User manual EPSON DFX-9000 - REFERENCE GUIDE

® 9-pin Dot Matrix Printer 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 prior written permission 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 Corporation nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by the purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, 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 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 trademark of International Business Machines 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 © 2005 Seiko Epson Corporation. All rights reserved. Reference Guide Contents Chapter 1 Safety Instructions Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 For United Kingdom users. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Chapter 2 Paper Handling Using the Two-Tractor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Positioning the paper supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What paper types you can use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Paper onto the Front Tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Paper onto the Rear Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the Paper Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the top-of-form position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the printing position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the label position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tearing Off the Printed Pages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Tear Off button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switching Between Front and Rear Tractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing on Multi-Part Forms and Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using multi-part forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 15 15 22 29 29 32 33 34 34 35 38 40 43 43 45 Chapter 3 Printer Software About Your Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Using the Printer Driver with Windows Me, 98, and 95 . . . . . . . . 47 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications . . 48 2 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu. . . . . . . . . .50 Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Using the Printer Driver with Windows XP, 2000, and Windows NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications . . .53 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu. . . . . . . . . .56 Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Printer Driver Settings Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Using EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Setting up EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Installing EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Setting Up Your Printer on a Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Sharing the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Setting up your printer as a shared printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Setting for the clients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Installing the printer driver from the CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . . .77 Canceling Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Uninstalling the Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Uninstalling the printer driver and EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Chapter 4 Control Panel Buttons and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Selecting a Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 About Your Printer's Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Understanding the printer's settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Changing the printer's settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Lock-Out Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Turning on or off the lock-out mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Chapter 5 Problem Solver Diagnosing the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 Using the error indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 3 Printing a Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing Hex Dump. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power supply problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper loading or feeding problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing position problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing or printout quality problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Option using problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Network problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Correcting USB Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clearing Paper Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canceling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contacting Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Support Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 111 113 114 115 117 119 124 125 126 130 130 132 133 133 Chapter 6 Options and Consumables Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Genuine Epson ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Pull Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the pull tractor with the front tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the pull tractor with the rear tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Perforation Cutter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the perforation cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attaching the perforated paper output attachment and output tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the perforation cutter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interface Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing an interface card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using a serial interface card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Print Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the IP address from the control panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 134 134 139 139 142 146 148 149 150 154 156 158 161 162 164 165 165 4 Appendix A Product Information Printer Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167 Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170 Mechanical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170 Electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171 Electrical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173 Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174 Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174 Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 Command Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185 EPSON ESC/P control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185 IBM PPDS emulation control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Standards and Approvals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188 Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189 Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Glossary Index 5 Chapter 1 Safety Instructions Warnings, Cautions, and Notes w c Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment. Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer. Hot Parts Caution Symbol K This symbol is placed on the print head to indicate that it may be hot. Never touch this part just after the printer has been used. Let it cool for a few minutes before touching it. 6 Safety Instructions Important Safety Instructions Read all of these safety instructions before using the printer. In addition, follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer itself. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 When setting up the printer Because the printer weights approximately 34 kg, you should not lift or carry it alone. Two people should carry it by the bottom. Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a radiator or heat source. Place the printer on a flat surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle. Do not place this product on a soft, unstable surface like a bed or a sofa, or a small, enclosed area, as this restricts ventilation. Do not block or cover the slots and openings in the printer's cabinet, and do not insert objects through the slots. Use only the type of power source indicated on the printer's label. If you are not sure of the power supply specifications in your area, contact your local power company or consult your dealer. Connect all equipment to properly grounded electrical outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off. Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord. The power cord should be placed to avoid abrasions, cuts, fraying, crimping, kinking, and other damage. Safety Instructions If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the total ampere rating of all devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord's ampere rating. Also, make sure the total ampere of all devices plugged into the electrical outlet does not exceed the electrical outlet's ampere rating. Use only the power cord that comes with this product. Use of another cord may result in fire or electric shock. This product's power cord is for use with this product only. Use with other equipment may result in fire or electric shock. When maintaining the printer Unplug the printer before cleaning it, and always clean it with a piece of damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid onto the printer. Except as specifically explained in this guide, do not attempt to service the printer yourself. Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: i. ii. If the power cord or plug is damaged. If liquid has entered the printer. iii. If the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged. iv. 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. 8 Safety Instructions If you plan to use the printer in Germany, observe the following: To provide adequate short-circuit protection and over-current protection for this printer, the building installation must be protected by a 16-amp circuit breaker. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 When Handling the paper Never feed labels backward using the Micro Feedd button. When fed backward, labels can easily peel off the backing sheet and cause a paper jam. Because labels are sensitive to temperature and humidity, use them only under normal operating conditions described below: Temperature Humidity 15 to 25°C (59 to 77°F) 30 to 60% RH Do not leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they may curl around the platen and jam when you resume printing. Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded. Safety Instructions 9 When operating the printer Adjust only those controls that are covered in the user documentation. Improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage requiring extensive repair by a qualified technician. Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds before turning it back on; otherwise, you may damage the printer. Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the self test. Always press the Pause button to stop printing and then turn off the printer. Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the hex dump. Always press the Pause button to stop printing and then turn off the printer. Do not reconnect the power cord to an electrical outlet that has the wrong voltage for your printer. Never replace the print head yourself; you may damage the printer. Also, other parts of the printer must be checked when the print head is replaced. You need to move the print head by hand to 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 touching it. 10 Safety Instructions ENERGY STAR® Compliance 1 As an ENERGY STAR® Partner, Epson has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR® guidelines for energy efficiency. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 The International ENERGY STAR® Office Equipment Program is a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, scanners, and multifunction devices in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power generation. Their standards and logos are uniform among participating nations. For United Kingdom users Use of options Epson (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or consumable products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Epson (UK) Limited. Safety information w Warning: This appliance must be earthed. Refer to the rating plate for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the supply voltage. Safety Instructions 11 Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are coloured in accordance to the following code: Green and yellow -- Earth Blue -- Neutral Brown -- Live If you have to fit a plug: As the colours of the mains lead of this appliance may not match coloured markings used to identify the terminals in a plug, please proceed as follows: The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or the Earth symbol (G). The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter N. The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter L. If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a qualified electrician. Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating. 12 Safety Instructions Chapter 2 Paper Handling Using the Two-Tractor System Your printer's paper handling system consists of a front push tractor and a rear push tractor. Both tractors are easy to load and operate, and both accommodate a wide variety of paper types, including labels and multi-part forms. The printer automatically adjusts to the thickness of the paper loaded when the Platen gap setting is set to Auto in the SelecType mode. See "SelecType mode" on page 90 for details. You can print on continuous paper from 3 inches (76.2 mm) to 16.5 inches (419.1 mm) wide. Your printer senses the paper width automatically. When using more than two types of paper, load the paper you use most often onto the front tractor. The front tractor, which is easier to reach, will be available for the paper you change more frequently. Note: Before using your paper, check that it matches the specifications described in this manual. See "Paper" on page 174 for details. Also make sure your paper has a straight edge. If continuous paper is fed past the sprocket (on the last page, for example), the paper may not feed properly. When the optional perforation cutter (#C81507X) is installed, the printable width is from 4 inches (101.6 mm) to 16 inches (406.4 mm). 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 13 Positioning the paper supply You can load continuous paper from both the front and the rear, so be sure to leave enough room around the printer for the two stacks of fresh paper and for the printed stack. Make sure you align your paper supply with the paper loaded in the tractor so the paper feeds smoothly into the printer. The following illustration shows three ways to position your printer and paper: with the front tractor loaded, with the rear tractor loaded, and with both tractors loaded. Note: When loading paper from the front, be sure to put the paper someplace that is lower than the stand where the printer is placed. Placing the paper on the same level as the printer or higher may cause a paper jam. Make sure that your stack of printed pages does not interfere with the rear tractor's paper supply. 14 Paper Handling What paper types you can use You can use the continuous paper types listed below. Continuous Paper Types Single-sheet Multi-part Labels Continuous forms with labels Overlapping multi-part forms Front Tractor available available available available available Rear Tractor available available available available available 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Loading Paper onto the Front Tractor Follow these steps to load paper onto the front tractor: 1. Turn off the printer. Paper Handling 15 2. Open the printer's front cover by lifting up the middle of its bottom edge until it locks in place, as shown below. front cover 3. Release the sprocket lock levers on both the right and left sprockets by pulling each lever down. sprocket lock lever c Caution: Do not try to pull on or remove the elastic cord from the tractor. 16 Paper Handling 4. Position the left sprocket so that the sprocket pins are to the left of the arrow mark on the scale. Lock it into place by pushing up the sprocket lock lever. arrow mark on the scale 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5. Now slide the right sprocket to approximately match the width of your paper. (Do not lock it in place yet.) Paper Handling 17 6. Slide the two paper supports so that they are spaced evenly between the two sprockets. paper supports Note: To use the paper that is less than four inches wide, remove the paper supports. 7. Open both sprocket covers. sprocket cover 18 Paper Handling 8. Be sure your paper has a clean, straight edge, and then fit the first few holes in the paper over the sprocket pins as shown below. The side of the paper that you want to print on should be facing you. Now close the sprocket covers. 2 2 2 2 2 Note: When loading paper from the front, be sure to put the paper someplace that is lower than the stand where the printer is placed. Placing the paper on the same level as the printer or higher may cause a paper jam. 9. Slide the right sprocket so that the paper is straight and has no wrinkles. Lock the sprocket in place by pushing up the sprocket lock lever. After you lock the right sprocket, it may still move slightly; this is normal. 2 2 2 2 2 2 sprocket lock lever 2 Paper Handling 19 Note: Be careful not to pull the paper too tightly when adjusting the right sprocket. 10. Pull the printer's front cover out slightly and lower it until it is closed. c Caution: Do not push the front cover directly down; always pull it out slightly before closing. Before turning on the printer, be absolutely sure you have removed all protective materials. (See the Unpacking instructions that are provided with the printer for more details.) Turning on the printer while the print head cannot move may seriously damage the mechanism. 20 Paper Handling 11. Turn on the printer. The print head moves to the left and the LCD turns on. Also, either the front or rear tractor arrow on the Tractor Select indicator lights up, depending on which tractor was selected when the printer was turned off last. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 12. Check the Tractor Select indicator to see which tractor is selected: If the front tractor arrow light is red, press the LF/FF Load button to load the paper. If the rear tractor arrow light is red, press the Front/Rear button to switch to the front tractor. When the printer switches tractors, it also loads the paper automatically. Paper Handling 21 The Tractor Select indicator changes to green. The paper is now loaded to the top-of-form position. If it looks like the printing will start too high or low on the page, adjust the paper position. See "Adjusting the Paper Position" on page 29 for instructions. Loading Paper onto the Rear Tractor Follow the steps below to load paper onto the rear tractor. (You do not need to remove the paper from the front tractor first.) 1. Turn off the printer. 2. Open the printer's top cover as shown below. 22 Paper Handling 3. Open the rear flap at the back of the top cover. 2 rear flap 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4. Release the sprocket lock levers on the rear tractor's right and left sprockets by pulling each lever forward. sprocket lock lever c Caution: Do not try to pull on or remove the elastic cord from the tractor. 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 23 5. Position the right sprocket so that the sprocket pins are to the right of the arrow mark on the scale. Lock it in place by pushing the sprocket lock lever back. arrow mark on the scale 6. Now slide the left sprocket to approximately match the width of your paper. (Do not lock it in place yet.) 24 Paper Handling 7. Open both sprocket covers. 2 sprocket cover 2 2 2 8. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. With the side of the paper you want to print on facing down, insert your paper through the opening at the rear of the printer. Note: You may find it easier to load the paper by standing to the side. That way you can feed the paper with one hand and pull it through with the other. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 25 9. Fit the first few holes in the paper over the sprocket pins as shown below. Now close the sprocket covers. 10. Slide the left sprocket to remove any slack in the paper. Make sure the paper is straight and has no wrinkles. Push the sprocket lock lever back to lock the sprocket in place. After you lock the left sprocket, it may still move slightly; this is normal. sprocket lock lever 26 Paper Handling Note: Be careful not to pull the paper too tightly when adjusting the left sprocket. 11. Close the top cover and the rear flap. The paper is now loaded in the standby position. 2 2 2 2 2 12. Turn on the printer. The print head moves to the left and the LCD turns on. Also, either the front or rear tractor arrow on the Tractor Select indicator lights up, depending on which tractor was selected when the printer was turned off last. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 27 13. Check the Tractor Select indicator to see which tractor is selected: If the rear tractor arrow light is red, press the LF/FF Load button to load the paper. If the front tractor arrow light is red, press the Front/Rear button to switch to the rear tractor. When the printer switches tractors, it also loads the paper automatically. The Tractor Select indicator changes to green. The paper is now loaded to the top-of-form position. If it looks like the printing will start too high or low on the page, adjust the paper position. See "Adjusting the Paper Position" on page 29 for instructions. 28 Paper Handling Adjusting the Paper Position You can adjust the top-of-form position as well as the printing position at any point on the page by using the Micro Feed, and Top of Form buttons. The printer then remembers the new top-of-form position. When you use the optional pull tractor, you can adjust the paper position as described below. Note: The printing position (based on the top-of-form position) is controlled by your software. To change the print position, adjust your software's print settings. Use the following procedure only if your software does not allow print position adjustment. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Adjusting the top-of-form position The top-of-form position is the position to which the printer feeds the paper when it loads it or performs a form feed. This position is important because it determines where the printing begins on each page. If the printing is too high or low on the page, you can adjust the top-of-form position either permanently or temporarily depending on how you use the Top of Form button. When you want to permanently change the top-of-form position, you enter the top-of-form mode using the Top of Form control panel button. The printer remembers the new top-of-form position even after the printer is turned off, reset, or initialized. (The printer remembers separate top-of-form positions for the front and rear tractors.) When you want to temporarily change the top-of-form position, you adjust the position using the Micro Feed buttons during pause status without entering top-of-form mode. The printer remembers the temporary top-of-form position until the next time you load paper, switch tractors, or turn off the printer. Paper Handling 29 You can set the top-of-form position from 4.2 mm (0.17 inch) to 33.9 mm (1.33 inch) below the top edge of the paper. The factory setting is 8.5 mm (0.33 inch). Follow the steps below to reset (permanently change) the top-of-form position. c Caution: To adjust the top-of-form position when you are printing on labels, continuous forms with labels, or overlapping multi-part forms, use the Micro Feedu button only; do not enter the top-of-form mode. Never feed labels backward through the printer. 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the desired tractor is selected (the corresponding tractor arrow should be lit). 2. Open the upper cover. 3. Press the Top of Form button to enter top-of-form mode. The printer beeps once, and the Top of Form light turns on. 30 Paper Handling 4. Use the Micro Feed buttons to feed the paper to the desired top-of-form position. The letter "A" on the ribbon protector shows you where the bottom edge of your first line of text will print. This position is based on the first printable line of text. If your software inserts a top margin of five lines, your text will actually print five lines below the top-of-form position. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5. Press the Top of Form button again to exit and save your new top-of-form position. Then close the top cover. Note: If you enter top-of-form mode right after loading paper, you can set the loading and top-of-form positions at the same time. (When you use the optional pull tractor, you cannot adjust the loading position.) Paper Handling 31 Adjusting the printing position You may need to adjust the printing position in the middle of a page, or to adjust the top-of-form position when using labels. When you move the printing position, you temporarily change the top-of-form position by the same amount. For example, if you adjust the printing in the middle of the page so that it falls a half-inch lower, the next page will begin printing a half-inch lower as well. The printer remembers this temporary top-of-form position until the next time you load paper, switch tractors, or turn off the printer. To adjust the printing position or top-of-form position, follow these steps: 1. Start printing your document. When you reach the text that you want to align at a particular spot on the page, press the Pause button to stop printing. 2. Use the Micro Feed buttons to adjust the position where you want your next line of text to fall. Press the button once to feed the paper forward or backward in 1/216-inch increments, or hold it down to move the paper continuously. c Caution: To adjust the printing position when you are printing on labels, continuous forms with labels, or overlapping multi-part forms, use the Micro Feedu button only. Never feed labels backward through the printer. When fed backward, labels may easily peel off the backing sheet and cause a paper jam. 3. When you are finished, press the Pause button to resume printing your document. 32 Paper Handling Adjusting the label position Follow the steps below to adjust the label position: Note: See "Changing the settings in the SelecType mode" on page 101 to find how to make settings in the SelecType mode and see "Changing the settings in the default-setting mode" on page 103 to find how to make settings in the default-setting mode. 1. Make sure that the printer is turned on. 2. Set the position for the settings listed below in the default-setting mode. Label base pos. Label top pos. Label length Label left pos. Label width Base sheet PG (Base sheet PG position number) Label paper PG (Label paper PG position number) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 33 3. Make the settings in the SelecType mode as shown below. Forms w/labels: Pge length front: Pge length rear: On paper length when using the front tractor paper length when using the rear tractor Paper Handling Tearing Off the Printed Pages After you finish printing, you can use the tear-off feature to advance continuous paper on the push tractor to the tear-off edge of the printer. You can then easily tear off printed sheets. When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds paper back to the loading position. This feature lets you save paper that would normally be lost between documents. If the perforation between pages is not aligned with the tear-off edge, you can adjust the tear-off position using the micro-feed feature. The printer remembers this new tear-off position. c Caution: Never use the tear-off feature to reverse feed labels, overlapping multi-part forms, or continuous forms with labels. Using the Tear Off button Whether or not the printer is in tear-off mode, you can use the Tear Off button to advance continuous paper to the tear-off position by following the steps below. 1. Make sure printing has finished. Then press the Tear Off button. The printer advances the paper to the tear-off edge and the Tear Off light comes on. 2. Tear off all printed pages. If the perforation is not aligned with the tear-off edge, adjust the tear-off position. See "Adjusting the tear-off position" on page 35 for instructions. 3. When you resume printing, the printer feeds the paper back to the loading position and begins printing. (You can also manually feed the paper back to the loading position by pressing the Tear Off button again.) 34 Paper Handling Adjusting the tear-off position If the paper's perforation is not aligned with the tear-off edge, follow these steps: 1. Turn on the printer and select the desired tractor. 2. Open the paper separator cover (the flap on the top part of the printer's top cover). This exposes the printer's tear-off edge. 3. Press the Tear Off button to enter the tear-off mode. The Tear Off light comes on and the printer feeds the paper's perforation to the printer's tear-off edge. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 35 4. If the paper is not aligned with the tear-off edge, press the Micro Feed buttons to feed the paper forward or backward in 1/216-inch increments. (You can also hold down either Micro Feed button to feed the paper continuously.) tear-off-edge Note: You can reset the tear-off position only when you are in tear-off mode (after you press the Tear Off button once and the Tear Off light is on). The printer remembers the new tear-off position even after the printer is turned off, reset, or initialized. 36 Paper Handling 5. Tear off the page using the tear-off edge on the printer's top cover. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 6. Press the Tear Off button to feed the paper back to the top-of-form position. You are now ready to print your next document. c Caution: Always tear off the printed document before you feed the paper back to the top-of-form position. Never feed paper backward more than one page. Paper Handling 37 Switching Between Front and Rear Tractors You can easily switch between paper loaded on the front tractor and paper loaded on the rear tractor. The instructions below explain how to switch from the front tractor to the rear tractor, but you can follow the same steps to switch from the rear tractor to the front tractor. c Caution: Never switch between tractors if labels are already loaded in the printer. First remove the labels by tearing off the fresh supply below the tractor and pressing LF/FF Load to eject the remaining labels. Before you start, make sure the printer is turned on and that the front tractor is selected (the front tractor arrow on the Tractor Select indicator should be lit). If you are in the middle of printing a document, wait for the printer to finish printing before you switch tractors. Then follow these steps: 1. If no paper is loaded in the rear tractor, load paper to the standby position (the first five pins of the sprockets). See "Loading Paper onto the Rear Tractor" on page 22 for instructions. 38 Paper Handling 2. If you have a printed document or excess paper still in the printer, use the tear-off feature described in the previous section to tear off the document or excess paper. 2 2 2 2 2 c Caution: Always tear off the printed document and any excess paper before switching tractors. Never feed more than one page backward through the printer. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3. Press the Front/Rear button to switch to the rear tractor. The front-loaded paper automatically feeds back to the standby position and the rear-loaded paper advances to the top-of-form position. Paper Handling 39 Changing the Paper This section describes how to change paper on the front tractor, but you can follow the same steps when you change the paper on the rear tractor. Before you start, make sure the printer is turned on and the front tractor is selected. (If you are changing the paper on the rear tractor, the rear tractor should be selected instead.) c Caution: Never change paper using this procedure if labels, continuous forms with labels, or overlapping multi-part forms are already loaded in the printer. Remove the labels by tearing off the fresh supply below the tractor and pressing LF/FF Load to eject the remaining labels. Then load the new paper. See "Loading Paper onto the Front Tractor" on page 15 (or "Loading Paper onto the Rear Tractor" on page 22) for instructions. 1. If you have a printed document still in the printer, use the tear-off feature to tear off the document or excess paper. c Caution: Always tear off printed documents before changing the paper. Never feed more than one page backward through the printer. 40 Paper Handling 2. Press the Front/Rear button to switch to the rear tractor. The front-loaded paper automatically feeds back to the standby position. 2 2 2 2 2 3. Open the printer's front cover. (To change the rear-loaded paper, open the printer's top cover and the rear flap.) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 41 4. Open the sprocket covers and remove the paper from the tractor. sprocket cover 5. Load the new paper. See "Loading Paper onto the Rear Tractor" on page 22 (or "Loading Paper onto the Front Tractor" on page 15) for instructions. 42 Paper Handling Printing on Multi-Part Forms and Labels Your printer can print on both single-sheet and continuous multi-part forms, as well as on labels. You can print on various types of paper, including multi-part forms and labels. Your printer can also handle a variety of paper thicknesses, from thin paper to ten sheets (or seven sheets on the rear tractor) including the original. The printer automatically adjusts to the thickness of your paper when the Platen gap setting is set to Auto in the SelecType mode. See "SelecType mode" on page 90 for details. When you print on multi-part forms and labels, the positioning of your text on the page can be critical. See "Adjusting the Paper Position" on page 29 for more information on aligning your text. You should also check both your printer and your software page length settings before you load labels or forms. If you are using multi-part forms or labels, you may want to use the optional pull tractor. See "Using the Pull Tractor" on page 139 for details. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 c Caution: When printing on labels, be absolutely sure that your printing stays within the printable area of the label to prevent damage to the print head. See "Paper" on page 174 for more information on the printable area. Using multi-part forms You can use multi-part (carbonless or carbon-backed) forms with up to seven sheets, including the original, on the rear tractor. On the front tractor, you can use forms with up to ten sheets. Paper Handling 43 You load continuous multi-part forms the same way you load any other type of continuous paper. Before loading multi-part forms, however, make sure the paper has a clean straight edge and does not separate or tear apart. See "Loading Paper onto the Front Tractor" on page 15 or "Loading Paper onto the Rear Tractor" on page 22 for instructions. The DFX-9000 can print on multi-part forms that vary in thickness, such as forms with labels on them or forms that overlap slightly where they are glued together. These forms are thicker in the label area and in the places where they overlap or are joined together, as shown below. When you use forms with labels, set the Continuous forms with labels setting to On. When you use overlapping multi-part forms, set the Overlapping multipart forms setting to On and the Platen gap setting to 0 to 14 according to the paper thickness you are using. See "Changing the settings in the SelecType mode" on page 101 for details. Overlapping multi-part forms Continuous forms with labels c Caution: Be sure to set the Overlapping multi-part forms setting or Continuous forms with Label setting to On before you print on the respective forms. See "Changing the settings in the SelecType mode" on page 101 for instructions. 44 Paper Handling When you print on these forms, make sure that the printing fits within the printable area and that the top-of-form position is set properly. See "Paper" on page 174 for more information about the printable area. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Using labels When selecting labels for printing, always choose the type mounted on continuous paper with sprocket holes for use with a tractor. See "Loading Paper onto the Front Tractor" on page 15 for instructions for loading continuous paper. c Caution: Never use the Tear Off, Front/Rear, or Micro Feedd button when labels are loaded in the printer. Never feed labels backward through the printer because they can easily come off the backing and jam the printer. Although you must never feed labels backward, you can still use the automatic paper handling features if you follow these precautions: Instead of using the Tear Off button to remove printed labels, press the LF/FF Load button until the last printed label is at the point where you can tear it off easily. Before using the Front/Rear button to switch tractors or change paper, remove the entire supply of labels. Remove labels by tearing off the fresh supply at a perforation below the tractor. Then press the LF/FF Load button to eject the remaining labels. When adjusting the top-of-form or printing position, use only the Micro Feedu button. c Caution: Because labels are especially sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity, use them only under normal operating conditions. Paper Handling 45 Chapter 3 Printer Software About Your Printer Software The Epson software includes the printer driver software and EPSON Status Monitor 3. The printer driver is software that allows your computer to control the printer. You need to install the printer driver so your Windows software applications can take full advantage of the printer's capabilities. EPSON Status Monitor 3 program allows you to monitor the status of your printer, alerts you when errors occur, and provides you with troubleshooting tips. EPSON Status Monitor 3 is automatically installed when you install the printer driver. If you want to install EPSON Status Monitor 3 later, see "Installing EPSON Status Monitor 3" on page 64 for instructions. Note: The network printers can not be monitored with EPSON Status Monitor 3 in Windows 95. Before proceeding, make sure you have installed the printer driver on your computer described in the Start Here. Make sure the software setting is set to ESC/P. The printer driver software and EPSON Status Monitor 3 can only function in ESC/P mode. 46 Printer Software Using the Printer Driver with Windows Me, 98, and 95 You can access the printer driver from your Windows applications or from the Start menu. When you access the printer driver from a Windows application, any settings you make apply only to the application you are using. See "Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications" on page 48 for more information. When you access the printer driver from the Start menu, the printer driver settings you make apply to all your applications. See "Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu" on page 50 for more information. See "Changing the printer driver settings" on page 51 to check and change printer driver settings. Note: While many Windows applications override the settings made with the printer driver, some do not, so you must verify that the printer driver settings match your requirements. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Printer Software 47 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications Follow these steps to access the printer driver from a Windows application: 1. Select Print Setup or Print from the File menu of your application software. In the Print or Print Setup dialog box displayed, make sure that your printer is selected in the Name drop-down list. 48 Printer Software 2. Click Printer, Setup, Properties, or Options. (The button you click depends on your application and you may need to click a combination of these buttons.) The Properties window appears, and you see the Paper, Graphics, and Device Options menus. These menus contain the printer driver settings. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3. To view a menu, click the corresponding tab at the top of the window. See "Changing the printer driver settings" on page 51 for information on how to change the settings. 3 3 3 3 Printer Software 49 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu Follow these steps to access the printer driver from the Start menu: 1. Click the Start button, and then point to Settings. 2. Click Printers. 3. Right-click your printer icon, and click Properties. The screen displays the Properties window, which contains the Paper, Graphics, Device Options, and Utility menus. These menus display the printer driver settings. 4. To view a menu, click the corresponding tab at the top of the window. See "Changing the printer driver settings" on page 51 for information on how to change the settings. 50 Printer Software