A rope replacement apparatus includes: a rope conveying mechanism, used for driving a first rope to move along a moving path of a second rope, so as to replace the second rope; a first detection part, used for detecting a first moving speed V.sub.1 of the first rope output by the rope conveying mechanism; the first detection part being installed on the rope conveying mechanism; a second detection part, used for detecting a second moving speed V.sub.2 of the second rope outside the rope conveying mechanism; the second detection part being installed on the moving path of the second rope; a control part, used for adjusting V.sub.1 according to the difference between V.sub.1 and V.sub.2; the first detection part and the second detection part being both in communication connection with the control part. The rope replacement apparatus improves rope replacement efficiency and slipping can be reduced.

A printer includes a conveyance unit, a print head, and a braking member. The conveyance unit includes first and second rollers arranged in a state of being in pressure contact with each other with a conveyance path for conveying a long printing medium interposed therebetween, and applies a conveyance force to the printing medium by rotating the first and second rollers. The print head is disposed upstream of a position where the conveyance unit applies the conveyance force in a forward direction along the conveyance path, and performs printing on the printing medium conveyed in the forward direction through the conveyance path. The braking member is disposed in contact with the second roller, is moved, by a frictional force generated by rotation of the second roller in the forward direction, to a first position where a first braking force is applied to the printing medium, and is moved, by a frictional force generated by reverse rotation of the second roller, to a second position where a second braking force larger than the first braking force is applied to the printing medium.

A rope replacement apparatus includes: a rope conveying mechanism, used for driving a first rope to move along a moving path of a second rope, so as to replace the second rope; a first detection part, used for detecting a first moving speed V.sub.1 of the first rope output by the rope conveying mechanism; the first detection part being installed on the rope conveying mechanism; a second detection part, used for detecting a second moving speed V.sub.2 of the second rope outside the rope conveying mechanism; the second detection part being installed on the moving path of the second rope; a control part, used for adjusting V.sub.1 according to the difference between V.sub.1 and V.sub.2; the first detection part and the second detection part being both in communication connection with the control part. The rope replacement apparatus improves rope replacement efficiency and slipping can be reduced.

According to some embodiments, a system for dispensing and manually expanding expandable slit sheet material is provided that includes: a roll of expandable slit sheet material, the roll of expandable slit sheet material being wound around a tubular core, a frame having a first support wall, a second support wall, and at least one connecting member extending between the first support wall and the second support wall, the first support wall having a first core support fixedly attached thereto that extends inwardly on an interior side of the first support wall, the first core support having a curved support surface that is configured to be received within a first open end of the core, the second support wall having a second core support fixedly attached thereto that extends inwardly on an interior side of the second support wall, the first core support having a curved support surface that is configured to be received within a first open end of the core, the first support wall having a tensioner including a) a handle member, b) a pressure member having a curved pressure surface configured to be received within the first open end of the core proximate the first core support, and c) a spring positioned to apply pressure against the pressure member upon movement of the handle, and wherein at least one of the first core support and the second core support are movable to enable the roll of expandable slit sheet material wound around the tubular core to be lowered upon the frame and the first core support and the second core support to be received within the core.