Magnetic paper clamp

Claim 1

A paper clamp for clamping paper in a printer having a paper path defining the path of travel of the paper and a ribbon shield disposed adjacent the paper path, said clamp comprising: a strip-shaped clamp plate made of ferromagnetic material and disposed on one side of the paper path and transverse to the direction of travel of the paper; means for mounting the clamp plate to the printer to prevent substantial movement of the clamp plate in the direction of paper travel; a longitudinal mounting member pivotally coupled to the printer on the other side of the paper path, said member having a pivot axis parallel to the clamp plate; a strip-shaped spacer strip carried by the ribbon shield parallel to and disposed over the clamp plate; a strip-shaped clamp magnet depending from one side of the mounting member, said mounting member being movable to a "clamp" position so as to position the clamp magnet adjacent the spacer strip and opposite the clamp plate to attract the clamp plate and clamp the paper, ribbon shield and spacer strip between the clamp magnet and the clamp plate as the paper travels through the paper clamp; a stow magnet carried on the other side of the mounting member, said mounting member being movable to a "stowed" position so as to position the stow magnet adjacent the a portion of the printer away from the paper path to releasably fasten the mounting member to the printer portion and to stow the clamp magnet away from the paper path.