Star Micronics LC-240 Technical Manual

DOT MATRIX PRINTER

NX-2460C

NX-2460

LC-240C

LC-240

TECHNICAL MANUAL

[THIRD EDITION]

NOTICE

form whatsoever, without STAR’s express permission is forbid-

den.

• The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.

• All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents

of this manual at the time of going to press. However, should any

errors be detected, STAR would greatly appreciate being in-

formed of them.

• The above notwithstanding, STAR can assume no responsibility

for any errors in this manual.

INTRODUCTION

This manual is an introduction to dot matrix printers as shown below.

It is intended for use as a reference for periodic inspections and maintenance procedures.

This manual is prepared for use at a technical level and not for the general user.

Model Type Destination

NX-2460C Colour For American, Asia market

NX-2460 Monochrome For Asia market

LC-240C Colour For European and Pacific market

LC-240 Monochrome For European market

• This manual is divided into the following sections:

Chapter 1 General Specifications

Chapter 2 Theory of Operation

Chapter 3 Adjustments

Chapter 4 Parts Replacement

Chapter 5 Maintenance and Lubrication

Chapter 6 Troubleshooting

Chapter 7 Parts List

• This printer does not have a power switch. Even if the LED is off, unplug the power cord to turn the printer off.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

• First edition : Oct. 1994

Second edition : Sep. 1995

Third edition : Apr. 1996

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

1. External Appearance and Composition ..............................................................3

2. Control Panel.........................................................................................................5

3. Parallel Interface ...................................................................................................6

3-1. General Specifications ...........................................................................................6

3-2. Connector Signals ..................................................................................................6

4. Serial Interface (optional) .....................................................................................7

4-1. General Specifications ...........................................................................................7

4-2. Connector Signals and Functional Descriptions ................................................ 7

4-3. DIP Switch Settings ................................................................................................8

5. EE-PROM Mode .....................................................................................................9

5-1. Outline...................................................................................................................... 9

5-2. Explanation of Special Control Codes ..................................................................9

5-3. EE-PROM Map .......................................................................................................10

5-4. Rewriting the EE-PROM........................................................................................15

1

– 2 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

– 3 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

1. External Appearance and Layout

Fig. 1-2 Front View of the Printer

Fig. 1-1 External dimensions

232mm

390mm

158mm

Control panel

Front cover

Automatic sheet feeder

Guide Wire

Interface connector

– 4 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Fig. 1-3 Front Cover removed

Fig. 1-4 Diagram of Internal Layout

Paper tray cover

Platen

Print head

Ribbon Cartridge

Carriage

Motor

Cable Holder

Carriage

Print Head

Paper Feed Motor

Printer Mechanism

Main Logic Board

Control Panel Board

Power Supply Unit

Home Positon SW

(Monochrome)

Home Positon Board

(Colour)

Release Lever SW

– 5 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

2. Control Panel

(1) PAPER Switch

ASF paper end SW…once manual insert

SW…twice ASF insert

paper On-line paper eject

Off-line Short time sw push LF

Long time sw hold paper eject

Continue paper end SW paper insert

paper

paper On-line paper park

Off-line Short time sw push LF

Long time sw hold FF

(2) READY SWITCH/SLEEP MODE

Pushing the switch : Set printer on/off-line

Holding down the switch : SLEEP MODE

(3) PAPER SWITCH & READY SWITCH

While in SLEEP MODE : Executes self print 1, self print 2 or HEX-DUMP according to the EDS settings.

When the power is turned on : Ignored

(4) READY LAMP

Power is on (ON-LINE) : Lamp ON

Power is on (OFF-LINE) : Slow-blinking

No paper : Slow-blinking

The printer stops after detecting an overheated printer head. : Slow-blinking

Error : Fast-blinking

Push

Hold

PAPER

READY

LF

FF

On-Line

Sleep

PAPER SW

READY-LAMP

READY SW

SLEEP MODE SW

PAPER &READY SW

– 6 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

3. Parallel Interface

3-1. General Specifications

Item Specifications

Interface Centronics-compatible

Synchronization System Via externally supplied STROBE pulse

I/F Protocol Using ACK and BUSY signals

Logic Level Compatible with TTL level

ACK

Data

STROBE

(EDS G-1 : ON)

STROBE

(EDS G-1 : OFF)

BUSY

2.6ms

t : More than 0.5ms

2.6ms

tttt

Fig. 1-5 Timing Charts for Parallel Interface

3-2. Connector Signals

Pin Name Function

1 STROBE Goes to low for 0.5µs when active.

2 DATA0 High when active.

3 DATA1 High when active.

4 DATA2 High when active.

5 DATA3 High when active.

6 DATA4 High when active.

7 DATA5 High when active.

8 DATA6 High when active.

9 DATA7 High when active.

10 ACK 10µs low acknowledges receipt of data

11 BUSY Printer sets line low when ready to receive data.

12 PAPER High when paper runs out. Can be disabled with the user setup utility.

13 SELECT High when printer is on-line.

14 AFXT Normally high.

15 Not connected.

16 SIGNAL GND Signal ground

17 CHASSIS Chassis ground (isolated from signal ground)

18 +5V +5V DC output from printer

19 ~ 30 GND Twisted pair ground return

31 RESET Printer is reset when this signal goes low.

32 ERROR Low when printing cannot continue due to an error.

33 EXT GND External ground

34,35 Not connected

36 SELECT IN Normally low.

– 7 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

4. Serial Interface (optional)

When using the serial interface, the optional Serial-Parallel Converter must be connected to the printer.

4-1. General Specifications

Item Specifications

Interface RS-232C level

Synchronization System Asynchronous

Baud rate 150 - 19,200 bits per second (BPS) [selectable]

150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 BPS

Word length

Start bit: 1 bit

Data bit: 7 or 8 bits (selectable)

Parity bit: Odd, Even or None (selectable)

Stop bit: 1 or 2 bits

Signal polarity

Mark: Logic “1” (–3V to –15V)

Space: Logic “0” (+3V to +15V)

Handshaking DTR

XON/XOFF

ETX/ACK

Data buffer 8KB (standard)

4-2. Connector Signal and Functional Descriptions

Pin No. Signal name Direction Function

1 GND —

2 TXD OUT

3 RXD IN

4 RTS OUT

5 CTS —

6NC

7 GND —

8~10 NC

11 RCH OUT

12~19 NC

20 DTR OUT

21~25 NC

Printer chassis ground.

This pin carries data from the printer.

This pin carries data to the printer.

Always space.

This signal is space when the computer is ready to send data.

The printer does not check this pin.

Unused.

Signal ground.

Unused.

The printer sets this signal to space when it is ready to receive data.

This line carries the same signal as pin 20.

Unused.

The printer sets this signal to space when it is ready to receive data.

Unused.

– 8 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Handshaking protocols – see table below

4-3. DIP Switch Settings

Switch ON OFF

1 8 data bits 7 data bits

2 No parity Parity checked

3

4

5 Odd parity Even parity

6

7 Data transfer rate – see table below

8

All switches are set to ON before the printer leaves the factory.

Protocol Switch 3 Switch 4

DTR mode ON ON

XON/XOFF mode ON OFF

ETX/ACK mode OFF ON

Baud rate Switch 6 Switch 7 Switch 8

150 OFF OFF OFF

300 OFF OFF ON

600 OFF ON OFF

1200 OFF ON ON

2400 ON OFF OFF

4800 ON OFF ON

9600 ON ON OFF

19200 ON ON ON

– 9 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

5. EE-PROM mode

5-1. Outline

These settings can be changed in the EE-PROM mode by writing data directly to the EE-PROM on the main logic board:

• EDS (electric DIP switch) settings

• Misalignment correction

• Top margin in autoloading

• Correction of the tear-off function

• The EE-PROM mode for writing to the EE-PROM is designed for use by trained technicians, not for general users.

• This mode is subject to change without notice.

Setting EE-PROM mode

• Send <ESC><SUB>(09)H command.

Canceling EE-PROM mode

• Initialize the printer by sending <ESC>@

5-2. Explanation of special control codes

<ESC>@ Exits printer from EE-PROM mode and initializes the printer.

<ESC>M@ Returns all data in the EE-PROM to the factory settings. After the buffer is cleared, the buzzer sounds. If

the printer is powered off before the buzzer sounds, all data in the buffer is not cleared.

If all data is not cleared from the buffer, operation is not guaranteed. Be sure to allow the buzzer

to sound before you turn the printer off!

Code Function Address Capacity

<ESC>MW0 <data> Stores data into entire area of EE-PROM. 00H-7FH 128bytes

<ESC>MW1nm Stores data (m) into the address (n) nH 1 byte

<ESC>MW2<data> Stores auto-start software data into

EE-PROM.

<ESC>MWn

• The data (m) used in the commands above are stored in the specified address in order (n).

• When the data to be stored exceeds the specified capacity, subsequent data are ignored.

• Data are stored in the EE-PROM according to the memory map. (See section 3. EDS mode setting and

6-3. EE-PROM Map.)

• After all data are stored, a beep indicates the completion of storage.

• If the printer is powered off during data storage, data stored before power off are valid, but subsequent

operation of the printer is not guaranteed.

Do not power off the printer while data is being stored!

<ESC>MR Dumps all data in the EE-PROM to a hard copy.

For an example of using these control codes, see section 6-4. For the corresponding EE-PROM addresses, see the

EE-PROM memory map in section 3. EDS mode setting and 6-3 EE-PROM Map.

– 10 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

5-3. EE-PROM map

Address Function Factory data

00H EDS setting FFH

Bit Function 1 0

b0 Emulation

STANDARD/EPSON

IBM

b1 AEC mode Enabled Disabled

b2 RAM usage Input buffer

Download buffer

b3

*1

Graphics direction Uni-directional Bi-directional

b4 Time-out printing Enabled Disabled

b5 Auto LF with CR Disabled Enabled

b6 Ink ribbon type Colour Monochrome

*1 Fixed to uni-directional-for any other than 60DPI(F),80DPI(F).

01H EDS setting C0H

(Function=LQ font selection)

Font b0 b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 Font b0 b1 b2 b3 b4 b5

Roman 0 0 0 0 0 0 *2 0 0 0 1 1 0

Sanserif

*3

100000 *2 100110

*2 010000 *2 010110

*2 110000 *2 110110

*2 001000 *2 001110

*2 101000 *2 101110

*2 011000 *2 011110

*2 111000 *2 111110

*2 000100 *2 000001

*2 100100 *2 100001

*2 010100 *2 010001

*2 110100 *2 110001

*2 001100 *2 001001

*2 101100 *2 101001

*2 011100 *2 011001

*2 111100 *2 111001

*2 000010 *2 000101

*2 100010 *2 100101

*2 010010 *2 010101

*2 110010 *2 110101

*2 001010 *2 001101

*2 101010 *2 101101

*2 011010 *2 011101

*2 111010 *2 111101

*2 Reserved

*3 NX-2460C/2460=Reserved

– 11 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Address Function Factory data

01H C0H

Bit Function 1 0

b6 Font Lock Disabled Enabled

b7 Print mode LQ Draft

02H EDS setting 80H

(Function=IBM code page)

Code page b0 b1 b2 b3 b4

#437 U.S.A. 0 0 0 0 0

#850 Multi-Lingual 1 0 0 0 0

#860 Portguess 0 1 0 0 0

#861 Icelandic 1 1 0 0 0

#863 Canadian-F 0 0 1 0 0

#865 Nordic 1 0 1 0 0

#866 Russian

*4

01100

#3840 IBM-Russian

*4

11100

#3841 Gost-Russian

*4

00010

#3843 Polish

*4

10010

#3844 CS2

*4

01010

#3845 Hungarian

*4

11010

#3846 Turkish

*4

00110

#3847 Brazil-ABNT 1 0 1 1 0

#3848 Brazil-ABICOMP 0 1 1 1 0

#852 Latin-2

*4

11110

*4 NX-2460C/2460=Reserved

Bit Function 1 0

b5 Italic Enabled Disabled

b6 IBM Graphics #1 Enabled Disabled

b7 IBM Graphics #2 Enabled Disabled

When the EDS setting is set to the EPSON mode, select Italic or IBM Graphics

#2. When it is set to the IBM mode, select IBM Graphics #1 or #2.

– 12 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Address Function Factory data

03H EDS setting F0H

Country b0 b1 b2 b3 Print Pitch b4 b5 b6

U.S.A 0 0 0 0 10cpi 1 1 1

France 1 0 0 0 12cpi 0 1 1

Germany 0 1 0 0 15cpi 1 0 1

England 1 1 0 0 17cpi 0 0 1

Denmark-1 0 0 1 0 20cpi 1 1 0

Sweden 1 0 1 0 Proportional 0 1 0

Itary 0 1 1 0

Spain-1 1 1 1 0 Zero character style b7

Japan 0 0 0 1 Normal 0 1

Norway 1 0 0 1 Slashed 0 0

Denmark-2 0 1 0 1

Spain-2 1 1 0 1

Latin America 0 0 1 1

Korea 1 0 1 1

Ilish 0 1 1 1

Legal 1 1 1 1

04H EDS setting FFH

Page length b0 b1 b2

11"/Letter 1 1 1

8" 011

11.7"/A4 1 0 1

12" 0 0 1

8.5"/Letter 1 1 0

14"/Legal 0 1 0

10.5"/Executive 1 0 0

7.25/Executive 0 0 0

Bit Function 1 0

b3 Tear-off Disabled Enabled

b4 Paper-out Enabled Disabled

b5 Line Spasing 1/6" 1/8"

– 13 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Address Function Factory data

05H EDS setting D1H

Bit Function 1 0

b0 Sleep mode 15 minutes Enabled Disabled

b1 Sleep mode 30 minutes Enabled Disabled

b2 Sleep mode disable Enabled Disabled

b3 Self Print Short Enabled Disabled

b4 Self Print Long Enabled Disabled

b5 HEX-dump Enabled Disabled

06H EDS setting FEH

Bit Function 1 0

b0 Select latch timing UP DOWN

Select latch timing : Fixed to Down

07H Reserved 00H

08H Colour information 00H

09H Misalignment correction 60DPIF (not used) 0EH

0AH Misalignment correction 80DPIH (not used) 0EH

0BH Misalignment correction 80DPIF (not used) 0EH

0CH Misalignment correction 120DPIH 0EH

0DH Misalignment correction 120DPIF 0EH

0EH Misalignment correction 180DPIH 0EH

0FH Misalignment correction 180DPIF 0EH

10H Misalignment correction 240DPIH 0EH

11H Misalignment correction 360DPIH 0EH

12H, 13H Reserved 00H

14H Paper end detector setting 80H

15H, 16H Top Margin for Auto-loading Friction(A) 3CH,00H

17H, 18H Top Margin for Auto-loading Tractor(A) 3CH,00H

19H, 1AH Top Margin for Auto-loading ASF(A) 3CH,00H

1BH, 1CH Initial condition area FFH,FFH

1DH, 1EH Short tear off 00H, 80H

1FH to 4DH Auto Start area EPSON (47Bytes) 00H to 00H

4EH to 7DH Auto Start area IBM (48Bytes) 00H to 00H

7EH FF control code (Space 00H/Null 0FH) 00H

7FH EE-PROM check code 01H

– 14 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

The digit correction values can be set using the application on the host computer.

(1) Correction values

[1]1/720 (inch)

(2) Correction mode

Dot adjustment print mode Correction value

CR Speed Constant Timer 1/720(inch) [1]

Double-speed 120 DPI (H) 520 (usec) 86.7 (usec)

Double-density 120 DPI (F) 1042 (usec) 170.7 (usec)

CRT graphics 2 180 DPI (H) 780 (usec) 195.0 (usec)

Triple-density 180 DPI (F) 780 (usec) 195.0 (usec)

Draft Condensed 240 DPI (H) 1042 (usec) 347.3 (usec)

Hex-density 360 DPI (H) 780 (usec) 390.0 (usec)

[1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1]

-14/720(inch) +14/720(inch)

+14+13+12+11+10-14 -13 -12 -11

-10

-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 +9+8+7+6+5+4+3

+2+1

±0

– 15 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

5-4. Rewriting the EE-PROM

Follow this procedure to rewrite the EE-PROM.

(1) Turn the printer on.

(2) Load a BASIC disk in the computer.

(3) Turn the computer on.

(4) Set a sheet of paper in the printer, and press the PAPER switch.

(5) Enter the program listed below and run the program.

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(26);CHR$(&H09)

20 LPRINT CHR$(27);”MW1";CHR$(&H01);CHR$(&H40)

30 LPRINT CHR$(27);”MR”

BASIC Program Code What It Does

10 LPRINT CHR$(27);CHR$(26);CHR$(&H09) Enters the EE-PROM mode.

20 LPRINT CHR$(27);”MW1"; Starts rewriting the EE-PROM.

CHR$(&H01); Address data from &H01 will show

EDS mode from the EE-PROM memory

map.

CHR$(&H40) Data from &H40 will change the print

mode from LQ to Draft.

30 LPRINT CHR$(27);”MR” Dumps all EE-PROM data to hexadeci-

mal.

(6) To complete the setting, turn the printer off.

– 16 –

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

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Star Micronics LC-240, LC-240C, NX-2460, NX-2460C Technical Manual

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