Epson ActionPrinter 4500 User manual

4000111
C01-00

EPSON®
Product Update Notice
This booklet describes the new features of your printer that have
been added since the User’s Manual was printed.
Print Speed
Your printer now prints at the following speeds.
Quality
Draft
Letter
Characters/inch Characters/second/line
10
160
12
192
10
53
12
64
Loading Single Sheets of Paper
The printer now automatically loads single sheets of paper. Follow
these steps whenever you load a single sheet of paper:
1. Turn on the printer.
2. Insert a sheet of paper in the paper guide until it meets
resistance. After about two seconds, the printer loads the paper
automatically and is set on line so that it can accept data from
your computer.
When loading a single sheet of paper, you do not press LOAD/EJECT
or ON LINE.
Product Update Notice
1
4000308
C01-00

Note: If the platen turns without loading the paper, press ON LINE
to take the printer off line. Then remove the paper and reinsert it
more firmly.
Follow the above steps to load a single sheet of paper when you
perform the self test (described in Chapter 1 of your User’s Manual),
when using single sheets (described in Chapter 21, and when you switch
from continuous paper to single sheets (described in Chapter 2).
Using SelecType
The printer now has ten built-in fonts: draft, Epson Roman, Epson
Sans Serif, Epson Courier, Epson Prestige, Epson Script, OCR-A,
OCR-B, Epson Orator, and Epson Orator-S.
Eight of the fonts are selectable from the SelecType feature of the
front panel.
no DRAFT
-0 ROMAN
0 - SANS SERIF
- - COURIER
0 ti PRESTIGE
iii 0 SCRIPT
I u OCR-B
ti I ORATOR
Y ti OTHER
Y BLINKING
I
FONT
2
Product Update Notice

When you press the FONT button, the printer scrolls through eight of
the ten built-in fonts. The indicator lights show the selected font.
m indicates the light is off.
m indicates the light is on.
\ I /
m indicates the light is blinking.
You use the software command ESC k to select the other two built-in
fonts:
ESCk6
OCR-A
ESCk8 Epson Orator-S
When you select one of these two fonts, the indicator lights show the
OTHER pattern. The software commands are described in Chapter 9
of your User’s Manual.
The SelecType feature is described in Chapter 3 of your User’s
Manual. Chapter 3 shows samples of the draft, Epson Roman, and
Epson Sans Serif fonts. The Multi-Font Module section of Chapter 5
shows samples of the Epson Courier, Epson Prestige, Epson Script,
OCR-B, OCR-A, Epson Orator, and Epson Orator-S fonts. These
fonts are now built-in and do not require the Multi-Font Module.
Therefore, ignore any references to the Multi-Font Module.
Product Update Notice
3

The DIP Switch Tables
The tables below show the settings for each DIP switch.
DIP switch 1
Description ON OFF
International character set/
Graphics character sets
See tables 1 and 2
Page length
See table 3
Condensed mode on/off Condensed Normal
Character table 1 Graphics 1 italics
Cut sheet feeder mode on/off
I
On
I
Off
DIP switch 2
SW Description
ON OFF
2-1 Not used - -
2-2 Tear-off mode
On Off
2-3 1 -inch skip over perforation On Off
2-4 Auto line feed
On
Off
2-5 Input buffer capacity
8 KB
1 KB*
2-6 Graphics print direction Bidirect. Unidirect.
2-7 Character spacing See table 4
2-8
*Required for use of user-defined (downloaded) characters
4 Product Update Notice

Table 1 International character sets
Table 2 Graphics character sets
Graphics character set
Epson Extended Graphics
PC 437 (United States)
PC 850 (Multilingual)
PC 860 (Portugal)
PC 863 (Canada-French)
SW l-l SW 1-2 SW 1-3 SW 1-7
ON ON ON
ON
ON ON OFF ON
ON
OFF ON
ON
ON
OFF OFF ON
PC 865 (Norway)
1 OFF 1 ON 1 ON 1 ON 1
Table 3 Page length selection
12 inches
8.5 inches
ON OFF
OFF ON
11.7 inches ON ON
Table 4 Character spacing
Character spacing
1 SW 2-7 1 SW 2-8
10cpi
12cpi
OFF OFF
ON OFF
15 cpi
1 OFF 1 ON
Proportional
1 ON 1 ON
Product Update Notice
5

Graphics Character Sets
Epson Extended Graphics Character Sets
PC 437 (United States)
PC 850 (Multilingual)
6
Product Update Notice

PC 860 (Portugal)
PC 863 (Canada-French)
Product Update Notice 7

PC 865 (Norway)
Application Notes
The Application Notes booklet for this printer is no longer available.
8
Product Update Notice Printed in Japan 90.09-10

EPSON”,+amP-
4500
User’s Manual

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, 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 or relocate the receiving antenna.
.
Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
.Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver
is connected.
.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING
The connection of a non-shielded printer interface cable to this printer will invalidate the FCC
Certification of this device and may cause interference levels that exceed the limits established
by the FCC for this equipment. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not
leave cables connected to unused interfaces.
Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be liable against any damages or problems arising from the
use of any options or any consumable products other than those designated as Original Epson
Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is
assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. While every precaution
has been taken in the preparation of this book, Epson America, Inc. assumes no responsibility
for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of
the information contained herein.
ActionPrinter is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.
Epson and Epson ESC/P are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation
SmartPark is a trademark of Epson America, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Copyright 0 1989 by Epson America, Inc.
Torrance, California
ii

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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not
use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for
cleaning.
Do not use this product near water.
Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The
product may fall, causing serious damage to the product.
Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are
provided for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product
and to protect it from overheating, these openings must not be
blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by
placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface.
This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat
register. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation
unless proper ventilation is provided.
This product should be operated from the type of power source
indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of
power available, consult your dealer or local power company.
This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding-type plug, a plug
having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a
grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are
unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to
replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the purpose of the
grounding-type plug.
9. Do not locate this product where the cord will be walked on.
iii

10. If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the
total of the ampere ratings on the products plugged into the
extension cord do not exceed the extension cord ampere rating.
Also, make sure that the total of all products plugged into the wall
outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.
11. Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet
slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts
that could result in a risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid
of any kind on the product.
12. Except as specifically explained in the User’s Manual, do not
attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing
those covers that are marked “Do Not Remove” may expose you to
dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing in those
compartments to service personnel.
13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to
qualified service personnel under the following conditions:
A. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
B. If liquid has been spilled into the product.
C. If the product has been exposed to rain or water.
D. If the product does not operate normally when the operating
instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are
covered by the operating instructions since improper
adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will
often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore
the product to normal operation.
E. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been
damaged.
F. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance,
indicating a need for service.
iv

Contents
Introduction
1
Features .......................................... 1
Options and Supplies .............................. 2
About This Manual ................................
4
Application Notes ................................. 5
Where to Get Help ................................. 6
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer
1-2
Unpacking the Printer ..............................
1-2
Choosing a Place for the Printer ..................... 1-5
Assembling the Printer .............................
1-7
Testing the Printer .................................
1-14
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer .............
1-23
Setting Up Your Application Software ................
1-26
Chapter 2 Paper Handling
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method ....................
Using Single Sheets
................................
Using Continuous Paper ............................
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets .......
Printing on Special Paper ...........................
Chapter 3 Using the Printer
3-1
Operating the Control Panel .........................
3-2
Setting the DIP Switches ............................
3-6
Page Length ......................................
3-10
Skip Over Perforation ..............................
3-11
Adjusting the Loading Position ......................
3-12
Using Short Tear-Off ...............................
3-15
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-7
2-16
2-24
V

Selecting Typestyles ................................
3-19
Selecting an International Character Set ...............
3-22
Choosing a Character Table .........................
3-24
Using the Data Dump Mode .........................
3-26
Chapter 4 Software and Graphics
4-1
Enhancing Your Printing ............................
4-2
Graphics .........................................
4-9
User-defined Characters ............................
4-20
Chapter 5 Using the Printer Options
5-1
The Cut Sheet Feeder ..............................
5-2
The Pull Tractor ...................................
5-21
The Multi-Font Module .............................
5-34
The Interface Boards ...............................
5-40
Chapter 6 Maintenance
6-1
Replacing the Ribbon
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-11
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting
7-1
Problems and Solutions .............................
7-2
Power Supply .....................................
7-4
Printing ..........................................
7-5
Paper Handling ...................................
7-14
Options.. ........................................
7-24
Chapter 8 Technical Specifications
8-1
Printer Specifications ...............................
8-2
Interface Specifications .............................
8-8
Option Specifications ..............................
8-12
Initialization ......................................
8-14
vi

Chapter 9 Command Summary
9-1
Using the Command Summary ......................
9-2
Commands in Numerical Order ...................... 9-5
Commands Arranged by Topic ...................... 9-8
Appendix A-1
Proportional Width Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Character Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-6
Glossary
Index
vii

Introduction
The Epson®ActionPrinter™ 4500 is an advanced 24-pin dot matrix
printer combining compact design and high performance with a wide
range of features.
Features
In addition to the high-quality printing and ease of operation you have
come to expect from Epson printers, this printer offers the following
features:
Easy paper handling, featuring automatic single-sheet loading.
Compatibility with the Epson ESC/P®commands used by the
LQ-500, LQ-510, LQ-800, LQ-850, LQ-1000, LQ-1010, LQ-1050,
LQ-1500, LQ-2500, and LQ-2550.
Fast draft mode printing of up to 180 characters per second at 12
cpi (characters per second).
An improved control panel design that allows direct selection of
character fonts, as well as a choice of normal or condensed
printing.
The SmartPark™ paper handling system that lets you use single
sheets of paper without removing the continuous paper, eliminates
paper waste with short tear-off, and allows easy and accurate paper
alignment.
Two built-in Letter Quality fonts (Roman and Sans Serif) for
producing high-quality documents.
A 360 x 360 dot per inch graphics mode.
A micro-adjustment feature that allows you to feed the paper
forward or backward to finely adjust the loading and short tear-off
positions.
Introduction 1

Introduction
l Fourteen international character sets, a legal symbol set, an italic
character table, and the Epson Extended Graphics character table.
l The ability to handle a wide range of paper types, including
envelopes, labels, and wide carriage computer paper.
Options and Supplies
A variety of printer options is available for use with your printer.
For detailed information on installing and using these options, see
Chapter 5.
To locate or purchase accessories or supplies, contact your nearest
Epson dealer or call 1-800-873-7766.
l Single-bin Cut Sheet Feeder (C806241)
The cut sheet feeder makes it possible to handle single-sheet paper
easily and efficiently. Up to 150 sheets of standard bond paper can
be fed automatically into the printer without reloading.
2
Introduction

Introduction
l
Pull Tractor Unit (C800141)
This option improves the performance of continuous paper
handling. It is especially useful with continuous multi-part forms.
l Multi-Font Module (#7407-A)
The optional Multi-Font module adds to the number of fonts
available in the Letter Quality mode.
l
Film Ribbon Cartridge (#7770)
The optional film ribbon cartridge provides you with even higher
quality printing than the standard fabric ribbon.
Introduction 3

Introduction
l Interface Boards
Optional interface boards are available to supplement the printer’s
built-in parallel interface. Guidelines for choosing the right interface
and instructions on installing the boards are given in Chapter 5.
About This Manual
This user’s manual provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions
on setting up and operating your printer.
Finding your way around
l Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up, testing,
and connecting the printer. Be sure to read and follow these
instructions first. Inside the back flap of this manual are illustrations
of the printer in which all of the major parts are identified.
l Chapters 2 and 3 cover paper handling and general printer
operation. This important information is necessary for the
day-to-day operation of your printer.
4Introduction