Reinforcing ring applicator

Abstract

A reinforcing ring applicator is provided to receive cartridges of reinforcer rings for applying flat, adhesive-coated annular reinforcement rings onto sheets of material about perforations which have been formed in the sheets of material. The reinforcer ring cartridge is a disposable item comprised of an annular backing member releaseably attachable to the reinforcing ring applicator. A reinforcing ring mounting post is frictionally engaged in a central aperture in the annular backing member. The reinforcer mounting post has a cylindrical, corrugated exterior surface and a lower tip formed with a plurality of separate, downwardly and radially inwardly directed, resilient deflectable fingers projecting therefrom. A plurality of flat, annular reinforcing rings are stacked one atop another and are releaseably and frictionally engaged with the mounting post by the corrugations thereof. By pressing downwardly on a plunger of the applicator, the reinforcer ring cartridge backing plate and the reinforcing rings therebeneath are pushed downwardly relative to the reinforcing ring mounting post. The lowermost reinforcing ring is thereupon attached to the upper surface of a flat sheet of material, with the remaining reinforcing rings being shifted longitudinally in incremental steps toward the lower tip of the reinforcer mounting post.