Service manual

Operating Principles
EPSON FX-880/FX-1180 Service Manual
2-9
Figure 12. Paper Path for Push-Pull Tractor Feeding Using the Front Entrance
Summary of Paper Paths
The various paper paths diagrammed above are summarized below in tabular form:
Table 1. Possible Combinations of Feed Methods and Paper Entrances
Paper Entrance
Feed Method
Top Rear Front Bottom
Friction
Yes No Yes No
Push tractor
No Yes Yes No
Pull tractor
No Yes Yes Yes
Push-pull tractor
No Yes Yes No
Ribbon Advance Mechanism
The ribbon advance mechanism is driven by the same timing belt that moves the printhead back and forth
across the printed page. To make the ribbon feed in one direction only, the timing belt connects to a
specially designed gear linkage which always turns the ribbon advance roller counterclockwise, no matter
which direction the printhead is moving.