

Up to 16 tabs (1-255); last n should
be 0

Advance

n / l80-inch

Appendix A-15

Font selection

ASCll

ESC k n

ESC X nn

ESC P

ESC M

ESC g

ESC p 1/0

ESC x n

ESC 4

ESC 5

ESC E
ESC F

Dec.

107

88

Hex.

6B

58

80 50

77

103
112 70

120 78

52

4D

67

34

53 35

69

45

70 46

Description

Select Typeface
n = 0: Roman

4: Script

1: San Serif 10: Roman T

2: courier

11: Sans Serif H

3: Prestige

Select Font by Pitch and Point

ESC X m n1 n2
m : Set pitch to 360/m cpi

m = 0 : No change in pitch

m = l : Select proportional

m =

0, 1, 18, 2l, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 60,

or 72

n = n1 + n2 x 256

n : Set point size in 0.5 points
Total points = (n1 + n2 x 256) x 0.5

n = 0 : No change in point
n = 0, 16, 21, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48,

52, 56, 60, or 64 (for Roman and
Sans Serif)

n = 0, 21, 42 (for other typeface)

Cancel ESC X with ESC P, M g, p,

!, or @
Select 10.5 point, 10 cpi
Select 10.5 point, 12 cpi
Select 10.5 point, 15 cpi

Turn Proportional Mode On/Off
Select Letter Quality or Draft

n = 0: Draft

1: Letter Quality

Select Italic Font
Cancel Italic Font

Select Bold Font
Cancel Bold Font

A-16 Appendix

ASCII

ESC ! n

DOG.

33

Font enhancement

Hex.

21

Description

Master Select
To find the value of

the numbers of the typestyles you
want to combine from the list below:
n = 0: 10 cpi

1: l2 cpi
2: Proportional 64: Italic
4: Condensed

8: Bold

n,

add together

16: Double-strike

32: Double-width

128: Underline

ASCll

SI

DC2

so

ESC W1/0

DC4

ESC w1/0
ESC G

ESC H

ESC S 0

ESC S 1
ESC T
ESC ( - nn

Dec.

15 0F

18

14

w

20

119
7l
72
83

83 53
84
40 45 28 2D

Hex.

12

0E

57

14
77
47

48

53

54

Description

Select Condensed Printing
Cancel Condensed Printing
Select DoubIe-Width Printing (one line)
Turn Double-Width Printing On/Off
Cancel Double-Width Printing (one line)
Turn Double-Height Printing On / Off
Select Double-Strike Printing

Cancel Double-Strike Printing
Select Superscript Printing
Select Subscript Printing
Cancel Superscript/Subscript Printing
Select Line/Score

ESC ( - 3 0 1 n1 n2

nl = 1: Underline

2: Strikethrough
3: Overscore

n2 = 0: Cancel score line selected by

1: Single continuous line
2: Double continuous line
5: Single broken line
6: Double broken line

n1

Appendix A-17

ASCII

ESC - 1/0
ESC q n

Spacing

Dec.

Hex.

45 2D

113 71

Description

Turn Underline On/Off
Select Character Style

n =

0: Normal style
1: Outline
2: Shadow
3: Outline with shadow

ASClI

ESC SP n

ESC ( U nn

ESC c n1 n2

Dec.

32

40 85

99

Hex.

20

28 55

63

Description

Set Intercharacter Space

n =

Number of units

of space added

to the space between characters

(1-127)
Units are 1/120 inch (draft) and

1/180 inch (LQ and proportional)
Define Unit

ESC ( U 1 0 n

Define positioning unit as n/3600 inch

n = 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60

n =

10:

default

Set Horizontal Motion Index (HMI)

Select Pitch in n / 360-inch units

Total units = n1 + n2 x 256

A-18 Appendix