# US 10,118,415 B2 · Supporting a roll of print media

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- Number: US 10,118,415 B2
- Document ID: US10118415B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/329,066
- Filed: 2014-07-30
- Published: 2017-08-10
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-30
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Sergi Culubret; Lluis Valles; Lluis Hierro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118415B2

## CPC

- B41J 11/58: Supply holders for sheets or fan-folded webs, e.g. shelves, tables, scrolls, pile holders
- B41F 13/03: Threading webs into printing machines
- B65H 19/126: {with both-ends supporting arrangements}
- B65H 23/188: in connection with running-web
- B65H 2301/41346: separate elements engaging each end of the roll (e.g. chuck)
- B65H 2301/413526: vertically moving supporting means
- B65H 2301/41722: by acting on outer surface, e.g. gripping or clamping
- B65H 2403/41: Rack-and-pinion, cogwheel in cog railway
- B65H 2403/942: Bidirectional powered handling device
- B65H 2801/12: Single-function printing machines, typically table-top machines
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L)
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

In one example, an elevator for a roll of print media includes rotatable shafts oriented parallel to one another and translatable supports to support a roll of print media. Each support is operatively connected to the shafts such that rotating the shafts in a first direction raises the supports and rotating the shafts in a second direction opposite the first direction lowers the supports.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An elevator for a roll of print media, the elevator including:
rotatable shafts having longitudinal axes and oriented parallel to one another; and
translatable supports, slidable along the longitudinal axes of the shafts, to support a roll of print media, each support operatively connected to the shafts through a pinion on each shaft, each pinion slidable along the longitudinal axis of one of the shafts with the support and engaging a rack on the support,
such that rotating the shafts in a first direction raises the supports and rotating the shafts in a second direction opposite the first direction lowers the supports.

### Claim 2

A holder for a roll of print media, including:
a first holder to hold a first end of the roll in a dispensing position;
a second holder to hold a second end of the roll in the dispensing position, the second holder opposite the first holder along an axis;
a rotatable shaft parallel to the axis below the holders;
a pinion rotatable with the shaft; and
a support below the holders to support the roll in a loading position above or below or at the same elevation as the dispensing position, the support having a rack connected to the pinion to raise the support when the pinion is rotated in a first direction and to lower the support when the pinion is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the support and the pinion are slidable together along a length of the shaft.

### Claim 3

A method for loading a roll of print media into a printer, the method including:
supporting a roll of print media along a horizontal axis above or below a dispensing elevation with translatable supports disposed on and movable along a length of a rotatable shaft extending along an axis parallel to the horizontal axis;
raising or lowering the roll to the dispensing elevation by rotating the rotatable shaft such that a pinion disposed on and movable along a length of the rotatable shaft raises or lowers a rack disposed on each support; and
keeping the roll horizontal while raising or lowering the roll to the dispensing elevation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the keeping includes raising or lowering both ends of the roll simultaneously.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the raising or lowering includes motoring the roll to the dispensing elevation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, including securing the roll in the printer at the dispensing elevation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the raising and lowering includes rotating the rotatable shaft manually with a hand crank.