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| Answer:
A standard Null Modem Cable must be used to connect the TM
printer to a PC. |
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|
2.
I want to make my own serial cable for my TM printer, what
are the recommended pinouts? |
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| Answer: |
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3.
Why does my TM printer print question marks when I try to
print a receipt? |
|
Answer:
The TM printer will print question marks or other
incorrect characters when there is a framing error.
A framing error will occur if any of the following
conditions are true:
- A Null
Modem Cable is not used.
- The baud
rate, parity, stop bits or (serial interface models)
is not set on the printer the same as on the system.
- The
cable length exceeds 50 feet.
Checking the
communication settings
The TM printer will operate correctly only if the
communication settings at the TM printer side match the
settings at the PC side. Specifically, both sides must
have matching baud rate, bit-length, parity and
handshaking settings.
Checking the settings of the TM printer
Check that the dip switch settings on the TM printer are
set properly, or run a self-test printout to verify the
settings. For information about the printers dip switches
and self-test function, refer to the documentation that
came with your printer. For most TM models, to run a
self-test, power the printer up with the feed button
pressed.
Checking the settings at the host PC
Settings at the PC side can be made either through the OS
or through an application. Check that the PC settings
match those at the TM printer side. |
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|
4.
I set up the program, but it doesn't format the printout
as expected. What should I check for? |
|
Answer:
Run a hex-dump and verify that the appropriate control
codes are being sent by your application.
If your printer support
s the hex-dump function, run a hex
dump and check whether the printer is receiving the
expected data. (Check the product documentation to
determine whether your printer support
s a hex-dump
function.)
If the data is correct, then check whether you are using
the appropriate commands. (Refer to the product
specifications and other documentation for information
about commands). |
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|
5.
Some of the print data is dropping out. What should I
check for? |
|
Answer:
Data drop-out is usually caused by the handshaking
mismatched that results in problems related to the
printer's receive buffer. An incorrect cable could cause
this symptom as well.
To check the handshaking, proceed as follows:
Prepare a large quantity of print data, and then begin
transmission to the printer. Open the printer cover while
printing is in progress (so that the printer goes offline)
and make sure that data transmission stops. (If
transmission continues, you can conclude that handshaking
is not operating correctly.) |
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|
6.
Data drop-out occurs during serial transmission from
Windows '95 or '98. Can you give me any advice? |
|
| Answer:
Check the FIFO Transmit Buffer setting (Windows '95/'98
Com port setting, accessible by pressing the Advanced
button in the Port Settings tab of the Communications Port
Properties sheet). Windows '95/'98 only executes
handshaking in relation to the start of the buffer, and
may therefore drop data if this setting is toward the High
side. Try moving the setting to Low (1-byte). |
|
|
7.
When I replaced my TM-T80P printer with a TM-T88P, the
printing speed dropped substantially. Why? |
|
Answer:
The SELECT IN signal (Pin 36) may be staying HIGH.
Slow printing will occur if the SELECTIN signal
(1284-active; Pin 36) stays HIGH, leaving the printer in
reverse mode (i.e., selecting transfer from printer to PC,
rather than from PC to printer). Control the signal with
your programming code when developing your application, so
that it goes LOW.
(If you can't control the signal from the PC side, you can
simply cut the signal line at the cable.)
Whereas older models conform to the Centronics
parallel-I/F standard, newer models conform to the
IEEE1284 standard. Under the Centronics standard, the
SELECTIN signal could remain HIGH without impeding
performance (the signal was active-on-LOW). This is not
the case under IEEE1284, however.
Centronics-Compliant Printers
TM-T60P, TM-T80P, TM-L60P, TM-U300P
IEE1284-Compliant Printers
TM-H5000IIP, TM-H5000P, TM-U950P, TM-U925P, TM-U375P,
TM-U590P, TM-T88P, TM-T85P, TM-T285P, TM-L60IIP, TM-U200P,
TM-U295P |
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|
8.
How can ESC/POS commands be transmitted ? For example, how
about the cut sheet wait time command ESC f m n ? |
|
Answer:
Following, are a couple of examples to send the commands.
When using BASIC, an example would be as follows (m = 1, n
= 1):
PRINT #1, CHR$(&H1B); CHR$(&H66); CHR$(11); CHR$(1);
or
PRINT #1, CHR$(&H1B); "f"; CHR$(11); CHR$(1);
In Visual Basic, using the MSComm Control:
MSComm1.CommPort = 1 'Select Com1
MSComm1.PortOpen = True 'Open Port
MSComm1.Settings = "9600,N,8,1" 'Initialize port
MSComm1.Output = Chr(&H1B) + "f" + Chr(11) +
Chr(1) 'Cut sheet wait time command, f m n
MSComm1.PortOpen = False 'Close Port
End Sub
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9.
What maintenance is required on my System Device product? |
|
| Answer:
Keeping printers free of paper dust reduces the
possibility of paper jams. You can also use an MICR
cleaning kit to prevent readers from misreading and to
effectively remove dirt, ink and other contaminants. And
don't forget that old ribbons can shorten print head life.
Replace the ribbon when a decrease in print quality is
observed. Read the User's Manual instructions of your
product for more maintenance tips. |
|
|
10.
Why is my printer not printing in parallel mode? |
|
| Answer:
When installing a TM printer with a parallel interface, if
the printer prints garbage, stops printing in the middle
of the print job or doesn't print at all, try changing the
parallel port mode in the computers BIOS from ECP to
Standard or Standard Bi-Directional. |
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|
11.
Why is my printer printing slowly? |
|
| Answer:
For faster printing in Windows using a TM printer, select
a TM-Printer font. |
|
|
12.
I've installed the printer driver for my TM but the USB
port does not appear when configuring the driver. What
else should I check? |
|
| Answer:
If the USB port is not shown as a valid port in the
printer driver's port selection, and you have installed
the appropriate USB device drivers, this usually implies a
Windows Registry inconsistency. However, it is recommended
that the USB Driver Installation Manual (PDF) be reviewed
and the USB driver installation be performed again. If the
printer driver is to be installed on to a Windows NT,
2000, or XP system, you must login as a user who has
Administrative Rights. i.e. "Administrator." |
|
|
13.
My cash drawer will not open. I need to make sure that it
is wired and operating correctly. How I can check this? |
|
Answer:
Many cash drawer issues are software related. The printer
will not attempt to open the drawer until it receives a
command to do so. Therefore, restaurantplus-contacts
your software vendor
and ask for their assistance in verifying that the
software is actually sending the command to the printer.
If the software is sending the command, check with your
cash drawer vendor and verify that the cash drawer is
wired for use with an Epson TM printer. If it is wired for
use with an Epson, the next step would be to test the
connection through software other than your POS software.
The following documentation describes procedures to test
the drawer via software, provides hardware information,
and wiring diagrams: drawer_kick.pdf. If the tests and
examples in the document do open your drawer it will be
evident that the POS software is still not configured
correctly. You will need to restaurantplus-contacts
your software vendor
for assistance in configuring the software. |
|
|
14.
Windows reports a new device is found when I turn on the
computer and asks for a driver. The drivers are loaded,
now what? |
|
Answer:
There are two installation aspects that Windows considers
when a TM Printer is installed.
The printing aspect, that is, how to actually print to the
printer. The Plug and Play aspect, that is, how to
identify the printer. The printing aspect is addressed by
the Windows Printer Drivers that are installed, however,
the Plug and Play aspect is neither required or used. The
displayed message refers to the unused Plug and Play
driver. Therefore, as long as the printer drivers are
correctly installed and you can print to the printer, the
message can be ignored. However, when Windows declares
that it has found new hardware again, allow Windows to
search for the device driver. Windows will not find an
appropriate driver and will ask what should be done next.
Select "Disable device" or "Load device
without a driver." Remember, this is the Plug and
Play aspect not the printing aspect; disabling or loading
this device without the driver will not effect printing to
that device in any way. Once disabled, Windows will not
ask about the device again. This message usually occurs on
parallel or USB printers installed on Windows 98SE or
Windows 2000 systems. |
