Abstract: A device for driving a rotatable can plate of a spinning preparation machine. The device includes a drive gear, a driven gear engaged by and driven by the drive gear for rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive gear, an intermediate gear mounted on a lever pivotable about an axis spaced from the axis of the intermediate gear for pivotal movement of the intermediate gear between selective alternate positions for engagement with the drive gear or the driven gear for selective driving of the intermediate gear in opposite directions of rotation, a pair of spaced pulleys driven by a belt trained around a drive pulley fixed upon the intermediate gear for transmitting the rotation of the intermediate gear to the pair of spaced pulleys, and can plate pulleys each driven by a belt trained around one of the pulleys of the pair of spaced pulleys for transmitting the rotation of the pair of pulleys to the can plate pulleys.