AL-M400DN
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User’s Guide
NPD4821-00 EN
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Copyright and Trademarks
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. 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, or (excluding the U.S.) failure to strictly comply with Seiko
Epson Corporation’s operating and maintenance instructions.
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.
Features Zoran Corporation Integrated Print System (IPS) for print language emulation.
A part of the ICC Profile contained within this product was created by Gretag Macbeth ProfileMaker. Gretag Macbeth is the
registered trademark of Gretag Macbeth Holding AG Logo. ProfileMaker is a trademark of LOGO GmbH.
IBM and PS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
Microsoft
Apple
Apple Chancery, Chicago, Geneva, Hoefler Text, Monaco, New York and True Type are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Apple, Inc.
EPSON and EPSON ESC/P are registered trademarks and Epson AcuLaser and Epson ESC/P 2 are trademarks of Seiko Epson
Corporation.
Bitstream is a registered trademark of Bitstream Inc. registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be
registered in certain jurisdictions.
Monotype is a trademark of Monotype Imaging, Inc. registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be
registered in certain jurisdictions.
Albertus, Arial, Coronet, GillSans, Times New Roman and Joanna are trademarks of The Monotype Corporation registered in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.
ITC Avant Garde Gothic, ITC Bookman, ITC Lubalin, ITC Mona Lisa Recut, ITC Symbol, ITC Zapf-Chancery, and ITC
ZapfDingbats are trademarks of International Typeface Corporation registered in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.
, Windows®, and Windows Vista® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
®
, Mac®, Mac OS®, and Bonjour® are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.
®
Copyright and Trademarks 2
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Clarendon, Helvetica, New Century Schoolbook, Optima, Palatino, Stempel Garamond, Times and Univers are registered
trademarks of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions, exclusively licensed through
Linotype Library GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
Wingdings is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Marigold is trademark of Arthur Baker and may be registered in some jurisdictions.
Antique Olive is a registered trademark of Marcel Olive and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.
Carta and Tekton are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Marigold and Oxford are trademarks of AlphaOmega Typography.
Coronet is a registered trademark of Ludlow Type Foundry.
Eurostile is a trademark of Nebiolo.
HP and HP LaserJet are registered trademarks of the Hewlett-Packard Company.
PCL is the registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Adobe, the Adobe logo and PostScript3 are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated, which may be registered in certain
jurisdictions.
General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective
owners. Epson disclaims any and all rights in those marks.
Copyright © 2012 Seiko Epson Corporation. All rights reserved.
Copyright and Trademarks 3
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Operating System Versions
In this manual, the following abbreviations are used.
Windows refers to Windows 8, 8 x64, 7, 7 x64, Vista, Vista x64, XP, XP x64, Server 2012 x64, Server 2008, Server 2008 x64,
Server 2008 R2, Server 2003, and Server 2003 x64.
❏ Windows 8 refers to Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise.
❏ Windows 8 x64 refers to Windows 8 x64, Windows 8 Pro x64, Windows 8 Enterprise x64.
❏ Windows 7 refers to Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, Windows 7 Home Basic
Edition, and Windows 7 Professional Edition.
❏ Windows 7 x64 refers to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Edition, Windows 7 Home Premium x64 Edition, Windows 7
Home Basic x64 Edition, and Windows 7 Professional x64 Edition.
❏ Windows Vista refers to Windows Vista Ultimate Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, Windows Vista
Home Basic Edition, Windows Vista Enterprise Edition and Windows Vista Business Edition.
❏ Windows Vista x64 refers to Windows Vista Ultimate x64 Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium x64 Edition,
Windows Vista Home Basic x64 Edition, Windows Vista Enterprise x64 Edition and Windows Vista Business x64
Edition.
❏ Windows XP refers to Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
❏ Windows XP x64 refers to Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
❏ Windows Server 2012 x64 refers to Windows Server 2012 Essentials Edition, Server 2012 standard Edition.
❏ Windows Server 2008 refers to Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition and Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
Edition.
❏ Windows Server 2008 x64 refers to Windows Server 2008 x64 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2008 x64
Enterprise Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition, and Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition.
❏ Windows Server 2003 refers to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise
Edition.
❏ Windows Server 2003 x64 refers to Windows Server 2003 x64 Standard Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64
Enterprise Edition.
Mac OS refers to Mac OS X.
❏ Mac OS X refers to Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later.
Operating System Versions 4
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Contents
Safety Instructions
Warning, Caution, Important and Note.................................................... 13
Important Safety Instructions............................................................ 13
Setting up the printer............................................................... 13
Finding the place for the printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................................... 15
Using the printer................................................................... 17
Handling the consumable products and maintenance parts................................ 18
Safety Information..................................................................... 19
Laser safety labels.................................................................. 19
Internal laser radiation.............................................................. 20
Ozone safety...................................................................... 20
Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Printer
Printer Parts........................................................................... 21
Front view........................................................................ 21
Rear view......................................................................... 22
Inside the printer.................................................................. 23
Control panel...................................................................... 24
Options............................................................................... 25
Consumable Products................................................................... 26
Maintenance Parts...................................................................... 26
Where to Find Information. . . ........................................................... 26
Printer Features........................................................................ 27
Power saving performance........................................................... 27
Print Job Arranger................................................................. 27
Chapter 2 Printing Tasks
Loading Paper into Your Printer.......................................................... 28
MP tray.......................................................................... 28
Lower paper cassette................................................................ 32
Output Tray....................................................................... 36
Selecting and Using Print Media.......................................................... 36
Contents 5
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Labels............................................................................ 36
Envelopes......................................................................... 37
Thick paper....................................................................... 39
Custom paper size.................................................................. 40
Cancelling a Print Job................................................................... 41
From the printer................................................................... 41
From the computer................................................................. 42
Setting the Print Quality................................................................. 42
Using the Automatic setting......................................................... 42
Using the Advanced setting.......................................................... 43
Customizing print settings........................................................... 44
Toner Save mode.................................................................. 45
Improving the clarity of color documents.............................................. 46
Adjusting the weight of thin lines..................................................... 47
Setting the Advanced Layout............................................................. 48
Duplex printing.................................................................... 48
Modifying the print layout........................................................... 49
Resizing printouts. ................................................................. 50
Printing watermarks................................................................ 51
Printing headers and footers......................................................... 52
Printing with an overlay............................................................. 53
Printing the copy-protected document................................................. 56
Printing Multiple Print Jobs at Once ...................................................... 57
Using the Reserve Job Function........................................................... 57
Sending the print job............................................................... 58
Chapter 3 Using the Control Panel
Using the Control Panel Menus........................................................... 60
When to make control panel settings.................................................. 60
How to access the control panel menus................................................ 60
How to register menus as bookmarks.................................................. 61
Control Panel Menus................................................................... 62
Information Menu................................................................. 62
System Information Menu........................................................... 64
Tray Menu........................................................................ 65
Emulation Menu................................................................... 66
Printing Menu..................................................................... 66
Setup Menu....................................................................... 69
Contents 6
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Reset Menu....................................................................... 73
Quick Print JobMenu. .............................................................. 74
ConfidentialJobMenu............................................................... 74
Clock Menu....................................................................... 75
Parallel Menu (For AL-M300D only). . . . .............................................. 75
USB Menu........................................................................ 76
Network Menu.................................................................... 77
PCL Menu........................................................................ 77
PS3 Menu......................................................................... 79
ESCP2 Menu...................................................................... 80
FX Menu......................................................................... 82
I239X Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Password Config Menu............................................................. 86
Energy Saver Menu................................................................. 87
Support Menu..................................................................... 88
Printer Adjust Menu................................................................ 89
Bookmark Menu................................................................... 94
Status and Error Messages............................................................... 94
Printing and Deleting Reserve Job Data................................................... 106
Using the Quick Print JobMenu..................................................... 106
Using the ConfidentialJobMenu..................................................... 107
Printing a Configuration Status Sheet..................................................... 108
Canceling Printing.................................................................... 109
Using the Pause/Release button...................................................... 109
Interrupting Printing.................................................................. 109
Chapter 4 Installing Options
Optional Paper Cassette Unit............................................................ 111
Handling precautions.............................................................. 111
Installing the optional paper cassette unit............................................. 112
Removing the optional paper cassette unit............................................. 116
Memory Module...................................................................... 116
Installing a memory module........................................................ 116
Removing a memory module........................................................ 119
CompactFlash Memory (For AL-M400 Series only)......................................... 120
Installing a CompactFlash memory.................................................. 120
Removing a CompactFlash memory.................................................. 123
Contents 7
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Chapter 5 Replacing Consumable Products/Maintenance Parts
Precautions During Replacement........................................................ 124
Replacement Messages................................................................. 124
AL-M300 Series................................................................... 125
AL-M400 Series................................................................... 125
Chapter 6 Cleaning and Transporting the Printer
Cleaning the Printer................................................................... 126
Cleaning the pickup roller.......................................................... 127
Transporting the Printer................................................................ 133
For long distances................................................................. 133
For short distances................................................................ 134
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting
Clearing Jammed Paper. ............................................................... 136
Precautions for clearing jammed paper............................................... 137
Paper Jam B (Cover B)............................................................. 137
Paper Jam MP, C1, C2, B (MP tray, Cassette1-2, Cover B)................................ 140
Paper Jam C2, C3, C4, E2, E3, B (Cassette2-4, Cover E2-E3, Cover B). . .................... 145
Printing a Configuration Status Sheet..................................................... 151
Operational Problems.................................................................. 151
The Ready light does not turn on.................................................... 151
The printer does not print (Ready light off)............................................ 152
The Ready light is on but nothing prints.............................................. 152
The remaining service life of the consumables is not updated (Windows only)............... 153
Cannot install software or drivers.................................................... 153
Cannot access the shared printer..................................................... 153
Printout Problems..................................................................... 154
The font cannot be printed......................................................... 154
Printout is garbled................................................................ 154
The printout position is not correct.................................................. 155
Graphics do not print correctly...................................................... 155
Print Quality Problems................................................................. 155
The background is dark or dirty..................................................... 155
Dots appear in the printout......................................................... 156
Print quality or tone is uneven...................................................... 156
Contents 8
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Half-tone images print unevenly..................................................... 157
Toner smudges................................................................... 158
Areas are missing in the printed image................................................ 158
Completely blank pages are output................................................... 159
Printouts are extremely curled. . . . . . . . . . . . ........................................... 159
The printed image is light or faint.................................................... 160
The non-printed side of the page is dirty.............................................. 160
Print quality decreased............................................................. 161
Memory Problems..................................................................... 161
Insufficient memory for current task................................................. 161
Insufficient memory to print all copies................................................ 162
Paper Handling Problems.............................................................. 162
Paper does not feed properly........................................................ 162
The printout was on the wrong side of the paper when I did duplex printing................. 163
Problems Using Options............................................................... 163
Paper does not feed from the optional paper cassette.................................... 163
An installed option cannot be used................................................... 164
The optional product is not available................................................. 164
Correcting USB Problems.............................................................. 164
USB connections.................................................................. 164
Windows operating system......................................................... 164
Printer software installation......................................................... 165
Status and Error Messages.............................................................. 165
Canceling Printing.................................................................... 165
Printing in the PostScript 3 Mode Problems............................................... 166
The printer does not print correctly in the PostScript mode.............................. 166
The printer does not print.......................................................... 166
The printer or its driver does not appear in utilities in the printer configuration (Mac OS only)
.............................................................................. 167
The font on the printout is different from that on the screen.............................. 167
The printer fonts cannot be installed................................................. 167
The edges of texts and/or images are not smooth....................................... 167
The printer does not print normally via the USB interface................................ 168
The printer does not print normally via the network interface............................ 168
An undefined error occurs (Mac OS only)............................................. 168
Chapter 8 About the Printer Software
Using the Printer Software for Windows.................................................. 169
Contents 9
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Using the printer driver. . .......................................................... 169
Using EPSON Status Monitor....................................................... 171
Uninstalling the printer software.................................................... 178
Sharing the printer on a network.................................................... 178
Using the PostScript Printer Driver....................................................... 188
System requirements.............................................................. 188
Using the PostScript printer driver with Windows...................................... 189
Using the PostScript printer driver with Mac OS....................................... 192
Using the PCL printer driver. . .......................................................... 194
Using Epson Universal P6 Printer Driver.............................................. 194
Appendix A Technical Specifications (AL-M300 Series)
Paper................................................................................ 197
Available paper types.............................................................. 197
Paper that should not be used....................................................... 197
Printable area.................................................................... 198
Printer.............................................................................. 199
General.......................................................................... 199
Environmental................................................................... 200
Mechanical...................................................................... 201
Electrical........................................................................ 201
Standard and approvals............................................................ 201
Interfaces............................................................................ 202
Parallel Interface (For AL-M300D only).............................................. 202
USB interface..................................................................... 202
Ethernet interface (For AL-M300DN only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Options.............................................................................. 203
Optional paper cassette unit........................................................ 203
Memory modules................................................................. 203
Consumable Products.................................................................. 204
Toner cartridge/Return toner cartridge............................................... 204
Photoconductor Unit. . . . . . . . ...................................................... 204
Maintenance Parts..................................................................... 204
Fuser Unit....................................................................... 204
Contents 10
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Appendix B Technical Specifications (AL-M400 Series)
Paper................................................................................ 205
Available paper types.............................................................. 205
Paper that should not be used....................................................... 205
Printable area.................................................................... 206
Printer.............................................................................. 207
General.......................................................................... 207
Environmental................................................................... 208
Mechanical...................................................................... 209
Electrical........................................................................ 209
Standard and approvals............................................................ 209
Interfaces............................................................................ 210
USB interface..................................................................... 210
Ethernet interface................................................................. 210
Options.............................................................................. 211
Optional paper cassette unit........................................................ 211
Memory modules................................................................. 211
CompactFlash memory............................................................ 211
Consumable Products.................................................................. 212
Toner cartridge/Return toner cartridge............................................... 212
Photoconductor Unit. . . . . . . . ...................................................... 212
Maintenance Parts..................................................................... 212
Maintenance unit................................................................. 212
Appendix C Where To Get Help
Contacting Epson Support.............................................................. 213
Before Contacting Epson. . . . . ...................................................... 213
Help for Users in Europe. . . . ....................................................... 213
Help for Users in Taiwan........................................................... 213
Help for Users in Singapore. ........................................................ 215
Help for Users in Thailand.......................................................... 215
Help for Users in Vietnam.......................................................... 216
Help for Users in Indonesia......................................................... 216
Help for Users in Hong Kong....................................................... 218
Help for Users in Malaysia.......................................................... 218
Help for Users in India............................................................. 219
Help for Users in the Philippines.................................................... 220
Contents 11
Index
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Contents 12
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Safety Instructions
Warning, Caution, Important and Note
Warning
!
must be followed carefully to avoid serious bodily injury.
Caution
!
must be observed to avoid bodily injury.
Important
c
must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
Note
contains important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer.
Important Safety Instructions
Note:
The illustrations in this section show the AL-M400 Series as an example.
Setting up the printer
❏ Be sure to lift the printer by the correct positions as shown below.
❏ When moving the printer, always keep it horizontal.
Safety Instructions 13
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
❏ If you are unable to insert the AC plug into the electrical outlet, contact an electrician.
❏ Be sure the AC power cord meets the relevant local safety standards. Use only the power cord that
comes with this product. Use of the another cord may result in fire or electric shock. This product’s
power cord is for use with this product only. Use with other equipment may result in fire or electric
shock.
❏ If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a qualified electrician. If there are fuses
in the plug, make sure you replace them with fuses of the correct size and rating.
❏ Use a grounded outlet that matches the printer’s power plug. Do not use an adapter plug.
❏ Avoid using an electrical outl et th at is cont rolle d by w all sw itches or automatic timers. Accidental
disruption of power can erase valuable information in your computer’s and printer’s memory.
❏ Make sure that there is no dust on the socket.
❏ Be sure to insert the plug completely into the electrical outlet.
❏ Do not handle the plug with wet hands.
❏ Unplug this printer from the wall outlet and refer servicing to a qualified service representative
under the following conditions:
A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
B. If liquid has been spilled into it.
C. If it has been exposed to rain or water.
D. If it does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that
are covered by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage
and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal operation.
E. If it has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.
F. If it exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.
❏ Avoid sharing outlets with other appliances.
❏ Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same
circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off.
❏ Connect your printer to an electrical outlet that meets the power requirements of this printer.
Your printer’s power requirements are indicated on a label attached to the printer. If you are not
sure of the power supply specifications in your area, contact your local power company or consult
your dealer.
Safety Instructions 14
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
❏ If you use an extension cord, make sure that the total of the ampere ratings on the products
plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating.
❏ When connecting this product to a computer or other device with a cable, ensure the correct
orientation of the connectors. Each connector has only one correct orientation. Inserting a
connector in the wrong orientation may damage both devices connected by the cable.
❏ Use only optional products, such as the paper cassette units and the printer stand, produced
specifically for this product. Using options produced for other products may cause the product to
fall over and injure someone.
Finding the place for the printer
When relocating the printer, always choose a location that has adequate space for easy operation and
maintenance. Use the following illustration as a guide for the amount of space required around the
printer to ensure smooth operation.
AL-M300 Series AL-M400 Series
a. 40cm b. 40cm
c. 10cm d. 60cm
e. 90cm f. 40cm
To install and use any of the following options, you will need the indicated amount of additional
space.
Safety Instructions 15
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
AL-M300 Series
A 250-Sheet Paper Cassette Unit adds 6.5 cm to the bottom of the printer.
AL-M400 Series
A 550-Sheet Paper Cassette Unit adds 10.0 cm to the bottom of the printer.
In addition to space considerations, always heed the following precautions when finding a place to
locate the printer:
❏ Place the printer near an electrical outlet where you can easily plug in and unplug the power cord.
❏ Do not put your printer where the cord will be stepped on.
❏ Do not use printer in a damp environment.
❏ Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, oil vapor, or dust.
❏ Do not place the printer on an unstable surface.
❏ Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation. Do not
block or cover them. Do not put the printer on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface or in a
built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
❏ Keep the entire computer and printer system away from potential sources of interference, such as
loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones.
❏ Leave adequate room around the printer to allow for sufficient ventilation.
Safety Instructions 16
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Using the printer
❏ Be careful not to touch the fuser, which is marked with a caution label, or the surrounding areas. If
the printer has been in use, the fuser and the surrounding are as may be v er y ho t. I f y ou m us t to uch
one of these areas, wait 40 minutes to allow the heat to subside before doing so.
* caution label
❏ Do not insert your hand deep into the fuser unit as some components are sharp and may cause
injury.
❏ Never push objects of any kind 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.
❏ Do not sit or lean on the printer. Do not put heavy objects on the printer.
❏ Do not use any kind of combustible gases in or around the printer.
❏ Never force the printer’s components into place. Although the printer is designed to be sturdy,
rough handling can damage it.
❏ Do not leave jammed paper inside the printer. This can cause the printer to overheat.
❏ Never spill liquid of any kind on the printer.
❏ Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions. Improper adjustment of
other controls may result in damage and may require repair by a qualified service representative.
Safety Instructions 17
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
❏ Do not turn off the printer:
-After turning on the printer, wait until Ready appears on the LCD panel.
-While the Ready light is flashing.
-While the Data light is on or flashing.
-While printing.
❏ Avoid touching the components inside the printer unless instructed to do so in this guide.
❏ Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer.
❏ Except as specifically explained in the printer’s documentation, do not attempt to service this
product yourself.
❏ Periodically disconnect the plug from the electrical outlet and clean the blades.
❏ Do not disconnect the plug while the printer is on.
❏ If the printer will not be used for a long time, disconnect the plug from the electrical outlet.
❏ Unplug this printer from the wall outlet before cleaning.
❏ Use a well-wrung cloth for cleaning and do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.
Handling the consumable products and maintenance parts
❏ Do not burn used consumable products or maintenance parts because they might explode and
injure someone. Dispose of them according to local regulations.
❏ Be sure to keep consumable products and maintenance parts out of the reach of children.
❏ When handling a toner cartridge, always place it on a clean, smooth surface.
❏ Do not attempt to modify or take it apart consumable products or maintenance parts.
❏ Do not touch the toner. Always keep toner away from your eyes. If toner gets on your skin or
clothes, wash it off with soap and water immediately.
❏ If toner is spilled, use a broom and dustpan or a damp cloth with soap and water to clean it up.
Because the fine particles can cause a fire or explosion if they come into contact with a spark, do not
use a vacuum cleaner.
❏ Wait at least one hour before using a toner cartridge after moving it from a cool to a warm
environment to prevent damage from condensation.
Safety Instructions 18
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
❏ To get the best print quality, do not store the toner cartridge or photoconductor unit in an area
subject to direct sunlight, dust, salty air, or corrosive gases (such as ammonia). Avoid locations
subject to extreme or rapid changes in temperature or humidity.
❏ When removing the photoconductor unit, do not expose it to sunlight at all and avoid exposing it
to room light for more than three minutes. The photoconductor unit contains a light-sensitive
drum. Exposure to light can damage the drum, causing dark or light areas to appear on the printed
page and reducing the service life of the drum. If you need to keep the photoconductor unit out of
the printer for long periods, cover it with an opaque cloth.
❏ Be careful not to scratch the surface of the drum. When you remove the photoconductor unit from
the printer, always place it on a clean, smooth surface. Avoid touching the drum, since oil from
your skin can permanently damage its surface and affect print quality.
❏ Do not touch the transfer roller on the transfer unit to avoid damaging it.
❏ Do not let the paper’s edge slide across your skin because the edge of the paper may cut you.
Safety Information
Laser safety labels
Warning:
!
The performance of procedures and adjustments other than those specified in the printer’s
documentation may result in hazardous radiation exposure. Your printer is a Class 1 laser
product as defined in the IEC60825 specifications. The label similar to the one shown below is
attached to the back of the printer in countries where required.
Safety Instructions 19
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Internal laser radiation
There is a Class III b Laser Diode Assembly that has an invisible laser beam inside the printer head unit.
The printer head unit is NOT A SERVICE ITEM, therefore, the printer head unit should not be
opened under any circumstances. An additional laser warning label is affixed to the inside of the
printer.
Ozone safety
Ozone emission
Ozone gas is generated by laser printers as a by-product of the printing process. Ozone is produced
only when the printer is printing.
Ozone exposure limit
The Epson laser printer generates less than 1.5 mg/h of continuous printing.
Minimize the risk
To minimize the risk of exposure to ozone, you should avoid the following conditions:
❏ Use of multiple laser printers in a confined area
❏ Operation in conditions of extremely low humidity
❏ Poor room ventilation
❏ Long, continuous printing together with any of the above
Printer location
The printer should be located so that the exhaust gases and heat generated are:
❏ Not blown directly into the user’s face
❏ Vented directly out of the building whenever possible
Safety Instructions 20
Chapter 1
Getting to Know Your Printer
Printer Parts
Front view
AL-M300 Series AL-M400 Series
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
a. control panel
b. face-down tray
c. paper support
d. standard lower paper cassette
Getting to Know Your Printer 21
Rear view
AL-M300 Series
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
AL-M300D
AL-M400 Series
AL-M300DN
a. security slot
b. USB interface connector
c.
(For AL-M300D only)
parallel interface connector
d.
(For AL-M300DN/AL-M400 Series)
Ethernet interface connector
e. power switch
f. left side cover
g. AC inlet
h. cover B
*
Getting to Know Your Printer 22
i. lever B
*
When the printer is in the deep sleep mode, the two Ethernet interface connector’s LEDs work as follows:
- if the printer is connected with 1000BASE, the upper LED only lights green.
- if the printer is connected with 10BASE/100BASE, neither LED lights.
Inside the printer
AL-M300 Series AL-M400 Series
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
a. MP tray
b. cover A
c. photoconductor unit
d. toner cartridge
Getting to Know Your Printer 23
Control panel
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
a.
Data light (Green)
b. LCD panel Displays printer status messages and control panel menu settings.
c.
Wakeup/Sleep button
(Green)
d.
Pause/Release button
On when print data is stored in the print buffer (the section of printer memory
reserved for receiving data) but not yet printed.
Flashes when the printer is processing data.
Off when no data remains in the print buffer.
Press to switch the status between available for printing and saving power. This
button lights up when the printer is in the sleep mode (the deep sleep mode).
The printer has a power off mode which saves more power consumption as
almost all functions are not available.
For more details about the power off mode, see “Energy Saver Menu” on
page 87.
Press once to pause. Press again to recover from pause. While paused, the
following operations are available on the control panel.
- Canceling the current print job or stored print jobs.
- Interrupting print jobs to print a stored print job.
- Ejecting a paper (Form Feed) by holding down the OK button for more than 2
seconds.
For instructions on these operations, see “Canceling Printing” on page 109,
“Interrupting Printing” on page 109 and “Status and Error Messages” on
page 94.
Getting to Know Your Printer 24
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
e.
Right button
f.
Down button
g.
Left button
h.
OK button
i.
Up button
j.
Error light (Orange)
k.
Ready light (Green)
Use these buttons to access the control panel menus, where you can make
printer settings and check the status of consumable products. For instructions
on how to use these buttons, see “Using the Control Panel Menus” on
page 60.
When the error light is flashing, pressing the OK button clears the error and
switches the printer to ready status.
On or flashes when an error has occurred.
On when the printer is ready, indicating that the printer is ready to receive and
print data.
Off when the printer is not ready, or in the sleep mode.
Options
You can add to your printer’s capabilities by installing any of the following options.
❏ 250-Sheet Paper Cassette Unit (C12C802761) (For AL-M300 Series only)
This unit increases paper feeding capacity up to 250 sheets of paper. You can install only one unit
on your printer.
❏ 550-Sheet Paper Cassette Unit (C12C802771) (For AL-M400 Series only)
This unit increases paper feeding capacity up to 550 sheets of paper. You can install up to three
units.
❏ CompactFlash Memory (For AL-M400 Series only)
This option enables you to store overlay forms, use Reserve Job function, and improve the collate
printing environment. By using the Reserve Job function, you can store print jobs in the printer’s
CompactFlash memory and print them later directly from the printer’s control panel. By using the
collate printing function, you can print larger and more complex print jobs.
Note:
The CompactFlash memory must be at least 4 GB.
❏ Memory Module
This option expands the printer’s memory by allowing you to print complex and
graphics-intensive documents. The printer’s RAM can be increased up to 1152 MB by adding an
additional 1024 MB RAM DIMM.
Note:
Make sure that the DIMM you purchase is compatible with Epson products. For details, contact the
store where you purchased this printer or an Epson qualified service representative.
Getting to Know Your Printer 25
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Consumable Products
The life of the following consumable products is monitored by the printer. The printer lets you know
when replacements are needed.
Product name Product code
AL-M300 Series AL-M400 Series
Standard Capacity Toner Cartridge (Black) 0690 0698
High Capacity Toner Cartridge (Black) 0689 0697
Return High Capacity Toner Cartridge (Black) 0691 0699
Photoconductor Unit (Black) 1228 1230
The life of the following consumable products is monitored by the printer. The printer lets you know
when replacements are needed.
Return toner cartridge is not sold in some areas. Contact your local Epson dealer/representative about
the availability of the Return toner cartridge scheme.
Maintenance Parts
Product name Product code
AL-M300 Series AL-M400 Series
Fuser Unit 3049/3050 -
Maintenance Unit - 3057/3058
Note:
❏ Fuser unit part numbers vary by location.
❏ Maintenance unit part numbers vary by location.
Where to Find Information
Setup Guide
Getting to Know Your Printer 26
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Provides you with information on assembling the printer and installing the printer software.
User’s Guide (this manual)
Provides you with detailed information on the printer’s functions, optional products, maintenance,
troubleshooting, and technical specifications.
Network Guide
Provides network administrators with information on both the printer driver and network settings.
Font Guide
Provides you with information on fonts used on the printer.
Online Help for printer software
Click Help for detailed information and instructions on the printer software that controls your
printer. Online help is automatically installed when you install the printer software.
Printer Features
Power saving performance
The printer has an advanced power saving feature that helps you reduce electricity consumption. In
the power off mode
For a detailed explanation, see “Energy Saver Menu” on page 87.
*
For EU models only
The printer consumes power as low as about 1 W during Deep Sleep mode because of the new
controller. Print job data is received even in this mode.
Print Job Arranger
*
, the printer consumes little electricity by disabling almost all operations.
This function allows printing settings for several documents created by different applications at the
same time. You can arrange the order in which jobs are printed and change the layout of the data.
Getting to Know Your Printer 27
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Chapter 2
Printing Tasks
Loading Paper into Your Printer
This section describes how to load paper. If you use special media such as transparencies or envelopes,
see also “Selecting and Using Print Media” on page 36. For specifications or details about the paper
types and sizes, see “Paper” on page 197 (for AL-M300 Series users), or “Paper” on page 205 (for
AL-M400 Series users).
Important:
c
Do not let the paper’s edge slide across your skin because the edge of the paper may cut you.
Note:
❏ This printer does not automatically detect paper sizes in the paper sources. Make sure to specify a
paper size using the Tray Menu on the control panel. The factory default paper size for all of the
paper sources is A4.
❏ The following procedure uses the illustration of AL-M400DN as an example.
MP tray
The MP tray (Multi-purpose tray) is the paper source that is available for various types of paper, such
as labels, envelopes, and thick paper.
Note:
To load envelopes, see “Envelopes” on page 37.
Printing Tasks 28
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
1. Open the MP tray.
2. Slide the paper guides to accommodate the paper you are loading.
3. Load a stack of the desired paper with the printable surface facing up. Then slide the paper guides
to get a snug fit.
Printing Tasks 29
AL-M300/AL-M400 Series User's Guide
Note:
❏ Make sure that you do not load paper beyond the limit mark.
❏ After loading paper, set the MP Type setting on the control panel to match the type of paper
loaded. For details, see “Tray Menu” on page 65.
When loading A5 or smaller paper on the MP tray
1. Pull out the MP tray.
Printing Tasks 30
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