Abstract: A fastener stringer continuous manufacturing apparatus which eliminates a necessity of increasing a size of a manufacturing apparatus and is capable of chamfering attaching legs of an engaging element which is produced continuously from a metallic wire rod having a Y-shaped section, securely and accurately, without changing a load and stroke of a pressurizing hammer, the manufacturing apparatus comprises a pair of chamfering punches each of which is disposed above the pressurizing hammer at a height corresponding to a preceding engaging element implanted to a fastener tape in advance, the chamfering punch reciprocating with respect to a side face of the preceding engaging element and having a chamfering face which chamfers outer ridge portions of right and left legs of the preceding engaging element.

Abstract: The invention provides a feeding unit for a metallic linear material having an irregular shaped section applicable to a continuous manufacturing apparatus for a fastener stringer, the feeding unit comprising the seventh and eighth rollers rotatably supported at their fixed positions, the ninth and tenth rollers opposing the seventh and eighth rollers and rotatably supported at both ends of a movable roller support member, wherein the roller support member is rotatably supported around its center and urged elastically in a direction perpendicular to a straight line connecting the centers of roller shafts of the seventh and eighth rollers, thereby the feeding roller protecting the metallic linear material from easily slipping out of feeding rollers, returning the linear material to its original track immediately even if the linear material slips out for a while, and feeding the metallic linear material stably and securely without damaging the linear material or ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A reinforcing tape for a slide fastener and a slide fastener having a pair of fastener tapes whose end portions are reinforced with the reinforcing tapes are disclosed. On the end portion of a fastener tape to which a pin-and-box separator of a slide fastener is fitted, a transparent film layer formed of a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic resin and a fiber reinforcement layer formed of either a reticular sheet of monofilaments or a thin-layer non-woven fabric of fibers manufactured from a thermoplastic resin of the same type as the transparent film layer are superposed through the medium of an adhesive layer, with the transparent film layer constituting itself a surface layer.

Abstract: In manufacturing slide fasteners, especially fastener elements, an elongated wire of a generally Y-shape cross section with attaching legs shaped into a generally C form by rolling, is supplied intermittently at a predetermined pitch and is then cut into slices of element blanks having a predetermined thickness, and a protuberance is formed on the coupling head of each of the successive element blanks. Then, the generally C-shape attaching legs are calked from opposite sides to mount the fastener elements on a fastener tape and, at the same time, the generally right-angled cut edges of the attaching legs are shaped into a smooth arcuate profile as pressed by a calking surface of a calking punch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a slide-fastener coupling element from a metal wire having a substantially Y-shaped cross section wherein a blank piece is cut or sliced off from the metal wire by a co-action between a cutoff die and a cutoff punch, and substantially at the same time, the metal wire is chamfered along a next cutting line by a chamfering edge so as to form a substantially V-shaped groove extending in and along the peripheral surface of a head portion of the metal wire and the outside surface of each of two opposed leg portion of the metal wire. The next slicing operation produces a blank piece which is already chamfered at its upper and lower peripheral edges extending along the peripheral surface of the head portion and the outside surfaces of respective leg portions of the blank piece.

Abstract: A blank wire of a generally Y-shape cross section is supplied intermittently at a predetermined pitch, during which the blank wire is successively cut transversely into slices of a predetermined thickness. A bulge is formed at a time for a head portion of each of the successive coupling elements and the resulting individual coupling element is collected. Subsequently to the forming of the individual bulge, opposite leg portions of the individual coupling element are pre-clenched to such an extent as to prevent any crack from occurring in a possible surface-treated section of the coupling element when the opposite leg portions are clenched for attaching the coupling element to a slide fastener tape.

Abstract: As it is intermittently supplied, a blank wire having a generally Y-shape cross section is cut into slices of a predetermined thickness by a cutting punch, which is fixed to the frame, and a coacting cutting die, which is reciprocatingly movable in the cutting direction. Then a bulge is formed on the head portion of the cut coupling element by a bulge forming die, which is connected with the forward end in stroke direction of the cutting die, and a coacting bulge forming punch, which is movable upwardly and downwardly. The cutting punch is equipped with preventing means on the upper side of the end of a blade for preventing the cut coupling element from jumping up from the blade, so that a bulge can be formed on the head portion reliably, without giving any damage to peripheral equipments.

Abstract: In a slide fastener coupling element forming apparatus, a blank wire of a generally Y-shape cross section intermittently supplied at a predetermined pitch is cut off into pieces of a predetermined thickness by a fixed cutting punch and a reciprocating cutting die, and then a bulge for the head portion of a coupling element is formed by a forming die and a forming punch movable upwardly and downwardly to coact with the forming die. The forming die is located to be connected with the forward end in the stroke direction of the cutting die, and the forming punch is located upwardly of the bulge forming station. Then the opposite leg portions of a coupling element are pushed out of the mold of the forming die by a vertically movable ejector pin located under the leg portions on the forming die to discharge the formed coupling element from the forming die.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing zip fasteners by molding sets of locking members of any length and of the staggered or slit type, the upper stop members, the coupling and the box, in a single operation. The process is achieved with a two-part injection molding tool having strips with recesses for forming locking members which are applied to both the lower and the upper part of the tool. The lower strips can be moved vertically. A transverse slide has recesses for the upper stop members, a recess for the coupling, and a mold part for a box, in which is located a mold body displaceable within the plane of the slide. In order to form locking members with slits the lower part of the tool is provided with a mechanism which removes the insert forming the slit from the slit when the finished zip fastener member is removed. Accordingly, all combinations of zip fasteners can be manufactured in a single operation without expensive subsequent processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and transferring discrete coupling elements successively one at a time for attachment onto a stringer tape comprises a feed unit including a vertically disposed feed chute and a transfer unit including first and second slides both supported on a base for horizontal movement effected by a cam. The thickness of the first slide is substantially equal to the height of the leg portions of the element. A pocket is formed in the junction of the first and second slides for receiving an element from the chute and communicates with a slit in the base which provides a suction air for facilitating the fall by gravity of a leading element apart from an ensuing element. The base includes a transfer chute for receiving one element from the pocket and transferring same onto the tape.

Abstract: The process makes it possible to manufacture any zip fasteners, i.e. to mold sets of locking members of any length, of the staggered or slit type, the upper stop members, the coupling and the box in a single operation. The apparatus for injection moulding all these components comprises a two part injection moulding tool wherein strips with recesses for the forming of locking members are applied to both the lower and the upper part of the tool and the lower strips can be moved vertically. The transverse slide has in addition to recesses for the upper stop members and the recess for the coupling a mold part for the box, in which is located a mold body which can be displaced within the plane of the slide. In order to form locking members with slits the lower part of the tool is provided with a device to remove the insert which forms the slit from the slit when the finished zip fastener member is removed.

Abstract: A fastener tape is intermittently transferred under tension longitudinally thereof. A discrete fastener element is fed to astraddle one longitudinal beaded edge of the fastener tape. Then, the coupling head of the fastener element is pressed at its both sides substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the fastener tape to bring the fastener element into alignment with the plane of the fastener tape. The coupling head is pressed at its distal end against the longitudinal beaded edge of the fastener tape to keep the discrete fastener element from getting detached from the longitudinal beaded edge of the fastener tape. Finally, the diverging legs of the fastener element are pressed at their respective outer sides toward each other to clamp the diverging legs to the longitudinal beaded edge of the fastener tape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of slide fastener carrying a discrete formation of differently colored elements in selected orders. Method and apparatus are disclosed for feeding a plurality of colored elements selectively one at a time in a vertical direction and transferring one such element horizontally to a predetermined position for gravity fall onto a stringer tape.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting irregular coupling elements from continuously running slide fastener chains is essentially comprised of a light source including a light emitter and a light receptor, an optical fiber extending from the light source and having a leading end arranged to face a row of coupling elements along their rounded corners, and a comparator connected to the light source. The light emitter cooperates with the optical fiber in emitting light rays onto the coupling elements, and the light receptor receives via the optical fiber light rays reflected from the rounded corners and converts the reflected rays to electrical signals. The comparator successively compares the signals to the reference standard to detect irregular coupling elements.

Abstract: Separable slide fasteners are manufactured from an alongate slide fastener chain composed of a pair of slide fastener stringers having rows of coupling elements alternating with element-free portions having substantially U-shaped recesses defined in inner edges thereof. The elongate slide fastener chain is fed under tension along a longitudinal path, and the slide fastener stringers are separated from each other. Then, an insertion pin is attached laterally to the inner edge of one of the element-free portions, and a box pin is attached laterally to the inner edge of another element-free portion confronting said one element-free portion. The insertion pin and the box pin which are laterally aligned with each other are threaded through a slider until certain coupling elements of the slide fasteners stringers are interengaged. Then, a box is attached to the box pin.

Abstract: An apparatus, for forming a row of slide fastener coupling element, comprises a continuously rotatable die wheel having an annular peripheral groove for receiving a row of coupling element blanks in folded fashion, and a punching unit for forming coupling heads on the blanks in the groove. The punching unit includes a punch, an eccentric drive mechanism for imparting eccentric motion to the punch, and a linkage for regulating the eccentric motion of the punch, the drive mechanism having an outer ring connected at opposite ends to the punch and the linkage. Owing to the combination of the eccentric motion of the outer ring and the motion of the linkage, the punch is moved so as to follow the rotation of the die wheel while the coupling heads are shaped on each stroke of the punch.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for forming a row of zigzag coupling elements, the entire rotating die wheel is heated by a built-in interior heater so as to remain at a temperature slightly lower than the temperature at which a monofilament of thermoplastic synthetic resin is deformable, the monofilament being folded in an annular peripheral groove of the die wheel into a row of U-shaped coupling element blanks. Then, immediately before coupling heads are shaped, the monofilament in the form of U-shaped coupling element blanks received in the annular peripheral groove is additionally heated locally by an exterior heater outside of the die wheel such that its temperature rises to a heat setting temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for forming and planting fastener elements comprising a ram mounted on a frame for reciprocal movement and having a cutting die provided with a passage for a wire to be used for elements and a forming die for forming an engageable head in an element, a cutting punch for cutting out an element from the wire, a forming punch for forming the engageable head in cooperation with the forming die and at least one side punch for planting the element on a fastener tape. The apparatus is characterized in that cam means for driving the ram, forming punch and side punch are formed on a common output drive shaft and arranged so that the ram dwells for a predetermined time at the end of each forward and backward movement and the side punch secures the element to the tape during the dwell of the ram at the end of its forward movement and the forming punch is actuated during the dwell of the ram at the end of its backward movement.

Abstract: A manually operative tool for attaching a coupling element to a concealed slide fastener lacking of one or more coupling elements and hence to be repaired. The tool includes a pair of relatively pivotable first and second members, each having at one end a handle. A lower jaw is secured to the other end of the first member and has at least two first recesses laterally spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance equal to the element-to-element pitch of a concealed slide fastener to be repaired, each first recess being receptive of a prospective coupling element. An upper jaw is pivotally connected to the other end of the second member and has at its free end a second recess.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for manufacturing coupling elements, suitable for a two-way slide fastener, successively from a rod of metal of a generally Y-shaped cross section having a base, as a prospective coupling head, and a pair of diverging legs. As the rod is fed longitudinally stepwise, it is transversely sliced into a plurality of coupling element blanks, one at a time, on the backward stroke of relative movement of a coacting cutting die and punch. At the end of the backward stroke of the cutting die and punch, a chamfering surface on the cutting punch is forced against the base of the rod to form a chamfered portion thereon so that each sliced coupling element blank has the chamfered base. The chamfered base of each coupling element blank is then formed, by a coacting forming die and punch, into a final coupling head of one coupling element which head has a projection from one face and a socket in the other face at such a position that the chamfered portion is disposed around the socket.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for feeding a conductive wire for anodizing process of a slide fastener chain are disclosed in which a wire guide member reciprocates perpendicularly to the feeding movement of the fastener tape so that the distance between the upper end of the guide member and the lastly secured fastener element decreases as the guide member moves from a position spaced from the beaded portion of the tape to a position close to the beaded portion, thereby giving appropriate slack to the wire. The fastener elements are secured to the beaded portion of the tape when the guide member is in the position close to the beaded edge. Therefore, possibility of breaking the wire is minimized.

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.