Patent ID: 6637635
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B27F

Abstract:
A clinching assembly for guiding and clinching a staple, comprising first, second and third plates arranged in a spaced apart stack with said second plate positioned between said first plate and said third plate, first clinching apparatus located between said first plate and said second plate and operable, in use, to clinch a first staple leg received in a first slot formed by the space between said first plate and said second plate, and second clinching apparatus located between said second plate and said third plate and operable, in use, to clinch a second staple leg received in a second slot formed in the space between said second plate and said third plate, wherein said first and third plates have at least one aligned edge forming an anvil surface of the clinching assembly, and said second plate is movable relative to said first and third plates between a first aligned position in which it has an edge aligned with said anvil surface so as to prevent interference between the staple legs as they engage in their respective slots, and a second retracted position in which said edge is withdrawn from said anvil surface so as, in use, to be at least partially retracted from between said inserted staple legs.