® 9-pin Dot Matrix Printer User's Guide This manual is divided in two sections: English and Spanish. The English section begins after this page. The Spanish section begins approximately at the middle of the manual. Este manual está dividido en dos secciones: Inglés y Español. El manual en español comienza aproximadamente a la mitad del libro. El manual en inglés comienza después de esta página. 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. EPSON Store, EPSON Connection, and SoundAdvice are service marks of Epson America, Inc. 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. 4041363-03 CPD-15991R3 Copyright © 2005 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan. 3/05 2 Contents Introduction Okidata Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Setting Up the Printer Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Assembling the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 For Windows XP, Me, or 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 For Windows 98, 95, or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Installing the Remote Configuration Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Paper Handling Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Loading Continuous Paper with the Front Push Tractor . . . . . . 19 Loading Continuous Paper with the Rear Push Tractor . . . . . . . 21 Loading Continuous Paper with the Pull Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Removing paper from the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Loading Single Sheets with the Paper Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Loading Special Papers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Single-sheet multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Using the Micro Adjust Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Adjusting the top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 3 Using the Control Panel Buttons and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting a Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the Printer's Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Default-setting mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emulating the Okidata Microline 320/321 Turbo . . . . . . . . . . . . Troubleshooting Using the Error Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clearing Paper Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing a Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Where To Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Product Information Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FCC Compliance Statement for United States Users . . . . . . . . . WARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Canadian users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EPSON AMERICA, INC., LIMITED WARRANTY. . . . . . . . . . . 45 45 45 46 46 47 47 47 41 42 43 44 35 37 38 39 40 4 Introduction This manual covers the following basic information to get you started using your printer: Setting Up the Printer Paper Handling Using the Control Panel Troubleshooting Product Information Although the illustrations in this manual show the FX-890, the instructions apply to both the FX-890 and the FX-2190. w Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. c Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment. Notes contain important information and useful tips about using your printer. For detailed information about your printer, refer to the online Reference Guide. It describes all the printer's functions, optional products, printer software, troubleshooting, and technical specifications. See "Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide" on page 15. For help using your printer software, you can use the online help which is installed automatically when you install the printer software. Okidata Compatibility You can make your FX-890 or FX-2190 work like the Okidata Microline 320 Turbo or 321 Turbo by turning the printer on in a different mode. For instructions, see page 40. ® ® Introduction 5 Options By adding options, such as a cut-sheet feeder or roll paper holder, you can further expand your printer's capabilities. Optional interface cards are also available to supplement your printer's built-in interfaces. (See the Reference Guide for more information.) You can purchase ribbon cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from EPSON® at (800) 873-7766, or visit the EPSON StoreSM at www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral. 6 Introduction Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer This chapter describes how to unpack and set up your printer. Unpacking the Printer Make sure you have the following items. Ribbon cartridge Printer Power cord Paper guide Printer software Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet to remove the protective materials before you turn on the printer. Save all packing and protective materials in case you need to ship the printer in the future. Choosing a Place for the Printer Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle. 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. Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily unplug the power cord. Position the power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding. Note for French-speaking users: Placez l'imprimante près d'une prise de courant où la fiche peut être débranchée facilement. Setting Up the Printer 7 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. Use a grounded power outlet; do not use an adapter plug. Assembling the Printer 1. Make sure the printer is turned off and unplugged. Then open the printer cover and pull it up to remove it. 2. Remove the paper tension unit by pressing up the tabs on each side and pulling it up. 3. Use your hand to slide the print head to the middle of the printer. w Warning: just used the If you have printer, the print head may be hot; let it cool for a few minutes before touching it. 8 Setting Up the Printer 4. Remove the new ribbon cartridge from the package. The black plastic ribbon guide is held in place on top of the cartridge with a small tab. To release it, hold the sides of the ribbon guide and gently disconnect it. (Do not remove the ribbon guide from the ribbon, however.) Ribbon guide 5. Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and insert it into the printer at an angle, as shown below; then press down on both sides of the cartridge to fit the plastic hooks into the printer slots. You should hear it click into place. 6. Slide the ribbon guide into the print head until it clicks in place. Be careful not to twist or crease the ribbon. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place. Setting Up the Printer 9 7. Reinstall the paper tension unit by lowering it onto the printer's mounting pegs. Then press down on both ends until it clicks into place. 8. To replace the printer cover, insert the front tabs into the slots on the printer and lower the cover into place. Then push it down until it clicks. 9. Make sure the top part of the cover is folded forward, as shown. Then attach the paper guide. When printing, keep these points in mind: You can use the paper guide only when the tractor is installed in the front or rear push position. For your safety and for the fastest printing, EPSON recommends keeping the printer cover closed while printing. Although you can print with the cover open, printing speed will be slower. 10 Setting Up the Printer 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. It also includes a Type-B optional interface slot in case your computer requires a different type of printer interface. (See the Reference Guide if you need to install an interface card.) Note: You can connect cables to both interfaces; the printer switches automatically to the appropriate interface when it receives data. 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. To connect the printer to a USB port, you need a standard, shielded USB cable. 1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off, then connect the parallel or USB cable to the printer. Parallel USB 2. Connect the other end to your computer. c Caution: several models of the printer designed for different voltages, and There are 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. Setting Up the Printer 11 3. Plug the power cord into the AC inlet on the back of the printer and plug the other end into a properly grounded electrical outlet. Installing the Printer Software After you connect the printer to your computer, you need to install the EPSON printer software on the CD-ROM shipped with your printer. The printer driver is the software that runs, or "drives," your printer. With it, you can select printer settings such as print quality, resolution, and paper size. The software includes EPSON Status Monitor 3 (Windows® XP, 2000, Me, 98, 95, or NT 4.0), which displays printer status information and notifies you of printer errors. See the Reference Guide for more information. Note: Installing the printer software for Windows NT, XP, or 2000 may require administrator privileges. If you have problems ...