Commodore MPS-801 User manual

MPS-801
DOT MATRIX PRINTER
USER'S MANUAL
PIN 251319
~CDmmDdDre
COMPUTER

The information in this manual has been reviewed and is believed to be
entirely reliable. No responsibility, however, is assumed for inaccuracies.
The
material in this manual is for information purposes only, and is subject
to change without notice.
This
manual is copyrighted and contains proprietary information. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-
copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES, Inc.
Copyright ©1983 by Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
All rights reserved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: GENERAL INFORMATION
1. External Appearance and Names of Parts ............. 2
2. Operating You Printer
.......................... 3
3. Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 2: PREPARING TO USE YOUR PRINTER
1. Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5
2. Installing and Removing the
Rl'bbon Cassette ........... 5-8
3. Paper Instructions ............................. 9-13
4. Connecting the Printer to Your Computer ............. 13
5. Performing the Printer Power-On Test
............... 13
6. Performing the Print Head Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13
7.
Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15
8. Cautions
................................... 16
Section 3: USING YOUR PRINTER
Introduction ................................ 17
1. Special Printer-Associated Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. 17-20
2. Printing in the Direct
Mode ...................... 20
3. Printing Under Program Control
................... 21
4. Secondary Address ............................ 22-24
5. Printing Modes and Control Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24
5.1 Standard Character Mode .................... 25
5.2 Double Width Character
Mode ................ 25
5.3 Graphic
Mode ........................... 25-27
5.4 Print Position Determination
................. 27-29
5.5 Print Start Position-Dot
Address ............... 29-32
5.6 Repetition
of Graphic Data .................. 33
5.7 "CURSOR UP" Mode ...................... 33-34
5.8 "CURSOR
DOWN" Mode ................... 34
5.9 Reverse Field
Mode ........................ 34-35
5.10 Reset
Reverse Field Mode ................... 35
5.11 Mixture
of Various Print Mode ............. . .. 35-36
5.12 Line Feed Spacing
........................ 36
5.13 Data Buffer Size
.......................... 36-37
6. Automatic Printing ............................ 37
Section 4: APPENDIXES
1. Appendix A:
Specifications
........................... 38
2. Appendix B:
Hard Copy of the Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 39
iii

3. Appendix C:
Printer Code Table (Cursor Up Mode) . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Printer Code Table (Cursor Down Mode) .......... 41
iv

Section 1:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Welcome to a new dimension in computing. Because you bought the
Commodore
MPS.801! printer, you've added a great deal of versatility and
convenience to the
use of your Commodore computer. This manual con·
tains
all the information you need to check out, hook up, and operate
your printer, but
in order to get the most out of your computer system
you should continue to look at both your computer's User's Guide and
Programmer's Reference Manual.
Your MPS·801 printer
is designed to operate through software control.
That means you have to make the printer's operation part
of a program.
For example the
VTC·20 has a TYPEWRITER cartridge that comes in the
VIC SIX·PACK.
The MPS·801 Printer prints
both capital and small letters, numbers, and all
the graphic characters available on your computer. It will even print
custom made graphics and charts that you
design on your VIC·20 or
Commodore 64. In addition your printer has a variety
of built·in functions
of its own. This is because your printer has its own computer inside.
The advantages
of this internal computer are 1) it automatically resets all
its switches to the starting sequence every time you turn the printer on;
2) it contains its own internal memory which means that you can store in·
formation to
be printed directly in the printer without using up your
computer's memory.
Your printer
is designed to connect directly into your computer through
the Serial Port (6·pins). However, you can connect your printer to
as many
as 4 VIC disk drives by daisy·chaining. Daisy·chaining means connecting 1
peripheral to your computer and any additional peripherals plug into the
Serial Port
of the last item connected.
1.

1. External Appearance and Names of Parts
Paper Advance Switch Power Indicator
•
2.
Upper Housing
Paper Cover
Lower Housing Paper Feed Knob
1.1 Front View
Paper Shelf
I/O Connector Device Address /Test Switch Power Cord
1.2 Rear View

2. Operating Your Printer
PART OPERATION & FUNCTION
a. Power Switch: Turns printer on and off
b. Power Indicator: Lights up when printer is turned on
c. Self-Diagnostic Switch: Select printer device number, "4" is the
normal position for
one printer. "5" is the
position to
use with your second printer. "T"
is the self-diagnostic test position.
d. Printer Cover:
Use your cover to protect your printer from
dust and to reduce the noise level while the
printer
is in ope ra tion.
e. Tractor Mechanism: After loading your paper properly (see
Section 2, part 3) the Tractor Mechanism
should be snapped
close to hold the paper
in place. Tractor holes
on the edges of the
paper must line up with the pins
of the
Tractor Mechanism.
f. Paper Feed Knob: Once you
have properly threaded your paper,
you can
use the Paper Feed Knob to move the
paper.
g. Paper Advance Switch: Use this switch to move the paper ahead,
line at a time
in the forward direction only!
3.

3.
I.
2.
4.
Interface
Connector I Pin No. Signal
I 1
SEH IAL SRQ
2
(;ND
I 3
SEH
IAL
ATN
I
4
i
SEK IAL eLK
5 SER IAL !lATA
6
RES
Interface
---
1.4
1.5
a. Use the enclosed connecting cable to connect the printer to
your computer.
Plug one end of the 6-pin connector cable into
the 6-hole Serial Port on your computer. Plug the other end
of
the 6-pin connector into the 6-hole connector of your printer.
If you
are facing the back of the printer, the connector hole is
in the lower left (see figure 1.2).
b. Select the device number.
T 5 4
OJ]]
1.6 Device Selector Switch
c. Ju'>t a) your computer haS different character modes, so does
your prm
teL To choose ei ther the GRAPHICS/UPPER CASE
or UPPER CASE/LOWER CASE mode, you must assign a
SECONDARY ADDRESS (SA)
so that the printer prints in
the same mode that you've chosen for your computer. The
secondary address can either
be 0 or 7.
SA = 0: "CURSOR UP" (graphics/upper case) Mode
SA = 7: "CURSOR DOWN" (upper case/lower case) Mode
d.
If there is an error in your program that pertains to printer
operation, your printer
will stop printing and the appropriate
error message
will appear on the screen of your computer.

Section 2:
PREPARING TO USE YOUR PRINTER
1. Installation
Please follow the precautions listed below when setting up your printer.
These measures are designed to help you keep your printer functioning at
its best.
*
*
*
*
*
Place your printer on a flat and level surface.
Avoid placing
your printer in rooms with high humidity.
Keep your printer as dust·free as possible.
Keep
your printer out of direct sunlight.
Avoid placing
your printer through extreme temperature
changes.
2. Installing and Removing the Ribbon Cassette
2.1 Installing the Ribbon Cassette
a. Locate the packet that contains the ribbon cassette. You should
have received this packet in the same
box that your printer came
in.
:-- ---- Claw
,- ~-- Ribbon
Ribbon Advance Knob
Claw
2.1
5.

6.
b. Remove the ribbon cassette from the packet and place it carefully
in front of you.
c. Look at the cassette. You will notice that one side has a ribbon
advance knob.
d. Rotate ribbon advance knob in the direction of the arrow until
all the slack
is taken out of the ribbon. (See 2.2)
2.2
e. Pull the paper thickness adjusting lever toward the front of the
printer until
it stops. (pull it while pushing outward.) (See 2.12)
f. Place the rib bon cassette on the carrier until. Be sore that the
ribbon
is between the print head and the platen. (See 2.3)
g. Push down the left side of the ribbon cassette with your finger.
Be sure that the left claw snaps into the cassette supporter of the
carrier unit. (See 2.3)

Cassette
Supporter Carrier Unit Printing Head
Platen
iii!iii!i!!!~~ -- Cassette
Supporter
Paper thickness Adjusting Lever
2.3
h. Push down the right side of the cassette while turning the cassette
knob clockwise. (See 2.4)
Be sure that right claw snaps into the
cassette supporter of the carrier unit. After fitting, add more ten-
sion to the ribbon by again turning the cassette knob in the direc-
tion shown by the arrow.
2.4
7.

1. Return the paper adJ ustin g Jew r to the original position.
Caution
DO NOT TRY TO MOVE THE CARRIER UNIT (INCLUDING THE
PRINTING HEAD)
MA">"lALLY FORCING THE CARRIER UNIT
MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THt PRI,\TER .
2.2 Removing the Ribbon Casloettt (Stf;: 2.5)
a. Pull the paper thic;kne~~ adju~ljng lr:v<::[ toward you until it stops.
b. Release the right cassette WpPU[t<::[ by pressing outward with your
right thumb. And at the same time push up the bottom of the
cassette with
your right middle finger. (Completed)
2.5
2.3 Replacing of the Inker (See 2.6)
8.
Turn over the ribbon cassette, remove the inker by pulling it out .
Insert a new
inker.

2.6
3. Paper Instructions
3.1 Paper Loading Instructions (See Appendix A for Paper Specifi·
cation)
a. Make sure that the power on your printer is turned OFF before
loading the paper.
b. Remove the printer cover by holding the rear
of cover and lifting
it up. (See 2.7)
,
2.7
9.

c. Pull the paper thickness adjusting lever toward the front of the
printer until it stops. Open the right and left
tractor covers.
Tractor Cover (left)
~ ""'-- - - --- - Tractor Cover
(right)
Tractor Cover
2.8
d. Insert paper between the paper shelf and the lower frame using
both hands. (See 2. 9)
e. Feed the paper until comes out between the printing head and the
platen.
10.

2.9
f. Adjust the paper on to the feed pins of the tractor on sides. Then
close the tractor covers. (See 2.10) If the holes and the width of
the paer are not aligned, shift the paper sideways until the spac-
ing is correct. Then pull the paper from behind the printer to
remove any slack. Return the paper thickness adjusting lever to the
original position.
2.10
11.

g. Replace the printer cover. (See 2.11) Adjust printing position by
turning the paper feed knob.
2.11
3.2 Printing Pressure Adjustment
You may adjust the printer pressure of the print head according to the
thickness
of the paper. If smudging occurs or if printing is too dark,
move this lever one click hold towards the front
of the printer at a time
until you are satisfied with
the printing quality; if printing is too light,
move
it towards the rear printer. When adjusting the lever, make sure
that it is placed directly in the hole, not "in between" them.
Leg of Paper Thickness
Adjusting Lever
Click Hole
2.12 Left Inside
12.

At the time of shlpment, the lever's leg is at the position Gl. Place the
leg
at the position ®. when fitting and removing a ribbon cassette.
4. Connecting the Printer to Your Computer
To connect your printer to your Commodore computer, please follow the
instructions in the order listed below.
a. Make sure
trat both your computer and printer have their power
turned OFF.
b. Connect one end of the 6·pin DIN cable to the connector holes
located in the back
of your printer at the lower left. This cable is
"keyed" so that you cannot plug the cable in the wrong way. This
means
that the pins should be positioned so that a slight pressure
will seat the cable properly. Do not force these pins in, doing so
could damage
your cable.
c. Connect the other end of the cable to your computer in the Serial
Port Connector located in the back
of your computer. Make sure
that you are "keying" the pins properly into the connector with 6
holes.
d. Now plug the printer's power cord into a standard
AC wall outlet.
However, please
do NOT turn the equipment on yet.
5. Performing the Printer Power-On Test
Please do NOT turn on your computer until after you have completed the
next two sections.
a. Turn on your printer. The print head should move to the center of
the carriage automatically and then return to the original position. If
this doesn't happen, go to step "b".
b. If the print head does not move as described above, check to see if
the connecting cable is properly plugged in. After checking all con-
nections turn
your printer on and try the test again.
6. Performing the Print Head Test
You can test the print head and ribbon ONLY AFTER INSERTING
PAPER.
DO NOT PRINT WITHOUT PAPER; it could easily damage your
print head. To perform the test, simply switch the self-diagnostic switch to
13.

"T" (shown in Fig. 2.9). The printer will continue to print all the characters
available until 1) the printer is turned off; or 2) the self-diagnostic switch
is "flipped" to position 4 or 5. When the printing is finished, remove the
paper from the machine and examine it for defects. Please report any
problems immediately to your local Commodore dealer so that
your printer
can be properly serviced. A typical printout for the VIC 20 is shown
below.
T 5 4
rnm
2.13: Test Position Selected
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2.14: Sample Printout
14.