The gap between the bottom face of the printhead and the media surface can be adjusted according to the media thickness. Although the print quality is

higher when the gap is narrow, ink blots may form on the print surface due to contact of the media with the printhead face, or the printhead nozzles may

be damaged. In this printer, the user can use the printhead height adjustment lever to select the gap width according to the media thickness (3 positions).

f) Paper width/skew detection

A registration sensor is installed at the bottom left of the carriage for detecting the paper width and skewing of the paper on the platen.

g) Internal temperature detection

Thermistors installed in the printhead relay PCBs are used to detect the internal temperature in the vicinity of the printhead.

h) Auto printhead position adjustment

The adjustment pattern print result is read with the registration sensor installed at bottom left of the carriage to automatically adjust the printhead position.

i) Roll media remaining detection

This printer prints a barcode when the roll media is removed and can detect the amount of remaining roll media with the registration sensor installed at the

bottom left of the carriage.

2.3.2.3.2 Structure of carriage

0009-1512

a) Printhead mounting unit

The printhead are mounted to the carriage by the printhead lock cover and printhead lock lever. When the printhead are fixed to the carriage, the signal

contact point of the head relay PCB contacts the signal contact point of the printhead, and this results in the transmission of print signals. Also, the ink

passage from the ink tank passes through the ink tube and connects to the printhead.

b) Ink port

Ink passes through the ink tube and is supplied to the printhead.

The ink tubes run through the joints and the tube guide and as they move in coordination with the carriage.

Printhead lock lever

Printhead lock cover

Carriage motor

Contact

Ink supply joint

Tube guide

Carriage

Ink tube

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c) Control unit

The carriage relay PCBs are connected to the head relay PCBs by short flexible cables. The flexible cable between the engine controller and carriage relay

PCB moves in coordination with the carriage together with the tube guide.

A photocoupler-type encoder is mounted at the bottom of the rear of the carriage for reading the linear scale during carriage movement.

d) Carriage drive unit

Mechanical misalignment of the installed printhead in the vertical/horizontal direction and in bidirectional printing can be corrected by using the "Adjust

Printer" command in the Main Menu to shift the print timing.

The carriage belt, which is driven by the power from the DC motor-type carriage motor, moves the carriage in the sheet horizontal direction.

The carriage home position which is the capping position is detected by the sensor plug (printhead height adjustment lever) on the right side of the carriage

and the photo interrupter-type carriage home position/head height sensor on the main body right-side plate. The position on the linear scale that corresponds

to the detected carriage homeposition is recorded as the homeposition, and this position is set as the reference point for position control. The carriage motor

is then driven and controlled using the control signals generated by the engine controller.

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