Bluechip D12 User manual

BWEI:HIP

012/10

Daisy Wheel Printer

User's Guide

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Radio Frequency Interference Statement

Warning: This equipment generates and

uses

radio frequency energy and

if

not

installed and

used

properly,

that

is

in strict accordance

with

the manufacturer's instructions, may

cause

interference

to

radio and television reception.

It

has

been

type

tested and

found

to

comply

with

the limits

for

a

Class

8 computing device in accordance

with

the specifications in Subpart

J

of

Part 15

of

FCC

Rules, which are designed

to

provide reasonable protection against such

interference in a

resi~ential

installation. However, there

is

no

guarantee

that

interference

will

not

occur in

a.

particular installation.

If

this equipment

does

cause

interference

to

radio

or

tele-

vision recept'ion, which

can

be

determined

by

turning the equipment

off

and on,

the

user

is

encouraged

to

try

to

correct the interference by one

or

more

of

the

following

measures:

• Reorient the receiving antenna

• Relocate the computer

with

respect

to

the receiver

• Move the computer away

from

the receiver

• Plug the computer

into

a

different

outlet

so

that

computer

and receiver

are on

different

branch circuits

If

necessary, the user should consult the dealer

or

an

experienced radio/television technician

for

additional suggestions. The user may

find

the

following

booklet

prepared

by

the Federal

Communications Commission helpful:

"How

to

Identify

and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems". This

booklet

is

available

from

the

US

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 20402, Stock No. 004-000-

00345-4.

Shield interface cable must be

used

according

to

FCC

15.

8380.

It

is

recommended

that

the cable length does

not

exceed

71

inches (1.8m).

TRADEMARK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Reference

is

made in this manual

to

computers and

word

processing programs.

These

products

have

registered trademarks

as

follows:

COMMODORE, COMMODORE

64

are

registered trademarks

of

Commodore Business Machines, Inc.

PLUS/4 and

MAGIC

DESK I are trademarks

of

Commodore Business Machines, Inc.

Bank Street

WRITER

is

a trademark

of

Br0derbund Software, Inc.

Cut &

Paste

is

a trademark

of

ELECTRONIC

ARTS, INC.

HOMEWORD

is

a trademark

of

Sierra On-Line, Inc.

Word Writer

is

a trademark

of

Timeworks, Inc.

Brother

is

a trademark

of

Brother Industries, Ltd.

-------

About

This Manual

A Primer on Daisywheel Printers

PART

l

INSTALLATION

Chapter 1 Unpacking

Instructions

Checking

the

Carton Contents

Repacking

Choosing a

Location

Chapter 2 Setup Procedures

Part Names

Connecting

to

Your

Computer

Setting the

DIP

Switches

Control

Panel

Control

Switches

Indicator

Lamp

Replacing

the

Ribbon

Cassette

Changing

the

Daisywheel

Chapter 3 Paper Loading Procedures

Manual Paper Loading

Optional

Tractor

Feed

Installation

Paper Loading

CONTENTS

v

vi

3

13

33

iii

--------~-

IV

PART

ll

OPERATION

Chapter 4

Using

the Diagnostic Functions

Self-test

Printout

Power-ON

Default

Settings

Chapter 5 Printer Control

Basic Programming and this Printer

Code Tables

Control

Codes

Direct

Printing

Function

Chapter 6

Using

Escape

(ESC) Control

Sequences

Word Processing Functions

Print

Format

Functions

Print

Enham:ements

Sample Programs

PART Ill

REFERENCE

Appendix

A Using Commodore

64

Word Processors

ESC

Sequence Summary

B

c

D

E

Interface Specifications

ASCII Code and International Character

Sets

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

F Options and Accessories

G Printer Specifications

H Glossary

PART

IV

QUICK

INSTALLATION

GUIDE

FOR

THE

BLUE CHIP

WORDPROCESSOR FOR

COMMODORE

64

INDEX

45

47

51

67

93

95

139

143

ABOUT

THIS

MANUAL

This manual

was

prepared

to

provide users

at

all levels

of

computing

experience a

thorough

introduction

to

the

basic operation and special features

of

this daisywheel

printer.

For

novice

users, explanations

are

supported

by

illustrations and summary tables. Advanced users

will

be

able

to

make

full

use

of

the

printer's

many

functions

to

control

and

format

their

special

printing

requirements.

This manual

is

divided

into

four

parts. The

first,

Installation,

is

preceded

by

an

introduction

to

basic concepts in

printer

operation and

control

to

acquaint beginners

with

the funda-

mentals.

Further

sections in this

part

take the user

from

initial

connections, settings and

use

of

the

control

panel switches

to

installation

of

the daisywheel and

ribbon

cassette and paper

loading.

Then,

with

the

printer

set up and ready

to

use,

the second

part

describes operating procedures

and

use

of

various

print

functions. Here, sections deal

with

features such

as

the

self-test

print-

out

and selection and

use

of

word

processing and

print

format

functions

which

are presented

through the

use

of

ESC

code

control

sequences.

Part III

is

the reference appendix

with

sections on

word

processing programs, summaries

of

ESC

sequences, troubleshooting and

use

of

international character

sets,

and includes a glossary

of

printer-related terms.

Part

IV

describes

how

to

install the Blue Chip Wordprocessor

for

the

Commodore

64

and

how

to

print

out

sample test

to

check

your

printer

installation.

We

recommend

that

you familiarize yourself

with

this user's guide

by

looking

through

the

table

of

contents and index. Some sections may

be

skipped

by

users whose dealers provide

such services

as

setup, cabling and connection, DIP switch setting and installation

of

the

optional

tractor

feed. Likewise, advanced users

can

go

directly

to

the sections

they

need.

Be

sure

to

check the manuals

that

carne

with

your

computer

and software

for

further

informa-

tion

on

printer

installation and

compatibility,

ESC

sequences, and

BASIC

programming.

For

detailed descriptions

of

technical

areas

that

are necessarily

out

of

the scope

of

this

manual,

check

on

specific references available through

your

dealer.

v

vi

A

PRIMER

ON

DAISYWHEEL

PRINTERS

Despite

rumors

of

a

forthcoming

'paperless' society

brought

about

by

the

innovations

of

electronics

technology,

computer

user~

of

today

still

derive much satisfaction and have great

need

for

seeing the results

of

their

efforts

on a hard

copy

printout.

This

introductory

section

is

provided

to

offer

some general observations on

what

printers

are and

how

they

work.

It

is

intended

as

an

introduction

for

novice users and a

base

upon

which

they

can expand

their

knowledge.

All

printers

are essentially

output

devices in the

family

of

computer

peripherals

which

receive

electronic character codes and

produce

corresponding images

of

these codes on paper. Printers

are generally classified

by

the

type

of

printed

image and the

way

in

which

the

image

is

produced.

Fully

formed

characters,

as

good

as

or

surpassing

the

quality

of

office

typewriter

output,

are

produced

by

daisywheel printers.

This

clear and

rounded

type

has

come

to

be called

letter

quality

(LQ)

printing

as

the

printout

is

acceptable

for

use

in correspondence.

The daisywheels in these

printers

are

so

named because

the

print

element

they

use

looks

like

a

flattened

flower,

with

individual

characters and

symbols

arranged on spokes

around

a hub.

When the code

for

a character

is

received

by

the

printer,

a

motor

turns

the daisywheel and

aligns the selected character

under

a

print

hammer

which

strikes the single spoke against a

ribbon,

leaving a

printed

form

on

the

paper.

A

printer

receives character codes

from

the

computer

which

are

interpreted

to

form

an

image

on paper.

The

industry

standard

for

this

data transmission

is

the

American

Standard

Code

for

Information

Interchange,

known

as

the

ASCII

code. In

addition

to

characters

to

be

printed,

other

codes are used

to

control

functions

such

as

line spacing and

form

feed.

Applica-

tion

programs, such

as

word

processors, all make

use

of

these

control

codes and

incorporate

them in the software's

command

system.

When basic

print

functions

do

not

respond accurately

to

the commands,

the

user can usually

make

use

of

escape (ESC) sequences

which

are

command

code strings

to

invoke

the

function

from

the

printer's

own

command

mode.

This

involves

programming,

and

for

most

microcom-

puter

users, a knowledge

of

BASIC.

These sequences can also

be

used

for

special features such

as

enhanced

double-strike

printing.

Unpacking Instructions

Chapter

UNPACKING

INSTRUCTIONS

CONTENTS

5

Checking

the

Carton Contents 10

Repacking 10

Choosing a

Location

11

3

UNPACKING

INSTRUCTIONS

5

UNPACKING

Your

daisywheel

printer

was

carefully packaged

with

special shipping materials

to

prevent its

damage during transport and storage. The

illustration

shows

an

exploded view

of

how

the

contents

fit

in the carton.

Note

that

the daisywheel and ribbon cassette are already installed in

the

printer

and there are carriage stoppers set inside the

printer

case

that

you

will

have

to

remove later.

We

recommend unpacking the carton near

the

place the

printer

will

be

set up and

operated.

Be

sure

to

allow

enough

roo_m

to

move

about

safely when making

initial

connections

and settings.

6

INSTALLATION

As you have already opened the carton and removed

this

manual,

continue

with

the

following

steps

to

unpack

the

printer.

Although

the

printer

is

light-weight,

the

snug-fitting

foam cushions may make

it

somewhat

difficult

to

remove.

If

two

per-

sons

work

together, one can

hold

the

carton

down,

while

the

other

lifts

the

printer

up

and

out.

2 Grasp the

printer

1n

the

center and I

ift

it

up

with

the

foam packing in place on

the sides. Set the

printer

down

rightside

up

onto

a steady surface

with

the

cushions

attached.

3 Then

lift

up

one end

of

the

printer

at

time

to

remove

the

foam cushions.

UNPACKING

INSTRUCTIONS

7

4 Fold

open

the

acoustic cover

towards

the

front

of

the

printer.

5 Grasp

the

top

cover

at

the

edge nearest

the

platen and lift it off.

6

There

are

two

plastic

stoppers

set

inside

the

printer

case:

one

at

the

bottom

to

keep

the

carriage from sliding, and

another

protecting

the

top

of

the

ribbon cassette.

8

INSTALLATION

7

First

remove the stopper

from

the

carriage traveling rod. Grasp the

upright

tip

and pull back

to

unclip

it

from

the rod.

Then

lift

up

to

free the

peg

at the stopper

bottom

from

the square

mold.

8 The stopper on the

ribbon

cassette -that

protects the daisywheel and

motor

lock

lever

lifts

off

easily.

9

All

new

ribbon

cassettes have a ribbon

stopper tab set in the

right

side. Move

the carriage

by

hand

to

about

the center

and pull

out

this tab.

UNPACKING

INSTRUCTIONS

9

10

Then

turn

the ribbon feed

knob

counter-

clockwise

until

the leader

is

taken up

and

no

slack remains.

11

Replace the

top

cover

by

locating the

beveled

edge

near the

front

of

the

printer

first, then

lower

the cover

into

place.

12

Fold

back the acoustic cover

toward

the

rear

of

the

printer.

10

INSTALLATION

CHECKING THE

CARTON

CONTENTS

Now

take a

few

minutes

to

check

that

you

have everything in the

following

contents list.

Printer

2 User's Guide

3 Ribbon Cassette

4 Daisywheel

5 Interface Cable (Grounded shield cable)

6 Wordprocessing Diskette and Manual

If

anything

is

missing

or

damaged,

contact

your

dealer immediately.

REPACKING

Should

it

be

necessary

at

this

time

or

for

any

major

moves in the

future,

follow

these steps

for

repacking

your

printer:

WARNING:

If

the

printer

was

in

use,

first

turn

off

the power and unplug the

power cord

from

the

outlet.

Then disconnect the interface cable

from

the

printer

and computer. Coil the interface cable and

put

it

inside the small plastic

bag.

2

Fold

open the acoustic cover

to

the

front

of

the

printer,

then

re-

move the

top

cover.

3 Move the carriage

by

hand

to

the

far

right

side.

Do

not

remove the

daisywheel

or

ribbon cassette.

Attach

the carriage stopper

by

locating the

bottom

peg in the square

mold.

Then push the stopper

to

the rear

to

clip

it

onto

the traveling bar

of

the carriage.

Add

the

stopper

that

covers the ribbon cassette.

4 Replace the

top

cover and close the acoustic cover.

5

Put

the

printer

into

the plastic

bag.

Fit

the

two

foam cushions on

the ends

of

the

printer.

6 Return the cushioned

printer

to

the carton.

7

Finally,

before closing the carton,

put

this manual in the

other

plastic

bag

and slip

it

and the interface cable

into

the

space

be-

tween the foam cushions.

Failure

to

comply

with

these repacking procedures can invalidate

your

warranty.

UNPACKING

INSTRUCTIONS

11

CHOOSING A LOCATION

The place where

you

use

your

daisywheel

printer

is

perhaps already determined

by

the

location

of

your

computer. As cables and interfaces are discussed in the section, Connecting

to

Your

Computer, on

page

18,

important

factors are mentioned here.

Vibration

Carriage movement and

the

impact

of

the printhead

during

operation cause

vibration

in all

daisywheel printers.

Although

this

vibration

has

been

minimized

in

the

design

of

the

printer,

it

is

still

a consideration. Make sure the

printer

will

be

on a level,

sturdy

surface.

If

you choose

to

use

a special

combination

rack/stand

for

your

computer

setup

which

includes places

for

peripherals such

as

this

printer,

check

it

for

strength and size

so

the

printer

wi

II

fit

and

be

supported adequately.

2 Noise

All

impact printers generate some degree

of

noise

during

operation.

And,

although its levels

are relatively low, this

printer

is

no exception.

Most

people become used

to

this

sound in

their

computing

environment. But,

for

those

who

are

particularly

sensitive,

positioning

the

printer

even a small distance away

from

the

computer

-and

the

person using

it

-can

make a

world

of

difference.

3 Paper

Supply

If

you

intend

to

print

on cut-sheet forms

you

will

be

manually

loading

the

paper sheet

by

sheet. Having

the

printer

near the

computer

at

a convenient height

would

then

be

a place-

ment

consideration. On the

other

hand,

use

of

the

tractor

feeder also involves

allowing

space

for

its installation and paper supply requirements.

4 Extremes

This

printer

is

fully

compatible

with

the

operating

environment

common

to

computers

and

their

The

printer

specifications in

Appendix

G on page

133

indi-

cate list specific ranges

for

temperature and

humidity,

but

general guidelines are appro-

priate

for

the average user.

Avoid

extremes

of

temperature and

humidity,

as

well

as

loca-

tions

where changes in these

conditions

are

frequent

and

abrupt.

This

means keeping

the

printer

away

from

both

heating and

cooling

sources. Placement in locations receiving

prolonged

direct

sunlight should also

be

avoided. Remember,

too,

that

the

majority

of

minor

problems

affecting

printer

operation

are related

to

paper, and

the

moisture

it

inevitably

absorbs.

Chapter

SETUP

PROCEDURES

CONTENTS

Part Names

Capsule Glossary

Connecting

to

Your

Computer

Setting

the

DIP Switches

Control

Panel

Control

Switches

Indicator

Lamp

Replacing the

Ribbon

Cassette

Changing the Daisywheel

15

16

18

19

22

23

24

28

13

BlueChip D12 User manual

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