Apparatus for centering media on a spindle

Abstract

A media centering spindle assembly with a spindle body and a clutch drive assembly. The spindle body includes a centering mechanism such as a rack and pinion or centering slat. The centering mechanism is configured to center and retain a media roll, ribbon supply or the like along the spindle body and includes at least one spring tab. The spring tab is deflectable from an initial position to a second position below a surface of the spindle body to allow the mounting of the media roll or the like. The assembly may be further configured as rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the spindle body with the clutch drive assembly having a friction level adjustable by rotation of a clutch adjuster about the longitudinal axis of the spindle body.

1 . A spindle assembly for supporting a media or ribbon supply in a hosting device, said spindle assembly comprising: 
 a spindle body including a first end, a second end, an outer wall and a centering mechanism, 
 the outer wall is configured to engage the media or ribbon supply, extends from the first end to the second end, and defines at least one tab slot,  
 the centering mechanism is configured to center the media or ribbon supply between the first and second end, and includes at least two tabs configured to abut and hold ends of the media or ribbon supply,  
 wherein at least one tab is a spring tab having a first position and a second position, in the first position the spring tab extends outwardly from the outer wall and in second position the spring tab extends at least partially into a tab slot.  
   
   
   
       2 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring tab has a sloped outward edge, whereby a media or ribbon supply slid over the spindle body will deflect the spring tab from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       3 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the outer wall defines at least two tabs slots and an interior and the centering mechanism further includes a first rack, a second rack, and a pinion, said pinion being within the interior such that the pinion engages both the first rack and the second rack, said first rack being substantially within the interior and having at least one tab extending through a tab slot, and the second rack being substantially within the interior and having the at least one spring tab, the spring tab being deflectable from the first position to a second position.  
   
   
       4 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the outer wall defines three tab slots and the first rack includes two tabs, each tab extending through a tab slot.  
   
   
       5 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the pinion is located proximate a midpoint of the spindle body.  
   
   
       6 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the spring tab of the second rack has a distal end facing a tab of the first rack, whereby when the media roll is slid across the spring tab and the spring tab returns to the first position, the media or ribbon supply is retained between at least one tab of the first rack and the distal end of the spring tab of the second rack.  
   
   
       7 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said spindle body further includes a biasing device for biasing the first rack and second rack towards a minimum extension position.  
   
   
       8 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the biasing device is a spring coupled between either the first rack or the second rack and either the first end or second end of the spindle body.  
   
   
       9 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the spindle body is formed partially from a first spindle half and second spindle half, the first spindle half is adapted to mate with the second spindle half.  
   
   
       10 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the pinion is supported between the first spindle half and the second spindle half.  
   
   
       11 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the first spindle half includes at least one hook and the second spindle half includes at least one connecting slot, each hook is configured to engage a corresponding connecting slot of the second spindle half to mate the first spindle half and the second spindle half together.  
   
   
       12 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the spindle body further comprises a media spring clip coupled to the outer wall and projecting radially from the outer wall.  
   
   
       13 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the outer wall further defines a channel and the centering mechanism further includes a slat configured to slide along the channel, said channel partially overlies at least one tab slot and said slat includes two ends, each end having a tab, wherein one of the tabs is a spring tab.  
   
   
       14 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the centering mechanism further include a biasing device for biasing the slat towards a minimum extension position.  
   
   
       15 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the biasing device is a spring.  
   
   
       16 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch drive assembly coupled to the spindle body.  
   
   
       17 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the clutch drive assembly includes a clutch gear rotatably coupled to the spindle body.  
   
   
       18 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the clutch gear has a variable clutch friction level.  
   
   
       19 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the clutch drive assembly further includes a clutch adjuster for adjusting the variable friction level of the clutch drive assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the rotation of the clutch adjuster controls the variable friction level of the clutch  
   
   
       21 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the clutch drive assembly further includes a shaft for supporting the clutch gear and the clutch adjuster.  
   
   
       22 . The spindle assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the clutch drive assembly further includes a bearing located between the spindle body and the shaft for allowing the rotation of the spindle body without the rotation of the shaft.  
   
   
       23 . A spindle assembly for supporting a media or ribbon supply in a hosting device, said spindle assembly comprising: 
 a spindle body including a first end, a second end, an outer wall and a centering mechanism, 
 wherein the outer wall is configured to engage the media or ribbon supply, extends from the first end to the second end, and defines at least one tab slot and a channel positioned in communication with the tab slot, said channel having at least one bend reversing the direction of the channel, and  
 wherein the centering mechanism includes a slat configured to slide along the channel and at least two tabs with one of the tabs positioned on an end of the slat and the other of the tabs positioned on an opposite end of the slat, wherein the tabs are configured to abut and hold ends of the media or ribbon supply.  
   
   
   
       24 . A method of centering a media roll or ribbon supply onto a spindle body, comprising: 
 inserting the media roll or ribbon supply onto an unsupported end of the spindle body;    sliding the media roll or ribbon supply to a first tab:    deflecting the first tab from a first position to a second position such that the media roll or ribbon supply can slide over the first tab;    sliding the media roll or ribbon supply to a second tab;    engaging the second tab with the media roll or ribbon supply and sliding the second tab along with the media roll or ribbon supply, until the media roll or ribbon supply clears the first tab;    returning the first tab to the first position; and    holding the media roll or ribbon supply between the first tab and the second tab.