Device for the manufacture of a row of linking components for a slide fastener

Claim 1

Apparatus for the production of a continuous run of linking components for a slide fastener using a plastic thread, comprising a forming member including a plurality of extending studs having spaces defined therebetween, forming member drive means for stepwisely moving said forming member selected increments to advance said studs in a selected path, thread guide means mounted for reciprocation in a linear path paralleling said spaces, said guide means including a thread feed aperture in proximate spaced relation to the ends of said studs and aligned with said spaces for placing the thread in position within the spaces between said studs responsive to said reciprocatory movement, an anvil portion on said guide means facing said studs, punch means disposed at one side of said path of said studs shiftable toward and away from said anvil for crushing a thread portion disposed on said anvil, thread guide drive means operatively connected to said thread guide means for shifting said guide means in said linear path between first and second limiting positions, respectively, with said feed aperture extending to the opposite side of said path from said punch means and with said aperture extending to the same side of said path as said punch means and beyond said punch means, said forming member drive means, thread guide drive means, and punch means operating in timed relation sequentially to shift said thread guide means from said first to said second limiting position to introduce said thread into a said space, energize said punch means to the thread crushing position after said aperture has passed said punch means to crush a portion of said thread in registry with said anvil, retract said guide means from said second to said first limiting position to fold said thread about said crushed portion, and introduce a second thread increment into said space, and thereafter stepwisely move said stud containing forming member a selected increment to align said guide aperture with the space between the next succeeding studs while said guide means is in said first limiting position.