Paper feeding mechanism

A paper feeding mechanism for a printer comprising:

• a driven shaft and a support shaft in parallel therewith;
• a pair of tractors spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of a paper feeding path and supported in common on said driven shaft and said support shaft, said tractors having respective belts which are driven by said driven shaft for conveying a sheet of paper placed in engagement with said belts, said tractors being swingable on said driven shaft about said support shaft between an open position at which a paper to be conveyed is loaded in engagement with said belts of said tractors, and a closed position at which said tractors are driven to convey the paper by rotation of said driven shaft;
• a drive gear for rotating said driven shaft mounted on said driven shaft and swingable therewith between said open and closed positions, by which said drive gear is moved out of and into engagement with a driving transmission gear, respectively;
• a stopper member having teeth which are engageable with said drive gear to stop it from rotation at said open position;
• and
• a drive member for shifting said stopper member to engage its teeth with said drive gear only when said tractors are swung to said open position.