Out of media detection system for a roll media feed apparatus

An improved media supply apparatus comprising:

• a media roll structure including a core substrate mounted on a rotatable shaft;
• a media supply having one edge fixedly attached to said roll core substrate, the supply wound about the core substrate to form a media supply roll;
• means for unrolling the media from the supply roll and advancing the media along the paper path until an end of media condition is reached when the media is almost exhausted;
• the improvement wherein the apparatus further comprises sensing means coupled to said rotatable shaft, said sensing means generating a signal upon non-rotational movement of said shaft and further includes controller means for receiving the signal from said sensing means and for generating an approaching end of media signal which stops rotation of said shaft.

A method for detecting an end of media condition in a media feed roll system comprising the steps of:

• providing a feed roll support structure;
• providing a shaft adapted for mounting in said feed roll support structure for rotation in a first direction and further movement in a second direction;
• mounting the media roll on said shaft with said shaft being supported by said support structure;
• unrolling the media from the support feed roll structure at a controlled speed,
• monitoring said shaft to detect any movement of the shaft in said second direction which would be associated with an approaching end of media condition;
• and
• generating an end of media signal upon detecting said movement of said shaft in said second direction to stop rotation of said shaft.