Apparatus for manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer chain with element-free space portions

An apparatus for manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer chain including space portions devoid of coupling elements at longitudinal intervals, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a sewing machine continuously drivable to sew a pair of interengaged rows of continuous coupling elements to a pair of continuous slide fastener stringer tapes along inner longitudinal edges, respectively;
• (b) means for continuously feeding said pair of continuous slide fastener stringer tapes, in synchronism with said sewing machine, to a sewing area of said sewing machine along a first longitudinal path;
• (c) a stationary guide member having a longitudinal guide channel for the passage therethrough of said pair of interengaged rows of coupling elements;
• (d) a wheel having on its periphery means projecting into said guide channel for engaging and feeding said pair of interengaged rows of coupling elements, said wheel being rotatable to intermittently feed said pair of interengaged rows of coupling elements, in synchronism with said sewing machine, to said sewing area along a second longitudinal path;
• and
• (e) a cutter assembly disposed between said sewing area and said wheel for cutting off a length of coupling elements then being sewn from said pair of rows of coupling elements each time the latter stops moving.