Method for spatially arranging coils, the method comprising: providing electronic data about an initial storage state, which electronic data contains information about a respective initial diameter of the coils and a respective initial spatial storage position of the coils in a coil store; transporting a selected coil from an initial storage position to a processing machine for processing at least a portion of the sheet metal of the selected coil; sensing a reduced diameter of the selected coil after the portion of the sheet metal has been removed from the selected coil for processing by the processing machine; storing the reduced diameter of the selected coil; transporting the selected coil having the reduced diameter to a depositing storage position which, depending on the reduced diameter, is selected to differ from the initial storage position in a manner that saves storage space; and storing the depositing storage position.

A system to monitor available media in a printer is disclosed. The system may include a media holder that includes a support frame and a support member that extends from the support frame. The support member may be configured to receive a media roll. The system may include an optical sensor attached to the support frame of the media holder. The optical sensor may be configured to include an axial end of the media roll within a field of view of the optical sensor. The optical sensor may be configured to output sensor data that indicates whether the media roll has available media according to a radius of the axial end.

An unwinder for rolls of paper web material includes: a support frame; a spindle cylinder, rotationally associated with the frame, supporting a parent roll with a longitudinal axis; unwinder to unwind a paper web from the parent roll; actuator keeping the unwindier contacting the parent roll; a command and control unit; first motor rotating the spindle cylinder; two support and drive rollers; units to measure instantaneous radius of the parent roll, rotational speed of the spindle cylinder, quantity of web unrolled from the parent roll per unit time, and weight unloaded from the parent roll onto the support and drive rollers; second motor synchronously rotating the support and drive rollers; and third motor moving the spindle cylinder vertically. The control unit receives and processes values detected by the measurement unit, causing the motor to maintain the weight force unloaded onto the rollers from the roll as the diameter varies.

An unwinder for rolls of paper web material includes: a support frame; a spindle cylinder, rotationally associated with the frame, supporting a parent roll with a longitudinal axis; unwinder to unwind a paper web from the parent roll; actuator keeping the unwindier contacting the parent roll; a command and control unit; first motor rotating the spindle cylinder; two support and drive rollers; units to measure instantaneous radius of the parent roll, rotational speed of the spindle cylinder, quantity of web unrolled from the parent roll per unit time, and weight unloaded from the parent roll onto the support and drive rollers; second motor synchronously rotating the support and drive rollers; and third motor moving the spindle cylinder vertically. The control unit receives and processes values detected by the measurement unit, causing the motor to maintain the weight force unloaded onto the rollers from the roll as the diameter varies.

An example media handling system includes a web media holder with a core hub capable of coupling to a core of a web media roll, a sensor to take a measurement at the circumferential surface of the web media roll, and a controller to determine a length of the web media roll. In that example, the controller may determine the length of the web media roll based on a first distance measurable by the sensor when the core hub is in a first orientation, a second distance measureable by the sensor when the core hub is in a second orientation after a number of rotations with respect to the first orientation of the core hub, and reference value corresponding to the core.

Method for spatially arranging coils, the method comprising: providing electronic data about an initial storage state, which electronic data contains information about a respective initial diameter of the coils and a respective initial spatial storage position of the coils in a coil store; transporting a selected coil from an initial storage position to a processing machine for processing at least a portion of the sheet metal of the selected coil; sensing a reduced diameter of the selected coil after the portion of the sheet metal has been removed from the selected coil for processing by the processing machine; storing the reduced diameter of the selected coil; transporting the selected coil having the reduced diameter to a depositing storage position which, depending on the reduced diameter, is selected to differ from the initial storage position in a manner that saves storage space; and storing the depositing storage position.

An example media handling system includes a web media holder with a core hub capable of coupling to a core of a web media roll, a sensor to take a measurement at the circumferential surface of the web media roll, and a controller to determine a length of the web media roll. In that example, the controller may determine the length of the web media roll based on a first distance measurable by the sensor when the core hub is in a first orientation, a second distance measureable by the sensor when the core hub is in a second orientation after a number of rotations with respect to the first orientation of the core hub, and reference value corresponding to the core.

Printers and methods are provided for determining an amount of remaining print media in an operating printer. Waveform signal is received from encoder wheel having number (n) of sectors and proximate optical sensor. Waveform signal represents number of sectors (m) that, during measurement time (t), pass by optical sensor as encoder wheel rotates. If media encoder wheel, in response to receiving waveform signal, processor calculates length of remaining print media in media roll at instant time t2. If ribbon encoder wheel, in response to receiving waveform signal, processor at least one of calculates length of remaining ribbon in ribbon roll at instant time t2 or extrapolates the length of the remaining print media from a plurality of data points defining an interpolation equation.

Proposed is an apparatus for supplying a roll-type material, the apparatus including an unwinder for unwinding a roll on which a material is wound, a rotation speed sensor for measuring a rotation speed of the roll, and a controller for performing a first deceleration for decelerating the rotation speed of the roll when the rotation speed of the roll is equal to or greater than a first reference rotation speed, and performing a second deceleration for decelerating the rotation speed of the roll when the rotation speed of the roll is equal to or greater than a second reference rotation speed after the rotation speed of the roll is decelerated. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust a supply speed of the material according to a remaining amount of the material without operator's control, and minimize waste of the material.

A printing apparatus includes a roll paper compartment 15 having a first placement surface 27 on which an outer peripheral surface Ra of a roll paper R around which a recording paper P is wound is placed and accommodating the roll paper R, a thermal head 67 performing printing on the recording paper P pulled out from the roll paper R accommodated in the roll paper compartment 15, a first projecting/retracting portion 77 provided to be configured to project from or retract into the first placement surface 27, pressed by the roll paper R of which the outer peripheral surface Ra is placed on the first placement surface 27 and retracting into the first placement surface 27 when a diameter of the roll paper R is larger than a predetermined diameter, and released from the pressure by the roll paper R and protruding from the first placement surface 27 when the diameter of the roll paper R is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and a detection section detecting projection and retraction of the first projecting/retracting portion 77.