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.

A web roll handling and loading system and methods employ hubs positioned on opposing sides of a roll of web material wound on a hollow tubular core. Hub faces have an annular shape configured to be seated in respective ends of the hollow tubular core. The hubs are pivotably supported for pivoting between an operational position and a deflected position. The roll of web material is loaded on the hubs by lifting it from beneath the hubs to deflect the hub faces arcuately upward, then lowering the roll to allow the hub faces to pivot downward and become seated in the ends of the hollow tubular core. Alternatively, the roll is loaded into a pick-up tool by lowering the pick-up tool downward to the roll so the hubs deflect arcuately upward, then raising the tool so the hubs pivot downward and become seated in the hollow tubular core.

A roll holding apparatus includes a pair of holding members and an advancing/retracting support device. The pair of holding members is configured to be inserted into an inner periphery of a print-receiving paper roll. The pair of holding members is configured to rotatably support the print-receiving paper roll. The advancing/retracting support device is configured to support the holding member to switch an advancing/retracting state of the holding member into a first state, second state, or a third state. A tip end portion of the holding member protrudes to a first position in the first state. The tip end portion lies inward along an axial direction of the print-receiving paper roll than the first position in the second state. The tip end portion lies outward along the axial direction from the first position in the third state.

A system for supporting a reel of stamping foil (2) that is mounted rotatably, includes: two flanges (9, 9) connected to the shaft of the reel (2, 2) that is positioned between the flanges, each flange having a rotary shaft extending outward of the reel; two end walls (7, 7) mounted spaced apart on a guide surface (3), each wall end having at least one upwardly oriented notch (10, 10) arranged to receive the shaft of each flange (9, 9); and a brake (13) which cooperates with and slows the rotation of the reel (2).

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.

Disclosed is an adjustable paper blocking structure of a thermal printer, comprising: a base evenly provided with a plurality of tooth grooves; a paper blocking component slidably connected to the base and used to limit the two ends of label paper in the middle of the paper tray of the desktop thermal printer, and a locking component having one end rotatably connected to the paper blocking component and the other end engaging with the tooth groove. The proposed adjustable paper blocking structure of a thermal printer can be used for label papers of different sizes and improves printing accuracy.

A foil reel mounting device (10; 40) for supporting a reel (2) of stamping foil (3) in a supporting module (1). The device is fixed to the supporting module (1). It includes a support (11; 41) having a recess (16; 46) to receive an axle (7) of the reel (2) of stamping foil (3). A retaining element (12; 42) mounted on the support (11; 41) and arranged to move between a closed position, in which the retaining element (12; 42) retains the axle (7) of the reel (2) in the recess (16; 46), and an open position, in which the retaining element (12; 42) releases the axle (7) of the reel (2) from the recess (16; 46). The retaining element (12; 42) is biased towards the closed position. Also, a supporting module (1) has at least one foil reel mounting device (10; 40) and a stamping machine (100) includes a supporting module (1) or at least one foil reel mounting device (10; 40). A method for loading and unloading a reel (2) of stamping foil (3) with such at least one foil reel mounting device (10; 40) is also disclosed.

A web roll handling and loading system and methods employ hubs positioned on opposing sides of a roll of web material wound on a hollow tubular core. Hub faces have an annular shape configured to be seated in respective ends of the hollow tubular core. The hubs are pivotably supported for pivoting between an operational position and a deflected position. The roll of web material is loaded on the hubs by lifting it from beneath the hubs to deflect the hub faces arcuately upward, then lowering the roll to allow the hub faces to pivot downward and become seated in the ends of the hollow tubular core. Alternatively, the roll is loaded into a pick-up tool by lowering the pick-up tool downward to the roll so the hubs deflect arcuately upward, then raising the tool so the hubs pivot downward and become seated in the hollow tubular core.

A method for managing the continuous feeding of an elongate element wound on reels to a station for building a tire, wherein the elongate element is continuously supplied from an unwinding device of successive reels. When the terminal end of the elongate element wound on a first reel leaves said first reel, the method provides for: the first reel to be moved away from the unwinding device on a first movable carriage; a second reel, successive to the first reel, and mounted on a second movable carriage, to be positioned in place of the first reel; and the terminal end of the elongate element previously wound on the first reel, to be joined to the starting end of the elongate element wound on the second reel.

A core plug for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser is provided. The core plug may include a shell and a support. The shell may be positioned about a longitudinal axis of the core plug and configured to be at least partially inserted into a central opening of the roll of sheet product. The support may be movably attached to the shell and configured to engage a support feature of the sheet product dispenser such that the roll of sheet product is rotatably supported with respect to the sheet product dispenser. The support may be positioned at least partially within the shell, and at least a portion of the support may be configured to translate relative to the shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the core plug.