%Ribbon Drive OperationRibbon Drive OperationThe ribbon drive mechanism feeds the ribbon in synchronization with the spacing operation. The forcerequired to drive the ribbon is obtained from the space motor.The ribbon drive mechanism is composed of the items listed below.Ribbon Drive Gear AssemblyRibbon GearThis gear is located on the space motor assemblyRibbon CartridgeA continuous loop ribbon with uni-directional feed is used. Ink is supplied from an ink tank, which is builtinto the ribbon cartridge.When the space motor turns, the ribbon gear on the spacing motor shaft rotates. The rotation istransmitted via a combination of gears, from the ribbon drive gear assembly to the drive gear in theribbon cartridge.Although the space motor moves in both the forward and reverse directions during bi-directional printing,the gears in the ribbon drive assembly maintain uni-directional ribbon feed by switching the rotationdirection of the gears.ML520/521 ( 96-02-04 )
