Epson LQ590, LQ2090 User Manual
®
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 Corporation.
The information contained herein is designed only for use with this 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 Corporation shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the
use of any options or any consumable product s other than those designated as Original Epson
Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
EPSON and EPSON ESC/P are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be
trademarks of their respective owners. Epson disclaims any and all rights in those marks.
Copyright © 2003 by Seiko Epson Corporation, Nagano, Japan.
Reference Guide
Contents
Chapter 1 Safety Instructions
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2 Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Printing on continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Loading Continuous Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Positioning the continuous paper supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Loading continuous paper with the tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Using the Tear-off Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Loading Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Available paper types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Using the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Loading paper in the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using the front sheet guide and front paper guide . . . . . . . . 52
Loading Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Switching Between Printing on Continuous Paper and
Single Sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Switching to printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Switching to printing on continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Using the Micro Adjust Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
iii
Adjusting the top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Chapter 3 Printer Software
About Your Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Using the Printer Driver with Windows Me, 98, and 95 . . . . . . . . .67
Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications . . .68
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu. . . . . . . . . .70
Changing the printer driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Using the Printer Driver with Windows XP, 2000, and
Windows NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications . . .73
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu. . . . . . . . . .75
Changing the printer driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Printer Driver Settings Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Using EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Setting up EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Setting Up Your Printer on a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Sharing the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Setting up your printer as a shared printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Using an additional driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Setting for the clients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Installing the printer driver from the CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . .102
Canceling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Uninstalling the Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Uninstalling the printer driver and
EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Chapter 4 Control Panel
Buttons and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Selecting a Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
About Your Printer’s Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Understanding default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Changing default settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Lock-Out Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
iv
Turning on or off the lock-out mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Changing the lock-out mode setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Chapter 5 Problem Solver
Diagnosing the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Using the error indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Printing a Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Printing Hex Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Problems and Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Power supply problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Paper loading or feeding problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Printing position problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Printing or printout quality problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Network problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Correcting USB Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Clearing Paper Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Canceling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Contacting Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
For users in North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
For users in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
For users in Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
For users in Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
For users in Indonesia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
For users in Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
For users in Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
For users in India. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
For users in the Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Chapter 6 Options and Consumables
Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Genuine Epson ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Replacing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Cut-Sheet Feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
v
Installing the cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Loading paper in the single-bin cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . .178
Loading paper in the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder . . . . . .183
Assembling the double-bin cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Selecting the paper path (bin 1 or bin 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
Front Sheet Guide and Front Paper Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Installing the front sheet guide or front paper guide . . . . . .192
Loading paper in the front sheet guide or
front paper guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
Roll Paper Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
Assembling the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
Installing the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Loading roll paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201
Removing roll paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
Additional Tractor Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
Interface Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Installing an interface card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206
Print Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
Appendix A Product Information
Printer Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Electronic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .224
Command Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
EPSON ESC/P control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
IBM PPDS emulation control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
Standards and Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229
Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .230
Transporting the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
vi
Glossary
Index
vii
viii
Chapter 1
Safety Instructions
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
Warnings
must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
w
Cautions
must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
c
Notes
contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your
printer.
Hot Parts Caution Symbol
This symbol is placed on the print head and other
K
parts to indicate that they may be hot. Never touch
those parts just after the printer has been used. Let
them cool for a few minutes before touching them.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Important Safety Instructions
Read all of these safety instructions before using the printer. In
addition, follow all warnings and instructions marked on the
printer itself.
Safety Instructions 1
1
1
1
When setting up the printer
❏ 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 place this product on a soft, unstable surface like a bed
or a sofa, or a small, enclosed area, as this restricts ventilation.
❏ 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. If you are not sure of the power supply specifications in
your area, contact your local power company or consult your
dealer.
❏ Connect all equipment to properly grounded electrical
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.
❏ The power cord should be placed to avoid abrasions, cuts,
fraying, crimping, kinking, and other damage.
❏ 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 the total ampere of all devices plugged into the electrical
outlet does not exceed the electrical outlet’s ampere rating.
❏ Use only the power cord that comes with this product. Use of
another cord may result in fire or electric shock.
2 Safety Instructions
❏ This product’s power cord is for use with this product only.
Use with other equipment may result in fire or electric shock.
When maintaining the printer
1
❏ 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.
❏ Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service
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.
❏ If you plan to use the printer in Germany, observe the
following:
To provide adequate short-circuit protection and
over-current protection for this printer, the building
installation must be protected by a 10- or 16-amp circuit
breaker.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Safety Instructions 3
1
When Handling the paper
❏ Never use the knob to adjust, move, or eject paper; this may
damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position
❏ Use the knob on the left side of the printer to clear paper jams
only when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the
printer or change the top-of-form or tear-off position.
❏ Never press the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin button when you
are using the pull tractor; the paper could come off the pull
tractor and jam the printer.
❏ Do not pull up the paper by hand to fit it on the pull tractor;
this may damage the printer. Press the LF/FF button to move
the paper.
❏ Do not load multipart forms, carbon paper, or labels in the
paper guide.
❏ It is best to load continuous paper with labels on the pull
tractor. Loading labels on the rear or the front push tractor is
not recommended.
❏ Never feed labels backward using the Load/Eject or Tear
Off/Bin button. When fed backward, labels can easily peel off
the backing sheet and cause a paper jam.
❏ Because labels are sensitive to temperature and humidity, use
them only under normal operating conditions described
below:
Temperature 15 to 25°C (59 to 77°F)
Humidity 30 to 60% RH
❏ Do not leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they
may curl around the platen and jam when you resume
printing.
4 Safety Instructions
❏ Do not load continuous paper with labels from the rear paper
slot. Because the paper path from the rear slot is curved, labels
may come off their backing sheets inside the printer and cause
a paper jam.
1
❏ Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded.
When operating the printer
❏ Adjust only those controls that are covered in the user
documentation. Improper adjustment of other controls may
result in damage requiring extensive repair by a qualified
technician.
❏ Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds
before turning it back on; otherwise, you may damage the
printer.
❏ Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the self test.
Always press the Pause button to stop printing and the
Load/Eject button to eject the printed page before you turn
off the printer.
❏ Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the hex dump.
Always press the Pause button to stop printing and the
Load/Eject button to eject the printed page before you turn
off the printer.
❏ Do not reconnect the power cord to an electrical outlet that
has the wrong voltage for your printer.
❏ Never replace the print head yourself; you may damage the
printer. Also, other parts of the printer must be checked when
the print head is replaced.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
❏ You need to move the print head by hand to replace the ribbon
cartridge. If you have just used the printer, the print head may
be hot; let it cool for a few minutes before touching it.
Safety Instructions 5
1
Note for German-speaking users:
Bei Anschluss des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muss
sichergestellt werden, dass die Gebaudeinstallation mit einer 10 Aoder 16 A-Sicherung abgesichert ist.
ENERGY STAR
The International ENERGY STAR® Office Equipment Program
is an international program that promotes energy saving through
the penetration of energy efficient computers and other office
equipment. The program backs the development and
dissemination of products with functions that effectively reduce
energy consumption. It is an open system in which business
proprietors can participate voluntarily. The targeted products are
office equipment such as computers, monitors, printers,
facsimiles, copiers, scanners, and multifunction devices. Their
standards and logos are uniform among participating nations.
®
Compliance
ENERGY STAR
As an
has determined that this product meets
the
ENERGY STAR
energy efficiency.
®
Partner, Epson
®
guidelines for
6 Safety Instructions
Chapter 2
Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Source
Your printer provides a variety of paper sources for printing on
single sheets and continuous paper. Paper can be fed into the
printer from the top, front, bottom, or rear. Select the paper source
that best suits your current printing needs.
Printing on continuous paper
You can choose from three tractor positions (front push, rear push,
and pull) and three paper entry slots (front, rear, and bottom) for
continuous paper printing. This section helps you determine
which paper paths and tractor positions are best for your
continuous paper printing needs. See “Loading continuous paper
with the tractor” on page 14 for tractor installation and paper
loading instructions.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Using the push tractor positions
If you often need to tear off sheets of continuous paper (for
example, if you are printing purchase orders or sales slips), it is
best to use the tractor in the front or rear push position. This allows
you to use the printer’s tear-off edge to easily tear off sheets of
continuous paper at the perforation. Also, when continuous
paper is loaded on a push tractor, you can print on single sheets
of paper from the paper guide without removing the continuous
paper from the tractor.
Paper Handling 7
2
2
2
2
There are two push tractor positions: front and rear. The tractor
is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped.
See the table below for details about the push positions and the
corresponding paper paths.
Tractor
position
front push
rear push
Description
Load paper from the front slot.
If you print on thick paper such as multipart forms, use
the front paper slot because this paper path is almost
straight. This reduces the chances of paper jams.
Load paper from the rear slot.
Caution:
Do not load continuous paper with labels from
c
the rear slot. Labels require a straight paper path;
otherwise the labels may come off their backing
sheets inside the printer and cause a paper jam.
Note:
The rear slot is also not recommended when your
multipart forms have 5 parts (1 original plus 4 copies),
because paper might jam.
Using the pull tractor position
If you often print on thick or heavy continuous paper, such as
multipart forms or continuous paper with labels, use the tractor
in the pull position. The pull tractor provides you with the best
paper jam prevention, and allows you to load continuous paper
from the front, rear, or bottom of the printer. However, you cannot
use the tear-off feature when the tractor is in the pull position.
8 Paper Handling
Note:
To use the tractor in the pull position, you can remove the tractor from
the rear push position and reinstall it in the pull position, or you can
purchase the optional pull tractor unit (C80020✽ for the LQ-590,
C80021✽ for the LQ-2090) and install it in the pull position.
If you use a push tractor with the optional tractor in the pull
position, you can create a push/pull tractor combination. This
improves the performance of continuous paper, and is
recommended for printing on continuous pre-printed forms. See
“Using two tractors in a push/pull combination” on page 42 for
more information.
You can use the front, bottom, or rear paper slot with the pull
tractor.
Paper slot Description
2
2
2
2
2
front
bottom
If you print on thick paper such as multipart forms or
continuous paper with labels, use the front paper slot
because this paper path is nearly straight. This reduces
the chances of paper jams.
The bottom paper slot has the straightest paper path,
so it is the best slot to use when printing on thick paper,
such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels.
Note:
When loading paper from the bottom slot, be sure to
use a printer stand with an opening large enough for
the paper to feed through it without obstruction.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Paper Handling 9
Paper slot Description
If the front or bottom paper slot is unavailable, you can
also load ordinary continuous paper from the rear slot.
Please note that loading paper from the rear slot results
in a curved paper path, which may affect loading
performance, so use the front or bottom slot whenever
possible.
rear
Caution:
Do not load continuous paper with labels from
c
the rear slot. The labels may come off the
backing sheets inside the printer and cause a
paper jam.
Printing on single sheets
As shown below, you can load ordinary single sheets (not
single-sheet multipart forms) and envelopes one at a time from
the rear paper entry slot of the printer, using the paper guide that
comes with the printer.
To load single-sheet multipart forms, you need to use the front
paper entry slot. The front sheet guide and front paper guide are
available for easy operation.
10 Paper Handling
Note:
❏ For LQ-590 users, the front sheet guide comes with your printer.
For LQ-2090 users, it is available as an optional equipment
(C81401
✽
).
2
❏ For LQ-2090 users, the front paper guide comes with your printer.
For LQ-590 users, it is available as an optional equipment
✽
(C81402
You can also load a stack of single-sheet paper using the optional
cut-sheet feeder. See “Loading Single Sheets” on page 48 for more
information. See “Cut-Sheet Feeder” on page 175 for information
on the optional cut-sheet feeder.
Setting the Paper Release Lever
When you load continuous paper in the printer, you need to set
the paper release lever to indicate the paper source you want to
use, as described in the table below.
).
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Paper Handling 11
2
2
2
The table below describes each paper release lever position.
Paper
release
lever
position
Description
Single-sheet position
For loading single-sheet paper from the top or front slot.
See “Loading Single Sheets” on page 48 for instructions.
Rear push tractor position
For loading continuous paper using the tractor installed in
the rear push position. Also set the lever to this position
when using the rear push and pull tractors in combination.
Front push tractor position
For loading continuous paper using the tractor installed in
the front push position. Also set the lever to this position
when using th e front push and pull trac tors in combination.
Pull tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor installed on
top of the printer in the pull position. When the tractor is in
the pull position, you can load paper in the front, rear, or
bottom slot.
Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever
Before you start printing, you may need to change the
paper-thickness setting depending on the type of paper you are
using. Follow these steps:
12 Paper Handling
1. Turn the printer off and open the printer cover. The
paper-thickness lever is located on the left side of the printer.
2. Use the table below to select the appropriate paper thickness.
The numbers next to the lever indicate the thickness setting.
Paper type* Lever position
2
2
2
2
2
2
Ordinary paper:
Single sheets
Continuous paper
Carbonless multipart forms with:
2 parts (original + 1 copy)
3 parts (original + 2 copies)
4 parts (original + 3 copies)
5 parts (original + 4 copies)
Continuous paper with labels 2
Cards 2
Envelopes:
AIRMAIL No.6
AIRMAIL No.10
PLANE
BOND 20lb
BOND 24lb
* See “Paper” on page 218 for more information.
0
0
1
2
3
5
3
3
4
4
6
2
2
2
2
2
2
Paper Handling 13
Note:
When the temperature is 5°C (41°F) or lower, or 35°C (95°F) or higher,
set the paper-thickness lever one position higher to improve print quality.
Loading Continuous Paper
Follow the instructions in this section to load continuous paper in
the printer.
Positioning the continuous paper supply
Before using continuous paper, make sure you line up your paper
supply with the tractor feeder as shown below, so that the paper
feeds smoothly into the printer.
Loading continuous paper with the tractor
The paper loading procedure depends on where you position the
tractor which feeds paper to the printer. Follow the instructions
below for your tractor position.
This section provides instructions on “Using the tractor in the
front push position” on page 15, “Using the tractor in the rear
push position” on page 23, “Using the tractor in the pull position”
on page 30, and “Using two tractors in a push/pull combination”
on page 42.
14 Paper Handling
Using the tractor in the front push position
This section provides instructions on “Installing the tractor in the
front push position” on page 15, “Loading paper with the front
push tractor” on page 17, and “Removing the tractor from the
front push position” on page 22.
Installing the tractor in the front push position
Before installing the tractor in the front push position, remove it
from its current position. If the tractor is in t he rear p ush posit ion,
remove the paper guide and then press the tractor’s lock tabs
while lifting it out. If the tractor is in the pull position, remove it
following the instructions in “Removing the tractor from the pull
position” on page 40.
Note:
The tractor is installed in the rear push position when the printer is
shipped.
1. Make sure the printer is turned off. If necessary, install the
paper guide on your printer as described in “Assembling the
Printer” in the Setup Sheet.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Paper Handling 15
2
2
2
2
2. If the front sheet guide is installed, remove it by grasping the
fins on both sides and pulling the guide slightly up and away
from the printer. If the front paper guide is installed, open the
front cover and remove it.
Note:
❏ For LQ-590 users, the front sheet guide comes with your printer.
For LQ-2090 users, it is available as an optional equipment
(C81401
✽
).
❏ For LQ-2090 users, the front paper guide comes with your printer.
For LQ-590 users, it is available as an optional equipment
✽
(C81402
).
16 Paper Handling
3. Insert the tractor into the printer’s mounting slots and press
down both ends of the tractor to make sure that it is firmly
seated.
See “Loading paper with the front push tractor” on page 17 for
instructions on loading continuous paper with the front push
tractor.
Loading paper with the front push tractor
When using the push tractor, it is a good idea to set the Auto
tear-off function in the Default Setting mode to On. See “About
Your Printer’s Default Settings” on page 117 for more
information.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Follow these steps to load paper using the front push tractor:
1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
Paper Handling 17
2
2
2
2. Open the front cover. Make sure the tractor is installed in the
front push position.
3. Set the paper release lever to the front push tractor position.
Also set the paper-thickness lever (located under the printer
cover) to the proper position for your paper’s thickness. See
“Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever” on page 12 for
instructions.
18 Paper Handling
4. Release the left and right sprockets by pushing the blue
sprocket lock levers backward.
5. Slide the left sprocket approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) from
the far left position and pull the blue lever forward to lock it
in place. Then slide the right sprocket to match the width of
your paper, but do not lock it.
2
2
2
2
2
2
approx. 12 mm (0.5 inch)
10
5
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
Paper Handling 19
6. Remove the front cover by pushing it straight down, as shown
below.
7. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. Then open
both sprocket covers and fit the first four holes of the paper,
with printable side up, over the tractor pins.
8. Close the sprocket covers.
20 Paper Handling
9. Slide the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper; then
lock it in place by pushing the sprocket lock down.
10. Attach the front cover with the continuous paper positioned
as shown below.
2
2
2
2
2
2
11. Make sure the paper guide is lying flat on the printer and slide
the edge guides to the middle of the paper guide.
Paper Handling 21
2
2
2
2
2
2
Note:
For your safety, Epson recommends operating the printer with the
printer cover closed. The printer will function with the printer cover
open or removed, but for maximum safety keep the cover closed.
12. Turn on the printer. When the printer receives data, it
automatically loads the paper and starts printing.
13. After you finish printing, follow the steps in “Removing
continuous paper” on page 45 to remove your printed
document.
If the first line on your page appears too high or low, you can
change its position by using the Micro Adjust function as
described in “Adjusting the top-of-form position” on page 64.
Caution:
Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may
c
damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.
Removing the tractor from the front push position
Follow these steps to remove the tractor from the front push
position:
1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
2. Remove any paper from the tractor as described in
“Removing continuous paper” on page 45.
22 Paper Handling
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