OKI Microline 520, Microline 521 Technical Reference Guide

Chapter 0 Manual Front Cover

MICROLINE

520/521 Printer Handbook

59256804 Printed in USA

Division of Oki America, Inc.

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Chapter 1 Unpacking

Unpacking

Choose a sturdy table, desk or printer stand to place your printer on when you remove it from the carton. Be sure to save all packing materials in case you need to ship the printer again. Check the box for these contents:

1) Printer

2) Ribbon cartridge

3) Power cord

Interface cable and paper are sold separately.If any of these items is missing or damaged, see

Note:

your dealer immediately for a replacement.

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Remove The Protective Film

Peel the clear protective film from the carriage cover (1). Lift up on the ridged area at either end of the carriage cover ( 2 ), and peel the clear protective film from the access cover ( 3 ). Press the carriage cover back into place.

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Remove The Shipping Retainers

Open the access cover ( 1 ) by grasping the tabs at either end and lifting. Remove the printhead shipping retainer ( 2 ), leaving the cover open. Grasp the front edge of the paper separator ( 3 ) and pull it up. Remove the styrofoam shipping retainer, then lower the paper separator and press it into place.

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Install (or Replace) The Ribbon Cartridge

Be sure to use only ribbons specifically for use with MICROLINE 520/521 printers. For best results,

Note:

use genuine OKIDATA ribbons, With the access cover open, slide the printhead ( 1 ) to the center of the platen.

Part No. 52107001.

Caution!!!

If you're replacing the ribbon, lift up the cartridge at the end nearest the platen, then lift it out, and discard it.

Remove the new ribbon cartridge from its packaging. Holding the ribbon cartridge with the knob ( 2 ) facing up and the ribbon shield ( 3 ) facing the platen, fit

the grooves on either side at the back end of the cartridge over the pins on the ribbon plate ( 4 ). Lower the front of the the cartridge over the printhead ( 5 ) until it snaps into place, then turn the knob ( 2 ) in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) to take up the ribbon slack.

Printhead may be hot!!!

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Connect to Power and Computer

You must supply the cable for connecting your printer to your computer. A shielded cable is required in order to ensure compliance of this equipment with FCC regulations.

Make sure both the printer and the computer are OFF. Plug the power cord into the back of the printer ( 1 ). Plug the other end into a grounded outlet.

These instructions are for the standard parallel interface. If you have the optional serial interface, see the instructions included with it.

Plug the interface cable into the partallel port on the back of the printer ( 2 ), and secure it in place with the wire loops ( 3 ).

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Power Up

Turn the printer on. The printhead will cross back and forth along the platen, and the pins will gently fire to determine the printhead gap setting. The POWER light will come on. The ALARM light will also come on, but don't be concerned: it's just telling you that there is no paper loaded.

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Chapter 2 Loading paper

Your printer has provision for

· Single sheets (top feed)

· Continuous-forms (rear feed)

You can also install options:

· Cut Sheet Feeder, for top feed, holds 100 sheets

· Push and/ or Pull Tractors, for bottom feed of continuous forms, including

- labels

- heavy card stock

- multi-part forms

See the instructions provided with the options for information on installing them andloading paper

Note:

with the option installed. Your printers innovative, smart printhead automatically detects and adjusts to the thickness of the paper

you're using, so you don't have to fuss with setting the printhead gap when you change the type of paper or print path youre using.

See Appendix A for more details on the types and sizes of print media you can use.(

)

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Loading Rear- Feed Paper

The rear-feed path is recommended for printing reports, etc., on single-thickness, continuous-form paper. For graphics or charts, it's best to use the single-sheet paper path.

If you have any paper in the paper path, be sure to remove it from the path before

Note:

installing rear-feed paper! Move the paper lever to the position marked REAR ( 1 ). Grasp the front edge of the paper

separator ( 2 ) and pull it up to access the tractors ( 3 ).

Pull up on the tractor lock levers ( 4 ) to release them, then open the tractor covers ( 5 ). Position the right- hand tractor for the width of the paper you're loading. Pull the paper through the opening between the printer and the rear cover, and place the first two holes on each side over the tractor pins ( 6 ). Please note that an equal number of paper holes must be engaged on either tractor in order to ensure proper paper feed.

The movement of the left tractor is limited to ensure that the paper will always contact

Note:

the paper sensor when loaded. Close the tractor covers and adjust the left tractor to position the edge of the paper: reference

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

marks ( 7 ) on the printer indicate the left edge position for the two most common paper sizes. Lock the left tractor in place by pushing back on the lock lever. Adjust the right tractor so that the paper holes are centered on the pins (careful if paper is stretched too tight or left too loose, it can jam and cause problems), then lock the right tractor in place by pushing back on the lock lever.

Close the paper separator ( 8 ) and flip the wire feed guide ( 9 ) over onto the pull-up roller assembly.

Note:

The wire feed guide keeps paper from curling back into the printer.

Push the FF/ LOAD button. The paper automatically feeds into the printer and the ALARM light goes out. The printhead moves back and forth, gently firing the pins to sense the paper thickness and set the printhead gap.Check the baseline for the Top of Form (TOF), indicated by the red line on the clear plastic paper shield ( 10 ). If its OK, press the SEL button and you're ready to start printing. If it needs adjustment, set the Top of Form following the instructions on page 16(

)

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Loading Single-Sheet Paper

The single sheet path is best for letterhead stationery, memos, and envelopes and is recommended for printing graphs and charts because it provides the most accurate control of the paper.

If you have any continuous-form paper in the paper path, you must press the PARK button on the

Note:

front panel to remove it from the path before loading single sheets. Make sure the printer is turned ON and deselected (SEL light off press SEL button to deselect if

necessary).

The ALARM light will remain on until paper is loaded.Move the paper lever to the position marked

Note:

TOP (1 )

Grasp the back of the paper separator and unsnap it from the housing, then swing it up into the singlesheet feed position ( 2 ), making sure that the wire feed guide is nestled in the separator. Adjust the paper feed guides for the width of the paper and drop a sheet of paper into the separator ( 3 ). The paper will automatically feed into the printer, and the printhead will move back and forth, gently firing the pins to sense the paper thickness and set the printhead gap.

If the paper doesn't feed in properly, the "15" light on the control panel will begin flashing.

Note: correct this, press theSHIFT and RESET buttons simultaneously, then reload the sheet.

Check the baseline for the Top of Form (TOF), indicated by the red line on the clear plastic paper shield ( Í ). If its OK, press the SEL button and youre ready to start printing. If it needs adjustment, set the Top of Form following the instructions on the next page.

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Setting Top of Form

Make sure the printer is deselected (SEL light off if necessary, press SEL button to deselect printer).

Hold down the SHIFT button ( 1 ) and press: FF/ LOAD button ( 2 ) to move the paper up in micro increments (TOF lower on page), or

LF button ( 3 ) to move the paper down in micro increments (TOF higher on page).

The red line ( 4 ) on the clear plastic paper shield shows the baseline of the current printing position to help you place the top of form.

When you're done setting the TOF, press the SEL button ( 5 ) to reselect the printer.

ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )

Temporarily Changing Top of Form Setting

To temporarily change the Top of Form setting for a particular print job, deselect the printer (press SEL button) and press the LF button (1 ) until you reach the TOF position you want to use. The printer will retain this setting until you turn it off.

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+ 32 hidden pages