Epson FX-870 User manual

User’s Guide Update
Please update your User’s Guide with the following information.
These page-length settings have been added to your printer:
5.5, 7, 17, 14, 8, 6, 4, 3.5, and 3 inches.
See “Default-Setting Mode” in Chapter 3 for the groups of
available printer features. The page length feature has been
deleted from Group 1 and now appears in a new group
(Group 1 Extension). See the following table for a complete
list of Group 1 Extension settings.
Group 1 Extension Settings
Page length
11, 12, 8.5, 70/6(A4), 5.5, 7, 17, 14, 8, 6, 4,
3.5, and 3 inches
Changing Group 1 Extension default settings
1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
2. To enter the Group 1 Extension default-setting mode, turn
on the printer while you hold down the FONT and
PAPER FEED buttons. The printer beeps once.
3. Load single-sheet or continuous paper. The printer then
automatically loads the paper and prints a quick
reference.
Copyright © 1995 by Seiko Epson Corporation.
4004313
CO1 -00

Group
Feature
Page
length
Exter
FONT
light
OFF
ON
4. Press the FONT button to select the page length. The FONT,
CONDENSED, and READY lights turn on, off, or blink to
show your selection.
For example, if you select 8 inches, the FONT light is on and
the CONDENSED and READY lights are off.
5. After you have made your selection, exit the Group 1
Extension default-setting mode by turning off the printer.
Note:
If you want to check the new default settings, enter the
default-setting mode again and print the quick reference. After
that, turn off the printer to exit the default-setting mode.

FCC Compliance Statement
For United States 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 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 and 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 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 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 cables connected to unused interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
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 numerique n’emet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant les
limites applicables aux appareils numeriques de Classe B prescrites dans le
reglement sur le brouillage radioelectrique edict6 par le Minis&e des
Communications du Canada.

Important Safety Instructions
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Read all of these instructions before you set up your printer.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer.
Unplug the printer from the wall outlet before you clean it, and
use a damp cloth for cleaning, not liquid or aerosol cleaners.
Do not use your printer near water or spill any liquid on it.
Do not place the printer on an unstable cart, stand, table or other
surface that may allow the printer to fall.
Do not block any slots or openings in the cabinet. These are
provided for the ventilation necessary to ensure reliable
operation and protection from overheating. Placing the printer
on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface may block the
openings. Also, do not place the printer in a built-in installation
unless proper ventilation is provided.
Never place the printer near or over a radiator or heat register.
Use the type of power source indicated on the label. If you are
not sure of the type of power available, consult your dealer or
local power company.
This printer may be equipped with a plug having a third
(grounding) pin, which fits only into a grounding-type outlet.
This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into
the outlet, have an electrician replace your obsolete outlet. Do
not defeat the purpose of the grounding-type plug.
Do not put your printer where the cord will be walked on.

lIf you use an extension cord, make sure that the total of the
ampere ratings on the products plugged into the extension cord
does not exceed the extension cord’s ampere rating. Also, make
sure that the total of all products plugged into the wall outlet
does not exceed 15 amperes.
lNever push objects of any kind into your printer because they
may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that
could result in a risk of fire or electric shock.
lExcept as specifically explained in the user’s manual, do not
attempt to repair the printer yourself. This could expose you to
dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing in
those compartments to service personnel.
lUnplug the printer from the wall outlet and have it repaired by a
qualified service person under the following conditions:
When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed
If liquid has been spilled into it
If it has been exposed to rain or water
If it 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 printer to normal operation.
If it has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged
If it exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a
need for service.

Where United States Users Can Get Help
Epson America provides local customer support and service
through a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers and
Service Centers.
Epson also provides the following support services through the
Epson Consumer Resource Center at [phone]:
Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized Epson Reseller or
Service Center
Technical assistance with the installation, configuration, and
operation of Epson products
Epson technical information library fax service
Product literature with technical specifications on our current
and new products
Sales of ribbons, supplies, parts, documentation, and accessories
for your Epson product
Customer Relations.

For United Kingdom Users
Epson product guarantee
Under the law, goods sold must comply with their description and
must be of merchantable quality and fit for their purpose or
correspond with any sample.
This guarantee does not affect the seller’s legal obligation or the
rights of the consumer in the “consumer transactions” under any
Statute, including Sections 12 to 15 of the Sales of Goods Act, 1979.
All Epson Products, other than OEM products, are fully guaranteed
against faulty operation or performance for a period of ONE YEAR
from date of purchase by the user of the product.
All claims under this guarantee MUST be supported by evidence of
purchase, normally the bill of sale invoice, and it is the responsibility
of the claimant to furnish such proof. Epson (UK) Limited does not
issue or operate any form of guarantee registration card.
Claims are made by the user returning the product to the supplier
from whom it was purchased or, if this is impractical, to any Epson
supplier who also handles the same product. In the event of any
difficulty, users are requested to contact the Service Co-ordinator
Manager at Epson (UK) Limited.
Epson (UK) Limited, or Epson Appointed Distributors, will at their
discretion repair or replace part or all of the product to provide, in
their judgement, a satisfactory performance of the product
consistent with its age and apparent usage.
This guarantee covers the cost of both the parts and labour required
to correct any malfunction of the equipment, but specifically
excludes: wear and tear, consumables, physical damage due to
incorrect use or misuse and damage or faulty operation due to
unauthorized and inexpert repair,

The guarantee is restricted to the performance of the product alone,
and Epson (UK) Limited does not accept responsibility for any
consequential loss or damage, nor claimed or implied performance,
when the product is used in any combination with other equipment
or program software.
Product guarantee may be invalidated as a result of excessive or
inappropriate use, use in adverse environment or in conditions
outside the specifications or if the product has been subjected to
unapproved modifications.
The guarantee does not cover visits to the user’s premises or the
repair or commissioning of the product on site.
Use of options
Epson (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or
problems arising from the use of any options or consumable
products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or
Epson Approved Products by Epson (UK) Limited.
Safety information
Warning: This appliance must be earthed. Refer to rating plate for
voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the
supply voltage.
Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are
coloured in accordance with the following code:
Green and yellow - Earth
Blue - Neutral
Brown - Live
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance may
not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the
terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in the
plug which is marked with the letter E or with the earth symbol (&)
or coloured green or green and yellow.
The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked
with the letter N or coloured black.
The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter L or coloured red.
If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a
qualified electrician.
Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.

Tips for Printing on Single Sheets
There are a few things you should know about printing on single
sheets as opposed to continuous paper. When you print on single
sheets, you may notice that your printer prints the first page of your
file correctly but then prints too low on the next page, or that it
prints the last few lines from one page onto the next.
These differences in print position are easy to adjust; you can simply
change some of the settings in your application program as
described below to get the right results.
1. When you install an application program, you normally need to
identify the printer you are using. Make sure you choose the
correct printer. See Chapter 1 for the right printer to choose.
2. Many programs include an option to set the maximum lines per
page. If your program has a lines-per-page setting and you are
using standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper, set the lines per page to 61.
Note: To find the right lines-per-page setting for paper that is not
8.5 x 11 inches, create a test document using your application
program. Set your top and bottom margins to 0 and then create a
file of numbered lines from 1 to 66. When you print your file,
notice the last number printed on the first page. This is your
maximum lines-per-page setting.
3. If your program doesn’t have a lines-per-page setting, try
decreasing the top margin or increasing the bottom margin, or
both, until you get the results you want.
4. You can also try adjusting the form length setting. For a
standard 8.5 x 11-inch page, try setting the form length at 10
inches.
5. Some programs also let you indicate whether you are using
single sheets or continuous paper. Make sure you choose single
sheets.

Contents
Introduction
Features .............................................................................................
1
Options ..............................................................................................
2
Finding Your Way Around ............................................................
4
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes ....................................................
4
Printer Parts......................................................................................
5
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer
1-1
Unpacking the Printer................................................................
Choosing a Place for the Printer...............
. ................................
1-2
Assembling the Printer ..............................................................
1-6
Testing the Printer ......................................................................
1-10
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer .............................
1-14
Configuring Your Software for the Printer.. .......................... 1-15
Chapter 2 Paper Handling
2-1
Selecting a Paper Feeding Method ..........................................
2-2
Using Single Sheets .................................................................... 2-4
Using Continuous Paper ...........................................................
2-6
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheets ..............
2-20
Printing on Special Paper ..........................................................
2-23
Chapter 3 Using the Printer
3-1
Control Panel
...............................................................................3-2
Default-Setting Mode................................................................. 3-5
Micro Feed ...................................................................................
3-15
Tear Off ........................................................................................
3-18
Character Fonts ...........................................................................
3-21
Data Dump Mode....................................................................... 3-23
X
Contents

Chapter 4 Using the Printer Options
4-1
Cut-Sheet Feeders ...................................................................... 4-2
Additional Tractor Unit .............................................................
4-13
Roll Paper Holder .......................................................................
4-16
Interface Cards
........................................................................... 4-22
Front Sheet Guide.......................................................................
4-25
Chapter 5 Maintenance and Transportation
5-1
Cleaning the Printer ...................................................................
5-2
Replacing the Ribbon
Cartridge .............................................
Transporting the Printer
5-4
............................................................ 5-4
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
6-1
Problems and Solutions .............................................................
6-2
Power Supply ..............................................................................
6-3
Printing
Paper Handling
................................................................... 6-8
6-4
Options .........................................................................................
6-11
Chapter 7 Technical Specifications
7-1
Printer Specifications .................................................................
7-2
Interface Specifications ..............................................................
7-11
Option Specifications .................................................................
7-15
Initialization ................................................................................
7-18
Chapter 8 Command Summary
8-1
Using
/
the Command
Summary ............................................. 8-2
ESC P Commands Arranged by Topic ................................. 8-3
IBM Commands Arranged by Topic ...................................... 8-14
Appendix
A-1
Character Tables in the
ESC/P Mode ...................................... A-2
Character Tables in the IBM Emulation Mode .......................
A-9
Glossary
GL-1
Index

Introduction
Your new Epson®9-pin dot matrix printer combines a compact
design and high performance with a wide range of features.
Features
These features give your Epson printer outstanding value:
Fast printing speed. Prints up to 380 characters per second.
Easy paper handling. Provides four paper paths to suit your
printing needs: top, rear, bottom, and front loading.
Flexibility. You can load single sheets from the top paper slot
without removing your continuous paper supply.
Automatic paper loading. Loads single sheets and continuous
paper automatically.
Compatibility. Supports the Epson ESC/P®commands widely
used in application programs written for other Epson FX
printers.
An IBM@ emulation mode. Provides compatibility with many
application programs written for popular IBM@ printers.
Font selection. You can choose two draft and two Near Letter
Quality fonts (Epson Roman and Epson Sans Serif) directly from
the control panel as well as normal or condensed printing.
Default settings. You can customize the printer’s default settings
with the control panel buttons.
Thickness adjustment. You can set a simple lever to print on a
variety of paper types, including labels, envelopes, and multi-
part forms.

Options
You may choose a cut-sheet feeder, an additional tractor unit, a roll
paper holder, or a front sheet guide to enhance the use of your
printer. For additional information on these options, see Chapter 4.
Single-Bin Cut-Sheet Feeder
(C80637* for the standard-width carriage, C80639* for the wide
carriage)
This economical cut-sheet feeder automatically feeds up to 50
sheets of paper into your printer without reloading. You can also
manually load single sheets without removing the cut-sheet
feeder.
High-Capacity Cut-Sheet Feeder
(C80638* for the standard-width carriage, C80640* for the wide
carriage)
This cut-sheet feeder automatically feeds up to 150 sheets of
paper or 25 plain bond envelopes without reloading. You can
also create a double-bin cut-sheet feeder by connecting this cut-
sheet feeder to the single-bin model.
Additional Tractor Unit
(C80020* for the standard-width carriage, C80021* for the wide
carriage)
This option improves continuous-paper handling. It is especially
useful with continuous multi-part forms. You can also use it to
load two types of continuous paper in the printer at the same
time.

Roll Paper Holder
(#8310)
Available only for the standard-width carriage, the optional roll
paper holder makes it possible to use the many types of 8.5-inch
wide roll paper sold for telexes and similar machines.
Interface Card
Optional interface cards are available to supplement the printer’s
built-in parallel interface. Guidelines for choosing the right
interface and instructions on installing the cards are given in
Chapter 4.
Front Sheet Guide
(C814001 for the standard-width carriage, C814011 for the wide
carriage)
This front sheet guide allows you to load single sheets from the
front paper slot. (This option may not be available in some
countries.)
Front Paper Guide
(C814021 for the standard-width carriage, C814031 for the wide
carriage)
This front paper guide allows you to load single sheets from the
front paper slot. (This option is available in North and South
American countries only.)
The last figure in option part numbers, represented by an asterisk
(*), varies by country. Contact your local Epson dealer for the part
number in your country.

Finding Your Way Around
This manual provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions for
setting up and operating your printer.
Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up, testing,
and connecting the printer. Be sure to read this chapter first.
Chapters 2 and 3 include important information on paper
handling and day-to-day operation of your printer.
Chapter 6 contains troubleshooting information. If the printer
does not operate properly or the printed results are not what you
expect, see Chapter 6 for a list of problems and solutions.
Other chapters contain information on installing options, general
maintenance, specifications, and printer commands. There is also
a glossary of printer terms and an index.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
I!!!!!!’
WARNINGSmust be followed to avoid bodily injury.
01
t
CAUTIONSmust be observed to avoid damage to your
l
equipment.
Notes contain important information and useful tips on the
operation of your printer.

Printer Parts
paper guide edge guides
prilzfel cover
control panel
paper-fension unit
\
ribbon cartridge
tractor
\
parallel interfa
A\C inlet
lever
lever
Note: In some countries, the power cord is attached.

Chapter 1
Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer ...............................................................
1-2
Checking the parts .................................................................
1-2
Removing the protective materials .................................... 1-3
Choosing a Place for the Printer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Assembling the Printer..............................................................
1-6
Installing the ribbon cartridge..............................................
1-6
Attaching the paper guide ....................................................
1-9
Testing the Printer......................................................................
1-10
Plugging in the printer ..........................................................
1-10
Running the self test ..............................................................
1-11
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Configuring Your Software for the Printer ............................
1-15
Choosing from
a menu.......................................................... 1-15
Setting Up the Printer l-l

Unpacking the Printer
This chapter contains information on unpacking, setting up, testing,
and connecting the printer. Read this chapter first.
Checking the parts
When you unpack the printer, make sure that you have all the parts
shown below and that none is damaged.
Printer
Power cord
Note: In some countries, the power cord is attached to the printer.
Store the packing materials in case you ever need to transport your
printer.
t
CAUTION: It is not possible to change the voltage of the
lprinter. If the label on the back of the printer does not
show the correct voltage for your country, contact your
dealer.
1-2 Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer
Removing the protective materials
To prevent damage during shipping, several pieces of protective
material are packed with your printer. You must remove these
before you put your printer together.
Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet inserted in your printer
when removing the protective material.
Note:
l
Make sure you remove all packing and protective materials
from your printer before turning on the power.
l
Store all packing and protective materials in case you ever
need to transport the printer.
Setting Up the Printer
1-3