® Laser Printer User’s Guide All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio and television reception.
Printer Parts top cover latch AC inlet optional LocalTalk/ Serial interface access cover parallel C interface optional interface card slot cover parallel B interface imaging cartridge guides control panel fuser paper stopper power switch front cover
Contents Introduction PostScript Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . LJ4 Plus or GL2 (PCL5e) Mode Fonts How to Use Your Manuals . . . . . . Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . Electronic Support Services . . . Energy Star Compliance . . . . . . . Energy-saving Tips . . . . . . . . Important Safety Instructions . . . . Laser Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing and Using the Windows NT 3.51 Drivers . . . . . . . 2-17 Installing the EPSONScript Driver for Windows NT . . . . 2-18 Installing the EPL-N1200 Driver for Windows NT . . . . . . 2-20 Chapter 3 Using the Control Panel Reading the Indicator Lights . . . . Using the Control Panel Buttons . . Using OneTouch Modes . . . . . . . OneTouch Mode Settings . . . . Using SelecType . . . . . . . . . . . Changing SelecType Settings . . SelecType Menu Tables . . . . . . . Test Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5 Maintenance Replacing the Imaging Cartridge Adjusting the RITech Setting . . Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 . 5-5 . 5-8 . 5-10 Diagnosing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reading Control Panel Display Messages . . . . . . . . . Using Hex Dump Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper Feeding Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fixing Paper Jams in the Built-in Paper Tray . . . . . . .
Introduction Your EPSON® EPL-N1200 is a PostScript®-compatible, 600-dpi laser printer that uses EPSON’s latest quality-enhancement and energy-efficiency technologies to print crisp, clean output at up to 12 pages per minute. The built-in EPSONScript Level 2 interface lets you print any document formatted for PostScript output, including professional graphics formats and special effects.
PostScript Fonts Your printer includes the standard 35 PostScript fonts. When you install the EPSONScript software, the screen fonts that match the printer fonts are also installed, ensuring that the screen display matches the final printed output. You select fonts from the Font menu of your software application. In most cases, a screen font has the same name as the corresponding printer font.
LJ4 Plus or GL2 (PCL5e) Mode Fonts The EPL-N1200 includes a number of resident fonts that you can use in the LJ4 Plus or GL2 (PCL5e) emulations, as listed below. When you select these fonts in your application, choose the font name listed in the “HP equivalent name” column.
For information about the resident fonts available for other emulation modes, see the Technical Information manual. How to Use Your Manuals For instructions on setting up your printer, connecting it to your computer, and installing your printer software, see the Quick Setup card. This User’s Guide contains the information you need to use your printer and control it with the Windows printer driver or the printer’s control panel.
Appendix A, “Specifications,” provides technical details on the EPL-N1200 printer. An Index is included at the end of the book. Warnings, Cautions, and Notes You’ll find this information throughout your manual set: w c Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment. Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer.
For answers to commonly asked questions about EPSON products 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call EPSON Sound Advice at (800) 442-2110. You can purchase manuals, accessories, and parts for EPSON products from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). In Canada, call (800) 873-7766 for a dealer referral. If you need help using software with an EPSON product, see the documentation for that program for technical support information.
EPSON Fax-on-Demand service You can access EPSON’s technical information library by calling (800) 442-2110 or (800) 922-8911 and selecting the appropriate phone option. You must provide a return fax number to use Fax-on-Demand. EPSON Forum on CompuServe Members of CompuServe® can type GO EPSON at the menu prompt to reach CompuServe’s Epson America Forum.
❑ Turn off your computer, printer, and monitor each day when you are done using them. ❑ Use the print preview option in your software so you can catch errors before you print something. ❑ If you have an electronic mail system available to you, send e-mail rather than distributing memos. Not only is this faster, but you’ll save paper and storage space too. ❑ Use the printer’s low power consumption standby mode to save energy when you’re not using your printer for a while; see Chapter 2 for details.
❑ Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off. ❑ Do not let the power cord become damaged or frayed. ❑ If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make sure the total of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.
CDRH regulations The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration implemented regulations for laser products on August 2, 1976. Compliance is mandatory for products marketed in the United States. The label shown below indicates compliance with the CDRH regulations and must be attached to laser products marketed in the United States.
Internal laser radiation This is a Class IIIb Laser Diode Assembly that has an invisible laser beam. The printer head unit is NOT A FIELD SERVICE ITEM. Therefore, the printer head unit should not be opened under any circumstances. Maximum Radiation Power: Wave Length: 5.0 × 10- 4 W 780 ± 20 nm Ozone safety Ozone gas is generated by laser printers as a by-product of the printing process; it is produced only during printing. The recommended exposure limit for ozone is 0.
Laser precautions This printer uses laser technology. The following list of precautions applies whenever you open the printer cover. Even if you are familiar with other types of printers, be sure to follow these precautions carefully to ensure safe, efficient operation. ❑ Be careful not to touch the fuser, which is marked CAUTION HOT SURFACE. If the printer has been in use, the fuser can be very hot.
❑ Protect the light-sensitive drum from exposure to light any longer than necessary. Overexposing the drum may cause abnormally dark or light areas to appear on the printed page and reduce the service life of the drum. Also, do not open the drum’s protective cover. ❑ Try not to touch the toner and avoid contact with your eyes. ❑ Do not use a cartridge for at least one hour after moving it from a cool to a warm environment.
Chapter 1 Paper Handling Choosing Paper or Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Loading Paper in the Built-in Paper Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Printing Two-sided Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6 Printing on Custom-size Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 Loading Paper in an Optional Paper Cassette . . . . . . . . . .
Choosing Paper or Other Media You can print on many different kinds of paper or other media with your EPL-N1200: ❑ Plain bond paper (16 to 24 lb weight) ❑ Card stock (24 to 42 lb weight) ❑ Envelopes ❑ Labels ❑ Transparency film. You can print on many sizes of paper too. Just be sure the size is within this range: Width: Between 3.6 and 8.5 inches (92 to 216 mm) Height: Between 5.8 and 14 inches (148.5 to 356 mm) For the best quality printing, you must select smooth, high-quality paper.
❑ Transparencies. Choose transparencies made just for laser printers or plain paper copiers, and load them only in the built-in paper tray. ❑ Colored paper. When selecting colored paper, make sure the paper does not have a clear or colored coating on it. Loading Paper in the Built-in Paper Tray Use these instructions to load paper in the paper tray inside your printer. If you’ve installed an optional paper cassette, follow the steps on page 1-8 to load paper in the cassette. 1. Lift up the front cover.
5. Close the front cover. If you loaded paper longer than 11 inches (279 mm), flip up the paper stopper and pull it back so the paper will fit in the output tray. paper stopper Feeding Envelopes or Paper by Hand If you want to print one envelope or a special sheet of paper, you can feed it manually. Follow these steps: 1. From your application program, choose Print or Print Setup. 2. For the Paper Source or Paper tray, select Manual Feed. 3. For the Paper Size, select the size you want to use.
6. Insert the first sheet into the paper tray with the printable surface face up (an envelope, in this example). 7. Adjust the paper guides to fit the paper you loaded, if necessary. top of envelope 8. Select the Print command in your application program to send the print job. After a moment, the printer’s control panel displays Manual Feed and the paper size you selected. The lights flash. 9. Press the On Line button to print the page. 10.
Printing Two-sided Documents You can print two-sided documents to save paper and make your output look like a professional, bound document. The EPL-N1200 makes it easy by providing a Duplexing option in the non-PostScript printer driver. Note: If you’re using the printer in the PostScript mode, you may still be able to print two-sided documents. Select odd-numbered pages only in your application’s Print dialog box.
7. Remove the printed pages and place them back into the paper tray, with the unprinted side face up and the top of the document leading into the printer. Click OK on the screen message box. Then the printer prints all the even-numbered pages on the back. When you’re finished printing your two-sided document, access the printer driver and change the Duplexing setting back to Duplex Off.
7. In the Width and Height boxes, select the appropriate measurements of your paper. The size can be: Width: Between 3.6 and 8.5 inches (92 to 216 mm) Height: Between 5.8 and 14 inches (148.5 to 356 mm) 8. Click OK to save your settings and exit the printer driver. 9. Select the Print command in your application program to send a print job. When you’re finished with your custom-size paper, access the printer driver and select your normal paper size.
2. Press down the bottom plate until it locks in place. 3. Fan a stack of paper and then tap the edges to even them up. 4. Holding the stack with the printable surface face up, insert the paper into the tray. Press down the edges so they lie beneath all four tabs.
5. Slide the paper tray back into the paper cassette.
Chapter 2 Printing With the Windows Printer Drivers Accessing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From Windows Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . From Windows 95 Printer Properties . . . . . . . . From Windows 3.1 or Windows NT Control Panel . . . . 2-2 2-3 2-3 2-4 Using the EPSONScript Driver in Windows 95 . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Using the EPL-N1200 Driver . . . Checking the Basic Settings . Printer Driver Settings Table . Using Groups of Settings . . . . . . .
For instructions on installing the printer software for Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, see the Quick Setup Card. For instructions on installing the Windows NT driver software, see page 2-17. Then follow the instructions in this chapter to access and use the Windows printer drivers. You can use either of the following: ❑ The EPSONScript driver for printing in the PostScript mode ❑ The EPL-N1200 driver for printing in the LJ4 Plus (PCL5e) emulation Follow the instructions below to access either driver.
❑ If you want to change the printer settings for all your documents and application programs, access the driver directly from Printer Properties (95) or Windows Control Panel (3.1 or NT). This changes the printer’s default settings. The driver settings available in the PostScript mode depend on which version of Windows you’re using. The settings available for non-PostScript modes are the same for all versions of Windows.
4. Right-click the EPSON EPL-N1200 or EPSON EPL-N1200 EPSONScript icon. 5. Click Properties. 6. Click the Details tab. 7. Click the Setup button. 8. You see the printer driver options. From Windows 3.1 or Windows NT Control Panel 1. Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main program group. 2. Double-click Printers. 3. Click EPSON EPL-N1200 or EPSON EPL-N1200 EPSONScript in the Installed Printers list. 4. Click the Setup button. 5. You see the printer driver options. .
To change Printer features or Installable options, you must first select the option you want to change. Then click the down arrow next to Change setting for to display the list of available settings.
The EPSONScript Device Options in Windows 95 are described in the table below. EPSONScript Device Options settings Setting Options Description varies 1269 default Specifies the amount of memory in the printer. Increase the number if you add memory to your printer. Resolution improve Printer’s default Off Light Medium Dark Adjusts the RIT setting for your print job. See Chapter 3 for details. Error sheet Printer’s default Off On Set to ON if you want a printed record of PostScript errors.
EPSONScript Device Options settings (continued) Setting Options Description Toner Density Printer’s default LIghtest Light Medium Dark Darkest Sets the print density to make your printout darker or lighter as necessary. Installable options (list depends on which options are installed; see Chapter 5 for more information). VM option Minimum PS2 Standard 2.0MB RAM 3.0MB 5.0MB 9.0MB 17.
To check or change individual settings, click the tab at the top of the screen. Click the buttons on the bottom of the screen to do the following: 2-8 OK After you’re finished, click OK to save your settings and exit the driver. (You can also save a group of settings for later use; see page 2-16.) Cancel To delete any changes you made, click Cancel. Help If you need help with the driver, click the Help button. Fonts Accesses the Font Manager program described in the Technical Information manual.
The next section describes the basic printer driver settings you should check or change each time you print. The table beginning on page 2-10 lists all the settings and their defaults. Checking the Basic Settings The printer driver’s default settings are suitable for most types of documents. However, you should check the settings listed below each time you print to make sure they are correct. All these settings are on the Printer Settings tab.
Printer Driver Settings Table Use the table on the following page when you want a quick description of the available printer driver settings. The default settings are in bold type. Some of the options listed here may not be available because of options selected for other settings; these cases are explained in the “Description” column. EPL-N1200 driver settings Setting Options Description 600 × 600 dpi 300 × 300 dpi 150 × 150 dpi Sets the print resolution.
EPL-N1200 driver settings Setting Options Description Paper Format A4 210 × 297 mm A5 148 × 210 mm C5 6.36" × 9.02" Commercial-10 Envelope C6 114 × 162 mm Envelope DL Executive 7.25" × 10.5" F4 Government Legal Government Letter International B5 176 × 250 mm JIS B5 paper Legal 8.5" × 14" Letter 8.5" × 11" Monarch US half Sets the size of the paper you have loaded in the currently selected Paper Source (described below).
EPL-N1200 driver settings (continued) Setting Options Description Copies 1 to 999 Set to the number of document copies you want to print. It is best to specify copies using your application’s Print dialog box. Never set multiple copies in the driver AND your application. Paper tab Duplexing Duplex OFF 2-12 Sets up for printing two-sided documents (see Chapter 3 for details).
EPL-N1200 driver settings (continued) Setting Options Description Printer SelecType tab * Graphics Mode Raster -internal fonts Sets the graphics printing mode used by the printer. (This setting affects the available Halftone options on the Print Settings tab; see page 2-10 for details.) Use these for: Most printing EPSON GL/2 Faster printing of line art and business graphics Pure Raster Low memory conditions without printer fonts.
EPL-N1200 driver settings (continued) 2-14 Setting Options Description Time-out Various settings from 5 to 300 seconds (60 sec. default) Sets the amount of time the printer waits to receive data before terminating an incomplete print job; after the time-out period, another print job can print. Toner Save Mode ON OFF Sets the amount of toner used in your print job. If you’re printing a draft copy, set to ON to use around 50% less toner for a lighter printout.
EPL-N1200 driver settings (continued) Setting Options Description Memory 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 34, 35, 36, 38, 42, 50, 64 MB Specifies the amount of memory installed in the printer. Increase the number if you add memory to your printer. Page Protect ** Auto ON Sets the printer to use Page Protect mode for printing complex, memory-intensive documents.
EPL-N1200 driver settings (continued) * Setting Options Description Advanced StatusSheet FontSample Click this button and select a submenu option to print a status sheet or a list of font samples for the current printer operating mode When you change the default settings on this tab and then select another tab, the driver asks whether you want to send your changes to the printer. Select Yes at the prompt to save your changes and continue.
4. Click OK to save your settings under that name and exit the driver. 5. Print your document. Whenever you want to print a document with a particular group of settings, select the group name in the Default box; then click OK and print. If you need to permanently delete a group of settings, select the name in the Default box and click the Delete button. (You cannot delete the Driver default group name.) Installing and Using the Windows NT 3.
❑ Overlays ❑ Sequencing ❑ Fonts ❑ Printer Features For more information about your EPSONScript NT features, click the Help button at the bottom of the screen. Installing the EPSONScript Driver for Windows NT Setting up your EPSONScript driver for Windows NT involves three separate procedures: ❑ Installing the EPSONScript driver and screen fonts ❑ Installing the EPSONScript Utility ❑ Creating the printer driver in the Windows NT Control Panel Note: The EPSONScript driver requires Windows NT 3.
4. Select your operating system and click OK. You see a message about renaming the WIN.INI file to WIN.BAK. 5. Click OK to rename the file WIN.BAK or type a new name and click OK. 6. Follow the instructions on the screen to insert disk 2. The program installs your driver and tells you to restart Windows. 7. Click OK. Your system restarts, and you can install the EPSONScript Utility as described below. Installing the EPSONScript Utility Follow these steps: 1. Reinsert the EPSONScript driver disk 1. 2.
9. Click Exit to close the utility. You’re now ready to “create” the driver. Creating the EPSONScript driver in the Control Panel Follow these steps: 1. Double-click Control Panel in Program Manager. 2. Double-click the Printers icon. 3. Choose Create Printer from the Printer menu. 4. Type a name for your printer in the Printer Name box, select EPSON EPL-N1200 EPSONScript (LT) from the Driver list, and click OK. 5. Make any settings you want. When you’re finished, click OK. 6.
Before you begin, turn on your printer and then your computer. Make sure Windows NT has loaded. Then follow these steps to install the driver: 1. Insert the Windows NT EPL-N1200 driver diskette. 2. In the Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu. 3. Type a:\install (or b:\install). Then click OK. After a few minutes, you see a list of printers. 4. Choose EPL-N1200 and click OK. The program installs your driver and tells you when it’s done. 5. Click OK.
2-22 Printing With the Windows Printer Drivers
Chapter 3 Using the Control Panel Reading the Indicator Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Using the Control Panel Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 Using OneTouch Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OneTouch Mode Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 3-6 Using SelecType . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 Changing SelecType Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 SelecType Menu Tables . . . . . . . Test Menu . . .
The EPL-N1200 control panel consists of a liquid crystal display, indicator lights, and buttons. The display and lights keep you informed about the printer’s current status. You can use the buttons to select settings and functions. Most of the time you control your printer’s functions using software. You may, however, need to perform some operations through the printer’s control panel as described in this chapter. Note that software settings always override control panel settings.
The three indicator lights in the center of the control panel give you the following information: Continue Flashes when the printer detects an error or needs maintenance. A message appears on the display to indicate the problem. See Chapter 6 for information about the messages. After you clear the problem, press the Continue button. Form Feed Comes on when the printer receives data. The light flashes when the printer is processing the data.
Continue Reset Press this button to switch the printer back on line after you have cleared a problem. You can also use the button to reset the printer back to the default settings. Press the ALT and Reset buttons until Reset appears on the control panel display. This clears all data in the printer’s memory. Press ALT and Reset until Reset All appears on the control panel display. This changes back all default settings for all the printer’s emulation modes and interfaces.
Using OneTouch Modes The OneTouch modes give you a quick and easy way to change the most common settings. There are two OneTouch modes, each with four settings shown on the top two lines of the control panel. The settings are described in the table on page 3-6. mode 1 settings mode 2 settings Follow these steps to change a setting using OneTouch modes: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the On Line light is on. 2.
OneTouch Mode Settings The table below lists the options available for each OneTouch mode setting. Default settings are shown in bold type.
Using SelecType The SelecType button accesses a series of menus and options that are shown on the control panel display.
If you need to change SelecType settings, follow these steps: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the On Line light is on. 2. Press the Menu button on the control panel. menu button You have now entered SelecType mode, which changes the functions of the control panel buttons as described in the table below.
3. Press the Menu button to select the SelecType menu that includes the setting you want to change. Then press the Item and Value buttons as necessary to change the setting. 4. Press Enter to save the new setting. 5. Press On Line or SelecType to exit SelecType mode. See the next section for tables describing all the SelecType menus and settings.
Test menu items Menu item Description Status Sheet Prints your current SelecType settings, hardware configuration, error logging information, and a RITech sample LJ4 Font Sample Print samples of available fonts for these emulation modes ESCP2 Font Sample FX Font Sample 1239X Font Sample PS Status Sheet Prints current EPSONScript settings PS Font Sample Print samples of available EPSONScript fonts PS Fact Sheet Prints a page that illustrates EPSONScript features.
Printing Menu All of the SelecType Printing menu settings can be set using your printer driver software and are overwritten by the software settings. You can set all of them, except Resolution, using OneTouch modes as described on page 3-5.
Tray Size menu items Menu item Description MP Tray Size Selects the size of paper loaded in the built-in paper tray: A4, A5, B5, LT, HLT, LGL, GLT, GLG, EXE, F4, MON, C10, DL, C5, C6, IB5, CTM * LC1 Displays the size of paper in the indicated lower paper cassette (same possible settings as MP Tray Size) LC2 * See Appendix A for details on paper sizes and specifications. Config Menu The settings available on the Config menu affect your printer’s basic operations.
Config menu items (continued) * Menu item Description Auto Cont Sets the printer to use Auto Continue mode to continue printing 5 seconds after recovering from a print overrun or insufficient memory error. It is best to leave Auto Continue Off so you are alerted to errors; then you must press the Continue button on the control panel to resume. If you’ll be away from the printer and are aware of possible errors, you can turn on Auto Continue mode.
Setup Menu The Setup menu items allow you to customize various printer modes, select a control panel language, check the total pages printed to date, and check or reset the toner counter.
Parallel B and Parallel C Menus These menus control interface options when you use the Parallel B and/or Parallel C interfaces.
Serial menu items Menu item Description Word Length Selects a 7- or 8-bit word length Baud Rate Sets the baud rate (communication speed); 9600 is the default Parity Enables or disables parity checking for error detection; None is the default Stop Bit Sets the number of stop bits to send at the end of each character sent to the printer; 1 is the default XOn/XOff Sets the XOn/XOff protocol to On, Off, or Robust (sends an XOn signal when the printer is ready for data); used with the DTR menu item be
LJ4 Menu The LJ4 menu settings control the available fonts and symbol sets when you use the LJ4 (PCL5e) emulation mode. You should change the font and symbol sets using your software, not using SelecType, because your software settings override SelecType settings.
PS Menu The PS menu controls two features available in the default PostScript emulation mode. You can also set these features using the Windows 95 printer driver software; see Chapter 2 for details. Menu item Description Err Sheet Indicates whether the printer prints an EPSONScript error message. If the option is off, the message is displayed on the control panel but not printed. Protect Level Allows you to increase the amount of memory allocated for page protection.
ESCP2 and FX menu items * Menu item Description CG Table Selects the graphics or italics character table you want to use; PcUSA is the default (see the Technical Information manual for details on the available character tables) Country Selects an international symbol set; USA is the default (see the Technical Information manual for details on the available international symbol sets) AutoCR Sets the printer to automatically perform or not perform a carriage-return then line-feed operation when the p
1239X Menu Use the 1239X menu only if you have selected 1239X as your Emulation mode in SelecType or the Remote Control Panel utility.
Chapter 4 Installing Options Available Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing Optional Interfaces . . . . . . Installing a LocalTalk/Serial Module Installing an Interface Card . . . . . Using a Serial Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 . 4-2 . 4-4 . 4-8 . 4-10 Installing Lower Paper Cassettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12 Installing Memory Modules . . . . . .
Available Options You can add the following optional equipment to your printer: ❑ Optional interface cards and modules to connect your printer to a Macintosh,® LocalTalk network, IBM® mainframe, or other network type; see the next section for more information LaserJet 4 ❑ Up to two 500-sheet lower paper cassettes to increase print capacity (C81263* for letter-size paper) ❑ Optional memory modules to expand your printer’s memory capacity You can purchase optional equipment, imaging cartridges, paper,
Optional EPSON interfaces Interface name EPSON part number Uses LocalTalk/Serial module C82334* Serial port: for connection to computers with RS-232C or current loop serial connections LocalTalk port: for connection to a LocalTalk network or for direct connection to a Macintosh with an optional EpsonScript Level 2 module 32KB Serial interface card C82307* For connection to a computer with an RS-232C serial port 32KB Parallel interface card C82310* For connection to an additional computer with a
To install any of the other interface cards listed in the table, see page 4-8 for instructions. If you will connect your printer to any type of serial interface, you need to obtain the right kind of serial cable. The table below lists the printer’s specifications for serial cables. Use this cable . . . For this serial connection . . . RS-232C (9 pin) to C836152 (2.0m) from mini DIN (printer) to D-SUB, 9-pin (computer) Direct printer-to-computer with 9-pin serial ports RS-232C (25 pin) to C836151 (2.
2. Remove the four screws securing the controller board bracket on the printer’s back panel. tabs 3. Pull on the plastic tabs to remove the controller board and place it on a clean surface. w Warning: Do not touch the electrical components on the controller board; they may be hot from recent use. 4. Remove the plastic connector cover from the controller board bracket.
5. Now set the jumper and slide switch settings on the LocalTalk/Serial module for the type of interface you’ll be using: RS-232C serial, current loop serial, or LocalTalk (default). c Caution: Make sure both slide switches are set to the same position or the printer will not operate correctly. 6. Position the module as shown below; then align its connector with connector CN4 on the controller board. Secure the module with the two screws that came with it.
7. Position the controller board so its components face the side panel of the printer and align it with the top and bottom guide rails in the printer. Then slide in the board. 8. Secure the controller board bracket with the four screws you removed earlier. 9. Connect the appropriate cable to the module through the hole you exposed in step 4.
10. Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet; then turn on the printer. To verify that the interface is working properly, print a status sheet and make sure your interface is listed under “Hardware Configurations.” To do this, wait until the printer warms up (Ready appears on the control panel display and the On Line light is on); then press the Enter button twice. Installing an Interface Card Follow these steps to install an optional EPSON interface card in your printer: 1.
3. Position the optional interface card so its components face the center of the back panel. Then align its top and bottom grooves with the guide rails inside the printer and slide in the card, pushing it firmly to lock it in place. 4. Secure the card with the two screws you removed earlier. (Save the interface slot cover in case you need to install it again.) 5. Connect the appropriate cable to the interface card. 6. Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet; then turn on the printer.
Using a Serial Interface Before you print with a serial interface, you must match the serial settings used by the printer and your computer. You can change the default settings (listed in the table below) for the serial interface card or the LocalTalk/Serial module, or you can change your computer’s serial port settings; see your computer manual for instructions.
Windows 95 instructions 1. Click Start. 2. Point to Settings. 3. Click Printers. 4. Right-click the Epson EPL-N1200 EPSONScript (or EPL-N1200) icon. 5. Select Properties. 6. Click the Details tab. 7. Click the arrow in the Printer Port drop-down list and select a COM (serial) port to use. 8. Click OK to save your settings; then exit Printer Properties. Windows 3.1 or Windows NT instructions 1. In Program Manager, open the Main program group, if necessary. 2. Double-click Control Panel. 3.
Installing Lower Paper Cassettes By installing optional 500-sheet lower paper cassettes you can increase your print capacity from 250 sheets (in the built-in paper tray) to 750 sheets (with one lower paper cassette) or 1,250 sheets (with two lower paper cassettes). Follow these steps to install the cassettes on your printer. For instructions on loading paper in the cassettes, see Chapter 1. 1. Turn off the printer and unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. 2.
5. Connect the interface cable(s). 6. Make sure the printer’s power switch is in the off position; then plug the power cable into an electrical outlet. 7. Turn on the printer. 8. Now run the Windows printer driver to add the optional paper cassette(s) to your available paper source list. See Chapter 2 for instructions. Note: If you use the Remote Control Panel utility or SelecType to control your printer, you need to select the optional paper cassette(s) only when you are ready to print.
Follow these steps to install SIMMs: 1. Turn off the printer and unplug the power cable from the electrical outlet. w Warning: To avoid electrical shock, do not access the printer’s controller board unless the printer is turned off and unplugged from the electrical outlet. 2. Disconnect any interface cables from the printer. 3. Follow steps 2 and 3 on page 4-5 to remove the controller board from the printer. 4. Locate the two SIMM slots on the controller board.
Then insert the SIMM at an angle and rotate the top until it is vertical and clicks into place. (Do not push too hard.) 6. Follow the steps on pages 4-7 to 4-8 to reinstall the controller board in the printer. If you ever need to remove a SIMM, pull back the metal clips on each side of the slot; then grasp the SIMM and pull it out. To verify that the SIMM is working properly, print a status sheet and make sure the correct memory amount is listed under “Hardware Configurations.
Chapter 5 Maintenance Replacing the Imaging Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Adjusting the RITech Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8 Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing the Imaging Cartridge Your printer’s imaging cartridge can print up to 6,000 pages, depending on how complex your print jobs are. There are several ways to tell when you need to replace a cartridge: ❑ You see a Toner Low message on the control panel display ❑ You see a Toner Out message on the display ❑ You notice that printing is faint and the Toner function in SelecType tells you that you have 0 to 25% toner capacity.
c Caution: Do not turn the imaging cartridge upside down. Do not expose the imaging cartridge to light any longer than necessary. 5. Unpack the imaging cartridge and hold it level with the oval handle face up. Then shake the cartridge as shown to distribute the toner. oval handle 6. Grab the tab on the left side and pull the clear tape all the way out of the cartridge.
7. Now shake the cartridge again as shown to distribute the toner. 8. Line up the cartridge pins with the green guides inside the printer; then slide in the cartridge until it stops. green guides 9. Close the top cover. 10. Select Toner Count Clear on the SelecType Setup menu to reset the toner counter. See Chapter 3 for instructions.
Adjusting the RITech Setting EPSON’s new Resolution Improvement Technology (RITech) automatically improves the print quality of your lines, text, and graphics. Most of the time it works behind the scenes to provide the best printed output. Occasionally, however, you may need to adjust the RITech setting if you notice a change in quality, such as after you replace the imaging cartridge. To determine whether you need to adjust the RITech setting, print a status sheet using the printer’s control panel.
2. Press the Enter button twice to print the status sheet. At the bottom of the sheet you see the RITech test pattern: correct RITech setting incorrect RITech setting 3. If the test pattern looks correct, do not change the RITech setting. If it looks incorrect, go to step 4. 4. Open an application program and access the printer driver (see Chapter 2 for instructions). Note: If you are using the Windows 3.
10. Now print a page from your application to check the print quality. If the quality is good, you’re finished. If the quality needs further improvement, go to step 11. 11. Access the printer driver again and click Device Options or Printer SelecType. 12. Change the Toner Density setting to Dark or Darkest (if the RITech test pattern was too light) or Light or Lightest (if the test pattern was too dark). Note: If you are using the Windows 3.
Cleaning the Printer If the printer case gets dirty, turn off the printer and clean it with a soft cloth slightly dampened with mild soap. c Caution: Never use alcohol or thinner to clean the printer; they may damage the printer. Do not get water on the printer mechanisms or electrical components. Do not use compressed air to clean inside the printer. To clean inside the printer, first make sure the power is turned off and the printer is unplugged. Then follow these steps: 1. Open the top cover. 2.
If there is a lot of spilled toner, remove it with a small vacuum cleaner (available at computer supply stores). Make sure the vacuum can safely remove toner or other fine powders before you use it. c Caution: If you get toner on your clothing, remove it with cold water. Do not use hot water; it may cause a permanent stain. 4. Clean the printer’s lens by wiping it from end to end with a dry, lint-free cloth. 5. Replace the imaging cartridge. 6. Close the top cover and open the front cover. 7.
Transporting the Printer If you need to transport or ship the printer, first remove the imaging cartridge and place it in a sealable plastic bag. If you installed any lower paper cassettes, lift the printer off the cassettes. c Caution: Be sure to seal the cartridge in the bag to make sure the toner does not spill on the printer or your clothing. Then pack the printer, cartridge, and cassettes in their original packing materials, or the equivalent.
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting Diagnosing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reading Control Panel Display Messages . . . . . . . . . . Using Hex Dump Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 6-2 6-7 Paper Feeding Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fixing Paper Jams in the Built-in Paper Tray . . . . . . . . Fixing Paper Jams in an Optional Lower Paper Cassette . . 6-8 6-9 6-10 Printing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diagnosing Problems The printer’s control panel display indicates the status of the printer as well as providing warning and error messages if a problem occurs. The next section lists the possible control panel display messages in alphabetical order. If you are an experienced user and suspect a communication problem between your printer and computer, you can set the printer to Hex dump mode (hexadecimal data dump). You then print out codes and give them to a technician to help solve the problem.
Form Feed The printer is off line and data remains in the printer’s memory. Press Form Feed to print out the data and clear the buffer. After printing, Ready appears on the display. Hex Dump Hex dump mode is on; see page 6-7 for details. Illegal AUX I/F Card The printer cannot recognize the installed optional interface card. Turn off the printer, then remove the card and reinstall it as described in Chapter 4.
If you do not want to print in manual feed mode, press Continue. The printer loads the paper as instructed by the Paper Source setting. (For details on using manual feed mode, see Chapter 1.) Mem Overflow The printer has insufficient memory available for the current print job. To correct the error, press Continue. If the message remains, press Reset. You can also clear the error by turning the printer off and back on again.
Paper Set source size The paper loaded in the indicated paper source does not match the required paper size. Replace the paper with the correct size paper and press Continue. Print Overrun The time required to process data exceeds the print speed due to an excess of received data. Press Continue to resume printing. If this message appears again, change the Page Protect setting in the driver or on the control panel; see Chapters 2 and 3 for instructions.
Reset All All printer settings for all interfaces have been reset to the default configuration. Reset to Save You have changed a SelecType setting but the new value is not activated yet. Do one of the following: (1) exit SelecType by pressing Continue or On Line (the new setting is activated after the current print job is finished), or (2) reset the printer by pressing ALT and Reset at the same time. Self Test The printer is performing its internal self test; wait a few moments for it to finish.
Toner Out You must replace the imaging cartridge as described in Chapter 5. You can press Continue to print one more page. Warming Up The printer is warming up; wait a few moments for it to finish. Using Hex Dump Mode Hex dump mode is a special feature that makes it easy for experienced users to find the cause of communication problems between the printer and the computer. In hex dump mode, the printer produces an exact printout of the codes it receives.
Paper Feeding Problems If you have frequent paper feed or paper jam problems, try the following to prevent them: ❑ Use a higher-quality paper, one that is not too thin or rough. ❑ Fan the stack of paper and then tap the edges to align them before you load the stack. ❑ Be sure you do not load too much paper. ❑ Be sure to adjust the paper guides so that the paper can slide in freely. ❑ Never let more than 250 sheets accumulate in the output tray on top of the printer.
Fixing Paper Jams in the Built-in Paper Tray If the printer stops and the Feed Jam or Paper Jam message appears, follow these steps: 1. Open the printer’s front cover. 2. Carefully remove all the paper in the built-in paper tray and any sheets fed partially into the printer. 3. Open the printer’s top cover and remove the imaging cartridge. Then remove any paper remaining inside the printer and replace the imaging cartridge.
4. Tap the edges of your stack of paper and carefully reload it into the built-in paper tray. 5. Close the printer covers and press the Continue button. The jammed page’s print data is automatically reprinted. Fixing Paper Jams in an Optional Lower Paper Cassette If the printer stops and the Feed Jam or Paper Jam message appears, follow these steps: 1. Remove the paper tray from the lower paper cassette. 2. Remove all the paper from the cassette and discard any curled or wrinkled sheets. 3.
The display panel stays blank after you turn on the printer. Turn off the printer and check the power cable connections between the printer and the electrical outlet; then turn the printer back on. If the electrical outlet is controlled by an outside source such as a wall switch, plug the printer into a different outlet. Also plug another electrical device into the outlet to check whether the outlet is operating properly. The printer doesn’t print and the On Line light is off.
The font selected in your software won’t print correctly. The selected font is not supported by your printer; see the Introduction or the Technical Information manual for more information. If Image Optimum is set to Auto or On, fonts may be changed to increase print speed. Set Image Optimum to Off in the printer driver or the SelecType Config menu; see Chapters 2 and 3 for details. The output is garbled or printed as asterisks (*).
Graphics don’t print correctly. Make sure that your software program is set for the printer emulation you are using. For example, if you are using the PS emulation, be sure that your graphics software is set for a PS printer. If you are using a serial interface, make sure that you set the appropriate protocol settings in the SelecType Serial menu; see Chapter 3. Graphics require large amounts of memory, so you may need to install additional memory in your printer; see Chapter 4.
The Remote Control Panel utility does not function as expected. Software programs override Remote Control Panel settings, so use your software settings instead of the utility whenever possible. If your settings have been changed by your software, reset your printer; see Chapter 3 for details. Print Quality Problems This section describes solutions to any problems you may encounter with the quality of your printout.
The printout contains vertical black or white lines. Clean the printer lens as described under “Cleaning the Printer” in Chapter 5. If the problem persists, install a new imaging cartridge and print several pages to check the print quality. The printout contains horizontal black or white lines, or is all black. Install a new imaging cartridge as described in Chapter 5. The darkness of the printout is uneven. Remove the imaging cartridge, shake it from side to side, and reinstall it.
The printout is missing portions of the image. Your paper may be moist or damp; replace the stack of paper and try printing again. (Printing is sensitive to moisture absorbed by the paper, so avoid storing your paper in a humid or damp environment.) You may not be using the correct type of paper. Smooth, high-quality copier paper is recommended for best results. See Chapter 1 and Appendix A for information on choosing paper.
If the problem persists, replace the imaging cartridge as described in Chapter 5. The back side of the printed page is smudged. Toner may have spilled in the paper feed path. Remove the imaging cartridge and then clean the paper path of the printer using a soft, lint-free cloth as described in Chapter 5.
Appendix A Specifications Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 Printer . . . . . . . General . . . . Environmental Mechanical . . Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3 A-3 A-4 A-4 A-4 Interfaces . . . .
Paper Note: Since the quality of any particular brand or type of paper may be changed by the manufacturer at any time, EPSON cannot guarantee the quality of any type of paper. Always test samples of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing large jobs. Paper types: Plain paper, recycled paper, labels, envelopes, transparencies, colored paper, card stock, letter head Note: Use recycled paper under normal temperature and humidity conditions only.
Printable area: 95 dots from paper edge based on 600 dpi; varies depending on the emulation mode Printer General Printing method: Laser beam scanning and dry electrophotographic process Resolution: 600 × 600 dpi Printing speed: Up to 12 pages per minute depending on the font and quantity of data First print: Less than 16 seconds with A4- or letter-size paper Warm-up time: About 60 seconds at normal temperature Paper feed: Automatic or manual feed Paper feed alignment: Center alignment for all
Environmental Temperature: Operation: 50 to 95°F (10 to 35°C) Storage: 32 to 95°F (0 to 35°C) Humidity: Operation: 15 to 85% RH Storage: 35 to 85% RH Altitude: 8200 feet (2,500 meters) maximum Mechanical Dimensions and weight: Height: 10.4 inches (265 mm) Width: 16.2 inches (411 mm) Depth: 19.0 inches (484 mm) Weight: 33.
Interfaces In the tables below, the column heading “Direction” refers to the direction of signal flow as viewed from the printer. Parallel B Interface The parallel B (IEEE 1284-I compliant) interface connector pin assignments are shown in the table below.
Parallel C Interface The parallel C (IEEE 1284-II compliant) interface connector pin assignments are shown in the table below.
To use the ECP mode, follow these steps: 1. Make the ECP mode settings in the BIOS setting program that comes with your computer. (For details of the settings and the program, see your computer manual.) 2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 3. Right-click the System icon, and click Open in the menu that appears. 4. Select the Device Manager tab. 5. Select the ECP Printer Port under Ports [COM & LPT], then click the Properties button. 6.
Note: When using the serial interface as RS-232C, the availability of baud rates over 38400 depends on your computer’s hardware reliability (including the interface cable). When using the serial interface as current loop, the availability of baud rates over 2400 depends on your computer’s hardware reliability (including the interface cable). EPSON does not recommend or guarantee the use of any particular brand of computer.
Signal pin RS-232C Current loop Direction Description 17 — TTY-TXD OUT Transmits data. This pin transmits serial data from the printer to the computer. 20 DTR — OUT Data terminal ready. This pin indicates whether or not the printer is ready to receive data. If the printer ready protocol is not selected, the printer is always ready to receive data (this pin is always HIGH).
500 Sheet Lower Paper Cassette Paper size: Letter (C81263✽) Paper weight: 16 to 24 lb (60 to 90 g/m2) Paper feed: Automatic feed delivery system Cassette capacity up to 500 sheets (20 lb or 75 g/m2 paper) Feeding speed: For the first sheet, 22 seconds or less; subsequent sheets, 12 pages per minute Paper types: Plain paper, such as copier paper, and recycled paper AC power supply: DC 5 V supplied by the printer Dimensions and weight: Height 4.2 inches (107 mm) Width 15.
Index A Accessories, purchasing, Intro-6 ALT button, 3-4 Asterisk (serial interface error), A-8 Auto Continue, 3-13 AUX menu, 3-16 B Built-in paper tray, see Paper tray Buttons, control panel, 3-3 to 3-9 C Check Paper Size message, 6-2 Cleaning printer, 5-8 to 5-9 CompuServe, Intro-7 Config menu, 3-12 to 3-13 Continue button, 3-4 Continue light, 3-3 Control panel buttons, 3-3 to 3-8 changing language, 3-14 lights, 3-2 to 3-3 OneTouch modes, 3-5 to 3-6 SelecType settings, 3-9 to 3-20 settings, changing, 3-
Fonts LJ4 emulation mode, Intro-3 PostScript, Intro-2 problems, 6-12 Form Feed button, 3-4 Form Feed light, 3-3 Form Feed message, 6-3 FTP site, Intro-6 FX menu, 3-18 G Graphics problems with printing, 6-13 resolution, 2-10 H Help from EPSON, Intro-5 to Intro-7 with printer driver, 2-9 Hex Dump message, 6-3 Hex dump mode, 6-2, 6-7 I Illegal AUX I/F Card message, 6-3 Illegal I/F Module message, 6-3 Image Optimum, 2-15, 3-13 Image Optimum message, 6-3 Imaging cartridge amount of toner, 3-14 replacing, 5-2
N Network interfaces, installing, 4-2 to 4-3 O On Line button, 3-4 On Line light, 3-3 OneTouch mode settings, 3-6 Online support, Intro-6 to Intro-7 Optional interfaces, installing, 4-2 to 4-3 Options equipment available, 4-2 installing, 4-2 to 4-15 Orientation setting control panel, 3-6, 3-11 printer driver, 2-9, 2-11 P Page Protect, 2-6, 2-15, 3-13 Paper choosing, 1-2 custom size, 1-7 to 1-8, 2-12 lower paper cassettes, 4-12 to 4-13 size, control panel, 3-6, 3-11 size, printer driver, 1-7 to 1-8, 2-9, 2
Printer Open message, 6-5 Printer Properties, accessing printer driver, 2-2 to 2-4 Printing envelopes, 1-2, 1-4 to 1-5 labels, 1-2 manual feed mode, 1-4 to 1-5 special paper, 1-4 to 1-5 transparencies, 1-3 two-sided, 1-6 to 1-7, 2-12 Printing menu, 3-11 PS menu, 3-18 R RAM Check message, 6-5 Ready message, 6-5 Remote Control Panel problems, 6-14 Reset All message, 6-6 Reset button, 3-4 Reset message, 6-5 Reset to Save message, 6-6 Resetting printer, 3-4 Resolution Improvement Technology, see RITech Resolut
Toner Out message, 6-7 Toner Save setting control panel, 3-6, 3-12 printer driver, 2-6, 2-14 Transparencies, 1-3 Tray size menu, 3-11 to 3-12 Troubleshooting, 6-2 to 6-17 V Value button, 3-8 W Warming Up message, 6-7 Windows ECP mode, A-6 to A-7 serial interface settings, 4-11 Windows control panel, accessing printer driver from, 2-2 to 2-4 Windows NT drivers, 2-17 to 2-21 World Wide Web, Intro-6 Index 5