ADJUSTMENTS

The adjustments described in this section affect print quality. The mechanical adjustments involve print head mounting while the electrical adjustments affect shuttle amplitude.

Mechanical Adjustments Print Head Gap

The intermodule gap pattern (part of the signature pattern) is used to check for proper spacing of the print heads. The gap pattern can be printed by accessing the Maintenance Menu, then selecting Alignment, Pattern, Inter Gap. Below are small sections of the intermodule gap and checkerboard patterns showing the gap between print heads 6 and 7. INCORRECT GAP SPACING INCORRECT GAP PATTERN

INCORRECT CHECKERBOARD PATTERN

HOW IT AFFECTS TEXT INCORRECT CHARACTER SPACING

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Adjustment
Gaps in the printout are caused by incorrect spacing between the print heads. During installation, the print heads must be held firmly to the right while the print head mounting screws are tightened. Complete installation instructions can be found starting on page 123. Foreign matter between or under the print heads may also cause gaps. If a gap is detected: 1. Turn the printer power off and disconnect the power cable from the AC source. 2. Turn the print gap wheel fully to the LOAD position by pushing the top of the wheel toward the rear of the printer. 3. Remove the ribbon cartridge. 4. Remove the ribbon deck assembly. 5. If the printer has recently been printing, allow it to cool off for at least five minutes. 6. Remove the print head wrench from the foam padding. Using this tool, unscrew the two screws in each print head cable cover being removed until they are flush with the ends of the cover. See Figure 47. 7. Remove the applicable cable covers and attached connector by pulling back on each one wiggling it from side to side. When it is disconnected, lift up on the rear of the cover to clear the screws. See Figure 4-7. 8. Using the print head Allen wrench, loosen all of the print head screws to the left of where the gap appears. See Figure 4-7. 9. Place the new print head over the print head screw. Press down and to the right on the barrels of the print head and tighten the screw. See Figure 4-9. 10. Reinstall each connector with applicable cable covers that were removed in step 7 over the connecting pins on the print heads. Wiggle the cover from side to side while pushing the connector onto the pins. When the cover is in place, press down on its end of the cover while tightening the cover screws. 11. Install the ribbon deck assembly and a ribbon cartridge. 12. Apply power and run the gap pattern again to verify correct operation.

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ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENTS General

Four different printer test patterns are used for making and evaluating the electrical adjustments. The amplitude, horizontal timing, and vertical timing patterns are used during alignment. The checkerboard pattern is used as a final overview of all printer adjustments. A sample of the four patterns is shown in Figure 4-58, Signature Pattern Sample. The shuttle amplitude is the only electrical adjustment, which is made in the field. As described below, this adjustment is made from the front panel. No disassembly is required.

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Figure 4-58. Signature Pattern Sample

About the Test Patterns

The pattern incorporates several test patterns. The pattern called the checkerboard pattern looks very similar to the head EOL (End of Life) pattern that can be printed from the menu. The difference is that the head EOL pattern prints with less intensity so that weak print heads nearing their end of life (EOL) can be detected. The pattern that prints whenever the checkerboard pattern is selected, from the menu, is the same as the one appearing in the EOL pattern except that the former one has a lower vertical dot density. The horizontal and vertical timing patterns can also be chosen.

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Adjust Amplitude
This menu is used to adjust the amplitude of the printer shuttle. Use the following procedures to select this option: Place the printer Offline, then under the Maintenance Menu select Alignment. While in the Alignment menu, press the (left) or (right) menu browse Alignment key until AdjustAmplitude is displayed in the lower right corner of the AdjustAmplitude window. Press the Select key, or the AdjustAmplitude Pattern AdjustAmplitude options. (down) menu browse key, to access the

Press the (left) or (right) menu browse key until the Pattern is displayed in the lower right corner of the display window. Press the Select key to print the pattern to adjust the amplitude. Use the (left) or (right) menu browse keys to adjust the amplitude while the pattern is printing. Press the Clear key to stop printing the pattern. Press the (left) or (right) key until Save Amplitude is displayed in the AdjustAmplitude Save Amplitude lower right corner of the display window. Press the Select key to save the amplitude adjustment. Below are small sections of the amplitude and checkerboard test patterns showing normal amplitude, amplitude too small, and amplitude too great.

AMPLITUDE PATTERN

CHECKERBOARD TEST PATTERN

NORMAL

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AMPLITUDE TOO GREAT

AMPLITUDE TOO SMALL

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Horizontal Timing
Horizontal timing affects when the print wires will fire during the shuttle swing. The effects of this adjustment can easily be seen in printed text. A correct horizontal timing pattern consists of multiple sets of column groups. Each group contains a single dot column, a space, four columns, a space, and a final single dot column. Horizontal timing can not be adjusted in the field.

Horizontal Timing Pattern

Horizontal Timing Checkerboard Pattern

How it Affects Text

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Vertical Timing
Vertical timing affects the relationship between the shuttle swings and the paper moves. If a dot row is printed before the paper has stopped, or while the paper is moving, gaps and vertical compression will result. The vertical timing pattern consists of single dot columns printed at the extreme ends of the shuttle swing. While incorrect vertical timing may not readily show while printing normal text, it can easily affect graphics, oversize characters, and bar codes. A test pattern printed immediately after a vertical timing pattern will show that the dot columns are printed between the characters in normal text. Vertical timing can not be adjusted in the field.

Incorrect Vertical Timing Pattern

Correct Vertical Timing Pattern

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