a manner which limits the amount of upward displacement the movable member 3b can undergo by adjusting the position of the stopper 12 the amount of vertical displacement can be accordingly adjusted a step 14 formed on the base member 3a is arranged to engage the lower side of the movable member 3b in a manner which limits the downward movement of the movable member 3b in this embodiment the step 14 is arranged so that when the movable member 3 b seats thereon the upper surfaces of the fixed and movable members 3a 3b assume the same level in the illustrated embodiment the upper surfaces of the base and movable members 3a 3b are formed with tape guides in the form of channel like recesses the lower end of the rod 9 is formed with a control point 15 although not shown in the drawings when the illustrated arrangement is put into actual use it is combined in splicing device which further includes a cutter which is arranged to extend down into the vertically extending space defined above the step 14 between the juxtaposed side walls of the base and movable member 3a 3b the splicing device further includes tape clamps which are operatively connected with a source of vacuum and which utilize pressure differential to pick up and hold a strip or strips of tape so that they can be moved onto the top of the apparatus shown in fig1 ready for cutting and or subsequent connection via the application of a strip of adhesive tape or the like fig2 to 6 show the manner in which the apparatus which characterizes the present invention is used in connection with the cutting and connecting of of strips of tape as will be noted the same numerals as.