NEC SuperScript 1400 User manual

SUPERSCRIPT 1400
USER’S GUIDE
June, 2000

ii
Proprietary Notice and Liability Disclaimer
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designs and related materials, is the valuable property of
NEC Technologies and/or its licensors, as appropriate
reserve all patent, copyright and other proprietary rights to
this document, including all design, manufacturing,
reproduction, use and sales rights thereto, except to the
extent said rights are expressly granted to others.
The NEC Technologies product(s) discussed in this document
are warranted in accordance with the terms of the Limited
Warranty Statement accompanying each product. However,
actual performance of each such product is dependent upon
factors such as system configuration, customer data and
operator control. Since implementation by customers of each
product may vary, the suitability of specific product
configurations and applications must be determined by the
customer and is not warranted by NEC Technologies.
To allow for design and specification improvements, the
information in this document is subject to change at any time
without notice. Reproduction of this document or portions
thereof without prior approval of NEC Technologies is
prohibited.
© NEC Technologies, Inc., 2000
Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98,
Windows NT, Windows 2000, and MS-DOS are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other product, service, brand, or trade names used in this
publication are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or organizations. NEC disclaims
any responsibility for specifying which marks are owned by
which companies or organizations.
Copyright 2000
NECTechnologies, Inc.
1250 N. Arlington Heights Rd.
Itasca, IL 60143
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2000
NEC Corporation
7-1 Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-Ku
Tokyo 108-8001, Japan
All Rights Reserved.

iii
CONTENTS
Ch. 1 INTRODUCTION 1
Overview 1
SuperScript 1400 Highlights 1
Added Paper Capacity 1
System Requirements 2
Hardware Requirements 2
SuperScript 1400 Features 2
Printer Driver Features 2
Status Monitor 3
Energy Saving 3
Ch. 2 GETTING STARTED 5
Overview 5
Safety Instructions 5
Selecting a Location 5
Unpacking 6
Checking Printer Contents 7
Identifying Printer Parts 8
Front View 8
Back View 8
Back Internal View 8
Installing the Toner Cartridge 10
Loading The 270-sheet Cassette 12
Changing Paper Sizes 14
For Letter (US) or A4 Paper Sizes 14
For Legal and Folio Paper Sizes 15
Connecting the Printer Using the Parallel Cable16
Connecting the Printer Using the USB Cable 17
Printing a Configuration Sheet 18
Ch. 3 INSTALLING
THE SOFTWARE 19
Overview 19
Software For Windows 19
Installing the Software 19
Software for Windows 95/98/2000 21
Installing Software for Windows 95/98/2000 21
Removing Printer Software 21
Software for Windows NT 4.0 21
Installing the Software 21
Removing Printer Software 22
Software for the Macintosh 22
Software Requirements 22
Hardware Requirements 22
Installing the Software 22
Ch. 4 THE OPERATOR PANEL 25
Overview 25
Operator Panel Buttons 25
Operator Panel Lights 26
Operator Panel Light Messages 27
Ch. 5 USING PRINT MEDIA 29
Overview 29
Choosing Paper 29
Printing to the Output Trays 30
Using the Face-up Output Tray 31
Using Tray 1: the Manual Feed Tray 33
Printing Manually 35
Printing Envelopes 37
Printing Labels 39
Printing on Transparencies 40
Printing on Letterhead 41
Printing on Card Stock 42
Ch. 6 PRINTER TASKS 43
Overview 43
Basic Document Printing 44
Accessing Printer Properties 45
Canceling a Print Job 46

iv SuperScript 1400 — User’s Guide
Canceling a Job From the Operator Panel 46
Canceling a Job from the Printers Folder 46
Saving Toner 47
Manual Duplex Printing 48
N-Up Printing 50
Booklet Printing 51
First Page Printing 53
Scale Printing 54
Poster Printing 55
Printing Watermarks 56
Using Page Overlays 57
Creating a New Overlay 57
Using a Page Overlay 57
Setting Graphic Properties 59
Ch. 7 MAINTAINING YOUR PRINTER 61
Overview 61
Precautions 61
Internal Maintenance 61
Replacing the Toner Cartridge 62
Cleaning the Printer 63
Moving the Printer 64
Ch. 8 TROUBLESHOOTING 65
Overview 65
General Printing Problems 65
Error Messages 67
Operator Panel Error Messages 67
Print Quality Problems 69
Solving Print Quality Problems 69
Paper Jam Problems 73
Tips for Avoiding Paper Jams 73
Understanding the Paper Path 74
Clearing Paper Jams 75
Paper Jams in the Input Area 75
Paper Jams in the Engine Area 76
Paper Jams in the Output Area. 77
Paper Jams in the 550-sheet 2nd Cassette (Tray 3)78
Common Windows Problems 79
Common Macintosh Problems 79
Ch. 9 CUSTOMER SERVICE 81
Overview 81
Assistance Nearby 81
Help From Within Your Company 81
Help From Your Dealer 81
NEC Technical Support 81
How to Contact NEC 81
Ordering Supplies 82
NEC Warranty and Service 83
NEC Service Contracts 83
SuperScript 1400 Series Printer Limited Warranty83
Warranty Period 83
Warranty Coverage 83
Warranty Support 84
Obtaining Warranty Service 84
Limitation of Damages and Implied Warranties 84
Appendix A
PRINTER SPECIFICATIONS 85
Operating Specifications 85
Media Specifications 87
Guidelines 87
Appendix B
THE 550-sheet 2nd CASSETTE 91
Overview 91
Installing the
550-sheet 2nd Cassette (Tray 3) 91
Appendix C
THE STATUS MONITOR 95

v
Appendix D
SAFETY INFORMATION 99
Laser Safety 99
CDRH Regulations 99
Ozone Emission 99
FCC Statement 100
Index 101

vi SuperScript 1400 — User’s Guide

1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
O
VERVIEW
The fully-featured NEC SuperScript™ 1400 laser printer
offers the best value today for dependable monochrome
printing. It delivers high resolution results perfect for
presentations and reports. The Manual Feed Tray, 270-sheet
Cassette, and optional 550-sheet 2nd Cassette combine to
hold 820 sheets of paper.
The SuperScript 1400 has been designed to support all major
personal computer operating systems, including: Windows
®
95/98, Windows 2000
®
, Windows NT
®
4.0, and Mac OS 8.6x
and above.
The following section reviews the features and options that
will allow you to take full advantage of your SuperScript
1400’s capabilities.
note:
The instructions in this guide assume that you are
familiar with your computer configuration, and that your
system is configured and operating properly.
SuperScript 1400 Highlights
• Prints up to 12 pages per minute
• Up to 1,200 dpi class resolution quality
• Parallel and USB ports
• Versatile paper handling for envelopes and labels
• 66MHz 64-bit PowerPC RISC processor
•4 MB of RAM (set)
• 1-Year limited warranty with free telephone support
• Free 2nd year limited warranty when you register your
printer within 30 days (See details on page 82).
Added Paper Capacity
You can add the SuperScript 1400 Series optional 550-sheet
2nd Cassette to increase the printer’s productivity. This
option expands your paper source and can adjust to hold 40
envelopes.
The SuperScript 1400 Laser Printer
The SuperScript 1400 Laser Printer with Optional
550-Sheet 2nd Cassette

2 Chapter 1, Introduction
System Requirements
Your SuperScript 1400 printer and software can operate using
the following minimum system configurations.
Windows Operating System
• Microsoft Windows 95/98, Windows 2000, or
Windows NT 4.0
• 486 or higher CPU
• CD-ROM drive
• 5 MB of free hard disk space
• 16 MB or more of RAM
Macintosh Operating System
• MacOS 8.6 and above
• CD-ROM drive
Hardware Requirements
You need to provide the following additional hardware to set
up and connect your printer.
• IEEE 1284-compliant parallel cable, or
• Certified USB cable
S
UPER
S
CRIPT
1400 F
EATURES
SuperScript 1400 printer features give you many ways to
customize your print jobs. To take advantage of these
features you need to become familiar with the SuperScript
1400 Series printer driver.
Printer Driver Features
Proof Sheets
This layout mode allows you to print out a
reduced version of your document or
booklet. It lets you view multiple pages at a
glance and is accessible through the Layout
Mode area of the Finishing tab in your
Window’s driver.
Manual Duplex Printing
Duplex printing or “duplexing” allows you to manually print
on both sides of the paper. You can use manual duplex
printing two ways.
Choosing Long Edge lets you have the
binding orientation along the long edge of
the paper as in a magazine.
Choosing Short Edge lets you have the
binding orientation along the short edge of
the paper as in a calendar.

SuperScript 1400 Features 3
INTRODUCTION
Watermarks
With the watermark feature found in
Window’s printer driver you can superimpose
a line of text across your final output. Typical
examples of watermarks are the words
“Draft” or “Confidential.”
Scale to Paper Size
This feature allows you to scale your print job
to any supported paper size regardless of the
digital document size. This can be useful when
you want to check the detail in a smaller
formatted size document.
Status Monitor
The SuperScript Status Monitor keeps track of the connection
between your PC and your printer. Printer status messages,
such as “Paper Needed in Tray 1” show up on your screen.
See Appendix C for more information on this useful feature.
Energy Saving
The SuperScript 1400 printer meets the
requirements of the Environmental
Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR
®
Computers program for printers. The
purpose of this program is to promote
the manufacturing and marketing of energy-efficient office
automation equipment, thereby potentially reducing
combustion-related pollution. (The Energy Star emblem does
not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service.)
As an ENERGY STAR partner, NEC has determined that this
product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy
efficiency.
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark.
ORIGINAL

4 Chapter 1, Introduction

5
CHAPTER 2
GETTING STARTED
O
VERVIEW
This chapter tells you how to safely set up your printer and
begin printing right away. Included are instructions for
• Selecting a location and unpacking
• Checking printer contents and identifying printer parts
• Unpacking the standard 270-sheet Cassette
• Installing the Toner Cartridge
• Loading the 270-sheet Cassette
• Connecting the printer to your computer
S
AFETY
I
NSTRUCTIONS
To protect yourself and your equipment from possible
damage, always follow these precautions.
• Protect the printer from dampness or spills.
• Save the printer box and all packing materials that came
with your printer in case you need to ship it later.
• Do not block or cover the vent on the left side of the
printer.
• Unless otherwise indicated in this guide, do not attempt
to repair or modify the printer yourself.
• Read the installation instructions carefully before you
plug in your printer, and follow all warnings.
• After initial setup, keep this User’s Guide and
SuperScript 1400 CD handy for future referencing.
• The fuser area, under the Top and Back Covers is very
hot. Let the printer cool before touching these areas.
WARNING! This printer is intended to be electrically
grounded.It comes with a three-wire grounding plug.This
plug will only fit a grounded AC outlet or power strip.This
is a safety feature.Do not defeat the purpose of the
grounding plug by removing the third pin.
S
ELECTING A
L
OCATION
Select a level, stable place with adequate space for air
circulation and opening covers and trays. The area should be
well ventilated and away from direct sunlight or sources of
heat, cold, and humidity. See image below for clearance
space. Do not set the printer close to the edge of your desk or
table!
13”
12”
Keep printer vent
unobstructed
For more details on printer
“Printer Specifications.”
note: In order for this printer to
work, it is very important to
properly install the printer driver
software after the printer is
connected. See Chapter 3 for
specific installation instructions for
your operating system.
-allow 4”
on left side
clearance see Appendix A,
19”

6 Chapter 2, Getting Started
U
NPACKING
Follow these steps to safely unpack the printer.
1. Open the top cover of the packing box and remove the
QuickStart Guide (the SuperScript 1400 Series Solutions
CD and ServiceXpress are included), the Toner Cartridge,
and the Power Cord (A) .
2. Carefully lift the printer out of the box. Use the hand
grips on both sides of the printer as shown (B) .
3. Make sure all items are included in your box (see the list
on the next page).
4. Remove any packing tape from the printer.
5. Remove the 270-sheet Tray from the printer and peel off
any packing tape (C) .
Save the printer box and all packing materials that
came with your SuperScript 1400 printer in case you
need to ship it later.
Unpacking the Printer
note: Do not discard the box and
packing material.
Hand Grip
The front of the printer should
be facing you when you lift it!
This printer weighs about
21 lbs.
BA
C

Checking Printer Contents 7
GETTING STARTED
C
HECKING
P
RINTER
C
ONTENTS
Take a moment to verify that the following items were
included in your printer box.
• SuperScript 1400 Printer
• 270-sheet Cassette (already installed in printer)
• QuickStart Guide
including NEC SuperScript 1400 Series Solutions CD
and ServiceXpress information
• Power Cord
• Toner Cartridge
Not Included …
IEEE 1284-compliant
Bidirectional Parallel Cable
To connect your printer, note: Save the box and packing
material.
Power Cord
Toner Cartridge
QuickStart Guide
• SuperScript 1400 Series Solutions CD
• ServiceXpress information
For local connection: Certified USB Cable
For USB connection:
If any items are missing or damaged, contact the store where
you purchased the printer.
you need to provide the
proper cable.

8 Chapter 2, Getting Started
I
DENTIFYING
P
RINTER
P
ARTS
Use the illustrations on the facing page to identify standard
parts for the SuperScript 1400.
FrontView
• Top Cover —provides access to the Toner Cartridge (also
serves as the Main Output Tray).
• Inside Label —contains the printer’s serial number
necessary for warranty registration.
• Main Output Tray —holds up to 250 printed sheets.
• Operator Panel —has two control buttons and four
indicator lights (LEDs).
• Hand Grips —used for lifting printer.
• Paper Level Indicator —a see through window showing
paper level.
• 270-sheet Cassette —standard input tray. Referred to as
Tray 2 in the printer driver
• Manual Feed Tray —drops open to allow you to feed
various types of paper, envelopes, labels, or
transparencies one at a time. Referred to as Tray 1
(Manual) in the printer driver.
BackView
• Interface Panel —contains the Controller Board ports
including a parallel port and a USB port.
• Back Cover —acts as the Face-up Output Tray when
opened out.
• Power Cord Connector —for attaching the Power Cord.
• Power Switch —for turning on and off the printer.
• Side Vent —allows ventilation.
Back InternalView
• Fuser Unit —uses heat and pressure to adhere the image
to the paper.
• Face-up Output Tray —receives heavier printed media.
• Back Feed Roller —Feeds media to the Face-up Output
Tray. Swings out to clear paper jams.
Model Number Label
Serial Number Label
•Technical Support and
Service Numbers
• Part Numbers for Supplies
Optional Equipment

Identifying Printer Parts 9
GETTING STARTED
Top Cover Operator Panel
Main OutputTray
Back Cover
BACK INTERNALVIEW
BACKVIEW
FRONTVIEW with Optional 550-sheet 2nd Cassette
270-sheet Cassette
FRONTVIEW 1400 Model
Important Printer Parts
Power Switch
Interface Panel
Hand Grip
Power Cord
Manual FeedTray
Face-up OutputTray
Back Feed Roller
(Tray 2)
SideVent
550-sheet 2nd Cassette
Paper Level Indicator
(Tray 1)
Fuser Unit
(Face-up Output
(Tray 3)
Tray)
Connector Warning Label

10 Chapter 2, Getting Started
I
NSTALLING THE
T
ONER
C
ARTRIDGE
1. Lift the Top Cover (A, B).
2. Remove the Toner Cartridge from its bag (C). Do not
open the shutter or touch the shiny green material on the
OPC unit located on the underside of the Toner
Cartridge.
Caution! To prevent damage from light, keep the
Toner Cartridge covered until you are ready to install it.
3. Hold the cartridge horizontally and shake as shown
about 10 times (D).
4. Rock Toner Cartridge forward and back several times (E)
loosening and distributing any toner that may have
settled during storage.
5. With the Toner Cartridge on a sturdy surface, pull the
end of the sealing tape straight out (F).
6. Locate the cartridge slots on the inside of the printer (G).
BC
D
F
G
A
E

Installing the Toner Cartridge 11
GETTING STARTED
7. Notice that the slots on both sides are curved (H).
note: During installation the shutter that covers the
green shiny material of the OPC unit will flip up on the
front of the Cartridge Guide exposing the OPC unit to the
inside of the printer.
8. Grasp the handle and gently guide the Toner Cartridge
into the printer (I).
9. The Toner Cartridge will click into place (J).
10. Close the Top Cover (K).
J
HI
K

12 Chapter 2, Getting Started
LOADING THE 270-SHEET CASSETTE
The 270-sheet Cassette (Tray 2) can hold up to 270 sheets of
medium weight paper—letter size (U.S.), legal, folio or A4.
See Appendix A, “Printer Specifications,” for a complete list
of paper that can be used.
1. Pull the 270-sheet Cassette tray out of the printer (A).
2. Push down the metal plate in the bottom of tray (B).
3. Fan the paper (C).
4. Load paper print-side down (C).
5. Make sure the paper stack is flat and that it fits under the
metal tab in the corner of the tray (D).
note: To adjust the tray for different paper sizes, see
page 14.
D
note: The 270-sheet Cassette will
be referred to asTray 2 in the printer
driver.
BA
Print-side down
CDo not overfill the cassette!
MetalTab
C

Loading The 270-sheet Cassette 13
GETTING STARTED
6. You can fill the tray up to the Paper Limit Line on the
side of the tray (E).
7. Slide the tray back into the printer (F).Directions for
adjusting the paper tray size are in the following section,
“Changing Paper Sizes.”
WARNING! When sliding the tray into the printer, do
not place your hand on the tray opening in back.Place
your hand on the top of the printer as shown below.
8. The Paper Level Indicator will show how much paper is
left in the tray (G).
G
F
EPaper Limit Line

14 Chapter 2, Getting Started
CHANGING PAPER SIZES
Follow these directions if you need to change paper sizes in
the 270-sheet cassette (Tray 2).
For Letter (US) or A4 Paper Sizes
1. To adjust for these paper sizes, pinch the tab on the Back
Paper Guide (A).
2. Slide the Back Paper Guide so that the pointer matches
the desired size indicated on the bottom of the tray.
3. Load the paper in the tray print-side down (B).
4. After loading media print-side down, pinch the Side
Guide and slide it until it lightly touches the media (C).
note: The 270-sheet Cassette will be
referred to asTray 2 in the printer driver.
Do not overfill the cassette!
ABPrint-side down
C