Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the stroke of a light projector of a button setting machine includes a rod connected at its one end to the light projector, a holder holding the opposite end of the rod and pivotably connected to one end of a pivotable actuating lever pivotally movable in response to the reciprocating movement of an upper pusher, a leaf spring acting between the actuating lever and the rod to urge the latter upwardly, a spring urging the actuating lever to turn in a direction to retract the light projector from a path of movement of a punch, and an adjustable stopper engageable with the actuating lever to limit pivotal movement of the same against the force of the spring. With this construction, the light projector has a stroke considerably shorter than the stroke of the upper pusher and can be adjusted independently of the stroke of the upper pusher.

Abstract: A feed path for transporting a button body with the front face of a buttonhead facing upward is disposed between a trough, which is formed longitudinally on the underside of an upper member and has a receiving surface on its one side receiving a part of the periphery of the buttonhead, and a pressuring surface of a lower member, which faces the receiving surface and is urged resiliently upward. According to a preferable embodiment, the pressuring surface is inclined relatively downward and away from the periphery of the rear face of the buttonhead and has a recess on its side to allow a tongue to rotate. While the button body is pushed by the pusher along the feed path, a part of the periphery of the buttonhead is pressed by the pressuring surface. Accordingly, friction force is increased there to facilitate that the button body can be transported while it rotates about its axis.

Abstract: A fastener conveying apparatus for a fastener assembling machine comprises a chute defining a first passageway for guiding a plurality of fastener members in succession, a guide defining a second passageway joined at one end to a lower end of the first passageway for guiding the fastener members one at a time through the second passageway. A front part of the guide is detachable to open the second passageway along its entire length so that a fastener member jammed in the second passageway can be removed easily by using both hands.

Abstract: A gas laser system comprising a frame structure including a support member, a laser discharge tube fixed with respect to the frame structure, and a mirror holding structure comprising a mirror holder member positioned in conjunction with the support member, a reflector mirror received in the mirror holder member and aligned with the laser discharge tube, main retaining means pressing upon the mirror holder member toward the support member in a direction parallel with the center axis of the laser discharge tube, and elastic pressing means urging the mirror holder member away from the support member in a direction parallel with the center axis of the laser discharge tube, wherein the mirror holding structure further comprises auxiliary retaining means provided between the support member and the mirror holder member, the auxiliary retaining means comprising a multi-limb leaf spring having a center axis aligned with the center axis of the laser discharge tube and a plurality of limb portions extending radially fr

Abstract: A button feeder feeds a button to a button applicator which applies the button to a garment fabric piece. The button feeder has a feed guide, a first side guide member having a substantially wedge-shaped groove, and a second side guide member having a wall confronting the wedge-shaped groove. The first side guide member includes a first guide element fixed to the base and a second guide element movably mounted on the first guide element for movement toward and away from the first guide element, the wedge-shaped groove being defined between the first and second guide elements. The second guide element is normally urged resiliently toward the first guide element. When the button is fed by the button feeder, its circular head tends to be wedged into the wedge-shaped groove, which is then spread by the movement of the second guide element away from the first guide element to allow the circular head to be smoothly moved without undue frictional resistance.

Abstract: A positioning device comprises a reciprocably movable support table having a surface extending in a plane above a clinching die of a button setting machine for supporting a garment fabric to which a button is to be attached, and a pair of guide members disposed on the surface in perpendicular relation. The table includes a recess which is registry with the clinching die when the table is in an advanced position. One of the guide member is positionally adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the table and the other guide member is positionally adjustable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the table. Thus the garment fabric can be positioned accurately and easily with respect to the clinching die by simply putting two adjacent edges of the garment fabric into guided engagement with the respective guide members.

Abstract: A fastener assembling apparatus includes a shock absorber disposed between a frame of the apparatus and one lever of a toggle joint, the other lever of the toggle joint being connected to a punch assembly. The shock absorber is elastically deformable to absorb shock forces caused in the punch assembly by pressing of a pair of fastener elements between the punch assembly and a cooperating die assembly. The shock absorber may have means for adjusting the stroke of the punch assembly for accommodating changes in thicknesses of both the fastener elements and a garment to which the fastener elements are attached.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and placing a button for attachment to a garment, comprising: a support; a guide mounted or said support and having a guide channel for guiding the button therethrough; a pusher slidably mounted in said guide for pushing the button through and out of said guide channel; a clinching die fixed to said support contiguous to one end of said guide for receiving thereon the button having been pushed out of said guide channel; a finger holder axially slidably and rotatably mounted on said clinching die and having at its upper end a pair of fingers for clamping the button on said clinching die, said finger holder having on its periphery a first gear; a second gear carried by said support and meshing with said first gear; a fluid-pressurized cylinder operatively connected with said second gear for turning the latter through a predetermined angle; and means for adjustably regulating the extent to which said second gear is turned.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a fastener to a fabric includes a pair of levers disposed pivotably one on each side of a stationary die for interlocking a punch driver and an actuator therefor in such a manner that the former can be activated by the latter only after the levers have been lowered while supporting the fabric horizontally thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a pair of fastener elements onto a garment comprising a plunger reciprocably mounted in a bored head for movement along a path toward and away from a stationary die mounted on a table in opposite relation to the bored head, the plunger having a punch for coacting with the die to attach the pair of fastener elements onto the garment from opposite sides thereof, and first and second means mounted respectively on the bored head and on the die for releasably holding the fastener elements in the path in front of the punch and the die. The first means is actuatable by the punch for releasing the one element. The second means is responsive to coaction with the first means for releasing the other element.

Abstract: A stapling machine for hook-and-eye fasteners includes an improved tape feeding device which comprises a roller means having means on its circumference for continuously engaging a reinforcing tape, and means for rotating the roller means in one direction. The roller means, upon rotation, feeds a predetermined length of the tape reliably into a work station where a hook or eye fastener, a backing plate and the tape are attached to the fabric of a garment.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and placing a button for attachment to a garment comprises a guide having a button guide channel, and a spring-biased locking lever pivotable on a button pushing slide slidably mounted on the guide. The pushing slide has a stepped end portion engageable at its tip end with the button head on its peripheral edge. The locking lever has a flanged end portion extending beyond the stepped end portion and terminating in a pair of claws for catching therebetween a tab disposed on the reverse side of the button head. The guide channel is defined by a side wall and a friction member. The friction member has a frictional surface tangentially engageable with the button head for causing the button to turn or roll, when the latter is pushed by the pushing lever in the guide channel, until the tab of the button is catched by the claws.

Abstract: A safety device comprising an obstacle-detecting sensor and a plate cam pivotally coaxially mounted on a forceful reciprocation machine which has a stationary block and a reciprocating member adapted for vertical reciprocation thereto, the plate cam and the sensor being turned coextensively over a first angular range until the sensor reaches the stationary block and thereafter the plate cam alone continuing to be turned over a second angular range, whereupon a deflection formed on the periphery of the plate cam is brought into engagement with a switch roller thereby activating the reciprocating member.

Abstract: A fastener chain being fed along a predetermined path is brought to a temporary standstill each time an actuating pawl, engaged by one of the successive spaced pairs of interengaged scoop groups of the fastener chain, is displaced a predetermined distance therewith to actuate a limit switch. A separator mechanism responds to the actuation of the limit switch to spread one of the successive pairs of opposed blank tape spaces of the fastener chain to an extent necessary to partly disengage the preceding or succeeding pair of scoop groups. The fastener chain is then moved along the path, either rearwardly or forwardly, to such an extent that the disengaged endmost scoops of the partly disengaged pair of scoop groups come into abutment against a stop disposed adjacent to a die. A punch mechanism coacts with the die to apply a pair of top stops to the endmost scoops. The above cycle of operation is repeated to attach top stops to the trailing or leading ends of the successive pairs of scoop groups.

Abstract: An internal mirror type gas laser tube having mirrors at the opposite ends thereof supported by hollow flexible metallic members to allow for mirror adjustment. The hollow members include a support pipe, provided outside of the hollow metallic member, the support pipe being covered by a thermocontractive insulating material. The insulating material eliminates electrical shock hazards which are present when the metallic member assumes the high voltage potential utilized to operate the laser.

Abstract: A gas laser tube includes a metal supporting body installed at one end of the laser tube. A seal casing is secured to the supporting body, and accommodates at least one cylindrical holding body having one end cut to a Brewster angle, and an optical flat plate installed in close contact with the cut surface of the holding body. A reflecting mirror is secured to an end of the seal casing.