Intermec EasyCoder 501 – Service Manual Ed. 7
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Chapter 10 Ribbon Save Device
10.4 Transfer Ribbons
General Purpose (GP)/Standard ribbons are coated with a wax-
based “ink” that is more subject to smearing than the wax/resin-
based “ink” of High Performance (HP)/Premium ribbons. Certain
combinations of GP/Standard ribbons and thick and/or coarse
receiving face materials in connection with Ribbon Save may
result in a somewhat smudged printout quality. As a possible
remedy, a change to HP/Premium ribbons is recommended.
The Ribbon Save Device requires extensive modifi cations of the
print unit and ribbon rewind mechanism. Therefore, the Ribbon
Save Device is a factory-installed option only.
The Ribbon Save Device consists of the following main parts, each
described in a separate subsection.
• The print unit differs in some important respects from the
standard direct thermal/thermal transfer print unit described in
Chapter 8.
See Chapter 10.6.
• The headlift mechanism consists of a DC motor and an elec-
tronics board fi tted on a double-folded bracket. The motor lifts
the printhead via a cam-activated leverage.
See Chapter 10.7.
• The ribbon rewind spool is driven by a separate stepper motor,
as to allow the media and ribbon be fed independently from
each other.
See Chapter 10.8.
• The connection board controls the DC motor of the headlift
mechanism and the stepper motor of the ribbon rewind unit.
See Chapter 10.9.
10.5 Main Parts