Epson LQ 2090, LQ 590 User Manual

®

24-pin Dot Matrix Printer

User’s Guide

This manual is divided into two sections: English and Spanish. The English section begins after this page. The Spanish section begins approximately at the middle of the manual.

Este manual está dividido en dos secciones: Inglés y Español. El manual en español comienza aproximadamente a la mitad del libro. El manual en inglés comienza después de esta página.

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 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 of Seiko Epson Corporation.

Epson Store, Epson Connection, and SoundAdvice are service marks of Epson America, Inc.

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.

© 2004 Epson America, Inc. 1/04	4047824-00
	CPD-17641

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Contents

Introduction

Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Chapter 1 - Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Assembling the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Installing the Remote Configuration Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 2 - Paper Handling

Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Loading Continuous Paper with the Front Push Tractor . . . . . . . . 19 Loading Continuous Paper with the Rear Push Tractor . . . . . . . . . 21 Loading Continuous Paper with the Pull Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Removing paper from the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Loading Single Sheets with the Paper Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Loading Special Papers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Continuous multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Single-sheet multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Using the Micro Adjust Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Adjusting the top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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Chapter 3 - Using the Control Panel

Buttons and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Selecting a Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Changing the Printer’s Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Default-setting mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 4 - Troubleshooting

Using the Error Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Clearing Paper Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Printing a Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Where To Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Chapter 5 - Product Information

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 ENERGY STAR Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 FCC Compliance Statement for United States Users . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 WARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 For Canadian users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 EPSON AMERICA, INC., LIMITED WARRANTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

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Introduction

This manual covers the following basic information to get you started using your Epson® printer:

Setting Up the Printer

Paper Handling

Using the Control Panel

Troubleshooting

Product Information

Although most of the illustrations in this manual show the LQ-590, the instructions apply to both the LQ-590 and the LQ-2090.

w c

Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

Cautions must be observed to prevent damaging your equipment.

Notes contain important information and useful tips about using your printer.

For detailed information about your printer, refer to the online Reference Guide. It describes all the printer’s functions, optional products, printer software, troubleshooting, and technical specifications. See “Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide” on page 15.

If you have questions about using your printer software, you can use the online help, which is installed automatically when you install the printer software.

Options

By adding options such as a cut-sheet feeder or roll paper holder, you can further expand your printer’s capabilities. Optional interface cards are also available to supplement your printer’s built-in interfaces. (See the Reference Guide for more information.)

You can purchase ribbon cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from the Epson StoreSM at [phone], or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call [phone] for dealer referral.

Introduction 5

6 Introduction

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

This chapter describes how to unpack and set up your printer.

Unpacking the Printer

Make sure you have the following items.

	Ribbon cartridge	Paper guide
	Printer
	Front sheet	Front paper guide
	guide (LQ-590 only)
		(LQ-2090 only)

Power cord

Printer software

Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet to remove the protective materials before you turn on the printer. Save all packing and protective materials in case you need to ship the printer in the future.

Choosing a Place for the Printer

Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle.

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.

Setting Up the Printer

7

Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily unplug the power cord. Position the power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding.

Note for French-speaking users:

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

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.

Use a grounded power outlet; do not use an adapter plug.

Assembling the Printer

1.Make sure the printer is turned off and unplugged. Then open the printer cover and pull it up to remove it.

2.Remove the paper tension unit by pressing the tabs on each side and pulling it up.

8 Setting Up the Printer

3.Use your hand to slide the

print head to the middle of the printer.

4.Remove the new ribbon

cartridge from the package.	Ribbon guide
The black plastic ribbon guide
is held in place on top of the
cartridge with a small tab. To
release it, hold the sides of the
ribbon guide and gently
disconnect it. (Do not remove
the ribbon guide from the
ribbon, however.)

5.Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and insert it into the printer at an angle, as shown below; then press down on both sides of the cartridge to fit the plastic hooks into the printer slots. You should hear it click into place.

Setting Up the Printer

9

6.Slide the ribbon guide into the print head until it clicks in place. Be careful not to twist or crease the ribbon.

Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place.

7.Reinstall the paper tension unit by lowering it onto the printer’s mounting pegs. Then press down on both ends until it clicks into place.

8.To replace the printer cover, insert the front tabs into the slots on the printer and lower the cover into place.

Then push it down until it clicks.

9.Make sure the top part of the cover is folded forward, as shown. Then attach the paper guide.

10 Setting Up the Printer

Note:

When printing, you can use the paper guide only when the tractor is installed in the front or rear push position.

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

Your printer is equipped with both an IEEE-1284-compatible parallel interface and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. It also includes a Type-B optional interface slot in case your computer requires a different type of printer interface. (See the Reference Guide if you need to install an interface card.)

Note:

You can connect cables to both interfaces; the printer switches automatically to the appropriate interface when it receives data.

To connect your computer to your printer’s built-in parallel interface, you need a shielded, twisted-pair parallel cable with a 36-pin Centronics® compatible connector for the printer. To connect the printer to a USB port, you need a standard, shielded USB cable.

1.Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off, then connect the parallel or USB cable to the printer.

Parallel

USB

2.Connect the other end to your computer.

Setting Up the Printer

11

cCaution:

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.

3. Plug the power cord into the AC inlet on the back of the printer and plug the other end into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

Installing the Printer Software

After you connect the printer to your computer, you need to install the Epson printer software on the CD-ROM shipped with your printer. The printer driver is the software that runs, or “drives,” your printer. With it, you can select printer settings such as print quality, resolution, and paper size.

The printer software supports Windows® 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, or NT 4.0, and includes Epson Status Monitor 3 (which displays printer status information and notifies you of printer errors). See the Reference Guide for more information.

Note:

Installing the printer software for Windows 2000, XP, or NT may require administrator privileges. If you have problems, ask your administrator for more information.

If the New Hardware Found screen or any other wizard appears when you turn on your computer, click Cancel.

If the Digital Signature Not Found screen appears, click Yes. If you click No, you must reinstall the printer driver.

The printer software CD-ROM also includes the Epson Remote Configuration Manager, which lets you change the printer’s default settings. See “Installing the Remote Configuration Manager” on page 15.

12 Setting Up the Printer

Follow these steps to install the printer software:

1.Make sure Windows is running and the printer is turned off.

2.Insert the printer software CD-ROM into the CD-ROM or DVD drive. After a moment the Installation screen appears:

If it does not, double-click Setup.exe on the CD-ROM.

3.Select your printer model and click . You see this window:

4.Select Install Printer Software and click . You see the software license agreement.

5.Read the agreement and click Accept. The installation starts and you see this window:

Setting Up the Printer

13

6.Turn on your printer, then wait for the software to be installed. (This may take a few minutes.)

If you are prompted to insert the Windows CD-ROM, go to step 7. Otherwise, follow any instructions on the screen until the installation is complete and you see the Installation screen again. Then turn to page 15 and follow the instructions to install the Reference Guide and the Remote Configuration Manager utility.

7.If the installation asks for the Windows CD-ROM, insert the disk in the CD-ROM drive and click OK. When the Windows installation screen appears, close the screen to continue with the driver installation.

Note:

If you see a message that the drive is not accessible, click Cancel and try again.

8.Click Browse and select the path for the printer driver. Then click OK and follow the on-screen instructions.

9.Select the appropriate file in the folder and click OK.

10.When prompted, insert the printer software CD-ROM and click Browse to select the correct path.

Note:

If you see a message that the drive is not accessible, click Cancel and try again.

If a “System Error” message appears, click Cancel.

If you are using Windows NT, you do not need to specify a path.

If you are using Windows 98, the Printer Utility Setup may start. If it does, follow the instructions on the screen.

11.When the installation is complete, see page 15 to install the Reference Guide and the Remote Configuration Manager utility.

14 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 in your application. Choose the Epson printer at the appropriate step in the installation or setup procedure. If the list in your application does not include your printer, choose the first available printer from the following list.

For the LQ-590

LQ-580 / LQ-570e	LQ-200
LQ-300+	LQ-500
LQ-300	LQ-860+
LQ-870	LQ-2550
LQ-570 / 570+	LQ-2500
LQ-850+	LQ-800
LQ-850	LQ-1500
LQ-510 / 550

For the LQ-2090

LQ-2080	/ 2180	LQ-200
LQ-2070	/ 2170	LQ-500
LQ-1070	/ 1070+	LQ-860+ / 1060+
LQ-870 / 1170		LQ-2550
LQ-850+ / 1050+		LQ-2500
LQ-850 / 1050		LQ-800 / 1000
LQ-510 / 550 / 1010		LQ-1500

Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide

To install the Reference Guide on your hard disk, select Install Reference Guide on the Installation screen and click . The manual is copied and an LQ590-2090 Reference Guide icon appears on your desktop.

To open the Reference Guide, double-click the LQ590-2090 Reference Guide icon on your desktop. You can also click Start > Programs

(or All Programs) > EPSON > LQ590-2090 Reference Guide, and click Reference Guide.

Installing the Remote Configuration Manager

The Epson Remote Configuration Manager provides an easy way to change your printer’s default settings in Windows. Follow these steps to install it on your computer in Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, or NT:

1.Select Install EPSON Remote Configuration Manager on the Installation screen and click .

Setting Up the Printer

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