User manual EPSON LQ-570E

® 24-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 © 1999 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. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected 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 complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. ii Contents Getting to Know Your Printer Easy-to-Use Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Available Paper Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Printing on continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Print Head Caution Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 For United Kingdom Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Use of options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 How To Use Your Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Positioning the continuous paper supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 Attaching the Paper Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16 Installing the printer software in Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16 Installing the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18 For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19 iii Chapter 2 Printing on Continuous Paper Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Paper Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Push Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading paper onto the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing a printed document from the push tractor. . . . Removing the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reinstalling the tractor in the push position . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Tractor in the Pull Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the tractor in the pull position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading paper onto the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing the paper from the pull tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using two tractors in the push/pull combination . . . . . . . Removing the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Multipart Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Continuous Paper With Labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing continuous paper with labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switching Between Printing on Continuous Paper and Printing on Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switching to printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switching to printing on continuous paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advancing the Paper to the Tear-Off Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Tear Off/Bin button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advancing the paper to the tear-off position automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 2-4 2-6 2-6 2-11 2-12 2-13 2-14 2-14 2-16 2-21 2-22 2-24 2-26 2-27 2-28 2-29 2-29 2-30 2-31 2-34 2-34 2-35 2-35 Chapter 3 Printing on Single Sheets Using Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Available paper types and paper slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading single-sheet multipart forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Single Sheets in the Top Paper Slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Single Sheets in the Front Paper Slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 3-2 3-4 3-5 3-6 3-8 3-11 iv Chapter 4 Using the Printer Software About Your Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 Using the Printer Driver With Windows 95 and 98 . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications. . 4-3 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . . 4-5 Printer driver settings overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Using the Printer Driver With Windows 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications. . 4-12 Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel . . . . . 4-14 Printer driver settings overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 Using the Printer Driver With Windows NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications. . 4-16 Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu . . . . . . . . 4-18 Printer driver settings overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 Using the Printer Driver With Windows NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25 Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications. . 4-25 Accessing the printer driver from the Control Panel . . . . . 4-27 Printer driver settings overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28 Using the EPSON Remote! Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30 Installing EPSON Remote! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30 Accessing EPSON Remote! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30 Chapter 5 Changing Printer Settings From the Printer's Control Panel Selecting a Built-In Font and Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 About Your Printer's Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 Changing default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10 Chapter 6 Using EPSON Status Monitor 3 About the EPSON Status Monitor 3 Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Accessing EPSON Status Monitor 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 v Chapter 7 Troubleshooting Using the Error Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power supply problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Single-sheet paper loading or feeding problems . . . . . . . . Continuous paper loading or feeding problems . . . . . . . . Wrong top-of-form position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wrong tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing or printout quality problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clearing Paper Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aligning Vertical Lines in Your Printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing a Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing a Hex Dump. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 7-4 7-5 7-6 7-8 7-9 7-10 7-11 7-16 7-17 7-18 7-19 Appendix A Enhancing Your Printer With Options Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper handling options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Optional interface cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Optional Cut-Sheet Feeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing an optional cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading paper in the single-bin cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . Loading paper in the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder. . . . . Assembling the double-bin cut-sheet feeder. . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting your paper path (bin 1 or bin 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Switching between continuous paper and single-sheet paper in the cut-sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Roll Paper Holder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assembling the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the roll paper holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading roll paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing roll paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using an Optional Front Sheet Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing the front sheet guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading paper in the front sheet guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing an Interface Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 A-2 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-8 A-12 A-16 A-17 A-18 A-20 A-20 A-21 A-22 A-24 A-25 A-25 A-27 A-29 vi Appendix B Cleaning and Transporting the Printer Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3 Appendix C Specifications Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2 Mechanical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2 Electrical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-5 Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6 Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6 Paper alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-10 Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-11 Safety approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-14 CE marking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-14 Command Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-15 EPSON ESC/P2 control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-15 IBM 2390 Plus emulation control codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-19 Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-20 International character sets for the Italic table . . . . . . . . . . . C-31 Appendix D Customer Support Information Contacting Customer Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2 For North American Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3 Electronic support services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3 Automated telephone services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3 For United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Users. . . . . . . D-5 Enquiry Desk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5 Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5 Faxon EPSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6 EPtec-Bulletin Board Service for latest drivers and utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6 World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-7 For Australian Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-7 EPSON FAXBACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-7 vii EPSON Bulletin Board System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Internet URL http://www.epson.com.au . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your dealer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EPSON Helpdesk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Singapore Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Hong Kong Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Internet home page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electronic bulletin board system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical support hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Philippines Users. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-7 D-7 D-8 D-8 D-8 D-9 D-9 D-9 D-9 D-10 Glossary Index viii Control Panel Buttons and Lights Font button Selects the font. See Chapter 5. Font lights Indicate which font is selected. Condensed button Turns on and off the condensed mode. Condensed light Lights up when the condensed mode is on. LF/FF button q Feeds paper line by line when pressing shortly. q Ejects a single sheet or advances continuous paper to the next top-of-form position when held down. Paper Out light q On when no paper is loaded in the selected paper source or paper is not loaded correctly. q Flashes when paper has not been fully ejected or a paper jam has occurred. Load/Eject button Pause button Tear Off/Bin button Stops printing temporarily, q Advances continuous paper to the q Loads a single sheet of paper. and resumes printing tear-off position. when pressed again. q Feeds continuous paper backward q Ejects a single sheet of paper if a sheet is When pressed for three from the tear-off position to the toploaded. seconds, turns on the of-form position. *micro adjust mode. To q Selects a cut-sheet feeder bin when q Loads continuous paper from the standby turn off, press again. the cut-sheet feeder is installed. position. q Turns on the card mode to print on Pause light q Feeds continuous paper postcards and envelopes. See q On when the printer is backward to the Chapter 3. paused. standby position. q Flashes when the Tear Off/Bin lights printer is in the *micro q f f when continuous paper is in the adjust mode. tear-off position. q Flashes when the print q o n when bin 1 of the optional cuthead has overheated. sheet feeder is selected. q n o when bin 2 of the optional cutsheet feeder is selected. q n n when the printer is in the card *Micro Adjust mode mode. When you hold down the Pause button for three seconds, the printer enters the micro adjust mode. In this mode, you can press the LF/FFD and Load/EjectU n = On f = Flashing buttons to adjust the top-of-form or tear-off position. o = Off See Chapter 2. Getting to Know Your Printer Your EPSON® LQ-580/LQ-570e 24-pin dot matrix printer provides high-quality printing and great performance in a compact design. LQ-570e is the name used in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Features include: A variety of paper paths to suit your printing needs The ability to handle a wide range of paper types, including continuous paper, multipart forms with one original and up to four copies, labels, single sheets, envelopes, and postcards High-speed printing of up to 400 characters per second at 10 characters per inch Your printer also comes with printer driver software, the EPSON Status Monitor 3 utility for Microsoft® Windows® 95, 98, or NT 4.0 that lets you check the status of your printer quickly and easily, and other software. In addition, many options are available to suit your individual needs. Getting to Know Your Printer 1 Easy-to-Use Features This section highlights some easy-to-use features that you'll find helpful. Use the tear-off feature to save paper. If you load paper in the push tractor, you can use the tear-off feature to advance your continuous paper to the printer's tearoff edge when you finish printing. Then you can easily tear off printed sheets and save paper normally lost between documents. For more information, see Chapter 2. 2 Getting to Know Your Printer Use the paper release lever to change the paper path without removing continuous paper from the push tractor. When using the paper release lever, you can easily switch to printing on single sheets without removing the continuous paper loaded in the push tractor. For more information, see Chapter 2. paper release lever Use the micro adjust feature to adjust the top-of-form and tear-off positions. (See the Glossary for explanations of the top-of-form and tear-off positions.) The micro adjust feature allows you to move the paper forward or backward in 1/180-inch increments so that you can make precise adjustments to the top-of-form and tear-off positions. For more information, see Chapter 2. Getting to Know Your Printer 3 Available Paper Paths Your printer provides a variety of paper paths for printing on continuous and single-sheet paper. As described below, paper can be fed into the printer from the top, front, bottom, or rear. You can select the paper path that best suits your current printing needs. Printing on continuous paper You can choose from two tractor positions (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 the appropriate sections in Chapter 2 for tractor installation and paper loading instructions. Using the push tractor 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 push tractor. This allows you to use the printer's tear-off edge to easily tear off printed sheets of continuous paper at the perforation. Also, when continuous paper is loaded on the push tractor, you can load single sheets of paper from the paper guide without removing the continuous paper from the tractor. The tractor is installed in the rear push position when the printer is shipped. See the table below for details about the corresponding paper-feeding path. Tractor position Description Caution: Do not load continuous paper with labels in the rear slot; the labels may come off their backing sheet inside the printer and cause a paper jam. push 4 Getting to Know Your Printer Using a pull tractor If you often print on thick or heavy continuous paper, such as multipart forms or continuous paper with labels, use a 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 with the pull tractor. Note: If you plan to use a 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 an optional tractor unit (C80020) and install it in the pull position. See Chapter 2 for instructions. 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 almost straight. This reduces the chance 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 in the bottom slot, be sure to use a printer stand with an opening large enough for the paper to feed through it without obstruction. Getting to Know Your Printer 5 You can also load continuous paper from the rear pull tractor position. rear Note: Paper loaded from the rear slot results in a curved paper path, which may affect loading performance, so use the front or bottom slot whenever possible. Caution: Do not load continuous paper with labels in the rear slot; the labels may come off their backing sheet inside the printer and cause a paper jam. Using the push and pull tractor in combination You can improve paper feeding and reduce paper jams by using two tractors at the same time. This is especially helpful for printing on continuous preprinted forms or multipart forms and for printing high-quality graphics. Combination Description To use the push tractor with the pull tractor, you need to purchase the optional pull tractor (C80020) and install it in the pull position. rear push and pull Caution: Do not load continuous paper with labels onto the push tractor even when it is used in combination with the pull tractor. If you load continuous paper with labels onto the rear push/pull tractor, the labels may come off their backing sheet inside the printer and cause a paper jam. Note: For more information on how to use two tractors in the push and pull combination, see "Using two tractors in the push/pull combination" on page 2-22. 6 Getting to Know Your Printer Printing on single sheets You can load single sheets from the top or the front of the printer. You can load ordinary single sheets from either position, even with continuous paper already loaded in the push tractor. This section helps you determine which paper slot best suits your single-sheet printing needs. See Chapter 3 for paper loading instructions. Loading paper in the top slot You can load ordinary single sheets, envelopes, or postcards in the top slot. Note: Load envelopes in the top slot only. Getting to Know Your Printer 7 Loading paper in the front slot You can load ordinary single sheets, single-sheet multipart forms, or postcards in the front slot. Note: Always use the front paper slot to load single-sheet multipart forms. Options Your printer comes with everything necessary to print on continuous paper and single sheets using a variety of paper paths. By adding options, such as a cut-sheet feeder, pull tractor unit, roll paper holder, or front sheet guide, you can further expand your printer's versatility. Optional interface cards are also available to supplement your printer's built-in parallel interface. For more information on options for your printer, see Appendix A, "Enhancing Your Printer With Options." 8 Getting to Know Your Printer Ribbon Cartridge Your printer uses the following ribbon cartridges: EPSON black ribbon cartridge EPSON film ribbon cartridge #7753 #7768 When printing becomes faint, you need to replace the ribbon cartridge. Genuine EPSON ribbon cartridges are designed and manufactured to work properly with your EPSON printer. They ensure proper operation and long life of the print head and other printer parts. To replace a used ribbon cartridge, follow the instructions in "Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge" on page 1-5. Note: Use the optional film ribbon cartridge when you want especially high quality printing. For everyday operations, use the standard black ribbon cartridge. Important Safety Instructions Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on 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 at an angle. 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. Getting to Know Your Printer 9 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 use a damaged or frayed power cord. 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 of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the wall outlet's ampere rating. Unplug the printer before cleaning, and clean it with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer. Except as specifically explained in this guide, do not attempt to service the printer yourself. Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified 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; or 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. K Printer parts marked with this symbol may be hot. Turn off the printer and let it cool for a few minutes before you touch any printer part marked with this symbol. 10 Getting to Know Your Printer If you plan to use the printer in Germany, observe the following: To provide adequate short-circuit protection and overcurrent protection for this printer, the building installation must be protected by a 16 amp circuit breaker. Note for German-speaking users: Bei Anschluß des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muß sichergestellt werden, daß die Gebäudeinstallation mit einem 16 AÜberstromschalter abgesichert ist. Print Head Caution Symbol K The symbol on the print head indicates that this part may be hot. Never touch the print head just after the printer has been used. Let the print head cool for a few minutes before touching it. ENERGY STAR Compliance As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. 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. Getting to Know Your Printer 11 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. 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 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. 12 Getting to Know Your Printer 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. How To Use Your Manuals This User's Guide provides detailed information on setting up and using your printer. The Quick Reference Guide that also comes with the printer summarizes basic information on how to use the printer. 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. Getting to Know Your Printer 13 Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Positioning the continuous paper supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 Attaching the Paper Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 Installing the Printer Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16 Installing the printer software in Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16 Installing the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18 For DOS programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19 1 Setting Up the Printer 1-1 Unpacking the Printer Besides this guide, your printer box should include an EPSON printer software CD-ROM, a Notice Sheet, and the following items: printer paper guide power cord ribbon cartridge Note: Depending on your printer model, the power cord may be permanently attached to the printer. Also, the shape of the power cord plug varies depending on the country of purchase; be sure the plug you have is the right one for your location. c 1-2 Caution: There are several models of the printer designed for different voltages, and it is not possible to adjust the printer for use with another voltage. If the label on the back of the printer does not show the correct voltage for your country, contact your dealer. Setting Up the Printer You must remove all protective materials packed around and inside your printer before you set it up and turn on the power. Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet (packed with the printer) to remove these materials. Save all packing and protective materials in case you need to ship the printer in the future. It should always be transported in its original packaging or equivalent materials. 1 Choosing a Place for the Printer Follow the guidelines below when selecting a location for your printer. Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or at an angle. Place the printer where you can easily connect it to a network interface cable, if necessary. Leave adequate room around the printer for easy operation and maintenance. Avoid using or storing the printer in places subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it away from direct sunlight, strong light, heat sources, or excessive moisture or dust. Avoid places subject to shocks and vibrations. Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily unplug the power cord. Note for French-speaking users: Placez l'imprimante près d'une prise de contact où la fiche peut être débranchée facilement. Setting Up the Printer 1-3 Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. An interruption in power can erase information in the memory of your printer or computer. Also avoid outlets on the same circuit as large motors or other appliances that can cause voltage fluctuations. Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones. Use a grounded power outlet; do not use an adapter plug. Make sure the paper path is clear and unobstructed before you print on continuous paper. (See the next section.) If you plan to use a printer stand, follow these guidelines: Use a stand that supports at least 20 kg (44 lb). Never use a stand that tilts the printer. The printer should always be kept level. Position your printer's power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding. If possible, secure the cables to a leg of the printer stand. Positioning the continuous paper supply Before using continuous paper, make sure you line up your paper supply with the tractor feeder so the paper feeds smoothly into the printer, as shown below. rear front bottom 1-4 Setting Up the Printer Installing or Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge EPSON recommends the use of genuine EPSON black ribbon cartridges (#7753) or EPSON film ribbon cartridge (#7768). Products not manufactured by EPSON may cause damage to your printer not covered by warranties. 1 w Warning: You will need to move the print head by hand to install or 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. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. c Caution: Moving the print head while the printer is on may damage the printer. 2. If the printer is connected to an electrical outlet, unplug it from the outlet. Setting Up the Printer 1-5 3. Lift the printer cover by its back edge and then pull it straight up and off. 4. Push up the tabs on each side of the paper tension unit and lift the unit up and off the printer. Store the paper tension unit in a safe place. Note: When the pull tractor is installed, it is not necessary to remove the paper tension unit. 1-6 Setting Up the Printer 5. Make sure that the print head is not hot; if it is, let it cool for a few minutes before touching it. Then slide the print head to the middle of the printer by hand. 1 6. If a used ribbon cartridge is installed, grasp the cartridge by its handle and pull it straight up. Properly dispose of the used ribbon cartridge. Setting Up the Printer 1-7 7. Remove the new ribbon cartridge from the package. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack in the ribbon. ribbon-tightening knob 8. Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly down into position; then press on both ends of the cartridge to make sure the plastic hooks fit into the slots. 1-8 Setting Up the Printer 9. Use a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place. 1 10. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Also check that the ribbon is not twisted or creased. Setting Up the Printer 1-9 11. To replace the paper tension unit, lower it onto the printer's mounting pegs. Then press down both ends of the unit until it clicks into place. 12. Replace the printer cover by first inserting the front tabs into the slots on the printer and then lowering the cover into place. Push it down until it clicks. Note: You install the optional #7768 film ribbon cartridge the same way you install the ribbon cartridge. However, you should follow the guidelines below when using a film ribbon: 1-10 Setting Up the Printer Print on ordinary paper only. Move the paper-thickness lever to the next lowest position. 1 Attaching the Paper Guide To install the paper guide follow these steps: 1. Make sure the paper guide cover is open as shown below. Attach the paper guide by sliding the slots on the bottom of the paper guide over the printer's pegs. Then tilt the guide back until it stops. paper tension unit paper guide cover c Caution: Make sure to slide the slots on the bottom of the paper guide over the printer's pegs on each side of the printer. Setting Up the Printer 1-11 2. Close the paper guide cover. 1-12 Setting Up the Printer Plugging in the Printer 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. 1 2. Check the label on the back of the printer to make sure its voltage matches that of your electrical outlet. Also make sure the plug on your printer's power cord matches your electrical outlet. w Warning: It is not possible to change the printer's voltage. If the rated voltage and your outlet voltage do not match, contact your dealer for assistance. Do not plug in the power cord. 3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, plug the appropriate end into the AC inlet on the back of the printer. 4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet. Setting Up the Printer 1-13 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer Your printer has two separate interface connections: an IEEE-1284 compatible parallel interface and Type B optional interface. See "Optional interface cards" on page A-4 for more information. If your computer requires a different type of printer interface, you should be able to use one of the optional interfaces described on "Optional interface cards" on page A-4. Follow the steps below to connect the printer to your computer using a parallel interface connector, or a ground wire connector. 1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off. 2. Plug the cable connector securely into the parallel interface connector. . parallel interface connector 1-14 Setting Up the Printer 3. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on both sides of the connector. 1 4. If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the printer's ground connector as shown below. 5. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. After you connect the printer to your computer, install the printer software as described in the next section. Setting Up the Printer 1-15 Installing the Printer Software After you connect the printer to your computer, you need to install the software included on the EPSON printer software CDROM shipped with your printer. Your printer software includes: Printer driver The printer driver is the software that runs, or "drives," your printer. With it, you can make printer settings such as print quality, resolution, and paper size. EPSON Status Monitor 3 (Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 only) The EPSON Status Monitor 3 notifies you of printer errors and displays printer status information. EPSON Remote! (a DOS-based printer setup utility) The EPSON Remote! utility allows you to easily change the printer's default settings from the computer screen. See "Using the EPSON Remote! Utility" on page 4-30. To install the printer software, see "Installing the printer software in Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0" or "Installing the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x" in this section. If you are using DOS, see "For DOS programs" on page 1-19. Installing the printer software in Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 Follow the steps below to install the printer software in Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0: Note: Installing the printer software for Windows NT 4.0 may require network administration privileges. Ask your administrator for more information. 1-16 Setting Up the Printer If you wish to make a diskette version of the printer software on your CD-ROM, insert the CD and run the EPSETUP program. In the dialog box that appears, click the Driver disk creation utility button and follow the on-screen instructions. If you are using the diskette version of the EPSON software, make a backup copy of the EPSON printer software disk or disks before you begin installation. 1. Make sure Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 is running and the printer is off. 2. Insert the printer software CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive. The Install dialog box appears. (If you are using diskettes, insert the diskette in a disk drive, then double-click the Drive icon and double-click the Setup.exe icon.) 3. Click Install to start the printer software installation. 4. Select your printer from the list, then follow the instructions on the screen. Note: If the New Hardware Found screen or any other wizard appears when you turn on your computer, click Cancel and follow the steps above. Installation time varies depending on your computer. For information on opening and using the software, see Chapter 4, "Using the Printer Software." When you install the printer driver on Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0, EPSON Status Monitor 3 will also be installed. See Chapter 6 for information on installing and using the Status Monitor. 1 Setting Up the Printer 1-17 Installing the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x Follow the steps below to install the printer software in Windows 3.1 or NT 3.5x systems. Note: Installing the printer software on Windows NT 3.5x may require network administration privileges. Ask your administrator for more information. 1. Make sure Windows is running and the Program Manager window is open. 2. Insert the printer software CD-ROM shipped with your printer in the CD-ROM drive. (If you are using diskettes, insert Disk1 of your printer software in a disk drive.) 3. Choose Run from the File menu. The Run dialog box appears. In the Command Line box, type D:SETUP. (If your CD-ROM drive has a drive letter other than "D," or if you are using a diskette, substitute the appropriate drive letter.) Then click OK. If you wish to make a diskette version of the printer software on your CD-ROM, type EPSETUP instead of SETUP. In the dialog box that appears, click the Driver disk creation utility button and follow the on-screen instructions. 4. Select your printer from the list. 5. The installation program begins copying the printer software files. 1-18 Setting Up the Printer 6. When the installation is complete, click OK to exit the installation program. The installation program automatically selects the LQ-580/LQ570e as the default printer for Windows applications. For information on opening and using the software, see Chapter 4, "Using the Printer Software." 1 For DOS programs To control the printer from DOS application programs, you need to select the printer you are using or another available printer from the printer list of your application. Choose the EPSON LQ-580/LQ-570e printer at the appropriate step in the setup or installation procedure of your DOS application program. If the list in your application does not include the LQ-580/LQ-570e printer, choose the first available printer from this list: LQ-580/LQ-570e LQ-870 LQ-570/570+ LQ-850+ LQ-850 LQ-510/550 LQ-200 LQ-500 LQ-860+ LQ-2550 LQ-2500 LQ-800 LQ-1500 Note: If your application does not list a suitable alternative, contact the software manufacturer to see if an update is available. Setting Up the Printer 1-19 1-20 Setting Up the Printer Chapter 2 Printing on Continuous Paper Setting the Paper Release Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Setting the Paper Thickness Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Using the Push Tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6 Loading paper onto the push tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6 Removing a printed document from the push tractor . . . . . 2-11 Removing the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12 Reinstalling the tractor in the push position . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13 Using the Tractor in the Pull Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14 Installing the tractor in the pull position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14 Loading paper onto the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16 Removing the paper from the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21 Using two tractors in the push/pull combination. . . . . . . . . 2-22 Removing the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24 Loading Multipart Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26 Loading Continuous Paper With Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-27 Removing continuous paper with labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28 Switching Between Printing on Continuous Paper and Printing on Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29 Switching to printing on single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29 Switching to printing on continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-30 Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-31 Advancing the Paper to the Tear-Off Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34 Using the Tear Off/Bin button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34 Advancing the paper to the tear-off position automatically 2-35 Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-35 2 Printing on Continuous Paper 2-1 Setting the Paper Release Lever There are several ways you can load continuous paper in the printer, including the push tractor. Use the paper release lever to indicate the paper source you want to use, as described in the table below. Note: To decide which paper source and paper path best suits your printing needs, see "Available Paper Paths" on page 4. paper release lever 2-2 Printing on Continuous Paper 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. For information on loading single sheets, see Chapter 3. 2 Push tractor position For loading continuous paper from the tractor installed in the push position. Also set the lever to this position when using the push and pull tractor 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. Printing on Continuous Paper 2-3 Setting the Paper Thickness Lever Setting the paper thickness lever allows the printer to accommodate various thicknesses of paper. The paper thickness lever is located under the printer cover. You can select one of eight positions identified by the scale next to the lever. paper thickness lever 2-4 Printing on Continuous Paper Use the following table to set the paper thickness lever to match the thickness of your paper. Paper type* Ordinary (single sheets or continuous 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) Continuous paper with labels** Postcard Envelopes Lever position -1 or 0 2 1 2 3 5 2 2 2 to 6 * See Appendix C for complete paper specifications. ** Continuous paper with labels cannot be used with the push tractor. To use them, install the tractor unit in the pull position. Note: If the printed image is smeared, you may need to set the paper thickness lever one position higher to improve print quality. If the printed image is faint or has many gaps, you may need to set the paper thickness lever one position lower to improve print quality. Printing on Continuous Paper 2-5 Using the Push Tractor To use the push tractor, load continuous paper in the rear slot. For information on when to use the push tractor, see "Available Paper Paths" on page 4. Note: The tractor is installed in the push position when the printer is shipped. If a tractor is not installed in the push position, go to "Reinstalling the tractor in the push position" on page 2-13. Loading paper onto the push tractor If a tractor is installed in the pull position, you need to remove it and install the paper tension unit as described on "Removing the pull tractor" on page 2-24 before using the push tractor. Note: To avoid paper jams, it is best to load thick multipart forms using the front or bottom slot and the pull tractor. c Caution: Do not load continuous paper with labels in the rear paper slot; the labels may come off their backing sheet inside the printer and cause a paper jam. 2-6 Printing on Continuous Paper To load paper onto the push tractor, follow these steps: 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. 2. Open the paper guide cover and remove the paper guide by holding both edges and lifting it up. 2 3. Set the paper release lever to the push tractor position. Set the paper thickness lever (located under the printer cover) to the proper position for your paper's thickness. Printing on Continuous Paper 2-7 4. Release the left and right sprockets by pulling the sprocket lock levers forward. front of the printer 5. Slide the left sprocket to the left margin of the paper using the scale on the printer. (Printing starts at the "0" mark.) Then push the lever back to lock it in place. front of the printer Note: See Appendix C, "Paper alignment" and "Printable area," for more information on the left margin position. 2-8 Printing on Continuous Paper