Epson Action Laser User Manual

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed 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 more of the following measures:

•

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

•

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver

•

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.

WARNING

The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment

will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Epson America, Inc., could

void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

CAUTION

Use of controls or adjustments, or performance of procedures, other than those specified in this manual may result in hazardous radiation exposure.

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 present appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectriques édicté par le Ministère des Communications du Canada.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Epson America assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Epson America, Inc. shall not be liable against any damages or problems arising from the use of any options other than those designated as Original Epson Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.

Epson is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Action Laser is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.

HGM45-32901

Rev. 6/90

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read all of

Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Unplug this product from

these

instructions and save them for later reference.

the

wall outlet before cleaning. Do use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning the outside of the unit.

Do not use this product near water.

4. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table.

5. The product

Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are

6. provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of

product and to protect it from overheating,

may

fall, causing serious damage to the product.

these

openings must

the

not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product

on a

bed, sofa, rug, or other

similar surface. This product should never be placed near or

over a radiator or

heat

placed in a built in installation unless proper ventilation is

provided.

This product should be operated from the type of power source

indicated

the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of

power available, consult your dealer or local power company.

not

This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug, a

plug having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a grounding type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are

unable to insert the plug into

the

outlet,

contact

your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the grounding type plug.

Do not locate this product where the cord will be walked on.

iii

10. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure

that the

total of the ampere ratings on the products plugged into the extension cord do not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make wall outlet does

sure that

not

the total of all products plugged into the

exceed 15 amperes.

11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Manual, do not attempt to service this product 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.

13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:

When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.

If liquid has been spilled into the product.

If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

D. If the product 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 product to normal operation.

If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.

If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.

Contents

About This Manual

Introduction

Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer

Finding a Place for the Printer Unpacking the Printer

Carrying the Printer ................................

Assembling the Printer

Chapter 2 Testing and Connecting the Printer

Testing the Printer ...............................................................

Connecting to Your Computer .............................................

Chapter 3 Using the Printer

The Control Panel ..................................

SelecType Overview ................................

The SelecType Control Panel ........................

Using SelecType SelecType Options

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

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

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

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

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

1-1

1-2 1-4 1-9 1-10

2-1 2-2

2-11 3-1

3-2 3-7 3-10 3-12 3-20

Chapter 4 Paper Handling

Selecting Paper Selecting a Paper Size Printing Methods Summary

Paper Delivery Choices

Paper Feed Methods ................................

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

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

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

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

4-1 4-2

4-4 4-5 4-6 4-7

Chapter 5 Printer Modes

HP Emulation

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

5-1

5-2

Chapter 6 Maintenance and Transportation

Maintenance .......................................

Maintenance Messages Routine Printer Cleaning General Printer Maintenance. Service Overhaul Transporting Your Printer Unpacking the Printer after Shipment

Chapter 7 Troubleshooting

Error Messages Paper Jam Problems Troubleshooting Power Supply Printing Problems Paper Handling Decline in Print Quality

Appendix A Character Samples and Symbol Sets

HP Mode Resident Fonts ......................................................

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

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

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

............................ 6-19

........................ 6-24

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

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

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

................................ 7-7

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

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

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

6-1

6-2 6-3

6-32 6-33 6-40

7-1

7-2 7-12

7-13 7-14 7-19 7-22

A-1 A-2

Appendix I3 Technical Specifications

Printer Specifications ....................................................................

Interface Specifications ..........................................................

Index

B-1 B-2

B-7

About This Manual

This user’s manual provides step-by-step instructions on setting up and operating your laser printer.

Finding your way around

The introduction includes important information on precautions

you should take while operating your laser printer. It also discusses the features of your ActionLaser,™ tells you where you can get help,

and lists

the

options available for this printer.

Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking and setting up your printer.

Chapter 2 includes information on testing the printer and connecting the printer to your computer. This chapter also describes how to change your print density setting.

Chapter 3 contains information on general printer operation, including SelecType.

Chapter 4 details paper handling. Chapter 5 gives you information on the HP LaserJet series II

mode, including a command summary.

Chapter 6 gives you information on maintaining and

transporting your printer.

If the printer does not operate properly or the printed results are not

what

you expect, see Chapter 7 for a list of possible

problems and recommended solutions.

See the appendixes for information on available symbol sets and a list of technical specifications.

The manual concludes with an index.

About This Manual

A Quick Reference Card at the back of the manual provides a map of SelecType menus.

The back flap area has a front and rear view of the printer designating major parts. Views of the printer’s internal components are also shown.

Conventions used in this manual

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.

About This Manual

Introduction

The ActionLaser printer offers high performance and reliability and a wide range of features. Your printer combines a semiconductor laser with the electrophotographic technology used in office copiers to give you high-quality printing that is both fast and quiet.

The imaging system used by your laser printer is driven by a powerful computer that allows the printer to compose an entire

page in internal memory before printing. The printer can manipulate the page it holds ability to mix text and graphics, create predefined forms, and print with a range of fonts normally associated with typeset material.

Features

In addition to the high-quality printing and ease of operation you have come to expect from Epson@ printers, the ActionLaser printer

offers the following:

HP LaserJet series II emulation resident in the printer, giving you access to the wide range of software written for HewlettPackard laser printers.

memory to provide you with the

An optional Epson FX Identity Cartridge that uses the ESC/P standard. This cartridge comes with its own user’s manual.

Epson’s SelecType feature that gives you touch control over many printer features, including font selection, paper size, and interface settings.

Two slots available for font and identity cartridges.

The ActionLaser can accommodate HP-compatible soft fonts.

A built-in 512KB of RAM. A 2MB memory board option (upgradable to 4MB) is also available.

Introduction 1

Introduction

High-quality, 300 dot-per-inch (DPI) printing at a speed of 6 pages per minute for letter-size paper.

Two paper delivery methods: facedown delivery for collated sheets and face-up delivery for printing on media requiring a straight paper path and for immediate viewing of printed output.

Three built-in interfaces: parallel and RS-232C and RS-422A serial.

A small footprint and a light weight.

Enhanced paper handling capabilities that allow you to select a variety of sizes for automatic feeding without having to change paper cassettes. A manual paper feed capability is also available.

Where to get help

Customer service for Epson products is provided by a network of

authorized Epson Customer Care Centers throughout the United

States.

Call the Epson Consumer Information Center at 1-800-922-8911 for the following:

Customer Care Center referrals

l Technical support referrals

Information on Epson User Groups.

Introduction

introduction

Options and supplies

To locate or purchase accessories or supplies, contact the store where you bought your printer or call Epson Accessories, Inc. at 1-800-873-7766.

Epson FX Identity Cartridge Replacement Toner Cartridge Drum Unit Optional 2MB Memory Board

#IBS100 #IBS300 #IBS301 #IBS401

Memory management

Your printer has a standard memory of 512KB expandable to 2.5MB with the purchase of the optional 2MB memory board. An additional 2MB can be added to the optional memory board for a total memory of 4.5 MB.

If you wish to print full-page, 300 dot-per-inch graphics or perform

other sophisticated print jobs (such as complex pages using a variety of fonts), it is recommended that you install the optional 2MB memory board.

Laser printer precautions

Certain precautions are necessary to ensure the safe and efficient

operation of a laser printer. The following list of precautions applies

whenever you open the printer cover. Even if you are familiar with

other types of printers, be sure to follow these precautions carefully.

Be careful not to touch the fuser, which has a hot surface. (The fuser is the orange-colored area on the left side of the printer, inside the cover.) There is a label on the fuser warning you not to touch the hot surface.

Introduction 3

Introduction

Protect the light-sensitive drum from exposure to light. You should avoid exposing the drum unit to room light for any longer than necessary. Never expose the drum to lighting any stronger than room light. Overexposing the drum may cause abnormally dark or light areas to appear on the printed page, reducing the service life of the drum.

If you must expose the drum, either by taking the drum unit out

of the printer or by leaving the printer cover open, cover the

drum with a soft cloth or sheet of paper.

If you remove the drum, developer unit, or basket from the

printer, always set them on a clean, smooth surface. Be sure not

to scratch or mar the roller on the developer unit or the surface of the drum. Also avoid touching the drum, since oils from your skin can permanently mar its surface and affect print quality.

Never try to force the printer’s components into place. Although

the printer is designed to be sturdy, rough handling can damage

the printer.

Introduction

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Finding a Place for the Printer ..............................................

Unpacking the Printer .............................................................

Carrying the Printer ................................................................

Assembling the Printer

Installing internal components Installing the paper cassette Installing the face-up output tray Attaching the power cord Setting the paper feed mechanism

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

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

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

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

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

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

1-2 1-4 1-9 1-10

1-11

1-19 1-20 1-23 1-23

Setting Up the Printer

1-1

Finding a Place for the Printer

Setting up your printer is a simple process that takes only a few minutes. You need to find a location for your printer and install a few parts. Then your printer will be ready to be connected to your computer.

Before setting up your printer, you need to find a suitable place to use it. Be sure to keep the following points in mind when selecting a place for your printer:

Place the printer on a flat, stable surface.

Place the printer close enough to the computer or workstation for its cable to reach.

Your printer is equipped with four rubber feet. Be sure that your printer stand or desktop is large enough to accommodate all four feet.

Use a grounded outlet-one that has three holes to match the power plug on the printer. Do not use an adapter plug.

Leave adequate room around the printer to allow easy printer operation and maintenance. You need to locate a space that is 35 inches (889 mm) wide and 24 inches (610 mm) deep. When you install the printer in this space, you should make sure there is sufficient room diagram for details.

each side of the printer. See the following

Note: If you plan to install the face-up output tray, you need a space

that

is 44 inches (1118 mm) wide and 24 inches (610 mm) deep. Within this area, you need 13 inches (330 mm) of flat, unobstructed space to the left of the printer, rather than the 5 inches (127 mm) shown in the diagram below. There

should be at least 2 inches (50 mm) of space to the left of the tray after it is installed.

1-2

Setting Up the Printer

Finding a Place for the Printer

To give you enough room to open the printer cover, allow 18 inches

(457 mm) from the bottom of the printer to any shelf or surface

directly above the printer.

Setting Up the Printer

1-3

Finding a Place for the Printer

CAUTIONS:

Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, or dust.

Avoid using electrical outlets that are controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental disruption of power can wipe out valuable information in your computer’s memory and your printer's memory.

Avoid using outlets on the same circuit with large motors or other appliances that might disrupt the power supply.

Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of interference, such as loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones.

Unpacking the Printer

Carefully unpack the outer carton. At the top of the carton is the accessory pack containing several printer components. Beneath the pack is the printer itself, which is protected by white foam packing material.

1-4

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer

Remove the accessory pack and make sure you have the accessories shown below.

Setting Up the Printer

1-5

Unpacking the Printer

Carefully remove the printer from the outer carton, lifting the printer by the recesses on each side of it. Set the printer on a flat, stable surface. Since the printer is heavy, you may need to have someone help you lift it.

Packing material

Remove the white foam packing material and plastic bag protecting the printer. Also remove the plastic bag from the paper cassette.

Note: It is very important to save

all

packing materials. You

need to repack the printer in these materials whenever you ship the printer. Chapter 6 has details on transporting your printer.

1-6

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer

Raise the top cover of your printer by lifting up on the latch.

Top cover

Remove the tape and foam from the printer and paper cassette as shown on the next page.

Setting Up the Printer

1-7

Unpacking the Printer

CAUTION: Be careful to remove all the tape and pieces of foam from the inside and outside of the printer, especially the foam taped inside the printer. Save the foam; you’ll need it whenever you transport the printer.

To close the cover, push only on the ridged portion of the lid.

1-8

Setting Up the Printer

Carrying the Printer

When you move your printer to the location you selected for it, carry the printer by holding the recesses on each side of the printer, as shown below.

Note: The printer weighs about 36 lb. (16 kg) and should be carried with care. You may need to have someone help you lift it.

Setting Up the Printer

1-9

Assembling the Printer

Before you can use the printer, you need to install a few important parts. Before proceeding, familiarize yourself with the components shown below. The basket is inside the printer and must be removed when you install certain parts. The other parts shown were shipped in the accessory pack.

1-10

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

Note: Put the developer cleaner and magnetic cleaner in a safe place for now. You’ll need to use the developer cleaner if vertical white lines appear on your printed pages. The magnetic cleaner is

useful for removing excess toner from the paper guide. Usage of

these two accessories is described in Chapter 6.

Installing internal components

This section describes how to install internal components, including the drum unit, drum replacement cartridge, cleaning pad, and developer unit.

The drum unit, drum replacement cartridge, cleaning pad, and toner cartridge (which is attached to the developer unit) need to be replaced periodically. See Chapter 6 for details.

CAUTION: When handling the drum, developer unit, or basket, always set them on a clean, smooth surface. Be sure not to scratch or mar the roller on the developer unit or the surface of the drum. Also avoid touching the drum, since oils from your skin can permanently mar its surface and affect print quality.

Setting Up the Printer

1-11

Assembling the Printer

Raise the top cover of your printer by lifting up on the latch.

1. Remove the basket and place it on a flat surface.

Locate the cleaning pad in the accessory pack. Holding the green

felt tabs on the cleaning pad, insert the pad into the indentation on the orange-colored fuser on the left side of your printer.

WARNING: Never touch the fuser. When the printer is in operation, the fuser becomes very hot.

1-12

Setting Up the Printer

Locate

the

drum unit, which you can recognize by the bright

green drum, and the cotton swab.

CAUTION: Do not expose the photosensitive drum to

light

any

longer than necessary (a few minutes at most). It

is recommended

that

you cover the drum with a soft cloth or sheet of paper whenever the drum is exposed. Also, do not touch the surface of the drum.

Assembling the Printer

Place the drum unit on a clean, smooth surface and locate

the

main charger wire, which extends along the length of the green

drum inside a slot in the silver bar directly over the drum. The

wire is silver and very thin, so it is difficult to see.

CAUTION: The main charger wire is very delicate. Do not

press

it too hard or it may break. Also, never touch

the

wire.

Setting Up the Printer

1-13

Assembling the Printer

Gently clean the main charger wire with the cotton swab by rubbing the swab along the length of the wire. You need to insert the

cotton

swab a fraction of an inch into the slot to reach

the wire.

Set

the

drum unit aside for a moment and locate the developer

unit, which is labelled: Initial Toner Cartridge.

CAUTION: Do not touch the roller on the developer unit.

1-14

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

Hold the developer unit horizontally, with the toner cartridge

8. label right side up. Gently shake the unit back and forth a few times to distribute the toner.

Install the drum unit (lifting it by its green handles) and the

9. developer unit in the basket. The drum unit goes closer to the

orange tab.

Setting Up the Printer

1-15

Assembling the Printer

10. With the top cover of the printer open, align the blue arrow on the right side of the basket with the blue arrow on the printer case. (The arrows point toward each other when the unit is

properly installed.) Gently lower the basket into place.

1-16

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

11. Press down simultaneously

the drum unit’s two green

handles until the drum unit clicks into place.

12. Unfasten the tape holding the clear plastic film in place on the initial toner cartridge, which is attached to the developer unit.

Setting Up the Printer

1-17

Assembling the Printer

13. Pressing down on the toner cartridge to hold it firmly in place, pull out the film. (Pull the film up and out toward the back of the printer.) Pull firmly until the other end of the film comes out of the cassette.

14. Insert the drum replacement cartridge in the slot at the right rear comer of the printer frame (with the printer cover open). Make sure that the indicator light faces the front of the printer. Press down on the cartridge until it is inserted all the way.

1-18

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

15. Now close the printer cover by pressing down on the ridged area on the right side of the cover.

Installing the paper cassette

Locate the paper cassette opening on the right side of the printer. Align the hooks on either side of the paper cassette with the slots

in the opening. Make sure you have removed any tape in the opening.

Insert the paper cassette into the printer in the direction of the arrow on the side of the cassette. Push the cassette in until it goes no further, then lower the end of the cassette (the end you insert paper into) until the cassette drops into place.

CAUTION: It is particularly important to lower the cassette into place. If the paper cassette is not installed properly, the control panel may display a PAPER

EM P TV error.

Setting Up the Printer

1-19

Assembling the Printer

Installing the face-up output tray

The face-up output tray lets you print heavier paper and other media requiring a straight paper path. (See Chapter 4 for details.) The face-up output tray also lets you view your printed output the moment it comes out of the printer.

If you wish to install the face-up output tray, follow these steps:

Locate the two face-up output tray hooks on the left side of your printer.

Mount the face-up output tray onto the hooks as shown.

1-20

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

WARNING: When you open the printer cover, the tray touches the desktop and slides to the left of the printer as shown below. Before you install the tray, make sure there is at least 13 inches (330 mm) of unobstructed area to the left of the printer. Otherwise your tray may run into an obstruction and break when you open the cover.

Setting Up the Printer

1-21

Assembling the Printer

When it is not in use, you can leave the tray attached to the printer but rotated so that it rests on top of the printer. However, you should lower the tray before you open the printer cover.

Note: The printer is factory set for face-down output on top of the printer. If you prefer face-up delivery, simply move the paper path selector (located on the left side of the printer) to the down position.

1-22

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

Attaching the power cord

Before attaching the power cord, make sure that the power switch on the left side of

the

printer is turned off. (It is off

the O side of the switch is pushed down.)

when

Attach the power cord to the socket at the back of the printer, as shown below. Then plug the other end of the power cord into a properly grounded outlet.

Note: Do not connect the printer to your computer until the next chapter.

Setting the paper feed mechanism

Follow the steps below if you are using the printer for the first time or if you

have

just transported the printer: Be sure the printer is turned off; then remove the paper cassette. Turn on the power by pressing

the

side of the power switch

marked with the vertical bar. The power indicator lights and a

PAPER EMPTY

message appears.

Setting Up the Printer

1-23

Assembling the Printer

Wait at least five seconds, then turn off the power and reinsert the paper cassette. Push the cassette in until it goes no further, then lower the right side of the cassette (the side you load paper into) until it drops into place.

This procedure causes the paper feed mechanism, which can become misaligned when you transport the printer, to resume its original position. If you do not perform these steps before using your printer for the first time or after transporting your printer, paper jams may result.

1-24 Setting Up the Printer

Chapter 2

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Testing the Printer

Turning on the power Loading paper Performing the self test

Adjusting print density

Performing the font and status print tests

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Choosing an interface Connecting the parallel interface Connecting the serial interface Setting the DIP switches for the serial interface

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

...........

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

.......

2-2 2-2 2-3 2-5 2-6 2-8

2-11 2-11 2-12 2-13 2-14

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

2-1

Testing the Printer

The laser printer has three built-in print tests: the self test, font print test, and status print test. These tests let you check the operation of your printer and obtain information on printer status.

It is recommended that you run the self test before you begin using your printer to make sure the printer is operating correctly. This test is also useful for checking the print density setting on your printer. The other two tests, the font print test and status print test, can be run any time you need information on fonts or printer status.

Before running any of these tests, make sure you have removed all protective materials from the printer and that you have installed all components as described in Chapter 1.

Note: You do not need to connect the printer to your computer before running these tests. (Connecting your printer to your computer is described later in this chapter.)

Before performing these tests, it is necessary to turn on the power and load paper as described below.

Turning on the power

Make sure the printer is plugged in.

Turn on the power by pressing the side of the power switch marked with the vertical bar.

2-2

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Testing the Printer

The power indicator lights and a

PLEASE WA I T

message

appears while the printer warms up. (It takes about a minute for

the printer to warm up.) Then the

PAPER EMPTY

message

appears. If the display remains blank, see Chapter 7 for

troubleshooting information.

CAUTION: After turning off the printer, always wait at

least five seconds before switching it back on.

Loading paper

The paper cassette holds up to 150 paper, follow

the

steps below. See Chapter 4 for more information

sheets

of 20 lb. paper. To load

on paper handling.

Remove the paper cassette.

Open the manual feed tray

the paper cassette. Slide the paper

guides all the way apart, as shown below.

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

2-3

Testing the Printer

Take a stack of paper and fan it. Next, tap the edges of the paper on a flat surface to even up the stack.

Insert the stack of paper into the paper cassette, making sure that the top of the stack does not cover the red line inside the paper cassette. Push the paper in gently as far as it can go.

Slide the paper guides together (if necessary) until they are both resting lightly against the paper.

Close the manual feed tray.

Reinsert the paper cassette into the printer with the arrow on the side of the cassette pointing into the printer. Push the cassette in until it goes no further and lower the end of the cassette (the end you load paper into) until it drops into place.

CAUTION: It is particularly important to lower the

cassette into place. If the cassette is not installed properly,

the message

PAPER

EMPTY appears in the display.

2-4 Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Testing the Printer

If you are not using letter size paper (the factory default setting

for your printer), see the section on SelecType in Chapter 3 for

details on setting the correct paper size.

Performing the self test

Successful completion of the self test indicates that you have set up

your printer correctly and

that

you are ready to connect the printer to your computer. If you are unable to print this test, see Chapter 7 for troubleshooting information.

The self test also lets you check your print density setting. After you print

the

self test, check the character pattern to see whether you are satisfied with the print density. The section in adjusting print density describes how to

this

change

chapter on

the print density

setting. Follow

the

steps below to perform the self test:

CAUTION: Never open

the

cover while the printer is

printing.

Be sure that your printer is plugged in and the power is on before performing the self test.

Be sure that your printer is off line. display.) If not, press the

ON LINE

(OFF LINE

appears on your

button to set the printer off

line.

Press the

MANUAL

and

SPECIAL

buttons

your control panel at

the same time.

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

2-5

Testing the Printer

When you release the buttons,

SELF TEST

appears on the

display and the printer prints a self test.

Notes:

It is important to press the buttons

For more information on using the control panel, see

at the same time.

Chapter 3.

Part of the character pattern is shown below. Look at your printout to determine whether the print is too light or too dark. If you need to change

the

print density, see the following section

adjusting

print density.

Adjusting print density

If the self test you printed is too light or too dark, adjust the print density as follows:

Open the printer cover by lifting up on the latch.

2-6

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Testing the Printer

Locate the density control knob, which is in the front right comer inside the printer.

To make the print darker, turn the knob clockwise.

Note: Increasing the print density increases toner consumption. If you increase the print density, you need to replace the toner cartridge more frequently.

Darker

To make the print lighter, turn the knob counterclockwise.

Lighter

Note: If you wish to return the print density to the factory default setting, point the arrow on the knob toward the gray dot on the printer case.

Testing and Connecting Your Printer 2-7

Testing the Printer

Close the printer cover.

Print the self test again to check the new print density setting. (To print the self test, make sure the printer is off line; then press the

MANUAL

and

SPECIAL

buttons at the same time.)

Performing the font and status print tests

There are two other tests you can perform, in addition to the self test. The font print test gives you information on available HP fonts and the status test lists printer settings. Like the self test, the successful completion of either of these tests indicates that you have correctly set up your printer and that you are ready to connect the printer to your computer.

The font print test

The font print test gives you details on available HP fonts, including font source and font ID number, pitch, point size, available symbol sets, and a print sample.

The symbol set ID numbers listed on the font print test (in the symbol set column) provide the unique portion of the escape sequence needed to select that particular symbol set. For more information on symbol sets, see Appendix A, and for more information on escape sequences, see Chapter 5.

Follow the steps below to perform the font print test:

Be sure that your printer is plugged in and the power is on.

Be sure that your printer is off line. display.) If not, press the

ON LINE

(OFF LINE

appears on your

button to set the printer off

line.

2-8

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Testing the Printer

To perform the font print test, press the

SPECIAL

When you release the buttons, display and

buttons at the same time.

FONT PRINT

the

printer outputs a font print test.

CONTINUE/RESET

appears on the

A portion of the font print test printout is shown below.

and the

Internal I00

I01 COURIER

I02

I03

I04

I05 COURIER BOLD

I06

I07

I08 LINE PRINTER

COURIER

COURIER BOLD

10 12

16.6 8.5

10U

11U

10U

11U

Status print test

The status print test gives you information on current printer settings, such as paper size, number of copies selected, and font source and number.

Follow the steps below to perform the status print test:

Be sure that your printer is plugged in and the power is on.

Be sure that your printer is off line.

display.) If not, press

the ON LINE

(OFF LINE

appears on your

button to set the printer off

line.

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

2-9

Testing the Printer

3. Press the and buttons at the same time.

When you release the buttons,

STATUS PRINT

appears on the

display and the printer outputs the status print test.

A portion of a sample printout is shown below.

Function & Menu Status

Paper Size Copies Auto Continue Status print Power-ON Data Buffer Over Run Buffer Buzzer

Letter

1 ON OFF ON-LINE

2K Bytes

10 % ON

Interface

Parallel

Page Length

Top Margin Text Length Current LPI

2-10

Current Page Format

Letter 8.5 x 11 inch

Vertical

66 Lines

3 Lines

60 Lines

6 LPI

Left Margin 0 Columns Right Margin 80 Columns Current CPI

Printable Chara 80 Characters

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Horizontal

10 CPI

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

For the laser printer to be able to receive and interpret information from your computer, both devices need to be set up so that they can communicate correctly. This requires having cable and selecting select from

Parallel

l RS-232C serial l RS-422A serial.

the

right communications settings. You

following built-in interfaces:

Choosing an interface

When connecting the laser printer to your computer, you first have

to determine whether a parallel or serial connection should be used. Many computers only provide one type of connection for a printer. If both serial and parallel connections are available, it is normally

better to use

the

parallel interface for the printer, leaving the serial

port of your computer free for devices such as modems. If you are ii any doubt about which type of connection to make, computer dealer.

the correct

consult

interface

can

your

Your printer is set up at the factory for parallel communication. If

your computer also uses parallel communication, you should be able to connect up immediately, provided you have a shielded parallel interface cable.

If, however, you find

that

you need a serial interface, you must change the communications settings with SelecType as described in Chapter 3. You also need to find out which type of serial interface is required by your computer (RS-232C or RS-422A) and set the printer’s DIP switches accordingly. (The DIP switches are factory set for the RS-232C serial interface.)

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

2-11

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Connecting the parallel interface

If you are using the laser printer’s standard parallel interface, you must use a shielded parallel interface cable.

Follow these steps to connect the parallel interface:

Turn off both your printer and computer.

Plug the connector securely into the parallel interface of the printer as shown. (The parallel interface is the leftmost connector, if you are facing the back of your printer.)

Lock the wire clips together into place on each side of the connector.

2-12

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Plug the other end of the cable into your computer.

Now that you have connected the parallel interface, see Chapter 3 for information on operating your printer.

Connecting the serial interface

If you are using the printer’s serial interface, make sure that you have a properly shielded cable, and that it is the correct one for your computer.

Follow these steps to connect the serial interface:

Turn off both the printer and the computer.

Plug the cable connector securely into the serial interface as shown. (The serial interface is just to the left of the DIP switches

if you are facing the back of your printer.)

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

2-13

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Use a screwdriver to fasten the screws of the connector, if required.

Plug the other end of the cable into your computer. (Fasten the

screws of the connector to the interface, if required.)

This completes the connection of the serial interface cable. Now you need to set the DIP switches for the type of serial interface you are

using.

Setting the DIP switches for the serial interface

The DIP switches are factory set for the RS-232C interface. If you are using the RS-422A interface, you need to change the DIP switches according to the table below.

2-14

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

The DIP switches are located at the back of your printer and are numbered 1 through 8.

The DIP switch settings are listed below. Use the tip of a ballpoint pen or another small pointed object to turn the switches ON or OFF. Pressing a switch down sets it ON and up sets it OFF.

Note: Turn your printer off before setting the switches. Then turn it back on to implement your changes.

3 RS-232C RS-422A

* If DIP switch 5 is turned ON when the RS-232C serial interface is in use, pin 25

on the connector is set to +5V; if the DIP switch is turned OFF, the pin on the connector is not used.

OFF OFF OFF OFF * OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON

5 6

OFF

Testing and Connecting Your Printer 2-15

Connecting the Printer to

Your

Computer

Now that you have connected the serial interface cable and checked the DIP switches, you need to set the printer for serial communication in SelecType. You may also need to change several

interface settings, such as baud rate and parity, before your printer and computer can communicate properly. See the SelecType section in Chapter 3 for details on serial interface settings and for other information on operating your printer.

Note: The serial interface settings on your printer must match the serial interface settings on your computer.

2-16

Testing and Connecting Your Printer

Chapter 3

Using the Printer

The Control Panel

Control panel display Indicator lights Buttons

SelecType Overview

SelecType main menu. Interface submenu

HP emulation submenu

The SelecType Control Panel ...............................................

Using SelecType

Enter SelecType

Display main menu functions

Enter menu options

Set an option Display submenu functions and select options Exit SelecType and reset the printer Initializing SelecType to factory default settings SelecType practice example

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

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

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

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

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

............................ 3-8

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

........................... 3-9

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

.................................. 3-12

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

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

.................................... 3-14

.......

................ 3-17

...... 3-18

....................... 3-19

3-2 3-2

3-4

3-4 3-7 3-9

3-10 3-12 3-13

3-13 3-14

SelecType Options

Main menu options HP emulation submenu options Interface submenu options

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

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

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

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

Using the Printer

3-20 3-20 3-23 3-25

3-1

The Control Panel

The control panel on the laser printer gives you control over many printer functions, including interface settings, font selection, and paper size. The control panel is made up of three elements: a display, lights, and buttons. The buttons let you select options for SelecType printer functions, while the indicator lights and the display let you monitor

Control panel display

The display on the left side of the control panel lets you monitor the printer’s status and view SelecType functions and their available options. The display gives you three types of information, as described below:

Status messages, which appear in the display as part of the normal operation of your printer, indicate the printer’s current status.

the

current status of the printer.

DATA IN BUFFER

FONT PRINT

3-2

Using the Printer

This message appears after the printer receives data without a form feed command. The printer is waiting to receive more data or a form feed command or for

you to

press the

CONTINUE/RESET

button to

print the page. This

message

appears when you run the font print test, which prints all available fonts in HP emulation.

The Control Panel

INITIALIZE

ON LINE [LTR]

OFF LINE [LTR]

PLEASE WA I T

PROCESSING

PUSH MANUAL KEY

This message appears when you reset

printer functions to the original factory default settings. This procedure is described in the section on initializing SelecType in

this

chapter.

This message appears when the printer is

on line, ready to receive data. The current paper size is shown on the right (for

example, L

for letter size paper).

This message appears when the printer is

off line, unable to receive data. The current

paper size is shown on the right.

This message appears for approximately

60 seconds while the printer warms up and

completes self-diagnostic checks.

This message appears while the printer is

receiving data and printing. It changes to

ON L I NE

before the paper is ejected.

This message appears during manual

printing. See Chapter 4 for instructions on

manual feed printing.

RESET

SELF TEST

STATUS PRINT

This message appears when you reset

printer functions to their SelecType

settings.

This message appears during the self test,

which prints a character pattern that lets

you check the print density and see

whether your printer is operating correctly.

This message appears during the status

print test, which gives you information on

current printer settings.

Using the Printer

3-3

The Control Panel

3-4

Using the Printer

Maintenance and error

messages

inform you of required maintenance or of an existing error condition. For a detailed list of maintenance and error messages, see Chapter 7.

SelecType options let you control many printer functions, such as font selection and paper handling. For information

SelecType instructions and messages, see the SelecType sections later in this chapter.

Indicator lights

POWER ERROR

MANUAL

Buttons

SelecType

DOWN

On when the printer power supply is on. On to indicate an error condition. Details

the

error condition appear in the

display. Indicates

that

the printer is in

the

manual

paper feed mode.

When the printer is off line, use this button to enter or exit SelecType.

In SelecType mode, these two buttons allow you to move through SelecType

menus and submenus.

The Control Panel

SET

CONTINUE/RESET

Press this button to switch from a SelecType function to a list of options for

that function and to set SelecType options.

This button has several functions.

Printing data in buffer - When is

line and print data is in the buffer and

new

data is received within five

the

printer

seconds, the message DATA IN BUFFER appears. Pressing the

CONTINUE/RESET

button at that time clears the buffer by printing a page.

Resetting the printer - When the printer is off line, holding this button down for three seconds clears the buffer, resets printer functions to their current SelecType settings, and clears temporary soft fonts and temporary macros. The message

RESET

appears briefly in the display.

Clearing certain error messages - When certain error

messages

appear in the display, this button can be pressed to clear them and set the printer

line. Pressing this button also overrides paper size messages. See the Error Messages section in Chapter 7 for more information.

MANUAL

The

CONTINUE/RESET

button also has several functions related to SelecType. See the section on

the

SelecType control panel

for details. When

the

printer is off line, use this button to alternate between manual and automatic paper feed modes.

Using the Printer

3-5

The Control Panel

SPECIAL

ON LINE

Press this button to set a higher fuser temperature. Use this setting for envelopes and heavy (27 through 34-pound) paper.

When this option is on, a pound sign (#)

appears at the right of the display. The default setting is off.

Press this button to set the printer on line or off line. This button is disabled in the SelecType mode.

3-6

Using the Printer

SelecType Overview

The SelecType feature lets you control many of your printer’s functions, from the simplest to the most complex.

With SelecType’s menu-based system, you can easily change the printer’s configuration without DIP switches. (It is necessary to use DIP switches only if you need to select the RS-422A serial interface. See Chapter 2 for details.) Also, SelecType lets you select many font and print functions without software commands.

You can enter the main menu to perform routine printing functions. In addition, you can enter submenus to control serial interface settings and emulation options for HP and FX emulation.

Notes:

Your application program may send printer commands that

temporarily override the emulation submenu settings. If you are not getting the results you expect, check your application software settings.

Epson FX emulation is available through an optional Epson

FX Identity Cartridge. SelecType options for FX emulation are

discussed in the manual that comes with the FX cartridge.

A brief description of each menu function is given below. See the SelecType Options section in this chapter for a detailed description of each function and its available options. The sections on the control panel and using SelecType explain SelecType operation.

Note: See the Quick Reference Card at the back of this manual for a map of SelecType menus.

Using the Printer 3-7

SelecType Overview

Main Menu

PAPER SIZE COPIES AUTO CONT EMULATION

I/F STATUS PRT POWER ON DATA BUFFER OVER LOAD BUZZER

Interface Submenu

BAUD RATE PROT DATA BIT PARITY STOP BIT ROBUST-XON

SelecType main menu

PAPER SIZE COPIES

AUTO CONT

(Automatic Continue1

EMULATION

I/F

(Interface)

HP Emulation Submenu

FONT SOURCE FONT NUMBER FORM SYMBOL

Specifies

Selects

Lets

the

size of the paper.

the number of copies to print.

the

printer continue printing instead

of stopping under certain error conditions. Allows you to select the emulation mode

and enter the emulation submenus.

Allows you to set up the printer’s interface to conform to

the

requirements of

your computer.

STATUS PRT

POWER ON

DATA BUFFER

OVER LOAD

BUZZER

3-8

Using the Printer

Allows you to run the status print test each time the printer is powered on.

Selects either on line or off line mode when the printer is powered on.

Sets the size of

the

data buffer in kilobytes.

Selects the data buffer overflow value.

Turns the buzzer on or off.

Interface submenu

SelecType Overview

BAUD RATE PROT

(Protocol)

DATA BIT PARITY STOP BIT

ROBUST-XON

HP emulation submenu

FONT SOURCE FONT NUMBER

FORM

(Form Length)

SYMBOL

Sets the data transfer rate. Selects the protocol.

Selects the number of data bits. Selects the parity. Selects

the

number of stop bits.

Turns Robust-Xon on and off.

Sets the default font source location.

Allows you to specify font number based on the font source selected.

Sets the number of lines that can be printed on the paper.

Selects a symbol set.

Using the Printer

3-9

The SelecType Control Panel

3-10

Using the Printer

This section examines the SelecType portion of the control panel and describes the steps

change

options for each function.

The SelecType portion of the control panel consists of the display,

the

SelecType

button, the and buttons, and the

addition, the

SelecType.

necessary

CONTINUE/RESET

to select SelecType functions and

button

SET

has

several functions in

button. In

The left side of the display side of the display

shows the

SelecType

shows

SelecType functions. The right

options for each function.

Use

the

SelecType

button to enter and exit SelecType. (After exiting SelecType, you must use

the CONTINUE/RESET

button as described below to implement your changes.)

The button moves you up a menu or

The button moves you

decreases

increases

numeric values.

down

a menu or

The main menu works in a loop, so that pressing the button at last function takes you around to the first function; pressing button at the first function takes you to the last function.

the

The SelecType Control Panel

Use of these buttons is described in more detail in the following sections.

CONTINUE/RESET

CAUTION: This initializing procedure returns all SelecType options to their factory settings, cancelling all changes you have made. It should be used with care.

This button has several uses related to SelecType.

Implementing SelecType changes - After you exit SelecType (with the printer off line), hold down seconds (until the message

this

button for three

RESET

appears) to make your SelecType settings

take effect.

Initializing SelecType settings to factory

defaults - In SelecType mode, hold down

the

CONTINUE/RESET

seconds (until the message

button for three

INITIALIZE

appears). Then hold down the button for three more seconds (until the message

RESET

appears) to return all SelecType functions to the factory settings. See the section on initializing SelecType for full details.

SET

Use the

SET

button to select and set

SelecType options.

Using the Printer

3-11

Using SelecType

This section describes how to change SelecType functions. For descriptions of section later in this chapter. You

each time you use SelecType. Details follow the list below:

l Enter SelecType

Display main menu functions

Enter menu options

Set

Display submenu functions and select submenu options

(if desired)

l Exit SelecType

Reset the printer with the

Details of each step are provided below.

Enter SelecType

option

each

available option, see

CONTINUE/RESET

need to

the

SelecType Options

perform several basic steps

button.

To enter SelecType, set the printer off button. Then press the

SelecType

line

by pressing

button. You are

menu, which contains these menu functions:

PAPER SIZE COPIES AUTO CONT EMULATION

I/F STATUS PRT POWER ON DATA BUFFER OVER LOAD BUZZER

3-12

Using the Printer

the ON LINE

now

in the main

Using SelecType

PAPER SIZE = LTR*

The left side of the display shows menu functions. The right side

shows

option indicates that it is

options for each function. An asterisk (*) to

the current setting.

the

right of an

Display main menu functions

PAPER SIZE = LTR*

As soon as you enter the main menu, you see the first function and the current option for

that

function. The function is blinking.

(Blinking functions or options appear shaded in this chapter.) You

can

use the to move down the list of functions; you can use

the A to move back up

the list.

Enter menu options

Move to the function you wish

to change.

Press the

SET

button to activate the list of options. The menu function stops blinking, and the menu option starts blinking, indicating that you can now choose an option.

PAPER SIZE = LTR*

Use the and buttons to move forward and backward through

the various options.

Using the Printer 3-13

Using SelecType

Set an option

When you reach the option you wish to use, press the An asterisk (*) appears next to the option, indicating that it

SET

button.

has

been set. The option stops blinking and the function starts blinking. To implement your SelecType

changes,

see

the

section on exiting

SelecType later in this chapter. If you want to return to

option, make sure the current option

the

menu functions

without

(the one with the

setting a new

asterisk) appears in the display. (If necessary, use the arrows to move to the current option.) Press the the menu function begins blinking. You can

SET

button. The option stops blinking and

now move to a new

function.

Display submenu functions and select options

When you want to enter the emulation or interface submenus

from

the SelecType main menu, follow the steps described below.

Note: Options for each function are described in

Options section later in

this

chapter.

the

SelecType

HP emulation submenu

To enter the emulation submenu, follow the steps described below:

Press

the or

button

until you see

the

EMULATION

function

in the display.

Press the

necessary,

SET

button to

switch

to the current option.

use the or button to select

the HPL J2

option.

EMULATION = HPLJ2*

3-14

Using the Printer

Press the

SET

button again to set the emulation.

SET

button a third time to enter the emulation

submenu, where you can change these options:

FONT SOURCE FONT NUMBER FORM SYMBOL

Use the or button to select a function to

change.

Using SelecType

Note: This submenu does not work in a loop. Pressing

the

button when the first item is displayed or the button when

the

last item is displayed causes you to exit the emulation

submenu and return to the main menu.

Press the blinking, and

Use the or button to move to

Press the

SET

button to activate the option. The function stops

the

option starts blinking.

the

option you

SET

button. An asterisk (*) appears next to the option,

want

to set.

indicating that the new option has been set. The option stops blinking; the function starts blinking.

10. To exit the emulation submenu and return to

the

main menu,

use the or button to take you back to the main menu. The

message EMULATION = HPLJ2* appears.

If you wish to exit SelecType at this point, see

the

section on

exiting SelecType later in this chapter.

Using the Printer

3-15

Using SelecType

Interface submenu

To enter the interface submenu from the main menu, follow the steps below:

Press

the

or button until you see

the

I/F function in the

display.

Press the starts blinking, indicating that it

the

SET

button to activate the menu option. (The option

I/F function

has

been activated.)

is set to the PARALLEL

option, press the

button to select the SERIAL option.

Press the

SET

button to set the

SERIAL

option. An asterisk (*)

appears next to SERIAL.

I/F=SERIAL*

Press the where you can

SET

button a third time to enter the interface submenu,

change

options for

the

menu functions listed

below. (The SelecType Options section in this chapter describes

options for these functions in detail.)

BAUD RATE PROT DATA BIT PARITY STOP BIT ROBUST-XON

Use the or button to move to a function you want to change.

Note: This submenu does not work in a loop. Pressing the A button when BAUD button

when ROBUST-XON

RATE

is displayed or pressing

is displayed causes you to exit

the

submenu and return to the main menu.

3-16 Using the Printer

the

Press the blinking, and

Use the o r button to move to

Press the indicating that the

SET

button to activate the option. The function stops

the

option starts blinking.

the

option you want to set.

SET

button. An asterisk (*) appears next to the option,

new

option has been set. The option stops

blinking and the function starts blinking.

Using SelecType

10. To exit use the or button to take you back to

message I/F = SERIAL* appears in the display.

If you wish to exit SelecType at this point, see the section below

the

emulation submenu and return to the main menu,

the

main menu. The

exiting SelecType.

Exit SelecType and reset the printer

To exit SelecType

(from

any main menu or submenu function) and

implement your changes, follow these steps:

When you

have

set all the options you want, press the

SelecType

button. The printer is set off line.

Hold down the

the message RESET

options are implemented in the printer’s

change them

Note: To implement

LOAD,

and interface submenu settings you must also turn the

CONTINUE/RESET

button for three seconds (until

appears) to implement your changes. The

memory

or initialize them to the factory

changes to the DATA BUFFER, OVER

until you

settings.

printer off. Remember to leave the printer off for at least five seconds before turning it back on.

Using the Printer 3-17

Using SelecType

Initializing SelecType to factory default settings

To initialize SelecType options, returning them to

the

factory settings, follow the steps below. (Factory settings are marked with an asterisk (*) in the SelecType Options section.)

Press

the ON LINE

the

SelecType button to enter SelecType. This

button to set

the

printer off line.

message

appears:

PAPER SIZE = LTR*

Hold down the message

Your printer is set off

OFF LINE LTR

Hold down the until the

Your printer is set on line. This message appears in the display:

the CONTINUE/RESET

INITIALIZE appears in the display.

line.

This message appears in

CONTINUE/RESET

message RESET

appears in the display.

button for three seconds until

button for three more seconds

the

display:

ON LINE LTR

7. If initializing SelecType changes your DATA BUFFER, OVER

LOAD,

or interface submenu settings, you should also turn off the printer to save these settings. (Remember to wait for at least five seconds before turning the printer back on.)

3-18

Using the Printer

SelecType practice example

Using SelecType

To better understand how to use SelecType, you

may want to try

this example.

Turning off the buzzer

This example

Press the

shows how

SelecType

to turn off the buzzer.

button to enter SelecType. This message

appears:

PAPER SIZE = LTR*

Press the button nine times or simply press the button until

the

BUZZER=ON* appears in the display. The word

BUZZER

Press the

word

Press the button to move to the

BUZZER = OFF

is blinking.

SET

button to move to

starts blinking.

the

list of buzzer options. The

OFF

option.

once,

Press the appears

SET

button to set the option. The asterisk (*)

to the word

OFF. The word

again.

BUZZER = OFF*

Now exit SelecType by pressing the down the

CONTINUE/RESET

button for three seconds until

appears in the display.

now

BUZZER starts blinking

SelecType

button. Then hold

Using the Printer 3-19

RESET

SelecType Options

This section describes in detail each SelecType menu option.

Main menu options

When you enter line and pressing the SelecType button,

the

SelecType main menu by setting the printer off

you

can

change any

of the

menu functions listed below:

PAPER SIZE

COPIES AUTO CONT EMULAT I ON

I/F

STATUS PRT POWER ON DATA BUFFER OVER LOAD BUZZER

Options for each menu function are described below. An asterisk (*) is shown to the right of the factory default setting.

PAPER SIZE = LTR*

LTR* LGL A4 EXEC

The four paper size options are listed below:

3-20

LTR LGL

EXEC

Using the Printer

Letter size paper (8.5 x 11 inches) Legal size paper (8.5 x 14 inches) European style (210 x 297 mm) Executive (7.25 x 10.5 inches)

SelecType Options

COPIES = 01*

01 through 99

You can change the setting to print between one and 99 copies of

each

page.

AUTO CONT = ON*

ON* OFF

When this option (automatic continue) is on, your printer

automatically continues printing after a 10 second pause when one of the following errors occurs: paper size, error 20 (memory overflow), error 21 (page too complex), error 22 (communication error), and error 40 (parity/baud rate error>. When this option is off, you must press the

CONTINUE/RESET

button to continue printing. See

Chapter 7 for details on error messages.

EMULATION = HPLJ2* HPLJ2*

This option allows you to enter the HP emulation submenu

(described in

the

following section). When an optional Epson FX

Identity Cartridge is installed, the printer also shows FX as an

option. (The SelecType options for the FX cartridge are described in the manual

that

comes with the option.)

I/F = PARALLEL*

This option selects the printer interface. When

PARALLEL* SERIAL

the

serial interface is set, this option is used to enter the interface submenu (described later).

Using the Printer

3-21

SelecType Options

STATUS PRT = OFF*

ON OFF*

When this option is on, a status print test is run each time the printer is powered on. See Chapter 2 for information on this print test.

POWER ON = ON LINE”

ON LINE” OFF LINE

When this option is set to on line, the printer is set on line after you turn on the printer. In

the

off line setting, the printer is set off

line

after you turn on the printer.

DATA BUFFER = 02* 01 through 99

This option sets

OVER LOAD = 10* 01 through 40

the

size of the data buffer in kilobytes.

This option selects the printer’s data buffer overflow value. The options are percentages.

BUZZER = ON*

ON* OFF

When this option is on, a buzzer sounds when a printer error occurs. When the option is

3-22

Using the Printer

turned

off, the buzzer does not sound.

SelecType Options

HP emulation submenu options

When you enter the HP emulation submenu, you can access any of

the menu functions listed below. Accessing this submenu is described in the section on displaying submenu functions.

FONT SOURCE FONT NUMBER FORM SYMBOL

Options for each function are described below. An asterisk (*) is

shown to the right of the factory default option.

FONT SOURCE = I*

2 S

This option selects the printer’s font source. The options are listed below:

2 S

Internal font Cartridge slot 1 Cartridge slot 2 Downloadable soft font

Note: Only available options appear on your display.

FONT NUMBER = 00'

This option selects the printer’s font number, based on

00 through 99

the

font

source option selected above. For a list of available fonts and font ID

numbers, print

the

font print test as described

page 2-8.

Using the Printer

3-23

SelecType Options

FORM = 060*

005-128

This option sets the form length (the number of lines printed on each page).

SYMBOL = ROMAN8*

Roman8* ECMA-94 (Latin 1)

IBM-US

IBM - ON

IS02

(Danish/Norwegian)

(International Reference

Version)

IS04

(United Kingdom)

IS06 (ASCII) I SO 10

I SO 11 IS014 (JIS ASCII) I SO 15

IS016 (Portuguese)

IS017 (Spanish)

IS021 (German)

IS025 (French)

IS057 (Chinese)

IS060 (Norwegian 1)

IS061 (Norwegian 2)

IS084 (Portuguese)

IS085 (Spanish: IBM)

GERMAN SPANISH

(Swedish) (Swedish)

(Italian)

SO69 (French)

This option sets the symbol set. A symbol set is a unique group of available characters. Each symbol set is designed to

meet the

needs

of a specific application. See Appendix A for details.

3-24

Using the Printer

SelecType Options

Interface submenu options

The interface submenu is used to set options for the serial interface. If you are using a serial interface, the options listed below should be set

so that they match

BAUD RATE PROT DATA BIT PARITY STOP BIT ROBUST-XON

the requirements of your computer.

Options for each menu function are described below. An asterisk (*) is shown to

the

right of the factory default setting.

BAUD RATE = 9600*

19200 9600" 4800 2400 1200 600

300

This option sets the rate data is transferred from the computer to the printer. The computer and printer must be set to the same baud rate.

PROT = RDY/BSY(H)*

RDY/BSY(H)* RDY/BSY(L) XON/XOFF

This option sets printer’s communication protocol. A communication protocol keeps the computer from sending more information than the printer can handle. Most computers require RDY/BSY set

to high. The RDY/BSY option is also referred to as DTR POLARITY.

Using the Printer

3-25

SelecType Options

DATA BIT = 8*

This option sets the number of data bits in

each

character of

information sent to the printer.

PARITY = NONE*

NONE* 000 EVEN

IGNORE

This option sets the parity bit, which provides a basic form of error detection.

STOP BIT = 1* 1*

This option sets the number of stop bits on each character of information sent to the printer. Stop bits signal

the

end of a

character.

ROBUST-XON = ON*

ON* OFF

When this option is set to

ON,

additional Xon’s are transmitted at one-second intervals until data is received. Only one Xon is transmitted normally be set to

when this

ON,

option is set to

since

most

computers run using the

OFF.

This option should

setting.

3-26

Using the Printer

Chapter 4

Paper Handling

Selecting Paper. Selecting a Paper Size Printing Methods Summary Paper Delivery Choices

Paper Feed Methods

Automatic printing ...............................

Feeding paper manually.

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

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

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

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

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

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

4-2 4-4 4-5 4-6

4-7 4-7 4-11

Paper Handling 4-1

Selecting Paper

With the laser printer, you can print on many sizes and types of paper. You can also use other media, such as envelopes, labels, and overhead projector transparencies. The printer feeds most types of paper automatically from the paper cassette, while special print media and special paper require manual feeding for greater control.

The type of paper you use in the printer directly affects the quality of the material you print.

A printed image is made up of many tiny dots of toner. If the paper is rough, the edges of the letters become ragged because some of the dots fall into indentations on the paper. The smoother the paper used, the better your printing will look

You should use especially smooth paper for printing originals that will be used to make reproductions. Because reproduction introduces its own raggedness to the edges of the letters, you want to start with the best originals possible.

Below are some recommendations for selecting paper and other print media for your printer.

Note: Since the quality of a particular paper may be changed by

the manufacturer at any time, Epson cannot guarantee any particular brand or type of paper. Be sure to test samples of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing large jobs.

Standard office paper — You can use the paper cassette to automatically feed most types of 16 to 27 lb. (60 g/m2 to 101 g/m2) paper. This typically includes such paper as copier paper, memo sheets, cotton bond, and letterhead. If you feed paper manually through the manual feed slot, you can use 14 to 34 lb. (52 g/m

128 g/m2) paper.

4-2 Paper Handling

Selecting

Paper

For best results, use paper made especially for laser printers. Paper made for plain-paper copiers is also a good choice.

If you want

to use less expensive paper, test it thoroughly before regular use. Paper should be of good quality, relatively smooth, and readily available. Also, keep in mind that if the paper is textured or too rough, your printed output

may not

be as clear.

Do not use paper that is sensitive to silicon oil.

You

can

Special paper —

use colored or three-hole punched paper as long as it meets the weight limits given above for standard office paper. However, do not use coated paper.

Labels — Use only labels designed for laser printers or plain-paper copiers in your printer. When printing labels, you should use the faceup output tray; this keeps the labels from curling or coming off their backing

sheet.

(Face-up printing is described in the section on

paper delivery choices.) To prevent the adhesive from coming into contact with printer

parts, use only labels that completely cover the backing

sheet so that

there are no gaps. You should also test

an ordinary sheet of paper on top of a

the

label sheet for leaking adhesive by pressing

sheet

of labels. If

the

paper

sticks at all, the labels should not be used.

Other materials — You can use overhead projector transparencies and adhesive drafting film if they are made for use with plain-paper copiers or laser printers. These materials should be ejected faceup

into the face-up paper tray.

Paper Handling 4-3

Selecting a Paper Size

The default paper size setting in SelecType is paper. If you are using a different size paper,

L TR

for letter-size

change the PAPER

SIZE setting in SelecType. You may also need to adjust the paper guides on the paper cassette to match the size of the paper you

use.

The table below lists all of the paper sizes

LETTER

8.5 x 11 inches

the SelecType menu.

want

4-4

Paper Handling

Printing Methods Summary

You have several choices to make when printing. These choices depend mainly on the type of paper or other print media you use.

Paper delivery method — You can choose between face-up output

and face-down output.

Paper feed method — You can select either automatic or manual paper feed.

SPECIAL

button — You should press this button before printing

envelopes or heavy paper. The following table shows recommended settings for different print

media. (If you wish to try other settings, be sure to test print a few sheets before regular use.) Paper feed and paper delivery methods are described in the following sections.

Paper

Delivery

Face-up or Face-down

Face-up

Face-up Face-up Face-up

Thin Paper (14 - 16 lb.) (52 - 60 g/m2)

Regular Paper (16 - 27 lb.) (60 - 101 g/m2)

Heavy Paper (27 - 34 lb.) (101 - 128 g/m2)

Envelopes Transparencies

Labels

Paper

Feed

Manual

Auto

Manual

Manual Manual Manual

SPECIAL

Button

Yes

Yes Optional Optional

Paper Handling 4-5

Paper Delivery Choices

Your laser printer can deliver paper facedown on top of the printer

or faceup into the face-up output tray. The advantage of printing facedown is that when the printed stack is turned over, the pages are collated from first page to last. On the other hand, the face-up output tray gives you immediate viewing of your printed output. The faceup method of delivery is necessary for printing on media that require a straight-through paper path, such as envelopes, labels, heavy paper, and overhead transparencies.

To select faceup printing, simply move the paper path selector (located on the left side of the printer) to the down position. Also be sure that the face-up output tray is installed. (See Chapter 1 for details.) To select face-down printing, move the paper path selector to the up position.

4-6

Paper Handling

Paper Feed Methods

The paper cassette holds up to 150 sheets of 20 lb. paper for automatic printing. Additionally, the manual feed tray, on top of the

paper cassette, allows you to hand-feed single sheets of paper.

Automatic printing

To print automatically, follow the steps listed below.

Remove the paper cassette. Open the manual feed tray on the paper cassette. Slide the paper

guides all the way apart, as shown below.

Paper Handling 4-7

Paper Feed Methods

Take a stack of paper and fan it as shown. Next, tap the edges of

3. the paper on a flat surface to even up the stack.

Insert the stack of paper into the paper cassette,

making

sure that the top of the stack does not cover the red line on the inside of the paper cassette. Push the paper in gently as far as it can go.

4-8

Paper Handling

Paper Feed Methods

Note: Additional instructions for printing on special paper types are given below.

To print on letterhead or three-hole punched paper, load it face-up, with the top of the paper pointing into the printer.

To print on the back of a printed page, load the paper with the printed side face-down, top of the page in first. To reduce paper jams, manual feed is recommended for two-sided printing. (When you print on both sides of a page, the print quality on the second side may not be as good as on the first.)

To print on legal-size paper, pull out the paper support beneath the paper cassette as shown below.

Slide the paper guides together (if necessary) until they are both resting lightly against the paper.

Close the manual feed tray.

Paper Handling 4-9

Paper Feed Methods

Locate the paper cassette opening on the right side of the printer. Align the hooks on each side of the cassette with the slots on each side of the opening.

Reinsert the paper cassette into the printer with the arrow on the side of the cassette pointing into the printer. Push the cassette in

until it can go no further and lower the end of the cassette (the

end you load paper into) until the cassette drops into place.

CAUTION: It is particularly important to lower the cassette into place. If the cassette is not installed properly, the message

For envelopes and paper weights of 27 to 34 lb. (101 to

128

g/m2), press

the right of

4-10

Paper Handling

the

PAPER

the SPECIAL

display.

EMPTY appears in the display.

button. A pound sign (#) appears at

Paper Feed Methods

10. If you want face-up delivery, set the paper path selector to the down position.

11. If the paper you have just loaded is a different size than the paper you last used, set the SelecType option for the new paper size, as described in Chapter 3.

12. Press the

ON LINE

button to set the printer on line.

Now your laser printer is ready to print.

Feeding paper manually

If you want to print on mailing labels,

heavy

paper (over 27 lb. or 101 g/m2), light-weight paper (14 through 16 lb. or 52 through 60

g/m2),

envelopes, or transparencies, or if you are printing a small job on a different type of paper than is already in the cassette, you can hand-feed

the

paper using the manual feed tray.

You can manually feed paper ranging in size from 3.2 x 5.0 inches

(82 x 127 mm) to 8.5 x 14.0 inches (216 x 356 mm).

Note: For best results, it may be necessary to change the amount of paper in the paper cassette; it is recommended that you leave the cassette half-filled (half-way to the red line) during manual printing.

It is easy to hand-feed paper with the laser printer; just follow

the

steps listed below.

If the paper size you are printing on is different than the paper

1. size you just used, use SelecType to select the

new

paper size as described in Chapter 3. (If you are using a non-standard paper size

that is not listed in

SelecType, skip this step.)

Paper Handling

4-11

Paper Feed Methods

If the printer is on line, press the

ON LINE

button to set the printer

off line. Set the printer for manual printing by pressing the

MANUAL

Open

button on the control panel. The manual light comes on.

the

manual feed guides wide enough to fit the paper being

printed.

4-12

Manual feed guides

Paper Handling

Paper Feed Methods

Insert a sheet of paper into the manual feed slot, gently pushing it in as far as it can go.

Note: Insert the paper with the side you want to print on face-up. For example, to print on the back of a printed page, load the paper with the blank side face-up.

Slide the manual feed guides together until they are both resting lightly against the paper.

For envelopes and paper weights of 27 to 34 lb. (101 to 128 g/m2), press the the right of the display

For transparencies, mailing labels, envelopes, and thick paper,

SPECIAL

when

button. A pound sign (#) appears at

you press this button.

set the paper path selector to the down position for face-up delivery.

Press the

Use your application software to print your document. The message

10.

Push the

ON LINE

PUSH MANUAL KEY

MANUAL

button to set the printer on line.

button again to print the first page.

appears in

the

display.

Paper Handling

4-13

Paper Feed Methods

11. Insert the next sheet of paper and press the again. Proceed in

this

manner until you have finished the print

MANUAL

button

job.

12. When you have completed manual printing, set the printer off line by pressing the button. (The manual light goes out.) Then press button to set

the

ON LINE

button. Next, press

printer back on line.

the MANUAL

the ON LINE

You may now resume normal printing.

4-14

Paper Handling

Chapter 5

Printer Modes

HPEmulation

Using HP emulation mode. HP printer commands

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

5-2

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

............................ 5-8

5-2

Printer Modes 5-1

HP Emulation

Your laser printer offers HP emulation which enables you to use

application programs written for HP LaserJet series II printers.

Note: Epson FX emulation is available with an optional emulation cartridge. The Epson FX Identity Cartridge lets you use software written specifically for Epson FX printers. If you install the FX Identity Cartridge, you must use SelecType to choose FX

emulation. See the manual that comes with the cartridge for

further information.

HP emulation lets you use commercial software designed for the HP LaserJet series II printer. Simply follow the software’s instructions for printing with an HP LaserJet series II printer.

Using HP emulation mode This section gives you information about using HP emulation. It

describes the unique features of the ActionLaser’s HP emulation, as well as the differences between the printer’s HP emulation and printing with the HP LaserJet itself.

Unique features

Certain ActionLaser printer functions give you greater versatility than you get with an HP LaserJet series II printer. These include the following:

The ability to print on different sizes of paper without changing the paper cassette.

An easy-to-use control panel.

5-2

Printer Modes

HP Emulation

Printer menus

Many application programs let you specify the type of printer you’re using. Application programs often provide an installation or

setup procedure that presents a list of printers to choose from. To take advantage of HP emulation, simply choose a printer from

the list below. They are listed in order of priority.

HP LaserJet series II HP LaserJet Plus” HP LaserJet”

The application program’s menu may list a number of more specific choices corresponding to various HP LaserJet font cartridges. (The choices are labeled with capital letters, such as A, B, or C.)

Fonts and font cartridges

There are six resident fonts in your printer. These correspond to the resident fonts for the HP LaserJet series II printer. They are:

Courier Courier Courier bold Courier bold

Line printer Line printer

12 point 12 point 12 point 12 point

a.5

point

a.5

point

portrait landscape portrait landscape portrait landscape

In addition, the cartridge slot on your printer lets you access a wide variety of other fonts available on font cartridges.

Printer Modes 5-3

HP Emulation

Installing

steps:

Press the

Insert the font cartridge (with the label facing up and the connectors pointing into the printer) into the cartridge slot on the lower right side of the printer. Press firmly until it clicks into place.

ON LINE

CAUTION: Never insert or remove the cartridge while the printer is on line.

a font cartridge—To install a font cartridge, follow these

button to set the printer off line.

Press the

5-4

ON LINE

Printer Modes

button to set the printer on line.

HP Emulation

Removing

a font cartridge—To remove a font cartridge, follow these

steps:

Press the

ON LINE

CAUTION: Never insert or remove

button to set the printer off line.

the

cartridge while the

printer is on line.

Hold the edges of the cartridge and slowly pull it from the slot.

Press

the ON LINE

button to set the printer on line.

Reset

In HP emulation mode, you can reset

the

printer in the following

three ways:

By turning

By holding down

(with

By sending the ESC E command.

The result varies depending upon

in the table on

the

power off and then back on

the CONTINUE/RESET

the printer off line)

the

next page.

button for three seconds

which

method you use, as shown

Printer Modes 5-5

HP Emulation

Power

Off/On

Data in Buffer

Permanent Downloaded Fonts/Permanent Macros

Temporary Downloaded Fonts/Temporary Macros

SelecType does not Settings* change

* After any reset, the printer is set to the SelecType settings, overriding any

software commands that have been set.

clears

CONTINUE/RESET Button

clears

does not clear

clears clears

does not change

ESC E Command

prints data in buffer and clears

does not clear

does not change

Note: A font or macro can be designated “permanent” or “temporary” through the use of printer commands.

Paper handling

With the ActionLaser, the paper size is not determined by the paper tray as it is with

HP LaserJet printer. Use the

PAPER

SIZE

option in SelecType to set any of the four paper sizes supported by

the

printer. See Chapter 3 for SelecType information.

5-6

Printer Modes

Epson Action Laser User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

About This Manual

Introduction

Finding a Place for the Printer

Unpacking the Printer

Carrying the Printer

Assembling the Printer

Installing internal components

Installing the paper cassette

Installing the face-up output tray

Attaching the power cord

Setting the paper feed mechanism

Testing the Printer

Turning on the power

Loading paper

Performing the self test

Adjusting print density

Performing the font and status print tests

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Choosing an interface

Connecting the parallel interface

Connecting the serial interface

Setting the DIP switches for the serial interface

The Control Panel

Control panel display

Indicator lights

Buttons

SelecType Overview

SelecType main menu

Interface submenu

HP emulation submenu

The SelecType Control Panel

Using SelecType

Enter SelecType

Display main menu functions

Enter menu options

Set an option

Display submenu functions and select options

Exit SelecType and reset the printer

Initializing SelecType to factory default settings

SelecType practice example

SelecType Options

Main menu options

HP emulation submenu options

Interface submenu options

Selecting Paper

Selecting a Paper Size

Printing Methods Summary

Paper Delivery Choices

Paper Feed Methods

Automatic printing

Feeding paper manually

HP Emulation