User’s Guide 59348301
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is complete, accurate, and up-to-date. Oki Data assumes no responsibility for the results of errors beyond its control. Oki Data also cannot guarantee that changes in software and equipment made by other manufacturers and referred to in this guide will not affect the applicability of the information in it. Mention of software products manufactured by other companies does not necessarily constitute endorsement by Oki Data.
Safety Your Oki printer has been carefully designed to give you years of safe, reliable performance. As with all electrical equipment, there are a few basic precautions you should take to avoid hurting yourself or damaging the printer: • Carefully read all setup and operating instructions. Be sure to save all documents for future reference. • Read and follow all warning and instruction labels on the printer itself. • Place your printer on a firm, solid surface.
• Unplug the printer before you clean it. Use only a damp cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. • To protect your printer from overheating, make sure no openings on the printer are blocked. Do not put the printer on or near a heat source, such as a radiator or heat register. If you put the printer in any kind of enclosure, make sure it is well ventilated. • The printhead can get quite hot when it has been printing for a length of time.
Contents Safety............................................................................ 3 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................. 7 Printer Features ............................................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Helpful Hints ........................................... 8 Saving Money: Forms Tear-Off ...................................................... 8 Saving Time .............................................................................
Chapter 4: Menu Mode ............................................ 25 Appendix B: Printer Control Codes ....................... 69 Menu Mode Keys ....................................................................... 25 Entering and Exiting Menu Mode ............................................. 26 Resetting the Menu to the Factory Defaults .............................. 26 Printing the Menu Settings ......................................................... 26 Changing the Menu Settings ..................
Chapter 1: Introduction Printer Features Oki Data on the Internet • Super reliable, durable operation: 20,000 hours Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) at 25% duty cycle and 35% page density • Advanced paper handling, with built-in rear push tractor and zero-tear forms capability.
Chapter 2: Helpful Hints Saving Money: Forms Tear-Off Saving Time The Forms Tear-Off feature allows a printed continuous forms page to be torn off without wasting paper or adjusting the printer. Internet Support When printing stops, Forms Tear-Off automatically moves the paper to align the perforation with the tear bar (located under the access cover), after a time interval which you select through the menu. • www.okidata.com is the main web site, the gateway to Oki Data’s products and services.
Operation Tips Top of Form (TOF) Top of Form (TOF) sets the print start position. The factory default is 1" from the top. The Top of Form can be changed in increments of 1/180", either for a single print job or set to a new default. The overall amount of adjustment is limited to avoid paper jams. The first line prints at the red line of the plastic paper shield (1) on the printhead.
Chapter 3: Using Your Printer Parts Identification: Rear Feed (Continuous Forms) Note: The serial number of your printer is on a label on the back, beside “S/N.” Sheet Guide Paper Lever On-Off Switch Platen Knob Control Panel Acoustic Cover Access Cover 10 Note: For rear feed, the paper lever must be forward.
Parts Identification: Top Feed (Single Sheets) Note: For single-sheet printing, the paper lever must be in the middle position.
Top of Form (TOF) Top of Form (TOF) and Forms Tear-Off Important! If you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of Form misaligns. Always shut the printer off before turning the platen knob! Note: Your software may print the first line of print above or below where TOF is set. You may need to adjust the TOF to meet your software’s requirements. Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the page.
Determining if Forms Tear-Off is Off or On To use the TEAR key: There are two ways to determine the status of the Forms Tear-Off menu setting: 1 Make sure paper is loaded. 2 Press TEAR (3). • If the paper moves up, Forms Tear-off is off. • If the paper moves down, Forms Tear-off is on. • Print the Menu. • Use the TEAR key. To print the Menu: 1 2 3 4 Make sure paper is loaded. Hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1) to enter the Menu Mode. Press PARK (4) to print the menu.
Setting Top of Form (TOF): Forms Tear-Off OFF (Default Setting) Important! If you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of Form misaligns. Always turn the printer off before turning the platen knob! With paper loaded and the printer on and selected: 1 Press SEL | MENU (1) to take the printer off line. The SEL light goes out. 2 Press and hold SHIFT (2), then Note: When you begin pressing the Micro Feed key, the printhead will move to the right.
Setting Top of Form (TOF): Forms Tear-Off Set to ON Important! If you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of Form misaligns. Always turn the printer off before turning the platen knob! 2 Press SHIFT (2) and QUIET/TOF (7) to reset the current TOF. 3 Press FF/LOAD (4) to load the paper. 4 Wait briefly until the paper moves up to the tear position, then press and hold TEAR (5). The paper moves to the current TOF. 5 Keep holding TEAR, then press and hold SHIFT (2) and release TEAR.
Temporarily Changing the Top of Form Position Important Do not use the platen knob to change the Top of Form. If you turn the platen knob when the printer is turned on, the Top of Form misaligns. Always turn the printer off before turning the platen knob! To move the Top of Form position lower for one page only: 1 Press SEL to deselect the printer. 2 Press LF to lower the position of the Top of Form.
Forms Tear-Off Feature Note: This feature is normally turned off. To use Forms Tear-Off, you must enter the menu and change the setting to the desired time interval (see next page). The Forms Tear-Off feature allows a printed continuous forms page to be torn off without wasting paper or adjusting the printer. It can be used for rear feed continuous forms, bottom feed continuous forms (with the optional push tractor installed) or for top feed roll paper (with optional roll paper stand installed).
Changing the Forms Tear-Off Setting Manual Forms Tear Off Note: The default setting for Forms Tear-Off is OFF. If you don’t wish to engage the Forms Tear-Off feature, you can advance • rear-feed continuous forms loaded on the built-in tractor or • bottom-feed continuous forms loaded on the optional push tractor up to the tear off position manually by pressing TEAR (5). Paper Park To change the Forms Tear-Off setting: 1 Press SHIFT (2) + SEL (1).
Changing Paper Paths 4 Move the paper lever (1) to the middle position marked “TOP.” Continuous Forms to Single Sheets 1 Tear off any printed pages, then press PARK. 2 Raise the sheet guide (1) to the single-sheet feed position. 5 Adjust the paper guides (1) for the size paper you are using, then place a sheet of paper in the sheet guide. 3 Pivot the wire feed guide into the sheet guide.
Single Sheets to Continuous Forms 1 Press FF/LOAD to remove the single-sheet paper. 2 Lower the sheet guide into the continuous-forms position. 4 Move the paper lever to the appropriate position. • Rear feed: • Bottom feed: 3 Swing the wire feed guide over onto the pull-up roller. 5 If necessary, load continuous-form paper. 6 Press FF/LOAD.
Printhead Gap The printhead gap is the distance between the printhead and the platen. To adjust the gap, open the access cover and move the blue lever (1) to the recommended setting from the table. CAUTION! Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access cover.
Print Quality Important! Front panel settings for print quality and character pitch are normally overridden by software commands.
Character Pitch Important! Front panel settings for character pitch are normally overridden when the SI command is received from your software. Epson and IBM Emulations Set the character pitch by pressing CHARACTER PITCH (1) until the light beneath the desired setting is lit: • • • • • • 10 cpi 12 cpi 15 cpi 17 cpi 20 cpi Proportional MICROLINE Emulation In the MICROLINE emulation, the Character Pitch choices are: Character pitch determines how many characters will print on each line.
Printer Reset Emulations Clearing some error conditions requires that you reset (reinitialize) the printer. To do this: • IBM® Proprinter III — factory setting • Epson® FX • Oki® MICROLINE® 1 Press and release SEL (1) to take the printer off-line. The SEL light goes out. 2 Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press the RESET/ CHARACTER PITCH key. Important! Pressing SHIFT + RESET reinitializes the printer, but does not affect any menu settings and does not reset the printer to the factory defaults.
Chapter 4: Menu Mode Note: Please print the current Menu Mode settings before you reset or change them. This is the only way to have a record of the settings. In Menu Mode, you use the front panel keys to change the defaults for the printer parameters. The changes you make in the Menu Mode are automatically saved when you exit the Menu Mode and are retained, even when you turn the printer off. Menu Mode Keys GROUP Key Prints the next Group in the Menu. With the SHIFT key, prints the previous Group.
Entering and Exiting Menu Mode Printing the Menu Settings To enter or exit the Menu Mode, hold SHIFT while pressing SEL. Printing the Current Menu Settings Resetting the Menu to the Factory Defaults Note: Please print the current Menu Mode settings before you reset or change them. This is the only way to have a record of the settings. To reset the Menu to the standard settings (factory defaults): 1 Turn the printer off. 2 Press SEL + LF while turning the printer on.
Changing the Menu Settings Note: Please print the current Menu Mode settings before you reset or change them. This is the only way to have a record of the settings. 1 Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu Mode. 2 Use the GROUP, ITEM and SET keys to make your changes: a Press GROUP until the Group you wish to change appears in the first column. b Press ITEM until the Item you wish to change appears in the second column. c Press SET until the setting you want appears in the third column.
Menu Settings Table For a complete explanation of each menu item, see “Explanations of Menu Items” later in this chapter. The table below shows the items which may appear in the menu. Settings which are engaged at the factory (defaults) are set in bold italic. Some groups or entries will only appear when a specific emulation is engaged, as noted.
Menu Settings Table (Continued) Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic) Rear Feed Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI Form Tear-Off Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec Skip Over Perforation No, Yes Page Width (wide model) 13.6", 8" Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5" Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI Form Tear-Off Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec Skip Over Perforation No, Yes Page Width (wide model) 13.6", 8" Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.
Menu Settings Table (Continued) Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic) Top Feed Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI Form Tear-Off* Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid Page Width (wide model) 8", 13.6" Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.25", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.
Menu Settings Table (Continued) Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic) Setup (cont..) Print Registration 1 0, range to 0.25 mmm to the right or left, set in 0.05 mm increments • press SEL to shift registration to the left; • press SHIFT + SEL to shift registration to the right. Print Registration 2 0, range to 0.25 mmm to the right or left, set in 0.05 mm increments • press SEL to shift registration to the left; • press SHIFT + SEL to shift registration to the right.
Menu Settings Table (Continued) Group Parallel I/F Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic) SI Select Pitch (10 cpi)* 15 cpi, 17.
Menu Settings Table (Continued) Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic) Serial IF* Parity None, Odd, Even Serial Data 7/8 Bits 8 Bits, 7 Bits Protocol Ready/Busy, X/On / X/Off Diagnostic Test No, Yes Busy Line SSD-, SSD+, DTR, RTS Baud Rate 19200 bps, 9600 bps, 4800 bps, 2400 bps, 1200 bps, 600 bps, 300 bps DSR Signal Valid, Invalid DTR Signal Ready on Power Up, Ready on Select Busy Time 200 ms, 1 sec. * Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.
Menu Settings Table (Continued) Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic) CSF Bin 1* Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid Page Width (Wide model) 8", 13.6" Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5" Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5" CSF Bin 2* * Appears only when the optional Cut Sheet Feeder is installed.
Explanations of Menu Items Auto Feed XT, Default = Invalid Change this setting to 8 if your system uses 8-bit graphics. Epson emulation only. In the Epson emulation, the XT signal on pin 14 of the parallel interface can control automatic line feed. Some interface cables are wired in such a way that automatic line feed is always in effect: this item eliminates this potential problem. If your system uses pin 14 of the parallel interface to control automatic line feed, change the setting to Valid.
Bottom Margin, Default = Valid Centering Position, Default = DEFAULT Change to Invalid if you want the printer to ignore the bottom margin setting. Used to limit printhead travel when printing narrow columns. CAUTION!! Setting the Bottom Margin to Invalid can cause loss of data and damage the printhead by allowing printing without paper. Busy Line, Default = SSD- Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.
CSF Type, Default = Wide Emulation Mode, Default = IBM PPR To avoid paper jams, change this setting to Narrow if you are using the optional Cut Sheet Feeder on the wide model ML421 printer. Selects the printer command set (emulation) you want to engage. Diagnostic Test, Default = No Sets the character pitch used when the ESC SI command is received. Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed. Select yes to perform a diagnostic test of the serial interface.
I-Prime, Default = Buffer Print Determines what the printer will do when it receives the I-Prime signal from the software. • Buffer Print: prints out the buffer contents before resetting. • Buffer Clear: dumps the buffer contents immediately. • Invalid: causes the printer to ignore the I-Prime command. Select this setting if you wish to enter settings through the printer’s control panel which will not be automatically overridden by the software’s settings when the I-Prime signal is sent.
Page Width, Default = Depends on Feed Path Parity, Default = None Wide carriage model only. Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed. Selects the type of parity your system uses: None, Odd or Even. For rear and bottom paths, the default is 13.6". Change to 8" if you will be printing on narrow paper. This prevents printing on the platen which can damage the printhead and the platen, and can cause loss of data. For the top feed path the default is 8". Change to 13.
Print Mode, Default = Utility Receive Buffer Size, Default = 64K Choose the quality and typeface of printing. Switch to NLQ Courier or NLQ Gothic for Near Letter Quality printing. If you are printing draft-type documents, select DRAFT, then select either HSD or SSD under DRAFT Mode. Both of these Items are in the Font Group. Selects the amount of memory devoted to holding received data.
SI Select Pitch 12 cpi, Default = 20 cpi Wait Time, Default = 1 sec IBM emulation only. Sets the pitch to be engaged when the printer control panel is set for 12 cpi and the SI command is received. Sets the amount of time the printer will wait for more data before moving to the form tear-off position. Zero Character, Default = Slashed Size, Default = Single Change to Double for double width and height printing.
Chapter 5: Maintenance Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge Important! Make sure you have the correct replacement ribbon for the your printer. The wrong ribbon will not print when installed in your printer. Look for the printer model number on the ribbon package. Ribbon Cartridge Handling • Leave unused ribbon cartridges in their packages until needed. • Careful; the ribbon ink may cause permanent stains. • Ribbon ink on skin or clothing can usually be removed with soap and water.
CAUTION! The printhead may be HOT! 5 Turn the take-up knob (1) in the direction of the arrow to take up any ribbon slack. 3 Swing the used ribbon cartridge up off the printhead, lift it out, and discard it. 6 Close the access cover and turn the printer back on. CAUTION! If ribbon should contact the eyes: 4 Unpack the new ribbon cartridge and install it.
Loading Paper Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Back of the Printer Rear Feed Note: These instructions assume you have ready access to the back of the printer. If you do not, skip down to “Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Front of the Printer.” Note: If you have any paper in the paper path, remove it before installing rear feed paper. Lock Lever 1 Make sure the paper lever is forward (position marked “REAR”). Upper Tractor Cover Pins 2 Open the access cover (1).
3 Grasp the sheet guide. Lift it slightly, then slide it back. 4 Pivot the sheet guide forward and gently rest it against the roller assembly. Careful! If you push the sheet guide too hard against the roller assembly, it may dislodge it. If it does, be sure to reseat the roller assembly before continuing.
5 From the back of the printer, locate the tractors (1). 6 Open the lock levers (1) and move the right tractor (as viewed from the back of the printer) to the reference mark (2) matching the width of the paper you are loading. Then close the lock lever on the right tractor: ML421 ML420 Note: The movement of the right tractor is limited to ensure that the paper covers the paper sensor. 7 Open the tractor covers.
8 Place continuous forms paper on the first two pins of either tractor. Important! You must keep the number of paper holes engaged on either pin the same. If you don’t the paper will skew and jam. 10 Adjust the left tractor until the holes in the paper are centered on the pins then lock the lever and close the left tractor cover. Note: If the paper is too loose or too tight it can cause jams. 9 Close the right tractor cover.
11 Lower the sheet guide and slide it toward the front of the printer until the marks align. 12 Place the wire guide (“1” in the illustration for the step above) in the sheet guide on the pull-up roller assembly. 13 Press FF/LOAD. Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the page. To change the setting, see “Top of Form (TOF)” in Chapter 3.
Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Front of the Printer 2 Open the access cover (1). Note: These instructions assume you do not have ready access to the back of the printer. If you do, go back to “Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Rear of the Printer” earlier in this chapter. Lock Lever Upper Tractor Cover Pins 3 Grasp the tabs and lift off the sheet guide. 1 Make sure the paper lever is forward (position marked “REAR”). 4 Pull up on the lock levers to release them.
Note: The movement of the left tractor (as viewed from the front of the printer) is restricted to ensure that the paper covers the paper out sensor. 7 Open the tractor covers and place continuous forms paper on the first two pins of either tractor, then close the left tractor cover. 5 You will find reference marks (1 in illustration below) on the printer for the two most common paper sizes: Important! You must keep the number of paper holes engaged on either pin the same.
8 Adjust the position of the right tractor to center the holes in the paper on the pins. Then, close its tractor cover and push back the lock lever. Do not stretch the paper. 9 Reinstall the sheet guide. Note: If the paper is too loose or too tight it can cause jams.
10 Place the wire guide (1) in the sheet guide on the pull-up roller assembly. 52 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide 11 Press FF/LOAD. Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the page. To change the setting, see “Top of Form (TOF)” in Chapter 3.
Top Feed (Single Sheets) Note: If you have continuous form paper in the path, press PARK to remove it before loading single sheets. 3 Open the acoustic cover (1) and raise the sheet guide to the single-sheet position. Pivot the wire feed guide (2) up into the sheet guide. 1 Make sure the printer is on and deselected (SEL light off). 2 Place the paper lever in the center position (marked “TOP”).
4 Adjust the paper feed guides (1) for the width of the paper, then place a sheet of paper in the separator. The paper will feed into the printer. Important! If the paper does not feed in, remove it. Check the paper lever position. Make sure the ALARM light is on: if it is flashing, hold the SHIFT key and press the CHARACTER PITCH/RESET key. Reload the sheet of paper. Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the page.
Clearing Paper Jams 5 Lift the sheet guide (1) and reload paper. Make sure you lock the tractor covers. Rear-Feed Paper Jams 1 Turn off the printer. 2 Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the printer. CAUTION! Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access cover. 3 Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller assembly (2). Remove any torn pieces of paper. 5 Lower the sheet guide, then install the pull-up roller assembly and close the access cover.
Rear-Feed, Repeating Paper Jams Bits of Paper Stuck in the Paper Path If the paper keeps jamming, you may have: 1 Turn off the printer. 2 Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the printer. • defective paper • misaligned paper • bits of paper stuck in the paper path Defective Paper Replace the paper with a fresh stack. Misaligned Paper 1 Turn off the printer. 2 Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the printer.
4 Remove any torn pieces of paper. 5 Fold some continuous-form paper over three times to make a page four sheets thick. Then, load it on the tractors and close and lock the covers. 8 Load regular paper, close and lock the tractor covers. 9 Install the sheet guide, then install the pull-up roller assembly and close the access cover. 6 Use the platen knob to draw the quadruple-thick page around the platen. This brings out jammed pieces of paper. 7 Remove the paper pieces.
Single-Sheet Paper Jams 1 Turn off the printer. 2 Use the platen knob to back the paper out. 3 Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller assembly (2). 4 Remove any torn pieces from around the carriage. 5 Reinstall the pull-up roller assembly and close the access cover.
Cleaning the Housing You should clean the printer housing every six months (or after about 300 hours of operation). 4 Use a clean, dry cloth to dust around the carriage shaft and platen. Remove any loose bits of paper. 5 Reinstall the pull-up roller assembly and close the access cover. CAUTION! Never use strong solvents or strong detergents on the cabinet—they could damage the housing. 1 Turn off the printer. 2 Use the platen knob to back the paper out of the printer.
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting General Information Here are some general things to check before proceeding with detailed troubleshooting.
Problems / Solutions Problem The I-Prime signal will automatically override any front panel settings you have made. To eliminate this problem, enter the Menu Mode, go to the Parallel Interface group and change the setting for I Prime to Invalid. My word processor files do not print the way I have the menu and front panel set. For more information on changing menu settings, see “Changing the Menu Settings” in Chapter 4.
Problem Problem The printer does not print when the computer sends data. I'm getting strange symbols, incorrect fonts, etc., when I try to print a document. Solutions 1 Is the SEL light on? If not, press the SEL key. 2 Check that the interface cable is securely connected to both the printer and the computer. 3 If you have the optional serial interface board installed, check to be sure that it is firmly seated in the printer.
Problem Problem Ink smears on the paper when I print narrow columns. I've installed a new ribbon and the printing is smeared and streaked. Solution This may be caused by excessive printhead travel from the centering position. Enter the Menu and set the Centering Position to MODE 1. See “Using Your Printer, Menu Mode.” Solution The ribbon shield (1) is either loose or missing. For the wide-carriage printer, if MODE 1 doesn't work, try setting the Centering Position to MODE 2.
Problem Problem There are dots missing in my printouts. The ALARM light is on and the Character Pitch 10 light is flashing. Solution The head gap may not be set correctly. Try moving the headgap lever to a lower setting. If that doesn’t help, the printhead may be damaged; call for service. Solution This indicates that the paper lever is set at the wrong position for the paper you are trying to use. Move it to the proper setting. Problem The ALARM light is flashing.
Problem Problem The printer needs paper. The ALARM is not on and I can’t load paper. The Print Quality and Character Pitch keys on the front panel don't work. Solution 1 Press and release the SEL key. 2 Press and hold the SHIFT key and press the RESET / CHARACTER PITCH key. The ALARM light comes on and you can now load paper. Solution The Operator Panel Function in the printer menu can be used to disable these buttons (Limited Function).
Appendix A: Parts & Accessories Purchasing Parts & Accessories Before you purchase, know your printer model number (see the front of the unit) and have the correct part number and description of the item. Item descriptions and part numbers are provided in this section. • Consult the dealer where your purchased your printer. • Locate an Authorized Oki Data Reseller by visiting one of our web sites http://my.okidata.com (allows you to register your product and personalize your own support needs) http://www.
Replacement Parts Item Part Number Both Models Ribbon Cartridge ( ) ------------------------------- 42377801 Platen Knob ( ) ------------------------------------- 51902220 Power Cord ( ) ------------------------------------- 56631801 Printhead ( ) ---------------------------------------- 41923901 Model ML420 Access Cover ( ) ----------------------------------- 42115401 Sheet Guide ( ) ------------------------------------- 51009509 Pull-Up Roller Assembly ( ) --------------------- 42044701 Model ML421 Acc
Accessories Option Part Number Model ML420 Pull Tractor, Top-Mount ( ) ----------------------- 70030501 Push Tractor, Bottom-Mount ( ) ----------------- 70030701 Roll Paper Stand ( ) ------------------------------- 70023301 Model ML421 Pull Tractor, Top-Mount ( ) ----------------------- 70030601 Push Tractor, Bottom-Mount ( ) ----------------- 70030801 Both Models Cut Sheet Feeder ( ) ------------------------------- 70030101 Serial Interface ( ) --------------------------------- 70012801 OkiLAN® 6120i 10/
Appendix B: Printer Control Codes This section lists the most commonly used printer control codes. You will find a comprehensive listing of the control codes (English only), on your Printer CD. To access it: 1 Place the CD in your CD-ROM drive and wait for it to AutoPlay. 2 Select your printer model, then click Continue. 3 Click Documentation and follow the on-screen prompts to view the file.
IBM Proprinter III Commands (continued) IBM Command ASCII Decimal Double Width On Double Width Off ESC W 1 ESC W 0 27 87 49 27 87 48 Emphasized Printing On Emphasized Printing Off ESC E ESC F 27 69 27 70 Enhanced Printing On Enhanced Printing Off ESC G ESC H 27 71 27 72 Form Feed FF 12 Form Length n inches (n = 1 to 255) n lines (n = 1 to 255) ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n ESC C n 27 67 n Horizontal Tab, Execute HT 9 Italics On Italics Off ESC % G ESC % H 27 37 71 27 37 72 70 Microline 420/42
IBM Proprinter III Commands (continued) IBM Command ASCII Decimal Software I-Prime ESC } NUL 27 125 0 Stop Printing ESC j 27 106 IBM Command ASCII Decimal Overscore On Overscore Off ESC _ 1 ESC _ 0 27 95 49 27 95 48 Subscript On Superscript On Subscript/Superscript Off ESC S 1 ESC S 0 ESC T 27 83 49 27 83 48 27 84 Paper Out Sensor Off Paper Out Sensor On ESC 8 ESC 9 27 56 27 57 Top of Form, Set at Current Position ESC 4 27 52 Print Quality, Select HSD ESC # 0 27 35 48 Print Suppr
Epson FX Commands Epson Command ASCII Decimal Backspace BS 8 Carriage Return, Execute CR 13 Character Pitch Select 10 cpi Select 12 cpi Select 15 cpi Begin 10 cpi ESC P ESC M ESC g ESC SI, or SI 27 80 27 77 27 103 27 15, or 15 Cancel Condensed Print DC2 18 Delete DEL 127 72 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide Epson Command ASCII Decimal Double Height On Double Height Off ESC w 1 ESC w 0 27 119 49 27 119 48 Double Width On Double Width Off ESC W 1 ESC W 0 27 87 49 27 87 48 Emphasized P
Epson FX Commands (continued) Epson Command ASCII Form Length n Inches (n = 1 to 22) n Lines (n = 1 to 127) ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n ESC C n 27 67 n Horizontal Tab HT 9 Justification Left Center Right Full ESC a 0 ESC a 1 ESC a 2 ESC a 3 27 97 48 27 97 49 27 97 50 27 97 51 ESC P ESC M LF ESC J n ESC % 5 n 27 80 27 77 10 27 74 n 27 37 53 n ESC j n 27 106 n Line Feed, Execute Select 10 cpi Select 12 cpi w/ Carriage Return n/216" (n = 0 to 255) n/144" (n = 0 to 127) Reverse, n/216" (n = 0 to 255) D
Epson FX Commands (continued) Epson Command Print Quality/Font Select HSD/SSD (depends on setting for Draft Mode) Select NLQ Select Courier (NLQ only) Select Gothic (NLQ only) Select UTL ASCII Decimal Epson Command ASCII Decimal Reset Printer Clear Buffer & Initialize ESC @ Clear Print Buffer CAN 27 64 24 Skip Over Perforation, Cancel ESC O 27 79 ESC ( 0 ESC x 1 27 40 48 27 120 49 Software I-Prime ESC } NUL 27 125 0 ESC k 0 27 107 48 Subscript On Superscript On Subscript/Superscript Off
Oki MICROLINE Standard Commands Oki Command ASCII Decimal Slashed Zero Unslashed Zero ESC ! @ ESC ! A 27 33 64 27 33 65 ESC US 1 ESC US 0 27 31 49 27 31 48 Oki Command ASCII Decimal Backspace BS 8 Double Height On Double Height Off Carriage Return CR 13 Double Width Printing US 31 Emphasized Printing On Emphasized Printing Off ESC T ESC I 27 84 27 73 Enhanced Printing On Enhanced Printing Off ESC H ESC I 27 72 27 73 Form Feed FF 12 Horizontal Tab, Execute HT 9 Italic On Ita
Oki MICROLINE Standard Commands (continued) Oki Command ASCII Decimal Paper Out Sensor Off Paper Out Sensor On ESC E 1 ESC E 0 27 69 49 27 69 48 Print Quality Select HSD/SSD Select NLQ Courier Select NLQ Gothic Select Utility ESC # 0 ESC 1 ESC 3 ESC 0 27 35 48 27 49 27 51 27 48 Print Speed, Set to Full Print Speed, Set to Half ESC > ESC < 27 62 27 60 Oki Command ASCII Decimal Line Feed Commands w/ Carriage Return w/o Carriage Return n/144" (n = 0 to 127) Reverse LF ESC DC2 ESC % 5 n ESC LF
Oki MICROLINE Standard Commands (continued) Oki Command ASCII Decimal Shift-In Shift-Out SI SO 15 14 Software I-Prime ESC } NUL 27 125 0 Subscript Printing On Subscript Printing Off Superscript Printing On Superscript Printing Off ESC L ESC M ESC J ESC K 27 76 27 77 27 74 27 75 Underline Printing On Underline Printing Off ESC C ESC D 27 67 27 68 Uni-Directional Print On Uni-Directional Print Off ESC ESC = 27 45 27 61 Vertical Tab, Execute VT 11 Control Codes 77
Appendix C: Specifications Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice. Print Method Impact dot matrix Printhead 9 pins, 0.30 mm (0.0118") diameter, with thermal protection Interfaces Standard: Centronics parallel, IEEE-1284 compliant USB 1.
Emulations (co-resident) • IBM Proprinter III • Epson FX • Oki MICROLINE Standard Print Speed Mode Speed (Characters per Second) Super Speed Draft (SSD) 570 cps High Speed Draft (HSD) 507 cps Utility 380 cps Near Letter Quality (NLQ) 95 cps Characters per Line (cpl) Setting ML420 ML421 10 cpi 80 cpl 136 cpl 12 cpi 96 cpl 163 cpl 15 cpi 120 cpl 204 cpl 17.
Graphics Resolution Bar Codes Emulation Density Max. Resolution (Dots per inch) IBM, Epson Single Double Quadruple 60 x 216 dpi 120 x 216 dpi 240 x 216 dpi Oki MICROLINE Single Double Quadruple 72 x 72 dpi 144 x 144 dpi 288 x 144 dpi • • • • • • Code 39 UPC A, UPC E EAN 8, EAN 13 Interleaved 2 of 5 Code 128 Postnet Paper Thickness: Tractor Feed Rear Feed: 0.014" (0.36 mm) maximum Bottom Feed: 0.017" (0.44 mm) max. Requires optional push or pull tractor.
Paper Specifications: ML420 Single (Cut) Sheets Feed: Top Only Weight: 14 to 24 lb. US Bond (52.6 to 90 g/m2) Width Range: 7.2" to 8.5" (183 to 216 mm) Single-part, continuous forms Feed: Rear, Bottom* Weight: 12 to 24 lb. US Bond (45 to 90 g/m2) Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm) Carbonless continuous forms (orig. + 4 copies) Feed: Rear, Bottom* Weight: 9 to 11 lb. Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm) Interleaf continuous forms (orig. + 4 copies) Feed: Rear, Bottom* Weight: 10 to 12 lb.
Paper Specifications: ML421 Single (Cut) Sheet Feed: Top Only Weight: 14 to 24 lb. US Bond (52.6 to 90 g/m2) Width Range: 7.2" to 14.3" (182.8 to 363.2 mm) Single-part, continuous forms Feed: Rear, Bottom* Weight: 12 to 24 lb. US Bond (45 to 90 g/m2) Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm) Carbonless continuous forms Feed: Rear, Bottom* Weight: 9 to 11 lb. Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm) Interleaf continuous forms Feed: Rear, Bottom* Weight: 10 to 12 lb. paper, 9 lb.
Environmental Requirements Physical Specifications Temperature Note: Height dimensions do not include the acoustic cover. Operating: 41 to 95°F (5 to 36°C) Storage: 14 to 122°F (-10 to 50°C) Humidity Operating: 20 to 80% RH Storage: 5 to 95% RH Electrical Requirements • 120 volts ac, (+6%, -15%) 50 or 60 Hz (±2%) 58 W Typical, 10 W idle • 230 ac, (+15%, -14 %) 50 or 60 Hz (±2%) 58 W Typical, 10 W idle ML420 Size (WxDxH): 17.1" x 16.1" x 6" (434 x 409 x 153 mm) Weight: 16.7 lbs. (7.
Appendix D: Installation Location Printer • Place your printer on a firm, solid surface. • Allow enough space around the printer to easily access the platen knob and the various paper feed paths. • Make sure a suitable grounded power outlet is available nearby. Ribbon Cartridge Power Cord Unpack • If any items are missing, contact your dealer immediately. • Keep your packing materials and carton in case you ever need to ship or transport the printer. • Interface cable and paper are sold separately.
1 Remove any packing tape, then grasp the tabs (1) at either end of the access cover and pivot it toward the front of the printer as far as it will go. 3 Remove the shipping restraint from the pull-up roller assembly (1). 2 Remove the printhead shipping restraint.
4 Use the tabs (1) to lift and remove the sheet guide, then remove the shipping restraint. 86 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide 5 Reinstall the sheet guide: insert the clips on either side of the separator into the notches marked with a triangle, then press down to secure the separator in place.
Install the Ribbon Cartridge Important! Make sure you have the correct replacement ribbon for your printer. The wrong ribbon will not print when installed in your printer. CAUTION! The printhead may be HOT! 3 Unpack the new ribbon cartridge and install it on the printhead. Important! Do not remove the ribbon shield (1) from the ribbon! Ribbon Cartridge Handling • Leave unused ribbon cartridges in their packages until needed. • Careful; the ribbon ink may cause permanent stains.
Power Connection Computer Connections 1 Make sure both the printer and the computer are OFF. 2 Plug the power cord into the back of the printer, then into a grounded outlet. Parallel (LPT): IEEE 1284 • Requires bidirectional cable, max. length 6 ft. (1.8 m), not supplied. • Printer has 36-pin socket 1 Make sure the printer and computer are both turned off. 2 Attach a suitable bidirectional cable to the parallel connector on the back of the printer. Then attach and secure the cable to your computer.
USB: Specification 1.1 Compliant Loading Paper • Requires USB 1.1 cable, maximum length 19.7 ft. (5 m), not supplied. • Printer has USB “B” receptacle. For instructions on loading paper, see “Loading Paper” in Chapter 5. 1 Make sure the printer and computer are both turned off. 2 Attach a suitable USB cable to the printer. Then attach the cable to your computer. 3 Turn the computer and printer back on.
Testing the Printer • Font Sample Test • Rolling ASCII Test • Hexadecimal Dump Mode Font Sample Test Important! Wide carriage Model ML421: If you are using 8.5" paper to run the tests, make sure the paper width selection in the printer menu is set to 8.5 inches. Otherwise, printing on the platen may damage the printer. See Chapter 4: Menu Mode for more information. 90 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide The Font Sample Test prints a sample of the fonts standard to the printer.
Rolling ASCII Test The Rolling ASCII Print Test produces a continuous printout of all 96 ASCII characters in a rolling pattern in whatever typeface is selected (default = LQ Courier). The top of the printout shows the Printer Model, Emulation, Country Code, and Firmware Revision Level. Important! Wide carriage Model ML421: If you are using 8.5" paper to run the tests, make sure the paper width selection in the printer menu is set to 8.5 inches. Otherwise, printing on the platen may damage the printer.
Hexadecimal Dump Mode Emulations When the printer is placed in the Hexadecimal Dump Mode, all data received, including text and printer commands, is printed in both hexadecimal and ASCII format. The factory default emulation for your printer is IBM Proprinter III. For example, the following line of BASIC code LPRINT CHR$ (27);0;CHR$ (30);This is an example of a hexadecimal dump. If you wish to change to one of the other emulations, see “Changing Emulations” in Chapter 3.
Loading the OKI Driver Using a Compatible Driver Parallel Interface Note: See your software documentation for information on how to select a printer driver. 1 Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. ® Note: If the CD does not AutoPlay, click Start Run Browse, then browse to your CD-ROM drive, double-click Install.exe and click OK. ® The drivers below are listed by decreasing compatibility with your printer. Use one as close to the top of the list as possible.
Index A C E Accessories ............................................. 68 Alignment problems ................................. 9 ASCII Test .............................................. 91 Auto Carriage return ............................... 35 Auto LF (Line Feed) ........................ 31, 35 Auto Select ............................................. 32 Carbonless continuous forms .......... 81, 82 Card Stock ....................................... 81, 82 Centering printhead position .................
F H L Factory defaults, menu mode ................. 26 Font Sample Test .................................... 90 Fonts Embedded Printer Commands ........... 62 Resident ............................................. 80 Selecting ............................................ 40 Forms Tear-Off ....................................... 37 Changing ............................................ 18 Top of Form ................................ 12, 17 Wait Time ...........................................
O Oki MICROLINE Standard Commands ....................................... 75–77 Operator Panel Function ......................... 65 Options ................................................... 66 P Page Length Rear Feed ........................................... 29 Top Feed ............................................ 30 Page Width .............................................. 39 Bottom Feed ...................................... 29 Rear Feed ...........................................
S T U Self Tests ................................................. 90 Serial Interface ........................................ 68 Serial Interface Option ........................... 62 Server, Print Option ................................ 68 Sheet Guide ............................................ 67 Single Sheet Cut Sheet Feeder Option .................... 68 Jams ................................................... 58 Loading .............................................. 53 Skip Over Perforation .....
