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Epson LQ-800 User Manual

Epson printer user manual
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  • Page 2 ® EPSON LQ-800 and LQ-1000 Printers User's Manual...
  • Page 3 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 4: Table Of Contents

    Setting Up Your LQ Printer ..... Unpacking Your Printer ......
  • Page 5 Cancelling Modes ......Resetting the Printer ......
  • Page 6 Graphics and User-Defined Characters ... . Graphics ........The print head .
  • Page 7 The DIP Switches ......The LQ Character Set and ASCII Table ... Installing the Option Cartridge .
  • Page 8 LQ-800 ....... The LQ-1000 ......
  • Page 9 Calculations for pin patterns ....Pattern on grid ......Data layout for 24-pin graphics .
  • Page 10 LQ character widths ......International characters in Letter Quality mode . . International characters in draft mode ..International characters in proportional mode .

  • Page 11: Introduction

    The Epson LQ-800 and LQ-1000 are state-of-the-art, X-pin dot- matrix printers that deliver exceptional speed and sharpness in either Letter Quality or draft style. The LQ-800 and LQ-1000 are also capable of a wide variety of print enhancements, including: LETTER...
  • Page 12 Using this manual To make it easier to set up your new LQ-800 or LQ-1000, this man- ual includes a 10-step guide to setting up your printer. These steps take you from unpacking, through ribbon and paper loading, to printing your first document.

  • Page 13: Setting Up Your Lq Printer

    The LQ-800 and LQ-1000 are essentially the same printer except that the LQ-1000 can accept wider paper. Therefore, most of the illustrations in this manual show only the LQ-800. If there is a difference that you need to know about, a separate illustration shows the LQ-1000.

  • Page 14: The Lq-1000

    Figure 1-1. The LQ-800 The LQ-1000 Figure 1-2.

  • Page 15: Installing The Paper Feed Knob

    Remove the tape that holds the dust cover in place during shipping and take the cover off the printer. Simply tilt the dust cover up and lift it off the printer. The print head is protected by two plastic bumpers during shipping.

  • Page 16: Selecting The Right Location

    Selecting the Right Location The most important consideration in choosing a location for your printer is that it be close enough to connect a cable to your com- puter. But also keep the following tips in mind: Place the printer or printer stand on a solid and level foundation.

  • Page 17: Installing The Ribbon

    2. Before loading the cartridge into the printer, turn the small knob on top in the direction of the arrow to tighten the ribbon as shown in Figure 1-4.

  • Page 18: Loading The Lq-800 Ribbon Cartridge

    Figures 1-5 and 1-6. Press firmly on each end of the cartridge to make sure the pins are firmly seated in the slots.
  • Page 19 between the ribbon guide and the print head as shown in Figure 1-7. (There is also a diagram on the top of the ribbon cartridge itself.) Figure 1-7. Positioning the ribbon 5. With the cartridge in place, again turn the ribbon knob in the direc- tion of the arrow to tighten the ribbon.

  • Page 20: Replacing The Ribbon

    Epson printers, such as the FX series, may closely resemble an LQ ribbon, but their use can damage the LQ print head. Also, ribbon cartridges for the LQ-1500 will not fit the LQ-800 or 1000, and the Epson ribbon replacement pack #8758 should not be used as a replacement ribbon.

  • Page 21: Loading The Paper

    The guide has rounded pins on each end. These pins fit into notches on each end of the paper slot. Slide one of the guide’s pins into one notch. Then, with gentle pres- sure, snap the other pin into the other notch as shown in Figure 1-8. Figure 1-8.

  • Page 22: Loading Single-Sheet Paper

    4. With the power OFF use the paper feed knob to roll the paper into the printer far enough to be held by the paper bail. (If the power is ON, use the LINE FEED button as described in Step 6.) 5.
  • Page 23 3. Once you’ve established the best settings, always load the paper so that your printer starts at the same place on each page. For exam- ple, you may find that when you roll the paper one inch above the print head, the page finishes where you want it to-then each time you load paper, load it the same way.

  • Page 24: Adjusting The Paper Thickness Lever

    Figure For thicker paper or multiple copies, pull the lever toward the front of the printer. To return the lever to the standard position, push it back until it clicks into the standard setting.

  • Page 25: Turning On The Power Switch

    Plug in the printer’s power cord, making sure the outlet is properly grounded. Turn the power ON with the switch on the left side of the printer (see Figure 1-11). Figure 1-11. Turning on the power switch When the power is turned ON: The print head moves back and forth and stops at the left side of the printer.

  • Page 26: Operating The Control Panel

    ON LINE and READY lights go off, the print head moves to the center of the platen, and the printer is set off line-the power is still on but the LQ won’t print. This enables the form feed and line feed functions to work.

  • Page 27: Form Feed/Letter Quality

    ON LINE-The green ON LINE light indicates that the printer is on and ready to receive data. When the LQ is on line, you can select line either the Letter Quality or draft mode. FORM FEED/LETTER QUALITY FEED-Pressing this button advances the paper to the top of FORM the next page if you’re using continuous-feed paper (see Chapter 3,...

  • Page 28: Selecting The Letter Quality Or Draft Mode

    Letter Quality or draft. Before running the self test, make sure that paper is loaded in the printer and that the power is turned OFF. If you have an LQ-1000, be sure to use 14-inch-wide paper to avoid printing on the platen.

  • Page 29: Connecting Your Printer To Your Computer

    The self test prints a version identification number, the name of the installed typeface family, then (as you can see in Figure 1-13) all of the characters in the selected character set. The self test continues until you turn the printer off or until it runs out of paper. Draft Letter Quality Figure 1-13.

  • Page 30: The Parallel Interface

    The serial interface If your computer is equipped with a serial interface, you should use an Epson serial interface cable-#8239 for the Apple the Apple IIe Epson QX™-16, and #8294 for the IBM cable into the connector to the right of the parallel connector.

  • Page 31: Printing Your First Document

    Were you able to successfully run the self test in Step 8? If not, check the DIP switch settings and try again. q Is your printer properly connected to your computer? Are you using the correct interface (serial or parallel)? If you’re using a serial interface, have you set the DIP switches accordingly? If you’re still having trouble printing, read the troubleshooting sec-...

  • Page 32: The Cut Sheet Feeder

    Installing the Cut Sheet Feeder 1. Make sure the power is OFF. Set DIP switch 1-8 on the back of the printer to the ON position and DIP switch feeder. See Appendix A for information on resetting the DIP switches.

  • Page 33: Installing The Cut Sheet Feeder

    4. Make sure the paper release lever is pushed back as shown in Fig- If this lever is not pushed back, the cut sheet feeder will not 2-1. fit or operate properly. 5. Pull the paper bail away from the platen (the black roller) as shown in Figure 2-1.

  • Page 34: Installing The Small Brackets

    9. Tilt the cut sheet feeder forward until the front latches of the cut sheet feeder engage the front mounting pins on the printer. Release the levers and the cut sheet feeder locks in place.
  • Page 35 For the LQ-800 model, install the large bracket in the stacker as shown in Figure 2-4. Slip the legs of the bracket into the metal slots on the bottom of the cut sheet feeder and make sure the bracket fits into the retaining clips on the upper part of the stacker.

  • Page 36: Preparing The Paper For Loading

    Figure Preparing the Paper for Loading The paper be straight and clean. If the paper is slightly bent, must curled or uneven, it will not feed correctly. The cut sheet feeder holds a maximum of weight lb.) paper. If you use a lighter or heavier weight of paper, compensate accordingly.

  • Page 37: Loading Paper

    Loading Paper 1. Align the arrow on the left paper guide with the arrow stamped into the metal lip of the stacker, as shown in Figure Figure 2-6. Pull the paper loading lever forward until it locks in the open posi- tion, as shown in Figure Paper support paper...

  • Page 38: Loading Paper; Adjusting The Right Paper Guide

    Set the stack of paper in the paper bin, aligning it against the left paper guide as shown in Figure Move the right paper guide 2-7. over to the edge of the stack of paper, but leave a little room so the paper doesn’t bind.

  • Page 39: Setting Up Your Word Processor For A Cut Sheet Feeder

    setting up your word processor for a cut sheet feeder. . . If you‘ve never used a cut sheet feeder before, you may have to set up your word processor accordingly. When the cut sheet feeder positions the paper for printing, it auto- matically leaves a one-inch margin at the top of a page.

  • Page 40: Printing With The Cut Sheet Feeder

    Printing with the Cut Sheet Feeder 1. Turn the power ON with the switch on the left side of the printer, as shown in Figure 2-8. Figure 2-8. Turning the power on When you turn the power ON: The print head moves to the left side.

  • Page 41: Removing The Cut Sheet Feeder

    1. Turn the power for the printer OFF. 2. Remove all the unused paper from the bin, and any printed sheets from the stacker. 3. If a sheet of paper is still loaded in the printer, use the manual paper feed knob to remove it. 2-10...

  • Page 42: Removing The Cut Sheet Feeder

    Reset DIP switch 1-8 from ON back to OFF. (Don’t forget to turn the power OFF then ON again so the printer will record the new setting.) Reset DIP switch 1-7 (skip-over perforation) if you’re using continuous-feed paper.

  • Page 43: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting If you have any difficulties operating the cut sheet feeder, check the troubleshooting list shown below. If you continue to have difficulty, consult your authorized Epson dealer. Problem Cut sheet feeder does not fit flush on the printer. Printer doesn’t print; cut sheet feeder doesn’t operate.

  • Page 44: Maintenance

    Problem Two or more sheets of paper are loaded instead of one. Printing starts too low on the page. Printing is too close or too far from the left side of the paper. Paper doesn’t eject evenly. Maintenance To keep your cut sheet feeder working smoothly, keep it away from dust, grease, and any heat sources.
  • Page 45 First, turn the power OFF and remove the cut sheet feeder from the printer. Then use a soft brush to clean the inside areas. Make sure the gray rollers are kept free of dust so that the paper feeds evenly.

  • Page 46: The Tractor Unit

    Use any arrangement that allows you to put the paper underneath or behind the printer. There are many types of printer stands you can use; one example is shown in Figure 3-1. If you prefer, you can stack the paper behind the printer as shown in Figure 3-2.

  • Page 47: Installing The Tractor Unit

    Figure Figure 3-3. Installing the tractor unit 2. Hold the tractor with the gears to the right, and fit the rear notches on the tractor unit over the rear mounting pins on the printer, as shown in Figure 3-3.

  • Page 48: Loading Paper

    To load continuous-feed paper, follow these instructions: 1. Make sure that the printer is turned OFF. 2. Move the print head to the center of the printer, pull the paper bail away from the platen, and pull the paper release lever forward, as shown in Figure 3-4.

  • Page 49: Moving The Pin-Feed Holders

    3. Using Figure as a guide, pull the locking levers on the pin-feed holders forward so that you can move the holders to the left and right. Figure 3-5. Moving the pin-feed holders 4. Position the left holder all the way to the left and push the locking lever back to lock that holder in place.

  • Page 50: Opening The Pin-Feed Covers

    Figure 3-6. Opening the pin-feed covers 6. Now install the paper shelf by fitting it into the two notches on the back of the printer, as shown in Figure 3-7. The paper shelf keeps the paper from getting caught on the interface cable.

  • Page 51: Loading Paper

    7. If you have an LQ-800, center the one support in the middle of the tractor as shown in Figure If you have an LQ-1000, space the 3-7. two paper supports evenly along the width of the paper. 8. Now guide the paper behind the platen, and push it through until it comes up between the ribbon guide and the platen as shown in Figure 3-8.
  • Page 52 9. Pull the paper up until the top is above the pin-feed holders. Fit the holes on the left side of the paper over the pins in the left holder (as shown in Figure 3-9) and close the cover. Figure 3-9. Fitting the paper over the pin 10.

  • Page 53: Setting The Top-Of-Page Position

    Figure 3-10. Now turn the printer ON. This records the top-of-page setting. The printer remembers this setting and uses it when any program tells it to move to the top of the next page, or when you use the FORM FEED button to advance the paper.

  • Page 54: Installing The Paper Separator

    The separator has rounded pins on each end that fit into notches located just behind the tractor unit. Slide one of the separator’s pins into one notch, then with a gentle pressure, snap the other pin into the other notch as shown in Figure 3-11. Figure 3-11.

  • Page 55: Installing The Tractor Cover

    The smoked plastic tractor cover is the finishing touch. Simply place it over the tractor unit, making sure the notches on the side of the cover fit into the slots on the printer, as shown in Figure 3-12. Figure 3-12. Installing the tractor cover...

  • Page 56: Removing The Optional Tractor Unit

    When you want to remove the optional tractor unit from the LQ simply push back on the tractor release levers as shown in Figure 3-13, tilt the unit back, and lift it off the printer. Figure 3-13. Removing the optional tractor unit...

  • Page 57: Using The Lq With Commercial Software

    Either the manual for your program or an on-screen menu should explain this process for you. The program may list a number of printers from which you can choose. Pick LQ-800 or LQ-1000, depending on which printer you have. Chapter 4...
  • Page 58 LQ-800 and LQ-1000 use. (If you have a program that does not list the LQ-1500 as an option, you may be able to obtain an update from the manufac- turer. Contact your software dealer or the manufacturer to see if an update that includes the LQ-1500, LQ-1000, or LQ-800 is available.)

  • Page 59: Lq Features

    The details of printer-computer communication are complex, but for most purposes all you need to know is that the computer sends a series of codes (each consisting of one or more numbers) to the printer, and the printer interprets them.

  • Page 60: Demonstration Programs

    Nearly all of the codes for printer functions require more than one number and begin with a special code, called the escape code signals that the next number is a code for a printer function and its name is usually printed with the first three letters capitalized (Escape) or it is abbreviated ESC or (ESC) .

  • Page 61: Running Basic Programs

    Even if you never use BASIC again, you will know the capabilities of your printer, capabilities that can often solve your printing prob- lems. For example, if you need a special symbol, such as a Greek let- ter, you will know that characters and create such a character.

  • Page 62: Sending Control Codes To The Printer

    In each line LPRINT signals that the rest of the information on the line is to be sent to the printer. In lines 10 and 30 the letters inside the quotation marks are printed just as they appear in the program.

  • Page 63: Basic Widths

    Pica printing The first program prints a sample line of characters in pica. This is width on the LQ, which means it is used unless the printer default receives a command to use one of the other two basic widths.

  • Page 64: Letter Quality And Draft

    Ap- pendix I. By resetting the printer, a method explained in the next section. Resetting the Printer Resetting your LQ cancels all modes that are turned on. You can reset the printer with one of two methods: Sending the reset code (Escape “@”)

  • Page 65: Disabling A Program's Reset Code

    Resetting the printer has two main effects. It returns the printing to single-strike pica, thus cancelling any other pitches or enhancements you may have turned on, and the current position of the print head becomes the top-of-page setting.

  • Page 66: Print Quality Command

    This is draft. This As you can see in this program, Letter Quality is one of the Epson modes with an ESCape code that uses a letter with the numeral one to the mode and a letter with the numeral zero to turn it off. For...

  • Page 67: Condensed Printing

    As you can see in this program, double-width is another of the modes with an ESCape code that uses a letter with the numeral one to turn on the mode and a letter with the numeral zero to turn it off. Therefore, the command to turn on double-width is ESCape “W1”...

  • Page 68: Print Enhancements

    This is standard pica. This is condensed This is condensed elite, By using combinations of the various width modes, the LQ can print nine widths, which range from 5 to 20 characters per inch (cpi) as shown in the table below: Table Typestyle Double-width pica...

  • Page 69: Double-Strike

    10 LPRINT "This is standard printing." 20 LPRINT CHR$(27)"E"; LPRINT "This is emphasized printing." 100 LPRINT CHR$(27)"@" This is standard This is emphasized printing. Emphasized is an especially good method for emphasizing a word or phrase in the draft mode as shown in the printout below. The code to turn off emphasized is ESCape “F”.

  • Page 70: Underline Mode

    Underline mode The LQ also has a mode that underlines characters and spaces. You turn it on with ESCape “-1” and off with ESCape the underline code is like the double-width code in that it uses a char- acter, in this case the hyphen or minus sign, combined with numeral one to turn it on and a character combined with the numeral zero to turn it off.
  • Page 71 mode. The next section describes Master Select, which includes another method for turning proportional on and off. Master Select The LQ has a special: ESCape code called Master Select that allows you to choose many possible combinations of nine different modes: pica, elite, proportional, condensed, emphasized, double-strike, dou- ble-width, italic, and underline.

  • Page 72: Master Select

    If you try to combine proportional with elite, you won’t harm your printer; proportional will simply override elite. In the printout below you can see the result of using the number 96...

  • Page 73: Superscript And Subscript

    Superscript and subscript Your LQ can also print superscripts and subscripts, which you can use for mathematical formulas, footnotes, and other items that require numbers or letters above or below the usual print line. ESCape “S0” turns on superscript and ESCape "S1" turns on subscript. ESCape “T”...

  • Page 74: International Characters In Draft Mode

    tional character sets. In other words, the BASIC command to select the French character set is: LPRINT CHR$(27)"R"CHR$(1) Another method of selecting most of the international character sets is to reset a DIP switch. If you plan to use one of the first eight interna- tional sets quite a bit, see Appendix A for instructions on using the DIP switches.

  • Page 75: International Characters In Letter Quality Mode

    Table 5-3. International characters in Letter Quality mode FRANCE GERMANY DENMARK I SWEDEN ITALY SPAIN JAPAN NORWAY DENMARK II SPAIN II LATIN AMERICA Table 5-4. International characters in proportional mode FRANCE GERMANY DENMARK I SWEDEN ITALY SPAIN JAPAN NORWAY DENMARK II SPAIN II LATIN AMERICA Once you have selected an international character set with the DIP...

  • Page 76: Page Formatting

    If your keyboard does not have one of the keys that you need, you will have to send the proper ASCII number to the printer in another way, such as a programming language like BASIC. Page Formatting Although the LQ printer has many sophisticated commands to set margins, line spacing, horizontal and vertical tabs and character spac- ing, this section won’t take up your time with extensive discussions of...

  • Page 77: Skip-Over-Perforation

    Line spacing Ordinarily you don’t have to worry about how the printer moves the paper so that it doesn’t print lines of text on top of each other; the LQ takes care of this without any special instructions. The line spacing on the LQ, however, can be changed with an ESCape code.

  • Page 78: Half-Speed Mode

    The standard line spacing is the only one you need for almost all printing of text, but in some cases you may want to increase or decrease the space between lines. The LQ has several commands to do this, one of which specifies the line spacing in 180ths of an inch. If you need to make such fine adjustments in the line spacing, see Appendix I for the proper commands.

  • Page 79: Graphics And User-Defined Characters

    Chapter Graphics and User-Defined Characters The dot graphics mode allows your LQ to produce pictures, graphs, charts, or almost any other pictorial material you can devise, and the user-defined character feature allows you or a commercial software program to put special characters in the LQ’s memory so that they can be printed just as if they were ordinary letters.

  • Page 80: The Print Head

    In order for the dots to overlap vertically, the pins in the print head are in more than one column, but the intelligence of the printer han- dles the timing of pin firings so that the effect is that of 24 pins...

  • Page 81: Dot Patterns

    Eight-pin graphics So that it is compatible with the many programs written for such printers such as the Epson FX and RX series, the LQ has an 8-pin graphics mode with six densities. Although this mode uses only one third of the LQ’s pins, it produces good quality graphics and allows you to use the many programs written for 8-pin graphics.

  • Page 82: Pin Numbering System

    With these labels for the pins, you fire the top pin by send- ing 128. To fire the bottom pin, you send 1. If you want to fire only the...

  • Page 83: Graphics Command

    a single line of triple-density graphics only one inch long requires 540 numbers. Fortunately, commercial software can do the calculations for you. Before you can put these numbers in a graphics program, however, you need to know the format of the graphics command. Graphics Command The graphics mode command is quite different from the other com- mands covered so far in this manual.

  • Page 84: Column Reservation Numbers

    Column reservation numbers The graphics command requires more than one number to specify how many columns to reserve because one line can use thousands of columns, but the LQ does not use numbers larger than 255 (decimal). Therefore, the graphics mode command uses two numbers for reserv- ing columns.

  • Page 85: Using Hand-Calculated Data To Print Graphics

    6-1) and also reserves 40 columns for graphics. Since 24-pin graphics requires three bytes of data for each column, line 30 begins a loop to supply 120 bytes of data. Line 40 contains the number 170 that pro- duces the first pin pattern shown in Figure 6-2, and line 50 finishes the loop.
  • Page 86 Write the assigned values of the pins next to your design and then total the values for each column of dots. These totals are the values that will be sent to the printer as graphics data to print the design. Figure shows the same grid divided into three sections to make the data calculation easier.
  • Page 87 6-3 and Notice that the data numbers in lines 80-140 are the same 6-4. numbers that you see in Figure ment in line 10 is for IBM PC BASIC; the format may be different for your system. 10 WIDTH "LPT1:",255 20 LPRINT CHR$(27)"*"CHR$(39)CHR$(42)CHR$(0);...

  • Page 88: Individual Graphics Options Commands

    Individual graphics options commands As previously mentioned, the LQ responds to commands that are used by Epson FX and RX series printers. There are four individual graphics options commands that are very much the same as the ESCape “*” command, but each one works for only one graphics option.

  • Page 89: User-Defined Characters

    A for instructions on changing DIP switches.) Design grids User-defined characters are like dot graphics because you send the printer precise instructions on where you want each dot printed. In fact, planning a user-defined character is like planning a small dot graphics pattern.

  • Page 90: Design Grids

    proportional characters it is Quality and proportional spaced more closely together than those for draft . Figure the two design grids. The line at the side labelled 6-5 shows cap indicates the top of a standard capital letter, and the line labelled base indicates the baseline for all letters except those with descenders (the bottom parts of such letters as j and y).

  • Page 91: Defining Your Own Characters

    Defining Your Own Characters The first step in defining characters is to place the dots on a grid just as you want them to print. The examples here, like the ones in the graphics section, use an X to represent each dot. In Figure 6-6 you see a draft grid with a simple user-defined character planned on it.

  • Page 92: Sending Information To The Lq

    Sending information to the LQ The printer loads characters in the print style (Letter Quality, draft, or proportional) that the printer is currently using. It also records whether italic or script (either superscript or subscript) is turned on.

  • Page 93: Character Width Limits

    The LQ command to define characters is one of the most complex in its repertoire. The format of the command is this: ESCape “&” 0 The ESCape “&" is simple enough. The 0 (which is ASCII code 0, not the numeral zero in quotation marks) allows for future enhance- ments.

  • Page 94: Printing User-Defined Characters

    The information about the actual character design (which is con- tained in the data statements at the end of the program) is sent to the printer in the loop between lines 50 and 70. When defining Letter Quality or proportional characters, put...

  • Page 95: Copying Rom To Ram

    As you can see, both sets of characters (the original ROM charac- ters that the printer normally uses and the user-defined character set) remain in the printer available for your use. The command to switch between the two sets is used in lines 90 and 110. It is: If n is equal to 0, the normal ROM character set is selected (this is the default).

  • Page 96: Letter Quality Characters

    This command will cancel any user-defined characters you have created. You must send this command to the printer before you define characters. If you use this command at the beginning of a program, then define your special characters and select the user-defined character set, you can print with the user-defined set as your normal character set.

  • Page 97: Mixing Print Styles

    characters and regular characters is that they are smaller. They are a maximum of dots high and their width in dot columns is shown in Table 6-4. Table 6-4. Super/subscript widths Draft Letter Quality Proportional Since super/subscript characters are smaller, they don’t require as much information when you define them.
  • Page 98 Keep in mind that user-defined characters are stored in RAM, which is not permanent. Whenever the printer power is turned off, or the printer is initialized with the ESCape “@" command, all of the user-defined characters are lost.

  • Page 99: The Dip Switches

    The DIP switches are located on two panels on the back of the printer as shown in Figure A-1, and can be easily changed with a thin, pointed object. Figure? A-1. The DIP switch panels...
  • Page 100 check switches 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, and 2-6 to make sure the settings match those on your computer. Each time you change a DIP switch setting, you should turn the power OFF reset the switch or switches, then turn the power ON again. The LQ only recognizes a new setting at the time the power is turned ON.

  • Page 101: Dip Switch Panel

    The buffer stores data from your computer. When you receive your LQ, the buffer is set for 1 kilobyte (OFF), which allows the printer to use user-deftned (downloaded) characters. If you want to free your computer while the LQ prints, change the setting to 7 kilobytes (ON).
  • Page 102 (or commercial software program) for baud rate setting requirements, and set these switches according to Table A-5. OFF When this switch is ON, the printer cannot be deactivated by software codes. For most uses and commercial software programs, you should leave this switch ON.

  • Page 103: A-3 International Dip Switch Settings

    Table A-3. International DIP switch settings* C o u n t r y U S A F r a n c e Germany D e n m a r k Sweden I t a l y S p a i n *There are five additional international character sets available through software commands-Japan, Norway, Denmark II, Spain II, and Latin America.

  • Page 104: The Lq Character Set And Ascii Table

    The LQ Character Set This table shows the three LQ character sets: Draft, Letter Quality, and Proportional. The table also shows the Decimal and Hexadecimal values of each character. The codes from O-32 and 127-160 are control codes and therefore not represented by characters.
  • Page 105 H e x D r a f t L Q P r o p . & < < > > " "I & & < > H e x D r a f t L Q P r o p .
  • Page 106 Hex Draft L Q P r o p . Hex Draft L Q P r o p . A2 ” ” & & AA * * Abbrev. ", & Hex Draft L Q P r o p . Abbrev. H e x D r a f t L Q Prop.

  • Page 108: Installing The Option Cartridge

    Installing the Option Cartridge The option cartridge for the LQ lets you change typestyles, extend the capabilities the printer, or use programs designed for other popu- lar printers. Full instructions on their use come with each module. The cartridge is made up of two modules-the...

  • Page 109: The Identity Module

    Diablo 630 #7694*—This module lets you use commands and pro- grams designed for the Diablo 630 printer. *Note: Many programs support the Epson LQ printer series. If your software programs are set up for the IBM 5152 or the Diablo 630, you may be able to reset them for the LQ, instead of purchasing a IBM or Diablo option cartridge.

  • Page 110: The Font Module

    A font module must be connected to an identity module in order to work. The ESC/P Expansion Identity Module maintains and extends the LQ’s Epson identity, and allows you to add any of the optional fonts. C - 3...

  • Page 111: Using The Option Cartridges

    Using the Option Cartridges When installing an option cartridge, you must turn the power OFF, plug in the cartridge, then turn the power ON again so that the printer acknowledges that an option cartridge has been installed. Do not install or remove an option cartridge while the power is ON, because you may damage the printer.

  • Page 112: Troubleshooting And Maintenance

    Troubleshooting and Maintenance This appendix presents solutions for possible problems, explana- tions of the LQ’s advanced features, and maintenance tips. Diagnosing the Problem If the printouts from your LQ are not matching the document you’ve prepared on your computer, you’ll need to set up a test docu- ment.
  • Page 113 Make sure the PAPER OUT light is OFF If it’s ON, reload the paper. Check the indicator light on the printer to see if the printer is on line. Use the manual for your operating system or applications software to find out the command necessary to configure the computer.
  • Page 114 Recommendation This happens if there is a line feed signal being sent from both the computer and the printer at the end of each line of text. Check the set- ting of DIP switch 2-8. If it is set to...

  • Page 115: Beeper Error Warnings

    If the printer beeps and stops printing when it is not out of paper, turn the printer off and check to see if the paper is loaded correctly. If the paper is loaded correctly, turn the printer back on and try to print again.
  • Page 116 The printer will print all but the last line and then stop. Press the ON LINE button to print the last line. l0 FOR X=70 TO 20 LPRINT CHR$(X): NEXT X LPRINT CHR$(27)"E"...

  • Page 117: Ibm Pc Basic Solutions

    IBM PC BASIC Solutions There are three problems in using the IBM Personal Computer BASIC to drive a printer. First, the IBM PC BASIC inserts a carriage- return/line feed (CR—LF) after each 80 characters you send it. Sec- ond, it adds an LF to each CR in an LPRINT statement. Third, release 2.0 of PC BASIC will not send hex 1A (decimal 26).

  • Page 118: Applesoft Basic Solutions

    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 #1, "Now I can print anything"...

  • Page 119: Qx-10® And Qx-16 Solutions

    Changing the print head The expected life of an LQ print head is about See your Epson dealer for replacements. If the print head fails sud- denly or long before its estimated lifetime is over, the problem is prob- ably in another component of the printer. Take the LQ to your dealer for service.

  • Page 120: Print Head Replacement

    Figure D-1. Figure D-1. Print head replacement Slide the print head over to the left side of the printer, and lift the print head off the carriage as shown in Figure D-2. Disconnect the two copper-colored ribbon cables by gently pulling them out of the black connector blocks on the floor of the printer.
  • Page 121 Removing Figure D-2. the ribbon cables Installing the new print head Connect the ribbon cables to the black connector blocks by gently pushing the ends of the cables into the blocks. Place the new print head on the carriage, making sure the guide holes on the print head fit over the guide pins on the carriage.

  • Page 122: Widths Of The Proportional Characters

    Proportional Characters This table lists the widths of the LQ’s proportional characters. The values given are in 360ths of an inch (for example: a value of 36 is 36/360-inch). You may need to enter these widths into a special table for your word processing program so it can calculate the number of proportional characters that will fit on each line.

  • Page 123: Proportional Character Widths

    Table E-1. Proportional character widths (continued)
  • Page 124 Table E-1. Proportional character widths (continued)
  • Page 125 Table E-1. Proportional character widths (continued)

  • Page 126: The Parallel And Serial Interfaces

    The Parallel and Serial Interfaces The LQ-800/1000 printers have both parallel and serial interfaces to communicate with the computer; this appendix describes these inter- faces. Parallel Interface Connector pin assignments and a description of respective interface signals are shown in Table F-1.
  • Page 127 To prevent noise, these cables should be shielded and con- nected to the chassis of the host computer or the printer but not at both ends. Direc-...

  • Page 128: Parallel Interface Timing

    0.2 microseconds. 4. 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 129: Printing Enabled/Disabled Signals And Control Conditions

    4. SW 2-7 is ON or SLCT-IN is LOW when the printer is initialized, DC1/DC3 printer select/deselect control is invalidated and DC1/ DC3 control code are ignored. 5. The SLCT-IN signal is HIGH and SW 2-7 is OFF when the printer is initialized, the printer will start from selected (DC1) state. input,...

  • Page 130: F-3 Pins And Signals

    Table F-3. Pins and signals Functional Description Reserved. — Indicates printer is ready to receive data or not. MARK level indicates printer is not ready to receive data. Receives data (RS-232C level) Reserved. — Signal (Logic) ground level. — Printer chassis ground.

  • Page 131: Choosing And Setting Up Optional Interfaces

    LQ-800 and LQ-1000 printers and gives instructions for installing internally mounted interface boards. Compatible Interfaces You can use a number of optional interfaces with the LQ-800 and LQ-1000, which supplement the built-in parallel and serial interfaces. These fall into three categories.
  • Page 132 Removing Turn OFF the power to both the printer and the computer, and disconnect the interface cable from the printer. 2. Remove the dust cover. Take off the paper feed knob on the right side by pulling it straight out from the printer.

  • Page 133: Removing The Upper Case

    4. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the retaining screws on the upper half of the printer case. There are two screws on the LQ-800 as shown in the diagram. On the LQ-1000, there are three screws. Figure G-1. Removing the upper case 5.

  • Page 134: Removing The Control Panel

    panel, are two plastic retaining clips as shown in the diagram below. Reach under the control panel and squeeze these clips slightly to release the panel from the case. Figure G-2. Removing the control panel 7. Slip the control panel through the case and set the case to one side. To replace the case, reverse the previous steps.

  • Page 135: Installing An Interface Board

    Installing an Interface Board 1. Remove the upper case of the printer, following the steps described in the previous section. 2. Remove the plastic piece from the hole at the back of the upper case to allow access to the new interface connector when the case is re- assembled.

  • Page 136: Interface Board Mounted On Main Circuit Board

    The protocol used by the printer is decided by one or two groups of DIP switches located on the serial interface board; the protocol used by the computer can probably be altered by a software command.

  • Page 137: Baud Rate Settings For 8143

    If you need to adjust any of the other settings, consult the manual supplied with the interface, and if necessary your Epson dealer. For interfaces #8143, 8148 and 8149 the baud rates are set by these switches: Table G-1.

  • Page 138: Baud Rate Settings For 8149

    Table G-3. Baud rate settings baud rate switch 2-5 1200 2400 4800 9600 Table G-4. Parity check settings for 8143 switch 1-2 switch 1-6 switch 1-5 Table G-5. Parity check settings switch 1-1 switch 1-2 switch 1-3 Table G-6. Parity check settings switch 2-1 switch 2-2 switch 2-3...

  • Page 139: Technical Specifications

    ..Bidirectional, logic seeking Character sets ....Epson Letter Quality Roman Buffer ....1K or 7K bytes Line spacing .
  • Page 140 Paper Number of copies ..One original plus one copy (total thick- LQ-800 Continuous-feed paper ..4" Cut sheet ....7.2" to LQ-1000 Continuous-feed paper .

  • Page 141: Dimensions And Weight

    Shock ....Vibration ... . . Insulation resistance ..life) LQ-1000 LQ-800 3.8 in. 23.5 in. 13.2 in. 17.6 lbs.

  • Page 142: Serial Interface

    Parallel Interface Interface ....Centronic® compatible, g-bit parallel Synchronization ..By externally supplied STROBE pulses Handshaking ... . By ACKNLG and BUSY signals Logic level .

  • Page 143: Command Summary

    DIP switch. Pica width Margins set at maximums: left margin at 0 and right margin at 80 on the LQ-800 and 136 on the LQ-1000 l/6 of an inch line spacing Page length of 11 inches...

  • Page 144: Commands In Numerical Order

    Select Condensed Mode ....I-5 Select Printer ..... . I-28 Cancel Condensed Mode .
  • Page 145 ESC 120 ESC x Initialize Printer ....I-29 Select n/60-inch Line Spacing ..I-15 Set Vertical Tabs ....I-18 Select Page Length in Lines .

  • Page 146: Commands By Function

    Commands by Function This section describes all the LQ control codes. They are divided in the following way: Print Quality Character Width Print Enhancement Page Formatting Word Processing Each command has a format section and a comment section. The format section gives the ASCII, decimal, and hexadecimal codes for the command.

  • Page 147: Character Width

    Print Quality ESC x Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: n = 0 selects draft mode n = 1 selects Letter Quality mode Character Width Format: A S C I I c o d e : S I Decimal: Hexadecimal: OF Control:...
  • Page 148 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1 2 Control: CTRL R Comments: Cancels compressed printing set by SI or ESC SI. Format: ASCII code: SO Decimal : Hexadecimal: 0E Control: CTRL N Comments: Doubles the width of all characters. It can be cancelled by a carriage return, DC4, ESC W or ESC !.
  • Page 149 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal : 14 Control: CTRL T Comments: Cancels one-line double-width printing selected by SO or ESC SO, but not double-width printing set by ESC W or ESC !. ESC W Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Double-Width mode doubles the width of all characters.
  • Page 150 ESC g Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Selects characters per inch, and cancels pica cpi). Fifteen cannot be combined with condensed. Print Enhancement ESC E Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal : Comments: In emphasized mode, each dot is printed twice, with the second dot slightly to the right of the first.
  • Page 151 ESC G Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal : Comments: In double-strike each line is printed twice, with the second printing slightly below the first. ESC H Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1 B Comments: Turns off the mode selected by ESC G. ESC S 0 Format: ASCII code:...
  • Page 152 ESC T Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Cancels either mode. ESC - Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal : Comments: selects underlining cancels it. ESC ! Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal : Comments: Selects any valid combination of the following modes: pica, elite, proportional, condensed, emphasized, double-strike, double- width, italic, underline.
  • Page 153 ESC 4 Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Causes characters to be printed in the italic character set. ESC 5 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: Comments: Cancels the mode selected by ESC 4. ESC R Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments:...
  • Page 154 Page Formatting Margins ESC Q Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Sets the right margin. Also cancels all text in the print buffer. The range of n is ESC I Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Sets the left margin. n = first printing column in the current width The value of n is 0 to 255.
  • Page 155 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. The range of n is 0 to 127. You can select a one-inch margin as the printer default setting by moving DIP switch...
  • Page 156 ESC 0 Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Sets the line spacing to l/8 of an inch for subsequent line feed com- mands. The “0” is the digit zero and not ASCII code 0. ESC 2 Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments:...
  • Page 157 ESC J Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal : Comments: Advances the paper by one line at a spacing of n/180 of an inch. The value of n should be in the range 0 to 255. This produces an immediate line feed but does not affect subsequent line spacing and does not produce a carriage return.
  • Page 158 ESC C Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Sets the page length to n lines. The value of n is 0 to ESC CO Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Sets the page length to n inches where n has a value of 1 to 22 inches.
  • Page 159 ESC D Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: This command allows setting of up to 32 horizontal tabs. These are entered as n1, n2, n3 etc. (in the range 1 to 255) with ASCII 0 as the terminator. The tab settings n1, n2, n3 etc. must be entered in ascending order.
  • Page 160 ESC B Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Sets up to 16 vertical tabs in the current line spacing. The range of n is 0 to 254. the values of n must be entered in ascending order. Ter- minate this tab sequence with 0 or a number less than that of the last tab.

  • Page 161: Word Processing

    Word Processing ESC p Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Selects or cancels proportional printing mode. n = 1 selects n = 0 cancels See Chapter 5 for further details and Appendix E for proportional width tables. This command overrides pica (10 cpi), elite (12 cpi), and fifteen (15 cpi) commands.
  • Page 162 ESC (space) Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Determines the amount of space added to the right of each charac- ter, specified in dots. The value of n is 0 to 127. n = number of dots ESC $ Format: ASCII code: Decimal :...
  • Page 163 ESC a Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: This sequence selects justification as follows: n = 0: Selects left justification n = 1: Selects right justification n = 2: Selects centering n = 3: Selects full justification The default setting is n = 0. Full justification (n = 3) is performed when the buffer becomes full.
  • Page 164 Graphics Note: See Chapter 6 for sample graphics programs. ESC K Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Turns on graphics mode with 480 possible dots per 8-inch line and 816 per 13.6-inch line. The values n1 and n2 specify the number of dot columns of graphics data to print by the formula n1 + (n2 X 256).
  • Page 165 ESC Y Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Turns on high-speed double-density graphics mode with 960 possi- ble dot positions per B-inch line and 1632 per 13.6-inch line. Will not print consecutive dots in a row. The values n1 and n2 specify the number of dot columns of graphics data to print by the formula n1 + (n2 X 256).
  • Page 166 ESC * Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Turns on graphics mode m. See Chapter 6 for details on the 11 modes available. The values n1 and n2 specify the number of dot columns of graphics data to print by the formula n1 + (n2 X 256). ESC ? Format: ASCII code:...

  • Page 167: User-Defined Character

    User-Defined Characters Note: See Chapter 6 for sample programs and further information. ESC & Format: ASCII code: Decimal: Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: This command allows characters to be re-defined in the currently selected mode. See Chapter 6 for details. ESC : Format: ASCII code: Decimal :...

  • Page 168: Msb Control

    MSB Control Note: MSB control does not work for graphics data. ESC # Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Cancels the MSB control set by ESC = or ESC >. ESC = (equal) Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal : Comments: Selects MSB as...

  • Page 169: Other Codes

    Other Codes Format: ASCII code: B E L Decimal: Hexadecimal: 07 Control: CTRL G Comments: Sounds the LQ beeper for Format: ASCII code: B S Decimal : Hexadecimal: 08 Control: CTRL Comments: Prints out data in the print buffer, then moves the print position one space to the left.
  • Page 170 CTRL Q Comments: Returns the printer to the on-line mode if it has been switched off by the printer deselect code, DC3. It will not switch the printer on-line if it has been switched off using the ON LINE switch on the control panel.
  • Page 171 Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Resets the printer to the power-on state, including top of page. Clears the buffer of all data entered before the command but not after. ( n ) Select Unidirectional Mode (one line) <...
  • Page 172 ESC U Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 1B Comments: Selects unidirectional printing for more accurate positioning during text printing. n = 1 selects the feature cancels it. (Graphics printing is always unidirectional.) ESC s Format: ASCII code: Decimal : Hexadecimal: 16 Comments: selects the mode...

  • Page 173: Index

    Note: See Appendix I for listings and descriptions of specific commands and ESCape sequences. American Standard Code for Information Interchange. See ASCII Applesoft BASIC, D-7 Applications programs, See Commercial software ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), 5-1—5-2 codes listed for all characters, B-1—B-4 Automatic test.
  • Page 174 Codes. See ASCII codes; Control codes; ESCape sequences; CHR$ function Commands. See Control codes Commercial software, 4-1—4-2, 6-1—6-2, 6-11 Compressed mode. See Condensed Computer-printer communications, 5-1—5-2, 5-4 Condensed mode, 5-9, A-3 Continuous-feed paper. See Paper loading Control codes listed by function, 1-4—I-30 listed by number, I-1—1-3...
  • Page 175 Elite mode, 5-5 Emphasized mode, 5-10 Environment, specifications for, H-3 Epson computers. See QX-10 and QX-16 Error warnings, D-4 ESCape sequences, 5-1—5-2 listed by function, I-4—I-30 listed by number, I-1—1-3 Expanded mode. See Double-width Extra line, D-3 Fifteen mode, 5-5 Firing of pins.
  • Page 176 Lever. See Paper release; Paper thickness; Pin feed LINE FEED button, 1-14 Lid. See Dust cover Line feed, DIP switch for, A-4 Line spacing, 5-17 Location of printer, 1-3 LQ. See Letter Quality Lubrication, D-8-D-9 Maintenance, D-8 cut sheet feeder, 2-13—2-14 Manual feed knob.
  • Page 177 Paper loading continuous-feed, 3-1, 3-3—3-8 single-sheet, 1-8—1-11 troubleshooting, D-1 Parallel interface, 1-17, F-1-F-4 Parts, printer, 1-1 Pica mode, 5-5 Pin-feed paper. See Paper loading, continuous-feed Pin-feed holder and pin-feed lever, 3-14 Pins, firing and numbering, 6-3—6-4 Pitches. See Widths also...
  • Page 178 Test. See Self test Top-of-form. See Top-of-page Top-of-page, 2-8, 3-8 Tractor, 3-1—3-11 installation, 3-2 removing, 3-11 Troubleshooting, D-1—D-7 cut sheet feeder, 2-12 Underline mode, 5-12 Unpacking your printer, 1-1 User-defined characters, 6-11—6-20 defining, 6-13 design grids, 6-11 printing, 6-16—6-20 Index-6 4-1-4-2...
  • Page 179 Vertical tabs. See Tabs Word processing, 4-1—4-2 Index-7...

  • Page 181: Select N/60-Inch Line Spacing

    Print Modes Code ESC x ESC SI ESC SO ESC W ESC M ESC P ESC g ESC E ESC F ESC G ESC H ESC SO ESC S1 ESC T ESC - ESC ! ESC 4 ESC 5 ESC R Page Formatting ESC Q ESC I...

  • Page 182: Select Unidirectional Mode

    Select User-Defined Set MSB Control Sequence Cancel MSB = 0 Setting MSB = 1 Setting Beeper Backspace Carriage Return Select Printer Deselect Printer Cancel Line Cut Sheet Feeder Control Select Unidirectional Mode (one line) Initialize Printer Select Unidirectional Mode Select Half-Speed Mode...

  • Page 183: Dip Switch Panel

    Table 1. DIP switch panel 1 Switch No. lnternational character set selection Select input buffer capacity Select printing style Condensed characters 1 -inch skip-over-perforation Cut sheet feeder mode Table 2. DIP switch panel 2 Table 3. International DIP switch settings* *There are five additional international character sets available through software commands-Japan, Norway Denmark II, Spain II, and Latin America.

  • Page 184: Limited Warranty

    Epson Service Center and bring the product securely packaged in its original container or an equivalent, along with proof of the date of original purchase, to your Epson Dealer or to an authorized Epson Service Center. Epson America, Inc. will, at its option, repair or replace on an exchange basis the defective unit, without charge for parts or labor.

This manual is also suitable for:

Lq-1000

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