Self-centering media support assembly and method of using the same

A printer having a printhead adapted to print on media fed from a media roll and a media roll support assembly, said support assembly comprising:

• first and second roll end support members configured to retentively engaging opposed ends of a media roll;
• and
• a support structure configured to support said roll end support members respectively for mirror-image movement toward and away from each other so as to center various width rolls held by said roll end support members, said support structure including at least one rack pair and a plurality of pinions engaging said at least one rack pair.

A printer having a printhead adapted to print on media fed from a media roll and a media roll support assembly, said support assembly comprising:

• first and second roll end support members configured to retentively engaging opposed ends of a media roll;
• and
• a support structure configured to support said roll end support members respectively for mirror-image movement toward and away from each other so as to center various width rolls held by said roll end support members, said support structure comprising a lazy tongs device having ends coupled to said roll end support members and being mounted in said printer intermediate said ends.

A printer having a printhead adapted to print on media fed from a media roll and a media roll support assembly, said support assembly comprising:

• first and second roll end support members configured to retentively engage opposed ends of a media roll;
• and
• a support structure configured to support said roll end support members respectively for mirror-image movement toward and away from each other so as to center various width rolls held by said roll end support members, said support structure comprising a pair of racks mounted for movement in opposed directions, a first connecting element between one rack of the rack pair and one of said roll end support members and a second connecting element between the other rack of the rack pair and the other of said roll end support members.