Web feeding method and apparatus for a printer

摘要

There is disclosed web feeding apparatus and method for feeding a web from a web roll to a utilization device. The paying out of the web from the web roll into a U-shaped buffer loop is assisted by a pair of cooperating feed rolls which engage the web along the buffer loop. When the loop decreases to a certain extent, a sensing member causes the feed rolls to rotate to pay additional web material out of the web roll until the loop has increased to a certain extent. The web material extends from the buffer loop over the web roll and is guided to the utilization device, for example, a printer. The feed rolls can be caused to rotate when a manually engageable lever is moved in one direction. Alternatively the feed rolls can be separated and caused to rotate when the member is moved in the opposite direction. The apparatus also includes a reel assembly having a reel for handling web rolls having a variety of different widths. The reel includes a side member slidably mounted on a shaft and clutched to the shaft at a variety of selected positions in accordance with the roll width. The apparatus also includes an arrangement for rendering the printer inoperable whenever the web roll on the reel is of a different width than the width for which the printer controls are set.