OKI MICROLINE 420 Dot Matrix Printer User Manual

June 16, 2024
OKI

OKI MICROLINE 420 Dot Matrix Printer

Product Information

Specifications

  • Model: Microline 420/421 & 490/491
  • Contents:
    1. Printer
    2. Ribbon cartridge
    3. Power Cable
    4. CD with drivers and online User Guide
    5. Setup Guide

Product Usage Instructions

Unpacking and Setup

  • Grasp the tabs (1) and open the access cover (2).
  • Remove the printhead shipping retainer.
  • Grasp the tabs (1) and remove the paper separator.
  • Remove the protective material and replace the paper separator.
  • Remove the protective material from the pull-up roller assembly(2).
  • With the access cover open, grasp the printhead (1) and slide it to the center.
  • Remove the ribbon cartridge from the packaging. Note: Leave the clear plastic ribbon shield (2) on the cartridge.
  • Hold the ribbon cartridge as shown with the knob (1) up and the ribbon shield (2) facing the platen (3).
  • Fit the grooves on the sides at the back end of the cartridge over the pins on the ribbon plate (4).
  • Lower the front of the cartridge over the printhead (1) until it snaps into place.
  • Turn the knob (2) clockwise to take up ribbon slack.

Headgear Adjustment
Set the headgap lever (1) for the number of sheets in the forms you are using from 1-4. Use setting 5 for envelopes or extra-thick paper. Adjust the setting for the best print quality.

Connection
For a parallel connection:

  1. Make sure both the printer and computer are OFF.
  2. Plug the interface cable into the printer port and the other end into the computer. Note: The parallel cable must be shielded, no longer than 6 ft (1.8m), and IEEE 1284-compatible.

For a USB connection, please refer to the user guide provided on the CD.

Powering On

  1. Plug the power cord into the printer and the other end into a grounded outlet.
  2. Turn the printer on. The POWER light (1) will come on, and the ALARM light (2) will come on because the paper is not loaded.

Paper Loading

  1. Move the paper lever (1) to the REAR position.
  2. Grasp the paper separator (2), lift it slightly, then slide it back.
  3. Pivot it forward and rest gently against the roller assembly.

Tractor Adjustment

  1. The above view is from the rear. Locate tractors.
  2. Pull up on tractor lock levers (1) to release tractors.
  3. Position the right-hand tractor for the width of the paper. See paper size reference marks on the printer.
  4. Open the tractor covers (2). This action raises the paper separator.
  5. Pull the paper and place the first two holes on each side over tractor pins (1). Note: An equal number of paper holes must be engaged on each tractor to ensure proper paper feed.
  6. Close the right tractor cover (1).
  7. Push down on the lock lever (2) to lock the tractor.
  8. Position the left tractor so that paper holes are centered on pins and the paper is not stretched or too loose, which could cause jams.
  9. Close the left tractor cover (1).
  10. Push down on the lock lever (2) to lock the tractor.

SETUP

Microline 420/421 & 490/491

Check the contents

  1. Printer

  2. Ribbon cartridge

  3. Power Cable

  4. CD with drivers and online User Guide

  5. Setup Guide

  6. Grasp tabs (1) and open access cover (2).

  7. Remove printhead shipping retainer.

  8. Grasp tabs (1) and remove the paper separator.

  9. Remove protective material. Replace the paper separator.

  10. Remove protective material from the pull-up roller assembly (2).

  11. With the access cover open, grasp printhead (1) and slide to center.

  12. Remove the ribbon cartridge from the packaging.

Important! Leave the clear plastic ribbon shield (2) on the cartridge.

  1. Hold ribbon cartridge as shown with knob (1) up and ribbon shield (2) facing platen (3).

  2. Fit grooves on the sides at the back end of the cartridge over pins on the ribbon plate (4).

  3. Lower the front of the cartridge over the printhead (1) until it snaps into place.

  4.  Turn knob (2) clockwise to take up ribbon slack.

Set the headgap lever (1) for the number of sheets in the forms you are using from 1-4. Use setting 5 for envelopes or extra-thick paper. Adjust the setting for the best print quality.

  1. Make sure both printer and computer are OFF.
  2. Plug the interface cable into the printer port. Plug the other end into the computer.

! Parallel cable must be shielded, no longer than 6 ft (1.8m), and IEEE 1284-compatible.

  1. Plug the power cord into the printer. Plug the other end into a grounded outlet.

  2. Turn the printer on. POWER light (1) comes on and ALARM light (2) comes on because the paper is not loaded.

  3. Move the paper lever (1) to the “REAR” position.

  4. Grasp the paper separator (2). Lift slightly then slide back.

  5. Pivot forward and rest gently against the roller assembly.

  6. The above view is from the rear. Locate tractors. Pull up on tractor lock levers (1) to release tractors.

  7. Position the right-hand tractor for the width of the paper. See paper size reference marks on the printer.

  8. Open the tractor covers (2). This action raises the paper separator.

Pull paper and place the first two holes on each side over tractor pins (1). An equal number of paper holes must be engaged on each tractor to ensure proper paper feed

  1. Close right tractor cover (1).

  2. Push down on the lock lever (2) to lock the tractor

  3. Position the left tractor so that paper holes are centered on pins and the paper is not stretched or too loose which could cause jams. Close tractor cover (1).

  4. Push down on the lock lever (2) to lock the tractor.

  5. Replace the paper separator. Make sure the marks (1) are aligned.

  6. Swing over the wire paper feed guide (2) to rest on the roller assembly.

Push the FF/LOAD button. Paper feeds into printer and ALARM light goes out. ! For instructions on loading single-sheet paper, see the User’s Guide on the CD.

Setting the Top of Form (TOF) Position

The factory default setting for the Top of the Form (TOF) (where the printing should begin) is one inch down from the top of the page. The first line prints at the red line on the plastic paper shield (1). Your software may print the first line of print above or below where TOF is set. You may need to adjust the TOF to meet your software’s needs.

Determine the Forms Tear-Off Setting
How you set TOF is determined by the Forms Tear-Off setting. Forms Tear-Off automatically moves the paper from the initial printing position to the tear- off position, allowing a printed page to be torn off without wasting paper or adjusting the printer. Forms Tear-Off is factory set to OFF.

Setting Top of Form with Forms Tear-Off set OFF

  1. Press SEL/MENU to take the printer offline. The SEL light goes out.
  2. Press and hold SHIFT, then press LF/MICRO Feed Down or FF/LOAD/Micro Feed Up.

! For steps to set Forms Tear Off ON and adjust TOF, refer to the User’s Guide on the CD provided with your printer. See “Using Your Printer, Top of Form (TOF).”
! To avoid TOF misalignment, always turn the printer off before turning the platen knob!

Install Printer Software

Parallel Interface

  1. Turn the printer on.
  2. Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. The CD will AutoPlay. (If AutoPlay is set off, click Start→Run→Browse. Browse to your CD-ROM drive and double-click Install.exe, then click OK.)
  3. Select your printer model.
  4. License Agreement appears. Click Next.
  5. The Menu Installer appears, click the Printer Software button.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

USB Interface
Windows® 98
! Before you start the installation, be sure the USB cable is connected to your printer and PC, and your printer is powered off.

  1. Turn the printer on.
  2. Insert the CD-ROM provided with your printer.
  3. Add New Hardware Wizard appears. Click Next.
  4. Select Search for a better driver… Click Next.
  5. Select CD-ROM and specify the location. Click Next.
  6. Windows finds the OKI USB Driver. Click Next. Click Finish. If the OKI Menu Installer displays, click Cancel to close it and continue the installation using Add Printer Wizard.
  7. The printer is detected. Click Next.
  8. Select Search for the best driver… Click Next.
  9. Select Specify a location and click Browse.
  10. Browse your CD-ROM drive, Drivers, [Printer Model], [Operating System], and language]. Click OK.
  11. Click Next.
  12. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. Windows

Windows® 2000
! Before you start the installation, be sure the USB cable is connected to your printer and PC, and your printer is powered off.

  1. Turn on the printer.
  2. The Found New Hardware Wizard appears. Click Next.
  3. Insert the CD-ROM provided with your printer. If the OKI Menu Installer displays, click Cancel to close it and continue the installation using Add Printer Wizard.
  4. Select Search for a suitable driver… Click Next.
  5. Select the CD-ROM drive and Specify a location. Click Next.
  6. Browse to your CD-ROM drive, Drivers, [Printer Model], Win2K, [Language], oemprint. inf. Click Open. Click OK.
  7. Windows indicates the driver is found for this device. Click Next. If Digital Signature Not Found displays, click Yes.
  8. Click Finish.

Windows® Me
! Before you start the installation, be sure the USB cable is connected to your printer and PC, and your printer is powered off.

  1. Turn on the printer.
  2. Insert the CD-ROM provided with your printer.
  3. The Add New Hardware Wizard appears. Click Next.
  4. Oki USB port driver is installed. Click Finish.
  5. Add New Hardware Wizard appears. Click Automatic Search… Click Next.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation.

Windows® XP
! Before you start the installation, be sure the USB cable is connected to your printer and PC, and your printer is powered off.

  1. Turn on the printer.
  2. The Found New Hardware Wizard appears.
  3. Insert the CD-ROM provided with your printer.
  4. Select Install the software automatically… Click Next.
  5. Select [Printer Model] / Xp / [Language] / oemprint.inf. Click Next. If a warning message appears, select Continue Anyway.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation

See the On-Line User’s Guide
The complete online User’s Guide is provided on the CD. You can view the User’s Guide on the CD, or, load in on your hard drive:

  1. Insert the CD into your CD-ROM drive. The CD will AutoPlay. (If AutoPlay is set off, click Start→Run→Browse. Browse to your CD-ROM drive and double-click Install.exe, then click OK.)
  2. Select your printer model.
  3. The Menu Installer appears. Click the Documentation button.
  4. Click the Install User’s Guides button.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

To open the User’s Guide from your hard drive, click Start→Programs→Oki Data→ML User’s Guide. Consult the User’s Guide for information on

  • operating your printer
  • menu selections
  • problem-solving
  • maintenance and service.

Service and Support
If you need further assistance or have questions, see our website: http://my.okidata.com In the U.S. and Canada, call; 1-800-OKI-Data (1-800-654-3282) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week  OKI is a registered trademark of Oki Electric Industry Company, Ltd. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.Oki Data Americas, Inc., 2000 Bishops Gate Blvd., Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054-4620 Tel: 856-235-2600 Fax: 856-222-5320, www.okidata.com

FAQ

Q: Where can I find the drivers and user guide?

A: The drivers and online user guide can be found on the CD included with the printer.

Q: How long can the parallel cable be?

A: The parallel cable must be no longer than 6 ft (1.8m) and IEEE 1284-compatible.

References

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)  >>

Download This Manual (PDF format)

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