129449.Stylus Color 860.r1 9/2/99 6:05 AM Page 1
WITH ITS SPEED AND 1440 DPI COLOR, YOURE IN BUSINESS.
EPSON Stylus Color 860 Ink Jet Printer
F E AT U R E S Superior 1440 x 720 dpi Photo Quality color Very fast print speeds at up to 9.5 ppm black and 7 ppm color EPSON PerfectPicture Imaging System Ultra small 4 picoliter ink droplets Serious business software BENEFITS Brilliantly vivid photos and graphics.
It works fast. It works hard. It comes from a line of award-winners. The EPSON Stylus Color 860 is a serious business ink jet printer that flies out of the box at up to a racy 9.5 pages per minute of laser sharp black text and 7 ppm of dazzling Photo Quality color. And the results? From the very first page it prints, the EPSON Stylus Color 860 gives you clean and crisp output. Spreadsheets sizzle. Presentations are more powerful. Overheads are more overwhelming. Even memos are, well, more memorable. Its not hype. Its the beauty of the printers 1440 dpi resolution, ultra small 4 picoliter ink droplets, and the ingenuity of the EPSON PerfectPicture Imaging System. Not only does your work sparkle with more intense highlights and razor sharp detail, but you get awardwinning Micro Piezo ink jet technology, smooth AcuPhoto Halftoning and convenient quick drying inks that wont bleed, smudge or mess up your work day. The EPSON Stylus Color 860 will do the job wherever you need it, even in the most demanding business networks. The printer is fully compatible with Windows, Macintosh, iMac, USB and Ethernet and will run hard and fast to meet your business needs. It also comes with a considerable bundle of business software. You get eFax, a smart utility that lets you retrieve those all-important business faxes via your e-mail. You get professional photo editing help from PhotoMAX Pro SE, and ArcSoft PhotoPrinter. And, as a bonus, you can send away for two additional popular software titles. The fast, 1440 dpi EPSON Stylus Color 860 ink jet printer, youll be more than ready to get down to business.

Saves you time printing.

Award-winning Micro Piezo ink jet technology. AcuPhoto Halftoning for natural looking fleshtones and smooth gradations. Quick drying inks that dont bleed or smudge. Photo images are more radiant and detailed than ever.
Photo edit like a pro with Polaroid PhotoMAX Pro and ArcSoft PhotoPrinter SE. Use eFax to retrieve your faxes via e-mail. Choose two more titles from a list including Corel Ventura and Route Planner by Rand McNally. Ideal for the most demanding Windows or Macintosh business networks.
Built-in USB and parallel ports with optional Ethernet support
2361 McGaw Ave Irvine, California 92614 PHONE: (949) 660-7080 FAX: (949) 975-1557
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK PMS 187 VARNISH
129449.Stylus Color 860.r1 9/2/99 6:05 AM Page 2

STYLUS

PRINTER
S P EC I F I C AT I O N S Printable Area

Printing Method

4-color (CMYK) drop-on-demand Micro Piezo ink jet technology

Nozzle Configuration

8.26" x 10.76" (letter size) Top margin.12" Right margin.12"

Paper Capacity

Left margin Bottom margin

.12".12"

Monochrome head Color head
Resolution (dots per inch)
144 nozzles 48 nozzles x 3 (CMY)
Input paper tray Output paper tray

Physical Characteristics

100 sheets/10 envelopes 30 sheets
1440 x 720 dpi; 720 x 720 dpi; 360 x 360 dpi; 180 x 180 dpi

Ink Droplet Size

17.7" x 10.6" x 6.9" (L x W x H) 13.2 lb

Environmental Conditions

4 picoliters

Print Speed*

Black text memo Color Photo 4" x 6" 8" x 10"

Sound Level

6.25 sec. (approx. 9.5 ppm) Approx. 7 ppm (text and color graphics) 48 sec. 1 min. 43 sec.
Temperature Operating Storage Humidity Operating Storage

Safety Approvals

50 to 95 F (10 to 35 C) -4 to 140 F (-20 to 60 C) 20 to 80% relative humidity 5 to 85% relative humidity (no condensation)

42 dB(A)

Printer Language
Safety standards: UL1950 with D3, CSA22.with D3; RFI: FCC Part 15 subpart B class B, CSA C108.8 class B

Power Requirements

The EPSON Stylus Color 860 comes with a great software bundle that includes: Polaroid PhotoMAX Pro ArcSoft's PhotoPrinter SE eFax Film Factory Also receive 2 free software titles by mail* Jack Nicklaus 6.0 Warcraft II Diablo You Don't Know Jack Game of Life 1999 Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia Barbie as Rapunzel Hot Wheels Custom Car Designer Print Artist 6.0 Decorating Your Home Kai's Super Goo V2.0 SE Route Planner by Rand McNally CorelDRAW SE Corel Ventura Publisher 7 Corel Photo Paint PrintArtist Quick Publish *You pay only $7.95 for shipping and handling of any two titles.

EPSON ESC/P Raster

Software Driver
Windows USB - Windows 98 Parallel - Windows 3.1x/95/98/NT 4.0 Macintosh USB system 8.1 or later

Software

Rated voltage Rated frequency Rated current Power consumption

Ink Cartridge Life

120V AC +/- 10% 50 to 60 Hz 0.5 Amp (Max.) Approx. 15 W (self test mode)
Polaroid PhotoMAX Pro, ArcSoft PhotoPrinter SE, eFax (PC only), EPSON Software Film Factory (PC only)

Interfaces

Standard Optional

Print Direction

USB, parallel (IEEE-1284) External Ethernet print server
Automatic ink low/ink out detection Black ink life 900 pages text (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern) 634 pages graphic (@ 5% coverage) Color ink life 300 pages (@ 15% coverage) Shelf life Two years from production

Warranty

Bidirectional with logic seeking

Paper Handling

Standard one year limited warranty including EPSON Exchange program (U.S. and Canada only)
Product/Accessory Part Numbers

Single sheets Types

Envelopes Types paper
Letter, legal, A4, B5, statement, executive, user definable Plain, bond, EPSON Photo Quality film and paper, transparencies, self-adhesive sheets, ink jet cards, banner paper, labels, envelopes, iron-on transfers and matte paper No. 10, DL, C6 Plain, bond and air mail
EPSON Stylus Color 860 Black ink cartridge Color ink cartridge AXIS 1440 print server
Support - The Epson ConnectionSM
C303001 S020189 S020191 C1440AXIS
Pre-Sales Support U.S. & Canada 800-463-7766 Automated Technical Support 800-922-8911 Internet Website http://www.epson.com
* Black text and color speed are in Economy Mode on plain paper, color photo in Fine Mode on photo paper. Additional processing time will vary based on system configuration, software application and page complexity.
Epson Canada, Ltd. 550 McNicoll, Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2E1 Epson America, Inc. 3840 Kilroy Airport Way, Long Beach, CA 90806 1-562-981-3840 Epson Latin America, Inc. 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, FL 33126 1-305-265-0097
Specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. EPSON, EPSON Stylus and PerfectPicture are registered trademarks and Micro Piezo and AcuPhoto Halftoning are trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. Epson Connection is a service mark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. As an ENERGY STAR Partner, Epson America, Inc. has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. Copyright 1999 for Epson America, Inc. CPD-8830 75K 9/99 LG

Printed on recycled paper

EPSON Stylus COLOR 860

edge guides
paper support printer cover
Media name EPSON Photo Paper
Size Letter A6 inches Panoramic (8.3 23.4 inches)
Part number S041141 S041140 S041134 S041145 S041064 S041054 S041122 S041144-KIT S041144 S041153/S041155 S041106 S041257
control panel output tray
EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies Letter EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards EPSON Photo Stickers Kit (CD-ROM and paper) EPSON Photo Stickers (refill, paper only) A10 inches A6, 16 frames per sheet A6, 16 frames per sheet Letter A4 Letter

output tray extensions

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets
ink cartridge clamp thickness lever
Matte Paper - Heavyweight

Printer Specifications

Printing
Printing method On-demand ink jet 144 nozzles 144 nozzles (48 each: cyan, magenta, yellow) Maximum 1440 dpi 720 dpi Bidirectional with logic seeking
ESC/P Raster, EPSON Remote

Nozzle configuration

control panel
Black Color Resolution Print direction Control code

Accessories

Ink Cartridges
Cartridge Black Color Part number S020189 S020191

Input buffer

Media name EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper EPSON High Quality Ink Jet Paper EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film Size Letter A4 Letter A4 Letter A4 Legal Letter A4 Letter A4 A6 Part number S041060 S041059 S041111 S041117 S041062 S041061 S041067 S041124 S041126 S041072 S041071 S041107
EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 - 1
Paper type Single sheets Size Paper types Thickness 0.003 to 0.004 inch (0.08 to 0.11 mm) for plain bond paper Weight 17 to 24 lb (64 to 90 g/m2) for plain bond paper Plain bond paper and special ink jet Letter (8.inches) papers distributed by EPSON Legal (8.inches) Half letter (statement, 5.5 8.5 inches) Executive (7.inches) A4 (mm) A5 (mm) Letter (8.inches) A4 (mm) A6 (mm), glossy film only Letter (8.inches) A4 (mm) Transparencies, glossy paper, and glossy film distributed by EPSON Matte paper distributed by EPSON Self adhesive sheets distributed by EPSON
Transparencies, glossy film, glossy paper Matte Paper Heavyweight Self-adhesive sheets Envelopes
0.006 to 0.02 inch (0.16 to 0.52 mm)
12 to 20 lb (45 to 75 g/m2)
No. 10, 4.1 9.5 inches (mm) Plain bond paper or air mail paper DL, 4.3 8.7 inches (mm) C6, 4.4 6.4 inches (mm) mm (5.2 8.7 inches) A6 (mm) inches (mm) Letter (8.inches) A4 (mm) inches (mm) Panoramic (mm) A6 (mm), 16 frames/sheet Letter (8.inches) Ink jet cards distributed by EPSON Photo paper distributed by EPSON
Index (ink jet) cards Photo Paper
Photo Stickers Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper
Photo stickers distributed by EPSON Transfer paper distributed by EPSON
Note: Always load paper into the sheet feeder short edge first. Envelopes should be loaded flap edge first, with the flap side down Since the quality of any particular brand or type of paper may be changed by the manufacturer at any time, EPSON cannot attest to the quality of any non-EPSON brand or type of paper. Always test samples of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing large jobs. Poor quality paper may reduce print quality and cause paper jams and other problems. If you encounter problems, switch to a higher grade of paper. Do not load curled or folded paper. Use papers under these conditions: Temperature: 59 to 77 F (15 to 25 C) Humidity: 40 to 60% RH Store printouts on EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film and Self Adhesive Sheets under these conditions: Temperature: 59 to 86 F (15 to 30 C) Humidity: 20 to 60% RH

Printable area

A B-L B-R

A B-L B-R C

envelopes
single sheets/index cards
The minimum top margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm). When loading multiple sheets of EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film, the minimum top margin is 1.2 inches (30 mm). B-L: The minimum left margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm). B-R: The minimum right margin is as follows: 0.12 inch (3.0 mm) for single sheets and C6 envelopes 0.28 inch (7 mm) for DL envelopes. 1.10 inch (28 mm) for No. 10 envelopes. C: The minimum bottom margin is 0.54 inch (14.0 mm). * You can extend the minimum bottom margin to 0.12 inch (3.0 mm) by selecting Maximum as the Printable Area setting. However, print quality may decline in the expanded area. Before printing large jobs, print a single sheet to confirm print quality.
2 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 860

Mechanical

Paper feed method Friction Sheet feeder, rear entry 100 sheets of 17 lb (64 g/m 2) paper Width: 17.7 inches (450 mm) Depth: 10.6 inches (269 mm) Height: 6.9 inches (175 mm) Width: 17.7 inches (450 mm) Depth: 24.7 inches (628 mm) Height: 11.9 inches (303 mm) 13.2 lb (6 kg) without the ink cartridges

L&R

Paper path Sheet feeder capacity Dimensions Storage
EPSON 4 6-inch Photo Paper (dotted lines indicate perforations) A: The maximum top margin is 0.67 inch (17.0 mm). L & R: The maximum left and right margin is 0.24 inch (6.1 mm). C: The maximum bottom margin is 0.24 inch (6.1 mm).

Weight

Specification Color(s) Black ink cartridge (S020189) Black Color ink cartridge (S020191) Cyan, Magenta, Yellow 300 pages (15% coverage)

Electrical

Specification Input voltage range* Rated frequency range Input frequency range Rated current 0.4 A 120 V Model 99 to 132 V 220240 V Model 198 to 264 V 50 to 60 Hz 49.5 to 60.5 Hz 0.2 A
Print capacity* 900 pages text (ISO/IEC 10561 letter pattern) 634 pages graphic (5% coverage) Cartridge life
2 years from production date (if unopened) (within 6 months after opening package, at 77 F [25 C]) 4 to 104 F (20 to 40 C) 1 month at 104 F (40 C) 22 to 140 F (30 to 60 C) 1 month at 104 F (40 C) 120 hours at 140 F (60 C) 0.4 F (18 C) 1.7 (W) 2.1 (D) 1.5 (H) inches 42.9 (W) 52.7 (D) 38.5 (H) mm
Storage temperature Transit temperature

Power consumption Approx. 18 W (ISO/IEC 10561 Letter Pattern) Approx. 3.5 W in standby mode * Check the label on the back of the printer for your printers voltage.
Freezing 3.2 F (16 C) temperature** Dimensions 1.09 (W) 2.1 (D) 1.5 (H) inches 27.8 (W) 52.7 (D) 38.5 (H) mm

Environmental

Temperature Operation Storage* Transit* 50 to 95 F (10 to 35 C) -4 to 104 F (-20 to 40 C) 1 month at 104 F (40 C) 4 to 140 F (20 to 60 C) 120 hours at 140 F (60 C) 20 to 80% RH 5 to 85% RH
* The figure given is based on continuous printing after ink replacement. The actual print capacity may vary, depending on how often you turn on the printer and how often you clean the print head. ** Ink thaws and is usable after approximately 3 hours at 77 F (25 C). To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage to your printer not covered by EPSONs warranties. Dont use an ink cartridge if the date on the package has expired.
Humidity (without condensation) Operation Storage*
*Stored in shipping container

Safety Approvals

Safety standards EMC UL 1950, CSA C22.2 No. 950 FCC part 15 subpart B class B
EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 - 3

Control Panel

paper out light color ink out light black ink out light power light

P SBA flash

When all the lights flash, your printer may have an internal error. Make sure you removed all the packing material as described on the unpacking sheet in your printer box. Then turn off the printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again. If the lights still flash, contact your dealer or EPSON. When all the lights are off, the printer is not receiving power. Try these solutions: t Make sure the printer is turned on. t Turn off the printer, plug in the power cord securely, and turn on the printer again. t Make sure the outlet is operable and is not controlled by a switch or timer. If in doubt, try using another outlet.

P SBA are off

cleaning button

load/eject button

power button

Follow these guidelines when you check the control panel lights.
P is on The P power light is on when the printer is on and ready to print. It flashes when the printer is receiving a print job, charging ink, or cleaning the print head. When the S paper out light flashes and both ink out lights come on, you have a paper jam. Press the E load/eject button to try to clear the jam. If that doesnt work, turn off the printer and gently pull out all the paper. Make sure none of the sheets are curled, creased, old, stuck together, or too thin. Then reload the paper against the right edge guide and slide the left edge guide against it. Turn on the printer and press the E load/eject button to resume printing. When the S paper out light comes on, your paper is out or incorrectly loaded. Make sure none of the sheets are curled, creased, old, stuck together, or too thin. Then reload the paper against the right edge guide and slide the left edge guide against it. Press the E load/eject button to resume printing. When an ink out light flashes, your ink supply is low. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge (black S020189, color S020191). When an ink out light comes on, you need to replace the ink cartridge. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge (black S020189, color S020191). See page 6 for instructions. When the P power and S paper out lights flash and the B black and A color ink out lights come on, jammed paper may be blocking movement of the print head or you may not have removed the yellow tape seal from the installed ink cartridge(s). Turn off the printer, open the cover, and check inside for any jammed paper. Then turn the printer back on. If an ink out light remains on and the print head moves into replacement position, replace the ink cartridge(s) as described on page 8. If the lights still flash and/or come on, contact your dealer or EPSON.
Installing an Ink Cartridge for the First Time
Follow these ink cartridge precautions: t Install both ink cartridges, and leave them installed for all types of printing, or the printer wont work. t Remove the yellow tape seal from the top of the ink cartridges or youll permanently damage them. Dont remove the clear seals on the bottom or ink will leak out. t Dont open an ink cartridge clamp to remove a cartridge except to replace it with a new one. Once you remove a cartridge, you cant reuse it, even if it contains ink. t Never turn off the printer when the P power light is flashing, unless the printer hasnt moved or made any noise for more than five minutes. Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
S flashes and B and A are on

S is on

B or A flash

B or A are on

1. Lower the output tray and open the printer cover. 2. Press the P power button to turn on the printer. The P power light flashes and the B black and A color ink out lights come on. The ink cartridge holders move left into loading position.
Dont use an outlet that is controlled by a wall switch or timer, or one on the same circuit as a large appliance, to avoid damaging the printers power supply. Always use the P power button to turn the printer on or off. Never use an external switch, such as a power strip switch.
P and S flash and B and A are on
4 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 860
3. Lift up the two ink cartridge clamps.

Testing the Printer

You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem comes from the printer itself or some other source. Follow these steps to run the printer check: 1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off. 2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer. 3. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer. 4. Hold down the E load/eject button, then press and release the Ppower button. Continue holding down the E load/eject button until the P power light starts to flash, then release it. The printer prints one page showing its ROM version number, ink counter, and a nozzle check pattern. Only the nozzle check pattern is shown below. (If the pattern has gaps in its dots, you need to clean the print head; see page 9.)
4. Unwrap the ink cartridges, then remove only the yellow part of the tape seal on the top. Dont pull off the blue part.

black cartridge

color cartridge
5. Insert both ink cartridges with the labels facing up as shown. Press down the clamps until they lock into place, but dont press down on the ink cartridges.
5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on your printer and computer. If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer. If the check page doesnt print, you may have a problem with your printer. Try the suggestions in Problems and Solutions in the Printer Basics book.
6. Press the R cleaning button and close the printer cover. Ink charging takes about two minutes, with the P power light flashing and the printer making noise until its finished. Dont turn off the printer or interrupt charging or it will start over, using more ink than necessary. Its finished when the P power light stops flashing.
EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 - 5
t Some special media have a cut corner that you need to position correctly; follow any instructions in the package. Always handle sheets by the edges, and dont touch the printable surface.

cut corner

Printing on Special Media
Whether you print on plain paper or special media, you need to select the Media Type setting according to the guidelines in the table below.
For this paper name. Plain paper and envelopes EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper EPSON High Quality Ink Jet Paper EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper EPSON Photo Paper EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film EPSON Photo Stickers EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies Matte Paper - Heavyweight Ink Jet Transparencies Matte Paper - Heavyweight Photo Quality Glossy Film Photo Paper Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper Select this Media Type setting Plain paper 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper

printable side face up

Replacing an Ink Cartridge
When the B black or A color ink out light flashes, the indicated cartridge is low on ink. This is a good time to make sure you have a new cartridge. When the light stays on, the cartridge is empty and you need to replace it.
You cannot print if either ink cartridge is empty. Leave the empty cartridge installed in the printer until you have obtained a replacement. Otherwise the ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out.
Additional Media Loading Guidelines
Dont use the cleaning sheets that may be included with your special media; they may damage the printer.
t Be sure to load the printable (whiter) side of the media face up in the sheet feeder. t You can load paper up to the arrow mark on the left edge guide. t In addition to the Media Type option, remember to select the correct Paper Size for your media on the Paper menu. t If the special media has protective sheets between each sheet of media, be sure to remove the protective sheets before printing.
Use these EPSON ink cartridges within six months of installing them and before the expiration date on the package: t Black ink cartridge: S020189 t Color ink cartridge: S020191
To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage to your printer not covered by EPSONs warranty.
When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer or call EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 or visit our web site at www.epsonsupplies.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 873-7766 for dealer referral. If you need to replace an ink cartridge before the lights flash (because the ink is too old, for example) follow the instructions in Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge on page 8.
6 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 860
Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges
You can replace a cartridge when the B black or A color ink out light is either flashing or on. (If you perform these steps when both ink out lights are off, the printer cleans the print heads as described on page 9.) Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must complete all the steps in one session. Follow these steps to replace ink cartridges: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing (the P power light should be on, but not flashing), then open the printer cover. 2. Press the R cleaning button and hold it for about three seconds until the print head moves left and the Ppower light begins flashing.

To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head by hand. Dont open the clamp or remove a cartridge except to replace it with a new one. Once you remove a cartridge, you cant reuse it, even if it contains ink. black cartridge (S020189) color cartridge (S020191)
5. Unwrap the new ink cartridge. Then remove only the yellow part of the tape seal on top. Dont remove the blue part of the tape seal.
You must remove the yellow tape from the top of the cartridge or you will permanently damage it. Dont pull off the blue portion or try to remove the clear seal underneath the cartridge.
6. Lower the new ink cartridge into its holder with the label facing up and toward the back of the printer.
3. Pull up the ink cartridge clamp. The cartridge rises up from its holder. (The illustration shows color ink cartridge replacement. To replace the black ink cartridge, lift up only the smaller clamp on the left.)
7. Press down the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in place, but dont press down on the cartridge itself.
4. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it carefully.
8. If you need to replace the other ink cartridge, repeat steps 3 through 7 before continuing with step 9. 9. Press the R cleaning button and close the printer cover. The printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink delivery system.
Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
The P power light flashes, and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about 30 seconds. When its finished, the P power light stops flashing and stays on.
EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 - 7
Never turn off the printer while the P power light is flashing, unless the printer hasnt moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes. Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge
When an ink cartridge is more than six months old, you may need to replace it if you notice that your printouts dont look as good as they used to. If print quality doesnt improve after cleaning and aligning the print head, you can replace one or both cartridges. Follow these steps to replace an ink cartridge before the B black or A color ink out light is flashing or on: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing (the P power light should be on, but not flashing), then open the printer cover. 2. Press the E load/eject button and hold it for about three seconds until the print head moves left and the Ppower light begins flashing.

To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head by hand. Dont open the clamp or remove a cartridge except to replace it with a new one. Once you remove a cartridge, you cant reuse it, even if it contains ink.
black cartridge (S020189)
color cartridge (S020191)
7. Press down the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in place, but dont press down on the cartridge itself. 4. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it carefully.
8. If you need to replace the other ink cartridge, repeat steps 3 through 7 before continuing with step 9.
8 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 860
9. Press the E load/eject button again and close the printer cover. The printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink delivery system. The P power light flashes and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about 30 seconds. When its finished, the P power light stops flashing and stays on.
Never turn off the printer while the P power light is flashing, unless the printer hasnt moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to clean the print head. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the printer makes some noise and the Ppower light flashes.
6. When the P power light stops flashing, run a nozzle check to confirm the print head nozzles are clean and reset the cleaning cycle. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer and click Print nozzle check pattern. Then click Next. The nozzle check pattern prints (see page 10 for details). 7. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps in its dots, click Finish. If the pattern is missing dots, click Clean to clean the print head again. If you dont see any improvement after cleaning three or four times, check the solutions in the Printer Basics book. You can also turn the printer off and wait overnightthis allows any dried ink to softenand then try cleaning the print head again.

Cleaning the Print Head

If your printed image is unexpectedly light or faint, or dots are missing from the image, you may need to clean the print head. This unclogs the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly. Cleaning the print head uses ink, so clean it only if print quality declines. You can clean the print head in either of the following ways: t using the Head Cleaning utility (when the printer is connected to a local port, not over a network), as described on page 9 t using the printers control panel buttons, as described on page 9

When you dont turn on your printer for a long time, the print quality can decline. Its a good idea to turn on your printer at least once a month to maintain good print quality. If any paper you buy comes with a cleaning sheet, dont use the cleaning sheet with your printer; it may jam inside the printer.
Using the Control Panel to Clean the Print Head
Follow these steps to clean the print head: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and both the B black and A color ink out lights are off. (If an ink out light is flashing, replace the ink cartridge before continuing.) 2. Press the R cleaning button and hold it down for three seconds. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the printer makes some noise and the Ppower light flashes.
Using the Head Cleaning Utility
Follow these steps to run the Head Cleaning utility: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and both the B black and A color ink out lights are off. (If an ink out light is flashing, replace the ink cartridge before continuing.) 2. If you have an application running, access the printer settings dialog box. Or, with Windows, click Start, point to Settings, then select Printers. Right-click your EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 printer icon in the Printers windows. Then select Properties (Document Defaults in Windows NT). 3. Windows: Click the Utility tab. Macintosh: Click the Utility button. 4. On the Utility menu, click the Head Cleaning button.
3. After the P power light stops flashing, print a page to test the print quality and reset the cleaning cycle. If your printer is connected directly to the computer, go to step 4 to run a nozzle check. If youre printing over a network, open an application and print a short document containing black and color data. Then go to step 8. 4. If you have an application running, access the printer settings dialog box. Or, with Windows, click Start, point to Settings, then select Printers. Right-click your EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 printer icon in the Printers windows. Then select Properties (Document Defaults in Windows NT).
EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 - 9
5. Windows: Click the Utility tab. Macintosh: Click the Utility button. 6. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer, click the Nozzle Check button, and click Next. The nozzle check pattern prints (see the next section for details). 7. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps in its dots, click Finish. If the pattern is missing dots, click Clean to clean the print head again. 8. If you dont see any improvement after cleaning three or four times, check the solutions in the Printer Basics book. You can also turn the printer off and wait overnightthis allows any dried ink to softenand then try cleaning the print head again. Follow these steps: 1. Make sure the printer is turned on, but not printing, and letter-size paper is loaded.

Load paper thats at least 8.27 inches (210 mm) wide to prevent ink from spraying inside the printer and smudging your printouts. For the best results, load EPSON ink jet paper in the printer whenever you check the print head alignment.
2. If you have an application running, access the printer settings dialog box. Or, with Windows, click Start, point to Settings, then select Printers. Right-click the EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 icon in the Printers windows. Select Properties (Document Defaults in Windows NT). 3. Windows: Click the Utility tab. Macintosh: Click the Utility button. 4. You see the Utility menu. Click the Print Head Alignment button. 5. Follow the instructions on the screen to print a test page. 6. Select the most precise alignment pattern from the choices on the test page. Enter the number of the best aligned pattern following the instructions on the screen.
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern
Examine the nozzle check pattern you print. It should look something like this:
Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If your printout looks okay, youre done. If any dots are missing, as shown below, clean the print head again; see page 9 for instructions.

missing dots

Cleaning the Printer
To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it several times a year. Follow these steps: 1. Turn off the printer, unplug the power cord, and disconnect the printer cable. 2. Remove all the paper from the sheet feeder. 3. Clean the exterior of the printer with a soft, damp cloth. 4. Clean ink out of the printers interior with a soft, damp cloth.
Dont touch the gears inside the printer. Never use alcohol or thinner for cleaning; they can damage the printer components and case. Dont use a hard or abrasive brush.

Aligning the Print Head

If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may need to align the print head. Your printer must be connected to a local port, not on a network, to use the Print Head Alignment utility.
Dont get water on the printer components and dont spray lubricants or oils inside the printer. Dont use any cleaning sheets included with special media; they may jam inside the printer.
10 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 860

Transporting the Printer

If you move your printer some distance, you need to prepare it for transportation in its original box. Follow these steps:
To avoid damage, always leave the ink cartridges installed when transporting the printer. Be sure to remove the tape used in step 4 after installing the printer in its new location.

Related Documentation

TM-SC860/1160 EPSON Stylus COLOR 860/ EPSON Stylus COLOR 1160 Service Manual PL-SC860 CPD 8991 EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 Parts Price List EPSON Stylus COLOR 760/ EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 Printer Basics EPSON Stylus COLOR 760/ EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 Start Here EPSON Stylus COLOR 760/ EPSON Stylus COLOR 860 Unpacking the Printer

1. Turn on the printer, wait until the print head locks in the far right position, then turn off the printer. 2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. Then disconnect the printer cable from the printer. 3. Remove any paper from the printer and remove the paper support. 4. Open the printer cover. Secure the ink cartridge holder to the printer with tape as shown, then close the printer cover.
Tape the ink cartridge holder to the printer case

CPD 8992

CPD 9224
5. Push in the output tray extensions and close the tray. 6. Repack the printer and attachments in the original box using the protective materials that came with it. See the unpacking sheet that was packed with your printer. Be sure to keep the printer level as you transport it. After transporting the printer, remove the tape securing the print head and test your printer. If you notice a decline in print quality, clean the print head (see page 9); if output is misaligned, align the print head (see page 10).
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