Abstract: A pressure device for a pinch roller of a VCR, which includes a pinch lever connected to a function plate which is mounted on the lower portion of a main chassis to be enabled to make reciprocating movement, a pinch arm connected to pinch lever, whereby when the function plate moves the pinch lever to rotate and this rotation is directly transmitted to the pinch arm so that a pinch roller is pressed against a capstan shaft by a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the pressure device of the present invention is simple in structure, effectively improves the operation thereof and remarkably reduces size of the VCR having the pressure device.

Abstract: In a tape alignment mechanism for overlapping two or more tapes with an alignment operation in a width direction, the tape alignment mechanism comprises an alignment member.For example, when a tape is fed through a roller member having a pair of flange portion of which interval of length is designed to be substantially similar to a width of the tape, the tape is aligned in a width direction.Further, an another tape to be overlapped with the tape is fed through the roller member, and thus, the two tapes are acculately overlapped.

Abstract: A gripper assembly grips a double layered end portion of a tape with a tacky side of the tape facing downwardly and a backing side of the tape facing upwardly. A tape feed assembly feeds the tape, with the tacky side down, from a tape storage reel to the gripper assembly at the speed at which the gripper assembly moves along a tape support to tend to minimize tension in the portion of the tape disposed between the tape feed assembly and the gripper assembly. When the desired length of tape has been fed, the tacky side of the tape is moved into engagement with the upper side of the tape support. Suction is applied to the tacky side of the tape to hold the tape in position on the tape support. While the tape is disposed on the tape support, opposite ends of the tape are cut. A tape transfer manifold applies suction to the upwardly facing backing side of the cut tape to grip the tape.

Abstract: A pinch roll and shear combination for use in a mill, such as a reversing hot strip mill. The pinch roll and shear combination includes a stationary frame provided with a rotatably mounted lower roll and stationary lower blade adjacent the lower roll. A rectilinearly movable carriage is mounted on the frame with a piston for moving the carriage. An upper roll is rotatably mounted on the carriage and cooperates with the lower roll to form a pinch roll. An upper blade assembly is mounted on the carriage and cooperates with the lower blade to form a shear.

Abstract: A tape driver for use in a tape recorder or similar devices which use a data cartridge provided with a drive roller. The tape driver including a motor unit laterally disposed relative to the data cartridge and an idler located between the motor unit and the drive roller on the data cartridge such that the motor unit rotates the drive roller through the idler. Alternatively, a pulley rotated by the laterally located motor unit is used to directly rotate the drive roller.

Abstract: A ball bearing in a conveyor device for sheets includes ball guide bodies having ball guide openings formed therein. Balls are to be disposed in the openings. The ball guide bodies have lateral contact slits formed therein through which the balls can be removed and replaced through the ball guide openings by contact with the balls from the outside.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinally driving an elongate body (1) such as a rod or tube, comprises two opposed wheels (2) adapted to clamp the body (1) between them. The wheels (2) have an axis of rotation (3) lying substantially in a transverse plane of the elongate body (1). A drive (1) drives at least one of the wheels, wherein the wheels are adapted to transform the rotating movement of the wheels into a translating movement of the elongate body by means of friction. According to the invention the wheels (2) include a plurality of successive movably mounted intermediate pieces (12) circulating with the wheels and being supported by the wheels during the engagement with the body (1), the intermediate pieces (12) successively enabling the wheels (2) to engage the elongate body (1) a distance in longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A printing medium feeding device for an image reproduction apparatus has a feed roller driveable in forward and reverse directions. A pinch roller is rotatably supported by a pivotable arm and rotatably supports a hook. The hook is effective when in an engaged position to hook onto a feed roller shaft so as to position the pinch roller and feed roller to sandwich therebetween a printing medium. The pinch roller is rotated by the rotation of the feed roller. An actuating plate carrying a one-way transmission is rotatable by the shaft of the pinch roller only when the feed roller is driven in the reverse direction. The actuating plate moves the hook to release the engagement with the feed roller shaft to release the pinching of the printing medium between the pinch roller and the feed roller at appropriate times, such as during printing.

Abstract: In a tape alignment mechanism for overlapping two or more tapes with an alignment operation in a width direction, the tape alignment mechanism comprises an alignment member. For example, when a tape is fed through a roller member having a pair of flange portion of which interval of length is designed to be substantially similar to a width of the tape, the tape is aligned in a width direction. Further, an another tape to be overlapped with the tape is fed through the roller member, and thus, the two tapes are acculately overlapped.

Abstract: An end cutter includes a pair of rollers (64,73) operatively arranged to frictionally engage cloth passing through the nip thereof. One of the rollers is mounted for unidirectional rotation such that the cloth may be pulled forwardly from a roll, but cannot retract when such pulling force is released. The logic includes a pressure comparator and pneumatically-operated safety dump valve (92,94) for sensing whether the cutter (31) has encountered a motion-impeding obstruction on its forward cutting stroke, and automatically releases the force urging the cutter to move forwardly in such event. The cutter is mounted on a rodless cylinder (48).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of coiling steel bars, especially hexagonal bars, with a twist free coil in a continuous rolling mill equipped with pouring reels. Disclosed is the use of pinch rolls to prevent the twisting of the bar as it is being coiled.

Abstract: A plotter wherein, while a sheet is being moved on a recording surface, figures, characters etc. are automatically depicted on the surface of the sheet, or the contours of figures, characters etc. are automatically cut in the surface of the sheet. In the plotter, both the side edges of the sheet are respectively held between drive rollers and corresponding pinch rollers mounted at both the sideward parts of the recording surface in opposition to each other, and the drive rollers at both the sideward parts of the recording surface are rotated synchronously to each other, whereby the sheet is moved in the rotating direction of the drive rollers on the recording surface. Each of the drive rollers is formed at its peripheral surface with milling or ruggedness for preventing the sheet from slipping.

Abstract: Elongated metal stock is advanced intermittently past punch presses which form holes in the stock when the stock dwells. A shear cuts off successive leading end portions of the stock and forms the stock into short pieces. The same machine is capable of running both angle iron and flat stock without making any significant conversons to the machine between runs. This is achieved through the provision of a feed mechanism and clamping units which are adapted to feed and clamp flat stock as well as angle iron.

Abstract: A transport device for multiple layered web material consists of a transport roll and a pressure roll between which the web material passes. The pressure roll is in the form of a hollow prism mounted with play on a supporting shaft. The interior of the prism has rounded corners with a radius of curvature matching that of the shaft. During rotation of the pressure roll, the transport roll translates with the web material during some portions of its movement and rotates relative to the shaft during other portions of its movement.

Abstract: A planetary wire-feeding mechanism has a left and right driving roll with hyperboloid profiles in a housing made up of two equal left and right cylinders, with an axis of rotation coinciding with the geometric axis of the electrode wire. The two cylinders contact one another and are joined detachably. In each of them there is shaped semi-cylindrical seats having parts with a common axis perpendicular to the geometric axis of the electrode wire and disposed in the plane of contacts between the two cylindrical parts. In the semi-cylindrical seats there are mounted two identical units, disposed in opposite directions, each unit having a base and two opposite legs, the legs of the two oppositely disposed units being interdigitated when they are mounted within the housing. Such units constitute supporting-guiding components upon which they are disposed on the right and left driving rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a tape material having different surface moduli on either side by nipping with a pair of rotatable rollers and a method of conveying the same is disclosed. The tape material having different surface moduli is conveyed by an apparatus having a pair of rollers having different surface moduli with each other, so that the roller in contact with the relatively higher elastic modulus side of said tape has a relatively higher surface elastic modulus, and the roller in contact with the relatively lower elastic modulus side of the tape has a relatively lower surface elastic modulus.

Abstract: In a device for the paper transport of single sheets and/or continuous paper in office machines, in particular in matrix printers, there are provided in pairs and at least separately driven friction rolls (1, 2) which are disposed rotatably in side plates; the friction rolls exhibit a length to diameter ratio of from 30:1 to 50:1 and are therefore very long and very thin.In order to provide the friction force in a uniform manner over the entire length of the very long and thin friction rolls, it is disclosed that the positive running bending line (16) of a first feed roll (1) based on its support forces (14a, 14b) in the printer frame (15) and the negative running bending line (17) of a second friction feed roll (2) based on its support forces (14a, 14b) in the printer frame (15) are tuned to each other such that the two bending lines (16, 22) run approximately parallel.

Abstract: A copy media feed system includes two pair of feed rolls which are horizontally aligned to form nip areas to engage the media. Each feed roll pair comprises one drive roll and one idler roll. For one pair, the drive roll is an elastomer-covered, high friction roll and the idler roll is a hard, roll. For the second pair the drive roll is a hard, high friction roll and the idler roll is an elastomer-covered roll. This arrangement provides accurate control of the media velocity.

Abstract: A magnetic tape container for use in combination with a magnetic tape duplicating apparatus in which a long, endless, master magnetic tape is circulated to produce many duplicates of the master magnetic tape. The magnetic tape container has most of the long, endless, master magnetic tape in a zigzag fashion for circulating the master magnetic tape through the magnetic tape duplicating apparatus. The magnetic tape container is comprised of a tape case, a feed mechanism having a capstan disposed near the entrance of the tape case, a pinch roller mounted for free rotation on a swing lever being brought into contact with the capstan or retracted from the capstan, provided with at least one annular air guide groove in the circumference thereof. A first tape guide is disposed near the capstan, and a second tape guide is disposed near the pinch roller opposite to the first tape guide to form a gap between the first tape guide and the second tape guide.

Abstract: A guard at the inlet side of the nip of two rolls in a calender or a like machine has an elongated support which is mounted in the machine frame for movement toward and away from the rolls at the inlet side of the nip. The support carries two elongated strips each of which is adjacent one of the rolls and has several sections. The support carries discrete moving mechanisms for the sections of each strip regardless of whether the sections are discrete sections or such sections form parts of a one-piece strip. This renders it possible to select and alter the width of the entire clearance between each strip and the periphery of the respective roll regardless of eventual deformation of the support and/or of the rolls.

Abstract: A chain feeder for used in a slide fastener finishing machine includes feed roller mounted on a driven shaft driven to rotate in one direction via a clutch and a spring-biased brake lever mounted on the driven shaft via a one-way clutch for exerting a braking force to the driven shaft when the feed roller is rotated in the opposite direction. With this chain feeder thus constructed, the fastener chain is held taut during the time top stops are applied to the fastener chain.

Abstract: In a thermal fixing device for use in a recording apparatus, an image on a recording medium is thermally fixed while passing through a nip between a pair of rollers. In order to prevent the recording medium from being wound around one of the rollers disposed to contact with the image formed surface of the recording medium, a diameter of that roller is made smaller than a diameter of the remainder, whereby a resilient force of the recording medium produced when the latter is curved along the surface of the smaller diameter roller overcomes an adhesion force that the image formed surface of the recording medium adheres to the smaller diameter roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a paper guide, a feed roller and a pinch roller for feeding and guiding a recording medium. The pinch roller is biased to normally be pressed agaisnt the feed roller and can be separated from the feed roller so that the recording medium can be introduced between them. The paper guide comprises two guide members that contact respective side edges of the recording medium when the pinch roller is separated from the feed roller.

Abstract: A method of feeding a continuous slide fastener chain with successive fly strips in a slide-fastener finishing machine, comprises feeding the slide fastener chain with successive fly strips along a horizontal straight path normally by applying driving force to one tape free of the fly strips, and feeding the slide fastener chain by applying the driving force to both of the opposed tapes while the slide fastener chain is threaded through a slider. An apparatus for carrying out this method comprises a main roller engageable with the lower surfaces of the opposed tapes, and first and second associate rollers engageable with the respective upper surfaces of the opposed tapes and vertically movable independently of each other.

Abstract: A process for driving and synchronizing rolls, in particular the rolls of a strip casting facility, is such that each roll is driven by a separate motor drive via gearing, and the turning speed of the motor is regulated. The synchronizing of the motor drives during idling of the rolls takes place via miter gearing coupled to the motors and a sliding coupling between these sets of gears in addition to a shaft connecting them; the synchronizing is undertaken via manual or automatic control of motor turning speed as a function of roll speed and roll diameter.

Abstract: An endless ink ribbon cassette wherein a ribbon is drawn from a storage void for printing and reintroduced into the storage void after printing. The cassette includes a first driven induction wheel having first and second rim portions spaced apart on an axle. A second idler induction wheel, also mounted on an axle, is urged against the rim portions, the first and second induction wheels cooperating to draw the ribbon onto the first induction wheel and between the first and second induction wheels, whereby the ribbon is introduced into the storage void. A fixed insert maintained between the first and second rim portions prevents entry of the ribbon between the first and second rim portions.

Abstract: A mechanical figure eighting apparatus is disclosed which permits a fiber optic cable to be deposited on the ground in a random or figure eight configuration. Fiber optic cable is passed over a rotating drive wheel and is held in frictional engagement with the peripheral rim portion of the drive wheel by a pressure wheel mounted thereover. The fiber optic cable is passed or pushed outwardly through a tubular member extending outwardly from the drive wheel. The fiber optic cable is deposited on the ground in a random fashion or figure eight fashion as it is discharged from the tubular member.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the production of articles from a planar web of thermoplastic material, having heating, hot shaping and punching devices, a web conveying mechanism for stepwisely transporting the web along the substantially planar path through the apparatus includes a plurality of driven stationary conveying units arranged at opposite edges of the web along the path thereof, each conveying unit including a driving wheel and a cooperating free wheeling supporting roller arranged opposite to each other and having their axes of rotation extending substantially parallel to each other and to the plane of the web, the driving wheel having a wedge-like converging circumference with a toothed circumferential edge and connected to a driving mechanism which synchronously drives the driving wheels, and the free wheeling supporting roller having a cylindrical circumference supporting the web in an adjustable position relative to the driving wheel, such that the toothed circumferential edge partly penetrates the web a

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying tape from a roll with two alternately driven tape feed rollers and a motor driven drive system which produces a rotational movement has overrunning clutches arranged between the motor drive system and the tape feed rollers, respectively, said clutches making a continuous change of materials removed from a supply roll to another roll possible with a reversal in the rotational direction of the drive motor, whereby in one direction of motor rotation only one overrunning clutch makes a connection with its feed roller and in the other direction of motor rotation only the other overrunning clutch provides a rotational connection to its feed roller.

Abstract: An adjusting roller pair, particularly for a rotation folding apparatus in which each roller has an axle, at the ends of which adjusting devices are supported by sleeves to adjust the roller horizontally, vertically and axially. Each roller has a roller body formed of two portions and a non-rotating internal tube. The two portions of the roller body are supported at their ends and horizontally adjustable. The pair of adjusting rollers are employed when non-uniform web tensions transverse to the material web, such as paper, are compensated.

Abstract: An improved drive mechanism for an ink ribbon cassette for advancing an ink ribbon particularly well suited for use in a typewriter is provided. The drive mechanism includes a drive roller rotatably supported in the casing with a free floating pressure ring supported by a roller. The pressure ring is supported against the roller and against the drive roller so that there is an increase in pressure with an increase in the tension of the ribbon.

Abstract: A photosensitive material guide structure for use in a developing apparatus adapted to develop a photosensitive material having been subjected to light exposure has at least one pair of feed rollers which feed forward the photosensitive material while clamping it therebetween within the developing apparatus. Both axial end portions of at least one of the pair of feed rollers are reduced in diameter. Accordingly, when the rollers clamp the photosensitive material to feed it, both the lateral edge portions of the photosensitive material are subjected to a clamping force which is weaker than that applied to the other portion of the material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pinch roller controlling device in a cassette tape recorder, comprising: a chassis; a pinch roller support plate and a control lever respectively pivotally attached with a first and a second support shaft on the chassis at respective intermediate portions of the pinch roller support plate and the control lever; a capstan shaft supported on the chassis; a pinch roller pivotally attached on the pinch roller support plate at one end portion thereof arranged to be movable to advance to/retreat from the capstan shaft; an elongated guide hole formed in said pinch roller support plate at a portion between the one end portion of the pinch roller support plate and the first support shaft; a control plate slidably mounted on the chassis at the side of the second support shaft and formed with a cam hole; a driven pin projectingly provided on the control lever at one end portion thereof and inserted into the cam hole; a connecting plate pivotally attached at one end portion thereof on the control lever at

Abstract: An X-Y plotter disclosed is of the type which moves a recording paper with no perforation by drive rollers and pinch rollers. A plurality of sharp projections are arranged on the outer surface of each of the drive rollers such as to enable an exact feeding of the paper without any slippage. These projections are formed by cutting in the outer surface of each drive roller with V-grooves parallel and orthogonal to the shaft of the drive rollers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispensing device for yarn which includes a loose skein holding section and a pair of feed rolls having a bite therebetween to move yarn from the skein holding section to a discharge side. A yarn gathering guide is positioned between the skein holding section and the feed rolls and a loop separating chamber is located between the skein holding section and the gathering guide. The feed rolls are responsive to a switch which is activated by tension on the yarn on the discharge side.

Abstract: A clip 12 is engaged with the leading end portion of a photosensitive material 10 of continuous length which has been printed with images. The clip is propelled by a driving force to convey the photosensitive material. In a clip removing device 56, rotating arms 66 bend the leading end portion of the photosensitive material in the direction of the thickness thereof such that the leading end portion is disengaged from the clip. The photosensitive material is then fed by rollers 72, 74, 80, 82 to a subsequent stage 87 where it is cut off.

Abstract: A mechanical figure eighting apparatus is disclosed which permits a fiber optic cable to be deposited on the ground in a random or figure eight configuration. Fiber optic cable is passed over a rotating drive wheel and is held in frictional engagement with the peripheral rim portion of the drive wheel by a pressure wheel mounted thereover. The fiber optic cable is passed or pushed outwardly through a tubular member extending outwardly from the drive wheel. The fiber optic cable is deposited on the ground in a random fashion or figure eight fashion as it is discharged from the tubular member.

Abstract: Tape drive apparatus having a drive roller 1 and pinch roller 2 including a idler roller 3 around which tape 4 passes. The pinch roller 2 which is rotatable about two normal axes (A2 and A4), is resiliently urged against the drive roller 1 and the idler roller 3, the two rollers being spaced apart from each other. This apparatus is particularly useful for magnetic tape cassettes, the pinch roller 2 being formed as either part of the cassette or as part of a tape recorder/player for using a cassette.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic-tape-cassette apparatus comprising at least one capstan (6a, 6b) which in conjunction with a pressure roller (4a, 4b) drives the magnetic tape (12). The capstan is journalled in a bearing (19) which is mounted in a deck plate (15) of the apparatus by means of a lower sleeve part (18). The lower part (18) is formed with a bore through which the capstan extends and adjoins an upper sleeve part (17) which at least at the capstan side which is remote from the pressure roller (4a, 4b) surrounds the capstan (6a, 6b) above the deck plate (15), to strip off the tape. The lower part (18) and the upper part (17) are formed in one piece of a plastics material. The bearing (19) is formed as a spiral-groove bearing in the inner wall (18a) of the bore in the lower sleeve part.

Abstract: The presence and/or desired orientation of a sheet of material is sensed by normally passing the sheet under the first of two spaced rollers of identical diameter, the rollers being mounted on a common support for rotation independently of one another. The second roller will rotate only in the absence of or misalignment from under the first roller of the sheet material. Rotation of the second roller is detected and causes generation of a fault warning.

Abstract: A copying machine of reproducing the images in the original on a sheet, the copying machine comprising a motor for driving an endless belt running on a plurality of pulleys; an original carrier secured to the endless belt so that the original carrier reciprocally moves in a fixed range in accordance with the movement of the endless belt; a sheet feeding device having a pair of feed rollers adapted to feed the sheet therebetween frictionally, and a driving roller kept in contact with one of the feed rollers so that friction drive is imparted thereto, the driving roller having an input pulley on which the endless belt runs, thereby ensuring that the amount of movement of the original carrier is transmitted to the feed rollers through the driving roller; and the driving roller and the input pulley being made to have the same diameter with a material having the same coefficient of expansion.

Abstract: Planetary wire-feeding device having a body with a hollow threaded shank. On the body there are two two-arm levers pivotally mounted thereon, the levers having long and short arms. The short arms of the levers are in contact with the outer faces of radially reciprocable pistons which carry wire-feeding rolls. The long arms of the two-arm levers are in contact by means of guiding rolls with a guiding cone which is mounted axially movable along the hollow threaded shank of the body. The internal side of the guiding cone is in contact with one end of a coil compression spring which embraces the hollow threaded shank. The other end of the spring is in contact with an adjustable abutment or calibrating its compressive force. The device of the invention allows a variable calibration of the pushing force as required, changing in the diameter, type of material, etc.

Abstract: A mechanism for driving a pair of capstans includes a pair of first and second flywheels mounted respectively on the capstans and each having coaxial smaller- and larger-diameter portions, a capstan motor having a pulley including a pair of barrel-shaped portions, an endless belt looped around the pulley and the flywheels, and a pair of belt shifter arms for selectively shifting the endless belt between a first position in which the endless belt is looped around the larger-diameter portion of the first flywheel, the smaller-diameter portion of the second flywheel, and the first barrel-shaped portion, and a second position in which the endless belt is looped around the smaller-diameter portion of the first flywheel, the larger-diameter portion of the second flywheel, and the second barrel-shaped portion. When a magnetic tape is driven by the capstans to travel in a direction from the first to second flywheels, the endless belt is in the first position to tension the magnetic tape between the capstans.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying thin film plastic web materials to a wrapper machine as shown and described. This apparatus includes feed stripper which assures the separation of the web material from the apparatus. The feed stripper includes a clamp feed and either a belt roller for stripping or a stripper bar for stripping the film off. An anti-static bar is used to eliminate static electricity on the web material.

Abstract: An underwater trenching apparatus for burying pipeline and the like including a frame for positioning about the pipeline to be buried, a drive roller system operatively connected to the frame for driving the frame along the pipeline and including at least one pair of opposed rollers, each of the rollers having a curved pipe contact surface having a radius less than the radius of the pipeline to be buried and configured to grasp about 40 percent of the circumference of the pipe, the arms to which the rollers are mounted pivot about a shaft which is removably mounted to the frame, and a cutting system attached to the frame for cutting a trench, the cutting system includes at least one pair of rotating discs rotating about a horizontal axis, and having water nozzles extending out from them, the water forced out of the nozzles scoops the seabed and disperses it up, away from the bottom of the trench. The pair of discs are mounted so that they can be moved up and down as well as rotated in and out.

Abstract: An overhand sewing machine for the sewing of innersoles to the shanks of shoes comprises two driven conveying disks, an inner conveying disk in contact with the shank material, and an outer conveying disk in contact with the innersole material, the outer disk being displaceable with respect to the inner disk in order to be pressured by spring-loading against the inner disk, and to be capable of moving away against the spring-loading from the inner disk, as required for the insertion of the material to be sewn into the overhand sewing machine.

Abstract: A paper transport device for a recorder such as an ink jet printer has a support for clean paper, guidance rollers, and a drive device. The transport devices moves the paper from the paper support past a printing head. In order to exert a symmetrical pull on the paper and simultaneously to make substantially the entire width of the paper available for writing thereon, the paper transport device has at least two rollers mounted on an axle rotated by the drive device, the rollers being disposed a distance from one another at right angles relative to the forward feed direction of the paper. The drive rollers are mounted on the axle so as to run freely on the axle in the direction of rotation of the axle, but lock when attempted to be rotated in the opposite direction so that skewed paper is easily and automatically aligned to move in a straight path. Each drive roller has an idler roller associated therewith.

Abstract: An easily adjustable and automatically aligning pinch roller assembly for use in a graphics plotter. A movable carriage hangs from a supplemental inverted T-shaped track below the main carriage track of the plotter. The pinch roller is pivotally attached to an arm from the carriage. A leaf spring on the carriage pulls the carriage loosely into positional alignment with the pinch roller aligned with the drum while allowing translational movement easily. A second bias spring urges the pinch roller down and the carriage into gripping engagement with the supplemental track with sufficient force to prevent translational movement thereof. A release bar holds the pinch roller off the drum and releases the gripping force to allow the carriage to be slid for adjustment.

Abstract: A guard is provided for a take-up shaft of an open-end yarn spinning machine. The shaft rotates about a first axis and cooperates with a cot (a small rubber wheel) which is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis. The guard comprises a tubular body member, preferably circular in cross-section, having a central axis and first and second ends spaced from each other along the central axis. A slot is formed in the body, and the body surrounds the shaft. The body is concentric with the shaft and the slot is disposed beneath the shaft. A cut-out is formed adjacent, but spaced from, the first end of the shaft, and the cot operatively engages the shaft through the cut-out. The slot and cut-out preferably interconnect. A mounting bracket is joined to the body member at the second end of the body member preferably comprises a Y-shaped bracket having a stem integral with the body member and branches with openings for receipt of fasteners.

Abstract: A convertible platen for use in a graphics plotter to allow its selective use as either as either a cut paper plotter or a roll paper plotter. The platen is formed from a specially designed aluminum extrusion and a pair is mounted with one on either side of the drum of a drum plotter between the drum and the supply/takeup rollers. The platens can be raised and held adjacent the drum and spanning the vacuum columns in the plotter to create a table having curved outer edges to support cut paper. They can be released and dropped into the vacuum columns whereby they lie against the outer surfaces and form the upper inner wall with curved upper edges over which paper smoothly is guided between the vacuum column and the supply/takeup rollers.