Abstract: A switching power supply supplying power from an alternating-current power supply to a load includes a transformer having primary, secondary, and tertiary windings and a switching element, connected to the primary winding of the transformer, providing power from the alternating-current power supply to the primary winding. A control circuit controls the switching element to turn on and off. A supplementary power-supply circuit, connected to the tertiary winding of the transformer, provides output power to operate the control circuit. A start-up circuit is connected between one of output terminals of the alternating-current power supply and the supplementary power-supply circuit, and provides a current to the supplementary power-supply circuit to increase the output power of the supplementary power-supply circuit.

Abstract: A plotter-printer includes a carriage assembly which is reciprocatingly movable along a platen, and the carriage assembly is comprised of a carriage main body, a plurality of pens movably mounted on the carriage main body in a predetermined pattern such that they are normally located at a retracted position where no printing takes place and selectively moved to an advanced position where printing takes place when actuated and at least one actuating lever pivotally supported on the carriage main body for selectively actuating the pens. In the preferred embodiment, the pens are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows which are spaced apart from one another in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the carriage assembly and a like plurality of actuating levers are provided, one for each of the rows.