Epson LQ 680, LQ 680Pro 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 p rior written permiss ion 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 CO RPORATION nor its affiliates sh all be liable to the purchaser of
this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by the purchaser
or third parti e s as a result of: ac cident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unau t horized
modificati ons, re pairs , or alte rati ons to th is prod uct, o r (excl uding t he U.S.) f ailur e to stri ctly
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.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
IBM is a registered tradema rk of International Business Ma ch in e s 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 © 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.
User’s Guide
Contents
Getting to Know Your Printer
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Print Head Caution Symbol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Assembling the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Attaching the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6
Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-8
Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-12
Installing the printer software in Windows Me, 98, 95,
2000, or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-13
Installing the printer softw are in Windows 3 .1
or NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-14
For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-17
Chapter 2 Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Paper source and paper types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Setting the paper release lever (LQ-680). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4
Setting the Paper Source button (LQ-680Pro) . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Adjusting the Paper Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6
Using Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Positioning your continuous paper supply . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Loading continuous paper with the tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
Contents i
Using the tear-off function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Removing continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Using Continuous Multipart Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Using Over lapping Multipart Forms
(LQ-680Pro). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Using Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Using Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Using Single-Sheet Multipart Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Using Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
Using Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets . . . . . 2-26
Switching to single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26
Switching to continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Using Micro Adjust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Adjusting the loading position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28
Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31
Adjusting the printing position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
Chapter 3 Using the Printer Software
About Your Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Using the Printer Driver With Windows Me, 98 or 95 . . . . . . . . 3-3
Accessing the printer driver
from Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . 3-5
Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Using the Printer Driver With Windows 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Accessing the printer driver
from Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel. . . . . 3-9
Changing the Printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Using the Printer Driver With Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 . . . . 3-10
Accessing the printer driver
from Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . 3-12
Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Using the Printer Driver With Windows NT 3.5x. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Accessing the printer driver
ii Contents
from Windows applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-14
Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel . . . . .3-16
Changing the Printer driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-17
Printer Driver Settings Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-18
Using the EPSON Remote! Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-20
Installing EPSON Remote! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-20
Accessing EPSON Remote!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-20
Using the EPSON Status Monitor 3 Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-21
Setting up EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-21
Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-23
Chapter 4 Changing Printer Settings From the Printer’s Control
Panel
Selecting a Built-In Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
About Your Printer’s Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Changing default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-9
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
Using the Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2
Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4
Power supply problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5
Single-sheet paper loading or feeding problems. . . . . . . . . 5-6
Continuous paper loading or feeding problems . . . . . . . . .5-8
Printing position problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9
Printing or printout quality problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-11
Clearing Paper Jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-16
Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-17
Printing a Self Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-18
Printing a Hex Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-19
Contents iii
Appendix A Enhancing Your Printer With Options
Cut-Sheet Feeders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Installing the cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Loading paper from the cut-sheet feeder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6
Switching between the tractor
and the cut-sheet feeder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13
Loading paper manually from the paper guide. . . . . . . . . A-15
Roll Paper Holder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
Installing the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-17
Loading a roll of paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
Removing roll paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20
Optional interface cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
Installing an interface card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
Appendix B Cleaning and Transporting the Printer
Cleaning the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Appendix C Specifications
Printer Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
Electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-4
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6
Printable area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-11
Safety approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-14
CE marking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-14
Command Lists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-15
EPSON ESC/P2 control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-15
IBM 2390 Plus emulation control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-16
Contacting Customer Support
iv Contents
Glossary
Index
Contents v
Printer Parts
control panel
ribbon cartridge
print head
edge guide
paper guide
paper thickness lever
printer cover
knob
paper release lever
(LQ-680 only)
power switch
paper support
sprocket units
parallel interface
Control Panel Buttons and Lights
Font button
Selects the font.
Condensed button
Turns on and off the condensed mode.
Reset
When you press both the Font and Condensed buttons
simultaneously, the printer clears its buffer and return to its
default settings.
Tear Off/Bin button (LQ-680)
● Advances continuous paper to the tear-off position.
● Feeds continuous paper backward from the tear-off
position to the top-of-form position.
● Selects a cut-sheet feeder bin.
● Turns on the card mode to print on postcards and envelopes.
Tear Off/Bin lights (LQ-680)
●
f f
when continuous paper is in the tear-off position.
●
o n
when bin 1 of the optional cut-sheet feeder is selected.
●
n o
when bin 2 of the optional cut-sheet feeder is selected.
●
n n
when the printer is in the card mode.
LQ-680
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.
Paper Out light
● On when no paper is loaded in
the selected paper source or
paper is not loaded correctly.
● Flashes when paper has not
been fully ejected or a paper
jam has occurred.
LQ-680Pro
Paper Source button & lights (LQ-680Pro)
Select a paper source. See Chapter 2.
Tear Off/Special Paper button (LQ-680Pro)
● Advances contin uous pape r to the tear-o ff
position.
● Feeds continuous paper backward from
the tear-off position to the
top-of-form position.
● Turns on the card mode or envelope mode.
Tear Off/Special Paper lights (LQ-680Pro)
●
f f
when continuous paper is in the tear-
off position.
●
o n
when the printer is in the card mode.
●
n o
when the printer is in the envelope
mode.
*Micro Adjust mode
When you hold down the Pause button for three
seconds, the printer enters the micro adjust mode. In
this mode , y o u c a n p re s s t h e L F/ FF
buttons to adjust the top-of-form or tear-off position. See
Chapter 2.
LF/FF button
● Feeds paper line by line when pressin g shortly.
● Ejects a single sheet or advances continuous paper
to the next top-of-form position when held down.
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 backward to the standby
position.
D
and Load/EjectU
Getting to Know Your Pri nter
Your EPSON® LQ-680/LQ-680Pro 24-pin dot matrix printer
provides high-quality printing and great perform ance in a
compact design.
Features include:
❏ The ability to handle a wide range of paper types, including
continuous paper, mult ip art form s wit h one original and up
to five copies, labels, single sheets, envelopes, and postcards
❏ High-speed printing of up to 413 cps (charac ters per second)
at 10 characters per inch
Your printer also comes with printer driver software, the EPSON
Status Monitor 3 utili ty for Microsoft
and NT 4.0, that lets you check the statu s of your prin ter quic kly
and easily, and other software. In addition, many other options
are available to suit your individual needs.
®
Windows® Me, 98, 95, 2000
Getting to Know Your Printer 1
Important Safety Instructions
Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer.
❏ Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a
radiator or heat source.
❏ Place the printer on a flat surf ace. The printer will not opera te
properly if it is tilted or at an angle.
❏ Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet.
Do not insert objects through the slots.
❏ Use only the type of power source indicated on the p ri nter ’s
label.
❏ Connect all equipment to properly ground ed power outl ets.
Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as pho tocopiers 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 int o the exte nsion
cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make
sure the total of all d evices p lu gged i nt o t he wa ll ou tl et do es
not exceed the wall outlet’s ampere rating.
❏ Unplug the printer before cl eaning, and clean it with a damp
cloth only.
❏ Do not spill liquid on the printer.
❏ Except as specifically explained in this guide, do not attempt
to service the printer yourself.
2 Getting to Know Your Printer
❏ Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified
K
personnel under the following conditions:
If the power cord or pl ug is damaged; if liqui d has entered the
printer; if the printer has been dropped or the cabinet
damaged; or 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 part s m arked with this symbol may be hot .
Turn off the printer and let it cool for a fe w minutes
before you touch any printer part marked with this
symbol.
❏ 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.
Getting to Know Your Printer 3
Print Head Caution Symbol
K
The symbol on the print head indicates that this
part may be hot. Never touch the print head just
after the printer has been used. Let the print head
cool for a few minutes before touching it.
ENERGY STAR Compliance
As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has
determined that this produc t meets the
ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.
The International ENERGY STAR Office Equipment program is
a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment
industry to promote the introduction of e nergy-efficient pers onal
computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, and
scanners in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power
generation.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
This guide uses the following conventions:
Warnings must be followed to avoid bodily injury.
w
Cautions must be observed to avoid d amage to your equ ipment.
c
Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation
of your printer.
4 Getting to Know Your Printer
Chapter 1
Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Assembling the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Attaching the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6
Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-8
Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-12
Installing the printer software in Windows Me, 98, 95,
2000, or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-13
Installing the printer softw are in Windows 3 .1
or NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-14
For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-17
Setting Up the Printer 1-1
Unpacking the Pr inter
Besides this guide, your printer box should include an EPSON
printer software CD-ROM, a Notice Sheet, and the following
items:
power cord
printer
paper guide ribbon cartridge
Note:
Depending on your printer model, the power cord may be permanently
attached to the printer. Also, the shape of the power cord plug varies
depending on the country of purchase; be sure the plug you have is the
right one for your location.
Caution:
c
1-2 Setting Up the Printer
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.
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 pro tective materials in case you need to ship
the printer in the future. It sh ould always be transported in its
original packaging or equivalent 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 at an angle.
❏ Leave adequate room around the printer for easy operation
and maintenance.
❏ Avoid using or storing the pr inter in places subject to rapid
changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it away from
direct sunlight, strong light, heat sources, or excessive
moisture or dust.
❏ Avoid places subject to shocks and vibrations.
❏ Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily
unplug the power cord.
❏ Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or
automatic timers. An interruption of power can erase
information in the memory of your printer or compu ter.
Also avoid outlets on the same cir cuit as large motors or other
appliances that can cause voltage fluctuations.
Setting Up the Printer 1-3
❏ Keep the entire computer system away from pot ential 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.
❏ Make sure the paper path is clear and unobstructed before
you print on continuous paper.
❏ Position your printer’s p ower cord and interface cable so they
do not interfere with paper feeding.
If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines:
❏ Use a stand that supports at least 20 kg.
❏ Never use a stand that tilts the printer. The pr inter should
always be kept level.
❏ If possible, secure the printer’s power cord and interface cable
to a leg of the printer stand so they do not interfere with paper
feeding.
1-4 Setting Up the Printer
Assembling the Printer
Attaching the paper guide
To attach the paper guide, slide the slots on the paper guide all
the way onto the mounting pegs in the printer as shown below.
Plugging in the Printer
1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
2. Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure its
voltage matches that of your electrical outl et. Also make sure
the plug on your printer’s power cord matches your electrical
outlet.
Warning:
w
It is not possible to change the printer’s voltage. If the rated
voltage and your outlet voltage do not match, contact your
dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord.
Setting Up the Printer 1-5
3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, plug the
appropriate end into the AC inlet on the back of the printer.
4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical
outlet.
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
Your printer has a standard IEEE-1284 compatible parallel
interface connection and an optional interface.
If your computer requires a dif ferent type of print er interface, try
one of the Type B optional interfaces described in “Optional
interface cards” on page A-21.
Follow the steps below to connect the printer to your computer
using a parallel interface connector, or a ground wire connector.
1. Make sure both the printe r and computer a re turned off.
2. Plug the cable connector securely into the parallel interface
connector.
.
1-6 Setting Up the Printer
3. Squeeze the wire clips together unti l they lock in place on both
sides of the connector.
4. If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the printer’s
ground connector as shown below.
5. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer.
Setting Up the Printer 1-7
Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge
EPSON recommends the use of genuine EPSON Ribbon
Cartridges (S015016).
Warning:
w
1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
2. Open the printer cover by gently lifting up the notch on the
You may touch the print head by hand to install or 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 proceeding.
both sides.
1-8 Setting Up the Printer
3. The print head should be in the replacement position
indicated by an indentation in the front metal plate, as shown
below.
If it is not, close the printer cover and turn the printer on to
move the print head to the repl acem ent position. Wait a few
seconds, then turn the printer off ag ain and open the printer
cover.
Caution:
c
Following the steps below while the printer is turned on can
damage the printer.
Setting Up the Printer 1-9
4. If a used ribbon cartridge i s already installed, squeeze the t abs
on each side of the cartridge, and pull the car tridge out of the
printer. Properly dispose the used ribbon and cartridge.
5. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob on the new car tr idge i n the
direction of the arrow to take up any slack in the ribbon.
6. Hold the ribbon cartridge with th e exposed ribbon down and
the ribbon-tightening knob facing you, and gui de the ri bbon
under the print head. Then snap the cartridge into place so
that the tabs on both sides of the cartridge fit into the notches
in the cartridge holder.
1-10 Setting Up the Printer
7. Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly
down into position; then press on both ends of the cartridge
to make sure the plastic hooks fit into the slots.
8. Turn the ribbon-tightening kn ob again to remove any slack in
the ribbon and to make sure the ribbon moves freely.
9. Close the printer cover.
Note:
The printer pauses and cannot print when the printer cover is open.
Setting Up the Printer 1-11
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 driv er
The printer driver is the softwa re that runs, or “d rives,” your
printer. With it, you can make printer settings such as print
quality, resolution, and paper size.
❏ EPSON Status Monitor 3 (for Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000 and
NT 4.0)
The EPSON Status Monitor 3 not ifies 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 3-20.
To install the printer software, see “Installing the printer software
in Windows Me, 98, 95, 2000, or NT 4.0” or “Installing the printer
software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x” in this section. If you are
using DOS, see “For DOS programs” on page 1-17.
1-12 Setting Up the Printer
Installing the printer software in Windows Me, 98,
95, 2000, or NT 4.0
Follow the steps below to ins tall 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 diskette 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 diskette 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 Ca ncel 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 that the printer and computer are switched off.
2. Switch the PC on. Windows start s automatically. Then swi tch
the printe r on.
3. Insert the CD-ROM containing the printer software int o the
CD-ROM drive. TheAutoPlay fun ction of the CD-ROM d rive
automatically starts the installation
program on the CD-ROM.
Setting Up the Printer 1-13
If the installat ion pr ogram d oes not s tar t auto mati cally, click
on Start and then on Run. In the Run dialog box, enter the
drive letter of your CD-ROM drive in the command l ine (e.g.
E:\), followed by the command START.EXE (e.g.
E:\START.EXE) and click on the OK button.
Note:
If your CD-ROM drive has a drive letter other than "E", substitute
the appropriate letter. The installation program starts. The
subsequent procedure is menu-driven, i.e., you can select the
relevant options from a list simply by clicking with the mouse. The
remainder of the installation is automatic and you do not need to
enter any more information.
4. Select the desired options and follow the on-screeen
instructions.
5. After the printer software has been successfully installed,
click on the button identified by a door icon to exit the
installation program.
When you install the printer driver on Windows 98, 95, 2000 or
NT 4.0, EPSON Status Monitor 3 will also be installed.
For information on opening and using the software, see Chapter 3,
“Using the Printer Software.”
Installing the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x
Follow the steps b elow to install the printer software in
Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x systems.
Note:
Installing the printer software on Windows NT 3.5x may require
administrator privileges. If you have problems, ask your administrator
for more information.
1-14 Setting Up the Printer
1. Make sure Windows 3.1 is running and the Program
Manager window is open.
2. Insert the EPSON printer software CD shipped with your
printer in the CD-ROM
drive.
Note:
If your system does not have a CD-ROM drive, you can make a
floppy disk version from which to install the printer software.
3. From the File menu, choose Run. The Run dialog box
appears. In the Com mand Line bo x, type
E:\START and click
OK.
Note:
If your CD-ROM drive has a drive letter other than “E” , substitute
appropriate letter.
the
The installation program starts. The subsequent pr ocedure is
menu-driven, i.e., you can select the relevant options from a
list simply by clicking with t he mouse. The r emaind er of the
installation is automatic and you do not need to enter any
more information.
4. Select the desired options and follow the on-screen
instructions.
Setting Up the Printer 1-15
5. After the printer software has been successfully installed,
click on the button identified by a door icon to exit the
installation progr am. The installation pr ogram automatically
selects this printer as the default pr inter for Windows
applications.
The installation program automatically selects the LQ-680/LQ680Pro as the default printer for Windows applications. For
information on opening and using the software, see Chapter 3,
“Using the Printer Software.”
1-16 Setting Up the Printer
For DOS programs
To control the printer fro m DOS applicatio n programs, you need
to select the printer you are using or another available printer
from the prin ter list of your application.
Choose the EPSON LQ-680/LQ-68 0Pro printer at the appropriat e
step in the setup or installation procedure of your DOS
applicati on program. If the list in your application does not
include the LQ-680/LQ-680Pro pri nter, choose the first availa ble
printer from this list:
LQ-670
LQ-580/LQ-570e
LQ-2070/LQ-2080
LQ-2170/LQ-2180
LQ-870/LQ-1170
LQ-570/1070/570+/1070+
DLQ-3000/DLQ-3000+
DLQ-2000
LQ-1060
LQ-1050
LQ-2550
LQ-2500
Note:
If your application does not list a suitable alternative, contact the
software manufacturer to see if an update is available.
Setting Up the Printer 1-17
Chapter 2
Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Paper source and paper types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Setting the paper release lever (LQ-680). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4
Setting the Paper Source button (LQ-680Pro) . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Adjusting the Paper Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6
Using Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Positioning your continuous paper supply . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Loading continuous paper with the tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
Using the tear-off function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-14
Removing continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17
Using Continuous Multipart Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17
Using Overlapping Multip art Forms
(LQ-680Pro) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-18
Using Labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-19
Using Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-20
Using Single-Sheet Multipart Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-23
Using Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-24
Using Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-25
Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets. . . . . . 2-26
Switching to single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-26
Switching to continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-28
Using Micro Adjust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-28
Adjusting the loading position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-28
Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-31
Adjusting the printing position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-32
Paper Handling 2-1
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