The Epson TM-U220B and TM-U220IIB are impact dot matrix printers that are commonly used for kitchen docket printing. Unlike thermal printers, they use ink ribbons to produce durable prints that resist heat, grease, making them well-suited for busy kitchen environments. 

Both models support two-color ribbon cartridges, allowing certain content to be printed in red for improved visibility. This article guides you through the initial hardware setup and connecting the printer for use with Lightspeed Restaurant. 

What's in this guide?

Hardware requirements
Setting up the printer
Adding the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant
Performing a test print
Troubleshooting

Hardware requirements

Before you can set up your printer, you’ll need the following hardware:

Receipt printer	Power cable and AC adapter	LAN cable
Ink ribbon	Paper roll (76 mm)

The LAN cable is not included with your shipment and must be purchased separately. Ensure the cable is long enough to connect the printer to your internet router. 

Setting up the printer

To prepare the printer for use, you must complete the initial hardware setup. This includes connecting the printer to power, installing the ink ribbon and paper roll, and connecting it to your network. 

Connecting the printer to a power supply 

1. Plug the power cord into the AC adaptor.
2. Turn the printer upside down and connect the AC adaptor to the circular power socket on the bottom of the printer.
3. Once connected, the AC adaptor can be inserted into the bottom of the printer so that the power cord is feeding out of the back panel.
4. Turn the printer rightside up.
5. Plug the power cord into an electrical power supply, such as a wall outlet.

Inserting the ink ribbon

1. On the ink ribbon cassette, turn the knob clockwise to ensure the ribbon is taut. This will prevent the ribbon from twisting as the cassette is inserted into the printer.
2. Open the printer’s front cover.
3. Insert the ink ribbon cassette (knob facing upward) so the ribbon is behind the printhead, facing the paper feed.
4. Press down on the cassette, which will click once it’s secure.
5. Once in place, twist the knob on the cassette again to ensure the ribbon is as tight as possible.
6. Close the front cover. 

Inserting a paper roll

1. Open the rear printer cover by pushing the lever on the right side away from you and lifting the cover.
2. Insert the paper roll so that the end feeds from the bottom. While doing so, ensure the paper roll stays tight and doesn’t unspool.
3. Pull the paper out past the cutter at the front of the printer.
4. Push the cover down to snap it shut.
5. Test the printer by turning it on and pressing the Feed button to ensure that it feeds paper as expected. Once it starts printing, release Feed and tear off any excess paper. 

Connecting the printer to a network

To connect your printer to the network, you will need an Ethernet cable. Ensure the printer is connected to the same network as your POS device so they can communicate with each other. 

1. Connect your Ethernet cable to the back of the printer. The cable will only fit into one of the ports.
2. Plug the other end into an Ethernet port on your router.

Finding the printer’s IP address

To complete the network connection between your printer and POS, you will need the IP address of the printer on your network. To find the IP address, print the network status sheet:

1. Turn the printer ON and ensure the paper and ink ribbon covers are closed.
2. On the back of the printer, find the small Reset button.
   
3. Using a paper clip, a pen, or a similar narrow object, press Reset.
4. Wait for the device to start printing, then release Reset. The status sheet will show the IP Address. Keep this page and note the IP Address, as you will need it later. 
   

If the status sheet shows an IP address of 192.168.192.168, the printer is using a default static IP and is not DHCP-enabled. To connect the printer to your network and enable communication with your POS, it must be configured to obtain an IP address via DHCP. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on enabling DHCP for Epson printers.

Adding the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant

After completing the initial hardware setup, you can connect the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant to enable printing. This can be done automatically via the POS or manually in Back Office. 

Adding the printer via the POS

Ensure your POS is connected to the same network as the printer. This allows the POS to automatically detect and add your printer. 

To add the printer via the POS:

1. Tap Menu (☰). 
2. From the navigation menu, tap Printing. The system will search for your printer and display the message, "Great, we found some printers!"
3. Tap Continue to Settings.
4. Use the toggles to enable or disable a printer for receipts, cash drawer, and production dockets. 
5. Tap Save and Close. 
   

Once added, you can run a test print and configure options for receipt and docket printing, as well as cash drawer functionality.  

Adding the printer via the Back Office

If the POS cannot automatically detect the printer but you have its valid IP address, you can add it manually in Back Office. 

To add the printer in Back Office:

1. Log in to Back Office with your Lightspeed credentials. 
2. Under Network Printers in this Site, click +Add Printer.
3. Enter the printer name and IP address shown on the status sheet you printed. You can customize the printer name to anything you prefer.
4. Click Add Printer.
   
5. Manually sync the POS or sync your registers from Back Office.

Performing a test print

To ensure that your printer is successfully connected to your POS, it is recommended to do a test print. This confirms that receipts, dockets, and cash drawer functions operate based on your settings. 

A successful test print confirms that the printer is properly linked to your POS and ready to be used. To make sure actual items will print correctly, refer to our article on setting up production printing.

To perform a test print:

1. In the POS, tap Menu (☰). 
2. Select Printing.
3. Use the toggles to enable or disable a printer for receipts, cash drawer, and production dockets.
4. Tap Test. If all three options are enabled, the printer will print a test receipt and test production docket the cash drawer will open.
5. Tap Save and Close.
   

Troubleshooting

If your printer isn’t working as expected, our printing troubleshooting guide can help you resolve common printing issues.

What's next?