Using the Front Push Tractor

To use the front push tractor, load continuous paper in the front slot. For more information on when to use the front push tractor, see Available Paper Paths.

The tractors are installed in the front push and rear push positions when the printer is shipped. The rear push tractor cannot be removed.

Installing the tractor in the front push position

If a tractor is installed in the front push position, skip to Loading paper onto the front push tractor.

If a tractor is installed in the pull position, you need to remove it, and replace the paper tension unit before using the front push tractor. See Removing the pull tractor.

To install the tractor in the front push position, follow these steps:

Open the front paper guide by pulling the tab at the center of the guide. Then remove the guide by grasping both sides and pulling it straight out of the printer.

Insert the tractor into the printer’s mounting slots and press down both ends of the tractor to make sure that it is firmly seated.

You are now ready to load continuous paper onto the front push tractor as described in the next section. To remove the tractor, see Removing the front push tractor.

Loading paper onto the front push tractor

To load paper onto the front push tractor, follow these steps:

Open the front paper guide by pulling the tab at the center of the guide. Then remove the guide by grasping both sides and pulling it straight out of the printer. Check that the tractor is installed in the front push position.

Remove the front sub cover from the front paper guide.

Be sure to reattach the front sub cover when printing from a different paper source.

Set the paper release lever to the front push tractor position. Also set the paper-thickness lever (located under the printer cover) to the proper position for your paper’s thickness.

Release the left and right sprockets by pushing the sprocket lock levers backward.

Slide the left sprocket to the left margin of your paper using the arrow mark inside the printer. (Printing starts at the arrow mark.) Then pull the lever forward to lock it in place.

See Paper alignment and Recommended printable area for more information on the left margin position.

Slide the right sprocket to match the width of your paper, but do not lock it. Move the paper support midway between the two sprockets as shown above.

Open both sprocket covers. Make sure your paper has a clean, straight edge and fit the first four holes of the paper, printable side up, over the tractor pins. Then close the sprocket covers.

Slide the right sprocket to remove any slack in the paper; then lock it in place by pushing the sprocket lock down.

Attach the front paper guide by sliding it along the printer’s mounting slots as shown below. Then close the front paper guide.

Slide the edge guides to the side of the top paper guide. Make sure that the top paper guide is laid flat, and the printer cover and the paper guide cover are closed.

Always close the printer cover before printing. The printer does not print when the cover is open.

Always lay the top paper guide flat when printing continuous paper.

Make sure the printer is on. You may need to check and change the printer driver settings. When the printer receives data, it automatically loads the paper and starts printing. The printed pages are fed over the paper guide toward the back of the printer.

After you finish printing, follow the steps in the next section to tear off your printed document.

If the first printed line on your page appears too high or low, you can fix this using the Micro Adjust feature as described in Adjusting the Top-of-Form Position.

Never use the knob to adjust the top-of-form position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the top-of-form position.

Removing the printed document from the front push tractor

To remove the printed document, follow these steps:

Make sure the Tear Off/Card lights are flashing. (This indicates your paper is at the current tear-off position.) You may need to press the Tear Off/Card button to advance the paper to the tear-off position.

Open the paper guide cover, and tear off the printed document using the tear-off edge of the printer.

If your paper’s perforation is not properly aligned with the tear-off edge, you can adjust the tear-off position using the Micro Adjust feature. See Adjusting the tear-off position.

Never use the knob to adjust the tear-off position; this may damage the printer or cause it to lose the tear-off position.

When you resume printing, the printer automatically feeds the paper back to the top-of-form position and starts printing.

To remove the remaining paper from the printer, press the Load/Eject button to feed the paper backward to the standby position. (See the Glossary for an explanation of the standby position.) Then open the sprocket covers of the tractor and remove the paper.

Always tear off your printed document before you press the Load/Eject button. Reverse feeding several pages at a time may cause a paper jam.

Removing the front push tractor

To remove the tractor from the front push position, follow these steps:

Remove any paper from the tractor as described in the previous section.

Open the front paper guide by pulling the tab at the center of the guide. Then remove the guide by grasping both sides and pulling it straight out of the printer.

Press the tractor’s lock tabs, tilt the tractor up, and lift it out of the printer.

Replace the front paper guide by sliding it along the printer’s mounting slots until it locks in place. Then close the front paper guide.