Epson LQ-1500 User Manual

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FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

FOR AMERICAN USERS

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

- Reorient the receiving antenna

- Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver

- Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and receiver are on different branch circuits.

If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful:

This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

20402. Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, Epson America, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

LQ-1500 is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.

“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems.”

PB490012

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Contents

Introduction

LQ-1500 Features About This Manual

Setting Up

Finding a Suitable Location

Getting to Know Your Printer

Installing the paper feed knob Removing the dust cover Removing the front cover Discovering what’s inside

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge

Installing the Sheet Guide

Assembling the three pieces Attaching the sheet guide

Connecting the LQ-1500 to Your Computer

Locating the interface card Installing the interface card Attaching the cable to the printer

Connecting the printer cable

Setting the DIP Switches

Switch1 Switch2

Installing the Power Cord

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Your LQ-1500

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1 2

3 3 5 5 7 7 8

9 12 12 12 15

18 18 19 21 22 24

Operation

Controls and Indicators

The power switch

The control panel

The paper-out detector

Maintenance

Cleaning the LQ-1500 Other maintenance

and

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Maintenance

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25 25 27 27 27 28

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Installing Paper and Paper Feeders

Types of Paper and Paper Feeders

Single-sheet paper and sheet guide Pin-feed paper and tractor unit

More Printer Parts

Platen release lever Print head adjustment lever

Loading Single-Sheet Paper

Preparing the printer for single-sheet feed Loading single-sheet paper Removing single-sheet paper

Loading Pin-feed Paper

Installing the tractor unit Preparing the printer for pin-feed paper Inserting pin-feed paper Proper placement of pin-feed paper Removing pin-feed paper Removing the tractor unit

The LQ-1500 Self-Test

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29 29 29

29 30 30 31 31

31 32 34 34 34 35 37 40

41 41

Control codes

Computer-to-Printer-Communications How Many Names Can One Code Have?

Appendixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A LQ-1500 Command Summary

Vertical Spacing Commands Horizontal Spacing Commands Print Style Commands Character Set Commands Graphics Commands Miscellaneous Commands

Changing Print Styles

Proportional Print Styles Letter Quality Print Styles Draft Pica Print Styles Draft Elite Print Styles

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45 45 46

49 50 54 56 61

62 64

69 70 71 72

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C The LQ-1500 Character Set

Regular Characters International Character sets

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75 75

Widths of the Proportional Characters . . . . . . . . . . . .

ASCII Code Conversion Chart

Specifications of the LQ-1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

87 91

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Figures

1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4

1-5 1-6 1-7 1-8 1-9 1-10 1-11

1-12 1-13 1-14

1-15

1-16

1-17 1-18 1-19

2-1 2-2

Unpacking the LQ-1500 Paperplacement The LQ-1500 printer

Paper feed knob Removing the front cover Printer parts Ribbon cartridge Ribbon installation Ribbon operation

Sheet guide assembly Paper guide position Sheet guide installation Printing single sheets The dust cover

Interface card

Locating the interface card

Interface card installation Interface connection to computer

Switch settings

Controls and indicators

Maintenance

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4 5 6

7 8 9

11 11 13 14 14 15

16 16 17

21 26

3-1 3-2 3-3 3-4 3-5

3-6 3-7 3-8 3-9

3-10 3-11

D-1

Adjustment levers

Sheetload

Protective cover removed

Tractor unit installation Printer parts used with pin-feed paper Paper inserted Aligning pin frames Pin-feeder covers Paper path

Removing the tractor unit The LQ-1500 self-test

A character and its widths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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30 33 35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43

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Tables

1-1 Settings for switch 1 1-2 Settings for switch 2 1-3 International character switch settings

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22 23 23

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Introduction

Congratulations! You’ve purchased the Epson LQ-1500TM. This advanced, state-of-the-art printer combines the quality of typewriter print with the speed of a dot matrix printer. Of course, it has all the capabilities of the other Epson printers-and more too.

LQ-1500 Features

The LQ-1500 is designed to be used day in and day out in an office environment. Its size and rugged good looks proclaim this fact. Its Epson engineering guarantees it.

The LQ-1500 has a long list of features. Just a few of the highlights include:

Letter quality printing. The LQ-1500’s 24-pin print head can print

letter quality characters in four widths.

Proportional letter quality printing. The LQ-1500 can print in two

widths of proportional letter quality characters.

Draft speed. The LQ-1500 can print at 200 characters per second

using the draft character set.

Two hundred and twenty-four printing styles. The LQ-1500 can

print in 224 different printing styles, not counting superscripts and

subscripts.

Upward compatibility. The LQ-1500 includes all of the major fea-

tures of the FX series of printers.

Userdefined characters. The LQ-1500 allows you to design your

own character sets, in either draft or letter quality mode.

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High-resolution graphics. The LQ-1500 has all the graphics capabi-

lities of the FX series of printers and more. The 24-pin print head provides top-quality, high-resolution graphics.

Text buffer. The LQ-1500 has a 2048 character text buffer to increase printing speed. The buffer takes information quickly from your computer, leaving the computer free for other tasks while the LQ-1500 finishes printing.

About This Manual

The LQ-1500 is a sophisticated machine. Although it is simple to operate, writing programs for it can be complicated. In many cases, the people who use the LQ-1500 are not the ones who do the programming. Therefore, Epson has provided two different manuals. This LQ-1500 User’s Manual contains all the information required to set up and operate, the LQ-1500. The LQ-1500 Programmer’s Manual contains the information required to write programs for the LQ-1500. Epson also supplies Application Notes that tell you how to use the LQ-1500 with specific software programs.

The first three chapters of this manual will help you set up, operate and maintain your printer. Chapter 4 contains information on how to use control codes with your printer.

The appendixes contain helpful information about selecting print styles and character sets, and about using control codes to command certain printer functions. Appendix A summarizes the control codes. Appendix B explains how to change from one print style to another and shows examples of different print styles. Appendix C shows the character sets available on the LQ-1500, including the regular and international sets. Appendix D gives the dot width of each of the available proportional characters. Finally, Appendix E, a convenient conversion chart, provides all the possible names for each ASCII code.

This user’s manual is not long, but it contains a lot of important information. In spite of its simple design, the LQ-1500 is a precision printer, and you should know the right way to assemble and take care of it. Reading this manual will help assure you of success when you begin to use the LQ-1500.

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Chapter

Setting Up Your LQ-1500

You’ve just purchased a terrific new printer, and dug far enough into the box to find this manual. Now what? In this chapter we’ll show you how to set up your

First, take inventory. Carefully unpack the carton and make sure

that you have all of the pieces shown in Figure

LQ-1500 printer

Sheet guide (three pieces)

Dust cover

Front cover (installed on the printer)

Paper feed knob

Power cord

Ribbon cartridge

This User’s Manual.

LQ-1500

and connect it to your computer.

1-1:

Note: It’s a good idea to save all of the packing materials in case you

want to move your LQ-1500 some day.

Finding a Suitable Location

Before you actually set up your printer, you should give some thought to where you are going to put it. Of course, your printer must sit somewhere near your computer (the length of the printer cable is

the limiting factor). However, you may not want to place your com-

puter and printer side by side because the printer does make noise

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Fig-we 1-1. Unpacking the LQ-1500

during operation. Here are some additional suggestions to follow:

Place the LQ-1500 on a flat, stable surface. The printer will make

more noise if you place it on a table that moves or vibrates.

2. Connect the printer to a grounded electrical outlet (do not use an adapter plug). It’s a good idea to choose an outlet which is not controlled by a wall switch that could be accidentally shut off dur-

ing the printing process.

3. Choose a location which will allow enough space beneath or behind the printer to load the paper. If you are using continuous (or pin-feed) paper, the paper path should be free from obstruction

(see Figure

4. Protect the printer from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, moisture, and dust. Make sure that it is not close to a heater or any

other heat source.

1-2).

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5. Use the LQ-1500 in areas that are comfortable for you. If you find

it too hot, too cold, or too humid, the environment is not right for the LQ-1500; it may not operate properly.

Figure 1-2. Paper placement

Getting to Know Your Printer

Now you’ve got a small collection of odd-shaped pieces placed in a suitable location. The next step is to put them all together to form a functional printer. Figure 1-3 shows the assembled printer and identifies some of the main parts.

WARNING: To avoid shock hazard and prevent damage to the

LQ-1500,

described here with the power to the printer turned OFF.

Installing

The first piece to install is manually turn the platen and advance the paper-just as you do on a typewriter. To install the paper feed knob, simply push it onto the shaft on the right side of the printer. This is shown in Figure 1-4.

the paper feed knob

complete all of the installation procedures

the

paper feed knob, which you use to

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Figure 1-3.

The LQ-1500 printer

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Figure 1-4. Paper feed knob

Removing the dust cover

The dust cover is the brown plastic cover which keeps dust out of the print mechanism and reduces the noise level when the printer is on. If you are using cover.

Lift off the dust cover. It just sits in a recess on the top of the printer so removal is easy Set the dust cover aside if you will be needing it. Put it away in unit.

the

optional tractor unit, you will not use the dust

the

printer box if you plan to use

the

optional tractor

Removing the front cover

The next assembly step, installing the ribbon cartridge, first requires a bit of disassembly. You should remove the front cover to gain easier access to the print head when you install the ribbon.

Open the front cover by tilting the back edge up and toward you. Push left and up. Gently lift off the cover and set it aside (see Figure

1-5).

You’ll see it’s easier to do than it is to describe!

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Figure 1-5. Removing the front cover

Discovering what’s inside

Now that you can see the insides of the printer, take a few moments

to find some of the parts that you need to know about. Study Figure

1-6

until you can identify these parts:

The print head is probably the easiest part to locate, so start with it.

The print head is the large, black, finned object that moves back and

forth on two silver rods across the printer.

The ribbon guide is the silver shield on the side of the print head next to the paper. The ribbon guide guides the ribbon between the print head and the paper.

The paper is guided through the printer by a large rubber roller

called the platen. It has the same function as the platen in a typewriter.

The paper bail is the numbered scale with three black rollers on it.

The paper bail rests against the platen and holds the paper in place as it

moves through the printer.

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Figure 1-6. Printer parts

Once you identify these parts, you will know enough about the printer to get started. This manual will help you identify other parts as the need arises.

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge

The LQ-1500’s ribbon cartridge is easy to install, and it won’t get your hands dirty. Follow these steps for a quick installation.

Close the paper bail so that it is against the platen.

Grasp the print head by the finned part and slide it along the silver rods until it is positioned at space on either side of the print head when you insert the ribbon cartridge.

Rotate the ribbon cartridge take-up knob in the direction indicated by the arrow next to it so that the ribbon is tight (see Figure Don’t worry about wasting the ribbon by turning too much; the ribbon is a continuous loop inside the ribbon cartridge.

on the paper bail scale. You will need

1-7).

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Figure 1-7. Ribbon cartridge

Hold the ribbon cartridge in both hands to position it over the print head (the hole in the ribbon cartridge fits over the finned part of the print head). The short piece of exposed ribbon must go between the print head and the ribbon guide so that the ribbon does not rest directly against the platen (see Figure tridge and press the spot marked PUSH to seat the back of the ribbon cartridge first.

5. Once you have positioned the exposed ribbon and secured the back end of the ribbon cartridge, push down on the front of the

cartridge to snap it into place. The ribbon cartridge will sit level

when it is positioned correctly.

1-8).

Lower the ribbon car-

6. Now

give the take-up knob several turns to straighten out the ribbon so that it is not wrinkled or twisted. The ribbon should move freely between the print head and the ribbon guide (Figure 1-9).

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Figure 1-8. Ribbon installation

Figure

To replace the front cover, simply reverse the steps you took to remove it. Fit until it is securely in place. Tilt the cover back into the closed position. It should fit snugly.

the

right end into place first and then lower the left end

1-9. Ribbon operation

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Installing the Sheet Guide

The sheet guide serves a dual purpose on the LQ-1500. If you are using single sheets of paper, the guide ensures consistent margins and straight lines of print. If you are using pin-feed paper, the sheet guide is used as a paper separator to keep the incoming and outgoing paper from interfering with each other.

Assembling the three pieces

First, you must assemble the three pieces of the sheet guide.

1. Orient the sheet guide so that the textured side is up and the metal mounting pins are facing you. Lay one of the two sliding paper guides on top of the sheet guide. The matching textured side should be facing up and the lipped end should be facing toward you. Now tilt the top of the sheet guide up so that you can hook the tabs at the top of the sliding paper guide over the top edge of the sheet guide (see Figure 1-10).

2.Next,

your thumbs to snap the the two plastic spring clips over the bottom edge of the sheet guide. One of the sliding paper guides should now be securely in place.

3.Again,

you. Move the installed sliding guide to the proper end of the sheet guide. The vertical standing edge of the sliding paper guide should

be flush against the outer edge of the sheet guide. The flattened side

of the sliding guide faces toward the center.

To install the other paper guide, just repeat the steps above. Be sure to attach the second sliding guide with the vertical standing edge facing out toward the end of the sheet guide and away from the center (see Figure

turn the sheet guide over so the back side is facing you. Use

position the sheet guide so that the textured side is facing

1-11).

Attaching the sheet guide

To install the sheet guide, place the metal mounting pin on the right side of the sheet guide into the corresponding hole in the metal frame. Then lower the left side until the tab on the left side drops into the slot in the metal frame. Figure

1-12

shows how to do this.

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Figure 1-10. Sheet guide assembly

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Figure 1-11. Paper guide position

Figure 1-12. Sheet guide installation

If you plan to use your LQ-1500 with single sheets of paper, lift up

the

sheet guide at the back and fold down the metal legs on the bottom of the sheet guide. As shown in Figure 1-13, the legs fit into slots in the top case of the LQ-1500. (This step is not necessary if you will be using

the

optional tractor unit.)

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Figure 1-13. Printing single sheets

Once the sheet guide is installed you can replace the dust cover on top, as shown in Figure tective film that is on the switch panel at the right front of the

LQ-1500.

shipment and can be easily peeled off.

This film protects the switch panel during manufacture and

1-14.

Also, you may want to remove the pro-

Connecting the LQ-1500 to Your Computer

Your printer setup is now almost complete. The next step will be to connect your printer to your computer. At the printer end of this connection, two additional pieces of equipment are required: an interface card and a printer cable. The interface card consists of a circuit board pre-mounted into a metal carrier (Figure

Locating the interface card

Epson makes three types of interface cards for the LQ-1500: para1lel, serial, and IEEE 488. With the use of easily interchangeable interface cards, this powerful printer can be driven by nearly any computer or word processor. Your Epson dealer can advise you about which interface is best for your computer and application.

1-15).

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Figure 1-14. The dust cover

Figure 1-15. Interface card

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Installing the interface card

Your dealer may have already installed the interface card for you. Turn your printer around and look at the back of the printer to tell if the interface card has been installed (see Figure cavity at the lower left, the interface card is missing and you must install it before you can use your LQ-1500. If, on the other hand, there is a plug connector at the lower left, the interface card has been installed for you. (If your interface card has been installed, you can skip to the next section.)

LQ-1500 with interface

card installed

1-16).

If there is a large

Figure 1-16. Locating the interface card

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The installation procedure is the same for all three of the available

interface cards. The card is easily mounted or removed. The only tool

you need is a Phillips screwdriver.

To install the interface card slide it into the cavity on the back of the LQ-1500 as shown in Figure 1-17. It should slide between the upper and lower plastic guide rails on either side of the opening.

When you feel resistance on the right side of the card, firmly push it

in with both hands. It may help to push against the card release levers to snap the card into place. The interface card should be flush and even with the back of the printer; it should not tilt or protrude.

Now, lift up slightly on the card and secure it in place with the screws provided.

If you use your LQ-1500 with different computers, you may have to remove and replace this card. Begin by removing the retaining screws. Then pull the release levers on both sides of the interface card at the same time. The card will slide out easily.

Attaching the cable to the printer

Note: Before you connect any cables, be sure that both the printer

and the computer are turned OFF.

One end of your printer cable should plug right into the connector on the interface card (if it doesn’t, you have the wrong cable). To secure the connection, attach the two clips on the interface card to the cable (parallel interface only) or tighten the two screws on the cable connecter (serial and IEEE 488 interfaces). If your cable has a ground strap, connect it to the screw just above the interface connector. Figure 1-18 shows both types of connections.

Connecting the printer cable

For many computers, you merely plug the cable into the printer port on your computer. Some computers require a printer interface card, either mounted inside the computer or externally. Check your computer installation and operations manual for details on how to

connect your computer to a printer.

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Figure 1-17. Interface card installation

Setting the DIP Switches

This is the last step in installing your printer. Because each com-

puter installation is slightly different, Epson has placed a series of DIP

switches on the back of theprinter interface, which you can change to

best suit your printing application. You can see them through a slot in

the back cover of the interface card.

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Figure 1-18. Interface connection to computer

WARNING: The DIP switches we are discussing are in the interface

unit on the back of the printer. Do not change the set-

tings of the DIP switches that are inside the printer. These settings have been determined by the manufacturer to be correct for this LQ-1500 printer. Special knowledge is required to set these switches.

You can use a ballpoint pen to reach into the interface slot and change

switch settings. Note: Be sure that the printer is turned OFF before you make any changes

in the DIP switch settings. Your printer does not register changes in switch settings made while the power is ON. You must reinitialize,

or restart, the printer to record the switch settings.

The switches are all numbered for identification. The number has two parts. The first part refers to the switch group. Look at the back of your printer; you will see one group of four and one group of eight switches. You can identify the switch groups by looking at Figure

As you can see, each switch group is actually a series of switches. That’s the reason that each switch is referred to by two numbers. The

1-19.

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second digit refers to the individual switch number. It is printed right on the switch itself.

You can also see that there is a small arrow on the left side of the switch group which indicates the ON position for these switches. However, it’s easier to remember switch settings according to whether the switch is pointing up (toward the top of the printer) or down

(toward the bottom of the printer).

Interface

Switch 1

Switch 2

Figure 1-19. Switch settings

Switch1

The functions of the four switches that make up switch 1 are sum-

marized in Table

1-1.

The right-hand column shows how the switches are set when the printer is delivered. These predetermined settings are best for most applications.

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Table 1-1. Settings for switch 1

Switch

1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4

Function

2K byte input buffer

Paper-out detector

Automatic line feed

Reserved for future use

Disable Disable On Always down

Switch 1-1--In the down position, this switch

buffer of

want to print a document at the same time you continue to use your

2048

bytes

of memory.

This

buffer can be useful when you

Down

Enable Enable Down Off

allows

Factory

Down

Down Down

you to create a

computer for other tasks. WARNING:

If you turn

OFF

the LQ-1500, any information in the

buffer is lost.

Switch 1-2--Switch 1-2 enables a detector in the LQ-1500 that warns

you when the printer is out of paper. This is very important when you

are using continuous paper. The printer stops, issues an audible warn-

ing, and waits for you to load more paper before proceeding-and no

data is lost. However, if you are using single sheets, the paper-out detector stops

the printer when it nears the bottom of the sheet (even if you want to print all the way to the bottom or if you have another sheet ready to feed). In this case, it is best to disable the paper-out detector by turning switch

1-2

to the Up position. With the printer’s paper-out detector disabled, the application software in your computer must determine when it has come to the end of a page. Check with your software dealer if you have difficulty.

Switch 1-3--Switch 1-3 controls whether or not the LQ-1500 does an automatic line feed each time it receives a carriage return. Some computers do not send line feeds to the printer which means that this

switch must be up.

Switch 2

Switch 2 determines which print characteristics will be in use when

the

LQ-1500

is turned on. Each of these functions can be changed at

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any time by sending the appropriate command to the printer. The functions of the individual switches are summarized in Table 1-2.

Switch

2-1 2-2 2-3

2-4

2-5 2-6 2-7 2-8

Table 1-2. Settings

Function

International character sets (see Table 1-3)

Form length

Skip over perforation Bell Print mode SLCT IN signal

for

switch 2

12 in.

On Disable Letter quality Draft Fixed

Down

11 in.

Off Enable

Not fixed Up

Factory

UP UP

Down

Down Down Down

Switches 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3--These switches are used to determine the

default international character set. Appendix C shows the characters that are included in each of the character sets. Table 1-3 shows the required switch settings for each set.

Table 1-3. International character set switch settings

2-1

UP UP UP

Up Down Down Down Down

2-2 UP

Down Down

UP UP

Down Down

2-3

UP Down

International character set

U.S.A.

France Germany

United Kingdom Denmark

Sweden

Italy

Spain

Switch 2-4.--Switch

2-4

is used to tell the LQ-1500 the size of paper that you will be using. It uses this information to keep track of the perforation and the top of the form.

Switch 2-5--The LQ-1500 automatically leaves a top and bottom

margin of 1/2 inch on each page if switch 2-5 is in the up position. The

switch tells the printer to skip over each perforation so that nothing is

printed on top of the perforation. This is especially useful for printing long program listings. Many word processing programs, however,

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have commands for setting top and bottom margins and they work best if the skip-over-perforation feature is turned off.

Switch 2-6--There are occasions when the printer bell (which is actually a buzzer) can be used to signal the operator. For example, you may want to switch paper in the middle of a long document. You can use the bell to signal when it is time to make the change, To make use

of this feature, leave switch 2-6 down in the down position. For a rough draft, it may not be necessary to switch paper, so by turning switch 2-6 up, you won’t be bothered by unnecessary noise. Gener-

ally, switch 2-6 is left in the down position.

Switch 2-7--This switch also selects a feature that you may want to

use one way for rough drafts and another way for the final printout. You can select either letter quality printing or draft printing. The

LQ-1500 prints much faster in draft mode, but the quality isn’t as

good. You can also change between draft and letter quality printing by

using commands sent from your computer.

Switch 2-8--This switch is used to control the select signal. Most com-

puters require that the select signal be fixed (switch is in the up posi-

tion). If your computer requires that the select signal not be fixed, then

set the switch in the down position.

If you have a parallel interface card, your installation is now complete! Go on to Chapter 2, where you’ll learn how to operate the LQ-1500.

If, on the other hand, you have a serial or IEEE 488 interface card, you have a few more switches to set in order to ensure that your computer and LQ-1500 are communicating properly. Consult your interface user manual for instructions on the proper setting of these switches.

Installing the Power Cord

If you have been following along so far you should have one piece left: the power cord. Plug one end into the LQ-1500--the connection is on the rear of the printer near the right side (as you face the rear). Plug the other end into a standard (120 VAC, 60 Hz) grounded electrical outlet (do not use an adapter plug).

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Chapter 2

Operation and Maintenance

Your

LQ-1500

and set the switches. Now you’re ready to learn how to use the controls and indicators on the printer to operate it correctly. We’ll also give you some advice on how to maintain your LQ-1500 and keep it printing smoothly for a long time.

is now set up. You’ve connected it to your computer

Then, in Chapter feeders which will give you an opportunity to use the controls discussed here.

you’ll learn how to install and load the paper

Controls and Indicators

There are several controls and indicators on the LQ-1500 (see Figure 2-1). You use them to operate the printer and make your day-to-day

printing easier for you. Here’s what these controls do:

The power switch

The power switch is located on the left side (toward the rear) of the printer. Press the front side of the switch to turn the printer ON; press the back side to turn it OFF.

The control panel

The control panel, located on top of the computer, has indicator lights and buttons which monitor the printing process. They are:

POWER light -- glows green when the power is ON.

• READY light -- glows green when the printer is ready to accept

data. The light flickers somewhat during transmission. This flick-

ering is normal.

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Power switch

Figure 2-1. Controls and indicators

PAPER OUT light -- glows red when the printer is out of paper;

printer will stop printing (if Switch 1-2 is in the up position).

ON LINE light -- glows green when data reception is possible.

ON LINE button -- allows you to switch from on-line to

off-line

status (this is a toggle). When the printer is on line, it is ready to accept data from the computer and the ON LINE light glows green. When the printer is off line, it is not ready to print.

When the printer is off line, you can use the form feed (FF) and line feed (LF) buttons on the control panel to move the paper. The ON LINE and READY lights will be off. You can return the printer to on-line operation at any time, just by pressing the ON LINE button.

FF button -- stands for

form feed.

When you’re off line, pressing

this button will advance the paper to the top of a new page.

Page 35

LF button -- stands for

line

feed. When you’re off line, tapping this button advances the paper one line at a time. To advance multiple lines, hold down the LF button. Do not perform continuous line feeds for more than two minutes.

SHEET LOAD button -- opens the paper bail and loads single-

sheet paper into the printer.

The paper-out detector

The printer is equipped with a device which warns you that the

printer is out of paper. When your paper runs out, printing stops, the PAPER OUT light goes on, and the printer buzzer sounds five times.

When you have loaded more paper, the PAPER OUT light goes off.

Printing can be resumed in one of two ways. If you are in the middle

of printing, press the ON LINE button. If you want to reinitialize the

printer, turn the power switch OFF and then back ON.

You can turn off the paper-out detector in two ways: by DIP switch 1-2 on the interface card, or by a control code sent from the computer. Turning off the paper-out detector tells the printer to ignore the paperout sensor and allows you to print to the bottom of the page. Some computers will stop the printer before the end of the page, even though DIP switch 1-2 is down (off). If this happens, you may need to consult your dealer about the interface between your computer and printer. You may also consult your software dealer for further information.

Maintenance

As with any mechanical device, the best maintenance of your LQ-1500 is preventive maintenance. You’ve already started by choosing a clean, dust-free location with a comfortable temperature range. Of course, you will change your ribbon cartridge whenever it loses quality through use.

In addition, your printer requires periodic cleaning. Here are a few tips on how to perform this maintenance properly.

Cleaning the

You should clean the outside of the printer case whenever it appears to be dirty. Use a clean damp rag and alcohol. Be careful not to drip alcohol on the printer mechanism.

LQ-1500

Page 36

You should also clean the inside front portion of the printer (Figure 2-2) to get rid of dust and paper lint. To do this, turn the power switch off and disconnect the power cord. Remove the dust cover, the front cover, and the ribbon cartridge. Use a small vaccum cleaner and a soft brush to clean inside the printer. Be careful not to bend or damage any of the parts inside the printer. With the power off, you can easily move the print head back and forth to clean under it. Use as light a touch as possible to get the job done.

Figure 2-2. Maintenance

Other maintenance

Changing the ribbon cartridge and cleaning maintenance tasks that you should do. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the LQ-1500. Leave any other types of maintenance (fuses, print heads, etc.) for your Epson dealer or authorized service center. The LQ-1500’s print head is not user-replaceable because it must be carefully aligned with special tools to achieve the best printing quality

the

printer are the only

Page 37

Chapter 3

Installing Paper and Paper Feeders

Now that you are more familiar with your LQ-1500, you’re ready to install and load the paper feeders. Since you’re into the third chapter, you’re probably getting anxious to print something by now. First, you need some facts on the different types of paper and paper feeders the LQ-1500 uses.

Types of Paper and Paper Feeders

You can use a great variety of paper types with the LQ-1500 which makes your printing both flexible and convenient. Paper thickness can range from 0.07 mm to 0.20 mm for both types of paper feeders.

Single-sheet paper and sheet guide

First, you can use single-sheet paper including all the standard sizes of stationery and preprinted business forms. Single-sheet paper may vary in width from 7.2 to 14.3 inches. The sheet guide unit is used to feed single-sheet paper into the LQ-1500. As you may recall, Chapter

1 gave you the details for installing the sheet guide unit.

Pin-feed paper and tractor unit

Second, you can use pin-feed paper (also called continuous-feed

paper). This includes the familiar fan-fold paper with pin-holes on

either side, pin-feed labels, and other types of continuous forms. The LQ-1500 will handle pin-feed paper from 4 to 16 inches wide. Pin-feed paper is used with an optional tractor unit which pulls the paper through the printer by the pin holes.

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More Printer Parts

You also need to become familiar with two other important printer parts before you attempt to load any type of paper. Remove the dust cover and open the front cover to find and identify these parts: the platen release lever and the print head adjustment lever.

Platen release lever

The platen release lever controls the pressure of the friction rollers against the platen. It is the black lever located on the left side of the printer at the end of the platen (as shown in Figure two settings: engaged (back) and released (forward).

3-1).

This lever has

Figure 3-1. Adjustment levers

The first setting, engaged, is used with the single-sheet feed operation which is also called friction feed. In this position the pressure of the friction rollers against the paper causes it to feed through the printer.

Page 39

The second setting, released, is used when the tractor unit is in place. The platen release lever is pulled forward toward the front of the printer. In this position, the friction rollers do not catch the paper but allow it to move freely through the paper path. The tractor unit is installed above the platen and draws the paper through by its pin holes.

Print head adjustment lever

The space between the print head and the platen should be adjusted to accommodate the thickness of the paper you’re using. Thicker paper needs a wider space to allow for clean printing and smooth paper movement. Open the front cover of your printer. You’ll find that the print head adjustment lever is a small black-tipped lever located on the left side of the printer in front of the platen release lever

(as shown in Figure

The print head adjustment lever has five positions to widen or narrow the space between the print head and the platen. Move the lever back (toward the rear of the printer) to decrease the space and forward

(toward the front of the printer) to increase the space. Most paper of standard thickness should be accommodated with the lever in the straight-up position.

3-1).

Loading Single-Sheet Paper

Printing on single-sheet paper is fast and easy with the LQ-1500. The printer does most of the work and does it the same way every time. Your main responsibility is to set each sheet of paper in the sheet guide unit evenly and press the correct button. We’re sure you’ll agree

this method is much easier than setting up your paper manually each time you insert a new sheet.

Preparing the printer for single-sheet feed

The following steps tell you how to prepare the printer for single-

sheet feed.

Remove the dust cover and front cover. Remove the tractor unit if

it is installed.

Page 40

Install the sheet guide unit and place it in the upright position (see Chapter 1 for details). Line up the left edge of the left sliding guide with the 1 on the paper bail. This is very important because paper near the center or the right side of the platen will not be detected by the printer.

3. Be sure that switch 1-2 is in the up position to disable the paper-out detector. This allows the printer to print to the end of the page. Remember that your computer is now responsible for stopping the printer when it reaches the end of the paper.

4. Close the paper bail so that it rests against the platen.

5. Engage the platen release lever by pushing it toward the rear of the printer.

Set the print head adjustment lever for the paper you are using.

Remember that upright is the right adjustment for most paper.

7. Replace the front cover and dust cover.

Loading single-sheet paper

Now that you have prepared the printer, you can load the paper

into the sheet guide unit. Remember to load one sheet at a time.

Follow the steps outlined below and refer to Figure

single-sheet paper into the printer.

1.Place

paper guide on the right to the width of the paper. The paper should be square in the guide. Tap the top of the paper gently to work it down into the printer.

2. If the printer is OFF, turn it ON. The PAPER OUT light should be off. If it is on, then the paper is not down in the printer far enough

or it is not far enough to the left side of the platen.

3.Press

Both the READY and ON LINE lights are off.

4. Press the SHEET LOAD button. The paper will begin to automati-

cally feed into the printer and the paper bail will open. After the

paper has been loaded, the paper bail will automatically close.

a single sheet of paper in the sheet guide unit and adjust the

the ON LINE button to put the printer into off-line mode.

3-2

to load

Page 41

Paper

Figure 3-2. Sheet load

Note:

If the paper does not advance far enough to be held by the paper

bail, turn OFF the power, remove the dust cover, open the paper bail, and use the paper feed knob to advance the paper to the

proper position. This problem is caused by not having the paper far enough down in the printer when you press the SHEET LOAD button. You may damage your printer parts if you do

this repeatedly with the power ON.

If the paper is not straight in the printer, press the FF (FORM FEED) button; the paper feeds the rest of the way through the printer. Remove the paper and place it back in the sheet guide unit. Repeat step 4 to reload the paper.

WARNING: Do not move the paper backward through the printer

because it may damage the paper-out detector.

5. Return the printer to the on-line mode by pressing the ON LINE button. The ON LINE and READY lights should now be on.

You are now ready to print! Repeat the steps above to print more

single pages.

Page 42

Removing single-sheet paper

To remove single-sheet paper from the printer, set the printer in the

off-line mode by pressing the ON LINE button (remember its’s a tog-

gle). The ON LINE and READY lights should now be off. Press the FF

(FORM FEED) button and the paper will be ejected from the printer.

Loading Pin-feed Paper

Pin-feed paper is used quite frequently. It is convenient if you do

lots of printing or want to use special pin-feed forms such as labels. It

is also very convenient for printing rough drafts of documents where

you can use less expensive paper.

Loading the LQ-1500 with pin-feed paper is not difficult, but it does require that you have the optional tractor unit purchased separately from your dealer. As with single-sheet feed, the printer does most of the work and virtually takes care of itself until the paper runs out. All you have to do is load the paper correctly.

Installing the tractor unit

The following steps show you how to prepare the printer for pinfeed paper (see Figures 3-3 and 3-4).

1. Turn OFF the printer. Remove the dust cover and the front cover.

2. If the sheet guide unit is installed, lay it back flat against the top of

the printer. It should not remain in the upright position when you install the tractor unit.

3. Remove the small protective cover on the right side of the printer

to make room for the tractor unit. It is retained by a single Phillips screw as shown in Figure 3-3. Put the piece away in a safe place.

Locate the metal brackets on either side of the printer. These brackets have two functions: they hold the sheet guide unit and the tractor unit. Notice that there are two unused wedge-shaped slots which will hold the tractor unit. Pick up the tractor unit by each end and slip the tiny silver pegs into the open slots (see Figure 3-4).

Page 43

Figure 3-3. Protective cover removed

5. Gently tilt the tractor unit toward you and push the tractor unit down until you feel it lock into place.

Preparing the printer for pin-feed paper

With the tractor unit now installed, you can prepare the printer to load the pin-feed paper. Follow the steps outlined below and refer to Figure 3-5.

1. Set DIP switch detector. This allows the printer to stop printing and signal when

you are out of pin-feed paper.

2.Open

3. Unlock the gray pin-feeder lock levers on the tractor unit by pull-

the paper bail by pulling it forward (toward the front of the

printer).

ing them toward the front of the printer and slide both pin-feeders outward to the sides. Open the black covers on the pin-feeders.

1-2

in the down position to enable the paper-out

Page 44

Figure 3-4. Tractor

unit installation

Page 45

Figure 3-5. Printer parts used with pin-feed paper

Set the paper support skids evenly from the approximate center of the paper width (as shown in Figure 3-6). This helps the paper feed smoothly.

Note: If you are using narrow or standard width paper, you must

insert it at the far left of the platen (just as you did with singlesheet paper).

5. Make sure the platen release lever is closed (back).

Inserting pin-feed paper

Now that you have prepared the printer, you can load the pin-feed

paper by following these steps:

1. Make sure you have a clean top edge. Insert the pin-feed paper into the paper guide slit at the rear of the platen as shown in Figure 3-6. (If the sheet guide unit is installed, slide the paper underneath it.)

Page 46

Advance the paper by turning the paper feed knob clockwise. With the platen release lever closed, the paper should easily catch

on the platen and be fed through.

Figure 3-6. Paper inserted

Note: If the paper is not feeding correctly (or easily), stop, turn the

paper feed knob counterclockwise, and at the same time gently pull the paper back out. Check the paper to be sure it is not wrinkled or torn and try again.

2. Stop turning and release the platen release lever (pull it forward) when the top of the paper reaches the two pin-feeders. The paper should now be free to move without using the paper feed knob (see Figure 3-7).

3. Adjust the pin-feeders to the paper width by sliding them inward to line up with the paper pin-holes. Place the paper pin-holes onto the tractor pins, close the pin-feeder covers, and adjust the paper tension by pulling the pin-feeders gently apart (see Figure 3-8).

Page 47

Figure 3-7. Aligning pin frames

Note: Position wide paper

and

136

on your paper bail (the holes will be outside of these

margins on the left and right).

5. Lock the pin-feeders in place by pushing the gray pin-feeder lock levers back.

6. Confirm that the tractor pins are centered in the paper pin-holes and that the paper tension is correct. If they are not, open the pinfeeder covers, readjust the paper, and close them again.

7. Close the paper bail.

8. Set the print head adjustment lever according to the thickness of

your paper.

Turn the paper feed knob clockwise to advance the paper until the

9. print head is positioned just under the first perforation which separates one page from another.

10.

Install the tractor unit dust cover.

Turn the printer on. The ON LINE and READY lights should now

11.

be on.

so that

the printable surface is between

Page 48

Figure 3-8. Pin-feeder covers

Proper placement of pin-feed paper

When using the LQ-1500 with pin-feed paper, we recommend that

you arrange your stack of paper in one of two ways.

First, if you use a stack of paper and have to place it behind the printer, make sure that it is not higher than the surface of the sheet guide unit. Placing the paper behind the printer makes it difficult for

the printed paper to be collected without interfering with the printer operation. You have to watch the paper more closely.

Second, if you have room to place the paper on the floor, you

should arrange it as shown in Figure 3-9. It’s best to leave the paper

right in the box. We recommend this type of paper placement if at all

possible.

Be sure that the paper is free to unfold in an accordian fashion with no obstructions that would hinder the movement of paper through the

printer. You’re now ready to print with continuous-feed paper!

Page 49

Figure 3-9. Paper path

Removing pin-feed paper

If you want to remove the pin-feed paper from the printer, follow

the steps outlined below:

1.Remove the (tractor) dust cover.

2. Tear the paper at the perforation nearest the rear of the printer.

3. Set the printer in the off-line mode by pressing the ON LINE button. The ON LINE and READY lights should now be off.

4. Open the pin-feeder covers (on the tractor unit) and remove the paper from the pins. Make sure the platen release lever is in the forward (released position).

Gently pull the paper up through the paper path until it is free from

the printer.

Removing the tractor unit

If the tractor unit is installed on the printer, you will have to remove

it to use the single and automatic sheet feed options.

Follow the steps outlined below to remove the tractor unit from the

printer and refer to Figure 3-10.

Page 50

Figure 3-10. Removing the tractor unit

1. Turn OFF the printer. Remove the (tractor) dust cover.

2. Release the metal lock levers on each end of the tractor unit by pulling them forward (toward the front of the printer).

3. Keeping the lock levers pulled forward, move the entire tractor unit toward the front of the printer and up. The pegs at each end of the unit will slide out from the slots on the printer.

The LQ-1500 Self-Test

Now that you are an expert on loading your LQ-1500, you’re ready

to print. The LQ-1500 self-test is a built-in program which generates a complete printing of all standard characters. The self-test also provides an opportunity to test the ribbon and paper installation without having to request a printout from your computer. In fact, you can perform the self-test without a computer at all! Try it yourself and see

by completing the following steps.

1. Install 14-inch wide paper.

Page 51

2. With the power OFF hold down the LF (LINE FEED) button and turn the printer ON. Watch as all the characters are printed as shown in Figure

begins.

Draft (switch 2-7 down)

Version 1.7

3-11.

You can release the LF button once printing

Letter quality (switch 2-7 up)

Version 1.7

3. Turn the printer OFF to end the test. Otherwise, it will continue to print indefinitely.

Now, it’s time to start learning to communicate with your LQ-1500.

Chapter 4 shows you how to do this efficiently and effectively.

Page 52

Chapter 4

Control Codes

This chapter introduces you to the control codes you can use to send instructions from your computer to your printer. If you already know how to program your printer, you’ll want to know how control codes work with the A and E which provide the control codes.

Please note that this chapter contains technical information and you don’t have to read it in order to operate your printer or to perform ordinary word processing operations. If you don’t know how to program a printer, you can use your applications software to find out how to control the LQ-1500.

Computer-to-Printer-Communications

Alphabetical characters (letters) are foreign to computers; comput-

ers only know numbers. However, computers still manage to do a good job of manipulating the letters that we use for word processing. The secret lies in the fact that a computer doesn’t manipulate letters at all-it just manipulates numbers that represent letters and turns these numbers into the letters that we see on the screen and the printout.

LQ-1500.

You’ll also be interested in Appendixes

The computer communicates with the printer by means of numeri-

cal codes. There are 256 different codes that the computer can send to the printer, represented by the numbers from 0 to 255. Since there are many different kinds of computers and many different kinds of printers, a standard set of codes was developed that almost all computers use to comunicate with printers. This set of codes is called the Ameri- can Standard Code For Information Interchange, or ASCII for short.

There are ASCII codes for all the letters in the alphabet (both upper-

and lowercase), the numbers from 0 to 9, most punctuation marks,

Page 53

and some of the LQ-1500’s functions. Because of these standard codes, you can use your LQ-1500 printer with virtually any kind of computer without having to worry about their ability to talk to each other. Your LQ-1500 printer can communicate with any computer that uses

ASCII.

How Many Names Can One Code Have?

Although these codes are standard from computer to computer, the way they are referred to is not standard. The same ASCII code can be called by many different names. For example, the letter A is represented by the decimal number 65 in ASCII. This code may either be called A or 65. In the BASIC programming language, this code may be referred to as CHR$(65).

At other times, ASCII codes are referred to by their hex value. Hex

is short for hexadecimal, which is a base-16 numbering system (our usual numbering system is a base-10 system). Since 16 digits are required for a base-16 number system, hex uses the digits 0 through 9 and the letters A through F. In hex, A is 41H, where the H stands for hex.

Most of the time we don’t have to give this code system a thought. If you press A on the keyboard, the computer sends the code to print an A to the printer.

Some ASCII codes don’t have keys on the keyboard. The most important of these are the codes that have values of less than 32. These codes are used to control many of the LQ-1500’s functions. Most key-

boards can produce these codes, by holding down the control key

(often marked CTRL) while pressing a letter key. The combination of

CRTL/A produces ASCII 1, CTRL/B produces ASCII 2, and so on.

Because of the way these codes are created, they are often referred to as control A, control B, etc.

Most of these control codes also have names that describe their functions. For example ASCII 13, which is the code to start a new line, is called carriage return. The following chart shows many different ways of referring to the code for the carriage return function.

Page 54

Carriage return CR 13

0DH

CTRL/M

CHR$(13)

So your problem is to figure out what code you want to use, no matter what it is called. You may find that this can be quite a problem. Your computer’s manual may say to use ASCII 10 while your spreadsheet program recommends a CTRL/J. You need to know that they are both talking about the same code.

This manual tells you the different names for the same code. Appendix A gives a complete summary of all the control codes (also called commands). Appendix E contains a conversion chart for all the common names for the ASCII codes.

Some of the LQ-1500’s functions are controlled by codes consisting of one character. These are the ASCII codes with decimal values between 1 and 31, and are the codes that you can type by holding the control key while you press a letter key. For example, the code ASCII

12 is the same as CTRL/L and advances the paper to the top of a new

page.

Its common name The abbreviation of its name Its decimal ASCII code Its hexadecimal ASCII code Its control-code name Its usage in BASIC

Of course the LQ-1500 has many more than 31 functions. To use the many additional functions, you use one special code to enable all the control codes that consist of more than one character. This code is called Escape, and in this manual it is abbreviated as <ESC> . You will use this code often with the LQ-1500 because it allows you to use the many features of the printer.

Here is an example of how the escape code is used. It may seem

tricky at first, but follow along and you’ll soon understand. The code to turn on the italic print function is <ESC> the numeral

Remember that the ASCII codes 0 through

abbreviations for their names. In these cases we use the abbreviations. <ESC>q is the abbreviation for escape, which is also ASCII

Therefore, the <ESC> “4” that turns on italic print actually is ASCII

followed by ASCII

remember.

not ASCII

52.

But <ESC>

the numeral 4 is ASCII

“4”.

The 4 in this code is

52.

have commonly used

27.

“4”

is easier to understand and

Page 55

Here are some other common abbreviations:

Name Escape

Line Feed Form Feed Carriage Return

You now have the basics about codes. This knowledge should help you understand and use the information contained in your software documentation to take advantage of the LQ-1500's many features.

ASCII code

(decimal)

10 12 13

Abbreviation

<ESC>

<CR>

Page 56

Appendix A

LQ-1500 Command Summary

This appendix gives a brief summary of the (control codes). While th descriptions are not complete in all cases. The complete descriptions of all the commands, including examples of their use, can be found in the LQ-1500 Programmer’s Manual.

In some cases the explanations given here describe the apparent function of the commands, rather than the actual mechanical movements of the printer. For example, since the printer prints in both directions, the line feed command may not actually return the print head to the left margin if the next line prints from right to left, but the final effect on the printed page is the same as if it had.

The commands are organized into five logical groups: Vertical Spacing Commands, Horizontal Spacing Commands, Character Set Commands, Graphics Set Commands, and Miscellaneous Commands. The function is what the printer will do when given the proper command. The format is the correct syntax for the ASCII code that the printer undertands. This code may expressed as a symbol, a deci- mal value, or a hexadecimal value depending on the program you are using. Where n (or another italic letter) is used as a variable, it stands for a numerical value.

is is a complete list of the commands, the

LQ-1500

commands

Page 57

Vertical Spacing Commands

Function:

Line

feed

Format:

Symbol Decimal Hexadecimal 0A

Remarks :

Returns the print head to the left margin and advances the paper

one line.

Function:

One-time n/180-inch line feed

Format:

Symbol Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 4A n

Remarks:

Advances the paper n/180 inches. It does not execute a carriage return (n can range from 0 to 255).

Function:

Select 1/8-inch line spacing

Format:

Symbol Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 30

Remarks:

Sets the line spacing for subsequent line feed commands to 1/8 inch.

<LF> 10

<ESC> “J” n 27 74 n

<ESC> “0”

27 48

Function:

Select 1/6-inch line spacing

Format:

Symbol

Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 32

Remarks:

Sets the line spacing for subsequent line feed commands to l/6 inch.

<ESC> “2”

27 50

Page 58

Vertical Spacing Commands (continued)

Function:

Set n/180-inch line spacing

Format :

Symbol Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 33 n

Remarks:

Sets the line spacing for subsequent line feed commands to n/180

inch. 1/180 inch is the vertical distance between dots on the LQ-1500 (n can range from 0 to 255).

Function:

Set n/60-inch line spacing.

Format:

Symbol

Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 41 n

Remarks:

Sets the line spacing for subsequent line feed commands to n/60 inches (n can range from 0 to 85).

<ESC> “3” n

27 51 n

<ESC> “A” n

27 65 n

Function:

Form Feed

Format:

Symbol Decimal Hexadecimal 0C

Remarks:

Advances the paper to the top of the next page.

Function:

Set page length by lines

Format:

Symbol

Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 43 n

Remarks:

Sets the length of the page to n lines (n can range from 1 to 127).

<FF>

<ESC> “C” n 27 67 n

Page 59

Vertical Spacing Commands (continued)

Function:

Set page length by inches

Format:

Symbol <ESC> “C”

Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 43 00 n

Remarks:

Sets the page length to n inches

Function:

Set bottom margin

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 4E n

Remarks:

Sets a bottom margin of n lines so that you can skip over the perforations in pin-feed paper (n can range from 1 to 127).

Function:

Cancel bottom margin

Format:

ASCII

Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 4F

Remarks:

Sets the bottom margin to 0 lines. The command uses the letter

not the number zero.

“O”,

<ESC> “N” n

27 78

<ESC> “O”

27 79

<NUL> n

67 0 n

can range from 1 to

22).

Function:

Vertical tab

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 0B

Remarks:

Advances the paper to the next vertical tab position. If no vertical

tabs have been set, this code advances the paper one line.

<VT>

Page 60

Vertical Spacing Commands (continued)

Function:

Set vertical tabs

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “B” n1 n2 n3 . . .

27 66 nl

n2 n3

. . .

<NUL>

Hexadecimal 1B 42 nl n2 n3 . . . 00

Remarks:

Sets vertical tabs on lines

n1, n2,

n3, etc. You can set up to 16 verti-

cal tab positions. The values of n1, n2, n3, etc. can range from 1 to

254 and must be entered in ascending order.

Function:

Select a vertical tab channel

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “/” c

27 47 c

Hexadecimal 1B 2F c

Remarks :

This command selects one of the vertical tab channels. Subsequent vertical tab codes will advance the paper to the next vertical tab position in the selected channel (c can range from 0 to 7).

Function:

Set vertical tabs in tab channels

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “b” c n1 n2 . . . 27 98 c n1 n2 . . . 0

<NUL>

Hexadecimal 1B 62 c n1 n2 ... 00

Remarks:

Sets vertical tabs on lines nl, n2, n3, etc. of vertical tab channel c.

You can set up to 16 vertical tab positions. The values of

nl, n2, n3,

etc. can range from 1 to 254 and must be entered in ascending order

(c can range from 0 to 7).

Page 61

Horizontal Spacing Commands

Function:

Carriage return

Format:

ASCII

Decimal

Hexadecimal OD

Remarks:

Returns the print head to the left margin. If auto-line feed is on,

paper is also advanced one line.

Function:

Set right margin

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 51 n

Remarks:

Sets a right margin at n character columns of the current character

width. The value of n can range from 1 to 255. This command must be sent at the beginning of a line. If a line to be printed exceeds the

right margin, a carriage return and line feed will be inserted to keep the line from exceeding the right margin.

(CR)

<ESC> “Q” n

27 81 n

Function:

Set left margin

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 49 n

Remarks:

Sets the left margin at n character positions of the current character

width. The value of n can range from 0 to 160, but if the value is too large (if it results in a left margin greater than 8 inches), the com-

mand will be ignored. This command should be placed at the beginning of a line.

(ESC) “I” n

108 n

Page 62

Horizontal Spacing Commands (continued)

Function:

Horizontal tab

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<HT>

Hexadecimal 09

Remarks:

This code advances the print head to the next horizontal tab posi-

tion. The default tab settings are every eight characters.

Function:

Set horizontal tabs

Format:

ASCII Decimal

(ESC) “D” n1 n2 n3 ...

27 68 nl n2 n3 ... 0

<NUL>

Hexadecimal 1B 44 n1 n2 n3 ... 00

Remarks:

Sets horizontal tabs at positions n1, n2, n3, etc. You can set up to 32

horizontal tab positions. The values of n1, n2, n3, etc. can range

from 1 to 137 and must be entered in ascending order.

Function:

Set intercharacter space

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> <SP> n

27 32 n

Hexadecimal 1B 20 n

Remarks:

Increases the space between characters by n dots (n can range from

0 to

127).

Function:

Absolute dot position

Format:

ASCII Decimal

(ESC) "$” n1 n2

27 36 n1 n2

Hexadecimal 1B 24 nl n2

Remarks:

Moves the print head to an absolute horizontal position. The posi-

tion, in inches, is determined by the formula (nl + n2 x 256) / 60. The maximum position is 13.6 inches.

Page 63

Horizontal Spacing Commands (continued)

Function:

Move print head

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 5C n1 n2

Remarks:

Moves the print head a specified distance from the last character printed. It can move the print head either left or right. The distance, in inches, is determined by the following formulas:

Draft: (n1 + n2 x 256) / 120 Letter Quality: (n1 + n2 x 256) / 180

Proportional: (nl + n2 x 256) / 360

To move to the left, add 64 to the calculated value for n2. The maxi-

mum distance is 13.6 inches. The command will be ignored if you try to move to a position outside of the current margins.

(ESC) “\” n1 n2 27 92 n1 n2

Print Style Commands

Function:

Select print mode

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 78 n

<ESC> ‘x’ n

120 n

Remarks:

Selects between the draft mode (n = 0) and the letter quality mode. (n = 1).

Function:

Select print style (Master Select)

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 21 n

Remarks :

Allows you to select multiple print styles (i.e., pica-italicunderlined) with one command. The value of n determines the style selected. A chart in Appendix B shows the valid values for n and

samples

(ESC) “!” n 27 33 n

of the print styles.

Page 64

Style Commands (continued)

Function:

Select elite width print

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 4D

Remarks:

Selects elite width (12 characters per inch) print.

Function:

Cancel elite width print

Format:

ASCII <ESC> “I’” Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 50

Remarks:

Cancels elite width print and returns the LQ-1500 to pica width print.

Function:

Proportional print on/off

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 70 n

Remarks:

This command either selects proportional print (n = 1) or cancels

proportional print (n = 0).

<ESC> “M”

27 77

27 80

<ESC> “p’ n

112 n

Function:

One-line expanded width print

Format :

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 0E

Remarks:

This code selects expanded width print for the remainder of the current line (unless explicitly canceled sooner).

<SO> 14

Page 65

Print Style Commands (continued)

Function:

One-line expanded width print

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 0E

Remarks :

This command selects expanded width print for the remainder of the current line (unless explicitly canceled sooner). This command is the same as (SO).

Function:

Cancel one-line expanded width print

Format:

ASCII

Decimal Hexadecimal 14

Remarks:

This code can be used to cancel one-line expanded width print before the end of the line.

27 14

<DC4>

Function:

Expanded width print on/off

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 57 n

Remarks:

Either turns expanded width print on (n = 1) or turns expanded width print off (n = 0).

Function:

Select compressed width print

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal OF

<ESC> “W” n

27 87 n

<SI>

Page 66

Print Style Commands (continued)

Function:

Select compressed width print

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> <SI> 27 15

Hexadecimal 1B OF

Function:

Cancel compressed width print

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<DC2>

Hexadecimal 12

Function:

Select emphasized print

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “E” 27 69

Hexadecimal 1B 45

Function:

Cancel emphasized print

Format :

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “F”

27 70

Hexadecimal 1B 46

Function:

Select double-strike print

Format:

ASCII

Decimal

(ESC) “G”

27 71

Hexadecimal 1B 47

Function:

Cancel double-strike print

Format:

ASCII Decimal

(ESC) “H”

27 72

Hexadecimal 1B 48

Page 67

Print Style Commands (continued)

Function:

Select italic print

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 34

Function:

Cancel italic print

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 35

Remarks:

This command cancels italic printing and returns you to the standard character set.

Function:

Underline on/off

Format :

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 2D n

Remarks :

This command turns underlining on (n = 1) or turns underlining

off (n = 0).

<ESC> “4”

27 52

<ESC> “5” 27 53

(ESC) “-” n

27 45 n

Function:

Select superscripts or subscripts

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 53 n

Remarks:

This command either selects superscripts (n = 0) or selects subscripts (n=l).

<ESC> “S" n

27 83 n

Page 68

Print Style Commands (continued)

Function:

Cancel superscripts and subscripts

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “T”

27 84

Hexadecimal 1B 54

Character Set Commands

Function:

Userdefined character set on/off

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 25 n

Remarks:

This command either selects the user-defined character set (n = 1) or cancels the user-defined character set (n = 0).

Function:

Define userdefined characters

(ESC) “%” n

27 37 n

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “&’

27 30 0 nl n2

<NUL> nl n2

Hexadecimal 1B 26 00 n1 n2

data data

data

Remarks:

Defines user-defined characters of the currently selected style. The function of this command is covered in the LQ-I500 Programmer’s

Manual.

Function:

Copy normal character set into userdefined character set

Format:

ASCII Decimal

<ESC> “:”

27 58 0 0 0

Hexadecimal 1B 3A 00 00 00

Remarks:

This command copies the currently active character set into the user-defined character set.

Page 69

Character Set Commands (continued)

Function:

Select international character set

Format:

ASCII Decimal

(ESC) “R” n

27 82 n

Hexadecimal 1B 52 n

Remarks:

Selects one of the 11 international character sets. The following table shows the valid values of n and the character sets selected for each. Appendix C shows the characters that change in the intemational character sets.

0 1

2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9

Country

U.S.A.

France Germany

United Kingdom

Denmark Sweden Italy Spain

Japan

Norway Denmark II

Graphics Commands

Function:

Single-density dot graphics

Format :

ASCII Decimal

(ESC) “K” nl n2

27 75 nl n2

Hexadecimal 1B 4B nl n2

Remarks:

Prints single-density dot graphics at 60 dots per inch. The values of

nI and n2 define the number of bytes of data according to the for-

mula nl + n2 x 256. Each byte of data controls the print head pins in one vertical row of dots. The maximum number of bytes of data is

816.

data data data

Page 70

Graphics Commands (continued)

Function:

Double-density dot graphics

Format:

ASCII

Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 4C nl n2

Remarks:

Prints double-density dot graphics at 120 dots per inch. The values of nl and n2 define the number of bytes of data according to the formula n1 + n2 x 256. Each byte of data controls the print head pins in one vertical row of dots. The maximum number of bytes of data is 1632.

Function:

High-speed, double-density dot graphics

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 59 nl n2

Remarks:

Prints high-speed, double-density dot graphics at 120 dots per inch. The values nI and n2 define the number of bytes of data according to the formula nl + n2 x 256. Each byte of data controls the print head pins in one vertical row of dots. The maximum number of bytes of data is 1632.

(ESC) “L” n1 n2

27 76 nl n2

(ESC) "Y” n1 n2

27 89 n1 n2

data data data

Function:

Quadruple-density dot graphics

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 5A nl n2

Remarks:

This function prints quadruple-density dot graphics at 240 dots per

inch. The values of nl and n2 define the number of bytes of data according to the formula nl + n2 x 256. Each byte of data controls the print head pins in one vertical row of dots. The maximum num-

ber of bytes of data is 3264.

(ESC) “Z” nl n2

27 90 nl n2

data data data

Page 71

Graphics Commands (continued)

Function:

Selected density dot graphics

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 2A s nl n2

Remarks:

Prints dot graphics in a selected density, and with either 8 pins or 24 pins. The functions of this command are covered in the LQ-1500

Programmer’s

Function:

Change dot graphics density

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 3F n s

Remarks:

Assigns one of the graphics densities of the selected density dot graphics command to any of the four other dot graphics commands. The functions of this command are covered in the LQ-1500 Programmer’s

(ESC) "*" s nl n2

27 42 s

Manual.

(ESC) “?” n s

27 63 n s

Manual.

nl n2

data data

data

Miscellaneous Commands

Function:

Delete line

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 18

Remarks:

Clears the current line from the printer’s data buffer.

<can>

Page 72

Miscellaneous Commands (continued)

Function:

Delete character

Format :

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 7F

Remarks:

Deletes the character immediately preceding it, unless that character has already been printed.

Function:

Deselect printer

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 13

Remarks :

Places the LQ-1500 in an off-line state. It will ignore all codes until it receives a select printer code.

<DEL>

127

<DC3>

Function:

Select printer

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 11

Remarks:

Returns the LQ-1500 to an on-line state. It enables the printer to receive data again after it has been deactivated by a deselect printer code. This code will not override the ON LINE button.

<DCU>

Page 73

Miscellaneous Commands (continued)

Function:

Set specified data to repeat printing

Format:

ASCII

Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 56 n

Remarks:

This command sequence will repeat data n times. This sequence can be nested up to five times, and the data string can contain up to 2K characters. DIP switch 1-1 must be in the down position to use this command sequence.

Function:

Set eighth-bit

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 3E

Remarks:

Sets the eighth data bit to

<ESC> “V” n

27 86 n

<ESC> “<”

27 62

data data 27 86 0

data 1B 56 00

<ESC> “V”

<NUL>

Function:

Clear eighth-bit

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 3D

Remarks:

Sets the eighth data bit to 0.

Function:

Cancel eighth-bit control

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 23

Remarks:

Cancels control of the eighth data bit set by either the set eighth-bit or clear eighth-bit commands.

<ESC> “=”

27 61

(ESC) “#”

27 35

Page 74

Miscellaneous

Function:

BelI

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 7

Remarks:

Sounds the LQ-1500’s buzzer.

Function:

Backspace

Format :

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 8

Remarks:

Moves the print head one character to the left. This allows you to overstrike characters. (Note: the print head doesn’t actually move

to the left, the LQ-1500 combines the two characters and prints them as one.)

Commands

<BEL>

<BS>

(continued)

Function:

Initialize printer

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 40

Remarks:

Resets the printer to the power-on state, including top of form.

Function:

Disable paper-out detector

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 38

Remarks:

Turns the paper detector off so that you can print to the bottom of

single sheets of paper. This code performs the same function as DIP

switch 1-2.

<ESC> “@”

27 64

<ESC> “8’

27 56

Page 75

Miscellaneous Commands (continued)

Function:

Enable paper-out detector

Format:

ASCII Decimal

Hexadecimal 1B 39

Remarks:

Turns the paper detector on so that it will report when the printer

runs out of paper.

Function:

Return print head to home position (one-line unidirectional printing)

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 3C

Remarks :

Returns the print head to the left side of the printer.

(ESC) “9”

27 57

<ESC> “<” 27 60

Function:

Unidirectional printing on/off

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 55 n

Remarks:

Selects unidirectional printing (n = 1) or returns the printer to

bidirectional printing (n = 0).

Function:

Half-speed printing on/off

Format:

ASCII Decimal Hexadecimal 1B 73 n

Remarks:

Either selects half-speed printing (n = 1) or returns the printer to full-speed printing (n = 0).

(ESC) “U” n

27 85 n

(ESC) “s” n 27

115 n

Page 76

Appendix B

Changing Printing Style

The LQ-1500 can produce there are many commands to select these different styles of printing, there is one command that lets you choose at will between any of them. This command is called Master Select. The Master Select command consists of <ESC> “!” followed by a single ASCII code. The value of the ASCII code determines the printing style that is selected. A typical Master Select command might look like this:

224

different styles of printing. Although

(ESC) "!" 66

This command would select italic proportional print. In BASIC the same command would look like this:

LPRINT CHR$(27) "!" CHR$(

On the following four pages are charts showing each of the printing styles that the LQ-1500 can produce. Following each example is the ASCII code (decimal) that will select a particular print style.

The first of the four charts shows the proportional print styles. These styles are available in both the Letter Quality and Draft sets. The second chart shows the printing styles that are available in the Letter Quality set. The third and fourth charts show the printing styles that are available in the Draft set.

66);

The letters, MISwiy were chosen to represent typical wide, medium, narrow, and descending characters. The letters are represented in these print styles: regular, emphasized, double-strike, and emphasized and double-strike.

Page 77

The Select Print Quality command will select either

the

Letter Qual-

ity or the Draft set. The Select Print Quality command looks like this:

“x” 0 To select the Draft set

"x" 1 To select the Letter Quality set

In BASIC this command would look like this:

LPRINT CHR$(27) "x" CHR$(0);

LPRINT CHR$(27) "x" CHR$(l);

Proportional Print Styles

Pica

Master

select

Number

130 138 146 154

194

202

210

218

MISwiy M1Swiy MISwiy MISwiy

MISwiy

MISwiy MISwiy MISwiy MISwiy

MISwiy

Regular Emphasized

Double-strike

Double-strike emphasized

Italic

Regular

Emphasized Double-strike Double-strike emphasized

Underlined

Regular Emphasized Double-strike

Double-strike emphasized

Italic underlined

Regular Emphasized

Double-strike

Double-strike emphasized

Sample

MISwiy

Miswiy 10

MISwiy 18

MisWiy 26

MISwiy 66

MlSwiy 74 MISwiy 82

Miswiy 90

MISwiy MISwiy MISwiy

MISwiy

MIswiy

MISWiY

MISwiy

Expanded

Sample

Master

select

Number

34 42 50 58

106 114 122

162 170 178 186

226 234 242 250

Page 78

Page 79

Page 80

Page 81

Appendix C

The LQ-1500 Character Set

ASCII

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

Draft

(

)

* +

, ...

;

1 2

;

Prop.

(

)

$ %

(

)

2 3

7 8

9 :

;

ASCII

63 64 65 66 67 68 69

70 71 72

73 74 75 76

77 78

79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93

Draft

? @ A B

E F

N O P

W Y Y

[

]

B C D E

F G H

I J

K L

N 0 P Q R S T U

X Y Z

[

Prop.

? @

C D

M N

O P Q R S

V W

Y Z

[

]

Page 82

ASCII

96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120

121

122 123 124 125 126

161

162

163 164

165 166 167

168

169

170

171

Draft LQ

p q

u v

}

(

)

r s

w x

{

}

(

)

Prop.

d i” ii

i j

m n 0

P q

r 8 t

U V W X

;

: }

1 ,,

r % &

(

) *

ASCII

172 173

174 175

176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 <

189 190 >

191 192

193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210

211

Draft LQ

17 1

1 2 2 3 3 4 5 ci 7

8 8

: :

; ;

:!: = =

@ A

? ?

B A

D DD

E F

E E

F F

G G

H H

j J J

I I

K K K

L M M M N N N 0

P P P

R R R

Prop.

212 T T T 213 214 215 216

V w w w X X X

U U

V V

0 1

3 4 5 6

7 8

< > @

Page 83

ASCII

217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235

Draft LQ

Y Y Y

Z Z Z

d d

i i

k k

e f

Prop.

ASCII

236

237 238 239 240

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

Draft LQ

l l

P P

0 0

q q r r

t t

W x

{ { {

V V W

X X

Prop.

r s

Page 84

Draft

Letter quality

International Characters

ProDortional

Page 85

Appendix D

Widths of the

Proportional Characters

This table lists The values given are in 360ths of an inch (for example: a value of 36 is 36/360 inch). You may need to enter these widths into a special table for your word processing program so that it can calculate the number of proportional characters the character, its ASCII code (decimal) and lists four widths. Figure D-1 shows what value is the only width that you will probably need to know. The leftspace, body and right-space widths are all values that are internal to the LQ-1500.

the

widths of the LQ-1500’s proportional characters.

that

will fit on each line. The table shows:

each

of the four width values are for. The total width

Page 86

Total width

Right-space

Body Left-space

Figure D-1. A character and its widths

LQ Proportional (normal)

Character

ASCII

code

Left-

space

BUY

Right- Total

space

width

Page 87

LQ Proportional (normal) (continued)

Page 88

LQ Proportional (normal) (continued)

Character

ASCII

code

Left-

space

Body

Right- Total

Page 89

LQ Proportional (normal) (continued)

Character

ASCII

code

Left

space

Body

Right

space

Total

Text

Page 90

LQ Proportional (superscript/subscript)

Character

ASCII\

code

Left

space

Body

Right

space

Total

width

Page 91

LQ Proportional (superscript/subscript) (continued)

Page 92

Page 93

Appendix E

ASCII Code Conversion Chart

This chart can be used to convert between the different names for

ASCII codes. The codes from 0 to ma1 numbers, abbreviations, and the control keys used to type them. The codes above viation .

have the character that prints instead of the abbre-

have both decimal and hexideci-

Decimal Hexadecimal

2 02 3 03 4 04 5 05 6 06

7 8 9

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

07 08 09

0B 0C 0D

18 12 19 13

14 21 15 22

23 24

Abbreviation

<EOT>

<ENQ>

<ACK>

<BEL>

<BS>

<HT>

<LF>

<VT>

<SI>

<DLE>

<DC1>

<DC2>

<DC3> <DC4)

<NAK>

<SYN>

<ETB>

<CAN>

Control key

Control-@ Control-A Control-B Control-C Control-D Control-E Control-F Control-G Control-H Control-I Control-J Control-K Control-L Control-M Control-N Control-O Control-P Control-Q Control-R Control-S Control-T Control-U Control-V Control-W Control-X

Page 94

Decimal

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Hexadecimal Abbreviation

1B 1C 1D

<EM>

<SUB>

<ESC>

<FS>

<GS>

<SP>

Control key

Control-Y Control-Z Control-[

Decimal

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

64 65 66 67

Hexadecimal Character

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

2C 2D

30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

40 41 42 43

Decimal

68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84

8.5 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

99 l00 101 102

Hexadecimal Character

47 48

4F 50 51 52 53

54 55 56 57 58 59

5F 60

Page 95

Decimal

Hexadecimal

103 104 105 69 106 107 108 109 110 6E 111 112 113 114

67 68

6C 6D

6F 70 71 72

Character

P q

Decimal

Hexadecimal

115 116 117 118 119 120 121 79 122 123 124 125 126

73 74 75 76 77 78

7B 7C 7D

Character

Decimal

127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143

Decimal Hexadecimal

161 162 163 164 165 166

Hexadecimal Abbreviation Decimal

7F 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89

8C 8D

8E 8F

Al A2 A3

A4 A5

<DEL>

<NUL>

(SOH>

<BEL>

<BS>

<HT>

<LF>

<VT>

<`FF> <CR> <SO>

<SI>

Character

Hexadecimal Abbreviation

144 145 91 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160

Decimal

Hexadecimal

167 168 169 170

17l

172

90 92

93 94 95 96 97 98 99

9B 9C 9D

<DC2>

<NAK>

<SYN>

<ETB>

<CAN>

<SP>

Character

A8 A9

AC '

(

)

Page 96

Decimal

173 174

175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184

185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195

196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209

210

211

212 213

Hexadecimal

AE AF

BO B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8

BB BC

BE BF

Cl C2 C3 C4 C5

C6 C7

CB cc

CE CF D0 Dl D2 D3 D4 D5

Character

2 3

5 6 7 8 9

;

C D

E F

N O

Decimal

214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223

224 225 226 227 228

229 230 231 232 233 234 235

236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243

244

245 246 247

248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255

Hexadecimal Character

D6 D7 D8 D9

DB DC DD

DE DF

E0 El E2 E3 E4

E5 E6 E7 E8 E9

EB EC ED

EE EF

FO Fl F2 F3 F4 F5 F6

F7 F8

F9 FA FB FC

Y Z

]

n o

P q

r S

t u v

{

Page 97

of the Epson LQ-1500

Printing

Printing Method

Appendix F

Specifications

Impact dot matrix, with 24-pin print head

Printing Speed

Character sets

Character matrix

Column width

Line spacing

Draft 200 characters per second Letter Quality 67 characters per second

96 regular, 96 italic, 32 international characters in each of; letter quality, proportional letter quality and draft styles.

Proportional 37 x 17 Letter quality 15 x 17 Draft 9 x 17

Pica: 136 columns Pica expanded: 68 columns

Pica compressed: 233 columns Pica compressed-expanded: 116 columns Elite: 163 Elite expanded: 81 Elite compressed: 272 Elite compressed-expanded: 136 columns

l/6-inch, l/&inch or programmable

Page 98

Paper

Paper types

Printer

Dimensions

Single-sheet, friction feed, 7.2 to 14.3 inches wide. Pin-feed, with optional tractor unit, 4 to 16 inches wide. Original and up to three no-carbon copies Single sheet thickness: 0.06mm - O.1mm Total of all sheets 0.2mm maximum

Height: 130mm Width: 604mm (without knob)

Depth: 363mm Weight Power required

Environment

Ribbon

Printer MTBF Print head life

14kg Voltage: 108 to 122 VAC

Frequency: 49.5 to 60.5 Hz Power consumption: 300 VA maximum, 60 VA typical

Temperature: 5°to 35°C Humidity: 10 to 80%, non condensing

Black cloth ribbon in cartridge Ribbon life: 3 x 10° draft characters

5 x

lines (print head excluded)

2 x 109 strokes per wire

Page 99

INDEX

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) 45

codes, conversion 87

Application Notes 2 Assembly

of printer 5 of sheet guide 12

Backspace 67 BASIC 46 Bell 23, 24, 67 Buttons 25

FF (Form feed) 26 LF (Line feed) 27 ON LINE 26

SHEET LOAD 27,32 Cable, connection of 18 Carriage return 46, 54 Cartridge, ribbon 9 Character matrix 91 Character set 75, 91 Character set commands 61 Characters, international 23, 78 Characters, proportional widths 79 Cleaning, of printer 27 Codes, names of 46 Commands 49

character set 61 graphics 62 horizontal spacing 54 miscellaneous 64

vertical spacing 50 Communications, computer-to-printer 45 Compressed print 58 Computer, connecting printer to 15, 18 Continuous forms 29 Control codes 45, 46 Control key (CTRL) 46 Control panel 25 Controls 25 CTRL 46

Delete character 65 Delete line 64 Deselect printer 65 Dimensions 92

Page 100

DIP switches 19

switch 121 switch 1-122, 66 switch 1-2 22, 27, 32, 35, 67

switch 1-3 22

switch 2 22

switches 2-1, 2-2, 2-323 switch 2-4 23 switch 2-5 23 switch 2-6 24 switch 2-7 24, 43 switch 2-8 24

Double-strike print 59 Draft print 23, 24, 72 Dust cover 7 Eighth-bit control 66 Electrical outlet 4, 24

Emphasized print 59

Environment, of printer 92 Escape code <ESC> 47 Expanded print 57 FF (Form feed) button 26 Foreign (international) charcters 23, 62, 78 Form feed 51 Form length 23, 51 Friction feed 30 Front cover 7 Graphics commands 62

Half-speed printing 68 Hexadecimal 46 Horizontal spacing commands 54 Horizontal tab 55 IEEE 488 interface card 15, 24 Indicators 25 Initialize printer 67 Input buffer 22 Installation

interface card 17

power cord 24 ribbon cartridge 9 sheet guide 12 tractor unit 34

Inter-character space 55 Interface card 15, 24

installation of 17

International (foreign) characters 23, 62, 78 Italic print 60

Letter quality print 23, 24, 71 Lever, pin-feeder lock 35, 79 Lever, platen release 30, 32, 37, 38 Lever, print head adjustment 30, 31, 32, 39

Epson LQ-1500 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

LQ-1500 Features

About This Manual

Finding a Suitable Location

Getting to Know Your Printer

Removing the dust cover

Removing the front cover

Installing the Ribbon Cartridge

Installing the Sheet Guide

Assembling the three pieces

Attaching the sheet guide

Connecting the LQ-1500 to Your Computer

Locating the interface card

Installing the interface card

Attaching the cable to the printer

Connecting the printer cable

Setting the DIP Switches

Switch 1

Switch 2

Installing the Power Cord

Controls and Indicators

The power switch

The control panel

The paper-out detector

Maintenance

Other maintenance

Types of Paper and Paper Feeders

Single-sheet paper and sheet guide

Pin-feed paper and tractor unit

More Printer Parts

Platen release lever

Print head adjustment lever

Loading Single-Sheet Paper

Preparing the printer for single-sheet feed

Loading single-sheet paper

Removing single-sheet paper

Loading Pin-feed Paper

Installing the tractor unit

Preparing the printer for pin-feed paper

Inserting pin-feed paper

Proper placement of pin-feed paper

Removing pin-feed paper

Removing the tractor unit

The LQ-1500 Self-Test

Computer-to-Printer-Communications

How Many Names Can One Code Have?

Vertical Spacing Commands

Horizontal Spacing Commands

Print Style Commands

Character Set Commands

Graphics Commands

Miscellaneous Commands

Proportional Print Styles

INDEX