Print paper feeding apparatus

Claim 1

A print paper feeding apparatus for use in a printing machine, comprising a paper feed motor; a p-aten adapted to be loaded with a discrete print paper or a continuous print paper and rotated by said motor; rollers held in pressure contact with said platen; a driving gear fixedly mounted on a driving shaft; a pin tractor having said driving shaft and adapted to be driven by said driving gear, said driving gear being rotated by said motor; said platen and said rollers acting cooperatively to feed said discrete paper onto said platen, and said platen and said pin tractor acting cooperatively to feed said continuous paper onto said platen; a gear transmitting mechanism comprising a plurality of gears disposed between said motor and said platen; an idle gear; an actuating lever pivotally supporting said idle gear at an end thereof engaged with said driving gear, said actuating lever being movable supported on said driving shaft between an engaged position wherein said idle gear engages a gear of said gear transmitting mechanism and a disengaged position wherein said engaging of said idle gear and said gear of said gear transmitting mechanism is released; a switching lever having one end connected to another end of said actuating lever and supported switchably between said engaged and disengaged positions, said switching lever having an operating position formed at another end thereof; and a biasing member for urging and holding said actuating lever to and in said engaged and disengaged positions.