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Service Guide ML172/ML182 Series
Chapter 2 Principles of Operation
2.2.4 Ribbon Feed Mechanism / Operation
NOTE: The ribbon feed gear assembly is secured to the top of the spacemotor assembly by the four claw
tabs.
The ribbon feed mechanism feeds the ribbon synchronously with the spacing operation. The mechanism
is driven by the spacemotor.
The ribbon feed mechanism consists of :
Ribbon feed gear assembly
Ribbon gear (attached to the spacemotor)
Ribbon cartridge
RIBBON CARTRIDGE
A uni-directional feed, continuous ribbon is used. The ribbon is replenished by a built-in ink tank in the
ribbon cartridge so that quality printing is assured.
RIBBON FEED OPERATION
As the spacemotor rotates, the ribbon gear on the spacemotor shaft turns the drive gear in the ribbon
cartridge via the ribbon feed gear assembly. As a result, the ribbon is fed.
In bi-directional printing, the ribbon gear rotational direction reverses each time the direction of the
carriage movement reverses. In this case, the gears in the ribbon feed gear assembly switch the rotational
direction so as to feed the ribbon in a fixed direction.