24-pin Dot Matrix Printer

Users Guide

This manual is divided into two sections: English and Spanish. The English section begins after this page. The Spanish section begins approximately at the middle of the manual. Este manual est dividido en dos secciones: Ingls y Espaol. El manual en espaol comienza aproximadamente a la mitad del libro. El manual en ingls comienza despus de esta pgina.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. The information contained herein is designed only for use with this Epson printer. Epson is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.
Neither Seiko Epson Corporation nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by the purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product, or (excluding the U.S.) failure to strictly comply with Seiko Epson Corporations operating and maintenance instructions. Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or any consumable products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation. Epson and Epson ESC/P are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. Epson Store, Epson Connection, and SoundAdvice are service marks of Epson America, Inc. General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Epson disclaims any and all rights in those marks.
2004 Epson America, Inc. 1/04

4047824-00 CPD-17641

Contents
Introduction Options. 5 Chapter 1 - Setting Up the Printer Unpacking the Printer. 7 Choosing a Place for the Printer. 7 Assembling the Printer. 8 Connecting the Printer to Your Computer. 11 Installing the Printer Software. 12 For DOS programs. 15 Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide. 15 Installing the Remote Configuration Manager. 15 Chapter 2 - Paper Handling Setting the Paper Release Lever. Adjusting the Paper-Thickness Setting. Loading Continuous Paper with the Front Push Tractor. Loading Continuous Paper with the Rear Push Tractor. Loading Continuous Paper with the Pull Tractor. Removing paper from the pull tractor. Loading Single Sheets with the Paper Guide. Loading Special Papers. Continuous multipart forms. Single-sheet multipart forms. Labels. Envelopes. Postcards. Using the Micro Adjust Function. Adjusting the tear-off position. Adjusting the top-of-form position. 31 33
Chapter 3 - Using the Control Panel Buttons and Lights. Selecting a Font and Pitch. Changing the Printers Default Settings. Default-setting mode. Chapter 4 - Troubleshooting Using the Error Indicators. Clearing Paper Jams. Printing a Self Test. Where To Get Help. Chapter 5 - Product Information Safety Instructions. Hot Parts Caution Symbol. Important Safety Instructions. ENERGY STAR Compliance. FCC Compliance Statement for United States Users. WARNING. For Canadian users. Declaration of Conformity. EPSON AMERICA, INC., LIMITED WARRANTY. 39

Introduction

This manual covers the following basic information to get you started using your Epson printer: Setting Up the Printer Paper Handling Using the Control Panel Troubleshooting Product Information
Although most of the illustrations in this manual show the LQ-590, the instructions apply to both the LQ-590 and the LQ-2090.
w Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. c Cautions must be observed to prevent damaging your equipment.
Notes contain important information and useful tips about using your printer. For detailed information about your printer, refer to the online Reference Guide. It describes all the printers functions, optional products, printer software, troubleshooting, and technical specifications. See Installing and Using the Online Reference Guide on page 15. If you have questions about using your printer software, you can use the online help, which is installed automatically when you install the printer software.

Options

By adding options such as a cut-sheet feeder or roll paper holder, you can further expand your printers capabilities. Optional interface cards are also available to supplement your printers built-in interfaces. (See the Reference Guide for more information.) You can purchase ribbon cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from the Epson StoreSM at (800) 873-7766, or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.

Chapter 1

Setting Up the Printer
This chapter describes how to unpack and set up your printer.

Unpacking the Printer

Make sure you have the following items.

Ribbon cartridge Printer

Paper guide
Front sheet guide (LQ-590 only)
Front paper guide (LQ-2090 only)
Power cord Printer software
Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet to remove the protective materials before you turn on the printer. Save all packing and protective materials in case you need to ship the printer in the future.
Choosing a Place for the Printer
Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle. Avoid using or storing the printer in places subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Keep it away from direct sunlight, strong light, heat sources, or excessive moisture or dust.
Place the printer near a wall outlet where you can easily unplug the power cord. Position the power cord and interface cable so they do not interfere with paper feeding. Note for French-speaking users: Placez limprimante prs dune prise de courant o la fiche peut tre dbranche facilement.
Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or automatic timers. An interruption in power can erase information in the memory of your printer or computer. Also avoid outlets on the same circuit as large motors or other appliances that can cause voltage fluctuations. Use a grounded power outlet; do not use an adapter plug.

Assembling the Printer

1. Make sure the printer is turned off and unplugged. Then open the printer cover and pull it up to remove it.
Remove the paper tension unit by pressing the tabs on each side and pulling it up.
Use your hand to slide the print head to the middle of the printer.
Remove the new ribbon cartridge from the package. The black plastic ribbon guide is held in place on top of the cartridge with a small tab. To release it, hold the sides of the ribbon guide and gently disconnect it. (Do not remove the ribbon guide from the ribbon, however.)

Ribbon guide

Hold the ribbon cartridge by its handle and insert it into the printer at an angle, as shown below; then press down on both sides of the cartridge to fit the plastic hooks into the printer slots. You should hear it click into place.

The printer software CD-ROM also includes the Epson Remote Configuration Manager, which lets you change the printers default settings. See Installing the Remote Configuration Manager on page 15.
Follow these steps to install the printer software: 1. 2. Make sure Windows is running and the printer is turned off. Insert the printer software CD-ROM into the CD-ROM or DVD drive. After a moment the Installation screen appears: If it does not, double-click

Setup.exe on the CD-ROM.

Select your printer model and click. You see this window:
Select Install Printer Software and click. You see the software license agreement. Read the agreement and click
Accept. The installation starts

and you see this window:

Turn on your printer, then wait for the software to be installed. (This may take a few minutes.) If you are prompted to insert the Windows CD-ROM, go to step 7. Otherwise, follow any instructions on the screen until the installation is complete and you see the Installation screen again. Then turn to page 15 and follow the instructions to install the Reference Guide and the Remote Configuration Manager utility.
If the installation asks for the Windows CD-ROM, insert the disk in the CD-ROM drive and click OK. When the Windows installation screen appears, close the screen to continue with the driver installation. Note: If you see a message that the drive is not accessible, click Cancel and try again.
Click Browse and select the path for the printer driver. Then click OK and follow the on-screen instructions. Select the appropriate file in the folder and click OK.
10. When prompted, insert the printer software CD-ROM and click Browse to select the correct path. Note: If you see a message that the drive is not accessible, click Cancel and try again. If a System Error message appears, click Cancel. If you are using Windows NT, you do not need to specify a path. If you are using Windows 98, the Printer Utility Setup may start. If it does, follow the instructions on the screen.
11. When the installation is complete, see page 15 to install the Reference Guide and the Remote Configuration Manager utility.

Slide the left sprocket approximately 0.5 inch (12 mm) from the far left position and push the lever back to lock it in place. Then slide the right sprocket to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. Slide the edge guides to the center.

Edge guides

Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge. Then open the sprocket covers. Note: Make sure the printer is off before you insert the paper in the paper slot. If you insert the paper while the printer is on, a paper jam may occur.
Insert the paper into the front or bottom paper slot as shown below until it emerges between the platen and the ribbon guide. Then pull up the paper until the perforation between the first and second pages is even with the top of the printers ribbon. Front slot Before you load paper in the front slot, remove the front cover. Then load paper with the printable side facing up.
Bottom slot Load paper in the bottom slot with the printable side facing up.
Fit four holes of the paper over the tractor pins on both sprockets. Then close the sprocket covers.
Slide the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper, then lock it in place. Slide the edge guides to the center.
10. If you load paper in the front slot, reattach the front cover.
If you have the LQ-2090, remove the sub cover from the front cover before replacing the front cover. Be sure to reattach the sub cover when you want to print from a different paper source. 11. Turn on the printer. 12. Remove any slack in the paper by pressing the LF/FF button. When the printer receives data, it will start printing at the current position without advancing the paper. If necessary, adjust the top of form position using the Micro Adjust function (see page 33).
c Caution: the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may Never use
damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. 13. Attach the printer cover by inserting the front tabs into the slots, then lowering the cover into place. Close the paper guide cover. 14. Send a print job to the printer. The printer starts printing from the top-of-form position. After you finish printing, open the paper guide cover and tear off the printed document at the perforation nearest the paper exit slot.
Removing paper from the pull tractor
1. After you finish printing, tear off the paper supply at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot.

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 of labels because the printer may not feed labels on a shiny backing sheet properly. Thick paper, such as continuous paper with labels, requires a straight or almost straight paper path. You can load labels in the front (to the pull tractor) or bottom (pull tractor) paper slot. The loading procedure for continuous paper with labels is the same as that for ordinary continuous paper, except you must set the paper-thickness lever to 2 before printing.
Note: It is best to load continuous paper with labels on the pull tractor. Do not load labels on the rear or front push tractor. Do not load continuous paper with labels from the rear paper slot. Because the rear paper path is curved, labels may come off their backing sheets inside the printer and cause a paper jam. Do not load paper that is curled or has been folded. Never feed labels backward using the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin button. When fed backward, labels can easily peel off the backing sheet and cause a paper jam. Because labels are sensitive to temperature and humidity, use them only under normal operating conditions: Temperature Humidity 59 to 77 F (15 to 25 C) 30 to 60% RH
Do not leave labels loaded in the printer between jobs; they may curl around the platen and jam when you resume printing.
Removing continuous paper with labels
To prevent labels from peeling off the backing sheet and jamming the printer, follow these steps to remove continuous paper with labels from the printer: 1. Tear off the fresh supply of continuous labels at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot.
Hold down the LF/FF button to eject the remaining labels from the printer.
c Caution: labels backward using the Load/Eject or Tear Off/Bin button. Never feed
When fed backward, labels can easily come off the backing sheet and cause a paper jam. Paper Handling

Envelopes

You can feed envelopes one at a time using the paper guide, or you can load multiple envelopes using the optional high-capacity cut-sheet feeder (bin 1 of the double-bin cut-sheet feeder). Before loading envelopes, set the paper-thickness lever to position 3, 4, or 6, depending on the thickness of the envelopes. See page 18 for more information. To load single envelopes, follow the instructions under Loading Single Sheets with the Paper Guide on page 26. Be sure to place the envelope printable side down and insert the top edge of the envelope into the printer first. To load multiple envelopes, see the Reference Guide. Note: The print head must not print past the left or right edge of the envelope or other thick paper. Make sure your application program prints entirely within the printable area of your envelope. See Printer Specifications in the Reference Guide for more information on the printable area of envelopes. If you are using No. 6 envelopes, make sure the left edge guide is aligned with the arrow on the paper guide.

Postcards

You can feed postcards one at a time using the paper guide, or you can load multiple cards using the optional high-capacity cut-sheet feeder (bin 1 of the double-bin cut-sheet feeder). The cards can be loaded only in the front or rear paper slot. Before loading postcards, set the paper-thickness lever to position 2 and set the paper release lever to the single-sheet position.
To load a single card, follow the instructions in Loading Single Sheets with the Paper Guide on page 26. To load multiple cards, see the Reference Guide. Note: When you are loading postcards long edge first, always load them in the top slot. When loading A6 size cards, always load them long edge first. Before printing, turn on the card mode by pressing the Tear Off/Bin button several times until the left Tear Off/Bin light is on.
Using the Micro Adjust Function
The Micro Adjust function allows you to move the paper forward or backward in 1/180-inch (0.141 mm) increments to adjust the tear-off and top-of-form positions.
Adjusting the tear-off position
If your papers perforation is not aligned with the tear-off edge, you can use the Micro Adjust function to move the perforation to the tear-off position, as described below. Your tear-off position setting remains in effect until you change it, even if you turn off the printer.
c Caution: the knob to adjust the tear-off position; this may damage the Never use
printer or cause it to lose the tear-off position.
You may need to press the Tear Off/Bin button to advance the paper to the tear-off position. Make sure the Tear Off/Bin lights are flashing (the paper is at the current tear-off position). Hold down the Pause button for about three seconds. The Pause light begins flashing and the printer enters Micro Adjust mode. Open the paper guide cover, then press the LF/FF D button to feed paper backward, or press the Load/Eject U button to feed paper forward, until the paper perforation is aligned with the tear-off edge of the printer cover.

Tear-off edge of the printer cover

Paper perforation

Note: The printer has a minimum and a maximum tear-off position. If you try to adjust the tear-off position beyond these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper. 4. 5. Tear off the printed pages. Press the Pause button to turn off Micro Adjust mode.
When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position and begins printing.
Adjusting the top-of-form position
The top-of-form position is the position on the page where the printer starts printing. If your printing appears too high or low on the page, you can use the Micro Adjust function to adjust the top-of-form position, as described below. Your top-of-form position setting remains in effect until you change it, even if you turn off the printer.
printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position. 1. 2. Make sure the printer is turned on. Load paper. (If the tractor is in a push position, press the Load/Eject button to advance continuous paper to the current top-of-form position.) If necessary, lift the printer cover so you can see the paper position. Hold down the Pause button for three seconds. The Pause light flashes and the printer enters Micro Adjust mode. Press the LF/FF D button to move the top-of-form position up on the page, or press the Load/Eject U button to move the top-of-form position down on the page.
Press the Pause button to exit Micro Adjust mode.
Note: The printer has a minimum and a maximum top-of-form position. If you try to adjust it beyond these limits, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper. When the paper reaches the default top-of-form position, the printer beeps and stops moving the paper briefly. You can use this setting as a reference point when adjusting the position. The top margin setting selected in some software overrides the top-of-form position setting you make with the Micro Adjust function.

Chapter 3

Using the Control Panel
This chapter describes the buttons and lights on the control panel, plus: Selecting a font and pitch Changing the printers default settings

Buttons and Lights

Button/Light 1 Font (ItemD) button Font lights 2 Reset (Font and Pitch) buttons Pitch (ItemU) button
Function Selects one of the fonts. See Selecting a Font and Pitch on page 37. In default setting mode, ItemD selects the next menu. Indicate which font is selected. When you press both the Font and Pitch buttons simultaneously, the printer clears the buffer and restores its default settings. Selects one of the pitch settings. See Selecting a Font and Pitch on page 37. In default setting mode, ItemU selects the previous menu.

Pitch lights

Indicate which pitch is selected.
Tear Off/Bin (Set) button
Feeds continuous paper forward to the tear-off position. Feeds continuous paper backward from the tear-off position to the top-of-form position. Selects a cut-sheet feeder bin when it is installed. In default setting mode, selects a value.

Tear Off/Bin lights

Both flash when continuous paper is in the tear-off position. Both off when continuous paper is not in the tear-off position or when bin 1 of the optional cut-sheet feeder is selected. Left light is on when Card mode is selected. Right light is on when bin 2 of the optional cut-sheet feeder is selected.

Menu buttons

When you press the Pitch (ItemU) and Tear Off/Bin (Set) buttons at the same time, the printer enters or exits default setting mode. See Changing the Printers Default Settings on page 38. When the printer is in default setting mode, both menu lights are on. Loads a single sheet of paper. Ejects a single sheet of paper. Loads continuous paper from the standby position. Feeds continuous paper backward to the standby position if a sheet is loaded.
Menu lights 6 Load/Eject button

Micro Adjust

When you hold down the Pause button for three seconds, the printer enters Micro Adjust mode. In this mode, you can press the LF/FF D and Load/Eject U buttons to adjust the top-of-form or tear-off position. See Using the Micro Adjust Function on page 31. Feeds paper line by line when pressed quickly. Ejects a single sheet or advances continuous paper to the next top-of-form position when held down.

LF/FF button

Pause button
Stops printing temporarily, and resumes printing when pressed again. When held down for three seconds, enters Micro Adjust mode. When pressed again, exits Micro Adjust mode.
Pause light Paper Out light
On when the printer is paused. Flashes when the printer is in Micro Adjust mode. On when no paper is loaded in the selected paper source or paper is not loaded correctly. Flashes when paper has not been fully ejected or paper is jammed.
Selecting a Font and Pitch
Usually, you use your application program to select the font and pitch you want to use in a document. However, you can select one of the printers fonts (in different pitches) with the buttons on the printers control panel, as described below. (The settings you make in application programs usually override settings you make from the printers control panel.) The pitches available depend on the font you select:
Font HSD Draft Roman Sans Serif Courier Prestige Script Others Pitch 10, 12, 15, 17, 20 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS* 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS* 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS* 10, 12, 15, 17, 20 10, 12, 17, 20 10, 12, 17, 20 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, PS*

International character set for italic table Font Manual feed wait time Buzzer Roll paper IBM character table Low-noise mode

Default-setting mode

Follow the steps below to enter default-setting mode. If single-sheet paper is loaded, youll need to load a new sheet each time the printer ejects a printed page. 1. Make sure the printer is on and paper is loaded. Then press the
Menu buttons (ItemU and Set) until the printer beeps and both the
Menu lights turn on. The printer enters default-setting mode and prints a line showing which language is currently selected for printing the instructions. (The selected language is underlined.)
If you want a different language, press the ItemD button until the printout shows the language you want underlined. Press the Set button to accept the language. The printer prints a line asking if you want to print all the current settings. To print a list of all the current settings, press the Set button. The printer prints all the settings and then the first setting again. Go to step 5. To go through the settings one at a time, press the ItemD or ItemU button. The printer prints the first setting and its current value.
Press the Set button to scroll through the options for the selected setting until you see the one you want. Press the ItemD or ItemU button to select the next or previous setting you want to change.
Repeat step 5 for any other settings you want to change. When you finish, press the Menu buttons again to exit default-setting mode.
Your new settings become the printers defaults.

Chapter 4

Troubleshooting
This chapter explains the error indicators and describes how to clear paper jams and print a self test. For more troubleshooting information, see your Reference Guide. If you cannot resolve the problem using the information in the manuals, see Where To Get Help on page 44.
Using the Error Indicators
Use the following table to diagnose printer errors.
Light status Beep pattern Problem Solution No paper is loaded in the selected paper source. Load paper in the printer or select a different paper source; the Paper Out light goes off. Then press the Pause button; the Pause light goes off and the printer starts printing. The paper is not loaded correctly. Remove your paper and reload it correctly. See Chapter 2 or the Reference Guide.

O Paper Out O Pause

O Pause
The paper release lever is set to the wrong position. Set the paper release lever to the position for the paper source you want to use. If paper from another paper source is currently in the paper path, press the Load/Eject button to eject the paper; then move the paper release lever to the desired position.

F Paper Out O Pause

A single sheet of paper is not fully ejected. Press the Load/Eject button to eject the sheet. Continuous paper is not fed to the standby position. Tear off printed page at the perforation; then press Load/Eject to feed paper to the standby position.
Paper is jammed in the printer. To clear the paper jam, see page 42.

Light status

Beep pattern
Problem Solution The print head is overheated. Wait a few minutes; the printer resumes printing automatically once the print head cools.

F Pause

F F F F F
Paper Out Pause F Tear Off/Bin F F Font light F F Pitch light
An unknown or serious printer error has occurred. Turn off the printer and leave it off for several minutes; then turn on the printer again.

O = On, F = Flashing

= Three beeps, = Five beeps

Clearing Paper Jams

1. 2. 3. Turn off the printer and open the printer cover. If continuous paper is jammed in the printer, tear off the fresh supply at the perforation nearest the paper entry slot. Turn the knob on the left side of the printer counterclockwise to remove the paper in the printer and any torn pieces of paper.
c Caution: on the left side of the printer to clear paper jams only Use the knob
when the printer is off. Otherwise, you may damage the printer or change the top-of-form or tear-off position. 4. 5. If the paper is stuck where the printer ejects it, gently pull the paper out of the printer. Close the printer cover and turn on the printer. Make sure the Paper Out light is not flashing and the Pause light is off.

Printing a Self Test

Running the printers self test helps you determine whether the printer or the computer is causing the problem. If the self test results are satisfactory, the printer is working properly and the problem probably results from your printer driver settings, application settings, computer, or interface cable. (Be sure to use a shielded interface cable.) If the self test does not print properly, there is a problem with the printer. See the Reference Guide for possible causes and solutions to the problem. You can print the self test using either single sheets or continuous paper of at least the following width:
Paper type Continuous paper (including perforated border) Single sheet LQ-590 9.5 inches (241 mm) A4 or letter size LQ-2090 14.8 inches (376 mm) A3 landscape
Make sure paper is loaded and the printer is turned off. To run the test using the Draft font, turn on the printer while holding down the LF/FF button. To run the test using the printers near letter-quality fonts, hold down the Load/Eject button while you turn on the printer. Either self test can help you determine the source of your printing problem; however, the draft self test prints faster than the near letter-quality test. After a few seconds, the printer loads the paper automatically and begins printing the self test. A series of characters is printed. Note: To temporarily stop the self test, press the Pause button. To resume the test, press the Pause button again.

To end the self test, press the Pause button to stop printing. If paper remains in the printer, press the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page. Then turn off the printer.
c Caution: off the printer while it is printing the self test. Always press Do not turn
the Pause button to stop printing and the Load/Eject button to eject the printed page before you turn off the printer. Troubleshooting

Where To Get Help

If your Epson printer is not operating properly and you cannot solve the problem using the troubleshooting information, see the contact information below. Epson provides technical assistance 24 hours a day through the electronic support services and automated telephone services listed below.
Service World Wide Web Access From the Internet, you can reach Epson Support at http://support.epson.com. At this site, you can download drivers and other files, look at product documentation, access troubleshooting information, and receive technical advice through e-mail. A variety of automated help services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To use these services, you must have a touch tone telephone and call (800) 922-8911. Use one of the following Epson SoundAdviceSM Express Codes to quickly select your printer in SoundAdvice: 70525 (for the LQ-590) or 70530 (for the LQ-2090).
Automated Telephone Services
To speak to a technical support representative, dial: U.S.: (562) 276-4322, 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Canada: (905) 709-2170, 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
Toll or long distance charges may apply. Before you call, please have the following information ready: Product name (Epson LQ-590 or LQ-2090) Product serial number (located on the back of the printer) Proof of purchase (such as a store receipt) and date of purchase Computer configuration Description of the problem
You can purchase ribbon cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from the Epson Store at (800) 873-7766, or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.

Chapter 5

Product Information

Safety Instructions

Hot Parts Caution Symbol
This symbol is placed on the print head and other parts to indicate that they may be hot. Never touch those parts just after the printer has been used. Let them cool for a few minutes before touching them.

Important Safety Instructions
Read all of these safety instructions before using the printer. In addition, follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer itself. Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a radiator or heat source. Place the printer on a flat surface. It will not operate properly if it is tilted or placed at an angle. Do not block or cover the slots and openings in the printers cabinet, and do not insert objects through the slots. Use only the type of power source indicated on the printers label. Connect all equipment to properly grounded electrical outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off. Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord. If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the total ampere rating of all devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cords ampere rating. Also, make sure the total ampere of all devices plugged into the electrical outlet does not exceed the electrical outlets ampere rating. Unplug the printer before cleaning it, and always clean it with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid onto the printer. Except as specifically explained in the user documentation, do not attempt to service the printer yourself. Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: if the power cord or plug is damaged, if liquid has entered the printer, if the printer has been dropped or damaged, if it does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions.

ENERGY STAR Compliance

As an ENERGY STAR Partner, Epson has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. The International ENERGY STAR Office Equipment program is a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, and scanners in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power generation.

FCC Compliance Statement for United States Users
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARNING

The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the users authority to operate the equipment.

For Canadian users

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interface Causing Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numrique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Rglement sur le matriel brouileur du Canada.
Declaration of Conformity
According to 47CFR, Part 2 and 15 for Class B Personal Computers and Peripherals; and/or CPU Boards and Power Supplies used with Class B Personal Computers: We: Located at: EPSON AMERICA, INC. MS 3-Kilroy Airport Way Long Beach, CA 90806 Telephone: (562) 290-5254

Powering business productivity with
superior performance and reliability
With powerful 24-pin technology, the Epson LQ-590 and the wide-format Epson LQ-2090 deliver precision text and graphics, plus rugged reliability for critical print requirements. Offering print speeds of up to 529 cps and seamless integration into existing

Epson LQ-590

Key Features

Powerful 24-pin print head technology s Delivers high quality text and graphics for critical applications Ultra fast print speeds s Speeds through multipart forms, reports, labels and more at up to 529 cps Extreme reliability in demanding print environments s Offers an MTBF rating of 20,000 POH and a 400 million character print head life s Facilitates greater productivity with less downtime Long-life ribbon cartridge thats easy to install s 5 million (LQ-590)/8 million (LQ-2090) character ribbon cartridge reduces the need for frequent ribbon changes s Ensures the lowest cost per page Advanced paper handling capabilities for greater flexibility s Provides four convenient paper paths to accommodate cut sheet paper and continuous forms up to 5 parts thick Easy system integration s Includes USB and Parallel connections, plus an additional slot for optional Type B interface cards s Epson and IBM printer languages ensure compatibility for new and legacy printing applications Simplified setup and operation s Improved menu navigation allows quick and easy changes to printer settings s Remote Configuration Manager facilitates easy setup via a PC Convenient setting for whisper-quiet operation Three-year warranty backed by Epsons superior service and support
printing environments, these robust performers
are sure to increase productivity. With versatile 5-part forms printing, multiple paper loading options, and a durable, long-lasting ribbon, each product races through tickets, purchase orders, invoices and more. Perfect for point-of-sale, manufacturing, and production environments, these two printers boast an amazing 20,000 POH MTBF rating and a 400 million character print head life. Each features an easy-to-use control panel that makes changing settings a snap, while convenient configuration software facilitates simple setup via a PC. These two workhorses provide Parallel and USB interfaces, plus a slot for optional interface cards, including high-speed Ethernet, for greater compatibility with practically any system. And, with both Epson and IBM printer languages, theyre perfect replacements for the Okidata ML-390/490, the Epson LQ-570e/870 or the wide-format Epson LQ-2080. Ideal for businesses that require high quality, multipart forms printing, the reliable Epson LQ-590 and LQ-2090 printers offer extremely low operational costs compared to other printing technologies, as well as superior performance in comparison to other impact printers in their class. Designed for use in demanding print environments, these heavy-duty dot matrix printers handle critical business applications with precision and ease. And theyre backed by a three-year warranty that includes Epsons superior service and support.
Printer Throughput Test* - ISO/IEC 10561 Letter Pattern

Lexmark 2490/2491

Pages Per Minute

6.1 5.0 5.0

10 cpi High-Speed Draft Mode
10 cpi Draft/Utility Mode

Selected Print Speed

Epson LQ-590/2090

Okidata ML-490/491

EPSON LQ-2090

IMPACT PRINTER

LQ-590/LQ-2090
Printing Method 24-pin, impact dot matrix Print Direction Bidirectional with logic seeking in Text and Graphics Mode Print Speed High Speed Draft 529 cps (12 cpi) 440 cps (10 cpi) Draft 330 cps (10 cpi) Letter Quality 110 cps (10 cpi) Character Sets 96 ASCII characters; 14 international character sets and 1 legal character set; 128 user-defined characters; Extended IBM style graphic characters; 5 code pages Resident Fonts Epson Draft 10, 12, 15 cpi Epson Roman 10, 12, 15 cpi proportional Epson Sans Serif 10, 12, 15 cpi proportional Epson Courier 10, 12, 15 cpi Epson Prestige 10, 12 cpi Epson Script 10 cpi Epson OCRB 10 cpi Epson Script C Proportional Epson Orator 10 cpi Epson Orator-S 10 cpi Bar Code Fonts EAN-13, EAN-8, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 128, POSTNET, Codabar (NW-7), Industrial 2 of 5, Matrix 2 of 5 Scalable Fonts Epson Roman 10.5 pt; 8-32 pt every 2 pt Epson Sans Serif 10.5 pt; 8-32 pt every 2 pt Epson Roman T 10.5 pt; 8-32 pt every 2 pt Epson Sans Serif H 10.5 pt; 8-32 pt every 2 pt Column Width LQ-590 LQ-cpi 12 cpi 15 cpi 17 cpi 20 cpi Formatting 32 horizontal tabs; line spacing in 1/6 or programmable (minimum 1/360 increments); skip over perforations in lines; page length in lines or inches Paper Feed Mechanism Feeding method Friction feed (front, rear) Push tractor (front, rear) Pull tractor (front, bottom, rear) Push and pull tractor** (front, rear) Cut sheet feeder (optional) Roll paper holder (optional) Paper Feed Speed 45 millisecond per 1/6" 5" per second continuous feed Paper Path Manual insertion Front or top in, top out Cut sheet feeder Top in, top out Tractor Front, rear or bottom in, top out Input Buffer 128KB

Software Drivers Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me, XP and NT 4.0 Interface Bidirectional Parallel (IEEE 1284 Nibble Mode supported) USB Type-B slot for optional interface cards Printer Language Epson ESC/P2 IBM PPDS Paper Handling Forms: continuous multipart, original plus 4 carbonless copies, maximum thickness.018" Width LQ-590 LQ-2090 Single sheets 3.9" to 10.1" 3.9" to 16.5" Continuous 4.0" to 10.0" 4.0" to 16.0" Cut-sheet feeder 7.2" to 8.5" 7.2" to 16.5" Length Single sheets 3.9" to 14.3" 3.9" to 14.3" Continuous 4.0" to 22.0" 4.0" to 22.0" Cut-sheet feeder 10.1" to 14.0" 10.1" to 14.0" No. 6 envelopes 6.5" x 3.6" No. 10 envelopes 9.5" x 4.1" Labels 2.5" x 0.94" (minimum) Roll paper 8.5" width Sound Level 52 dBA Power Requirements LQ-590 LQ-2090 Rated voltage 120V 100 to 240V Input voltage range 103.5 to 132V 90 to 264V Rated frequency range 50 to 60 Hz 50 to 60 Hz Input frequency range 49.5 to 60.5 Hz 49.5 to 60.5 Hz Physical Dimensions LQ-590 LQ-2090 Height 6.3" 6.3" Width 16.3 23.2" Depth 13.8" 13.8" Weight 15.6 lb 21 lb Control Panel Functions Font, pitch, pause, tear off, bin selection, line feed, form feed, load, eject, micro adjust, top-of-form adjustment, paper parking, default feature setting, panel lockout Reliability MTBF 20,000 POH (25% duty cycle) Print head life 400 million characters Ribbon life 5 million characters at 48 dots/character (LQ-590) 8 million characters at 48 dots/character (LQ-2090) Warranty Three-year limited warranty in the U.S. and Canada SupportThe Epson ConnectionSM Automated Technical Support (800) 922-8911 Pre-Sales Support (US and Canada) (800) 463-7766 Internet Website www.epson.com
* Advanced print head deisgn provides unmatched burst speed, allowing the Epson LQ-590/2090 to maximaize performance by consistently performing at or near top speeds. Standardized ISO 10561 throughput tests illustrate how Epsons superior technology results in faster printing and greater print volume over time. Test conducted by Seiko Epson Corporation. ** Additional tractor unit required

Printer Specifications

Ordering Information
Product Code Epson LQ-590 C11C558001 S015337 C806381 C806371 C800201 C814002 Epson LQ-2090 C11C559001 S015335 C806401 C806391 C800211 C814012 C814031

Description

Product Code
Epson LQ-590 and LQ-2090 Accessories Epson LQ-590 Impact Printer Ribbon Cartridge High Capacity Cut Sheet Feeder Single Bin Cut Sheet Feeder Additional Pull Tractor Unit Front Sheet Guide C811141 C823051 C823071 C823121 C823141 C823151 C823452 C823912 Roll Paper Holder Serial Interface Board 32KB Serial Interface Board LocalTalk Interface Coax Interface Board Twinax Interface Board Bidirectional Parallel Interface Board EpsonNet Multiprotocol 10/100 Base-TX Type-B Ethernet Print Server
Epson LQ-2090 Impact Printer Ribbon Cartridge High Capacity Cut Sheet Feeder Single Bin Cut Sheet Feeder Additional Pull Tractor Unit Front Sheet Guide Front Paper Guide
Epson America, Inc. 3840 Kilroy Airport Way, Long Beach, CA 90806 Epson Canada, Ltd. 3771 Victoria Park Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1W 3Z5
Specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Epson and Epson ESC/P2 are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. Epson Remote Configuration Manager is a trademark and 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. Copyright 2004 Epson America, Inc. CPD-17742 3/04 10K B&G
Printed on Recycled Paper