Printer web medium supply with drive system

A web medium supply for a web medium on a core, the web medium supply comprising;

• a frame having a first mounting support and a second mounting support that are positioned along an axis of rotation and separated by a separation distance during the supply of the web;
• a first core mounting having a first surface that is rotatably supportable by the first mounting support about the axis of rotation and a first engagement end to which a first end of a core can be mounted and a first engagement surface through which a first force urging the core to rotate can be transmitted to the core to urge the core to rotate with the first core mounting;
• and
• a second core mounting having a second surface that is rotatably supportable by the second mounting support about the axis of rotation and a second engagement end to which a second end of the core can be mounted and a second engagement surface through which a second force urging the second core to rotate can be transmitted to the core to urge the core to rotate with the second core mounting;
• and
• a drive transmission having an input end to receive an input force, a first output mechanically linked for movement with the first core mounting and a second output mechanically linked for movement with the second core mounting with the drive transmission mechanically linking the input end to the first output and to the second output and distributing an amount of force supplied at the input end between the first force and the second force, such that the first force and the second force can, in combination, rotate the first core mounting, second core mounting, the core and any web wound thereon against an inertial load of the core and web;
• wherein both the first force and the second force are less than a third force that is sufficient to drive an alternative core against the inertial load from one driven end, and wherein the core has a first yield strength at the first end and a second yield strength at the second end that are each less than a third yield strength that is required to receive the third force at the driven end of the alternative core.