Slide fastener adhesive tape applicator

Claim 1

An applicator for applying adhesive tape from a roll to a slide tape in spaced relation with meshing elements of a slide fastener comprising a storage compartment for the roll of adhesive tape having therein means for rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape; said means for rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape comprising a hollow spindle and cylindrical retaining sleeve having a transversely extending flange, said retaining sleeve engaging in said hollow spindle to capture the roll of adhesive tape between said flange and a wall of said compartment; a pressure foot integral with said compartment and having a pressing surface for pressing the adhesive tape onto the slide fastener tape and cutting means formed at the outer end of said pressing surface; and passage means communicating with said storage compartment and said pressure foot for supplying the adhesive tape from the roll to said surface; said passage means comprising a guide slot to properly align the adhesive tape on said pressing surface; said pressure foot further comprising a bottom surface coinciding with said pressing surface and guide means comprising a first channel in said bottom surface laterally displaced a fixed distance to one side of said pressing surface and a second channel in said bottom surface laterally displaced a fixed distance to the other side of said pressing surface, said first and second channels each having inwardly, angularly oriented sides adapted to center the meshing elements of the slide fastener; Said first channel having a trapezoidal shape in cross section and said second channel having a triangular shape in cross section, whereby the meshing elements of the slide fastener are received by one of said guide means so that the applicator may be moved along the length of the slide fastener to apply the adhesive tape to the slide fastener tape in fixed spaced relation with the meshing elements.