Epson 188 User Manual

10 • Getting Started 6. Turn the take-up knob (1) in the direction of the molded arrow to take up any ribbon slack.7. Replace the access cover.Install

11 • Getting Started Adjusting the Head GapThe head gap is the distance between the printhead and the platen roller. When you use envelopes or multipa

12 • Getting Started Installing the Paper SeparatorThe paper separator is used for printing on single sheets (no carbons). With continuous forms paper

13 • Setting Up Your Printer Setting Up Your PrinterPower Connection1. Make sure the printer is turned off.2. Plug the power cord supplied with your p

14 • Setting Up Your Printer Loading PaperThree types of paper can be used with your printer:• Continuous Forms Paper(with or without the optional Pul

15 • Setting Up Your Printer Paper Lever PositionsSetting the Head GapBefore you load paper, be sure to check the head gap lever setting (see page 11)

16 • Setting Up Your Printer Loading Continuous Forms, Rear Feed1. Make sure the printer is turned off.2. Place the stack of continuous forms paper be

17 • Setting Up Your Printer 5. Move the paper lever (3) — on the right side of the printer — toward the front of the printer to the continuous forms

18 • Setting Up Your Printer 8. Insert the first sheet of paper between the paper separator guides (5) and push it through the paper separator.9. Plac

19 • Setting Up Your Printer 10.Turn the platen knob (7) to advance the paper until it appears in front of the platen, behind the bail arm.ImportantCh

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is complete, accurate, and up-to-date. Oki Data assumes no responsibility f

20 • Setting Up Your Printer 11. Push back on the bail arm lever (2) to lower the bail arm.12.Use the platen knob (7) to set the position of the paper

21 • Setting Up Your Printer Loading Continuous Forms, Bottom Feed1. Make sure the printer is turned off.2. Place the printer on a slotted printer sta

22 • Setting Up Your Printer 5. Pull the lock levers (A) on the sprocket wheels at either end of the platen forward, then adjust the sprocket wheels (

23 • Setting Up Your Printer 9. Insert the first sheet of continuous forms paper through the opening in the printer stand and into the bottom of the p

24 • Setting Up Your Printer 10.Move the bail arm lever (3) back to lower the bail arm.11. Use the platen knob (5) to advance the paper to the first p

25 • Setting Up Your Printer Loading Single SheetsYour printer can accommodate single sheets up to 9.5 inches (241 mm) wide.1. Turn the printer on.Not

26 • Setting Up Your Printer 2. Move the paper lever (1) — on the right side of the printer — toward the rear of the printer, to the single sheet sym

27 • Setting Up Your Printer c. Push back on the levers to lock the sprocket wheels in position.5. Make sure the bail arm lever (2) is set to the rear

28 • Setting Up Your Printer 7. Adjust the sheet guide (3) on the paper separator to position the left edge of the sheet, then insert a single sheet a

29 • Setting Up Your Printer 9. Push back the bail arm lever, ensuring that the paper has been positioned correctly.10.Press SELECT to place the print

3ContentsNotes, Cautions, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30 • Setting Up Your Printer Computer ConnectionsUSB ConnectionUSB Cable Requirements• USB 1.1 or higher• Max. length 19.7 ft. (5 m)• USB “B” series c

31 • Setting Up Your Printer 1. Attach a suitable USB cable to the USB series “B” port on the back of the printer.2. Connect the other end of the cabl

32 • Setting Up Your Printer Parallel (LPT) Connection, IEEE-1284Parallel/USB Model OnlyParallel Cable Requirements• bi-directional• max. length 6 ft.

33 • Setting Up Your Printer 2. Attach a suitable bi-directional cable to the parallel connector on the back of the printer and secure it with the wir

34 • Setting Up Your Printer Serial Cable Requirements:• Shielded RS-232C cable, UL and CSA approved• Max. length 50 ft. (15 m)• 25-pin serial connect

35 • Setting Up Your Printer Setting up the Printer to Work with Your ComputerWindows XP, 2000, Me, 98, 95, NT 4.0:Install the Printer DriverTo print

36 • Setting Up Your Printer 3. Click Add Printer.The Add Printer Wizard appears.4. Follow the on-screen instructions.5. When you get to the window wh

37 • Setting Up Your Printer you have the wrong emulation selected, you will see strange characters, incorrect fonts, etc.If you are directly replacin

38 • Setting Up Your Printer Changing the Emulation Default in the Printer MenuThe default for the emulation in the printer menu is IBM. If you wish t

39 • Operating Your Printer Operating Your PrinterFront Panel OperationFront Panel LightsLED Status, FunctionOn = Printer is on line.Off = Printer is

4 • Notes, Cautions, etc. Notes, Cautions, etc.NoteA note appears like this. It provides additional information which helps you to use and understand

40 • Operating Your Printer The one lit indicates which print mode is engaged:NLQ = Near Letter QualityUTILITY = Draft modeHSD = High Speed Draft mode

41 • Operating Your Printer Front Panel ButtonsButton Print Mode Menu Mode Held at Power UpAdvances the paper one lineScrolls through the printer menu

42 • Operating Your Printer Setting Printer DefaultsThe printer has an internal menu containing a number of default parameters which can be set to ena

43 • Operating Your Printer Sample Default Menu PrintoutParallel/USB ModelPrinter Control Emulation Mode IBMFont Print Mode UtilityFont DRAFT Mode SSD

44 • Operating Your Printer Changing Menu Settings1. Press SELECT while turning on the printer.2. Change settings:a. Press LINE FEED to select the rel

45 • Operating Your Printer For ExampleThe default setting for the zero character is slashed. To change the setting to unslashed:1. Press and hold SEL

46 • Operating Your Printer Default Menu SelectionsDefault settings are indicated in bold italic.Group Item SettingPrinter Control Emulation Mode IBM,

47 • Operating Your Printer Symbol Sets Character Set Set I, Set II, Standard, Line Graphics, Block Graphics (ML mode only)(Symbol Sets) Language Set

48 • Operating Your Printer (Set-Up) Print Registration 0.25 mm Right, 0.20 mm Right, 0.15 mm Right, 0.10 mm Right, 0.05 mm Right, 0, 0.05 mm Left, 0.

49 • Operating Your Printer (Set-Up) Impact Mode Normal, QuietParallel I/FOnly appears for printers equipped with Parallel Interface.I-Prime Invalid,

5 • Getting Started Getting StartedLocation• Select a firm, solid surface for your printer.• Allow enough space around the printer to easily access th

50 • Operating Your Printer Using the Pull Tractor Unit(if installed)Paper can be loaded from the rear of the printer or, if you have a slotted printe

51 • Operating Your Printer 3. Adjust the right tractor to the paper width by pulling its lock lever (1) forward, sliding the tractor to the desired p

52 • Operating Your Printer 7. Place the holes in the paper over the sprockets on the pull tractor unit and close both sprocket covers.8. Replace the

53 • Operating Your Printer Using the Roll Paper Stand(if installed)Loading the PaperCorrect Paper Path1. Remove the access cover from the printer.2.

54 • Operating Your Printer 3. Open the paper separator (1).4. Remove the paper roller. Note that there is a disk (2) on the left end of the roller.5.

55 • Operating Your Printer 6. Put the paper roller back into the stand, with the disc (2) on the left side.7. Feed the paper over (not under!) the ro

56 • Operating Your Printer 10.Pull the paper lever (right side of printer) toward the front of the printer—to the continuous forms position—and make

57 • Maintenance MaintenanceReplacing the Ribbon CartridgeFor more details, see page 7.Turn the printer off!WARNING!If the printer has been recently u

58 • Maintenance

59 • Maintenance Testing Your PrinterSelf Test (Font Samples)Your printer has a built-in test (self test) to make sure that it is set up and working c

6 • Getting Started Removing the Shipping Restraint1. Remove any packing tape.2. Reach into the top cover slot (1) and remove the access cover (2) by

60 • Maintenance Rolling ASCII TestThe Rolling ASCII Test produces a continuous sampling of ASCII characters using the default type style. To run the

61 • Maintenance Cleaning the HousingYou should clean the printer every six months (or after about 300 hours of operation).1. Turn the printer off.2.

62 • Maintenance 7. Push the bail arm lever back and reinstall the access cover.8. Reload paper.9. Turn the printer on.

63 • Troubleshooting TroubleshootingGeneral InformationHere are some general things to check before proceeding with detailed troubleshooting.• Is the

64 • Troubleshooting General Problems/SolutionsProblem____________________________________________My word processor files do not print the way I have

65 • Troubleshooting Problem____________________________________________The printer does not print when the computer sends data.Solutions1. Is the SEL

66 • Troubleshooting Problem____________________________________________Ink smears on the paper when I print narrow columns.SolutionsThe head gap coul

67 • Troubleshooting Problem____________________________________________There are dots missing in my printouts (typically, tops and /or bottom of char

68 • Troubleshooting Problem____________________________________________My printer keeps indicating “Paper out” even though there is paper installed.S

69 • Troubleshooting Clearing Paper JamsRear Feed Jams1. Turn the printer off.2. Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the printer.

7 • Getting Started Installing/Replacing the Ribbon CartridgeUse only genuine Oki Data ribbon cartridges.When replacing a ribbon cartridge, make sure

70 • Troubleshooting 3. Remove the access cover (1).4. Move the bail arm lever (2) toward the front of the printer to open the bail arm.5. Remove any

71 • Troubleshooting 7. Move the bail arm lever (2) towards the rear of the printer and replace the access cover (1) being sure to feed the edge of th

72 • Troubleshooting Rear Feed, Repeating Paper JamsIf the paper keeps jamming, you may have:• defective paper• misaligned paper• bits of paper in the

73 • Troubleshooting 4. Reload the paper.5. Turn the printer back on.For Bits of Paper in the Paper Path1. Turn the printer off.2. Remove any accessor

74 • Troubleshooting 3. Use the platen knob to back the paper all the way out of the printer.4. Remove the access cover.5. Remove any debris from the

75 • Troubleshooting 7. Reload the paper.8. Turn the printer on.

76 • Troubleshooting Single Sheet Paper Jams1. Turn the printer off.2. Use the platen knob to back the paper out.3. Remove the access cover.4. Remove

77 • Troubleshooting 5. Replace the access cover.6. Turn the printer back on.7. Reload the paper.

78 • Parts & Options Parts & OptionsReplacement PartsRibbon Cartridge (Oki 52102001)Platen Knob (Oki 53459807)Power Cord (Oki 56609701)Access

79 • Parts & Options OptionsPull Tractor (Oki 70009701)Includes Pull Tractor (1), Acoustic Cover (2) and Access Cover (3).Roll Paper Stand (Oki 7

8 • Getting Started 2. Remove the access cover and center the printhead.3. If you are replacing the ribbon cartridge, remove the used one:ImportantDo

80 • Specifications Specifications GeneralPrint MethodImpact dot matrixPrinthead9 pins, 0.30 mm (0.0118") diameter, with thermal protectionEmulat

81 • Specifications PaperType Feed Weight WidthCut SheetsTop only 16 to 21 lb. US Bond(60 to 81g/m²)3" to 9.5" (76 to 241 mm)Continuous, Si

82 • Specifications PhysicalHeight3.15" (80 mm)Width14.65" (372 mm)Depth10.83" (275 mm)Weight9.9 lb. (4.5 Kg) ElectricalVoltage120V, +

83 • Specifications InterfacesParallel ModelsCentronics Parallel, IEEE-1284 compliantUSB 1.1Serial ModelsRS-232C SerialUSB 1.1

84 • Index IndexAAccess coverreplacement # ...78ALARM light ...39BBail arm ...

85 • Index LLEDs, front panel ...39–40Levers ... 14Lights, front panel ...

86 • Index RRear feed paperloading ...16–20Reliability .... 81Replacement parts .

9 • Getting Started 4. Unpack the ribbon cartridge and install it on the printhead.5. Press gently on the ribbon cartridge until you feel it click int