Atari 1029
| Atari 1029 Programmable Printer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Atari 1029 programmable printer | |
| Manufacturer | Seikosha for Atari Corp.[1] |
| Type | Dot matrix impact printer |
| Release date | 1985[1] |
| Price | 1,490 FRF (Atari France, February 1986)[1] |
| Interface | Atari SIO, two I/O ports[2] |
| Compatible | Atari 8-bit computers[2] |
| Power | Built-in power supply[2][1] |
| Media | Fanfold paper 4.5 to 9.5 inches wide; single sheets 8.5 inches wide[2] |
The Atari 1029 Programmable Printer is an 80-column dot matrix printer for the Atari 8-bit computers. It connects directly to the SIO peripheral port and has its own built-in power supply.[2] The FAQ gives Seikosha as the maker, says the mechanism is the same as the Commodore MPS-801, and records that the 1029 was released for Europe and Canada but not the United States.[1] Atari France announced its availability in April 1985, without a price; in February 1986 Atari France listed it at 1,490 FRF, the same as the 1050 disk drive.[1]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Print method | 5 × 7 dot matrix[2] |
| Formats | Regular width, 10 characters per inch, 80 columns; elongated, 5 characters per inch, 40 columns[2] |
| Line spacing | 6 lines per inch; 9 lines per inch in graphics mode[2] |
| Speed | 50 characters per second (regular width)[2] |
| Character set | 132 characters, international and non-international[2] |
| Paper feed | Friction feed and pin (tractor) feed; friction release on the platen knob[2] |
| Paper | Computer fanfold, 4.5 to 9.5 inches wide; single sheets, 8.5 inches wide; 15 to 20 lb[2] |
| Power | Standard 110 V AC (UL approved), built-in power supply[2] |
| Other features | Underlining, built-in interface, self-test switch, error indicator, replaceable ribbon cassette[2] |
The hosted manual is the English edition printed for 110 V supplies. The FAQ lists the 1029 among the Atari peripherals with a built-in power supply that plug straight into the wall.[1]
Design
[edit | edit source]The manual names these parts: top cover, paper feed/friction release knob, power on/off switch, power on light, back rollers, front rollers, paper bail, paper separator, platen, pin feed sprockets, self-test switch, power cord and the two input/output ports.[2] The print head runs along a carrier rod and takes an inked ribbon cassette held by side supports. A print head adjustment lever sets the gap between the head and the paper; its normal position is the middle one, marked by a red triangle.[2] The printer has no paper-out sensor, so on a single sheet it carries on printing onto the platen if the text is longer than the page.[2]
The manual describes single-sheet printing as something the printer was not designed for but handles reasonably well. The pin feed sprockets are slid out to the sides and the back rollers engaged with the paper feed knob.[2]
Setting up and self test
[edit | edit source]- Remove the protective carrier tube before switching the printer on for the first time. Lift off the top cover from the rear and pull the tube out by its warning tag.[2]
- Unwrap the ribbon cassette and tighten the ribbon by turning the cassette knob in the direction of the arrow on the cassette.[2]
- For fanfold paper, move the print head adjustment lever fully forward, lift the paper bail and paper separator, release the back rollers by pulling out the paper feed/friction release knob until it clicks, and feed the paper under the platen onto the sprocket pins. Return the bail, the separator and the lever to the middle position afterwards.[2]
- At switch-on the print head moves towards the centre of the carrier rod twice and returns to its start position. Moving the SELF-TEST switch on the back panel to ON prints the self test; moving it to OFF stops the printer at the end of the line.[2]
Care and faults
[edit | edit source]The troubleshooting and preventive maintenance section of the manual (pp. 37 to 39) gives the following.[2]
| Symptom | Cause and remedy |
|---|---|
| Dark or smudgy characters | Print head too close to the paper. Try settings of the print head adjustment lever either side of the red arrow, using the self test to compare them.[2] |
| Light characters | Print head too far from the paper, or the ribbon's ink reservoir is dry. Adjust the lever or fit a new ribbon cassette.[2] |
| Smudgy or spotty characters | Worn or damaged ribbon. Replace the cassette.[2] |
| Prints but the paper will not advance | Paper jam. Remove and reload the paper, check the pin feed sprockets, turn the paper feed knob back and forth to check the paper path, and remove any torn pieces.[2] |
| ERROR 138 in BASIC | Device timeout: the printer did not answer a print request. Check the power cord, the power light and the I/O cable, and with more than one printer connected have only one switched on.[2] |
| Printer stops and the POWER light blinks | The POWER light doubles as an error indicator. Switch the printer off and on again to reset it.[2] |
The manual's maintenance advice:[2]
- Keep the top cover and paper separator on, both when printing and in storage, to keep dust off the print head and carrier rod.
- Clean the front and back rollers now and then with a cotton ball and a little rubbing alcohol.
- Do not touch the carrier rod, since finger oil attracts dust that can affect the head's movement. If anything falls into the head and carrier rod area, switch off at once and remove it.
- Wait at least two seconds after switching off before switching on again, or the printer may not initialise properly. Do not switch off while printing, move the print head by hand, stop it while it is moving, or print without paper and ribbon.
- Operate the printer between 5 and 40 °C and store it between −10 and 50 °C. Keep it on a flat, level surface, out of direct sunlight and high humidity.
To remove the ribbon cassette, switch off (this clears the printer's buffer), raise the top cover, move the print head adjustment lever fully forward, push the cassette side supports outwards with both thumbs and lift the cassette out bottom end first. A new one goes in the reverse way.[2] The FAQ notes that Commodore MPS-801 ribbons are much easier to find than Atari 1029 ones, and reports the Tandy DMP 110 as another printer said to be the same as the 1029.[1]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]The English owner's manual is hosted and described on the Atari 1029 Documentation page.
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Michael D. Current (ed.), Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions, comp.sys.atari.8bit FAQ, last modified 29 November 2009: section 4.2 (the 1020, 1025, 1027 and 1029 printers), section 6.7 (power requirements) and section 11.1 (history, April 1985 and February 1986). faqs.org. Community reference.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 Atari Corp., Atari Programmable Printer 1029 owner's manual, C025907-001 Rev. A, © 1984, printed in Japan. Hooking up (pp. 3 to 6); loading paper (pp. 7 to 12); ready to print and self test (p. 13); troubleshooting and preventive maintenance (pp. 37 to 39); technical points (p. 41). Hosted here as File:Atari 1029 Programmable Printer Manual.pdf.