INK JET PRINTER Reference 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 United States 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 or television reception.
Contents Introduction Energy Star Compliance . . . . . Energy-saving Tips . . . . . How to Use This Manual . . . . . Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . Electronic Support Services . Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choosing Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Thickness Adjustment Lever . . . . . . . . . Loading Plain Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading Oversized Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 2 Controlling the Printer Using the Control Panel . . . . . . . . Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Default Setting Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 2-2 2-3 2-6 Cleaning the Print Heads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing the Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . Selecting the Correct Ink Cartridges . . . . . Replacing the Black Ink Cartridge . . . . . .
Paper Handling Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper Jam Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper Feeding Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continuous Paper Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Paper Handling Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing starts too high or too low on the page, or the page length or margins are not what you expect . Ink cartridges do not last as long as expected . . .
Appendix C Commands and Character Tables Command List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EPSON ESC/P 2 Commands . . . . . . . . . . IBM XL24E Emulation Codes . . . . . . . . . . Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International Character Sets . . . . . . . . . . . Characters Available with ESC ( ^ Command . Glossary Index vi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printer Parts monochrome print head thickness adjustment lever printer cover paper-release lever color print head compartment control panel knob black ink cartridge compartment tear-off edge page eject guides edge guides (manual feed slot) output tray center support edge guides paper support rear edge guide sprocket-lock lever sprocket cover center support manual feed guide optional interface cover parallel interface tractor feeder
Introduction This manual contains general operating and maintenance instructions for your EPSON® Stylus® 1500, as well as troubleshooting guidelines and technical specifications. For instructions on setting up your printer and using the Microsoft® Windows® or Apple® Macintosh® printer driver, see the appropriate Setup and Software Guide.
Energy-saving Tips Here are a few tips you can use to be even more energy-wise: ❑ If your monitor isn’t Energy Star compliant, turn it off when you’re not using it. ❑ Turn off your computer, printer, and monitor each day when you are done using them. ❑ Use the print preview option in your software to catch errors before you print a document. ❑ If you have an electronic mail system available to you, send E-mail rather than memos. Not only is this faster, but you’ll save paper and storage space too.
Appendix A, “Using Optional Interfaces,” describes optional interfaces you can install in your printer to enhance its capabilities and explains how to install an interface board. Appendix B, “Technical Specifications,” gives the specifications for the Stylus 1500 printer. Appendix C, “Commands and Character Tables,” lists the EPSON ESC/P 2 and IBM® XL24E emulation commands supported by the printer and shows the printer’s built-in character tables.
You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, parts, printed manuals, and accessories for EPSON products from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales). In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON. If you purchased your printer outside the United States or Canada, contact your EPSON dealer or the marketing location nearest you for customer support and service. If you need help with any software program you are using, see that program’s documentation for technical support information.
CompuServe online support CompuServe® members can call the Epson America Forum on CompuServe. If you are already a member, simply type GO EPSON at the menu prompt to reach the Forum. If you are not currently a member, you are eligible for a free introductory membership as an owner of an EPSON product. This membership entitles you to: ❑ An introductory credit on CompuServe ❑ Your own user ID and password ❑ A complimentary subscription to CompuServe Magazine, CompuServe’s monthly publication.
Important Safety Instructions Before using your printer, read these safety instructions to make sure you use the printer safely and effectively: ❑ Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer. ❑ Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a radiator or heat register. ❑ Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet or insert objects through the slots.
Chapter 1 Paper Handling Read this chapter for information about choosing the best paper or other media for your printing needs and for instructions on loading them in your printer. Choosing Paper and Other Media You can use most plain paper with your printer and achieve good results. Coated papers give you better results because they reduce the amount of ink that is absorbed. However, if the coated paper does not absorb enough ink, the ink can smear.
To order EPSON papers and transparencies, contact your dealer or call EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. only). In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON for sales locations. Use the following part numbers when ordering: Paper or other media Size Part number Special coated paper for 720 dpi Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) Legal (8.5 × 14 inches) B (11 × 17 inches) Super A3/B (13 × 19 inches) S041062 S041067 S041069 S041070 Special coated paper for 360 dpi Letter (8.
Media type Thickness adjustment lever position Media type Thickness adjustment lever position Standard paper 0 Envelopes + Transparency film 0 + Labels 0 Previously smeared documents Continuous paper 0 If a document is smeared, set the thickness adjustment lever to the + position (regardless of the paper type) and print it again. To access the lever, open the printer cover; the lever is in the right back corner, as shown in the following illustration.
Loading Plain Paper The following procedure explains how to load plain bond, letter-size paper in the sheet feeder. You can load up to 100 sheets of plain paper. Always load plain paper with the printable surface facing down. The printable surface is marked with an arrow on most plain paper packaging. 1. Make sure the paper-release lever is set to the single-sheet position. TITLE EPSON AMERICA, INC. Documentation Department 20770 Madrona Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 782-0770 DATE DRAWN BY LM-9.
3. Slide the right edge guide to the left as far as it will go. Then slide the left edge guide to match the width of your paper. 4. Move the center support to a point midway between the edge guides. Then gently extend the rear edge guide until it stops. 5. Fan a stack of paper; then tap it on a flat surface to even the edges.
6. Load the stack of paper, printable side down, all the way into the sheet feeder. Make sure the right edge of the stack is against the right edge guide. Next, slide the left edge guide against the left edge of the paper. Note: The sheet feeder can hold up to 100 sheets of 17-lb (64 g/m2) plain paper. Do not load paper above the arrow mark, which is located on the inside surface of the edge guide. 7. Adjust the rear edge guide to match the length of your paper.
When you load paper in the landscape direction (wider than it is tall), the rear edge guide may not match the length of your paper. In this case, remove the rear edge guide and re-insert it as shown. 8. Lower the output tray to the printing position. Make sure that the rear edge guide of the paper tray is positioned under the output tray. The rear edge guide must be under the output tray to allow room for the paper loaded in the sheet feeder and to prevent a paper jam.
Loading Oversized Paper When you load paper more than 14.3 inches (364 mm) wide or 16.5 inches (420 mm) long, you need to adjust the edge guides on the sheet feeder and the output tray as follows. Note: You can load paper up to 17 inches (432 mm) wide; however, the maximum printable width is 13.6 inches (345 mm). 1. Make sure the paper-release lever is set to the single-sheet position. (See page 1-4.) 2. Raise the output tray until it locks in the upright position. 3.
4. Move the center support to a point midway between the edge guides. output extension tray rear edge guide 5. Pull the output tray extension out as far as it will go. 6. Gently extend the rear edge guide of the paper support until it stops. 7. Fan a stack of paper; then tap it on a flat surface to even the edges.
8. Load the stack of paper, printable side down, so that the right edge of the stack is against the right side of the sheet feeder. Next, slide the left edge guide against the left edge of the paper. Note: Do not load more than 30 sheets of oversized paper into the sheet feeder. Also, do not load paper more than half way to the arrow mark, which is located on the inside surface of the edge guide. Otherwise, a paper jam may occur. 9. Extend the legs under both sides of the output tray.
Loading Single Sheets Manually You can load single sheets of paper from the manual feed slot without removing the paper supply from the sheet feeder. This allows you to print single sheets of labels or manually feed envelopes, for example. The slot can accommodate single sheets of paper from 6.3 inches (160 mm) to 17.0 inches (432 mm) wide. Note: When you load paper manually, you can adjust the loading position using micro adjust mode if printing appears too high or low on the page.
2. Lower both page eject guides. TITLE 2 5 EPS 3. Position the right edge guide to the right of the arrow mark on top of the manual feed slot. Then slide the left edge guide to match the paper’s width. Note: If loading paper more than 14.3 inches (364 mm) wide, move the right edge guide to the right as far as it will go.
4. While holding both edges of the paper, load it printable side up into the slot until it meets resistance, aligning the right edge of the paper with the right edge guide. Make sure the left edge guide matches the paper’s width. The printer loads the sheet automatically. If the sheet does not load straight, press the Load/Eject button to eject it. Then try loading it again. 5. Use the print command in your software to start printing a document. When the printer finishes printing, it ejects the sheet.
Using Special Papers and Other Media When using special coated paper, glossy paper, transparencies, envelopes, labels, or banner paper, keep the following in mind: 1-14 ❑ Use special coated paper and glossy paper within one year of purchase. Use transparencies within six months. ❑ Do not touch the printable surface of the paper; hold the sheets by their edges. The moisture and oils on your hands can reduce print quality.
Loading Coated or Glossy Special Papers and Transparencies Use the same procedure described in “Loading Plain Paper” on page 1-4 or “Loading Oversized Paper” on page 1-8 to load special papers and transparencies in the sheet feeder. You can load up to the following number of sheets: ❑ 70 sheets of special coated paper.
Follow these steps to load envelopes: 1. Make sure you set the thickness adjustment lever to the correct position for envelope printing, as described on page 1-3. 2. You can load up to 10 envelopes in the sheet feeder with the printable side facing down as shown. 3. Adjust the left edge guide so the envelopes feed straight into the paper path. 4. If you are printing on oversize envelopes, remove the rear edge guide and reinstall it to match the length of the envelope, as shown above.
5. If you are using the manual feed slot, position the right edge guide to the right of the arrow mark on top of the manual feed slot. Then slide the left edge guide to match the envelope’s width. 6. Load the envelope with the flap edge first and the printable surface facing up. The printer loads the envelope automatically. If the envelope does not load straight, press the Load/Eject button to eject it. Then try loading it again. 7.
Loading Labels You can print on labels using single sheets or continuous sheets. For loading instructions, follow the procedure under “Loading Single Sheets Manually” on page 1-11 or “Loading Continuous Paper” on page 1-22. When printing on labels, keep the following in mind: ❑ Do not use labels that are curled or folded. Also avoid using labels that are peeling off the backing.
❑ Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable area. See Appendix B for specifications. ❑ Make sure the auto tear-off feature is set to off in the Default Setting mode when using continuous labels. (See page 2-6.) ❑ Do not leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they may curl around the platen and jam when you resume printing. Removing continuous labels Follow these steps to remove labels printed on continuous paper: 1.
Loading Banner Paper To load banner paper, follow steps 1 through 4 under “Loading Single Sheets Manually” on page 1-11. Note: If you are printing from Windows, choose Manual Feed Slot (Banner) as the paper source. If you are using the Macintosh printer driver, turn off the Page Gap setting. See your Setup and Software Guide for Macintosh for more information. If your document is longer than 44 inches, its length must be evenly divisible by the paper size you choose.
Printing on Continuous Paper The built-in tractor feeder lets you print on continuous paper from 4 inches (102 mm) to 16 inches (406 mm) wide. You can use the tractor feeder without removing paper from the sheet feeder. When printing on continuous paper, keep the following in mind: ❑ When you turn on the printer with paper loaded on the tractor feeder, it reverses the paper to the paper-park position and then advances it to the next page.
Loading Continuous Paper Follow these steps to load continuous paper in the printer: 1. Place the supply of continuous paper directly behind the printer so that paper can feed smoothly. Make sure the paper path is not obstructed, and allow enough room for printed pages to be stacked in front of the printer. 2. Move the paper-release lever to the continuous paper position. Note: If a single sheet is in the paper path, press the Load/Eject button to eject it before moving the paper-release lever. 3.
4. Release the sprocket units on the tractor by raising the sprocket-lock levers. 5. Move the sprocket units to match the paper’s width; then position the center support midway between the two sprocket units.
6. Open both sprocket covers. 7. Make sure the printable side of the paper is up. Then fit the first four holes of the paper over the sprocket pins and close the sprocket covers.
8. Position the left sprocket unit so its right edge is aligned with the arrow mark on the printer. The arrow mark indicates the left edge of the printable area. Then lower the sprocket-lock lever to lock the left sprocket unit. 9. Slide the right sprocket unit to remove any slack in the paper. Then lower the sprocket-lock lever into place.
10. Reattach the manual feed guide to the printer. Match the holes of the guide to the pins on both sides of the printer and push until they click into place. 11. Lower both page eject guides.
12. Make sure the rear edge guide of the paper support is pushed under the output tray, as shown below, to prevent a paper jam. 13. When the printer receives data, it advances the continuous paper to the loading position and starts printing. Removing Continuous Paper Follow these steps to remove continuous paper from the printer: 1. After you have finished printing a page of continuous paper, press the Load/Eject button. The printer advances the paper to the tear-off position.
3. Press the Load/Eject button. The printer feeds the continuous paper backward to the paper-park position. Note: If you are using continuous labels, see “Removing continuous labels” on page 1-19. Adjusting the Loading Position The loading position determines where the printer positions the top edge of the paper when loading it. If printing is too high or low on the page, change the loading position in micro adjust mode.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on. 2. Press the LF/FF button to load a sheet of paper to the top-of-form position. 3. Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. Both of the font lights begin to flash. 4. Press the Micro Adjust D button to feed paper forward, or press Micro Adjust U to feed paper backward. (Press either button as many times as necessary until you reach the desired position.) 5. To complete the adjustment, press the Pause button.
c Caution: Never use the tear-off feature with labels. When fed backward, labels may come off the backing and jam the printer. When you use labels, always turn the auto tear-off setting off using the Default Setting mode. Do not use the knob on the left side of the printer to adjust the tear-off position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. Note: To use the tear-off feature, turn on auto tear-off using the Default Setting mode as described in Chapter 2.
Switching Between Continuous Paper and Single Sheets When using the tractor feeder, you can easily switch between single-sheet and continuous printing without removing either type of paper. Switching to Single Sheets To switch from continuous paper to single sheets, follow these steps: 1. If any printed sheets remain in the printer, tear off the printed pages. 2. Press the Load/Eject button. The printer feeds the continuous paper backward to the paper-park position.
5. The printer is ready to print. When it receives data, it loads a single sheet from the sheet feeder or manual feed slot. Note: The paper eject guides raise automatically when a single sheet is loaded from the sheet feeder. Switching to Continuous Paper To switch from single sheets back to continuous paper, follow the steps below: 1. If a single sheet is in the paper path, press the Load/Eject button to eject it. 2. Raise the paper-release lever to the continuous-paper position.
Chapter 2 Controlling the Printer This chapter explains how to control the printer using the control panel. It also describes the additional printer functions you can perform using the Default Setting mode. Using the Control Panel The printer’s control panel contains lights for displaying the printer status and buttons for controlling certain functions, as described in this section. Since most printer settings can be controlled from your software, you do not often need to use the control panel.
❑ Pause the printer temporarily ❑ Reset the printer. Lights See page 4-1 for information on using the lights to aid in troubleshooting. Operate On when the printer is on. Data On when data remains in printer memory or when printing a self test or demonstration page. Flashes when data is being received by the printer. Ink Out O On when the black ink cartridge is empty or not installed. The printer will not work if the black ink cartridge is empty or not installed.
Economy On when economy printing mode is selected. In economy mode the printer uses less ink by printing fewer dots per character. Note that black may print as gray. Use this mode for rough drafts of text only. Condensed On when condensed mode is selected. In this mode, the printer prints selected fonts at 60% of their width so that more characters can fit on a page. Font Indicates which font is selected. Use the Default Setting mode to select fonts other than those displayed on the control panel.
Economy/Condensed (or Cleaning O) Selects economy or condensed mode as indicated by the Economy and Condensed lights. Use this button only if you print from a DOS application. LF/FF Press this button briefly to feed paper line by line. Hold it down to load a single sheet or to advance continuous paper to the next top-of-form position. Font Press this button until the combination of lights indicates the font of your choice. Use this button only if you print from a DOS application.
Alt + LF/FF (Cleaning O) Cleans the black print head; see “Cleaning the Print Heads” in Chapter 3 for more information. Alt + Load/Eject (Cleaning NNN) Cleans the color print head; see “Cleaning the Print Heads” in Chapter 3 for more information. Pause + Operate button (Printer adjustment mode) Enters printer adjustment mode and prints a multilingual instruction sheet on calibrating the printer. (Paper must be loaded in the printer.) Hold both buttons until the font lights flash.
LF/FF + Load/Eject + Operate button (Hex dump) When connected to a PC, prints a page containing a hexadecimal representation of the data sent to the printer (hex dump) for troubleshooting use; see page 4-11. To exit hex dump mode, press the Pause button and turn off the printer. Alt + Operate button (Demonstration page) Prints a demonstration page of the printer’s fonts and colors. (Paper must be loaded in the printer.
To turn on Default Setting mode and print instructions, turn off the printer. Make sure there is paper loaded in the printer. Then hold down the Economy/Condensed button while you turn the printer back on. Follow the instructions the printer prints to change the default settings by pressing the buttons on the control panel. When you are finished, press Pause and turn off the printer to exit Default Setting mode. The printer functions are shown in the table below and described in the following paragraphs.
Setting Options Print mode Plain paper (true black), Plain paper (composite black), Exclusive paper, Transparency Banner paper Off, On * IBM mode only Print direction. Specifies how the print head moves across the page. The options are Uni-D, Bi-D, and Auto (default). When Uni-D is on, the print head prints in only one direction to provide the most precise alignment for graphics and text. In Bi-D printing, the print head prints in both directions.
Software. Specifies the printer control language to use when printing from DOS: EPSON ESC/P 2 (default) or IBM XL24E. If your software allows you to select EPSON ESC/P 2, choose it for the most advanced fonts and graphics. Auto CR. Specifies that the printer perform a carriage return and line feed operation if the print positions exceed the right margin of the paper. (Used in IBM XL24E mode only.) AGM (Alternate Graphics Mode). Specifies that the printer use high-resolution, 24-pin graphics commands.
Skip over perforation. Selects whether or not the printer skips over the perforations of continuous paper, providing a 1-inch margin between the last line printed on one page and the first line printed on the next. Because most software programs set their own top and bottom margins, use this feature only if your program does not provide them. This feature does not affect single-sheet paper. Auto tear off.
Chapter 3 Maintenance Instructions in this chapter tell you how to do the following to maintain and care for your printer: ❑ Clean the print heads ❑ Replace the ink cartridges ❑ Clean the printer ❑ Transport the printer ❑ Calibrate the printer when printing from DOS. Cleaning the Print Heads The printer periodically cleans its print heads automatically, so normally you should not need to manually activate a cleaning cycle.
To clean the color print head: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and press the Pause button. 2. Hold down the Alt button and press Load/Eject. The cleaning cycle begins. 3. Press the Pause button to resume printing. It can sometimes take up to three cleaning cycles to improve print quality. To check the print quality, print a demonstration page after running a cleaning cycle.
c Caution: If you replace a cartridge when the Data light is on, you must turn off your printer and then turn it back on. This erases the data received by the printer and you must resend your print job. Once you install the ink cartridges, do not open the clamp or remove the cartridges except to replace them with new ones. Once you remove a cartridge, you cannot reuse it. When the color ink cartridge is empty, you can continue printing with the black ink cartridge by switching to monochrome mode.
Replacing the Black Ink Cartridge Follow these steps to remove the empty black ink cartridge and install a new one: 1. Make sure the printer is on. 2. Press the Pause button (check that the Pause light comes on). 3. Remove the ink compartment cover as shown below. 4. Carefully pull the used ink cartridge straight out of the printer and dispose of it so any excess ink does not spill out. Do not take the used cartridge apart or try to refill it.
6. Insert the end of the cartridge with the foil plug into the ink compartment following the directions on the cartridge label. 7. Push the cartridge all the way into the compartment until the cartridge meets the back of the ink compartment. Make sure the Ink Out O light goes off. Note: If the Ink Out O light remains on, the ink cartridge may not be installed correctly. Remove the ink cartridge and then reinsert it as described above. 8. Replace the ink compartment cover.
9. Press the Pause button to resume printing. 10. If you want to check the print quality, print a demonstration page. If you need to initiate a cleaning cycle, see page 3-1. Replacing the Color Ink Cartridge Follow these steps to remove the empty color cartridge and install a new one: 1. Make sure the printer is on. 2. Press the Pause button (check that the Pause light comes on). 3. Open the printer cover using the notch on the cover. 4.
6. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it carefully so any excess ink does not spill out. Do not take the used cartridge apart or try to refill it. w Warning: If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water. 7. Remove the ink cartridge from its protective bag. Remove the tape seal from the top of the cartridge.
8. Lower the ink cartridge into its holder with the label facing up and the arrow pointing to the back of the printer. Do not push down on the ink cartridge. 9. Press the ink cartridge clamp down until it locks in place. You will feel some resistance. c Caution: Once you install the ink cartridge, do not open the clamp or remove the ink cartridge except to replace it with a new one. Otherwise, the print head and cartridge may become unusable. Once you remove a cartridge, do not reuse it.
c Caution: The Pause light flashes for about 60 seconds while ink is being charged in the system. Never turn off the printer while the Pause light is flashing; this can result in incomplete charging of printer ink. 11. Close the printer cover. When the charging cycle finishes, the Pause light stops flashing and stays on. Press the Pause button to turn off the light and resume printing. 12. If you want to check the print quality, print a demonstration page.
c Caution: Never use alcohol or thinner to clean the printer; these chemicals can damage the components and the printer case. Do not use a hard or abrasive brush; these can scratch the printer surfaces. Do not allow water to get on the printer mechanism or any electronic components. Do not touch the gears inside the printer. Do not spray inside the printer with lubricants or oils; they can damage the printer mechanisms. Transporting the Printer If you need to transport your printer, follow these steps: 1.
5. Remove any paper from the sheet feeder and rear tractor. Then remove the output tray and paper support. 6. Attach the protective material to the printer. See the Notice Sheet that was packed with the printer. 7. Repack the printer and attachments in the original box. Be sure to keep the printer flat as you transport it. If you notice problems with your printed output after transporting the printer, clean the print heads as described earlier in this chapter.
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting This chapter offers solutions to problems you may encounter with printing. It is divided into three sections: ❑ Print quality problems. See this section if the print quality is not good or not what you expect. ❑ Problems with printing. See this section if your printer is not printing. ❑ Paper handling problems. See this section if you have paper jams or other problems with paper handling.
Light(s) Problem Solution Paper Out is flashing Paper jam Clear the paper jam. Ink Out O or Ink Out NNN is on or flashing Ink cartridge is low on ink or empty Replace the indicated cartridge. Data and Paper Out are flashing Paper-release lever was moved before paper was ejected For continuous paper: lower the paper-release lever and press the Load/Eject button; then raise the paper release lever to the single-sheet position.
Print Quality Problems Most print quality problems can often be solved by cleaning the print heads as described in Chapter 3. After cleaning the print heads, print a demonstration page to check the print quality. Note that it may take as many as three cleaning cycles to solve a print quality problem. If cleaning the print heads does not improve the print quality, try the following: ❑ Check the status of the Ink Out O and Ink Out NNN lights to see whether the ink cartridges are low on ink.
Printed output is faint, blurred, or of poor quality. You may not be printing on the correct side of the paper. Test both sides to determine which side gives you the best print quality. On coated paper, print only on the white coated side; on glossy paper or transparencies, print only with the cut corner facing the right side of the sheet feeder; remove each sheet as it is printed to prevent smearing by the next sheet. Check that the thickness adjustment lever is set correctly for the media type.
If you are using a DOS application and the black ink in the image is blurred, select Plain paper (composite black) using the Default Setting mode, as described in Chapter 2, and start the print job again. Your Windows video driver may not be compatible with the printer. Use the standard Windows VGA driver or contact the manufacturer of your video card for an updated driver. For information on changing the video driver, see your Windows documentation. Clean one or both print heads as described in Chapter 3.
You see white banding in your printouts. Turn on MicroWeave in the printer driver. If you still see white banding, clean the print heads as described in Chapter 3. The printout contains incorrect or garbled characters. Make sure EPSON Stylus 1500 is selected as the default Windows printer driver (Windows driver) or is the last printer selected in the Chooser (Macintosh driver).
You see incorrect colors in your printout. Make sure EPSON Stylus 1500 is selected as the default Windows printer driver (Windows driver) or is the last printer selected in the Chooser (Macintosh driver). Check that the printer driver’s Brightness and Contrast settings (Windows driver) or Light/Dark setting (Macintosh driver) are appropriate for the image.
Printing has stopped but the Pause light is off. One or both ink cartridges may be empty or too old. A cartridge is too old if it has been used longer than six months or beyond the date on its packaging. First clean the print heads as described in Chapter 3. If this does not solve the problem, replace the ink cartridge(s). c Caution: If you replace an ink cartridge before its Ink Out light flashes, the sensor that tells you when the ink is out will not work with the new cartridge.
The printer sounds like it is printing, but nothing prints. The print heads may need cleaning. See “Cleaning the Print Heads” in Chapter 3 for instructions. One or both ink cartridges are empty or too old. A cartridge is too old if it has been used longer than six months or beyond the date on its packaging. First clean the print heads as described in Chapter 3. If this does not solve the problem, replace the ink cartridge(s). The printer prints blank pages.
If you’re printing text from DOS applications and you selected composite black mode using the Control Panel Print Mode buttons, text printing will be much slower than true black printing. Select true black mode instead; see Chapter 2 for Control Panel instructions. You see error messages on your PC because of printing conflicts. Before sending print jobs to the printer, the EPSON Spool Manager stores them in a temporary directory.
The printer does not seem to receive print jobs. On a PC, release any print jobs that may be held in the EPSON Spool Manager. Open the Spool Manager and click any job marked pending or held. Then open the Document menu and select Delete. To verify that the EPSON Stylus 1500 print queue is not held, open the Queue menu. If there is a checkmark next to Hold, click on Hold to take the printer off hold. On a Macintosh, release any print jobs that may be held in the EPSON Monitor2 utility.
Paper Handling Problems This section describes how to prevent paper jams and ensure that paper feeds properly. Paper Jam Problems If paper jams inside the printer frequently, try the following: ❑ Use a higher quality paper that is suitable for ink jet printers and is not too thin, too thick, or rough. For best quality, use EPSON special coated and high-quality glossy papers. See Appendix B for paper specifications. ❑ Fan the stack of paper before you load it.
❑ The paper was exposed to excess humidity, over 60%. See Appendix B for specifications on required environmental conditions. ❑ The left edge guide is too tight or too loose; adjust it for the size of the paper. ❑ The thickness adjustment lever is set incorrectly for the media; see “Setting the Thickness Adjustment Lever” in Chapter 1. ❑ Continuous paper may be in the paper path when you print from the sheet feeder. Remove the continuous paper.
The perforation of continuous paper is not aligned with the tear-off position. Adjust the tear-off position using the Micro Adjust button in micro adjust mode. See “Adjusting the Tear-off Position” in Chapter 1. The auto tear-off setting may be on. Turn this setting off. See “Using the Default Setting Mode” in Chapter 2. Make sure that the page length setting for continuous paper is correct in the Default Setting mode. If not, change the setting. See “Using the Default Setting Mode” in Chapter 2.
The continuous paper does not eject properly. The page is too long. Tear off the last printed page and press the Load/Eject button to feed the paper backward. However, if you are printing on labels, tear off the paper entering the printer, then press the LF/FF button to feed paper forward. Use paper that is within the specified length. See Appendix B. Change the page length setting for continuous paper. See “Using the Default Setting Mode” in Chapter 2. The paper is jammed inside the printer.
Make sure the printer driver’s Copies setting and the copies setting in your application software are set to print one copy at a time. Also verify that you have selected the correct paper size in the driver and in your application software. Ejected paper is wrinkled. The paper is too thin or damp. Do not store paper in damp or humid places. Single-sheet paper does not fully eject. Use the Load/Eject button to eject the page. Make sure the banner paper setting is off.
Other Problems Printing starts too high or too low on the page, or the page length or margins are not what you expect. Make sure you selected the correct Paper Size option in the printer driver; see your Setup and Software Guide for instructions. Use your software program to adjust the margins, or change the number of lines per page, or change the page length setting to match the paper you are using. Adjust the loading position using micro adjust mode. Ink cartridges do not last as long as expected.
Appendix A Using Optional Interfaces You can use various interface boards to supplement the capabilities of your printer’s built-in hardware interfaces for use with your PC or Macintosh. This appendix provides information about using optional interfaces with your PC and describes how to install a board in your printer. For information on using optional interfaces with your Macintosh, see the Setup and Software Guide for Macintosh.
Using the C823051 or C823061 Serial Interface Board To use the C823051 or C823061 interface board, see the sections below for information on selecting the baud rate, handshake timing, and error handling. For all other data transfer conventions, such as word structure and communications protocol, see your interface board manual. Selecting the baud rate You can select from the following baud rates: 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and 19200 bps (bits per second).
Installing an Optional Interface Board 1. Turn off the printer. 2. Unplug the printer’s power cord from the electrical outlet and disconnect any interface cables. c Caution: Do not install or remove an interface board when the printer is connected to the electrical outlet; this may damage your printer or computer. 3. Remove the two screws securing the shield plate to the optional interface slot; then lift off the plate as shown in the following illustration.
5. Slide the interface board along the slots on both sides of the interface compartment. Push it in firmly to fully insert the connector at the rear of the interface board into the printer’s internal socket. 6. Secure the interface board with the two screws included with the board. 7. Connect the proper interface cable to the interface board and to your computer. Connect other interface cables if you are using more than one computer. 8. Reconnect any interface cables you disconnected in step 2. 9.
Connecting the Printer to the Network How you connect the printer to the network depends on your network type: ❑ If you are connecting to an Ethernet network using a thin coaxial (10BASE2) cable, first attach the T-connector supplied with the board to the 10BASE2 connector on the Ethernet interface board. Connect the network cable to one node of the T-connector. If the printer is not the last device in a daisy-chain, connect another network cable to the other node of the T-connector.
Appendix B Technical Specifications Printing Printing method: On-demand ink jet Nozzle configuration: 64 monochrome (black) nozzles 60 color* (cyan, magenta, yellow) nozzles (20 × 3; 20 for each color) * Available only with the optional color print head and ink cartridge installed Printable columns and printing speed: Printable columns LQ printing speed (characters per second) Draft printing speed (characters per second) 10 136 200 400 12 169 240 480 15 200 300 600 17 (10 condensed)
Line spacing: 1⁄6-inch (default), 1⁄8-inch, or programmable in 1⁄360-inch increments Character tables: 1 Italic and 10 graphics character tables Character sets: 1 legal and 14 International character sets 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 use of any particular brand or type of paper. Always test samples of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing large jobs.
Envelopes: 9.5 × 4.1 inches (241 × 104 mm) 8.7 × 4.3 inches (220 × 110 mm) 9.0 × 6.4 inches (229 × 162 mm) Size No. 10 DL C5 Paper types Plain bond or air mail paper Thickness 0.006 to 0.02 inch (0.16 to 0.52 mm) Paper weight 12 to 24 lb (45 to 90 g/m2) Index cards: Size A6 (105 × 148 mm) Paper types Plain paper Thickness 0.21 mm Weight 188 g/m2 Single sheet labels: Size Letter (8.
Continuous paper: Size 4 to 16 inches × 4 inches (102 to 406 × 102 mm) (minimum folding length) Paper types Plain paper Thickness 0.065 mm to 0.1 mm Weight 52 g/m2 to 82 g/m2 Continuous labels: Size Backing sheet: 4 to 16 inches × 4 inches (101.6 to 406.4 × 101.6 mm) (minimum folding length) Label sheet: Minimum 2.5 × 0.9 inches (63.5 × 23.9 mm) Paper types Plain paper Thickness Total thickness: Maximum 0.2 mm Label thickness: Maximum 0.
The following EPSON genuine papers are available: S041062 Special coated paper for 720 dpi printing (Letter) S041067 Special coated paper for 720 dpi printing (Legal) S041069 Special coated paper for 720 dpi printing (Super A3/B) S041070 Special coated paper for 720 dpi printing (B) S041060 Special coated paper for 360 dpi printing (Letter) S041066 Special coated paper for 360 dpi printing (Super A3/B) S041072 High-quality glossy paper (Letter) S041074 High-quality glossy paper (Super A3/B) S041075 High-qua
Envelopes A A BR BL C A The minimum top margin is 0.33 inch (8.5 mm). B The minimum left margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm). The minimum right margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm). C The minimum bottom margin is 0.55 inch (14.0 mm). Note: Load envelopes long edge first, face down. Continuous paper A A B B A The minimum top and bottom margins above and below the perforation are 9.0 mm (0.35 inch). B The minimum left and right margins are 13 mm (0.51 inch). Note: The maximum printable width is 345 mm (13.
Ink Cartridges Black ink cartridge (S020062): Color Black Print capacity* 1900 pages (A4 paper; text) Cartridge life* 2 years from production date and up to 6 months after opening the package at 77°F (25°C) Temperature Storage: –22 to 104°F (–30 to 40°C) 1 month at 104°F (40°C) Transit: –22 to 140°F (–30 to 60°C) 1 month at 104°F (40°C) 120 hours at 140°F (60°C) Freezing:** 27°F (–3°C) Dimensions 1.0 inch (W) × 5.5 inches (D) × 4.2 inches (H) 25.1 mm (W) × 139.6 mm (D) × 105.
c Caution: Use only genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage to your printer that is not covered by EPSON’s warranties. Do not use an ink cartridge after the expiration date on the package.
Electrical Input voltage range: 103.5 to 132 V Rated frequency range: 50 to 60 Hz Input frequency range: 49.5 to 60.5 Hz Rated current: 0.7 A Power consumption: Approx.
Fonts The printer comes with an installed set of fonts, which are selectable using the Default Setting mode. However, the printer always uses the fonts you select with your software program. The only time you need to select the printer’s installed fonts is when your software program does not allow you to select fonts. You can select other font and pitch combinations using ESC/P 2 commands, as described in Appendix C.
Interface Specifications Data format: 8-bit parallel, IEEE P1284 compatible mode Synchronization: STROBE pulse Handshake timing: BUSY and ACKNLG signals Signal level: TTL compatible Connector: 36-pin, Centronics connector or equivalent Pin assignments Signal Pin Return Pin 1 19 STROBE IN STROBE pulse to read data.
B-12 Signal Pin Return Pin 12 28 PE OUT A HIGH signal indicates the printer is in a paper-out state or in an error state. 13 28 SLCT OUT Pulled up to +5 V through 1 kΩ resistance 14 30 AUTO FEED XT IN Not used 15 — NC — Not used 16 — GND — Logic ground level 17 — CHASSIS GND — Printer’s chassis ground, which is connected to the logic ground 18 — Logic H OUT Pulled up to +5 V through 3.
Note: ❑ The column heading “Direction” refers to the direction of signal flow as viewed from the printer. ❑ “Return Pin” denotes the twisted-pair return pin to be connected at signal ground level. For the interface wiring, be sure to use a twisted-pair cable for each signal and to complete the connection on the return side. ❑ All interface conditions are based on TTL level. Both the rise and fall times of each signal must be less than 0.2 microseconds.
All three initialization methods reset the font according to the default settings selected using the control panel. However, ESC @ does not initialize the printer mechanism, clear the input data buffer, or clear the user-defined character set. The control panel initialization does not initialize the printer mechanism or clear the user-defined character set. Default Settings The table below shows the default settings that take effect when the printer is initialized.
Appendix C Commands and Character Tables Command List This printer works with the two sets of commands described in this section. EPSON ESC/P 2 Commands Select the EPSON ESC/P 2 printer commands in your DOS software programs for the most advanced fonts and graphics available. If you need more information about using printer commands, you can purchase the ESC/P 2 Reference Manual (ESCP2REF) from EPSON Accessories by calling (800) 873-7766 (in the U.S. only).
IBM XL24E Emulation Codes This printer emulates the IBM Proprinter with the following commands. (For detailed information, see the IBM X24/X24E reference manual.
These character tables are selected using the printer’s Default Setting mode or by using software commands. All tables except the italic are the same as the PC437 table for hex codes 00 through 7F, so only the PC437 table is shown completely. The rest of the tables show only the characters for hex codes 80 through FF. PC437 (U.S.
PC850 (Multilingual) PC860 (Portuguese) PC861 (Icelandic) PC863 (Canadian-French) C-4 Commands and Character Tables
PC865 (Nordic) Abicomp BRASCII ISO Latin 1T Commands and Character Tables C-5
Roman 8 Italic No characters are available for hex code 15 in the italic character table.
International Character Sets You can select one of the following international character sets using the printer’s Default Setting mode or the ESC R command. For example, when you select “Italic France,” the characters in the “France” row on the table below are used in the italic character table. The following eight international character sets can be selected using Default Setting mode or with the ESC R command. The following seven additional sets can be selected only with the ESC R command.
Characters Available with ESC ( ^ Command To print the characters in the table below, use the ESC ( ^ command.
Glossary ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardized coding system for assigning numerical codes to letters and symbols. auto line feed When this feature is selected in the printer’s Default Setting mode, each carriage-return (CR) code is automatically followed by a line-feed (LF) code. bidirectional printing Printing in which the print head prints in both directions (bidirectionally). This increases print speed but may reduce precise vertical alignment.
control code A special code used to control a printer function such as performing a carriage return or line feed. cpi See characters per inch. default A value or setting that takes effect when the equipment is turned on, reset, or initialized. dithering A way of arranging dots on a page to simulate a shade or tone. See also halftoning. dpi Dots per inch. The dpi measures the resolution. See also resolution. driver See printer driver.
halftoning Method of repeating tiny dot patterns to represent images. hex dump A troubleshooting feature that helps identify the cause of communication problems between the printer and the computer. When the printer is in hex dump mode, it prints each code it receives in hexadecimal notation and ASCII characters. Also called data dump. high-speed printing See bidirectional printing. initialization The process of restoring the printer’s default settings (fixed set of conditions).
resolution A measure of the amount of detail that can be represented. Resolution of printed images is measured in number of dots per inch (dpi). Your printer has three resolution settings: 720 × 720, 360 × 360, and 180 × 180 dpi. RGB A method of specifying color by its component proportion of red, green, and blue. Computer monitors use this method to represent colors. unidirectional printing Printing in which the print head prints in one direction only.
Index A Accessories, purchasing, Intro-4 Adjusting the thickness adjustment lever, 1-2 to 1-3 Adjustment mode, 2-5, 3-11 AGM, see Alternate Graphics Mode Aligning vertical lines, 2-8, 3-11 Alt button, 2-3 to 2-4, 2-6 Alternate Graphics Mode, 2-9 Apple Macintosh, Intro-1, 4-1, A-1 Auto carriage return, 2-9 Auto interface wait time, 2-8 Auto line feed, 2-9 Auto sheet feeder, B-8 Automatic feature, 4-4 B Banding, 4-6 Banner paper loading, 1-20 removing, 1-20 selecting, 2-8, 2-10 specifications, B-3 Baud rate,
Dpi, B-1 Driver, see Printer, driver Dump, see Hex dump mode E Economy button, 2-4 to 2-6 light, 2-3 mode, 2-1, 2-3, 4-4 Edge guide left, 1-5, 1-10, 1-12 to 1-13, 1-16 rear, 1-5 to 1-7, 1-9, 1-16 right, 1-5 to 1-6, 1-8, 1-12 to 1-13 Ejecting paper, 2-4 Electrical specifications, B-9 Electronic support services, Intro-4 to Intro-5 Energy Star compliance, Intro-1 Energy, conserving, Intro-2 Envelopes loading, 1-14 to 1-17 printing from DOS, 1-17 specifications, B-3, B-5 Environmental specifications, B-9 EPSO
Ink cartridges conserving ink, 4-17 empty, 3-2 to 3-3, 4-2, 4-8 to 4-9 life expectancy, 4-8 to 4-9, 4-17, B-7 old, 4-8 to 4-9 ordering, 3-3 print capacity, B-7 replacing black, 3-2 to 3-6, 4-8 replacing color, 3-2 to 3-3, 3-6, 3-8 to 3-9, 4-8 specifications, B-7 to B-8 Ink jet, B-1 Ink Out lights, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-8 Ink smear, preventing, 1-1, 1-13, 2-6 Input buffer, 2-4, B-1 Installing optional interface board, A-3 to A-4 Interface board, A-1, A-4 mode, 2-8 optional, A-1 to A-4 specifications, B-11 to B-13
O Online support, Intro-5 Operate button, 2-5 to 2-6 light, 2-2 Optional interface, A-1 to A-4 P Page length, 2-9, B-14 Paper coated, 1-1 ejecting, 2-4 envelopes, see Envelopes feed speed, B-1 feeding problems, 4-12 to 4-14 glossy, 1-1 to 1-2 handling, 1-1 to 1-2, 1-14 to 1-16, 1-20, 4-12 to 4-16 jams, 2-2, 4-12 jams, preventing, 4-12 ordering EPSON, 1-2 plain, 1-1, 1-4 to 1-7 printable area, B-5 to B-6 printable surface, 1-4, 1-6, 1-10, 1-13 to 1-14, 1-16 to 1-18 selecting type, 1-1, 2-8, 2-10 size, B-2 t
Printing bidirectional, 2-8 demonstration page, 2-2, 2-6 fast, 2-8 method, B-1 problems with, 4-7, 4-9, 4-11 specifications, B-1 to B-2 unidirectional, 2-8 Problems, see Troubleshooting Q Quality, see Print quality R ReadMe icon, Intro-1, 4-1 Rear edge guide, see Edge guide, rear Reset, 2-2 to 2-3 Resolution, B-1 Right edge guide, see Edge guide, right Right margin, B-5 to B-6, B-14 S Safety approvals, B-9 Safety instructions, Intro-6 Securing print heads, 3-11 Self test, 2-5, 4-8 Serial interface card,
