59348301_b.p65 ML420 Oki Data Microline 420 Printer Manual

ML420 to the manual a5699021-3b50-e5e4-251a-5cab55df8f85

421 10224711

User Manual: ML420

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User’s

Guide

59348301

ML 420/421 User’s Guide

P/N 59348301, Revision 1.2

February, 2006

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in

this document is complete, accurate, and up-to-date. Oki Data

assumes no responsibility for the results of errors beyond its

control. Oki Data also cannot guarantee that changes in

software and equipment made by other manufacturers and

referred to in this guide will not affect the applicability of the

information in it. Mention of software products manufactured

by other companies does not necessarily constitute

endorsement by Oki Data.

Written and produced by the Oki Data Training and

Publications Department.

Web Site: http://www.okiprintingsolutions.com.

Trademark Information

OKI and MICROLINE are registered

trademarks of Oki Electric Industry

Company, Ltd.

Epson is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc.

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines

Corp.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or

trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and

other countries.

Safety

Your Oki printer has been carefully designed to give you years

of safe, reliable performance. As with all electrical equipment,

there are a few basic precautions you should take to avoid

hurting yourself or damaging the printer:

• Carefully read all setup and operating instructions. Be sure

to save all documents for future reference.

• Read and follow all warning and instruction labels on the

printer itself.

• Place your printer on a firm, solid surface. If you put in on

something unsteady, it might fall and be damaged.

• Avoid overheating the printer. Do not place it on a soft

surface, such as a rug, sofa, or bed. The vents may be

blocked, causing the printer to overheat.

• The printer must be installed near a power outlet which will

remain easily accessible.

• Be certain that your power source matches the rating listed

on the back of the printer. If you aren’t sure, check with your

dealer or with your local power company.

• Your printer has a grounded, 3-prong plug as a safety feature.

It will only fit into a grounded outlet. If you can not plug it

in, chances are that you have an older, non-grounded outlet.

Contact an electrician to have it replaced with a grounded

outlet. Do not use an adapter to defeat the grounding.

• To avoid damaging the power cord, do not put anything on it

or place it where it will be walked on. If the cord becomes

damaged or frayed, replace it immediately.

• If you’re using an extension cord or power strip with the

printer, make sure that the total of the amperes required by all

the equipment on the extension is less than the extension’s

rating. Generally, the total ratings of all equipment plugged

into any one power line should not exceed 15 amperes. Don’t

exceed this unless you know that the power line your

equipment is plugged into has a rating above 15 amperes.

4Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

• Unplug the printer before you clean it. Use only a damp

cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.

• To protect your printer from overheating, make sure no

openings on the printer are blocked. Do not put the printer on

or near a heat source, such as a radiator or heat register. If

you put the printer in any kind of enclosure, make sure it is

well ventilated.

• The printhead can get quite hot when it has been printing for

a length of time. Do not touch the printhead until it has had a

chance to cool off.

• Do not use your printer near water. Do not spill liquid of any

kind into it.

• Do not poke anything into the ventilation slots on the sides of

the printer. You could get a shock or cause a fire.

• Aside from the routine maintenance described in this

document, don’t try to service the printer yourself. Opening

the cover may expose you to shocks or other hazards. Don’t

make any adjustments other than those outlined in the

document. You might cause damage requiring extensive

repair work.

• If anything happens that indicates that your printer is not

working properly or has been damaged, unplug it

immediately. Then, follow the procedures in “Service and

Support” for having your printer serviced.

These are some of the things to look for:

– The power cord or plug is frayed or damaged.

– Liquid has been spilled into the housing, or the printer has

been exposed to water.

– The printer has been dropped or its cabinet has been

damaged.

– The printer doesn’t function normally when you’re

following the operating instructions.

Contents

Safety............................................................................ 3

Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................. 7

Printer Features............................................................................... 7

Chapter 2: Helpful Hints ........................................... 8

Saving Money: Forms Tear-Off...................................................... 8

Saving Time .................................................................................... 8

Internet Support ........................................................................... 8

Paper Park .................................................................................... 8

Operation Tips ................................................................................ 9

Top of Form (TOF) ...................................................................... 9

Turning the Platen Knob .............................................................. 9

Controlling Access to the Printer ................................................. 9

Chapter 3: Using Your Printer ................................ 10

Parts Identification: Rear Feed (Continuous Forms).................... 10

Parts Identification: Top Feed (Single Sheets) ............................. 11

Top of Form (TOF) ....................................................................... 12

Top of Form (TOF) and Forms Tear-Off.................................... 12

Determining if Forms Tear-Off is Off or On.............................. 13

Setting Top of Form (TOF):

Forms Tear-Off OFF (Default Setting) ...................................... 14

Setting Top of Form (TOF):

Forms Tear-Off Set to ON .......................................................... 15

Temporarily Changing the Top of Form Position ...................... 16

Resetting Top of Form to the Factory Default ........................... 16

Forms Tear-Off Feature ................................................................ 17

Potential Problems with Software Packages .............................. 17

Changing the Forms Tear-Off Setting ........................................ 18

Manual Forms Tear Off .............................................................. 18

Paper Park..................................................................................... 18

Changing Paper Paths................................................................... 19

Printhead Gap ............................................................................... 21

Print Quality ................................................................................. 22

Character Pitch ............................................................................. 23

Printer Reset ................................................................................. 24

Emulations .................................................................................... 24

6Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Chapter 4: Menu Mode ............................................ 25

Menu Mode Keys ....................................................................... 25

Entering and Exiting Menu Mode ............................................. 26

Resetting the Menu to the Factory Defaults .............................. 26

Printing the Menu Settings......................................................... 26

Changing the Menu Settings ...................................................... 27

Menu Settings Table ................................................................... 28

Explanations of Menu Items ...................................................... 35

Chapter 5: Maintenance........................................... 42

Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge ................................................... 42

Loading Paper............................................................................... 44

Rear Feed ................................................................................... 44

Top Feed (Single Sheets) ........................................................... 53

Clearing Paper Jams ..................................................................... 55

Rear-Feed Paper Jams ................................................................ 55

Rear-Feed, Repeating Paper Jams.............................................. 56

Single-Sheet Paper Jams ............................................................ 58

Cleaning the Housing ................................................................... 59

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting..................................... 60

General Information ..................................................................... 60

Problems / Solutions ..................................................................... 61

Appendix A: Parts & Accessories............................ 66

Purchasing Parts & Accessories ................................................... 66

Replacement Parts ........................................................................ 67

Accessories ................................................................................... 68

Appendix B: Printer Control Codes ....................... 69

IBM Proprinter III Commands ..................................................... 69

Epson FX Commands................................................................... 72

Oki MICROLINE Standard Commands ...................................... 75

Appendix C: Specifications...................................... 78

Appendix D: Installation.......................................... 84

Location ........................................................................................ 84

Unpack.......................................................................................... 84

Install the Ribbon Cartridge ....................................................... 87

Power Connection ........................................................................ 88

Computer Connections ................................................................. 88

Parallel (LPT): IEEE 1284 ......................................................... 88

USB: Specification 1.1 Compliant ............................................. 89

Loading Paper............................................................................... 89

Testing the Printer......................................................................... 90

Font Sample Test ........................................................................ 90

Rolling ASCII Test ..................................................................... 91

Hexadecimal Dump Mode ......................................................... 92

Emulations .................................................................................... 92

Printer Drivers .............................................................................. 92

Loading the OKI Driver ............................................................. 93

Using a Compatible Driver ........................................................ 93

Index .......................................................................... 94

Chapter 1: Introduction

Oki Data on the Internet

The Oki Data Web Sites provide the most current information

available on your printer.

On-line documents are available for viewing and downloading

via Oki Data’s Web Sites.

You may reach Oki Data via the Internet at:

•www.okidata.com

•my.okidata.com

Printer Features

• Super reliable, durable operation: 20,000 hours Mean Time

Between Failures (MTBF) at 25% duty cycle and 35% page

density

• Advanced paper handling, with built-in rear push tractor and

zero-tear forms capability.

• Blazing print speeds, in characters per second:

–High Speed Draft (HSD) Mode: 507 cps

–Utility Mode: 380 cps

–Near Letter Quality (NLQ) Mode: 95 cps

–Super Speed Draft (SSD) Mode: 570 cps

• This rugged 9-pin printer can meet the needs of harsh and

demanding environments.

Chapter 2: Helpful Hints

Saving Time

Internet Support

Oki Data provides support via the Internet:

•www.okidata.com is the main web site, the gateway to Oki

Data’s products and services.

•http://my.okidata.com is a powerful area of Oki Data’s web

site designed to help you personalize the information and

service you get from Oki Data.

Paper Park

Your printer’s paper park feature allows you to print a single

sheet (cut-sheet) page without removing continuous feed paper

from the printer.

For more information, see “Paper Park” in Chapter 3.

Saving Money: Forms Tear-Off

The Forms Tear-Off feature allows a printed continuous forms

page to be torn off without wasting paper or adjusting the

printer.

When printing stops, Forms Tear-Off automatically moves the

paper to align the perforation with the tear bar (located under

the access cover), after a time interval which you select through

the menu.

Paper remains in the tear-off position until the printer receives

more data. Then, the paper moves back down for printing.

Note: This feature is normally turned off.

Important!

Forms Tear-Off and the Top of Form settings interact. For

more information, see “Top of Form (TOF) and Forms Tear-

Off” in Chapter 3.

Helpful Hints 9

Operation Tips

Top of Form (TOF)

Top of Form (TOF) sets the print start position. The factory

default is 1" from the top.

The Top of Form can be changed in increments of 1/180",

either for a single print job or set to a new default. The overall

amount of adjustment is limited to avoid paper jams.

The first line prints at the red line of the plastic paper shield (1)

on the printhead.

For more information, see “Top of Form (TOF)” in Chapter 3.

Turning the Platen Knob

Important!

Always turn the printer off before turning the platen knob! If

you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of

Form misaligns.

Controlling Access to the Printer

You can control access to the printer by changing the setting for

the Operator Panel Function in the Menu from Full Operation

(the factory default) to Limited Operation.

When Limited Operation is selected, the PRINT QUALITY and

CHARACTER PITCH keys don’t work. This prevents these

settings from being changed from the control panel when

several people are using the printer.

For more information, see “Changing the Menu Settings” in

Chapter 3.

Note: For rear feed, the paper lever must be forward.

Chapter 3: Using Your Printer

Parts Identification: Rear Feed

(Continuous Forms)

Note: The serial number of your printer is on a label on the

back, beside “S/N.”

Sheet Guide

Paper Lever

On-Off Switch

Platen Knob

Control Panel

Acoustic Cover

Access Cover

Using Your Printer 11

Parts Identification: Top Feed

(Single Sheets)

Paper Guides

Sheet Guide

Paper Lever

On-Off Switch

Platen Knob

Control Panel

Acoustic Cover (open)

Note: For single-sheet printing, the paper lever must be in the

middle position.

12 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Top of Form (TOF)

Important!

If you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of

Form misaligns. Always shut the printer off before turning

the platen knob!

Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where

the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the

page.

Top of Form sets the print start position for the printer. It is

adjustable in increments of 1/144 of an inch. The amount of

adjustment is limited to avoid paper jams.

The first line prints at the red line of the plastic paper shield (1)

on the printhead.

Top of Form (TOF) and Forms Tear-Off

Note: Your software may print the first line of print above or

below where TOF is set. You may need to adjust the

TOF to meet your software’s requirements.

The Top of Form and Forms Tear-Off settings of your printer

interact. How you set the Top of Form depends on whether

Forms Tear-Off is On (set to 500 ms, 1 sec, or 2 sec) or OFF

(the factory default setting).

Using Your Printer 13

Determining if Forms Tear-Off is Off or On

There are two ways to determine the status of the Forms

Tear-Off menu setting:

• Print the Menu.

• Use the TEAR key.

To print the Menu:

1Make sure paper is loaded.

2Hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1) to enter the Menu Mode.

3Press PARK (4) to print the menu.

4Look for the Form Tear-Off setting in the paper feed group

you are using (Rear Feed, Bottom Feed or Top Feed—Forms

Tear–Off appears in the Top Feed group only if the optional

Roll Paper Stand is installed).

To use the TEAR key:

1Make sure paper is loaded.

2Press TEAR (3).

• If the paper moves up, Forms Tear-off is off.

• If the paper moves down, Forms Tear-off is on.

14 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Setting Top of Form (TOF):

Forms Tear-Off OFF (Default Setting)

Important!

If you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of

Form misaligns. Always turn the printer off before turning

the platen knob!

Note: The first line prints at the red line (1) of the plastic

paper shield on the printhead.

With paper loaded and the printer on and selected:

1 Press SEL | MENU (1) to take the printer off line.

The SEL light goes out.

2 Press and hold SHIFT (2), then

Note: When you begin pressing the Micro Feed key, the

printhead will move to the right.

• Press LF | Micro Feed Down (3) to set the TOF higher (the

paper moves down).

• Press FF/LOAD | Micro Feed Up (4) to set the TOF lower

(the paper moves up).

3When you have the TOF set where you want it, press and

hold SHIFT (2), then press QUIET/TOF (7) to engage the new

setting.

The printhead moves back to the left margin.

4Press SEL/MENU (1) to save the setting and place the printer

back on line.

Note: To reset the Top of Form to the factory default, see

“Resetting Top of Form to the Factory Default” later in

this chapter.

Using Your Printer 15

Setting Top of Form (TOF):

Forms Tear-Off Set to ON

Important!

If you turn the platen knob when the printer is on, the Top of

Form misaligns. Always turn the printer off before turning

the platen knob!

Note: The first line prints at the red line (1) of the plastic

paper shield on the printhead.

With paper loaded and the printer on and selected:

1Press PARK (6) to park the paper.

The SEL light goes off and the red alarm light comes on.

2Press SHIFT (2) and QUIET/TOF (7) to reset the current TOF.

3Press FF/LOAD (4) to load the paper.

4Wait briefly until the paper moves up to the tear position,

then press and hold TEAR (5).

The paper moves to the current TOF.

5Keep holding TEAR, then press and hold SHIFT (2) and

release TEAR.

6Continue to hold SHIFT, then

Note: When you begin pressing the Micro Feed key, the

printhead will move to the right.

• Press LF | Micro Feed Down (3) to set the TOF higher (the

paper moves down).

• Press FF/LOAD | Micro Feed Up (4) to set the TOF lower

(the paper moves up).

7When you have the TOF set where you want it, press and

hold SHIFT (2), then press QUIET/TOF (7) to engage the new

setting.

The printhead moves back to the left margin.

8Press SEL/MENU (1) to save the setting and place the printer

back on line.

Note: To reset the Top of Form to the factory default, see the

next page.

16 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Temporarily Changing the Top of Form

Position

Important

Do not use the platen knob to change the Top of Form. If you

turn the platen knob when the printer is turned on, the Top of

Form misaligns. Always turn the printer off before turning

the platen knob!

To move the Top of Form position lower for one page only:

1Press SEL to deselect the printer.

2Press LF to lower the position of the Top of Form.

Resetting Top of Form to the Factory Default

The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where the

printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the page.

To reset the Top of Form to the factory default:

1Remove paper from the paper path.

2Turn the printer off.

3Press and hold PARK + QUIET/TOF while turning on the

printer.

4Reload paper.

Using Your Printer 17

Forms Tear-Off Feature

Note: This feature is normally turned off. To use Forms

Tear-Off, you must enter the menu and change the

setting to the desired time interval (see next page).

The Forms Tear-Off feature allows a printed continuous forms

page to be torn off without wasting paper or adjusting the

printer. It can be used for rear feed continuous forms, bottom

feed continuous forms (with the optional push tractor installed)

or for top feed roll paper (with optional roll paper stand

installed).

When the printer is turned on, the paper feeds to the tear-off

position.

When data is received, the paper automatically moves down to

the print position (TOF) and printing begins.

Note: You can also move the paper down to the print position

manually by pressing TEAR.

When printing stops, Forms Tear-Off automatically moves the

paper to align the perforation with the tear bar (located under

the access cover), after the time interval which you selected

through the menu.

Paper remains in the tear-off position until the printer receives

more data. Then, the paper moves back down for printing.

Notes: The status of the Forms Tear-Off menu setting affects

how you set the Top of Form: see “Top of Form (TOF)

and Forms Tear-Off” earlier in this chapter.

Do not use Forms Tear-Off with labels or multipart

forms!

Forms Tear-Off cannot be used when the optional pull

tractor is engaged.

Potential Problems with Software Packages

If Forms Tear-Off is set to On and the software package you are

using “pauses” for a long enough interval while sending data to

the printer, Forms Tear-Off may be activated. No data is lost,

but this causes uneven print registration due to the paper

movement.

If this occurs, use the menu to turn off this feature, then use the

TEAR key to move the paper up to the tear position manually

(see next page).

18 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Changing the Forms Tear-Off Setting

Note: The default setting for Forms Tear-Off is OFF.

To change the Forms Tear-Off setting:

1Press SHIFT (2) + SEL (1).

2Press GROUP (3) repeatedly until the Rear Feed or Bottom

Feed group shows in the first column of the printed line,

depending on which paper feed you are using,

3Press ITEM (4) repeatedly until Form Tear-Off appears in the

second column:

Rear Feed Form Tear-Off Off

4Press SET (5) until the time interval you wish to select

appears in the third column:

Rear Feed Form Tear-Off 1 Sec

5Press SHIFT (2) + SEL (1) to exit Menu Mode and save the

setting.

Manual Forms Tear Off

If you don’t wish to engage the Forms Tear-Off feature, you

can advance

• rear-feed continuous forms loaded on the built-in tractor

• bottom-feed continuous forms loaded on the optional push

tractor

up to the tear off position manually by pressing TEAR (5).

Paper Park

Important!

Never park labels!

Paper park allows you to switch to single-sheet printing without

removing continuous feed paper from the printer.

When you wish to print single sheets, simply press PARK (6) to

retract the continuous form paper from the paper path, then lift

the sheet guide, load the sheet and send the print job.

Using Your Printer 19

Changing Paper Paths

Continuous Forms to Single Sheets

1Tear off any printed pages, then press PARK.

2Raise the sheet guide (1) to the single-sheet feed position.

3Pivot the wire feed guide into the sheet guide.

4Move the paper lever (1) to the middle position marked

“TOP.”

5Adjust the paper guides (1) for the size paper you are using,

then place a sheet of paper in the sheet guide.

20 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

4Move the paper lever to the appropriate position.

• Rear feed:

• Bottom feed:

5If necessary, load continuous-form paper.

6Press FF/LOAD.

Single Sheets to Continuous Forms

1Press FF/LOAD to remove the single-sheet paper.

2Lower the sheet guide into the continuous-forms position.

3Swing the wire feed guide over onto the pull-up roller.

Using Your Printer 21

To adjust the gap, open the access cover and move the blue

lever (1) to the recommended setting from the table.

Setting Media

1 Regular paper

2 2-part form (with carbon)

3 3-part form (with carbon)

4 4-part form (with carbon)

5 Envelopes or extra thick paper

Note: When the head gap is set to 2, 3, 4 or 5, the printer

automatically slows down for better print quality with

multipart forms.

Printhead Gap

The printhead gap is the distance between the printhead and the

platen.

CAUTION!

Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access

cover.

22 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Print Quality

Important!

Front panel settings for print quality and character pitch are

normally overridden by software commands.

Press PRINT QUALITY (1) to select:

UTL: Utility—the default

• Medium quality, medium speed (380 cps)

• Gothic typeface only

HSD: High Speed Draft

• Lower quality, higher speed (507 cps)

• Gothic typeface only

SSD: Super Speed Draft

• Lowest quality, highest speed (570 cps)

• Gothic typeface only

NLQ: Near Letter Quality

• Highest quality, slowest speed (95 cps)

• Courier or Gothic

Using Your Printer 23

Epson and IBM Emulations

Set the character pitch by pressing CHARACTER PITCH (1)

until the light beneath the desired setting is lit:

• 10 cpi

• 12 cpi

• 15 cpi

• 17 cpi

• 20 cpi

• Proportional

MICROLINE Emulation

In the MICROLINE emulation, the Character Pitch choices are:

• 10 cpi, Proportional or non-proportional

• 12 cpi, Proportional or non-proportional

• 15 cpi, Proportional or non-proportional

• 17 cpi, Proportional or non-proportional

• 20 cpi, Proportional or non-proportional

To select Proportional, press the CHARACTER PITCH key until

both the cpi value and PROP lights are lit.

To select non-proportional, press the CHARACTER PITCH key

until the light for the cpi value you wish to use is lit.

Character Pitch

Important!

Front panel settings for character pitch are normally

overridden when the SI command is received from your

software.

Character pitch determines how many characters will print on

each line. You can choose a specific fixed width for each

character in characters per inch (CPI), or Proportional. The

higher cpi settings are often used for spreadsheets.

Proportional (PROP) sets character widths based on the

character itself: e.g., the letter i is assigned a narrower width

than the letter m. This provides a more polished, typeset

appearance.

Note: To reset the printer to the factory default character

pitch, deselect the printer, then press and hold the

SHIFT key while pressing the CHARACTER PITCH key.

24 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Printer Reset

Clearing some error conditions requires that you reset

(reinitialize) the printer. To do this:

1Press and release SEL (1) to take the printer off-line.

The SEL light goes out.

2Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press the RESET/

CHARACTER PITCH key.

Important!

Pressing SHIFT + RESET reinitializes the printer, but does not

affect any menu settings and does not reset the printer to the

factory defaults. For information on resetting the printer to

the factory defaults, see “Resetting the Menu to the Factory

Defaults” later in this chapter.

Emulations

• IBM® Proprinter III — factory setting

• Epson® FX

• Oki® MICROLINE®

Changing Emulations

1Make sure paper is loaded.

2Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1).

3Press LF (3).

The following line prints:

Printer Control Emulation Mode IBM PPR

4Press TEAR (4) repeatedly until the emulation you wish to

select prints in the right-hand column.

5Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1) to save your

setting and exit the Menu Mode.

Chapter 4: Menu Mode

GROUP Key

Prints the next Group in the Menu.

With the SHIFT key, prints the previous Group.

ITEM Key

Prints the next Item in the Group.

With the SHIFT key, prints the previous Item in the Group.

SET Key

Prints the next setting for an Item.

With the SHIFT key, prints the previous setting for an Item.

PRINT Key

Prints a copy of all the Menu settings.

With the SHIFT key, prints the current settings for the

Group selected.

MENU Light

Glows when the printer is in the Menu Mode.

Note: Please print the current Menu Mode settings before you

reset or change them. This is the only way to have a

record of the settings.

In Menu Mode, you use the front panel keys to change the

defaults for the printer parameters. The changes you make in

the Menu Mode are automatically saved when you exit the

Menu Mode and are retained, even when you turn the printer

off.

Menu Mode Keys

26 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Entering and Exiting Menu Mode

To enter or exit the Menu Mode, hold SHIFT while pressing

SEL.

Resetting the Menu to the Factory Defaults

Note: Please print the current Menu Mode settings before you

reset or change them. This is the only way to have a

record of the settings.

To reset the Menu to the standard settings (factory defaults):

1Turn the printer off.

2Press SEL + LF while turning the printer on.

Printing the Menu Settings

Printing the Current Menu Settings

1Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.

2Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu

Mode.

3Press PRINT (PARK key).

Printing All Menu Settings

To print out a listing of the settings for all menu items,

regardless of the emulation selected or the accessories installed:

1Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.

2Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu

Mode.

3Press and hold SHIFT, then press PRINT QUALITY.

Mode Menu 27

Changing the Menu Settings

Note: Please print the current Menu Mode settings before you

reset or change them. This is the only way to have a

record of the settings.

1Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu

Mode.

2Use the GROUP, ITEM and SET keys to make your changes:

aPress GROUP until the Group you wish to change appears

in the first column.

bPress ITEM until the Item you wish to change appears in

the second column.

cPress SET until the setting you want appears in the third

column.

3Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to exit the Menu Mode

and save your settings.

Important!

If you turn off the printer without first exiting the Menu

Mode, the changes you have made will be lost.

28 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Menu Settings Table

For a complete explanation of each menu item, see “Explanations of Menu Items” later in this chapter.

The table below shows the items which may appear in the menu. Settings which are engaged at the factory (defaults) are set in bold

italic. Some groups or entries will only appear when a specific emulation is engaged, as noted.

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

Printer Control Emulation Mode IBM PPR, Epson FX, ML

Font Print Mode LQ Courier, LQ Roman, LQ Swiss, LQ Swiss Bold, LQ Orator, LQ Gothic,

LQ Prestige, Utility, HSD

DRAFT Mode HSD, SSD

Pitch 10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi, 20 cpi

Proportional Spacing No, Yes

Style Normal, Italics

Size Single, Double

Symbol Sets Character Set • Set I, Set II [Epson and IBM mode]

• Standard, Line Graphics, Block Graphics [ML Mode]

Language Set American, French, German, British, Danish I, Swedish, Italian, Spanish I,

Japanese, Norwegian, Danish II, Spanish II, Latin American, French Canadian,

Dutch, Publisher

Zero Character Slashed, Unslashed

Code Page USA, Canada French, Multilingual, Portugal, Norway, BRASCII, Abicomp,

Multilingual 858, ISO 8859-15

Mode Menu 29

Menu Settings Table (Continued)

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

Rear Feed Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI

Form Tear-Off Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec

Skip Over Perforation No, Yes

Page Width (wide model) 13.6", 8"

Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"

Bottom Feed Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI

Form Tear-Off Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec

Skip Over Perforation No, Yes

Page Width (wide model) 13.6", 8"

Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.25", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"

30 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Menu Settings Table (Continued)

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

Top Feed Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI

Form Tear-Off* Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec

Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid

Page Width (wide model) 8", 13.6"

Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.25", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"

Wait Time 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec

Page Length Control by Actual Page Length, by MENU Setting

Set-Up Graphics Bi-directional, Uni-directional

7 or 8 Bit Graphics† 8, 7

Receive Buffer Size 1 Line, 32K, 64K, 128K

Paper Out Override No, Yes

* Appears only when the optional Roll Paper Stand is installed.

† Appears only when the MICROLINE emulation is selected.

Mode Menu 31

Menu Settings Table (Continued)

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

Setup (cont..) Print Registration 1 0, range to 0.25 mmm to the right or left, set in 0.05 mm increments

• press SEL to shift registration to the left;

• press SHIFT + SEL to shift registration to the right.

Print Registration 2 0, range to 0.25 mmm to the right or left, set in 0.05 mm increments

• press SEL to shift registration to the left;

• press SHIFT + SEL to shift registration to the right.

7 or 8 Bits Data Word* 8, 7

Operator Panel Function Full Operation, Limited Operation

Reset Inhibit No, Yes

Print Suppress Effective No, Yes

Auto LF No, Yes

Auto CR†No, Yes

CSF Bin Select** Bin 1, Bin 2

Print DEL Code* No, Yes

* Appears only when MICROLINE emulation is selected.

† Appears only when the IBM emulation is selected.

** Appears only if the optional Cut Sheet Feeder is installed.

32 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Menu Settings Table (Continued)

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

SI Select Pitch (10 cpi)* 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi

SI Select Pitch (12 cpi)* 12 cpi, 20 cpi

Time Out Print Valid, Invalid

Auto Select No, Yes

Centering Position DEFAULT, MODE 1, MODE 2

CSF Type† Wide, Narrow

Power Saving Enable, Disable

Power Save Time 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min

Parallel I/F I-Prime Buffer Print, Buffer Clear, Invalid

Pin 18 +5V, Open

Auto Feed XT** Invalid, Valid

Bi-Direction Enable, Disable

* Appears only when the IBM emulation is selected.

† Appears only when optional Cut Sheet Feeder is installed.

** Appears only if the Epson emulation is selected.

Mode Menu 33

Menu Settings Table (Continued)

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

Serial IF* Parity None, Odd, Even

Serial Data 7/8 Bits 8 Bits, 7 Bits

Protocol Ready/Busy, X/On / X/Off

Diagnostic Test No, Yes

Busy Line SSD-, SSD+, DTR, RTS

Baud Rate 19200 bps, 9600 bps, 4800 bps, 2400 bps, 1200 bps, 600 bps, 300 bps

DSR Signal Valid, Invalid

DTR Signal Ready on Power Up, Ready on Select

Busy Time 200 ms, 1 sec.

* Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.

34 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Menu Settings Table (Continued)

Group Item Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)

CSF Bin 1* Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI

Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid

Page Width (Wide model) 8", 13.6"

Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"

CSF Bin 2* Line Spacing 6 LPI, 8 LPI

Bottom Margin Valid, Invalid

Page Length 11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"

* Appears only when the optional Cut Sheet Feeder is installed.

Mode Menu 35

Explanations of Menu Items

These explanations are in alphabetical sequence to make it

easier to look them up. Some items only appear when optional

accessories are installed; others appear in several groups in the

menu.

7 or 8 Bit Graphics, Default = 7

Change this setting to 8 if your system uses 8-bit graphics.

7 or 8 Bit Data Word, Default = 8

Change this setting to 7 if your system uses 7-bit data word

lengths.

Auto CR, Default =No

IBM emulation only. If you want the printer to automatically

add a carriage return when a Line Feed is received at the end of

a line, change the setting to Yes.

Auto LF, Default = No

If your printout is consistently double spaced, select No; if it

overprints, select Yes.

Auto Feed XT, Default = Invalid

Epson emulation only. In the Epson emulation, the XT signal

on pin 14 of the parallel interface can control automatic line

feed. Some interface cables are wired in such a way that

automatic line feed is always in effect: this item eliminates this

potential problem. If your system uses pin 14 of the parallel

interface to control automatic line feed, change the setting to

Valid.

Auto Select, Default = No

Determines whether or not your printer will automatically be

selected after you load in paper. With the factory default

engaged, the printer will be deselected so that you can set the

Top of Form. If you always use the same Top of Form position,

change the setting to Yes.

Baud Rate, Default = 9600 bps

Appears only if optional Serial Interface is installed. Set this to

match your system’s transmission speed.

Bi-direction, Default = Enable

Change this setting if you wish to disable bidirectional

transmission (PnP) in Nibble mode.

36 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Bottom Margin, Default = Valid

Change to Invalid if you want the printer to ignore the bottom

margin setting.

CAUTION!!

Setting the Bottom Margin to Invalid can cause loss of data

and damage the printhead by allowing printing without paper.

Busy Line, Default = SSD-

Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed. If

Ready/Busy protocol (factory default) is selected, you can

choose which line your system monitors for a busy signal:

• SSD -9V, select SSD-

• SSD +9V, select SSD+

• DTR -9V, select DTR

• RTS -9V, select RTS

Busy Time, Default = 200 ms

Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Sets the length of the busy signal when the Ready/Busy

protocol (factory default) is engaged,

Centering Position, Default = DEFAULT

Used to limit printhead travel when printing narrow columns.

• Select Mode 1 for the narrow carriage printer.

• Select Mode 1 or Mode 2 for the wide carriage printer.

Character Set, Default = IBM Set I

Epson and IBM emulations only. Use this to switch character

sets to IBM Set II

Character Set, Default = Standard

MICROLINE emulation only. Use this to switch the character

set to Line Graphics.

Code Page, Default = USA

Choose the Code Page character set you wish to use: USA,

Canada French, Multilingual, Portugal, Norway, BRASCII,

Abicomp, Multilingual 858, or ISO 8859-15.

CSF Bin Select, Default = Bin 1

Appears only when the optional Dual-Bin Cut Sheet Feeder is

installed. Use this to switch to Bin 2 as the default.

Mode Menu 37

CSF Type, Default = Wide

To avoid paper jams, change this setting to Narrow if you are

using the optional Cut Sheet Feeder on the wide model ML421

printer.

Diagnostic Test, Default = No

Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Select yes to perform a diagnostic test of the serial interface.

DRAFT Mode, Default = HSD

Applies only when the Print Mode is set to DRAFT. Selects the

draft mode to be used: HSD (High Speed Draft) or SSD (Super

Speed Draft).

DSR Signal, Default = Valid

Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Used with the Ready/Busy protocol (factory default) to select

the way your system handles the DSR signal.

DTR Signal, Default = Ready on Power Up

Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Change to Ready on Select if the DTR signal is required when

the printer is selected (leave as Ready on Power Up if the DTR

signal is required when the printer is turned on).

Emulation Mode, Default = IBM PPR

Selects the printer command set (emulation) you want to

engage.

ESC SI Pitch, Default = 17 cpi

Sets the character pitch used when the ESC SI command is

received.

Form Tear-Off, Default = Off

Choose 500 ms, 1 sec, or 2 sec to turn the Form Tear-Off

feature on and to set the time interval for the printer to wait

before advancing the paper.

Graphics, Default = Bi-directional

Change to uni-directional graphics for better registration, but

slower printing. With this set for bi-directional, you can

optimize the registration using the Print Registration setting in

the Menu.

38 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

I-Prime, Default = Buffer Print

Determines what the printer will do when it receives the

I-Prime signal from the software.

• Buffer Print: prints out the buffer contents before resetting.

• Buffer Clear: dumps the buffer contents immediately.

• Invalid: causes the printer to ignore the I-Prime command.

Select this setting if you wish to enter settings through the

printer’s control panel which will not be automatically

overridden by the software’s settings when the I-Prime

signal is sent.

Language Set, Default = American

Replaces certain standard symbols with special characters used

in foreign languages.

Line Spacing, Default = 6 lpi

Change to 8 lines per inch (lpi) to get more lines on a page.

Operator Panel Function, Default = Full Operation

Change to Limited Operation to deactivate the PRINT QUALITY

and CHARACTER PITCH buttons, so that these features can

only be controlled through your software. This prevents these

from being changed from the control panel when several

people are using the printer.

Important!

This feature also prevents access to the Menu. To access the

Menu in these circumstances, turn the printer off, then hold

down the SEL key while turning on the printer.

Page Length, Default = 11"

Selects the length of the paper you are using. This enables the

printer to keep track of the initial printing position (TOF) on

each page.

Page Length Control, Default = by Actual Page Length

If you are printing single sheets no longer than 17 inches and

wish the printer to acknowledge the menu setting for Top Feed

Page Length, change the setting to “by Menu Setting.”

Mode Menu 39

Page Width, Default = Depends on Feed Path

Wide carriage model only.

For rear and bottom paths, the default is 13.6". Change to 8" if

you will be printing on narrow paper. This prevents printing on

the platen which can damage the printhead and the platen, and

can cause loss of data.

For the top feed path the default is 8". Change to 13.6" to print

on wide paper.

Paper Out Override, Default = No

Senses when less than 1" (25 mm) of paper remains and stops

printing. Change to Yes to override the sensor and print closer

to the bottom of the page.

Caution!!

Engaging Paper Out Override can cause loss of data and

damage the printhead by allowing printing without paper.

Parity, Default = None

Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Selects the type of parity your system uses: None, Odd or

Even.

Pin 18, Default = +5V

Sets the signal on pin 18 to +5 volts or open.

Pitch, Default = 10 cpi

Choose the character width, in characters per inch (cpi).

Power Save Time, Default = 5 min

Sets the interval the printer waits for more data before it goes

into the power save mode. Power Saving must be set to Enable

(the factory default) for this to be effective.

Power Saving, Default = Enable

Change to Disable if you wish to prevent the printer from

entering the Power Save mode after the selected interval.

40 Microline 420/421User’s Guide

Print Mode, Default = Utility

Choose the quality and typeface of printing. Switch to NLQ

Courier or NLQ Gothic for Near Letter Quality printing. If you

are printing draft-type documents, select DRAFT, then select

either HSD or SSD under DRAFT Mode. Both of these Items

are in the Font Group.

Print Registration, Default = 0

Change the setting as required to obtain the best registration for

bi-directional printing.

Print Suppress Effective, Default = Yes

If your system uses the DC1 and DC3 codes for something

other than the print suppress mode, change the setting to No.

Proportional Spacing, Default = No

Change the setting to Yes to engage proportional spacing of

characters.

Protocol, Default = Ready/Busy

Appears only if the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Change to X-ON / X-Off if that is the type of protocol your

system uses.

Receive Buffer Size, Default = 64K

Selects the amount of memory devoted to holding received

data. Choosing 1 Line will tie up your computer while printing,

but if you abort the print job, the printer will stop much sooner.

Reset Inhibit, Default = No

Select Yes if you wish the printer to ignore the reset command

sent by software. This prevents your software from changing

the settings you make through the front panel controls or

through printer commands.

Note: This will also prevent your software from clearing out

existing settings when you finish printing one document

and switch to another.

Serial Data 7/8 Bits, Default = 8 Bits

Appears only if the optional Serial Interface is installed.

Change to 7 Bits if you systems uses a 7-bit data format.

SI Select Pitch 10 cpi, Default = 17.1 cpi

IBM emulation only. Sets the pitch to be engaged when the

printer control panel is set for 10 cpi and the SI command is

received.

Mode Menu 41

SI Select Pitch 12 cpi, Default = 20 cpi

IBM emulation only. Sets the pitch to be engaged when the

printer control panel is set for 12 cpi and the SI command is

received.

Size, Default = Single

Change to Double for double width and height printing.

Skip Over Perforation, Default = No

Change to Yes if you want the printer to go to the next page

when it comes within 1" (25 mm) of the bottom of the page.

Keep it set to No if your software has its own page formatting

controls.

Style, Default = Normal

Change to italics if you want the printed characters to be

slanted.

Time Out Print, Default = Valid

If your software spends a long time processing between

portions of data it feeds to the printer, change the setting to

Invalid to keep your printer from dumping the received data

while it is waiting for more.

Wait Time, Default = 1 sec

Sets the amount of time the printer will wait for more data

before moving to the form tear-off position.

Zero Character, Default = Slashed

If you do not want the printer to use a slash to distinguish the

number zero from the capital letter O, change the setting to

Unslashed.

1Make sure the printer is turned OFF.

2Open the access cover and center the printhead.

Chapter 5: Maintenance

Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge

Important!

Make sure you have the correct replacement ribbon for the

your printer. The wrong ribbon will not print when installed

in your printer. Look for the printer model number on the

ribbon package.

Ribbon Cartridge Handling

• Leave unused ribbon cartridges in their packages until

needed.

• Careful; the ribbon ink may cause permanent stains.

• Ribbon ink on skin or clothing can usually be removed

with soap and water.

Maintenance 43

CAUTION!

The printhead may be HOT!

3Swing the used ribbon cartridge up off the printhead, lift it

out, and discard it.

4Unpack the new ribbon cartridge and install it.

Important!

Do not remove the ribbon shield (1) from the ribbon!

5Turn the take-up knob (1) in the direction of the arrow to

take up any ribbon slack.

6Close the access cover and turn the printer back on.

CAUTION!

If ribbon should contact the eyes:

Flush eyes with large quantities of water for 15 minutes,

keeping eyelids open with fingers. Seek medical attention.

If ribbon should contact the skin

Wash thoroughly with soap and water.

For more information

See the Material Safety Data Sheet in your Warranty,

Regulatory, and Safety Information booklet.

44 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Back of the Printer

Note: These instructions assume you have ready access to the

back of the printer. If you do not, skip down to “Loading

Rear Feed Paper from the Front of the Printer.”

1 Make sure the paper lever is forward (position marked

“REAR”).

2 Open the access cover (1).

Loading Paper

Rear Feed

Note: If you have any paper in the paper path, remove it

before installing rear feed paper.

Lock Lever

Upper Tractor Cover

Pins

Maintenance 45

4Pivot the sheet guide forward and gently rest it against the

roller assembly.

Careful!

If you push the sheet guide too hard against the roller

assembly, it may dislodge it. If it does, be sure to reseat the

roller assembly before continuing.

3Grasp the sheet guide. Lift it slightly, then slide it back.

46 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

6Open the lock levers (1) and move the right tractor (as

viewed from the back of the printer) to the reference mark

(2) matching the width of the paper you are loading. Then

close the lock lever on the right tractor:

Note: The movement of the right tractor is limited to ensure

that the paper covers the paper sensor.

7Open the tractor covers.

5From the back of the printer, locate the tractors (1).

ML420

ML421

Maintenance 47

8Place continuous forms paper on the first two pins of either

tractor.

Important!

You must keep the number of paper holes engaged on either

pin the same. If you don’t the paper will skew and jam.

9Close the right tractor cover.

10 Adjust the left tractor until the holes in the paper are

centered on the pins then lock the lever and close the left

tractor cover.

Note: If the paper is too loose or too tight it can cause jams.

48 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

11 Lower the sheet guide and slide it toward the front of the

printer until the marks align. 12 Place the wire guide (“1” in the illustration for the step

above) in the sheet guide on the pull-up roller assembly.

13 Press FF/LOAD.

Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where

the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the

page. To change the setting, see “Top of Form (TOF)”

in Chapter 3.

Maintenance 49

Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Front of the Printer

Note: These instructions assume you do not have ready access

to the back of the printer. If you do, go back to “Loading

Rear Feed Paper from the Rear of the Printer” earlier

in this chapter.

Lock Lever

Upper Tractor Cover

Pins

1 Make sure the paper lever is forward (position marked

“REAR”).

2Open the access cover (1).

3Grasp the tabs and lift off the sheet guide.

4Pull up on the lock levers to release them.

50 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Note: The movement of the left tractor (as viewed from the

front of the printer) is restricted to ensure that the

paper covers the paper out sensor.

5You will find reference marks (1 in illustration below) on the

printer for the two most common paper sizes:

ML420: ML421:

6Move the left tractor to the position to match your paper size

and push back on the lever to lock it in place, then move the

right tractor to fit the width of the paper.

7Open the tractor covers and place continuous forms paper on

the first two pins of either tractor, then close the left tractor

cover.

Important!

You must keep the number of paper holes engaged on either

pin the same. If you don’t the paper will skew and jam.

Maintenance 51

8Adjust the position of the right tractor to center the holes in

the paper on the pins. Then, close its tractor cover and push

back the lock lever. Do not stretch the paper.

Note: If the paper is too loose or too tight it can cause jams.

9Reinstall the sheet guide.

52 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

10Place the wire guide (1) in the sheet guide on the pull-up

roller assembly. 11 Press FF/LOAD.

Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where

the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the

page. To change the setting, see “Top of Form (TOF)”

in Chapter 3.

Maintenance 53

3Open the acoustic cover (1) and raise the sheet guide to the

single-sheet position. Pivot the wire feed guide (2) up into

the sheet guide.

Top Feed (Single Sheets)

Note: If you have continuous form paper in the path, press

PARK to remove it before loading single sheets.

1Make sure the printer is on and deselected (SEL light off).

2Place the paper lever in the center position (marked “TOP”).

54 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

4Adjust the paper feed guides (1) for the width of the paper,

then place a sheet of paper in the separator. The paper will

feed into the printer.

Important!

If the paper does not feed in, remove it. Check the paper lever

position. Make sure the ALARM light is on: if it is flashing,

hold the SHIFT key and press the CHARACTER PITCH/RESET

key. Reload the sheet of paper.

Note: The factory default setting for the Top of Form (where

the printing should begin) is 1" down from the top of the

page. To change the setting, see “Top of Form (TOF)”

in Chapter 3.

Maintenance 55

Clearing Paper Jams

Rear-Feed Paper Jams

1Turn off the printer.

2Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the

printer.

CAUTION!

Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access

cover.

3Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller

assembly (2). Remove any torn pieces of paper.

5Lift the sheet guide (1) and reload paper. Make sure you

lock the tractor covers.

5Lower the sheet guide, then install the pull-up roller

assembly and close the access cover.

6Turn on the printer and press FF/LOAD.

56 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Bits of Paper Stuck in the Paper Path

1Turn off the printer.

2Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the

printer.

CAUTION!

Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access

cover.

3Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull up roller

assembly (2). Then grasp the tabs (3) on the sheet guide (4)

and lift it off the printer.

Rear-Feed, Repeating Paper Jams

If the paper keeps jamming, you may have:

• defective paper

• misaligned paper

• bits of paper stuck in the paper path

Defective Paper

Replace the paper with a fresh stack.

Misaligned Paper

1Turn off the printer.

2Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the

printer.

3Tear off a couple of sheets of paper, leaving a new, clean,

square-cut edge.

4Reload the paper and turn the printer back on.

Maintenance 57

4Remove any torn pieces of paper.

5Fold some continuous-form paper over three times to make a

page four sheets thick. Then, load it on the tractors and close

and lock the covers.

6Use the platen knob to draw the quadruple-thick page

around the platen. This brings out jammed pieces of paper.

7Remove the paper pieces. Then, use the platen knob to back

the paper out.

8Load regular paper, close and lock the tractor covers.

9Install the sheet guide, then install the pull-up roller

assembly and close the access cover.

10 Turn the printer on and press FF/LOAD.

58 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Single-Sheet Paper Jams

1Turn off the printer.

2Use the platen knob to back the paper out.

3Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller

assembly (2).

4Remove any torn pieces from around the carriage.

5Reinstall the pull-up roller assembly and close the access

cover.

Maintenance 59

Cleaning the Housing

You should clean the printer housing every six months (or after

about 300 hours of operation).

CAUTION!

Never use strong solvents or strong detergents on the

cabinet—they could damage the housing.

1Turn off the printer.

2Use the platen knob to back the paper out of the printer.

CAUTION!

Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access

cover.

3Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller

assembly (2).

4Use a clean, dry cloth to dust around the carriage shaft and

platen. Remove any loose bits of paper.

5Reinstall the pull-up roller assembly and close the access

cover.

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

General Information

Here are some general things to check before proceeding with

detailed troubleshooting.

• Is the printer plugged in and turned on?

• Are the connections (power and interface) secure?

• Is the product being operated under the proper ambient

conditions?

• Does the paper being used meet the specifications for this

product?

• Is the paper properly installed?

• Is the ribbon properly installed?

• Is an Oki ribbon being used?

• Is the printhead gap correctly set?

• Are the correct printer drivers being used for the printer?

Note: Settings in your software application will normally

override any settings in your printer driver.

Printer driver settings normally override settings from

the printer menu or printer front panel.

Troubleshooting 61

Problems / Solutions

Problem

My word processor files do not print the way I have the menu

and front panel set.

Solution

Remember:

• Settings in your software application can override settings in

your printer driver.

• Your printer driver settings can override any settings from the

printer menu or printer front panel.

Before sending a file to the printer, many word processors send

either an “initialization string” or an I-Prime signal to the

printer.

The initialization string contains codes that override the panel

and menu settings. To change your printer to ignore the reset

code, enter the Menu Mode, go to the Set-Up group and change

the setting for Reset Inhibit to Yes.

The I-Prime signal will automatically override any front panel

settings you have made. To eliminate this problem, enter the

Menu Mode, go to the Parallel Interface group and change the

setting for I Prime to Invalid.

For more information on changing menu settings, see

“Changing the Menu Settings” in Chapter 4.

Problem

Nothing happens when I turn on the printer.

Solution

Check the power cord connection to the outlet and to the

printer. If you are using a power strip, make sure it is turned on,

and that the fuse hasn’t blown or that the circuit breaker hasn’t

tripped.

62 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Problem

The printer does not print when the computer sends data.

Solutions

1Is the SEL light on? If not, press the SEL key.

2Check that the interface cable is securely connected to both

the printer and the computer.

3If you have the optional serial interface board installed,

check to be sure that it is firmly seated in the printer.

Problem

I'm getting strange symbols, incorrect fonts, etc., when I try to

print a document.

Solutions

1Check to be sure that the printer driver you have selected in

your software matches the printer emulation.

• Press SHIFT and SEL keys, then press GROUP key.

• This will print a line showing the emulation you have

selected.

2If you have embedded any printer commands in your

software, check to be sure that you entered them correctly.

Troubleshooting 63

Problem

Ink smears on the paper when I print narrow columns.

Solution

This may be caused by excessive printhead travel from the

centering position. Enter the Menu and set the Centering

Position to MODE 1. See “Using Your Printer, Menu Mode.”

For the wide-carriage printer, if MODE 1 doesn't work, try

setting the Centering Position to MODE 2.

Problem

I've installed a new ribbon and the printing is smeared and

streaked.

Solution

The ribbon shield (1) is either loose or missing.

Remove the ribbon cartridge and check the ribbon shield.

• If it is loose, secure it.

• If it is missing, find it and install it.

64 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Problem

There are dots missing in my printouts.

Solution

The head gap may not be set correctly. Try moving the headgap

lever to a lower setting. If that doesn’t help, the printhead may

be damaged; call for service.

Problem

The ALARM light is flashing.

Solution

Try turning the printer off and then back on again. If the light

still blinks, call for service.

Problem

The ALARM light is on and the Character Pitch 10 light is

flashing.

Solution

This indicates that the paper lever is set at the wrong position

for the paper you are trying to use. Move it to the proper

setting.

Problem

The ALARM light is on and the Character Pitch 15 light is

flashing.

Solution

This indicates a paper jam. Press the SEL key and correct the

paper jam situation. See “Clearing Paper Jams,” in Chapter 4.

Troubleshooting 65

Problem

The printer needs paper. The ALARM is not on and I can’t load

paper.

Solution

1Press and release the SEL key.

2Press and hold the SHIFT key and press the RESET /

CHARACTER PITCH key.

The ALARM light comes on and you can now load paper.

Problem

Continuous-form paper sticks to the sheet guide.

Solution

In cold dry weather, static charges can build up and make the

paper cling to the sheet guide. Try moving the paper guides

together so that the paper rests on the guides rather than on the

separator.

Problem

The Print Quality and Character Pitch keys on the front panel

don't work.

Solution

The Operator Panel Function in the printer menu can be used to

disable these buttons (Limited Function). If the printer is part of

a customized system or if it is used by a number of people, the

system manager may have used this option to make sure the

printer is always set properly.

Check with your system manager before changing any menu

settings.

Appendix A: Parts & Accessories

Purchasing Parts & Accessories

Before you purchase, know your printer model number (see the

front of the unit) and have the correct part number and

description of the item. Item descriptions and part numbers are

provided in this section.

• Consult the dealer where your purchased your printer.

• Locate an Authorized Oki Data Reseller by visiting one of

our web sites

http://my.okidata.com (allows you to register your

product and personalize your own support needs)

http://www.okidata.com (provides general information)

• In the United States, purchase directly from Oki Data

- Via the Internet

http://my.okidata.com

http://www.okidata.com

- Via telephone

Order toll-free by phone at 1-800-654-3282

(1-800-OKI-DATA) using VISA®, MasterCard®, or

AmEx®.

• In Canada, call 888-309-4570.

Accessories 67

Replacement Parts Item Part Number

Both Models

Ribbon Cartridge ( )------------------------------- 42377801

Platen Knob ( )------------------------------------- 51902220

Power Cord ( ) ------------------------------------- 56631801

Printhead ( ) ---------------------------------------- 41923901

Model ML420

Access Cover ( ) ----------------------------------- 42115401

Sheet Guide ( ) ------------------------------------- 51009509

Pull-Up Roller Assembly ( ) --------------------- 42044701

Model ML421

Access Cover ( ) ----------------------------------- 42115301

Sheet Guide ( ) ------------------------------------- 51009410

Pull-Up Roller Assembly ( ) --------------------- 42045701

68 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Accessories

Option Part Number

Model ML420

Pull Tractor, Top-Mount ( ) ---------------------- 70030501

Push Tractor, Bottom-Mount ( ) ---------------- 70030701

Roll Paper Stand ( ) ------------------------------- 70023301

Model ML421

Pull Tractor, Top-Mount ( ) ---------------------- 70030601

Push Tractor, Bottom-Mount ( ) ---------------- 70030801

Both Models

Cut Sheet Feeder ( ) ------------------------------- 70030101

Serial Interface ( ) --------------------------------- 70012801

OkiLAN® 6120i 10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Internal Print Server (not shown) --------------- 70046501

OkiLAN 6020e 10/100 Base-T Ethernet

External Print Server (not shown) --------------- 70036001

OkiLAN 6010 10 Base-T Ethernet

External Print Server (not shown) --------------- 70034401

Appendix B: Printer Control Codes

This section lists the most commonly used printer control

codes.

You will find a comprehensive listing of the control codes

(English only), on your Printer CD.

To access it:

1Place the CD in your CD-ROM drive and wait for it to

AutoPlay.

2Select your printer model, then click Continue.

3Click Documentation and follow the on-screen prompts to

view the file.

IBM Proprinter III Commands

IBM Command ASCII Decimal

Backspace BS 8

Carriage Return CR 13

Character Pitch

Select 10 cpi DC2 18

Select 12 cpi ESC : 27 58

Select 15 cpi ESC g 27 103

Select Condensed Print ESC SI, or SI 27 15, or 15

Character Sets

IBM Set I ESC 7 27 55

IBM Set II ESC 6 27 54

Publisher ESC ! Z 27 33 90

Slashed Zero ESC ! @ 27 33 64

Unslashed Zero ESC ! A 27 33 65

70 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

IBM Proprinter III Commands

(continued)

IBM Command ASCII Decimal

Double Width On ESC W 1 27 87 49

Double Width Off ESC W 0 27 87 48

Emphasized Printing On ESC E 27 69

Emphasized Printing Off ESC F 27 70

Enhanced Printing On ESC G 27 71

Enhanced Printing Off ESC H 27 72

Form Feed FF 12

Form Length

n inches (n = 1 to 255) ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n

n lines (n = 1 to 255) ESC C n 27 67 n

Horizontal Tab, Execute HT 9

Italics On ESC % G 27 37 71

Italics Off ESC % H 27 37 72

IBM Command ASCII Decimal

Line Feed, Execute

w/ Carriage Return LF 10

n/144" (n = 1 to 127) ESC % 5 n 27 37 53 n

n/216" (n = 0 to 255) ESC J n 27 74 n

Reverse ESC ] 27 93

Auto Line Feed On ESC 5 1 27 53 49

Auto Line Feed Off ESC 5 0 27 53 48

Line Spacing

Set Spacing to 1/8" ESC 0 27 48

Set Spacing to 7/72" ESC 1 27 49

Set Spacing to n/72"

(n = 0 to 255) ESC A n 27 65 n

Store Spacing Set

by ESC A n ESC 2 27 50

Set Spacing to n/144"

(n = 1 to 127) ESC % 9 n 27 37 57 n

Set Spacing to n/216"

(n = 0 to 255) ESC 3 n 27 51 n

Control Codes 71

IBM Proprinter III Commands

(continued)

IBM Command ASCII Decimal

Overscore On ESC _ 1 27 95 49

Overscore Off ESC _ 0 27 95 48

Paper Out Sensor Off ESC 8 27 56

Paper Out Sensor On ESC 9 27 57

Print Quality, Select HSD ESC # 0 27 35 48

Print Suppress Mode On

ML420 ESC Q ETX 27 81 3

ML421 ESC Q SYN 27 81 22

Print Suppress Mode Off DC1 17

Proportional Spacing On ESC P 1 27 80 49

Proportional Spacing Off ESC P 0 27 80 48

Reset: Clear Print Buffer CAN 24

IBM Command ASCII Decimal

Software I-Prime ESC } NUL 27 125 0

Stop Printing ESC j 27 106

Subscript On ESC S 1 27 83 49

Superscript On ESC S 0 27 83 48

Subscript/Superscript Off ESC T 27 84

Top of Form,

Set at Current Position ESC 4 27 52

Underline Printing On ESC - 1 27 45 49

Underline Printing Off ESC - 0 27 45 48

Uni-Directional Print On ESC U 1 27 85 49

Uni-Directional Print Off ESC U 0 27 85 48

Vertical Tab, Execute VT 11

72 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Epson FX Commands

Epson Command ASCII Decimal

Backspace BS 8

Carriage Return,

Execute CR 13

Character Pitch

Select 10 cpi ESC P 27 80

Select 12 cpi ESC M 27 77

Select 15 cpi ESC g 27 103

Begin 10 cpi ESC SI, or SI 27 15, or 15

Cancel Condensed Print DC2 18

Delete DEL 127

Epson Command ASCII Decimal

Double Height On ESC w 1 27 119 49

Double Height Off ESC w 0 27 119 48

Double Width On ESC W 1 27 87 49

Double Width Off ESC W 0 27 87 48

Emphasized Print On ESC E 27 69

Emphasized Print Off ESC F 27 70

Enhanced Print On ESC G 27 71

Enhanced Print Off ESC H 27 72

Epson Set 1, Select ESC t 0 27 116 48

Epson Set 2, Select ESC t 1 27 116 49

Italic Printing On ESC 4 27 52

Italic Printing Off ESC 5 27 53

Form Feed FF 12

Control Codes 73

Epson FX Commands (continued)

Epson Command ASCII Decimal

Form Length

n Inches (n = 1 to 22) ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n

n Lines (n = 1 to 127) ESC C n 27 67 n

Horizontal Tab HT 9

Justification

Left ESC a 0 27 97 48

Center ESC a 1 27 97 49

Right ESC a 2 27 97 50

Full ESC a 3 27 97 51

Line Feed, Execute

Select 10 cpi ESC P 27 80

Select 12 cpi ESC M 27 77

w/ Carriage Return LF 10

n/216" (n = 0 to 255) ESC J n 27 74 n

n/144" (n = 0 to 127) ESC % 5 n 27 37 53 n

Reverse, n/216"

(n = 0 to 255) ESC j n 27 106 n

Epson Command ASCII Decimal

Line Spacing, Set

n/144" (n = 0 to 127) ESC % 9 n 27 37 57 n

n/216" (n = 0 to 255) ESC 3 n 27 51 n

n/72" ESC A n 27 65 n

(n = 0-85 or 128-213)

1/6" ESC 2 27 50

1/8" ESC 0 27 48

7/72" ESC 1 27 49 n

Paper Out Sensor Off ESC 8 27 56

Paper Out Sensor On ESC 9 27 57

74 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Epson FX Commands (continued)

Epson Command ASCII Decimal

Print Quality/Font

Select HSD/SSD

(depends on setting

for Draft Mode) ESC ( 0 27 40 48

Select NLQ ESC x 1 27 120 49

Select Courier

(NLQ only) ESC k 0 27 107 48

Select Gothic

(NLQ only) ESC k 1 27 107 49

Select UTL ESC x 0 27 120 48

Print Speed

Half-Speed On ESC s 1 27 115 49

Half-Speed Off ESC s 0 27 115 48

Print Suppress Mode On DC3 19

Print Suppress Mode Off DC1 17

Proportional Spacing On ESC p 1 27 112 49

Proportional Spacing Off ESC p 0 27 112 48

Epson Command ASCII Decimal

Reset Printer

Clear Buffer & Initialize ESC @ 27 64

Clear Print Buffer CAN 24

Skip Over Perforation,

Cancel ESC O 27 79

Software I-Prime ESC } NUL 27 125 0

Subscript On ESC S 1 27 83 49

Superscript On ESC S 0 27 83 48

Subscript/Superscript Off ESC T 27 84

Underline On ESC - 1 27 45 49

Underline Off ESC - 0 27 45 48

Uni-Directional Printing

One Line Only ESC < 27 60

On ESC U 1 27 85 49

Off ESC U 0 27 85 48

Vertical Tab, Execute VT 11

Control Codes 75

Oki MICROLINE Standard

Commands

Oki Command ASCII Decimal

Backspace BS 8

Carriage Return CR 13

Character Pitch

Select 10 cpi RS 30

Select 12 cpi FS 28

Select 15 cpi ESC g 27 103

Select 17.1 cpi GS 29

Select 20 cpi ESC # 3 27 35 51

Character Sets

Standard ESC ! 0 27 33 48

Block Graphic ESC ! 1 27 33 49

Line Graphics ESC ! 2 27 33 50

Publisher ESC ! Z 27 33 90

Oki Command ASCII Decimal

Slashed Zero ESC ! @ 27 33 64

Unslashed Zero ESC ! A 27 33 65

Double Height On ESC US 1 27 31 49

Double Height Off ESC US 0 27 31 48

Double Width Printing US 31

Emphasized Printing On ESC T 27 84

Emphasized Printing Off ESC I 27 73

Enhanced Printing On ESC H 27 72

Enhanced Printing Off ESC I 27 73

Form Feed FF 12

Horizontal Tab, Execute HT 9

Italic On ESC ! / 27 33 47

Italic Off ESC ! * 27 33 42

76 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Oki MICROLINE Standard

Commands (continued)

Oki Command ASCII Decimal

Line Feed Commands

w/ Carriage Return LF 10

w/o Carriage Return ESC DC2 27 18

n/144" (n = 0 to 127) ESC % 5 n 27 37 53 n

Reverse ESC LF 27 10

Line Spacing

Set Spacing to 1/6" ESC 6 27 54

Set Spacing to 1/8" ESC 8 27 56

Set Spacing, in n/144"

(n = 0 to 127) ESC % 9 n 27 37 57 n

Skip Over Perforation

1/3" increments

(n = 1 to 9) ESC G n n 27 71 n n

Default ESC % S 0 27 37 83 48

Oki Command ASCII Decimal

Paper Out Sensor Off ESC E 1 27 69 49

Paper Out Sensor On ESC E 0 27 69 48

Print Quality

Select HSD/SSD ESC # 0 27 35 48

Select NLQ Courier ESC 1 27 49

Select NLQ Gothic ESC 3 27 51

Select Utility ESC 0 27 48

Print Speed, Set to Full ESC > 27 62

Print Speed, Set to Half ESC < 27 60

Print Suppress On DC3 19

Print Suppress Off DC1 17

Proportional Printing

On ESC Y 27 89

Off ESC Z 27 90

Reset: Clear Print Buffer CAN 24

Control Codes 77

Oki MICROLINE Standard

Commands (continued)

Oki Command ASCII Decimal

Shift-In SI 15

Shift-Out SO 14

Software I-Prime ESC } NUL 27 125 0

Subscript Printing On ESC L 27 76

Subscript Printing Off ESC M 27 77

Superscript Printing On ESC J 27 74

Superscript Printing Off ESC K 27 75

Underline Printing On ESC C 27 67

Underline Printing Off ESC D 27 68

Uni-Directional Print On ESC - 27 45

Uni-Directional Print Off ESC = 27 61

Vertical Tab, Execute VT 11

Appendix C: Specifications

Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Print Method

Impact dot matrix

Printhead

9 pins, 0.30 mm (0.0118") diameter, with thermal

protection

Interfaces

Standard: Centronics parallel, IEEE-1284 compliant

USB 1.1

Optional: RS-232C Serial

Ethernet Print Servers:

6120i 10/100 Base-T, Internal

6020e 10/100 Base-T, External

6010e 10 Base-T, External

Receive Buffer Size

Maximum 128K

Reliability

Ribbon Life

4 million characters, on average, 10 cpi utility

Printhead Life

400 million characters average in 10 cpi utility mode at

25% duty and 35% page density

Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)

20,000 hours at 25% duty cycle and 35% page density

Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)

15 minutes

Specifications 79

Emulations (co-resident)

• IBM Proprinter III

• Epson FX

• Oki MICROLINE Standard

Print Speed

Speed

Mode (Characters per Second)

Super Speed Draft (SSD) 570 cps

High Speed Draft (HSD) 507 cps

Utility 380 cps

Near Letter Quality (NLQ) 95 cps

Characters per Line (cpl)

Setting ML420 ML421

10 cpi 80 cpl 136 cpl

12 cpi 96 cpl 163 cpl

15 cpi 120 cpl 204 cpl

17.1 cpi 137 cpl 233 cpl

20 cpi 160 cpl 272 cpl

80 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Graphics Resolution

Max. Resolution

Emulation Density (Dots per inch)

IBM, Epson Single 60 x 216 dpi

Double 120 x 216 dpi

Quadruple 240 x 216 dpi

Oki MICROLINE Single 72 x 72 dpi

Double 144 x 144 dpi

Quadruple 288 x 144 dpi

Resident Fonts

Print Quality Available Fonts

Near Letter Quality Courier, Gothic

Utility Gothic

High Speed Draft Gothic

Super Speed Draft Gothic

Bar Codes

• Code 39

• UPC A, UPC E

• EAN 8, EAN 13

• Interleaved 2 of 5

• Code 128

• Postnet

Paper Thickness: Tractor Feed

Rear Feed: 0.014" (0.36 mm) maximum

Bottom Feed: 0.017" (0.44 mm) max.

Requires optional push or pull tractor.

Specifications 81

Paper Specifications: ML420

Single (Cut) Sheets

Feed: Top Only

Weight: 14 to 24 lb. US Bond (52.6 to 90 g/m2)

Width Range: 7.2" to 8.5" (183 to 216 mm)

Single-part, continuous forms

Feed: Rear, Bottom*

Weight: 12 to 24 lb. US Bond (45 to 90 g/m2)

Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm)

Carbonless continuous forms (orig. + 4 copies)

Feed: Rear, Bottom*

Weight: 9 to 11 lb.

Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm)

Interleaf continuous forms (orig. + 4 copies)

Feed: Rear, Bottom*

Weight: 10 to 12 lb. paper, 9 lb carbon

Width Range: 3 to 10" (76 to 254 mm)

Labels

Feed: Bottom* Only

Weight: Not applicable

Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm)

Envelopes, single feed

Feed: Top Only

Weight: Max. 24 lb.

Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165 to 241 mm)

Envelopes, continuous feed, non-overlap type

Feed: Bottom* Only

Weight: Max. 24 lb.

Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165 to 241 mm)

Card Stock

Feed: Bottom*

Weight: Max. 100 lb. Index (180 g/m2)

Width Range: Not applicable

* Bottom feed requires optional pull or push tractor

82 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Paper Specifications: ML421

Single (Cut) Sheet

Feed: Top Only

Weight: 14 to 24 lb. US Bond (52.6 to 90 g/m2)

Width Range: 7.2" to 14.3" (182.8 to 363.2 mm)

Single-part, continuous forms

Feed: Rear, Bottom*

Weight: 12 to 24 lb. US Bond (45 to 90 g/m2)

Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm)

Carbonless continuous forms

Feed: Rear, Bottom*

Weight: 9 to 11 lb.

Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm)

Interleaf continuous forms

Feed: Rear, Bottom*

Weight: 10 to 12 lb. paper, 9 lb. carbon

Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm)

Labels

Feed: Bottom* Only

Weight: Not applicable

Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm)

Envelopes, single feed

Feed: Top Only

Weight: Max. 24 lb.

Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165.1 to 241.3 mm)

Envelopes, continuous feed, non-overlap

Feed: Bottom* Only

Weight: Max. 24 lb.

Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165.1 to 241.3 mm)

Card stock

Feed: Bottom* Only

Weight: Max. 100 lb. Index (180 g/m2)

Width Range: Not applicable

* Bottom feed requires optional pull or push tractor

Specifications 83

Environmental Requirements

Temperature

Operating: 41 to 95°F (5 to 36°C)

Storage: 14 to 122°F (-10 to 50°C)

Humidity

Operating: 20 to 80% RH

Storage: 5 to 95% RH

Electrical Requirements

• 120 volts ac, (+6%, -15%)

50 or 60 Hz (±2%)

58 W Typical, 10 W idle

• 230 ac, (+15%, -14 %)

50 or 60 Hz (±2%)

58 W Typical, 10 W idle

Physical Specifications

Note: Height dimensions do not include the acoustic cover.

ML420

Size (WxDxH): 17.1" x 16.1" x 6"

(434 x 409 x 153 mm)

Weight: 16.7 lbs. (7.6 kg)

ML421

Size (WxDxH): 23.1" x 16.1" x 6"

(588 x 409 x 153 mm)

Weight: 21.1 lbs. (9.6 kg)

Appendix D: Installation

Location

• Place your printer on a firm, solid surface.

• Allow enough space around the printer to easily access the

platen knob and the various paper feed paths.

• Make sure a suitable grounded power outlet is available

nearby.

Unpack

• If any items are missing, contact your dealer immediately.

• Keep your packing materials and carton in case you ever

need to ship or transport the printer.

• Interface cable and paper are sold separately.

Printer

Ribbon Cartridge

Power Cord

Installation 85

1Remove any packing tape, then grasp the tabs (1) at either

end of the access cover and pivot it toward the front of the

printer as far as it will go.

2Remove the printhead shipping restraint.

3Remove the shipping restraint from the pull-up roller

assembly (1).

86 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

4Use the tabs (1) to lift and remove the sheet guide, then

remove the shipping restraint. 5Reinstall the sheet guide: insert the clips on either side of the

separator into the notches marked with a triangle, then press

down to secure the separator in place.

Installation 87

CAUTION! The printhead may be HOT!

3Unpack the new ribbon cartridge and install it on the

printhead.

Important!

Do not remove the ribbon shield (1) from the ribbon!

4Turn the take-up knob (1) in the direction of the molded-in

arrow to take up any ribbon slack.

5Close the access cover and turn the printer on.

Install the Ribbon Cartridge

Important!

Make sure you have the correct replacement ribbon for your

printer. The wrong ribbon will not print when installed in

your printer.

Ribbon Cartridge Handling

• Leave unused ribbon cartridges in their packages until

needed.

• Careful; the ribbon ink may cause permanent stains.

• Ribbon ink on skin or clothing can usually be removed with

soap and water.

1Make sure the printer is turned OFF.

2Open the access cover and center the printhead (1).

88 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Power Connection

1Make sure both the printer and the computer are OFF.

2Plug the power cord into the back of the printer, then into a

grounded outlet.

3Turn on the printer.

Computer Connections

Parallel (LPT): IEEE 1284

• Requires bidirectional cable, max. length 6 ft. (1.8 m), not

supplied.

• Printer has 36-pin socket

1Make sure the printer and computer are both turned off.

2Attach a suitable bidirectional cable to the parallel connector

on the back of the printer. Then attach and secure the cable

to your computer.

3Turn the printer and computer back on.

Installation 89

USB: Specification 1.1 Compliant

• Requires USB 1.1 cable, maximum length 19.7 ft. (5 m), not

supplied.

• Printer has USB “B” receptacle.

1Make sure the printer and computer are both turned off.

2Attach a suitable USB cable to the printer. Then attach the

cable to your computer.

3Turn the computer and printer back on.

Loading Paper

For instructions on loading paper, see “Loading Paper” in

Chapter 5.

90 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Testing the Printer

• Font Sample Test

• Rolling ASCII Test

• Hexadecimal Dump Mode

Font Sample Test

Important!

Wide carriage Model ML421: If you are using 8.5" paper to

run the tests, make sure the paper width selection in the

printer menu is set to 8.5 inches. Otherwise, printing on the

platen may damage the printer. See Chapter 4: Menu Mode

for more information.

The Font Sample Test prints a sample of the fonts standard to

the printer.

The top of the printout shows the Printer Model, Emulation,

Country Code, Interface, and Firmware Revision Level.

1Make sure paper is loaded.

2Turn off the printer.

3Press and hold the LF key while turning the printer back on.

The printer prints a page of font samples and the test ends.

Installation 91

Rolling ASCII Test

Important!

Wide carriage Model ML421: If you are using 8.5" paper to

run the tests, make sure the paper width selection in the

printer menu is set to 8.5 inches. Otherwise, printing on the

platen may damage the printer. See Chapter 4: Menu Mode

for more information.

The Rolling ASCII Print Test produces a continuous printout of

all 96 ASCII characters in a rolling pattern in whatever

typeface is selected (default = LQ Courier).

The top of the printout shows the Printer Model, Emulation,

Country Code, and Firmware Revision Level.

1Make sure continuous forms paper is loaded.

2Turn the printer off.

3Press and hold the QUIET/TOF key while turning the printer

back on. (If the printer comes on without starting the Rolling

ASCII test print, you did not hold the QUIET/TOF key long

enough.)

The printer prints the rolling ASCII text page after page.

4Press SEL to end the test.

92 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Hexadecimal Dump Mode

When the printer is placed in the Hexadecimal Dump Mode, all

data received, including text and printer commands, is printed

in both hexadecimal and ASCII format.

For example, the following line of BASIC code

LPRINT CHR$ (27);”0”;CHR$ (30);”This is an

example of a hexadecimal dump.”

would print like this:

Note: In the ASCII format, all non-printable characters are

represented by a period.

To engage the Hexadecimal Dump Mode:

1Make sure paper is loaded.

2Turn off the printer.

3Hold the SEL and FF/LOAD keys for several seconds while

turning on the printer.

To exit the Hexadecimal Dump Mode:

• Press the SEL key.

• Turn the printer off, then on again.

Emulations

The factory default emulation for your printer is IBM

Proprinter III.

If you wish to change to one of the other emulations, see

“Changing Emulations” in Chapter 3.

Printer Drivers

The Oki driver for your printer is provided on the CD included

with the printer. You can either load the Oki driver or select one

of the compatible drivers listed below in your software

application.

Installation 93

Loading the OKI Driver

Parallel Interface

1Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive.

Note: If the CD does not AutoPlay, click Start

→

Run

→

Browse, then browse to your CD-ROM drive,

double-click Install.exe and click OK.

2Select your printer model.

3When the Menu Installer window appears, click the Printer

Software button.

4Follow the on-screen instructions.

USB Interface

1Turn the printer on.

The Windows Add New Hardware Wizard window displays.

2Click Next.

3Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive.

4Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software for

your printer model.

Using a Compatible Driver

Note: See your software documentation for information on how

to select a printer driver.

The drivers below are listed by decreasing compatibility with

your printer. Use one as close to the top of the list as possible.

IBM Proprinter III

• IBM Proprinter III

• IBM Proprinter II

• IBM Proprinter

Epson FX

• Epson FX286e

• Epson FX 850/1050

• Epson FX 800/1000

Accessories ............................................. 68

Alignment problems ................................. 9

ASCII Test ..............................................91

Auto Carriage return............................... 35

Auto LF (Line Feed)........................ 31, 35

Auto Select ............................................. 32

Bar Codes ............................................... 80

Bi-directional printing .....................30, 40

Bottom Feed ....................................81, 82

Form Tear-Off ....................................29

Line Spacing ...................................... 29

Skip Over Perforation ........................29

Buffer

Clearing ............................................. 38

Receive Buffer Size ...........................78

Carbonless continuous forms ..........81, 82

Card Stock .......................................81, 82

Centering printhead position ..................63

Character Pitch .......................................39

Selecting ............................................23

Character Set ...................................28, 36

Character Width ......................................39

Characters Per Second (CPS) ...................7

Code Page Character Set ........................36

Codes, Printer Control ............................ 69

Commands

Epson FX .....................................72–74

IBM Proprinter III .......................69–71

Oki Microline Standard ............... 75–77

Control Codes ......................................... 69

Cut Sheet Feeder.....................................68

Electrical Requirements..........................83

Emulations .......................................24, 92

Mode ..................................................37

Envelopes ........................................81, 82

Environmental Requirements .................83

Epson FX Commands.......................72–74

Index

Index 95

Factory defaults, menu mode ................. 26

Font Sample Test .................................... 90

Fonts

Embedded Printer Commands ...........62

Resident .............................................80

Selecting ............................................40

Forms Tear-Off .......................................37

Changing............................................18

Top of Form ................................12, 17

Wait Time ........................................... 41

Front Panel

Keys .....................................................9

Menu Mode........................................25

Graphics

Printing .......................................30, 37

Resolution ..........................................80

GROUP, Menu Mode ............................. 25

Height, Double Height Printing..............41

Hex Dump Mode ....................................92

Humidity ................................................. 83

I-Prime ......................................32, 38, 61

IBM

Character Set......................................36

Proprinter III Commands .............69–71

Initialization string..................................61

Interleaf Continuous Forms ....................82

Interleaf continuous forms......................81

Interleaved 2 of 5.................................... 80

Italics ...............................................28, 41

Labels ..............................................81, 82

Language ................................................28

Length, Page

Rear Feed ...........................................29

Top Feed ............................................30

Limited Operation ......................9, 38, 65

Line Spacing ........................................... 38

Bottom Feed ......................................29

Rear Feed ...........................................29

Top Feed ............................................30

Margin, Bottom ...............................30, 36

Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) ..78

Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) ...............78

Memory, Receive Buffer Size ................78

MENU light ............................................25

Menu Mode ............................................ 25

Changing Settings .............................. 27

Entering .............................................26

Exiting ...............................................26

Front Panel keys ................................25

Printing the Menu Settings ................26

Reset to factory defaults ....................26

Settings Table ...............................28–42

96 Microline 420/421 User’s Guide

Oki MICROLINE Standard

Commands....................................... 75–77

Operator Panel Function.........................65

Options ...................................................66

Page Length

Rear Feed ...........................................29

Top Feed ............................................30

Page Width.............................................. 39

Bottom Feed ......................................29

Rear Feed ...........................................29

Setting in the Printer Menu .........30, 39

Top Feed ............................................30

Paper

Cut Sheet............................................ 68

Single Sheet .......................................53

Static ..................................................65

Thickness ...........................................80

Weight ................................................82

Widths ..................................30, 39, 82

Paper Jams ........................................64–66

Paper Lever............................................. 64

Paper Out ................................................65

Override ......................................30, 39

Paper Park............................................... 18

Paper Path, switching .............................19

Parallel Interface..................................... 32

I-PRIME Signal ................................. 61

Parts, replacement, purchasing ............... 66

Perforation, skip over ......................29, 41

Pitch, character ................................ 28, 39

PlatenKnob part number......................... 67

Postnet ....................................................80

Power rating..............................................3

Print Method ...........................................78

Print Mode .......................................28, 40

Print Registration ............................. 31, 40

Print Server Option ................................. 68

Print Size ................................................79

Print Speed.........................................7, 79

Print Suppress .................................. 31, 40

Printer Control Codes .......................69–77

Printer Drivers, Selecting .................92–93

Printer Parameters ..................................25

Printhead ................................................. 78

Gap..................................................... 21

Proportional Spacing .......................28, 40

Pull Tractor ............................................. 68

Push Tractor ............................................68

Rear Feed

Continuous Forms..............................10

Form Tear-Off .............................29, 30

Jams, Repetitive ................................. 56

Line Spacing ......................................29

Paper Jam ........................................... 55

Skip Over Perforation ........................29

Receive Buffer Size ................................78

Reliability ...............................................78

Replacement Parts ..................................66

Resolution (Graphics)............................. 80

Ribbon Cartridge

Replacement Order No. .....................67

Replacing ...........................................42

Ribbon Shield ...........................43, 63, 87

Roll Paper Stand .....................................68

RS-232C Serial Interface........................ 78

Index 97

Self Tests.................................................90

Serial Interface........................................68

Serial Interface Option ...........................62

Server, Print Option ................................68

Sheet Guide ............................................67

Single Sheet

Cut Sheet Feeder Option.................... 68

Jams ...................................................58

Loading ..............................................53

Skip Over Perforation ............................. 29

Software

Embedded commands........................62

Matching drivers to emulations .........62

Software vs. printer settings ..............61

Specifications .........................................78

Standard Character Set ........................... 28

Symbol Sets .....................................28, 38

Temperature Specifications ....................83

Tests

ASCII Test .........................................91

Font Sample Test ...............................90

Hex Dump..........................................92

Thickness, Paper .....................................80

Time Out ..........................................32, 41

Top Feed ...........................................81–84

Bottom Margin...................................30

Line Spacing ......................................30

Pull Tractor ........................................68

Single Sheet ....................................... 11

Top of Form ............................................35

Forms Tear-Off ......................8, 12, 17

Paper Shield ..................................9, 12

Reset to factory default ...................... 16

Setting ................................................12

Standard Setting..........................12, 16

Typefaces ................................................ 28

Selecting ............................................40

Uni-directional printing, graphics .......... 30

Utility

Front Panel Light ...............................80

Print Speeds .........................................7

Utility Mode Print Quality ................. 22

Wait Time ........................................30, 41

Weight, Paper .........................................82

Width

Character ............................................ 39

Double width printing........................ 41

Page

Bottom Feed..................................29

Rear Feed ......................................29

Top Feed........................................30

Paper ..................................................82

Setting in the Printer Menu ....30, 39

Zero character (slashed, unslashed).28, 41

59348301_b.p65 ML420 Oki Data Microline 420 Printer Manual

ML420 to the manual a5699021-3b50-e5e4-251a-5cab55df8f85

421 10224711

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