Epson ActionPrinter 5000, ActionPrinter 5500 User Manual

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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 Seiko Epson Corporation. 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, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
Neither Seiko Epson Corporation nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product.
Seiko Epson Corporation and its affiliates 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.
Epson and Epson ESC/P are registered trademarks and Epson ESC/P 2 is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright © 1991 by Epson America, Inc., Torrance, California. All rights reserved
User’s Manual
For United States 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.
l Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
l
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
l Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected
l
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. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and
use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For Canadian Users
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le Ministére des Communications du Canada.
ii
TIPS FOR PRINTING ON SINGLE SHEETS
There are a few things you should know about printing on single sheets as opposed to continuous paper. When you print on single sheets, you may notice that your printer prints the first page of your file correctly but then prints too low on the next page, or that it prints the last few lines from one page onto the next.
These differences in print position are easy to adjust; you can simply change some of the settings in your application program as described below to get the right results.
1. When you install an application program, it normally asks you what printer you are using. Make sure you choose the correct printer. See Chapter 1 for the right printer to choose.
2. Many programs include an option to set the maximum lines per page. If your program has a lines-per-page setting and you are using standard 8½ X 11-inch paper, set the lines per page to 61.
Note: To find the right lines-per-page setting for paper that is not 8½ X 11, create a test document using your application program.
Set your top and bottom margins to 0 and then create a file of numbered lines from 1 to 66. When you print your file, notice the last number printed on the first page. This is your maximum lines-per-page setting.
3. If your program doesn’t have a lines-per-page setting, try decreasing the top margin or increasing the bottom margin, or both, until you get the results you want.
4. You can also try adjusting the form length setting. For a standard 8½ X 11-inch page, try setting the form length at 10 inches.
5. Some programs also let you indicate whether you are using single sheets or continuous paper. Make sure you choose single sheets.
iii
Where to Get Help for United States Users
Epson America provides customer support and service through a network of authorized Epson dealers and Customer Care Centers throughout the United States.
You can call Epson’s Technical Support Center for assistance with installation, configuration, and operation of Epson products,
at (900) 988-4949, Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Pacific time.
For the location of your nearest Epson dealer or Customer Care Center, call the Epson Consumer Information Center at
(213) 782-2606.
iv
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.
V
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 does 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. 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.
vi
Contents
Introduction
Features Options.. Finding Your Way Around Warnings,
Printer Parts
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer ................................................
Choosing a Place for the Printer ..................................
Assembling the Printer .............................................
Testing Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
Configuring Your Software for the Printer
Chapter 2 Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method Using Single Sheets Using Continuous Paper
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Cautions,
and Notes
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the Printer
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. . . . . . . 2-4
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1-1
1-2
1-3
1-5
1-10 1-13 1-14
2-1
2-2
2-9 Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets . . . 2-21 Printing on Special Paper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2-23
1
1 2 3 3 4
Chapter 3 Using the Printer
3-1
Control Panel........................................................... 3-2
DIP Switches Micro
Feed Tear Off Typestyles
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Data Dump Mode
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3-6 3-13 3-16
3-19 3-24
Contents
vii
Chapter 4 Using Printer Options
Cut-Sheet Feeders Pull Tractor Interface Cards
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4-1 4-2
4-12 4-14
Chapter 5 Maintenance and Transportation
Cleaning the Printer Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge Transporting the Printer
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Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
Problems and Solutions
Power Supply
Printing
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Paper Handling Options
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........................................................ 6-8
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Chapter 7 Technical Specifications
Printer Specifications
Interface
Option
Initialization..
Specifications
Specifications..
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Chapter 8 Command Summary
5-1
5-2 5-3 5-4
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-4
6-10
7-1
7-2 7-10 7-14
8-1
Using the Command Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Commands Arranged by Topic.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8-3
Appendix
Character Tables
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International Character Sets
Glossary
Index
viii
Contents
A-1
A-2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-6
GL-1
IN-1
Introduction
Your new Epson”
that combines high performance with a wide range of features.
printer is an advanced 24-pin dot matrix printer
Features
These features make your Epson printer an outstanding value:
Fast printing speed. You can print up to 252 characters per second in 12 cpi draft mode.
Easy paper handling. The printer has four paper paths to suit your printing needs: top, rear, bottom, and front.
Automatic paper loading. The printer automatically loads single sheets and continuous paper.
Epson ESC/P 2. scalable fonts and improved graphics capability. With scalable fonts, you can print characters of various sizes.
Compatibility. The printer supports the Epson ESC/P
commands widely used in application programs written for other
Epson LQ and SQ printers.
Unique control-panel design. You can choose from nine popular
letter-quality fonts and one draft font.
This enhanced printer control language adds
®
The ActionPrinter 5000 and ActionPrinter 5500 are basically the same
printer except for the width of their carriages. The ActionPrinter 5000 has a standard width carriage that accommodates paper up to 254 mm (10 inches) wide. The ActionPrinter 5500 has a wide carriage that accommodates paper up to 355.6 mm (14 inches) wide.
Introduction 1
Introduction
Options
You may choose from several printer options to enhance your printer. For more information on these options, see Chapter 4.
Single-Bin Cut-Sheet Feeder (C80637* for ActionPrinter 5000, C80639* for ActionPrinter 5500)
This economical cut-sheet feeder automatically feeds up to 50 sheets of paper into your printer without reloading. You can load continuous paper and manually load single sheets without removing the cut-sheet feeder.
High-Capacity Cut-Sheet Feeder
(C80638* for ActionPrinter 5000, C80640* for ActionPrinter 5500)
This cut-sheet feeder automatically feeds up to 150 sheets of
paper or 25 plain bond envelopes without reloading. You can create a double-bin cut-sheet feeder by connecting this cut-sheet feeder to the single-bin model.
Pull-Tractor Unit (C80019* for ActionPrinter 5000, C80022* for ActionPrinter 5500)
Although you can use the standard tractor as a pull tractor, using the optional pull tractor improves printing accuracy, which is especially useful for printing on continuous multi-part forms.
Film Ribbon Cartridge
(#7768 for ActionPrinter 5000, #7770 for ActionPrinter 5500)
An optional film ribbon cartridge provides even higher quality printing than the standard fabric ribbon.
Interface Cards
Optional interface cards are available to supplement the printer’s built-in parallel interface. Guidlines for choosing the right interface and instructions on installing the cards are given in
Chapter 4.
The last figure in option part numbers, represented by an asterisk
(*), varies by country, Contact your local Epson dealer for the part
number in your country.
2
Introduction
Introduction
Finding Your Way Around
This manual provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions for
setting up and operating your printer.
. Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up,
testing, and connecting the printer. Be sure to read this chapter
first.
l Chapters 2 and 3 include important information on paper
handling and day-to-day operation of your printer.
. Chapter 6 contains troubleshooting information. If the printer
does not operate properly or the printed results are not what
you expect, see Chapter 6 for a list of problems and solutions.
l Other chapters contain information on options, general
maintenance, specifications, and printer commands. See the end of this manual for a glossary of printer terms and an index.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
WARNINGS must be followed to avoid bodily injury.
CAUTIONS must be observed to avoid damage to your
equipment.
Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer.
Introduction 3
Introduction
Printer Parts
4
Introduction
Chapter 1
Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking
the Printer
Checking the parts
Choosing a Place for the Printer
Assembling the Printer
Removing the protective materials Installing the ribbon cartridge Attaching the paper guide
Testing
the Printer
Plugging in the printer
Running the self test
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................................................. 1-2
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1-2
1-3
1-5
1-5
1-6
1-9
1-10 1-10
1-10
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Configuring Your Software for the Printer
Choosing from a menu
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1-14
1-14
Setting Up the Printer
1-1

Unpacking the Printer

Checking the parts

When you unpack the printer, make sure you have all the parts
shown below and that none is damaged.
Printer
Power cord
Note: In some locations the power cord may be attached to the printer.
Store the packing materials in case you ever need to transport your printer.
CAUTION: There are several versions of the printer designed for different voltages, and it is not possible to adjust the printer for use at another voltage. If the label on the back of the printer does not show the correct voltage for your country, contact your dealer.
1-2 Setting Up the Printer
Ribbon cartridge

Choosing a Place for the Printer

When selecting a place to set up your printer, be sure to follow the guidelines below.
l
Place the printer on a flat, stable surface.
l
Place the printer close enough to the computer for the printer’s interface cable to reach it.
l
Leave adequate room around the printer to allow for easy operation and maintenance.
CAUTION: Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, or dust.
l
Use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug.
l
Place the printer where you can easily unplug the power cord.
l
Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic
timers. Accidental disruption of power can wipe out information in the memory of your printer or computer.
l
Avoid outlets on the same circuit as large motors or other
appliances that can cause fluctuations in line voltage.
l
Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the base
units of cordless telephones.
Setting Up the Printer 1-3
Choosing a Place for the Printer
If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines:
Use a stand that supports at least 16.0 kg (35.3 lbs) for the ActionPrinter 5000 or 22.0 kg (48.5 lbs) for the ActionPrinter 5500.
Never use a stand that tilts the printer at an angle of more than 15 degrees from horizontal. If you install a cut-sheet feeder, the stand must keep your printer level.
If you plan to load continuous paper through the bottom of the printer, choose a stand that provides an unobstructed paper path.
Position your printer’s power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding. If possible, secure the cables to a leg of the printer stand.
Align the paper stack so that the paper feeds straight into the tractor’s sprocket units.
1-4
Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

Removing the protective materials

During shipping, packing materials protect the printer and a locking clip protects the paper-tension unit. Before you turn on the printer, you must remove the locking clip as described here:
1. Remove the paper guide. Lift the printer cover up and off. Grasp both ends of the clear plastic paper-tension unit; lift up the front of the unit and then lift it off.
2. Remove the locking clip from the paper-tension unit.
the clip with the other packing materials in case you
ever need to transport your printer.
Setting Up the Printer
1-5
Assembling the Printer

Installing the ribbon cartridge

Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure that the power
cord is not plugged into an electrical outlet.
1.
If necessary, lift the printer cover up and off. Grasp both ends
of the clear plastic paper-tension unit and lift it up and off also,
WARNING: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on; this can damage the printer. Also, if you just used the printer, the print head may be hot. Let it cool for a few minutes before touching it.
2. Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.
1-6
Setting Up the Printer
Assembling the Printer
3. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow. This removes any slack in the ribbon and makes it easier to
install. Next, hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly down into position; then press on both ends of the cartridge to make sure the plastic hooks fit into the slots.
4. Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place.
5. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Also check that the ribbon is not twisted or creased.
Setting Up the Printer
1-7
Assembling the Printer
6. Replace the paper-tension unit by placing it on the printer’s mounting pegs; then lower the front of the unit into place. Press
on the front of both sides of the paper-tension unit until you
feel it click into place.
7. Replace the printer cover by first inserting the front tabs into the slots on the printer; then lower it into place.
Note: You install the optional #7768 or #7770 film ribbons in the same way as you install the ribbon cartridge. However, you should follow the guidelines below when using a film ribbon:
l
Print on ordinary paper only.
l
Move the paper-thickness lever to the next lowest position.
1-8
Setting Up the Printer
Assembling the Printer

Attaching the paper guide

1. Place the notches on the paper guide straight down over the mounting posts on the printer.
2. Lower the paper guide until it stops in the upright position.
Setting Up the Printer
1-9

Testing the Printer

Before connecting your printer to a computer, use the built-in self­test function to see that the printer is working properly.
Before running the self test, you need to plug your printer’s power cord into an electrical outlet.

Plugging in the printer

1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
2. Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure the
voltage required by the printer matches that of your electrical
outlet.
CAUTION: If the rated voltage and your outlet voltage do not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord.
3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect it to the AC inlet on the printer’s rear panel.
4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Running the self test

You can run the self test with either continuous paper or single
sheets. Also, you can load the paper for the test from the top, rear,
front, or bottom. The following steps describe how to run the test on single-sheet paper, loaded from the top. See Chapter 2 for full details on paper handling.
The self test begins by printing on the first and last lines of page 1. The printer then prints the DIP-switch settings and character samples on page 2.
1-10 Setting Up the Printer
Testing the Printer
The printer prints the self test in the currently selected font.
1. Make sure the printer is turned off and that the paper-release lever is in the single-sheet position.
2. While holding down the LF/FF (Line Feed/Form Feed) button,
turn on the printer. The printer beeps and the platen turns for a few seconds, signalling that the printer is in self-test mode.
3. Move the left edge guide until it locks in place next to the guide mark. Then adjust the right edge guide to match the width of
your paper.
Setting Up the Printer
1-11
Testing the Printer
CAUTION: Run the self test using paper at least 210 mm (8.2 inches) wide for the ActionPrinter 5000 or 360 mm (14 inches) wide for the ActionPrinter 5500; otherwise, the print head prints directly on the platen.
4. Insert a sheet of paper between the edge guides until it meets resistance. After a few seconds, the printer loads the paper to the loading position and begins printing the self test.
5. To stop the self test, press the PAUSE button (you can resume
the self test by pressing the PAUSE button again).
6. Press the LOAD/EJECT button to eject the paper from the printer
and then turn the printer off.
Note: If test results are not satisfactory, see Chapter 6.
Here is part of a typical self test.
Roman
!“#$%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKL
!“#$%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLM
“#$%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMN #$%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO $%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;
1-12
Setting Up the Printer
<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

If the self test prints correctly, you are ready to connect your printer to the computer. Use a shielded twisted-pair parallel cable to connect your computer to the printer’s built-in parallel interface.
Connect the parallel interface cable as described below:
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off; then plug the cable connector securely into the printer’s parallel interface connector. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either side of the connector.
Note: If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the ground connector beside the interface connector.
2. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. (If there is a ground wire at the computer end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.)
Setting Up the Printer
1-13

Configuring Your Software for the Printer

Most application programs let you specify the type of printer you use so that the program can take full advantage of the printer’s features. Many of these programs provide an installation or setup section that presents a list of printers.

Choosing from a menu

Because Epson printers share a great many commands, you can use an application program even if it does not list your printer on its
printer selection menu. Choose from the following list (the printers
are listed in the order of preference):
LQ-570/1070 LQ-510/550 LQ-500 LQ-860 (LQ-1060) LQ-850 (LQ-1050) LQ-2550 LQ-2500 LQ-800 (LQ-1000) LQ-1500
If none of these printers is listed, select the first one available from the following list:
EX, FX, LX, RX, MX, Epson printer, Standard printer, Draft printer. To use all the features of your printer, however, it is best to choose
a program with your printer on its menu. If your program does not list this printer, contact the manufacturer of the software to see if an update that supports the ActionPrinter 5000/5500 is available.
1-14
Setting Up the Printer
Chapter 2
Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method
Setting the paper-release lever
Using
Using Continuous Paper
Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets . . . 2-21
Printing on Special Paper
Single Sheets Loading single sheets from the top Loading single sheets from the front
Tractor position and available paper paths
Changing tractor positions Loading continuous paper with the push tractor Removing continuous paper from the push tractor Loading continuous paper with the pull tractor Removing continuous paper from the pull tractor
Switching to single sheets
Switching to continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Paper-thickness lever Multi-part forms Labels Envelopes
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.2-2 .2-2
2-4 2-4 2-6
.2-9
2-9 2-10 2-12
....... 2-14
2-15 2-20
2-21
2-23
2-23 2-24
2-26
Paper Handling 2-1

Selecting a Paper Feeding Method

Your printer can feed single sheets from the top and front and continuous paper from the rear, front, and bottom. Also, you can
use the tractor unit for continuous paper as either a push or pull tractor.
You will probably use only one or two of these methods on a regular basis.
This chapter explains the various methods of paper handling and includes recommendations on the feeding methods best suited to your specific needs.

Setting the paper-release lever

The paper-release lever has three positions, with icons indicating the type of paper and paper path for each position.
2-2 Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method
Single sheet
Push tractor
Pull tractor
This position is for loading single sheets.
This position is for loading continuous paper from
the rear, with the tractor in the push-tractor
position.
This position is for loading continuous paper from
the rear, front, or bottom, with the tractor in the pull-tractor position. Use this position when you have installed both the push tractor and the optional pull tractor.
Paper Handling 2-3
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