®
EPSON
LQ-510/1010
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 or
television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING
The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will
invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which
exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. 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 Epson America, Inc., 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 present appareil numerique n’emet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numeriques de Classe B prescrites dans le reglement sur le
brouillage radioelectriques edicte par le Ministere des Communications du Canada.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent
liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. While every
precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, Epson America, Inc. assumes no
responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages
resulting from the use of information contained herein.
Epson America, Inc. shall not be liable against any damages arising from the use of any
options other than those designated as Original Epson Products by Seiko Epson
Corporation.
Epson and Epson ESC/P are registered trademarks 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 © 1990 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
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
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets . . . . . .
Printing on Special Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
1
2
5
6
1-1
1-2
1-5
1-7
1-15
1-22
1-25
2-1
2-2
2-4
2-8
2-16
2-23
Chapter 3 Using the Printer
Operating the Control Panel
Selecting Typestyles
................................
Setting the DIP Switches.
Page Length
Skip Over Perforation
.......................................
...............................
Adjusting the Loading Position.
Using Short Tear-off
................................
.........................
............................
......................
3-1
3-2
3-6
3-11
3-15
3-16
3-17
3-19
v
Selecting an International Character Set
Choosing a Character Set
Using the Data Dump Mode
............................
.........................
...............
3-22
3-24
3-26
Chapter 4 Software and Graphics
Enhancing Your Printing
Graphics
..........................................
User-defined Characters.
............................
............................
Chapter 5 Using the Printer Options
The Cut Sheet Feeder
The Pull Tractor
The Interface Boards
...............................
....................................
................................
Chapter 6 Maintenance
Cleaning the Printer
Replacing the Ribbon
Transporting the Printer.
................................
...............................
............................
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting
Printing
Paper Handling
Options..
...........................................
....................................
.........................................
4-1
4-2
4-7
4-17
5-1
5-2
5-24
5-37
6-1
6-2
6-4
6-10
7-1
7-2
7-7
7-10
Chapter 8 Technical Specifications
Printer Specifications
Interface Specifications
Option
Initialization.
vi
Specifications
......................................
...............................
..............................
...............................
8-1
8-2
8-9
8-13
8-15
Chapter 9 Command Summary
Using the Command Summary.
Commands in Numerical Order
Commands Arranged by Topic.
......................
......................
......................
9-1
9-2
9-5
9-8
Appendix
Proportional Width Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Character Sets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-1
A-2
A-6
Glossary
Index
vii
Introduction
The Epson® LQ-510 and LQ-1010 are advanced 24-pin dot matrix
printers combining compact design and high performance with a
wide range of features.
Features
In addition to the high-quality printing and ease of operation you
have come to expect from Epson printers, the LQ-510 and LQ-1010
offer the following features:
Easy paper handling, featuring automatic single-sheet loading.
Compatibility with the Epson ESC/P® commands used by the
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 192 characters per second at
12 cpi (characters per inch).
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, which allows use of
single sheets of paper without removing the continuous paper,
eliminates paper waste with short tear-off, and allows easy and
accurate paper alignment.
Nine built-in Letter Quality fonts for producing high-quality
documents:
Epson Roman, Epson San Serif, Epson Courier, Epson
Prestige, OCR-B, OCR-A, Epson Script, Epson Orator,
Epson Orator-S
A 360 x 360 dot per inch graphics mode.
Introduction 1
Introduction
l
A micro-adjustment feature that allows you to feed the paper
forward or backward to finely adjust the loading and short tearoff positions.
l Fifteen international character sets, an italic character set, and
five graphics character sets.
l
The ability to handle a wide range of paper types, including
envelopes and labels.
The LQ-510 and LQ-1010 are basically the same printer except for the
width of their carriages. The LQ-510 has a standard width carriage
that accommodates paper up to a width of 10 inches. The LQ-1010
has a wide carriage that accommodates paper up to a width of
14 inches.
Throughout this manual, the LQ-510 is referred to as the standard
width printer and the LQ-1010 is referred to as the wide carriage
printer.
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.
To locate or purchase options or supplies, call Epson Accessories, Inc. at
1-800-873-7766.
l
Film Ribbon Cartridge (#7768/#7770)
An optional film ribbon cartridge provides you with even higher
quality printing than the standard fabric ribbon.
2
Introduction
Single-bin Cut Sheet Feeder (C806122/C806242)
l
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.
Introduction
Pull Tractor Unit (C800062/C800142)
l
This option improves the performance of continuous paper
handling. It is especially useful with continuous multi-part
forms.
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 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 cover 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
day-to-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.
Note: The majority of the illustrations in this manual show the
standard width printer. Whenever necessary, an illustration is
included to show the wide carriage printer.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
WARNINGS must be followed to avoid bodily injury.
CAUTIONS must be observed to avoid damage to your
printer.
Notes contain important information and useful tips on the
operation of your printer.
Introduction 5
Introduction
Where to Get Help
A network of authorized Epson dealers and Customer Care Centers
throughout the United States offers customer support and service for
Epson products. Epson America provides product information and
support to its dealers and Customer Care Centers.
Therefore, we ask that you contact the business where you
purchased your Epson product to request assistance. If the people
there do not have the answer to your question, they can obtain it
through our dealer support program.
Epson is confident that this policy will provide you with the
assistance you need. Call the Epson Consumer Information Center at
1-213-782-2600 for the following:
l
The location of the nearest Epson dealer
l
The location of the nearest Customer Care Center.
To locate or purchase accessories or supplies, contact your Epson
dealer.
6
Introduction
Chapter 1
Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer.
Checking the Parts.
Removing the Protective Materials.
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
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
The Parallel Interface
Setting Up Your Application Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..............................
...............................
.................
.............................
.........................
....................
........................
.................................
............................
.............................
.............
.............................
1-2
1-2
1-3
1-5
1-7
1-7
1-8
1-13
1-15
1-15
1-15
1-22
1-22
1-25
Setting Up the Printer
1-1
Unpacking the Printer
This section describes how to unpack your 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.
platen knob
ribbon cartridge
After removing the parts, save the packaging materials in case you
ever need to transport your printer.
1-2
Setting Up the Printer
Removing the Protective Materials
The printer is protected during shipping by pieces of white packing
material. Also, the wide carriage printer is protected by a locking
clip, which must be removed before you turn on the printer.
CAUTION: Before turning on the wide carriage printer,
be absolutely sure you have removed the locking clip.
Turning on the printer while the clip is attached may
seriously damage the mechanism.
Follow these steps to remove the protective materials.
1.
Remove the printer cover.
2.
Remove the pieces of white packing material. At this point, the
standard width printer is completely unpacked.
Setting Up the Printer
1-3
Unpacking the printer
3.
To remove the locking clip on the wide carriage printer, lift and
remove the paper tension unit.
4.
Remove the locking clip.
Note: Store the clip with the other packing material in case you
ever need to transport your printer.
1-4
Setting Up the Printer
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.
Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat,
moisture, or dust.
Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic
timers. Accidental interruption of power can wipe out
information in both your computer’s and 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.
Setting Up the Printer
1-5
The illustration below shows a good printer location.
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.
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.
1-6
Setting Up the Printer
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.
Insert the knob into the hole on the printer’s side and rotate it
1.
slowly until it slips onto the shaft.
Setting Up the Printer
1-7
2.
Push firmly on the platen knob until it fits against the printer case.
CAUTION: Do not use the platen knob to adjust the
position of the paper. This interferes with the automatic
paper loading system and may cause a paper jam.
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.
Install the ribbon cartridge as follows.
1-8
Setting Up the Printer
Assembling the Printer
Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.
1.
CAUTION: Never move the print head while the printer is
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.
2.
This removes slack in the ribbon and makes it easier to install.
Setting Up the Printer
1-9
Assembling the Printer
On the standard width printer, open the paper tension unit
3.
cover. (On the wide carriage printer, you already removed the
paper tension unit when you removed the locking clip.)
Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly down
4.
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.
1-10
Setting Up the Printer
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.
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.
Setting Up the Printer
1-11
Assembling the Printer
7.
On the standard width printer, close the paper tension unit
cover.
The standard width printer is now complete.
8.
On the wide carriage printer, fit the rear notches of the paper
tension unit over the pins of the printer; then lower the unit.
1-12
Setting Up the Printer
9.
Press down on both sides of the paper tension unit to lock it in
place.
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.
Place the paper guide on the printer.
Setting Up the Printer
1-13
2. Raise the paper guide until it locks into place.
Note: To lower the paper guide, lift up slightly to release it
from its locked position; then gently lower it down onto 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.
-
1-14
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.
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.
Setting
Up
the Printer
1-15
The self test is 8 inches wide on the standard width printer and
14 inches wide on the wide carriage printer.
CAUTION: Never run the self test using paper that is
narrower than 8¼ inches (210 mm) on the standard width
printer or 14 inches (360 mm) on the wide carriage printer.
This prevents the print head from printing directly onto
the platen, which can damage the print head.
Although the self test can be run with continuous paper, use a single
sheet of 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.
1-16
Setting Up the Printer
While holding down the LINE FEED button (draft mode) or
3.
FORM FEED button (Letter Quality mode), turn on the printer. The
printer beeps several times and POWER and PAPER OUT lights
come on.
Move the left edge guide so that it locks in place next to the
4.
guide mark.
Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.
5.
Setting Up the Printer
1-17
6.
Next, slide a sheet of paper down between the edge guides until
it meets resistance. After about two seconds, the printer loads the
paper automatically and then starts the self test.
Note: If the platen turns without loading the paper, press the
ON LINE button to take the printer off line. Then remove the
paper and reinsert it more firmly.
A list of DIP switch 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 button.
1-18
Setting Up the Printer
7.
When you wish to stop the test, press the ON LINE button.
8.
If the paper is still loaded, press the LOAD/EJECT button or
LINE FEED button to eject it. Then turn off the printer.
CAUTION After turning the power off, always wait at
least five seconds before turning it back on. Turning the
power on and off rapidly can damage the printer.
Setting Up the Printer
1-19
Testing the Printer
Here is part of a typical self test printed in Letter Quality mode.
Country/Graphic
U.S.A/United States on on on
France/Multilingual on on off
Germany/Portugal on off on
U.K./Canada-French on off off
Denmark/Norway
Sweden
Italy
Spain
Page length
11”
1.2”
8.5”
A4
#$%$'()*+,-./
$%&'()*+,-. /0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLM
SW1-1 1-2 1-3
off on on
off on
off off on
off off off
off
SW1-4 1-5
off off
on
off
off on
on
on
SW1-6
Tear off
Invalid
Valid
1” Skip
Invalid
Valid
Auto LF
Invalid
Valid
Receive I
1kbytes
8kbytes
Graphics
Uni-d
Bi-d
%&'()*+,-. /0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
&'()*+,-.
/0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP
'()*+,-. /0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ
Prestige 10
()*+,-.
/0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR
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 in Chapter 5.
1-20
Setting Up the Printer
Testing the Printer
If the self test does not print properly, check the control panel and
the print head area. Make sure that all packing material and
shipping restraints have been removed from inside the printer. See
Chapter 7, Troubleshooting, for other possible causes and solutions.
If the printer still does not print the self test correctly, contact your
dealer or call the Consumer Information number listed in Where to
Get Help.
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 Interface Boards 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.
2.
Plug the cable connector securely into the printer.
1-22
Setting Up the Printer
3.
Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either
side of the connector.
4.
If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the ground screw
beneath the interface connector.
Setting Up the Printer
1-23
Connecting the Printer to your Computer
5.
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.
1-24
Setting Up the Printer
Setting Up Your Application Software
Now that you have set up and tested the printer, you should make
sure that it works with your application programs.
Most application programs let you specify the type of printer you
are using so that the program can take full advantage of the 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 your printer on its selection menu. If the printer is not listed,
choose one of the following printers. They are listed in order of
preference.
LQ-2550
LQ-2500
LQ-850 (LQ-1050)
LQ-500
LQ-800 (LQ-1000)
LQ-1500
If none of the above printers is listed, select the first one available on
the following list: LQ, EX, FX, LX, RX, MX, Epson printer, Standard
printer, Draft printer.
To use all of the features of the printer, however, it is best to use a
program with your printer on its menu. If an application program
does not list the printer, contact the software manufacturer to see if
an update is available that supports your model.
Setting Up the Printer
1-25
Chapter 2
Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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
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2-2
2-4
2-4
2-7
2-8
2-8
2-8
2-16
2-16
2-19
2-23
2-23
2-26
2-27
2-28
Paper Handling 2-1
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method
The paper release lever on the standard width printer has two
positions and on the wide carriage printer has three positions for use
with the various methods of paper feeding. Make sure the paper
release lever is set to match the desired paper feeding method.
Standard width printer
2-2
Wide carriage printer
Paper Handling
The lever positions are marked by icons.
Single sheet position: When you load single sheets from
either the paper guide or from the optional cut sheet feeder,
the lever should be all the way back.
Continuous feed position: When you load continuous paper
with the built-in push tractor, the lever should be all the
way forward on the standard width printer and in the
middle on the wide carriage printer.
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method
Pull tractor position
load continuous paper with the optional pull tractor, the
lever should be all the way forward on the wide carriage
printer. Even when you use the built-in push tractor at the
same time, you must set the lever to this position. Only
select this position if you are using the optional pull tractor.
Note: On the standard width printer, the paper release lever is in
the forward position for continuous paper whether the paper is
loaded from the built-in push tractor or the optional pull tractor.
-wide carriage printer only: When you
Paper Handling 2-3
Using Single Sheets
The standard width printer can accommodate single sheets with a
width of 7.2 inches (182 mm) to 10 inches (254 mm). The wide
carriage printer can accommodate single sheets with a width of
7.2
inches (182 mm) to 14.3 inches (364 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.
Turn on the printer. (The green POWER light should come on.)
Note: Do not insert paper before turning on the printer.
2-4
Paper
Handling
Move the left edge guide so that it locks in place next to the
3.
guide mark. (You may want to change this position later,
depending on the margin settings of your application program.)
Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.
4.
Paper Handling 2-5
Using Single Sheets
5.
Slide the paper down between the edge guides until it meets
resistance. After about two seconds, the printer loads the paper
automatically and is set ON LINE so that it can accept data from
your computer.
CAUTION: Never advance the paper using the platen knob
.
while the printer is turned on. If the platen turns without
loading the paper, press the ON LINE button to set the
printer off line. Then remove the paper and reinsert it
more firmly.
You are now ready to begin printing.
2-6
Paper Handling
Reloading During Printing
When you print a document of more than one page using single
sheets of paper, the printer stops printing when it reaches the bottom
of the page. When this happens, the ON LINE light either goes off
automatically or remains on, depending on your application
program software. If the ON LINE light remains on, the first thing you
should do is press the ON LINE button to take the printer off line.
Once the ON Line light is off, remove the sheet that has just been
printed (if necessary, press the LOAD/EJECT button to eject the page)
and load a new sheet. Press the ON LINE button to start printing the
next page and follow any additional prompts from your software.
Paper Handling 2-7
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 (254 mm) wide on the standard width
printer and up to 16 inches (406 mm) wide on the wide carriage
printer.
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.
Loading Continuous Paper
1.
Be sure that the printer is turned off, then remove the paper
guide.
2-8
Paper Handling
2.
Set the paper release lever to the continuous paper position. On
the standard width printer, this is the forward position.
On the wide carriage printer, this is the center position.
Paper Handling 2-9
Using Continuous Paper
3.
Release the sprocket units by pulling the sprocket lock levers
forward as shown below.
4.
Slide the left sprocket unit until it is one-half inch from the
farthest left position. Press the lever back to lock it in place.
2-10
Paper Handling
Using Continuous Paper
5.
Slide the right sprocket unit so that it roughly matches the width
of your paper, but do not lock it.
6.
Move the paper support midway between the two sprocket
units.
Paper Handling
2-11
7.
Open both sprocket covers.
Note: Make sure that your paper has a clean, straight edge
before inserting it into the printer.
2-12
Paper Handling
8.
Fit the first three holes in the paper over the pins of both
sprockets.
9.
Close the sprocket covers.
Paper Handling
2-13
Using Continuous Paper
10. Slide the right sprocket unit to a position where the paper is
straight and has no wrinkles. Then lock it in place.
11. Reattach the paper guide. Then slide the edge guides apart to the
sides of the paper guide as shown.
2-14 Paper Handling
Using Continuous Paper
12. Turn on the printer. It will beep because there is no paper in the
printer. Then press the LOAD/EJECT button to feed paper to the
loading position.
13. Press the ON LINE button to set the printer on line so that it can
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 Adjusting the Loading Position in
Chapter 3.
CAUTION: Never adjust the loading position using the
platen knob and never turn the platen knob while the
printer is turned on.
Note: Before you begin printing, check the page length and skip
over perforation settings; readjust the settings if necessary. See
Chapter 3 for details.
Paper Handling
2-15
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets
Even with continuous paper loaded in the printer, you can 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, you remove the
last printed document and then back the continuous paper out of the
way. Follow the steps below.
1.
If the printer is on line, press the ON LINE button to set the printer
off line.
2.
Tear off any outgoing sheets. If the end of the last printed
sheet has not reached the tear-off edge, you need to press the
FORM FEED button to advance your document to a point where
it can be easily removed.
2-16
Paper Handling
CAUTION: Make sure you tear off your printed document
before pressing the LOAD/EJECT button. Reverse-feeding
several pages at a time may result in a paper jam. This is
especially true for narrow paper (less than 6 inches or
150 mm wide).
3.
Press the LOAD/EJECT button to feed the continuous paper
backward out of the printer and into the standby position. The
paper is still attached to the tractor but no longer in the paper
path.
Note: Pressing the LOAD/EJECT button once may not feed the
paper far back enough to reach the standby position. If the
PAPER OUT light does not come on, you need to press the
LOAdD/EJECT button again. With normal-width continuous
paper, you can press the LOAD/EJECT button up to three times.
If, however, you are using narrow paper (between 4 and 6
inches or 100 and 150 mm) you should only press the
LOAD/EJECT button once. Also, do not use this button to eject
labels.
Paper Handling
2-17
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets
CAUTION: Never feed labels backward through the
printer. Labels can easily come off the backing sheet and
jam the printer.
4.
Push the paper release lever back to the single sheet position.
5.
Stand the paper guide upright and adjust the edge guides to
roughly match the width of your paper.
2-18
Paper Handling
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets
6.
Insert a sheet of paper between the edge guides until it meets
resistance. Slide the edge guides to match the width of your
paper.
After about two seconds, the printer loads the paper
automatically and is set ON LINE so that is can accept data from
your computer.
Note: If the platen turns without loading the paper, press the
ON LINE button to take the printer off line. Then remove the paper
and reinsert it more firmly.
Switching Back to Continuous Paper
It is 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.
Paper Handling
2-19
1.
Slide the edge guides apart so they do not interfere with
continuous paper feeding.
2.
Lower the paper guide onto the printer.
2-20
Paper Handling
On the standard width printer, pull the paper release lever
3.
forward to the continuous paper position.
On the wide carriage printer, set the paper release lever to the
middle position for continuous paper feeding.
Paper Handling
2-21
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets
4.
Press the LOAD/EJECT button to feed the continuous paper to the
loading position.
5.
Press the ON LINE button to set the printer on line so that it can
accept data.
2-22
Paper Handling
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.
CAUTION: 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
Envelopes later in this chapter.
The Paper Thickness Lever
To accommodate various thicknesses of paper, the printer is
equipped with a paper thickness lever that can be set to seven
positions (standard width printer) or eight positions (wide carriage
printer). These positions are identified by a scale on the printer next
to the lever.
To change the paper thickness setting, follow these steps.
1.
Make sure that the printer is turned off. Then remove the printer
cover.
WARNING: If the printer has just been in use, the print
head may be hot. Allow it to cool before touching it.
Paper Handling
2-23
2.
Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.
3.
Select the paper thickness you want according to the table on the
next page. For normal use, the lever should always be set to
position 2 on the scale.
Note: If you have installed the optional film ribbon cartridge, set
the paper thickness lever to position 1.
2-24
Paper Handling
Paper
Type
Paper (single sheets or continuous
paper with film ribbon installed)
Paper (single sheets or continuous)
Thin paper
24 lb paper
Multi-part forms
P-sheet
3-sheet
Labels
Envelopes
Air mail
Plain
Bond (20 lb)
Bond (24 lb)
Note: When the lever is set to position 4 or higher, the printing
speed is reduced.
Reattach the printer cover.
4.
Lever Position
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
4 or 5
6
6
7
Paper Handling
2-25
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.
CAUTION: 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-than-normal
paper can damage the print head.
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.
Except for the paper thickness lever setting, you load multi-part
paper the same way as continuous paper. For details, see Loading
Continuous Paper in this chapter. Also see Page Length and
Adjusting the Loading Position in Chapter 3.
2-26
Paper Handling
CAUTION: Do not use multi-part forms with the single-
sheet feeding system or the optional cut sheet feeder.
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.
You load labels the same way that you load continuous paper except
that the paper thickness lever must be adjusted for printing labels.
See Loading Continuous Paper earlier in this chapter. For the correct
paper thickness setting, see The Paper Thickness Lever earlier in this
chapter.
Paper Handling
2-27
CAUTION: 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, contact your dealer or call the
Consumer Information number listed in Where to Get
Help.
Because 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.
Envelopes
You can feed envelopes individually using the single-sheet loading
feature. Before loading envelopes, adjust the position of the paper
thickness lever. See The Paper Thickness Lever earlier in this
chapter.
2-28
Paper Handling
When manually feeding an envelope, you may have to push it down
slightly while pressing the LOAD/EJECT button to get it to feed
properly.
CAUTION:
The printable area for envelopes is shown on
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 the page setup of your application program keeps the
printing entirely within this printable area.
Paper Handling
2-29
0.33 inch
(8.5 mm) minimum
0.12 inch
(3 mm) minimum
Note: Envelope printing is only available at normal temperature
(40°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.
0.87 inch
(22.0 mm) minimum
2-30
Paper Handling
Chapter 3
Using the Printer
Operating
Selecting Typestyles
Character Fonts
Condensed Mode
Setting the DIP Switches.
Changing a DIP Switch Setting
The DIP Switch Tables
The DIP Switch Functions
Page Length ........................................................................ 3-15
Skip Over Perforation
Adjusting the Loading Position.
Using Micro-adjustment.
Using Short Tear-off
Adjusting the Tear-off Position.
the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................
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............................
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......................
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3-2
3-6
3-6
3-10
3-11
3-11
3-12
3-14
3-16
3-17
3-17
3-19
3-20
Selecting an International Character Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing a Character Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Data Dump Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Printer
3-22
3-24
3-26
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
MULTI-PART
On when the paper thickness
lever is set to position 4 or
higher. When this light is
blinking, the micro-adjustment
function can be used.
POWER
On when the POWER switch is
on and power is supplied.
READY
On when the printer is ready to
accept input data. Flickers
during printing.
PAPER OUT
On when the printer is out of
paper or when continuous
paper is in the standby position.
ON LINE
On when the printer is on line
and ready to accept data.
(orange)
(green)
(green)
(red)
(green)
3-2
Using the Printer
Buttons
ONLINE
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 ON LINE light
is on and the printer can receive
and print data from the computer.
FORMFEED
When the printer is off line, press
this button to eject a single sheet
of paper or to advance continuous
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.
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
SelecType
FONT
Press this button to select a font.
The two orange indicator lights
show the selected font. See
Selecting Typestyles later in this
chapter.
CONDENSED
Press this button 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
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 FORM FEED button immediately
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
LINE FEED button or the FORM FEED button while
turning on the printer. See Testing the Printer in
Chapter 1 for more information.
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 MULTI-PART light is
blinking. See Adjusting the Loading Position and
Using Short Tear-off later in this chapter.
By holding down both the LINE FEED and the
FORM FEED buttons while you switch on the
printer, you turn on the data dump mode. This
feature allows advanced users to locate the
source of communications problems between the
computer and printer. See Using the Data Dump
Mode for more information.
Using the Printer
3-5
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.
Note: The settings you select using the SelecType panel remain
valid even after you turn off, reset, or initialize the printer.
However, commands from your application program temporarily
override the SelecType settings.
Some application programs are designed to control all typestyle
functions. These programs cancel all previous typestyle settings
with software commands. 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.
Character Fonts
Your printer has ten built-in fonts: draft, Epson Roman, Epson Sans
Serif, Epson Courier, Epson Prestige, Epson Script, OCR-A, OCR-B,
Epson Orator, and Epson Orator-S. Eight of the fonts are selectable
from the SelecType feature of the front panel.
3-6
Using the Printer
SelecType
DRAFT
R OMAN
SANS SERIF
- COURIER
PRESTIGE
SCRIPT
OCR-B
ORATOR
OTHER
BLINKING
FONT
When you press the FONT button, the printer scrolls through eight of
the ten built-in fonts. The indicator lights show the selected font.
indicates the light is off.
indicates the light is on.
indicates the light is blinking.
You use the software command ESC k to select the other two built-in
fonts:
ESC k 6 OCR-A
ESC k 8
Epson Orator-S
When you select one of these fonts, the indicator lights show the
OTHER pattern. See the Command Summary in Chapter 9 for details
on software commands.
Using the Printer
3-7
The following samples show the character set available for each font.
DRAFT
Epson Roman
Epson Sans Serif
Epson Courier
Epson Prestige
3-8
Using the Printer
Epson Script
OCR-B
OCR-A
Note: The OCR-B and OCR-A fonts can be read by an optical
character reader (also known as a document reader or image
scanner) for input into another computer. Print enhancements,
such as bold and underlining, cannot be read by an actual
character reader.
Epson Orator
Using the Printer
3-9
Epson Orator-S
The draft mode uses fewer dots per character for high-speed
printing, which makes it ideal for rough drafts and editing work.
The other fonts are Letter Quality (LQ) fonts. Letter Quality takes a
little longer to print, but produces nicely formed characters suitable
for most documentation requirements.
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 cpi, 12 cpi, and
proportional printing, but not 15 cpi.
To select the condensed mode, simply press the CONDENSED button
so that the orange indicator light comes on. To turn off the
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.
This is 10 CPI printing.
This is condensed 10 CPI printing,
This is 12 CPI printing.
This it condensed 12 CPI printing,
3-10
Using the Printer
Setting the DIP Switches
The printer has two sets of DIP 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 later in this
section. Descriptions of all the DIP switch functions follow the
tables.
Changing a DIP Switch Setting
To change a DIP switch setting, follow these steps:
1.
Turn off the printer.
2.
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.
Using the Printer
3-11
The DIP Switch Tables
The tables below show the settings for each DIP switch. The page
numbers indicate where the feature is described.
DIP switch 1
SW Description
1-1
International character set/
1-2 Graphics character set
1-3
1-4 Page length
1-5
1-6 Condensed mode on/off
1-7 Character set
1-8
Cut sheet feeder mode on/off
DIP switch 2
Description
SW
2-1
Not used
Tear-off mode
2-2
2-3
1-inch skip over perforation
2-4
Auto line feed
Input buffer capacity
2-5
2-6
Graphics print direction
2-7
Character spacing
2-8
ON
See tables 1 and 2
See table 3
Condensed
Graphics Italics
On
ON
OFF
Normal
OFF
On
On
On
8 KB
Bidirect.
1 KB*
Unidirect.
See Table 4
Off
Off
Off
Off
Page
3-22
3-24
3-15
3-10
3-24
5-2
Page
3-14
3-16
3-14
3-14
3-14
3-13
* Required for use of user-defined (download) characters.
3-12
Using the Printer
Table 1
International character sets
Country
USA
France
Germany
UK
Denmark
Sweden OFF ON OFF OFF
Italy
Spain
SW 1-1 SW 1-2 SW 1-3 SW 1-7
ON ON ON
ON ON OFF
ON
ON
OFF ON ON
OFF
OFF OFF OFF
OFF ON
OFF OFF OFF
OFF ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Table 2 Graphics character sets
Graphics character sets
PC 437 (United States)
Epson Extended Graphics ON ON ON
PC 850 (Multilingual) ON ON
PC 860 (Portugal)
PC 863 (Canada-French)
PC 865 (Norway)
SW 1-1 SW 1-2 SW 1-3
ON
ON OFF
OFF ON ON
OFF ON
OFF
OFF
SW-17
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
The graphics character sets are also called code page tables.
Table 3 Page length selection
Page length
11 inches
12 inches ON
8.5 inches
11.7 inches
SW 1-4 SW 1-5
OFF OFF
OFF
OFF ON
ON ON
Table 4
Character spacing
Character spacing
10 cpi
12 cpi
15 cpi
Proportional
Using the Printer
SW 2-7 SW 2-8
OFF OFF
ON
OFF ON
ON ON
OFF
3-13
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. With bidirectional
printing, the print head prints in both directions. This is faster than
unidirectional printing.
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 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 Using
Short Tear-off later in this chapter.
3-14
CAUTION:
Using the Printer
Do not use the short tear-off mode with labels.
Page Length
You can select one of four page lengths using DIP switches 1-4 and
1-5.
Page length
8.5 inches (216 mm)
11 inches (279 mm)
11.7 inches (296 mm)
12 inches (305 mm)
SW 1-4 SW 1-5
OFF ON
OFF OFF
ON
ON
ON
OFF
Note: 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.
Note: If you are using the cut sheet feeder, the page length is
automatically set when you run the self test. See The Cut Sheet
Feeder in Chapter 5 for details.
Using the Printer
3-15
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 shown in the following illustration.
DIP switch 2-3 ON (Skip over perforation ON)
23456789:;<=>?@'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]'
3456789:;
456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
l
56789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZf[\]^_'e
6789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY[\]^_'at
<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
Note: Most application programs take care of top and bottom
margins. Use skip over perforation only if your program does not
provide these margins.
The skip over perforation setting can be set to values other than
one inch by using the ESC N command. See the Command
Summary in Chapter 9 for details.
3-16
Using the Printer
Adjusting 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.
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.
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.
When you use micro-adjustment to change the loading position of
single-sheet paper, however, 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.
Using Micro-adjustment
1.
Make sure that the printer is turned on and that either a single
sheet or continuous paper is loaded.
Using the Printer
3-17
2.
Press the ON LINE button. The MULTI-PART light begins to blink.
MULTIPART
Note: You can use the FORM FEED and LINE FEED buttons for
micro-adjustment only while the MULTI-PART light is blinking.
3.
Press the FORM FEED button to feed the paper forward or the
LINE FEED button to feed the paper backward.
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.
3-18
Using the Printer
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 singlesheet position, the short tear-off feature is
disabled.
CAUTION:
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.
Never use short tear-off with labels.
Using the Printer
3-19
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 performed whenever the printer receives a
full page of data or a form feed, and no more data is received for
three seconds.
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, follow
these steps to adjust the tear-off position.
Make sure the printer feeds the paper to the tear-off position
1.
after printing the document.
3-20
Using the Printer
2.
The MULTI-PART light should begin blinking, indicating that you
can now use the micro-adjustment feature to make fine
adjustments to the tear-off position.
3.
To make fine adjustments to the tear-off position, press the
FORM FEED button to feed the paper forward or the LINE 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.
Using the Printer
3-21
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.
Note: DIP switch 1-7 must be off. To select an international
character set when DIP switch 1-7 is on, use the ESC R command.
This table also shows the characters that differ in each international
character set.
Country
0
U.S.A.
1
France
2
Germany
3
U.K.
4
Denmark
5
Sweden
6
Italy
7
Spain
Note: 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.
3-22
23 24 40 58 5C 5D 5E 60 7B 7C 7D 7E 1-1 1-2 1-3
Using the Printer
ASCII code hex
DIP SW
ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
In addition to the eight character sets shown on the previous page,
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
13
Korea
64 Legal
ASCII code hex
23 24 40 5B 5C 5D 5E 60 7B 7C 7D 7E
Using the Printer
3-23
Choosing a Character Set
DIP switch 1-7 selects either the italic character set or a graphics
character set. The graphics character sets contain 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 a graphics
character set when you wish to print character graphics as they are
displayed on the screen. Even if you select a graphics character set,
you can still print ordinary text and italics. For italics, see your
software manual or the description of the ESC 4 command in the
Command Summary, Chapter 9.
Note: In most cases, a graphics character set is the preferred
selection.
To select either the italics or a graphics character set, set DIP switch
1-7 according to the table below.
Character set DIP SW 1-7
Italics
Graphics
OFF
ON
Note: To change the setting of a DIP switch, first turn off the
printer, change the DIP switch, and then turn the printer back on.
You can also select the italics character set or a graphics character
set using the ESC t command. See the Command Summary in
Chapter 9.
3-24
Using the Printer
When DIP switch 1-7 is on, the graphics character set is determined
by the settings of DIP switches, 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3.
Character set
PC 437 (United States)
Epson Extended Graphics ON ON ON
PC 850 (Multilingual)
PC 860 (Portugal)
PC 863 (Canada-French)
PC 865 (Norway)
SW 1-1 SW 1-2 SW 1-3
ON ON
ON
ON
OFF ON ON
OFF ON
OFF OFF
OFF
The graphics character sets are also called code page tables.
Sample printouts of the italic character set and the graphics character
sets are shown in the Appendix.
Note:
When DIP switch 1-7 is off, DIP switches 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3
select an international character set.
Using the Printer
3-25
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 the printer is loaded with either single sheet or
continuous paper.
Note: Use paper at least 7.2 inches (182 mm) wide.
2.
If the printer is on, switch it off, then hold down the FORM FEED
and LINE FEED buttons at the same time you turn on the printer.
3-26
Using the Printer
Run any program that causes the printer to print (either an
3.
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.)
18 40 1B 52
20 20 54 68 69 73 20
6D 70 6C 65 20 6F 66
75 6D 70 20 70 72 69
69 73 20 66 65 61 74
0A 20 20 20 20 20 69
00 1B 74 01
12 18 50 1B 70 00 .@.R..t..6..P.p.
al 6E 20 65 78 61
64 61 74 61 20 64 mple of a aata d
75 74 2E 20 54 68 ump printout.
5 20 6D 61 6B 65 73 is feature makes
5 61 73 79 20 66 6F
This is an exa
it toeasy
Th
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.
To turn off the data dump mode after you have taken the printer
4.
off line, turn off the printer.
By comparing the characters printed in the text field on the right side
of the data dump printout 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
1B40
1B5200
1B7401
Command
ESC
ESC R 0
ESC t 1
Function
Initialize printer
Select USA character set
Select PC 437 (Epson Extended Graphics)
Using the Printer
3-27
Chapter 4
Software and Graphics
Enhancing Your Printing
Character Spacing
Character Size
Special Effects and Emphasis.
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
....
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4-2
4-2
4-3
4-4
4-7
4-8
4-11
4-12
4-12
4-13
4-17
4-17
4-19
4-21
4-24
4-25
4-26
4-27
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, the printer has three cpi
spacings, as well as proportional spacing. Each one can be selected
with a software command.
For each of the 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
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.
See the Print Size and Character Width commands in Chapter 9.
Character Size
In addition to the basic cpi spacings and proportional spacing, the
printer offers three other modes that can change the size of your
printing. These modes are double-width, double-height, and
condensed.
The doublewidth mode doubles the width of any size character,
while the double-height 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.
This is double -width.
This is double-height,
This is double-width
and double-height.
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.
See the Print Size and Character Width commands in Chapter 9.
Special
The 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
Effects
Software and Graphics
and Emphasis
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