Epson 420i User manual

HIGH S
BUSINESS
PEED
PRINTER
USER’S
GUIDE
EPSON AMERICA INC. SERVICE DIVISION

EPSON
420i
HIGH SPEED BUSINESS PRINTER
Epson America, Inc.
Computer Products Division
2780 Lomita Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
[phone]

WARNING:
“This equipment has been certified to comply with the limits for a Class b
computing device, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules. Only com-
puters certified to comply with the Class B limits may be attached to this printer.
Operation with noncertified computers is likely to result in interference to radio
and TV reception.”
“This equipment generates and uses radio frequency 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 tested
and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accor-
dance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are
designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a
residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference
to radio or television reception, which can be determinded by turning the equip-
ment 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/televi-
sion 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.
IBM-PC®is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.
Copyright©1985 by Epson America, Inc., Torrance, California 90505
ii

INTRODUCTION
The Epson 420i is a high speed business printer which is usable with almost all commer-
cial software, including word processing and graphics programs. By changing one switch
on the back of the printer, either the Epson Printer mode or the IBM Graphics Printer
mode is selectable. The two modes differ in character sets and some printer commands.
In contrast with the IBM Graphics Printer, the Epson 420i prints italic characters. Most
programs written for the IBM Graphics Printer do not attempt to print them.
The IBM Graphics Printer mode is selected when extended characters are to be used,
or when software is limited for use with the IBM Graphics Printer.
Refer to the sections tied ‘DIP Switch Setting” (page 26), “Code Table” (pages 30 through
32) and “Differences between the Epson Printer Mode and the IBM Graphic Printer Mode”
(page 36) for details on use of each mode.
iii

PRECAUTIONS FOR USE
• When using fan fold paper, the friction lever should be positioned to the front.
• Do not apply undue force to the transparent printer cover.
• Do not use a power supply voltage which is out of the specified range.
• Do not touch the printhead immediately after printing because it is too hot.
• Never close the openings of the upper enclosure or place the printer where these
openings are next to a wall.
• Be careful not to twist the ribbon while installing it.
• Insert the ribbon between the ribbon guide and the printhead as shown in Figure 3.
• Wait at least two seconds after turning power off before turning it back on again.
The initialization process may not be performed correctly if this is not done.
• The printer should be used where the humidity is low, there is little dust, and where
it is not in direct sunlight.
• Do not perform printing without the ribbon cassette and paper properly installed.
EPSON reserves the right to change the contents as stated herein at any time and
without notice. Although every effort has been made to insure that the contents as
stated herein are complete and without error, EPSON cannot be responsible for any
damage that may occur should this not be the case.
iv

CONTENTS
OUTLINE
...............................................................................
1
SWITCHES AND LAMPS ...................................................... 4
REPLACEMENT OF THE RIBBON CASSETTE
....................
6
PAPER SETTING ................................................................... 9
MAIN FUNCTIONS
................................................................
13
PARALLEL INTERFACE
........................................................
18
SERIAL INTERFACE
.............................................................. 22
DIP SWITCH SETTING
.......................................................... 26
CODE TABLE ........................................................................ 30
CONTROL CODE SUMMARY
............................................... 33
PRINT MODE FLOWCHART
.................................................
37
CONTROL CODE EXPLANATION ........................................ 38
PROGRAM EXAMPLES
.........................................................
50
APPENDIX ........................................................................
77
v

OUTLINE
PRINTING OPERATION
1. Printing Method
Impact dot matrix
Bidirectional logic seeking printing
2. Printhead
8 Pins
3. Character Fonts
(140 characters in each font)
Standard
Italic
High quality (correspondence)
Italic high quality
Superscript / subscript
Italic superscript
/ subscript
IBM graphics fonts
4. Graphic Printing
Standard
Double-Density
High-Density
5. Print Mode
Horizontal x Vertical
n x 8 (maximum value of n is 816)
n
x 8 (maximum value of n is 1632)
n x 16 (maximum value of n is 1632)
Any one of 17 fonts may be selected from the five available print modes. Each font
may be used exclusively or intermixed within any given line. When a mode change
is indicated, data already input is printed in the mode first selected, the printer skips
a few spaces, changes mdoes, and then receives new data.
Speed of printout (CPS) is slightly different in each mode depending on operational
complexity, e.g., the bold print and double-strike mdoes are created with two passes
of the printhead, thus requiring a slightly greater printout time.
See the “Detailed Summary of Character Fonts” Table on page 2 for print
specifications and CPS for each mode.
1

Detailed Summary of Character Fonts
2

6. Paper Feed Function and Form Width
Pin feed method (form width may vary) 5”-15.5”
Friction feed method
11”
7. Line Feed Pitch
Minimum 1/180”
8. Line Feed Speed
60 lines/second - when 6 lines/inch is selected
75 lines/second - when 7.5 lines/inch is selected
9. Copies
Original plus 4 copies, non-carbon, total thickness 0.3mm or less
10. Ribbon
Cassette style, single color
Other Specifications
1. Power Supply 117VAC
± 10%, 220-240VAC ± 10%, 50/60Hz
2. Temperature (during operation)
5°C - 40°C (41°F - 104°F)
3. Humidity (during operation)
20% - 80%
4. External Dimensions
595 mm (width) x 194 mm (height) x 405 mm
(depth)
5. Weight
6. Power Consumption
(23.4 x 7.6 x 15.9 inches)
(The depth is 580mm when the paper rack is
attached.)
27kg (60lb)
Printing 250 watts
Stand-by 5.5 watts
3

SWITCHES AND LAMPS
1. POWER Switch
The power switch is located at the rear,
right-hand side of the printer.
2. ON-LINE Switch
Pressing this switch selects either ON-LINE (green indicator on) or OFF-LINE (green
indicator off) state. If in the OFF-LINE state, the printer outputs a busy signal. The
print-head returns to the home position when entering the ON-LINE state from the
OFF-LINE state.
3. LF Switch (LINE FEED)
Each time this switch is pressed, a 1/6 inch line feed is performed. If held down,
continuous line feeds are performed. This command is valid only in the OFF-LINE
state.
Note: Refrain from performing continuous line feed for one minute or more. It may
affect the longevity of the line feed motor.
4. FF Switch (FORM FEED)
If the FF switch is pressed in the OFF-LINE state, a one page form feed is performed.
The page length is selected by the FORM dial switch or by code designation.
5. TOF SET Switch (TOP OF FORM)
If the TOF SET switch is pressed in the OFF-LINE state, the existing paper position
becomes the TOP OF FORM. The page length is designated by the FORM dial switch.
The buzzer sounds for 0.1 second after this switch is pressed.
6. FORM Dial Switch
This switch selects the length of the page. If the switch is set to “0”, the page length
designated by an external device code, becomes valid. The page length can be
altered by pressing the TOF SET switch in the OFF-LINE state. A page length of
11 inches is automatically selected when the TOF SET switch is pressed for a dial
setting of “0”.
Dial Page Length
Dial Page Length
0
CODE SET 5
14 INCH
1
8 INCH 615 INCH
2 8.5 INCH
7 16 INCH
3
11 INCH
8
17 INCH
4
12 INCH 9 22 INCH
7. MODE Dial Switch
Each character font may be selected by this switch.
Dial
Code Selected Character Font
4

Settings 1 to 9 have priority over the software designation. Software selection will be
ignored after setting this switch to
1~
9. If the switch selection is altered during prin-
ting, it will become effective after the current print command is executed.
8.
RESET Switch
When this switch is pressed, the printer enters the reset state. When released, the ini-
tialization operation is performed once again, This puts the printer in the same condi-
tion as at power-on.
9. POWER Lamp (Green)
Lights up when power is on. Blinks if an error has been generated.
10. ON-LINE Lamp (Green)
Data can be input when the printer is the ON-LINE state. The ON-LINE lamp is lit when
the printer is ON-LINE, off when the printer is OFF-LINE. When the printer is OFF-
LINE, a BUSY signal is output by the printer.
11. P. EMPTY Lamp (Red)
When a paper-empty signal is detected, the P.E. indicator lights and the buzzer sounds
for 3 seconds. At this time, the printer goes OFF-LINE, and the BUSY and P. EMP
signals are output. If paper-empty is detected during printing, operation is terminated
at completion of the line in which the signal is received.
If the ON-LINE switch is pressed after paper is inserted, the P. EMP state is terminated.
If the ON-LINE switch is pressed without new paper inserted, a single line is printed
(during printing the ON-LINE lamp is lit) and the OFF-LINE state is entered again. This
operation can be repeated as many times as desired.
5

RIBBON CASSETTE REPLACEMENT
Installing the Ribbon Cassette
1. Open the printer cover and push the paper pressure bar toward the platen as
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1
6

2. Set the head adjustment lever all the way forward. This lever may be moved easily
by pushing it outward.
3. To attach the ribbon cassette to the printer, hold the ribbon cassette knobs in both
hands and press the ribbon into position between the ribbon mask and the printhead.
Make sure that the ribbon is not twisted.
Fig. 2
4. Tighten the ribbon by twisting the ribbon feed knob in the direction of the arrow
(Fig. 3). Make sure that the ribbon is properly positioned in the guide as shown below.
Fig. 3 Fig. 4
5. The installation is complete once the head adjustment lever has been returned to
position 2, 3 or 4, any of which is a position for a single sheet of paper. The higher
the number that the lever is set on, the greater the distance between head and platen.
This greater distance is desirable since it reduces ribbon wear.
7

Removing the Ribbon Cassette
1. Push the paper pressure bar towards the platen side. Pull the head adjustment
lever forward.
Fig. 5
2. As shown in Fig. 6, hold the ribbon cassette in both hands and pull the ribbon
cassette upward.
Fig. 6
8

PAPER SETTING
1. Rear feed (friction/tractor type)-used for fan-fold form, multiple copy sheets
2. Bottom feed (tractor type)-used for fan-fold, multiple copy sheets
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Rear Feed Tractor Paper Setting
1. Attach the paper rack to the rear of the printer by inserting it into the two holes
located there, as shown in Fig. 8. Connect the ground wire. It is located between
the paper rack and the power cable receptacle’s right-hand screw (shown in Fig.
8). Failure to do so may cause malfunction of the printer. The purpose of this ground
connection is to eliminate static electricity formed by the paper.
9

2. Pull the paper pressure bar forward. Pull the tractor forward until it clicks. At this
time make sure that the friction lever is in the forward position marked as “PIN FEED.”
(The form is free to move.)
Fig. 9
3. Insert the paper into the back of the printer following the paper feed path 1
as shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 10
4. Push the tractor into its original position (until it clicks). If the tractor lock levers, located
at either side of the tractor shaft, are pushed up as shown in Fig. 11, the tractor can
be moved horizontally to adjust it to match the width of the form being used.
Fig. 11
10

5. Open both tractor lids, adjust the form holes so they match the tractor pins, and
then close the tractor lids.
6. Determine the proper horizontal positions of the tractors, and then pull the tractor
lock lever forward to lock it into this position.
Fig. 12
7. Push the paper pressure bar towards the platen
8. For one part fan fold paper, the head adjustment lever is usually set at position
2. However, when printing an original plus 4 copies, it should be moved 3 or 4 clicks
forward.
9. As shown in Fig. 13, the side stoppers located at each side of the paper rack’s
form feed roller should be adjusted to match the width of the form being used.
Fig. 13
11

Note 1: Recommended paper position is shown below.
CORRECT INCORRECT
Failure to position the paper correctly as shown above may result in a paper jam.
Note 2: The head adjustment lever on the right base plate is used to find the best
printing quality by shifting it back and forth in line with the paper thickness.
Bottom Feed Tractor Paper Setting
The bottom feed tractor paper setting is illustrated as path 2 in Fig. 7. Because the
form is fed in from the bottom, a special type of desk is required.
1. Pull the paper pressure bar forward and make sure that the friction lever is also
in the forward position marked “PIN FEED”. (Fig. 9)
2. Insert the form as done for path 2 of Fig. 7
3. Move the tractor lock lever upward. (Fig. 11)
4. Perform steps 5-8 for the rear feed tractor type (path 1).
5. Move the side stoppers, located at the bottom of the printer at the paper insertion
opening, to match the width of the paper to be used.
12

MAIN FUNCTIONS
Detection Functions
1. Cover Switch
The printer cover open/close detection switch puts the printer in the OFF-LINE state.
It outputs a BUSY signal when the cover is opened. If the cover is opened during
printing, printing is terminated after the current line is finished, and the OFF-LINE
state is entered. When the cover is closed and the ON-LINE switch is pressed, the
ON-LINE state is entered and printing is resumed. For easier paper and ribbon in-
stallation, the printhead moves to the position which is approximately 10 cm away
from the home position when the printer cover is opened.
2. Right Overrun Switch
This switch detects the printhead carrier when it reaches the right most limit.
3. Temperature Detection Function
This detector recognizes abnormal temperature levels within the printer.
Note: In the case of 2) or 3) if an abnormality is detected, the ERROR and BUSY
signals are output. The printer mechanism’s power supply is also turned
off.
To reset this condition, an INITIAL signal must be input, the RESET switch
pressed, or power must be turned off and then on again.
Errors
Buzzer and Power Lamp Blinking
• Abnormal temper-
ature rise
• Pin fires abnormally
• Head carrier
overrun error
• Home sensor
• RAM error
Address (0000) H
(3FFF)H
• RAM error
Address (4000)H
(7FFF)H
You can identify which section is malfunctioning by the buzzer sound or POWER
lamp blinking as shown above.
13

Self Test Printing
If the ON-LINE switch is pressed at power-on and held until the initialization opera-
tion ends, a given pattern is printed repeatedly. During printing, the printer is in the
OFF-LINE state. To terminate printing, press the ON-LINE switch until the printing
stops. When the switch is released, the printer performs the initialization operation,
enters the ON-LINE state, and the ON-LINE lamp goes on.
If paper-empty or cover-open is detected, printing is terminated while the printer is
still in the OFF-LINE state. When printing is terminated due to a paper-empty condi-
tion, the P.EMP lamp is lit, the buzzer sounds for 3 seconds, and the P.EMP signal
is output. This state can be reset by loading paper and pressing the RESET or ON-
LINE switch once. The printer then starts the initialization operation and enters the
ON-LINE state. If the RESET or ON-LINE switch is pushed though no paper has been
inserted, the printer enters the OFF-LINE state, the P.EMP lamp lights, and the buzzer
rings for 3 seconds after executing the initialization operation.
When printing is halted because of a cover-open condition, the printer performs ini-
tialization and enters the ON-LINE state only after the printer cover is closed and the
RESET or ON-LINE switch is pressed.
The self test print examples in the two modes (Epson Printer and IBM Graphics Printer)
are shown on pages 15 and 16.
Automatic Printing
When data input exceeds one line of data, printing is automatically carried out without
a print command unless the data are graphics data; there is no automatic print signal
with graphics data. After automatic printing, the printer is in the same condition as
it was prior to printing except when the
function is cleared.
Bold Printing
In order to create bold print, a 1/120 inch dot is printed to the right of the initial dot.
Example: (STANDARD) (BOLD)
14