摘要:
An apparatus for connecting together a plurality of webs of flexible material comprises a base (1) having an anvil (2) with a sharp edged opening (3) therein. The opening (3) comprises a shank region (16) and an enlarged head region (17). A punching head (6) movable towards and away from the base (1) carries a punch (7) having a sharp edge and also comprising a shank region (20) and elongate head region (19) which are capable of fitting closely within the corresponding regions (16, 17) of the anvil opening. Either or both of the punch (7) and anvil opening (3) are devoid of a sharp edge adjacent that end of the respective shank region (20; 16) which is remote from the respective enlarged head region (19; 17). When two or more webs, (21, 22) are placed between the punch head (6) and the anvil (2), and the punch (7) is moved into the anvil opening (3), the sharp edges of the punch (7) and the opening (3) punch a portion of material having a shank and an enlarged head from each web (21, 22) and said portion remains joined at the base of said shank to the associated web. The apparatus may be manufactured in a hand-operated version as substitute for a stapling machine or in an industrial version possibly power operated and useful for example in attaching packets to display cards. In other embodiments the invention may be used for attaching together the ends of strapping extending around loads and for connecting together sets of sheets of paper formed from continuous runs of such paper.