Abstract: A pair of superposed inclined feed tracks have slots along their upper and lower walls respectively. Elongate gates with inturned tips are disposed along the tracks and pivoted intermediate their ends on pins. A yoke having an axis intermediate the two pins has outward parallel fingers which are disposed outward of the pins, and as the yoke is turned by a rotary solenoid, first in one direction and then the other, the fingers engage the gates on opposite sides of their pivot pins oppositely and alternately to alternately open and close the respective tracks. A reciprocating pusher pushes the parts into the working ends of the upper and lower dies and a settable counter counts the strokes of the pusher. A circuit causes activation of the solenoid to shift the gates to switch the feed from one feed track to the other track when the counter registers up to the set number of strokes.

Abstract: Apparatus grips and pulls zipper chain along from supply to a desired finite length, installing slider on the way. When next gap in chain is detected by a finger which inserts itself into gap and abruptly stops further advance of tape, a cutter closes to cut chain to length. Puller is driven by air cylinder, and back pressure is applied soon after puller starts. This reduces pulling force and eliminates tearing of zipper tape as tape is abruptly stopped.