Epson 9600, 7600 Carriage Moving Unit, Assembled to the nearest 1/100 mm at the factory

EPSON Stylus Pro 7600/9600 Revision A

CARRIAGE MOVING UNIT

In place of the carriage holding system in which 2 CR guide shafts extending in the column direction were used, as in the conventional models, a structure with the carriage mounted via multiple rollers (bearings) on a CR guide rail made of a square extruded aluminum pipe is used. Steel rails are incorporated in the roller contact and running surface, and the result is a reduction in friction in the direction of movement, reduced vibration and improved durability.

CAUTION The screws used to fasten the CR guide rail should not be taken out and the carriage should not be removed. These are adjusted and

assembled to the nearest 1/100 mm at the factory.

†CR motor

A DC motor is used for the CR motor and the slit in the timing fence affixed on the bottom of and parallel with the CR guide rail is read by the encoder sensor mounted on the carriage (linear encoder system), and this signal is compared to logical control values in the control circuit on the MAIN board, which carries out feedback speed control. Through this control, high print precision is maintained.

Drive transmissions from the CR motor to the carriage use the easy-to-maintain, durable timing belt.

The sensors used in the carriage moving unit are described below.

†CR_HP Sensor (Carriage Home Position)

This is a transmissive photosensor which is mounted on the right end of the printer mechanism and detects the entry position of the flag (projection) provided on the carriage as the carriage moving home position. Outputs from this sensor are “OFF” in the HP range and “ON” outside the HP range.

†CR encoder sensor (Linear Encoder)

This encoder is mounted on the back of the carriage and outputs pulses (2 channels) corresponding to the position of the slit on the timing fence that is incorporated into the CR guide rail which are used for CR motor servo control and PTS (Print Timing Signal) generation. The resolution is 1/180 inch.

Projection on Carriage

CR_HP Sensor (Mounted on the mechanism’s right end.)

Outside HP range Inside HP Range

Encoder Sensor

(On Carriage)

Step Ruler (Slit Plate)

Encoder Sensor

Carriage

CR Timing Belt

HP Flag

CR Motor CR_HP Sensor

Figure 2-2. Carriage Mechanism Unit, Carriage Moving Unit

Operating Principles Print Mechanism Components 104