Abstract: In a computer driven printer/plotter, a printing media feed and retaining apparatus which has at least three pinch rollers mounted on a pinch roller support member having a print media guide surface and a support and actuation arm extending from a side of the pinch roller support member opposite the guide surface, and wherein an axis of said support and actuation arm intersects a vertical centerline through the middle of a polygon figure defined by intersection of straight lines between pinch rollers and having one pinch roller at each corner thereof. The pinch rollers are supported such that they are self centering and track without skewing or damaging the printing medium without the use of precision parts or mounting techniques.

Abstract: A printing media feed and retaining apparatus particularly useful in a computer driven thermal ink jet printer/plotter which has a plurality of pinch rollers (20) mounted on a single pinch roller support member (25). One or more support members (25) are positioned adjacent a platen roller (10) in proximity to the print path. The pinch rollers (20) are retracted away from the platen roller for removing the print medium and are supported such that they are self centering and track without skewing or damaging the printing medium without the use of precision parts or mounting techniques.