User manual EPSON FX-890

® 9-pin Dot Matrix Printer 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 © 2003 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan. Reference Guide Chapter 1 Safety Instructions Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 For United Kingdom users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Chapter 2 Paper Handling Selecting a Paper Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Printing on continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Loading Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Positioning the continuous paper supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Loading continuous paper with the tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Using the Tear-off Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Loading Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Available paper types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Using the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Loading paper in the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Loading Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Multipart forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Switching Between Printing on Continuous Paper and Single Sheets 60 Switching to printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Switching to printing on continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Using the Micro Adjust Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Adjusting the top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Chapter 3 Printer Software iii About Your Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Using the Printer Driver with Windows Me, 98, and 95 . . . . . . . . 68 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications . . 69 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . . . 70 Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Using the Printer Driver with Windows XP, 2000 and NT 4.0 . . . 72 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications . . 73 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . . . 75 Changing the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Printer Driver Settings Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Using EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Setting up EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Setting Up Your Printer on a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Sharing the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Setting up your printer as a shared printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Using an additional driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Setting for the clients. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Installing the printer driver from the CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . . 101 Canceling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Uninstalling the Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Uninstalling the printer driver and EPSON Status Monitor 3104 Chapter 4 Control Panel Buttons and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting a Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About Your Printer's Default Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Understanding default settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lock-Out Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turning on or off the lock-out mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the lock-out mode setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 114 116 116 122 123 124 124 Chapter 5 Problem Solver Diagnosing the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 iv Using the error indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 EPSON Status Monitor 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130 Printing a Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 Printing Hex Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132 Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134 Power supply problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 Paper loading or feeding problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136 Printing position problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 Printing or printout quality problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 Network problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 Correcting USB Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147 Clearing Paper Jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151 Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151 Canceling Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Contacting Customer Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 For users in North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155 For users in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland156 For users in Australia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157 For users in Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159 For users in Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159 For users in India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 For users in the Philippines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161 Chapter 6 Options and Consumables Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 Genuine EPSON ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 Replacing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164 Cut-Sheet Feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171 Installing the cut-sheet feeder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172 Loading paper in the single-bin cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . .175 Loading paper in the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder . . . . . .180 Assembling the double-bin cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . .185 Selecting the paper path (bin 1 or bin 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Front Sheet Guide and Front Paper Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188 Installing the front sheet guide or front paper guide . . . . . .189 Loading paper in the front sheet guide or front paper guide191 Roll Paper Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195 v Assembling the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading roll paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing roll paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Additional Tractor Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interface Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing an interface card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Print Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 196 198 201 201 202 202 204 Appendix A Product Information Printer Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Command Lists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EPSON ESC/P control codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBM PPDS emulation control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standards and Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 207 207 210 212 213 213 219 221 221 223 224 225 226 Glossary Index vi Chapter 1 Safety Instructions Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Hot Parts Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 For United Kingdom users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Safety Instructions 1 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 and other parts to indicate that they may be hot. Never touch those parts just after the printer has been used. Let them cool for a few minutes before touching them. 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. When setting up the printer 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. 2 Safety Instructions 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. 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. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 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. Safety Instructions 3 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. If the power cord or plug is damaged. ii. 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. 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 10- or 16-amp circuit breaker. When Handling the paper Never use the knob to adjust, move, or eject paper; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position Use the knob on the left side of the printer to clear paper jams only when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or change the top-of-form or tear-off position. Never press the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin button when you are using the pull tractor; the paper could come off the pull tractor and jam the printer. 4 Safety Instructions Do not pull up the paper by hand to fit it on the pull tractor; this may damage the printer. Press the LF/FF button to move the paper. Do not load multipart forms, carbon paper, or labels in the paper guide. It is best to load continuous paper with labels on the pull tractor. Loading labels on the rear or the front push tractor is not recommended. Never feed labels backward using the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin 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 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 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 continuous paper with labels from the rear paper slot. Because the paper path from the rear slot is curved, labels may come off their backing sheets inside the printer and cause a paper jam. Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded. Safety Instructions 5 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 the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page before you 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 the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page before you 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. Note for German-speaking users: Bei Anschluss des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muss sichergestellt werden, dass die Gebaudeinstallation mit einer 10 Aoder 16 A-Sicherung abgesichert ist. 6 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, and scanners in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power generation. 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 7 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. 8 Safety Instructions Chapter 2 Paper Handling Selecting a Paper Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Printing on continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Loading Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Positioning the continuous paper supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Loading continuous paper with the tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Using the Tear-off Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Loading Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Available paper types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Using the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Loading paper in the paper guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Loading Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Multipart forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Switching Between Printing on Continuous Paper and Single Sheets 60 Switching to printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Switching to printing on continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Using the Micro Adjust Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Adjusting the top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 9 Selecting a Paper Source Your printer provides a variety of paper sources for printing on single sheets and continuous paper. Paper can be fed into the printer from the top, front, bottom, or rear. Select the paper source that best suits your current printing needs. Printing on continuous paper You can choose from three tractor positions (front push, rear push, and pull) and three paper entry slots (front, rear, and bottom) for continuous paper printing. This section helps you determine which paper paths and tractor positions are best for your continuous paper printing needs. See "Loading continuous paper with the tractor" on page 17 for tractor installation and paper loading instructions. Using the push tractor positions If you often need to tear off sheets of continuous paper (for example, if you are printing purchase orders or sales slips), it is best to use the tractor in the front or rear push position. This allows you to use the printer's tear-off edge to easily tear off sheets of continuous paper at the perforation. Also, when continuous paper is loaded on a push tractor, you can print on single sheets of paper from the paper guide without removing the continuous paper from the tractor. 10 Paper Handling There are two push tractor positions: front and rear. The tractor is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped. See the table below for details about the push positions and the corresponding paper paths. Tractor position Description 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Load paper from the front slot. If you print on thick paper such as multipart forms, use the front paper slot because this paper path is almost straight. This reduces the chances of paper jams. front push Load paper from the rear slot. c rear push Caution: Do not load continuous paper with labels from the rear slot. Labels require a straight paper path; otherwise the labels may come off their backing sheets inside the printer and cause a paper jam. Note: The rear slot is also not recommended when your multipart forms have 5 or 6 parts (1 original plus 4 or 5 copies), because paper might jam. Using the pull tractor position If you often print on thick or heavy continuous paper, such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels, use the tractor in the pull position. The pull tractor provides you with the best paper jam prevention, and allows you to load continuous paper from the front, rear, or bottom of the printer. However, you cannot use the tear-off feature when the tractor is in the pull position. Paper Handling 11 Note: To use the tractor in the pull position, you can remove the tractor from the rear push position and reinstall it in the pull position, or you can purchase the optional pull tractor unit (C80020 for the FX-890, C80021 for the FX-2190) and install it in the pull position. If you use a push tractor with the optional tractor in the pull position, you can create a push/pull tractor combination. This improves the performance of continuous paper, and is recommended for printing on continuous pre-printed forms. See "Using two tractors in a push/pull combination" on page 44 for more information. You can use the front, bottom, or rear paper slot with the pull tractor. Paper slot Description If you print on thick paper such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels, use the front paper slot because this paper path is nearly straight. This reduces the chances of paper jams. front The bottom paper slot has the straightest paper path, so it is the best slot to use when printing on thick paper, such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels. bottom Note: When loading paper from the bottom slot, be sure to use a printer stand with an opening large enough for the paper to feed through it without obstruction. 12 Paper Handling Paper slot Description If the front or bottom paper slot is unavailable, you can also load ordinary continuous paper from the rear slot. Please note that loading paper from the rear slot results in a curved paper path,which may affect loading performance, so use the front or bottom slot whenever possible. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 rear c Caution: Do not load continuous paper with labels from the rear slot. The labels may come off the backing sheets inside the printer and cause a paper jam. Printing on single sheets As shown below, you can load ordinary single sheets (not single-sheet multipart forms) and envelopes one at a time from the rear paper entry slot of the printer, using the paper guide that comes with the printer. To load single-sheet multipart forms, you need to use the front paper entry slot. The optional front sheet guide (C81400 for the FX-890, C81401 for the FX-2190) and front paper guide (C81402 for the FX-890, C81403 for the FX-2190) are available for easy operation. Paper Handling 13 You can also load a stack of single-sheet paper using the optional cut-sheet feeder. See "Loading Single Sheets" on page 49 for more information. See "Cut-Sheet Feeder" on page 171 for information on the optional cut-sheet feeder. Setting the Paper Release Lever When you load continuous paper in the printer, you need to set the paper release lever to indicate the paper source you want to use, as described in the table below. The table below describes each paper release lever position. Paper release lever position Description Single-sheet position For loading single-sheet paper from the top or front slot. See "Loading Single Sheets" on page 49 for instructions. 14 Paper Handling Paper release lever position Description 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling Rear push tractor position For loading continuous paper using the tractor installed in the rear push position. Also set the lever to this position when using the rear push and pull tractors in combination. Front push tractor position For loading continuous paper using the tractor installed in the front push position. Also set the lever to this position when using the front push and pull tractors in combination. Pull tractor position For loading continuous paper from the tractor installed on top of the printer in the pull position. When the tractor is in the pull position, you can load paper in the front, rear, or bottom slot. Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever Before you start printing, you may need to change the paper-thickness setting depending on the type of paper you are using. Follow these steps: 15 1. Turn the printer off and open the printer cover. The paper-thickness lever is located on the left side of the printer. The numbers next to the lever indicate the thickness setting. 2. Use the table below to select the appropriate paper thickness. Paper type* Ordinary paper: Single sheets Continuous paper Thin paper Carbonless multipart forms with: 2 parts (original + 1 copy) 3 parts (original + 2 copies) 4 parts (original + 3 copies) 5 parts (original + 4 copies) 6 parts (original + 5 copies) 7 parts (original + 6 copies)** Continuous paper with labels Cards Envelopes Lever position 0 or 1 0 0 1 3 5 6 7 7 2 2 5 or 6 * See the paper specifications for more information. ** Available when using a bottom pull position or front pull position. 16 Paper Handling Note: When the temperature is 5°C (41°F) or lower, or 35°C (95°F) or higher, set the paper-thickness lever one position lower to improve print quality. When the temperature is 5°C (41°F) or lower, or 35°C (95°F) or higher, multipart forms with 7 parts cannot be used. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Loading Continuous Paper Follow the instructions in this section to load continuous paper in the printer. Positioning the continuous paper supply Before using continuous paper, make sure you line up your paper supply with the tractor feeder as shown below, so that the paper feeds smoothly into the printer. Loading continuous paper with the tractor The paper loading procedure depends on where you position the tractor which feeds paper to the printer. Follow the instructions below for your tractor position. Paper Handling 17 This section provides instructions on "Using the tractor in the front push position" on page 18, "Using the tractor in the rear push position" on page 25, "Using the tractor in the pull position" on page 32, and "Using two tractors in a push/pull combination" on page 44. Using the tractor in the front push position This section provides instructions on "Installing the tractor in the front push position" on page 18, "Loading paper with the front push tractor" on page 20, and "Removing the tractor from the front push position" on page 24. Installing the tractor in the front push position Before installing the tractor in the front push position, remove it from its current position. If the tractor is in the rear push position, remove the paper guide and then press the tractor's lock tabs while lifting it out. If the tractor is in the pull position, remove it following the instructions in "Removing the tractor from the pull position" on page 42. Note: The tractor is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. If necessary, install the paper guide on your printer as described in "Assembling the Printer" in the Setup Sheet. 18 Paper Handling 2. If the optional front sheet guide is installed, remove it by grasping the fins on both sides and pulling the guide slightly up and away from the printer. If the optional front paper guide is installed, open the front cover and remove it. 2 2 2 2 2 2 3. Insert the tractor into the printer's mounting slots and press down both ends of the tractor to make sure that it is firmly seated. 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 19 See "Loading paper with the front push tractor" on page 20 for instructions on loading continuous paper with the front push tractor. Loading paper with the front push tractor When using the push tractor, it is a good idea to set the Auto tear-off function in the Default Setting mode to On. See "About Your Printer's Default Settings" on page 116 for more information. Follow these steps to load paper using the front push tractor: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. 2. Open the front cover. Make sure the tractor is installed in the front push position. 20 Paper Handling 3. Set the paper release lever to the front push tractor position. Also set the paper-thickness lever (located under the printer cover) to the proper position for your paper's thickness. See "Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Lever" on page 15 for instructions. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4. Release the left and right sprockets by pushing the blue sprocket lock levers backward. Paper Handling 21 5. Slide the left sprocket approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) from the far left position and pull the blue lever forward to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. approx. 12 mm (0.5 inch) 6. Remove the front cover by pushing it straight down, as shown below. 10 5 0 22 Paper Handling 7. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. Then open both sprocket covers and fit the first four holes of the paper, with printable side up, over the tractor pins. 2 2 2 2 2 8. Close the sprocket covers. 9. Slide the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper; then lock it in place by pushing the sprocket lock down. 10. Attach the front cover with the continuous paper positioned as shown below. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 23 11. Make sure the paper guide is lying flat on the printer and slide the edge guides to the middle of the paper guide. Note: For your safety, EPSON recommends operating the printer with the printer cover closed. The printer will function with the printer cover open or removed, but maximum safety and print speed are achieved when the cover is closed. 12. Turn on the printer. When the printer receives data, it automatically loads the paper and starts printing. 13. After you finish printing, follow the steps in "Removing continuous paper" on page 47 to remove your printed document. If the first line on your page appears too high or low, you can change its position by using the Micro Adjust function as described in "Adjusting the top-of-form position" on page 64. c Caution: Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. Removing the tractor from the front push position Follow these steps to remove the tractor from the front push position: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. 2. Remove any paper from the tractor as described in "Removing continuous paper" on page 47. 24 Paper Handling 3. Press the tractor's lock tabs, tilt the tractor up, and lift it out of the printer. 2 2 2 2 2 4. Close the front cover. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Using the tractor in the rear push position The tractor is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped. If your tractor is in the rear push position, skip to "Loading paper with the rear push tractor" on page 27 for instructions on loading paper. Paper Handling 25 This section provides instructions on "Installing the tractor in the rear push position" on page 26, "Loading paper with the rear push tractor" on page 27, and "Removing the tractor from the rear push position" on page 31. Note: Thick paper, such as continuous paper with labels or multipart forms with five or six parts, requires a relatively straight paper path to avoid paper jams. When printing on thick continuous paper, use the tractor in the front push position or the pull position. Installing the tractor in the rear push position Before installing the tractor in the rear push position, remove it from its current position. If the tractor is in the front push position, remove it by pressing the tractor's lock tabs while lifting it out. If the tractor is in the pull position, remove it as described in "Removing the tractor from the pull position" on page 42. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Then open the paper guide cover by pulling its back edge forward. 2. Lift the paper guide up and off the printer. 26 Paper Handling 3. Lower the tractor into the printer's mounting slots and press down both ends of the tractor to make sure that it is firmly seated. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 See "Loading paper with the rear push tractor" on page 27 for instructions on loading continuous paper using the rear push tractor. Loading paper with the rear push tractor Follow these steps to load paper using the rear push tractor: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off and the tractor is installed in the rear push position. Also make sure the paper guide is removed. Paper Handling 27 2. Set the paper release lever to the rear push tractor position. 3. Release the left and right sprockets by pulling the blue sprocket lock levers forward. 28 Paper Handling 4. Slide the left sprocket approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) from the far left position and push the blue lever back to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. 2 2 2 2 2 approx. 12 mm (0.5 inch) 2 The triangle mark on top of the printer indicates the point furthest to the left where printing can begin. 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 29 5. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. Then open both sprocket covers and fit the first four holes of the paper, with the printable side down, over the tractor pins. 6. Close the sprocket covers. 7. Slide the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper; then lock it in place by pushing the blue sprocket lock down. 8. Attach the paper guide and lay it flat on the printer and slide the edge guides to the middle of the paper guide. Note: For your safety, EPSON recommends operating the printer with the printer cover closed. The printer will function with the printer cover open or removed, but maximum safety and print speed are achieved when the cover is closed. 9. Turn on the printer. When the printer receives data, it automatically loads the paper and starts printing. 10. After you finish printing, follow the steps in "Removing continuous paper" on page 47 to remove your printed document. 30 Paper Handling If the first line on your page appears too high or low, you can change its position using the Micro Adjust function as described in "Adjusting the top-of-form position" on page 64. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 c Caution: Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. Removing the tractor from the rear push position Follow these steps to remove the tractor from the rear push position: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. 2. Remove any paper from the tractor as described in "Removing continuous paper" on page 47. 3. Press the tractor's lock tabs, tilt the tractor up, and lift it out of the printer. Paper Handling 31 Using the tractor in the pull position Using the tractor in the pull position is ideal for printing on thick and heavy continuous paper, such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels. However, you cannot use the tear-off function with the pull tractor. Because thick paper requires a straight paper path to avoid paper jams, you should load paper in the front or bottom slot when using the pull tractor. To further reduce the chances of paper jams and improve the performance of continuous paper, you can use two tractors in combination. See "Using two tractors in a push/pull combination" on page 44 for more information. To install the tractor in the pull position, you need to remove the paper tension unit and install the tractor in its place. See "Installing the tractor in the pull position" on page 32 for information on the installation procedure. This section provides instructions on "Installing the tractor in the pull position" on page 32, "Loading paper with the pull tractor" on page 35, and "Removing the tractor from the pull position" on page 42. Installing the tractor in the pull position Before installing the tractor in the pull position, remove it from its current position. If the tractor is in the front push position, remove it by pressing the tractor's lock tabs while lifting it out. If the tractor is in the rear push position, remove the paper guide and then press the tractor's lock tabs while lifting it out. Note: The tractor is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped. 32 Paper Handling 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Then open the paper guide cover by pulling its back edge forward. 2 2 2 2 2 2. Lift the printer cover and pull it straight up and off the printer. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paper Handling 33 3. Press the tabs on each side of the paper tension unit upward and lift the unit up and off the printer. Store the paper tension unit in a safe place. Note: If you plan to load paper from the rear, you need to insert the paper into the paper path before installing the paper guide and tractor. See "Loading paper with the pull tractor" on page 35 for instructions. 4. Attach the paper guide if necessary, slide the edge guides to the middle of the paper guide, and lay it flat on the printer. 34 Paper Handling Note: If you plan to load paper from the rear, you need to insert the paper into the paper path before installing the paper guide and tractor. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5. Lower the tractor into the printer's mounting slots and press down both ends of the tractor to make sure it is firmly seated. Loading paper with the pull tractor Follow these steps to load paper using the pull tractor: 2 35 Paper Handling 1. Make sure the printer is turned off, and the printer cover is removed. Also make sure the tractor is installed in the pull position and the paper guide is lying flat on the printer. 2. Set the paper release lever to the pull tractor position. 36 Paper Handling 3. Release the sprockets by pulling the sprocket lock levers forward. 2 2 2 2 2 4. Slide the left sprocket approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) from the far left position and push the lever back to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. 2 2 2 2 2 approx. 12 mm (0.5 inch) 2 2 5. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. Then open the sprocket covers. Paper Handling 37 Note: Make sure the printer is off before you insert the paper in the paper slot. If you insert the paper while it is on, a paper jam may occur. 6. Insert the paper into the front or bottom paper slot as shown in the illustration below until it emerges between the platen and the ribbon guide. Then pull up the paper until the perforation between the first and second pages is even with the top of the printer's ribbon. Front slot Before you load paper in the front slot, remove the front cover. Then load paper with the printable side facing up. 38 Paper Handling Bottom slot Load paper in the bottom slot with the printable side facing up. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 7. Fit four holes of the paper over the tractor pins on both sprockets. Then close the sprocket covers. 8. Slide the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper, then lock it in place. 2 2 Paper Handling 39 9. Slide the edge guides on the paper guide to the center. 10. Reattach the front cover as shown below. 11. Turn on the printer. 12. Remove any slack in the paper by pressing the LF/FF button. c Caution: Always remove any slack from the paper; otherwise print quality may deteriorate. 13. If necessary, follow the steps in "Adjusting the top-of-form position" on page 64 to adjust the current position of the paper. 40 Paper Handling c Caution: Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 14. Attach the printer cover by inserting the front tabs into the slots on the printer, then lowering the cover into place. Then close the paper guide cover. Note: For your safety, EPSON recommends operating the printer with the printer cover closed. The printer will function with the printer cover open or removed, but maximum safety and print speed are achieved when the cover is closed. 15. Send a print job to the printer. The printer starts printing from the top-of-form position. After you finish printing, open the paper guide cover, then tear off the printed document at the perforation nearest the paper exit slot. Removing paper from the pull tractor Follow these steps to remove continuous paper from the pull tractor: 2 2 Paper Handling 41 1. After you finish printing, tear off the paper supply at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot. 2. To feed paper forward and eject it, hold down the LF/FF button. c Caution: Never press the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin button when you are using the pull tractor; the paper could come off the pull tractor and jam the printer. Removing the tractor from the pull position Follow these steps to remove the tractor from the pull position: 1. Remove any paper loaded on the pull tractor as described in "Removing paper from the pull tractor" on page 41. 2. Turn off the printer is turned off. Then open the paper guide cover by pulling its back edge toward you. 3. Lift the printer cover by its back edge and then pull it straight up and off the printer. 42 Paper Handling 4. Press the tractor's lock tabs, tilt the tractor toward you, and lift it off the printer. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5. Store the tractor in a safe place, or install it in the front or rear push position as described in "Using the tractor in the front push position" on page 18 or "Using the tractor in the rear push position" on page 25. 6. Reinstall the paper tension unit by lower it onto the printer's mounting pegs. Then press down on both ends of the unit until it clicks into place. Paper Handling 43 7. Replace the printer cover. Using two tractors in a push/pull combination Using two tractors at the same time is recommended for printing on continuous pre-printed forms, multipart forms, and labels, and for printing high quality graphics. To reduce paper jams and improve continuous paper feeding, you can install the optional additional tractor (C80020 for the FX-890, C80021 for the FX-2190) and then use two tractors at the same time. Follow these steps to use two tractors at the same time: 1. Install one tractor in the front or rear push position as described in "Installing the tractor in the front push position" on page 18 or "Installing the tractor in the rear push position" on page 26. 2. Load continuous paper using the front or rear push tractor as described in "Loading paper with the front push tractor" on page 20 or "Loading paper with the rear push tractor" on page 27. 3. Set the paper release lever to the front or rear push position, depending on the position of your push tractor. 4. Turn on the printer. Press the Load/Eject button to advance the paper to the top-of-form position. Then press the LF/FF button until the perforation between the first and second pages is even with the top of the printer's ribbon. c Caution: Never use the knob to move the paper; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. 5. Install the other tractor in the pull position as described in "Installing the tractor in the pull position" on page 32. 44 Paper Handling