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 . . . . . . . . . Switch ...