Genicom LA500 User manual

M
Mo od de el l L LA A5 50 00 0
U
Us se er r' 's s M Ma an nu ua al l

GEK-01006

ii
S
Sa af fe et ty y I In nf fo or rm ma at ti io on n
A. Never remove any printer cover except to install a printer accessory and as expressly
described in this manual.
B. Please store the printer covers in a safe place. The covers must be reinstalled if you decide to
remove any printer accessory.
The following areas of the printer should be covered for safety reasons:
Pull Tractor Mechanism Covers
Large Rear Cover
The above openings must always be protected with their covers when the corresponding option
is not installed. Do not touch inside the opening and do not insert any object into these openings
or into the gears.

iii
T
Ta ab bl le e o of f C Co on nt te en nt ts s
SafetyInformation..................................................................................... ii
Table ofContents..................................................................................... iii
GettingtoKnowYour Printer.................................................................... 1
Printer Features...................................................................................................1
Unpacking Your Printer......................................................................................2
Printer Parts.........................................................................................................3
Front View.......................................................................................................3
Rear View.........................................................................................................4
SettingUpYour Printer............................................................................. 5
Choosing a Suitable Location..............................................................................5
Printer Assembly..................................................................................................6
Removal of the Shipment Locks....................................................................6
Ribbon Cartridge Installation........................................................................7
Host Computer Connection...............................................................................12
Software Driver Selection..................................................................................14
Power Connection...............................................................................................15
Selectingthe DisplayLanguage........................................................................17
OperatorPanel Presentation................................................................... 18
The Display.........................................................................................................19
LCD Display Messages.................................................................................22
The Indicators.....................................................................................................25
The State Indicators.....................................................................................26
The Paper Path Indicators...........................................................................27
The Buttons.........................................................................................................28
Paper Handling........................................................................................ 37
Paper Paths.........................................................................................................37
How to Select a Paper Path...............................................................................38
Using Set-Up Mode.......................................................................................38
Using the Operator Panel ............................................................................39
Paper Specifications...........................................................................................40
Fanfold Paper................................................................................................40
Print Area......................................................................................................41
Paper Thickness............................................................................................43
Fanfold Paper Loading.......................................................................................44
Loading Paper Using the Front1 Tractor...................................................44
Parking the Paper..............................................................................................49
Resetting Paper Position..............................................................................50
Printing on Adhesive Labels .............................................................................51
Moving the Paper..........................................................................................52
Advancing the Paper for Tearing-off...........................................................53
Operatingyour Printer............................................................................ 55
Using Macros......................................................................................................55
About Macros.................................................................................................55
Switching between Macros...........................................................................56
Selecting Print Features....................................................................................57
Selecting the Font.........................................................................................58
Selecting the Pitch........................................................................................59
Holding a Print Task..........................................................................................60
Reducing the Print Noise Level........................................................................60
Recovering from a Fault State..........................................................................61
Recovering from a Paper out Fault .............................................................61
Recovering from other Faults ......................................................................61
Printing..................................................................................................... 62
Print Area Definition..........................................................................................62
Print Area Definition....................................................................................63
Printing on Multipart Form..............................................................................65
Adapting to Paper Thickness.......................................................................65
Hints on Printer Settings for Paper Thickness..........................................66
Managing Blank Pages......................................................................................67
Printing on Pre-printed Forms..........................................................................67
Adjusting the Top of Form from the Operator Panel ................................68
ConfiguringYour Printer......................................................................... 69
What is Configuration?......................................................................................69
The Configuration Structure.............................................................................70
Display Graphic Conventions ......................................................................71
The Different Types of Selectable Values...................................................71
Configuration Quick Reference....................................................................72
How to configure your Printer...........................................................................82
Reaching, Selecting, Saving a Configuration Value ..................................82
Printing the Printer Configuration..............................................................85
Tips for Configuring......................................................................................85
How to manage your Configuration..................................................................87
Saving a Configuration.................................................................................87
Restoring a Macro.........................................................................................88
Restoring all Macros.....................................................................................88
Recalling the Factory Configuration...........................................................88
Setting the Printer Installation ........................................................................89
LCD Language ..............................................................................................89
Error Buzzer..................................................................................................89
Ribbon Type...................................................................................................90
Paper Path at Power-On ..............................................................................90
Setting the Communication Interface..............................................................91
Interface Type................................................................................................91
Interface Time-out.........................................................................................91
Input Buffer Size...........................................................................................92
Setting the Parallel Interface.......................................................................92

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Setting the Serial Interface..........................................................................94
Setting the User Access Authorization.......................................................97
CustomizingMacros................................................................................ 98
How to Customize a Macro................................................................................98
Selecting the Protocol.........................................................................................98
Setting the Publishing Style............................................................................100
Font ..............................................................................................................100
Vertical Pitch...............................................................................................101
Setting the Page Layout..................................................................................102
Form Length................................................................................................102
Left Margin..................................................................................................103
Form Width .................................................................................................103
Top Margin..................................................................................................103
Bottom Margin............................................................................................104
Top of Form..................................................................................................104
Selecting the Paper Path.................................................................................104
Setting the Printing Modes.............................................................................105
Print Direction.............................................................................................105
Line Mode....................................................................................................106
Blank Pages.................................................................................................106
Print Impact ................................................................................................107
Print Gap .....................................................................................................108
Automatic Gap Offset.................................................................................109
Perforation Anti-jam...................................................................................110
Setting the Tear/View Mode......................................................................110
Paper Movements According to Tear/View Mode....................................112
Paper Position Definition...........................................................................115
Setting the DEC Mode.....................................................................................117
Horizontal Pitch..........................................................................................117
G0 Character Set.........................................................................................118
User Preference Character Set..................................................................119
Printer ID.....................................................................................................120
Wrap or Truncate........................................................................................120
Disconnection on EOT................................................................................121
Initial Report...............................................................................................121
Automatic ANSWERBACK .......................................................................122
ANSWERBACK on ENQ ...........................................................................122
Configuring the IBM Mode..............................................................................123
Horizontal Pitch..........................................................................................123
IBM Character Set......................................................................................123
Code Page.....................................................................................................124
IBM Double Height.....................................................................................125
IBM AGM.....................................................................................................125
Horizontal Pitch on COMPRESS ..............................................................125
Slashed Zero ................................................................................................126
Setting the EPSON Mode...........................................................................126
Horizontal Pitch..........................................................................................126
National Character Set...............................................................................127
Code Page.....................................................................................................128
EPSON Character Set................................................................................129
Slashed Zero ................................................................................................129
TestingYour Printer.............................................................................. 130
Hex-Dump Printing..........................................................................................132
AdjustingYour Printer........................................................................... 133
How to Adjust your Printer.............................................................................133
Adjusting the Bidirectional Alignment...........................................................134
Adjusting the Position of the First Printable Line........................................135
Adjusting the Tear-off Position.......................................................................136
PrinterMaintenanceand Troubleshooting........................................... 137
Cleaning the Printer.........................................................................................137
Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge......................................................................138
Troubleshooting................................................................................................140
Installation Problems and Solutions.........................................................140
Printing Problems and Solutions...............................................................141
Paper Handling Problems and Solutions..................................................145
Printer Failure.............................................................................................147
Hex-Dump Mode.........................................................................................147
Options................................................................................................... 148
The Front2 Push Tractor.................................................................................148
Installing/Removing the Front2 Push Tractor.........................................148
Loading Paper Using the Front2 Tractor Option.....................................151
The Rear Pull Tractor......................................................................................158
Installing the Rear Pull Tractor................................................................158
Loading Paper Using the Front1 Push Tractor and the Rear Pull Tractor
(option)........................................................................................................ 160
Removing the Rear Pull Tractor................................................................162
Automatic Sheet Feeder (ASF) .......................................................................163
Color mechanism..............................................................................................164
Pedestals............................................................................................................165
Printer Specifications............................................................................ 166
ComplianceStatements........................................................................ 172
FCC Compliance Statement (USA)................................................................172
Compliance Statement (Canada)....................................................................172
Compliance Statement (Germany).................................................................172
Compliance Statement (Europe).....................................................................173
EnergyStar.......................................................................................................173
InternationalCompliance...........................................................................173
TrademarkAcknowledgements......................................................................173

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G
Ge et tt ti in ng g t to o K Kn no ow w Y Yo ou ur r P Pr ri in nt te er r
P
Pr ri in nt te er r F Fe ea at tu ur re es s
• 24 Needle Print Head
• 136 columns
• Draft printing at 500 cps, LQ printing at 133 cps
• The supported emulations are: IBM Proprinter XL24E, EPSON ESC/P and DEC PPL2
• High Resolution Graphics Printing (360 x 360 dots per inch)
• Multiple copies (1 original and 5 copies)
• Automatic paper path selection
• Easy operability via operator panel menu and S/W commands
• Optional Automatic Sheet Feeder (120 sheets capability) which handles cut sheets,
multicopies and envelopes, accepts up to two additional paper bins and includes paper stacker
• Optional Color Mechanism
• Usage of all specific features by means of the Specific Software Driver which is applicable to
the most popular S/W Packages
• Plug & Play capability for Windows 95/98/2000®
• Bi-directional IEEE 1284 parallel interface and RS232-C/422-A serial interface

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U
Un np pa ac ck ki in ng g Y Yo ou ur r P Pr ri in nt te er r
Together with the CD-ROM with this User Manual, the following items are included in the box:
Notify any damage to your supplier.
Ribbon Cartridge
(LA40R-KA)
Power Cable Quick Reference Guide
(GEK-01011)
Serial Interface Cable
(
BC16E-10)
Serial Interface Adapter
(
1A0651P01)

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P
Pr ri in nt te er r P Pa ar rt ts s
F
Fr ro on nt t V Vi ie ew w
Push Tractors Cover
Operator Panel
Paper Knob
Power Switch

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R
Re ea ar r V Vi ie ew w
Large Rear Cover
Power Cable Connector Rear Tractor Installation
Area Covers
Paper Knob
Top Cover
Rear Tractor Cover
Interface Connectors
Rear Paper Slot

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S
Se et tt ti in ng g U Up p Y Yo ou ur r P Pr ri in nt te er r
C
Ch ho oo os si in ng g a a S Su ui it ta ab bl le e L Lo oc ca at ti io on n
Consider the following points when you
choose the location for your printer:
• The distance between the printer and
the host computer must not exceed the
length of the interface cable;
• The location must be sturdy,
horizontal and stable;
• Your printer must not be exposed to
direct sunlight, extreme heat, cold,
dust or humidity (see "P
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• The power outlet compatible must be
with the plug of the printer's power
cord.
There must be are sufficient clearances
on all sides for easy operation. The
required space is shown in the figure:
80 cm
31.5 in.
20cm
7.9in
100cm
39.4in
20cm
7.9in
100cm
39.4in

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P
Pr ri in nt te er r A As ss se em mb bl ly y
R
Re em mo ov va al l o of f t th he e S Sh hi ip pm me en nt t L Lo oc ck ks s
Open all the printer covers and make sure that you remove the two shipment locks from the
printer.

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R
Ri ib bb bo on n C Ca ar rt tr ri id dg ge e I In ns st ta al ll la at ti io on n
Two types of black ribbon cartridges are available for this printer, depending on whether the
color mechanism option is installed or not.
Make sure that you are using only GRENICOM original consumables.
1. Make sure that the printer is turned off.
2.Find the ribbon cartridge among the accessories.
Ribbon guide
Tension Knob
Cartridge Pin
Ribbon guide
Holder for Color Mechanism
Tension Knob
Cartridge Pin
LA40R-KA
to be used, when the color mechanism option
is not installed
LA70R-KA (Extended Life Black)
1A3000B02 (Color)
to be used, when the color mechanism option
is installed

8
3. Open the top cover using the
small handles on either side of the
top cover.
4. Turn the printer on. The print
carriage prepares for ribbon
cartridge installation.

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5. Before installing the ribbon cartridge turn
the ribbon winding knob in the arrow
direction (located on the cartridge) to take up
slack in the ribbon.
Ribbon Tension
Knob
To avoid damage to the ribbon, do not turn the winding knob in the wrong direction.
6. Align the cartridge pins with the locking grooves on the left and right cartridge supports.
The black "long-life" cartridge (LA70R-KA) or the color cartridge (1A3000B02) to be used when the
color kit is installed has only one groove.

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7. Slide and insert the ribbon guide between the print head and the ribbon guide mask holding it
perpendicular to the print head.
Make sure that the ribbon is inserted correctly between the print head and the print head mask.
If the color mechanism option is
installed on your printer insert the
white plastic holder onto the color
mechanism as shown in the following
figure.
Ribbon Guide
Holder for Color Mechanism
Color Mechanism

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8. Turn the ribbon winding knob in the
arrow direction (located on the
cartridge) to take up slack in the
ribbon.
Ribbon Tension
Knob
9. Push the cartridge down gently until it clips into place at all locking points: two on each side for
the black ribbon, one on each side for the color and the long life ribbon.
10.Turn the ribbon winding knob again in the direction of the arrow to take up slack in the ribbon.
11.To ensure that the ribbon guide runs freely along the ribbon, manually move the print carriage
horizontally.
If the used ribbon cartridge needs to be replaced, see "R
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in this manual.

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H
Ho os st t C Co om mp pu ut te er r C Co on nn ne ec ct ti io on n
This printer can be connected to the host computer via two available interfaces. The interface
connectors are located on the rear of the printer.
• A bidirectional IEEE1284 parallel interface
• A RS232C/422A serial interface
Before connecting the interface cable, make sure that the printer and the host computer are
turned OFF .
Insert the parallel interface cable into the parallel connector and fasten it by means of the clips.
Insert the serial interface cable into the serial connector, and fasten it by means of the two screws
(use the screwdriver).
Parallel Interface Serial Interface

13
The interface cable with a 6 pin DECconnect type connector can be connected to the serial
interface connector by means of the serial interface adapter you received together with the
printer.

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S
So of ft tw wa ar re e D Dr ri iv ve er r S Se el le ec ct ti io on n
At this point it is necessary to configure the printer for the application package. The installation
procedures depend upon the host environment.
In a WINDOWS 95/98/2000®environment the printer supports the Plug & Play feature.
Install the printer driver following the instructions on the CD-Rom:
1. Insert the CD-Rom into the CD drive.
2. Select the language you prefer and press the Next=> button.
3. Select Install Printer Driver, then press the Next=> button.
4. Select whether the printer should be installed as a local or remote printer, then press the Next=>
button.
5. Press the Driver disk button.
6. Select the CD drive.
7. Select the LA500 directory, then select the environment and the language for the printer driver
that should be installed. Press the OK button.
8. Select the printer port with which the printer is connected to the host.
The printer drivers of all  printers can be found at the Internet Address
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P
Po ow we er r C Co on nn ne ec ct ti io on n
The power outlet must be compatible with the plug of the printer's power cord.
Always use a grounded outlet.
1. Make sure the power outlet is near the printer location and easily accessible.
2. Make sure that the power switch is in 0
position (OFF).

16
3. Insert the power cable plug into the printer connector and the other power cable end into a
convenient outlet (the figure shows the European version).
4. If you need to turn the printer on, press the
power switch in the Iposition (ON).