Apple Dot Matrix Printer
| Apple Dot Matrix Printer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Apple Dot Matrix Printer (photo: AppleMacReporter, CC BY-SA 3.0) | |
| Manufacturer | C. Itoh, for Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Dot-matrix impact printer |
| Release date | 1982 |
| Interface | Parallel (Apple Parallel Interface Card or Centronics card) |
| Compatible | Apple II series, Apple III, Lisa |
| Model | A2L0067 (operator's guide reorder number) |
The Apple Dot Matrix Printer (DMP) is a parallel-interface dot-matrix printer that Apple sold from 1982 for the Apple II series, the Apple III and the Lisa. It was built by C. Itoh, and the serial Apple ImageWriter replaced it in 1984.[1] Apple's January 1983 brochure presents it as Lisa's printer, printing bidirectionally at up to 120 characters per second with a high-resolution mode of 160 × 144 dots per inch.[2]
Apple's service documentation treats the DMP and the ImageWriter as one mechanism: the ImageWriter Technical Procedures describe the ImageWriter as "an improved version of the Dot Matrix Printer" whose "mechanical assembly and adjustments are the same as for the Dot Matrix Printer", and the DMP parts list sends technicians to the ImageWriter list for any part it does not show.[3][4] Maintenance and fault-finding for both printers are therefore on the ImageWriter guides.
Controls and configuration
[edit | edit source]The front panel has SEL, PE and POWER lights and SEL, LF and T.O.F. switches. To run the self-test, hold T.O.F. while switching on; the printer prints lines of the character set until switched off. Apple asks for a new ribbon and a single sheet, with the red head adjusting lever pushed up.[4] Two eight-way DIP switches, SW1 and SW2, sit under a plastic strip, reached by sliding the carrier fully to the left with the paper and carrier covers off. They set the national character set, page length, line-feed handling, buffer size, slashed zero, 7- or 8-bit data, power-on select and bidirectional printing.[4] The paper is fed by tractors or by friction, and the drop-in ribbon cassette is tensioned by turning its knob until it clicks.[4][5]
Connecting it
[edit | edit source]| Computer | Interface | Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Apple II, II Plus or IIe | Apple II Parallel Interface Card 661-91080 with internal printer cable 590-0049; any slot except the IIe's auxiliary slot or slot 0 of the II and II Plus, slot 2 preferred | External parallel printer cable 590-0042 |
| Apple III | Apple III Parallel Interface Card 661-91007, normally in slot 1 | Parallel adapter (UPIC) cable 590-0128 and cable 590-0042 |
| Lisa / Macintosh XL | Lisa/Macintosh XL Parallel Interface Card 661-93138, middle expansion slot preferred | External parallel printer cable 590-0042 |
The 1982 operator's guide lists the Apple II Parallel Interface Card with the DMP Connecting Cable Kit for the Apple II series, and the Apple III Universal Parallel Interface Card for the Apple III. The printer's command set uses escape sequences for pitch (9 to 17 characters per inch and two proportional modes), line spacing and tabs.[5]
Hardware
[edit | edit source]The printer has a CPU PC board (661-75091) under the mechanism, a transformer and power switch assembly (699-0095), a noise filter (970-0072) and two transistor assemblies on the mechanical assembly: the carrier drive transistors (699-0120) and the 5 V transistor assembly (970-0082).[4] Fuses are a 2 A 3AG at the back of the printer (740-0101) and 5 A (740-0022) and 3 A (740-0021) fuses on the CPU card.[4] Apple's 1987 parts list gives the print head assembly as 661-0315, the same number as the U.S. ImageWriter print head; the 1985 list in Apple's LaserWriter training binder gave 699-0092.[4][6]
Maintenance and repair
[edit | edit source]- Apple ImageWriter General Maintenance: cleaning, Apple's once-a-year lubrication and the maintenance schedule, which apply to the DMP mechanism.
- Apple ImageWriter Troubleshooting Guide: Apple's symptom tables for both printers, with the DMP's own fuses and connections.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Apple Dot Matrix Printer Documentation: Apple's Technical Procedures, the 1982 operator's guide and the 1983 brochure.
- Service Support Training Programs LaserWriter Technical Procedures Jan 1985: includes two DMP parts-list pages.
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
The ImageWriter, its successor
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Apple Dot Matrix Printer", Wikipedia, revision 1190863172, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Dot_Matrix_Printer. Used for the manufacturer (C. Itoh) and the dates only.
- ↑ Apple Computer, The Apple Dot Matrix Printer, brochure, January 1983, hosted as File:Apple Dot Matrix Printer Brochure 1983.pdf, pp. 2-3.
- ↑ Apple Computer, ImageWriter Technical Procedures, in Apple Service Technical Procedures, Cross Family Peripherals, Volume Two (PN 072-0230, November 1991), hosted as File:Apple Service Technical Procedures Cross Family Peripherals Volume Two Nov 1991.pdf. Introduction, p. 1.2 (rev. Aug 83), PDF p. 12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Apple Computer, Dot Matrix Printer Technical Procedures, from Apple Service Technical Procedures, Apple II/Apple III Archived Products, Volume Two (PN 072-0231), hosted as File:Apple Dot Matrix Printer Technical Procedures.pdf. Page numbers are Apple's section page numbers. Section 1, Introduction (rev. Nov 82): self-test p. 1.7, configuration switches pp. 1.8-1.13, periodic maintenance pp. 1.14-1.15; Section 2, Take-Apart: CPU PC board pp. 2.10-2.13, dot head and gap adjustment pp. 2.14-2.15, carrier wire and tension pp. 2.16-2.25, 5 V transistor assembly pp. 2.34-2.35; Section 3, Troubleshooting pp. 3.1-3.4; Section 4, Appendix, configuration p. 4.3; Section 5, Illustrated Parts List (rev. Feb-Apr 87) pp. 5.1-5.8.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Apple Computer, Dot Matrix Printer Operator's Guide, 1982, A2L0067, hosted as File:Apple Dot Matrix Printer Operators Guide 1982.pdf. Part 1 (connection kits), Part 8, Clean-up and Maintenance, and the command set card (030-0494-B).
- ↑ Apple Computer, Technical Procedures Manual, Dot Matrix Printer Illustrated Parts List, p. 5.2, rev. July 1985, in the Service Support Training Programs binder hosted as Service Support Training Programs LaserWriter Technical Procedures Jan 1985 (PDF p. 180).