Epson TM950 - B/W Dot-matrix Printer, TM-U950 Troubleshooting Manual

Page 1

TMTM--U950U950

Troubleshooting Guide.Troubleshooting Guide.

Please use the following flowcharts to help you to diagnose what is wrong with your printer.

When the flowcharts call for a product to be returned to PC-PoS, please contact PC-PoS before the unit is sent back.

Some of the following flowcharts discuss changing the Dip switch settings so that they are appropriate for the intended application. If you are not fully conversant with doing this then either contact your local dealer or contact the PC-PoS technical support department nearest to you.

These flowcharts are intended as a basic fault-finding guide only and we do not encourage any repair to the internal mechanisms or electronic components by non- PC-PoS technical staff as this will render the warranty invalid. If you have any questions regarding this matter then please contact PC-PoS.

Page 2

The Basic Guide.

Start

Is the POWER

LED lit?

Power On

Go to

part 1.

Is the

PAPER OUT

LED lit? (*)

Is the ERROR

LED lit?

Go to part

Is the ERROR

LED flashing?

Go to part 4. (See

also at the end of

this guide)

Execute the self-test

(See part 4for details on how to do this).

Is the self-test

normal?

Is the printout

normal?

Terminal sends print data

Go to

part 7.

END

Is the paper roll

not loaded or

near roll end?

Load roll paper.

OK?

END

Go to

part 6.

Go to part 2.

Is Paper Semi-

Auto Loading

Correctly?

Go to part

Is the SLIP LED

lit or Flashing?

Go to part

Page 3

Part 1.

Power LED does not light.

Start

Is the power supply

cable connected

properly?

Connect power supply cable properly. To

make certain this is done, remove the

connector completely and re-insert.

OK?

Is the Power supply OK? I.E has it been

tested on another

device?

Connect supply to another known

working printer and test it.

PSU OK?

Check Fuse in mains plug and check for damage to

cable or connector. Re-test the Power Supply on

another unit before proceeding. If you had to

change the fuse and start the main flow-chart again.

PSU OK?

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

END

Page 4

Part 2.

Paper Out LED is lit.

Start

Turn the printer off for 30

seconds and then turn back

on again.

OK?

END

Is the cover

closed correctly?

Close the cover correctly. The best way to do

this is to open the cover and then closing it

again fully making certain to feed the paper

properly.

OK?

END

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

END

Page 5

Part 3.

SLIP LED lit or flashing.

Start

Turn the printer off for 30

seconds and then turn back

on again.

OK?

END

Yes

Is the cover

closed correctly?

Close the cover correctly.

The best way to do this is to open the cover

and then closing it again fully.

OK?

END

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

END

Page 6

Part 4.

Error LED is Lit or Flashing.

Start

Are the connectors to

the printer hooked up

correctly?

Hook up connectors correctly.

The easiest way to do this is to remove

the connectors, while the power is off,

and re-connect them.

OK?

END

Is the paper type

selected correctly by

DIP switch?

Turn the printer power off and change the DIP switch

settings to the proper setting for the type of paper

being used. (See the end of this document for the

appropriate settings)

OK?

END

Has the printer

recovered from

the error?

Reset the printer by switching it

off for at least 30 seconds.

Wait for the print head

temperature to drop if excessive.

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

END

Page 7

Part 5.

Paper is not Auto-Loading

Correctly.

Yes

Start

Is paper jammed

in the paper inlet

path or anywhere

in the printer?

Remove the paper jam. The best way to do

this is to take out ALL paper rolls from the

printer and then clean the inside to make

certain that all debris is removed. Re-load

paper when finished and re-test.

OK?

END

Yes

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

END

Page 8

Part 6.

Self-test is not normal.

The Self-Test.

To initiate the self-test for the RECEIPT part of the printer, follow these instructions:

1. Make certain there is either a paper roll or a label roll inserted and loaded into the printer before starting.

2. Turn off the printer using the power button.

3. Turn the printer on while keeping the RECEIPT FEED button depressed. The self-test should now start and the information printed will give the status of the printer.

4. When the test print is complete, the following will be on the last line of print, “Self-test printing, Please press RECEIPT FEED button.” The RECEIPT OUT/ JOURNAL OUT LED’s flash to indicate the standby condition.

5. Press the RECEIPT FEED button to continue the self-test or switch the printer off and then back on again to resume normal printing.

To initiate the self-test for the SLIP part of the printer, follow these instructions:

1. Turn off the printer using the power button.

2. Turn the printer on while keeping the JOURNAL/ SLIP FEED button depressed. The SLIP LED should now be flashing. Insert a piece of paper into the slip printing area then printing will commence and the information printed will give the status of the printer.

3. When printing is complete, the SLIP LED will be flashing. To continue the selftest, insert more paper in the slip part of the printer or switch off and back on again to resume normal printing.

Page 9

Part 6 cont.

Self-test is not normal.

Start

Does the printer

operate at all?

Is the cover

closed properly?

Close cover properly.

OK?

END

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

Printing is carried out, but

print quality is deficient or

paper feeding is not normal.

Is the Ink Ribbon

installed correctly?

Does it have enough

ink?

OK?

END

Install print ribbon correctly or

change print ribbon for a new one.

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

Page 10

Part 7A (Serial Version)

Data from host is not printed normally.

Start

Set SW7 of DIP switch bank 1 to OFF.

Send data from host to printer.

Is “?” printed?

Are RS-232 interface

parameters set to

identical values at host

printer?

Make settings identical

OK?

END

Does interface

cable match

specifications?

Replace with a proper

cable

OK?

END

Is the interface

cable damaged or

broken?

Replace interface

cable.

OK?

END

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

Page 11

Part 7B (Parallel Version)

Data from host is not printed normally.

Start

Does interface

cable match

specifications?

Replace with a proper

cable

OK?

END

Is the interface

cable damaged or

broken?

Replace interface

cable.

OK?

END

Return unit to PC-PoS.

Beyond Local Repair.

Page 12

DIP Switch Settings for

the TM-U950

For the Serial interface model.

TM-U950 DIP switch 1

SW-1 Function ON OFF

1 Word Length 7 bits 8 bits 2 Parity check Enabled Disabled 3 Parity selection Even Odd 4 5

Transmission speed selection.

See the table below. 6 Connection of Customer Display Connected Not Connected 7 Data reception error Ignored Prints ‘?’ 8 Handshaking XON/ XOFF DTR/ DSR

Transmission Speed (BPS) SW 1-4 SW 1-5

1200 ON ON 2400 OFF ON 4800 ON OFF 9600 OFF OFF

TM-U950 switch 2

SW-2 Function ON OFF

1 Automatic CR Always Yes Always No 2 Receive buffer capacity 32 bytes 2048 bytes 3 Font Selection (Default setting) 9 x 9 7 x 9 4 Carriage Speed (paper roll initial

setting)

Low Speed High Speed

5 Handshaking Operation (Busy

Condition)

Receive Buffer Full Off-line or Receive buffer

Full 6 For Internal Use Only. Fixed 7 I/F Pin 6 reset signal Enabled Disabled 8 I/F Pin 25 reset signal Enabled Disabled

Note: Do not change the DIP switch settings while the

printer power is on. You may damage the printer.

Page 13

DIP Switch Settings for

the TM-950

For the Parallel interface model.

TM-U950P DIP switch 1

SW-1 Function ON OFF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Reserved

TM-U950P DIP switch 2 SW-2 Function ON OFF

1 Auto Line Feed Always Enabled Always Disabled 2 Receive Buffer 32 bytes 2048 bytes 3 Font Selection (Default) 9 x 9 7 x 9 4 Carriage Speed (paper roll initial

setting)

Low Speed High Speed

5 Handshaking Operation (Busy

Condition)

Receive Buffer Full Off-line or Receive buffer

Full 6 Internal Use Fixed 7 Undefined 8 Internal Use Fixed

Note: Do not change the DIP switch settings while the

printer power is on. You may damage the printer.

Page 14

ERROR LED Patterns for

the TMthe TM--U950U950

Error

Error Description

Error LED Blinking Pattern

Go to

part…

1) Head High Temperature Error.

Print head temperature is too

high or abnormal.

Main

2) Auto Cutter Error

Auto Cutter does not operate

correctly

Main

3) Home Position Detection Error.

Home position could not be

detected properly due to

paper jam in carriage or