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Chapter 7
Using Printer Options
Setting the sheet feeder mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Recommended paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Using the cut sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Setting up your software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Control panel operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Testing the printer in the cut sheet
Switching from the cut
to continuous paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Single sheet sheet feeder
insertion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
When you are finished printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Using the pull tractor alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Removing the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Choosing an interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Compatible interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Removing the
upper case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Attaching the upper case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
Using Printer Options
7-1
The Cut Sheet Feeder
The optional cut sheet feeder #7339 (for the FX-850) or #7340 (for the FX-
1050) gives you easier and more efficient handling of single sheet paper.
Up to 150 sheets of standard bond paper can be fed automatically into the printer without reloading. The cut feed envelopes.
sheet feeder can also automatically
Installation
Attach the assembled cut sheet feeder as follows.
1. Turn off the printer.
2. Remove the printer cover and the paper guide.
3. Make sure the paper release lever is pushed back to the single paper position.
sheet
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Using Printer Options
Remove the paper tension unit by pressing open the release levers and, at the same time, lifting up on the front of the unit.
5.
Tilt the feeder forward slightly to fit the notches at the base of the unit over the pins on the printer; then tilt the unit back until it rests on top of the printer.
Using Printer Options
7-3
6. Detach the front section of the printer cover.
7. After raising the cut sheet feeder’s paper path guide, attach the front cover to the printer. Then close the paper path guide.
Setting the sheet feeder mode
To allow your printer to use the cut sheet feeder you need to set DIP switch 2-2 to on. If you need more information on how to do this, see the section on setting DIP switches in Chapter 3. To set the cut sheet feeder mode, do the following: l l
Turn the printer off.
Set DIP switch 2-2 to the on position using a pointed object, such as the tip of a pencil.
l
Turn the printer back on.
Always change DIP switch settings with the printer power turned off.
The printer checks and recognizes new settings only at the time the power is turned on.
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Recommended paper
Paper: For best results, use typewriter-quality paper. If you use paper with a glossy or textured surface, you should test it before regular use. The cut sheet feeder can hold up to 150 sheets of paper. Do not use multiple-part forms or labels.
Envelopes: You can print on air mail, plain, or bond envelopes. The cut sheet feeder can hold up to 25 plain or bond envelopes, or
30 air mail envelopes. Before printing on envelopes, you need to set the paper thickness lever. See the section on printing on special paper in Chapter 2.
.
1
WARNING: Printing past the edge of envelopes or heavy paper can damage the print head. Be absolutely sure that the printing is no closer than l/4 of an inch to the edges.
Paper loading
To load paper, follow the steps below.
1.
Pull the paper set lever all the way forward until the paper supports retract and lock open to allow for paper loading. Make sure that the two small front levers are up when using normal paper.
Using Printer Options 7-5
Slide the left paper guide all the way to the left and slide paper guide to roughly match the width of your paper.
the right
3. Take a stack of paper and fan it as shown. This keeps flat surface to even up the stack.
the sheets from sticking to one another. Tap the side and bottom of the paper on a
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4. Insert the paper between the paper guides, aligning it with the left edge of the guide. Then adjust the right paper guide until the paper is held firmly (but not so tightly that it causes the paper to bunch).
5.
Push the paper set lever back to clamp the paper against the guide rollers. The lever will not close completely if you use too much paper. If the lever does not close, remove some paper from the stack and try again.
Using Printer Options
7-7
Envelope loading
Envelopes are loaded in much the same way as regular paper. To load envelopes, you need to do the following:
1. Set the paper thickness lever to match the thickness of your envelopes. (For specific information on paper thickness settings, see the section on printing with special paper in Chapter 2.)
2. Follow steps 1 through 5 of the previous section on paper loading to load envelopes. You can load up to 25 plain or bond envelopes, or 30 air mail envelopes.
3. Push down on the two front levers until they lock into position.
Using the cut sheet feeder
After loading paper into the cut sheet feeder, make sure the ON LINE light is on. Once the printer is in the sheet feeder mode, a new sheet of paper loads automatically whenever a printable character or line feed command is sent to the printer.
When the cut sheet feeder runs out of paper, it stops paper feeding and the PAPER OUT light comes on. To start printing again, load more paper
7-8 Using Printer Options
sand then press the ON LINE button. The printer starts printing from the point at which it was stopped.
If you turn your printer off during the time the printer detects a paper out or paper jam condition, any data remaining in the printer’s buffer is discarded.
Software operation
This command causes the printer to eject the sheet in the printer without loading the next sheet:
FF form feed
The sheet in the printer is automatically ejected and the next sheet is loaded if the paper reaches the bottom of the print area when any of the following line feed commands is used:
LF line feed; advances the paper by one line
VT
ESC J vertical tab; advances the paper to the next vertical tab position performs line feed in units of 1/216 of an inch.
Setting up your software
When you switch between continuous paper and cut sheet feeder paper you usually need to change the settings of your software program.
Because of the physical requirements of feeding a single sheet of paper, sheet feeders create a top and bottom margin on each sheet. To work properly, your software program needs to know how many printable lines are available on the page.
Paper comes in many different sizes and it is sometimes difficult to know exactly how many printable lines per page you have. When you perform a self test in sheet feeder mode, the printer automatically counts and prints the number of lines that are available on any size of paper. This is the number of lines you should use as the page length in your software setup. See the following section on the self test in cut sheet feeder mode for more details.
Using Printer Options 7-9
In addition to the number of printable lines, which your software may refer to as page length or form length, you may need to set the top margin, the bottom margin, and the actual number of lines to be printed on the page. The cut sheet feeder normally creates a two-line unprintable top margin. Therefore, if you want a total top margin of six lines (one inch), set the top margin in your software to four lines. The sheet feeder usually creates an unprintable bottom margin of about three lines, so to create a total bottom margin of six lines, set the bottom margin in your software to three lines. With a total page length of 61 printable lines, for example, the number of printed lines per page would be 54 (9 inches).
Some software designed only for printing on continuous forms does not use the form feed command recommended for sheet feeder operation.
The software may not have a sheet feeder setup mode or allow for margin settings, and may only use line feeds to advance to the next form.
Your sheet feeder can still work with most of these applications. Simply insert the paper you will be using into the sheet feeder, use the self test to print out the number of printable lines, and then use that number of lines as the page length setting in your software. If you change paper sizes, repeat this process. Your sheet feeder will work as if it were feeding a continuous form. If your software does not allow you to set the page length, consult your software manufacturer.
The following is a typical example of a software setup required for proper operation of your cut sheet feeder. Not all software is set up the same, so a bit of experimentation may be required before you find the best equivalent settings to use. To maintain 54 printed lines per page:
Continuous form settings
New cut sheet feeder settings
Change page length from
Change top margin from
Change bottom margin from
66
6
6 t0 t0 t0
61
4
3
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l
Many word processors and other software programs give you two ways to change these settings:
You can change the settings in each individual file you print.
l
You can change the program’s default settings so that every time you use the program, these new settings are in effect.
If your program has additional features, such as headers and footers, you have to compensate accordingly.
Control panel operation
All of the functions from the control panel are available in cut sheet feeder mode. You can use micro-adjustment to change the loading position immediately after loading a sheet using the single sheet insertion method described on page 7-14. Micro-adjustment sets a new sheet loading position for as long as the power remains on. If the power is turned off, the loading position returns to the factory setting. Changing the loading position with micro-adjustment affects the number of lines per page. You may need to change your software margin settings again for this new page length. See the section on micro-adjustment in
Chapter 2.
Testing the printer in the cut sheet feeder mode
The printer’s built-in self test in the cut sheet feeder mode is slightly different from that of the original self test. To test the printer in cut sheet feeder mode, load the paper you will be using into the paper bin. Hold down the LINE FEED or FORM FEED button and turn the power switch on as described in Chapter 1.
When you perform the cut sheet feeder self test, the printer counts the number of lines on the page and prints out this number at the bottom of the first page as shown in the following figure. The number of lines counted by the printer becomes the new default page length setting for the cut sheet feeder mode. You can override this setting, however, using software commands.
The self test is especially useful when you want to change the page length settings for your application program, because it gives you a quick count of the number of lines on the page.
Using Printer Options 7-11
Below is a portion of the first page of a self test in cut sheet feeder mode.
The remainder of the self test is similar to the original self test described in Chapter 1.
WARNING: Never perform the self test on envelopes.
Switching from the cut sheet feeder to continuous paper
The FX allows you to switch between cut sheet feeder paper and continuous paper easily without having to remove either the feeder or the continuous paper supply. To switch between these two paper feeding methods, follow the steps below.
1.
Make sure the continuous paper is already loaded and in a standby position, as explained in the section on switching between single sheets and continuous paper in Chapter 2.
2.
Install the cut sheet feeder as described in this section, making sure that DIP switch 2-2 is set to on, and that the paper release lever is pushed all the way back to the single sheet position.
7-12
3.
To switch from cut sheet feeder operation to continuous paper, pull the paper release lever all the way forward to the continuous paper position. You do not need to change the DIP switch setting.
4.
Raise the paper path guide on the cut sheet feeder until it clicks open, as shown below. This guide directs the flow of continuous paper out of the
front of the printer.
5.
With the paper release lever foward, the control panel functions normally. This allows you to use micro-adjustment to adjust the loading position of your paper.
6.
To switch back to the cut sheet feeder, push the LOAD/EJECT button until the continuous paper feeds backward out of the paper path and into a standby position. Push the paper release lever back to put the printer into the sheet feeder mode, and then close the paper path guide.
Using Printer Options 7-13
Single sheet insertion
Your cut sheet feeder also has a single sheet loading feature. This feature allows you to switch to a different type of paper (such as letterhead) without replacing the supply of paper that is loaded in your cut sheet feeder. Single sheet insertion is especially useful because it allows you to use micro-adjustment to change your cut sheet feeder loading position.
1.
Press the ON LINE button to take the printer off line.
2.
Align the single sheet to be fed with the marking on the left paper guide, and then slide the sheet into the printer path until you feel resistance.
3.
Press the LOAD/EJECT button to load the sheet.
Note: If you want to use single sheet insertion for two or more consecutive pages, pull the cut sheet feeder’s paper set levers forward; otherwise, the next sheet is loaded from paper stored in the cut sheet feeder bin.
4.
Press the ON LINE button to put the printer on line. Now you can use micro-adjustment to change the loading position for your cut sheet feeder. See the section on micro-adjustment in Chapter 2.
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The Pull Tractor
The optional pull tractor (#7311 for the FX-850 and #7312 for the
FX-1050) provides optimum continuous paper handling. The pull tractor is especially useful with continuous multi-part forms and labels. For best results, use the pull tractor along with the built-in push tractor, as described in this section.
After making sure that you have both parts of the pull tractor option as shown below, remove the packing material and save it in case you need to ship the unit later.
Caution: The short tear-off function cannot be used with the pull tractor. Before you start printing with the pull tractor, make sure that
DIP switch 1-5 is set to on. (Short tear-off is turned off only when the
DIP switch is set to on. See the section on setting DIP switches in
Chapter 3.)
Installation and use
After making sure that the printer is turned off, install and use the pull tractor as follows:
1. Remove the printer cover and the paper guide and install the paper rest if you haven’t already. (See Chapter 2.)
Using Printer Options 7-15
2.
Remove the paper tension unit by pressing open the release levers and lifting up the front of the unit at the same time.
3. Hold the pull tractor with the gears to notches on the tractor over the rear mounting pins shown below.
the right and fit the rear on the printer as
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4.
5.
6.
Tilt the tractor unit toward you until the front latches click in place over the front mounting pins of the printer.
Now load paper as described in the section on loading continuous paper in Chapter 2. However, position the left sprocket unit about
1/4 of an inch from the left before locking it in place.
After the paper is loaded in the push tractor, make sure the printer is off line and then press the FORM FEED button. This advances the paper one page so you can fit the paper onto the pull tractor.
Caution: Never use the platen knob to feed the paper while the printer is turned on. If you need to adjust the loading position, use the microadjustment function described in Chapter 2.
7. Open the sprocket covers, and release the sprocket lock levers.
Using Printer Options 7-17
8. Move the sprocket units to match the width of the paper and adjust the paper supports so they are evenly placed between the sprocket units. (There is only one paper support on the FX-850 pull tractor.)
9. Fit the holes of the paper over the tractor pins of the sprocket units, adjusting the position of the sprocket units as necessary.
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10. If the paper does not fit exactly onto the tractor pins, press in on the pull tractor feed knob and turn it in the desired direction.
11. Close the sprocket covers.
12. Make sure that the paper is not crooked or wrinkled and then lock the sprocket units in place.
Using Printer Options 7-19
13.
Slide the rollers on the paper bail so they are evenly distributed across the width of your paper. Also, make sure that the right and left rollers are at both edges of your paper.
14.
Re-install the paper guide and then slide the edge guides together so they meet at about the middle of the paper’s width.
15.
Install the pull tractor cover.
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Using Printer Options
16.
Press the ON LINE button to put the printer on line. Now you are ready to begin printing.
When you are finished printing
The short tear-off function cannot be used with the pull tractor. If you want to tear off the last printed page at its perforation, press the ON LINE button to take the printer off line and press the FORM FEED button to feed the paper forward an additional page before tearing off the paper.
Using the pull tractor alone
If you wish, you can use the pull tractor without using the push tractor.
To do this, feed the paper from the rear, above the metal guide, and then load it. Be sure to pull the paper release lever forward to the continuous paper position after you load the paper.
Removing the pull tractor
After turning off the printer and removing the pull tractor cover, remove the pull tractor as follows:
1.
Pressing the tabs on the pull tractor, tilt it back and lift it off the printer.
Using Printer Options 7-21
2. Replace the paper tension unit as shown below.
3. Now you are ready to use either single sheets or the push tractor.
Interface Boards
There are a number of optional interfaces that can be used to supplement the capabilities of your printer’s built-in parallel interface.
Choosing an interface
Optional interfaces can be divided into three main categories: l l
IEEE-488 interfaces offer standardized connections, trouble-free operation, and the ability to connect computers, printers, and other devices on the same line so that they can share data freely.
Buffered parallel interfaces give the printer more memory and free up the computer for other tasks when printing large amounts of text or graphics. With a buffered parallel interface, you can increase the printer’s data buffering capacity to 32 Kbytes (about 10 pages).
Parallel interfaces also offer the advantage of trouble-free operation combined with standardized connectors.
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l
Serial interfaces are necessary if your computer is not equipped with a parallel interface or if you need an interface that conforms to the
Current Loop standard instead of the RS-232C. In addition, all available serial interface boards provide user-selectable baud rates and data word structures. These interfaces also offer some combination of the following features: X-on/X-off data communication protocol, loopback self-test modes, and data buffers that increase the printer’s buffering capacity to either 32 Kbytes or
128
Kbytes.
If you are still unsure whether you need an optional interface, or would like to know more about interfaces, contact your Epson dealer.
Compatible interfaces
The Epson interfaces that are compatible with the FX-850 and FX-1050 are listed below.
1 Interface number Name
#8143
#8148
#8149
#8165
#8172
RS-232/current loop interface
Intelligent serial interface
32Kbyte buffer serial interface
Intelligent IEEE-488 interface
32 Kbyte buffer parallel interface
Removing the upper case
Before installing an optional interface board, you must remove the upper case. This is easy to do; the only tool you need is a Phillips screwdriver.
Follow the instructions below:
1. Turn off both the printer and the computer, unplug the printer from the electrical outlet, and disconnect the parallel cable from the printer and computer.
Using Printer Options 7-23
WARNING: High voltage is present inside the printer when the power is on. Do not attempt to remove the upper case unless the printer is turned off and the power cord is unplugged. Also, do not touch contacts on the printer’s circuit board because many of the components can be destroyed by static electricity built up in your body.
2.
Remove the printer cover, paper guide, ribbon cartridge, and any installed options.
3. Remove the platen knob and push the paper release lever back to the single sheet position.
4. Remove the screw located inside the front center of the upper case.
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Using Printer Options
5. Reach inside the front cover and push in on the upper case fastening clips. These clips are located on both sides of the printer case. Push both clips at the same time as shown in the figure below.
6. Raise the upper case slightly (about six inches), taking care not to strain the flat cable attached to the control panel.
Using Printer Options 7-25
7.
Carefully disconnect the control panel cable from the connector labelled CN11 on the main board.
8. Tilt the upper case backward and lift it clear of the printer body.
Caution: Be very careful when removing or attaching the upper case to avoid damaging the printer.
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9.
Remove the option interface shield plate by pressing in on the plastic clips located at the back of the plate.
10.
Remove the screw labelled CG from the main board.
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7-27
Installing the board
There are two basic interface board designs. These boards differ with respect to how the frame ground (FG) wire is attached. This slight difference changes the way the boards are installed in the printer, but does not affect the operation of the interface in any way. Look at the following illustration to see which type of interface board you have and then follow the installation procedure for that type of board.
FG wire not attached
See below
FG wire not attached
1. Use the CC screw to attach the round end of the FG (frame ground) wire to the main board and position the other end as shown.
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2. Carefully insert the pins on the optional interface board into the mating connector on the main board. Secure the board with the three screws provided.
3. Attach the plug end of the FG wire onto the FG pin located on top of the interface board.
4. Set the DIP switches on the interface board according to the manual that comes with the board.
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FG
1.
wire attached
Carefully place the interface board next to the printer as shown below. Use the CG screw to connect the round end of the FG (frame ground) wire to the main board.
2. Holding the interface board level, rotate it clockwise into position and attach it to the main board. Make sure that the connector pins are properly inserted into the mating connector.
7-30 Using Printer Options
3. Secure the board with the three screws provided.
4. Set the DIP switches on the interface board according to the manual that comes with the board.
Attaching the upper case
1. Fit the hinges of the upper case into the openings in the lower case.
Then partially lower the upper case.
Using Printer Options 7-31
Caution: Take care not to pinch the FG wire between the upper and lower cases.
2. Carefully insert the control panel cable into the connector labelled
CN11 on the main board.
3.
Close the upper case. Make sure you press down on the front of the case until it locks into place.
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4. Insert and tighten the screw to secure the upper case, and then reattach the platen knob.
WARNING: When installing an optional interface board, be sure to disconnect the printer cable from the printer’s built-in parallel interface. Two interface cables must not be installed at the same time.
This completes the installation of the optional interface board. Replace the ribbon cartridge, printer cover, and any other necessary parts or options.
Using Printer Options 7-33
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Key Features
- High-speed printing of up to 380 characters per second (cps) for increased productivity
- Versatile paper handling including continuous paper, single sheets, and envelopes for various printing needs
- Enhanced graphics capabilities with up to 240 x 216 dpi resolution for sharp and detailed images
- Robust construction designed to withstand heavy workloads and harsh environments
- Easy-to-use control panel for quick and convenient operation
- Multiple connectivity options including parallel, serial, and USB interfaces for seamless integration