Oki Printer 490 User Manual

User’s  
Guide  
59348401  
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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:  
• 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.  
• 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.  
• 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.  
• 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.  
• 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  
• The printer must be installed near a power outlet which will  
remain easily accessible.  
equipment is plugged into has a rating above 15 amperes.  
3
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• Unplug the printer before you clean it. Use only a damp  
cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners.  
• 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.  
• 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.  
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 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.  
– The printer has been dropped or its cabinet has been  
damaged.  
• Do not use your printer near water. Do not spill liquid of any  
kind into it.  
– The printer doesn’t function normally when you’re  
following the operating instructions.  
• 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.  
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Contents  
Forms Tear-Off OFF (Default Setting) ...................................... 14  
Setting Top of Form (TOF):  
Safety............................................................................ 3  
Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................. 7  
Printer Features............................................................................... 7  
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  
Continuous Forms to Single Sheets ........................................... 19  
Single Sheets to Continuous Forms ........................................... 20  
Printhead Gap ............................................................................... 21  
Print Quality ................................................................................. 22  
Typefaces: LQ Mode .................................................................... 23  
Character Pitch ............................................................................. 24  
Printer Reset ................................................................................. 25  
Emulations .................................................................................... 25  
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):  
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Chapter 4: Menu Mode ............................................ 26  
Menu Mode Keys ....................................................................... 26  
Entering and Exiting Menu Mode ............................................. 27  
Resetting the Menu to the Factory Defaults .............................. 27  
Printing the Menu Settings......................................................... 27  
Changing the Menu Settings ...................................................... 28  
Menu Settings Table ................................................................... 29  
Explanations of Menu Items ...................................................... 35  
Appendix B: Printer Control Codes ....................... 68  
Epson LQ Commands .................................................................. 68  
IBM Proprinter X24e / XL24e and IBM X24e AGM / XL24e  
AGM Commands ......................................................................... 72  
Appendix C: Specifications...................................... 75  
Appendix D: Installation.......................................... 81  
Location ........................................................................................ 81  
Unpack.......................................................................................... 81  
Install the Ribbon Cartridge ....................................................... 84  
Power Connection ........................................................................ 85  
Computer Connections ................................................................. 85  
Parallel (LPT): IEEE 1284 ......................................................... 85  
USB: Specification 1.1 Compliant ............................................. 86  
Loading Paper............................................................................... 86  
Testing the Printer......................................................................... 87  
Font Sample Test ........................................................................ 87  
Rolling ASCII Test ..................................................................... 88  
Hexadecimal Dump Mode ......................................................... 89  
Emulations .................................................................................... 89  
Printer Drivers .............................................................................. 89  
Loading the OKI Driver ............................................................. 90  
Using a Compatible Driver ........................................................ 90  
Chapter 5: Maintenance........................................... 41  
Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge ................................................... 41  
Loading Paper............................................................................... 43  
Rear Feed ................................................................................... 43  
Top Feed (Single Sheets) ........................................................... 52  
Clearing Paper Jams ..................................................................... 54  
Rear-Feed Paper Jams ................................................................ 54  
Rear-Feed, Repeating Paper Jams.............................................. 55  
Single-Sheet Paper Jams ............................................................ 57  
Cleaning the Housing ................................................................... 58  
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting ..................................... 59  
General Information ..................................................................... 59  
Problems / Solutions ..................................................................... 60  
Appendix A: Parts & Accessories ............................ 65  
Purchasing Parts & Accessories ................................................... 65  
Replacement Parts ........................................................................ 66  
Accessories ................................................................................... 67  
Index .......................................................................... 91  
6 Microline 490/491 User’s Guide  
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Chapter 1: Introduction  
Printer Features  
Oki Data on the Internet  
• Super reliable, durable operation: 20,000 hours Mean Time  
Between Failures (MTBF) at 25% duty cycle and 35% page  
density  
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.  
• Advanced paper handling, with built-in rear push tractor and  
zero-tear forms capability.  
You may reach Oki Data via the Internet at:  
• Blazing print speeds, in characters per second  
(depending on characters per inch selected):  
my.okidata.com  
High Speed Draft Mode: 420 cps (10 cpi)  
Utility Mode: 269 to 472 cps  
Letter Quality Mode: 105 to 220 cps  
• This rugged 24-pin printer can meet the needs of harsh and  
demanding environments.  
7
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Chapter 2: Helpful Hints  
Saving Money: Forms Tear-Off  
Saving Time  
The Forms Tear-Off feature allows a printed continuous forms  
page to be torn off without wasting paper or adjusting the  
printer.  
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.  
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.  
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 remains in the tear-off position until the printer receives  
more data. Then, the paper moves back down for printing.  
Paper Park  
Note: This feature is normally turned off.  
Your printer’s paper park feature allows you to print a single  
sheet (cut-sheet) page without removing continuous feed paper  
from the printer.  
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: Using Your Printer.  
For more information, see “Paper Park” in Chapter 3: Using  
Your Printer.  
8
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Turning the Platen Knob  
Operation Tips  
Top of Form (TOF)  
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.  
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.  
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.  
The first line prints at the red line of the plastic paper shield (1)  
on the printhead.  
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: Using Your Printer.  
For more information, see “Top of Form (TOF)” in Chapter 3.  
Helpful Hints 9  
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Chapter 3: Using Your Printer  
Note: For rear feed, the paper lever must be forward.  
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  
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Note: For single-sheet printing, the paper lever must be in the  
middle position.  
Parts Identification: Top Feed  
(Single Sheets)  
Paper Guides  
Sheet Guide  
Paper Lever  
On-Off Switch  
Platen Knob  
Control Panel  
Acoustic Cover (open)  
Using Your Printer 11  
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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 softwares requirements.  
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!  
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).  
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 1/180 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.  
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To use the TEAR key:  
1 Make sure paper is loaded.  
Determining if Forms Tear-Off is Off or On  
There are two ways to determine the status of the Forms  
Tear-Off menu setting:  
2 Press TEAR (3).  
• If the paper moves up, Forms Tear-off is off.  
• If the paper moves down, Forms Tear-off is on.  
• Print the Menu.  
• Use the TEAR key.  
To print the Menu:  
1 Make sure paper is loaded.  
2 Hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1) to enter the Menu Mode.  
3 Press PARK (4) to print the menu.  
4 Look 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).  
Using Your Printer 13  
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With paper loaded and the printer on and selected:  
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!  
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).  
3 When 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.  
Note: The first line prints at the red line (1) of the plastic  
paper shield on the printhead.  
4 Press 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.  
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2 Press SHIFT (2) and QUIET/TOF (7) to reset the current TOF.  
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!  
3 Press FF/LOAD (4) to load the paper.  
4 Wait briefly until the paper moves up to the tear position,  
then press and hold TEAR (5).  
The paper moves to the current TOF.  
5 Keep holding TEAR, then press and hold SHIFT (2) and  
release TEAR.  
6 Continue 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).  
Note: The first line prints at the red line (1) of the plastic  
paper shield on the printhead.  
7 When 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.  
8 Press SEL/MENU (1) to save the setting and place the printer  
back on line.  
With paper loaded and the printer on and selected:  
Note: To reset the Top of Form to the factory default, see the  
next page.  
1 Press PARK (6) to park the paper.  
The SEL light goes off and the red alarm light comes on.  
Using Your Printer 15  
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Temporarily Changing the Top of Form  
Position  
Important  
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:  
1 Remove paper from the paper path.  
2 Turn the printer off.  
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!  
3 Press and hold PARK + QUIET/TOF while turning on the  
To move the Top of Form position lower for one page only:  
1 Press SEL to deselect the printer.  
printer.  
4 Reload paper.  
2 Press LF to lower the position of the Top of Form.  
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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.  
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).  
Do not use Forms Tear-Off with labels or multipart  
forms!  
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).  
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.  
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.  
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).  
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.  
Using Your Printer 17  
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Changing the Forms Tear-Off Setting  
Note: The default setting for Forms Tear-Off is OFF.  
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  
or  
• bottom-feed continuous forms loaded on the optional push  
tractor  
up to the tear off position manually by pressing TEAR (5).  
Paper Park  
To change the Forms Tear-Off setting:  
Important!  
1 Press SHIFT (2) + SEL (1).  
Never park labels!  
2 Press 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,  
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.  
3 Press ITEM (4) repeatedly until Form Tear-Off appears in the  
second column:  
Rear Feed  
Form Tear-Off  
Off  
4 Press SET (5) until the time interval you wish to select  
appears in the third column:  
Rear Feed  
Form Tear-Off  
1 Sec  
5 Press SHIFT (2) + SEL (1) to exit Menu Mode and save the  
setting.  
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4 Move the paper lever (1) to the middle position marked  
Changing Paper Paths  
“TOP.”  
Continuous Forms to Single Sheets  
1 Tear off any printed pages, then press PARK.  
2 Raise the sheet guide (1) to the single-sheet feed position.  
5 Adjust the paper guides (1) for the size paper you are using,  
then place a sheet of paper in the sheet guide.  
3 Pivot the wire feed guide into the sheet guide.  
Using Your Printer 19  
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4 Move the paper lever to the appropriate position.  
Single Sheets to Continuous Forms  
• Rear feed:  
1 Press FF/LOAD to remove the single-sheet paper.  
2 Lower the sheet guide into the continuous-forms position.  
• Bottom feed:  
3 Swing the wire feed guide over onto the pull-up roller.  
5 If necessary, load continuous-form paper.  
6 Press FF/LOAD.  
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To adjust the gap, open the access cover and move the blue  
lever (1) to the recommended setting from the table.  
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.  
Setting  
Media  
1
2
3
4
5
Regular paper  
2-part form (with carbon)  
3-part form (with carbon)  
4-part form (with carbon)  
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.  
Using Your Printer 21  
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Press PRINT QUALITY (1) to select:  
Print Quality  
LQ: Letter Quality  
[LQ light on]  
Important!  
Front panel settings for print quality and character pitch are  
normally overridden by software commands.  
• Highest quality, slowest speed  
• Choice of 7 typefaces  
Utility  
[UTILITY light on]  
• Medium quality, medium speed  
• Gothic typeface only  
HSD: High Speed Draft  
[LQ and UTILITY lights both on]  
• Lowest quality, highest speed  
• Gothic typeface only  
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Typefaces: LQ Mode  
Typeface  
Courier  
Gothic  
Lights on  
Important!  
LQ and COURIER  
Front panel settings for print quality and typeface are  
normally overridden by software commands.  
LQ and GOTHIC  
Orator  
LQ and ORATOR  
Prestige  
Roman  
Swiss  
LQ and PRESTIGE  
LQ, COURIER, and GOTHIC  
LQ, PRESTIGE and ORATOR  
LQ, COURIER and PRESTIGE  
Swiss Bold  
To select the typeface you wish to use, press PRINT QUALITY  
(1) until the appropriate front panel lights are on:  
Using Your Printer 23  
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Character Pitch  
Important!  
Front panel settings for character pitch are normally  
overridden by software commands.  
Character pitch determines how many characters will print on  
each line. You can choose a specific fixed width for each  
character of from 10 to 20 characters per inch (CPI). The  
higher cpi settings are often used for spreadsheets.  
In LQ mode, you can select proportional (PROP) which 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.  
Set the character pitch by pressing CHARACTER PITCH/RESET  
(1) until the LED beside the desired setting glows.  
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Printer Reset  
Emulations  
• Epson® LQ — factory setting  
• IBM® Proprinter  
Clearing some error conditions requires that you reset  
(reinitialize) the printer. To do this:  
• IBM® AGM  
1 Press and release SEL (1) to take the printer off-line.  
The SEL light goes out.  
Changing Emulations  
1 Make sure paper is loaded.  
2 Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press RESET/CHARACTER  
PITCH.  
2 Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1).  
Important!  
3 Press LF (3).  
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.  
The following line prints:  
Printer Control Emulation Mode EPSON LQ  
4 Press TEAR (4) repeatedly until the emulation you wish to  
select prints in the right-hand column.  
5 Press and hold SHIFT (2), then press SEL (1) to save your  
setting and exit the Menu Mode.  
Using Your Printer 25  
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Chapter 4: 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.  
GROUP Key  
Prints the next Group in the Menu.  
With the SHIFT key, prints the previous Group.  
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.  
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.  
Menu Mode Keys  
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.  
26  
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Entering and Exiting Menu Mode  
Printing the Menu Settings  
Printing the Current Menu Settings  
1 Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.  
To enter or exit the Menu Mode, hold SHIFT while pressing  
SEL.  
2 Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu  
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.  
Mode.  
3 Press 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:  
To reset the Menu to the standard settings (factory defaults):  
1 Turn the printer off.  
1 Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.  
2 Press SEL + LF while turning the printer on.  
2 Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu  
Mode.  
3 Press and hold SHIFT, then press PRINT QUALITY.  
Menu Mode 27  
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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.  
1 Press and hold SHIFT, then press SEL to enter the Menu  
Mode.  
2 Use the GROUP, ITEM and SET keys to make your changes:  
a Press GROUP until the Group you wish to change appears  
in the first column.  
b Press ITEM until the Item you wish to change appears in  
the second column.  
c Press SET until the setting you want appears in the third  
column.  
3 Press 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.  
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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  
EPSON LQ, IBM PPR, IBM AGM  
Font  
Print Mode  
LQ Courier, LQ Roman, LQ Swiss, LQ Swiss Bold, LQ Orator, LQ Gothic,  
LQ Prestige, Utility, HSD  
Pitch  
10 cpi, 12 cpi, 15 cpi, 17.1 cpi, 20 cpi  
No, Yes  
Proportional Spacing  
Style  
Size  
Normal, Italics  
Single, Double  
Symbol Sets  
Character Set  
Language Set  
Set I, Set II  
American, French, German, British, Danish I, Swedish, Italian, Spanish I,  
Japanese, Norwegian, Danish II, Spanish II, Latin American, French Canadian,  
Dutch, Publisher  
Zero Character  
Code Page  
Slashed, Unslashed  
USA, Canada French, Multilingual, Portugal, Norway, BRASCII, Abicomp,  
Multilingual 858, ISO 8859-15  
Menu Mode 29  
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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  
Page Width (wide model)  
Page Length  
No, Yes  
13.6", 8"  
11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.25", 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  
Page Width (wide model)  
Page Length  
No, Yes  
13.6", 8"  
11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.25", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"  
30 Microline 490/491 User’s Guide  
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Menu Settings Table (Continued)  
Group  
Item  
Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)  
Top Feed  
Line Spacing  
6 LPI, 8 LPI  
Form Tear-Off*  
Bottom Margin  
Page Width (wide model)  
Page Length  
Off, 500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec  
Valid, Invalid  
8", 13.6"  
11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3", 3.25", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"  
500 ms, 1 sec, 2 sec  
Wait Time  
Page Length Control  
by MENU Setting, by Actual Page Length  
Set-Up  
Graphics  
Bi-directional, Uni-directional  
1 Line, 32K, 64K, 128K  
No, Yes  
Receive Buffer Size  
Paper Out Override  
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.  
* Appears only when the optional Roll Paper Stand is installed.  
Menu Mode 31  
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Menu Settings Table (Continued)  
Group  
Item  
Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)  
Setup (cont.)  
Operator Panel Function  
Reset Inhibit  
Full Operation, Limited Operation  
No, Yes  
Print Suppress Effective  
Auto LF  
No, Yes  
No, Yes  
Auto CR*  
No, Yes  
CSF Bin Select†  
SI Select Pitch (10 cpi)*  
SI Select Pitch (12 cpi)*  
Time Out Print  
Bin 1, Bin 2  
15 cpi, 17.1 cpi  
12 cpi, 20 cpi  
Valid, Invalid  
Auto Select  
No, Yes  
Graphics Speed  
Centering Position  
CSF Type  
Low, High  
DEFAULT, MODE 1, MODE 2  
Wide, Narrow  
Power Saving  
Enable, Disable  
5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min  
Power Save Time  
* Appears only when the IBM emulation is selected.  
† Appears only when optional Cut Sheet Feeder is installed.  
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Menu Settings Table (Continued)  
Group  
Item  
Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)  
Parallel I/F  
I-Prime  
Buffer Print, Buffer Clear, Invalid  
Pin 18  
+5V, Open  
Auto Feed XT*  
Bi-Direction  
Parity  
Invalid, Valid  
Enable, Disable  
Serial IF†  
None, Odd, Even  
Serial Data 7/8 Bits  
Protocol  
8 Bits, 7 Bits  
Ready/Busy, X/On / X/Off  
Diagnostic Test  
Busy Line  
Baud Rate  
DSR Signal  
DTR Signal  
Busy Time  
No, Yes  
SSD-, SSD+, DTR, RTS  
19200 bps, 9600 bps, 4800 bps, 2400 bps, 1200 bps, 600 bps, 300 bps  
Valid, Invalid  
Ready on Power Up, Ready on Select  
200 ms, 1 sec.  
* Appears only when the Epson LQ emulation is selected.  
† Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.  
Menu Mode 33  
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Menu Settings Table (Continued)  
Group  
Item  
Settings (Defaults are set in bold italic)  
CSF Bin 1*  
Line Spacing  
6 LPI, 8 LPI  
Bottom Margin  
Page Width (Wide model)  
Page Length  
Valid, Invalid  
8", 13.6"  
11", 11-2/3", 12", 14", 17", 5", 3.5", 4", 5.5", 6", 7", 8", 8.5"  
6 LPI, 8 LPI  
CSF Bin 2*  
Line Spacing  
Bottom Margin  
Page Length  
Valid, Invalid  
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.  
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Auto Select, Default = No  
Explanations of Menu Items  
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.  
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.  
Auto CR, Default =No  
Bi-direction, Default = Enable  
Change this setting if you wish to disable bidirectional  
transmission (PnP) in Nibble mode.  
IBM 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.  
Bottom Margin, Default = Valid  
Change to Invalid if you want the printer to ignore the bottom  
margin setting.  
Auto LF, Default = No  
If your printout is consistently double spaced, select No; if it  
overprints, select Yes.  
CAUTION!!  
Auto Feed XT, Default = Invalid  
Setting the Bottom Margin to Invalid can cause loss of data  
and damage the printhead by allowing printing without paper.  
Epson 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.  
Menu Mode 35  
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Busy Line, Default = SSD-  
Code Page, Default = USA  
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:  
Choose the Code Page character set you wish to use: USA,  
Canada French, Multilingual, Portugal, Norway, BRASCII,  
Abicomp, Multilingual 858, or ISO 8859-15.  
• SSD -9V, select SSD-  
• SSD +9V, select SSD+  
• DTR -9V, select DTR  
• RTS -9V, select RTS  
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.  
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 ML491  
printer.  
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,  
Diagnostic Test, Default = No  
Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.  
Select yes to perform a diagnostic test of the serial interface.  
Centering Position, Default = DEFAULT  
Used to limit printhead travel when printing narrow columns.  
DSR Signal, Default = Valid  
• Select Mode 1 for the narrow carriage printer.  
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.  
• Select Mode 1 or Mode 2 for the wide carriage printer.  
Character Set, Default = IBM Set I  
Use this to switch character sets to IBM Set II  
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DTR Signal, Default = Ready on Power Up  
I-Prime, Default = Buffer Print  
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).  
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.  
Emulation Mode, Default = Epson LQ  
Selects the printer command set (emulation) you want to  
engage.  
• 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.  
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.  
Language Set, Default = American  
Replaces certain standard symbols with special characters used  
in foreign languages.  
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.  
Line Spacing, Default = 6 lpi  
Change to 8 lines per inch (lpi) to get more lines on a page.  
Graphics Speed, Default = Low  
Change to High for faster printing when optimum print quality  
is not an issue.  
Menu Mode 37  
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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.  
Page Width, Default = 8"  
Wide carriage model only. 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.  
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.  
Caution!!  
Engaging Paper Out Override can cause loss of data and  
damage the printhead by allowing printing without paper.  
Page Length, Default = 11"  
Parity, Default = None  
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.  
Appears only when the optional Serial Interface is installed.  
Selects the type of parity your system uses: None, Odd or  
Even.  
Page Length Control, Default = by Menu Setting  
Change the setting to “by Actual Page Length” if you wish to  
print on single-sheets longer than 17 inches. When “by Actual  
Page Length” is selected, the menu setting for Top Feed Page  
Length is ignored.  
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).  
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Power Save Time, Default = 5 min  
Proportional Spacing, Default = No  
Change the setting to Yes to engage proportional spacing of  
characters.  
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.  
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.  
Power Saving, Default = Enable  
Change to Disable if you wish to prevent the printer from  
entering the Power Save mode after the selected interval.  
Print Mode, Default = LQ Courier  
Receive Buffer Size, Default = 64K  
Choose the quality and typeface of printing.  
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.  
Print Registration, Default = 0  
Change the setting as required to obtain the best registration for  
bi-directional printing.  
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.  
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.  
Note: This will also prevent your software from clearing out  
existing settings when you finish printing one document  
and switch to another.  
Menu Mode 39  
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Serial Data 7/8 Bits, Default = 8 Bits  
Style, Default = Normal  
Appears only if the optional Serial Interface is installed.  
Change to 7 Bits if you systems uses a 7-bit data format.  
Change to italics if you want the printed characters to be  
slanted.  
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.  
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.  
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.  
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.  
Size, Default = Single  
Zero Character, Default = Slashed  
Change to Double for double width and height printing.  
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.  
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.  
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Chapter 5: Maintenance  
1 Make sure the printer is turned OFF.  
Replacing the Ribbon Cartridge  
Important!  
2 Open the access cover and center the printhead.  
Make sure you have the correct replacement ribbon for the  
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.  
41  
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CAUTION!  
The printhead may be HOT!  
5 Turn the take-up knob in the direction of the arrow to take  
up any ribbon slack.  
3 Swing the used ribbon cartridge up off the printhead, lift it  
out, and discard it.  
6 Close 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.  
4 Unpack the new ribbon cartridge and install it.  
Important!  
If ribbon should contact the skin  
Do not remove the ribbon shield (1) from the ribbon!  
Wash thoroughly with soap and water.  
For more information  
See the Material Safety Data Sheet in your Warranty,  
Regulatory, and Safety Information booklet.  
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Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Back of the Printer  
Loading Paper  
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.”  
Rear Feed  
Note: If you have any paper in the paper path, remove it  
before installing rear feed paper.  
1 Make sure the paper lever is forward (position marked  
“REAR”).  
Lock Lever  
Upper Tractor Cover  
Pins  
2 Open the access cover (1).  
Maintenance 43  
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3 Grasp the sheet guide. Lift it slightly, then slide it back.  
4 Pivot 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.  
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5 From the back of the printer, locate the tractors (1).  
6 Open 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:  
ML491  
ML490  
Note: The movement of the right tractor is limited to ensure  
that the paper covers the paper sensor.  
7 Open the tractor covers.  
Maintenance 45  
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8 Place continuous forms paper on the first two pins of either  
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.  
tractor.  
Important!  
Note: If the paper is too loose or too tight it can cause jams.  
You must keep the number of paper holes engaged on either  
pin the same. If you don’t the paper will skew and jam.  
9 Close the right tractor cover.  
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11 Lower the sheet guide and slide it toward the front of the  
12 Place the wire guide (“1” in the illustration for the step  
printer until the marks align.  
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 47  
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Loading Rear Feed Paper from the Front of the Printer  
2 Open the access cover (1).  
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  
3 Grasp the tabs and lift off the sheet guide.  
1 Make sure the paper lever is forward (position marked  
“REAR”).  
4 Pull up on the lock levers to release them.  
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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.  
7 Open the tractor covers and place continuous forms paper on  
the first two pins of either tractor, then close the left tractor  
cover.  
5 You will find reference marks (1 in illustration below) on the  
Important!  
printer for the two most common paper sizes:  
You must keep the number of paper holes engaged on either  
pin the same. If you don’t the paper will jam.  
ML490:  
ML491:  
6 Move 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.  
Maintenance 49  
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8 Adjust 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.  
9 Reinstall the sheet guide.  
Note: If the paper is too loose or too tight it can cause jams.  
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10Place the wire guide (1) in the sheet guide on the pull-up  
11 Press FF/LOAD.  
roller assembly.  
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 51  
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3 Open 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.  
1 Make sure the printer is on and deselected (SEL light off).  
2 Place the paper lever in the center position (marked “TOP”).  
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4 Adjust 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 53  
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4 Lift the sheet guide (1) and reload paper. Make sure you  
Clearing Paper Jams  
lock the tractor covers.  
Rear-Feed Paper Jams  
1 Turn off the printer.  
2 Use 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.  
5 Lower the sheet guide, then install the pull-up roller  
3 Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller  
assembly and close the access cover.  
assembly (2). Remove any torn pieces of paper.  
6 Turn on the printer and press FF/LOAD.  
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Bits of Paper Stuck in the Paper Path  
1 Turn off the printer.  
Rear-Feed, Repeating Paper Jams  
If the paper keeps jamming, you may have:  
2 Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the  
• defective paper  
printer.  
• misaligned paper  
CAUTION!  
• bits of paper stuck in the paper path  
Make sure the printer is turned off before you open the access  
cover.  
Defective Paper  
Replace the paper with a fresh stack.  
3 Open 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.  
Misaligned Paper  
1 Turn off the printer.  
2 Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the  
printer.  
3 Tear off a couple of sheets of paper, leaving a new, clean,  
square-cut edge.  
4 Reload the paper and turn the printer back on.  
Maintenance 55  
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4 Remove any torn pieces of paper.  
8 Load regular paper, close and lock the tractor covers.  
5 Fold 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.  
9 Install the sheet guide, then install the pull-up roller  
assembly and close the access cover.  
6 Use the platen knob to draw the quadruple-thick page  
around the platen. This brings out jammed pieces of paper.  
7 Remove the paper pieces. Then, use the platen knob to back  
the paper out.  
10 Turn the printer on and press FF/LOAD.  
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3 Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller  
Single-Sheet Paper Jams  
1 Turn off the printer.  
assembly (2).  
2 Use the platen knob to back the paper out.  
4 Remove any torn pieces from around the carriage.  
5 Reinstall the pull-up roller assembly and close the access  
cover.  
Maintenance 57  
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4 Use a clean, dry cloth to dust around the carriage shaft and  
Cleaning the Housing  
platen. Remove any loose bits of paper.  
You should clean the printer housing every six months (or after  
about 300 hours of operation).  
5 Reinstall the pull-up roller assembly and close the access  
cover.  
CAUTION!  
Never use strong solvents or strong detergents on the  
cabinet—they could damage the housing.  
1 Turn off the printer.  
2 Use 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.  
3 Open the access cover (1) and remove the pull-up roller  
assembly (2).  
58 Microline 490/491 User’s Guide  
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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting  
Note: Settings in your software application will normally  
General Information  
override any settings in your printer driver.  
Here are some general things to check before proceeding with  
detailed troubleshooting.  
Printer driver settings normally override settings from  
the printer menu or printer front panel.  
• 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?  
59  
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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.  
Problems / Solutions  
Problem  
My word processor files do not print the way I have the menu  
and front panel set.  
For more information on changing menu settings, see  
“Changing the Menu Settings” in Chapter 4.  
Solution  
Remember:  
Problem  
Nothing happens when I turn on the printer.  
• Settings in your software application can override settings in  
your printer driver.  
Solution  
Your printer driver settings can override any settings from the  
printer menu or printer front panel.  
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.  
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.  
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Problem  
Problem  
The printer does not print when the computer sends data.  
I'm getting strange symbols, incorrect fonts, etc., when I try to  
print a document.  
Solutions  
Solutions  
1 Is the SEL light on? If not, press the SEL key.  
1 Check to be sure that the printer driver you have selected in  
your software matches the printer emulation.  
2 Check that the interface cable is securely connected to both  
the printer and the computer.  
• Press SHIFT and SEL keys, then press GROUP key.  
3 If you have the optional serial interface board installed,  
check to be sure that it is firmly seated in the printer.  
• This will print a line showing the emulation you have  
selected.  
2 If you have embedded any printer commands in your  
software, check to be sure that you entered them correctly.  
Troubleshooting 61  
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Problem  
Problem  
Ink smears on the paper when I print narrow columns.  
I've installed a new ribbon and the printing is smeared and  
streaked.  
Solution  
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.”  
The ribbon shield (1) is either loose or missing.  
For the wide-carriage printer, if MODE 1 doesn't work, try  
setting the Centering Position to MODE 2.  
Remove the ribbon cartridge and check the ribbon shield.  
• If it is loose, secure it.  
• If it is missing, find it and install it.  
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Problem  
Problem  
There are dots missing in my printouts.  
The ALARM light is on and the Character Pitch 10 light is  
flashing.  
Solution  
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.  
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  
Problem  
The ALARM light is flashing.  
The ALARM light is on and the Character Pitch 15 light is  
flashing.  
Solution  
Try turning the printer off and then back on again. If the light  
still blinks, call for service.  
Solution  
This indicates a paper jam. Press the SEL key and correct the  
paper jam situation. See “Clearing Paper Jams,” in Chapter 4.  
Troubleshooting 63  
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Problem  
Problem  
The printer needs paper. The ALARM is not on. I cant load  
paper.  
The Print Quality and Character Pitch keys on the front panel  
don't work.  
Solution  
Solution  
1 Press and release the SEL key.  
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.  
2 Press and hold the SHIFT key and press the RESET /  
CHARACTER PITCH key.  
3 The ALARM light comes on and you can now load paper.  
Check with your system manager before changing any menu  
settings.  
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.  
64 Microline 490/491 User’s Guide  
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Appendix A: Parts & Accessories  
• In the United States, purchase directly from Oki Data  
Purchasing Parts & Accessories  
- Via the Internet  
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.  
- Via telephone  
• Consult the dealer where your purchased your printer.  
Order toll-free by phone at 1-800-654-3282  
(1-800-OKI-DATA) using VISA®, MasterCard®, or  
AmEx®.  
• Locate an Authorized Oki Data Reseller by visiting one of  
our web sites  
http://my.okidata.com (allows you to register your  
• In Canada, call 888-309-4570.  
product and personalize your own support needs)  
http://www.okidata.com (provides general information)  
65  
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Item  
Part Number  
Replacement Parts  
Both Models  
Ribbon Cartridge ( ) ------------------------------- 42377801  
Platen Knob ( ) ------------------------------------- 51902220  
Power Cord ( ) ------------------------------------- 56631801  
Model ML490  
Printhead ( ) ---------------------------------------- 42124201  
Access Cover ( ) ----------------------------------- 42115401  
Sheet Guide ( ) ------------------------------------- 51009509  
Pull-Up Roller Assembly ( ) --------------------- 42044701  
Model ML491  
Printhead ( ) ---------------------------------------- 42124201  
Access Cover ( ) ----------------------------------- 42115301  
Sheet Guide ( ) ------------------------------------- 51009410  
Pull-Up Roller Assembly ( ) --------------------- 42045701  
66 Microline 490/491 User’s Guide  
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Accessories  
Option  
Part Number  
Model ML490  
Pull Tractor, Top-Mount ( )----------------------- 70030501  
Push Tractor, Bottom-Mount ( ) ----------------- 70030701  
Roll Paper Stand ( ) ------------------------------- 70023301  
Model ML491  
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  
Accessories 67  
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Appendix B: Printer Control Codes  
This section lists the most commonly used printer control  
codes.  
Epson LQ Commands  
You will find a comprehensive listing of the control codes  
(English only), on your Printer CD.  
Epson Command  
Backspace  
ASCII  
BS  
Decimal  
8
To access it:  
Cancel  
CAN  
24  
1 Place the CD in your CD-ROM drive and wait for it to  
AutoPlay.  
Carriage Return,  
Execute  
CR  
13  
2 Select your printer model, then click Continue.  
3 Click Documentation and follow the on-screen prompts to  
Character Pitch  
view the file.  
Select 10 cpi  
Select 12 cpi  
Select 15 cpi  
Begin 10 cpi  
ESC P  
ESC M  
ESC g  
27 80  
27 77  
27 103  
ESC SI, or SI 27 15, or 15  
Cancel Condensed  
Print  
DC2 18  
68  
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Epson LQ Commands (Continued)  
Epson Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Enhanced Print On  
Enhanced Print Off  
ESC G  
ESC H  
27 71  
27 72  
Epson Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Character Style  
Italic Printing On  
Italic Printing Off  
ESC 4  
ESC 5  
27 52  
27 53  
Normal  
ESC q 0  
ESC q 1  
ESC q 2  
ESC q 3  
27 113 48  
27 113 49  
27 113 50  
27 113 51  
Outline  
Form Feed  
FF  
12  
Shadow  
Form Length  
Outline with Shadow  
n Inches (n = 1 to 22)  
n Lines (n = 1 to 127)  
ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n  
Delete  
DEL  
127  
ESC C n  
27 67 n  
Double Height On  
ESC w 1  
27 119 49  
or ESC US 0 or 27 31 48  
ESC w 0 27 119 48  
or ESC US 1 or 27 31 49  
Horizontal Tab  
Initialize Printer  
Justification  
HT  
9
Double Height Off  
ESC @  
27 64  
Double Width On  
Double Width Off  
ESC W 1  
ESC W 0  
27 87 49  
27 87 48  
Left  
ESC a 0  
ESC a 1  
ESC a 2  
ESC a 3  
27 97 48  
27 97 49  
27 97 50  
27 97 51  
Center  
Right  
Full  
Double Width  
for One Line  
SO  
or ESC SO  
14  
or 27 14  
Emphasized Print On  
Emphasized Print Off  
ESC E  
ESC F  
27 69  
27 70  
Control Codes 69  
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Epson LQ Commands (Continued)  
Epson Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Margins  
Epson Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Set Left Margin  
(n = 0 to 255)  
Line Feed, Execute  
ESC 1 n  
ESC Q n  
27 108 n  
27 81 n  
Set Right Margin  
(n = 0 to 255)  
w/ Carriage Return  
n/180" (n = 0 to 255)  
n/360" (n = 0 to 255)  
LF  
10  
ESC J n  
ESC ] n  
27 74 n  
27 93 n  
Paper Out Sensor  
Reverse, n/180"  
(n = 0 to 255)  
Disabled (Off)  
Enabled (On)  
ESC 8  
ESC 9  
27 56  
27 57  
ESC j n  
27 106 n  
Line Spacing, Set  
n/360" (n = 0 to 255)  
Print Quality/Font  
ESC + n  
27 43 n  
or ESC [ n  
or 27 91 n  
Select LQ  
ESC x 1  
ESC x 0  
27 120 49  
27 120 48  
27 107 48  
27 107 49  
27 107 50  
27 107 51  
27 107 55  
Select Utility  
n/180" (n = 0 to 255)  
ESC 3 n  
ESC A n  
ESC 2  
27 51 n  
27 65 n  
27 50  
Select Roman (LQ only) ESC k 0  
Select Swiss (LQ only) ESC k 1  
n/60" (n = 0 to 127)  
1/6"  
1/8"  
Select Courier (LQ only) ESC k 2  
Select Prestige (LQ only) ESC k 3  
Select Orator (LQ only) ESC k 7  
ESC 0  
27 48  
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Epson LQ Commands (Continued)  
Epson Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Underline On  
Underline Off  
ESC - 1  
ESC - 0  
27 45 49  
27 45 48  
Epson Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Print Speed  
Uni-Directional Printing  
Half-Speed On  
Half-Speed Off  
ESC s 1  
ESC s 0  
27 115 49  
27 115 48  
One Line Only  
ESC <  
27 60  
On  
ESC U 1  
ESC U 0  
27 85 49  
27 85 48  
Print Suppress Mode On  
DC3  
19  
17  
Off  
Print Suppress Mode Off DC1  
Upper Range Control Codes  
Proportional Spacing On ESC p 1  
Proportional Spacing Off ESC p 0  
27 112 49  
27 112 48  
Permit Printing  
Cancel Printing  
ESC 6  
ESC 7  
27 54  
27 55  
Skip Over Perforation ON ESC N n  
(n = 1 to 127)  
27 78 n  
Vertical Tab, Execute  
VT  
11  
Skip Over Perforation OFF ESC O  
27 79  
Software I-Prime  
Subscript On  
ESC } NUL  
27 125 0  
27 83 49  
27 83 48  
27 84  
ESC S 1  
ESC S 0  
Superscript On  
Subscript/Superscript Off ESC T  
Control Codes 71  
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IBM Proprinter X24e / XL24e and  
IBM X24e AGM / XL24e AGM  
Commands  
IBM Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Double Width  
On  
ESC W 1  
ESC W 0  
SO  
27 87 49  
27 87 48  
14  
Off  
for One Line  
IBM Command  
Backspace  
ASCII  
BS  
Decimal  
Emphasized Printing On  
ESC E  
27 69  
27 70  
8
Emphasized Printing Off ESC F  
Cancel  
CAN  
CR  
24  
13  
Enhanced Printing On  
Enhanced Printing Off  
ESC G  
ESC H  
27 71  
27 72  
Carriage Return  
Character Pitch, Select  
Form Feed  
FF  
12  
10 cpi  
12 cpi  
15 cpi  
DC2  
18  
Form Length  
ESC :  
ESC g  
27 58  
27 103  
n inches  
n = 1 to 255  
ESC C NUL n 27 67 0 n  
Condensed Print  
Character Style  
ESC SI, or SI 27 15, or 15  
n lines  
n = 1 to 255  
ESC C n  
27 67 n  
9
Normal  
ESC q 0  
ESC q 1  
ESC q 2  
ESC q 3  
27 113 48  
27 113 49  
27 113 50  
27 113 51  
Horizontal Tab, Execute HT  
IBM Character Set  
Outline  
Shadow  
Select Set I  
Select Set II  
ESC 7  
ESC 6  
27 55  
27 54  
Outline with Shadow  
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IBM Commands (continued)  
IBM Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Line Spacing  
IBM Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Set Spacing to 1/8"  
Set Spacing to 7/72"  
ESC 0  
ESC 1  
27 48  
27 49  
Print One Character from  
IBM Set III  
(n = 0 to 255)  
Set to n/60": AGM only  
(n = 1 to 255)  
ESC ^ n  
27 94 n  
ESC A n  
ESC A n  
ESC 2  
27 65 n  
27 65 n  
27 50  
Italic Printing On  
Italic Printing Off  
ESC % G  
ESC % H  
27 37 71  
27 37 72  
Set to n/72": PPR only  
(n = 1 to 255)  
Activate Spacing Set  
by ESC A n  
Line Feed, Execute  
w/ Carriage Return  
LF  
10  
Set to n/180": AGM only  
(n= 1 to 255)  
n/180" AGM only  
(n = 1 to 255)  
ESC 3 n  
27 51 n  
ESC J n  
27 74 n  
Set to n/216": PPR only  
(n= 1 to 255)  
n/216" PPR only  
(n = 0 to 255)  
ESC 3 n  
27 51 n  
ESC J n  
ESC% 4 n  
ESC ]  
27 74 n  
27 37 52 n  
27 93  
Set to n/360" (n= 1 to 255)ESC % 8 n  
27 37 56 n  
n/360" (n = 0 to 255)  
Reverse  
Overscore On  
Overscore Off  
ESC _ 1  
ESC _ 0  
27 95 49  
27 95 48  
Auto Line Feed On  
Auto Line Feed Off  
ESC 5 1  
ESC 5 0  
27 53 49  
27 53 48  
Control Codes 73  
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IBM Commands (Continued)  
IBM Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
Skip Over Perforation On  
(n = 1 to 255)  
IBM Command  
ASCII  
Decimal  
ESC N n  
27 78 n  
27 79  
Paper Out Sensor Off  
Paper Out Sensor On  
ESC 8  
ESC 9  
27 56  
27 57  
Skip Over Perforation Off ESC 0  
Software I-Prime  
Stop Printing  
ESC } NUL  
27 125 0  
27 106  
Print Quality / Font  
ESC j  
Select LQ Roman  
Select LQ Swiss  
Select LQ Courier  
Select LQ Prestige  
Select LQ Orator  
ESC k 0  
ESC k 1  
ESC k 2  
ESC k 3  
ESC k 7  
27 107 48  
27 107 49  
27 107 50  
27 107 51  
27 107 55  
Subscript On  
ESC S 1  
ESC S 0  
27 83 49  
27 83 48  
27 84  
Superscript On  
Subscript/Superscript Off ESC T  
Top of Form,  
Set at Current Position  
ESC 4  
27 52  
Print Suppress Mode On  
ML490  
Underline Printing On  
Underline Printing Off  
ESC - 1  
ESC - 0  
27 45 49  
27 45 48  
ESC Q $  
ESC Q #  
27 81 36  
27 81 35  
ML491  
Uni-Directional Print On ESC U 1  
Uni-Directional Print Off ESC U 0  
27 85 49  
27 85 48  
Print Suppress Mode Off DC1  
17  
Proportional Spacing On ESC P 1  
Proportional Spacing Off ESC P 0  
27 80 49  
27 80 48  
Vertical Tab, Execute  
VT  
11  
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Appendix C: Specifications  
Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
Receive Buffer Size  
Maximum 128K  
Print Method  
Impact dot matrix  
Reliability  
Ribbon Life  
4 million characters, on average, 10 cpi utility  
Printhead Life  
200 million characters average in 10 cpi draft mode at 25%  
Printhead  
24 pins, 0.20 mm (0.0079") diameter, with thermal  
protection  
Interfaces  
Standard: Centronics parallel, IEEE-1284 compliant  
duty and 35% page density  
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)  
USB 1.1  
20,000 hours at 25% duty cycle and 35% page density  
Optional: RS-232C Serial  
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)  
Ethernet Print Servers:  
15 minutes  
6120i 10/100 Base-TX Internal  
6020e 10/100 Base-T External  
6010e 10 Base-T External  
75  
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Emulations (co-resident)  
• Epson LQ  
Characters per Line (cpl)  
Setting  
10 cpi  
12 cpi  
15 cpi  
17.1 cpi  
20 cpi  
ML490  
ML491  
136 cpl  
163 cpl  
204 cpl  
233 cpl  
272 cpl  
• IBM Proprinter X24e / XL24e  
• IBM X24e AGM / XL24e AGM  
80 cpl  
96 cpl  
Print Speed  
120 cpl  
137 cpl  
160 cpl  
Mode  
Pitch  
Speed  
High Speed Draft (HSD) 10 cpi*  
420 cps†  
Utility  
10 cpi  
12 cpi  
15 cpi  
17.1 cpi  
20 cpi  
315 cps  
378 cps  
472 cps  
269 cps  
315 cps  
Graphics Resolution  
360 x 360 dpi maximum (24-dot, hex density)  
Paper Thickness: Tractor Feed  
Letter Quality (LQ)  
10 cpi  
12 cpi  
15 cpi  
17.1 cpi  
20 cpi  
105 cps  
126 cps  
157 cps  
180 cps  
210 cps  
Rear Feed: 0.014" (0.36 mm) maximum  
Bottom Feed: 0.017" (0.44 mm) max.  
Requires optional push or pull tractor.  
* Characters per inch  
† Characters per second  
76 Microline 490/491 User’s Guide  
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Resident Fonts  
Resident Typefaces  
Print Quality  
Available Fonts  
Mode/Font  
Size: Style  
Letter Quality  
Courier, Gothic, Orator, Prestige,  
Roman, Swiss, Swiss Bold  
LQ Courier  
10 & 12 cpi: Normal, Superscript, Subscript  
Proportional: Normal, Superscript, Subscript  
8 point: Normal  
Utility  
Gothic  
Scalable: 11 to 64 points  
LQ Letter  
Gothic  
10 cpi, 12 cpi, Proportional: Normal  
Bar Codes  
• Code 39  
LQ Prestige  
LQ Orator  
LQ Roman  
10 cpi, 12 cpi, Proportional: Normal  
10 cpi, 12 cpi, Proportional: Normal  
• UPC A, UPC E  
• EAN 8, EAN 13  
• Interleaved 2 of 5  
• Code 128  
10 & 12 cpi: Normal, Superscript, Subscript  
Proportional & 8 point: Normal  
Scalable: 11 to 64 points  
• Postnet  
LQ Swiss  
10 & 12 cpi: Normal, Superscript, Subscript  
Proportional & 8 point: Normal  
Scalable: 11 to 64 points  
LQ Swiss Bold 10 cpi, 12 cpi, Proportional: Normal  
Utility Gothic 10 & 12 cpi: Normal, Superscript, Subscript  
HSD Gothic  
10 cpi: Normal  
Specifications 77  
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Paper Specifications: ML490  
Labels  
Feed: Bottom* Only  
Weight: Not applicable  
Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm)  
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)  
Envelopes, single feed  
Feed: Top Only  
Weight: Max. 24 lb.  
Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165 to 241 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)  
Envelopes, continuous feed, non-overlap  
Feed: Bottom* Only  
Weight: Max. 24 lb.  
Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165 to 241 mm)  
Carbonless continuous forms (orig. + 4 copies)  
Feed: Rear, Bottom*  
Weight: 9 to 11 lb.  
Card Stock  
Width Range: 3" to 10" (76 to 254 mm)  
Feed: Bottom*  
Weight: Max. 100 lb. Index (180 g/m2)  
Width Range: Not applicable  
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)  
* Bottom feed requires optional pull or push tractor  
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Paper Specifications: ML491  
Labels  
Feed: Bottom* Only  
Weight: Not applicable  
Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm)  
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)  
Envelopes, single feed  
Feed: Top Only  
Weight: Max. 24 lb.  
Width Range: 6.5" to 9.5" (165.1 to 241.3 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)  
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)  
Carbonless continuous forms  
Feed: Rear, Bottom*  
Weight: 9 to 11 lb.  
Card Stock  
Width Range: 3" to 16" (76.2 to 406.4 mm)  
Feed: Bottom* Only  
Weight: Max. 100 lb. Index (180 g/m2)  
Width Range: Not applicable  
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)  
* Bottom feed requires optional pull or push tractor  
Specifications 79  
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Environmental Requirements  
Physical Specifications  
Temperature  
Note: Height dimensions do not include the acoustic cover.  
Operating: 41 to 95°F (5 to 36°C)  
Storage: 14 to 122°F (-10 to 50°C)  
ML490  
Size (WxDxH): 17.1" x 16.1" x 6"  
(434 x 409 x 153 mm)  
Humidity  
Operating: 20 to 80% RH  
Storage: 5 to 95% RH  
Weight: 16.7 lbs. (7.6 kg)  
ML491  
Size (WxDxH): 23.1" x 16.1" x 6"  
(588 x 409 x 153 mm)  
Electrical Requirements  
• 120 volts ac, (+6%, -15%)  
50 or 60 Hz ( 2%)  
Weight: 21.1 lbs. (9.6 kg)  
78 W Typical, 10 W idle  
• 230 ac, (+15%, -14 %)  
50 or 60 Hz ( 2%)  
78 W Typical, 10 W idle  
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Appendix D: Installation  
Printer  
Location  
Ribbon Cartridge  
Power Cord  
• 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.  
81  
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1 Remove 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.  
3 Remove the shipping restraint from the pull-up roller  
assembly (1).  
2 Remove the printhead shipping restraint.  
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4 Use the tabs (1) to lift and remove the sheet guide, then  
5 Reinstall 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.  
remove the shipping restraint.  
Installation 83  
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CAUTION!  
The printhead may be HOT!  
Install the Ribbon Cartridge  
Important!  
3 Unpack the new ribbon cartridge and install it on the  
Make sure you have the correct replacement ribbon for the  
your printer. The wrong ribbon will not print when installed  
in your printer.  
printhead.  
Important!  
Do not remove the ribbon shield (1) from the ribbon!  
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.  
1 Make sure the printer is turned OFF.  
2 Open the access cover and center the printhead (1).  
4 Turn the take-up knob (1) in the direction of the molded-in  
arrow to take up any ribbon slack.  
5 Close the access cover and turn the printer on.  
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Power Connection  
Computer Connections  
1 Make sure both the printer and the computer are OFF.  
Parallel (LPT): IEEE 1284  
• Requires bidirectional cable, max. length 6 ft. (1.8 m), not  
supplied.  
2 Plug the power cord into the back of the printer, then into a  
grounded outlet.  
• Printer has 36-pin socket  
1 Make sure the printer and computer are both turned off.  
2 Attach a suitable bidirectional cable to the parallel connector  
on the back of the printer. Then attach and secure the cable  
to your computer.  
3 Turn on the printer.  
3 Turn the printer and computer back on.  
Installation 85  
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USB: Specification 1.1 Compliant  
• Requires USB 1.1 cable, maximum length 19.7 ft. (5 m), not  
supplied.  
Loading Paper  
For instructions on loading paper, see “Loading Paper” in  
Chapter 5.  
• Printer has USB “B” receptacle.  
1 Make sure the printer and computer are both turned off.  
2 Attach a suitable USB cable to the printer. Then attach the  
cable to your computer.  
3 Turn the computer and printer back on.  
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The Font Sample Test prints a sample of the fonts standard to  
the printer.  
Testing the Printer  
• Font Sample Test  
The top of the printout shows the Printer Model, Emulation,  
Country Code, Interface, and Firmware Revision Level.  
• Rolling ASCII Test  
• Hexadecimal Dump Mode  
1 Make sure paper is loaded.  
2 Turn off the printer.  
Font Sample Test  
3 Press and hold the LF key while turning the printer back on.  
The printer prints a page of font samples and the test ends.  
Important!  
Wide carriage Model ML491: 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.  
Installation 87  
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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).  
Rolling ASCII Test  
The top of the printout shows the Printer Model, Emulation,  
Country Code, and Firmware Revision Level.  
1 Make sure continuous forms paper is loaded.  
2 Turn the printer off.  
3 Press 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.)  
Important!  
The printer prints the rolling ASCII text page after page.  
Wide carriage Model ML491: 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.  
4 Press SEL to end the test.  
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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.  
Emulations  
The factory default emulation for your printer is Epson® LQ.  
If you wish to change to one of the IBM emulations, see  
“Changing Emulations” in Chapter 3.  
For example, the following line of BASIC code  
LPRINT CHR$ (27);”0”;CHR$ (30);”This is an  
example of a hexadecimal dump.”  
Printer Drivers  
would print like this:  
Note: In the ASCII format, all non-printable characters will be  
represented by a period.  
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.  
To engage the Hexadecimal Dump Mode:  
1 Make sure paper is loaded.  
2 Turn off the printer.  
3 Hold the SEL and FF/LOAD keys for several seconds while  
turning on the printer.  
To exit the Hexadecimal Dump Mode:  
• Press the SEL key  
or  
• Turn the printer off, then on again.  
Installation 89  
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Loading the OKI Driver  
Using a Compatible Driver  
Parallel Interface  
1 Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive.  
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.  
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.  
Epson LQ  
2 Select your printer model.  
• Epson LQ 870/1170  
• Epson LQ 80/1000  
• Epson LQ 2500  
3 When the Menu Installer window appears, click the Printer  
Software button.  
4 Follow the on-screen instructions.  
IBM Proprinter  
USB Interface  
1 Turn the printer on.  
• IBM Proprinter X24e/XL24e  
• IBM Proprinter X24/XL24  
• IBM Proprinter  
The Windows Add New Hardware Wizard window displays.  
2 Click Next.  
IBM X24e AGM/XL24e AGM  
3 Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive.  
Use this emulation only when you’ve selected an IBM  
Proprinter X24e/XL24e driver and you need to use Epson  
Letter Quality (LQ) high density graphics.  
4 Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software for  
your printer model.  
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Index  
A
C
E
Accessories ............................................. 67  
Alignment problems ................................. 9  
ASCII Test .............................................. 88  
Auto Carriage return............................... 35  
Auto LF (Line Feed)........................32, 35  
Auto Select ............................................. 32  
Carbonless continuous forms ..........78, 79  
Card Stock .......................................78, 79  
Centering printhead position ..................62  
Character Pitch ....................................... 38  
Selecting ............................................24  
Character Set ...................................29, 36  
Character Width......................................38  
Characters Per Second (CPS) ................... 7  
Code Page Character Set ........................36  
Codes, Printer Control ............................ 68  
Commands  
Electrical Requirements..........................80  
Emulations ................................25, 29, 89  
Changing............................................25  
Matching the printer driver ................ 61  
Mode ...........................................29, 37  
Envelopes ........................................78, 79  
Environmental Requirements ................. 80  
Epson LQ Commands ......................68–71  
B
Bar Codes ............................................... 77  
Bi-directional printing .....................31, 39  
Bottom Feed ....................................78, 79  
Form Tear-Off .................................... 30  
Line Spacing ......................................30  
Skip Over Perforation ........................ 30  
Buffer  
Epson LQ .....................................68–71  
IBM Proprinter ............................72–81  
Control Codes .........................................68  
Cut Sheet Feeder.....................................67  
Clearing ............................................. 37  
Receive Buffer Size ........................... 75  
91  
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Limited Operation ......................9, 38, 64  
Line Spacing ...........................................37  
Bottom Feed ......................................30  
Rear Feed ...........................................30  
Top Feed ............................................31  
F
H
Factory defaults, menu mode ................. 27  
Font Sample Test .................................... 87  
Fonts  
Height, double height printing ............... 40  
Hex Dump Mode ....................................89  
Humidity .................................................80  
Embedded Printer Commands ........... 61  
Resident ............................................. 77  
Selecting ............................................39  
Forms Tear-Off ....................................... 37  
Changing............................................18  
Top of Form ................................12, 17  
Wait Time........................................... 40  
Front Panel  
I
M
I-Prime ......................................33, 37, 60  
IBM  
Margin, Bottom ...............................31, 35  
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)  
7, 75  
Character Set......................................36  
Commands ...................................72–81  
Emulation...........................................29  
Initialization string..................................60  
Interleaf Continuous Forms ....................79  
Interleaf continuous forms...................... 78  
Interleaved 2 of 5....................................77  
Italics ...............................................29, 40  
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) ............... 75  
Memory, receive buffer size ...................75  
MENU light ............................................26  
Menu Mode ............................................26  
Changing Settings .............................. 28  
Entering ............................................. 27  
Exiting ............................................... 27  
Front Panel keys ................................26  
Group .................................................26  
Item .................................................... 26  
MENU light ....................................... 26  
Printing the Menu Settings ................ 27  
Reset to factory defaults ....................27  
Settings Table ...............................29–41  
Keys ..................................................... 9  
Menu Mode........................................ 26  
G
Gothic font .............................................. 77  
Graphics  
L
Printing .............................................. 37  
Bi-directional ................................31  
Uni-directional .............................. 31  
Resolution .......................................... 76  
GROUP, Menu Mode ............................. 26  
Labels ..............................................78, 79  
Language ................................................29  
Length, Page  
Rear Feed ...........................................30  
Top Feed ............................................31  
Lights, Front Panel ................................. 23  
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Paper Jams ..............................................63  
Continuous feed ................................. 64  
Rear Feed ...........................................54  
Rear Feed, repetitive ..........................55  
Single Sheet ....................................... 57  
Paper Lever............................................. 63  
Paper Out ................................................64  
Paper Park...............................................18  
Paper Path, switching .............................19  
Parallel Interface.....................................33  
I-PRIME Signal ................................. 60  
Parts, replacement, purchasing ............... 65  
Perforation, skip over ......................30, 40  
Pitch, character ................................29, 38  
Platen knob part number ........................66  
Postnet ....................................................77  
Power rating.............................................. 3  
PRINT, Menu Mode ...............................26  
Print Method ...........................................75  
Print Mode .......................................29, 39  
Print Registration .............................31, 39  
Print Server Option ................................. 67  
Print Servers ...........................................67  
Print Size ................................................76  
Print Speed.........................................7, 76  
Print start position, reset to default ......... 16  
Print Suppress ..................................32, 39  
Printer Control Codes .............................68  
Printer Drivers  
O
matching the emulation ..................... 61  
Selecting ............................................89  
Printer Parameters .................................. 26  
Printhead .................................................75  
Centering position.............................. 36  
Life..................................................... 75  
Replacement Part No. ........................ 66  
Printhead Gap  
Definition ...........................................21  
Setting ................................................ 21  
Proportional Spacing .......................29, 39  
Proprinter Commands.......................72–81  
Pull Tractor ............................................. 67  
Push Tractor ............................................67  
Operator Panel Function......................... 64  
Options, purchasing ................................65  
Orator font .............................................. 77  
P
Page Length  
Rear Feed ........................................... 30  
Top Feed ............................................31  
Page Width.............................................. 38  
Bottom Feed ......................................30  
Rear Feed ........................................... 30  
Setting in the Printer Menu .........31, 38  
Top Feed ............................................31  
Paper  
R
Cut Sheet............................................67  
Paper Out Override .....................31, 38  
Single Sheet ....................................... 52  
Static ..................................................64  
Thickness ........................................... 76  
Weight ................................................ 79  
Widths ................................................ 79  
Setting in the Printer Menu ....31, 38  
Rear Feed  
Continuous Forms.............................. 10  
Form Tear-Off .............................30, 31  
Jams, Repetitive ................................. 55  
Line Spacing ......................................30  
Paper Jam ...........................................54  
Skip Over Perforation ........................ 30  
Receive Buffer Size ................................75  
Reliability ............................................... 75  
Replacement Parts .................................. 65  
Index 93  
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Resolution (Graphics)............................. 76  
Ribbon Cartridge  
Standard Character Set ........................... 29  
Static charges and paper .........................64  
Symbol Sets .....................................29, 37  
Resident ............................................. 77  
Selecting .....................................23, 39  
Software commands ..........................23  
Replacement Part No. ........................ 66  
Replacing ........................................... 41  
Ribbon Shield ...........................42, 62, 84  
Roll Paper Stand ..................................... 67  
RS-232C Serial Interface........................ 75  
T
U
TEAR  
Uni-directional printing, graphics .......... 31  
Utility  
Front Panel key ..................................18  
TEAR feature .....................................17  
Temperature Specifications ....................80  
Tests  
Front Panel Light ...............................77  
Print Speeds ......................................... 7  
Utility Mode Print Quality ................. 22  
S
Security. control printer access ................. 9  
Self Tests................................................. 87  
Serial Interface Option ....................61, 67  
Server, Print Option ................................67  
Set, Menu Mode ..................................... 26  
Sheet Guide ............................................64  
SI......................................................32, 40  
Single Sheet  
Cut Sheet Feeder Option....................67  
Jams ................................................... 57  
Loading .............................................. 52  
Skip Over Perforation ............................. 30  
Software  
ASCII Test .........................................88  
Font Sample Test ...............................87  
Hex Dump..........................................89  
Thickness, Paper .....................................76  
Time Out ..........................................32, 40  
Top Feed ...........................................78–81  
Bottom Margin...................................31  
Line Spacing ......................................31  
Pull Tractor ........................................67  
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 ................................................29  
W
Wait Time ........................................31, 40  
Weight, Paper ......................................... 79  
Width  
Character ............................................38  
Double width printing........................ 40  
Page  
Bottom Feed.................................. 30  
Rear Feed ......................................30  
Top Feed........................................ 31  
Paper ..................................................79  
Embedded commands........................ 61  
Matching drivers to emulations ......... 61  
Software vs. printer settings ..............60  
Specifications ......................................... 75  
Speed, print, graphics ............................. 37  
Z
Zero character (slashed, unslashed).29, 40  
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