Method of positioning, gapping and applying stop to slide fastener

A method of gapping and applying a bottom stop to a section of a slide fastener chain comprising

• advancing the section of slide fastener chain into a common base assembly extending beneath both a bottom stop applying machine and a gapping punch assembly which is adjacent to the bottom stop applying machine,
• lowering the gapping punch assembly,
• positioning and clamping the section of slide fastener chain in the base assembly underneath the gapping punch assembly during the lowering of the gapping punch assembly so as to also position and hold the slide fastener chain with respect to the bottom stop applying machine,
• said positioning and clamping including moving a positioning member transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the slide fastener chain from a retracted position to an advanced position to position fastening elements of the section of slide fastener chain within a channel extending in the common base,
• gapping the slide fastener chain by engaging a gapping punch in the gapping punch assembly with a selected number of fastening elements in the section of slide fastener chain during the lowering of the punch assembly but after the positioning and clamping of the section of slide fastener chain,
• applying a bottom stop to the section of slide fastener chain after the positioning and clamping of the section of slide fastener chain,
• raising the gapping punch assembly,
• retracting the positioning member after the gapping and applying a bottom stop,
• removing the section of slide fastener chain from the base assembly after the gapping and the applying of the bottom stop, and
• said retracting of the positioning member permitting the bottom stop to pass freely over the channel.