Page 3 - EPSON; User’s Guide
EPSON ® LX-300 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording,or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. No patentliability is assumed...
Page 4 - FCC Compliance Statement; For United States Users; For Canadian Users; ii
FCC Compliance Statement For United States Users This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digitaldevice, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to providereasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation....
Page 5 - Sales of the; Reference Manual; Epson technical information library fax service; iii
Where to Get Help for United States Users Epson America provides local customer support and servicethrough a nationwide network of authorized Epson dealers andService Centers. Epson also provides the following support services through theEpson Connection SM at (800) 922-8911: ❏ Assistance in locatin...
Page 6 - For United Kingdom Users; Epson product guarantee; iv
For United Kingdom Users Epson product guarantee Under the law, goods sold must comply with their description andmust be of merchantable quality and fit for their purpose orcorrespond with any sample. This guarantee does not affect the seller’s legal obligation or therights of the consumer in the “c...
Page 7 - Warning; This appliance must be earthed. Refer to rating plate for; Important; The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are
The guarantee is restricted to the performance of the productalone, and Epson (UK) Limited does not accept responsibility forany consequential loss or damage, nor claimed or impliedperformance, when the product is used in any combination withother equipment or program software. Product guarantee may...
Page 8 - Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.; vi
The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plugmarked with the letter N or coloured black. The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plugmarked with the letter L or coloured white. If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult aqualified electrician. Replace...
Page 9 - Contents; Introduction; Chapter 1; Setting Up the Printer; Microsoft; Using the Printer; vii
Contents Introduction Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-1Finding Your Way Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Page 10 - Chapter 3; Troubleshooting; viii
Printing on Continuous Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 Printing with the push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7Switching back to single sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11Printing with the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 Printin...
Page 11 - Appendix; ix
Paper Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 Single sheets do not feed properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6Continuous paper does not feed properly . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 When ...
Page 12 - Index
Character tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14User-defined characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-15Color printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16 In...
Page 13 - Features
Introduction Features Your Epson ® 9-pin dot matrix printer offers these outstanding features: ❏ High-speed printing. Print up to 220 characters per second(cps) in 10-cpi draft mode. ❏ Quiet operation. You’ll notice the benefit of quiet printing inyour work environment. ❏ Simple control panel. Three...
Page 14 - loads up to 50 sheets of; Finding Your Way Around; Warnings; must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.; Cautions; must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.; Notes
❏ Roll Paper Holder (#8310) uses 8 1 ⁄ 2 -inch or 21.6-cm roll paper used by telexes and similar machines. This option is notavailable in some countries. ❏ Cut-sheet feeder (C80637 ✽ ) loads up to 50 sheets of single-sheet bond paper automatically. Finding Your Way Around This manual provides fully ...
Page 15 - Important Safety Instructions; Read all of these instructions before you set up your printer.
Important Safety Instructions 1. Read all of these instructions before you set up your printer. 2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer. 3. Unplug this printer from the wall outlet before you clean it. Use a damp cloth for cleaning and do not use liquid or aerosolcleaners. 4. D...
Page 18 - Unpacking the Printer; Your printer box should include these items.
Unpacking the Printer Your printer box should include these items. In some locations, the power cord is attached to the printer. c Caution: There are several versions of this printer designed for differentvoltages, and it is not possible to change the voltage. If thelabel on the back of the printer ...
Page 19 - Choosing a place for the printer; A flat, stable surface
Choosing a place for the printer When selecting a place to set up your printer, choose a safe,convenient location that provides the following: ❏ A flat, stable surface ❏ Adequate room around the printer to allow easy operationand maintenance. Make sure it’s close enough to the computerfor the printe...
Page 20 - Assembling the Printer; Follow the steps in this section to get your printer up and running.; Installing the paper-feed knob
Assembling the Printer Follow the steps in this section to get your printer up and running. Installing the paper-feed knob The first step in assembling the printer is installing the paper-feedknob. 1. Insert the knob into the hole on the printer’s side and rotate itslowly until it slips onto the sha...
Page 21 - Attaching the paper supports; Repeat for the other paper support. Lower the paper guide.; Installing the ribbon cartridge
Attaching the paper supports You should install the paper supports before you begin using theprinter. 1. Raise the paper guide. Hold one of the paper supports and pushthe tips into the notches on the edge guide. 2. Repeat for the other paper support. Lower the paper guide. Installing the ribbon cart...
Page 22 - Slide the print head to the middle of the printer.
1. Open the printer cover to the upright position, then pull it up to remove it. w Warning: Never move the print head while the printer is turned on; thiscan damage the printer. Also, if you have just used theprinter, let the print head cool for a few minutes before youtouch it. 2. Slide the print h...
Page 25 - Plugging in the printer; side of the switch is pressed down.
Plugging in the printer 1. Make sure the power switch on the printer is turned off. It is off when the N side of the switch is pressed down. 2. Check the label on the bottom of the printer to make sure thevoltage required by the printer matches that of your electricaloutlet. c Caution: If the rated ...
Page 26 - Running the Self Test
Running the Self Test The built-in self test function demonstrates that the printer isworking properly. You can run the test with either continuouspaper or single sheets; this section describes the easier way, withsingle sheets. 1. Make sure the printer is turned off and the paper-release lever is p...
Page 27 - While holding down the; PAUSE
2. While holding down the LF/FF button, turn on the printer. The PAUSE light flashes. 3. Slide the left edge guide until it locks in place at the guide mark. Next, adjust the right edge guide to match the width ofyour paper. BB1-15 BB1-16 R Blueberry REV.E A5 size Chapter 1 95/04/17 Setting Up the P...
Page 28 - button, then the printer begins; To end the self test, make sure the printer is not printing. Press
4. Slide a sheet of paper down firmly between the edge guides until it meets resistance. The printer loads the sheetautomatically. Press the PAUSE button, then the printer begins to print. c Caution: Always close the printer cover while the printer is printing.The printer cover helps the paper feed....
Page 29 - Connecting the Printer to Your Computer; Your printer includes both a Centronics; Using the parallel interface
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer Your printer includes both a Centronics ® -compatible parallel interface and an EIA-232D serial interface. Before you begin, placethe printer upright, as shown below. (This makes it easier toconnect the cable.) Connect your computer to the desired interface as...
Page 31 - Using the serial interface
Using the serial interface 1. Turn off both the computer and the printer. Plug the serial cable connector securely into the printer’s serial interface.Tighten the screws on either side of the connector. Note: If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable, attach it to theground connector to the ...
Page 32 - Setting Up Your Software
2. Guide the interface cable through the slot on the side of theprinter so that it does not block the paper supply. 3. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer’s serialinterface; then tighten the screws on either side of theconnector. (If there is a ground wire at the end of the cable,attac...
Page 34 - Using non-Windows software; Any FX printer
Using non-Windows software Most application programs let you specify the type of printer youuse so that the program can take full advantage of the printer’sfeatures. Many programs provide an installation or setup menuthat presents a list of printers. To take full advantage of your printer’s features...
Page 35 - Chapter 2
Chapter 2 Using the Printer Proof Sign-off:Ito _______ Courtier _______ Koyama _______ Using the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Lights and buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2Selecting fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....
Page 36 - Using the Control Panel; Lights and buttons; light
Using the Control Panel You can control simple printer operations—such as line feeding,form feeding, loading and ejecting paper, and selectingfonts—with the buttons on the control panel. The control panellights show the printer ’s status and the current font. Lights and buttons PAUSE light The orang...
Page 37 - button; PAPER PARK; FONT; MICRO ADJUST
If you hold down the FONT button while you turn on the printer, you enter the Printer Setting mode, where you can change manyof the printer ’s settings. For more about printer settings, seepage 2-19. LF/FF button During normal operation, you can press this button briefly to feedpaper line by line. H...
Page 38 - Selecting fonts; ) to show the current selection. Press the button repeatedly to; lights appear for each selection.
Selecting fonts To choose one of the four internal fonts listed on the control panel,press the FONT button. The two font lights come on ( N ) and go off ( O ) to show the current selection. Press the button repeatedly to cycle through all of the available selections; then stop when youreach the desi...
Page 39 - Printing on Single Sheets; Loading single sheets; Adjusting the loading position
Printing on Single Sheets You can use the paper guide to print on single sheets with a widthof 182 mm (7.2 inches) to 257 mm (10.1 inches). Note: You can install an optional cut-sheet feeder to load up to 50 sheetsautomatically. See page 2-24 for details. Loading single sheets You load single sheets...
Page 40 - Getting the results you expect; When you install a software program, it normally asks you
Getting the results you expect When you print on single sheets, you may notice that the printerprints the first page of your file correctly, but then prints too lowon the next page, or that it prints the last few lines from one pageonto the next. This happens because single sheet handling differssli...
Page 41 - Printing on Continuous Paper; Printing with the push tractor; Make sure the printer is turned off. Remove the paper guide
Printing on Continuous Paper Your printer can handle continuous paper with a width of 101 mm(4.0 inches) to 254 mm (10.0 inches). Depending on where youposition the tractor, you can use it as a pull tractor or a pushtractor. These guidelines can help you decide where to positionthe tractor: ❏ Do you...
Page 43 - Make sure your paper has a clean, straight leading edge. Open
4. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight leading edge. Open the sprocket covers. Fit the first holes of the paper over thesprocket pins and then close the sprocket covers. Slide theright sprocket unit to remove any slack in the paper and lockit in place. Now the paper is in the paper-park posit...
Page 45 - Switching back to single sheets; To switch to single sheets, press the; and; Printing with the pull tractor
When you send more data, the paper automatically feeds back tothe loading position. If you want to change the position whereprinting begins on the page, follow the steps on page 2-5 to adjustthe loading position. Switching back to single sheets To switch to single sheets, press the FONT and LF/FF bu...
Page 48 - Make sure your paper has a clean, straight leading edge. Open
6. Slide the left sprocket unit so that its sprockets match theposition of the holes in the paper and lock the unit in place.Then slide the right sprocket unit to match the width of yourpaper, but do not lock it. Move the paper support midwaybetween the two sprocket units. 7. Make sure your paper ha...
Page 49 - Printing on Special Paper
8. To separate the incoming paper from the printed paper, attachthe paper guide. Hold it horizontally and fit its notches overthe printer’s mounting posts. Then slide the paper guidetoward the back of the printer until you feel it click. 9. Slide the left edge guide to the center until it stops at t...
Page 50 - Adjusting the paper-thickness lever; Use the table below to select the appropriate paper thickness.
For multi-part forms and labels, you should not print any closerthan 0.5 inch or 13 mm from either side of the paper. Forinformation on the printable area of envelopes, see the Appendix. Adjusting the paper-thickness lever The paper-thickness lever lets you specify the correct setting foryour printi...
Page 51 - paper-thickness lever back to position 0.; Labels
3. Close the cover. When you finish printing, move the paper-thickness lever back to position 0. Multi-part forms You can use the built-in tractor to print on carbonless multi-partforms of up to three parts (one original plus two copies). Beforeyou print on the forms, set the paper thickness lever a...
Page 52 - Envelopes; You can feed envelopes individually using the paper guide.
❏ Because labels are especially sensitive to temperature andhumidity, use them only under normal operating conditions.Make sure the printing stays entirely within the printable area.(See the Appendix for specifications.) ❏ Don’t leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they curlaround the pl...
Page 53 - Changing the Printer Settings
Changing the Printer Settings Your printer has internal settings that control simple functionssuch as the page length and character set. These settings take effecteach time you turn on the printer, so they are also called defaultsettings. Because the factory printer settings are designed to meet the...
Page 56 - Printer setting descriptions; Character spacing
8. See the appropriate table in your printed instructions. Press the FONT button to move through the settings in the table. The printer beeps twice each time you press the FONT button while in a submenu table. 9. When the control panel lights match your desired setting, press the PAUSE button to mak...
Page 58 - Installing and Using Options; The optional single-bin cut sheet feeder (C80637
Bit rate, parity bit, data length, and ETX/ACK These options are available only when the interface is set to Serial.See your computer manual for the appropriate settings. Software You can select the kind of printer commands used by the printer.When you select ESC/P, the printer operates as an EPSON ...
Page 59 - Hold the cut-sheet feeder in both hands and press on the latch
4. Hold the cut-sheet feeder in both hands and press on the latch levers. Fit the notches in the cut-sheet feeder over themounting posts on the printer. Releasing the latch levers locksthe cut-sheet feeder in place. 5. Slide the left paper guide so it is aligned with the triangle mark.Next, slide th...
Page 62 - Pull Tractor unit; An additional pull tractor (C80030
Note: To remove the paper guide from the cut-sheet feeder, press bothrelease tabs and pull out the paper guide. You can easily switch between continuous paper and cut-sheetfeeder operation. See “Switching back to single sheets” inChapter 2 for details. Note: When you print several pages of continuou...
Page 63 - Roll paper holder; Turn off the printer and remove the paper guide.
5. Open the sprocket covers. Fit the holes of the paper over thetractor pins of the sprocket units and adjust the sprocket unitsas necessary. (See “Printing on Continuous Paper” onpage 2-7.) Close the sprocket covers. 6. If there is slack in the paper between the push and pull tractors, turn the kno...
Page 65 - Color upgrade kit; The optional color upgrade kit (C83208
7. Install the paper guide. Slide the left edge guide to the centeruntil it stops at the guide mark. Then slide the right edgeguide to the opposite guide mark. Color upgrade kit The optional color upgrade kit (C83208 ✽ ) includes a color ribbon cartridge and a motor unit. Here’s how to install the k...
Page 66 - Insert the motor unit plug into the connector on the printer.
2. Install the motor unit in the right hand corner of the printer, with the gear facing the center of the printer. Push it downfirmly to fit the metal pins into the slots. 3. Insert the motor unit plug into the connector on the printer. 4. Slide the print head to the middle of the printer; then slid...
Page 67 - Replace the printer cover.
5. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the arrow to remove any slack in the ribbon. 6. Insert the ribbon cartridge into the printer as shown; then pressboth sides of the cartridge firmly to fit the plastic hooks intothe printer slots. 7. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob to help feed t...
Page 69 - When you use the cut-sheet feeder, the paper does not feed
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting Proof Sign-off:Katagiri _______ Moira _______ Tim/Linda _______/_______Cindy _______ Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Power is not being supplied . . . ....
Page 70 - Problems and Solutions; buttons while you turn on the printer.; Power Supply; Power is not being supplied; The lights on the control panel do not go on.
Problems and Solutions Most problems you may encounter while operating your printerhave simple solutions. You can check the operation of your printer using the self test. See“Running the Self Test” on page 1-10. If the self test worksproperly the problem probably lies in the computer, the software,o...
Page 71 - Printing; The printer does not print; The; light is off but nothing is printed.; light is flashing and the printer beeps three times.; The printer may be out of paper. Load paper in the printer.; The printer sounds like it is printing, but nothing is printed.; The ribbon cartridge may not be installed properly. See page 1-5.
The lights come on briefly and then go off. The lights stay off evenwhen the power is turned on again. Check that the printer’s voltage rating matches the voltage of yourelectrical outlet. If the voltages do not match, unplug the printerand contact your dealer immediately. Do not reconnect the power...
Page 72 - The beeper sounds five times and the; light stays on, check for a paper jam or ribbon jam. If; The print is faint or uneven; Printed characters have parts missing at the bottom.; The printout is faint.; Dots are missing in printed characters or graphics; A line of dots is missing in the printout.
The printer makes a strange noise, the beeper sounds five times, andthe printer stops abruptly. Turn off the printer and check for a paper jam, a ribbon jam orother problems. Let the printer cool. Then try to print again. If theprinter still does not print correctly contact your dealer. The beeper s...
Page 73 - Dots are missing in random positions.; Printed characters are not what you expected; The font selected on the control panel does not print.; The print position is not what you expected; See “Getting the results you expect” on page 2-6.; Page length does not match the length of the paper.
Dots are missing in random positions. Either there is too much slack in the ribbon or the ribbon has comeloose. Re-install the ribbon cartridge as described on page 1-5. Printed characters are not what you expected The typestyles or characters you sent with your software did not print. Check that th...
Page 74 - Regular gaps occur in the printout.; Paper Handling; Single sheets do not feed properly; Move the paper a little to the left.; Paper feeding is crooked or the paper jams.; Use the
If you are using continuous paper, change the page length in thePrinter Setting mode. See “Changing the Printer Settings” onpage 2-20. Regular gaps occur in the printout. One-inch skip-over-perforation may be set. Setskip-over-perforation to off in the Printer Setting mode. See“Changing the Printer ...
Page 75 - Continuous paper does not feed properly; The tractor does not feed the paper.; Make sure the printer cover is closed.
The paper may be too long. Use paper that is within the specifiedrange. See the paper specifications in the Appendix. Continuous paper does not feed properly The tractor does not feed the paper. Check that the paper-release lever is pulled forward to thecontinuous-paper position. If not, turn off th...
Page 76 - The paper does not eject properly.; Options; The paper does not feed.; You may have loaded too many sheets in the cut-sheet feeder’s bin.
The paper does not eject properly. The page may be too long. Tear off the fresh supply of paper andeject the page from the printer. Use only paper that is within thespecified length range described in the Appendix. When you switch between single sheets and continuous paper, thebeeper sounds five tim...
Page 77 - Two or more sheets feed at one time.; The paper feed is crooked.; There may be too much paper in the stacker.; One page of printing has spread to two pages.
Two or more sheets feed at one time. You may have loaded too many sheets in the cut-sheet feeder’s bin. You may have forgotten to fan the stack of paper before loading itinto the bin. Remove the paper and fan it. The paper feed is crooked. The paper may be old or creased. Use only new, clean sheets ...
Page 78 - The ribbon cartridge may not be installed properly. See Chapter 2.
Using the pull tractor with the push tractor, continuouspaper does not feed properly Paper feed is crooked or the paper jams. The pull tractor and push tractor sprockets are not alignedcorrectly. When using both tractors, be sure that the sprockets onboth are positioned evenly. The paper may have to...
Page 80 - Printer Specifications
Printer Specifications Printing Print method: 9-pin impact dot matrix Print speed: Draft, 264 characters/second at 12 cpi220 characters/second at 10 cpiNLQ, 53 characters/second at 12 cpi44 characters/second at 10 cpi Printing direction: Bidirectional logic-seeking for draft text.Unidirectional for ...
Page 81 - Paper
Paper Single sheets (CSF): Width: 182 to 216 mm (7.2 to 8.5 inches) Length: 210 to 364 mm (8.3 to 14.3 inches) Thickness: 0.07 to 0.12 mm (0.0028 to 0.0047 inches) Weight: 64 to 91 g/m 2 (18 to 24 lb) ❏ Use 90 g/m 2 (24 lb) paper only under normal temperature and humidityconditions. Single sheets (m...
Page 82 - Roll paper (optional—not available in some countries)
Labels: Size: 102 to 254 mm (4 to 10 inches) width forbacking sheet63.5 × 23.8 mm (2.50 × 0.94 inches) minimum for a label Thickness: 0.07 to 0.09 mm (0.0028 to 0.0035 inches) forbacking sheet0.16 to 0.19 mm (0.0063 to 0.0075 inches)total Weight: 64 g/m 2 (17 lb) for label only ❏ Use only continuous...
Page 84 - Mechanical; Dimensions and weight:; Electrical
Mechanical Paper-feed methods: FrictionPush tractorPush-pull tractor (with optional pull tractor unit) Pull tractor (C80030 ✽ ) Cut-sheet feeder (option C80637 ✽ ) Roll-paper holder (option #8310) Ribbon: Black ribbon cartridge (#8750) Life expectancy at 14 dots/character: 3 million charactersColor ...
Page 85 - Interface Specifications; Parallel interface specifications
Power consumption Approx. 30 W (during self-test printing inDraft mode at 10 cpi) Environmental Temperature: Operation 5 to 35°C (41 to 95°F)Storage − 20 to 55°C ( − 4 to 131°F) Humidity: Operation 30% to 80% without condensationStorage 5% to 85% without condensation Safety approvals Safety standard...
Page 86 - Serial interface specifications; Serial pin assignments
Serial interface specifications The serial interface has the following characteristics. Bit rate: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 bps(selectable) Word length: Data format 7 or 8-bit (selectable) Start bit 1 bit Parity bit 0 or 1 bit (selectable) Stop bit 1 bit (transmitting), 1 bit or more (...
Page 87 - Printer Settings
Printer Settings The table below lists the printer settings that you can change from thecontrol panel. Underlined options indicate the factory default settings thattake effect when the printer is initialized (some factory default settingsmay vary by country). To change a setting, see “Changing the P...
Page 88 - Command Summary; Sending printer commands
Command Summary Sending printer commands Most actions your printer performs are controlled by your software.Software commands instruct the printer to print in a particular typeface,feed the paper a certain amount after printing each line, start printing on aparticular place on the page, and so on. T...
Page 89 - Printer operation; Data control; Vertical motion
Printer operation ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC @ 64 40 Initialize Printer DC1 17 11 Select Printer DC3 19 13 Deselect Printer ESC s 1/0 115 73 Turn Half-Speed Mode On/Off ESC 60 3C Select Unidirectional Mode (one line) ESC U 1 /0 85 55 Turn Unidirectional Mode On/Off ESC 8 56 38 Disable Paper-Out...
Page 90 - Horizontal motion
ASCII Dec. Hex. Description ESC J n 74 4A Perform n/216-inch Line Feed VT 11 0B Tab Vertically ESC B nn 66 42 Set Vertical Tabs Up to 16 tabs entered in ascendingorder; last n should be 0 ESC b c nn 98 62 Set Vertical Tabs in Channels The c selects a channel for the verticaltabs, which must be betwe...
Page 93 - User-defined characters
d2 d3 Table name d2 d3 Table name 0 0 Italic 14 0 PC 866 (Russian)* 1 0 PC 437 (USA) 15 0 PC 869 (Greek)* 1 16 PC 437 Greek (Greek)* 16 0 USSR GOST (Russian)* 3 0 PC 850 (Multilingual) 24 0 PC 861 (Icelandic)* 4 0 PC 851 (Greek)* 25 0 BRASCII (BrazilianPortuguese)** 5 0 PC 853 (Turkish)* 26 0 Abicom...