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FormsPro 4300, FormsPro 4500
and FormsPro 4503
SERIAL MATRIX PRINTERS
Operation Manual
Copyright © 1994
Printek, Inc.
1517 Townline Road
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(616) 925-3200 Printek Part Number 2975
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USER NOTIFICATION OF FCC RULES PART 15, SUBPART A FOR CLASS A DEVICES (Sections 15.105 and 15.21) This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A Digital Device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance w
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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1- 1 HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL 1- 1 CHAPTER 2 - INSTALLATION AND QUICK SETUP 2- 1 SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE INSTALLATION LOCATION 2- 1 INSTALLING THE RIBBON 2- 3 INSTALLING PAPER 2- 5 TESTING THE PRINTER 2- 8 CONNECTING THE PRINTER TO A COMPUTER 2- 8 Entering the Interface Menu at the Control Panel 2- 9 MATCHING THE PRINTER TO YOUR APPLICATION SOFTWARE 2-11 CHAPTER 3 - OPERATION 3- 1 INTRODUCTION 3- 1 CONTROL PANEL DISPLAY AND INDICATORS 3- 1 CONTROL PANEL BUTTONS 3-
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Table of Contents APPENDIX B - OPTIONAL RS-422 INTERFACE B- 1 APPENDIX C - OPTIONAL COAXIAL/TWINAXIAL INTERFACE C- 1 COAXIAL OPERATION C- 1 Option Switches When Configured for Coaxial Operation C- 2 TWINAXIAL OPERATION C- 4 Option Switches When Configured for Twinaxial Operation C- 5 Twinaxial Address Switch C- 5 Twinaxial Installation Preparation C- 6 Getting On-line C- 6 Twinaxial Verification Problems C- 7 COAXIAL/TWINAXIAL INTERFACE DIAGNOSTICS C- 8 APPENDIX D - OPTIONAL BUFFER EXPANSION D-
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INTRODUCTION HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL This manual provides information on how to install and operate your FormsPro 4000 series printer. Below is a brief description of the information that is presented in each section. For your convenience, a glossary of printer related terms is included at the back of this manual. Introduction Provides you with an introduction to the capabilities and operation of the FormsPro 4300, FormsPro 4500 and the FormsPro 4503 printers. Installation and Quick Setup Helps
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Introduction PRINTER MODEL DESCRIPTIONS AND KEY FEATURES The Printek FormsPro 4000 series printers are heavy duty serial dot matrix printers. The FormsPro 4300 is a medium speed printer and the FormsPro 4500 and FormsPro 4503 are high-speed printers. They have been specifically designed for printing on hard to print forms which are often not printed adequately by other printers. Of course, the FormsPro 4000 series printers will also print on lighter forms. All models provide straight paper pa
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INSTALLATION AND QUICK SETUP SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE INSTALLATION LOCATION The FormsPro 4000 series printers are designed to be installed on a Printek print stand, or on an open-top print stand that allows paper to be fed through the paper supply slot on the bottom of the printer. Since the printer also draws air through this slot for cooling, make sure that no part of the print stand obstructs this slot. After cooling the electronics, the motors, and the print head, the air is exhausted thro
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Installation and Quick Setup 1. Power Switch on Side of Printer. 2. Power Cord Connector. 3. Mounting Screws for Static Suppression Tinsel. Page 2-2
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Installation and Quick Setup INSTALLING THE RIBBON To install the ribbon, first lift the lid on the top of the printer; then lift the ribbon loading bail as shown below. 1 2 1. Ribbon Loading Bail in up (open) position. 2. Ribbon Support Brackets. Unpack the ribbon from its shipping container and remove the retainer from the slot on top of the cartridge if present. Make sure the ribbon fabric is not twisted where it enters the cartridge; then tighten the ribbon by turning the knob on top of t
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Installation and Quick Setup Ribbon Cartridge Installation. Next lower the ribbon loading bail as shown below. This automatically places the ribbon between the ribbon guides and the print head as the print head is placed back into the printing position. Lowering (closing) Ribbon Loading Bail. Page 2-4
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Installation and Quick Setup INSTALLING PAPER If the printer is not currently turned on, push the ON-1 side of the power switch on the right side of the printer. After you turn on the printer, it performs several self tests. If the printer is a FormsPro 4503, these tests also make sure that the tractors are properly positioned after shipment. Paper is installed through the slot in the bottom of the printer. To open the unit so you can install paper, pull outward on the bottom of the lower fro
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Installation and Quick Setup To load paper or forms, open the door on each tractor and position the holes in the paper over the pins in the tractors; then close the doors. If the tractors are not set at the proper width for the paper you are loading, simply move the lever beside the tractor door to the open position and the tractor(s) will slide sideways. The tractors should be spaced far enough apart so that the paper does not buckle in the center, but not so tight that the holes in the paper
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Installation and Quick Setup FormsPro 4503 With Forms in All Tractor Paths. Center Path Positioned for Loading. Page 2-7
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Installation and Quick Setup TESTING THE PRINTER When you turn the printer on, it automatically performs a series of self tests to assure that the electronics and printer mechanisms are operational. In the FormsPro 4503, the shuttle mechanism, which positions the tractors, also realigns itself if there is no paper installed or the paper is not positioned above the tear bar. If you wish to perform an actual printing test, perform the following steps to print a barberpole test pattern: 1. Load pl
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Installation and Quick Setup When the printer is shipped from the factory, the default configurations for these interfaces are as shown below. If these are not appropriate for your installation, refer to the "Parallel Interface" or "RS-232C Interface" sections which follow, or to one of the appendices if you are using an optional interface. Parallel and RS-232 Interface Mode: Epson I/O: Parallel Data Bits: 8 RS-422 Interface Mode: Epson Baud Rate: 9600 Data Bits: 8 Parity: None XON/XOFF: On Coa
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Installation and Quick Setup Parallel Interface The 36-pin connector for the parallel interface is located on the rear of the printer immediately above the power cord connector. Connect a shielded cable between your computer and this connector. The pin-out for this connecter is shown in the following diagram. Pin Signal Definition Pin Signal Definition ____________________ 1 DATA STROBE A host generated signal 11 BUSY A printer generated 19 DATA STROBE which signals that data 29 BUSY RTN* sign
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Installation and Quick Setup RS-232C Serial Interface A 25-pin female “D” type connector is located on the rear of the printer immediately to the right of the 36-pin parallel connector (or above it if the coaxial/twinaxial interface is installed). Connect a shielded cable between your computer and this connector. The pin-out for this connector is shown below. Pin Signal 1 Chassis ground. 2 Transmit data. (Printer output). 3 Receive data. (Printer input). 4 Request to send (set). (Printer ou
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Installation and Quick Setup other printers being emulated. To review the list of control codes and escape sequences supported by these emulations, refer to the appropriate section in the Programmer's Manual. The Programmer’s Manual may be obtained by returning the request form packed with the printer. To complete the initial setup of your printer, you will need to know which set of control codes and escape sequences your applications will use to control the printer. Refer to your computer and
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Installation and Quick Setup Selecting DEC LA 120-RA Emulation Enter the interface menu as previously described. Press the FUNCTION UP button to display “Mode: n”. Then use the VALUE buttons to select “LA-120”. Press SETUP again to exit the setup mode and reset the printer. LA-120 emulation is now selected. Selecting TTY Emulation Enter the interface menu as previously described. Press the FUNCTION UP button to display “Mode: n”. Then use the VALUE buttons to select “TTY”. Press SETUP agai
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