Epson Fx 2180 Impact Printer Product Information Guide SUNGPIG

2015-03-28

: Epson Epson-Fx-2180-Impact-Printer-Product-Information-Guide-663580 epson-fx-2180-impact-printer-product-information-guide-663580 epson pdf

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EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 1
User Replaceable Parts
Options
Paper Handling Options
High-capacity cut-sheet feeder (C806731)
Feeds up to 150 sheets of paper, 25 plain bond envelopes,
or 30 postcards into the printer without reloading. You
can also load a stack of single-sheet multi-part forms up
to 0.59 inch (15 mm) thick in this feeder.
Second-bin cut-sheet feeder (C806741)
Connects to the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder to create a
double-bin cut-sheet feeder. You can load up to 50 sheets
of ordinary single-sheet paper in the second-bin cut-sheet
feeder.
Pull tractor (C800321)
Improves continuous paper handling and reduces the
chance of paper jams. Using a pull tractor in combination
with a push tractor is especially useful for printing on
continuous pre-printed forms, multi-part forms, and
labels, and for printing high-quality graphics.
Roll paper holder (#8310)
Allows you to use your printer with 8.5-inch roll paper
like that used with telex machines.
Optional Interface Cards
You can install one of the following EPSON interface cards in
your printer.
User Replaceable Part Parts Price List Name Part Number
Bottom cover Bottom cover 1039404
Connector cover Upper connector cover 1037223
Connector cover screws (2) C.B. S-tite screw 1002674
Front edge guides Front edge guides 1039456
Front paper guide Front cover 1039403
Knob Knob 1039462
Logo plate Logo plate 1039774
Paper guide cover Rear printer cover 1028340
Paper separator Paper separator n/a
Paper tension unit Paper eject assembly 1039457
Paper thickness lever cap Lever cap 1039412
Printer cover Printer cover assembly 1025024
Rear edge guides Rear edge guides 1039459
Rear push tractor Rear tractor assembly 1039012
paper guide
rear edge guides
paper guide cover
printer cover
front paper guide
(closed)
control panel
paper release
lever
paper guide
paper
separator
knob
bottom cover
front edge guides tractor
ribbon cartridge
paper thickness
lever
paper
tension unit
rear push tractor
parallel interface
connector
cover
Ribbon cartridge Ribbon cartridge S015085
Ribbon pack Ribbon pack S010033
Tractor (pull or front push) Front tractor assembly 1039013
Card Type Model Number
Serial interface C823051
32KB intelligent serial interface C823071
Coax interface C823141
Twinax interface C823151
Type B bidirectional parallel C823452
Multi-protocol Ethernet print server C823572
User Replaceable Part Parts Price List Name Part Number
EPSON FX-2180
2 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
Printer Specifications
Mechanical
Printing method: 9-pin impact dot matrix
Printing speed: High speed draft: 506 cps at 10 cpi
Draft: 380 cps at 10 cpi
Near letter quality: 95 cps at 10 cpi
Printing
direction:
Bidirectional logic seeking for text and
graphics printing. Unidirectional text or
graphics printing can be selected using
software commands.
Line spacing: 1/6-inch or programmable in 1/216-inch
increments
Printable
columns:
136 columns (at 10 cpi)
Resolution: Maximum 240 × 144 dpi (near letter
quality)
Interfaces: One standard bidirectional, 8-bit, parallel
interface with IEEE 1284 nibble mode
support and one optional interface slot.
Paper feed
methods:
Friction (front, rear)
Push tractor (front, rear)
Pull tractor (front, bottom, rear)
Push and pull tractor (additional tractor is
required)
Cut-sheet feeder (optional)
Roll paper holder (optional)
Paper feed speed: Continuous: 5 inches/second
Intermittent: 61 ms/line at 1/6-inch line
spacing
Paper capacity: High-capacity cut-sheet feeder:
up to 150 sheets of 22 lb (82 g/m2) paper
up to 25 plain or bond envelopes
up to 30 airmail envelopes
up to 30 postcards
a stack of multi-part forms up to
0.59 inch (15 mm) thick
Note:
The total thickness of the paper stack can be up
to 0.59 inch (15 mm).
Second-bin cut-sheet feeder holds up to
50 sheets of 22 lb (82 g/m2) paper
Note:
The total thickness of the paper stack can be up
to 0.20 inch (5 mm).
Buffer: 64KB or 0KB (selectable in the default-
setting mode or the EPSON Remote! utility
with Windows® 95)
Built-in fonts: Bitmap fonts:
EPSON Draft 10, 12, 15 cpi
EPSON Roman 10, 12, 15 cpi,
proportional
EPSON Sans Serif 10, 12, 15 cpi,
proportional
Barcode fonts:
EAN-13, EAN-8, Interleaved 2 of 5,
UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 128,
POSTNET
Character tables: One Italic and 10 graphical character tables.
(Nineteen graphical character tables are
available in some countries.)
Character sets: 13 international character sets
Reliability: Total print 7.5 million lines
volume: (except print head)
Print head life: approx. 300 million
characters
(draft 10 cpi,
14 dots/character)
Dimensions
and weight:
Height 10.1 inches (257 mm)
Width 25.2 inches (639 mm)
Depth 15.8 inches (402 mm)
Weight approx. 28.8 lb (13 kg)
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 3
Electrical
Note:
Check the label on the back of the printer for your printer’s voltage.
Environmental
Paper
Note:
Use recycled paper and envelopes only under normal temperature
and humidity conditions, as follows:
Temperature 59° to 77° F (15° to 25° C)
Humidity 30% to 60% RH
Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded.
Continuous paper (ordinary and multi-part):
Continuous labels (front and bottom entry only):
Note:
Use only labels mounted on continuous backing sheets.
Single sheets:
Ribbon: Black ribbon cartridge (S015086)
Ribbon life of approximately 12 million
characters (draft 10 cpi, 14 dots/character)
120 V Model 220 to 240 V Model
Input voltage range 99 to 132 V 198 to 264 V
Rated frequency range 50 to 60 Hz
Input frequency range 49.5 to 60.5 Hz
Rated current 1.0 A (maximum
1.8 A)
0.5 A (maximum
0.9 A)
Power consumption Approx. 46 W (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern)
Temperature
Humidity (Without
Condensation)
Operation 41° to 95° F (5° to 35° C) 10% to 80% RH
Storage –22° to 140° F (–30° to 60° C) 0% to 85% RH
Minimum Maximum
Width (inches)
(mm)
4
101.6
16
406.4
Length (inches)
(one page) (mm)
4
101.6
22
559
Copies 1 original + 5 copies
1 original + 6 copies (front or bottom
entry with the pull tractor only)
Thickness (inches)
(printable area) (mm)
0.0025
0.065
0.018
0.46
Thickness (inches)
(perforated edges) (mm)
—
—
0.035
0.9
Weight (lb)
(ordinary page) (g/m2)
14
52.3
22
82
Weight (one sheet (lb)
of multi-part) (g/m2)
12
40
15
58
Binding Point glue or paper staples on both sides
(front, bottom, or rear entry) or point glue
on only one side (rear entry)
Minimum Maximum
Label size See figure below
Backing sheet (inches)
width (mm)
4
101.6
16
406.4
Backing sheet (inches)
length (mm)
4
101.6
22
559
Backing sheet (inches)
thickness (mm)
0.0028
0.07
0.0035
0.09
Total (inches)
thickness (mm)
0.0063
0.16
0.0075
0.19
Label weight (lb)
(g/m2)
17
68
Minimum Maximum
Width (inches)
(mm)
3.9
100
16.5
420
Length
(inches)
(mm)
Front Top
entry: entry:
5.8 3.9
148 100
16.5
420
Thickness (inches)
(mm)
0.0025
0.065
0.0055
0.14
Weight (lb)
(g/m2)
14
52.3
24
90
Quality Plain paper, bond paper, and recycled
paper
2.5 inches (63.5 mm) min.
corner radius = 0.1 inch (2.5 mm) min.
15/16 inch
(23.8 mm) min.
EPSON FX-2180
4 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
Single-sheet multi-part forms:
Envelopes (top entry only):
Postcards (front and top entry):
Roll paper (rear entry with optional roll paper holder only):
Printable Area
Continuous paper:
A The minimum top and bottom margins (above and below the
perforation) are 0.17 inch (4.2 mm).
B The minimum left and right margins are 0.51 inch (13 mm).
The maximum printable width is 13.6 inches (345.4 mm). For
paper wider than 13.8 inches (351.4 mm), the side margins
increase to match the width of the paper.
Single sheets, envelopes, and postcards:
A The minimum top and bottom margins are 0.17 inch (4.2 mm).
B The minimum left and right margins are 0.12 inch (3 mm).
The maximum printable width is 13.6 inches (345.4 mm). For
paper wider than 13.8 inches (351.4 mm), the side margins
increase to match the width of the paper.
Minimum Maximum
Width (inches)
(mm)
3.9
100
16.5
420
Length
(inches)
(mm)
Front Top
entry: entry:
5.8 3.9
148 100
16.5
420
Copies 1 original + 5 copies
Total thickness (inches)
(mm)
0.0047
0.12
0.018
0.46
Weight (one sheet (lb)
of multi-part) (g/m2)
12
40
15
58
Binding Line glue at top of form (front and top
entry) or at side of form (front entry)
Minimum Maximum
Envelope size
(No. 6)
Width (inches)
(mm)
6.5
165
Length (inches)
(mm)
3.6
92
Envelope size
(No. 10)
Width (inches)
(mm)
9.5
241
Length (inches)
(mm)
4.1
105
Total thickness (inches)
(mm)
0.0063
0.16
0.02
0.52
Weight (lb)
(g/m2)
12
45
24
90
Minimum Maximum
Width (inches)
(mm)
3.9
100
5.83
148
Length
(inches)
(mm)
Front Top
entry: entry:
5.83 3.9
148 100
5.83
148
Thickness (inches)
(mm)
0.0087
0.22
Weight (lb)
(g/m2)
51
192
Minimum Maximum
Width (inches)
(mm)
8.5 ± 0.12
216 ± 3
Thickness (inches)
(mm)
0.0028
0.07
0.0035
0.09
Weight (lb)
(g/m2)
14
52
22
82
AA
BB
printable area
printable area
B
A
A
B
A
A
B
printable
area printable
area
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 5
Roll paper:
A The minimum top and bottom margins are 0.17 inch (4.2 mm).
B The minimum left and right margins are 0.12 inch (3 mm). The
maximum printable width is 8 inches (203.2 mm).
Safety Approvals
120 V model:
Safety standards UL1950
CSA C22.2 No. 950
EMI FCC part 15 subpart B class B
CSA C108.8 class B
220 to 240 V model:
Safety standards EN 60950 (TÜV, NEMKO)
EMI EN 55022 (CISPR pub. 22) class B
AS/NZS 3548 class B
Acoustic noise: Approx. 55 dB (A) (ISO 7779 pattern)
Control Panel Buttons and Lights
Font Button
Selects the font.
Font Lights
Indicate which font is selected.
Pitch Button
Selects the font size.
Pitch Lights
Indicate what font size is selected.
Tear Off/Bin Button
❏Feeds continuous paper forward to the tear-off position.
❏Feeds continuous paper backward from the tear-off position
to the top-of-form position.
❏Selects a cut-sheet feeder bin when the cut-sheet feeder is
installed.
❏Enters the card mode to print on postcards and envelopes.
Tear Off/Bin Lights
❏f f when continuous paper is in the tear-off position.
❏o n when bin 1 of the optional cut-sheet feeder is selected.
❏n o when bin 2 of the optional cut-sheet feeder is selected.
❏n n when the printer is in the card mode.
n = on
o = off
f = flashing
Pause Button
❏Stops printing temporarily, and resumes printing when
pressed again.
❏When held down for three seconds, enters the micro adjust
mode. When pressed again, exits the micro adjust mode.
Pause Light
❏On when the printer is paused.
❏Flashes when the printer is in the micro adjust mode.
LF/FF Button
❏Feeds paper line by line.
❏Ejects a single sheet or advances continuous paper to the
next top-of-form position when held down.
Load/Eject Button
❏Loads a single sheet of paper.
❏Ejects a single sheet of paper if a sheet is loaded.
❏Loads continuous paper from the standby position.
❏Feeds continuous paper backward to the standby position.
Micro Adjust Buttons
In micro adjust mode, let you adjust the top-of-form and tear-
off positions using the down and up arrow buttons.
BB
A
A
printable area
EPSON FX-2180
6 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
Paper Out Light
❏On when no paper is loaded or paper is not loaded correctly
in the selected paper source.
❏Flashes when paper has not been fully ejected or a paper jam
has occurred.
Operate Button
Turns the printer on and off. The printer is off when the top
of this button is even with the button protectors.
Error Indicators
Light Status Beep Pattern
n = on ●●● short series of beeps (three times)
o = off ●●●●● long series of beeps (five times)
f = flashing
If a printer error occurs, use the control panel lights to
determine the problem and solution.
Pause
n
The printer is paused.
Press the Pause button to resume printing.
Pause Beep Pattern
n●●●
The printer cover is open.
Close the printer cover and press the Pause button to resume
printing.
Pause Beep Pattern
n●●●●●
You moved the paper release lever while paper from another
paper source was in the paper path.
Move the paper release lever back to the previous position and
press the Load/Eject button to eject the paper. Then move the
paper release lever to the desired position. Press the Pause
button to turn off the Pause light, if necessary.
Pause Paper Out Beep Pattern
nn ●●●
❏No paper is loaded in the selected paper source.
❏The paper is not loaded correctly.
❏Paper is jammed in the printer.
Load paper in the selected paper source, remove and reload
the paper, or clear the paper jam as described on page 13. Then
press the Pause button to turn off the Pause light, if
necessary.
Pause Paper Out Beep Pattern
nf ●●●
❏Continuous paper is not fed to the standby position.
Tear off the printed page at the perforation; then press the
Load/Eject button. The paper feeds to the standby
position. Press the Pause button to turn off the Pause
light, if necessary.
❏A single sheet of paper is not fully ejected.
Press the Load/Eject button to eject the sheet. Press the
Pause button to turn off the Pause light, if necessary.
❏Paper is jammed in the printer.
Clear the paper jam as described on page 13.
Pause
f
The print head is overheated.
Wait a few minutes; the printer resumes printing
automatically once the print head cools.
Font Tear Off/Bin Pause Paper Out
f f f f f f
An unknown printer error has occurred.
Turn off the printer and leave it off for several minutes; then
turn it on again. If the error recurs, contact your dealer.
Note:
The printer beeps once if you press a control panel button when the
corresponding function is not available.
Status Monitor
The EPSON Status Monitor 2 utility program comes with the
printer and is for use only with Windows 95. It monitors the
status of the printer, indicates when errors occur, and provides
troubleshooting tips.
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 7
Paper Positions
Top-of-Form Position
The letters ABC above are printed at the top-of-form position.
The top-of-form position is the position where the printer
starts printing on a page of single-sheet or continuous paper.
Note:
See page 4 for information on the printable area of your paper.
Tear-off Position
Your continuous paper is in the tear-off position when the
perforation is aligned with the printer’s tear-off edge, so you
can easily tear off your printed document.
Standby Position
Your continuous paper is in the standby position when it is
attached to the tractor but not loaded in the printer.
Available Paper Paths
Printing on Continuous Paper
You can choose from three tractor positions (front push, rear
push, and pull) and three paper entry slots (front, rear, and
bottom) for continuous paper printing.
If you often need to tear off sheets of continuous paper (for
example, if you print purchase orders or sales slips), it is best
to use a push tractor. This allows you to use the printer’s tear-
off edge to easily tear off printed sheets of continuous paper at
the perforation. Also, when continuous paper is loaded on a
push tractor, you can load single sheets of paper from the
paper guide without removing the continuous paper.
If you often print on thick or heavy continuous paper, such as
multi-part forms or continuous paper with labels, use a tractor
in the pull position. The pull tractor provides the best paper
jam prevention, and allows you to load continuous paper from
the front, rear, or bottom of the printer. However, you cannot
use the tear-off feature with the pull tractor.
Note:
If you plan to use a pull tractor, you can remove the tractor from the
front push position and install it in the pull position, or you can
purchase the optional pull tractor (C800321) and install it in the pull
position.
To improve continuous paper feeding and reduce paper jams,
you can use the push and pull tractors in combination. This is
especially helpful for printing on continuous pre-printed
forms, multi-part forms, or labels, and for printing high-
quality graphics.
The table below summarizes the paper paths available for
printing on continuous paper.
Paper Path Description
Front push tractor
Front paper slot
The paper path from the front slot is almost
straight, which reduces the chance of paper
jams. Use the front slot when you are printing
on thick paper such as multi-part forms or
continuous paper with labels.
Rear push tractor
Rear paper slot
When you print on multi-part forms that are
bound on only one side by point gluing, load
them onto the rear push tractor through the rear
slot; the front push tractor cannot feed this type
of form.
Pull tractor
Front paper slot
The paper path from the front slot is almost
straight, which reduces the chance of paper
jams. Use the front slot when you are printing
on thick paper such as multi-part forms or
continuous paper with labels.
Pull tractor
Bottom paper slot
Because the bottom slot has the straightest
paper path, it is ideal for printing on thick paper,
such as multi-part forms or continuous paper
with labels.
Note:
When loading paper in the bottom slot, be sure
to use a printer stand with an opening large
enough so that the paper can feed through it
without obstruction.
Pull tractor
Rear paper slot
When you print on multi-part forms that are
bound on only one side by point gluing, load
them onto the pull tractor through the rear slot;
the printer cannot feed this type of form from
the front or bottom slot.
EPSON FX-2180
8 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
Caution:
Do not load continuous paper with labels in the rear slot;
the labels may come off the backing sheet inside the
printer and cause a jam.
Note:
Always load multi-part forms with seven parts (one original plus six
copies) from the front or bottom slot onto the pull tractor.
Printing on Single Sheets
When continuous paper is loaded on the front or rear push
tractor, you can load single sheets in the top or front slot
without removing the continuous paper.
Use the top slot for ordinary single sheets, single-sheet multi-
part forms, postcards, or envelopes.
Use the front slot for ordinary single sheets, single-sheet multi-
part forms, or postcards.
Note:
❏Load envelopes in the top slot only.
❏Always use the front paper slot to load single-sheet multi-part
forms that are bound by line gluing only at the side.
Paper Release Lever Positions
Use the paper release lever to select which paper path you
want the printer to load paper from. The table below shows
the corresponding paper path(s) for each paper release lever
position.
Single-sheet position
For loading single sheets from the top or front slot.
Rear push tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor
installed in the rear push position. Also set the lever
to this position when using the rear push and pull
tractors in combination.
Front push tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor
installed in the front push position. Also set the
lever to this position when using the front push and
pull tractors in combination.
Pull tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor
installed on top of the printer in the pull position.
When the tractor is in the pull position, you can
load paper in the printer from the front, rear, or
bottom slot.
Note:
You can load one type of continuous paper onto the front push tractor
and another type onto the rear push tractor, and easily switch
between them using the paper release lever. Before moving the
paper release lever, always press the Load/Eject button to feed the
paper in the paper path backward to the standby position.
Rear push tractor and
pull tractor
Rear paper slot
To use the rear push tractor with the pull
tractor, you can remove the standard tractor
that comes in the front push position and install
it in the pull position.
Front push tractor
and pull tractor
Front paper slot
To use the front push tractor with the pull
tractor, you need to purchase the optional pull
tractor (C800321) and install it in the pull
position.
Note:
The tractor in the rear push position cannot be
removed.
Paper Path Description
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 9
Paper Thickness Lever Positions
The paper thickness lever is located under the printer cover.
You need to set the paper thickness lever for the type of paper
you are using, as shown in the table below.
Note:
If the printing on the bottom copies of your thick multi-part forms is
faint, turn on the double-strike mode as described in Chapter 2 of the
User’s Guide.
Paper Handling
Loading Continuous Paper Onto a Push
Tractor
Front push tractor
Load paper printable side up.
Rear push tractor
Load paper printable side down.
Make sure the left and right sprockets are positioned properly
for your paper’s width. If they are too far apart or there is any
slack in the paper, you need to move the sprockets.
1. If you are using the front push tractor, open the front paper
guide and remove it.
If you are using the rear push tractor, open the paper guide
cover and remove the paper guide.
2. Open both sprocket covers.
3. Fit the first four holes of the paper over the sprocket pins (as
shown above). Then close the sprocket covers.
Paper Type Lever Position
Ordinary paper (single sheets or continuous paper) 0
Carbonless multi-part forms with:
2 parts (original + 1 copy)
3 parts (original + 2 copies)
4 parts (original + 3 copies)
5 parts (original + 4 copies)
6 parts (original + 5 copies)
7 parts (original + 6 copies)
1
3
4
5
6
6
Thin paper –1 or 0
Continuous paper with labels 2
Envelopes 4 or 5
Postcards 3
0
1
-
1
3
2
4
5
6
7
EPSON FX-2180
10 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
4. If you are using the front push tractor, reattach the front
paper guide and then close it.
If you are using the rear push tractor, reattach the paper
guide and close the paper guide cover.
5. Make sure the paper release lever is in the correct position.
Removing the Printed Document From a
Push Tractor
1. Make sure the Tear Off/Bin lights are flashing. (You may
need to press the Tear Off/Bin button.) When the
Tear Off/Bin lights are flashing, your paper is in the tear-off
position.
2. Open the paper guide cover and tear off the printed
document using the printer’s tear-off edge.
3. Press the Load/Eject button to feed the continuous paper
backward out of the printer and into the standby position.
Caution:
Make sure you tear off your printed document before
pressing the Load/Eject button. Reverse feeding several
pages at a time may cause a paper jam.
Removing Continuous Paper With Labels
1. Tear off the fresh supply of continuous labels at the
perforation nearest the paper entry slot.
2. Hold down the LF/FF button to eject the remaining labels
from the printer.
Caution:
Never press the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin button when
printing on labels. When fed backward, labels can easily
come off the backing sheet and cause a jam.
Switching to Printing on Single Sheets
You can easily switch from printing on continuous paper with
a push tractor to printing on single sheets without having to
remove or reload paper. Follow the steps below.
Note:
❏If continuous paper with labels is loaded in the printer, remove it
before switching to single-sheet printing.
❏If a tractor is in the pull position, remove any continuous paper
from it before switching to single-sheet printing.
1. If any printed pages of continuous paper remain in the
printer, press the Tear Off/Bin button to advance them to
the tear-off position, and then tear them off.
Caution:
Tear off your printed document before you press the
Load/Eject button in the next step. Reverse feeding
several pages at a time may cause a paper jam.
Never use the knob to eject paper while the printer is
on; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the
tear-off or top-of-form position.
2. Press the Load/Eject button to feed the continuous paper
backward to the standby position.
3. Load single sheets in the top or front paper guide.
4. Set the paper release lever to the single-sheet position.
Switching to Printing on Continuous
Paper
To switch from printing on single sheets to printing on
continuous paper with the front or rear push tractor, follow
these steps:
1. If a single sheet remains in the printer, press the Load/Eject
button to eject it.
Caution:
Never use the knob to eject paper while the printer is
on; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the
tear-off or top-of-form position.
2. Make sure that the tractor is installed in the front or rear
push position.
3. Load continuous paper onto the front or rear push tractor as
described on page 9.
4. Set the paper release lever to the appropriate position.
tear here
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 11
Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position
The top-of-form position is the position on the page where
the printer will start printing. If your printing appears too
high or low on the page, you can use the micro adjust feature
to adjust the top-of-form position as described below.
Caution:
Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position;
this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-
of-form position.
Note:
❏Your top-of-form position setting remains in effect until you
change it, even if you turn off the printer.
❏The top margin setting made in some application software
overrides the top-of-form position setting you make with the
micro adjust feature. If necessary, adjust the top-of-form position
using your software.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and paper is loaded.
2. If you are using a push tractor, press the Load/Eject button
to advance the paper to the current top-of-form position.
3. Open the paper guide cover and lift the printer cover up
and off the printer.
4. Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. The
Pause light starts flashing and the printer enters the micro
adjust mode.
5. Press the Load/Eject U and LF/FF D buttons to move the
top-of-form position up or down on the page.
Note:
❏The printer has a minimum and a maximum top-of-form
position. If you try to adjust it beyond these limits, the printer
beeps and stops moving the paper.
❏When the paper reaches the default top-of-form position, the
printer also beeps and stops moving the paper briefly. You
can use the default setting as a reference point when
adjusting the top-of-form position.
To adjust the top-of-form position for continuous paper
loaded on the pull tractor, see the following example:
First mark a point 6.5 mm (0.26 inch) above the paper’s
perforation; then position the paper so that the mark is even
with the top edge of the plastic ribbon cover. This gives you
an 8.5 mm (0.33 inch) margin on the next page, meaning
the printer starts printing 8.5 mm below the perforation. If
you mark a point 5.5 mm (0.22 inch) above the perforation,
you get a 9.5 mm (0.37 inch) margin on the next page.
6. Press the Pause button to exit micro adjust mode.
Advancing the Paper to the Tear-Off Edge
If you use the front or rear push tractor, you can use the tear-
off feature to advance your continuous paper to the printer’s
tear-off edge when you finish printing. You can then easily
tear off the printed document.
As described below, you can use the tear-off feature in two
ways: manually by pressing the printer’s Tear Off/Bin button,
or automatically by turning on the auto tear-off mode. The
Tear Off/Bin lights flash when the paper is in the tear-off
position.
Caution:
Never use the tear-off feature to feed continuous paper
with labels backward; they may come off the backing
sheet and jam the printer.
Never reverse feed continuous paper loaded in the pull
tractor using the Tear Off/Bin button; the paper may
come off the pull tractor and jam the printer.
Using the Tear Off/Bin Button
After the printer finishes printing your document, press the
Tear Off/Bin button to advance the paper to the tear-off edge.
Note:
If the Tear Off/Bin lights are flashing, the paper is in the tear-off
position. If you press the Tear Off/Bin button, the printer feeds your
paper to the next top-of-form position.
Advancing Paper to the Tear-Off Position
Automatically
To automatically advance your printed documents to the tear-
off position, you need to turn on the auto tear-off mode and
select the appropriate page length for continuous paper in the
default-setting mode. For instructions, see “Using the
Default-Setting Mode” on page 13.
When auto tear-off is on, the printer automatically advances
the paper to the tear-off position whenever it receives a full
page of data or a form feed command followed by no more
data.
Adjusting the Tear-Off Position
If your paper’s perforation is not aligned with the tear-off
edge, you can use the micro adjust feature to move the
perforation to the tear-off position. Follow the steps below.
Caution:
Never use the knob to adjust the tear-off position; this
may damage the printer or cause it to lose the tear-off
position.
EPSON FX-2180
12 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
Note:
Your tear-off position setting remains in effect until you change it,
even if you turn off the printer.
1. Make sure the Tear Off/Bin lights are flashing (the paper is
at the current tear-off position). You may need to press the
Tear Off/Bin button.
2. Open the paper guide cover.
3. Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. The
Pause light begins flashing and the printer enters the micro
adjust mode.
4. Press the Load/Eject U and LF/FF D buttons to feed the
paper backward or forward until the paper perforation is
aligned with the tear-off edge.
Note:
The printer has a minimum and a maximum tear-off position. If
you try to adjust the tear-off position beyond these limits, the
printer beeps and stops moving the paper.
5. Press the Pause button to turn off micro adjust mode.
Then tear off the printed pages.
When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the
paper back to the top-of-form position and begins printing.
Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge
Warning:
If you just used the printer, the print head may be hot;
let it cool before you replace the ribbon cartridge.
Caution:
Make sure the printer is off and unplugged from the
electrical outlet. Moving the print head while the printer
is on may damage the printer.
1. Open the paper guide cover. Then lift the printer cover by
its back edge and pull it straight up and off the printer.
2. Make sure that the print head is not hot; then slide the print
head to the ribbon installation position (the indented
portion of the paper tension unit) by hand.
Note:
When the pull tractor is installed, you can replace the ribbon
cartridge when the print head is not in the ribbon installation
position.
3. Grasp the used ribbon cartridge and pull it up and out of
the printer.
tear-off
edge
ribbon guide
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 13
4. Remove the separator from the new ribbon cartridge and
discard it. Then turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the
direction of the arrow to remove any slack in the ribbon.
5. Hold the ribbon cartridge with the ribbon-tightening knob
up. Fit the cartridge’s two front notches (1) over the small
pegs on each side of the printer as shown. Then lay the
cartridge flat so that the rear notches (2) fit over the
corresponding pegs.
6. Gently press down the cartridge until both ends click into
place.
7. Lift the cartridge’s ribbon guide (1) and insert it over the
metal pins behind the print head (2). Make sure the ribbon
is not twisted or creased and that it is in place behind the
print head. Then press down the ribbon guide until it clicks
into place.
8. Turn the ribbon-tightening knob in the direction of the
arrow to remove any slack in the ribbon.
9. Slide the print head from side to side to make sure it moves
smoothly.
10. Replace the printer cover and close the paper guide cover.
Clearing Paper Jams
1. Press the Operate button to turn off the printer.
2. If a single sheet of paper is stuck on the paper guide, remove
it.
3. Remove the printer cover. If continuous paper from the rear
slot is jammed, also remove the paper guide.
4. If continuous paper is jammed in the printer, tear off the
fresh supply at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot.
5. Turn the knob on the right side of the printer away from
you to eject the paper in the printer. Remove any remaining
pieces of paper.
Caution:
Always turn off the printer before you use the knob;
otherwise you may damage the printer or lose the top-
of-form or tear-off position.
6. Replace the paper guide, if necessary, and replace the printer
cover. Then close the paper guide cover.
7. Press the Operate button to turn on the printer. Make sure
the Paper Out and Pause lights are off.
Using the Default-Setting Mode
The default settings control many printer functions. While
you can often set these functions through your software or
printer driver, you may sometimes need to change a default
setting from the printer’s control panel using the default-
setting mode.
separator
ribbon tightening knob
ribbon guide
EPSON FX-2180
14 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
The settings and options are summarized in the following
table. The factory settings are bold.
* The options available vary depending on the country.
** These settings take effect only when IBM 2381 Plus emulation is
selected.
Changing Default Settings
Follow the steps below to enter the default-setting mode and
change the printer’s default settings.
Note:
To print the language selection and default-setting mode instructions,
you need a minimum of four pages of continuous paper that are at
least 11 inches (279 mm) long and 8.3 inches (210 mm) wide.
Caution:
Do not use single sheets when using the default-setting
mode.
1. Make sure continuous paper is loaded and the printer is
turned off.
Caution:
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five
seconds before turning it back on; otherwise you may
damage the printer.
2. While holding down the Pitch button, press the
Operate button to turn on the printer. The printer enters
the default-setting mode and prints the language selection
instructions (one page).
3. Press the Pitch button until the Pitch lights indicate the
language you want, as described in the language selection
instructions.
4. Press the Font button to print the default-setting
mode instructions (two pages) in the language you selected.
The printed instructions list the settings you can change,
describe how to change them, and show you how the
control panel lights help you make settings. Use these
instructions to change the printer’s default settings from the
control panel.
Note:
The arrows in the instructions indicate the printer’s current
settings.
5. To save your settings and turn off the printer, press the
Operate button. This also exits the default-setting mode.
Note:
You may exit the default-setting mode any time by turning off the
printer while it is not printing. Any settings you have made remain in
effect until you change them again.
Aligning Vertical Lines in Your
Printout
If you notice that the vertical lines in your printout are not
properly aligned, you can use the printer’s bidirectional
adjustment mode to correct this problem.
Note:
To complete the steps below, you need four pages of continuous
paper that are at least 11 inches (279 mm) long and 14.8 inches
(376 mm) wide.
Caution:
Do not use single sheets when using the bidirectional
adjustment mode.
Follow these steps to perform the bidirectional adjustment:
1. Make sure continuous paper is loaded and the printer is
turned off.
Caution:
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five
seconds before turning it back on; otherwise you may
damage the printer.
2. While holding down the Pause button, press the
Operate button to turn on the printer. The printer
enters the bidirectional adjustment mode and then prints
instructions and the first set of alignment patterns.
Setting Options
Page length for front tractor* Length in inches: 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7, 8,
8.5, 11, 70/6, 12, 14, 17
Page length for rear tractor* Length in inches: 3, 3.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 7, 8,
8.5, 11, 70/6, 12, 14, 17
Skip over perforation Off, On
Auto tear-off Off, On
Auto line feed Off, On
Print direction Bi-D, Uni-D
I/F (interface) mode Auto, Parallel, Optional
Auto I/F (interface) wait time 10 seconds, 30 seconds
Software ESC/P, IBM2381 Plus
0 slash 0, 0
/
High speed draft Off, On
Input buffer Off, On
Buzzer Off, On
Auto CR (IBM 2381 Plus)** Off, On
IBM character table** Table 2, Table1
Character table Standard model: Italic, PC 437, PC 850,
PC 860, PC 863, PC 865, PC 861,
BRASCII, Abicomp, Roman 8,
ISO Latin 1
International character set for
Italic table
Italic U.S.A., Italic France, Italic
Germany, Italic U.K., Italic Denmark 1,
Italic Sweden, Italic Italy, Italic Spain 1
EPSON FX-2180
11/98 EPSON FX-2180 - 15
3. As described in the instructions, compare the alignment
patterns and select the pattern with the best alignment.
4. Follow the instructions to print the remaining sets of
alignment patterns and select the pattern with the best
alignment in each set.
5. To save your settings and turn off the printer, press the
Operate button. This also exits the bidirectional
adjustment mode.
Printing a Self Test
Running the printer’s self test helps you determine whether
the printer or the computer is causing the problem:
❏If the self test results are satisfactory, the printer is working
properly and the problem probably results from your
printer driver settings, application settings, computer, or
interface cable. (Be sure to use a shielded interface cable.)
❏If the self test does not print properly, there is a problem
with the printer.
You can print the self test using either single sheets or
continuous paper.
Note:
Use paper that is at least 14.8 inches (376 mm) wide, such as A3-size
paper.
To perform a self test, follow these steps:
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
2. To run the test using the Draft font, hold down the LF/FF
button while you press the Operate button to turn on the
printer. To run the test using the printer’s near letter-
quality fonts, hold down the Load/Eject button while you
turn on the printer. Either self test can help you determine
the source of your printing problem; however, the draft self
test prints faster than the near letter-quality test.
After a few seconds, the printer loads the paper
automatically and begins printing the self test. A series of
characters is printed.
Note:
To temporarily stop the self test, press the Pause button. To
resume the test, press the Pause button again.
3. To end the self test, press the Pause button to stop
printing. If a printed page remains in the printer, press the
Load/Eject button to eject it. Then turn off the printer.
Printing a Hex Dump
You can print a hexadecimal dump to isolate communication
problems between the printer and your software program. In
hex dump mode, the printer prints all data it receives from the
computer as hexadecimal values.
You can print a hex dump using either single sheets or
continuous paper.
Note:
Use paper that is at least 8.3 inches (210 mm) wide, such as letter- or
A4-size paper
To print a hex dump, follow these steps:
1. Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off.
Caution:
Whenever you turn off the printer, wait at least five
seconds before turning it back on; otherwise you may
damage the printer.
2. To enter hex dump mode, hold down both the LF/FF and
Load/Eject buttons while you press the Operate button to
turn on the printer.
3. Open a software program and send a print job to the
printer. Your printer prints all the codes it receives in
hexadecimal format.
If characters are printable, they appear in the right column
as ASCII characters. Nonprintable codes, such as control
codes, are represented by dots. By comparing the characters
printed in the right column with the printout of the
hexadecimal codes, you can check the codes the printer is
receiving.
4. To exit hex dump mode, press the Pause button to stop
printing and the Load/Eject button to eject the printed
page. Then turn off the printer.
EPSON FX-2180
16 - EPSON FX-2180 11/98
Cleaning the Printer
To keep your printer operating at its best, you should clean it
thoroughly several times a year. Follow these steps:
1. Turn off the printer and remove any paper as well as the
paper guide. If a pull tractor or an optional cut-sheet feeder
is installed, remove it.
2. Use a soft brush to carefully brush away all dust and dirt
from the outer case and paper guide.
3. If the outer case or paper guide is still dirty, clean it with a
soft, clean cloth dampened with mild detergent dissolved in
water. Keep the printer cover in place and lower the paper
guide cover until it lies flat on the top of the printer to
prevent water from getting inside the printer.
Caution:
Never use alcohols or thinners to clean the printer; these
chemicals can damage the printer components as well
as the case.
Be careful not to get water on the printer mechanism or
electronic components.
Do not use a hard or abrasive brush.
Do not spray the inside of the printer with lubricants;
unsuitable lubricants can damage the printer
mechanism. Contact an EPSON dealer if you think
lubrication is needed.
Transporting the Printer
If you need to transport your printer some distance, carefully
repack it using the original box and packing materials, as
described below.
1. Turn off the printer and remove any paper as well as the
paper guide. Pull out the paper separator from the paper
guide.
2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet; then
disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. If a pull tractor is installed, remove it. If any options are
installed, remove them and pack them in their original
boxes.
Warning:
If you have just used the printer, the print head may be
hot. Let it cool before attempting to remove the ribbon
cartridge.
4. Remove the ribbon cartridge as described on page 12.
5. Remove the paper tension unit. Attach the protective
locking clips on both sides of the printer roller. Then
reinstall the paper tension unit.
6. Make sure the tractor that comes with your printer is
installed in the front push position.
7. Replace the transportation screw using the screwdriver that
came with the printer.
8. Repack the printer, ribbon cartridge, paper guide, paper
separator, and power cord in the original packing materials
and place them in the printer’s original box.
Related Documentation
4008467 EPSON FX-2180 User’s Guide
4008466 EPSON FX-2180 Quick Reference Guide
4008465 EPSON FX-2180 Unpacking sheet
TM-FX2180 EPSON FX-2180 Service Manual
PL-FX2180 EPSON FX-2180 Parts Price List

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