Connecting
your Epson USB printer
Within uniCenta there is native support for printers with serial interfaces. If your computer does not have a serial port you can install a USB printer then add a virtual serial port in Windows for the program to use. This allows you to connect a USB printer and have it function as a serial printer in the program.
Printer Interface
These instructions assume your receipt printer has a USB interface. The Printer connects to the terminal or computer using a USB printer cable to the USB port on the back of the printer (see arrow).
This TM-T88V printer has both a serial interface and a USB interface
(red arrow)
To use a USB printer in Windows you must install a printer driver. For Epson printers, install the standard Advance Printer driver and install the printer as a USB printer.
After installing the printer driver and the printer, it should appear in the printers folder in Windows:
The Epson Printer should be shown in the Printers Folder after
Installing
Test the printer by choosing printer properties and printing a test page.
TM Virtual Port Driver
The TM Virtual Port Driver Utility is available from Epson website
epson.com (technical resources).
This driver allows you to use an Epson printer with a USB or Ethernet
interface as if it was a printer with a serial port interface.
Features of the Virtual Port driver include:
-
Application Friendly - You can use a TM printer with a USB or Ethernet interface TM printer without altering existing applications
that specify the serial / parallel port using ESC/POS commands. Even in an environment of Y-connection/pass-through connection, replacement with a USB interface printer can be performed without altering the existing application. When pass-through connection is used, the connection pattern will be changed to Y-connection. See "Change from Pass-Through Connection to Y-Connection. - USB" . -
Simple Replacements- If a TM printer malfunctions and is replaced by an identical or compatible model, the communications
module automatically detects and reconfigures settings, so drivers and applications do not need to
be set-up again. -
Serial Line Emulation - The virtual port includes serial port signal line emulation. In cases where the serial signal line is controlled by the application, replacement with a USB interface TM printer or customer display can be performed without altering the application.
-
Compatibility with Ethernet Interfaces - If EpsonNet Config or TMNet WinConfig is installed on the computer, the IP address of the TM printer can
be set from the setting screen of Virtual Port Driver.
Next install the Epson TM Virtual port utility. This will allow you to map the USB printer to a virtual serial port.
After installing the utility you can choose the port number to map the printer to.
The Virtual Port Utility lets you choose which available COM port
you want to map the printer to
After installing the virtual printer driver you will have several new ports
listed in the printer properties.
Continue to use the USB port selected you originally
installed.
After configuring the port driver, it adds 2 virtual
ports to the ports list. The checked port is the original native
port.
uniCenta Printer Configuration
After connecting the printer to the computer you can
open the uniCenta configuration section and configure the printer.
In uniCenta the configuration is separate from the main uniCenta POS
application.
In this example, we are using a TM-T88 printer connected to serial
port, COM5. See the settings for "Printer" below.
It appears that the driver requires that you use the file
mode for printing.
Specify the printer type, the mode and the port used for connecting
the printer.
Once configured the receipt should print after each sale or when you
press the "Receipt Printer" button.
Troubleshooting your printer:
If you have trouble connecting your receipt or kitchen printer to uniCenta, please try these troubleshooting tips:
-
Check printer functioning with printer self-test (on Epson printers, turn off power and hold the Feed button while turn the power on)
If you continue to have trouble, please contact Epson' technical support team or your terminal manufacturer for next steps.