Abstract: A shim comprising (a) a horseshoe member with one or more slits and with a void space; (b) a closure member with one or more slits and sized to fit in but not fill the horseshoe member void space; and (c) one or more securing members wherein the horseshoe member is secured to the closure member by looping the one or more securing members through the slits of the closure and horseshoe members. Shim is inserted into a gap formed at the linkage of a plurality of structures coupled by a linkage member, with the horseshoe member inserted from one gap end and the closure member inserted from the opposite gap end and with each of the horseshoe and closure members abutting the linkage member with the linkage member accommodated in the void space between the horseshoe and closure members. Each securing member is looped through at least one horseshoe slit and at least one closure slit, thereby securing the horseshoe member to the closure member to secure the shim to the linkage member.

Abstract: A detachable carriage assembly for a printer having a frame for supporting a cylindrical platen and a drive motor for moving said carriage assembly and comprising first and second parallel supports mounted in spaced apart relationship on the frame of the printer parallel to the platen, a pulley support assembly movably mounted on one of the supports and connected to the drive motor for movement parallel to the one support, a bearing assembly slidably mounted on the other of the supports and a carriage assembly detachably mounted to the pulley support assembly and the bearing assembly for moving parallel to the platen as the pulley support assembly moves.