Apparatus for gapping a slide fastener

Apparatus for forming a desired gap in the lines of fastener elements in a slide fastener chain, the chain comprising a pair of stringers each having longitudinally aligned U-shaped plastic fastener elements held in longitudinally spaced relation by a pair of cords molded respectively into the ends of the legs of the U-shaped elements, the openings of the elements receiving respectively the edges of the slider tape, stitches securing the lines to the respective tapes, the elements of the two stringers being interengaged, the apparatus comprising

• (a) means to support the slide fastener in the area of the desired gap and hold it in proper lateral position with respect to the apparatus including a pair of aligned opposed spring-biased elongate guides disposed longitudinally of the lines and engaging the lines from opposite sides at approximately the zone of interengagement of the lines;
• (b) a pair of vertically closing jaws adjacent the guides and carrying
• (1) a pair of sets of knives with one set on opposite sides of the guides respectively, the sets being cooperatively positioned and slightly laterally offset and adapted, as the jaws close, to break the legs of the fasteners in area of the desired gap of the respective lines at positions adjacent the stitches;
• and
• (2) four sets of cooperating cutters, each cutter set being disposed transversely of the lines of fasteners and adapted in the closing of the jaws to sever the cords at positions at the end of the desired gap;
• whereby the portion of the lines of fastener elements in the desired gap after the reopening of the jaws may be removed to leave in the gap only the tapes and the residual stitches.