Patent ID: 7008131

Claim:
A composite holding device, comprising: a casing for accommodating a plurality of holders for holding media to serve either different or similar purposes; supporting sections, each of which supports a corresponding holder and movable in an axial direction in the casing together with the holder; a feed mechanism, provided in the casing, for selectively advancing one of the supporting sections; and a manipulating mechanism for operating the feed mechanism, being adapted to project a tip of one of the plurality of holders out of a fore end opening at a tip of the casing and make usable the tip of one of the plurality of holders, wherein each supporting section is adapted to support a section of each holder such that the supported section is adapted to be rotatably supported in relation to the supporting section, wherein a spherical bearing is formed between said supporting section and the supported section provided on each of said holders, wherein said spherical bearing includes a spherical part formed on either one of said supporting section and the supported section provided on a holder and a concave part formed on the other one of said supporting section and supported section provided on the holder to receive said spherical part.