User manual EPSON LQ-2170

Printer Parts paper guide edge guide paper path guide paper separator printer cover paper release lever front paper guide knob control panel paper thickness lever ribbon cartridge shield plate parallel interface tractor paper tension unit front edge guide front paper guide EPSON ® 24-Pin Dot Matrix Printer LQ-2170 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. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. 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 purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product. Seiko Epson Corporation and its affiliates shall not be liable against 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 and EPSON ESC/P 2 is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. EPSON Connection is a service mark of Epson America, Inc. General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 1996 by Seiko Epson Corporation, Nagano, Japan. User's Guide FCC Compliance Statement For United States Users This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures. t Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna t Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver t Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected t Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. WARNING The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. For Canadian Users This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian InterferenceCausing Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numerique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Reglement sur le materiel brouilleur du Canada. ii Declaration of Conformity According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014 Manufacturer: Address: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 3-5, Owa 3-chome, Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken 392 Japan EPSON EUROPE B.V. Prof. J. H. Bavincklaan 5 1183 AT Amstelveen The Netherlands Representative: Address: Declares that the Product: Product Name: Type Name: Model: Dot Matrix Printer LQ-2170 P910A Conforms to the following Directive(s) and Norm(s): Directive 89/336/EEC: EN 55022 Class B EN 50082-1 IEC 801-2 IEC 801-3 IEC 801-4 Directive 73/23/EEC: EN 60950 Directive 90/384/EEC: EN 45501 August 1995 M. Hamamoto President of EPSON EUROPE B.V. iii Where to Get Help for United States Users EPSON provides customer support and service through a nationwide network of Authorized EPSON Customer Care Centers. EPSON also provides the following support services in the U.S. and Canada through the EPSON Connection at (800) 922-8911: t t t t t Technical assistance with the installation, configuration, and operation of EPSON products Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized EPSON Reseller or Customer Care Center Customer Relations EPSON technical information library fax service Product literature on current and new products You can purchase ribbons, supplies, parts, documentation, and accessories for your EPSON products from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON for sales locations. iv CompuServe® online support If you have a modem, the fastest way to access helpful tips, specifications, drivers, application notes, and bulletins is through the Epson America Forum on CompuServe. If you are not currently a member of CompuServe, you are eligible for a free introductory membership as an owner of an EPSON product. This membership entitles you to: t t t An introductory $15 credit on CompuServe Your own user ID and password A complimentary subscription to CompuServe Magazine, CompuServe's monthly publication. To take advantage of this offer, call (800) 848-8199 in the United States and Canada and ask for representative #529. In other countries, call (614) 529-1611 or your local CompuServe access number. If you are already a CompuServe member, simply type GO EPSON at the menu prompt to reach the Epson America Forum. 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. v Safety information Warning: This appliance must be earthed. Refer to rating plate for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the supply voltage. Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are coloured in accordance with the following code: Green and yellow - Earth Blue - Neutral Brown - Live As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows: t The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or with the earth symbol (G) or coloured green or green and yellow. The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter N or coloured black. The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter L or coloured red. t t 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. vi Important Safety Instructions Before using your printer, read the following safety instructions to make sure you use the printer safely and effectively. t t t t t Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer. Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a radiator or heat register. Do not block or cover the openings in the printer's cabinet. Do not insert objects through the slots. Use only the type of power source indicated on the printer's label. Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off. Do not let the power cord become damaged or frayed. If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cords ampere rating. Also, make sure the total of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes. 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: If the power cord or plug is damaged; if liquid has entered the printer; if the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged; 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. t t t t vii viii Contents Introduction Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2 How to Use This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-3 Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-4 Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 1-4 1-5 1-10 1-10 1-14 1-15 1-15 1-21 1-21 Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the Printer to Your Computer Installing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . For Microsoft Windows users . . . . For DOS program users . . . . . . . . DOS printer utilities . . . . . . . . . . ix Chapter 2 Paper Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 2-2 2-3 2-3 2-6 2-8 2-8 2-9 2-12 2-15 2-19 2-22 2-23 2-24 2-24 2-25 2-25 2-26 2-27 2-28 2-29 2-29 2-29 Selecting the Paper Feeding Method . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the paper release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading single sheets from the top . . . . . . . . . . Loading single sheets from the front . . . . . . . . . Using Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting the tractor position and paper path . . . . Changing tractor positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading the front push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading the rear push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading the push/pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing paper from the tractor . . . . . . . . . . . Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets Switching to single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switching to continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing on Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the paper thickness lever . . . . . . . . . . Multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roll paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x Chapter 3 Using the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 3-2 3-4 3-6 3-7 3-7 3-7 3-9 3-13 3-15 3-16 3-17 3-17 3-18 Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other control panel features . . . . . . Changing the Default Settings . . . . . . . . Selecting an instruction sheet language Selecting items and changing settings . Default setting item functions . . . . . Micro Adjust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tear-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using auto tear-off mode . . . . . . . . Using the Tear Off/Bin button . . . . . Bi-d Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barcode Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 4 Using Printer Options . . . . 4-2 4-2 4-4 4-6 Cut-Sheet Feeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the high capacity cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . Loading paper with the high capacity cut-sheet feeder . . . Assembling the double bin cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . Switching between continuous paper and the cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting single-sheets, postcards, or envelopes . . . . . . . Pull Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading paper with the push tractor and the optional pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roll Paper Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interface Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing an interface card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The C82305V or C82306V serial interface card . . . . . . . . . 4-6 . 4-7 . 4-8 . . . . . 4-8 4-9 4-12 4-12 4-14 xi Chapter 5 Maintenance and Transportation 5-2 5-3 5-4 Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing the Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 6 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-7 6-7 6-8 6-10 6-10 6-12 Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power is not being supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The printer does not print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The print is faint or uneven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dots are missing in printed characters or graphics . . . . . Printed characters are not what you expect . . . . . . . . . The print position is not what you expect . . . . . . . . . . Paper Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single sheets do not feed properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continuous paper does not feed properly . . . . . . . . . . Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The paper does not feed properly with the cut-sheet feeder Continuous paper does not feed properly when using the pull tractor with the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . xii Appendix Specifications, Command Summary, and Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 A-2 A-4 A-7 A-8 A-9 A-10 A-11 A-11 A-12 A-12 A-17 A-17 A-17 A-18 A-18 A-18 A-19 A-20 A-21 A-23 A-24 A-27 A-27 A-28 A-29 A-32 A-32 A-32 Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper alignment . . . . . . . . Printable area . . . . . . . . . . Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental . . . . . . . . . Safety approvals . . . . . . . . CE marking . . . . . . . . . . . Interface specifications . . . . Using Commands . . . . . . . . . . Sending printer commands . . Using the command summary Commands Arranged by Topic . . General operation . . . . . . . Paper feeding . . . . . . . . . . Page format . . . . . . . . . . . Print position motion . . . . . Font selection . . . . . . . . . . Font enhancement . . . . . . . Character handling . . . . . . Spacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . Bit image . . . . . . . . . . . . Barcode . . . . . . . . . . . . . Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . International Character Sets . Graphics Character Tables . . Index xiii xiv Introduction Your new EPSON® 24-pin dot matrix printer combines a compact design and high performance with a wide range of features offering the high-quality printing and ease of operation you have come to expect from EPSON printers. Your printer provides the following: t High speed draft mode printing of up to 440 characters at 10 cpi Easy paper handling, featuring automatic single sheet and continuous paper loading from the front paper slot Eight barcode fonts and four scalable fonts are available, as well as one draft and nine letter quality bit-map fonts Multipart forms printing of one original plus up to four copies A convenient control panel that allows direct selection of fonts Support of advanced EPSON ESC/P 2TM commands and IBM® 2390/2391 plus emulation Large printable area; 68 lines with A4 size paper Software utilities, including a printer driver and a remote control panel utility, that let you make printer settings quickly and easily t t t t t t t Introduction 1 Options The following options are available for your printer: t Cut-sheet feeder (High capacity, C80673V; Second bin, C80674V) automatically feeds up to 150 sheets of paper or 25 envelopes without reloading. You can create a double bin cut-sheet feeder by combining the high capacity and second bin feeders. Pull tractor unit (C80032V), when combined with the standard tractor, improves printing accuracy, which is especially useful for printing on multipart forms. Roll paper holder (#8310) allows you to use your printer with 8.5-inch roll paper like that used with telex machines. Interface cards are available to supplement the printer's built-in parallel interface. t t t 2 Introduction How to Use This Manual This manual provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions for setting up and operating your printer. Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up, testing, and connecting the printer. Be sure to read this chapter first. Chapters 2 and 3 include important information on paper handling and day-to-day operation of your printer. Chapter 4 explains how to use optional accessories with your printer. Chapter 5 provides maintenance information, including transportation guidelines. Chapter 6 contains troubleshooting tips. If the printer does not operate properly or the printed results are not what you expect, see this chapter for a list of problems and solutions. The appendix lists the printer's specifications, commands, and character tables. At the end of the manual you'll find an index. Introduction 3 Warnings, Cautions, and Notes This guide uses the following conventions: w c Warnings must be followed 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. 4 Introduction Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Installing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 1 Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Running the Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 Installing the Printer Driver . . For Microsoft Windows users For DOS program users . . . DOS printer utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 1-15 1-21 1-21 Setting Up the Printer 1-1 Choosing a Place for the Printer When selecting a place to set up your printer, be sure to follow these guidelines: t Place the printer on a flat, stable surface, close enough to the computer for the interface cable to reach it. Leave adequate room around the printer for easy operation and maintenance. Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, or dust. Use a properly grounded electrical outlet; do not use an adapter plug. Place the printer where you can easily unplug the power cord. Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental disruption of power can erase information in the memory of your printer or computer. 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. t t t t t t t 1-2 Setting Up the Printer If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines: t t Use a stand that supports at least 26 kg (57.8 lbs). Never use a stand that tilts the printer at an angle of more than 15 degrees from horizontal. If you install a cut-sheet feeder, the stand must keep your printer level. If you plan to load continuous paper through the bottom of the printer, choose a stand that provides an unobstructed paper path. 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. Align the paper stack so that the paper feeds straight into the tractor's sprocket units. t t t Setting Up the Printer 1-3 Unpacking the Printer Your printer box should include an EPSON printer driver disk and the following items: paper guide printer paper separator power cord (230 V version only) ribbon cartridge Note: In some locations the power cord may be permanently attached to the printer. Keep the packing materials in case you need to transport your printer. c 1-4 Caution: There are several versions of the printer designed for different voltages, and it is not possible to adjust the printer for use at 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 Installing the Ribbon Cartridge Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure that the power cord is not plugged into an electrical outlet. 1. Lift the printer cover up and off. 2. Slide the print head to the ribbon installation position (the indented portion of the paper tension unit.) w Warning: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on; this can damage the printer. Also, the print head may become hot during use. Always let it cool before you touch it. Setting Up the Printer 1-5 3. Remove the plastic separator from the middle of the ribbon cartridge and discard the separator. 4. Hold the cartridge with the ribbon-tightening knob facing you. Place the bottom edge of the cartridge into the printer so that the notch on each end of the cartridge fits over the small peg on each side of the printer. 5. Lay the cartridge flat and press gently until it clicks into place on both ends. 1-6 Setting Up the Printer 6. Lift the ribbon guide and insert it firmly over the metal pins behind the print head. Press down on the guide until it clicks into place. Make sure the ribbon is not twisted or creased and that it is in place behind the print head. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to remove any slack in the ribbon. 7. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Setting Up the Printer 1-7 8. Replace the printer cover by first inserting the front tabs into the slots near the front of the printer; then lower it into place. 9. Attach the paper guide by sliding the slots on the bottom of the paper guide over the pegs behind the paper tension unit. 1-8 Setting Up the Printer 10. Insert the paper separator into the paper guide. 11. Lift the paper path guide and rest it against the paper guide. Note: Always close the printer cover before printing. The printer stops printing when the cover is open. Setting Up the Printer 1-9 Plugging in the Printer 1. 2. Make sure the printer is turned off. Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure the voltage matches that of your electrical outlet. c 3. 4. Caution: If the rated voltage and your outlet voltage do not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect the appropriate end to the AC inlet on the printer's rear panel. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet. Running the Self Test You can run a self test on the printer in letter quality or draft mode, with either continuous paper or single sheets. You can load the paper from the rear, front, top, or bottom. The following steps describe how to run the test on single-sheet paper, loaded from the top. See Chapter 2 for more information on paper handling. 1-10 Setting Up the Printer The printer prints the self test in the currently selected font. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off and the paper path guide is open. Move the paper release lever to the single-sheet position. 2. 3. For the letter quality test, hold down the Load/Eject button while you turn on the printer. For draft printing, hold down the LF/FF button while you turn on the printer. Setting Up the Printer 1-11 4. Move the left edge guide until it locks in place next to the arrow guide mark. Then adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper. 1 c 5. Caution: Run the self test using paper at least 360 mm (14 inches) wide; otherwise, the print head prints directly on the platen. Lift the paper path guide and rest it against the paper guide. 1-12 Setting Up the Printer 6. Insert a sheet of paper between the edge guides until it meets resistance. Make sure you adjust the edge guides to match the width of your paper. After a few seconds, the printer feeds the paper to the loading position and begins printing the self test. Note: Always close the printer cover before printing. The printer stops printing when the cover is open. 7. 8. To stop the self test temporarily, press the Pause button. To end the self test, press the Pause button, then turn off the printer. Here is part of a typical self test: Setting Up the Printer 1-13 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer If the self test printed correctly, you are ready to connect your printer to the computer. Use a 36-pin cable to connect your computer to your printer's built-in parallel interface. Follow these steps: 1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off; then plug the cable connector securely into the printer's parallel interface connector. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either side of the connector. Note: If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the ground connector beneath the interface connector. 2. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. (If there is a ground wire at the computer end of the cable, attach it to the ground connector at the back of the computer.) 1-14 Setting Up the Printer Installing the Printer Driver The EPSON printer driver is software that helps you take full advantage of your printer's capabilities. The EPSON printer driver disk that came with your printer includes the driver software as well as two utilities to help you control the printer through DOS. For Microsoft Windows users Before you install the driver, make a backup copy of your driver disk. If you are running Windows 3.1, follow the steps in the next section to install the printer driver. If you are running Windows 95, see page 1-16 for instructions. Installing the driver for Windows 3.1 users Follow these steps to install the printer driver for Windows 3.1: 1. 2. Make sure Windows is running. Insert the EPSON driver disk into drive A (or B, depending on your computer). From the File menu, choose Run. Type A: SETUP (or B: SETUP); then click OK. Select LQ-2170 ESC/P 2 as the Printer Model and click Continue. The printer driver is installed automatically. Click OK. 3. 4. 5. 6. The LQ-2170 printer driver is now installed on your computer. Windows will now use the LQ-2170 as the default printer. If you need to change the default printer or port assignment, use the Printers utility in the Control Panel group. Setting Up the Printer 1-15 Installing the driver for Windows 95 users Follow these steps to install the printer driver using the Windows 95 plug-and-play capabilities: Note: To install the driver using the Windows 95 plug-and-play capabilities, your computer's parallel port must be an IEEE-1284 (ECP or EPP compatible) bidirectional parallel port. See your computer documentation for more information. 1. Make sure plain paper is loaded in the printer and the printer is connected to the computer's parallel port. (The paper is used to perform a test print in step 11.) Turn off your printer and computer, if necessary. Turn on the printer first; then turn on the computer. Your computer begins loading Windows 95. If you defined a password, enter it at the prompt. You see the New Hardware Found screen. 2. 3. 4. Note: If you do not see the New Hardware Found screen, please follow the procedure under "Installing the driver while running Windows 95" on page 1-18 instead. 5. Make sure your printer model name is displayed on the screen. Then click the Driver from disk provided by hardware manufacturer button. Do not select any of the other buttons. Note: The next time you turn on your computer after installing the driver, Windows 95 may display the New Hardware Found screen again. In this case, click the Do not install a driver radio button; then click OK. This screen does not appear again. 1-16 Setting Up the Printer 6. 7. 8. Click OK. You see the Install From Disk screen. Insert the Windows printer driver disk in a disk drive. If you inserted the disk in drive A, click OK. Otherwise, change the drive letter in the Copy manufacturer's files from box and click OK. At the next screen you can type a unique name for the printer in the Printer name box. We recommend that you keep the model name as shown. The program will copy the files to your hard disk and add an icon to the Printers folder using the printer name you assign. To use the printer as the default printer for Windows 95 applications, select Yes. (No is the default setting.) 9. 10. Click the Next button. 11. In the next screen, select YES to print a test page. 12. Click the Finish button. 13. Choose Yes in the test page confirmation dialog if the page printed correctly. If it did not print correctly, choose No and follow the directions on the screen. To access the driver, see "Checking the printer driver settings," page 1-19. Setting Up the Printer 1-17 Installing the driver while running Windows 95 Follow these steps to install the printer driver for Windows 95. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In the Desktop window, double-click the My Computer icon. Double-click the Printers folder. Double-click the Add Printer icon. Click the Next button. Select the Local printer or Network printer radio button. Then click the Next button. Click the Have Disk button. Insert the floppy disk containing the driver into your computer's floppy disk drive. Type A: WIN95 (or B: WIN95); then click OK. Select your printer's name in the dialog box, then click the Next button. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Select the port you want to use with this printer. 11. Click the Next button. 12. Select the Yes or No radio button to make the default printer setting. 13. Click the Next button. 14. Click the Yes radio button to print a test page. 15. Click Finish. 16. In the dialog box that appears, choose Yes if the test page printed satisfactorily. If it didn't print satisfactorily, choose No and follow the directions that appear on your screen. 1-18 Setting Up the Printer Checking the printer driver settings Before you start printing, you should make sure that the driver settings match your document requirements. While many Windows applications override the printer settings made with the driver, some do not. Be sure to check the following: t Resolution Paper size Orientation Paper source The printing resolution in dots per inch (dpi). The size of the paper loaded in the printer. The direction of printing on the page (portrait or landscape). Tractor, manual feed, or sheet feeder. t t t For Windows 3.1 users Follow these steps to select the appropriate settings: 1. 2. 3. In the Main window, double-click the Control Panel icon. Double-click the Printers icon. Make sure your printer is highlighted, and click the Setup button in the Print Setup menu. Select the paper size you have loaded in the printer from the Paper Size list. If you don't see your paper size in the list, use the arrows on the right to scroll through the list. The diagram on the screen changes according to the paper size you select. Select Portrait or Landscape orientation. The diagram on the screen changes according to the orientation you select. Select the resolution you desire. 4. 5. 6. Setting Up the Printer 1-19 7. 8. Select the paper source. Click Options to open the option menu. You can control intensity by clicking the arrow to darker or lighter. You can control dithering by choosing None, Coarse, Fine, or Line Art. For Windows 95 users Follow these steps to select the appropriate settings: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In the Desktop window, click the Start button. Select Settings; then click Printers. Right-click on your printer icon. Choose Properties. The driver tab menus appear. Click on the Paper tab, and select the paper size you have loaded in the printer from the Paper size list. If you don't see your paper size, scroll through the list, and select the correct size. The diagram on the screen changes according to the paper size you select. Select Portrait or Landscape orientation. The diagram on the screen changes according to the orientation you select. Select the paper source. Select the resolution you desire on the Graphics menu. Make any other settings you wish, and click OK when you are finished. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1-20 Setting Up the Printer For DOS program users Most DOS software programs include drivers for EPSON ESC/P 2 printers. Also, DOS programs require you to select from a list of printers to install the printer driver. If the LQ-2170 is not included in the list, contact your software manufacturer to see if there is an updated driver available or select the first printer available from the list below. LQ-1070/1070+ LQ-870/1170 LQ-850+/1050+ LQ-850/1050 LQ-510/550/1010 LQ-200 LQ-500 LQ-860+/1060+ LQ-2550 LQ-2500 LQ-800/1000 LQ-1500 See your DOS program's documentation for instructions on selecting the printer driver. DOS printer utilities Your printer comes with the EPSON Remote! and EPSON Calibration utilities. You can use EPSON Remote! to make setting changes from your computer instead of using the printer's control panel. Also, you can use EPSON Calibration to properly align your printout. Setting Up the Printer 1-21 Installing the printer utilities To install the utilities, follow these steps: 1. Insert the floppy disk containing the printer utilities into your computer's disk drive. From the DOS prompt, type A:SETUP (or B:SETUP); then press Enter. In the screen that appears, select your printer's name in the Printer Model window and press Enter. C:\EPUTIL appears as the default directory. You may change the directory or use the default. Press Enter. All the necessary files are copied to the EPUTIL directory on drive C (or to the directory you specified in step 3). 2. 3. 4. Using the EPSON printer utilities To use your EPSON utilities, follow these steps: 1. From the DOS prompt, change the current directory to the C drive. To use the EPSON Remote! utility, type PRNSET and press Enter. To use the EPSON Calibration utility, type CALIBRAT and press Enter. Follow the instructions on the screen to use either utility. 2. 3. 1-22 Setting Up the Printer Chapter 2 Paper Handling Selecting the Paper Feeding Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Setting the paper release lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Using Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Loading single sheets from the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Loading single sheets from the front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6 Using Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting the tractor position and paper path Changing tractor positions . . . . . . . . . . Loading the front push tractor . . . . . . . . Loading the rear push tractor . . . . . . . . . Loading the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading the push/pull tractor . . . . . . . . Removing paper from the tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 2-8 2-9 2-12 2-15 2-19 2-22 2-23 2 Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets . . . . . . 2-24 Switching to single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24 Switching to continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25 Printing on Special Paper . . . . . . . . Adjusting the paper thickness lever Multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roll paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25 2-26 2-27 2-28 2-29 2-29 2-29 Paper Handling 2-1 Selecting the Paper Feeding Method The printer can accommodate almost any type of paper with front, rear, and bottom paper slots plus a tractor that can be mounted in two different positions--front and top. This chapter explains the various methods of paper handling and includes recommendations on the feeding methods best suited to your specific needs. Setting the paper release lever First you need to set the paper release lever for the type of paper and feeding method you want to use. The paper release lever has four positions, with icons indicating the type of paper and paper path for each position. PU LL 2-2 Paper Handling Single-sheet position--for all single sheets (including envelopes and postcards), whether loaded from front, top, the optional cut-sheet feeders, or the roll paper holder. Front push and front push/pull tractor position--for continuous paper when the tractor unit is installed in the front. Rear push and rear push/pull tractor position--for continuous paper when the tractor unit is installed in the rear. Pull tractor position--for continuous paper when the tractor unit is installed on the top. In this case, you can load paper from the front, rear, or bottom. Using Single Sheets You can print on single sheets of paper from 101 to 420 mm (4.0 to 16.5 inches) wide. You can load single sheets from either the top or front of the printer. Loading single sheets from the top 1. Move the paper release lever to the single-sheet position. Make sure the paper guide is installed and the paper path guide is open. Paper Handling 2-3 2. Turn on the printer. Slide the left edge guide until it stops next to the arrow on the paper guide. Then adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper. 3. Lift the paper path guide and rest it against the paper guide. 2-4 Paper Handling 4. Insert the paper firmly between the edge guides until it meets resistance. After a few seconds, the printer advances the paper to the loading position. You are now ready to print. Note: Always close the printer cover before printing. The printer stops printing when the cover is open. c Caution: Do not use the knob on the right side of the printer except to clear paper jams when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. If the platen turns but the printer doesn't load the paper, completely remove the paper and re-insert it more firmly. To eject the paper, press the Load/Eject button. Paper Handling 2-5 Loading single sheets from the front 1. Move the paper release lever to the single-sheet position and open the front cover. Make sure the paper path guide rests against the paper guide. 2. 3. Turn on the printer. Position the left edge guide as shown below. (Printing starts at the arrow mark.) See the Appendix for more information on the left margin position. 2-6 Paper Handling 4. While aligning the paper's left and right edges with the edge guides, insert the paper firmly until it meets resistance. After a few seconds, the printer loads the paper to the loading position. You are now ready to print. Note: Always close the printer cover before printing. The printer stops printing when the cover is open. c Caution: Do not use the knob on the right side of the printer except to clear paper jams when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. If the platen turns but the printer doesn't load the paper, completely remove the paper and re-insert it more firmly. To eject the paper, press the Load/Eject button. Paper Handling 2-7 Using Continuous Paper The printer's paper-handling system allows you to load continuous paper through the front, rear, or bottom. You can print on continuous paper from 101 to 406 mm (4 to 16 inches) wide. To print on continuous paper, you need to install the tractor unit in the front or pull position. Be sure you set the paper release lever correctly. Note: The rear push tractor cannot be removed. Selecting the tractor position and paper path The table below lists the different way to feed continuous paper. Always set the paper release lever to the position indicated for the paper feed method you are using. Tractor position Front push tractor and front push/pull Paper release lever position Paper paths Rear push tractor and rear push/pull Pull tractor 2-8 Paper Handling