Abstract: A slide fastener chain with reinforcing strips is fed along a feed path through a finishing apparatus for trimming the reinforcing strips. The finishing apparatus has a chain guide unit, a cutter unit, and a chain tensioner unit. The chain guide unit includes a stop having recesses for accommodating some coupling elements and steps for engaging endmost coupling elements. The chain tensioner unit has a presser gripper for pressing the slide fastener chain against a support base and a presser roller for depressing the slide fastener chain to tension the same for thereby forcibly pushing the endmost coupling elements against the steps. When the slide fastener chain is tensioned by the chain tensioner unit, one of the reinforcing strips is accurately positioned with respect to the cutter unit. The reinforcing strip is then trimmed by central and side cutters which cut off excessive central and side portions completely.

Abstract: An apparatus of manufacturing a slide fastener with a separable end stop according to the invention includes: a step which is carried out while separating engaged stringers of continuous length which have space portions disposed at regular intervals in their longitudinal directions and which consists of conveying the separated stringers through an injection molding station; suspending the operation of conveying the stringers in such a manner that one of the space portions is disposed at the injection molding station; and simultaneously injection-molding upper stops and pins which constitute a separable end stop on the stringers at each end of the space portion.

Abstract: The invention provides method and apparatus for forming upper stops of a concealed type slide fastener. A concealed type slide fastener comprises a pair of fastener stringers each consisting of a fastener tape having a turn-up along one side thereof and fastener elements of thermoplastic resin secured to the turn-up. Portions of the elements are fused to form upper stops. In the method and apparatus of the invention, a pair of spaced projections are formed on a base and placed with respect to fastener stringers of a slide fastener or continuous fastener chain so that the projections pass between the stringers. The fastener elements are urged toward the projections while portions of the projections engage the arrest the element-mounting-side margins of the tapes to expose the interengaging heads of the elements so that only the interengaging heads are fused.

Abstract: A bottom stop melt-forming apparatus melt-forms a bottom stop on a continuous slide fastener chain which alternately has a portion in which elements of a thermoplastic synthetic resin material are interlocked with each other and a space portion in which no element is present. The apparatus includes: a device which advances the slide fastener chain; a positioning member having a positioning projection which is adapted to enter the space portion and to engage an element at the rear edge of the space portion; a device which is adapted to sense the engagement between the positioning projection and the element and to stop the advance of the fastener chain; an ultrasonic horn which is disposed in close proximity to the positioning projection; and an anvil which is adapted to clamp and press the fastener chain between the same and the ultrasonic horn after the fastener chain has stopped. The apparatus further includes a groove which is formed on the positioning member and is adapted to slidably guide the anvil.

Abstract: A row of slide fastener coupling elements of synthetic resin or metal is pressed between a pair of first and second presser rolls having first and second confronting presser surfaces engaging legs of the coupling elements. The first and second presser surfaces have closest confronting portions spaced from each other by a distance equal to the width of each of the coupling elements. The second presser roll is displaceable with respect to the first presser roll to vary the distance. The first presser roll has a spur gear held in mesh with a pin gear on the second presser roll. The first and second presser rolls can be rotated in synchronism by the spur gear and the pin gear even when the second presser roll is displaced relatively to the first presser roll. The first and second presser rolls also have partition ridges for meshing engagement with the legs to keep them spaced apart at equal intervals. One of the first and second presser rolls has a third presser surface for engagement with coupling heads.

Abstract: A runner structure composed of a runner and a sprue is discharged from an injection molding machine into a chopping apparatus having a first cutter mechanism and a second cutter mechanism. The runner structure is guided by a guide mechanism in the chopping apparatus toward the first and second cutter mechanisms. The sprue is cut off from the runner by the first cutter mechanism, and then the runner and the sprue are chopped by the second cutter mechanism. The first cutter mechanism has a lower cutter for stopping the runner structure by engagement with the sprue, and an upper cutter movable into coaction with the lower cutter for cutting off the sprue. The second cutter mechanism includes a feed roller for feeding the runner intermittently and a cutter reciprocably movable for chopping the runner on the feed roller. The chopped pieces are discharged through a hopper and delivered into the injection molding machine for recycling.

Abstract: One or more inner bands are employed to cooperate with an outer band and a cavity wheel or inner molding member wherein portions of the inner band or bands together with the outer band and the cavity wheel or inner molding member are utilized to continuously form the cavities for continuously molding articles. The inner band or bands are employed to form core members, intermediate cavity wall portions, and/or stripping members for the molding cavities.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer, including a plurality of longitudinally spaced rows of injection-molded coupling elements secured to a stringer tape along a longitudinal edge thereof with a plurality of element-free portions between the successive rows of the injection-molded coupling elements, includes a fixed feeler disposed on one of a pair of relatively movable mold members adjacent to a leading mold cavity therein for detecting a trailing end of the injection-molded coupling elements, and a movable feeler disposed on the one mold member downstream of the fixed feeler at a distance substantially equal to the length of the element-free portions of the stringer. The movable feeler is driven by a driving mechanism to selectively project or retract from a mold surface of the one mold member in interlocking relation with a feed mechanism which intermittently feeds the stringer tape by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A stamping apparatus disclosed deforms a filamentary material to provide coupling heads and the like at predetermined intervals along the length of the filament which is to be coiled and attached to stringer tapes for a slide fastener. The apparatus includes a pair of stamping rolls which are rotatable in opposite directions on their own axes simultaneously as they orbit about the axis of a rotor. A ring member rotatably connected to the stamping rolls is driven via the same power source as the rotor but rotates at a slower or faster angular speed than the rotor, the resulting angular speed differential being utilized to effect the rotation of the stamping rolls on their axes.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer including a row of injection-molded coupling elements secured to a stringer tape along a longitudinal edge thereof, includes a pair of fixed and movable mold members through which the stringer tape is fed by a tape advancing means, and a pair of upper and lower tape shifters mounted on the movable mold member for moving the stringer tape between a first position in which a part or portion of the stringer tape lies flatwise on a mold surface of the movable mold member and a second position in which the tape's part is spaced from the mold surface and held out of interference with a feeler projecting from the mold surface of the movable mold member. During the advancing movement of the movable mold member toward the fixed mold and in timed relation to the stringer-tape advancing means, the tape shifters are movable with respect to the movable mold member to place the tape's part in the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding and forming a continuous train of slide fastener coupling element bodies into a train of coupling elements includes a rotating forming disc against which the coupling element bodies are fed. The train is held on the forming disc for a portion of the disc rotation by a pair of flexible discs which clamp the leg portions of the bodies against the sides of the forming disc. After rotation through a portion of the forming disc circumference, the flexible discs are cammed outwardly and the train of coupling elements is pulled from the discs.

Abstract: Thermoplastic filamentary material is continuously formed into a row of helically coiled or zigzag coupling elements for slide fasteners. One of the coupling elements as thus formed is measured for a dimension thereof. The measured dimension is compared with a reference value to detect a dimensional error, if any, of the measured one of the continuous coupling elements. The tensioning of the thermoplastic filamentary material prior to being formed into the row of coupling elements is adjustably controlled on the basis of the dimensional error so as to remove the latter from subsequently formed coupling elements. The measurement of the coupling element may be effected while the row of coupling elements as formed is being held at rest.

Abstract: A continuous flexible metal band surrounding a molding wheel and rotating therewith engages the wheel through an arc less than 180.degree., e.g. 110.degree., and is maintained with a substantial inward radius of curvature throughout its entire length. This permits the employment of bands with cavities therein and having thicknesses several times greater than 0.001 times the diameter of the molding wheel without fatigue and failure of the band.

Abstract: Slide fastener coupling elements are continuously manufactured from a molded strip of coupling element blanks at a speed which is substantially the same as the speed at which the molded strip is produced on a die wheel. The strip of coupling element blanks, as it is withdrawn from the die wheel, is folded about its longitudinal axis into a U-shape while the strip is being heated, and then is heated by hot air before it is shaped into slide fastener coupling elements of a finalized shape as they are heat-set. Then, the coupling elements thus formed are cooled and discharged at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of the die wheel.

Abstract: A continuous zigzag-shaped coupling element strip, for use in the production of slide fasteners, is produced on a rotating die wheel having an endless zigzag-shaped peripheral cavity receptive of heated thermoplastic material delivered from a fixed extrusion nozzle. The cavity has a plurality of bottlenecks or retarding means to restrict or retard the flow of the delivered thermoplastic material in the cavity so as to retain much of the thermoplastic material in central and transverse cavity portions that correspond to head and leg portions of a coupling element.

Abstract: One or more inner bands are employed to cooperate with an outer band and a cavity wheel or inner molding member wherein portions of the inner band or bands together with the outer band and the cavity wheel or inner molding member are utilized to continuously form the cavities for continuously molding articles. The inner band or bands are employed to form core members, intermediate cavity wall portions, and/or stripping members for the molding cavities.

Abstract: Successive portions of a continuous polymer filament are plasticized such as by localized heating with ultrasonic or thermal energy, and the plasticized portions are molded in one or more cavities to form articles such as slide fastener elements. Additionally there is disclosed the attachment of a thermoplastic slide fastener coupling element to the edge of a tape by surrounding the leg portions with walls of cavities in a pair of ultrasonic members and applying ultrasonic energy through energy directing projections located centrally within the cavities to the pair of legs to fuse the legs to the edge of the tape.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer, comprising the steps of: providing a continuous stringer tape having a plurality of openings along a longitudinal edge thereof at regular intervals of a first distance d; then placing a part of the tape between a pair of mold members defining a number of mold cavities spaced at regular intervals of a second distance D slightly greater than the first distance d; then stretching the part of the tape until the openings in that part are aligned with the mold cavities; then injecting melted synthetic resin material into mold cavities, while the mold members are closed, to form on the part of the tape of number of the injection-molded coupling elements one at each of the openings; and repeating the preceding steps, except the first-mentioned step, for a succeeding part of the tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming coupling members of synthetic resin for application to a support tape in the production of a slide-fastener stringer comprises a forming wheel to which an endless band is fed to form mold cavities on the periphery of the wheel which are filled with synthetic resin. According to the invention, a further band is fed to overlie the first band and define undercut portions of the cavity to produce projections in the molded members which can engage when the latter are applied to a support tape. A continuous core can be fed to the drum periphery to be embedded in the coupling members as they are formed so that the row of coupling members is produced as a succession of teeth on this continuous element.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby a pair of stringers for slide fasteners are subjected to heat treatment to permit the fibers of stringer tapes to be contracted particularly in the region of longitudinal edge portions of the tapes where rows of fastener elements are secured. The thus contracted tape edges are further shaped by compression molding so as to present a transverse cross section complimentary with that of a guide channel in a slider.

Abstract: A continuous flexible metal band surrounding a molding wheel and rotating therewith engages the wheel through an arc less than 180.degree., e.g. 110.degree., and is maintained with a substantial inward radius of curvature throughout its entire length. This permits the employment of bands with cavities therein and having thicknesses several times greater than 0.001 times the diameter of the molding wheel without fatigue and failure of the band.

Abstract: Successive portions of a continuous polymer filament are plasticized such as by localized heating with ultrasonic or thermal energy, and the plasticized (plastified) portions are molded in one or more cavities to form articles such as slide fastener elements. Additionally there is disclosed the attachment of a thermoplastic slide fastener coupling element to the edge of a tape by surrounding the leg portions with walls of cavities in a pair of ultrasonic members and applying ultrasonic energy through energy directing projections located centrally within the cavities to the pair of legs to fuse the legs to the edge of the tape.

Abstract: A method of welding a row of interconnected thermoplastic coupling elements for slide fasteners at opposed leg portions of each coupling element with the use of an ultrasonic horn. The method comprises: pressing the opposed leg portions of the coupling elements against the ultrasonic horn on its opposite sides during the coupling elements are being fed at constant speed; concurrently with this pressing step, fusing the opposed leg portions of the coupling elements at their confronting inner surfaces by ultrasonically vibrating the ultrasonic horn in a direction parallel to the confronting inner surfaces; and pressing the opposed leg portions of the coupling elements, after the latter is disengaged from the ultrasonic horn, against each other so as to be united at the confronting inner surfaces that have been fused. An apparatus for carrying the above method into practice efficiently and accurately is also disclosed.

Abstract: The leg portions of a continuous molded coupling element are bonded together to reinforce the attachment of connecting threads embedded in the leg portions, and a longitudinal cord is laid in grooves formed in heels of the leg portions to improve the stability of the coupling elements.

Abstract: A warp-knit elongate structure is provided which has a pair of spaced warp-knit elongate webs and a plurality of transverse thread portions spaced longitudinally of and interconnecting the warp-knit elongate webs. The shape of the warp-knit structure is corrected into a ladder-like structure and then is introduced into an elongate mold cavity, in which synthetic resin is molded around the portion of the warp-knit webs and the transverse thread portion which are disposed in the mold cavity. A molded product that constitutes a portion of a coupling element assembly is separated from the mold cavity, and is bent about its transverse central axis into the shape of a U. A guide drum is disposed adjacent to a molding wheel for guiding the warp-knit structure onto the molding wheel and for rectifying the shape of the warp-knit structure into a ladder-like structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an injection molding apparatus for the manufacture of continuous slide fastener chain. In the disclosed arrangement a small projection is formed on a portion of a runner molded together with a row of fastener elements at the time the elements are injection molded on a pair of stringer tapes, the small projection being detected as a portion of the as yet unfinished slide fastener chain when the stringer tapes are fed. Upon detection of the projection the introduction of the tapes into the molds is halted and the tapes, which have been intentionally fed to an excessive degree, are retracted by an amount equal to such excess. During the retraction the posterior end of the runner abuts a stopper provided on one of the pair of molds thereby to position the tapes for the next injection molding cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed are molds, one being stationary the other movable, for the injection molding of continuous slide fastener chain, each of the molds being provided with a upper runner stopper located at the end portion of a runner cavity on the tape entrance side of the molds, the upper runner stopper having a trapezoidal portion which projects toward the interior of the runner cavity, and with a lower runner stopper disposed on the tape exit side of the molds, the stationary mold having a positioning stopper adjacent said lower runner stopper, the positioning stopper having a trapezoidal portion of a shape to engage with a recess formed in the posterior end of a runner by means of the trapezoidal portion of the upper runner stopper.

Abstract: Continuous coupling elements, e.g. coils of synthetic-resin monofilament, preferably in an interconnected state, are heated to a thermofixing temperature and, with the aid of additional ultrasonic energy and pressure, have upper shanks of each coupling member deformed to provide recesses adapted to receive the stitches for attachment of the coupling elements to a support tape.

Abstract: An interlocking element for a slide fastener is produced by substantially laminar flow of synthetic polymer resin through one of a pair of leg portions extending from opposite sides of a head portion of the element, through the head portion, and through the other of the pair of leg portions.

Abstract: Each stringer of a slide fastener includes a plurality of spaced coupling elements, molded on continuous connecting threads, with wing portions extending into the spaces between the legs of coupling elements on the upper side thereof. The stringer tape weft threads are looped over the connecting threads and pass over the edges of the wing portions adjacent the heads of the coupling elements while a number of the warp threads interwoven with the weft threads overlie the legs and wing portions to form a slide fastener chain with hidden or invisible elements.

Abstract: In a slide fastener having continuous coupling elements of the helicoidal-coil type, a bottom stop is formed by imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the several interengaged lowermost scoops of the coupling elements, while these scoops are being compressed from opposite lateral sides thereof to move the coupling heads of each element into abutment against a core received in the other element. The ultrasonic vibrations are applied by the horn of an ultrasonic welding assembly holding the interengaged lowermost scoops from both front and rear sides of the fastener. The invention is also applicable to a slide fastener having zigzag-type continuous coupling elements.

Abstract: Molded top stops for a slide fastener have inner edges extending substantially in alignment with the inner edges of the interlocking elements and have bottom edges extending at acute angles upward and away from the interlocking elements. Further, during the molding of the top stops, extra interlocking element sections and the like are trimmed by trimming edge features on a horn tip cooperating with an anvil portion of a die.

Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of zippers comprising a vertically disposed rotor driven about its vertical axis intermittently and carrying a plurality of molds. Each mold has two mold sections, one fixed and the other movable for opening and closing the mold. The rotor is intermittently advanced past an injection station and material is injected into the molds successively to form a continuous length of injection-molded teeth on a ribbon. The fixed mold section of each is secured to the rotor and the movable mold section is pivotably connected to the rotor at the lower end of the movable mold section.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced fastener elements are molded onto parallel filaments. A pair of leg portions of each fastening element have, respectively, a projection and an opening, the projection and opening mating to interlock the leg portions. The fastening elements are formed by directing the parallel filaments to a cavity wheel which has mold cavities enclosed by a band, and then injecting plastic material through gas openings in the band into the mold cavities to form a train of fastener elements on the parallel filaments.

Abstract: In the manufacture of trains of fastening elements for slide fasteners, flowable synthetic polymer resin is injected into gate or runner channels formed in a cavity wheel and extending beneath one edge of a band enclosing cavities of the cavity wheel such that the flowable synthetic polymer resin flows through the channels into the cavities to form fastening elements.

Abstract: Successive portions of a continuous polymer filament are plasticized such as by localized heating with ultrasonic or thermal energy, and the plasticized portions are molded in one or more cavities to form articles such as slide fastener elements. Additionally there is disclosed the attachment of a thermoplastic slide fastener coupling element to the edge of a tape by surrounding the leg portions with walls of cavities in a pair of ultrasonic members and applying ultrasonic energy through energy directing projections located centrally within the cavities to the pair of legs to fuse the legs to the edge of the tape.

Abstract: A slide fastener and method and apparatus for making the same are disclosed wherein coils of filamentary material are secured to adjacent edges of a pair of carrier tapes. Each coil of filamentary material is formed from a filament having a specially shaped cross section which is arranged in a mirror image relationship with respect to its adjacent filamentary coil. During formation of the filamentary coils, they are simultaneously wound on a mandrel having differently shaped surfaces which aid in the final shaping of each coil.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing separable sliding clasp fasteners, from a continuous fastener having the interlocking elements made of thermoplastic material. The two male parts of the separating device of one fastener, the two top stops of another fastener, the support-strips reinforcements along these male parts and stops, and a opening for introducing a sliding clasp are simultaneously manufactured by: introducing the two uncoupled and spaced halves of a continuous fastener into a mold, injecting in the latter a melted thermoplastic material solidifying the thermoplastic material and cutting a part of the solidified material to form the said male parts, stops and opening. The apparatus comprises a mold consisting of a lower half-mold and an upper half-mold each comprising an outer fixed part and a central part perpendicularly movable to this fixed part.

Abstract: A method for making a plastic, relatively flexible stringer for a slide fastener is disclosed. The stringer blank is extruded in a relatively rigid U-shaped form and, subsequently, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse slots are die cut in the stringer blank in order to provide a series of transverse, substantially parallel ladder-like portions wherein each of the ladder-like portions includes an interlocking head member. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart seats are also formed by a die cutting step in order to define neck portions of reduced thickness about which the stitches are placed in order to secure the fabric to the stringer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a coiled slide-fastener filament, according to which an initially straight portion of the filament is deformed into a filament portion of substantially V-shaped configuration having a tooth formed at the crest where the legs of the V-shaped filament portion intersect, with these legs then being pushed together into side-by-side relation while being advanced into a gap between a pair of teeth of a gear-setting wheel.

Abstract: A method of making slide fastener coils is disclosed wherein coils of filamentary material are secured to adjacent edges of a pair of carrier tapes. Each coil of filamentary material is formed from a filament having a specially shaped cross section which is arranged in a mirror image relationship with respect to its adjacent filamentary coil. During formation of the filamentary coils, they are simultaneously wound on a mandrel having differently shaped surfaces which aid in the final shaping of each coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding the coupling elements of a slide fastener string includes a pair of electrodes connected to a source of high frequency electromagnetic energy and a series of guide sections. The string is drawn through the guides and the coupling elements are heated and softened by the electromagnetic field and folded by the guides.