HIGH SPEED BUSINESS PRINTER USER’S GUIDE EPSON AMERICA INC.
EPSON 420i HIGH SPEED BUSINESS PRINTER Epson America, Inc. Computer Products Division 2780 Lomita Blvd.
WARNING: “This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class b computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules. Only computers certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this printer. Operation with noncertified computers is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception.
INTRODUCTION The Epson 420i is a high speed business printer which is usable with almost all commercial software, including word processing and graphics programs. By changing one switch on the back of the printer, either the Epson Printer mode or the IBM Graphics Printer mode is selectable. The two modes differ in character sets and some printer commands. In contrast with the IBM Graphics Printer, the Epson 420i prints italic characters.
PRECAUTIONS FOR USE • When using fan fold paper, the friction lever should be positioned to the front. • Do not apply undue force to the transparent printer cover. • Do not use a power supply voltage which is out of the specified range. • Do not touch the printhead immediately after printing because it is too hot. • Never close the openings of the upper enclosure or place the printer where these openings are next to a wall. • Be careful not to twist the ribbon while installing it.
CONTENTS OUTLINE ............................................................................... SWITCHES AND LAMPS ...................................................... REPLACEMENT OF THE RIBBON CASSETTE PAPER SETTING 4 6 ................................................................... 9 ................................................................ 13 ........................................................ 18 .............................................................. 22 ..........
OUTLINE PRINTING OPERATION 1. Printing Method Impact dot matrix Bidirectional logic seeking printing 2. Printhead 8 Pins 3. Character Fonts (140 characters in each font) Standard Italic High quality (correspondence) Italic high quality Superscript / subscript Italic superscript / subscript IBM graphics fonts 4. Graphic Printing Standard Double-Density High-Density Horizontal n n n x Vertical (maximum value of n is 816) x8 (maximum value of n is 1632) x8 (maximum value of n is 1632) x 16 5.
Detailed Summary of Character Fonts 2
6. Paper Feed Function and Form Width Pin feed method (form width may vary) 5”-15.5” 11” Friction feed method 7. Line Feed Pitch Minimum 1/180” 8. Line Feed Speed 60 lines/second - when 6 lines/inch is selected 75 lines/second - when 7.5 lines/inch is selected 9. Copies Original plus 4 copies, non-carbon, total thickness 0.3mm or less 10. Ribbon Cassette style, single color Other Specifications 1. Power Supply 2. Temperature (during operation) 3. Humidity (during operation) 4. External Dimensions 5.
SWITCHES AND LAMPS 1. POWER Switch The power switch is located at the rear, right-hand side of the printer. 2. ON-LINE Switch Pressing this switch selects either ON-LINE (green indicator on) or OFF-LINE (green indicator off) state. If in the OFF-LINE state, the printer outputs a busy signal. The print-head returns to the home position when entering the ON-LINE state from the OFF-LINE state. 3. LF Switch (LINE FEED) Each time this switch is pressed, a 1/6 inch line feed is performed.
Settings 1 to 9 have priority over the software designation. Software selection will be ignored after setting this switch to 1~ 9. If the switch selection is altered during printing, it will become effective after the current print command is executed. 8. RESET Switch When this switch is pressed, the printer enters the reset state. When released, the initialization operation is performed once again, This puts the printer in the same condition as at power-on. 9. POWER Lamp (Green) Lights up when power is on.
RIBBON CASSETTE REPLACEMENT Installing the Ribbon Cassette 1. Open the printer cover and push the paper pressure bar toward the platen as shown in Fig. 1. Fig.
2. Set the head adjustment lever all the way forward. This lever may be moved easily by pushing it outward. 3. To attach the ribbon cassette to the printer, hold the ribbon cassette knobs in both hands and press the ribbon into position between the ribbon mask and the printhead. Make sure that the ribbon is not twisted. Fig. 2 4. Tighten the ribbon by twisting the ribbon feed knob in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3). Make sure that the ribbon is properly positioned in the guide as shown below. Fig.
Removing the Ribbon Cassette 1. Push the paper pressure bar towards the platen side. Pull the head adjustment lever forward. Fig. 5 2. As shown in Fig. 6, hold the ribbon cassette in both hands and pull the ribbon cassette upward. Fig.
PAPER SETTING 1. Rear feed (friction/tractor type)-used for fan-fold form, multiple copy sheets 2. Bottom feed (tractor type)-used for fan-fold, multiple copy sheets Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Rear Feed Tractor Paper Setting 1. Attach the paper rack to the rear of the printer by inserting it into the two holes located there, as shown in Fig. 8. Connect the ground wire. It is located between the paper rack and the power cable receptacle’s right-hand screw (shown in Fig. 8).
2. Pull the paper pressure bar forward. Pull the tractor forward until it clicks. At this time make sure that the friction lever is in the forward position marked as “PIN FEED.” (The form is free to move.) Fig. 9 3. Insert the paper into the back of the printer following the paper feed path 1 as shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 4. Push the tractor into its original position (until it clicks). If the tractor lock levers, located at either side of the tractor shaft, are pushed up as shown in Fig.
5. Open both tractor lids, adjust the form holes so they match the tractor pins, and then close the tractor lids. 6. Determine the proper horizontal positions of the tractors, and then pull the tractor lock lever forward to lock it into this position. Fig. 12 7. Push the paper pressure bar towards the platen 8. For one part fan fold paper, the head adjustment lever is usually set at position 2. However, when printing an original plus 4 copies, it should be moved 3 or 4 clicks forward. 9. As shown in Fig.
Note 1: Recommended paper position is shown below. INCORRECT CORRECT Failure to position the paper correctly as shown above may result in a paper jam. Note 2: The head adjustment lever on the right base plate is used to find the best printing quality by shifting it back and forth in line with the paper thickness. Bottom Feed Tractor Paper Setting The bottom feed tractor paper setting is illustrated as path 2 in Fig. 7. Because the form is fed in from the bottom, a special type of desk is required. 1.
MAIN FUNCTIONS Detection Functions 1. Cover Switch The printer cover open/close detection switch puts the printer in the OFF-LINE state. It outputs a BUSY signal when the cover is opened. If the cover is opened during printing, printing is terminated after the current line is finished, and the OFF-LINE state is entered. When the cover is closed and the ON-LINE switch is pressed, the ON-LINE state is entered and printing is resumed.
Self Test Printing If the ON-LINE switch is pressed at power-on and held until the initialization operation ends, a given pattern is printed repeatedly. During printing, the printer is in the OFF-LINE state. To terminate printing, press the ON-LINE switch until the printing stops. When the switch is released, the printer performs the initialization operation, enters the ON-LINE state, and the ON-LINE lamp goes on.
SELF TEST PRINT EXAMPLE (EPSON MODE)
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Double-Strike Printing In the double-strike mode, the second dot is printed 1/120 inch down from the initial dot on a vertical line. The double-strike process requires 2 passes of the printhead. Example: (DOUBLE-STRIKE) (STANDARD) Buffer This printer is equipped with an 18K-byte communication buffer which allows the reception of data during printing. Thus, even for large data transfers the computer is free to perform other tasks.
PARALLEL INTERFACE Input Connector Cable side connector Printer side connector Signal Diagram DDK 36 pin 57-30360-D8 or equivalent DDK 36 pin 57-40360-12 or equivalent Signal Descriptions 1. Input Signals to the Printer. * DATA 1-DATA 8 8-bit data signal, with “1” being HIGH. * STROBE Strobe signal used to read 8 bits of data. Data is input when the signal is LOW. * INITIAL Puts the printer into its initial state. This signal is usually HIGH.
(a) While performing initialization operations. (b) While the printer is inputting data with the STROBE signal. (c) During self test printing. (d) When the printer is in the OFF-LINE state. (At this time, the ON-LINE lamp is not lit: 1) If the printer cover is open; 2) paper supply is depleted or P.EMPTY lamp is lit; 3) an error is detected or the POWER Lamp is blinking; 4) the ON-LINE switch is pressed.
2. Input / Output Conditions (a) Input Signals • INITIAL signal and STROBE signal (b) Output Signals • BUSY, ACK, ERROR, P.EMP signals. 3. Signal Cable Length The maximum length is 2 meters. All the signal lines should be run as twisted pairs with the GND lines.
Timing Chart (a) Data input (b) Initialization DIP Swtich Setting The parallel interface is selected when DIP switches 1-1 and 1-2 are set as follows: 21
SERIAL INTERFACE Input Connector Cable side connector 25 pin (male) Printer side connector 25 pin D-SUB type (female) Note 2) Note 2) Note 1) Note 1) Note 1: As shipped from the factory CTS, DSR, and DC are NC (NO CONNECTION). If DSR or CD is to be used, perform the following to the jumpers J1, J2, J4 and J5 on the circuit board in the printer. • If DSR is to be used, cut J2 and connect a jumper at J5. • If CD is to be used, cut J1 and connect a jumper at J4.
Input/Output Signal Descriptions 1. Printer Input Signals * RD (RECEIVED DATA) This line is the data reception line for the serial signals from the computer. The data consists of a start bit, data (parity bit), and stop bit. Data length 7/8 bits. With/without parity bit. Odd/even parity Selectable by DIP switches * CTS (CLEAR TO SEND) A data transmission control signal, NC (No Connection). OFF: Data transmission may not be performed. ON: Data transmission is possible.
Electrial Conditions 1. Signal Level ON OFF Space Mark +3V ~ +15V -3V~-15V 2. Input/Output Conditions • Input signal • Output signal Handshake Protocol Handshake protcol is selected by the DIP switch settings as show in in the table below 1. READY/BUSY Protocol The DTR line indicates the READY/BUSY state of the printer. It outputs an ON (+ 12V) in the READY state, and an OFF (-12V) in the BUSY state.
3. ETXlACK Protocol The printer sends an ACK (O6HEX) to the computer in response to the data block separated by ETX (03HEX) which was sent by the computer. If the communication buffer space goes below 4K bytes, ACK is not sent. If the buffer space is more than 4K bytes, ACK is sent through the TR line. The ACK’s output data format is the same structure as the input data.
DIP SWITCH SETTING The Epson 420i has two banks of eight DIP switches located on the back of the printer next to the interface connectors. The switch banks are labeled 1 and 2, with the individual switches in each bank labeled from 1 to 8. To identify a particular switch we use a two part number consisting of the bank number followed by the switch number. For example, 2-4 identifies the fourth switch from the top in bank number 2. BANK 1 BANK 2 DIP switches.
* Baud Rate Selection * Parity Selection * Parity Error Selection DIP Switch Bank 2 This bank of switches selects some of the other features of the Epson 420i. These switches may be left in the OFF position as they come from the factory, or you may wish to change some of the switch settings to select different features. First you must decide if you want to use the Epson FX mode or the IBM Graphics Printer mode, determined by Switch 2-4.
* Skip-over Perforation Selection Skip Perforation Skip-over perforation SW 2-3 Disabled OFF Enabled ON * Operating Mode Selection Printer Mode Select operating mode SW 2-4 Epson Printer OFF IBM Graphics Printer ON Note: Switch 2-4 changes several functions of the printer. See the differences between the Epson Printer mode and the IBM Graphics Printer mode (page 36 .) * International Character Set Selection Note: Switch 2-8 is not used.
The international character set selection does not become valid until the printer is turned ON once again.
CODE TABLE The control code tables for the Epson and IBM (character set 1 and 2) modes are shown below.
CODE TABLE (IBM CHARACTER SET 1) 31
CODE TABLE (IBM CHARACTER SET 2) Note: Encircled characters are selected by the DIP switches.
CONTROL CODE SUMMARY CATEGORY PRINT COMMANDS ITEM SYMBOLS HEX (DECIMAL) CODE CHARACTER DESIGNATIONS CHARACTER FORMAT DESIGNATIONS DOUBLE-WIDTH MODE 33 FUNCTION
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Relationship among the font, bold, double-strike and double-width functions is shown in the table below. 0: Can be used simultaneously x: Cannot be used simultaneously The bold and double-strike modes may not be entered simultaneously. The last mode input has priority. In all print modes, the double-width mode may be used simultaneously with the bold or double-strike print modes.
Differences between the Epson Printer mode and the IBM Graphics Printer mode Selecting one of the two mode (Epson Printer or IBM Graphics Printer mode) changes several things about the way the Epson 420i operates. The following functions change when you change the setting of Switch 2-4. 1. The character set changes. The IBM Graphics Printer mode supports the extended IBM Graphics Printer character set. There are two versions of this character set and you choose the one you want with Switch 2.
PRINT MODE FLOWCHART * 16 CPI refers to condensed printing Note: 1) Italic print mode is set by and terminated by 2) This flow chart is valid only when the MODE dial switch is set to ‘0’. If any other is selected, the software designations of the above are ignored.
CONTROL CODE EXPLANATION Print Commands 1. (0D)H (13)D, (8D)H (141)D Input of this code initiates printing. DIP SW2-2 indicates whether or not a line-feed is to be performed after printing. When no print data is input, the printhead does not move. Print data input after this print command has been performed is printed at the beginning of the line. If a line-feed is to be performed and if the mode) is set, that mode is deleted. 2.
Character Designation Commands 6. (1B, 50)H (27, 80)D, (9B, D0)H (155, 208)D Input of this code selects the 10 CPI pica print mode. 7. (1B, 4D)H (27, 77)D, (9B, CD)H (155, 205)D Input of this code selects the 12 CPI elite print mode. 8. (0F)H (15)D, (8F)H (143)D Input of this code selects the 16 CPI standard condensed print mode 9. (1B, 0F)H (27, 15)D, (9B, 8F)H (155, 143)D Same as 10.
15. (1B, 21, n)H (27, 33, n)F This code allows you to select multiple print styles (i.e., pica-italic-underlined) with one command. The value of n determines the style selected. To determine a value of n, add the values given for the print styles that you want to use from the table below. (Note that some styles can’t be combined.
19. (1B, 48)H (27, 72)D, (9B, C8)H (155, 200)D This code terminates double-strike mode. 20. (1B, 58, n)H (27, 88, n)D, (98, D8, n)H (155, 216, n)D This code selects high quality (correspondence) print mode. Selects high quality print mode. n = (01)H or (31)H Terminates high quality print mode n = (00)H or (30)H This code is valid only in standard pica and standard elite print modes. 21. (1B, 78, n)H (27,120,n)D This code selects correspondence quality print (n = 1) or draft print (n = 0). 22.
28. (14)H (20)D, (94)H (148)D This code terminates the double-width print mode 29. code. (1B, 57, n)H (27, 87, n)D, (9B, D7, n)H (155, 215, n)D This code is a double-width print mode code that is not terminated by the line-feed. This code clears them mode. n = (01) or (31) n = (00) or (30) Selects double-width print mode. Terminates double-width print mode. Graphic Printing Commands Do not select 7-bit mode in graphic printing. 30.
32. (1B, 6B, n1, n2)H (27,107, n1, n2)D, (9B, EB, n1, n2)H (155, 235, n1, n2)D This code selects high density graphic mode. The maximum number of vertical dots is 16 and the maximum of horizontal dots is 1632. The n1 and n2 are binary numbers that display the graphic data number. Note that 16 vertical dots require 2 bytes of data, but they are considered as a single data block. The relationship between graphic data and the printed dots is shown below 33.
35. (1B, 5A, n1, n2)H (27, 90, n1, n2)D This code prints quadruple-density dot graphics at 240 dots per inch. The values of n1 and n2 define the number of bytes of data according to the formula n1 + n2*256. Each byte of data controls the printhead pins in one vertical row of dots. The maximum number of bytes of data is 3264. Horizontal Tab Commands 36. (1B, 44, n1, n2, .... nk, 00)H (27, 68, n1, n2, . . . nk, 0)D, (9B, C4, n1, n2, .... nk, 00)H, (155, 196, n1, n2, ....
39. (1B, 6C, n)H (27,108, n)D, (9B, EC, n)H (155, 236, n)D This code sets the left margin, The n selects the column with the present character width as the base. This code is ignored if the value of n exceeds a single line. This code clears the print data input already and the horizontal tabs.. If the left and right margins overlap, the one input first is considered valid Page Length Setting Commands The length of the page at power-on is selected by the FORM switch.
44. (1B, 2F, m)H (27, 47, m)D, (9B, AF, m)H (155, 175, m)D 0 [ m [ 7. This code selects the vertical tab channel. When m = 0, the vertical tabs set by are used. The code is used to move to the vertical tab positions. Line-Feed Value Setting Commands 45. (1B, 30)H (27, 48)D, (9B, B0)H (155, 176)D This code sets the line-feed pitch to 1/8 inch. 46. (1B, 31)H (27, 49)D, (9B, B1)H (155, 177)D This code sets the line-feed pitch to 7/60 inch. 47.
Buffer Clear Command 52. (18)H (24)D, (98)H (152)D This code deletes the print data that has already been input. However, the control codes are still valid. Back Space Commands 53. (08)H (08)D, (88)H (136)D This code prints the contents of the buffer. The printing initiation position is moved to the left by a single character width, determined by the present character width setting. This code is ignored in proportional print mode. 54.
Data Delete Command 59. (7F)H (127)D, (FF)H (255)D This code deletes one character worth of data. This code is ignored during the proportional print mode. Home Position Command 60. (1B, 3C)H (27, 60)D, (9B, BC)H (155, 188)D This code moves the print head to the home position. International Character Set Command 61. (1B, 52, n)H (27, 82, n)D (Epson mode only) In the Epson Printer mode, this command selects from one of the 8 international character sets as shown in the table below.
Print Direction Command 64. (1B, 55, n)H (27, 85, n)D, (9B, D5, n)H (155, 213, n)D This code selects unidirectional printing from the left to the right. Graphic mode is also printed unidirectionally. Selects unidirectional printing n = (01)H or (31)H Selects bidirectional logic seeking printing n = (00)H or (30)H When power is turned on, or when the RESET switch is pressed, the bidirectional printing is selected. This function can also be selected by operating switches.
PROGRAM EXAMPLES 50
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11. Termination of condensed 13. Subscript 14. Termination of superscript/subscript Refer to 13.
15. Elite, double-strike, italic 16. Bold 17. Termination of bold Refer to 16.
18. 19. Double-strike Termination of Double-strike Refer to 18.
20. 21.
22. Italic 23. Termination of Italic Refer to 22.
24. IBM character Set 1 25.
26. Double width 27. Double-width Refer to 26. 26. Termination of double-width Refer to 26. 29.
30. Standard graphic 31. Double-density graphic 32.
33.
34. High-speed, double-density dot graphics 35.
36. Horizontal tab setting 37. Horizontal tab 38.
40. Page length in lines 41. Page length in inches Refer to 3. 42. Vertical tab setting Refer to 4.
43. Channel vertical tab setting 44.
45. 1/8 inch line feed 46. 7/60 inch line feed 47.
50.
51. Underline 52. Buffer clear 53.
54. 8th bit 0 (Epson only) 55.
56. 8th bit valid (Epson only) 57.
56. Termination of skip-over perforation Refer to 57. 59. Data delete 60. Home positioning 61.
62. Buzzer 63.
APPENDIX INPUT DATA DUMP IN HEXADECIMAL There is a function of printing input data from a computer in hexadeciamal codes. Therefore, it is possible to check the data the printer has received. To perform this function, keep pushing both the LF and the FF switches at power-on till the initialization operation ends. Hereafter, 16 bytes of input data will be printed a line at a time due to the function of the automatic printing provided.
LIMITED WARRANTY Epson America, Inc. hereby warrants that it will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the Epson product with which this warranty is enclosed which proves defective by reason of improper workmanship and/or material, without charge for parts or labor, for a period of one (1) year.
EPSON EPSON AMERICA INC.
