Patent ID: 7325989

Claim:
A paper supply apparatus comprising: a support component, which rotatably retains a winding core around which roll paper is wound; a slit plate, which rotates in response to the support component and causes pulses to be generated at a sensor; and a rotation force transmission component, which transmits a rotary force of the support component to the slit plate, wherein the transmission component is designed such that the support component must rotate at least a predetermined amount to cause rotation of the slit plate; wherein the support component includes a support component gear and the transmission component includes a transmission component gear which meshes with the support component gear whereby the rotary force of the support component transmits rotation to the transmission component; wherein the transmission component further comprises an engagement channel and a pin disposed in the engagement channel, the engagement channel being wider than the pin; wherein when the support component transmits rotation to the transmission component, one of the pin and the engagement channel are rotated relative to the other of the pin and the engagement channel, the other of the pin and the engagement channel being connected to and moving with the slit plate; and wherein when the support component rotates at least the predetermined amount the one of the pin and the engagement channel are rotated sufficiently that the pin contacts a wall of the engagement channel whereby the rotary force is transmitted to the slit plate.