Page 1: Reference Guide
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.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Important Safety Instructions ....... .7 When setting up the printer ......8 When maintaining the printer .
Page 4 Changing the Printer Settings ......53 Using EPSON Status Monitor 3 ......56 Setting up Status Monitor 3 .
Page 5 Using the Error Indicators......101 EPSON Status Monitor 3 ......103 Printing a Self Test .
Page 6 Printer Specifications ........163...
Page 7: Chapter 1 Safety Instructions
Hot Parts Caution Symbol This symbol is placed on the print head to indicate that it may be hot. Never touch this part just after the printer has been used. Let it cool for a few minutes before touching it. Important Safety Instructions...
Page 8: When Setting Up The Printer
Two people should carry it by the bottom. 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 placed at an angle.
Page 9: When Maintaining The Printer
If the power cord or plug is damaged. If liquid has entered the printer. iii. If the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged. iv. If the printer does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct change in performance.
Page 10: When Handling The Paper
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds before turning it back on; otherwise, you may damage it. Do not turn off the printer while it is printing the self test. Always press the Pause button to stop printing and then turn off the printer.
Page 11: Energy Star Compliance
You need to move the print head by hand to 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.
Page 12 Safety Instructions...
Page 13: Chapter 2 Paper Handling
Chapter 2 Paper Handling Using the Two-Tractor System Your printer’s paper handling system consists of a front push tractor and a rear push tractor. Both tractors are easy to load and operate, and both accommodate a wide variety of paper types, including labels and multi-part forms.
Page 14: Positioning The Paper Supply
When loading paper from the front, be sure to place the paper lower than the table or stand supporting the printer. Placing the paper on the same level as the printer (or higher) may cause a paper jam. Make sure that your stack of printed pages does not interfere with the rear tractor’s paper supply.
Page 15: Supported Paper Types
Overlapping multi-part forms Loading Paper Onto the Front Tractor Follow these steps to load paper onto the front tractor: 1. Open the printer’s front cover by lifting up the bottom edge until it locks in place, as shown below. Paper Handling...
Page 16 2. Release the sprocket lock levers on both the right and left sprockets by pulling each lever down. sprocket lock lever Caution: Do not try to pull on or remove the elastic cord from the tractor. 3. Position the left sprocket so that the sprocket pins are to the left of the arrow mark on the scale.
Page 17 4. Now slide the right sprocket to approximately match the width of your paper. (Do not lock it in place yet.) 5. Slide the two paper supports so that they are spaced evenly between the two sprockets. Note: To use paper that is less than four inches wide, remove the paper supports by pulling them off the tractor.
Page 18 When loading paper from the front, be sure to place the paper lower than the table or stand supporting the printer. Placing the paper on the same level as the printer (or higher) may cause a paper jam. Paper Handling...
Page 19 Note: Be careful not to pull the paper too tightly when adjusting the right sprocket. 9. Pull the printer’s front cover out slightly and lower it until it is closed. sprocket lock lever Paper Handling...
Page 20 You hear the print head move to the left and Ready appears on the LCD. Also, either the front or rear tractor arrow on the Tractor Select indicator lights up, depending on which tractor was selected when the printer was turned off last. Paper Handling...
Page 21 If the rear tractor arrow light is red, press the Front/Rear button to switch to the front tractor. When the printer switches tractors, it also loads the paper automatically. The Tractor Select indicator changes to green. The paper is now loaded to the top-of-form position.
Page 22: Loading Paper Onto The Rear Tractor
Loading Paper Onto the Rear Tractor Follow the steps below to load paper onto the rear tractor. (You do not need to remove the paper from the front tractor first.) 1. Open the printer’s back cover. 2. Open the flap at the bottom. back flap...
Page 23 3. Release the sprocket lock levers on the rear tractor’s right and left sprockets by pulling each lever forward. sprocket lock lever Caution: Do not try to pull on or remove the elastic cord from the tractor. 4. Position the right sprocket so that the sprocket pins are to the right of the arrow mark on the scale.
Page 24 5. Now slide the left sprocket to approximately match the width of your paper. (Do not lock it in place yet.) 6. Open both sprocket covers. sprocket cover Paper Handling...
Page 25 7. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. With the side of the paper you want to print on facing down, feed it through the opening. 8. Fit the first few holes in the paper over the sprocket pins as shown below.
Page 26 9. Slide the left sprocket to remove any slack in the paper. Make sure the paper is straight and has no wrinkles. Push the sprocket lock lever back to lock the sprocket in place. After you lock the left sprocket, it may still move slightly; this is normal.
Page 27 LCD. Either the front or rear tractor arrow on the Tractor Select indicator lights up, depending on which tractor was selected when the printer was turned off last. 12. Check the Tractor Select indicator to see which tractor is selected.
Page 28: Adjusting The Paper Position
You can adjust the top-of-form position as well as the printing position at any point on the page by using the Micro Feed, and Top of Form buttons. The printer then remembers the new top-of-form position. When you use the optional pull tractor, you can adjust the paper position as described below.
Page 29: Adjusting The Top-Of-Form Position
Adjusting the top-of-form position The top-of-form position is the position to which the printer feeds the paper when it loads it or performs a form feed. This position is important because it determines where the printing begins on each page. If the printing is too high or low on the...
Page 30 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the desired tractor is selected (the corresponding tractor arrow should be lit). 2. Open the upper cover. 3. Press the Top of Form button to enter top-of-form mode. The printer beeps once, and the Top of Form light turns on.
Page 31: Adjusting The Printing Position
The printer remembers this temporary top-of-form position until the next time you load paper, switch tractors, or turn off the printer. To adjust the printing position or top-of-form position, follow these steps: 1. Start printing your document. When you reach the text that you want to align at a particular spot on the page, press the Pause button to stop printing.
Page 32: Adjusting The Label Position
Forms w/labels setting in Default-setting mode. By defining the position of the label, you tell the printer where it needs to raise the print head to accommodate the greater thickness as it prints over the label.
Page 33: Tearing Off The Printed Pages
Using the Tear Off button Whether or not the printer is in tear-off mode, you can use the Tear Off button to advance continuous paper to the tear-off position by following these steps: 1.
Page 34: Adjusting The Tear-Off Position
This exposes the printer’s tear-off edge. 3. Press the Tear Off button to enter the tear-off mode. The Tear Off light comes on and the printer feeds the paper’s perforation to the printer’s tear-off edge. Paper Handling...
Page 35 (after you press the Tear Off button once and the Tear Off light is on). The printer remembers the new tear-off position even after the printer is turned off, reset, or initialized. 5. Tear off the page using the tear-off edge on the printer’s top cover. tear-off-edge...
Page 36: Switching Between Front And Rear Tractors
LF/FF Load to eject the remaining labels. Before you start, make sure the printer is turned on and that the front tractor is selected (the front tractor arrow on the Tractor Select light should be on). If you are in the middle of printing a document, wait for the printer to finish printing before you switch tractors.
Page 37 2. If you have a printed document or excess paper still in the printer, use the tear-off feature described in the previous section to tear off the document or excess paper. Caution: Always tear off the printed document and any excess paper before switching tractors.
Page 38: Changing The Paper
Onto the Front Tractor” on page 15 or “Loading Paper Onto the Rear Tractor” on page 22) for instructions. 1. If you have a printed document still in the printer, use the tear-off feature to tear off the document or excess paper.
Page 39 3. Open the printer’s front cover. (To change the rear-loaded paper, open the printer’s back cover and flap.) 4. Open the sprocket covers and remove the paper from the tractor. sprocket cover 5. Load the new paper. See “Loading Paper Onto the Rear Tractor”...
Page 40: Printing On Multi-Part Forms And Labels
See “Adjusting the Paper Position” on page 28 for more information on aligning your text. You should also check both your printer and your software page length settings before you load labels or forms.
Page 41: Using Multi-Part Forms
Front Tractor” on page 15 or “Loading Paper Onto the Rear Tractor” on page 22 for instructions. The DFX-9000 can print on multi-part forms that vary in thickness, such as forms with labels on them or forms that overlap slightly where they are glued together. These forms are thicker in the label area and in the places where they overlap or are joined together, as shown below.
Page 42: Using Labels
Caution: Never use the Tear Off, Front/Rear, or Micro Feedd button when labels are loaded in the printer. Never feed labels backward through the printer because they can easily come off the backing and jam the printer. Although you must never feed labels backward, you can still use...
Page 43: Chapter 3 Printer Software
Windows software applications can take full advantage of the printer’s capabilities. Epson Status Monitor 3 allows you to monitor the status of your printer, alerts you when errors occur, and provides you with troubleshooting tips. Status Monitor 3 is automatically installed when you install the printer driver.
Page 44: Using The Printer Driver With Windows Me, 98, And 95
See “Changing the Printer Settings” on page 53 to check and change printer driver settings. Note: While many Windows applications override the settings made with the printer driver, some do not, so you must verify that the printer driver settings match your requirements. Printer Software...
Page 45: Accessing The Printer Driver From Windows Applications
Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications Follow these steps to access the printer driver from a Windows application: 1. Select Print Setup or Print from the File menu of your application software. In the Print or Print Setup dialog box displayed, make sure that your printer is selected in the Name drop-down list.
Page 46 These menus contain the printer driver settings. 3. To view a menu, click the corresponding tab at the top of the window. See “Changing the Printer Settings” on page 53 for information on how to change the settings. Printer Software...
Page 47: Accessing The Printer Driver From The Start Menu
Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu Follow these steps to access the printer driver from the Start menu: 1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Printers. 2. Right-click your printer icon, and click Properties. The screen displays the Properties window, which contains the Paper, Graphics, Device Options, and Utility menus.
Page 48: Accessing The Printer Driver From Windows Applications
Note: While many Windows applications override the settings made with the printer driver, some do not, so you must verify that the printer driver settings match your requirements. Accessing the printer driver from Windows applications Follow these steps to access the printer driver from a Windows application: 1.
Page 49 2. Click Printer, Setup, Properties, or Options. (The button you click depends on your application and you may need to click a combination of these buttons.) The Document Properties window appears, and you see the Layout and Paper/Quality menus. These menus contain the printer driver settings.
Page 50: Accessing The Printer Driver From The Start Menu
See “Changing the Printer Settings” on page 53 to change the settings. Accessing the printer driver from the Start menu Follow these steps to access the printer driver from the Start menu: 1. For Windows 2000 or NT and click Printers.
Page 51 2. Right-click your printer icon, and click Printing Preferences (in Windows XP or 2000) or Document Defaults (in Windows NT 4.0). The screen displays the Default Document Properties window, which contains the Layout and Paper/Quality menus. These menus display the printer driver settings.
Page 52 3. To view a menu, click the corresponding tab at the top of the window. See “Changing the Printer Settings” on page 53 for information on how to change the settings. Printer Software...
Page 53: Changing The Printer Settings
Changing the The following tables show the settings you can change for your printer through the printer driver. Note that not every setting is available in all versions of Windows. Change any settings as necessary, then click OK to apply the settings.
Page 54: Printer Software
When Standard or Expanded is selected, the printer uses the device fonts. Expanded includes more fonts than Standard. When None is selected, the printer uses bit map images instead of the device fonts. For details on which fonts are included in each table, see “Electronic”...
Page 55 Faxes. For Windows XP Home Edition, click Start, and click Control Panel, then click Printers and Faxes. 2. Click the EPSON DFX-9000 ESC/P icon. 3. Select Server Properties from the file menu. 4. Check the Create a New Form checkbox.
Page 56: Using Epson Status Monitor 3
Monitor 3 Monitoring Preferences Using EPSON Status Monitor 3 Epson Status Monitor 3 allows you to monitor your printer’s status, alerts you when printer errors occur, and provides troubleshooting instructions when needed. Epson Status Monitor 3 is available only when: The printer is connected directly to the host computer via the parallel port [LPT1] or the USB port.
Page 57: Setting Up Status Monitor 3
Setting up Status Monitor 3 1. Open the Utility menu as described on page 44 (Windows Me, 98, and 95) or page 47 (Windows XP, 2000, and Windows NT). 2. Click the Monitoring Preferences button. The Monitoring Preferences dialog box appears. Printer Software...
Page 58: Accessing Status Monitor 3
Double-click the printer-shaped shortcut icon on the taskbar. To add a shortcut icon to the taskbar, go to the Utility menu and follow the instructions. Open the Utility menu, then click the EPSON Status Monitor 3 icon. You see the following printer status window: Printer Software Displays the error item check box On/Off status.
Page 59: Setting Up Your Printer On A Network
For Windows NT 4.0, see page 70. Note: When sharing the printer, be sure to set EPSON Status Monitor 3 so that the shared printer can be monitored on the printer server. See “Setting up Status Monitor 3” on page 57.
Page 60: Setting Up Your Printer As A Shared Printer
When you are a Windows-shared printer user in a Windows Me or 98 environment, on the server, double-click the Network icon in Control panel and make sure that the “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” component is installed. Then, on the server and clients, make sure that the “IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol”...
Page 61 Do not use spaces or hyphens for the share name, or an error may occur. When sharing the printer, be sure to set Status Monitor 3 so that the shared printer can be monitored on the printer server. See “Setting up Status Monitor 3” on page 57.
Page 62 “With Windows XP or 2000” on page 67 “With Windows NT 4.0” on page 70 With Windows XP, 2000, or Windows NT 4.0 Follow the steps below to set the printer server for Windows XP, 2000, or NT 4.0: Note: You must access Windows XP, 2000, or NT 4.0 as the Administrator...
Page 63 Then follow the on-screen instructions. 3. For a Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0 printer server, select Shared as (for Windows 2000) or Shared (for Windows NT 4.0), then type the name in the Share name box and click OK.
Page 64: Setting The Clients
This section describes how to install the printer driver on the client computers by accessing the shared printer on a network. Note: Make sure you have set up the printer server as described on page 60 (Windows Me, 98, or 95) or page 62 (Windows XP, 2000, or NT 4.0).
Page 65 This section describes how to install the printer driver by accessing the shared printer from the Printers folder. You can also access the shared printer from Network Neighborhood or My Network on the Windows desktop. If you want to be able to use Status Monitor 3 on the clients, you have to install both the printer driver and Status Monitor 3 on each client from the CD-ROM.
Page 66 Then click OK. Note: The name of the shared printer may be changed by the computer or server it is connected to. If you need to confirm the name of the shared printer, ask the administrator of the network.
Page 67 Control panel, then click Printers and Faxes. 2. For Windows 2000, double-click the Add Printer icon, then click Next. For Windows XP, click the Add a printer in the Printer Tasks menu. 3. Select Network printer (for Windows 2000) or A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer (for Windows XP), then click Next.
Page 68 Next to browse for a printer, then click Next. Note: You can also type the shared printer’s name or network path in the Name box, such as “\\(the name of the computer that is locally connected to the shared printer)\(the shared printer’s name).”...
Page 69 When the prompt to select the printer driver appears, select the printer driver according to the message. If the printer server is running Windows XP or 2000, go to the next step. If the printer server is not running Windows XP or 2000, go to “Installing the printer driver from the CD-ROM”...
Page 70 Follow the steps below to set Windows NT 4.0 clients. You must have Administrator rights; check with your Network Administrator. 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers. 2. Double-click the Add Printer icon. 3. Select Network printer server, then click Next. Printer Software...
Page 71 When the prompt to select the printer driver appears, select the printer driver according to the message. If the printer server is running Windows NT 4.0, go to the next step. If the printer server is not running Windows NT 4.0, go to “Installing the printer driver from the CD-ROM”...
Page 72: Installing The Printer Driver From The Cd-Rom
CD-ROM. 2. Insert the CD-ROM. When you see the EPSON Installation Program dialog box, cancel the dialog box by clicking Cancel. Then type the appropriate drive and folder names...
Page 73 The folder name depends on the version of Windows being used. Client’s Version Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows Me Windows XP, 2000 Windows NT 4.0 3. Select the name of the printer, and click OK. Then follow the on-screen instructions. Folder Name \<Language>\WIN95 \<Language>\WIN98 \<Language>\WINME \<Language>\WIN2000 \<Language>\WINNT40...
Page 74: Canceling Printing
If the printouts are not what you expected or contain incorrect or garbled characters or images, you may need to cancel printing. When the printer icon is displayed on the taskbar, follow these steps to cancel printing: 1. Double-click the printer icon on the task bar, then click Purge Print Documents on the Printer menu.
Page 75: Uninstalling The Printer Software
2. Click Start and select Control Panel; or click Start, Settings, and then Control Panel. 3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs (or Change or Remove Programs) icon. 4. Select EPSON Printer Software, and click the Add/Remove or Change/Remove button. click here then click here...
Page 76 Status Monitor 3. When the utility is uninstalled, you cannot change the setting of Monitored Printers from EPSON Status Monitor 3. 7. If you want to uninstall EPSON Status Monitor 3, click Yes in the displayed dialog box. 8. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Page 77 Epson printers connected with a USB interface cable. Follow these steps to uninstall the USB device driver: 1. Follow steps 1 through 3 of “Uninstalling the Printer Software” on page 75. 2. Select EPSON USB Printer Devices, and click Add/Remove (or Change/Remove). Printer Software...
Page 78 Note: EPSON USB Printer Devices appears only when the printer is connected to Windows Me or 98 with a USB interface cable. If the USB device driver was not installed correctly, EPSON USB Printer Devices may not appear. Follow these steps to run the “Epusbun.exe”...
Page 79: Chapter 4 Control Panel
Chapter 4 Control Panel Buttons and Lights Front Tractor Select indicator On when the front tractor is selected. The light is green when paper is loaded, or red when the tractor is out of paper. Rear Tractor Select indicator On when the rear tractor is selected. The light is green when paper is loaded, or red when the tractor is out of paper.
Page 80 In SelecType mode or Default-setting mode, the button works as an ItemU button. You can press the ItemU button to select the previous menu. See “Controlling Your Printer’s Settings” on page 84 for details. Reset When you press both the Font and Pitch buttons simultaneously, the printer clears its buffer and restores its default settings.
Page 81 Menu When you press the Tear Off and Top of Form buttons at the same time, the printer enters or exits SelecType mode and you can set the various printer settings. See “Changing the settings in SelecType mode” on page 94 for details.
Page 82 Pause light On when the printer is paused. Flashes when the print head overheats. Paper Out light On when the printer is out of paper. Flashes when paper jams or the printer fails to eject paper. Control Panel...
Page 83: Selecting A Font And Pitch
Note: Settings you make in application programs usually override settings you make from the printer’s control panel. For best results, use your application to select a font and make other settings. The pitches available depend on the font you select:...
Page 84: Controlling Your Printer's Settings
Controlling Your Printer’s Settings When you need to change your print settings, you can usually use your application software. The DFX-9000 provides three additional ways to change printer settings: SelecType mode (see below) Default-setting mode (see page 96) Epson Remote Configuration Manager utility. (See the Remote Configuration Manager Utility User’s Guide for...
Page 85: Control Panel
Setting Options (default in bold) Left margin 0 column to 80 columns Right margin 1 column to 136 columns Platen gap Auto, 0 to 14 Auto tear off Off, On Auto line feed Off, On Print direction Bi-D, Uni-D Software ESC/P, IBM PPDS 0 slash Off, On...
Page 86 Setting Auto CR (IBM PPDS) IBM character table (IBM PPDS) Buzzer Low-noise mode Auto cut mode Auto cut/back mode Overlapping multipart forms Continuous forms with labels Skip over binding Get IP address IP address Subnet mask Default gateway Save settings? Available only in IBM PPDS emulation mode.
Page 87 Skip over perforation When you turn on this feature, the printer provides a one-inch (25.4 mm) margin between the last line printed on one page and the first line printed on the next page. Because most application...
Page 88 When the printer receives data again, it automatically moves the paper back to the top-of-form position and starts printing, so you can use all of the next page.
Page 89 Software When you select ESC/P, the printer operates in EPSON ESC/P mode. When you select IBM PPDS, the printer emulates an IBM printer. 0 slash The zero character has a slash ( ) when this feature is on; it has no slash (0) when this feature is off.
Page 90 When this option is set to None, the parity bit is not added to data. When this option is set to Ignore, the parity is added to data, but the printer receives the data even if an error is detected.
Page 91 The printer beeps when an error occurs. See “Using the Error Indicators” on page 101 for more information on printer errors. If you do not want the printer to beep when an error occurs, turn off this setting. Low-noise mode When this mode is set to On, printing is quieter but slower.
Page 92 Auto cut mode This function is available only when the optional perforation cutter (#C81570X) is installed in the printer. When this setting is set to On, the perforation cutter cuts each page at the perforation automatically. Note the following when you turn on this function: Make sure the paper is at least 4 inches long.
Page 93 You can set the printer’s IP address with this setting. Subnet mask This setting is available only when the optional Print Server is installed. You can set the printer’s subnet mask with this setting. Default gateway This setting is available only when the optional Print Server is installed.
Page 94 Changing the settings in SelecType mode The following table shows the basic functions for the control panel buttons while you are in SelecType mode. Button Tear Off and Top of Form (Menu) buttons ItemU (Font) button ItemD (Pitch) button SetU (Tear Off) button SetD (Top of Form) button Follow these steps to enter SelecType mode and change the settings:...
Page 95 No by pressing the SetD (Top of Form) button. The printer exits SelecType mode. Note: If you turn off the printer before exiting SelecType mode, any changes you may have made are canceled and not saved. Control Panel...
Page 96: Using Default-Setting Mode
Using Default-setting Mode In Default-setting mode, you can adjust the print position for continuous forms with labels and choose which control panel buttons to lock in Lock-out mode. Continuous forms with labels You may need to change the printing position for continuous forms with labels if you are printing on a page that contains one or more labels in addition to regular printing.
Page 97 Lock-out mode When you select the Panel lock out menu in Default-setting mode, you can change which buttons are locked during Lock-out mode: Button function Pause Micro Feed Load Top of Form Tear Off Font Pitch Front/Rear Menu Reset Changing settings in Default-setting mode The following table shows the functions of the control panel buttons while you are in Default-setting mode.
Page 98 Follow these steps to enter Default-setting mode and change the settings: 1. Make sure paper is loaded and turn off the printer. Caution: Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds before turning it back on; otherwise, you may damage the printer.
Page 99: Locking The Control Panel Buttons
ItemD button or the ItemU button, or exit Default-setting mode. 7. When you finish making settings, turn off the printer to exit Default-setting mode and save the settings. Locking the Control Panel Buttons You can restrict the use of buttons on the control panel using Lock-out mode.
Page 100 It beeps twice, indicating that Lock-out mode has been turned on. To turn off Lock-out mode, repeat steps 1 and 2. The printer beeps once to tell you that Lock-out mode has been turned off. Control Panel...
Page 101: Chapter 5 Problem Solving
Chapter 5 Problem Solving Diagnosing the Problem If you are having trouble with the printer, try to diagnose and solve the problem as described in this chapter. If you have a specific problem relating to print quality or printer operation, see “Problems and Solutions”...
Page 102: Problem Solving
O = on, F = flashing = short series of beeps (three beeps) = long series of beeps (five beeps) Note: The printer beeps once if you press a control panel button when the corresponding function is not available. Problem Solving Problem Solution Paper is jammed in the printer.
Page 103: Epson Status Monitor 3
EPSON Status Monitor 3 EPSON Status Monitor 3 displays status messages and shows the current status of the printer. If a problem occurs while printing, an error message appears in the Progress Meter window. For more information, see page 56.
Page 104: Printing A Hex Dump
2. To run the test using the Draft font, turn on the printer while holding down the LF/FF Load button. To run the test using the printer’s NLQ font, hold down the Top of Form button while you turn on the printer. Either self test can help you determine the source of your printing problem;...
Page 105 2. To enter hex dump mode, hold down the Top of Form and LF/FF Load buttons and then turn on the printer. 3. Open a software program and send a print job to the printer. Your printer prints all the codes it receives in hexadecimal format.
Page 106: Problems And Solutions
“Printing or printout quality problems” on page 112 “Network problems” on page 118 You can also use the self test to determine whether the printer or the computer is causing the problem. See “Printing a Self Test” on page 103 for instructions on printing a self test. To pinpoint communication problems, experienced users may want to use the printer’s hex dump mode described in “Printing a Hex...
Page 107: Power Supply Problems
Warning: Do not reconnect the power cord to an electrical outlet that has the wrong voltage for your printer. The printer does not work and the control panel lights are off even when you turn on the printer. Cause The power cord is not...
Page 108: Paper Loading Or Feeding Problems
Paper loading or feeding problems The printer does not load continuous paper or does not feed it properly. Cause Continuous paper is not loaded properly. The wrong tractor may be selected. The printer may be out of paper. The printer does not feed continuous paper to the standby position.
Page 109 When you switch between front and rear tractors, the paper jams or the printer does not feed the paper back to the standby position. Cause The printer may have reverse fed too many pages. You may be trying to switch tractors when labels are loaded in the printer.
Page 110: Printing Position Problems
What to do Check the paper size setting in your application or printer driver. Check the page length settings for the front or rear tractor using the printer’s SelecType mode. See “Changing the settings in SelecType mode” on page 94 for details.
Page 111 Wrong tear-off position The printer prints on (or too far away from) the perforation of your continuous paper. Cause The tear-off position setting is incorrect. The printer you want to use is not selected in your software. The paper size setting in your...
Page 112: Printing Or Printout Quality Problems
Printing or printout quality problems The printer is on but it doesn’t print. Cause The interface cable is broken or twisted. The printer is not connected directly to your computer. The printer driver is not installed correctly. Paper is jammed or the ribbon or guard mechanism is stuck.
Page 113 The printer does not print when the computer sends data. Cause The printer is paused. The interface cable is not plugged in securely. Your interface cable does not meet the printer and/or computer specifications. Your software is not properly set up for your printer.
Page 114 The print head is damaged. Caution: Never replace the print head yourself; you may damage the printer. Also, other parts of the printer must be checked when the print head is replaced. All the text is printed on the same line. Cause No line feed command is sent at the end of each line of text.
Page 115 The line space setting in your application software is incorrect. The printer prints strange symbols, incorrect fonts, or other inappropriate characters. Cause Your printer and computer are not communicating correctly.
Page 116: Option Problems
Bidirectional printing, which is the printer’s standard printing mode, is out of alignment. Option problems The perforation cutter is installed and the printer does not feed continuous paper properly. Cause The perforation cutter’s connector is not plugged securely into the printer.
Page 117 Use SelecType to set the Auto cut mode to On. Note that if you select a different setting through the printer driver, it overrides the Auto cut mode setting. Use SelecType to set the Page length for Rear tractor or Page length for Front tractor to match your paper.
Page 118: Network Problems
Auto. See if print jobs from other computers are being printed through the network. When a job is printed, the printer or your computer may have a problem. Check the connection between the printer and your computer, as well as the printer driver settings and your computer settings.
Page 119: Correcting Usb Problems
Windows XP, Me, 98, or 2000. For details about your computer, contact your dealer. Make sure that EPSON USB Printer Devices appears on the Device Manager menu (for Windows Me and 98 only) If you canceled the plug-and-play driver installation before the procedure was complete, either the USB printer device driver or the printer driver may be incorrectly installed.
Page 120 If EPSON DFX-9000 appears, the printer driver is not installed correctly. If USB Printer, or EPSON DFX-9000 does not appear under Other devices, click Refresh or unplug the USB cable from the printer, then plug it into the printer again.
Page 121 4. Under Other devices, select USB Printer or EPSON DFX-9000 and click Remove. Then, click OK. 5. When the following dialog box appears, click OK. Then click OK again to close the System Properties dialog box. 6. Turn off the printer and restart your computer. Then, reinstall the drivers from the beginning, following the instructions in the User’s Guide.
Page 122 Change/Remove) Programs utility in the Control Panel, then uninstall EPSON USB Printer Devices. Next, reinstall the software as described in the User’s Guide. If EPSON USB Printer Devices is not registered in the Add/Remove Programs list, access the CD-ROM and double-click epusbun.exe in \<Language>\WINME or...
Page 123: Clearing Paper Jams
4. Gently pull the paper out of the printer. Remove any remaining pieces of paper. 5. Close the printer cover and turn on the printer. Make sure the Paper Out light is not flashing and the Pause light is off.
Page 124 Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five seconds before turning it back on; otherwise you may damage the printer. 2. Hold down the Pause button and turn on the printer. The printer enters the bidirectional adjustment mode and prints instructions and the first set of alignment patterns.
Page 125: Restoring The Printer's Default Settings
If you just want to cancel printing, and don’t want to restore the default settings, see “Canceling Printing” on page 74. Where To Get Help If your Epson printer is not operating properly and you cannot solve the problem using the troubleshooting information, see the contact information below. Epson provides technical assistance 24 hours a day through the electronic support services and automated telephone services listed below.
Page 126 (800-463-7766) or browse our catalog of products at www.epson.com, select the product you are interested in, and click “Where to Buy.” To purchase online, please visit the Epson Store at www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for a reseller referral.
Page 127: Chapter 6 Options And Consumables
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.
Page 128 3. Open the top cover and slide the print head to the mark. 4. Lift the ribbon guide off the print head as shown below. Options and Consumables...
Page 129 5. Pull up the ribbon cartridge as shown below to release it from the printer’s mounting pins. Remove the cartridge by lifting it up and away from you. Caution: Make sure you don’t pull on the flat white cable beneath the ribbon cartridge.
Page 130 7. Holding the sides of the cartridge, place the notch on each end onto the metal posts inside the printer. Then tilt the cartridge down into the printer until it clicks into place. Options and Consumables...
Page 131 8. Lift up the black plastic ribbon guide and slide it down behind the print head until it clicks into place. Do not twist or crease the ribbon. Options and Consumables...
Page 132 9. Slide the print head back and forth to make sure it moves freely. If not, lift up the ribbon guide and try again. ribbon tightening knob 10. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to remove any slack. 11. Close the top cover. Options and Consumables...
Page 133: Using The Pull Tractor
The optional pull tractor (C800382) 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 with either the printer’s front or rear built-in tractor, as described in this section. Note: When the pull tractor is installed, the tear-off feature is not available.
Page 134 2. Use a cross-head screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the paper separator to the printer. Then lift it off the printer. 3. Close the paper separator cover and open the printer’s back cover. Options and Consumables...
Page 135 4. Holding the pull tractor with its gears to the left, fit the tractor’s front notches over the mounting shaft of the printer. 5. Then tilt the pull tractor back until its rear latches click into place over the printer’s rear mounting pins.
Page 136: Using The Pull Tractor With The Front Tractor
See “Loading Paper Onto the Front Tractor” on page 15 for instructions.) 3. Once you have paper loaded on the printer’s front tractor, use the LF/FF Load button to advance the paper to the pull tractor.
Page 137 4. Release both sprocket lock levers on the pull tractor by pulling them toward you. Then open both sprocket covers. 5. Adjust the sprockets to match the width of your paper. 6. Slide the two paper supports so they are spaced evenly between the two sprockets.
Page 138 Note: When you use paper that is less than four inches wide, remove the paper supports by pulling them off the tractor. 7. Fit the sprocket holes of the paper over the sprocket pins. If there is slack in the paper or if the holes in the paper do not align properly with the sprocket pins, pull the paper slightly and use the pull tractor knob to adjust the position of the paper as shown below.
Page 139 29 for instructions. 11. Close the back cover. Press the LF/FF Load button to feed the paper out the back of the printer. Make sure the edge of the first sheet emerges below the paper separator.
Page 140: Using The Pull Tractor With The Rear Tractor
See “Installing the pull tractor” on page 133 for instructions. 1. Turn off the printer, then open the back cover. Note: If paper is loaded on the rear tractor, in either the top-of-form or standby position, skip to step 6.
Page 141 5. Then tilt the pull tractor back until the rear latches click into place over the printer’s rear mounting pins. 6. Turn on the printer, and use the LF/FF Load button to advance the paper to the pull tractor. Now follow steps 4 through 11 of “Using the pull tractor with the front tractor”...
Page 142: Removing The Pull Tractor
1. Remove any paper installed on the tractor and turn off the printer. 2. Open the back cover and locate the levers that lock the pull tractor in place on the printer. Pull these levers forward to release the pull tractor. Then lift the tractor up and out of the printer.
Page 143: Using The Perforation Cutter
4. Use a cross-head screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the paper separator to the printer. Then remove the paper separator that came with the pull tractor. 5. Using the two screws, reinstall the original paper separator and close the paper separator cover.
Page 144: Installing The Perforation Cutter
If you plan to load continuous paper from the rear tractor, be sure to leave enough room around the printer for the attached perforated paper output attachment and the output tray, and for the stack of fresh paper. Make sure you align your paper supply with the paper loaded in the tractor so the paper feeds smoothly into the printer.
Page 145 1. Turn off the printer and open the paper separator cover. 2. Use a cross-head screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the paper separator to the printer. Then lift off the paper separator. Store the paper separator and screws for later use.
Page 146 5. Hold the perforation cutter by its handle with the connector facing to the right. Then lower the perforation cutter into the space at the back of the printer, fitting the pins on the sides of the perforation cutter into the notches in the printer.
Page 147 7. Plug the perforation cutter’s connector securely into the connector inside the printer. Then close the back cover. 8. Close the back flap. Options and Consumables...
Page 148: Attaching The Perforated Paper Output Attachment
Note: Stacked pages may flip over on the output tray. Do not allow the printer to stack more than 200 sheets of paper or 100 multi-part forms on the output tray. Remove the output tray when you will be printing hundreds of pages and will not need to cut the printed pages.
Page 149 2. Close the paper separator cover and position the output tray on the output attachment to accommodate the page length of paper you use: output tray You are now ready to use the perforation cutter as described in the next section. Caution: You cannot open the top cover while the perforated paper output attachment and the output tray is attached.
Page 150: Using The Perforation Cutter
The perforation cutter requires that the paper have perforations; for best results, the paper should be fan-folded. The last page may not be ejected completely. If this happens, gently pull it out of the printer. The perforation cutter cannot cut the last 11 inches of continuous paper.
Page 151 1. Make sure printing has finished. Open the paper separator cover. You see the perforation cutter’s tear-off edge. 2. Press the Tear Off button to enter tear-off mode. The printer feeds the paper’s perforation to the perforation cutter’s tear-off edge.
Page 152: Removing The Perforation Cutter
To switch tractors when the perforation cutter is installed, follow these steps: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on. If you are in the middle of printing a document, wait for the printer to finish printing before you switch tractors.
Page 153 3. Remove the perforated paper output attachment and the output tray from the printer. 4. Open the back cover. Then unplug the paper cutter’s connector from the printer. Options and Consumables...
Page 154 5. Grasp the handle on the perforation cutter and lift it up and out of the printer. 6. Close the back cover and open the paper separator cover. 7. Reattach the paper separator using the two screws that you removed before.
Page 155: Using Interface Cards
C82434 The asterisk ( ) is a substitute for the last digit, which varies by country. If you are not sure whether you need an optional interface or would like to know more about interfaces, contact your Epson dealer. Name...
Page 156: Installing An Interface Card
SelecType mode” on page 94 for details. Coax and twinax interfaces enable the printer to communicate with an IBM minicomputer or mainframe via coax or twinax protocol. This allows Epson printers to function as local IBM printers without the addition of any other circuitry or components.
Page 157 5. Slide the interface card into the grooves in the interface slot. Push it in firmly to make sure it connects to the printer’s internal socket. 6. Secure the interface card using the screws that came with it.
Page 158: Using A Serial Interface Card
Handshake timing When the unused area for data in the input buffer drops to 256 bytes, the printer outputs an X-OFF code or sets the DTR flag to 1 (MARK) to indicate that it cannot receive data. When the unused area increases to 512 bytes, the printer outputs an X-ON code or sets the DTR flag to 0 (SPACE) to indicate that it is ready to receive data.
Page 159: Using A Print Server
Using a Print Server You can use this printer as a network printer by installing the EpsonNet 10/100 Base Tx Int. Print Server 5 (C82434 ) in the printer’s parallel interface port. See the Administrator’s Manual packaged with this option for instructions on installation and use.
Page 160 11. The LCD displays Save Setting. If you want to save the settings, select Yes by pressing the SetU (Tear Off) button. If you do not want to save the settings, select No by pressing the SetD (Top of Form) button. 12. Turn off the printer. Options and Consumables...
Page 161: Appendix A Product Information
Appendix A Product Information Printer Parts front cover power switch ribbon cartridge print head front tractor sprockets front tractor paper supports top cover Product Information control panel...
Page 162: Product Information
rear tractor sprockets back cover paper separator paper separator cover optional interface USB interface parallel interface back flap serial interface interface cover Product Information...
Page 163: Printer Specifications
Printer Specifications Mechanical Printing method: Printing speed: Printing direction: Line spacing: Printable columns: Resolution: Paper feed methods: Push tractor (front, rear) Paper feed speed: Reliability: 36-pin impact dot matrix (9 High speed draft Draft Bidirectional logic seeking for text and graphics printing.
Page 164: Electronic
Dimensions and weight: Ribbon: Acoustic noise: Electronic Interfaces: Standard bidirectional, 8-bit, parallel with IEEE 1284 nibble mode support USB (ver 1.1) RS-232C serial Slot for optional Type B interface card Buffer: 128KB Fonts: Bitmap fonts Bar code fonts EAN-13, EAN-8, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 128, POSTNET Product Information Height...
Page 165 Character Standard tables: One italic and 12 graphics character tables: Italic table, PC 437 (US, Standard Europe), PC 850 (Multilingual), PC 860 (Portuguese), PC 861 (Icelandic), PC 865 (Nordic), PC 863 (Canadian-French), BRASCII, Abicomp, ISO Latin 1, Roman 8, PC 858, ISO 8859-15 Expanded One italic and 38 graphics character tables: Italic table,...
Page 166: Electrical
Electrical Rated voltage range: Input voltage range: Rated frequency range: Input frequency range: Rated current: Power consumption: Environmental Printer status Operating (plain paper) Operating (recycled paper, envelope, label, or roll paper) Storage Product Information 100 to 240 V 90 to 264 V 50 to 60 Hz 49.5 to 60.5 Hz...
Page 167: Paper
Paper Note: Use recycled paper, labels, continuous forms with labels, and overlapping multi-part forms only under these normal temperature and humidity conditions: Temperature: 15 to 25°C (59 to 77°F) Humidity: Do not load paper that is curled, folded, or crumpled. Continuous paper (Single sheets and multi-part forms) Use only continuous paper with less than 5 mm diameter punch holes.
Page 168 The thickness of the perforation part when extended should be 2 mm or less. The perforation between pages should not extend all the way to the edges of the paper. Uncut length on the edges should be 1 mm or more. When using pre-printed paper, the reflectance of the pre-printed color should be 60% or less.
Page 169 When using pre-printed paper, make sure the printing does not appear in the shaded area illustrated below. A 12 mm B first dot C Shaded should not be pre-printed D 5 mm Product Information...
Page 170 Continuous paper (single sheets): Width (mm) (inch) Length (mm) (inch) Thickness (mm) (inch) Weight (g/m²) (lb) Quality Continuous paper (multi-part forms): Width (mm) (inch) Length (mm) (inch) Copies Thickness (mm) (inch) Weight (g/m²) (lb) Quality Product Information Rear entry / Front entry Minimum 76.2 76.2...
Page 171 Do not load thick paper, such as multipart forms with more than seven parts, on the rear tractor. Form sheets of continuous multi-part forms should be securely joined together along the left and right edges by crimping or spot-gluing. See the illustration below for details.
Page 172 spot-gluing and crimping on opposing sides Do not use continuous multi-part forms that are joined with metal staples, one side crimping, tape-staples, or bar-gluing. Product Information A 25.4 mm (1 inch) or less B 76.2 mm (3 inches) or less C printing side A bar-gluing B metal stapling...
Page 173 Thickness of backing sheet Total thickness Label weight Quality Use only labels on continuous backing sheets. Epson recommends using labels whose backing sheet is entirely covered with label material. Rear entry / Front entry Minimum (mm) 76.2 (inch) (mm) 76.2...
Page 174: Continuous Forms With Labels
Labels whose backing sheet is entirely covered with label material: Labels whose backing sheet is not covered with label material: Continuous forms with labels Width of (mm) backing (inch) sheet Length of (mm) backing (inch) sheet Product Information A backing sheet B label sheet C label D There should be several...
Page 175 Rear entry Minimum Total (mm) 0.065 thickness (inch) 0.0025 Front entry Maximum Minimum 0.53 0.065 0.021 0.0025 A label B backing sheet C total thickness: 0.53 mm (0.021 inch) or less (rear entry) 0.79 mm (0.031 inch) or less (front entry) A continuous paper B label paper Product Information...
Page 176 Overlapping multi-part forms Width of (mm) backing (inch) sheet Length of (mm) backing (inch) sheet Total (mm) thickness (inch) Product Information Rear entry Minimum Maximum 76.2 419.1 16.5 76.2 558.8 0.13 0.53 0.0051 0.021 A 13 mm (0.51 inch) or more B From the perforation to the bottom of the previous overlapping form:...
Page 177: Printable Area
Printable area Note: When you use paper that is less than 101.6 mm (4 inches) wide, the left margin is fixed at 13 mm (0.51 inch) regardless of paper type. Setting the left margin to larger than that may cause a problem when beginning on a new line or cause a skew.
Page 178 Continuous forms with labels Overlapping multi-part forms Product Information A The minimum top and bottom margins are 4.2 mm (0.17 inch) B The minimum left and right margins are 13 mm (0.51 inch) C The minimum top margin for labels is 20.2 mm (0.8 inch) D The minimum bottom margin for labels is 16.6 mm (0.65 inch)
Page 179: Command Lists
Your printer supports the following Epson ESC/P control codes and IBM PPDS emulation control codes. EPSON ESC/P control codes Selecting an Epson ESC/P printer in your software allows you to use advanced fonts and graphics. General operation: ESC @, ESC U, ESC EM F/B/C/A/V...
Page 180: Ibm Ppds Emulation Control Codes
Bar code: ESC (B Production ESC | IBM PPDS emulation control codes This printer emulates the IBM Proprinter using the commands below. General operation: NUL, DC3, ESC j, BEL, CAN, DC1, ESC Q, ESC [K, ESC U, ESC [F Paper feeding:...
Page 181: Standards And Approvals
Character handling: ESC 6, ESC 7, ESC [T, ESC ^, ESC \ Bit image: ESC K, ESC L, ESC Y, ESC Z Bar code: ESC [f, ESC [p Download: ESC = (draft mode only) Standards and Approvals Universal (UPS) model: Safety UL60950 CSA C22.2 No.
Page 182: Cleaning The Printer
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 printer mechanism. Contact your Epson dealer if you think lubrication is needed. Product Information...
Page 183: Transporting The Printer
Warning: You need to move the print head by hand to remove 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. Remove any paper loaded in the printer. Make sure the printer is turned off.
Page 184 Product Information...
Page 185 SelecType settings, 84 to 95 Character table setting, 85, 91 Cleaning printer, 182 Clearing paper jams, 123 Client computers, 59 to 60, 64 to 73 Contacting Epson, 125 to 126 Continuous forms with labels, 32, 86, 92, 96 Continuous paper problems, 108 to 109...
Page 186 15 to 21 sprockets, 161 with pull tractor, 136 to 139 Get IP address setting, 93 Help, Epson, 125 to 126 Hex dump, 104 to 105 High Speed Draft font, 83 I/F (interface) mode setting, 85, 89...
Page 187 85, 90 data length setting, 85, 90 interface, 162 parity setting, 85, 90 Sharing printer, 59 to 73 Skip over binding setting, 86, 93 Skip over perforation setting, 84, 87 Software setting, 85, 89 Solving problems, 101 to 126...
Page 188 Tractor Select light, 36 Transporting printer, 183 Turning on printer, 20 Index Unidirectional printing, 88 Uninstalling printer software, 75 to 78 Status Monitor 3, 76 USB device driver, 77 to 78 device driver, 77 to 78 interface, 89, 162 problems, 119 to 122...

This manual is also suitable for:

C11c605001 - dfx 9000 b/w dot-matrix printer

Epson DFX-9000 Reference Manual

Chapter 1 Safety Instructions

Chapter 2 Paper Handling

Chapter 3 Printer Software

Chapter 4 Control Panel

Chapter 5 Problem Solving

Chapter 6 Options and Consumables

Appendix A Product Information

Quick Links

Reference Guide

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Summary of Contents for Epson DFX-9000

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Table of Contents