US3663000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for attaching sliders to a slide fastener chain
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-18
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for attaching sliders to a slide fastener chain having longitudinally spaced gaps free of coupling elements, in which, while the chain is held in taut condition, a gap at an assembly station is spread in transverse direction, a slider is placed in the spread gap, and then the chain pulled under tension in longitudinal direction in such a manner that the adjacent side edges of the stringers of the chain are forced into the slider channel to thus attach the slider to the chain. The chain is then moved together with the slider attached thereto in longitudinal direction until the next gap is at the assembly station, whereafter the cycle is repeated.
Inventors
- 👤 Morris Perlman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:15
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B19/00; A44B19/42; A44B19/62; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49782; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53026; Y10T29/53039; Y10T29/53061; Y10T29/53074; Y10T29/53291; Y10T29/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of attaching sliders to a slide fastener chain composed of a pair of parallel stringers having beads on adjacent inner edges carrying coupling elements engaged with each other and element free gap spaces spaced in longitudinal direction from each other along said chain, said method comprising the steps of pulling the chain under tension in longitudinal direction to locate one of said gap spaces at an assembly station; stopping the chain with said one gap at said assembly station; spreading the stringers at said assembly station apart so as to transversely widen said gap at portions between the ends thereof to a width slightly greater than the maximum width of the slider; placing a slider into the spread gap between the maximum spread portion and the trailing end of said gap; holding said slider stationary while advancing the fastener chain under tension again in longitudinal direction to cause the beads on the adjacent inner edges of the stringers at the trailing end of the gap to move into the slider channel to thus attach the slider to the slider chain; and releasing the thus attached slider for movement with the chain during advance of the latter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of attaching sliders to a slide fastener chain composed of a pair of parallel stringers having beads on adjacent inner edges carrying coupling elements engaged with each other and element free gap spaces spaced in longitudinal direction from each other along said chain, said method comprising the steps of pulling the chain under tension in longitudinal direction to locate one of said gap spaces at an assembly station; stopping the chain with said one gap at said assembly station; spreading the stringers at said assembly station apart so as to transversely widen said gap at portions between the ends thereof to a width slightly greater than the maximum width of the slider; placing a slider into the spread gap between the maximum spread portion and the trailing end of said gap; holding said slider stationary while advancing the fastener chain under tension again in longitudinal direction to cause the beads on the adjacent inner edges of the stringers at the trailing end of the gap to move into the slider channel to thus attach the slider to the slider chain; and releasing the thus attached slider for movement with the chain during advance of the latter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 1, and including the step of squeezing portions of the beads located laterally of the stationary held slider so that the beads will follow the path of least resistance and move into the slider channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the slider is a lock slider having a locking tooth normally extending into the slider channel, and including the step of withdrawing the locking tooth from the slider channel during placing of the slider in the widened gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said chain is fed in a first direction and said slider is moved into said widened gap in a direction normal to said first direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said stringers are spread apart by moving a gradually widening spreading element in a direction normal to said first direction and opposite to the direction of movement performed by said slider during placing the latter in said widened gap.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for attaching sliders to a slide fastener chain composed of a pair of parallel stringers having beads on adjacent edges carrying rows of engaged coupling elements alternating with short longitudinal portions free of coupling elEments to thus provide longitudinally spaced gaps, said apparatus comprising means for pulling said chain under tension in longitudinal direction for a predetermined distance substantially equal to the spacing between successive gaps to locate one of said gaps at an assembly station; means for then spreading a portion of said one gap between the ends thereof to a width greater than the maximum width of a slider; means for subsequently placing a slider into the thus spread gap between the trailing end of the latter and said spreading means and for holding said slider stationarily after it has been moved into the spread gap; and control means cooperating with said pulling means, said spreading means and said slider placing means for restarting said pulling means after a slider has been placed into the spread gap to pull the chain again under tension in longitudinal direction so that the beaded portions of the tensioned stringers which are free of coupling elements will move into the slider channel to thus attach the slider to said chain, and to subsequently withdraw the spreading means to thereby release the thus attached slider for movement with the chain.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for attaching sliders to a slide fastener chain composed of a pair of parallel stringers having beads on adjacent edges carrying rows of engaged coupling elements alternating with short longitudinal portions free of coupling elEments to thus provide longitudinally spaced gaps, said apparatus comprising means for pulling said chain under tension in longitudinal direction for a predetermined distance substantially equal to the spacing between successive gaps to locate one of said gaps at an assembly station; means for then spreading a portion of said one gap between the ends thereof to a width greater than the maximum width of a slider; means for subsequently placing a slider into the thus spread gap between the trailing end of the latter and said spreading means and for holding said slider stationarily after it has been moved into the spread gap; and control means cooperating with said pulling means, said spreading means and said slider placing means for restarting said pulling means after a slider has been placed into the spread gap to pull the chain again under tension in longitudinal direction so that the beaded portions of the tensioned stringers which are free of coupling elements will move into the slider channel to thus attach the slider to said chain, and to subsequently withdraw the spreading means to thereby release the thus attached slider for movement with the chain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for placing a slider into the spread gap comprise elevator means movable in a direction substantially normal to the movement of said chain between a lower receiving position and an upper delivery position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said elevator means has at the upper end thereof a nest for receiving a slider in predetermined position and including means for feeding sliders seriatim into said slider nest when said elevator means is in said lower receiving position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said feeding means comprises a chute having a lower end, aligned with said slider nest when said elevator means is in said lower position, for guiding a plurality of sliders downwardly towards said slider nest, means for yieldably holding the lowermost of such sliders in the region of said lower end of said chute, and means for positively feeding said lowermost slider beyond said holding means into said slider nest when said elevator means is in said receiving position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said feeding means comprise a slide mounted on said chute movable between an advanced and a retracted position, a feed pawl carried by said slide for engaging during movement of the latter from said retracted to said advanced position the lowermost slider to move the latter beyond said yieldable holding means, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means cooperating with said slide for moving the same between said positions thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said elevator means comprises a slide member provided at the upper end thereof with said slider nest, means guiding said slide member movable between said lower receiving and said upper delivery position, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means cooperating with said slide member for moving the same between said positions thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, and including stationary means located above the slider nest and cooperating with said slide member for squeezing the beaded edges in the region of a slider located in the slider nest when said elevator means is in said upper receiving position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said sliders are automatic lock sliders having a pull tab and spring-pressed detent means normally extending into said slider channel and withdrawable therefrom by exerting a pull in a predetermined direction on said tab, and including withdrawal means on said slide member for engaging the pull tab of a slider placed in said slider nest and for withdrawing the detent means from said channel during movement of said slide member from said receiving to said delivery position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said withdrawal means comprIses a spring-pressed member slidably guided in said slide member, a pin carried by said member and adapted to engage into an opening in said pull tab of a slider placed in said nest, and stationary means engaging said spring pressed member shortly before said slide member reaches its delivery position to thereby exert a pull in said predetermined direction on said tab to thus withdraw the detent means from the slider channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
103 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said spreader means comprises an elongated bar having a width greater than the maximum width of said slider and a lower end portion tapering substantially to a point, means for guiding said bar between an upper inactive position in which said point is spaced upwardly from a chain portion at said assembly station and a lower active position in which said end portion extends into said one gap to thus spread the gap in lateral direction, and fluid operated cylinder and piston means cooperating with said bar for moving the same between said positions thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said chain is provided with a bottom stop at the leading end of each gap, and wherein said control means includes further feeler means upstream of said spreading means and said slider placing means for sensing the presence of such a bottom stop at the respective gap, and means cooperating with said feeler means for preventing placement of a slider in the respective gap in the absence of a bottom stop at the leading edge of the respective gap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said chain is spliced at longitudinal spaced portions thereof, and wherein said control means includes further splice detector means upstream of said spreading means and said slider placing means for detecting a splice as the latter moves with said chain to said assembly station, and means cooperating with said splice detector means for preventing placing of a slider in a gap immediately following said splice.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said control means includes sensing means for sensing the presence of a slider in said slider nest when said elevator means in said upper delivery position, and for stopping operation of said apparatus in the absence of a slider.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
150 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said elevator means comprise a slide member movable between said lower receiving position and said upper delivery position and fluid operated cylinder and piston means cooperating with said slide member for moving the same between said positions thereof, and wherein said spreader means comprises a bar having a lower end portion tapering substantially to a point and additional fluid operated cylinder and piston means cooperating with said bar for moving the same between an upper inactive position and lower active position, and wherein said control means comprise solenoid operated valves respectively cooperating with said fluid operated cylinder and piston means for feeding into and discharging pressure fluid therefrom, and an electrical control circuit comprising a plurality of switch means respectively cooperating with said slide, said slide member and said bar for energizing and de-energizing said solenoids of said valves in proper sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3116544A
Cited
US3127670A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |