Epson Apex 80 User Manual
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Epson Apex 80 User Manual

Epson Apex 80 User Manual

Epson apex 80: user manual
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  • Page 2: Fcc Compliance Statement

    While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, Seiko Epson Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Plugging in the Printer ........
  • Page 4 Printer Operation ........
  • Page 5 Solutions for Specific Systems ......C-7 Maintaining Your Printer ........

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Introduction The Epson Apex80 printer combines low price with high quality printing and advanced features. Apex80 Features In addition to the high performance and reliability you’ve come to expect from Epson printers, the Apex80 offers the following: Draft mode for quick printing. The speed of draft printing is 150 characters per second in pica and 180 in elite.

  • Page 7: About This Manual

    Chapters 2 through 6 cover the basic and advanced functions. The appendixes contain reference information, including all the details you need to use any of the printer’s commands, and some advice on solving problems. Inside the back of the manual is a pull-out Quick Reference card containing the information you need most.

  • Page 8: Setting Up

    Chapter 1 Setting Up To set up your Apex80 printer, simply follow the steps in this chapter. Identifying Printer Parts First, see that you have all the parts you need. In addition to this manual, the printer box should contain the items shown in Figure 1-1.* The paper feed knob is packed into an indentation in the white foam material.

  • Page 9: Selecting A Place For The Printer

    Using a printer stand with the paper stacked behind it. (Because of the cable, it is usually best for the paper that feeds into the printer to be stacked somewhat behind the printer instead of directly beneath it.)

  • Page 10: Installing The Paper Feed Knob

    1. Locate the paper feed knob, which is packed into an indentation in the white foam material. 2. Insert the knob into the hole on the right side of the printer, as shown in Figure 1-2. Gently rotate the knob until it fits over the shaft.
  • Page 11 Let it cool for a few minutes. 2. Move the print head by hand to the center of the printer so that the other parts of the printer will not get in your way.
  • Page 12 4. Insert the cartridge by placing the black hooks on each side of the cartridge into the slots located inside the printer in the right and left front corners. Push down until the cartridge snaps into place. (See Figure 1-4.) Figure 1-4.

  • Page 13: Replacing The Ribbon

    Directing the 6. Replace the front lid by inserting its legs into the slots near the front corners of the printer. Lay the lid down and press to snap it into place. Replacing the Ribbon When your printing becomes light and you need to replace the ribbon, follow these steps: 1.

  • Page 14: Using Continuous-Feed Paper

    If you have received your printer with the tractor unit installed, simply install the paper rest by fitting it into the slots along the top edge of the back of the printer and snapping it into place. (See Figure 1-7.) Then see the instructions later in this chapter for loading continuous-feed paper.
  • Page 15 Figure 1-6. Removing the tractor unit slot cover 3 Fit the paper rest into the slots along the top edge of the back of the printer and snap it into place. See Figure 1-7. Setting UP...
  • Page 16 Pull the paper release lever forward. (See Figure 1-8.) The double- arrow icon in front of the lever marks the position the lever should be in for using continuous-feed paper (or for releasing paper). Now install the tractor unit. First, hold the unit so that its black legs are facing downward, as shown in Figure 1-8.
  • Page 17 3. Move the print head to the center of the printer. Remember, the printer must be turned off whenever you move the print head. Also, if you’ve been using the printer, the print head may be hot. Be careful not to touch it unless you let it cool for a few minutes.
  • Page 18 4. Using Figure 1-10 as a guide, pull the locking levers on each side of the pin feed holders forward so you can move the pin feed holders. Figure 1-10. Locking lever fur pin feed holder adjustment 5. Place the left holder approximately 3/4 of an inch from the far left position and then push the locking lever back to fasten that holder into place.

  • Page 19: Installing The Paper Guide

    7. Feed the paper into the paper slot. Push and maneuver the paper through the slot until it comes up between the ribbon guide and the platen. 8. Pull the paper up until the top is above the pin feed holders. Fit the holes along the left edge of the paper over the pins in the left holder, as shown in Figure 1-12, and close the pin feed cover.
  • Page 20 For continuous-feed paper, move the edge guides to the far right and left positions on the paper guide. You won’t be inserting paper through the edge guides unless you use single-sheet paper. 2. Insert the legs of the paper guide into the slots behind the tractor unit, keeping the guide tilted backward as you do so.

  • Page 21: Setting Top Of Form

    1. Turn the paper feed knob to advance the paper until a perforation between pages is just below the top of the ribbon, 2. Now replace the front lid. Your printer should now be set up as shown in Figure 1-15. Figure 1-15. printer with...

  • Page 22: Using Single-Sheet Paper

    1. Remove the front lid. 2. Open the pin feed covers and pull the paper off the pins. Then lay the paper over the front of the printer so you can reach the tractor feed unit. 3. Grasp both sides of the tractor unit and gently lift up the front end.
  • Page 23 2. Hold the paper guide so that it is in an upright position. Then insert the legs of the guide into the slots on either side of the printer behind the paper slot, as shown in Figure 1-16.

  • Page 24: Automatic Paper Loading

    1. Push back the paper release lever. (See Figure 1-16.) The single-arrow icon behind the lever marks the position the lever should be in for loading single-sheet paper. 2. Turn on the printer. 3. Make sure that the touch-sensitive panel labeled 4.
  • Page 25 8. If the paper is crooked and needs to be reloaded, pull the paper release lever forward, pull out the paper, push the lever back, turn the printer off, and reload by beginning again at step 1 in the Automatic paper loading section above. If the paper just requires minor adjustment, then pull the paper release lever forward, open the front lid, adjust the paper, and push the lever back.

  • Page 26: Operating The Control Panel

    Now that your paper is loaded, it is time to see what the indicators and buttons on the control panel do. First, see that the power switch on the left side of the printer is on. Then take a look at the control panel. (See Figure 1-19.) Setting Up light goes off automatically.

  • Page 27: Indicator Lights

    The PAPER OUT paper or the paper is loaded incorrectly. If you try to print and the printer does not respond, check to see if this light is on. The ON LINE light glows green when the printer can receive data.

  • Page 28: Performing Self Test

    ON/OFF LINE. off line status. NLQ/FORM FEED. advances continuous-feed paper to the top of the next form or ejects a single sheet. When the printer is on line, pressing this button selects NLQ (Near Letter Quality) printing. FORM FEED Pressing the alternates the NLQ font between Roman and Sans Serif.
  • Page 29 4 below.) 3. When printing starts, you can release the printing continues until you turn the printer off or until the printer runs out of paper. 4. To perform the same test in the NLQ mode, load another sheet of paper.

  • Page 30: Connecting The Apex80 To Your Computer

    1. Make sure that both your printer and computer are turned off. 2. Plug the appropriate end of your printer cable into the cable connector of your Apex80 printer. The plug is shaped so it fits the connector only one way.
  • Page 31 3. Secure the plug to the printer with the wire clips on each side of the connector. Press the clips into the metal clasps at each side of the plug. These clips ensure that your cable will not be loosened or unplugged accidentally.

  • Page 32: Using The Apex80 With Application Programs

    Menu If your software has a printer selection menu, simply choose Apex80. If the menu does not list this printer, choose one of the following. They are listed in order of preference. LX-800 FX-86e...

  • Page 33: Computer-Printer Communication

    Because the 33 control codes are not enough to control all possible printer functions, most printer commands are actually a sequence of two or more codes. One of the 33 control codes, the escape code, signals the beginning of a sequence of codes.

  • Page 34: Word Processors

    Once you have installed your word processor by using the lists on page 2-1, you can ordinarily use a fixed set of printer features by using a word processor command to place markers around the text to be altered. When the document is printed, the markers are recognized and translated into suitable commands for your printer.

  • Page 35: Spreadsheets

    Check the manual for your word processor to see if you can place printer commands in your text. If this is possible, use the Command Summary (Appendix A) in this manual to find the command, and use the manual for your word processor to find how to assign the command.

  • Page 36: Printer Commands

    First, almost all spreadsheets have the capability of sending commands to a printer. Look in the manual for your spreadsheet to find out how to send printer commands. Then look in the Command Summary (Appendix A) in this manual to find the proper codes to send.

  • Page 37: Graphics Programs

    When buying graphics software, always make sure it has a suitable option to allow printouts on an Apex, LX, EX, or FX printer. Any program with an option for one of these printers should give excellent results, using different dot densities to produce a realistic scale of grays.
  • Page 38 Individual printer control codes can be sent by using the CHR$ function with the LPRINT statement: 110 LPRINT CHR$ (27); CHR$ (69); This line sends ASCII codes 27 and 69 to the printer, selecting emphasized printing. Most versions of BASIC permit the ASCII codes in the CHR$ function to be given in either decimal (as above) or hexadecimal.

  • Page 39: Selectype

    Using SelecType is easy. You turn on SelecType and select a typestyle, then turn off SelecType and print. Turning SelecType on 1. Make sure that the printer is on line. ON/OFF LINE 2. Hold down the button. (See Figure 3-1.) When you turn on SelecType, a short beep...

  • Page 40: Selecting Typestyles

    If you are in NLQ mode, only emphasized and elite are available. Table 3-1. SelecType modes ON/OFF LINE 2. Press the mode column. Be sure that the printer beeps each time you press ON/OFFLINE FORM FEED Press the LINE FEED Press the returns to its normal functions, but the printer is off line.

  • Page 41: Selectype Tips

    Some application programs are designed to control all typestyle functions. These programs cancel previous typestyle settings by sending certain printer codes before printing. Because these codes cancel SelecType settings, you will have to use the program’s print options function instead of SelecType to select your typestyles. Therefore, if SelecType does not work with a particular application program, consult its manual on how to select typestyles.
  • Page 42 SelecType modes. After you turn on a mode with SelecType, it stays in effect until the printer is turned off or until you send a software command that overrides it. (In general, software commands override SelecType settings.) If, for example, you use SelecType to print a document in emphasized type, anything you print after that will be emphasized unless you first turn the printer off and back on.

  • Page 43: Apex80 Printer Features

    Apex80 Printer Features You can obtain many different printing effects with the Apex80 printer, from arranging the printout on the paper to giving extra emphasis to particular words and phrases. This chapter shows you the features you may want to select with your software. Once you have read about the features, you can find their commands in the Command Summary.

  • Page 44: Print Size And Character Width

    (see Appendix D), or with a software command. Even if you turn condensed on with the DIP switch, you can still turn it off with SelecType or the software command. Condensed pica gives more characters on a line. condensed elite gives you even more. Apex80 Printer Features...

  • Page 45: Special Effects And Emphasis

    Emphasized and double-strike modes, both of which can be chosen with SelecType, slow the printer down slightly to produce bolder text. In emphasized mode, the Apex80 prints each character twice as the print head moves across the paper, with the second slightly to the right of the first.

  • Page 46: International Character Sets

    The Apex80 incorporates a new character set: Epson Character Graphics. This set allows you to take advantage of the power of the Epson mode commands and still print out the character graphics used by IBM and compatible computers and by much commercial software.

  • Page 47: Page Layout And Other Commands

    The remaining commands in the Command Summary are not normally needed when using commercial software. You may need some of them if you are using a printer installation program provided with an application package, but most deal with features (such as tabs,...

  • Page 48: User-Defined Characters

    Run one program to test your work and calculate the required DATA numbers Run another program to put the character in your printer’s RAM (Random Access Memory) for use whenever you need it. Because the high-resolution NLQ mode uses many more dots per character than the draft mode, defining NLQ characters is somewhat more complex than defining draft characters.

  • Page 49: Designing Process

    You can create any type of character. The only restriction is that the characters you define must follow the same rules that govern the rest of the characters printed by the Apex80. They must fit into an 11 x 9 matrix, no dot can overlap another, and either the top or the bottom row must be empty.

  • Page 50: First Definition Program

    the dots as large as you see them in the example on the left in Figure 5-2. If you draw them smaller, you may have overlapping dots without realizing it. Figure 5-2. incorrect designs Correct and If you do accidentally overlap dots, don’t worry. The program will still work, but only one of the dots will be printed.

  • Page 51: Running The Program

    FOR X=1 TO 9 210 LPRINT CHR$(F(X));:NEXT X 220 LPRINT CHR$(0)CHR$(0); LPRINT "YOUR CHARACTER IN PICA: < < <" 240 LPRINT "IN DOUBLE-WIDE EMPHASIZED PICA: "; 250 LPRINT CHR$(27)"!*< < <(" 260 LPRINT CHR$(27)"!"CHR$(0) "YOUR DATA NUMBERS:" 270 FOR K=1 TO 300 LPRINT: END The next few sections explain the steps used to create the symbol for Mercury.
  • Page 52 program and follow these instructions: 1. When the screen message asks what rows have dots in column 1, press to indicate that no dots go in that column. Enter 2. For column 2 (the vertical line) press 7, to indicate that you want dots in rows 7 and 5. Then press alone to indicate that no more dots go in column 2.

  • Page 53: Second Definition Program

    Figure 5-4. bottom eight rows Using the Second definition program Once the character looks the way you want it to, you can enter, modify, and run the next program. The program as listed creates the Mercury character, but you can use it for any characters you create if you make one or two changes, as explained after the program listing.

  • Page 54: Defining Nlq Characters

    When printed by your own program, these two lines provide you with a key to the characters your Apex80 can now print. When you press the key for one of the characters in the top row, the printer prints the corresponding character in the bottom row. In the example above, if you type <...

  • Page 55: Nlq Grid

    you use the grid and the programs in this section, however, you can design your own NLQ characters. NLQ grid Because the NLQ characters can use as many as 18 dots vertically and 12 dots horizontally, you plan your designs on a different grid than the one you used for draft characters.
  • Page 56 Each NLQ character definition requires 36 data numbers. Therefore, each vertical column must be divided into three sections for the calculation of data numbers. The process is not difficult once you get some practice using it. Figure 5-6 shows a single column to make clear how the data numbers are calculated.
  • Page 57 positions) and add the values of any dots that are used there. Finally, you look at the bottom group (two dot positions) and add together the values used there. If no dots are used in a group, the data number for that group is zero.

  • Page 58: First Nlq Definition Program

    If you look at each column individually, you can see how the data numbers were calculated. First NLQ definition program Now type in and run the following program. It has the data numbers for the arrow design. For a character of your own, change the data numbers in lines 130-150.
  • Page 59 10 J=l: IF J>3 THEN A=58 ELSE A=60 20 LPRINT CHR$(27)"x"CHR$(1) 30 FOR X=58 TO 63: LPRINT CHR$(X)" ";: NEXT X 40 LPRINT 50 LPRINT CHR$(27) :""CHR$(0)CHR$(0)CHR$(0) 60 LPRINT CHR$(27)"%"CHR$(1)CHR$(0); 70 LPRINT CHR$(27)"&"CHR$(0)CHR$(A)CHR$(A-1+J); 80 FOR Y=1 TO J 90 LPRINT CHR$(0)CHR$(12)CHR$(0); 100 FOR X=1 TO 36 110 READ C: LPRINT CHR$(C);...

  • Page 60: Introduction To Dot Graphics

    The quickest and easiest way to print graphics on your Apex80 is to use a commercial graphics program. With such programs you usually create an image on your monitor and then give a command to send the image to the printer. Introduction to Dot Graphics...

  • Page 61: The Print Head

    If you use commercial software that produces graphics, all you need to know about dot graphics is how to use the software. If, on the other hand, you wish to do your own programming or merely wish to understand how the Apex80 prints graphics, read on. The Print Head To understand dot graphics you need to know a little about how the Apex80’s print head works.

  • Page 62: Pin Labels

    To print figures taller than eight dots, the print head makes more than one pass. The printer prints one line, then advances the paper and prints another, just as it does with text.

  • Page 63: Graphics Commands

    Therefore, with these labels for the pins, you fire the top pin by sending 128. To fire the bottom pin, you send 1. If you want to fire only the top and bottom pins, you simply add 128 and 1, then send 129.

  • Page 64: Column Reservation Numbers

    Even in single-density graphics mode, one 8-inch line can accommodate 480 columns of graphics; in quadrupledensity, almost 2000 columns can fit on the same 8-inch line. Since the printer does not use decimal numbers larger than 255, the graphics commands use two numbers for reserving columns.

  • Page 65: Simple Graphics Programming

    If you supply too little, the printer will stop and wait for more data and will seem to be locked. The next data sent will then be printed as graphics, even if it is really text.

  • Page 66: Width Statements

    WIDTH statements Some software (including most versions of BASIC) automatically inserts carriage return and line feed codes after every 80 or 130 characters. This is usually no problem with text, but it can spoil your graphics. Two extra columns of graphics are printed in the middle of the ones you send, and are left over and printed as text.

  • Page 67: Density Varieties

    100. 5. The last important thing to do is to reset the printer to its default settings, including the normal line spacing (line 180). Notice that the graphics command (ESC K) can be in effect for only one print line.
  • Page 68 Table 6-1. Graphics modes Modes 4-6 in the table are special modes that alter the horizontal density to give proportions of a computer monitor (the CRT modes), or to match the vertical density so as to give round circles (the plotter mode).

  • Page 69: Designing Your Own Graphics

    A little experimentation should tell you whether the reassigning code can improve your graphics printouts. Designing Your Own Graphics This section takes you through the development of a graphics program. The example is not especially complicated, but it does include the same steps you would use for a more complex figure.
  • Page 70 Now look at the high-speed doubledensity design in Figure 6-3. It should point you in the right direction for your own work. Figure 6-3. design Arrow After plotting the dots on a grid, you calculate the numbers for each pin pattern by dividing the design grid into separate print lines. For the arrow design, the grid was divided into two lines, each seven dots high.
  • Page 71 7/72-inch line spacing because only seven pins are used. Because the data is not repetitive, each column of graphics data is read from the DATA statements and sent to the printer. The design is 41 dot positions wide. Therefore both lines 130 and 140 use the number 41.

  • Page 72: Appendix A Command Summary

    The second part of this appendix lists and describes the commands. They are divided into the following subjects: Printer Operation Data Control Vertical/Horizontal Motion Overall Printing Style...
  • Page 73 For example, in BASIC you can turn on double-wide with either of these statements: LPRINT CHR$(27);"W";CHR$(1) LPRINT CHR$(27);"W";"1" The simplest type of command consists of a single character to be sent to the printer. For instance, to print in condensed mode the code format is: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: OF More complex commands consist of two or more character codes.
  • Page 74 Control key chart Some application programs can use control key codes for decimal values O-27. The table below gives you the proper values. The Control Key column indicates that you press the control key at the same time you press the key for the letter or symbol in that column, For example, you press the control key and A at the same time to send the value 1.

  • Page 75: Commands In Numerical Order

    Backspace Tab horizontally Line feed Tab vertically Form feed Carriage return Select double-wide (1 line) Select condensed mode Select printer Cancel condensed mode Deselect printer Cancel double-wide (1 line) Cancel line Delete character Select double-wide (1 line) Select condensed mode...
  • Page 76 Cancel ESC 6 Disable paper-out sensor Enable paper-out sensor Copy ROM into RAM Select unidirectional mode (1-line) Reassign graphics mode Initialize printer Select n/72-inch line spacing Set vertical tabs Set page length in lines Set page length in inches Set horizontal tabs...
  • Page 77 ASCII Dec Hex Description ESC 1 108 6C Set left margin ESC s 115 73 Turn half-speed mode on/off ESC t 116 74 Select character table ESC x A - 6 Select NLQ or draft Page A-16 A-26 A-19 Command Summary...

  • Page 78: Printer Operation

    Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Returns the printer to the selected state if it has been deselected by the printer deselect code (DC3). D oes not select the printer if it has been switched off line by pressing the Format: ASCII code:...

  • Page 79: Printing Direction

    Speed ESCs Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: The following values can be used for n: 1: Mode is turned ON. 0: Mode is turned OFF. Printing direction ESC< Format: ASCII code: E S C < Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Printing is normally bidirectional. This command selects unidirectional printing for one line only.
  • Page 80 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Cancels ESC 8. Therefore, the printer beeper sounds and printing stops when the printer reaches a point approximately 3/4 of an inch from the end of the paper. ESC EM Format: ASCII code: Decimal:...

  • Page 81: Data Control

    Beeper Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Sounds the printer’s beeper. Data Control Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 0D Comments: Prints the data in the buffer and returns the print position to the left margin. A line feed may be added if DIP switch 2-4 is ON or the AUTO PEED XT line on the parallel interface is held LOW.

  • Page 82: Vertical/Horizontal Motion

    Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Removes the last text character on the print line but does not affect control codes. Vertical/Horizontal Motion Form feeding Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Prints the data in the print buffer and advances the paper to the top of the next form according to the current page length.

  • Page 83: Set Skip-Over-Perforation

    ESC C 0 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Sets the page length to n inches. The value of The top of form position is set to the current line. ESC N Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: The variable n is the number of lines skipped between the last line printed on one page and the first line on the next page.

  • Page 84: Line Feeding

    Line feeding Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: ‘When this command is received, the data in the print buffer is printed and the paper advances one line in the current line spacing. ESC 0 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Sets the line spacing to l/8 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands.
  • Page 85 ESC 2 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Sets the line spacing to l/6 of an inch for subsequent line feed commands. The “2” is the character two and not ASCII code 2. This is the default at power on. ESC 3 Format: ASCII code:...

  • Page 86: Tab Vertically

    ESC J Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Advances the paper n/216 of an inch. The value of n must be from O-255. This command produces an immediate line feed but does not affect subsequent line spacing and does not produce a carriage return.
  • Page 87 ESC b Format: ASCII code: E S C Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Functions the same as ESC B, except that the variable c selects a channel for the vertical tabs, which must be between O-7. Therefore, up to eight sets of vertical tabs can be set. The channels are selected by ESC /.
  • Page 88 ESC Q Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Sets the right margin to n columns in the current pitch. This command clears previous tab settings and all previous characters in the print line. The minimum space between the margins is the width of one double-wide pica character.

  • Page 89: Tab Horizontally

    ESC f Format: ASCII code: E S C Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Prints spaces or line feeds without carriage returns. When n is 0, s spaces will be inserted up to a maximum of 127. If n is set to 1, s line feeds will be performed.

  • Page 90: Overall Printing Style

    Overall Printing Style ESC x Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: The following values can be used for n: 0: Selects the draft mode. 1: Selects the Near Letter Quality (NLQ) mode. ESC k Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: This command affects only the Near Letter Quality (NLQ) mode, not draft.

  • Page 91: Print Size And Character Width

    ESC! Format: ASCII code: Decimal: H e x a d e c i m a l : 1 B Comments: Selects any valid combination of the modes in the table below. The variable n is determined by adding together the values of the desired modes from the table.

  • Page 92: Select Elite Pitch

    ESC M Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Selects elite pitch (12 characters per inch). Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Prints characters at about 60 percent of their normal width. For example, the condensed pica mode has 17 characters per inch. ESC SI Format: ASCII code:...

  • Page 93: Esc So

    Format: A S C I I c o d e : Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Double-wide mode doubles the width of all characters. This mode is cancelled by a carriage return or DC4. Esc so Format: ASCII code: E S C S O Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments:...

  • Page 94: Print Enhancement

    ESC W Format: ASCII code: Decimal: H e x a d e c i m a l : 1 B Comments: The following values can be used for n: 1: The mode is turned ON. 0: The mode is turned OFF. Double-wide mode doubles the width of all characters.
  • Page 95 ESC G Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Makes text bolder by printing each line twice, with the second printing slightly below the first. In NLQ the mode is not available but is not cancelled. ESC H Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments:...

  • Page 96: Cancel Superscript/Subscript

    ESC S l Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Prints characters about two-thirds of the normal height in the lower part of the character space. The ASCII code 1 or the character “1” can be used in this command. It is cancelled with ESC T. ESC T Format: ASCII code:...

  • Page 97: Word Processing

    1: Selects Epson Character Graphics. Selects which character table is to be used by codes 128-255. Selecting Epson Character Graphics does not disable italic printing. Italic printing can still be selected by ESC 4. Duplicates the function of DIP switch 1-3. Note that the value of hex;...

  • Page 98: Select Italic Mode

    H e x a d e c i m a l : 1 B Comments: Causes characters from the italic character set to be printed. This command is valid even if the Epson Character Graphics set has been selected by ESC t or DIP switch 1-3, but character graphics cannot be italicized.
  • Page 99 ESC R Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: See Appendix B for more information on international character sets. The following values can be used for n: 0 = U S A 1 = France 2 = Germany 3 = U K 4 = Denmark I ESC 6 Format:...

  • Page 100: Userdefined Characters

    User-defined Characters Note: See Chapter 5 for sample programs and full information on this topic. ESC & Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: This command allows characters to be redefined in the currently selected mode. The variables dl and d2 must be between 58 and 63 (3A through 3F hex).

  • Page 101: Graphics

    Graphics Note: See Chapter 6 for sample graphics programs. ESC K Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Turns on eight-pin single-density graphics mode (60 dots per inch). The total number of columns = nl + (n2 ESC L Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments:...
  • Page 102 ESC Z Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Turns on eight-pin quadruple-density graphics mode (240 dots per inch). The total number of columns = nl + (n2 ESC * Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Turns on graphics mode m. See Chapter 6 for details on the available modes.
  • Page 103 ESC” Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Turns on 9-pin Graphics Mode. For this command the variable m defines density of print (0 for single and 1 for double). The total number of columns = nl + (n2 data items for each column of print. A-32 Select 9-Pin Graphics Mode ˆ...

  • Page 104: Appendix B Character Tables

    Appendix B Character Tables This appendix contains tables of the complete Apex80 character set, including the extra characters for the 13 Epson international character sets. The tables give a printout of each character and the codes in decimal and hexadecimal.
  • Page 105 Table B-1. Apex80 characters Hex Character ASCII name Decimal C A N null bell backspace tab horizontally line feed tab vertically form feed carriage return shift out shift in device control 1 device control 2 device control 3 device control 4 cancel line end of medium escape...
  • Page 106 Table B-1, continued Char " & — < > Character Tables Char ˆ — Dec Hex Char ˜...
  • Page 107 continued Table B-1, Italic Italic w/ESC 6 à N U L è ù ò ì ° £ ¿ Ñ ñ ¤ Å å ç § ß Æ æ Ø ø ¨ Ä Ö C A N Ü ä ö ü É...
  • Page 108 Table B-1, continued Character Tables Italic Italic w/ESC 6 " " & & – – < < > > Graphic Graphic w/E C 7 á á í í ó ó ú ú ñ ñ Ñ Ñ ¿ ¿ ¬ ¬ ½...
  • Page 109 Table B-1, continued Italic Italic w/ESC 6 ˆ ˆ — — Graphic Graphic w/ESC 7 Character Tables...
  • Page 110 Table B-1, continued Character Tables Italic ltalic w/ESC 6 ˜ ˜ D E L Ø G r a p h i c Graphic w/ESC 7...

  • Page 111: International Character Sets

    International Character Sets Twelve character codes between 35 and 126 can represent more than one character each, depending upon the international character set you select. You can make the choice either by setting DIP switches 1-6 through 1-8 or by using the ESC R command. The table below shows all 13 character sets, together with the number to use with ESC R to select each one.

  • Page 112: Problem Solving And Maintenance

    Make sure that the printer and computer are connected. Be certain you are using the correct cable. If the printer still does not print, try the self test procedure (see Chapter 1). If the self test works correctly, the printer is all right and the problem lies elsewhere.
  • Page 113 It is also possible for the print head to wear out if the printer is used frequently and for long periods at a time. See the instructions on replacing the print head at the end of this appendix.
  • Page 114 Be sure that no other commands or carriage returns come between the graphics command and its data. The printer expects a certain number of pin patterns, determined by n1 and n2. It does not print until the quota is full. Note that 9-pin graphics mode requires two bytes for each column of graphics.

  • Page 115: Beeper Error Warnings

    If the paper is loaded correctly, turn the printer back on and try to print again. If the printer beeps and does not print again, take it to a qualified service person.
  • Page 116 Therefore, if you run the following BASIC program while your Apex80 is in the data dump mode, you get the printout below it. The printer prints all but this last line and then stops. Press the LINE button to make the printer print the last line.

  • Page 117: Coding Solutions

    Some computer systems change one or more codes when sending them from BASIC to the printer. The ability of the Apex80 to dump in hexadecimal lets you determine which codes are creating problems for your system. A hex printout of a program shows you exactly what the printer is receiving, regardless of what the computer is sending.

  • Page 118: Solutions For Specific Systems

    There are four common approaches. First, you may be able to buy an alternative interface board for your system. This is the best solution for 7-bit system problems. Check with your dealer or call the Epson 800 number. The second approach is to use commercially available software that is specifically designed to overcome these coding problems.

  • Page 119: Apple Ii Solutions

    The Apple II uses CHR$(9) to initialize the printer. This code and the following character or characters are intercepted by the printer interface card and used to change modes. You can divert all output to the printer instead of to the screen by sending the following line to the printer. PR#l PRINT CHR$(9)"80N"...

  • Page 120: Maintaining Your Printer

    First you open the printer as a random file: OPEN "LPTl:" AS #l Although this allows you to send any code to the printer, you can no longer use the LPRINT command. Instead, you must use a PRINT #1 command: PRINT #l, "Now I...

  • Page 121: Replacing The Print Head

    Do not spray the inside of the printer with oil: unsuitable oils can damage the mechanism. If lubrication is needed, call the toll-free Epson number: 1-800421-5426. The print head Be particularly careful with the print head.
  • Page 122 Figure C-1. Releasing the print head lock levers 6. Lift the print head from its position and carefully disconnect the flat cable from the print head, as shown in Figure C-2. Problem Solving and Maintenance C - 1 1...
  • Page 123 Figure C-2. Disconnecting the cable 7. Connect the new print head to the flat cable, and place the new print head in the head mount, as shown in Figure C-3. Be sure to tuck the flat cable into the cable support as shown in the figure. C - 1 2 Problem Solving and Maintenance...
  • Page 124 Figure C-3. lnstalling the new print head 8. Move the head lock levers back to their original positions. Now your new print head is ready to use. Problem Solving and Maintenance C - 1 3...

  • Page 125: Appendix D Defaults And Dip Switches

    2-1 and 2-3, and the top of form position is set to the current line. The ROM characters are selected, and the Epson mode character table and international character set are reset according to DIP switches 1-3 and 1-6 to 1-8.

  • Page 126: Dip Switch Settings

    DIP Switch Settings The Apex80 has twelve DIP (Dual In-line Package) switches that allow you to change many of the printer’s settings to suit your individual needs. The DIP switches are in two groups, mounted on the back panel, as shown in Figure D-1.

  • Page 127: International Character Sets

    Note: The factory setting for all switches except 1-6, 1-7, and 1-8 is OFF. International Character Sets Thirteen international character sets are available in Epson mode. Eight of these are selected by DIP switches 1-6 to 1-8 and the remaining...
  • Page 128 The DIP switch settings to select the different character sets are shown in Table D-3. Table D-3. Internatinal settings Defaults and DIP Switches...

  • Page 129: Choosing And Setting Up Optional Interfaces

    Appendix E Choosing and Setting Up Optional Interfaces This appendix contains information on Epson interfaces compatible with the Apex80 printer, instructions on choosing the right interface for a particular job, and instructions for installing internally mounted interface boards. Compatible Interfaces There are three optional interfaces that supplement the Apex80’s...

  • Page 130: Installing An Interface

    4. Remove the ribbon. 5. To remove the upper case of the printer, insert a blade screwdriver into each of the two holes at the front of the printer, as shown in Figure E-1. Gently twist the screwdriver while pushing it up until the upper case is loosened from the bottom.
  • Page 131 Figure E-1. Removing the cover 6. Slightly raise the upper case by its front. As you do this, be careful not to pull the flat cable out of the control panel in the upper case. Choosing and Setting Up Optional Interfaces...
  • Page 132 7. Disconnect the other end of the flat control panel cable from the main circuit board connector. See Figure E-2. Figure E-2. Disconnecting the control panel cable After you remove the case, follow the instructions below to insert the interface board. After you have inserted the board, replace the case by reversing steps 2 through 7.

  • Page 133: Inserting The Interface Board

    1. Locate the connector cover at the back of the upper case, shown in Figure E-3. Push it down and in, toward the inside of the printer, until it clicks. You need to move the cover to allow access to the new interface connector when the case is reassembled.
  • Page 134 Plug the interface board into the connector marked CN2 on the main circuit board of the printer. Secure the board to the three supports with the screws provided, as shown in Figure E-5. Figure E-5. Securing the board Choosing and Setting Up Optional Interfaces...
  • Page 135 5. Connect the frame ground wire to the FG terminal tag on the interface board, as shown in Figure E-6. Figure E-6. Connecting ground wire to terminal tag 6. Reassemble the printer, reversing the procedure described in steps 2 through 7 in the previous section. Choosing and Setting Up Optional Interfaces...

  • Page 136: Serial Interface Settings

    Serial Interface Settings If you are using an optional serial interface, you may need to change the communications protocol of the printer or the computer for them to communicate properly. The protocol used by the printer is decided by one or two groups of DIP switches located on the serial interface board;...

  • Page 137: Technical Specifications

    Appendix F Technical Specifications This appendix contains the specifications for the Apex80, including the built-in parallel interface. Printing Printing method Impact dot matrix Printing speed 180 characters per second in draft elite 150 characters per second in draft pica 25 characters per second in NLQ pica Printing direction Bidirectional logic-seeking for text printing Unidirectional for graphics and by software command for text...

  • Page 138: Mechanical

    Mechanical Ribbon Cartridge, black #8750 (uses the same ribbon as the Epson LX-800 and FX printers) Life expectancy (in characters, at 14 dots/character): 3 million MCBF 3 million lines (excluding the print head) MTBF 4,000 hours Print head life 200 million strokes per needle...

  • Page 139: Environment

    Each signal is at HIGH level when data is logical 1 and LOW when it is logical 0. OUT Approximately, 12-microsecond LOW indicates that data has been received and that the printer is ready to accept more data. Description pulse. F - 3...
  • Page 140 Table F-1. Pins and continual Notes: 1. The column heading “Direction” refers to the direction of signal flow as viewed from the printer. Technical Specifications...

  • Page 141: Data Transfer Sequence

    To prevent noise, these cables should be shielded and connected to the chassis of the host computer or the printer but not at both ends. 3. All interface conditions are based on TTL level. Both the rise and the fall times of each signal must be less than 0.2 microseconds.
  • Page 142 HIGH HIGH/LOW DC1/DC3 OFF LINE (no effect) (no effect) *Even though printing is disabled, data characters are received and acknowledged, since the printer is looking for another DC1 character, which would allow it to resume printing. DC1/DC3 ERROR BUSY HIGH...

  • Page 143: Index

    Dot graphics, 2-6,6-1—12 Double-strike, 3-2, 4-3 Double-wide, 4-2—3 DRAFT/LINE FEED button, 1-21 Draft mode, 1-20—22, 4-1 Edge guides, 1-12—13, 1-16—17 Elite, 3-2, 4-2 Emphasized, 3-2, 4-3 Epson Character Graphics, 4-4. See also Character tables Escape code (ESC), 2-2. See also Commands Index-1...
  • Page 144 Parallel interface. See Interface, parallel Pica, 4-2 Pin feed holders, 1-11—12 Pitch, 4-2 POWER light, 1-20 Printer commands, 2-2—7. See also Commands Printer selection menu, 2-1—2 Print head, 1-4,6-2—3, C-10—13 Problem-solving, C-1—9 Programming languages, 2-6—7 READY light, 1-20 Ribbon, 1-3—6...
  • Page 145 Sans Serif, 1-21,4-1 SelecType, 3-1—4 Self test, 1-21—22 Serial interface. See Interfaces, optional Service. See Toll-free number Single-sheet paper, 1-15—19 Software commands. See Commands Specifications, F-1—6 Spreadsheets, 2-4—6 Subscripts, 4-3 Superscripts, 4-3 Technical specifications, F-1—6 Toll-free number, 2, C-1, C-10 Top of form, 1-14—15 Tractor unit, 1-7—10, 1-15.

  • Page 147: Commands By Function

    Summary (Appendix A). To find details of the command you want to use, refer to the page number in the right column. Page ASCII Dec Hex Description Printer operation Initialize the printer E S C @ Select printer printer Deselect Half-speed mode on/off...
  • Page 148 D I P S w i t c h S e t t i n g s Table 1. DIP switch group 1 Switch Function number Select condensed or normal characters Select slashed or unslashed zero Select character table Paper-out detection Select print quality Select international character set Table 2.
  • Page 149 Setting up Printer Features Graphics User-defined Characters EPSON AMERICA, INC. 2780 Lomita Boulevard Torrance, California 90505 Printed in Japan 87.08-20...

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