Abstract: Sliders are mounted in a continuous string or by swinging them into gaps in the otherwise continuous coupling chain. An opening or spreading device operates coupling members of the chain adjacent the gap and downstream thereof a fixing ram holds the members in position while the manipulator inserts the slide. A top guide and a lower guide are provided to receive the slider between them and to thread the free edges of the stringer threads into the slots on opposite sides of the cylinder core.

Abstract: Fabric flypieces are placed randomly on a top plate of a unified flypiece feed apparatus which orients the flypieces and feeds them in succession to a sewing station at which they are united with a zipper chain either in end-to-end abutment or with a slight predetermined gap between the flypieces. A somewhat angled flypiece belt conveyor and a cooperative variable tension drag device above the conveyor orients the flypieces longitudinally and feeds them to the sewing station at a substantially greater speed than the united flypieces and zipper chain leave the sewing station. A photo-optical device senses the presence or absence of flypieces on the top plate and stops the sewing machine if the operator fails to load a flypiece within a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: Flypieces are fed by a conveyor to a sewing station in a sewing machine which is operated by a sensor mounted a spaced distance in front of the sewing station to sew the flypieces to a slide fastener chain. The linear rate of feed of the flypieces by the conveyor is slower than the linear rate of feed of the flypiece and slide fastener chain through the sewing station by the sewing machine, and operation and termination of the sewing machine in response to the sensor is delayed so that uniform spacing is produced between flypieces sewn on the slide fastener chain.