The Ribbon Log - Printronix P7000 Series Maintenance Manual

Chapter 7
Integrated Print Management System
Ribbon Installation And Detection
The Integrated Print Management System assumes that the full ribbon spool
will be installed on the left-hand hub and the empty spool on the right-hand
hub, but the full spool can be installed on the right ribbon hub as well. The
ribbon detection routine will simply take a few seconds longer if the full spool
is installed on the right-hand hub.
The new ribbon detection routine runs after printer power is restored, as part
of the boot cycle, or whenever the platen is opened and closed. When done
as part of the boot cycle, Shuttle Slow runs the ribbon motors to the left, the
bar code is read off the bottom of the right ribbon spool, and the ribbon is
confirmed. When the bar code is decoded, the Integrated Print Management
System is reset using the new data, and the ribbon consumption display is
updated. The ribbon motors and shuttle stop and the printer is brought to the
selected power up configuration. This routine repeats any time the platen is
closed and the printer is returned to ONLINE and no print data are in the
buffer. If no print data are present, the ribbon motors and shuttle stop and the
printer remains ONLINE. If the ribbon bar code cannot be decoded, is not
authorized, or is not detected by the sensor, an error message is reported. If a
data stream is detected during or after the ribbon detection routine, the print
cycle begins without stopping the shuttle or ribbon motors. In this case the
ribbon detection routine is done during the print cycle.
Previously used ribbons can be installed and used again to print, as long as
they were not fully depleted and declared RIBBON INK OUT.
A ribbon can also be flipped over to print on the unused half. This situation
occurs if printed images are narrow enough that only about half the ribbon is
used at one time. When a ribbon is flipped it is treated as a new (different)
ribbon, so if a ribbon is used across its full width and still flipped, it will report
as new even though it is clearly used. It is the customer's responsibility to
determine if the printing application can support ribbon flipping.

The Ribbon Log

The printer identifies each ribbon by maker (Printronix or authorized OEM),
type, and an identification code unique to that specific ribbon. The Integrated
Print Management System recognizes the currently installed ribbon and
previously used (but not depleted) ribbons, and resumes tracking the life of
the ribbon from the value it had when it was removed from the printer.
The printer keeps a log of depleted ribbons, identifying them if they are again
installed on the printer. This information is not printed in detail, but a summary
by type of all ribbons ever installed on a particular printer is listed in the log.
The log also captures any attempts to run Unknown1 or Unknown2 ribbons.
This information is recorded in the log as "Ribbon Not Recognized." The
Ribbon Log is a permanent record; it cannot be cleared. The location and
format of the Ribbon Log is shown below.
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