Epson SQ-2550 User manual

EPSON
SQ-850
SQ-2550
24-NOZZLE INK JET PRINTER
USER’S GUIDE

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR AMERICAN USERS
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy 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 type tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance 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 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 the receiving antenna
•
Relocate the printer with respect to the receiver
•
Move the printer away from the receiver
•
Plug the printer into a different outlet so that the printer and receiver are on different
branch circuits.
If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician
for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission helpful:
“Television Interference Handbook”
This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402.
Stock No. 004-000-00450-7.
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 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.

EPSON
SQ-850/2550
User’s Guide

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 Seiko Epson
Corporation.
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, Seiko Epson
Corporation assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use
of the information contained herein.
Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be liable against any damages or
problems arising from the use of any options other than those
designated as Original Epson Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
EPSON and EPSON ESC/P are trademarks of Seiko Epson
Corporation.
IBM and IBM PC are trademarks of International
Business Machines Corporation.
Copyright ©1988 by Seiko Epson Corporation
Nagano, Japan

Contents
About This Guide
1
Introduction
3
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer l-l
Ink Jet Precautions ...............................................................
1-2
Unpacking the Printer .........................................................
1-3
Choosing a Place for the Printer
........................................... l-7
Assembling the Printer ........................................................
1-9
Testing the Printer ................................................................
1-14
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer ..................... l-28
Setting Up Your Application Software ........................... l-32
Chapter 2 Paper Handling 2-l
Choosing Paper .....................................................................
2-2
Using Single Sheets ..............................................................
2-3
Using Continuous Paper .....................................................
2-8
Switching between Continuous and Single Sheets
......
2-16
Printing on Special Paper ...................................................
2-23
Contents iii

Chapter 3 Using the Printer 3-l
Operating the Control Panel .............................................. 3-2
SelecType Settings ................................................................. 3-10
Page Length ............................................................................ 3-18
Skip Over Perforation ..........................................................
3-19
Adjusting the Loading Position ......................................... 3-21
Short Tear-Off ........................................................................ 3-23
Selecting Typestyles .............................................................. 3-28
Selecting an International Character Set ......................... 3-35
Choosing a Character Table ...............................................
3-36
Data Dump Mode ................................................................. 3-38
Chapter 4 Software and Graphics 4-l
Enhancing Your Printing ..................................................... 4-2
Graphics ................................................................................... 4-9
User-defined Characters ......................................................
4-21
Chapter 5 Using Printer Options 5-1
The Cut Sheet Feeder ........................................................... 5-2
The Pull Tractor .....................................................................
5-21
Interface Boards .....................................................................
5-31
Chapter 6 Maintenance 6-l
Cleaning the Printer .............................................................
6-2
Cleaning the Print Head ...................................................... 6-4
Replacing the Ink Cartridge ............................................... 6-6
Transporting the Printer ...................................................... 6-9
iv Contents

Chapter 7 Troubleshooting 7-l
Problems and Solutions ...................................................... 7-2
Power Supply ........................................................................
7-3
Printing ................................................................................... 7-4
Paper Handling ..................................................................... 7-13
Options ....................................................................................
7-21
Chapter 8 Technical Specifications 8-l
Printer Specifications ........................................................... 8-2
Interface Specifications ........................................................ 8-10
Options Specifications ......................................................... 8-15
Initialization ........................................................................... 8-18
Chapter 9 Command Summary 9-l
Using the Command Summary ......................................... 9-2
Commands
in Numerical Order ....................................... 9-5
Commands Arranged by Topic ......................................... 9-8
Appendix A-l
Proportional Width Table
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-2
Character Tables
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A-6
Glossary
GL-1
Index
IN-1
Contents v

About This Guide
This user’s guide provides fully-illustrated, step-by-step
instructions for setting up and operating the SQ-850 and
SQ-2550 printers.
Finding your way around
Chapter 1 contains information on unpacking, setting up,
testing and connecting the printer, so be sure to read and
follow the instructions in this chapter first.
Chapters 2 and 3 include important information on paper
handling and general printer operation. This information is
necessary for the day-to-day operation of your printer.
Chapter 4 contains information designed to help you get the
most from your printer. This chapter includes advice on the
use of software commands, graphics, and user-defined
characters. Also, see Chapter 9 for a summary of printer
commands.
If the printer does not operate properly or the printed
results are not what you expect, see Chapter 7 for a list of
possible solutions.
Other chapters contain information on general maintenance,
use of the printer options, and specifications. You will also
find a glossary of printer terms and an index.
At the back of this guide is a Quick Reference Card with the
information you are most likely to need.
Note: The SQ-850 and SQ-2550 are basically the same printer
except that the SQ-2550 can accept wider paper. Therefore,
the illustrations in this guide show only the SQ-2550.
About This Guide 1

Conventions used in this guide
WARNINGS must be followed carefully to avoid
damage to your printer and computer.
CAUTIONS should be followed carefully to ensure
that your printer operates correctly.
Notes contain important information and useful tips on the
operation of your printer.
2 About This Guide

Introduction
The SQ-850 and SQ-2550 are the latest in EPSON’s advanced
line of 24-nozzle ink jet printers, combining high performance
and reliability with a wide range of exciting features.
Features
In addition to the high-quality printing and ease of operation
you have come to expect from EPSON printers, the SQ-850 and
SQ-2550 offer the following:
An improved control panel design that allows you direct
selection of all of the printer’s main features, such as
character font and pitch as well as a choice of normal or
condensed printing.
An advanced paper handling system that allows you to
easily switch between single sheets and continuous paper by
pressing the appropriate panel buttons. You can use single
sheets without removing the continuous paper, or you can
use continuous paper even while the optional Cut Sheet
Feeder is installed.
A short tear-off feature that saves paper. After you tear off
the latest sheet printed on continuous paper, the printer
feeds the paper back to the loading position so that you can
use all of the next sheet.
The ability to print on labels and envelopes.
A micro-adjustment feature that allows you to feed the
paper forward or backward in 1/180th of an inch
increments to finely adjust the top of form, loading, and
short tear-off positions.
Introduction 3

lThe following nine built-in Letter Quality fonts are provided
for producing high-quality documents:
Roman, Sans Serif, Courier, Prestige, Script, OCR-A,
OCR-B, Orator, Orator-S
lDraft mode with fast, whisper-quiet printing of up to 500
characters per second in 10 cpi (10 characters per inch).
l
Compatibility with the EPSON ESC/P commands used by
the LQ-1500, LQ-800, LQ-1000, LQ-2500, LQ-2500+, LQ-850,
LQ-1050, LQ-500, LQ-2550, and SQ-2500 printers.
Options
A variety of printer options is available for use with your
SQ-850 or SQ-2550 printer. For detailed information on the
installation and use of these options, see Chapter 5.
Single-bin and Double-bin Cut Sheet Feeders
(C806081/C806091/C806101/C806111)
These cut sheet feeders give you easier and more efficient
handling of single sheet paper or envelopes. Up to 150 sheets
of standard bond paper can be stored in a bin and fed
automatically into the printer without reloading.
4 Introduction

Pull Tractor Unit (C800032/C800042)
The pull tractor option improves the performance of continuous
paper handling. It is especially useful when printing graphics,
labels, or continuous preprinted forms.
Optional Interface Boards
A number of optional interface boards can be used to
supplement the printer’s built-in parallel and serial interfaces.
Guidelines for choosing the right interface and instructions on
installing the boards are given in Chapter 5.
Introduction 5

Chapter 1
Setting Up the Printer
Ink Jet Precautions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-2
Unpacking the Printer ...........................................................
1-3
Checking the parts ............................................................. 1-3
Removing the protective materials ................................1-4
Choosing a Place for the Printer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-7
Assembling the Printer .......................................................... 1-9
Attaching the paper guide ...............................................
1-9
Installing the ink cartridge ...............................................1-10
Testing the Printer ..................................................................
1-14
Connecting to a power supply ........................................
1-14
Charging the ink cartridge ...............................................
1-16
Running the self test ..........................................................
1-19
Checking the operation .....................................................
1-26
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer .......................1-28
The parallel interface ......................................................... 1-28
The serial interface ............................................................. 1-30
Setting Up Your Application Software .............................1-32
Choosing from a menu ......................................................
1-32
Setting Up the Printer l-l

Ink Jet Precautions
Because the SQ-850 and SQ-2550 are the ink jet printers, certain
precautions are necessary to ensure their safe and efficient
operation. Even if you are familiar with other types of printers,
be sure to read through this list of precautions.
Make sure that the ink does not come in contact with your
skin or eyes. If it does get on your skin, wash it off with
soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them with
plenty of water and contact a physician.
Do not dismantle the ink cartridges; they cannot be refilled.
Keep the cartridges out of the reach of children.
Do not use an ink cartridge beyond its rated life expectancy.
Ink cartridges are good up to the date printed on the
cartridge.
See that the print head is capped before the printer is turned
off. To cap the head, simply push the ON LINE button to set
the printer off line. The head caps automatically when it
enters the off line state. Then turn off the printer.
Never remove the ink cartridge when the printer is on line
or when it is printing.
Do not turn the printer on and off when the ink cartridge is
not installed.
Do not put your hand inside the printer when it is printing.
Before you transport the printer, make sure that the head is
capped and that the ink cartridge is removed.
If ink accidentally gets on the platen (the black roller), wipe
it off with a clean rag or with tissue paper.
l-2 Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer
Checking the parts
As you unpack the printer, check that you have all of the parts
shown below and that none have been damaged during
transportation.
power cable
platen knob
cross-head screwdriver optional screw locks
CAUTION: Different versions of the printer are
designed for different electrical standards. The power
supply type is shown on the label on the back of the
printer. If it does not show the correct voltage for
your country, contact your EPSON dealer. It is not
possible to adjust the printer for use on another
voltage.
Setting Up the Printer l-3

Removing the protective materials
The printer is protected during shipping by screws, locking tabs,
a notice sheet, and a white packing material. These protective
items must be removed before you turn on the printer. After
removing these items, store them with the other packaging
material in case you ever need to transport your printer.
1. Insert the platen knob into the hole on the printer’s side and
rotate it until it slips onto the shaft.
2. Press firmly on the knob until it fits against the printer case.
l-4 Setting Up the Printer

CAUTION: Using the platen knob to adjust the
position of the paper interferes with the automatic
paper loading system and may cause a paper jam.
Before using the platen knob, always turn off the
power. If you need to adjust the position of the paper
after it is loaded, use the micro-adjustment feature
described in the section on setting the loading position
in Chapter 3.
3. Remove the printer cover.
4. Remove the white packing material, and remove the notice
sheet by using the platen knob. Then push the paper bail
toward the platen.
Setting Up the Printer l-5

5. Using the enclosed cross-head screwdriver, remove the
transport screws and locking brackets as shown below.
(SQ-850 only has two screws and single locking bracket.)
CAUTION: Never leave the transport screw in the
printer because of it can damage the print head.
6. Reattach the printer cover.
l-6 Setting Up the Printer

Choosing a Place for the Printer
There are several important things to consider when selecting a
location for your printer. Make sure to keep the following in
mind.
l Place the printer on a flat, stable surface.
l Place the printer close enough to the computer for its cable
to reach.
l Leave adequate room around the printer to allow easy
printer operation and maintenance.
l Use a grounded outlet; do not use an adapter plug.
WARNING:
l Avoid locations that are subject to direct sunlight,
excessive heat, moisture or dust.
l Avoid using electrical outlets that are controlled by
wall switches or automatic timers. Accidental
disruption of power can wipe out information in your
computer’s and printer’s memory.
l Avoid using outlets on the same circuit with large
motors or other appliances that might disturb the
power supply.
l Keep the entire computer system away from
potential sources of interference such as loudspeakers
or the base units of cordless telephones.
Setting Up the Printer l-7

The illustrations below show several good printer and computer
arrangements.
Note: If you plan to use a printer stand, read through the list
of requirements and suggestions below to ensure that you
have the right stand for your printer.
l The stand should be able to support at least twice the
weight of your printer (24.0kg for the SQ-850 or 28.8kg for
the SQ-2550).
l Never use a stand that supports the printer at an angle.
The printer should always be kept level.
l If your paper supply is positioned below the printer stand,
make sure that there is enough clearance to keep the paper
from catching on the underside of the stand. Also, check to
see that the distance between the stand supports is wide
enough to accommodate the width of your paper.
l Position your printer’s power and interface cables so that
they do not interfere with paper feeding. If possible, secure
the cables to the printer stand supports.
l-8 Setting Up the Printer