® 9-pin Dot Matrix Printer Setup Guide Read Before Using the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 Setting Up the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Using Online Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3 Safety and Environmental Information . . 24 XXXXXXX-00 XXX Where to Find Information Setup Guide (this manual) Explains how to set up the printer and install the printer software. Reference Guide (online guide) Provides detailed information on the printer's functions, optional products, printer software, troubleshooting, and technical specifications. You can view this guide directly from the CD, or install it on your computer and view it from your hard disk. Quick Guide (online guide) Provides a summary of basic information on how to use the printer. Online Help Provides detailed information and instructions on the printer software that controls your printer. Online help is automatically installed when you install the printer software. Note: Although the illustrations in this manual show the FX-880+ printer, the instructions apply to both the FX-880+ and the FX-1180+; the printers work in the same way. 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, 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 © 2001 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan. 1 Read Before Using the Printer This guide consists of three chapters. The first and the second chapters describe how to set up your printer and install the printer software. The last chapter provides detailed safety and environmental information. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure safe and efficient use of your printer. 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. 2 Read Before Using the Printer 1 Setting Up the Printer Follow the instructions in this chapter to unpack and set up your printer. 1-1 Unpacking the Printer Besides the items shown in the illustration below, the printer box should include an EPSON printer software CD-ROM and a Notice Sheet. printer paper guide power cord ribbon cartridge Note: Depending on your printer model, the power cord may be permanently attached to the printer. Also, the shape of the power cord plug varies depending on the country of purchase; be sure the plug you have is the right one for your location. Setting Up the Printer 3 c Caution: There are several models of the printer designed for different voltages, and it is not possible to adjust the printer for use with another voltage. If the label on the back of the printer does not show the correct voltage for your country, contact your dealer. You must remove all protective materials packed around and inside your printer before you set it up and turn on the power. Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet (packed with the printer) to remove these materials. Save all packing and protective materials in case you need to ship the printer in the future. It should always be transported in its original packing materials. 1-2 Choosing a Place for the Printer Follow these guidelines when selecting a location for your printer. Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle. Place the printer where you can easily connect it to a network interface cable, if necessary. Leave adequate room around the printer for easy operation and maintenance. Avoid using or storing the printer in places subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it away from direct sunlight, strong light, heat sources, or excessive moisture or dust. Avoid places subject to shocks and vibrations. Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily unplug the power cord. 4 Setting Up the Printer Note for French-speaking users: Placez l'imprimante près d'une prise de courant où la fiche peut être débranchée facilement. Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. An interruption in power can erase information in the memory of your printer or computer. Also avoid outlets on the same circuit as large motors or other appliances that can cause voltage fluctuations. Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones. Use a grounded power outlet; do not use an adapter plug. If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines: Use a stand that can support at least the following weight: 29.0 kg (63.93 lb) for FX-880+ 37.0 kg (81.57 lb) for FX-1180+ Never use a stand that tilts the printer. The printer should always be kept level. Position your printer's power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding. If possible, secure the cables to a leg of the printer stand. Setting Up the Printer 5 1-3 Assembling the Printer Follow the steps in this section to attach the paper guide and install the ribbon cartridge. Attaching the paper guide To attach the paper guide to your printer, insert the tabs on the paper guide straight down into the mounting slots on the printer. Then place the paper guide in the upright position. Note: You can use the paper guide only when the tractor is installed in the front or rear push position. To switch from printing on single sheets using the paper guide to printing on continuous paper from a tractor, see "Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Paper" in the Reference Guide. 6 Setting Up the Printer When you are not using the paper guide, lay it flat on the printer to prevent it from obstructing your paper or being damaged. To lay the paper guide down, lift it up slightly, then lower it until it is lying flat on top of the printer. 2 1 1-4 Installing the Ribbon Cartridge EPSON recommends the use of genuine EPSON ribbon cartridges (#8750 for the FX-880+, #8755 for the FX-1180+). Products not manufactured by EPSON may cause damage to your printer, which is not covered by EPSON's warranties. Follow these steps to install the ribbon cartridge: w Warning: You need to move the print head by hand to install 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. Setting Up the Printer 7 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. The printer is off when the power switch is pressed down to the N side. 2. If the printer is connected to an electrical outlet, unplug it from the outlet. 3. Open the printer cover to the upright position, then pull it up to remove it. 8 Setting Up the Printer 4. Press the tabs on each side of the paper tension unit upward, then lift the front of the unit and pull it up and out of the printer. 5. Make sure the print head is not hot; if it is, let it cool for a few minutes before touching it. Then slide the print head to the middle of the printer by hand. c Caution: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on; this can damage the printer. Setting Up the Printer 9 6. Remove the new ribbon cartridge from the package and turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack from the ribbon so it is easier to install. 7. Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and insert it into the printer as shown below; then press both sides of the cartridge firmly to fit the plastic hooks into the printer slots. 10 Setting Up the Printer 8. Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place; it should not be twisted or creased. 9. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Setting Up the Printer 11 10. Reinstall the paper tension unit by placing it on the printer's mounting pegs and lowering it into place. Press down on both sides of the unit until it clicks into place. 11. Replace the printer cover by inserting the front tabs into the slots on the printer and lowering the cover into place. Then push it down until it clicks. 12 Setting Up the Printer 1-5 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer Your printer is equipped with both an IEEE-1284-compatible parallel interface and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. Also a Type-B optional interface slot is provided in case your computer requires a different type of printer interface. See the Reference Guide for more information on optional interface cards. Connect your computer to the desired interface as described below. Note: You can connect a cable to both interfaces; the printer switches automatically to the appropriate interface when it receives data. Using the parallel interface To connect your computer to your printer's built-in parallel interface, you need a shielded, twisted-pair parallel cable with a 36-pin Centronics® compatible connector for the printer. Follow these steps to connect the printer to your computer using the parallel interface: 1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off. The printer is off when the power switch is pressed down to the side. 2. Plug the parallel cable connector securely into the printer's parallel interface port. Setting Up the Printer 13 3. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on both sides of the connector. Note: If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the printer's ground connector as shown below. 4. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer's parallel interface port. (If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.) 14 Setting Up the Printer Using the USB interface To connect the printer to a USB port, you need a standard, shielded USB cable. Note: In order to connect your computer via the USB interface, your computer must be a Windows Me, 98, or 2000 pre-installed model that is equipped with a USB port. If you use a USB hub, it is recommended that you connect the printer to the first tier of the hub or connect the printer directly to the computer's USB port. Follow these steps to connect the printer to your computer using the printer's built-in USB interface: 1. Make sure that both the printer and computer are turned off. 2. Plug the appropriate end of the cable into the USB port on the back of the printer. (The end that fits the printer's USB port has a different shape from the end that fits the computer's USB port.) 3. Connect the other end of the cable to the computer's USB port. Setting Up the Printer 15 1-6 Plugging in the Printer Follow these steps to plug in the printer: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. The printer is off when the power switch is pressed down to the N side. 2. Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure the voltage required by the printer matches that of your electrical outlet. Also make sure the shape of the plug on your printer's power cord matches the shape of your electrical outlet. c Caution: It is not possible to change the printer's voltage. If the rated voltage on the printer and your outlet voltage do not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord. 3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, plug the appropriate end into the AC inlet on the back of the printer. 4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet. 16 Se ...