Stitching head bypass apparatus

In an apparatus for fastening an assemblage of sheets together to form a pack using one more fasteners, the combination of:

• a. at least two fastening heads for driving fasteners through said sheets to form said pack, each of said heads including
• 1. a drive ram supported for reciprocable movement toward and away from said sheet assemblage to drive said fasteners through said sheet assemblage whereby to form said pack, and
• 2. anvil means opposite said ram for receipt of said sheet assemblage therebetween, said anvil means cooperating with said ram to clench the portions of said fastener protruding through said sheet assemblage whereby to prevent withdrawal of said fastener and disassembly of said pack;
• and
• b. drive means for reciprocating said ram, at least one of said drive means including
• 1. a reciprocable driver plate,
• 2. an interposer for drivingly coupling said driver plate to said ram,
• 3. means supporting said interposer for movement between a first position where said interposer drivingly couples said driver plate with said ram and a second position where said driver plate is not coupled with said ram, and
• 4. lock means for selectively retaining said interposer in either of said first or second positions,
• means supporting said driver plate for reciprocable driving movement,
• a slot-like driving recess in said driver plate adjacent each of said stitching heads and including an enlarged portion,
• said drive ram including a projecting tang member disposed in said enlarged portion of said driving recess
• said interposer being disposed in said driving recess for selective movement between said first position to engage said tang member with said driver plate and drive said one stitching head and said second position wherein said interposer is withdrawn from between said driver plate and said tang member whereby engagement of said tang member with said driver plate is prevented.