Apparatus providing a point of sale printer with a large paper supply roll having controlled acceleration and deceleration

Paper supply apparatus for a printer having a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction, wherein said paper supply apparatus comprises:

• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer, and
• a paper web holding surface extending at an oblique angle relative to said preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller clamps said portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer against said paper web holding surface when said paper web is released from said paper drive.

Paper supply apparatus for a printer having a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction, wherein said paper supply apparatus comprises:

• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer,
• a braking spring engaging said paper supply roll for stopping rotation of said paper supply roll, wherein said braking spring is formed as a cantilever spring including a first end portion extending to press against a peripheral surface of said paper supply roll, wherein said braking spring includes an intermediate portion disposed adjacent said tensioning roller at an end of movement of said tensioning roller opposite said first direction, and wherein said intermediate portion extends at an oblique angle relative to said preferred path, and said tensioning roller clamps said portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer against said intermediate portion when said paper web is released from said paper drive.

Paper supply apparatus for a printer having a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction, wherein said paper supply apparatus comprises:

• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer,
• a braking spring engaging said paper supply roll for stopping rotation of said paper supply roll, wherein said braking spring is formed as a cantilever spring including a first end portion extending to press against a peripheral surface of said paper supply roll, wherein said first end portion additionally includes a tab extending to engage a flap extending from an end of a paper web on said paper supply roll, and wherein said braking spring is slidably mounted to be pulled into said printer with said tab engaging said flap.

Paper supply apparatus for a printer having a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction, wherein said paper supply apparatus comprises:

• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• and
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer and
• a paper guiding member having a tab extending to engage a flap extending from an end of a paper web of said paper supply roll, wherein said paper guiding member is slidably mounted to be pulled into said printer with said tab engaging said flap.

Paper supply apparatus] for a printer having a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction, wherein said paper supply apparatus comprises:

• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket, wherein said spindle includes a shaft having a first pulley attached at a first end of said shaft and a second pulley removably attached at a second end of said shaft;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer and
• a cable extending on each side of said spindle, engaging said first and second pulleys between an anchor point and a handle, wherein said roll mounting bracket includes a slot at each side of said roll mounting bracket into which said spindle is movable while said spindle is held in suspension by said cable.

Paper supply roll mounting apparatus for a printer having a paper drive moving a paper web from a paper supply roll through said printer in a paper feeding direction, wherein said paper supply apparatus comprises:

• a roll mounting bracket disposed eternally from said printer, wherein said roll mounting bracket includes a slot at each side of said roll mounting bracket;
• a spindle for removably and rotatably mounting said paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket, wherein said spindle includes a shaft having a first pulley attached at a first end of said shaft and a second pulley removably attached at a second end of said shaft;
• and
• a cable extending on each side of said spindle, engaging said first and second pulleys between an anchor point and a handle, wherein said spindle is movable into said slot at each side of said roll mounting bracket while said spindle is held in suspension by said cable.

Printing apparatus comprising:

• a printer including a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction as visible markings are formed on said paper web;
• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll to turn freely in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• and
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer.

Printing apparatus comprising:

• a printer including a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction as visible markings are formed on said paper web, wherein said paper drive is disengaged from said paper web to provide access to said paper web;
• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer;
• and
• a paper web holding surface extending at an oblique angle relative to said preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller clamps said portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer against said paper web holding surface when said paper web is released from said paper drive.

Printing apparatus comprising:

• a printer including a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction as visible markings are formed on said paper web;
• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket;
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• and
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer;
• and
• a braking spring formed as a cantilever spring including a first end portion extending to press against a peripheral surface of said paper supply roll for stopping rotation of said paper supply roll, wherein said first end portion additionally includes a tab extending to engage a flap extending from an end of a paper web on said paper supply roll, and wherein said braking spring is slidably mounted to be pulled into said printer with said tab engaging said flap.

Printing apparatus comprising:

• a printer including a paper drive moving a paper web through said printer in a paper feeding direction as visible markings are formed on said paper web;
• a roll mounting bracket disposed externally from said printer;
• a spindle removably and rotatably mounting a paper supply roll in said roll mounting bracket, wherein said spindle includes a shaft having a first pulley attached at a first end of said shaft and a second pulley removably attached at a second end of said shaft,
• a tensioning roller applying a tensioning force to a portion of said paper web extending between said paper supply roll mounted on said spindle and said printer;
• and
• a tensioning roller support structure constraining said tensioning roller to move along a preferred path, wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path in a first direction as said paper roll is accelerated to rotate in an unspooling direction in response to said paper drive starting to move said paper web through said printer, and wherein said tensioning roller moves along said preferred path opposite said first direction as said paper roll is decelerated in response to said paper drive stopping movement of said paper web through said printer;
• and
• a cable extending on each side of said spindle, engaging said first and second pulleys between an anchor point and a handle, wherein said roll mounting bracket includes a slot at each side of said roll mounting bracket into which said spindle is movable while said spindle is held in suspension by said cable.