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Service Guide ML172/ML182 Series
Chapter 2 Principles of Operation
2.2.3 Space Mechanism / Operation
The spacing operation is performed by applying power to the DC Spacemotor. This drives the Carriage
Frame along the Carriage Shaft, which is mounted parallel to the platen.
The Spacemotor Assembly consists of :
DC Motor with Motor Gear
Carriage Frame (includes Stator Yoke & Motor Board)
Carriage Shaft
Space Rack
Encoder Disk Sensor
Encoder Disk
Slider
SPACING OPERATION
The Carriage Frame, with the Printhead and Spacemotor mounted on it, moves parallel to the platen
along the Carriage Shaft. As the Spacemotor rotates counterclockwise, the Carriage is driven to the
right, along the Space Rack.
The spacing mechanism is designed so when the Spacemotor rotates one turn, the Carriage Frame
moves 0.8 inch (20.56 mm).
Motor rotation also turns the Encoder Disk, causing the timing windows on the disk to pass through the
Encoder Disk Sensor. The position of the Carriage Frame is obtained by counting the number of
windows detected by the Encoder Disk Sensor.