The ribbon keeps slipping off of our Okidata Microline 395.
I've removed the head to clean out any built up "gunk", but it appears to not be taking up the slack well enough as the printhead moves back and forth.
After printing a few lines, the ribbon will slip out over the capstans.
It was printing just fine until I did this as I replaced a ribbon that had gotten "chewed up" at the end of its life.
When this happened in the past we were able to send it in for repair and the repair people said the printhead was not seated properly, but did not elaborate further. I have a working ML 393 right next to it, and as far as I can tell, both print heads are seated exactly the same.
What am I missing?
Thanks,
James
P.S. You have no product category for this printer.
I'll now answer my own question so it will be available for people in the future:
The problem is with removing (and incorrectly re-installing) the printhead. As I alluded to in my question, the head was not re-installed correctly. When the printhead is put back on the printer, it absolutely MUST be held so that it's pulled as far back away from the roller as possible while still being seated in its recess before tightening the screws which hold it on. If this is not done, it causes drag against the ribbon and the ribbon does not advance as fast as it should be when printing.
I found this out by reviewing a service manual I'd downloaded.
I suppose the reason this elaboration was not shared by the repair facility previously was because it's an easy buck for them to make if it happens again.
- James
I'll now answer my own question so it will be available for people in the future:
The problem is with removing (and incorrectly re-installing) the printhead. As I alluded to in my question, the head was not re-installed correctly. When the printhead is put back on the printer, it absolutely MUST be held so that it's pulled as far back away from the roller as possible while still being seated in its recess before tightening the screws which hold it on. If this is not done, it causes drag against the ribbon and the ribbon does not advance as fast as it should be when printing.
I found this out by reviewing a service manual I'd downloaded.
I suppose the reason this elaboration was not shared by the repair facility previously was because it's an easy buck for them to make if it happens again.
- James
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Your printhead is in correctly but not aligned, Please loosen the 2 screws that holds the printhead.Remove ribbon(all this while the printer is powered off) Now look on the right side there is a lever that makes the printer go closer to the ribbon ,move the lever to number 9 and move the head over to the left side of the printer.push the head forward slightly towards the black roller and tighten the 2 screws again ,install the ribbon and move the blue lever to 1 and try printing again.
Hope this helps.Dezzi
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The Okidata Microline 320 uses a ribbon. If it smears, just back the tension lever off until it goes away. Smearing will happen with multi-part forms unless you back off the printhead.
If I remember the 320, there is a head-gap adjustment that is normally moved for replacement of the head and must be reset again.
Check your manual for that term; 'Head gap adjustment'
The problem your having is with the carriage assembly. You'll need to remove the ribbon and printhead. It's the black piece under them. Here's a link to a replacement part for $38.95.
Hi,
Is the front cover on the printer(ifs its not the alarm light will keep flashing as there is a sensor that will trigger the alarm if the cover is not on or not on properly.Hope this helps?
Dezzi
HI ,
Is the front cover on ? becuase this printer cannot work with the cover off ?If the cover is on remove the ribbon and power the printer on if it works the ribbon could be the problem.
Dezzi
I'll now answer my own question so it will be available for people in the future:
The problem is with removing (and incorrectly re-installing) the printhead. As I alluded to in my question, the head was not re-installed correctly. When the printhead is put back on the printer, it absolutely MUST be held so that it's pulled as far back away from the roller as possible while still being seated in its recess before tightening the screws which hold it on. If this is not done, it causes drag against the ribbon and the ribbon does not advance as fast as it should be when printing.
I found this out by reviewing a service manual I'd downloaded.
I suppose the reason this elaboration was not shared by the repair facility previously was because it's an easy buck for them to make if it happens again.
- James
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