Service manual

Troubleshooting
EPSON FX-880/FX-1180 Service Manual
5-23
Table 5-13. Repairing the Printer Mechanism (continued)
Symptom Condition Possible
Cause
Checkpoint Solution
Ribbon feed
is abnormal.
The ribbon is
not fed.
The ribbon
cartridge is
defective.
Remove the ribbon cartridge.
Rotate the ribbon feed roller
manually to check that the
ribbon cartridge feeds the
ribbon normally.
Replace the
ribbon cartridge.
There are
foreign objects
caught in the
gears of the
ribbon feed
mechanism.
❏
Move the carriage manually
from left to right to make
sure the RD ratchet rotates.
❏
Check to see if foreign
objects are caught in the
ribbon feed mechanism.
Remove any
foreign objects. If
there are no
foreign objects,
replace the ribbon
feed mechanism.
The ribbon
feeds correctly
when the
carriage moves
in one direction,
but fails to feed
when the
carriage moves
in the opposite
direction.
The planet gear
or planet gear
lever is
defective.
Look at the ribbon drive
gears as you move the
carriage manually to make
sure they’re working properly.
Replace the
ribbon feed
mechanism.
The printout
appears
dirty.
There are ink
spots or dirt on
the printout.
❏
The ribbon
mask is
positioned
incorrectly.
❏
The platen
gap is not
adjusted
correctly.
❏
Make sure the ribbon mask
is positioned correctly.
❏
Set the gap adjustment
lever to the first position,
then check the platen gap.
It should be 0.365 ± 0.015.
❏
Reinstall the
ribbon mask.
❏
Adjust the
platen gap. See
Chapter 4.
Printing
without
paper
Printing
continues past
the end of the
page.
The PE sensor
is defective.
Check the PE sensor. See
Table 5-8.
Replace the PE
sensor.