Method and related apparatus for forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain

Claim 1

A method of forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of oppositely disposed stringer tapes each carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges a row of fastener elements whose coupling parts are interengaged, which method comprises gripping the stringer tapes at points opposite to the rows of fastener elements, causing the interengaged parts of the fastener elements to pivot on themselves in a direction opposite to each other about a longitudinal axis of the pair of stringer tapes to spread apart the adjacent tape edges widely enough to expose therebetween said interengaged parts, and cutting the thus exposed interengaged parts off of the fastener chain along a length corresponding to a desired gap to be formed.

Claim 2

A method of forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of oppositely disposed stringer tapes each carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges a row of fastener elements whose coupling parts are interengaged, which method comprises gripping the stringer tapes at points opposite to the rows of fastener elements, causing the interengaged parts of the fastener elements to pivot on themselves in a direction opposite to each other about a longitudinal axis of the pair of stringer tapes to spread apart the adjacent tape edges widely enough to expose therebetween said interengaged parts, and cutting the thus exposed interengaged parts off of the fastener chain along a length corresponding to a desired gap to be formed.

Claim 3

An apparatus for forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of oppositely disposed stringer tapes each carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges a row of coiled fastener elements whose coupling parts are interengaged, which apparatus comprises means for gripping the stringer tapes at points opposite to the row of fastener elements, means for pivoting the interengaged parts of the fastener elements on themselves in a direction opposite to each other about a longitudinal axis of the pair of stringer tapes to spread apart the adjacent tape edges widely enough to expose therebetween said interengaged parts, and means for cutting the thus exposed interengaged parts of the elements off of the fastener chain.

Claim 4

An apparatus for forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of oppositely disposed stringer tapes each carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges a row of coiled fastener elements whose coupling parts are interengaged, which apparatus comprises means for gripping the stringer tapes at points opposite to the row of fastener elements, means for pivoting the interengaged parts of the fastener elements on themselves in a direction opposite to each other about a longitudinal axis of the pair of stringer tapes to spread apart the adjacent tape edges widely enough to expose therebetween said interengaged parts, and means for cutting the thus exposed interengaged parts of the elements off of the fastener chain.

Claim 5

An apparatus for forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of oppositely disposed stringer tapes each carrying along theiR adjacent longitudinal edges a row of coiled fastener elements whose coupling parts are interengaged, which apparatus comprises a vertically movable punch carrying block, a base disposed in vertically spaced relation thereto, a die carrying block mounted on said base, a first pair of gripping means projecting downwardly from said punch block and a second pair of gripping means projecting upwardly from said die carrying block, said first and second pairs of gripping means gripping therebetween the stringer tapes at points opposite to the rows of fastener elements, a die means carried in and movable relative to said die carrying block, said die means having upwardly inclined or tapered top surfaces against which the stringer tapes bear when said die means is in an upper position and an element-receiving recess in the apex of said tapered surfaces, means for moving said die means upward to bear against said stringer tapes to pivot of the fastener elements on themselves in a direction opposite to each other about a longitudinal axis of the pair of stringer tapes to spread apart the adjacent tape edges widely enough to expose therebetween said interengaged parts, and a cutting means secured to said punch carrying block intermediate said first pair of gripping means, said cutting means cooperating with said die means to cut the exposed interengaged parts of the elements off of the fastener chain along a length corresponding to a desired gap to be formed.

Claim 6

An apparatus for forming an element-free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of oppositely disposed stringer tapes each carrying along theiR adjacent longitudinal edges a row of coiled fastener elements whose coupling parts are interengaged, which apparatus comprises a vertically movable punch carrying block, a base disposed in vertically spaced relation thereto, a die carrying block mounted on said base, a first pair of gripping means projecting downwardly from said punch block and a second pair of gripping means projecting upwardly from said die carrying block, said first and second pairs of gripping means gripping therebetween the stringer tapes at points opposite to the rows of fastener elements, a die means carried in and movable relative to said die carrying block, said die means having upwardly inclined or tapered top surfaces against which the stringer tapes bear when said die means is in an upper position and an element-receiving recess in the apex of said tapered surfaces, means for moving said die means upward to bear against said stringer tapes to pivot of the fastener elements on themselves in a direction opposite to each other about a longitudinal axis of the pair of stringer tapes to spread apart the adjacent tape edges widely enough to expose therebetween said interengaged parts, and a cutting means secured to said punch carrying block intermediate said first pair of gripping means, said cutting means cooperating with said die means to cut the exposed interengaged parts of the elements off of the fastener chain along a length corresponding to a desired gap to be formed.