Chapter 11

LQP02 Letter-Quality Printer

Overview

The LQP02 is a desktop, full character impact printer. It uses daisywheel technology to produce printed copy much like that from your office typewriter. This makes it ideal for such word processing applications as business correspondence and formal documents.

While designed for use with all of Digital’s personal computers, workstations, and video terminals, the LQP02 letter-quality printer is also supported on any Digital processor running the RT-11, RSX-11M, RSX-11M-PLUS, RSTS/E and VME operating systems.

The LQP02 can even be used for applications that require graphics output, such as pie and bar charts, and line graphs. This capability is made possible by Digital’s new DaisyAids software package, which can be purchased separately. DaisyAids is specifically designed for the LQP02 when used in conjunction with Digital’s DECmate II and Rainbow 100, running the CP/M™ operating system.

There are two models of the LQP02 letter-quality printer.

• LQP02-AA: Desktop, letter-quality printer with Dual Courier 10 font, and 120 Vac power supply.
• LQP02-AD: Desktop, letter-quality printer with Dual Courier 10 font, and 240 Vac power supply.

Major Features

The LQP02 letter-quality printer’s main features are:

• Full character impact printing – gives you high-quality print.
• Variable horizontal and vertical pitches selectable via software – allows you the freedom to design your document for your application.
• Daisywheels – provide many fonts and character sets easily and inexpensively.
• Shadow bolding – permits text highlighting.
• Foreign language printing – allows you to print in almost any foreign language.
• Cross-product compatibility – enables Digital’s customers to use the LQP02 with most Digital systems.

Printing Features

The LQP02 letter-quality printer offers full character letter-quality printing.

Letter-Quality Printing

LQP02 technology provides letter-quality output at the rate of 32 characters per second. This is suitable for professional-looking correspondence. Printing is accomplished through a bidirectional technique in which the printwheel seeks the shortest distance to the next printable character, rapidly skipping over blank spaces.

Shadow Bolding

A new feature called “shadow bolding” makes shadow bolded print much more visible than normal bold print. In this technique, characters are struck twice as in normal bolding. But unlike normal bolding, the second strike is slightly offset from the first, resulting in a shadow image.

Character Sets

Changing character sets or type styles is as easy as changing the printwheel. You can select from: UKN Letter Gothic 12, WP Courier 10, WP Pica 10, WP Prestige Elite 12, ANSI OCR-B 10, WPS Boldface Italic PS, Dual Courier 10, European Courier 10, and Greek/Math, as well as others.

With the LQP02, character size can be changed from 10 to 12 characters per inch. When using 10 characters per inch, you can fit 132 columns on legal-sized paper. With 12 characters per inch, 158 columns will fit on legal-sized paper.

Paper

The LQP02’s sheet feeder option handles regular office stationery in standard, legal, and European sizes. The adjustable form tractor option handles fanfold paper from 7.6 centimeters to 38.1 centimeters (3 - 15 inches) wide, and prints up to 34.3 centimeters (13.5 inches) across.

Options

Accessories and Supplies

The following accessories, supplies, components, and spares are available for the LQP02 letter-quality printer. Check with your sales representative or Digital’s Installed-Base Group for the latest information.

Supplies

Accessories

Figure 11-3 LQP02 Daisywheels

Description
UKN Letter Gothic 12
WP Courier 10
WP Pica 10
WP Prestige Elite 12
Bilingual Courier 10
Bilingual Prestige Elite
WP Orator 90% 10
ANSI OCR-B 10
England Pica 10
England Courier 10
England Prestige Elite 12
WP Letter Gothic 12
WP Gothic 15
ASCII 96 Prestige Elite 12
WPS Boldface 12
WPS Title PS
WPS Thesis PS
Nederland Prestige Elite 12
WPS Boldface Italic PS
Nederland Pica 10
Dual Courier 10
European Courier 10
Greek/Math

Operator Features

Front Panel Indicators and Switches

A total of eight controls and indicators are found on the front panel of the LQP02 letter-quality printer.

Power Indicator

The green POWER light indicates the operating state of the printer. The light is on when the printer is on-line and ready to print or is printing. The light is off when the printer is off-line.

DSR (Data Set Ready) Indicator

The green DSR light stays on when the DSR line is activated and the printer is under modem control. When not under modem control, the light is not on.

Printer Error

The red PRINTER ERROR light blinks when a mechanical or electrical problem is detected by the printer. During a PRINTER ERROR, an audible signal is sounded, and the printer will stop printing.

Ribbon Out

The red RIBBON OUT light blinks when the printer runs out of film ribbon. The RIBBON OUT indicator does not indicate the end of a cloth ribbon, or the breaking or jamming of any type of ribbon. When the end of a film ribbon is detected, a buzzer sounds and the printer stops printing.

Paper Out

The red PAPER OUT light blinks, a buzzer sounds, and printing stops when the printer is out of paper, or if the paper is jammed.

Pause Indicator

The yellow PAUSE light blinks and printing stops when the PAUSE switch is on.

Pause Switch

The PAUSE switch is a rocker switch. When the top is pressed, printing stops and the pause light starts blinking. When the bottom is pressed, printing resumes with no loss of characters and the pause light stops blinking.

Activate the PAUSE switch when changing ribbons or daisywheels, or rolling the paper to the top of the form.

Form Feed Switch

When not printing, and the top of the FORM FEED switch is pressed, the paper advances a page.

Printer Controls

The LQP02 letter-quality printer has eight printer controls.

Paper Bail

This holds the paper against the platen. The two handles permit adjustment of the entire bail from either side of the printer.

Paper Thickness Lever

The paper thickness lever adjusts spacing between the daisywheel and the platen. For an average thickness, place this lever in the forward position. For thicker sheets, envelopes, and multipart forms, move this lever toward the back of the printer.

Edge Guide

This movable edge eases paper insertion at any point along the platen.

Card Guide

This establishes a printer reference line for the top edge of the paper and assists in locating the vertical printing position. Paper should never be pulled against the card guide, but rather the formfeed switch should be pressed or the platen knob turned.

Column Indicator

This indicator assists you in positioning paper on the platen and locating the horizontal printing position.

Paper Release Lever

The paper release lever controls pressure applied to the paper by the cradle rollers underneath the platen. Backward movement of this lever holds the paper tightly against the platen. Forward movement releases the paper.

Platen Knobs

Turning the right knob clockwise or the left platen knob counterclockwise advances the paper through the printer.

Text Recovery Switch

When activated, this switch informs the status protocol handler of the printer’s condition. This means that you can signal the host of a printer problem that may cause the loss of text.

Printer Configurations

The LQP02 Letter-Quality Printer contains two banks of configuration switches, which are set for worldwide system operation without a modem. If you need to change the configuration, the switches required for this operation are located on the back of the LQP02. Note: Before resetting the switches, check that you have turned the power off.

The switch positions can be easily changed by flipping the position up or down. When the switch is down, it is off. When up, the switch is on. A diagram of the switches can be found underneath the front cover of the LQP02.

Left Switch Bank (SP1)

The left group contains 12 preset switches (SP1-1 through SP1-12). These are factory set at the following:

• SP1-1, Up – Baud rate of 4,800 bits per second
• SP1-2, Down – Baud rate of 4,800 bits per second
• SP1-3, Up – Baud rate of 4,800 bits per second
• SP1-4, Up – Baud rate of 4,800 bits per second
• SP1-5, Down – One stop bit
• SP1-6, Down – Restricted modem control
• SP1-7, Up – Space parity
• SP1-8, Down – Space parity
• SP1-9, Down – 2s timer
• SP1-10, Down – Paper out sensor enabled
• SP1-11, Down – Status transmission enabled
• SP1-12, Up – Self-test disabled

Baud Rate Select Switches (SP1-1, SP1-2, SP1-3, SP1-4)

These switches select the speed at which the printer transmits and receives data from the host processor. The LQP02 is factory set for 4800 baud.

Parity Enable Switches (SP1-7 and SP1-8)

These two switches select the parity mode.

Remaining Left Bank Switches

The table below names the remaining left bank switches and explains their function, and the meaning of up and down position settings. Refer to Figure 11-6.

Right Switch Bank (SP2)

The right bank contains eight switches (SP2-1 through SP2-8). Factory settings are indicated by †. See Figure 11-6.

Protective Ground Switch

When a modem is installed in your system, the up position of this switch connects the printer frame to the “protective ground” line (I/O connector pin 1). See Figure 11-6.

Normally, this switch is in the up position with or without a modem. But in other countries, such as Germany or the United Kingdom, local safety regulations require that the switch be in the down position, where the printer ground is not connected to the electrical ground.

Programming Information

The LQP02, like Digital’s other receive-only printers, uses escape sequences and features that were standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Following the brief description of each escape sequence feature will be the summary of the actual escape sequence required. Detailed information on all LQP02 escape sequences can be found in the LQP02 Printer Programmer’s Reference Manual.

Escape Sequences

Some frequently used escape sequences are outlined below. Note: In this section, VAI stands for vertical advance increment and one VAI equals 1/48 of an inch. HAI stands for horizontal advance increment, and one HAI is equal to 1/1200 of an inch.

Setting HAI and VAI

You can also set HAI and VAI to selective parameters.

Communications Protocols

Communications protocols can also be established by using escape sequences.

You should note that Ps₂ can be any of the following values:

• 20 – No malfunctions detected in the printer.
• 21 – Printer hardware error.
• 22 – Communication I/O error.
• 23 – Input buffer overflow.
• 24 – Pause active.
• 25 – Text recovery switch activated.
• 26 – Cover open.
• 27 – Paper out.
• 28 – Ribbon out.
• 29 – Printwheel table load error.
• 30 – No malfunctions detected in sheetfeeder.
• 31 – sheetfeeder hardware error.
• 32 – sheetfeeder insert error.

Maintenance

The LQP02 letter-quality printer does not require preventative maintenance. However, in order to ensure proper operation of your LQP02 printer, keep the following items in mind.

• Keep printer away from sources of extreme temperature such as direct sunlight, room heaters, and air conditioners.
• Keep paper clips, matches, coffee, cold drinks, and other small objects and liquids away from your printer. If they fall inside, they will cause damage.
• Select the right paper for the job. Single-sheet bond paper usually gives the best print quality.
• Make sure that the paper is positioned properly, and that the thickness adjustment lever is in the correct position.
• Use only Digital-approved printwheels and ribbon cartridges in the printer. Others may not provide the same high performance.
• Never scratch or crease ribbons.

Self-test Procedure

To initiate a self-test procedure:

1. Check that the power is off and the cover is on.
2. Insert sheet of paper in horizontal position, as far to the left as it will go.
3. Move self-test configuration switch (SP1-12) down.
4. Press top of power switch.
5. Front-panel lights should blink twice, and carriage should move to the far left.
6. Press FORM FEED switch once. Red printer-error, ribbon-out, and paper-out lights should blink twice.
7. Wait a few seconds, and press FORM FEED switch again. Buzzer should sound, printing should start, and forms tractor or sheetfeeder, if installed, should operate.
8. After at least two lines of printout are obtained, press top of PAUSE switch. Printout should include at least one carriage return, one line feed, and all characters on printwheel.
9. If the printer passes self-test, you’re all set to go. If it doesn’t, refer to the next section.

Operator Troubleshooting Checklist

If your printer is not operating, chances are the problem is minor and you can correct it yourself. Listed below are some of the common problems, their probable cause, and the corrective action you can take. Note: Always turn off the printer before you attempt to correct a problem.

Printer stops or won’t turn on (power light off).

• Power off. – Press power switch on. Check power cable connections.

Printing stops or won’t start (power light on).

• Access cover open. – Close access cover.

Printing stops or won’t start (printer error light on).

• Electronic or mechanical malfunction. – Perform self-test procedure.

Power-up failure (power light on, buzzer sounds continuously).

• Temporary electronic malfunction. – Switch printer off and then on.

Some characters improperly spaced or positioned.

• Damaged printwheel. – Replace printwheel.

Characters too close together or too far apart.

• Wrong printwheel or system pitch setting. – Change printwheel or system pitch setting.

Characters not consistently dark.

• Old or dried out ribbon. – Replace ribbon cartridge.
• Incorrectly set paper thickness lever. – Reset paper thickness lever to allow for thinner paper or multipart forms.
• Defective printwheel. – Replace printwheel.
• Ink or carbon not adhering to coated paper. – Use uncoated paper.

Characters not sharp or dark enough.

• Incorrectly set paper thickness lever. – Reset paper thickness lever to allow for thinner paper or multipart forms.
• Worn or dirty printwheel. – Replace or clean printhead.
• Defective ribbon. – Replace ribbon cartridge.

Parts of characters missing.

• Incorrectly set paper thickness lever. – Reset paper thickness lever to allow for thinner paper or multipart forms.
• Scratched film ribbon. – Advance ribbon to unscratched area or replace cartridge.
• Damaged printwheel character. – Replace printwheel.
• Ink or carbon not adhering to coated paper. – Use uncoated paper.

Top or bottom of characters missing.

• Ribbon folded over behind guides. – Unfold and advance ribbon, reinstall cartridge.
• Interference between card guide and ribbon guides. – Remove foreign object, reinstall ribbon cartridge.

Ribbon breaks or jams.

• Improperly installed ribbon. – Reinstall ribbon cartridge, check printout for loss of characters.
• Rewind knob turned in wrong direction during installation. – Reinstall ribbon cartridge turning knob in proper direction as marked on cartridge, check printout for loss of characters.

Perforated paper.

• Incorrectly set paper thickness lever. – Reset paper thickness lever to allow for thinner paper or multipart forms.

Additional Documentation

The following documents contain more detailed information about the LQP02 letter-quality printer.

• Installing and Using the LQP02 Printer (AA-L662A-TK) – Tells you how to install, use, maintain, troubleshoot, and configure the LQP02.
• LQP02 Printer Programmer Reference Manual (EK-LQP02-RM) – Provides detailed information on the LQP02’s features: communications, print configurations, text mode character processing, escape and control sequences, and graphics mode.

Also of interest are:

• PDP-11 and VAX Systems & Options Catalogs – Provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information on currently available PDP-11 and VAX systems, options, and software products. These customer documents are designed to help you select the right Digital product. European versions are also available.

If you require information not contained in these documents, contact your local Digital representative.

Specifications

Performance Characteristics

Paper

Communications

Power Requirements

Operating Environment

Physical Characteristics