Patent ID: 7249903

Claim:
A roll feeding unit for feeding a continuous web of print media from a roll to a sheet fed printer, said sheet fed printer including a printer controller, said roll feeding unit comprising: (i) a frame having opposing sidewall segments and a first end portion and second end portion, the first end portion including an elongated arm extending from one sidewall segment to the other sidewall segment for supporting a core which holds the continuous roll of print media; (ii) a feeding station located at the second end portion of the frame for feeding the print media to a printer, the feeding station including upper and lower feed rollers for feeding the print media therebetween; (iii) a cutter device for cutting the print media; and (iv) at least one sensor for sensing the position of the print media as the print media is fed to the printer; (v) a roll feeding unit controller for controlling the operations of the roll feeding unit, the roll feeding unit controller being communication with said printer controller whereby the roll feed is synchronized with the printer and a given area of the web is fed to the printer directly from said continuous roll of print media at a rate and in a quantity require by the printer when the printer is ready to print an image on said given area of the web; and (vi) an alignment frame for receiving said printer and said roll feeding unit and aligning said printer and said roll feeding unit relative to each other.