Epson LQ-300PLUS User Guide

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24-Pin Dot Matrix Printer

User's Guide

4013338-01 C01-00

Control Panel Buttons and Lights

Tear Off (Font) lights**

Flash when continuous paper is in

●

the tear-off position; otherwi se, 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.

Tear Off (Font) button**

Advances continuous paper to

●

the tear-off position. Feeds continuous paper

●

backward from the tear-off position to the top-of-form position.

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 printe r 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.

User’s Guide

Getting to Know Your Printer

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Print Head Caution Symbol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ENERGY STAR

For United Kingdom Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Use of options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8

Installing or replacing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9

Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-15

Using the parallel interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

Using the serial interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17

Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19

Installing the software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000,

or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20

Installing the software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x . . . . . . . 1-21

For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23

Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2 Using the Printer

Using the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Selecting a built-in font . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

iii

About Your Printer’s Default Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Changing default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9

Printing on Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Printing with the push tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Removing a printed document from the push tractor. . . . 2-16

Switching back to single sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17

Printing with the pull tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17

Adjusting the top-of-form position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23

Advancing the paper to the tear-off edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25

Printing on Single Sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28

Loading single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29

Printing on Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29

Adjusting the paper-thickness lever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30

Multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31

Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31

Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33

Installing and Using Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34

Cut-sheet feeder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34

Pull tractor unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-38

Roll paper holder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40

Color upgrade kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-42

Print server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-46

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 3.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications 3-5

Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel. . . . . 3-7

Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Using the Printer Driver with Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 . . . . . 3-8

Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications 3-8

Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . 3-11

Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12

Using the Printer Driver with Windows NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13

Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications .3-14

Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel . . . . . 3-16

Changing the printer driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16

Printer Driver Settings Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17

About the EPSON Status Monitor 3 Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19

Setting up EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19

Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21

Using the EPSON Remote! Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

Installing EPSON Remote! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22

Accessing EPSON Remote! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-22

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Single sheets do not feed properly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

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

With the color upgrade kit installed,

the printer does not operate properly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13

Appendix A

Cleaning the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3

Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4

Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4

Electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8

Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8

Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8

Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12

Paper alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15

Standards and approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15

Command Lists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16

EPSON ESC/P2 control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16

IBM 2390 Plus emulation control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17

Contacting Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18

For users in North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-19

For users in the United Kingdom and

the Republic of Ireland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20

For users in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21

For users in Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23

For users in Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-23

For users in Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-24

For users in India. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-25

For users in the Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-26

Index

Getting to Know Your Printer

Your EPSON® LQ-300+ 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, and envelopes.

❏ High-speed printing of up to 300 cps (characters per second)

at 10 cpi (characters per inch).

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.

Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.

Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer.

Getting to Know Your Printer

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.

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.

❏ Printer parts marked with this symbol may be hot.

❏ If you plan to use the printer in Germany, observe the

following:

To provide adequate short-circuit protection and overcurrent protection for this printer, the building installation must be protected by a 10- or 16-amp circuit breaker.

Turn off the printer and let it cool for a few minutes before you touch any printer part marked with this symbol.

Note for German-speaking users:

Bei Anschluss des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muss sichergestellt werden, dass die Gebäudeinstallation mit einer 10 A- oder 16 A-Sicherung abgesichert ist.

Getting to Know Your Printer

Print Head Caution Symbol

This symbol is placed on the print head to indicate that the print head may be hot. Never touch the

NERGY STAR® Compliance

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.

print head just after the printer has been used. Let the print head cool for a few minutes before touching it.

As an ENERGY STAR® partner, EPSON has determined that this product meets the

TAR® guidelines for energy efficiency.

NERGY STAR® Office Equipment Program is

NERGY

For United Kingdom Users

Use of options

Epson (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or consumable products other than those designated as Original EPSON Products or EPSON Approved Products by Epson (UK) Limited.

Getting to Know Your Printer

Safety information

Warning:

If you have to fit a plug:

As the colours of the mains lead of this appliance may not match coloured markings used to identify the terminals in a plug, please proceed as follows:

The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or the Earth symbol (

The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter N.

The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter L.

This appliance must be earthed. Refer to the rating plate for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the supply voltage.

Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are coloured in accordance to the following code:

Green and yellow — Earth Blue — Neutral Brown — Live

If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a qualified electrician.

Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8

Installing or replacing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-9

Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-15

Using the parallel interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

Using the serial interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17

Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19

Installing the software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000,

or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20

Installing the software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x . . . . . . . 1-21

For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23

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:

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.

❏ 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.

Note for French-speaking users:

Placez l’imprimante près d’une prise de contact où la fiche peut être débranchée facilement.

Setting Up the Printer

1-3

❏ 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.

❏ 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.

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.

Setting Up the Printer

1-7

Plugging in the printer

Follow these steps to plug in the printer:

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.

side of the switch is pressed down.

Caution:

If the rated voltage on the printer and your outlet voltage do

not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord.

3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect it to the AC inlet on the printer.

4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

1-8

Setting Up the Printer

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.

2. Open the printer cover to the upright position, then pull it up to remove it.

3. Make sure the print head is in the middle of the printer. If it is not, turn on the printer. Then, turn off the printer.

Setting Up the Printer

1-9

4. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack from the ribbon so it is easier to install.

5. 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.

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Setting Up the Printer

6. Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide. Turn the ribbon tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place; it should not be twisted or creased.

7. 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 at the center of the printer. Then remove the cartridge by lifting the both ends and taking it out of the printer.

Running the Self Test

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:

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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.

Caution:

You should use paper at least 210 mm (8 1/4 inches) wide to

run the self test; otherwise, the print head prints directly on the platen.

2. While holding down the LF/FF button, turn on the printer.

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Setting Up the Printer

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.

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.

5. To stop printing temporarily, press the PAUSE button.

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6. To end the self test, make sure the printer is not printing. Press

LF/FF to eject the sheet; then turn off the printer.

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.

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Setting Up the Printer

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.

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1-15

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.

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.)

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Setting Up the Printer

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.

Setting Up the Printer

1-17

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 serial interface port.

3. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer’s serial interface port and then tighten the screws on both sides of the connector. (If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.)

4. Use the Default Setting mode to change the baud rate or parity bit, if necessary. See “About Your Printer’s Default Settings” on page 2-3.

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Setting Up the Printer

Installing the Printer Software

After you connect the printer to your computer, you need to install the software included on the EPSON printer software CD-ROM shipped with your printer.

Your printer software includes:

❏ Printer driver

The printer driver is the software that runs, or “drives,” your printer. With it, you can make printer settings such as print quality, resolution, and paper size.

❏ EPSON Status Monitor 3 utility (Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000 or

NT 4.0) The EPSON Status Monitor 3 utility notifies you of printer errors and displays printer status information.

❏ EPSON Remote! (a DOS-based printer setup utility)

The EPSON Remote! utility allows you to easily change the printer’s default settings from the computer screen. See “Using the EPSON Remote! Utility” on page 3-22.

To install the printer software, see “Installing the software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.0” on page 1-20 or “Installing the software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x” on page 1-21. If you are using DOS, see “For DOS programs” on page 1-23.

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1-19

Installing the software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.0

Follow these steps to install the printer software in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.0:

Note:

❏ Installing the printer software for Windows 2000 or NT 4.0 may

require administrator privileges. If you have problems, ask your administrator for more information.

❏ If you wish to make a floppy disk version of the printer software on

your CD-ROM, insert the CD and run the EPSETUP program. In the dialog box that appears, click the Driver disk creation utility button and follow the on-screen instructions.

❏ If you are using the floppy disk version of the EPSON software, make

a backup copy of the EPSON printer software disk or disks before you begin installation.

❏ If the New Hardware Found screen or any other wizard appears

when you turn on your computer, click Cancel and follow the steps below.

❏ If the Digital Signature Not Found screen appears, click Yes. If you

click No, you must reinstall the printer driver as described below.

❏ Installation time varies depending on your computer.

1. Make sure Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.0 is running and the printer is off.

2. Insert the printer software CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. The Install dialog box appears. (If you are using a floppy disk, insert the disk into the floppy disk drive. Double-click the floppy disk drive icon and then double-click the Setup.exe icon.)

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Setting Up the Printer

3. Click Install to start the printer software installation.

4. Select your printer from the list, then follow the instructions on the screen.

When you install the printer driver on Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000 or NT 4.0, the EPSON Status Monitor 3 utility will also be installed.

For information on launching and using the software, see Chapter 3, “Using the Printer Software.”

Installing the software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x

Follow these steps to install the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x.

Note:

Installing the printer software on Windows NT 3.5x may require administrator privileges. If you have problems, ask your administrator for more information.

1. Make sure Windows is running and the Program Manager window is open.

2. Insert the printer software CD-ROM shipped with your printer into the CD-ROM drive. (If you are using floppy disks, insert Disk1 of your printer software into the floppy disk drive.)

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3. Choose Run from the File menu. The Run dialog box appears. In the Command Line box, type D:SETUP. (If your CD-ROM drive has a drive letter other than “D,” or if you are using a floppy disk, substitute “D” with the appropriate drive letter.) Then click OK.

If you wish to make a floppy disk version of the printer software on your CD-ROM, type EPSETUP instead of SETUP. In the dialog box that appears, click the Driver disk creation utility button and follow the on-screen instructions.

4. The installation program begins copying the printer software files onto your computer.

5. When the installation is complete, click OK to exit the installation program.

The installation program automatically selects the LQ-300+ as the default printer for Windows applications.

For information on launching and using the software, see Chapter 3, “Using the Printer Software.”

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Setting Up the Printer

For DOS programs

To control the printer from DOS application programs, you need to select the printer you are using or another available printer from the printer list of your application.

Choose the EPSON LQ-300+ printer at the appropriate step in the setup or installation procedure of your DOS application program. If the list in your application does not include the LQ-300+ printer, choose the first available printer from this list:

LQ-300 LQ-580/LQ-570e LX-810/850 LX-800 LX-80/86 FX-850

If you plan to use color, you must choose LQ-300. The other printers cannot use color.

Note:

If your application does not list a suitable alternative, contact the software manufacturer to see if an update is available.

FX-86e/800 JX-80 EX-800 EPSON LQ printer EPSON FX printer EPSON printer

Setting Up the Printer

1-23

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Setting Up the Printer

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Printing with the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Removing a printed document from the push tractor . . . . 2-16

Switching back to single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17

Printing with the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17

Adjusting the top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23

Advancing the paper to the tear-off edge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25

Printing on Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-28

Loading single sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29

Printing on Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29

Adjusting the paper-thickness lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-30

Multipart forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31

Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31

Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33

Installing and Using Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-34

Cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34

Pull tractor unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-38

Roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40

Color upgrade kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-42

Print server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-46

Using the Printer

2-1

Using the Control Panel

You can control simple printer operations—such as line feeding, form feeding, loading and ejecting paper, and selecting fonts— with the buttons on the control panel. The control panel lights show the printer’s status. For information on the buttons and the lights on the control panel, see “Control Panel Buttons and Lights” inside the front cover.

Selecting a built-in font

Follow these steps to select a built-in font using the buttons on the printer’s control panel:

1. Make sure that the printer is not printing. If it is, wait until printing is complete.

2. Hold down the Pause button for three seconds to enter the Micro Adjust mode. The Pause light begins to flash. The three Tear Off (Font) lights show the current font selection.

3. Press the Tear Off (Font) button repeatedly to cycle through all of the available selections; then stop when you reach the desired font with a pattern shown on the control panel. Your selection stays in effect until you change it again.

2-2

Note:

❏ Settings you make in your application programs usually

override settings you make from the printer’s control panel. For best results, use your application to select a font and pitch.

❏ The Tear Off (Font) button cannot directly select OCR-B,

Orator, Orator-S, Script-C, Roman-T, or Sans Serif H. To select one of these fonts, you must first use the Default Setting mode to register it as the “other” font and then select Others using the Tear Off (Font) button.

❏ Barcode fonts cannot be selected via the control panel.

Using the Printer

About Your Printer’s Default Settings

The default settings control many printer functions. While you can often set these functions through your software or printer driver, you may sometimes need to change a default setting from the printer’s control panel using the Default Setting mode.

The following table lists the default settings and the options you can select in the Default Setting mode. The settings are explained in detail after the table. For instructions on changing the default settings, see “Changing default settings” on page 2-9.

Settings Options

Page length for tractor* Length in inches: 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7, 8,

Skip over perforation On, Off

Auto tear off On, Off

Auto line feed On, Off

Print direction Bi-D, Uni-D, Auto

Software ESC/P2, IBM 2390 Plus

0 slash 0,

High speed draft On, Off

I/F mode Auto, Parallel, Serial

Auto I/F wait time 10 seconds, 30 seconds

Baud rate 19200, 9600, 4800, 2400, 1200, 600, 300

Parity None, Odd, Even, Ignore

Data length 8 bit, 7 bit

Parallel I/F bidirectional mode

* The options available vary depending on the country of purchase.

** These settings take effect only when IBM 2390 Plus emulation is selected.

8.5, 11, 70/6, 12, 14, 17

BPS

On, Off

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2-3

Settings Options

Packet mode Auto, Off

Character table* Standard model:

International character set for Italic table

Pitch 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17 cpi, 20 cpi,

Font OCR-B, Orator, Orator-S, Script C,

Auto CR (IBM 2390 Plus)** On, Off

A.G.M. (IBM 2390 Plus)** On, Off

Italic, PC 437, PC 850, PC 860, PC 863, PC 865, PC 861, BRASCII, Abicomp, Roman 8, ISO Latin 1, PC 858, ISO 8859-15

All other models: Italic, PC 437, PC 850, PC 437 Greek, PC 853, PC 855, PC 852, PC 857, PC 864, PC 866, PC 869, MAZOWIA, Code MJK, ISO 8859-7, ISO Latin 1T, Bulgaria, PC 774, Estonia, ISO 8859-2, PC 866 LAT, PC 866 UKR, PC APTEC, PC 708, PC 720, PC AR864, PC 860, PC 863, PC 865, PC 861, BRASCII, Abicomp, Roman 8, ISO Latin 1, PC 858, ISO 8859-15, PC 771

Italic U.S.A., Italic France, Italic Germany, Italic U.K., Italic Denmark1, Italic Sweden, Italic Italy, Italic Spain1

Proportional

Roman T (PS), Sans Serif H (PS)

Manual feed wait time 1 second, 1.5 seconds,

Buzzer On, Off

Roll paper On, Off

* The options available vary depending on the country of purchase.

** These settings take effect only when IBM 2390 Plus emulation is selected.

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Using the Printer

2 seconds, 3 seconds, Others

Page length for tractor

This setting allows you to set the page length (in inches) for continuous paper.

Skip over perforation

This feature is available only when continuous paper is selected. When you select On, the printer provides a one-inch (25.4 mm) margin between the last line printed on one page and the first line printed on the next page. Because the program margin settings in m os t ap pl ic a ti on s ov er r id e m ar g in se tt i ng s m a de fr o m t he co n tr ol panel, you should use this setting only if you cannot set your top and bottom margins using your application.

Auto tear off

When auto tear off is on and you are using continuous paper with the push tractor, the printer automatically advances the paper perforation to the tear-off position, where you can easily tear off the printed pages. When the printer receives the next print job, it automatically moves the unused paper back to the top-of-form position and starts printing, so you can use all of the next page.

When auto tear off is off, you need to move the perforation to the tear-off position by pressing the control panel button. See “Using the Tear Off button” on page 2-26 for more information.

Auto line feed

When auto line feed is on, the printer accompanies each carriage return (CR) code received with a line feed code, and the print position moves to the next line. If the printer adds an extra line after every carriage return, select Off.

Using the Printer

2-5

Print direction

You can select auto print direction (Auto), bidirectional printing (Bi-D), or unidirectional printing (Uni-D). Printing is normally bidirectional for faster printing; however, unidirectional printing allows for precise vertical printing alignment, which is useful for printing graphics.

When set to Auto, the printer analyzes the data and uses unidirectional printing only for lines which require vertical printing alignment.

Software

When you select ESC/P2, the printer operates in the EPSON ESC/P2 mode. When you select IBM 2390 Plus, the printer emulates an IBM printer.

0 slash

The zero character has a slash ( ) when this feature is turned on. It has no slash (0) when this feature is turned off. The slash allows you to easily distinguish between the uppercase letter O and a zero.

High speed draft

When you choose On, the printer prints up to 300 cps (characters per second) at 10 cpi (characters per inch). When you choose Off, the printer prints up to 225 cps at 10 cpi.

I/F (interface) mode

The printer comes with a built-in parallel interface and serial interface.

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Using the Printer

If your printer is connected to only one computer, select Parallel or Serial for the interface mode, depending on the interface you use. If your printer is connected to two computers, select Auto (automatic) to allow the printer to automatically switch between interfaces depending on which one is receiving data.

Auto I/F (interface) wait time

This setting takes effect only when I/F (interface) mode is set to Auto. This setting determines how long the printer waits when it

no l ong er r ec eiv es d ata fr om a n in ter fa ce b efo re i t c hec ks whe the r a print job is being sent through the other interface. You can specify 10 seconds or 30 seconds for the auto interface wait time.

Baud rate

Use this option to set the data transfer rate (baud) for the serial interface. The baud rate is measured in bits per second (bps). See your computer manual and software documentation for the proper setting.

Parity

When this option is set to None, parity checking is disabled. The parity bit, if used, provides a basic form of error detection. See your computer manual and software documentation for the proper setting.

Data length

Set the data length of the serial interface to 7 bit or 8 bit. See your computer manual and software documentation for the proper setting.

Parallel I/F bidirectional mode

The parallel interface bidirectional transfer mode is used when this feature is turned on. If bidirectional transfer mode is unnecessary, turn this off.

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2-7

Packet mode

Select Auto to use the IEEE-1284.4 packet transfer mode. If packet transfer mode is unnecessary, or if you cannot connect, turn this off.

Character table

You can select from among 13 to 36 standard character tables, depending on the country of purchase. See “Character tables” on page A-7 for more information on the tables.

International character set for Italic table

You can select among several international character sets for the Italic character table. Each character set contains eight characters that vary depending on the country or language, so you can customize the Italic table to suit your printing needs.

Pitch

You can select from among six pitch settings.

Font

You can select six fonts in the Default Setting mode. The font selected here appears under Others on the control panel. The fonts indicated on the control panel cannot be selected in the Default Setting mode.

Auto CR (carriage return)

This setting is available only in the IBM 2390 Plus emulation mode. When auto carriage return is on, each line feed (LF) code or ESC J code is accompanied by a carriage return code. This moves the print position to the beginning of the next line.

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Using the Printer

A.G.M. (Alternate Graphic Mode)

This setting is available only in the IBM 2390 Plus emulation mode. When A.G.M. is on, the printer can use some advanced graphics commands like those available in the ESC/P2 mode.

Manual feed wait time

This sets the amount of wait time between the time paper is inserted into the paper guide and when it is fed. If the paper feeds before you can adjust its position to your satisfaction, you can increase the wait time.

Buzzer (beeper)

The printer beeps when an error occurs. (See “Using the Error Indicators” on page 4-2 for more information on printer errors.) If you do not want the printer to beep when an error occurs, turn this setting off.

Roll paper

When you turn on this mode, the printer recognizes that single sheets are not loaded in the printer, so it does not try to eject the paper and advance it forward to the next page when you press the LF/FF button.

Changing default settings

Follow these steps to enter the Default Setting mode and change the printer’s default settings:

Note:

❏ To print the language selection instructions and the Default Setting

mode instructions, you need five or six sheets of A4 or Letter size single-sheet paper, or five or six pages of continuous paper that is at least 279 mm (11 inches) long and 210 mm (8.27 inches) wide.

Using the Printer

2-9

❏ If you use single sheets without an optional cut-sheet feeder, you

need to feed a new sheet of paper each time the printer ejects a printed sheet.

1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.

Caution:

Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds

before turning it back on; otherwise, you may damage the printer.

2. While holding down the Tear Off (Font) button, turn on the printer. The printer enters the Default Setting mode and prints the language selection instructions (one page).

3. Follow the instructions to select the language you want for the instruction pages.

4. Load the next sheet of paper, if necessary. The printer prints the current settings list (one page).

5. Press down the Tear Off (Font) button. The printer prints the Default Setting mode instructions (three or four pages) in the language you selected. The printed instructions list the default settings you can change, describe how to change them, and show you how the control panel lights help you make settings.

6. Follow these instructions to change the default settings using the buttons on the printer’s control panel.

Note:

The arrows on the instruction sheets indicate the printer’s current settings.

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Using the Printer

7. When you finish making settings, turn off the printer and exit the Default Setting mode. Any settings you have made remain in effect until you change them again.

Note:

Turn off the printer when it has finished printing.

Printing on Continuous Paper

Your printer can handle continuous paper from 101.6 mm (4.0 inches) to 254.0 mm (10.0 inches) wide. Depending on where you position the tractor, you can use it as a pull tractor or a push tractor. The following guidelines can help you decide where to position the tractor:

❏ Do you want to switch between printing on single sheets and

continuous paper without removing the paper supply? Will you tear off continuous paper sheet-by-sheet? Use the tractor in the push tractor position. (The printer comes with the tractor installed in this position.) See the following section.

❏ Are you printing on labels, multipart forms, or other

documents that require a precise print position? Use the tractor as a pull tractor. See “Printing with the pull tractor” on page 2-17 for instructions.

Printing with the push tractor

When using the push tractor, it is a good idea to set the Auto tear off feature in the Default Setting mode to On. See “About Your Printer’s Default Settings” on page 2-3.

Follow these steps to load continuous paper using the push tractor:

Using the Printer

2-11

1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Remove the printer cover and the paper guide and place the paper-release lever in the continuous paper position.

2. Release the sprocket units by pulling the sprocket locks forward.

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Using the Printer

3. Slide the left sprocket unit using the scale on the printer as a guide. The printer prints to the right of the position marked

0. Push the sprocket lock lever back to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket unit to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. Move the paper support so it is midway between the sprocket units.

Using the Printer

2-13

4. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight leading edge. Open the sprocket covers. Fit the first holes of the paper over the sprocket pins and then close the sprocket covers. Slide the right sprocket unit to remove any slack in the paper and lock it in place. Now the paper is in the paper-park position.

Caution:

Use the paper-feed knob on the right side of the printer only

to clear paper jams and only when the printer is turned off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

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Using the Printer

5. To separate the incoming paper from the printed paper, attach the paper guide by holding it horizontally and fitting its notches over the printer’s mounting posts as shown below. Then slide the paper guide toward the front of the printer until you feel it click.

6. Turn on the printer.

7. Make sure the printer cover is closed. Press the LF/FF button to feed the paper to the loading position. When the printer receives data, it begins printing automatically.

8. After you finish printing, follow the steps in the next section to tear off your printed document. If the first printed line on your page appears too high or low, you can change its position by using the Micro Adjust feature. See “Adjusting the top-ofform position” on page 2-23.

Caution:

When you send more data, the paper automatically feeds back to the loading position.

Never use the paper-feed knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

Using the Printer

2-15

Removing a printed document from the push tractor

Follow these steps to remove the printed document:

1. Press the Tear Off (Font) button. Make sure the Tear Off (Font) lights are flashing. (This indicates that your paper is at the current tear-off position.)

2. Open the paper guide cover, then tear off the printed document using the tear-off edge of the paper tension unit.

2-16

Note:

If your paper’s perforation is not properly aligned with the tear-off edge, you can adjust the tear-off position using the Micro Adjust feature. See “Adjusting the tear-off position” on page 2-26.

Caution:

Never use the paper-feed knob to adjust the tear-off position;

this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the tear-off position.

Using the Printer

3. Close the paper guide cover.

When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position and starts printing.

To feed continuous paper to the standby position where you can remove the paper, press the Load/Eject button. Then open the sprocket covers of the tractor and remove the paper.

Caution:

Always tear off your printed document before you press the Load/Eject button. Reverse feeding several pages at a time may cause a paper jam.

Switching back to single sheets

To switch to single sheets, press the Load/Eject button; the printer feeds the paper backwards into the standby position. Then, follow the steps in “Loading single sheets” on page 2-29.

Caution:

Always tear off your printed document before you press the Load/Eject button. Reverse feeding several pages at a time may cause a paper jam.

Printing with the pull tractor

To load continuous paper using the pull tractor, you must move the tractor to the pull tractor position, as described in steps 1 through 3 in this procedure. If your tractor is already installed in this position, make sure the printer is turned off and skip to step 6.

Using the Printer

2-17

Caution:

1. Turn the printer off; then remove the printer cover and the

❏ Use the paper-feed knob on the right side of the printer only

to clear paper jams and only when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

❏ When using the pull tractor, set the Auto tear off feature in

the Default Setting mode to Off; otherwise, the paper may jam.

paper guide. Next, remove the paper tension unit by squeezing the tension unit’s lock tabs gently and pulling the tension unit away from the printer. Finally, pull the paperrelease lever forward to the continuous paper position.

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Using the Printer

2. Squeeze the tractor’s lock tabs gently on both sides, and then rotate the tractor up to pull it away from the printer.

3. Move the tractor forward to the mounting slot at the top of the printer and tilt it into place as shown below. When you push the tractor onto the posts, you should feel the notches snap into place.

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4. Release the sprocket units by pulling the sprocket locks forward.

5. Insert the paper into the bottom paper slot or into the rear paper slot as shown below, and pull it up. Position the paper using the scale on the printer as a guide. The printer prints to the right of the position marked 0.

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6. Slide the left sprocket unit so that its sprockets match the position of the holes in the paper and lock the unit in place. Then slide the right sprocket unit to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. Move the paper support midway between the two sprocket units.

7. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight leading edge. Open the sprocket covers. Fit the first holes of the paper over the sprocket pins and then close the sprocket covers. Slide the right sprocket unit to remove any slack in the paper and then lock it in place.

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Note:

Remove any remaining slack by gently pulling the paper from the rear or bottom.

8. To separate the incoming paper from the printed paper, attach the paper guide. Hold it horizontally and fit its notches over the printer’s mounting posts. Then slide the paper guide toward the back of the printer until you feel it click.

9. Attach the printer cover and adjust the paper position with the paper-feed knob. Turn the knob until the perforation between pages is just above the print head. Then turn on the printer.

10. Make sure the printer cover is closed, but with the paper guide cover open. When the printer receives data, it begins printing automatically.

If you want to change the position where printing begins on the page, press LF/FF to advance the page to the next top-of-form position, and then see “Adjusting the top-of-form position” in the next section to adjust the loading position.

To eject the paper, tear off the paper entering the printer; then press the LF/FF button to feed the paper forward.

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Adjusting the top-of-form position

The top-of-form position is the position on the page where the printer starts printing. If your printing appears too high or low on the page, you can use the micro adjust feature to adjust the topof-form position. Follow these steps:

Caution:

Note:

❏ Your top-of-form position setting remains in effect until you change

❏ The top margin setting made in some application software overrides

Never use the paper-feed knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

it, even if you turn off the printer.

the top-of-form position setting you make with the Micro Adjust feature. If necessary, adjust the top-of-form position in your software.

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.

2. If necessary, load paper as described in this chapter.

3. Remove the printer cover.

4. Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. The Pause light starts flashing and the printer enters the Micro Adjust mode.

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5. Press the LF/FF on the page, or press the Load/Eject

button to move the top-of-form position up

button to move the

top-of-form position down on the page.

plastic ribbon cover

Note:

❏ The printer has a minimum and a maximum top-of-form

position. If you try to adjust it beyond these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper.

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❏ When the paper reaches the default top-of-form position, the

printer also beeps and stops moving the paper briefly. You can use the default position as a reference point when adjusting the top-of-form position.

To adjust the top-of-form position for continuous paper loaded on the pull tractor, see the following example:

Using the Printer

First mark a point 2.5 mm (0.1 inch) above the paper’s perforation; then position the paper so that the mark is even with the top edge of the plastic ribbon cover. This gives you an 8.5 mm (0.33 inch) margin on the next page, meaning the printer starts printing 8.5 mm (0.33 inch) below the perforation. If you mark a point 5.5 mm (0.22 inch) above the perforation, you get a 5.5 mm (0.22 inch) margin on the next page.

6. After you set the top-of-form position, press the Pause button

to exit the Micro Adjust mode.

Advancing the paper to the tear-off edge

If you use the push tractor, you can use the tear-off feature to advance your continuous paper to the printer’s tear-off edge when you finish printing. You can then easily tear off the printed document. When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position so that you can save the paper normally lost between documents.

As described below, you can use the tear-off feature in two ways: manually, by pressing the printer’s Tear Off button, or automatically, by turning on the auto tear-off mode.

Caution:

Never use the tear-off feature (as described below) to feed continuous paper with labels backwards; they may come off their backing sheet and jam the printer.

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Using the Tear Off button

After the printer finishes printing your document, check that the

Tear Off (Font) lights are not flashing. Then press the Tear Off (Font) button. The printer advances the paper to the tear-off edge.

Note:

If the Tear Off (Font) lights are flashing, the paper is in the tear-off position. If you press the Tear Off (Font) button again, the printer feeds your paper to the next top-of-form position.

Advancing the paper to the tear-off position automatically

To automatically advance your printed documents to the tear-off position, you need to turn on the auto tear-off mode and select the appropriate page length for continuous paper in the Default Setting mode. For instructions, see “Changing default settings” on page 2-9.

When auto tear-off is on, the printer automatically advances the paper to the tear-off position whenever it receives a full page of data or a form feed command followed by no more data.

Adjusting the tear-off position

If your paper’s perforation is not aligned with the tear-off edge, you can use the Micro Adjust feature to move the perforation to the tear-off position.

Follow these steps to adjust the tear-off position:

Caution:

Note:

Your tear-off position setting remains in effect until you change it, even if you turn off the printer.

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Never use the paper-feed knob to adjust the tear-off position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the tear-off position.

Using the Printer

1. Make sure the Tear Off (Font) lights are flashing (the paper

is at the current tear-off position). You may need to press the Tear Off (Font) button to advance the paper to the tear-off position.

2. Open the paper guide cover.

3. Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. The Pause light begins to flash and the printer enters the Micro Adjust mode.

button to feed the paper backwards, or press

4. Press the LF/FF the Load/Eject paper perforation is aligned with the tear-off edge.

button to feed the paper forwards, until the

tear-off edge

Note:

The printer has a minimum and a maximum tear-off position. If you try to adjust the tear-off position beyond these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper.

5. After you set the tear-off position, press the Pause button to exit the Micro Adjust mode.

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6. Tear off the printed pages.

When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position and begins printing.

Printing on Single Sheets

You can load single-sheet paper one sheet at a time using the paper guide of the printer. Your single-sheet paper may be from 100 to 257 mm (3.9 to 10.1 inches) wide.

Before printing on single-sheet multipart forms, envelopes, or other special paper, be sure to the set the paper thickness lever to the appropriate position. See “Printing on Special Paper” on page 2-29 for details.

Note:

❏ To load a stack of single-sheet paper, use the optional cut-sheet

feeder. See “Installing and Using Options” on page 2-34.

❏ For detailed specifications on the types of single-sheet paper you can

use, see “Printer Specifications” on page A-4.

❏ You can use the paper guide to load single-sheet carbonless

multipart forms that are fastened at the top by line gluing.

❏ Insert multipart forms in the paper guide, bound edge first and

printable side down.

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Using the Printer

Loading single sheets

You load single sheets as shown in “Running the Self Test” on page 1-11. For normal use, turn on the printer without pressing any other buttons. When the printer receives data, it begins to print.

Caution:

Use the paper-feed knob on the right side of the printer only to clear paper jams and only when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

Printing on Special Paper

Your printer can also print on a wide variety of paper types, including multipart forms, labels, and envelopes.

For multipart forms and labels, you should not print any closer than 13 mm (0.5 inch) from either side of the paper. For information on the printable area of envelopes, see “Printer Specifications” on page A-4.

Caution:

When printing on multipart forms, thicker-than-normal paper, labels, or envelopes, make sure your application software settings keep the printing entirely within the printable area. Printing past the edge of these papers can damage the print head.

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Adjusting the paper-thickness lever

Before printing on special paper, you need to change the paper thickness setting.

Follow these steps to adjust the paper thickness setting:

1. Turn the printer off and open the printer cover. The paperthickness lever is on the left side of the printer. The numbers next to the lever indicate the thickness setting.

2. Use the table below to select the appropriate paper thickness.

Paper type Lever position

Standard paper (single-sheet or continuous) 0 or 1

Multipart forms (single-sheet or continuous)

Labels 2

Envelopes 3 to 5

2-sheet 3-sheet 4-sheet

1 2 3

3. Close the printer cover.

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Using the Printer

Multipart forms

You can use continuous or shingle-sheet carbonless multipart forms of up to four parts (one original plus three copies). Before you print on the forms, set the paper thickness lever as described in the previous section. The following tips will help you get good results:

❏ Use only continuous multipart forms that are joined by spot

gluing or side-crimping. Never load continuous multipart forms joined by metal staples, tape, or continuous gluing.

❏ Use only single-sheet multipart forms that are line-glued only

at the top. Insert the forms glued edge first into the printer.

❏ Use only multipart forms that are free of wrinkles and waves.

❏ If you need to adjust the loading position, use your

application software or change the loading position as described on “Adjusting the top-of-form position” on page 2-23.

❏ When you use side-crimped continuous multipart forms, the

copies may not align with the original. If this happens, raise the paper guide.

Labels

You must use the tractor as a pull tractor and load paper from the bottom paper slot to print on labels. Before you print on labels, set the paper thickness lever as described in “Adjusting the paperthickness lever” on page 2-30. Keep the following tips in mind:

❏ Choose labels mounted on a continuous backing sheet with

sprocket holes made for use with a tractor. Do not print labels as single sheets, because the shiny backing sheet almost always slips slightly.

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❏ Load labels the same way as you would load ordinary

continuous paper. See “Printing with the pull tractor” on page 2-17 for loading instructions.

❏ Because labels are especially sensitive to temperature and

humidity, use them only under normal operating conditions. Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable area. (See “Printer Specifications” on page A-4 for specifications.)

❏ Do not leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they

curl around the platen and may jam when you resume printing.

❏ To remove the labels from the printer, tear off the fresh supply

at the bottom of the printer; then press LF/FF to advance the remaining labels out of the printer.

Caution:

Never feed labels backwards through the printer; they can easily peel off the backing sheet and jam the printer. If a label does become stuck in the printer, contact your dealer.

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Using the Printer

Envelopes

You can feed envelopes individually using the paper guide. Keep the following tips in mind:

❏ Before loading an envelope, set the paper thickness lever to

the proper position. See “Adjusting the paper-thickness lever” on page 2-30.

❏ To load an envelope, follow the steps in “Running the Self

Test” on page 1-11. Insert the wide edge of the envelope into the printer first, printable-side down. When you insert the envelope between the paper guides, push it firmly and hold it until it feeds into the printer.

❏ Use envelopes only under normal temperature and humidity

conditions.

❏ Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable

area.

❏ The print head must not go past the left or right edge of the

envelope or other thick paper. (See “Printer Specifications” on page A-4 for specifications.) It’s a good idea to print a test sample using a normal single sheet of paper before you print on envelopes.

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Installing and Using Options

Cut-sheet feeder

The optional single-bin cut-sheet feeder (C80637✽) handles up to 50 sheets of standard bond paper (82 g/m² or 22 lb) without reloading.

Follow these steps to install the cut-sheet feeder:

1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Remove the paper guide and open the paper guide cover.

2. If the tractor is installed in the pull-tractor position, remove it and reinstall it in the push-tractor position.

3. Make sure the paper-release lever is in the single-sheet position.

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Using the Printer

4. Hold the cut-sheet feeder in both hands and press on the latch levers. Fit the notches in the cut-sheet feeder over the mounting posts on the printer. Releasing the latch levers locks the cut-sheet feeder in place.

latch lever

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5. Slide the left paper guide so it is aligned with the triangle mark. Next, slide the right paper guide to roughly match the width of your paper. Slide the paper support midway between the paper guides.

6. Pull the paper-set levers all the way forward until the paper guides retract and lock open to allow for paper loading.

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Using the Printer

7. Take a stack of paper and fan it. Next, tap the side and bottom of the paper on a flat surface to even up the stack.

Caution:

8. Insert up to 50 sheets of paper along the left paper guide.

9. Adjust the position of the right paper guide so that it matches your paper’s width. Make sure the position of the guide allows the paper to move up and down freely.

10. Push the paper-set levers back to clamp the paper against the guide rollers.

11. Remove the paper supports from the edge guides. Insert the two stacker supports packed with the cut-sheet feeder into the holes on the edge guides.

Do not use envelopes, multipart forms, carbon paper, or labels in the cut-sheet feeder.

12. Attach the paper guide to the cut-sheet feeder as shown below.

View from above

Release tab

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13. Slide the left edge guide to the center until it stops at the guide mark. Then slide the right edge guide to fit the size of paper you will use.

Note:

❏ To remove the paper guide from the cut-sheet feeder, press both

release tabs and pull out the paper guide.

❏ Make sure the paper guide cover is open when you print.

You can easily switch between continuous paper and cut-sheet feeder operation. See “Switching back to single sheets” on page 2-17 for details.

Note:

When you print several pages of continuous paper, fold the first printed page forward at the perforation after the perforation emerges from below the printer cover. This helps the printer feed the printed pages properly and prevents paper jams.

Pull tractor unit

An additional pull tractor (C80030✽) is available as an option.

You can improve the performance of continuous paper handling by using two tractors at the same time. This is especially useful with continuous pre-printed forms and multipart forms.

Follow these steps to install and load paper on a standard and an additional pull tractor:

1. Make sure the paper-release lever is pulled forward to the continuous-paper position. Install the included tractor in the push-tractor position. Then install the optional tractor in the pull-tractor position.

2. Load continuous paper on the sprocket units of the pushtractor. (See “Printing on Continuous Paper” on page 2-11.)

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Using the Printer

3. Turn on the printer. Hold down the LF/FF button to feed paper

in one page.

4. Release the sprocket lock levers of the pull tractor and adjust the sprocket units to match the width of the paper. Be sure that the sprocket units on both tractors are aligned so that the paper is not crooked.

5. Open the sprocket covers. Fit the holes of the paper over the tractor pins of the sprocket units and adjust the sprocket units as necessary. (See “Printing on Continuous Paper” on page 2-11.) Close the sprocket covers.

6. If there is slack in the paper between the push and pull tractors, push in and turn the paper-feed knob on the right side of the pull tractor to remove the slack.

7. See that the paper is not crooked or wrinkled and lock the sprocket units in place.

8. Re-install the printer cover and the paper guide.

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Roll paper holder

The optional roll paper holder (#8310) allows you to use your printer with 8.5-inch roll paper like that used with telex machines. This option is not available in all countries.

Follow these steps to install and use the roll paper holder:

1. Turn off the printer and remove the paper guide.

2. Position the roll paper holder beneath the printer as shown below. Fit the two holes in the base onto the two positioning pegs on the bottom of the printer.

Caution:

Be careful to avoid dropping the roll paper holder when

lifting the printer. Only the printer’s weight holds it in place.

3. Push the paper-release lever to the single-sheet position.

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Using the Printer

4. Cut the leading edge of the roll paper straight across. Slide the roll paper holder shaft through the center of the paper roll.

5. Set the shaft and paper roll onto the roll paper holder. Orient the roll so that paper feeds from the bottom of the roll. Then turn on the printer.

6. Bring the leading edge of the paper up over the paper path guide for single sheets and insert it into the printer path for single sheets until you feel resistance.

7. Install the paper guide. Slide the left edge guide to the center until it stops at the guide mark. Then slide the right edge guide to the opposite guide mark.

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Color upgrade kit

The optional color upgrade kit (C83211✽) includes a color ribbon cartridge and a motor unit.

Follow these steps to install the kit:

1. Turn off the printer and remove the printer cover and paper tension unit. Slide the connector cover on the printer and pull it out as shown below.

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Using the Printer

2. Install the motor unit in the right hand corner of the printer, with the gear facing the center of the printer. Push it down firmly to fit the metal pins into the slots.

3. Insert the motor unit plug into the connector on the printer.

4. Slide the print head to the middle of the printer; then slide the plastic part on the color ribbon to the center of the cartridge.

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5. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack in the ribbon.

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. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place; it should not be twisted or creased.

8. Replace the paper tension unit and printer cover.

After you install the color ribbon cartridge, run the self test as described under “Running the Self Test” on page 1-11.

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If the top or bottom edge of the characters in the self test are a different color from the rest, adjust the ribbon angle. Check the characters printed in red. If the top edge is blue, move the color ribbon adjustment lever forwards. If the bottom edge is yellow, move the lever backwards. Then print another self test to check your adjustment. Repeat this process until the ribbon is properly adjusted.

Note:

When you print using the color ribbon, the print speed is reduced.

To switch to the black ribbon, remove the color ribbon as shown in the manual that comes with the optional color upgrade kit; then install the black ribbon as described under “Installing or replacing the ribbon cartridge” on page 1-9.

You do not have to remove the motor unit.

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Print server

You can use this printer as a network printer by installing the EpsonNet 10/100 BASE TX Ext. Print Server (C82378✽) in the printer’s parallel interface port. See the Administrator’s Manual packaged with this option for instructions on installation and use.

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Using the Printer

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 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Accessing the printer driver

from Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel . . . . . 3-7

Changing the printer driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Using the Printer Driver with Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 . . . . . 3-8

Accessing the printer driver

from Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . . 3-11

Changing the printer driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12

Using the Printer Driver with Windows NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13

Accessing the printer driver

from Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14