Patent ID: 6849079

Claim:
In a mechanism for inserting clips into the jaws of a clip applying instrument, each clip having a shoulder, the mechanism having a stationary upper housing and a stationary clip plate, a clip supply magazine positioned between the upper housing and the clip plate, the magazine adapted to receive a line of clips and to move in rearward and forward motions, the magazine further having an integral base plate with clip stopping spring and a forward pusher plate, the improvement which comprises: a clip detent spring in the form of a leaf spring tang having a normally downward spring force affixed to the upper housing, the clip detent spring having spaced depending panels with substantially identical peripheral edges terminating in notches forwardly directed along the line of clips for engaging the shoulder of a clip to separate a clip from the line of clips as the clip magazine and line of clips undergo rearward motion and for moving the clip downward so that on forward motion of the clip magazine the pusher plate moves the lead clip into the instrument jaws.