Roll holder unit for printer

Abstract

A roll holder unit for a printer includes a regulating wall, a movable arm, and a lock arm. The regulating wall is located on the same axial side of the roll as the regulating wall to prevent axial movement of a roll. The movable arm moves between an adjacent position in which the axle is contact with a shaft and a spaced-apart position in which the axle is apart from the shaft. The movable arm is biased toward the adjacent position from the spaced-apart position. The lock arm moves between a regulating position in which the lock arm regulates the movable arm from moving from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position and a release position in which the lock arm allows the movable arm to move from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position.

1 . A roll holder unit for a printer, comprising:
 a regulating wall that regulates axial movement of a roll located on at least one axial side of the roll in opposing relationship with one axial end portion of the roll;   a movable arm comprising an axle that supports the roll, the movable arm located on the same axial side of the roll as the regulating wall and configured to move between an adjacent position in which the axle is in contact with a shaft of the roll and a spaced-apart position in which the axle is apart from the shaft, the movable arm biased toward the adjacent position from the spaced-apart position; and   a lock arm configured to move between a regulating position in which the lock arm regulates the movable arm from moving from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position and a release position in which the lock arm allows the movable arm to move from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position.   
     
     
         2 . The roll holder unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable arm comprises an elastic member supporting the axle and biasing the axle in a direction in which the axle is in contact with the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The roll holder unit of  claim 2 , wherein the elastic member supports the axle in a state that the axle penetrates the roll in an axial direction, the lock arm is rotatable about a rotational axis extending parallel to an axis of the roll, and the axle regulate the lock arm from moving toward the opposite side of the regulating position from the release position. 
     
     
         4 . The roll holder unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base supporting the regulating wall, the movable arm, and the lock arm; and   a cover to openably cover the base,   wherein the cover comprises an unlock regulating portion to regulate the lock arm from moving from the regulating position toward the release position when the cover is closed.   
     
     
         5 . The roll holder unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable arm is arranged on the opposite side of the regulating wall from the roll, and the regulating wall comprises a penetration portion through which the axle passes. 
     
     
         6 . The roll holder unit of  claim 1 , wherein the lock arm is movably supported on the regulating wall. 
     
     
         7 . The roll holder unit of  claim 1  wherein the regulating wall is located on both axial sides of the roll. 
     
     
         8 . A roll holder comprising:
 a regulating wall located on at least one axial side of a roll;   a movable arm located on the same axial side of the roll as the regulating wall, the movable arm comprising an axle movable between an adjacent position in which the axle engages the roll and a spaced-apart position in which the axle disengages the roll; and   a lock arm that moves between a regulating position that prevents the movable arm from moving from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position, and a release position in which the lock arm allows the movable arm to move from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position.   
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 8 , wherein the movable arm further comprises an elastic member supporting the axle which biases the axle in a direction in which the axle is inserted into a shaft of the roll. 
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 9 , wherein the elastic member supports the axle so that the axle penetrates the roll in an axial direction, the lock arm is rotatable about a rotational axis extending parallel to an axis of the roll, and the axle regulates the lock arm from moving toward the opposite side of the regulating position from the release position. 
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a base supporting the regulating wall, the movable arm, and the lock arm; and   a cover to openably cover the base, the cover comprising an unlock regulating portion to regulate the lock arm from moving from the regulating position toward the release position when the cover is closed.   
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 8 , wherein the movable arm is located on the opposite side of the regulating wall from the roll, and the regulating wall comprises a penetration portion through which the axle passes. 
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 8 , wherein the lock arm is movably supported on the regulating wall. 
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating wall is located on both axial sides of the roll. 
     
     
         15 . A method for securing a roll in a roll holder, the method comprising:
 restricting axial movement of the roll with a regulating wall located on at least one axial side of the roll;   engaging the roll with a movable arm located on the same axial side of the roll as the regulating wall, the movable arm comprising an axle movable between an adjacent position in which the axle engages the roll and a spaced-apart position in which the axle disengages the roll; and   locking the roll into position with a lock arm that moves between a regulating position that prevents the movable arm from moving from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position, and a release position in which the lock arm allows the movable arm to move from the adjacent position to the spaced-apart position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising biasing the axle into a shaft of the roll with an elastic member of the movable arm that supports the axle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elastic member supports the axle so that the axle penetrates the roll in an axial direction, the lock arm is rotatable about a rotational axis extending parallel to an axis of the roll, and the axle regulates the lock arm from moving toward the opposite side of the regulating position from the release position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 supporting the regulating wall, the movable arm, and the lock arm with a base; and   openably covering the base with a cover comprising an unlock regulating portion to regulate the lock arm from moving from the regulating position toward the release position when the cover is closed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the movable arm is located on the opposite side of the regulating wall from the roll, and the regulating wall comprises a penetration portion through which the axle passes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising movably supporting the lock arm on the regulating wall.