Abstract: With leading ends of a number of tape-like articles in contact with a number of take-up spools mounted on a winding shaft, an endless belt is advanced by a cylinder to press against and grasp the take-up spools. Then the winding shaft and the endless belt are operated in synchronism with each other to roll the individual tape-like articles around the respective take-up spools several times. Then the winding shaft and the endless belt are stopped and the endless belt is retracted, whereupon the winding shaft is rotated again so that the tape-like articles are automatically wound on the take-up spools. The endless belt is supported by and extends around two front rollers and two rear rollers. The front rollers are pivotally mounted on front ends of two arms pivotally connected at rear ends to the respective rear rollers so that the take-up spools can be reliably grasped by the endless belt folded in a U shape.

Abstract: An elongate product such as a surface fastener or a slide fastener chain is cut off on a lower cutter blade by an upper cutter blade moving toward and coacting with the lower cutter blade. While the elongate product is being severed, it is pressed down against a base board by a first pressure pad. A severed piece is positively discharged off the upper and lower cutter blades by a second pressure pad which moves with the upper cutter blade. The second pressure pad includes a brush of electrically conductive bristles for removing static electricity from the elongate product and the severed piece.

Abstract: A spool for winding thereon a flexible elongate material includes a pair of diametrically opposite first pins projecting from one end of a hollow cylindrical body of the spool, a pair of diametrically opposite first recesses defined in said one end of the body, a pair of diametrically opposite second recesses defined in the other end of the body in alignment with the respective first pins, and a pair of diametrically opposite second pins projecting from said other end of the body and disposed in alignment with the first recesses. The first pins and recesses are complementary in shape to the second recesses and pins, respectively. With the pins and recesses thus constructed, the spool can be connected with the identical spools at opposite ends. The spools thus connected constitute a multi-spool winding unit which is driven by a single driving unit.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for manufacturing a pair of paper stringer tapes for slide fasteners from a pair of blank paper strips of a continuous length. The blank paper strips are fed lengthwise through a guide roller assembly. A pair of parallel spaced scoring wheels is biased against one guide roller of the guide roller assembly. As the paper strips pass between the one guide roller and the respective scoring wheels, a pair of continuous prospective folding lines of a constant depth is formed on the blank paper strips along the respective inner longitudinal margin thereof. The inner longitudinal margin of each paper strip is folded on the folding line to provide a doubled thickness with a folded edge on which a row of thermoplastic coupling elements is to be mounted. The support of the scoring wheels enables them to move toward and away from the strip, either jointly or individually, to compensate for variations in paper thickness, whereby said constant depth is maintained.