Epson LQ-1150 User Manual

Control Panel Buttons and Lights
Tear Off (Pitch/Font) lights**
Flash when continuous paper is in the tear-off position; otherwise, the lights indicate the selected font.
LF/FF button
Feeds paper line
by line when pressed and released. Ejects a single
sheet or advances continuous paper to the next top-of­form position when held down.
Pitch (Font) button**
Selects a pitch and font.
Load/Eject button
Loads a single sheet
of paper. Ejects a single sheet
of paper if a sheet is loaded. Loads continuous
paper from the standby position. Feeds continuous
paper backwards to the standby position.
*Micro Adjust mode
When you hold down the Pause button for three seconds, the printer enters the micro adjust mode. In this mode, you can press the LF/FFD and Load/EjectU buttons to adjust the top-of-form or tear-off position. See Chapter 2, “Using the Printer.”
Paper Out light
On when no paper
is loaded in the selected paper source or when paper is not loaded correctly. Flashes when
paper has not been fully ejected or a paper jam has occurred.
Pause button
Stops printing temporarily, and resumes printing when pressed again. When pressed for three seconds, turns on the Micro Adjust mode*. To turn off, press again.
Pause light
On when the printer
is paused. Flashes when the
printer is in the Micro Adjust mode*. Flashes when the
print head has overheated.
**Font select
In the Micro Adjust mode, you can select the font to use for printing by pressing the Tear Off button. The Tear Off lights turn on, off or flash to indicate the selected font.
®
24-Pin Dot Matrix Printer
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, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIO N. The information contained h erein is designed only for use with th is EPSON printer. EPSON is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.
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 the 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 C ORPORATION shall not be liable fo r any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or any consumable products other than those designated as Original EPSON Products or EPSON Approved Products by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION.
EPSON and EPSON ESC/P are registered trademarks and EPSON ESC/P2 is a trademark of SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
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 © 2001 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.
User’s Guide
ii

Contents

Getting to Know Your Printer
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ENERGY STAR
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Choosing a place for the printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Assembling the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Installing the paper-feed knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Attaching the paper supports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6
Plugging in the printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-7
Installing or replacing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-13
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-16
Using the parallel interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Using the serial interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-18
Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Installing the software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.01-
21
For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-22
®
Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Chapter 2 Using the Printer
Using the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Selecting a built-in font . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
About Your Printer’s Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Changing default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
Printing on Continuous Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Printing with the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
iii
Removing a printed document from the push tractor. . . . 2-15
Switching back to single sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Printing with the pull tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Adjusting the top-of-form position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Advancing the paper to the tear-off edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
Printing on Single Sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
Loading single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27
Printing on Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Adjusting the paper-thickness lever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30
Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
Installing and Using Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Cut-sheet feeder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Pull tractor unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-37
Roll paper holder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
Print server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-41
Chapter 3 Using the Printer Software
Using the Printer Driver with Windows Me, 98, and 95 . . . . . . 3-2
Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications 3-2
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . 3-4
Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Using the Printer Driver with Windows 2000 and NT 4.0. . . . . 3-5
Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications 3-5
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . 3-8
Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Printer Driver Settings Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
About the EPSON Status Monitor 3 Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Setting up EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
iv
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting
Using the Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
Power Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
Power is not being supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
The printer does not print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
The print is faint or uneven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Dots are missing in printed characters or graphics. . . . . . . 4-7
Printed characters are not what you expected. . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
The print position is not what you expected . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Paper Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Single sheets do not feed properly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Continuous paper does not feed properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11
When you use the cut-sheet feeder,
the paper does not feed properly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Switching between the cut-sheet feeder and
the push tractor does not work properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Using the pull tractor with the push tractor,
continuous paper does not feed properly . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
Appendix A
Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2
Transporting the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Mechanical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-4
Electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Electrical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-8
Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11
Paper alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15
Command Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
EPSON ESC/P2 control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
IBM PPDS emulation control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
v
Contacting Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
Customer support in India. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19
Index
vi

Getting to Know Your Printer

Your EPSON® LQ-1150 24-pin dot matrix printer provides high­quality printing and superior performance in a compact design. Its features include:
A variety of paper paths to suit your printing needs.
The ability to handle a wide range of paper types, including continuous paper, multipart forms (with one original and up to three copies), labels, single sheets, cards, and envelopes.
High-speed printing of up to 300 cps (characters per second) at 10 cpi (characters per inch) or 360 cps at 12 cpi.
Your printer comes packaged with the printer driver and other software, including the EPSON Status Monitor 3 utility for Microsoft Status Monitor 3 utility lets you check the status of your printer quickly and easily.
®
Windows® Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.0. The EPSON

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

This guide uses the following conventions:
Warnings
must be followed to avoid bodily injury.
w
Cautions
must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
c
Notes
of your printer.
contain important information and useful tips on the operation
Getting to Know Your Printer
1

Important Safety Instructions

Read all of these safety instructions before using the printer. In
addition, follow all warnings and instructions marked on the
printer itself.
Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a radiator or heat source.
Place the printer on a flat surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle.
Do not block or cover the slots and openings in the printer’s cabinet, and do not insert objects through the slots.
Use only the type of power source indicated on the printer’s label.
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.
Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord.
If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the total ampere rating of all devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total ampere of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the wall outlet’s ampere rating.
Unplug the printer before cleaning it, and always clean it with a piece of damp cloth only.
Do not spill liquid onto the printer.
Except as specifically explained in this guide, do not attempt to service the printer yourself.
2
Getting to Know Your Printer
Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified personnel under the following conditions:
i. If the power cord or plug is damaged.
ii. If liquid has entered the printer.
iii. If the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged.
iv. If the printer does not operate normally or exhibits a
distinct change in performance.
Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions.

Hot Parts Caution Symbol

This symbol is placed on the print head and other parts to indicate that they may be hot. Never touch
K
these parts just after the printer has been used. Let them cool for a few minutes before touching them.
Getting to Know Your Printer
3
NERGY STAR® Compliance
E
As an ENERGY STAR® partner, EPSON has determined that this product meets the
TAR® guidelines for energy efficiency.
S
NERGY
E
The International
a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment
industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal
computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, and
scanners in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power
generation.
NERGY STAR® Office Equipment Program is
E
4
Getting to Know Your Printer
Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Choosing a place for the printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Assembling the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Installing the paper-feed knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Attaching the paper supports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6
Plugging in the printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-7
Installing or replacing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-13
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-16
Using the parallel interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Using the serial interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-18
Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Installing the software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000,
or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-22
1
Setting Up the Printer
1-1

Unpacking the Printer

Besides the items shown in the illustration below, the printer box
should include an EPSON printer software CD-ROM and a Notice
Sheet. Check that everything has been included in the package.
printer
paper supports
paper-feed knob
power cord
Note:
Depending on your printer model, the power cord may be permanently
attached to the printer. Also, the shape of the power cord plug varies
depending on the country of purchase; be sure the plug you have is the
right one for your location.
Caution:
c
1-2
There are several models of the printer designed for different voltages, and it is not possible to adjust the printer for use with another voltage. If the label on the back of the printer does not show the correct voltage for your country, contact your dealer.
Setting Up the Printer
ribbon cartridge
You must remove all protective materials packed around and inside your printer before you set it up and turn on the power. Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet (packed with the printer) to remove these materials.
Save all packing and protective materials in case you need to ship the printer in the future. It should always be transported in its original packing materials.

Choosing a place for the printer

Follow the guidelines below when selecting a location for your printer.
Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle.
Place the printer where you can easily connect it to a network interface cable, if necessary.
Leave adequate room around the printer for easy operation and maintenance.
1
Avoid using or storing the printer in places subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it away from direct sunlight, strong light, heat sources, or excessive moisture or dust.
Avoid places subject to shocks and vibrations.
Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily unplug the power cord.
Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. An interruption in power can erase information in the memory of your printer or computer. Also avoid outlets on the same circuit as large motors or other appliances that can cause voltage fluctuations.
Setting Up the Printer
1-3
Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones.
Use a grounded power outlet; do not use an adapter plug.
If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines:
Use a stand that supports at least 20 kg (44 lb).
Never use a stand that tilts the printer. The printer should always be kept level.
Position your printer’s power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding. If possible, secure the cables to a leg of the printer stand.
1-4
Setting Up the Printer

Assembling the Printer

This section provides you with information on how to get your printer up and running.
See “Printer Parts” on the last page of this manual for the names of the individual printer parts.

Installing the paper-feed knob

The first step in assembling the printer is installing the paper-feed knob.
Follow these steps to install the paper-feed knob:
1. Insert the knob into the hole on the printer’s side and rotate it slowly until it slips onto the shaft.
1
2. Push firmly on the paper-feed knob until it fits against the printer case.
Setting Up the Printer
1-5

Attaching the paper supports

You should install the paper supports before you begin using the printer.
Follow these steps to attach the paper supports onto the printer:
1. Pull the paper guide backward. Raise it up, and then push it firmly until it fits in place.
2. Hold one of the paper supports and push the tips into the notches on the edge guide.
1-6
Setting Up the Printer
3. Hold another paper support and push the tips into the notches of the other side on the edge guide.
4. Hold another paper support and push the tips into the notches on the paper tension unit.
5. Repeat step 4 for the other paper support.
1

Plugging in the printer

Follow these steps to plug in the printer:
Setting Up the Printer
1-7
1. Make sure the power switch on the printer is turned off. It is off when the
2. Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure the voltage required by the printer matches that of your electrical outlet.
Caution:
If the rated voltage on the printer and your outlet voltage do
c
not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord.
side of the switch is pressed down.
N
3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect it to the AC inlet on the printer.
4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Installing or replacing the ribbon cartridge

Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure that the printer is not plugged into an electrical outlet.
Follow these steps to install or replace the ribbon cartridge:
1. make sure the printer is turned off.
1-8
Setting Up the Printer
2. Open the printer cover to the upright position, then pull it up to remove it.
3. Remove the paper tension unit by squeezing the tension unit’s lock tabs gently and pull the tension unit away from the printer.
1
Setting Up the Printer
1-9
4. M ake sure that the print head is in posit ion at 10 cm (4 inches) from the left side as shown below. If it is not, turn on the printer, and then, turn off the printer.
5. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack from the ribbon so it is easier to install.
1-10
Setting Up the Printer
6. Insert the ribbon cartridge into the printer as shown; then press both sides of the cartridge firmly to fit the plastic hooks into the printer slots.
7. Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide.
1
Setting Up the Printer
1-11
8. Turn the ribbon-tightning knob in the direction of the arrow to help feed the ribbon into place; it should not be twisted or creased.
9. Reinstall the paper tension unit.
10. Reinstall and close the printer cover.
When printing becomes faint, you need to replace the ribbon cartridge. To remove the old ribbon cartridge, first make sure the print head is in position at 10 cm (4 inches) from the left side. Then remove the cartridge by lifting the both ends and taking it out of the printer.
1-12
Setting Up the Printer

Running the Self Test

1
Use the built-in self test function to check that the printer is working properly. You can run the test with either continuous paper or single sheets. The procedure below describes the test using single sheets, which is the easier way.
Follow these steps to run the self test:
1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Also make sure that the paper-release lever is pushed back to the single-sheet position and the paper guide is in the upright position, as shown below.
c
Caution:
You should use paper at least 376 mm (14.8 inches) wide to run the self test; otherwise, the print head prints directly on the platen.
Setting Up the Printer
1-13
2. While holding down the
button, turn on the printer.
LF/FF
3. Slide the left edge guide until it locks in place at the guide mark. Next, adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper.
1-14
Setting Up the Printer
4. Slide a sheet of paper down firmly between the edge guides until it meets resistance. The printer loads the sheet automatically and begins printing the self test.
1
5. To stop printing temporarily, press the
6. To end the self test, make sure the printer is not printing. Press
to eject the sheet; then turn off the printer.
LF/FF
Here is part of a typical self-test printout:
Note:
If the self test did not print satisfactorily, see Chapter 4, “Troubleshooting.” If it prints correctly, proceed to the next section.
PAUSE
button.
Setting Up the Printer
1-15

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Your printer includes both an IEEE-1284-compatible parallel interface and an EIA-232D serial interface. Before you begin, place the printer upright, as shown below. (This makes it easier to connect the cable.)
Connect your computer to the desired interface as described below.
Note:
You can connect a cable to both interfaces; the printer switches automatically to the appropriate interface when it receives data.

Using the parallel interface

You need a shielded, twisted-pair cable no longer than 2 meters (6 feet) to use the parallel interface.
Follow these steps to connect the printer to the computer using the parallel interface:
1. Turn off both the computer and the printer.
1-16
Setting Up the Printer
2. Plug the parallel cable connector securely into the printer’s parallel interface port. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on both sides of the connector.
Note:
If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector located to the right of the parallel interface port.
1
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer’s parallel interface port. (If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.)
Setting Up the Printer
1-17

Using the serial interface

You need a serial cable that has a DB-25 male connector on the printer side to use the serial interface.
Follow these steps to connect the printer to the computer using the serial interface:
1. Turn off both the computer and the printer.
2. Plug the serial cable connector securely into the printer’s serial interface port. Tighten the screws on both sides of the connector.
1-18
Setting Up the Printer
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