Epson P-80 User Manual
®
EPSON
P-80 PORTABLE PRINTER
User's Manual
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
FOR AMERICAN USERS
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used
properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause
interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in
Subpart J of part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection
against such interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
- Reorient the receiving antenna
-
Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver
-
Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and receiver are on
different branch circuits.
If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the
Federal Communications Commission helpful:
This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402. Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.
The connection of a non-shielded printer interface cable to this printer will invalidate the
FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits
established by the FCC for this equipment.
“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems.”
WARNING
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is
assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution
has been taken in the preparation of this book, Epson America, Inc. assumes no responsibility
for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of
the information contained herein.
PX-8 and Geneva are Trademarks of Epson America, Inc.
Portable Scheduler is a Trademark of Epson America, Inc.
Portable WordStar is a Trademark of MicroPro International Corp.
Copyright © 1984 by Epson America, Inc.
Torrance, California 90505
P8492128-0
Y552991020
ii
Contents
Introduction
P-80 Features
About This Manual
Setting Up Your P-80
1
Printer Preparation
Covers
Paper guide
Ribbon installation
Manual-feed knob
DIP Switches
Switch 1
Switch 2
Connecting the P-80 to Your Computer
Operation and Maintenance
2
Switches and Indicators
The control panel
Paper control switches
Paper-end detector
The Battery and AC Adapter
Battery Replacement
Maintenance
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1
1
3
3
5
6
7
9
9
10
11
12
15
15
15
16
17
17
19
22
Installing Paper
3
Paper Types
Paper sizes
Paper Release Lever
Paper Loading
Removing the paper
The P-80 Self-Test
Control Codes
4
ASCII Codes
Using Control Codes
ASCII Codes as CHR$(n)
The ESCape code
BASIC Example
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23
24
24
24
26
26
27
27
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29
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30
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Combining Print Modes
5
Dot-Matrix Printing
Print Pitches
Pitch Mode Combinations
Expandedmode
Print Quality Modes
Dress-up Modes
Mode Conflicts and Priorities
Mixing Modes
Summary Notes
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35
35
36
36
36
37
37
Graphics
6
Graphics Characters
Dot Graphics
Print Head
Graphics Mode
Column reservation numbers
PinLabels
A Graphics Program
Graphics Programming Tips
Linespacing
WIDTH statements
Semicolons and commands placement
ASCII Codes and Character Sets
A
ASCII Codes
International Characters
Graphics Characters
Special Characters
B
Control Code Summary
Control Codes By Function
C
Character Width (Pitch)
Character Weight
Print Enhancement
Mode and Character Set Selection
Line Spacing..
Forms Control
Dot Graphics
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A-1
A-1
A-3
A-3
A-4
B-1
C-1
C-1
C-1
C-1
C-2
C-2
C-2
C-2
D
Using Your P-80 with the Geneva PX-8
P-80 and WordStar
Connecting the Geneva to the
iv
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P-80
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D-1
D-1
D-2
Specifications of the P-80
E
Printing
Paper
Printer
Interface
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Specifications
Interface Connector
Interface Signals
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E-1
E-1
E-2
E-2
E-3
E-3
E-3
E-4
V
List of Figures
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
1-9
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
3-1
3-2
5-1
5-2
5-3
5-4
5-5
Unpacking the P-80
Identifying the printer parts
Locking lever
Paper guide
Lifting the front cover
Installing the ribbon
Manual-feed knob
DIP switches
Connecting the printer cable
Control panel switches
Paper control switches
Plugging in the AC adapter
Removing the screws
Lifting the cover
Removing the battery
Replacing the power switch cover
Replacing the battery holder cover
Loading the paper
The P-80 self-test
Main columns and intermediate positions
Overlapping dots
Comparison between print pitches
Pica and Expanded letters
Print quality differences
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34
35
35
36
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-4
D-l
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Pin labels
Pin combinations
Data for Space Invader
Result of incorrect program
Connecting the Geneva to the
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44
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49
D-3
List of Tables
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
4-1
5-1
5-2
E-1
Settings for switch
International character switch settings
Settings for switch 2
Baud rate switch settings
The P-80 and ASCII Codes
Summary of modes
Typestyles
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E-2
vii
Introduction
The Epson P-80 is a portable, battery-operated printer that enables
you to print anywhere you go. It adds state-of-the-art thermal transfer
technology to other features that have made Epson printers so popular.
P-80 Features
Because the P-80 is lightweight and portable, it is ideal to take along
with you anywhere, yet it still functions as a full-sized printer. Here
are some of the features:
l
Uses plain or thermal paper
l
Contains various print modes that can be combined to produce
different print styles. These include:
Roman and Italic print fonts
Four different print pitches
Bold printing
l
Has an easy-to-use Underline mode
l
Creates graphics with two densities and has a special graphics char-
acter set to let you create your own charts, diagrams, figures and
illustrations
l
Generates eight international character sets
About This Manual
Although the P-80 is simple to operate, you will need to take some
time to read this manual and learn about the functions of the printer.
This user’s manual is not long, but it contains a lot of important infor-
mation.
1
The first three chapters of this manual help you set up, operate, and
maintain your printer. Chapter 4 contains information on how to use
control codes with your printer. Chapter 5 shows you how to combine
print modes and Chapter 6 explains the printer’s graphics features.
The appendixes contain helpful information about selecting print
styles and character sets and about using control codes to obtain certain printer functions. Appendix A lists the control codes and the possible terms for each code. Appendix A also shows the character sets
available on the P-80. Appendix B summarizes the control codes and
Appendix C lists the codes by function. Appendix D gives information on how to use your P-80 with the Geneva
TM
PX-8™. Finally,
Appendix E provides the specifications for the P-80.
2
Chapter 1
Setting Up Your P-80
In this chapter, you’ll learn how to prepare your printer for operation and how to connect it to your computer. But first, take inventory.
With your P-80 you should receive the items shown in Figure 1-1.
They are:
1. Your P-80 printer
2. Two thermal ribbon cassettes
3. An AC adapter
4. Five sheets of paper
5. This P-80 Printer User’s Manual
Remove any packing adhesive or packing pads that you see. It’s a
good idea to save all your packing materials. You may want to store
or ship your printer someday.
Printer Preparation
Once you have verified that all the items for the printer are
included, you’re ready to prepare the printer for operation. Start by
identifying the printer’s main parts (see Figure l-2). Take a couple of
minutes to familiarize yourself with these parts and their names.
Figure l-2 shows how the printer will look when you finish preparing
it for operation.
Note: Do not turn on the P-80 until you complete the printer prepara-
tion.
3
Figure 1-1. Unpacking the P-80
(Top view)
Figure 1-2. Identifying the printer parts
4
Covers
The front and back covers are designed to keep your P-80 free from
dust. It is a good idea to keep them closed when your printer is not in
use.
The front cover protects the print mechanism and reduces the noise
level when the printer is on. The serrated edge serves as a convenient
tear-off point.
It’s a good idea to keep the front cover closed while printing as it
helps guide the paper out of the printer. You only need to lift this cover
when you are installing a ribbon cassette.
There is a plastic gray lever on the left side of your printer. This
lever holds the back cover shut. Notice the words OPEN and LOCK.
Ignore the words FEED and FREE, above and below the lock lever, for
now. They deal with paper installation functions (discussed in Chapter
3).
To unlock the back cover, push the lever to the open position (see
Figure l-3). To lock it, hold the back cover shut and pull the lever to
the lock position.
Figure 1-3. Locking lever
When you release the lock lever, the back cover pops up slightly.
Push the cover back until it stands vertically as shown in Figure
1-3.
The back cover now has a new function. It serves as your paper guide.
5
Note: Before you continue, take a moment to look inside your
printer. You will see a gray bar with a line and the word
paper.
Remove the thin transparent strip covering this bar.
Paper guide
As mentioned above, when the back cover is vertical, it serves as a
paper guide. The paper guide helps you align your paper correctly to
ensure that it feeds properly through the printer.
Find the arrow marked PAPER STAND on the upper left comer of
the paper guide. Notice the metal paper stand. To lift the paper stand,
place your thumb where the arrow indicates. With slight pressure,
pull up on the stand until it is vertical. The function of the paper stand
is to keep the paper straight.
There is a plastic paper holder at each side of the paper guide. These
holders keep your paper from sliding. The holder on the left is stationary and is labelled LEFT EDGE. The right holder is a sliding scale that
will accommodate paper from 5½ to 8½ inches wide. When closing
the back cover, make sure the right holder is pushed all the way to the
right. Otherwise, the cover will not close properly.
Three arrows indicate the paper widths most often used. The first
one is marked INVOICE, the second B5, and the third A4•LEGAL.
The A4•LEGAL is the one you use for 8½-inch wide paper.
Figure 1-4. Paper guide
Ribbon installation
When you are using thermal paper, you do not have to install the
ribbon cassette. With any other type of paper, install the ribbon cassette as described below. Chapter 3 gives an explanation of the types
of paper to use.
Before installing the ribbon cassette, you need to lift the front cover
(Figure l-5). Firmly grasp both sides of the cover and pull up. It should
tilt toward you easily. If you happen to lift the cover off completely,
replace it by positioning the hinge at each end of the cover over the
hinge posts at the front of the printer. The hinges allow you to easily
open and close the cover without removing it.
Figure l-5. Lifting the front cover
The P-80’s ribbon cassette is easy to install. You never have to
worry about getting ink on your hands. Just follow these simple steps
and refer to Figure
1.
Make sure the printer is OFF.
2. Remove the orange tab holding the ribbon by pulling up on the end
indicated by the arrow.
3.
As Figure 1-6 shows, take up any slack in the ribbon by turning the
ribbon counterclockwise until it is taut.
1-6
for quick installation:
Figure 1-6. Installing
the ribbon
8
4. Hold the cassette so that the exposed ribbon is on the left side and
the closed ends of the ribbon holes are on top. Place the cassette
over the print mechanism. Make sure the ribbon is placed in front
of the silver print
That’s all there is to it. Now just close the front cover.
head.
Press down and snap it into place.
Manual-feed knob
The manual-feed knob is used to advance the paper manually. It is
located on the right side of your printer. When your printer is packed,
the knob is pushed in flush with the right side. To bring it out, push the
center of the knob in and release it. The knob should pop out. To feed
the paper manually, turn the knob clockwise. See Figure 1-7.
Figure 1-7. Manual-feed knob
DIP Switches
Two groups of switches, called DIP switches, are located at the
back of your printer (Figure
referred to as switch 1 and the second group of eight switches is
referred to as switch 2. These switches are set at the factory, and you
probably won’t need to touch them. You may, however, want to take
the time to learn about the switches and their functions in case you
need to make adjustments.
l-8).
The first group of four switches is
Figure 1-8. DIP switches
Note: Make certain the printer is turned OFF when you change DIP
switch settings. The
P-80
checks these settings only at powerup and it will ignore any changes made with the power on
(until it is turned off and back on).
Switch 1
The functions of the four switches that make up switch 1 are sum-
marized in Table
1-1.
Table l-l. Settings for switch 1
Switch No.
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
Switch
1-1, 1-2, 1-3 -
Function
International Character Sets
(See Table 1-2.)
Auto line feed No auto Auto line OFF
(AUTO FEED XT
signal)
These switches are used to determine the default
OFF ON
line feed
feed
with CR
Factory setting
ON
ON
ON
international character set. The factory-set condition is for the U.S.A.
characters. Table 1-2 shows the required switch settings for each set.
Appendix A shows the characters included in each of the character
sets.
10
You can also access the International characters by using a
code.
See
Chapter 4 for an explanation of control codes and Appendix
B for the appropriate code.
Table 1-2. International character switch settings
control
Country
U.S.A.
France
Germany
England
Denmark
Sweden
Italy ON
Spain
Switch 1-4
-
This switch controls the automatic line feed. The factory-
SW 1-1 SW 1-2
ON ON
OFF
ON
OFF OFF
ON ON OFF
OFF
OFF
ON ON
OFF
ON OFF
OFF
OFF OFF
SW 1-3
ON
ON
ON
OFF
set condition is OFF which means the computer must send line feeds.
When this switch is ON, the printer performs an automatic line feed
with each carriage return.
If you are not sure if your computer sends a line-feed code to the
printer at the end of each print line, leave the switch the way you find
it. You can change this switch if your first printing occurs all on one
line or with the lines spaced twice as far apart as you requested.
Switch 2
The P-80 uses the
from your computer to the printer. The switches which make up
switch 2 are used to set up the proper serial communications for the
RS-232C serial port.
RS-232C
serial interface to communicate data
The factory-set condition is shown in Table l-3 and should be
appropriate for most computers. If you have any problems getting
data to print correctly from your computer, consult your computer
manual or ask your dealer.
11
Table 1-3. Settings for Switch 2
Switch No.
SW-2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
Data bit length
Party check
Function
Parity
Stop bit
Baud rate setting
OFF ON
8 bits 7 bits
No
Odd Even
2 bits 1 bit
(See Table l-4.)
Yes
Factory setting
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
The factory-set baud rate for the P-80 is 4800. If your computer
requires another baud rate, the following chart gives the appropriate
DIP switch settings.
Table
l-4.
Baud rate switch settings
DIP2-5 DIP2-6
ON
OFF
ON
OFF OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF OFF OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
ON ON ON
OFF
ON
ON OFF
OFF OFF
ON
ON ON
OFF
OFF
ON
OFF OFF OFF
OFF
DIP2-7 DIP2-8
OFF
OFF OFF
OFF OFF
OFF
ON ON
ON
ON
ON ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Bit rate (bps)
75
110
134.5
150
200
300
600
1,200
1,800
2,400
4,800
9,600
300
1,200
2,400
9,600
Connecting the P-80 to Your Computer
Your printer preparation is almost complete. Now it’s time to connect your printer to your computer. First make sure the power
switches for your printer and your computer are turned OFF.
12
For many computers, you merely plug the printer cable into your
computer. However, some computers require a printer interface card,
either mounted inside or outside the computer. Check your computer
installation or operations manual for details on how to connect your
computer to your printer, or consult your dealer.
As mentioned above, the P-80 uses the RS-232C serial interface (but
the connector is a 6-pin DIN type). Figure 1-9 shows where you connect the cable to the printer. Make sure that the connector is aligned
correctly. Don’t force it into the socket.
Your Epson dealer stocks a variety of cables as well as interface
boards.
Figure l-9. Connecting the printer cable
13
Chapter 2
Operation and Maintenance
Your P-80 is now connected to your computer and ready for operation. In this chapter you’ll learn how to use the controls and indicators
on the printer to operate it correctly. You’ll also learn how to recharge
the battery and maintain your P-80 to keep it printing smoothly for a
long time.
Switches and Indicators
The few switches and indicators on the P-80 require a brief explana-
tion so that you can have a better understanding of how to use them.
The printer does not have to be connected to your computer to test
these switches.
The control panel
The control panel switches are located on the top (right comer) of
your printer (Figure
the printer. Here is what they do:
2-l).
These switches control the main functions of
Figure 2-1. Control panel switches
15
POWER switch
— This switch activates the power when it is in the
ON position. Push this switch on and you will hear the print head
prepare itself for printing.
ON LINE switch — This switch allows you to switch back and forth
from on-line to
off-line
status. When the printer is on-line, it is ready
to receive data from the computer. When the printer is off-line, it is not
ready.
ON LINE light — The red light, located above the ON LINE switch,
indicates whether the printer is on or off line. The light glows red when
the printer is on-line, and when the light is off, the printer is off-line. If
you turn the power ON without any paper in the printer, the ONLINE light will not glow, even if you press the ON-LINE switch.
The ON LINE light blinks when the motor has locked or the battery
is low. When the light is blinking, first check to see if the paper or
ribbon cassette is stuck. If either of these is stuck, turn the power off
and correct the problem. The ribbon cassette should return to the
starting position on the left side when you turn the power back on. If
you can not find anything wrong with the printer, the blinking light is
indicating that your battery is low. Turn the power OFF and plug in
the AC adapter as described later in this chapter.
PAPER FEED switch — This switch allows you to automatically
advance the paper one line at a time. You can only activate this switch
when the printer is off-line. Tap this switch to advance the paper one
line at a time. Hold the switch down to advance the paper several lines
at once.
Paper control switches
There are two switches located on the right side of your printer
(Figure
2-2).
These switches allow you to make certain adjustments to
improve the print quality on your paper.
DENSITY switch — This switch makes the print lighter or darker.
Move the switch toward the back of the printer to make the print
lighter; move the switch toward the front of the printer to make it
darker.
16
Figure 2-2. Paper control switches
PAPER SURFACE switch —
to improve the print quality on standard paper. Push this lever toward
the front when using coarse paper; push it back when using smooth or
thermal paper.
Note: You have to set the paper surface switch with the power OFF
for the change to take effect.
This switch adjusts the print head speed
Paper-out sensor
The P-80 is equipped with a device that warns you when the printer
is at the end of the paper. When your paper reaches the end, the ON
LINE light goes off and printing stops.
To resume printing, place another sheet of paper into the printer,
and press the ON LINE switch. If you do not want to resume printing,
turn the power OFF and back ON again. Each time the printer is
turned ON, it reinitializes-resets to its settings at start up.
The Battery and AC Adapter
Note: Charge the battery with the AC adapter before using your
printer for the first time. To do this, follow the instructions
given below for charging the battery.
The P-80 will print approximately 60,000 characters (or 30 pages on
8½ by 11 paper with 2,000 characters each) on a fully charged battery.
17
The battery needs charging when
the
print becomes very slow and
the ON LINE light blinks. To charge the battery, first turn the power
OFF. Then plug the AC adapter into the back of
in Figure
2-3.
The battery charges in six to seven hours.
the
printer as shown
Figure 2-3. Plugging in the AC adapter
The printer can be used with the AC adapter connected without
waiting for the battery to charge. However, when you are finished
printing, switch the power off and charge the battery for six to seven
hours.
Once you unplug the adapter, let the printer run on its own until it
needs recharging. Recharging the battery more often than needed can
weaken it.
WARNING:
Do not charge the battery for more than 24 hours. Also,
do not leave the power switch ON when recharging the
battery and the printer is not in use. Doing either of
these may severely shorten the battery life.
18
Battery Replacement
Your P-80 uses a nickel cadmium battery. If the red light keeps flashing after the battery has been charged, the battery has come to the end
of its life and must be replaced. Nickel cadmium batteries are available
through your Epson dealer.
To replace the battery, follow the steps below.
1.
See that the power switch is OFF,
2.
Remove the two screws on the
the printer by using a Phillips screwdriver (Figure
battery holder cover
2-4).
at the back of
Figure
2-4.
3.
Carefully lift the battery holder cover by placing your index fingers
at the top of the cover as shown in Figure
underneath the ridge at the bottom of the cover.
Removing the screws
2-5,
and your thumbs
19
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