CHAP 1-SETTING UP THE PRINTER. Epson FX-1050, FX-BO

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Removing the protective materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-3

Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-5

Assembling the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

Installing the platen knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-6

Installing the ribbon cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Attaching the paper guide

1-8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11

Testing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Plugging in the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-12

1-13

Loading a sheet of paper

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13

Running the self test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-16

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Connecting the parallel interface cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-18

1-18

Setting Up the Printer l - l

Unpacking the Printer

As you unpack the printer, check that you have all the parts shown below and that none has been damaged during transportation.

Printer

Cross-head screwdriver

Platen knob

Note: You’ll find the platen knob in a piece of the foam packing.

After removing the parts, store the packaging materials in case you ever need to transport your printer.

1-2 Setting Up the Printer

Removing the protective materials

The printer is protected during shipping by two locking tabs and a print head protector. These protective items must be removed before you turn on the printer. After removing these items, store them with the other packaging material.

1 Remove the printer cover.

2.

Remove the print head protector.

Setting Up the Printer 1-3

3.

Remove the left and right locking tabs.

4.

Slide the print head to the middle of the printer. Then, use the enclosed cross-head screwdriver to unscrew and remove the two transport locking brackets.

1-4

WARNING: Be sure to remove all protective materials before you turn on the printer.

Setting Up the Printer

l l l l

Choosing a Place for the Printer

When you select a location for your printer, keep the following in mind:

Place the printer on a flat, stable surface.

Place the printer close enough to the computer for its cable to reach.

Leave adequate room around the printer to allow for easy operation and maintenance.

Use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug.

The illustration below shows a good printer setup.

Setting Up the Printer 1-5

W A R N I N G : l

Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, or dust.

l

Avoid using electrical outlets that are controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental disruption of power can wipe out information in both your computer’s memory and your printer’s memory.

l

Avoid using outlets on the same circuit with large motors or other appliances that might disturb the power supply.

l

Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources of interference such as loudspeakers or the base units of cordless telephones.

Assembling the Printer

To assemble the printer, you need only do the following: l

Install the platen knob l

Install the ribbon cartridge l

Attach the paper guide.

Installing the platen knob

The first step in setting up the printer is to install the platen knob. You should never need to use this knob during the normal operation of your printer. However, in case of a paper jam, you can use this knob to manually feed paper. (Be sure the printer is turned off before using the platen knob.)

You’ll find the platen knob packed in an indentation in the white foam packing material.

1-6

Setting Up the Printer

1.

Insert the knob into the hole on the printer’s side and rotate it until it slips onto the shaft.

2.

Push firmly on the knob until it fits against the printer case.

Caution: Never use the platen knob to adjust the position of the paper except in the case of a paper jam. Only use the platen knob when the printer is turned off.

Setting Up the Printer

1-7

Installing the ribbon cartridge

Follow these steps to install the ribbon cartridge:

1. Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.

Caution: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on because this can damage the printer. Also, if you have been using the printer, the print head may be hot; let it cool for a few minutes before touching it.

2. Remove the ribbon cartridge from its box and remove the plastic wrapper.

1-8 Setting Up the Printer

3. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow. This removes any excess slack in the ribbon and makes it easier to install.

4. Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handles and push it firmly down into position, making sure the plastic hooks fit into the printer. (The

FX-850 has only one handle in the center of the ribbon cartridge.)

Press lightly on both sides of the cartridge to be sure the hooks are properly inserted.

Setting Up the Printer 1-9

5. Use a pointed object, such as the tip of a pencil, to guide the ribbon between the print head and ribbon guide while you turn the ribbontightening knob to help feed the ribbon into place.

6. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Also make sure the ribbon is not twisted or creased.

1-10 Setting: Up the Printer

Attaching the paper guide

The paper guide functions to feed the paper smoothly and efficiently.

Follow these steps to install the paper guide:

1. Place the paper guide on the printer.

2. Raise the paper guide until it locks into place.

Setting Up the Printer

1-11

3. Now reinstall the printer cover by fitting the legs of the cover into the notches at the front of the printer.

4. Close the printer cover.

Testing the Printer

Now that your printer is fully assembled, you can use the built-in self test function to see that the printer is working correctly even though it is not connected to a computer. Be sure to perform this test to check that your printer is operating properly

Before running the self test, you need to connect your printer to an electrical outlet and load a sheet of paper.

1-12

Setting Up the Printer

Plugging in the printer

Follow these steps to plug in the printer:

1. Be sure the printer is turned off.

2. Plug the power cable into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

WARNING: Whenever you turn off the power, wait at least five seconds before turning it back on. Rapid switching on and off can damage the printer.

Loading a sheet of paper

Next, you need to load a sheet of paper that is letter size (if you have an

FX-850) or 14 inches wide (if you have an FX-1050).

WARNING: Before turning on the printer, be absolutely sure you have removed all protective materials. Turning on the printer while the print head cannot move may seriously damage the print mechanism.

1. Turn on the printer. The green POWER and red PAPER OUT lights come on.

Setting Up the Printer 1-13

2.

be sure that the paper release lever is pushed back to the single sheet position.

3. Move the left edge guide so it locks in place next to the arrow on the paper guide.

1-14 setting Up the Printer

4.

Adjust the right edge guide to match the width of your paper. Next, slide a sheet down between the edge guides until it meets resistance.

5.

Press the LOAD/EJECT button once to automatically load the paper. If the platen turns without loading the paper, remove the paper completely and re-insert it more firmly; then press the LOAD/EJECT button again.

Setting Up the Printer

1-15

Running the self test

The self test can be run in draft mode or near letter quality (NLQ) mode.

Follow the steps below.

1.

Load a sheet of paper as described above.

WARNING: Never run the self test using paper that is narrower than 8¼ inches if you have an FX-850, or 14 inches if you have an FX-1050, because you may seriously damage the print head.

2.

Turn off the printer.

3.

While holding down the LINE FEED button, turn on the printer. After printing starts, release the LINE FEED button.

1-16 Setting Up the Printer

A list of your printer’s settings is printed first, followed by a series of characters. Here is part of a typical draft self test:

%‘( )*+,-.

/t312345(5’7#9: ; ,:::=:.~?@APCDEI=‘GH I J KLMNC)POI

’ t I*+,, ./(.,.j.;:345,5789: a . . ..-...

4.

The self test continues until the paper runs out or until you press the

ON LINE button. To stop the test temporarily, press the ON LINE button to take the printer off line.

5.

To end the self test, be sure the printer is off line. Press the LOAD/

EJECT button to eject any paper that is still loaded, and then turn off the printer.

Note: When the cut sheet feeder is installed, the self test printout is slightly different. For details, see the section on the cut sheet feeder in

Chapter 7.

To run the self test in NLQ mode, follow these steps:

1.

Load another sheet of paper as described above.

2.

Turn off the printer, then turn it on again while holding down the

FORM FEED button. After printing starts, release the FORM FEED button.

Setting Up the Printer 1-17

Part of a typical self test in NLQ mode is shown below: a-()*+,-. /0123456789:;<=>?BABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ

‘(I*+,-./0123456’789:;~=~?t@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR

(I*+,-./0123456789:;~=~?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS’

3.

To end the self test, press the ON LINE button to take the printer off line. Then press the LOAD/EJECT button to eject the paper, and turn off the printer.

Connecting the Printer to Your Computer

If the self test printed correctly and your printouts looked like the ones shown, you are now ready to connect your printer to the computer.

Your FX printer has a Centronics

®

-compatible parallel interface. If you have a suitable shielded cable, you should be able to connect your printer immediately. If your computer requires the use of another type of interface, you need to install an optional interface board.

If you are unsure whether your computer has a parallel interface, see your computer’s operating manual. If the computer cannot use a parallel interface, see the section on interface boards in Chapter 7.

Connecting the parallel interface cable

Connect the parallel interface cable as described below:

1.

Turn off both the printer and your computer.

1-18 Setting Up the Printer

2. Plug the cable connector securely into the printer.

3. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either side of the connector.

Note: For your printer to work properly, this connection must be secure.

4. If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the ground connector beneath the interface connector.

5. 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.)

1-20 Setting Up the Printer