Abstract: An apparatus for tagging plants includes a frame attached to a stand, and jaws operably mounted on the frame for receiving a plant branch. The apparatus includes a strip advancing mechanism, a tag advancing mechanism, a fastening mechanism, and a programmable controller for controlling the actuation of each of these mechanisms. The strip advancing mechanism is configured to advance a section of flexible strip onto the jaws in a loop around the plant branch from a continuous supply of strip material, and includes a cutter for cutting the section from the continuous supply of strip material once it is advanced. The tag advancing mechanism is configured to advance a tag to a position proximate the jaws from a continuous supply of interconnected tags, and includes a cutter for cutting the tag from the supply of tags. The fastening mechanism includes a stapler for stapling a staple to the tag to hold the tag to the section of strip and to hold the ends of the section together in the loop around the plant branch.

Abstract: A tagging apparatus for attaching tags to plants includes a frame member, a holding/clamping member operably connected to the frame member for holding a tag, and a first jaw movably mounted on the frame member. The first jaw is adapted to close against a second jaw on the frame member, with the jaws including surfaces forming an opening adapted to enclose a plant stem/branch when closed. A pneumatically driven mechanism is attached to the frame member and is adapted to grip and advance a strip of flexible material onto the surfaces so that the surfaces direct the strip of flexible material around the opening means to form a loop around the plant stem/branch. The apparatus also includes a pneumatically powered cutter and stapler mechanism attached to the frame member for cutting the strip from a roll of strip material and then for stapling the strip of flexible material in the loop around the stem/branch and to the tag to thus permanently retain the tag to the stem/branch.

Abstract: A method for producing bundles of tags from a stack of die cut sheets and an apparatus for stripping bundles of tags from a stack of die cut sheets and tying the bundles. The disclosed method includes clamping portions of a stack of die cut sheets on opposite sides of a common cut line adjacent the cut line and rotating the portions about the common cut line with respect to each other about an axis parallel to the cut line. The method causes the portions to separate sequentially for individual sheets in order to substantially reduce the stripping force required. The method may further include imparting a force in a direction transverse the sheets during the rotating to further enhance the sequential separation of the sheet portions. An apparatus is disclosed including gravity feed means for feeding stacks of sheets into a dual stripping assembly having alternatingly-actuated stripping members.