Altair Q70 Operator's manual

INTRODUCTION
This documentation package describes the Altair Q70 printer system.
The Q70 system includes the Q70 printer and the 88-Q?OC Controller
board for connecting the
printer to an Altair 8800 series microcomputer.
The documentation package consists of three parts. The first part,
the Operation Manual, describes the procedures for loading paper and
ribbon cartridges~ replacing prin~Nheels, cleaning the printer and
miscellaneous procedures. The second part, the Product/Interface Des-
cription Manual, is a detailed description of the electrical character-
istics of the printer, including required signals, command sequences,
etc. The final part of the package is ~he QiO Printer Controller Manual
which includes infonnation en the Q70C contro11er board and on program-
ming for the 8800 series microcomputers.
The Operation Manual and the Product/Interface Description Manual
are both copyrighted 1976 by Qume, Inc. and are reprinted by pennission.
Q70
Jul y , i97i

Section
OPERATION MANUAL
1• Introduction
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. Get to Know the Printer .....
3. Removing and Replacing the Cover
4. Turn the Printer On . . . . . . .
o. Loading Paper (Standard Feed)
6. Changing the Ribbon •....
7. Replacing the Printwheel
8.
9.
10.
11.
Removing and Replacing the Platen
Mounting the For.ns Tractor
Loading Paper (Tractor Feed)
Cleaning
12. If You Have Trouble ..... .
PRODUCT/INTERFACE DESCRIPTION MANUAL
1. Introduction •....
2. Specifications
3. Functional Operat~on
. .•
. . . . . . .
Paae
-
l
3
5
7
9
li
13
15
17
19
21
.. . • • 23
1
5
3-1. Mechanical Functions
3-2. Status and Control . . . . . . . . . . . '
.. . . . 8
4. Instal1ation
4-1. Power Connections
4-2. Control ....... . . .
4-3.
Initial Performance Check .
4-4.
Printer Dimensions
i;
. .·. . . .
15
• • • 17
19
19
Q70
Ju ly ! 1977

Section
5. Interfacing ..... • ..... .
5-1 . Data and Control Connections
5-2.
Timing Considerations ... . . .
5-3.
5-4.
5-5.
The Printer and Its Requirements
The Processor . . . . . . . .
The BASIC Hardware ·Interface
5-6.
Programming the Interfaca
5-7.
S~ergency Conditions
Q?O PRINTER CONTROLLER MANUAL
1. Introduction .... . •
2. Q70C Controller Data Flow
3.
4.
5.
~ 6.
Initialization Procsdure
Printing Procedure
Printar Interrupts
Electrical Theory
7. Connecting the Printer
Q7G
Jul :/ , 1977
Page
23
25
32
34
. . . . . 38
. . .
. . .
. . .
39
44
48
3
3
5
7
13
15
17
,.: ~
: I

G}~~G}0Cf . @~® lPD'OOO~@U
®LOJ® UffifrD ® oo ~ffilIDlli1G:lU
The following manual is copyrighted by
Qi.;me, incorporated, 1976, and is reprinted
with permission.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
lNTRODUCTJCN .......... ....... .... . .. 1
GEi TO KNOW THE PRINTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
REMOVING AND RE?LAClNG THE COVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
TURN THE PRINTEt1 ON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
LOADING PAPER (STANDARD FE:D) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . 9
CHANGJNG THERIBBON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
REPLAClNG THEPRINTWHEEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
REMOVING AND RE;:,LACING THE PLATEN . . .... .. ....... .. . . . . ... 15
MOUNTlNG THE FORMS TRACTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
LOADING ?APER (TRACTOR FEED) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CLEANING .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 21
IF YOU HAVE TI10U8LE . .. . . ....... . .. ... . ... .. · 23

MOUNTlNG THE FORMS TRACTOR
Some printers come equipped with an optional forms tractor. Tnis accessory is
mounted through slots in the top of a special cover which is installed on tractor-
feed printers . Tractor feed provides a more positive method of paper control. To
mount the forms tractor, refer to Figure 7 and instructions below.
• The first step in installing the forms tractor is to remove the top printer
cover.
_ • Then pull the paper bail forward, out of the way .
• With both thumbs. depress the two spiing- l oadec locking levers on the
forms tractor and clamp the unit to the pla!en shaft.
• The right stanchion engages a groove on the platen 's shaft. and the forms
· tractor will appear to be centered on the printer when this position is cor-
rect.
• Release the locking levers and check to make sure that they pop all the
way out . The right-hand lever may not click into place en the first try, and
it will then be necessary to rock the mechanism a little to obtain the
proper engagement. When the forms tractor is fully locked in place. the
right-hand locking lever wiil be just as far out as the left.
• New adjust the forms tractor for the width of the paper to be used. First
loosen the two arive sprocket clamping screws and siide each of the two
drive sorcckets to the outside cf the trac~or support rail.
• Lift the paper gates on the drive sprockets and i nsert a sheet of paper
behir.d the plater.. Rotate the platen knob transporting the paper through
to the front.
• Pull the pacer release lever all the way forward, disengaging the friction
feed mechanism.
o ?os:tion the holes in the edge of the paper aver t:ie pins of the ilght-hand
drive sprocket. and lower ~he right-hand paper gate.
• Ti ghten the right-hand drive sprocket clamping screw .
•
Now slide the l eft hand drlve sorccket over to engage the ho l es in the
paper's left margin. Make sure that the upper edge of the paper is parallel
to the tractor support rail, and lower the left-hand paper gate.
• Finally, adjust the position of the left-hand drive sprocket anc tighten the
left-hand clamping screw to held it in p!ace. The paper must not be under
any tension. At the same time. however , t he adju~tment should not be so
l oose that the paper buckles upward at t he csnter of the platen. Once the
forms
tr2c t or has beeri adjusted t or the width of paper to be used, no
furtner adjustment will oe necessary unless the clamp screws ae dis-
~L:rbed.
17