Patent ID: 7503740

Claim:
A binding apparatus for binding a stack of papers having a plurality of holes together with a binding element having a plurality of fingers insertable in the holes, the apparatus comprising: a paper holder for holding the stack of papers; and a binding element applicator for securing the binding element to the stack of papers so as to bind the stack of papers together; the binding element applicator comprising a wall with a plurality of slots constructed to enable the binding element to be received in the binding element applicator with the fingers extending through the slots; the binding element applicator further comprising a finger extender constructed to open the fingers of the binding element for allowing tips thereof to be received in the holes in the stack of paper; the binding element applicator further comprising a binding element pusher constructed to push the binding element in the applicator against the wall prior to being opened and secured to the stack of papers; wherein the binding applicator further comprises at least one resilient member for biasing the pusher toward the wall.