Cleaning the Encoder Maintenance interval: at Maintenance Clock Alarm.

The encoder strip allows the printer to precisely locate the print- head carriage across the width of the platen. If the encoder becomes dirty with paper dust or ink, the printer cannot print accurately, and print quality will suffer.

The encoder strip is a clear plastic strip, imprinted with a precision encoding pattern, and mounted horizontally along the rail . To clean the encoder strip, use a can of compressed air, sold at camera or graphic supply stores, to blow dust and other particles from it.

Fig. 5-5. Encoder and rail

Cleaning the Encoder

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