Epson DLQ-3000 Service Manual page 39

Ribbon Feed
Ribbon Hold
Ribbon
Drive
Both the monochrome and color ribbons are 1 inch wide. The film ribbon is 8 mm wide. The
monochrome ribbon and the film ribbon are entirely black, and the color ribbon is separated into 4
different colored equal-width bands. The ribbon shift mechanism shifts the ribbon cartridge back
and forth on the carriage. The mechanism is composed of the
ribbon sensor and color ribbon sensor.
Color printing using 7 colors is made possible by loading the color ribbon cartridge on the carriage
and sensoring with the color ribbon sensor.
When the monochrome ribbon is loading on the carriage, and the monochrome ribbon is used, the
ribbon shifts by 1/4 after each paper feed operation. This function lengthens the ribbon life.
In the color mode sequence each color is selected corresponding to a host command. However, any
host command for color selection will be ignored in monochrome mode. Instead, the ribbon shifts
1/4 inch after each paper feed operation.
When the film ribbon is loading on the carriage, and the film ribbon is used, however, the print
speed is decreased in the film ribbon mode.
This function is to keep away from file ribbon destruction. As illustrated in Figure 2-5, the color
ribbon is separated into 4 color bands. One of the 4 colors is selected by the carriage motion, which
uses a portion of the carriage (A) as a fulcrum. The monochrome ribbon shifts at the same pitch as
the color ribbon (1 pitch= 6.35 mm).
Figure 2-5 illustrates the ribbon shift gearing. The mechanism shifts the ribbon cartridge by
converting the gear rotation to CS drive lever linear motion (up and down) using the series of
linked gears (refer to Table 2-7).
Ribbon Brake Spring
Figure 2-4. Ribbon Feed Mechanism
Operating Principles
Ribbon Cartridge
/RF Motor
motor, ribbon shift gears, film
2-7