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®
TM
LX-86 PRINTER
User's Manual
EPSON
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FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such i
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Contents vii List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . Vii i List of Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Introduction ............................... . 1 ............................. . X-86 Features L 2 ......................... . About This Manual ................ . 3 1 Setting Up Your LX-86 Printer 3 ............................. . Printer Parts. . 4 ............................ . 4 ................. . Paper Feed Knob
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...... . 33 IX-86 Features ..................... . 5 ...... . 33 Demonstration Programs ............. . ...... . 34 Pica Printing. ...................... . ...... . 35 Changing Pitches ................... . ...... . 35 ................... . ...... . 36 Resetting the Printer ................ . ...... . 36 Pitch Comparison. .................. . ...... . 37 Near Letter Quality Mode ............ . 39 ...... . 6 Print Enhancements and Special Characters 39 ............................... . 39 .......
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................. . 71 Introduction to Dot Graphics 9 72 ............................... . Dot Patterns 73 Print Head ................................ . 73 Graph&Mode ............................. . 74 Pin Labels ................................. . ...................... . 76 First Graphics Program. 76 ....................... . Multiple-Line Exercise ........................... . 78 ........................... . 79 ................. . 79 Column Reservation Numbers 80 ......................... .
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......... . F-l F Troubleshooting and Advanced Features .................. . F l Problem / Solution Summary F-l Setting print styles ........................ . F l Tabbing ................................ . F l ................................ . F 3 Paper-out sensor .......................... . F-3 ....................... . F-3 Data Dump Mode .......................... . F5 Coding Solutions ........................... . ................. . F6 Solutions for Specific Systems ................. . F
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List of Figures ............................... . 3 l-l Printer parts .................. . 5 l-2 Paper feed knob installation ............................ . l-3 Ribbon cassette. ......................... . 6 l-4 Print head assembly ................... . 7 Ribbon cassette installation .......................... . 8 l-6 Ribbon placement ................. . 9 l-7 IX-86 ready for paper loading .............................. . 10 l-8 Control panel 12 ............................... . l-9 Test pattern
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E-l ........... . Continuous paper with printer stand. E-2 ............... . E-2 Continuous paper without stand E-2 .......................... . Tractor placement. E-3 ............... . E-3 E-4 Paper separator and paper guide E-4 ......................... . Tractor release levers E-5 ................... . E-5 E-6 Pin feed holder adjustment ......................... . Open pin feed cover E-7 E-6 ........................ . Top of page position. E-8 I-3 I-l Parallel interface timing ...............
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Introduction printer combines low price with the high quality The Epson IX-86 and advanced features formerly available only on more expensive LX-86 Features In addition to the high performance and reliability you’ve come to expect from Epson printers, the LX-86 offers: l Draft mode for quick printing of ordinary work l Near Letter Quality mode for top quality printing l Selection of typestyles with the control panel l Fast printing (120 characters per second in draft pica) l A variety of print s
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About This Manual We’re not going to waste your time with unnecessary information, but we won’t neglect anything you need to know about the Ix-86 and its many features. You can read as much or as little of this manual as you wish. If you have used printers before and have a specific program that you want to use with the LX-86, a quick reading of the first chapter may be all you need. If, on the other hand, you are new to computers and printers, you will find this manual easy to follow and the LX
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Chapter 1 Setting Up Your LX-86 Printer Setting up your LX-86 printer is a simple matter of attaching two parts, putting in the ribbon and paper, and connecting the printer to your computer. This chapter will have you printing a test pattern within fifteen to twenty minutes and doing more complicated work not long after. 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-l. * In the United States,
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In addition to the items in the box, you need a cable and possibly an interface board. The cable connects the printer to your computer, and the interface board is necessary only for those computers that ® can’t use the LX-86’s Centronics paralle1 interface. Your computer manual or your dealer will tell you which cable you need and whether or not you need a special interface. Printer Location Now that you have unpacked your printer, you should choose a suitable location for it. The main requirem
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Figure 1-2. Paper feed knob installation Ribbon Installation The LX-86 printer uses a continuous-loop, inked fabric ribbon, which is enclosed in a cassette that makes ribbon installation and replacement a clean and easy job. The parts of this cassette are labelled in Figure l-3. Ribbon Knob Pin Pi n Figure l-3. Ribbon cassette 5
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To install the ribbon, first open the lid at the front of the LX-86 so that you can see the print head assembly shown in Figure l-4. Move the assembly by hand to the center of the printer so that the other parts of the printer will not get in your way. Also be sure that the paper bail is against the black roller so it too will not be in your way. Note: Moving the print head by hand when the printer is turned on can harm the printer. Always be sure that the printer is turned off before you move t
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Then hold the ribbon cassette so that the small knob is on top and the exposed section of ribbon is away from you. Insert the cassette in its holder by first sliding the pins at the back of the ribbon cassette under the small hooks on the holder. (See Figure l-5.) Then lower the front of the cassette so that the exposed section of ribbon can fit between the print head nose and the silver ribbon guide. Push down until the cassette fits firmly in place. Figure 1-5. Ribbon cassette installation 7
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Now turn the knob on the cassette in the direction of the arrow to tighten the ribbon. As you turn the knob, see that the ribbon slips down into its proper place between the print head nose and the silver ribbon guide (Figure l-6). If it doesn’t, guide it with a pen or a pencil. Figure l-6. Ribbon placement Ribbon Replacement When your printing begins to become light and you need to re- place the ribbon, lift the front of the cassette to remove it and then follow the above instructions with a ne
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Paper Loading Now put a sheet of paper in your LX-86 so you can test it. Figure that you need to know. l-7 shows the names of the parts Friction lever Figure l-7. LX-86 ready for paper loading 9
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See that the printer is turned off, open the front lid, and push the friction lever back and the paper bail forward. Then move the print head by hand to the center of the printer and feed the paper into the paper slot in the top of the printer. When the paper will not go any farther, turn the paper feed knob to advance it as you would with a typewriter. Turn the knob until the top of the paper is at least 3/4-inch above the ribbon guide. Then push the paper bail against the paper. If the paper b
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Lights l l The READY light glows green when the printer is ready to accept data. This light flickers somewhat during printing. • The PAPER OUT light glows red to indicate that the printer is out of paper or the paper is loaded incorrectly. • The ON LINE light glows green when the printer can receive data. Buttons (Near Letter Quality) printing. Draft is good for quick printing of ordinary work, and NLQ has more fully-formed characters for final copies or special purposes. This is high-quality N
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Test Pattern Now you’ll see your Lx-86 print something even though it’s not and that the power switch is off. Now, hold down the LINE FEED button on the control panel while you turn the printer on with the power switch. The Lx-86 will begin printing all the letters, numbers and other mode. When the printing starts, you can release the LINE FEED button; head gets near the end of the page. To see the same test in the NLQ (Near Letter Quality) mode, turn the printer on while holding down the FORM F
