Apparatus for severing and pairing slide fastener stringers

An apparatus for severing a pair of unengaged slide fastener stringers of a continuous length and for pairing the severed slide fastener stringers, such continuous slide fastener stringers including a plurality of reinforcing strips each attached to one of longitudinally spaced, transversely aligned pairs of element-free portions, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for severing the continuous slide fastener stringers transversely across the one of such plurality of pairs of element-free portions;
• (b) means for pairing the severed slide fastener stringers, said pairing means including a fixed first member and a second member movable toward said first member to define between said first and second members a y-shaped passage for the slide fastener stringers, and to press the stringers therebetween;
• and
• (c) a pair of grippers for gripping the slide fastener stringers, said grippers being jointly reciprocable between a first position adjacent to said severing means and a second position disposed away from said first position for advancing the slide fastener stringers along a longitudinal path through both said means, said pair of grippers being pivotable toward each other for introducing the free ends of the separated slide fastener stringers into said pairing means.