Editing Apple ImageWriter II

{{Infobox computer peripheral
| name         = Apple ImageWriter II
| image        = [[File:Apple ImageWriter II.jpg|260px|frameless]]
| caption      = ImageWriter II (photo: Blake Patterson, CC BY 2.0)
| manufacturer = Apple Computer, Inc.
| type         = 9-wire impact dot-matrix printer
| release_date = September 1985 (Apple specification page)
| interface    = Serial RS-422, Mini DIN-8; optional AppleTalk card
| compatible   = Macintosh, Apple II series including the Apple IIgs
| dimensions   = 5 × 17 × 12 in (Apple specification page)
| weight       = 15 lb (Apple specification page)
| power        = 180 W maximum, 1.5 A, 120 V 60 Hz (Apple specification page)
| predecessor  = [[Apple ImageWriter]]
}}
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The '''Apple ImageWriter II''' is the serial dot-matrix printer that replaced the [[Apple ImageWriter]] in September 1985, for both the Macintosh and the Apple II.<ref name="spec">Apple, "ImageWriter II: Technical Specifications", [https://support.apple.com/en-us/112252 support.apple.com/en-us/112252]. Introduced 1 September 1985; discontinued not given; PD language QuickDraw; ports serial, optional LocalTalk; 180 W maximum, 1.5 A, 120 V 60 Hz; 2 pages per minute draft, 0.5 best; 144 maximum dpi; 15 lb; 5 × 17 × 12 in.</ref> Apple's service manual calls it "an improved version of the ImageWriter": it prints faster, loads paper automatically when the form feed button is pressed, prints in colour with a four-colour ribbon, takes a single-bin sheet feeder and one option card (the AppleTalk card or the Expanded Buffer card), adds 32 MouseText characters for the Apple II, and works out for itself whether a colour ribbon, sheet feeder or option card is fitted.<ref name="tp">Apple Computer, ''ImageWriter II 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]]. Section 1, Basics (rev. Aug 87): new and changed features pp. 1.2-1.3, self-test p. 1.8 (rev. May 91), configuration DIP switches p. 1.9, periodic maintenance pp. 1.11-1.12, flow of information pp. 1.14-1.15 (PDF pp. 115-128); Section 2, fuses p. 2.31 (PDF p. 160); Section 4, firing hammer p. 4.7 (PDF p. 228); Section 5, Additional Procedures, paper sensor and logic board compatibility pp. 5.6-5.7 (PDF pp. 239-240).</ref> Production continued until late 1996, according to Wikipedia.<ref name="wp">"ImageWriter", Wikipedia, revision 1338021868, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageWriter en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageWriter]. Used for the end of production, the Platinum restyling and the date of the II/L only.</ref>

Apple's two service documents disagree on speed. The Technical Procedures give 240 characters per second in draft, 180 in standard and 25 in near letter quality; the Service Source specifications give 250, 180 and 45.<ref name="tp" /><ref name="ss">Apple Computer, ''ImageWriter II'' (''Service Source''), hosted as [[:File:Imagewriter ii.pdf]], Specifications, pp. 5-13; described at [[ImageWriter II Service Source]].</ref> The ImageWriter II/L Technical Procedures (February 1990) give 250, 180 and 25.<ref name="tpl">Apple Computer, ''ImageWriter II/L Technical Procedures'', in ''Cross Family Peripherals, Volume Two'' (PN 072-0230), [[:File:Apple Service Technical Procedures Cross Family Peripherals Volume Two Nov 1991.pdf]], Basics (Feb 90): features p. 1.3, specifications pp. 1.7-1.8, theory of operation p. 1.25 (PDF pp. 338-343, 360).</ref>

== Versions ==
* The first ImageWriter IIs were finished in Apple's off-white; from 1986 the printer was made in Platinum grey with the name printed on the front.<ref name="wp" />
* February 1987: Apple fitted a new logic board, an optical paper sensor and a new paper-empty guide. The new board has a jumper for either sensor (pins 1-2 for the mechanical sensor, pins 2-3 for the optical one), a connector for each (CN9 mechanical, CN11 optical) and a new ROM. A printer with a paper-empty plate on the left of the platen has the older mechanical sensor. An old board needs the optical sensor kit's daughter board, soldered to the four-layer board, before it will work with the optical sensor.<ref name="tp" />
* Printers from serial number 244451 have a newer colour ribbon assembly, in adjustable and non-adjustable versions.<ref name="tp" />
* The ImageWriter II/L (1990) looks the same but is built differently: a switching power supply in place of the transformer, producing +5 V, −5 V and +26 V; five circuit boards (power supply, main logic, sub PCB, head and operation panel); and the power inlet and interface connector moved from the legs to the ends of the tractor housing. Apple gives its line voltage as 85-132 V AC (185-265 V AC for Europe and Australia), 20 W in standby and 180 W maximum.<ref name="tpl" /><ref name="wp" />

== Controls and configuration ==
For the self-test, load paper and hold the form feed button while pressing the on/off button, then release both. The printer first prints its ROM revision, the DIP switch settings and whether an option card is fitted, then prints the character set until switched off, changing colour each line with a colour ribbon. Pressing select during power-up gives a hexadecimal dump; switch off and on again.<ref name="tp" />

The two DIP switch banks are reached by removing the paper cover and sliding the carrier fully to the right. Apple's factory settings are shown in bold.<ref name="tp" /><ref name="pig">Apple Computer, ''Peripheral Interface Guide'', 7th edition, rev. January 1991, hosted as [[:File:Apple Service Technical Procedures Peripheral Interface Guide Jan 1991.pdf]], Peripherals, Non-Laser Printers: ImageWriter II and II/L pin-outs p. 9, switch 1 p. 10, switch 2 p. 11.</ref>
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%; text-align:left;"
|+'''ImageWriter II and II/L switch 1 (Peripheral Interface Guide, p. 10)'''<ref name="pig" />
! Function !! Switches !! Settings
|-
| Character set || 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 || '''American: off off off'''; Italian on off off; Danish off on off; British on on off; German off off on; Swedish on off on; French off on on; Spanish on on on
|-
| Form length || 1-4 || '''11 in: off'''; 12 in: on
|-
| Perforation skip || 1-5 || '''Disabled: off'''; enabled: on
|-
| Characters per inch || 1-6, 1-7 || 10: off off; '''12: on off'''; 17: off on; proportional: on on
|-
| Automatic line feed after carriage return || 1-8 || '''Disabled: off'''; enabled: on
|}
{| class="wikitable styled-table" style="width:70%; text-align:left;"
|+'''ImageWriter II and II/L switch 2 (Peripheral Interface Guide, p. 11)'''<ref name="pig" />
! Function !! Switches !! Settings
|-
| Baud rate || 2-1, 2-2 || 300: off off; 1200: on off; 2400: off on; '''9600: on on'''
|-
| Handshaking || 2-3 || '''Hardware (DTR): off'''; XON/XOFF: on
|-
| Option card || 2-4 || '''Not installed: off'''; installed: on
|-
| Hammer firing || 2-5, 2-6 || Factory set; change only for the firing hammer adjustment
|}
Switches 2-5 and 2-6 are used only for the firing hammer adjustment, which Apple calls for only after replacing the carrier belt, carrier shaft, carrier motor or circuit board: print a few lines of capital H and change one switch at a time until the verticals line up.<ref name="tp" /> The connector pin-out and Apple's cables are on [[Apple ImageWriter II Cable]].

== Hardware ==
Apple's flow-of-information description traces the self-test path: mains passes through the noise filter to the transformer, which reduces 120 V to 40 V; the drive PCB holds the power supply and all the motor and print head drive circuits, including the current limiting for the print head; the logic board holds the ROM and runs the start-up sequence; the drive PCB centres the carrier and sends the print data to the print head PCB under the carrier.<ref name="tp" /> The drive board carries two fuses, 1 A and 5 A, reached by removing the bottom cover, and the noise filter board has its own fuse.<ref name="tp" /> Sams ComputerFacts CP27 covers the printer as model A9M0310, with schematics, a parts list and voltage checks.<ref name="sams">Howard W. Sams & Co., ''ComputerFacts CP27: Apple ImageWriter II'', model A9M0310, 1987, ISBN 0-672-09005-8, hosted as [[:File:Sams Computerfacts CP27 Apple ImageWriter II.pdf]]. Preliminary service checks and fuse devices list.</ref>

== Maintenance and repair ==
* [[Apple ImageWriter II General Maintenance]]: Apple's cleaning and lubrication procedure, maintenance schedule, ribbon and print head gap adjustments.
* [[Apple ImageWriter II Troubleshooting Guide]]: Apple's things-to-check list, symptom table and flowchart measurements, with the Sams voltage checks.

== Documentation ==
* [[Apple ImageWriter II Documentation]]: the Technical Procedures, the Service Source extract, Sams ComputerFacts CP27 and the Peripheral Interface Guide.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Apple ImageWriter II with ribbon cartridge.jpg|A later ImageWriter II, with the name on the front cover, and a black ribbon cartridge
</gallery>

== Related pages ==
* [[Apple ImageWriter]] and [[Apple ImageWriter LQ]]
* [[Apple ImageWriter II Cable]]

== References ==
<references />

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