Chapter 5

Maintenance and Transportation

Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Replacing the Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

Maintenance and Transportation 5-1

Cleaning the Printer

To keep your printer operating at its best, you should clean it thoroughly several times a year.

Follow these steps to clean the printer:

1. Turn off the printer.

2. Remove the paper guide and any installed options.

3. Use a soft brush to carefully clear away all dust and dirt.

4. If the outer case or printer cover is dirty or dusty, clean it with a soft, clean cloth dampened with mild detergent dissolved in water. Keep the printer cover in place to prevent water from getting inside the printer.

5-2 Maintenance and Transportation

WARNING: l l l l

Never use alcohols or thinners to clean the printer; these chemicals can damage the components as well as the case.

Be careful not to get water on the printer mechanism or electronic components.

Do not use a hard or abrasive brush.

Do not spray the inside of the printer with lubricants; unsuitable oils can damage the mechanism. Contact your Epson dealer if you think lubrication is needed.

Replacing the Ribbon

When your printing becomes too faint, you need to replace the ribbon. The following Epson replacement ribbon cartridges are available:

#7762 : Standard (black)

#7763

#7764

: Color

: Film (black)

Note: The optional film ribbon prints in red near the end of the ribbon.

Replace the film ribbon at this point.

To replace the ribbon follow the procedure below:

1.

Turn off the power to the printer and remove the printer cover and the paper guide cover.

WARNING: If the printer has been used recently, the print head may be hot. Let it cool before attempting to replace the ribbon.

Maintenance and Transportation 5-3

2. Holding the print head, not the ribbon cartridge, move the print head to the middle of the printer.

3. To release the ribbon cartridge, gently press the tab at the top of the holder; then lift the cartridge straight up and out of the printer.

5-4 Maintenance and Transportation

4. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob on the ribbon cartridge in the direction of the arrow.

5. Hold the ribbon cartridge while gently squeezing the two ridged plastic tabs together; then lower it until it snaps into place. The side hooks in the printer should fit into the slots on each side of the ribbon cartridge.

Maintenance and Transportation 5-5

6.

Turn the ribbon tightening knob again to make sure the ribbon

7. Holding the print head, slide the print grasping the ribbon cartridge.) head from side to side to make sure that it moves smoothly. (Do not try to slide the print head by

5-6 Maintenance and Transportation

Transporting the Printer

If you need to transport your printer some distance, carefully repack the printer using the original box and packing materials, as described below.

1.

Turn off the printer.

2. Remove any installed options.

3. Remove the printer cover, paper guide, paper guide cover, and cable cover.

4. Unplug the power cable from the electrical outlet; then disconnect the cable between the printer and the computer.

5. Remove the ribbon cartridge and platen knob.

Maintenance and Transportation 5-7

6. Using a cross-head screwdriver, reattach the two red transport screws.

WARNING:

Never hold the printer by the font compartment cover. This cover could come off and cause you to drop the printer.

7. Pull the paper bail open and insert the print head protector between the paper bail and platen as shown below. Then insert the white foam packing material.

5-8 Maintenance and Transportation

8. Reattach the paper guide cover and printer cover.

Maintenance and Transportation 5-9