Method and apparatus for automatically affixing top stops on slider fastener chain

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the stringer tapes are deflected temporarily so as to bring the leading elements on the opposing tapes laterally in alignment with one another.

Claim 4

Apparatus for automatically affixing top stops on a fastener chain travelling along a path of tape travel and having a pair of continuous stringer tapes, provided along the inner edges thereof with groups of fastening elements and spaced blank tape portions therebetween, each group of fastening elements being interconnected with a corresponding group on the opposite tape, comprising in combination (1) means for stopping a spaced tape portion at a predetermined position of said path, (2) a pair of tape grippers provided in said position, one on each side of said path of tape travel, each comprising a pair of pivotally supported arm means for cooperatively gripping the stringer tapes at two positions, at different locations of said spaced tape portion, (3) means for mechanically controlling said tape grippers to grip and spread the tapes, (4) a top stop carrier mounted above said predetermined position for swinging into and out of said path in the area of the tapes spread by said tape grippers for delivering a top stop on the inner edge of each tape in a position at least generally close to a leading fastening element, (5) means for resiliently holding said tape grippers and for thereby bringing the leading elements on the opposing tapes laterally in alignment with one another, and (6) means for then clamping the top stops to said tapes.

Claim 5

Apparatus for automatically affixing top stops on a fastener chain travelling along a path of tape travel and having a pair of continuous stringer tapes, provided along the inner edges thereof with groups of fastening elements and spaced blank tape portions therebetween, each group of fastening elements being interconnected with a corresponding group on the opposite tape, comprising in combination (1) means for stopping a spaced tape portion at a predetermined position of said path, (2) a pair of tape grippers provided in said position, one on each side of said path of tape travel, each comprising a pair of pivotally supported arm means for cooperatively gripping the stringer tapes at two positions, at different locations of said spaced tape portion, (3) means for mechanically controlling said tape grippers to grip and spread the tapes, (4) a top stop carrier mounted above said predetermined position for swinging into and out of said path in the area of the tapes spread by said tape grippers for delivering a top stop on the inner edge of each tape in a position at least generally close to a leading fastening element, (5) means for resiliently holding said tape grippers and for thereby bringing the leading elements on the opposing tapes laterally in alignment with one another, and (6) means for then clamping the top stops to said tapes.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for stopping the spaced tape portion comprises a feeler finger member normally retractively projected from underneath into the path of tape travel and adapted to rise into the spaced tape portion of the fastener chain.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said tape grippers comprises an upper and lower arm disposed substantially perpendicular to said path of travel of the chain and pivotally supported on a frame member, said arms being provided with bifurcated tape gripping fingers at the ends extending into said path and shoulder portions at the ends opposite thereto, spring means for normally biasing said ends of arms away from each other; mutually opposed, twin recesses in said shoulder portions of said upper and lower arms; and ball means shiftably retainable in said recesses for variable mutual positioning of said arms.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for controlling the tape grippers comprises a plate mounted on a vertical shaft for oscillating movement thereabout and carrying said frame member of said gripper arms, an oscillating arm member mounted on said vertical shaft at the upper end thereof, a reciprocating rod member interposed between the upper and lower arms of said tape grippers and mechanically connected to said oscillating arm, and retaining said ball means for shifting it selectively between outer and inner positions defined by said recesses of gripper arms in response to oscillating movement of said oscillating arm.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for resiliently holding tape grippers comprises a first plate member secured to the undersurface of said plate and a second plate member secured to a stud of said frame member of the gripper arms, said stud being supportedly fitted through a bore formed in said moving plate, said second plate member having one end thereof abutted against said first plate member and the other end normally resiliently biased away from the first plate member by a predetermined distance by means of a compression spring interposed therebetween.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said top stop carrier includes a retractively slidable block member having laterally projected head portions and stationary block members disposed on the sides of said slidable block members, said laterally projecting head portions of the movable and stationary block members defining a top stop transfer nest on each side of the carrier.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top stop carrier comprises said means for clamping top stops, between said slidable and stationary block members.