Epson Lq 2180 User Guide

							1-14      Setting Up the Printer
Connecting the Printer to Your Computer 
To connect your computer to your printer’s built-in parallel 
interface, you need a shielded, twisted-pair parallel cable with a 
D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector for your computer and a 36-pin 
Centronics
® compatible connector for the printer.
If your computer requires a different type of printer interface, you 
should be able to use one of the optional interfaces described on 
page A-3.
Follow the steps below to connect the printer to your computer 
using the built-in parallel interface.
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off. The 
printer is off when the surface of the Operate
 button is even 
with the button protectors.
2. Plug the cable connector securely into the printer’s interface 
connector, and squeeze the wire clips together until they lock 
in place on both sides of the connector. 
						

							1
Setting Up the Printer      1-15
3. If your cable has a ground wire, connect it to the printer’s 
ground connector as shown below.
4. Plug the other end of the cable into the computer. (If the cable 
has a ground wire at the computer end, attach it to the ground 
connector at the back of the computer.)
After you connect the printer to your computer, install the printer 
software as described in the next section.
Installing the Printer Software
After connecting the printer to your computer, you need to install 
the software included on the EPSON printer software CD-ROM 
shipped with your printer.
Your printer software includes:
oPrinter driver
The printer driver is the software that runs, or drives, your 
printer. With it, you can make settings such as print quality, 
resolution, and paper size.
oEPSON Status Monitor 2 (Windows 95/98 only)
The EPSON Status Monitor 2 notifies you of printer errors 
and displays printer status information.
oEPSON Remote! (Dos-based printer setup utility)
The EPSON Remote! Utility allows you to easily change the 
printer’s default settings from the computer screen. To use 
the EPSON Remote! Utility with DOS, see page 4-22.
If you are using DOS, see  For DOS programs on page 1-18. 
						

							1-16      Setting Up the Printer
If you are using the floppy disk version of the software, make a 
backup copy of the EPSON printer software disk before you 
begin installation. If you wish to make a floppy disk version of 
the printer software on your CD-ROM, you can use the Driver 
disk creation utility included on the CD. See Installing in 
Windows 95, 98, and NT4.0 or Installing in Windows 3.1 and 
NT 3.5x in this Chapter.
Installing in Windows 95, 98, and NT 4.0
Follows these steps below to install the printer software for 
Windows 95, 98, or Windows NT 4.0:
Note:
Installing the printer software for Window NT 4.0 may require network 
administration privileges. Ask your network administrator for more 
information.
1. Insert the printer software CD shipped with your printer in 
the CD-ROM drive. The Install dialog box appears. (For 
floppy disk users, insert disk in a disk drive, then double-click 
the FD drive icon and double-click the Setup.exe icon.)
2. Click Install to start the printer software installation.
Note:
o
If the New Hardware Found screen or any other Wizard appears 
when you turn on your computer, click Cancel
 and follow the 
steps above.
o
Installation time varies depending on your computer.
o
If you wish to make a floppy disk version of the printer software 
included on your CD-ROM, run EPSETUP program. In the dialog 
box that appears, click the Driver disk creation utility button and 
follow the on-screen instruction.
For information on opening and using the software, see Using 
the Printer Software in Chapter 4. See also Using EPSON Status 
Monitor 2 in Chapter 6. 
						

							1
Setting Up the Printer      1-17
Installing in Windows 3.1 and NT 3.5x
Follows these steps below to install the printer software for 
Windows 3.1 or Windows NT 3.5x:
Note:
Installing the printer software for Window NT 3.5x may require 
network administration privileges. Ask your network administrator for 
more information.
1. Make sure Windows is running and the Program Manager 
window is open.
2. Insert the printer software CD shipped with your printer in 
the CD-ROM drive. (If you use the floppy disk version, insert 
it in a disk drive.)
3. Choose Run from the File menu. You see the Run dialog box. 
In the Command Line box, type D:SETUP and click 
OK. If the 
CD-ROM drive has a drive letter other than D, or if you are 
using the floppy disk version, substitute the appropriate 
letter.
Note:
If you wish to make a floppy disk version of the printer software included 
on your CD-ROM, type EPSETUP instead of SETUP. In the dialog 
box that appears, click the Driver disk creation utility button and follow 
the on-screen instruction.
4. The installation program begins copying the printer software 
files.
5. When the installation is complete, click 
OK to exit the 
installation program. 
						

							1-18      Setting Up the Printer
The installation program automatically selects this printer as the 
default printer for Windows applications.
For information on opening and using the software, see Using 
the Printer Software in Chapter 4.
For DOS programs 
To control the printer from DOS application programs, you need 
to select the printer you are using or another available printer 
from the printer list of your application.
Choose the EPSON LQ-2180 printer at the appropriate step in the 
setup or installation procedure of your DOS application program. 
If the list in your application does not include the LQ-2180 printer, 
choose the first available printer from this list:
LQ-2170/LQ-2070
LQ-1070/1070+
LQ-870/1170
LQ-850+/1050+
LQ-850/1050
LQ-510/550/1010
LQ-200
LQ-500
LQ-860+/1060+
LQ-2550
LQ-2500
LQ-800/1000
LQ-1500
Note:
If your application does not list a suitable alternative, contact the 
software manufacturer to see if an update is available. 
						

							2
Printing on Continuous Paper      2-1
Chapter 2
Printing on Continuous Paper 
Setting the Paper Release Lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Setting the Paper Thickness Lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Loading Multi-Part Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Loading Continuous Paper With Labels  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Removing continuous paper with labels  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Using the Front Push Tractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Installing the tractor in the front push position . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Loading paper onto the front push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Removing the printed document from the front 
push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Removing the front push tractor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Using the Rear Push Tractor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Loading paper onto the rear push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Removing the printed document from the rear 
push tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Using the Tractor in the Pull Position  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Installing the tractor in the pull position  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Loading paper onto the pull tractor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Removing paper from the pull tractor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-29
Using two tractors in a push and pull combination  . . . . . . . 2-29
Removing the pull tractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-32
Switching Between Printing on Continuous Paper 
and Printing on Single Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
Switching to printing on single sheets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
Switching to printing on continuous paper  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-35
Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-36
Advancing the Paper to the Tear-Off Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
Using the Tear Off/Bin button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
Advancing paper to the tear-off position automatically  . . . 2-40
Adjusting the tear-off position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40 
						

							2-2      Printing on Continuous Paper
Setting the Paper Release Lever 
You can load paper in the printer from various paper sources, 
such as the front push tractor or the paper guide. You set the paper 
release lever to indicate the paper source you want to use. The 
table below describes each paper release lever position.
Note:
To decide which paper source and paper path best suits your printing 
needs, see “Available Paper Paths” on page 3.
Paper release 
lever positionDescription
Single-sheet position
For loading single-sheet paper from the top or front 
slot. For information on loading single sheets, see 
Chapter 3.
Rear push tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor installed 
in the rear push position. Also set the lever to this 
position when using the rear push and pull tractors in 
combination.
Front push tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor installed 
in the front push position. Also set the lever to this 
position when using the front push and pull tractors in 
combination.
paper release 
lever 
						

							2
Printing on Continuous Paper      2-3
Note:
You can load two different types of continuous paper onto the front and 
rear push tractors, and easily switch between them using the paper 
release lever. Before moving the paper release lever, always press the 
Load/Eject
 button to feed the paper in the paper path backward to the 
standby position.
Setting the Paper Thickness Lever 
Setting the paper thickness lever allows the printer to 
accommodate various thicknesses of paper. The paper thickness 
lever is located under the printer cover. You can select one of nine 
positions identified by the scale next to the lever.
Pull tractor position
For loading continuous paper from the tractor installed 
on top of the printer in the pull position. When the 
tractor is in the pull position, you can load paper in the 
front, rear, or bottom slot. Paper release 
lever positionDescription
01-
1
324567
paper thickness 
lever 
						

							2-4      Printing on Continuous Paper
Use the following table to set the paper thickness lever to match 
the thickness of your paper.
Note:
o
If the printed image is smeared, you may need to set the paper 
thickness lever one position higher to improve print quality.
o
If the printed image is faint or has many gaps, you may need to set 
the paper thickness lever one position lower to improve print quality.
Paper type* Lever position
Ordinary (single sheets or continuous paper) 0
Thin paper -1 or 0
Carbonless multi-part forms with:
   2 parts (original + 1 copy)
   3 parts (original + 2 copies)
   4 parts (original + 3 copies)
   5 parts (original + 4 copies)
   6 parts (original + 5 copies)1
2
3
5
7
Continuous paper with labels 2
Envelopes 2 or 6
Postcards 2
*  See Appendix C for complete paper specifications. 
						

							2
Printing on Continuous Paper      2-5
Loading Multi-Part Forms 
You can use carbonless multi-part forms of up to six parts (five 
copies in addition to the original). Make sure you set the paper 
thickness lever to the proper position based on the number of 
layers in your form.
For best results with thick paper such as multi-part forms, select 
a straight or almost straight paper path. It is best to load multi-
part forms using:
othe front slot and the front push tractor
othe front or bottom slot and the pull tractor
Except for setting the paper thickness lever, you load multi-part 
forms the same way you load ordinary continuous paper. For 
details, see the sections on loading continuous paper later in this 
chapter.
Note:
o
Be sure your multi-part forms do not exceed 0.46 mm (0.018 inch) 
in thickness for the printable area and up to 0.9 mm (0.035 inch) for 
the perforated edges.
o
Use multi-part forms only under normal temperature and humidity 
conditions, as follows: 
Temperature  15 to 25°C (59 to 77°F)
Humidity 30 to 60% RH
o
Do not load paper that is damaged, curled or wrinkled.
Loading Continuous Paper With Labels 
When printing on labels, use only the type of labels that are 
mounted on continuous backing sheets with sprocket holes for 
use with a tractor feeder. Do not try to print on single sheets with 
labels because the printer may not feed labels on a shiny backing 
sheet properly.