Patent ID: 7730835
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
1. A holding apparatus for holding a flexible plate, comprising: a holder for holding the flexible plate around a circumferential surface thereof; a hole section formed in the holder along an axial direction of the holder; a groove section formed on the circumferential surface of the holder along the axial direction to connect with said hole section for accepting insertion of one edge as a leading edge end portion and another edge as a trailing edge end portion of the plate; a tension bar inserted and fitted into said hole section for engaging the trailing edge end portion of the plate; and a rotating mechanism provided in said hole section for rotating said tension bar, wherein said rotating mechanism comprises: a first supporting shaft rotatably and slidably inserted and fitted into an engaging hole formed at one end portion of the tension bar; a second supporting shaft inserted and fitted into another engaging hole formed at the other end portion of the tension bar for limiting a relative rotation of the second supporting shaft with respect to the tension bar within a predetermined range; a first torsion spring wound around the first supporting shaft for engaging between the one end portion of the tension bar and one end portion of the first supporting shaft; a second torsion spring wound around the second supporting shaft for engaging between the other end portion of the tension bar and one end portion of the second supporting shaft; a first operating portion formed at said one end portion of the first supporting shaft; a second operating portion formed at said one end portion of the second supporting shaft; a first stopper fixing the first supporting shaft at a position where a predetermined biasing force develops at the first torsion spring; and a second stopper fixing the second supporting shaft at a mounting position where the trailing edge end portion is set in the groove section.