Epson TM-T88, TM-T88P Operator's Manual

receipt printer

TM-T88/T88P

Operator’s Manual

400644802

Printer Parts a nd Labels

Slide open this cutter cover
only when paper roll cover
cannot be opened.

Printer cover

Control panel

Cutter cover

Labels

Label inside
printer cover

Label inside
cutter section

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

Cover open button

Instruction label
for when cover
won’t open

POWER
ERROR

PAPER
OUT

FEED

Caution label above drawer kick-out connector.

Quick Reference

This Quick Reference will direct you to key areas of this Operator’ s
Manual. For a complete listing of topics, see the Contents.

Printer Parts and Labels inside front cover
Ordering Paper page ix

Where to order paper

Setting Up the Printer page 1-1

How to set up the printer.

Installing and Replacing Paper page 1-7

How to load or change the paper roll.

Solving Problems page 3-1

How to correct problems.

Commands page 5-1

Descriptions of all the programming commands.

i

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, mecha nical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko
Epson Corporation. 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, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for
errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the
use of the information contained herein.

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
purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or
unauthorized modifications, re pairs, 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 against a ny damages or problems arising
from the use of any options or any consumable products other t han those desig nated
as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson
Corporation.

EPSON and ESC/POS are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.

NOTICE: The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.

Copyright © 1996 by Seiko Epson Corporation, Nagano, Japan.

ii

FCC CLASS A

FCC Compliance Statement

For American Users

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment.

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interferen ce, in whic h case the user will b e required to
correct the interference at his own expense.

WARNING

The connection of a non- shielded print er interfac e cable to th is printer will i nvalidate
the FCC Verification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed
the limits established by the FCC for this equipment.

You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void your authority to operate the
equipment.

FOR CANADIAN USERS

This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interfer ence­Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigenves du Règlement
sur le matériel brouileur du Canada.

GEREÄUSCHPEGEL

Gemäß der Dritten Verordnung zum Gerätesicherheitsgesetz
(Maschinenlärminformations- Verordnung-3. GSGV) ist der arbeitsplatzbezogene
Geräusch-Emissionswert kleiner als 70 dB(A) (basierend auf ISO 7779).

iii

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Product Name: Printer
Type Name: 129A

These printers conform to the following Directives and Norms

Directive 89/336/EEC

EN 55022 (1986 and 1994) Class B
EN 50082-1 (1992)
IEC 801-2 (1991)
IEC 801-3 (1984)
IEC 801-4 (1991)

Directive 90/384/EEC

EN45501: (1992)

iv

EMI and Safety Standards Applied

The following standards are applied only to the printers that are so
labeled. (EMC is tested using the EPSON PS-170 power supply)

Europe: CE marking

EN55022
EN50082-1
EN45501

Safety Standard: TÜV (EN 60950)

North America: EMI: FCC Class A

Safety standards: UL 1950-2TH-D3

C-UL

Japan: EMI: VCCI Class 1

v

About This Manual

Setting Up and Using

❏ Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking the printer and setting it up.
❏ Chapter 2 contains in formation on u sing the printer.
❏ Chapter 3 contains troubleshooting information.

Reference

❏ Chapter 4 contains specifications and character code tables.
❏ Chapter 5 contains the commands.
❏ Appendix A tells how to change the DIP switch and paper near end settings,

and Appendix B lists the EPSON Sales Subsidiaries and their addresses.

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

WARNING:

Warnings must be followed carefully to avoi d serious bodily
injury.

CAUTION:

Cautions must be observed to avoid minor injury to yourself or
damage to your equipment.

Note:

Notes have important information and useful tips on the op eration of your
printer.

vi

Introduction

Features

The TM-T88 and TM-T88P are high-quality POS printers that can print on a paper
roll. The printers have the following features:

Printing

❏ High speed printing: approximately 16.5 lines/second (1/6 inch feed).
❏ Low-noise thermal printing.
❏ High reliability due to a stable mechanism.

Application Software

❏ Command protocol is based on the ESC/POS® standard.
❏ Various layouts are possible by using page mode.
❏ Characters can be scaled up to 64 times as large as the standard size. S m oo thing

is also possible.

❏ Bar code printing is possible by using a bar code command. Bar codes can be

printed both in the vertical direction (fence bar code) and in the horizontal
direction (ladder bar code).

❏ Repeated operation and copy printing are possible by using macro definitions.
❏ Character font size (12 x 24 font or 9 x 24 font) can be selected using a command.

Printer Handling

❏ Easy paper roll loading.
❏ An auto-cutter is st andard.
❏ The printer allows easy maintenance for tasks such as head cleaning.
❏ Four different print densities can be selected by DIP switches.
❏ The built-in interface provides control capability for two drawers.

Introductionvii

Options and Accessories

❏ EPSON power supply unit, PS-170.
❏ Affixing tapes (model : DF-10).
❏ RS-485 interface board can be equipped as a dealer option.
❏ Wall hanging bracke t se t (W H-1 0)

viii Introduction

Ordering Paper and Supplies

Thermal roll paper can be ordered from the supplier in your area.

Specified Thermal Roll Paper: NTP080-80

In Japan: Nakagawa Seisakujo

2-5-21 Nishiki-Cho Warabi-Shi
Saitama-Ken 335 Japan

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

In U.S.A.: Nakagawa Mfg (USA) Inc.

2305 Lincoln Avenue
Hayward, CA 94545 USA

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

In Europe: Nakagawa Mfg (Europe) GmbH.

Krützpoort 16, 47804
Krefeld, Germany

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

In Southeast Asia: N.A.K. Mfg (Malaysia) SDN BHD

Lot 19-11, Bersatu Industrial Complexs,
Jalan Satu, Kaw Per. Cheras Jaya,.
Balakong Industrial Area, 43200 Cheras.
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Introduction ix

Other Qualified Suppliers for Thermal Paper

The following suppliers sell thermal paper that may be used if
desired. Contact each company for information.

Original paper: TF50KS-E

Nippon Paper Industry Co., Ltd.

1-12-1, Yuraku-Cho, Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 100 Japan

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Original paper: PD 160R

New Oji Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd.

7-5 Ginza 4-Chome Chuo-Ku
Tokyo 104 Japan

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Original paper: AF50KS-E

Jujo Thermal Oy (Finland)

P.O. Box 92 FIN27501 Kauttua Finland

Original paper: F380

x Introduction

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Kanzaki Specialty Papers, Inc.

Cummings Street
Ware, MA 01082 U.S.A.

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Contents

Quick Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Connecting the Cables and Grounding the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Installing or Replacing the Paper Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7

Using the Power Switch Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10

Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10

Running the self test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10

Adjustments and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12

Chapter 2 Using the Printer

Operating the Control Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Panel Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Chapter 3 Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

General problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Printing problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Cleaning the print head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Paper handling problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Auto cutter problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Hexadecimal Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

xi

Chapter 4 Reference Information

Printing Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Paper Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Electrical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Reliability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Environmental Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Character Code Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6

Chapter 5 Commands

Command Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Control Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Appendix A DIP Switch and Paper Near End Settings

Setting the DIP Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Adjusting the Paper Near End Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8

Appendix B EPSON Sales Subsidiaries

xii

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking

Your printer box should include these items. If any items are
damaged or missing, please contact your dealer for assistance.

Printer

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

Paper roll

Hexagonal
lock screws

Switch cover

Instruction label for
when paper roll cover
cannot be opened

See the note on page 1-3 for information abou t the hexag o na l lo ck screws.

Setting Up the Printer 1-1

Connecting the Cables and Grounding the Printer

You can connect up to four c ables to the print er. The y a ll connect to
the connector panel on the back of the printer, which is shown
below:

FG

Interface

Grounding screw

FG

Drawer kick-out

DC24V

DK

Power supply

Notes:

There is a caution label above the drawer kick-out connector.
Depending on the interface installed, the interface connector on
your printer may look different from the one illustrated.

Before connecting any of the cables, make sure that both the printer
and the computer are turned off.

Connecting the compu t er

You need an appropriate interface cable.

1. Plug the cable connector securely into the printer’s interface
connector.

2. Tighten the screws on both sides of the cable connector.

1-2 Setting Up the Printer

Note:

Your printer has inch-type hexagonal lock screws installed. If
your interface cable requires millimeter-type screws, replace the
inch-type screws with the enclosed millimeter-type screws using
a hex screwdriver (5 mm).

Inch screw

3. Attach the other end of the cable to the computer.

Millimeter screw

Connecting the Drawer

WARNING:

Use a drawer that matches th e prin te r sp eci ficat ion . Usi ng a n
improper drawer may damage the drawer as well as the
printer.

CAUTION:

Do not connect a telephone line to the drawer kick-out
connector; otherwise the printer and the telephone line may
be damaged.

Setting Up the Printer 1-3

Plug the drawer cable into the drawer kick-out connector on the
back of the printer next to the power supply connector.

Anschließen der Lade

WARNUNG:

Eine für den Drucker geeignete Lade verwenden. Bei
Verwendung einer falschen Lade kann diese oder der
Drucker beschädigt werden.

ACHTUNG:

Kein Telefonkabel an die Schnappsteckerbuchse
anschließen, da sonst der Drucker und die Telef onkabel
beschädigt werden können.

1-4 Setting Up the Printer

Das Kabel der Lade an die Schnappsteckerbuchse hinten am
Drucker neben dem Netßzanschluß

anschließen

.

Grounding the Printer

You need a ground wire to ground your printer. Make sure that the
wire is AWG 18 or equivalent.

1. Make sure that the printer is turned off.

2. Connect the ground wire to the printer using one of the the FG
screws on the back of the printer, as shown.

FG

FG

DC24V

DK

Connecting the Power Supply

Use the optional EPSON PS-170 or equivalent power supply for
your printer.

Setting Up the Printer 1-5

WARNING:

Make sure that you use the EPSON PS-170 power supply or
equivalent. Usi ng an incorrect power supply may c ause fire or
electrical shock.

CAUTIONS:

When connecting or disconnecting the power supply from
the printer, make sure that the power supply is not plugged
into an electrical outlet. Otherwise you may damage the
power supply or the printer.

If the power supply’s rated voltage and your outlet’s voltage
do not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not
plug in the power cord. Otherwise, you may damage the
power supply or the printer.

1. Make sure that the printer’s power switch is turned off, and the
power supply’s power cord is unplugged from the electrical
outlet.

2. Check the label on the power supply to make sure that the
voltage required by the power supply matches that of your
electrical outlet.

3. Plug in the power supply’s cable as shown below. Notice that
the flat side of the plug faces down.

Note:

To remove the DC cable connector, make sure that the power
supply’s power cord is unplugged; then grasp the connector at the
arrow and pull it straight out.

1-6 Setting Up the Printer

Installing or Replacing the Paper Roll

Note:

Be sure to use paper rolls that meet the specifications. Do not
use paper rolls that have the paper glued to the core because the
printer cannot detect the paper end correctly.

1. Make sure that the printer is not recei ving data; otherwi se, data
may be lost.

2. Open the paper roll cover by pressi ng the cove r-open butto n. If
the cover-open button will not open the cover, see page 3-4 or
3-6 in Troubleshooting.

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

3. Remove the used paper roll core if there is one.

Setting Up the Printer 1-7

4. Insert the paper roll as shown.

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

5. Be sure to note the correct direction that the paper comes off the
roll.

1-8 Setting Up the Printer

6. Pull out a small amount of paper, as shown. Then close the
cover.

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

7. Tear off the paper as shown.

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

Setting Up the Printer 1-9

Using the Power Switch Cover

WARNING:

If an accident occurs when the power switch cover is
attached, unplug the power supply cord from the outlet
immediately. Continued usage may lead to fire or shock.

You can use the enclosed power swi tch cove r t o mak e sure that the
power switch is not accidentally pressed. If you want to use this
cover, install it as shown in the illustra tion below.

POWER

ERROR

PAPER

OUT

FEED

Self Test

The self test lets you know if your printer is operating properly. It
checks the control circuits , printer mechanisms, print quality, ROM
version, and DIP switch settin gs.

This test is independent of any other equipment or software.

Running the self test

1. Make sure the printer is turned off and the printer covers are
closed properly.

1-10 Setting Up the Printer