Epson LQ-2550 Technical Manual page 60

Ribbon Feed Mechanism
The ribbon feed mechanism consists of the ribbon feed mechanism and ribbon cartridge. Figure 2-11
shows the ribbon feed mechanism.
Ribbon
Drive Gear
Ribbon
The ribbon feed mechanism is mounted on the carriage. The ribbon drive wire is fixed between the
side frames of the mechanism. The wire is wrapped around the ribbon drive pulley so that the ribbon
drive gear always turns counterclockwise, via the gear trains containing the planetary gear (Refer to
Table 2-1 3).
Direction of Carriage
Movement
Left to right
(arrow C))
Right to left
(arrow *)
The inked ribbon is a loop contained in the cartridge case, and is held between the ribbon feed and
ribbon pressure rollers. When the ribbon feed roller mounted on the ribbon drive gear is driven by the
movement of the gear, the inked ribbon is fed. A spring is attached at the exit of the carriage case to
prevent the ribbon from slackening.
The area along the printhead wire is shielded by the ribbon mask to prevent the paper from getting
dirty during ribbon feeding.
Ribbon Feed
Transmission
1
Figure 2-11. Ribbon Feed Mechanism
Table 2-13. Ribbon Feed Gear Train
Ribbon drive pulley + Ribbon feed planetary gear +
Ribbon feed transmission gear A + Ribbon feed transmission gear B 1 -+
Ribbon drive gear
Ribbon drive pulley + Ribbon feed planetary gear -+
Ribbon feed transmission gear B2 + Ribbon drive gear
I n k e d R i b b o n -
R i b b o n F e e d
Roller
Ribbon Pressure
Gear Train
2 - 1 3
REV.-A
Spring
/
Ribbon
Cartridge
I