Patent ID: 7134473

Claim:
A roller tube support mechanism comprising: a roller tube including a roller tube body, said roller tube configured to support sheet material wound around said roller tube body between a first end and a second end of said roller tube body; an assembly including a first mount and a second mount opposite said first mount to provide both rotary support and translational support to said roller tube, with each of said first mount and said second mount including at least one slot formed in said assembly at each of said first end and said second end respectively, said at least one slot including a central slot bounded by two opposing side slots, wherein said central slot is configured to support an idler and said opposing side slots are configured to support at least one of a motor and a drive gear; and an elongated stationary support cradle having a length substantially coextensive with a length of said roller tube body, said support cradle being coupled to said assembly between said first mount and said second mount, said support cradle configured to support said roller tube body substantially along the entire length thereof.