Apparatus for punching holes in paper-like sheets and for simultaneously providing reinforcing members therefor

In combination with a punch for punching holes in paper-like sheets and having at least one cylindrical punching element movably mounted on a support member of the punch, the punch including a base member having an aperture aligned with the punching element and adapted to receive a punching end of the punching element at a top support surface of the base member, the punching element moving through a punching stroke between a retracted sheet-receiving position and an extended hole-punching position, the punching element extending into the aperture of the base member so that the punching element punches a hole through a sheet inserted between the base member and the punching element, the improvement comprising:

• at least one cutting member operatively associated with said punch to move during the punching stroke of the punching element, the cutting member having at least one cutting blade extending below the top support surface of the base member in the hole punching position of the punching element to cut through an inserted sheet and an overlapping perforated tape disposed between the base member and the inserted sheet between the perforations in the tape so that a piece of the tape is separated from the remainder of the tape by the cutting action of the cutting blade and so that a substantially identical second hole is punched through the separated piece of tape by the punching element, wherein the separated piece of tape defines a reinforcing member for reinforcing the area adjacent to and defining the punched hole in the sheet.