Method and machine for the production of closure elements for slide fasteners

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR MAKING CONNECTED CLOSURE ELEMENTS OF SLIDE FASTENERS FROM A DEFORMABLE CONTINUOUS WIRE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT, A FORMING WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT TURNABLE ABOUT AN AXIS AND HAVING AT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF TWO ROWS OF RADIALLY PROJECTING TEETH, SAID ROWS OF TEETH BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN AXIAL DIRECTION AND SAID FORMING WHEEL BEING RECESSED RADIALLY AT THE PERIPHERY TO FORM AN ANNULAR GROOVE, SAID GROOVE BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID ROWS OF TEETH AND EXTENDING AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID FORMING WHEEL, WINDING MEANS FOR WINDING THE WIRE CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE OUTER FACE OF ONE TOOTH IN ONE OF SAID ROWS OF TEETH, ACROSS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE ROWS OF TEETH AND AROUND THE OUTER FACE OF THE FOLLOWING TOOTH IN THE OTHER ROW OF TEETH AND BACK AGAIN ACROSS SAID SPACE AROUND THE OUTER FACE OF THE NEXT TOOTH TO BEND THE WIRE INTO A MEANDER-SHAPE CONFIGURATION, AND MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID GROOVE FOR FORCING THE PORTIONS OF THE WIRE EXTENDING ACROSS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE ROWS OF TEETH INTO SAID GROOVE SO AS TO DEFORM THE SAME WHEREBY SAID PORTIONS ARE FORMED RESPECTIVELY INTO U-SHAPED PROFILES EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIAL RADIAL DIRECTION OF SAID FORMING WHEEL.