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Epson 1170 User Manual

Epson 1170 User Manual

Epson printer user's manual lq-870, 1170
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  • Page 1 LQ-870/1170 r’ 4000377 rn* “A...
  • Page 2 Seiko Epson Corporation and its affiliates shall not be liable against any damages arising from the use of any options other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.

  • Page 3: For United States Users

    For United States Users This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception.
  • Page 4 When you print on single sheets, you may notice that your printer prints the first page of your file correctly but then prints too low on the next page, or that it prints the last few lines from one page onto the next.
  • Page 5 Service Centers. Epson also provides the following support services through the Epson Consumer Resource Center at (800) 922-8911: P Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized Epson Reseller or Service Center P Technical assistance with the installation, configuration, and operation of Epson products...

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    Choosing a Place for the Printer..Assembling the Printer..Testing the Printer..Connecting the Printer to Your Computer..1-14 Configuring Your Software for the Printer..1-15 Chapter 2 Paper Handling Selecting a Paper Feeding Method ...
  • Page 7 Chapter 4 Using the Printer Options Cut-sheet Feeder ... Additional Tractor Unit ... Interface Card ... Chapter 5 Maintenance and Transportation Cleaning the Printer ... Replacing the Ribbon..Transporting the Printer ... Chapter 6 Troubleshooting Problems and Solutions ...

  • Page 8: Introduction

    Flexibility. Load single sheets from the top or front paper slots without removing your continuous paper supply. Epson’s ESC/P 2. The first dot matrix printer control language to offer scalable fonts and enhanced graphics. Compatibility. Supports the Epson ESC/P commands widely used in application programs written for other Epson LQ printers.

  • Page 9: Options

    Introduction If you’re an experienced printer user, you may also want to order the Epson ESC/P Referrence Manual for complete programming information. Call the number above to purchase the reference manual. Options For additional information on these options, see Chapter 4.

  • Page 10: Finding Your Way Around

    This manual provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions for setting up and operating your printer. Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up, testing, and connecting the printer. Be sure to read this chapter first. Chapters 2 and 3 include important information on paper handling and day-to-day operation of your printer.

  • Page 11: Printer Parts

    Introduction Printer parts paper guide edge guides front cover paper tension unit tractor paper thickness lever A C inlet rant edge guide front Note: In some countries, the power cord is attached. Introduction...

  • Page 12: Important Safety Instructions

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. 3. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
  • Page 13 If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total of the ampere ratings on the products plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

  • Page 14: Chapter 1 Setting Up The Printer

    Running the self test ... Connecting the Printer to Your Computer ......1-14 Configuring Your Software for the Printer..

  • Page 15: Unpacking The Printer

    Unpacking the Printer Checking the parts When you unpack the printer, make sure that you have all the parts shown below and that none has been damaged. Paper guide Power cord Note: In some locations, the power cord is attached to the printer.

  • Page 16: Removing The Protective Material

    To prevent damage during shipping, several pieces of protective material are packed with your printer. You must remove these before you put your printer together. Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet inserted in your printer when removing the protective material. Note: Make sure you remove all packing and protective materials from your printer before turning on the power.

  • Page 17: Choosing A Place For The Printer

    Choosing a Place for the Printer When selecting a place to set up your printer, keep the following in mind: Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. Place the printer close enough to the computer for the printer cable to reach.
  • Page 18 LQ-1170 24.6 (54.2 Never use a stand that tilts the printer at an angle of more than 15 degrees from horizontal. If you install a cut-sheet feeder, keep your printer absolutely level. If you position the paper supply below the printer stand, make sure that you allow enough clearance (1.2 inches or...

  • Page 19: Assembling The Printer

    Assembling the Printer After choosing a good place for your printer, you install the ribbon cartridge and paper guide. Installing the ribbon cartridge Before installing the ribbon cartridge, make sure that the printer is not plugged into an electrical outlet.
  • Page 20 CAUTION: is turned on or you might damage the printer. Also, if used you just it cool for a few minutes before touching it. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack in the ribbon. Next, hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and push it firmly down into position;...
  • Page 21 Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves smoothly. Also check that the ribbon is not twisted or creased. 7. Replace the paper-tension unit by placing it on the printer’s mounting pegs; then lowering it into place. Press down both ends of the paper-tension unit firmly until you feel it snap click into place.

  • Page 22: Attaching The Paper Guides

    Top paper guide Place the notches on the paper guide straight down into the mounting slots on the printer. You can stand the paper guide in an upright position or lower it back to lie flat on the printer. Front paper guide The front paper guide fits inside the front of the printer, and may be installed over the tractor unit.

  • Page 23: Testing The Printer

    Do not plug in the power cord. 3. If the power cord is not attached to the printer, connect it to the AC inlet on the printer’s rear panel. 4. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

  • Page 24: Running The Self Test

    The printer prints the self test in the currently selected font. 1. Make sure that the printer is turned off. Move the paper- release lever to the single-sheet position. Hold down the LF/FF button while you turn on the printer. The printer beeps several times and the POWER and PAPER OUT lights come on.
  • Page 25 CAUTION: i inches) wide for the wide for the LQ-1170; otherwise the print head prints directly onto the platen. Insert a sheet of paper down between the edge guides until it meets resistance. After about two seconds, the printer loads the paper automatically and starts the self test.
  • Page 26 The self test prints the current DIP-switch settings, followed by font samples for each of the printer’s available fonts. 5. The self test continues until the paper runs out or until you press the PAUSE button. When the printer beeps, you another sheet of paper to continue printing font samples.

  • Page 27: Connecting The Printer To Your Computer

    Connect the parallel interface cable as described below: Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off; then plug the cable connector securely into the printer. Squeeze the wire clips together until they lock in place on either side of the connector.

  • Page 28: Configuring Your Software For The Printer

    LQ-870/1170 If your printer is not listed, call the software manufacturer or call Epson at (800) 922-8911 to see if an update is available. Until you receive an update choose from the following list (the printers are listed in the order of preference):...
  • Page 29 Chapter 2 Paper Handling Selecting a Paper Feeding Method ... Setting the paper-release lever ... Using Single Sheets ... Loading single sheets from the top ... Loading single sheets from the front ... Using Continuous Paper ........Tractor position and available paper paths .

  • Page 30: Selecting A Paper Feeding Method

    Selecting a Paper Feeding Method Your printer comes with four paper paths so that you can print on almost any type of paper: Choose the top or front paper guide to print on single sheets Choose the tractor unit to load continuous paper from the front, rear, or bottom.
  • Page 31 Single-sheet position For all single sheets, whether loaded from front, top, or either of the optional cut-sheet feeders. Front push-tractor position For continuous paper with the tractor unit installed in the front. Rear push-tractor position For continuous paper with the tractor unit installed in the rear.

  • Page 32: Using Single Sheets

    257 mm inches) on the (10.1 on the LQ-1170. You can load single sheets from either the top or front of the printer. If the paper-tension unit is removed, you need to replace it before you print on single sheets. See page Loading single sheets from the top 1.
  • Page 33 The printer loads the paper automatically and you are CAUTION: Use the knob on the left side of the printer only to clear paper jams when the printer is off. Otherwise you may damage the printer or lose the top- of-form position.

  • Page 34: Loading Single Sheets From The Front

    1. Place the paper-release lever in the single-sheet position and open the front cover. Turn on the printer. The POWER light on the control panel comes on. Move the edge guide until you feel it click into place above the arrow mark on the paper guide.
  • Page 35 4. Align the left edge of the paper with the edge guide and insert the page firmly until it meets resistance. The printer loads the paper automatically. You are now ready to print. CAUTION: Use only to clear paper jams when the printer is off.

  • Page 36: Using Continuous Paper

    Your printer handle continuous paper up to inches) wide on the on the LQ-1170. To print on continuous paper, you can install the tractor unit in of the following positions- front, rear, or pull. Be sure you set the paper-release lever correctly before you print. See Setting the paper-release lever at the beginning of this chapter for a description of each position.

  • Page 37: Changing Tractor Positions

    Installing in the front push-tractor position 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Open the front cover and remove the paper guide by grasping the fins on both sides and pulling it straight out of the printer.
  • Page 38 See page 2-12 for instructions on loading continuous paper with the front push tractor. Installing the push-tractor in the rear position 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Lift the paper guide up and off the printer. 2. While pressing in the tractor’s lock tabs, lower the tractor straight down into the printer’s mounting slots.
  • Page 39 Follow the steps below to install the pull-tractor: 1. Make sure the power is turned off. Lift the printer cover and paper guide up and off the printer.

  • Page 40: Loading Continuous Paper With The Front Push-Tractor

    Using Continuous Paper Loading continuous paper with the front push-tractor 1. Make sure the printer is turned off and remove the front cover and the front paper guide. 2. Make sure the tractor is in the front push-tractor position and the paper-release lever is in the front push-tractor position.
  • Page 41 Using Continuous Paper 3. Release the sprocket units by pushing the sprocket locks backward. 4. Slide the left sprocket unit to approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) from the far left position and pull the lever forward to lock it in place. Now slide the right sprocket unit to approximately match the width of your paper, but do not lock it.

  • Page 42: Removing Continuous Paper From The Front Push-Tractor

    Lock the sprocket unit in place by pulling the sprocket lock forward. 8. Attach the front paper guide and the front cover. 9. Turn on the printer. When the printer receives data, it automatically loads the paper before printing. Removing continuous paper from the front push-tractor 1.

  • Page 43: Loading Continuous Paper With The Rear Push-Tractor

    Loading continuous paper with the rear push-tractor Make sure the printer is turned off and the paper guide is removed. 2. Make sure the tractor is in the rear push-tractor position and the paper-release lever is in the rear push-tractor position.
  • Page 44 Using Continuous Paper Slide the left sprocket to approximately 12 mm (0.5 inch) from the far left position (use the alignment marks on the printer case). Push the lever back to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket unit to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it.

  • Page 45: Removing Continuous Paper From The Rear Push-Tractor

    7. Adjust the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper; then lock it in place. Attach the paper guide in its flat position over the printer. Slide the edge guides to the center. Turn on the printer. When the printer receives data, it loads the paper automatically before printing.

  • Page 46: Loading Continuous Paper With The Pull Tractor

    Using Continuous Paper Loading continuous paper with the pull tractor Make sure the printer is turned off and the printer cover and paper guide are removed. Make sure the tractor is installed in the pull-tractor position and the paper-release lever is set to the pull-tractor position.
  • Page 47 Slide the left sprocket unit to approximately 12 mm (OS inch) from the far left position (use the alignment marks on the printer case). Push the sprocket lock back to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket unit to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it.
  • Page 48 Make any adjustments to the loading position with the micro- feed feature, as described in chapter 12. Install the printer cover. CAUTION: only to clear paper jams when the printer is off. Otherwise you may damage the printer or lose the top- of-form position. Paper Handling...

  • Page 49: Removing Continuous Paper From The Pull Tractor

    Adjusting the top-of-form position The top-of-form position is the position the printer feeds the paper to when it loads the paper or performs a form feed. This position is important because it determines where the printing begins on the page.

  • Page 50: Switching Between Continuous And Single Sheets

    To switch from continuous paper to single sheets, follow the steps below. 1. If you have a printed document still in the printer, press the TEAR OFF button to feed the paper forward to the tear-off position. Tear off the document and press the TEAR OFF button again to feed the continuous paper backward to the loading position.
  • Page 51 Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets 3. Push the paper-release lever back the single-sheet position. You can now load single sheets from either the front or top as described in Using Single Sheets, earlier in this chapter. Paper Handling 2-23...

  • Page 52: Switching To Continuous Paper

    LOAD/EJECT button to eject it. Lift up slightly on the paper guide and then lower it until it lies flat on top of the printer. Slide the left and right edge guides together so that they meet at the middle.

  • Page 53: Printing On Special Paper

    Printing on Special Paper In addition to printing on single sheets and continuous paper, your printer can also print on a wide variety of paper types, such as envelopes, labels, and multi-part forms. Before printing on special types of paper, you may need to change the paper-thickness setting.

  • Page 54: Multi-Part Forms

    Printing on Special Paper Use the following table to set the paper-thickness lever to match the thickness of your paper according to the table below: Ordinary (single sheets or continuous) Ordinary (with film ribbon) Thin paper Carbonless multi-part forms 2 sheets (original + 1 copy) 3 sheets (original + 2 copies) 4 sheets (original + 3 copies) Labels...

  • Page 55: Labels

    Because labels are especially sensitive to extreme temperature and humidity, always use them under normal operating conditions. Do not leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they curl around the platen and may jam when you resume printing. To remove labels from the paper path after you finish printing, first tear off the labels at a point before the paper slot.

  • Page 56: Envelopes

    Printing on Special Paper Envelopes You can load envelopes individually using the single sheet loading feature from the top paper guide only. If you want to load several envelopes at the same time, you can install the optional single-bin cut-sheet feeder. See Chapter 4 for a description of loading envelopes with the cut-sheet feeder.

  • Page 57: Chapter 3 Using The Printer

    Data Dump Mode ..........3-23 3 - 2 3 - 2 3 - 3 3 - 6 3 - 7 3 - 9 3-13 3 - 1 3 3 - 1 6 3 - 1 9 3 - 2 2 Using the Printer 3-1...

  • Page 58: Control Panel

    Control Panel The indicator lights give you the current status of the printer. The buttons let you control many of the printer settings. Lights POWER (green) On when the power switch is on and power is supplied. DATA (orange) On when data is present in the printer’s memory buffer.

  • Page 59: Buttons

    LF/FF (Line feed/Form feed) Press this button briefly to feed the paper forward one line. Hold this button down to eject a single sheet of paper or advance continuous paper to the top of the next page. Control Panel Using the Printer...
  • Page 60 Control Panel Holding down this button while pressing certain other buttons results in the following alternate functions: BUFFER CLEAR (ALT + PAUSE) Clears the printer’s buffer and initializes the printer settings, including top-of-form setting MICRO FEED: (ALT + LOAD/EJECT) Feeds paper forward in l/180-inch increments...

  • Page 61: Other Control-Panel Features

    Hold down the LF/FF (for LQ mode) or LOAD/EJECT (for Draft mode) button while you turn on the printer to perform the self test. The self test lets you check that your printer is operating properly and gives you a printout of the current DIP-switch settings.

  • Page 62: Dip Switches

    By changing the settings of the two sets of DIP switches, which are inside the compartment on the control panel, you can control various printer features, such as the character set and the page length. These new settings become effective when the printer is turned on, reset, or initialized.

  • Page 63: Dip-Switch Tables

    Table 2 DIP Switch 2 setting Description Page length (for continuous paper) 2-3 Tear off 2-4 Auto linefeed * Asterisks indicate the default settings. 1 setting See tables 3 and 4 See Table 5 Using the Printer DIP Switches Page 3-12 OFF* OFF* 3-12...

  • Page 64: Continuous Paper

    PC 863 (Canada-French) PC 865 (Norway) Settings not shown above select PC 437 (United States). Table 5 Page length Page length Using the Printer SW l-1 Set international character sets according to Table 3 continuous paper 1 sw2-1 I sw2-2 I...

  • Page 65: Dip-Switch Functions

    ESC R software command: Japan (English), Norway, Denmark II, Spain II, Latin America, Korea, and Legal. Character tables Your printer has five graphics character tables in addition to the italic character table. You can select these character tables by setting DIP switches To select a graphics character table, you must first turn DIP switch Tables of these characters are included in the Appendix.
  • Page 66 Input buffer capacity The input buffer stores data sent from your computer. If you want to free your computer for other tasks while the printer prints, turn DIP switch off to select the 3-10...
  • Page 67 (25.4 on one page and the first printable line on the next page so that the printer skips over the perforation. Most application programs take care of the top and bottom margins. Do not turn on skip-over-perforation unless your program does not provide these margins.
  • Page 68 Auto line-feed When auto line feed is on (DIP switch each carriage-return code (CR) received with a line feed code (LF). If your printer is double spacing, turn DIP switch line overprints the next, turn DIP switch 3-12 Using the Printer on), the printer follows off.

  • Page 69: Micro Feed

    To use the micro-feed feature, you press the ALT button in combination with the LOAD/EJECT or LF/FF button, as indicated on the printer’s control panel. Follow the steps below to see how the MICRO FEED button operates: 1. Make sure that printing has stopped before you adjust the position of the paper.

  • Page 70: Adjusting The Loading Position

    Adjusting the loading position The loading position is the position of the paper after it is automatically loaded by the printer. If your printing is too high or low on the page, you can change the loading position with the micro-feed feature as follows: 1.
  • Page 71 LF/FF button to move the loading position up on the page. The printer remembers the new loading position and advances all subsequent pages to the new position. Note: The printer has a minimum and maximum loading position.

  • Page 72: Tear Off

    Tear Off After you finish printing, the tear-off feature advances continuous paper to the tear-off edge of the printer. You can then easily tear off printed sheets. When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds paper back to the loading position.

  • Page 73: Using The Tear Off Button

    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 following the steps below: Make sure printing has finished.

  • Page 74: Adjusting The Tear-Off Position

    The printer remembers the new tear-off position even after the printer is turned off. 3. Tear off any printed pages. 4. When you begin printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the loading position and begins printing. Note: The printer has a minimum and a maximum tear-off position.

  • Page 75: Typestyles

    Character fonts The printer has ten built-in fonts: draft, Courier, Roman, Sans Serif, Prestige, Script, Script-C, Orator, Orator-S, and OCR-B. To select a font, press the FONT button until the green indicator light of your desired font comes on.
  • Page 76 There are two printing speeds for the draft font; high-speed draft and normal draft, controlled by the DIP switch 1-6 setting. The following shows sample characters for each font. Normal Draft (DIP switch '"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJK ILMN~Pc~RsTuVWXYZ[\]~ wxyr{l}"aC~~~aaa~s~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~f~F~~~~ Epson Roman proportional !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?8ABCDEFGHIJK LMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv wxyz{l}"oCiie~~LC~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~~i 3-20 Using the Printer OFF)
  • Page 77 Epson Sans Serif !“#$%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?gABCDEFGHIJK LMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^-‘abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv WX~~{:}-~CU~~BBB~~~~~~~~A~~~&~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Epson Sans Serif proportional !“#$%&‘()*+,-./0123456789:;c=>?@ABCDEFGH LMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^-‘abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv wxyz{t}-p~Ue~LBBB~g9ei”i~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~j Prestige Epson !"#$%%'( )*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJK LMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]"-‘abcdefghijklmnopqrst,uv wxyz(~}"h~~~~88~~~~~~~l~A$~~~~~~~~uu~~~R~~f Epson Script-C ! “#$w’ ( ) j:+, -a /0123456789: ; <=>?@ABCDEFGHIJK LMNOPQRSTt.IVWX?E \I *-’ wKyx{~}-DCii&ciiihbceeertt;QA~~oouuyt)l2~~YPtf6i Epson Orator ! “#WV ( )*+,-.

  • Page 78: Character Pitch

    The printout below compares the different pitches: This is 10 cpi printing. This is 12 cpi printing. This is IS cpi printing. This is 17 cpi printing. This is 20 cpi printing. This is proportional printing. 3-22 Using the Printer modes, each character gets an 20-cpi...

  • Page 79: Data Dump Mode

    In data dump mode, the printer produces an exact printout of the codes it receives. To use data dump mode, follow these steps: 1. Make sure the printer is off.

  • Page 80: Chapter 4 Using The Printer Options

    Chapter 4 Using the Printer Options Cut-Sheet Feeders..Installing a cut-sheet feeder ... Loading paper with the single-bin cut-sheet feeder..4-3 Loading paper or envelopes with the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder..Assembling the double-bin cut-sheet feeder ... 4-9 Switching between continuous paper and the cut-sheet feeder..

  • Page 81: Cut-Sheet Feeders

    Installation of each cut-sheet feeder-single-bin, high-capacity, or double-bin-is basically the same. Install your cut-sheet feeder by following the steps below. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off. Remove the paper guide and printer cover. If the tractor unit is installed in the top-tractor position, remove it and re-install it in the front- or rear-tractor position and install the paper-tension unit.

  • Page 82: Loading Paper With The Single-Bin Cut-Sheet Feeder

    Release the latch levers to lock the cut-sheet feeder in place. 5. Replace the printer cover by first inserting the front tabs into the slots on the printer, then lowering it into place. You are now ready to load paper with your cut-sheet feeder.
  • Page 83 3. Pull the paper-set levers all the way forward until the paper guides retract and lock open. Take a stack of paper and fan it. Next, tap the side and bottom of the paper on a flat surface to even up the stack. Using the Printer Options...
  • Page 84 You can still insert single sheets using the rear paper guide or the front paper slot. The cut-sheet feeder automatically loads paper when you send print data to the printer (as long as the PAUSE light is not lit). You can also load paper from the cut-sheet feeder by pressing the LOAD/EJECT button.

  • Page 85: Cut-Sheet Feeder

    Next, slide the right paper guide to roughly match the width of your paper. Slide the paper support midway between the paper guides. Using the Printer Options “‘.-- --...
  • Page 86 Make sure that the position of the guide allows the paper to move up and down freely. Do not use multi-part forms, carbon paper, sheets of paper, plain bond or Using the Printer Options Cut-Sheet Feeder air mail...
  • Page 87 The cut-sheet feeder automatically loads paper when you send print data to the printer (as long as the PAUSE light is not lit). You can also load paper from the cut-sheet feeder by pressing the LOAD/EJECT button.

  • Page 88: Assembling The Double-Bin Cut-Sheet Feeder

    2. Hold the single-bin cut-sheet feeder in both hands. Fit the notches in the single-bin cut-sheet feeder over the mounting posts on the rear of the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder. Cut-Sheet Feeder Using the Printer Options...
  • Page 89 Make sure the two cut-sheet feeders are securely locked together. Install the assembled double-bin cut-sheet feeder on the printer. See Installing a cut-sheet feeder in this chapter. 5. Load paper into each bin. See the sections on loading paper in this chapter.

  • Page 90: Switching Between Continuous Paper And The Cut-Sheet Feeder

    Switching between continuous paper and the cut-sheet feeder This printer allows you to switch easily between the cut-sheet feeder and the tractor-feeding system without removing either the feeder or the continuous-paper supply. Switching to continuous paper If a single sheet is in the paper path, press the LOAD/EJECT button to eject it.
  • Page 91 Cut-Sheet Feeder Switching to the cut-sheet feeder If any printed sheets remain in the printer, press the TEAR OFF button to advance the continuous paper to the tear-off position. 2. Tear off the printed pages. 3. Press the LOAD/EJECT button. The printer feeds the continuous paper backward to the standby position.

  • Page 92: Additional Tractor Unit

    The tractor positions and paper paths Below are the various ways of feeding continuous paper with two tractor units. or Rear push-tractor Using the Printer Options 4-13...

  • Page 93: Using Two Tractor Units In Combination

    2. Place the continuous paper on the sprocket units of the front or rear push-tractor unit (see Using Continuous Paper in Chapter 2). 3. Turn on the printer. Press the LOAD/EJECT button to load paper; then hold down the LF/FF button to feed one page of paper. CAUTION: only to clear paper jams when the printer is off.
  • Page 94 Then place the paper-release lever back in its original position. See that the paper is not crooked or wrinkled and lock the sprocket units in place. Reinstall the printer cover and the paper guide. Additional Tractor Unit Using the Printer Options 4-15...

  • Page 95: Interface Card

    Interface Card You can use optional interface cards to supplement your printer’s built-in parallel interface. The Epson interfaces below are compatible with your printer. Model number If you are unsure whether you need an optional interface or would like to know more about interfaces, contact your dealer.
  • Page 96 3. Insert the interface card into the slots on both sides of the interface compartment. Slide the card in firmly until the connector at the rear of the interface card fits into the printer’s internal socket. Replace the cover and secure the screws to complete...
  • Page 97 Handshake timing When the vacant 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) indicating that it cannot receive data. Once the vacant area for data in the buffer increases to 528 bytes, the printer outputs an X-ON code or sets the DTR flag to “0”...

  • Page 98: Chapter 5 Maintenance And Transportation

    Chapter 5 Maintenance and Transportation Cleaning the Printer ... Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge..Transporting the Printer ... Maintenance and Transportation...

  • Page 99: Cleaning The Printer

    Cleaning the Printer To keep your printer operating at its best, you should clean it thoroughly several times a year. Make sure the printer is turned off. Then remove the paper guide, printer cover, tractor unit, and any installed options.

  • Page 100: Replacing The Ribbon

    Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge When your printing becomes too faint, you need to replace the ribbon cartridge. The following Epson replacement ribbon cartridges are recommended: Printer Standard fabric LQ-870 LQ-1170 To replace the ribbon cartridge, follow the steps described in Installing the ribbon cartridge in Chapter 1.

  • Page 101: Transporting The Printer

    5. If you have removed the tractor unit, replace it now according to the instructions in Chapter 2. If your printer had a protective screw, replace it now to protect the printer during shipment. See Chapter 7. Repack the printer, ribbon cartridge, paper guide, and power cord in the original packing materials and insert them in the original box.

  • Page 102: Chapter 6 Troubleshooting

    Chapter Troubleshooting Problems and Solutions........6-2 Power Supply ... Printing ...

  • Page 103: Problems And Solutions

    Problems and Solutions This chapter presents solutions to possible printer problems. If you have difficulty achieving the desired printing result, first locate the problem in the list below and then see the appropriate page for the solution. Power supply Power is not being supplied.

  • Page 104: Power Supply

    Power Supply Power is not being supplied. The POWER light does not go on. Check that the power cable is plugged into the electrical outlet properly. If the electrical outlet is controlled by an outside switch or automatic timer, use a different outlet. Plug another electrical device into the outlet to determine whether the outlet is operating properly.

  • Page 105: Printing

    Turn off the printer and check for a paper jam, ribbon jam, or other problems; then try to print again. If the printer still does not print correctly, contact your dealer or a qualified service person.

  • Page 106: Troubleshooting

    PAUSE light is flickering and printer does not print or it stops printing abruptly. The print head is overheated. Wait a few minutes; the printer resumes printing automatically when the print head cools. The print is faint or uneven. Printed characters have parts missing at the bottom.
  • Page 107 The page length does not match the length of your continuous paper. Change the page-length setting with DIP switches See page 2-2. Check the page length set by your application software and adjust it if necessary. Troubleshooting 3-8. on so that the printer automatically 3-8.
  • Page 108 If possible, specify single-sheet paper with your application software. If the printer still does not print correctly, try the self test described in Chapter is all right and the problem probably lies in the computer, the software, or the cable.

  • Page 109: Paper Handling

    Printing starts too low on the page, or the bottom part of one page is printed at the top of the next page. Be sure to choose the correct printer when you choose a printer from your application program’s menu. See Chapter If possible, specify single-sheet paper with your application software.
  • Page 110 The paper feed is crooked or the paper jams. Turn off the printer and put the paper-release lever in the pull-tractor position. Pull out the paper and check the following two items: Make sure the paper size is within the specified range.
  • Page 111 Check that the paper thickness is within the specified range. See page 7-6. The paper does not eject properly. The page is too long. Tear off the paper and remove it from the printer. Only use paper that is within the specified range. 6-10 Troubleshooting...

  • Page 112: Options

    When a print command is sent from the computer, the platen rotates but paper does not feed. The cut-sheet feeder may be incorrectly installed on the printer. See that the paper-release lever is pushed back to the single-sheet position. Paper may be jammed near the print head.
  • Page 113 When you use an optional interface, the printer does not operate properly. The printer does not print or the printout is not what you expected. You may be trying to use an interface or interface cable with the wrong specifications. Check the specifications to make sure you can use the interface with this printer.

  • Page 114: Chapter 7 Technical Specifications

    Chapter 7 Technical Specifications Printer Specifications..Printing..Paper..Mechanical..Electrical..Environmental ... Interface Specifications..Specifications and pin assignments ... Interface timing ... Optional Specifications ... Cut-sheet feeder..Initialization ... Default settings..Technical Specifications...

  • Page 115: Technical Specifications

    P r i n t e r S p e c i f i c a t i o n s Printing Printing method: Printing speed: Quality High-speed draft Draft Letter quality Printing direction: Line spacing: Paper-feed speed: Buffer: Technical Specifications 24-pin impact dot matrix Characters per inch Bidirectional logic-seeking for text.

  • Page 116: Scalable Fonts

    1 OCR-B You can also select other font/pitch combinations using ESC/P 2 commands. See the command summary in chapter Scalable fonts: 1 Font 1 Epson Roman I Epson Sans Serif Character tables: Maximum printed characters LQ-870 15cpi 1Ocpi max pt...

  • Page 117: Paper

    240 X 104 mm (9.5 X 4.125 inch) No. IO Single sheets or morr 10.33’7 more (0.53’7 LQ-1170 148 to 420 mm (5.8 to 16.5 inches) 182 to 364 mm (7.2 to 14.3 inches) 101 to 406 mm (4 to 16 inch) (0.12”7...

  • Page 118: Continuous Paper

    (4 to 14.575 inches) 381 to 406 mm (15 to 16 inches) 254 mm (10 inches) Continuous paper Printable area I ‘I .I See the table below LQ-1170 width Technical Specifications 7-5 Printer Specifications .35’) more I’ I’ I Minimum left and right margin 13 mm (0.51 inch)
  • Page 119 Paper weight: Paper quality: Number of copies: Notes: You can use recycled paper with this printer; however, you may notice an increase in ribbon consumption and paper jamming. If this occurs, use a higher grade of paper. Technical Specifications Single sheets top or front 0.065 to 0.14 mm...

  • Page 120: Mechanical

    0.3 million characters ( # 7770) For all components (excluding print head): 5 million lines LQ-870: 4000 power-on hours (25% duty) LQ-1170: 6000 power-on hours (25% duty) 200 million strokes/wire (for fabric ribbon) 100 million strokes/wire (for film ribbon) LQ-870 171 mm (6.8 in.)

  • Page 121: Electrical

    (during self-test printing in draft mode, at 10 cpi) approx. 58 W LQ-870: approx. 58 W LQ-1170: 50 to 60 Hz 49.5 to 60.5 Hz 10 Mohms minimum (at DC 500 V between AC power line and chassis) AC 1.2 kV (rms), 1 second...

  • Page 122: Environmental

    Environmental Temperature: Humidity: Operation: 5” to 35°C (41” to 95°F) Storage: -30" to 60°C (-22" to 140°F) Operation: 10% to 80% RH without condensation Storage: 5% to 85% RH without condensation Technical Specifications Printer Specifications...

  • Page 123: Interface Specifications

    Interface Specifications Your printer is equipped with a parallel interface Specifications and pin assignments The built-in parallel interface has the following characteristics: Data format: Synchronization: Handshake timing: Signal level: Connector: Connector pin assignments and a description of their respective interface signals are shown in the following table.
  • Page 124 1) During data entry (ea. char. time) 2) During printing 3) When PAUSE botton is pressed 4) During printer-error state. A HIGH signal indicates that the printer is out of paper. Pulled up to 5 volts through 3.3 Kohm resistance.
  • Page 125 Data transfer must be carried out by observing the ACKNLG or BUSY signal. Data transfer to this printer can be carried out only after receipt of the ACKNLG signal or when the level of the BUSY signal is LOW.

  • Page 126: Interface Specifications

    Interface Specifications Interface timing The figure below shows the timing for the parallel interface. B U S Y STROBE Technical Specifications 7-13...

  • Page 127: Option Specifications

    Option Specifications Cut-sheet feeders Dimensions and weight Dimensions include the printer Bin capacity: Single sheets: Envelopes: MCBF: Technical Specifications 7-14 C806371 and C806391 Up to 50 sheets of 22-lb (82-g/m2) paper C806381 and C806401 Up to 150 sheets of 22-lb (82-g/m’)

  • Page 128: Optional Specifications

    Width C806371 C806391 C806381 C806401 Paper length Thickness Weight Paper storage conditions: Environmental Temperature: Humidity (without condensation): Note: 24-lb paper printing is available only at normal operating conditions. Envelope printing is available only with the C806381 or C806401 cut-sheet feeder at normal operating conditions. Single sheets 182 to 216 mm (7.17 to 8.50 in.)

  • Page 129: Initialization

    Optional Specifications Initialization There are three ways that the printer can be initialized (returned to a fixed set of conditions): Hardware initialization Software initialization Panel initialization These three kinds of initialization have slightly different effects. Software and panel initialization do not initialize the printer mechanism or clear the user-defined character set.

  • Page 130: Chapter 8 Command Summary

    Chapter 8 Command Summary Using the Command Summary ......8-2 Commands Arranged by Topic ... General operation ...

  • Page 131: Using The Command Summary

    Using the Command Summary This printer uses the Epson ESC/P 2 printer control language. You can use these commands to produce high quality laser-like printouts. ESC/P 2 commands provide scalable fonts (Epson Roman and Epson Sans Serif) and enhanced graphics.

  • Page 132: Commands Arranged By Topic

    Paper feeding ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC 0 ESC 2 ESC 3 n Initialize Printer Turn Unidirectional Mode On/Off Control Paper Loading/Ejecting = “1” Select bin1 of CSF = “2” Select bin2 of CSF = “R” Eject a sheet Carriage Return...

  • Page 133: Page Format

    Commands Arranged by Topic Page format Dec. Hex. Description ASCII ESC ( c nn 40 99 ESC ( C nn 40 67 ESC C ESC C ESC N n ESC 0 ESC 1 n ESC Q Command Summary Set Page Format 28 63 ESC(c 4 Oml m2nln2 m = m l + m2 X 2 5 6...

  • Page 134: Print Position Motion

    Print position motion ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC $ nl n2 3 6 * Before you define unit, default is l/60-inch for this command ESC \ nl n2 92 + Before you define unit, default is l/120-inch in draft and l/180-inch in LQ for this command ESC ( V 40 86 28 56 Set Absolute Vertical Print Position...

  • Page 135: Font Selection

    Commands Arranged by Topic Font selection ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC k n ESC X nn * Cancel ESC X with ESC I’, M, g, p, !, or @ ESC I’ ESC M ESC g ESC p l/o ESC x n Command Summary Select Typeface r-l=...

  • Page 136: Font Enhancement

    ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC 5 ESC E ESC F ESC ! n Font enhancement ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESCW Commands Arranged by Topic Select Italic Font Cancel Italic Font Select Bold Font Cancel Bold Font Master Select To find the value of n add together the numbers of the typestyles you want to combine from the list below: 10 cpi...
  • Page 137 Commands Arranged by Topic Hex. Dec. ASCII ESC w l/O ESC G ESC S 0 ESC S ESC T 40 45 28 2D Select Line/Score ESC ( - ESC - 1/0 ESC q n Command Summary Description Turn Double-Height Printing On/Off Select Double-Strike Printing Cancel Double-Strike Printing Select Superscript Printing...

  • Page 138: Spacing

    Spacing Dec. ASCII Sl’n ESC ( U 40 85 28 55 Define Unit ESC c nl n2 9 9 Character handling ASCII D e c . H e x . 40 116 28 74 Assign Character Table ESC ( t nn Commands Arranged by Topic Hex.
  • Page 139 Commands Arranged by Topic Dec. Hex. Description ASCII ESC t ESC & ESC: 0 n 0 ESC 6 Command Summary 8-10 Select Character Table Select character table n assigned by ESC ( t n = 0, 1, 2, 3, "0", "I", "2", or "3" n = 2: Remaps download characters from O-127 to 128-255 Select an International Character Set...

  • Page 140: Bit Image

    ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC 7 ESC ( n 4094 28 5E Bit image ASCII D e c . H e x . Commands Arranged by Topic Enable Upper Control Codes Cancels ESC 6 Print Data as Characters ESC ( a nl n2 n = nl •k n2 x 256 n: amount of data...

  • Page 141: Graphics

    Commands Arranged by Topic Graphics Dec. Hex. Description ESC ( G 40 71 28 47 Select Graphics Mode * Cancel Graphics mode with ESC @ ESC. * The following combination is not allowed: v= 10 and Command Summary 8-12 ESC ( G 1 0 n 1, or 49 Print Raster Graphics ESC .

  • Page 142: Appendix

    Appendix Character Tables ..........A-2 Italic character table..

  • Page 143: Character Tables

    Character Tables These character tables are selected by setting DIP switches or using the ESC t software command. For the 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, graphics character tables, the ESC let you select whether hex codes control codes (ESC 7). Italic character table CDDE0123456769ABCDEF !IAQaq DC2 ”...

  • Page 144: Graphics Character Tables

    Graphics character tables PC 437 (United States) CDDE0123456789ABCDEF !lAQaqfiaiglfp+ #3CScsd6ti DC4$4DTdtgid §%SEUeu&bfi PC 850 (Multilingual) 0123456789ABCDEF ! 1 A Q a q ii & i iii $glDg+ DC2 ” #3CScs$86 DC4$4DTdt&id §%SEUeuh&fiA+lo§ &6FVfvbQaffgfpt '7GWgwqtiQAxfp, p(-gQ$LlL.~ " 2BRbr&!16 pCfi&$LB(j- 2BRbre16 =MJm)i0iQ=iP2 .>N n-Ax(Yj\i-m AfB,n=*...
  • Page 145 Character Tables PC 860 (Portugal) CODE0123456789ABCDEF !lAQaqfiAi$$lypf #3CScsb6ti DC4$4DTdt&e,A PC 863 (Canada-French) CODE0123456789ABCDEF SPO @ !lAQaq(i&*sl~pf DC2 " #3CScs~~ii DC4$4DTdtAli:"+-Lc §%SEUeuhf &6FVfvab'ilk '7GWgwqti--,,[I (BHXhx&nfTk VlESC+ /?O-0 Appendix " 2BRbr&&6 2BRbr6*6# K[kfx@:qT :L\l; zf&d; =M]m}-03U= .>N^n-AoaA# §f,,’ ::: ..i_. a"...
  • Page 146 Characters available with ESC ( * 1 7 1 pCEd% To print the characters in the table on ;he left you must first send the ESC ( a cdmmand. This command is valid only on printers featuring Epson ESC/P2. Character Tables Appendix A-5...

  • Page 147: International Character Sets

    Character Tables International Character Sets Country 23 24 40 0 USA France 2 Germany 3 U.K. 4 Denmark 5 Sweden 6 Italy 7 Spain * DIP switch must be off for you to select the above international character sets by DIP switch. The following eight additional sets are available only when you use ESC R software command.

  • Page 148: Glossary

    This increases the speed of printing because the head prints in both directions. A binary digit or 1), which is the smallest unit of information used by a printer or computer. byte A unit of information consisting of eight bits. character set A collection of letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Page 149 A portion of the printer’s standard ASCII character set that you use for graphic symbols or italic characters. characters per inch (cpi) A measure of the size of text characters. Ten cpi is the printer’s default setting. condensed printing Printing in which each character is approximately width of standard characters.
  • Page 150 ESC/P Abbreviation for Epson Standard Code for Printers. This system of commands gives you software control of your printer from your computer. It is standard for all Epson printers and supported by most application software for personal computers. Letter Quality.
  • Page 151 High-speed draft uses a minimum number of dots per character to produce extremely high-speed printing. See also Quality. initialize To establish the initial default status of the printer by turning on the printer or sending an INIT signal. interface The connection between the computer and the printer. A parallel interface transmits data one character or code at a time, and a serial interface transmits data one bit at a time.
  • Page 152 All data stored in RAM is lost when the printer is turned off. reset To return a printer to its defaults by sending a command or an INIT signal or by turning the printer off and then back on. self test A method for checking the operation of the printer.

  • Page 153: Unidirectional Printing

    The position the printer feeds the paper to when you press the TEAR OFF button or when the auto tear-off mode is on. This position can be adjusted using micro-feed so that the paper’s...
  • Page 154 Cleaning the printer, 5-2 Commands, see Printer commands Configuring software, 1-15 Connecting, printer to computer, 1-14 parallel interface, 1-14 power cord to printer, 1-10 serial interface, 4-16--17 optional interface card, 4-16--17 Continuous paper loading, 2-8--24 top-of-form, 2-21, 3-13--15 Control panel, 3-2--5...
  • Page 155 Edge guides, 2-5 EJECT button, control panel, 3-3 Envelopes, cut-sheet feeder, 4-6--8 loading, 2-28, 4-6--8 specifications, 7-4--6 Epson Consumer Information Center, iv Error handling, 4-18 ESC/P 2, Intro 1, 8-1--12 commands, 8-1--12 FF button, control panel, 3-3 FONT button, control panel,...
  • Page 156 2-3, 2-8 choosing, 2-2--3, 2-8 PAPER OUT light, 3-2 Paper-release lever, 2-2--3, 4-13 Paper-thickness lever, 2-24--26 Parallel interface, 1-14 Parts, printer, Intro 4 PAUSE button, control panel, Power cord, connecting, 1-10 POWER light, 3-2 Power supply, 6-3 Printable area, 7-4--5...
  • Page 157 3-2 Tear-off, 3-16--18 adjusting position, 3-18 using, 3-16--18 Technical specifications, 7-1--16 Telephone number, toll-free, iv Testing, computer to printer, 3-23 creating a test file, iii data dump, 3-23 printer, 1-11--13 Top of form position, 3-13--15 Tractor unit, loading, paper, 2-12--24...
  • Page 158 Unidirectional printing, 3-7, 3-10, 7-2 Unpacking the printer, 1-2 Voltage, 1-2, 7-8 Warnings, cautions, and notes, Intro 3 Weight, 7-7 Where to get help, iv IN-5 Index...
  • Page 159 Epson America, Inc. 20770 Madrona Avenue Torrance, CA 90503 Printed in Japan 92.01-50...

This manual is also suitable for:

Lq lq-870Lq-1170Lq 870 - b/w dot-matrix printerLq-870

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