Abstract: An apparatus for forming an element-free gap or space section in a pair of continuous slide fastener stringers. In the apparatus, a support table has a guide groove for receiving the pair of fastener stringers along a longitudinal path. A pair of guide plates is disposed one on each side of the guide groove and extends thereover toward each other to define with the guide groove a guide channel. A pressure pad is vertically movable around a stationary die in the support table for clamping with the guide plate a pair of tapes. A punch has a sharp cutting edge so that, as the punch is moved toward the stationary die, the cutting edge enters a relatively small clearance between adjacent tape edges to cut a chain of interengaged coupling elements only at tape-side leg portions while the pair of continuous slide fastener stringers is simply placed in and along the guide channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method for assembling a pair of slide fastener stringers each having spaced sections in continuous rows of scoops and an apparatus for the same. The leading edge of the scoop row in the leading stringer is detected by a probe inserted into the guide groove of the binder member for the scoop row. The engagement of the leading edge and the claw of the probe retards the progress of the leading stringer thereby retarding the rotation of the feed roller for the leading stringer while increasing the speed of the rotation of the other feed roller for the trailing stringer, which is connected to the first feed roller through a differential transmission mechanism. After both of the stringers are brought into right alignment for exact engagement in the binder member, the claws disengage from the leading edges of the scoop row in the stringers and come out of the spaced sections. In this condition, the spaced sections in the stringers are detected individually by detecting lever means.

Abstract: A blank rod of metal has a substantially Y-shaped cross section including a pair of V-shaped diverging legs each having a longitudinal rib on midportions of its inner surface. The blank rod is intermittently fed in a longitudinal direction as each of the ribs is pressed by a presser roll having series of die teeth into a succession of projections or teeth longitudinally spaced an interval from each other. The blank rod is then transversely sliced substantially centrally across each tooth on at least one of the legs into a plurality of individual slide fastener coupling elements.

Abstract: A method of attaching top and bottom stops to a slide fastener chain at one and the same stage of manufacture. The fastener chain is moved along a path until a trailing end of a preceding pair of coupling element groups arrives at a first fixed die, by which time leading end portions of a succeeding pair of coupling element groups are disengaged from each other. With the trailing end of the preceding pair of coupling element groups retained at the first die, an adjacent pair of opposed blank tape portions is sagged until the endmost disengaged coupling elements arrive at a second fixed die spaced a predetermined distance from the first die along the path. Finally, a bottom stop and a pair of top stops are attached concurrently and respectively to the trailing end of the preceding pair of coupling element groups at the first die and to the disengaged endmost portions of the succeeding pair of coupling element groups at the second die. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pair of slide fastener stringers are intermittently fed in a pair of longitudinal paths, respectively, in parallel planes with respective rows of coupling elements being directed in one direction. The slide fastener stringers are laterally shifted toward each other off their paths by coupler members as the latter are combined together. A presser is moved into coaction with the combined coupler members to define a generally Y-shaped coupling channel in which the rows of coupling elements are forced into confronting relation. The rows of coupling elements can be interengaged when they move through the coupling channel.

Abstract: A method of attaching sliders and top end stops to a pair of continuous slide fastener stringers, each stringer having successive spaced groups of coupling elements mounted on continuous stringer tape and interengaged with opposed complementary groups of coupling elements on the other stringer tape, there being successive pairs of opposed blank tape portions between the successive spaced pairs of coupling element groups. One of the successive pairs of opposed blank tape portions is spread apart. A slider is set and retained at a first fixed point between the spread pair of opposed blank tape portions. The opposed blank tape portions are then released so as to engage shoulders of a guide channel of the slider. Then the stringers are fed backwardly so as to thread the opposed blank tape portions through the guide channel of the slider. After that, the stringers are fed forwardly until end portions of an adjacent pair of coupling element groups are introduced into the guide channel of the slider.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for spacing continuously manufactured zip fasteners having connection elements constituted by a monofilament of meander or spiral form rigid with the edges of supporting tapes. The method consists in removing by cutting firstly the central part of the connection elements of the two coupled tapes, and then removing the open lateral loops of the meanders or spirals by passing under tension the zone of the coupled tapes from which the central part of the connection elements has been removed, over a deviation member in such a manner that the tapes partly wrap said deviation member.

Abstract: Improvements in apparatus of the type including a mandrel around which a continuous filament is coiled and which has a guide channel formed longitudinally therein for slidably receiving a continuous core to be positioned within the coil, and a mandrel holder holding the mandrel adjacent one end thereof and reciprocating with the latter in the longitudinal direction thereof in step with the formation of each convolution of the coil. A unit length of the core required for each coil convolution is forcibly pulled away from a core pay-off bobbin by a pair of pull-out rolls actuated intermittently by a ratchet mechanism. The mandrel holder has formed therein passageways through which the core travels from the pull-out roll pair to the entrance end of the guide channel in the mandrel.

Abstract: For obtaining the spacing of continuously manufactured zip fasteners by removing in a single operation the connecting members over a certain length, a device is provided which comprises a die and a stepped punch with three rectangular sections. The punch is guided in a tape pressure which holds at standstill the tapes of the fastener coupled by means of the connecting members against the die. The three sections of the stopped punch have dimensions proportioned with respect to the dimensions of the connecting members to be removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing slide fastener stringer pairs of a slide fastener length from a pair of continuous slide fastener stringers. The apparatus comprises means for severing the continuous slide fastener stringers transversely across one of element-free portions, means for pairing the severed slide fastener stringers, and gripping means reciprocable between a first position adjacent to the severing means and a second position disposed away from the first position for advancing the slide fastener stringers along a longitudinal path. The gripping means includes a pair of grippers movable toward each other for introducing the slide fastener stringers into the pairing means.

Abstract: A pair of continuous slide fastener stringers is longitudinally fed by longitudinally reciprocable grip means and driving roller means that is selectively actuatable. As the slide fastener stringers are advanced, one of the stringers is threaded through a slider held fixedly in its path of travel. The slide fastener stringers are cut off transversely across element-free gaps, and then the severed stringer pieces are moved forwardly until their leading end portions are positioned in a molding device, which molds a separable end stop on the leading end portions. The driving roller means is continuously driven to advance the slide fastener stringers until element-free gaps arrive at the cutter means, whereupon the driving roller means is de-energized.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying pieces of reinforcing film of synthetic resin to a pair of continuous slide fastener stringers at longitudinally spaced locations thereof, comprises means for feeding the stringers longitudinally along a first path selectively at a rapid rate or a slow rate, means for sensing one of the locations on the stringers at a time to switch the feeding means from a rapid rate to a slow rate mode of operation and then to a stopping mode, and for locating said one of the locations on the stringers in a position for the application of one of the pieces of reinforcing film, and means for holding the stringers during the film-piece application.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a pull tab on a slider body in a machine for progressively assembling sliders for slide fasteners is disclosed. The machine comprises a base, a turret supported on the base so as to rotate about its center axis and has a plurality of spaced-apart recesses arranged circumferentially around and on the turret for receiving and holding a slider body, a plurality of assembling stations arranged around the periphery of the turret, and means for intermittently rotating the turret so as to position the slider body holding recess successively opposite each of the stations. The apparatus is disposed at one of the assembling stations and comprises a pull tab supply means and a pull tab holding means.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a pair of elongate slide fastener stringers while being fed longitudinally along a pair of respective paths, comprises a pair of first spaced rolls rotatable on a first shaft on a frame, a pair of second spaced rolls rotatable respectively on a pair of second shafts on the frame, which extend transversely to the first shaft, a pair of third rolls rotatable respectively on a pair of third shafts on the frame, which extend substantially parallel to the second shafts and are spaced from each other by a greater distance than that between the pair of second shafts, and a pair of fourth spaced rolls rotatable respectively on a pair of fourth shafts on the frame, which extend transversely to the third shafts. A coupling member on the frame has a pair of converging guide channels for meshing the stringers as they are withdrawn therethrough by withdrawing means.

Abstract: An apparatus for mating a pair of slide fastener coupling elements carried on a pair of stringer tapes, respectively, includes a pair of guide wheels each having a plurality of peripheral teeth meshable with one of unengaged rows of coupling elements for guiding the same and for regulating distances between adjacent coupling elements of each row, and a pair of presser rollers for squeezing the unengaged rows of coupling elements to interengage the same immediately after the latter are released from the teeth of the guide wheels. The axis of each guide wheel is eccentric to that of one of the presser rollers. With this arrangement, the pair of rows of coupling elements can be mated nicely without obstruction or impairment by wheel teeth but while such regulated distances between adjacent coupling elements of each row remain.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for press-bonding a reinforcement tape of plastic film onto a space section of a continuous length slide fastener chain, the method and the apparatus comprising means for positioning the space section of the fastener chain between an upper presser and a lower presser providing the reinforcement tape with a cut-out to fit the element rows of the fastener chain, transferring a continuous length reinforcement tape by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the fastener chain so that the cut-out is located just on the space section of the fastener chain between the pressers, closing of the pressers to effect press-bonding of the reinforcement tape to the space of the fastener chain either by heat melting or by high-frequency welding, and simultaneously cutting the reinforcement tape with a cutter blade.

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: An apparatus for simultaneously feeding a slide fastener chain and folding back article members attached to an outer edge portion of one or both tapes of the slide fastener chain includes a pawl arrangement slidably mounted in a first elongated member for engaging and advancing fastening elements of the slide fastener chain retained in a channel formed between the first elongated member and a second elongated member. A guide is attached to one of the first and second elongated members for folding the article members back as the slide fastener chain is advanced.

Abstract: A self-alignable holder holds a row of coupling elements mounted on a slide fastener stringer tape in alignment with a slot cutter regardless of the size of the coupling elements. The holder includes a base having a slot receptive of the stringer tape, a pair of parallel holding plates movably disposed on the base for laterally sandwiching the row of coupling elements therebetween, a pair of parallel-motion links pivotally connecting the holding plates together, and a pair of supports mounted on the base and pivotally supporting the links so that the gripping edges of the holding plates are equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the slot. Spring means in the base urge the holding plates laterally toward each other for holding the row of coupling elements in longitudinal alignment with the slot axis resiliently with equalized lateral forces.

Abstract: In an assembling apparatus for slide fastener stringers with spaced sections, the leading element of the element row in the leading stringer is detected by a probe inserted into the guide groove of the binder member for the elements and the engagement of the leading element and the claw of the probe retards the progress of the leading stringer leading to the retardation of the rotation of the pulling roller for the leading stringer as a consequence while the rotation of the other pulling roller for the trailing stringer, which is connected to the first pulling roller through a differential transmission mechanism is accelerated whereby the trailing stringer is forwarded with increased velocity to rapidly catch up with the leading stringer so that both of the stringers are brought into right alignment to be exactly interengaged in the binder member without mismatching.

Abstract: An apparatus for interengaging a pair of rows of slide fastener coupling elements on a pair of stringer tapes, respectively, with a pair of top end stops mounted on the stringer tapes respectively at confronting ends of the rows of coupling elements, includes a base and a pairing guide mounted on the base and normally defining a substantially Y-shaped guide channel including a pair of branched guide passages for receiving disengaged rows of coupling elements, respectively, and a joint passage for discharging interengaged rows of coupling elements. The pairing guide comprises first guide means fixed to the base and including first flange means defining the branched guide passages, and second guide means movably supported on the base and including second flange means normally defining the joint passage. The Y-shaped guide channel is thus normally defined jointly by the first and second flange means.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a slide fastener stringer having a woven coiled fastener element includes a coiling rotor assembly for winding a monofilament orbitally around a mandrel extending substantially warpwise so as to shape the monofilament into a helical coil which, as the fastener element, is interlaced with weft threads as they are woven with warp threads to produce the slide fastener stringer. The rotor assembly comprises a first and a second wheel rotatable respectively on a first and a second floating shaft interconnected by a connecting rod out of coaxial alignment with each other, the first shaft being located adjacent to the warp threads and supporting the mandrel. The wheels have means for guiding the monofilament to turn in an orbital motion during revolution of the wheels.

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: A slide fastener slider is assembled from a stock of slider bodies, pull tabs and springs with apparatus which loads a body on an anvil at a loading station, moves the anvil to an assembly station and at the assembly station positions a pull tab to receive the lugs on the body therein, inserts a spring over the pull tab trunnion and between the lugs, the tip ends of the lugs thereafter being clenched to fixedly secure the spring to the body. The assembled slider is then ejected from the anvil to a collection point. In a further embodiment, the slider body instead of having lugs between which the spring is received and the tip ends of which are clenched to hold the spring, has lugs with recesses at the outer side surfaces thereof. The wing-like sides of the spring are inserted over the tip ends of such lugs with a spreading action until the spring sides snap into the recesses to secure the spring to the body.

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: 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: 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: A tool for interengaging a pair of element rows in a concealed type slide fastener has a pair of blocks movable toward and away from each other and normally urged apart, and a pair of slider body halves mounted on the blocks, respectively, the slider halves being matable to provide a slider body when the blocks are moved toward each other. An element guide is formed centrally on the bottom surface of a pivotable member operatively connected to the blocks. The pivotable member is movable pivotally into a position in which the element guide and the slider body halves are put together to jointly provide a slider when the blocks are moved toward each other. A motion converting means is provided for converting motion of the blocks into pivotal motion of the pivotable member.