Apparatus for cutting a slide fastener chain

An apparatus for cutting a continuous slide fastener into individual slide fastener lengths, the fastener having successive longitudinally spaced groups of coupling elements mounted on a stringer tape and element-free gap sections between the successive coupling element groups, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a guide table for supporting the fastener thereon;
• means for moving the fastener along a longitudinal path over said guide table in a predetermined direction to a cutting station, said moving means being operable to move the fastener at a rate varying from a high speed to a low speed;
• a detecting station adjacent said cutting station and containing means for detecting when a leading end of one of said successive coupling element groups is in a position in said detecting station fully upstream of said cutting station and for rendering, in response to said detection, said moving means operative to move the fastener at a lower rate until a preceding element-free gap section contiguous to the leading end of said coupling element group arrives in said cutting station and a support means having at least part of said detecting means attached thereto overlying said guide table and adapted for being selectively raised relative to said guide table to permit thread-up of said fastener thereon prior to activation of said moving means;
• means for deenergizing, upon said arrival of said preceding element-free gap section in said cutting station, said moving means to terminate the movement of the fastener;
• and
• a cutter blade means disposed in said cutting station for severing the fastener transversely across said preceding element-free gap section in response to termination of the movement of the fastener.