Spacing Operation (See Figure 2-4.) - OKIDATA ML320 Turbo Service Manual

Page: 14
Service Guide ML320/321Turbo
Chapter 2 Operation Description
2.2.2 Spacing Operation (See Figure 2-4 below).
The spacing mechanism consists of a carriage shaft mounted in parallel with the platen, and a carriage
frame that moves along the shaft. It is driven by a DC motor mounted on the bottom of the carriage frame.
Items included in the spacing mechanism are as follows:
(a) DC motor with motor gear
(b) Carriage frame (stationary yoke and motor driver board included)
(c) Carriage shaft
(d) Space rack
(e) Sensor
(f) Encoder disk
(1) Spacing operation
The carriage frame, on which the printhead and space motor are mounted, moves along the carriage shaft
parallel to the platen. When the spacing motor rotates counterclockwise, the driving force is transmitted to
the motor gear. As the motor gear rotates, the carriage moves from left to right.
Mechanically, it is designed in such a way that for every revolution of the DC motor, the carriage frame
moves 0.8 inch (20.32 mm).
At the same time the encoder disk rotates together with the motor and passes through the sensor. The
position of the carriage frame can be determined by counting the interrupts detected by the sensor.
In the same way, the rotation of the space motor can be recognized and controlled by measuring the cycle
of interrupts detected by the sensor.