Apparatus for attaching top end stops to a continuous slide fastener chain

An apparatus for attaching a pair of top end stops of a substantially U-shape to a continuous slide fastener chain composed of a pair of stringer tapes supporting a pair of intermeshing rows of coupling elements on and along respective beaded longitudinal marginal edges of the stringer tapes, the slide fastener chain having longitudinally spaced element-free spaces, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a punch/die holder;
• (b) a clamping mechanism mounted on said punch/die holder and including a pair of punch arms angularly movably supported on said punch/die holder and a die fixed to said punch/die holder and disposed between said punch arms for supporting the top end stops between the die and first ends of said punch arms, said punch arms having a pair of first recesses defined respectively in opposite inner side surfaces thereof, said die having a pair of second recesses defined respectively in opposite outer side surfaces thereof, said first and second recesses jointly defining cavities for holding said top end stops, respectively, therein, with legs of the top end stops being snugly fitted in said first and second recesses and
• (c) means operatively coupled between said punch/die holder and second opposite ends of said punch arms for angularly moving said punch arms to cause said first ends thereof to clinch the top end stops respectively about the beaded marginal edges of the stringer tapes at one of the element-free spaces adjacent to ends of the rows of coupling elements.

An apparatus for attaching a pair of top end stops of a substantially U-shape to a continuous slide fastener chain composed of a pair of string tapes supporting a pair of intermeshing rows of coupling elements on and along respective beaded longitudinal marginal edges of the stringer tapes, the slide fastener chain having longitudinally spaced element-free spaces, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a punch/die holder;
• (b) a clamping mechanism mounted on said punch/die holder and including a pair of punch arms pivotably supported on said punch die holder and a die fixed to said punch/die holder and disposed between said first ends of said punch arms for supporting the top end stops between said die and said first ends of said punch arms,
• (c) means operatively coupled between said punch/die holder and second opposite ends of said punch arms for pivoting said punch arms to cause said first ends thereof to move toward each other and also toward said die to clinch the top end stops respectively about the beaded marginal edges of the stringer tapes at one of the element-free spaces adjacent to ends of the rows of coupling elements;
• and
• (d) directing means for separately directing said beaded marginal edges of the stringer tapes at said one element-free space toward the top end stops supported between said die and first ends of said punch arms,
• said directing means comprising a separator for progressively disengaging the intermeshing rows of coupling elements from said one element-free space, and a tape holder for coacting with said separator to hold the stringer tapes and the disengaged coupling elements thereon adjacent to said one element-free space for directing said beaded marginal edges thereat toward the top end stops,
• said separator comprising a separator body including a splitter having a wedge-shaped end, and a wedge-shaped inserter attached to said separator body and projecting beyond said wedge-shaped end, said wedge-shaped end being progressively inclined toward said separator body away from said wedge-shaped inserter, said separator being movable toward said slide fastener chain to cause said wedge-shaped inserter to enter said one element-free space and then to cause said wedge-shaped end to disengage the intermeshing rows of coupling elements progressively from said one element-free space.