A stopper portion (108c) is formed at an upper end of a picking plate (108) of a tape grasping apparatus. When a driver handle (102) and a clincher arm (107) are closed, the picking plate arranged at the clincher arm is pivoted to this side and a claw (108b) of the picking plate is pierced to a front end portion of the tape (T) and the stopper portion (108c) impinges on a tape guide (106) of the driver handle to stop the picking plate. When the driver handle and the clincher arm are opened, the stopper portion is detached from the tape guide and the picking plate (108) is brought into elastic contact with a tape support plate (111) to clamp the tape. When the claw of the picking plate is pierced into the tape, the tape is not applied with strong tension and the claw can be prevented from breaking the tape.