Patent ID: 7220197

Claim:
A device for driving a slender element comprising a top portion comprising a first drive mechanism for a first endless track and a bottom portion comprising a second drive mechanism for a second endless track, each endless track comprising at least one rectilinear portion, the rectilinear portions of said tracks being pressed against two opposite faces of the said slender element and driving said slender element in translation, each of the said top and bottom portions being covered with a frame or hood surrounding the corresponding drive mechanism so that, in the working position of the said drive device, there remains no sufficient opening between the said frames or hoods through which a finger could be inserted accidentally between the said top and bottom portions, each of the said drive mechanisms being mounted in the said top and bottom portions so as to pivot about a spindle, so as to be able easily to be at least partially extracted from the corresponding frame or hood, in order to facilitate access to the track which it contains, for removal or respectively mounting thereof.