Stitcher

A stitcher (1) for connecting an end portion of an outgoing metal strip to a starting portion of an incoming metal strip for a continuously operated strip processing system, comprising:

• a punching tool cassette (80), including
• a cover plate (81),
• a first punching tool (20) fastened to the cover plate (81), the first punching tool (20) being designed to connect the metal strips to one another if their thicknesses are in a first thickness range and/or if their strengths are in a first strength range, and
• a second punching tool (30) fastened to the cover plate (81), the second punching tool (30) being designed to connect the metal strips to one another if their thicknesses are in a second thickness range and/or their strengths are in a second strength range,
• wherein both thickness ranges and/or strength ranges are different from one another, and
• wherein, in a first configuration, the second punching tool (30) is arranged in a parking position on a strip inlet side of the stitcher while the first punching tool (20) is arranged in a punching position, and
• wherein, in a second configuration, the second punching tool (30) is arranged in the punching position while the first punching tool (20) is arranged in a parking position on a strip outlet side of the stitcher,
• wherein the first punching tool (20) and the second punching tool (30) each comprises a plurality of runners (84) that thread into a lifting ram (11) when the respective punching tool (20,30) is in the punching position, and
• wherein the lifting ram (11) pulls a lower tool part of the respective first punching tool (20) or second punching tool (30) to a lower end position in case the lower tool part does not follow a force of gravity when lowering the lifting ram (11).