PURPOSE: To prevent a projected sheet-like article punching part from becoming misalingned with a punching blade position by insetting projecting parts of a sheet-like article formed by swelling the projecting parts, in each area between punching blades installed on a movable table and transporting the sheet-like article to a pressure application table descending position by hooking the side of the projecting part using the punching blade.

CONSTITUTION: A movable table 2 which can move on a horizontal surface across an area extending from an upstream side to a downstream side of a press device equipped with a pressure-application table 13, and a guide table 5 and a delivery table 6 for the upstream side and the downstream side are arranged in a vertically movable manner. Then punching blades 3, each having a soft pad 31 attached to the lateral surface are provided projecting in a lattice form, on the lower surface of the movable table 2 so that the punching blades correspond to the arrangement pitches of for example, containers 90 of the sheet-like article 9. The containers 90 of the sheet-like article 9 are deposited on the guide table 5 at a descending position with the bottom of the container 90 turned upward, and the container 90 becomes insetted in an area between the punching blades 3 of the movable table 2 at an upper dead point. The movable table 2 moves intermittently with the punching blade 2 hooking the container 90 through the pad 31. Then the pressure application table 13 descends, synchronized to the stop of the movable table 2 and hits the movable table 2 to punch the container 90. The pressure application table 13 ascends and returns to its home position by a spring 24. Thus the same action is repeated.