Epson ActionPrinter 4000 User Manual

E-PSON”,~~~RP~

4000

User’s 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 communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or 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 the 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 printer interface cable to this printer will invalidate the FCC
Certification of this device and may cause interference levels that 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.

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

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 the information contained herein. While every precaution
has been taken in the preparation of this book, Epson America, Inc. assumes no responsibility
for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of
the information contained herein.

ActionPrinter is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.
Epson and Epson ESC/P are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.
SmartPark is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Copyright © 1989 by Epson America, Inc.
Torrance, California

ii

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1.

Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference.

2.

Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not
use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for
cleaning.

4. Do not use this product near water.

5.

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

The product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

6.

Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are
provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating, these openings must

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 register. This product should not be placed in a

built in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.

7.

This product should be operated from the type of power source

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

power available, consult your dealer or local power company.

8.

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.

9.

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 sure that the total of all products plugged into the
wall outlet does not 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:

A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.

B. If liquid has been spilled into the product.

C. If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

iv

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.

E.

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

F.

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

Contents

Introduction

Features
Options..
About This Manual
Application Notes
Where to Get Help.

Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer.
Choosing a Place for the Printer
Assembling the Printer
Testing the Printer
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
Setting Up Your Application Software.

Chapter 2 Paper Handling

Using Single Sheets
Using Continuous Paper
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets
Printing on Special Paper

Chapter 3 Using the Printer

Operating the Control Panel
Setting the DIP Switches.
Page Length
Skip Over Perforation
Adjusting the Loading Position.
Using Short Tear-Off.
Selecting Typestyles
Selecting an International Character Set
Choosing a Character Table
Using the Data Dump Mode

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1

1
2

4

5
6

1-1

1-2

1-4
1-6
1-13

1-22

1-25
2-1

2-2
2-6
2-13
2-20

3-1
3-2

3-6

3-10

3-11
3-12
3-14

3-17

3-20

3-22
3-24

Chapter 4 Software and Graphics

Enhancing Your Printing

Graphics ....................................................

User-defined Characters.

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

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

4-1

4-2

4-9

4-20

V

Chapter 5 Using the Printer Options

The Cut Sheet Feeder
The Pull Tractor
The Multi-Font Module
The Interface Boards

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

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

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

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

5-1
5-2

5-17
5-28
5-34

Chapter 6 Maintenance

Cleaning the Printer
Replacing the Ribbon
Transporting the Printer.

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

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

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

Chapter 7 Troubleshooting

Problems and Solutions

Power Supply

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

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

Printing ...............................................

Paper Handling..

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

Options.. .............................................

Chapter 8 Technical Specifications

Printer Specifications.
Interface Specifications
Option Specifications
Initialization

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

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

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

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

Chapter 9 Command Summary

Using the Command Summary.
Commands in Numerical Order

Commands Arranged by Topic.

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

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

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

Appendix

Proportional Width Table.
Character Table

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

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

6-1
6-2

6-4
6-10

7-1
7-2

7-4

. . . . .

. . . . .

7-5

7-14

. . . . . 7-24

8-1

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

8-2

8-9

8-13

8-15

9-1

9-2
9-5
9-8

A-1
A-2

A-6

Glossary

Index

vi

Introduction

The Epson® ActionPrinter™
printer combining compact design and high performance with a
wide range of features.

4000 is an advanced 24-pin dot matrix

Features

In addition to the high-quality printing and ease of operation you
have come to expect from Epson printers, the ActionPrinter 4000
offers the following features:

Easy paper handling, featuring automatic single-sheet loading.

Compatibility with the Epson ESC/P® commands used by the
LQ-510, LQ-500, LQ-800, LQ-850, LQ-950, LQ-1000, LQ-1050,
LQ-1500, LQ-2500, and LQ-2550.

Fast draft mode printing of up to 180 characters per second.

An improved control panel design that allows direct selection of
character fonts, as well as a choice of normal or condensed
printing.

The SmartPark™ paper handling system that lets you use single
sheets of paper without removing the continuous paper,
eliminates paper waste with short tear-off, and allows easy and
accurate paper alignment.

Two built-in Letter Quality fonts (Roman and Sans Serif) for
producing high-quality documents.

A 360 x 360 dot per inch graphics mode.

A micro-adjustment feature that allows you to feed the paper
forward or backward to finely adjust the loading and short tear­off positions.

Introduction 1

Introduction

l

Fourteen international character sets, a legal symbol set, an italic
character table, and the Epson Extended Graphics character
table.

l

The ability to handle a wide range of paper types, including
envelopes and labels.

Options

A variety of printer options is available for use with your printer.
For detailed information on installing and using these options, see
Chapter 5.

l Single-bin Cut Sheet Feeder (C806121)

The cut sheet feeder makes it possible to handle single-sheet
paper more easily and more efficiently. Up to 150 sheets of
standard bond paper can be automatically fed into the printer
without reloading.

2

Introduction

Introduction

Pull Tractor Unit (C800061)

This option improves the performance of continuous paper
handling. It is especially useful with continuous multi-part
forms.

Multi-Font Module (#7407)

The optional Multi-Font module adds to the number of fonts
available in the Letter Quality mode.

Film Ribbon Cartridge (#7768)

The optional film ribbon cartridge provides you with even
higher quality printing than the standard fabric ribbon.

Introduction 3

Introduction

l Interface Boards

Optional interface boards are available to supplement the
printer’s built-in parallel interface. Guidelines for choosing the
right interface and instructions on installing the boards are given
in Chapter 5.

About This Manual

This user’s manual provides fully illustrated, step-by-step
instructions on setting up and operating your Epson printer.

Finding your way around

l

Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up,
testing, and connecting the printer. Be sure to read and follow

these instructions first. Inside the back flap of this manual are
illustrations of the printer in which all of the major parts are
identified.

l

Chapters 2 and 3 cover paper handling and general printer
operation. This important information is necessary for the day­to-day operation of your printer.

4

Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 4 shows you how to get the most from your printer. It
includes advice on the use of software commands, graphics, and
creating your own user-defined characters. See Chapter 9 for a
useful summary of printer commands.

If the printer does not operate properly or the printed results are
not what you expect, see Chapter 7 for troubleshooting
instructions.

Other chapters and the appendix contain information on printer
options, general maintenance, and specifications. You will also
find a glossary of printer terms.

At the back of this manual is a handy Quick Reference card that
contains the information you are most likely to need.

Conventions used in this manual

WARNINGS

to your printer and computer.

CAUTIONS should be followed carefully to ensure that

t

0

01

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

Application Notes

Also included in the box with your printer is a booklet called
Application Notes. It contains information on using specific software
applications with your printer. Be sure to look at the booklet after
you set up your printer.

your printer operates correctly.

must be followed carefully to avoid damage

Introduction 5

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:

l Customer Care Center referrals

l Technical support referrals

l Information on Epson User Groups.

To locate or purchase accessories or supplies, contact your nearest

Epson dealer or call 1-800-873-7766.

Introduction

6

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer.

Checking the Parts.

Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Assembling the Printer.

Installing the Platen Knob

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge.

Attaching the Paper Guide.

Testing the Printer.

Plugging in the Printer
Running the Self Test
Checking the Operation

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

The Parallel Interface

Setting Up Your Application Software

Choosing From a Menu

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1-2
1-2

1-4

1-6
1-6
1-7
1-10

1-13
1-13
1-14

1-21
1-22

1-22

1-25
1-25

Setting Up the Printer

1-1

Unpacking the Printer

Checking the Parts

When you unpack the printer, make sure that you have all the parts
shown below and that none have been damaged.

1-2

Printer

Platen knob

Ribbon cartridge

Setting Up the Printer

After removing the parts, save the packaging materials in case you
ever need to transport your printer.

Note: Be sure to lift the printer cover and remove the pieces of
white packing material.

Setting Up the Printer

1-3

Choosing a Place for the Printer

There are several important things to consider when selecting a
place to set up your printer. Keep the following in mind:

Place the printer on a flat, hard, stable surface. A soft surface,
such as a padded counter or carpeted area, will block the
ventilation slots and may cause overheating.

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

Leave adequate room around the printer to allow for easy

printer operation and maintenance, and for unrestricted flow of

air around the printer.

Use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug.

,.nr-ln

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

I

Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic
timers. Accidental interruption of power can wipe out
information in both your computer’s memory and in your
printer’s memory.

Avoid using outlets that share a circuit with large motors or
electrical appliances; this could cause fluctuations in line
voltage.

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

I

I

1-4

Setting Up the Printer

Choosing a Place

The illustration below shows a good printer location.

for

the Printer

Note: Before using a printer stand, read these requirements and
suggestions.

l The stand should be able to support at least twice the weight of

the printer (approximately 26 pounds, or 12 kilograms).

l Never use a stand that supports the printer at an angle of

more than 15 degrees from horizontal.

l With a cut sheet feeder, your printer must be kept level.

l If your paper supply is positioned below the printer stand,

make sure there is enough clearance to keep the paper from
catching on the underside of the stand. Also, make sure the
distance between the stand supports is wide enough for the
paper you are using.

l Position your printer’s cables so that they do not interfere with

paper feeding. If possible, secure the cables to the printer stand.

Setting Up the Printer

1-5

Assembling the Printer

After you’ve decided on the best place to set up your printer, the
next step is to install the platen knob.

Installing the Platen Knob

The platen knob is used to feed the paper manually in the event of a
paper jam or other paper feeding problem. The platen knob is packed
in an indentation in the printer’s white foam packing material.

1.

Remove the printer cover.

2.

Insert the knob into the hole on the printer’s side and rotate it
slowly until it slips onto the shaft.

1-6

Setting

Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

3.

Push firmly on the platen knob until it fits against the printer case.

CAUTION: Do not use the platen knob to adjust the

t

.

0

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge

Your printer’s ribbon cartridge is designed for easy installation and

removal. Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure the
printer is turned off.

position of the paper. This interferes with the automatic
paper loading system and may cause a paper jam.

Install the ribbon cartridge as follows.

1.

Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.

Setting Up the Printer

1-7

Assembling the Printer

CAUTION: Never move the print head while the printer is

t

0

0

2.

turned on because this can damage the printer. Also, if
you have been using the printer, the print head may be
hot; let it cool for a few minutes before touching it.

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow.
This removes slack in the ribbon and makes it easier to install.

3.

Open the paper tension unit cover.

1-8

Setting Up the Printer

Assembling

4.

Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly down
into position, making sure the plastic hooks fit into the slots.

Note: Press lightly on both ends of the cartridge to make sure
the plastic hooks are properly seated.

5.

Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the
ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide while you turn
the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place.

the

Printer

Setting Up the Printer

1-9

Assembling the Printer

6.

Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves
smoothly. Also check that the ribbon is not twisted or creased.

7.

Close the paper tension unit cover.

Attaching the Paper Guide

When you use single sheets, the paper guide helps to feed the paper
smoothly and efficiently into the printer. Attach the paper guide
using the following procedure.

1-10

Setting Up the Printer

1.

Place the paper guide on the printer as shown below.

2.

Raise the paper guide until it locks into place.

Assembling the Printer

Note: To lower the paper guide, lift up slightly to release it
from its locked position; then gently lower it down onto the
printer.

Setting Up the Printer

1-11

Assembling the Printer

3.

Attach the printer cover by fitting the hooks on the cover into
the notches at the front of the printer and tilting the cover back
into place.

1-12

Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

Now that your printer is fully assembled, you can use its built-in
self test function to see that the printer is working correctly before
you connect it to a computer. You should perform this test to make
sure that your printer was not damaged during shipping and that
the ribbon is correctly installed.

Before running the self test, you need to connect the printer to an
electrical outlet and load a sheet of paper.

Plugging in the Printer

1.

Make sure that the printer is turned off.

Setting Up the Printer

1-13

Testing the Printer

2.

Plug the power cable into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Running the Self Test

The self test can be run in the draft or Letter Quality mode,
depending on which button you hold down as you turn on the
printer. Although the self test can be run with continuous paper, use
single-sheet paper now because single-sheet loading is easier.

1.

Make sure the printer is turned off.

2.

Push the paper release lever back to the single-sheet position.

1-14

Setting Up the Printer

3.

While holding down the

FEED

printer beeps several times and

come on.

button (Letter Quality mode), turn on the printer. The

LINE FEED

POWER

Testing the Printer

button (draft mode) or

and

PAPER OUT

lights

FORM

Setting Up the Printer

1-15

Testing the Printer

4.

Move the left edge guide so that it locks in place next to the
guide mark.

5.

Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.

Next, slide a sheet of paper down between the edge guides until

it meets resistance.

1-16

Setting Up the Printer

6.

Press the

Testing the Printer

WARNING: Never run the self test using paper that is
narrower than A4 size (8.27 inches or 210 mm) or letter
size (8.5 inches or 216 mm) to prevent the print head from
printing directly onto the platen.

LOAD/EJECT

button to load the paper.

7.

Press the
settings is printed first, followed by a series of characters. The
self test continues until the paper runs out or until you press the

ON LINE

ON LINE

button.

button to start the self test. A list of DIP switch

Setting Up the Printer

1-17

Testing the Printer

8.

If the test results are satisfactory and you wish to stop the test,
press the
see Checking the Operation later in this chapter for possible
causes and solutions.

Note:

ON LINE

To resume the test, press the

button. If the test results are not satisfactory,

ON LINE

button once more.

9. If the paper is still loaded, press the

FEED

button to eject it. Then turn off the printer.

WARNING:

least five seconds before turning it back on. Turning the

power on and off rapidly can damage the printer.

After turning the power off, always wait at

LOAD/EJECT

button or

LINE

1-18

Setting Up the Printer

Here is part of a typical self test printed in draft mode.

Draft

mode

Testing the Printer

Country

SW1-1 1-2 1-3

USA

France

Germany

U.K.
Denmark
Sweden

Italy

Spain

Font

Roman
Sans serif

Slot

Draft

condensed

SW1-4

SC6

Invalid

$%&'()"i-,-

%a'(>*+,-

is'()*+,-

'(>*+,-

O*+-,-

>*+,-

:c +

f,-.

./cu23456789:;

, --

./ou3456789:;

/0123456789:;~=

./0123456789:;<=>

./0123456789:;

./0123456789:;

./0123456789:;

./0123456789:;

,--./0123456789:;

Page length

on on on

on on

on

on off Off
off on on

off on

off off on
off off off

off

off On

off

1-5

off Off

on off

off on

on

off

?@ARCDEFGHXJKLMNC

11"

12"

Tear off mod

Invalid

Valid

1"Skip

Invalid

Valid

Auto LF

Invalid

Valid

Receive buff

1kbytes

8kbytes

Graphics pri

<=>?@ABCDEFGHI\JKLMNClF

~=>?@hBCDEFGHTJKLeMNOP~

<~>?@ABCDEFGH~JKLMNOPQR

~=>?@~BCDEFGHIJKLMNQPgRS

<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST

c=>?@hBCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTlJ

>?@ABCDEFGtlIJKCMNOPQRSTUV

<=>,?@ABCDEFGHTJKLMNOPQRSTUVW

Note: When using the optional cut sheet feeder, the first page of

the self test printout is slightly different. For details, see the Cut
Sheet Feeder

section

in Chapter 5.

Setting Up the Printer

1-19

Testing the Printer

Here is part of a typical self test printed in Letter Quality mode.

Letter Quality mode

Country

USA

France
Germany
U.K.
Denmark
Sweden

Italy
Spain

Font

Roman
Sans serif

Slot

Draft

1

Condensed

#$%&'()*+,-,

$%&J()*+,-

%&'( )*+,-

&'()*+,-

‘()*+J-

Sans Serif 10

()*+J-

\.I..

./0123456789: ;<=>?CABCDEFGHIJKLMN(

./0123456789*

./0123456789:

./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQF

./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRf

‘mrnrr.r..TrrA

SW1-1 1-2 1-3

on on on

on on

on
on off off

off on on
off on
off off on
off off off

off

off on

off

SW1-4 1-5

off off

off

on
off on

on on

SW1-6

.;<=>?CABCDEFGHIJKLMNOI

;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPC

I

. Al. -A~rv-CLI IT

Page

length

11"

12”

Tear off mode

Invalid

Valid

1"Skip

Invalid

Valid

Auto

LF

Invalid

Valid

Receive buff.

1kbytes

8kbytes

,111 L,., el-,mnm-l

1-20

Setting Up the Printer

Testing the Printer

Checking the Operation

If the self test does not print properly, check the control panel and
the print head area. If paper is jammed, turn off the printer. Then
remove the paper using the platen knob and load a new sheet. See

that all packing material and shipping restraints have been removed
from inside the printer. (You can also see Chapter 7 for further
information.)

Problem

The printer does not
print.

The printer sounds like
it is printing, but

nothing

The test did not print

when you pressed the

ON LINE

is printed.

button.

Solution

The ribbon may not be installed properly.
Turn off the printer, reinstall the ribbon
cartridge, and then tighten the ribbon by
turning the ribbon-tightening knob. Make
sure the ribbon passes between the print
head and ribbon guide. See page 1-9.

The ribbon may be worn. Replace the
ribbon cartridge. See page 6-4.

Turn off the printer and repeat the self
test. Make sure you hold down the FORM

FEED

you are turning on the printer.

Turn off the printer and disconnect the

cable from the host computer. Try the self
test again.

or

LINE FEED

button the entire time

If the printer still does not print the self

test correctly, contact the store where you

purchased your printer or call the Epson

toll-free number (1-800-922-8911).

Setting Up the Printer

1-21

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

If the self test printed correctly, you are now ready to connect the
printer to your computer.

If your computer has a parallel interface and you have a suitable
shielded cable, you should be able to connect your printer
immediately. The steps below describe how to connect the parallel

interface cable.

If your computer requires another type of interface, you need to
install an optional interface board. See the Interface Boards section
in Chapter 5.

If you are not sure which type of interface cable is required, see your
computer manual.

The Parallel Interface

Connect the parallel interface cable as described below:

1.

Make sure that both your printer and computer are turned off.

1-22

Setting

Up the Printer

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

2.

Plug the cable connector securely into the printer.

3.

Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either
side of the connector.

Setting Up the Printer

1-23

Connecting the Printer to

4.

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

Your

Computer

beneath the interface connector.

Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. If there is a

5.

ground wire at the computer end of the cable, attach it to the
ground connector at the back of the computer.

1-24

Setting Up the Printer

Setting Up Your Application Software

Now that you have set up and tested the ActionPrinter 4000, you
should make sure that it works with your application programs.

Most application programs let you specify the type of printer you
are using
printer’s features. Many of these programs provide an installation or
setup menu that presents a list of printers to choose from.

If your application program has a printer selection menu, use the
instructions below.

Choosing From a Menu

Because the family of Epson printers shares a great many
commands, you can use an application program even if it does not
list the ActionPrinter 4000 on its printer selection menu. If the
ActionPrinter 4000 is not listed, choose one of the following printers.
They are listed in order of preference.

so that

the program can take full advantage of the

LQ-510
LQ-850 (LQ-950, LQ-1050)
LQ-500
LQ-2550

If none of these printers is listed, select the first one available on the
following list:

LQ
EX

FX

To use all of the features of the ActionPrinter 4000, however, it is
best to use a program with the 4000 or one of the LQ printers on its
menu. If your program does not list the 4000 or one of the LQ
printers, contact the software manufacturer to see if an update is
available.

LX
RX
MX

LQ-800 (LQ-1000)
SQ-2500
LQ-2500
LQ-1500

Epson printer
Standard printer
Draft printer

Setting Up the Printer

1-25

Chapter 2

Paper Handling

Using Single Sheets

Loading Paper
Reloading During Printing.

Using Continuous Paper

Positioning Your Continuous Paper Supply.
Loading Continuous Paper

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

Switching to Single Sheets
Switching Back to Continuous Paper.

Printing on Special Paper.

The Paper Thickness Lever
Multi-part Forms

Labels
Envelopes

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

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

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

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

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

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

.........

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

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

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

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

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

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

......

2-2
2-2
2-5

2-6
2-6
2-7

2-13
2-13
2-17

2-20
2-20
2-23
2-24
2-26

Paper Handling 2-1

Using Single Sheets

Your printer can accommodate single sheets with a width of 7.2
inches or 182 mm to 10 inches or 254 mm.

If you do most of your printing on single sheets, you may find it
more convenient to install the optional cut sheet feeder. This option
automatically inserts a new sheet and can hold up to 150 pages. For
more details, see Chapter 5.

Loading Paper

1.

Push the paper release lever back to the single-sheet position.

2-2

Paper Handling

Using Single Sheets

2.

Turn on the printer. (The green POWER light should come on.)

Note:

Do not insert paper in the printer before turning on the printer.

3.

Move the left edge guide so that it locks in place next to the
guide mark. (You may want to change this position later,

depending on the margin settings of your application program.)

Paper Handling 2-3

Using Single Sheets

4.

Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.
Then slide the paper down between the edge guides until it
meets resistance.

5.

Press the
automatically.

LOAD/EJECT

button once to load the paper

2-4

Paper Handling

Using Single Sheets

CAUTION: Never advance the paper using the platen
knob while the printer is turned on. If

the

platen turns

it more firmly. Then press the

6.

Press the

LINE

You are now ready to begin printing.

ON LINE

light is lit, the printer can accept data from your computer.

button to set the printer on line. When the

LOAD/EJECT

button again.

ON

Reloading During Printing

When you print a document of more than
sheet paper, the printer stops printing when it reaches the bottom of
the page. When this happens,
automatically or remains on, depending on your application
program software. If the
you should do is press the

the ON LINE

ON LINE

light remains on, the first thing

ON LINE

one

page using single-

light either goes off

button to take the printer off line.

Once the

printed (if necessary, press
and load a new sheet. Press the
next page and follow any additional prompts from your software.

ON LINE

light is off, remove the sheet

the LOAD/EJECT

ON LINE

that

button to eject the page)

button to start printing the

Paper Handling 2-5

has just been

Using Continuous Paper

The push tractor built into your printer is remarkably easy to load
and operate. Its low-profile design takes up little space and can
handle paper up to 10 inches or 254 mm wide.

Positioning Your Continuous Paper Supply

An important consideration for achieving smooth and trouble-free
paper feeding is the position of your paper supply.

Three ways of positioning your printer and continuous paper
supply are shown below.

Be sure to align the paper supply with the paper loaded in the
tractor so that the paper feeds smoothly into the printer.

2-6

Paper Handling

Using

Continuous Paper

Loading Continuous Paper

1.

Be sure that the printer is turned off, then remove the paper

guide. Set the paper release lever to the continuous paper
position. This position is marked by the icon shown in the

illustration below.

2.

Release the sprocket units by pulling the sprocket lock levers
forward as shown below.

Paper Handling 2-7

Using Continuous Paper

Slide the left sprocket unit until it is one-half inch from the

3.
farthest left position and press the lever back to lock it in place.

Slide the right sprocket unit so that it roughly

4.
of your paper, but do not lock it.

2-8

Paper Handling

matches

the width

Using Continuous

5.

Move the paper support midway between the two sprocket

units.

6.

Open both sprocket covers.

Paper

t

0

CAUTION: Make sure that your paper has a clean, straight

.

edge before inserting it into the printer.

Paper Handling 2-9

Using Continuous Paper

7.

Fit the first three holes in the paper over the pins of both
sprockets.

8. Close the sprocket covers.

2-10

Paper Handling

Using Continuous Paper

Slide the right sprocket unit to a position where the paper is

9.
straight and has no wrinkles. Then lock it in place.

10. Reattach the paper guide as shown below. Then slide the edge
guides apart to the sides of the paper guide as shown.

Paper Handling

2-11

Using Continuous Paper

11. Turn on the printer. It will beep because there is no paper in the

printer. Then press the
loading position.

LOAD/EJECT

button to feed paper to the

12. Press the
accept data.

The printer remembers the loading position and advances each page

to the same position. If you need to adjust the loading position, use
the micro-adjustment feature. See the section on setting the loading
position in Chapter 3.

1

.

0

ON LINE

CAUTION: Never adjust the loading position using the
platen knob and never turn the platen knob while the
printer is turned on.

button to set the printer on line so that it can

2-12

Paper Handling

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

Even with continuous paper loaded in the printer, the SmartPark
feature allows you to easily switch to single-sheet printing without
removing the continuous paper from the tractor.

Switching to Single Sheets

To switch from continuous paper to single sheets, follow the steps
below.

1.

If the printer is on line, press the ON
printer off line.

2.

Tear off any outgoing sheets. If the paper has advanced past the

print head, you need to press the
your document to a point where it can be easily removed.

LINE

FORM FEED

button to set the

button to advance

Paper Handling

2-13

Switching

t

0

0

3.

Press the
backward out of the printer and into the standby position. The
paper is still attached to the tractor but no longer in the paper

Between

CAUTION: Make sure you tear off your printed document

before pressing the

several pages at a time may result in a paper jam. This is

especially true for narrow paper (less than 6 inches or

152.4 mm wide).

path.

Continuous and Single Sheets

LOAD/EJECT

LOAD/EJECT

button to feed the continuous paper

button. Reverse-feeding

0

2-14

CAUTION:

t

.

feed the paper far back enough to reach the standby
position. If the
need to press the
width continuous paper, you can press the
button up to three times. If, however, you are using
narrow paper (between 4 and 6 inches or 101.6 and 152.4
mm) you should only press the
Also, do not use this button to eject labels.

WARNING:

printer. Labels can easily come off

Paper Handling

Pressing the

PAPER OUT

LOAD/EJECT

Never feed labels backward through the

LOAD/EJECT

light does not come on, you

button again. With normal-

LOAD/EJECT

button once may not

LOAD/EJECT

button once.

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

4.

Push the paper release lever back to the single-sheet position.
This position is marked by the icon shown in the illustration
below.

5.

Stand the paper guide upright and adjust the edge guides to

roughly match the width of your paper.

Paper Handling

2-15

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

Insert a

6.

meets resistance. Slide the edge guides to exactly match the
width of your paper.

Press the

7.

sheet paper to the loading position. Then, press the
button to set the printer

sheet

of paper between

LOAD/EJECT

the

edge guides until the bottom

button to automatically feed the single-

ON LINE

on

line.

2-16

Paper Handling

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

Switching Back to Continuous Paper

It is also easy to switch back to printing with continuous paper.
Before switching to continuous paper, make sure that the single
sheet is ejected and the printer is off line.

Slide the edge guides apart so they do not interfere with

1.
continuous paper feeding.

Lower the paper guide onto the printer.

2.

Paper Handling

2-17

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

3.

Pull the paper release lever forward to the continuous paper
position.

4.

Press the

LOAD/EJECT

button to feed the continuous paper to the

loading position.

2-18

Paper Handling

5.

Press the
accept data.

ON LINE

Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets

button to set the printer on line so that it can

Paper Handling

2-19

Printing on Special Paper

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

Before printing on special types of paper, you need to change the
paper thickness setting.

WARNING: When printing on multi-part forms, labels, or
envelopes, make sure that your application program
settings keep the printing entirely within the printable
area.

For multi-part forms and labels you should not print any
closer than one-half inch from either side of the paper.

For information on the printable area for envelopes, see
page 2-26.

The Paper Thickness Lever

To accommodate various thicknesses of paper, your printer is
equipped with a paper thickness lever that can be set to seven
positions. These positions are identified by a scale on the printer
next to the lever.

2-20

Paper Handling

Printing

To change the paper thickness setting, follow these steps.

1.

Make sure that the printer is turned off. Then remove the printer
cover.

on

Special Paper

WARNING: If the printer has just been in use, the print

bl

2.

head may be hot. Allow it to cool before touching it.

Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.

Paper Handling

2-21

Printing on Special Paper

3.

Select the paper thickness you want according to the table
below. For normal use, the lever should always be set to

position 2 on the scale.

Paper Type

Paper (single sheets or continuous)
Thin paper
24 lb paper

Multi-part forms

2-sheet

3-sheet
Labels
Envelopes

Air mail

Plain
Bond (20 lb)
Bond (24 lb)

Lever Position

2
2
3

3

4

4

4 or 5

6
6
7

Note: Lever position 1 is used only when the printed characters

are too light. Setting the lever to position 1 when you are using
thin paper may damage the print head.

l If the lever is set to position 4 or higher, the printing speed may

be reduced slightly.

2-22

Paper Handling

4.

Reattach the printer cover as shown below.

Printing

on

To help you check the position of the paper thickness lever, the
orange

MULTI-PART

light on the control panel comes on if the

lever is set to position 4 or higher.

WARNING: Always return the lever to position 2 when
you go back to printing on ordinary paper. Continuous
printing with the lever set at a position higher than 2 can
shorten the life of the print head. Printing past the edge of
envelopes, multi-part forms, labels, or thicker-than­normal paper can damage the print head.

Special Paper

Multi-part Forms

With the built-in tractor unit, your printer can print on continuous
multi-part forms. You can use multi-part forms that have up to three
parts including the original. Make sure you set the paper thickness
lever to the proper position; see the table on page 2-22.

Paper Handling

2-23

Printing on Special Paper

Except for the paper thickness lever setting, you load multi-part
paper the same way as continuous paper. For details, see the section
on loading continuous paper in this chapter. Also see the sections on
setting the loading position and page length in Chapter 3.

t

0

Labels

If you need to print labels, always use labels mounted on a
continuous backing sheet with sprocket holes for use with a tractor.
Do not try to print labels as single sheets because labels on a shiny
backing sheet almost always slip a little.

2-24

CAUTION: Multi-part forms should not be used with the

a

single-sheet feeding system or the optional cut sheet
feeder.

Paper Handling

Printing on Special Paper

You load labels the same way that you load continuous paper
except that the paper thickness lever must be adjusted for printing
labels. See the section on loading continuous paper earlier in this
chapter. For the correct paper thickness setting, see the table on
page 2-22.

WARNING:

Never feed labels backward through the
printer. Labels can easily peel off the backing and jam the
printer. Therefore, never use the

LOAD/EJECT

button to
eject labels. Also, never use the short tear-off function with
labels. (Be sure to set DIP switch 2-2 to OFF.) If a label
does become stuck in the printer, call the Epson Consumer
Information Center at 1-800-922-8911 for assistance.

Since labels are especially sensitive to temperature and
humidity, always use them under normal operating
conditions. Don’t leave labels loaded in the printer
between jobs; they curl around the platen and may jam
when you resume printing.

Paper Handling

2-25

Printing on Special Paper

Envelopes

You can feed envelopes individually using the single-sheet loading

feature. Before loading envelopes, adjust the position of the paper
thickness lever according to the table on page 2-22. For details on
paper handling, see Using Single Sheets on page 2-2.

When manually feeding an envelope, you may have to push it down

slightly while pressing the
properly.

LOAD/EJECT

button to get it to feed

t

0

2-26

CAUTION: The printable area for envelopes is shown on

l

the next page. The print head must not go past the left or

right edge of the envelope or other thick paper. Make sure

that your application program page setup keeps the
printing entirely within this printable area.

Paper Handling

Printing on Special Paper

8.5 mm
(0.33”) or more

22 mm
(0.87”) or more

is only available at normal

temperature (41°F to 95°F or 5°C to 35°C).

To make sure that the printing fits within the printable area, always
print a test sample using a normal sheet of paper before printing on
envelopes.

I

Paper Handling

2-27

Chapter 3

Using the Printer

Operating the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Setting the DIP Switches.

Changing a DIP Switch Setting
The DIP Switch Tables

The DIP Switch Functions

Page Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Skip Over Perforation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjusting the Loading Position. ......................

The Loading Position

Using Micro-adjustment. ..........................

Using Short Tear-off ................................

Adjusting the Tear-off Position. ....................

Selecting Typestyles ................................

Character Fonts

Condensed Mode. ................................

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

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

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

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

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

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

3-2
3-6

3-6
3-7
3-9

3-10
3-11
3-12

3-12
3-13

3-14
3-15

3-17
3-18

3-19

Selecting an International Character Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Choosing a Character Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Using the Data Dump Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Using the Printer

3-20

3-22

3-24

3-1

Operating the Control Panel

The indicator lights give you the current status of the printer. The
buttons and paper handling functions let you control many of the

printer settings.

Lights

~~~~~~e~giJj+ihiy2s

aPOWER-

$l~l;l- 0

0

SelecType

_____

00

= =

DRAFT

O”

ROMAN

no

SANS SERIF

o =

SLOT

FONT

II

0

CONDENSED

1

I

READY-

PAPER OUT-

LINE

iz

FEED

I

LOAD

/

EJECT

-.-

I,

higher. When this light is

1

blinking, the micro-adjustment

-

I’

function can be used.

1

POWER

On when the
on and power is supplied.

-READY

On when the printer is ready to
accept input data. Flickers
during printing.

-PAPER

On when the printer is out of
paper or when continuous
paper is in

(green)

(green)

OUT

ON LINE (green)

On

when the

and ready to accept data.

POWER

(red)

the

standby position.

printer is on line

switch is

3-2

Using the Printer

Buttons

0 Ftl;

no

SANS SERIF

0

CONDENSED

0

POWER

I -0

READY

0

PAPER OUT

LOAD

/

EJECT

Operating

the

-ON LINE

This button controls the printer’s
on line and off line status. Press
this button to put the printer on
line or to take it off line. When the
printer is on line, the
is on and the printer can receive
and print data from the computer.

ON LINE

FORM FEED

When the printer is off line, press
this button to eject a single sheet
of paper or to advance continuous

r

paper

to the top of the next page.

LINE FEED

When the printer is off line, press

this button to advance the paper
one line, or hold it down to
advance the paper continuously.

Control Panel

light

L

LOAD/EJECT

This button is used to feed paper
to the loading position or to eject
paper that is already loaded.
Paper is ejected forward if the
paper release lever is set to the
single-sheet position and
backward (out of the paper path)
if the release lever is set to the
continuous paper position.

Using the Printer

3-3

Operating the Control Panel

SelecType

I

DFQWER

0 FlLfI -0 READY

0

PAPER OUT

0

ON LINE

LOAD

/

0

CONDENSED

EJECT

FONT

This button is used to select LQ

ROMAN,

LQ

SANS SERIF, DRAFT

mode, or a cartridge font (if
installed). The two orange
indicator lights show the selected
font. See Selecting Typestyles
later in this chapter.

-CONDENSED

This button is used to turn the

condensed mode on and off. The
orange indicator light is on when
the printer is in the condensed

mode. In the condensed mode, all
characters are printed at
approximately 60 percent of their
normal width.

3-4

Using the Printer

Operating the Control Panel

Other control panel features

The control panel of your printer also gives you access to several
special functions.

Self test:

Micro-adjustment: By pressing the

Data dump:

Both a draft and Letter Quality self test function
are built into the printer. The self test printout
lets you check the current DIP switch settings
and operating status of the printer. You can start
the printer’s self test by holding down the

FEED

turning on the printer. See the section on the self
test in Chapter 1 for more information.

button or the

FORM FEED

after loading paper or when using short tear-off,
you can make fine adjustments to the loading
and short tear-off positions. These positions can
only be adjusted while the
blinking. See the sections on adjusting the
loading position and using the short tear-off

function later in this chapter.

By holding down both the

FEED

you turn on the data dump mode. This feature

allows advanced users to locate the source of
communications problems between

computer and printer. See the section on using
the data dump mode on page 3-24 for more
information.

buttons while you switch on the printer,

FORM FEED

button immediately

MULTI-PART

LINE FEED

LINE

button while

light is

and

FORM

the

Using the Printer

3-5

Setting the DIP Switches

Your printer has two sets of DIP (Dual Inline Package) switches
located under a small cover above the control panel. By changing
the settings of these switches, you can control various printer
features, such as the character set and page length. The new settings
become effective when the printer is turned on, reset, or initialized.

DIP switch settings are shown in the DIP switch tables starting on
page 3-7. Descriptions of all the DIP switch functions begin on
page 3-9.

Changing a DIP Switch Setting

To change a DIP switch setting, first turn off the printer. Then open
the DIP switch cover and use a pointed object, such as a pen, to
change the DIP switch settings. A DIP switch is on when it is up,
and off when it is down.

The new DIP switch settings take effect when the printer is turned on.

3-6

Using the Printer

Setting the DIP Switches

The DIP Switch Tables

The tables below show the settings for each DIP switch. The shaded
areas show the default or factory settings.

DIP switch 1

SW Description

1-1

international character set See table

1-2

1-3

DIP switch 2

SW Description

I

I

3

1

2-3 1 l-inch skip over perforation

1

2-4 1 Auto line feed

buffer capacity

1

2-6

1

Graphics print direction I Bidirect.

2-7 Character spacing
2-8

I

I

I

12 inches

I
I

-~

ON

ON

On

On

On

8KB

See table 3

OFF

I

1

--i--l

OFF

I

Page

3-20

3-8

I I

l Required for use of user-defined (download) characters.

Using the Printer 3-7

Setting the DIP Switches

Table 1

Country

France
Germany
UK ON OFF OFF

Denmark

Sweden

Italy

Spain

Table 2

International character sets

SW1-1 SW1-2 SW1-3

ON ON
ON

OFF ON ON
OFF ON
OFF
OFF OFF

OFF ON

OFF ON

Font selection

OFF

OFF

OFF

Table 3

cpi: characters per inch.

3-8

Character spacing

Using the Printer

Setting the DIP Switches

The DIP Switch Functions

Auto line feed

When auto line feed is on (DIP switch 2-4 on), each carriage return
code (CR) is automatically followed by a line feed code (LF).

Input buffer capacity

The input buffer stores data from your computer. If you want to free
your computer for other tasks while the printer prints, change the
setting of switch 2-5 to 8 KB (on). Before using user-defined
characters, however, be sure to set the input buffer to 1 KB (off).

Printing direction

With unidirectional printing, the print head prints in one direction

only. This allows for precise vertical alignment, making it ideal for
printing graphics such as lines and boxes. When DIP switch 2-6 is
off, the printer prints unidirectionally; when it is on, the printer
prints bidirectionally. Either setting can be overridden by a software
command (ESC U). To achieve precise vertical alignment without
the slower printing speed caused by unidirectional printing, see
your authorized service dealer for adjustment of your bidirectional
print settings.

Tear-off mode

When DIP switch 2-2 is on, the short tear-off mode is on. This
feature automatically advances continuous paper to the tear-off
position, and then reverse-feeds the paper to the loading position.
See the section on using short tear-off later in this chapter.

CAUTION: Do not use the short tear-off mode with labels.

Using the Printer

3-9

Page Length

When the setting of DIP switch 2-1 is off, the page length is set to
11 inches, or 27.94 cm. When it is on, the page length is 12 inches, or

30.48 cm. Be sure to set the page length to match the paper you are
using.

Other page lengths can be set using the commands ESC C and
ESC C 0. See the Command Summary in Chapter 9 for details.

01
01
01

DIP SW2-1

O1

Ol

Ol
?I

X i

11-inch

:j
Ol

01

01

OFF

page length

ON

12-inch page length

3-10

Using the Printer

Skip Over Perforation

By changing the setting of DIP switch 2-3, you can set skip over
perforation to on or off. If this feature is on when using continuous
paper, a one-inch margin is provided between the last printable line
on one page and the first printable line on the next page. This
feature is very convenient if your application program does not
provide for top and bottom margins.

If you adjust your loading position correctly, you can get half of the
margin at the bottom of one page and half at the top of the next
page, as

DIP switch 2-3 ON (Skip over perforation ON)

shown

23456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]'

l

3456789:

a

in the following illustration.

;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^-

l

456789: ;

56789:;

6789 :

<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^-'z

;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^-'a1

<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^-'

Using the Printer

3-11

Adjusting the Loading Position

The Loading Position

The loading position is the position of the paper when it has been
automatically loaded by the printer.

This position is important because it determines where the printing
begins on the page. If the printing is too high or too low on the page,
change the loading position using the micro-adjustment feature
described in the next section.

1

l

0

Until the loading position is reset, the printer remembers this
position even if it is turned off, and uses it as a reference point for
feeding paper.

The micro-adjustment feature moves the paper in 1/180-inch
increments to make fine adjustments to the loading position. Once
you have used micro-adjustment to change the loading position of
continuous paper, the printer remembers that position even after it
is turned off.

However, when you use micro-adjustment to change the loading
position of single-sheet paper, the printer does not remember this
position after the power is turned off. When the power is turned
back on, the loading position returns to its factory setting.

CAUTION: Never use the platen knob to feed paper except

in case of a paper jam or other paper feeding problem. (If
you need to use the platen knob, make sure the power is

off.) If you need to adjust the loading position, always use
the micro-adjustment feature.

3-12

Using the Printer

Adjusting the Loading Position

Using Micro-adjustment

1.

Make sure that the printer is turned on and that either a single
sheet or continuous paper is ready to be loaded.

2.

Press the
position. Then press the
begins to blink.

LOAD/EJECT

ON LINE

I::::

button to feed paper to the loading

button; the

MULTI-PART

MULTI -

PART

light

Note: You

micro-adjustment only while the

3.

Press the

LINE FEED

Note: When the paper reaches the factory-set loading
position, the printer beeps and micro-adjustment feeding
pauses for a moment before continuing. You can use this
factory setting as a reference point when adjusting the
printer’s loading position. When the paper reaches either the
minimum or maximum top margin, the printer beeps and the
paper stops moving.

can use the

FORM FEED

button to feed the paper backward.

FORM FEED

button to feed the paper forward or the

and

LINE FEED

MULTI-PART

light is blinking.

buttons for

Using the Printer

3-13

Using Short Tear-Off

When you are finished printing, the short tear-off feature
automatically feeds the perforation of the continuous paper to the
tear-off edge of the printer cover so that you can tear off the last

sheet. When you resume printing, the paper feeds backward to the
loading position. This feature lets you save the paper normally lost
between documents.

To use this feature, set DIP switch 2-2 to on. Then load continuous

paper in the normal way.

You can leave the short tear-off feature turned on (DIP switch 2-2

on) even when you are using single sheets. When you move the

paper release lever to the single-sheet position, the short tear-off

feature is disabled.

WARNING:

Otherwise, labels may come off their backing and jam the
printer.

When you have finished printing, and if the perforation is at the top

of form position, the printer automatically feeds the perforation of

the continuous paper to the tear-off edge of the printer cover. You

can then tear off the page using the tear-off edge as shown on the

next page.

3-14

Using the Printer

Never use short tear-off with labels.

Using Short Tear-Off

If the page perforation is not properly aligned with the tear-off edge,
you can adjust the tear-off position using micro-adjustment, as
described below.

Note: Short tear-off is not performed unless printing of a page is
completed and the paper has advanced to
page. If the paper has not advanced to the top of the next page,
press the

FORM FEED

on line and paper will feed to the tear-off position.

ON LINE

button to put

button to advance the paper. Then put the printer back

the

the

top of the next

printer off line and press the

When you resume printing after tearing off the sheet, the paper

automatically feeds backward to the loading position before
printing begins.

Adjusting the Tear-off Position

If the paper’s perforation does not meet the tear-off edge, you can
adjust the tear-off position using the micro-adjustment feature.

Using the Printer

3-15

Using Short Tear-Of

1.

Make sure the printer feeds the paper to the tear-off position
after printing the document.

2.

The

MULTI-PART

can now use the micro-adjustment feature to make fine
adjustments to the tear-off position.

light should begin blinking, indicating that you

3.

To make fine adjustments to the tear-off position, press the

FORM FEED

button to feed it backward.

You can now tear off your document from the perforation and

resume printing. The printer remembers this new tear-off position
even after the printer is turned off and on again.

3-16

Using the Printer

button to feed the paper forward or the

LINE FEED

Selecting Typestyles

You can produce a wide range of typestyles by selecting different
character fonts, widths, and other enhancements from the SelecType
control panel or by using software commands. This section
describes only the features controlled by SelecType. To use software
commands, see the Command Summary in Chapter 9.

You can use the SelecType section of the control panel to choose
fonts and condensed printing. Orange lights indicate which features
you have chosen.

III

On

DRAFT

= o

ROMAN

= o

SANS SERIF

=‘OSLOT

FONT

0

Note: The settings you select using the SelecType panel remain

valid until the printer is turned off or until it receives other

instructions from software. However, some application programs
are designed to control all typestyle functions. These programs
cancel all previous typestyle settings by sending certain software
commands before printing. Because these commands override
SelecType settings, you should use the program’s print options
instead of SelecType to select your typestyles. If SelecType does
not work with a particular application, check your software
manual for instructions on selecting typestyles.

Using the Printer

3-17

Selecting Typestyles

Character Fonts

Your printer has three built-in fonts:

ROMAN

!"#$%&'()*t,-./0123456789:;<=>?BABCDEFGHIJK

LMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ'C§^-'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv

wxyzg~~"Cueaaaa~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

iififi~Qir7+f i <<>>

. . , ^ . . .

0

SANS SERIF

The

DRAFT

printing, which makes it ideal for rough drafts and editing work.

ROMAN

takes a little longer to print, but produces nicely formed characters
suitable for most documentation requirements.

Other fonts are available on optional font cartridges. See Multi-Font
Module in Chapter 5.

3-18

mode uses fewer dots per character for high-speed

and

SANS SERIF

Using

the

Printer

are Letter Quality (LQ) fonts. Letter Quality

Selecting Typestyles

Condensed Mode

You can use the condensed mode to change the size of printed
characters. In the condensed mode, characters are approximately
60 percent of the width of normal characters. Hence, condensed

printing is very useful for spreadsheets and other applications
where you need to print the maximum amount of information on a
page. You can combine the condensed mode with 10 and 12 cpi
printing, but not proportional and 15 cpi.

To select

so that
condensed mode, press the button again.

The following printout compares normal 10 and 12 cpi with
condensed 10 and 12 cpi. The condensed 10 cpi is 17 cpi, and the
condensed 12 cpi is 20 cpi.

the

condensed mode, simply press the

the

orange indicator light comes on. To turn off the

CONDENSED

button

This is 10 CPI printing.

This is condensed 10 CPI printing,

This is 12 CPI printing.

This is condensed 12 CPI printing,

Using the Printer

3-19

Selecting an International Character Set

International character sets provide you with the characters and
symbols used in other languages. You can select one of eight
international character sets by changing the DIP switch settings.

Whenever the printer is turned on, reset, or initialized, the character
set selected by the DIP switches becomes the default character set.

To select an international character set, set DIP switches 1-1, 1-2, and
1-3 according to the table below.

This table also shows the characters that differ in each international
character set.

Country

0 U.S.A.

1 France
2 Germany # $ § x 0 ti A ’ 8 8 ii 13 ON OFF ON
3 U.K.
4 Denmark # $ @ B 0 A A ’ Be PI it Is OFF ON ON
5 Sweden
6 Italy # $ @ o \ 6 A h ii b 2 i OFF OFF ON
7 Spain

7

l

0

23 24 40 5B 5C 5D 5E 60 7B 7C 7D 7E 1-1 1-2 1-3

# $ @ [ \ ] ^ ' { | } ~ ON ON ON

# $ ii o q § A ’ d h & ” ON ON OFF

E

$ @ [ \ ] ^ ' { | } ~ ON OFF OFF

#llEXUAA~C

R $ @ i R i A ’ *’ ii } * OFF OFF OFF

CAUTION: To change the setting of a DIP switch, first turn
off the printer, change the DIP switch setting, and then
turn the printer back on.

ASCII code hex DIP SW

ii g

ii OFF ON OFF

3-20

Using the Printer

Selecting

an International Character Set

In addition to the eight character sets shown above, the seven
international character sets that follow can be selected with a
software command: ESC R. For more information, see the
Command Summary in Chapter 9.

Country

8

Japan

9

Norway
10 Denmark II
11 Spain II
12

Latin America # $ 6 i fi i 6 ii i fi 6
13

Korea

64 Legal

23 24 40 5B 5C 5D 5E 60 7B 7C 7D 7E

#$@[Yl^‘{11”

#r.lBA0A~iitle0Ati
#$BfE0AUfa?0AB

#$&iRik’ifi6ti

#$er#I*‘rI}”

# $ &J D ’ )) g c 0 @ .f

ASCII code hex

ti

m

Using the Printer

3-21

Choosing a Character Table

DIP switch 1-7 selects either the italic character table or the Epson
Extended Graphics character table. The Epson Extended Graphics
character table contains international accented characters, Greek

characters, mathematic symbols, and character graphics for printing

lines, corners, and shaded areas.

If you have an IBM® or IBM-compatible computer, select the Epson

Extended Graphics table when you wish to print character graphics

as they are displayed on the screen. Even if you select Epson

Character Graphics, you can still print ordinary text and italics. For

italics, see the description of the ESC 4 command in the Command
Summary, Chapter 9.

Note: In most cases, Epson Extended Graphics is the preferred
selection.

Sample printouts of the italic characters and the Epson Extended

Graphics characters are shown below.

Italics

!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFG
HIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_'abcdefghijklmno
pqrstuvwxyz{:}~

Epson Extended Graphics

Qi6$ifi&Qi r7*+ i <<>>.,;:ij;:?g

3-22

Using the Printer

Choosing a Character Table

To select a character table, set DIP switch 1-7 according to the table
below.

CAUTION: To change the setting of a DIP switch, first turn

t

0

0

Tables showing which characters are printed in each of the character
tables are listed in the Appendix.

off the printer, change the DIP switch, and then turn the
printer back on.

Using the Printer

3-23

Using the Data Dump Mode

The data dump mode is a special feature that makes it easy for
experienced users to identify the cause of communication problems
between the printer and application programs. The data dump
mode gives a printout of the codes reaching the printer.

To use the data dump mode, follow these steps:

1.

Make sure
continuous paper.

that

the printer is loaded with either single-sheet or

3-24

Using the Printer

Using the Data Dump Mode

2.

If the printer is on, switch it off, then hold down the
and

LINE FEED

3.

Run any program that causes the printer to print (either an

buttons at the same time you turn on the printer.

FORM FEED

application program or one in any programming language).
Your printer prints out all the codes sent to the printer, as shown
below. (In order to print the last line, you will

have

to take the

printer off line.)

1B 40 1B 52 00 1B 74 01 1B 50 1B 70 00 .@.R..t..6..P.p.
20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6’ 6E 20 65 78 61 This is an exa
6D 70 6C 65 20 6F 66 61 74 61 20 64 mple of a data d
75 6D 70 20 70 72 69 74 2E 20 54 68 ump printout. Th
69 73 20 66 65 61 74 5 20 6D 61 6B 65 73 is feature makes

0A 20 20 20 20 20 69 5 61 73 79 20 66 6F it

easy

On the left side of the printout all the codes are printed in
hexadecimal format. On the right side of the printout all
printable characters are printed, and others, such as control
codes, are represented by dots.

Using the Printer

3-25

fo

Using the Data Dump Mode

4.

To turn off the data dump mode after you have taken the printer
off line, turn off the printer.

By comparing the characters printed in the text field on the right
side of the data dump printout (see step 3) with the printout of hex
codes, you can check which codes are being sent to the printer.

To interpret the data dump printout, examine the first three hex
codes on the second line of the printout sample (20 20 54). Each hex
code 20 represents a space; hex code 54 represents the letter T.
Check the second line of the text field on the right side of the
printout and you will find the letter T preceded by two spaces.

The chart below interprets the first eight codes.

Hex codes Command

1B 40
1B 52 00 ESC R 0
1B 74 01

3-26

Using the Printer

ESC

ESC t1

Function

Initialize printer
Select USA character set
Select Epson Extended Graphics set

Chapter 4

Software and Graphics

Enhancing Your Printing

Character Spacing
Character Size
Special Effects and Emphasis.

Selecting Typestyles With Master Select

Graphics

The Print Head.
The Graphics Command

Column Reservation Numbers
A Simple Graphics Program
Designing Your Own Graphics.

User-defined Characters.

Designing Your Characters
Defining Your Characters.
Sending Information to Your Printer
Printing User-defined Characters
Copying ROM Characters to RAM.

Letter Quality Characters.
Mixing Print Styles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4-2
4-2
4-3
4-4
4-6

4-9
4-10

4-13

4-14
4-14
4-15

4-20
4-20

4-22
4-24
4-27
4-28
4-29
4-30

Software and Graphics

4-1

Enhancing Your Printing

You can obtain a wide variety of printing effects with your printer,

from changing the number of characters per inch to using special
effects on selected words and phrases. This section gives you a
sampling of the features you may select with your software.

For software control of these features, see the instructions for your
application programs or look up their specific commands in the
Command Summary in Chapter 9.

Character Spacing

To add greater variety to your documents, your printer has three cpi
spacings, as well as proportional spacing. Each one can be selected
with a software command.

For each of the three built-in fonts, you can choose a character
spacing of 10, 12, or 15 characters per inch, or proportional spacing.
The printout below compares the three spacings:

This is 10 cpi printing.

This

is 12 cpi printing.

This is 15 cpi printing.

As shown above, 15 cpi characters are only about two-thirds the
height of 10 and 12 cpi characters. This makes 15 cpi particularly
useful when you want to separate certain material from the main

text.

In fixed cpi spacing each character is given the same amount of
space. The width of proportional characters, however, varies from
character to character. For example, a narrow letter like i takes less
space than a wide letter like W. The width of each proportional
character is given in the Appendix.

4-2

Software and Graphics

Enhancing Your Printing

The following printout compares 10 cpi spacing with proportional
spacing:

This is 10 cpi printing.
This is proportional printing.

Note: Proportional spacing is not available in the draft mode.

Character Size

In addition to the basic cpi spacings and proportional spacing, your
printer offers three other modes that can change the size of your
printing. These modes are double-wide, double-high, and
condensed.

The double-wide mode doubles the width of any size character,
while the double-high mode doubles the height of any size
character. These modes are useful for emphasizing document titles
and headings in reports, but are usually not suitable for large
amounts of text. These modes can also be combined to obtain even
more impressive printing results.

This is normal 10 cpi printing.

Thisisdouble-wide,

This is double-high,

Thisisdouble-wideand

double-high.

Software and Graphics

4-3

Enhancing Your Printing

Both 10 and 12 cpi printing can be reduced to about 60 percent of
their normal width using the condensed mode. This mode is
particularly useful for printing wide spreadsheets because
condensed 12 cpi printing allows you to print up to 160 characters
on an 8-inch line.

The condensed mode can be selected with a software command, or
by using SelecType (See Chapter 3). Even if you turn the condensed
mode on with SelecType, you can still turn it off with a software
command.

Condensed 10 cpi gives you many characters on a line,

Condensed 12 cpi gives you even more characters on a line,

Widening or narrowing the characters also widens or narrows the

spaces between words. Because word processors usually create a left

margin by printing spaces, you may need to change the left margin

and the number of characters on a line to keep the margins correct if

you change character widths.

Special Effects and Emphasis

Your printer offers two ways of emphasizing text and also allows

you to use underlining, superscripts, subscripts, and italics. These
features can be controlled directly by software commands. Many
application programs can also produce some of these effects. See
your application program manual for details.

Emphasized and double-strike printing

Emphasized and double-strike printing can give words and phrases
added prominence. In emphasized mode, each character is printed
twice as the print head moves across the paper, with the dots in the
second pass printed slightly to the right of the first pass. This
process produces darker, more fully formed characters.

4-4

Software and Graphics

Enhancing Your Printing

In double-strike mode, the print head prints each line twice, making

the text bolder. For even greater boldness, emphasized and double­strike can be combined. The following samples show the different
effects you can achieve using these modes alone and in combination.

This is ROMAN printing,

This is ROMAN, emphasized.
This is ROMAN, double-strike.
This is ROMAN, with both.

Italic printing

You can print italics by using the ESC 4 software command. This is
true no matter how DIP switch 1-7 is set.

This is ROMAN printing.

This is ROMAN italics.

Underlining, strike-through, and overlining

The underline, strike-through, and overline modes are useful for

highlighting selected text. This feature can be used to score spaces,
subscripts, and superscripts without a break. You can choose from a
variety of line styles, including single, double, broken, or
continuous. See the ESC ( - command in Chapter 9 for more

information.

This is continuous underlining.

Software and Graphics

4-5

Enhancing Your Printing

Superscripts and subscripts

Superscripts and subscripts can be used for printing footnote
numbers and mathematical formulas. The example below shows
underlining and subscripts combined in a mathematical formula.

average = _(a1 + a2 +

..........

n

+ an )

Outline and shadow

The outline and shadow features are useful for adding variation and
emphasis to text that you wish to stand out, such as headings. The
following samples show the outline and shadow features
individually, plus a combination of outline with shadow.

Selecting Typestyles With Master Select

Your printer has a special ESCape code called Master Select that
allows you to choose many combinations of these nine modes: 10
cpi, 12 cpi, proportional spacing, condensed, emphasized, double­strike, double-wide, italics, and underline. For more information on
sending ESCape codes to your printer, see

Chapter 9.

The format of the Master Select code is shown below:

ASCII:
Decimal:

ESC !

27 33 n

n

Hexadecimal: 1B 21 n

4-6

Software and Graphics

Enhancing Your Printing

The variable n is a number that identifies the mode or combination
of modes. To find the value of n, use the following table to add up
either the decimal or hexadecimal numbers for the features you
want.

For example, to print a title you may want to use double-wide 12 cpi

characters printed in the double-strike mode. You would add three

numbers together to calculate the value of n.

12 cpi

1
Double-strike 16
Double-wide

32

n = 49

After calculating the value of n, you use the Master Select command
to send the value to the printer.

ASCII:

ESC !

1
Decimal: 27 33 49
Hexadecimal:

1B 21

31

Software and Graphics 4-7

Enhancing Your Printing

The print quality and font must be set separately, using SelecType

or the ESC x and ESC k commands. There are two more things to
consider when using the Master Select command:

l

Master Select cancels any of the other listed features that you do
not set. For example, if you have already set a different character
width and you use Master Select to set emphasized double­strike, the character width is reset to 10 cpi.

l

Proportional spacing overrides 10, 12, and 15 cpi.

4-8

Software and Graphics

Graphics

The dot graphics mode allows your printer to produce pictures,
graphs, charts, or almost any other pictorial image you can create.

Because many commercial software programs use graphics, you
may be able to print pictures and graphs like the ones on this page
and the next by simply giving your software a few instructions.

The quickest and easiest way to print graphics on your printer is to
use a commercial graphics program. With such programs you
usually create an image on your monitor then give a command to
send the image to the printer.

If you use commercial software that produces graphics, all you need
to know about dot graphics is how to use the software. The
application program will take care of the printer. (Some programs
call this bit image printing.) On the other hand, if you wish to do
your own programming or merely wish to understand how this
printer prints graphics, read on.

Software and Graphics

4-9