Abstract: A positioning member is moved transverse to a slide fastener chain after advancement of the slide fastener chain to a gapping and stop applying station to position fastening elements of the slide fastener chain in a channel extending in the station. The slide fastener chain is clamped and gapped, and a bottom stop is applied to the chain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus proposed for removing interlocking elements over a certain longitudinal area from a continuous slide fastener chain of the plastic filament coil type, and providing interlocking element-free space sections in the fastener chain, according to which the fastener chain is put on a die having a square recess in its surface, a punch having a cutter blade on its lower end is moved down to and press the fastener chain into the recess, whereby the filament coils are made to bend in the V-shape in the recess, the punch is further lowered to cut off the leg portions of the coils, allowing the head portions to remain exposed and raised above the surface of the fastener chain. The raised head portions can then easily and efficiently be removed by a picking-up means, such as a scraper.

Abstract: An efficient and reliable means is provided for removing fastener elements or scoops from the tape-edge cords of a slide fastener chain to form the so-called space section without injuring the cords and beads, wherein carrier tape is held between a pair of holder members in a manner such that the ends of the bifurcated leg portions of fastener chain element are in contact with the ends of the holder members; each fastener chain element is cut and divided at the head portion by a wedge-like cutter blade into two pieces with simultaneous opening of the holder members whereby the bifurcated leg portions are outstretched and the scraping of element debris off the carrier tape is facilitated; and the tape-edge cord is withdrawn into between the two holder members before it is contacted by the edge of the downward cutter blade.

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: Apparatus for producing gaps in zipper chain is especially adapted for chain having plastic elements of U-shape joined by imbedded connector threads and stitched to tape. Apparatus includes slitting means which slice into and demolish fastener elements in the gap as the zipper is drawn along, and lancer elements which are periodically activated to cut the connecting threads at the beginning and end of the gap. Stitches and tape in gap are left intact.

Abstract: A pair of continuous slide fastener stringers having a pair of stringers tapes including thermoplastic synthetic fibers and a pair of integrated rows of fastener elements mounted on the confronting edges of the stringer tapes are provided with an element-free gap therein and are cut off transversely of the element-free gap to produce an individual slide fastener length with ultrasonic processing means. Simultaneously, the cut edges and ends are fused, and top and bottom end stops are mounted respectively on the fastener slide stringers and the slide fastener length with heat induced by the ultrasonic processing means. The interengaged element rows while advancing are introduced into a slider through its mouth which is supported on a slider holder, with portions of the top end stop being forcibly flexed away from each other by the body of the slider, thereby allowing the top end stop to move past the slider.

Abstract: A pair of continuous slide fastener stringers having a pair of stringer tapes including thermoplastic synthetic fibers and a pair of interengaged rows of fastener elements mounted on the confronting edges of the stringer tapes are provided with an element-free gap therein and are cut off transversely of the element-free gap to produce an individual slide fastener length at a first station with ultrasonic processing means. Simultaneously, the cut edges and ends are fused and a top end stop is mounted on the slide fastener length with heat induced by the ultrasonic processing means. While advancing from the first station, the element rows are separated and introduced into a slider through its throats which is supported on a slider holder. Upon arrival at a second station of the fastener stringers with the elements rows emerging from the slider mouth interengated, a bottom end stop is mounted on the fastener stringers across the coupled rows of fastener elements.

Abstract: An elongated member inserted through coinciding central openings of interlocking coils at the bottom of a slide fastener is secured therein by deforming one or more of the convolutions of the coils at the bottom of the slide fastener.

Abstract: A support strip preferably made of resilient material and adapted to permit a number of sliders to be removably mounted astraddle one of the longitudinal edges thereof for the sake of convenience in storage. A longitudinal row of spaced apart apertures is formed through the support strip substantially the full length thereof, such that when the sliders are later required for the assemblage of complete slide fasteners, the sliders can be fed to a desired assemblying machine with the support strip running over a sprocket having its teeth engaged in the successive apertures formed therein. A reciprocable push rod may be employed for removal of the successive sliders from the support strip.

Abstract: A split carrier for receiving bottom stops from a feeding chute is biased toward a raised position beneath a ram which upon downward movement forces the bottom stop and carrier downward where the forces of wing portions of the bottom stop engaging camming seating edges on respective halves of the carrier force the carrier halves apart and install the bottom stop on the slide fastener.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically engaging a slider upon a pair of slide fastener chains having teeth, includes a curved track which is supplied with sliders from a hopper. One slider at a time moves to a position in front of a carrier on which is mounted a pivotable lever. The first slider from the hopper is held in position by a horizontal retractable pin extending to the track. The lever has a foot which clamps the end slider from the hopper. Jaws carrying a pair of slide fastener chains move to the clamped slider which is moved by the carrier toward the jaws. The adjacent end of each chain is inserted into the body of the clamped slider as the carrier moves forwardly. The carrier continues to move forwardly with the lever and clamped slider causing the teeth of the chains to close. The jaws and lever then release the new assembly of slider and two engaged chains, and other jaws grasp the new slide fastener assembly and move it to another processing station.

Abstract: A separable bottom end stop having a pin member and a box member is attached to a pair of slide fastener stringers each comprising a row of helically coiled coupling elements supported on and along one side of a marginal edge of a stringer tape, there being a filler cord extending in and along the row of coupling elements. In preparation for the mounting of each of the pin member and the box member, a length of the row of coupling elements is removed, and the exposed filler cord portion and element-free tape portion are pressed together so that the exposed filler cord portion remains in substantial alignment with a portion of the cord which extends over the element-supporting stringer portion, and the element-free tape portion is bent into pressed contact with the exposed filler cord portion. The pin member and the box member are injection-molded on the element-free tape portions and the exposed filler cord portions of the stringers.

Abstract: Individual slide fasteners are manufactured from a pair of continuous slide fastener stringers having stringer tapes made of a fabric including thermoplastic synthetic fibers. While being advanced intermittently in the longitudinal direction, the stringers are stamped out to form an element-free gap therein and cut to sever off an individual slide fastener length simultaneously at a first station with the application of heat to fuse and solidify the cut end against reveling. A bottom end stop is mounted on the cut end portion of the severed slide fastener length also at the first station. During advancing movement from the first station, the fastener chain is threaded through a slider fixedly supported between the first station and a second station located downstream of the first station. A top end stop is mounted on the cut end portion of the continuous slide fastener stringers at the second station simultaneously with the steps repeated at the first station.

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: Individual coupling members, molded from synthetic resin onto a support tape and straddling an edge thereof are removed, e.g. to enable the mounting of a slider, the stitching of the tape to a fabric or other carrier or for the formation of end-stop members, by applying orthogonal to the stringer plane a pressure causing plastic deformation and flow of the material of the coupling member which results in a spreading of the fastening shanks thereof. The tape is then withdrawn from between the legs or shanks which have been thus spread apart or the coupling member is withdrawn from the edge of the tape generally in the aforementioned plane.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus, a continuous filament coupling element for a slide fastener is formed and an inside surface of one leg portion of a pair of leg portions at each section of the coupling element is deformed to form interlocking means such as a sharp edge, groove, tooth, or the like. An elongated member is biased against the interlocking means to interlock therewith and prevent longitudinal and transverse movement of the elongated member relative to the leg portions. The coupling element is secured to a tape to complete the stringer.

Abstract: In the operation of punching a performed stop blank onto a pair of coupled fastener stringers placed over a stationary die, a sensor is provided which moves up and down over the die to sense mechanically the presence of any foreign matter such as the operator's fingers between the punch and die. The punch is permitted to descend fully onto the stringers on the die only after the sensor has completed its downward stroke. In the apparatus of the invention the up-and-down motion of the punch is effected as by an air cylinder via a lever, and the sensor is coupled to another lever which is spring loaded to follow the motion of the punch lever, in such a manner that the sensor travels faster than the punch. Limit switches are employed to prevent the full descent of the punch where necessary.

Abstract: A stringer for a slide fastener is formed by assembling head portions of a spiral coupling element through slots in a support member which is folded and secured to retain the spiral coupling element by strap portions between the slots extending at an oblique angle to the folded edge.

Abstract: In gapping a stringer of a slide fastener, a plurality of interlocking elements in a portion to be gapped are gripped, such as by a comb, while the tape is clamped or held, and then relative movement is produced between the gripped fastening elements and the held tape either by moving the gripped elements or the held tape with a pivoted motion to pull the gripped elements seriatim from the tape.

Abstract: Slide-fastener stringers are made by extruding continuous strands of synthetic resin in a form having a plurality of cavities open on one side and defining the coupling head, shank and connecting portion of a multiplicity of coupling members which together form a coupling element adapted to be mounted along the edge of a support tape. An embossing tool is thrust into the connecting members and/or the shanks of the coupling members so as to plastically deform the thermoplastic material and produce humps along the surfaces of the coupling element which are thermally bonded to the support tape.

Abstract: A slide fastener and method and apparatus for making the same is disclosed wherein the slide fastener chain includes a pair of carrier tapes with interlocking elements on adjacent edges thereof and portions of the tapes are compacted to constitute strips or bands arresting fiber slippage of the tape fabrics.

Abstract: An elongated stringer tape is fed along a path extending substantially tangentially of a die wheel carrying in its circumferential groove a formed continuous coupling element of a zigzag or helical coil configuration composed of thermally fusible material. The coupling element is held at an elevated temperature by the die wheel. One of the longitudinal edges of the stringer tape becomes received between the shanks of the coupling element as the latter is gradually released from within the die wheel groove, and while the coupling element is partly caught in the groove and is therefore still hot, its shanks are fused to the stringer tape under application of heat and pressure.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method and apparatus for coupling or pairing, prior to attachment to fastener carrier tapes, two single rows of continuous elements for a slide fastener into a double element row, the two rows having been discharged respectively from a pair of separately located element shaping and transporting machines having different power sources. The speeds of both of discharge of the two single element rows and of withdrawal of the combined or double element row are selectively changed with the two single element rows advanced under constant tension, in order to ensure accurate and efficient coupling of the element rows even in the event the two machines operate out of complete synchronism to discharge the element rows at different rates of speed.

Abstract: Fastener assembly apparatus including a slider holder for holding a slider in upside-down disposition for the assemblage of a fastener chain in the form of a continuous length of coupled stringers. A stringer separator is mounted on the stringer exit side of the slider holder to permit the fastener stringers to be separated away from each other in a streamlined fashion as they emerge uncoupled out of the flared front end of the channeled slider body on the slider holder. In case a pair of oppositely directed sliders are to be assembled with each fastener length of the chain, a stringer guide is additionally mounted on the stringer entrance side of the slider holder to cause the fastener stringers to be introduced uncoupled into one of the sliders on the slider holder through its flared front end in a streamlined fashion.

Abstract: In producing a dyeable coating on a metal article, such as a slider on a slide fastener, the article is coated with a powdered solid polymer resin containing active proton acceptor groups, such as amine groups. The powder coating is heated to convert the powder coating into a polymer film which is capable of being dyed by any of a wide variety of dyes to produce a desired color in the polymer film. During the heating, the temperature is maintained below the temperature at which substantially all the active proton acceptor groups would be transformed or rendered inactive.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for installing a slide fastener with or without a slider and pull assembly to material wherein specially arranged and spaced pairs of pins pierce the adjacent edges of the carrier tapes of the slide fastener prior to the slide fastener being bonded to material.