Epson FX-870 User manual

FX-870/1170
SERVICE MANUAL
I
Revision Level
I
EPSON
®
@
Printed on Recycled Paper.

FCC Compliance Statement
For American Users
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part
15 of 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 or television
reception. 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 determined by turning the
equipment on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
l Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
l Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
l Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from the one connected to the receiver.
For Canadian Users
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as
set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le present appareil numcrique n’cmet pas de bruits radkklectrique d&passant lea limites applicables aux
appareils numcriques de Classe B prescrites dans le rkglement sur le brouillage radioGctriques tdictk par le
Minis&e des Communications du Canada.
The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC
Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC
for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable
with this device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave the cables connected
to unused interfaces.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
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Epson f%87W1170

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Copyright Notice
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, electric, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
the written permission of Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to use of the
information contained herein. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from 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 and omissions.
Neither Epson America, Inc., nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties
for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse,
or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product.
Epson America, Inc., 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.
Trademarks
Epson@ is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
F’X-870 and PX-1170 are trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.
IBM@ and IBM PC@ are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
Copyright © 1992 Epson America, Inc.
Epson America, Inc.
20770 Madrona Avenue, Torrance, CA 90509
Epson FX-87W1170
...
III

Precautions
Precautionary notations throughout the text are categorized relative to 1) personal injury, and 2)
damage to equipment.
WARNING Signals a precaution which, if ignored, could result in serious or fatal personal
injury. Great caution should be exercised in performing procedures preceded by a
WARNING heading.
CAUTION Signals a precaution which, if ignored, could result in damage to equipment.
The precautionary measures itemized below should always be observed when performing repair/
maintenance procedures.
WARNING
1. Always disconnect the product from both the power source and the host
computer before performing any maintenance or repair procedure.
2. No work should be performed on the unit by persons unfamiliar with
basic safety measures as dictated for all electronics technicians in their
line of work.
3. When performing testing as dictated within this manual, do not connect
the unit to a power source until instructed to do so. When the power
supply cable must be connected, use extreme caution in working on the
power supply and other electronic components.
CAUTION
1. Repairs on Epson products should be performed only by an Epson certi-
fied repair technician.
2. Make certain that the source voltage is the same as the rated voltage
listed on the serial number/rating plate. If the Epson product has a
primary AC rating different from the available power source, do not
connect it to the power source.
3. Always verify that the Epson product has been disconnected from the
power source before removing or replacing printed circuit boards and/or
individual chips.
4. In order to protect sensitive pP chip and circuitry, use static discharge
equipment, such as anti-static wrist straps, when accessing internal
components.
5. Replace malfunctioning components only with those components recom-
mended by the manufacturer; introduction of second-source ICs or other
nonapproved components may damage the product and void any appli-
cable Epson warranty.
Epson 0(-870/l 170

How to Use this Manual
This manual contains the information that a service provider needs to support the Epson
FX-870/1170 printer.
0
It provides general information and specifications for the printer.
0
It tells you how to set up and configure the printer at a customer site.
.
If you encounter problems, the manual explains how to troubleshoot the printer, based
on the symptoms you are experiencing.
0
Once you have isolated the problem, the manual shows you how to take the printer
apart to remove any faulty component and replace it.
.
Then, the text describes how to adjust the printer.
l
The manual also provides a detailed discussion of the theory of operation.
.
There are schematics, circuit diagrams, exploded diagrams, and an index at the back of
the manual for quick reference.
The paragraphs below describe the contents of this manual in further detail.
1 Printer Features
Chapter 1 contains printer specifications, answers to a list of likely questions that custom-
ers may ask the servicer, an explanation and tables of control panel settings, and a brief
description of the major printer components.
2 Installation and Setup Procedures
This section lists site requirements for the printer. It describes how to unpack the printer,
connect it, power it up, and test it. The text describes the printer interfaces, and gives
signal tables and serial cable configurations. Finally, this section tells you what the cus-
tomer needs to do to avoid problems and achieve maximum printer life.
3 Troubleshooting
This section begins with quick reference tables for the printer’s test points. The chapter
also provides an explanation of what each error code means, flowcharts that walk you
through the troubleshooting of various problems, an illustration of connector locations, and
illustrations of sensor locations.
You can use the set of troubleshooting tables and flowcharts to isolate the problem as far as
possible.
If you encounter problems using software, the !Z’roubZeshooting section lists supported
Epson ESC/P control codes and symbol sets. There are tips for graphics handling and an
explanation of how to read hex dump printouts.
Epson FX-87W1170

4 Disassembly/Assembly
This chapter lists the tools you need and gives the recommended procedure for removing
and replacing components.
5 Adjustments, Maintenance, and Lubrication
This chapter provides instructions for performing the platen gap adjustment and the
bidirectional adjustment procedure. There is also a description of the lubricants required
and an illustration of the points at which the printer needs to be lubricated after repair of
the mechanism.
6 Principles of operation
The Principles of Operation section explains the theory of printer operation, including
printhead function, carriage movement, paper feeding, and ribbon feeding. The chapter
provides details about how printer components function mechanically and electronically.
At the end of the chapter, there is a section for dealers outside the U.S. who need to replace
individual components on the circuit boards.
7 Reference Materials
The Reference Materials section contains pin assignment tables, board layout diagrams,
circuit diagrams, and schematics.
Index
The index tells you where to find key words and phrases in the manual.
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EptmnFX-870/1170

Handy Numbers for U.S. Dealers
Epson Customer Resource Center [phone]
Epson Faxback System [phone]
Epson Bulletin Board System [phone]
Numbers and Addresses
for Dealers Outside the U.S.
Epson Canada, Ltd.
95 Mural Street
Richmond Hill, Ontario LAB 3G3
;htp (800) GO-EPSON
.
.
[phone]
Epson Do Brazil
Av. Pedroso De Morais
631,5th Floor
Pinheiros, Sao PauIoSP/O5419 Brazil
;lgne: (55) ( 11) 813-3044
,
.
(55) (11) 210-9290
Epson Argentina S.A.
Avenida Del Libertador
498, Piso 12
1001 Buenos Aires
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Epson Mexico S.A. De C.V.
Av. Ejercito NacionaI No. 904
6 Piso Col. PaIamas Polanco
Condigo Postal 11510, Mexico, D.F.
;hp [phone]
.
.
[phone]
Epson Latin America, Inc.
6100 Blue Lagoon Drive
Floor 2, Suite 220
Miami FL 33126
Phone:
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Epson Chile S.A.
Avenida Costanera Andres Bello 2287
Providencia, Santiago, Chile
Phone:
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Epson Costa Rica
Apartado 1076-2050
San Jose, Costa Rica
Phone:
(506) 34-6666
Fax: [phone]
Epson Venezuela S.A.
Edif. Epson - La Urbina
Caracas, Venezuela
Phone:
[phone]
Fax:
[phone]
Epson FX-8700 170
vii

Contents
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Contents
Chapter 1 Printer Features
Options .................................................................................
1-3
Hardware Specifications...........................................................................
1-3
Firmware Specifications .........................................................................
1-12
Interfaces
................................................................................................
1-13
Control Panel ..........................................................................................
1-17
Default Settings ......................................................................................
1-20
Self-Test ..................................................................................................
1-22
Hexadecimal Dump ................................................................................
1-23
Paper-out Detection................................................................................
1-24
Auto Tear-off...........................................................................................
1-24
Buffer-full Printing .................................................................................
1-24
Thermal Protection.................................................................................
1-24
High-Duty Printing ................................................................................
1-24
Sheet Loading and Sheet Ejection
......................................................... 1-24
Adjust Lever Operation ..........................................................................
1-25
Printer Initialization ..............................................................................
1-26
Buzzer .....................................................................................................
1-27
Main Components ...................................................................................
1-28
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers
............................................
1-33
Chapter 2 Installation and Setup Procedures
Site Requirements ....................................................................................
2-1
Removing the Packing Materials
............................................................. 2-1
The Correct Power On Sequence
.............................................................. 2-1
Running the Self-Test ..............................................................................
2-2
Connecting Printer Cables .......................................................................
2-2
Checking the Printer with the Computer
................................................ 2-3
Tips to Increase Printer Life .................................................................... 2-4
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting
Test Points ................................................................................................
3-1
Error Codes
...............................................................................................
3-5
Problem Isolation ..................................................................................... 3-6
Connector Locations ............................................................................... 3-18
Sensor Locations .....................................................................................
3-19
Hex Quick Reference Table for ESC/P Commands
............................... 3-21
Hex Quick Reference Table for IBM Commands
...................................
3-23
Epson FX-870.0 170
ix

Contents
Chapter 4 Disassembly and Assembly
Precautions ............................................................................................. 4-1
Tools
....................................................................................................... 4-1
Service Checks After Repair .................................................................. 4-2
Screw Specifications ............................................................................... 4-3
Notes for Unit Removal and Installation
..............................................
4-4
Items to Remove Before Disassembling the Printer
.............................
4-5
Removing the Panel Unit
....................................................................... 4-6
Removing the Printhead ........................................................................ 4-7
Removing the Upper Housing Assembly
...............................................
4-8
Removing the Printer Mechanism
.........................................................
4-9
Chapter 5 Adjustments, Maintenance, and
Lubrication
Adjusting the Printer Mechanism
........................................................... 5-1
Bidirectional Alignment Adjustment
....................................................... 5-3
Preventive Maintenance ..........................................................................
5-5
Lubrication ...............................................................................................
5-5
Chapter 6 Principles of Operation
Printer Mechanism Operation .................................................................
6-1
Power Supply Operation ........................................................................ 6-19
Control Circuit Operation ...................................................................... 6-22
Chapter 7 Reference Materials
Connector Summary ................................................................................
7-1
Circuit Diagrams ......................................................................................
7-5
Circuit Board Component Layouts ........................................................ 7-10
Outline Drawings ...................................................................................
7-13
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Epson FX-870/1170

Printer Features
Chapter 1
Printer Features
Options......................................................................................................
1-3
Hardware Specifications..
.........................................................................
1-3
Printing Method ...............................................................................
1-3
Paper Handling ................................................................................
1-4
Precautions for Paper Handling
............................................
1-5
Paper Specifications
.........................................................................
1-6
Printable Area..................................................................................
1-8
Ribbon Cartridge ...........................................................................
1-10
Electrical Specifications
.................................................................
1-11
Environmental Conditions
.............................................................
1-11
Reliability .......................................................................................
1-11
Safety Approvals ............................................................................
1-12
Firmware Specifications
..........................................................................
1-12
Print Control ..................................................................................
1-12
Input Data Buffer ..........................................................................
1-13
Interfaces.................................................................................................
1-13
Parallel Interface ...........................................................................
1-13
Optional Interfaces ........................................................................
1-16
Control Panel ..........................................................................................
1-17
Buttons ...........................................................................................
1-17
Micro Feed Function
............................................................ 1-18
Bin Selection for the Cut Sheet Feeder
...............................
1-19
Paper Ejection ......................................................................
1-19
Indicators .......................................................................................
1-20
Default Settings.. ....................................................................................
1-20
Power On Default Settings
............................................................ 1-22
Self-Test
................................................................................................... 1-22
Hexadecimal Dump ................................................................................
1-23
Paper-out Detection ................................................................................
1-24
Auto Tear-off...........................................................................................
1-24
Buffer-full Printing .................................................................................
1-24
Thermal Protection.................................................................................
1-24
High-Duty Printing ................................................................................
1-24
Sheet Loading and Sheet Ejection
......................................................... 1-24
Adjust Lever Operation ..........................................................................
1-25
Printer Initialization ..............................................................................
1-26
Buzzer
.....................................................................................................
1-27
Main Components ...................................................................................
1-28
Epson FX-870/1170
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