PLURALITY OF BINDING ELEMENTS FOR AUTOMATED PROCESSES

摘要

The invention includes binding elements (30) which are coupled together by coupling structure (22) to facilitate storage and automated feeding, handling and/or binding operations. The coupling structure (22) may be in the form of, for example, extraneous structure such as a cartridge or runners disposed between the individual elements, the coupling structure (22) may be in the form of a continuous length of binding element (30) itself. Extraneous coupling structure (22), such as runners are severed from the binding elements (30), or the continuous length of binding elements is cut to size either before, during, or after the feeding, handling and binding operations. Extraneous coupling structure (22) may also be attached to the binding elements (30) by way of a flexible connector which provides a degree of tolerance in the relative positions of the binding element and the coupling structure or other structure used to feed the elements into an automated process.