PURPOSE: To provide a drive unit for a calender of a paper machine, simple in structure, manufacturable at low cost, and having high actuation reliability.

CONSTITUTION: This drive unit has a universal joint feathering two joint forks 6, 7 as well as a crosshead 5, with a shaft each coordinated with the two joint forks, one shaft being arranged on the drive side and the other on the output side (drive shaft and output shaft), additionally with a clutch which has a number of teeth 20, 21 extending in axial direction and coordinated each with one of the clutch halves 10, 11; for actuation of the clutch there are shift mechanisms 30, 31 provided; and a guide device 22 is coordinated with the universal joint for guiding the universal joint along with the clutch half 10 in the clutch process.