Slider mounting apparatus and method
AssigneeYKK Corporation of America
InventorsChester P. Dudek, Tomonari Yoshida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for attaching a slider to a zipper chain having cords with intervals of zipper teeth along a predetermined length of the cords separated by gaps is disclosed. First the zipper chain is pulled along a predetermined path. A gap in the zipper chain is then detected. Once detected, the zipper chain is substantially stopped. A slider is then held in place in the gap of the zipper chain. Once the slider is in place, resistance is provided as the zipper chain motion is restarted. This causes the cords of the zipper chain to tighten and attach to the slider as the zipper chain moves along the predetermined path.
Claims23
An apparatus for attaching a slider to a zipper chain having cords with intervals of zipper teeth along a predetermined length of the cords separated by gaps, comprising:
- a working path having a front position and a rear position;
- a puller near the front position for pulling the zipper chain through the apparatus;
- a stopper located on the working path and movable between a go position on the teeth of the zipper chain to a stop position in the gap of the zipper chain;
- a chain splitter located between the front and rear position of the working path and movable from an outside position out of the working path to an inside position in the working path and in the gap of the zipper chain;
- a slider jig holding the slider and located between the front and rear position of the working path, the slider jig movable from a first position to a second position in the gap of the zipper chain;
- a tension unit near the rear position of the working path and movable from an engaging position to a disengaging position;
- and
- wherein the tension unit in the engaging position provides a predetermined amount of force to the zipper chain causing the cords of the zipper chain to tighten and attach to the slider as the zipper chain moves through the apparatus.
An apparatus for attaching a slider to a zipper chain having cords with intervals of zipper teeth along a predetermined length of the cords separated by gaps, comprising:
- drive means for pulling the zipper chain through the apparatus;
- stop means for detecting one of the gaps in the zipper chain and temporarily stopping the drive means;
- holding means for holding the slider in the gap of the zipper chain;
- tension means for providing a predetermined amount of force to the zipper chain;
- and
- wherein the cords of the zipper chain tighten and attach to the slider as the zipper chain moves through the apparatus.
A method for attaching a slider to a zipper chain having cords with intervals of zipper teeth along a predetermined length of the cords separated by gaps, comprising:
- pulling the zipper chain along a predetermined path;
- detecting one of the gaps in the zipper chain;
- substantially stopping the zipper chain;
- holding the slider in the gap of the zipper chain;
- providing a resistant force on the zipper chain opposite the force caused from pulling the zipper chain along the predetermined path;
- and
- wherein the resistant forces causes the cords of the zipper chain to tighten and attach to the slider as the zipper chain moves along the predetermined path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.