Apparatus for producing hooks on hook-and-loop fasteners

An apparatus for producing hooks on hook-and-loop fasteners, comprising:

• (a) a sheet guide defining thereon a horizontal first passage and a downwardly inclined second passage for guiding along said first and second passages a loop sheet having a foundation fabric and a plurality of loops arranged in transverse rows and longitudinal tiers thereon and each having a pair of legs interconnected by a head;
• (b) a loop cutter disposed adjacent to said sheet guide for cutting the loops twice on one of the legs thereof at two different points as the loop sheet is advanced along said first and second passages, said loop cutter including
• (i) A stationary blade having a plurality of parallel spaced first stationary cutting comb teeth extending in overhanging relation to said first guide path for being inserted in the loops in said tiers, a plurality of parallel spaced guide grooves extending downwardly from said first stationary cutting comb teeth along said second passage and facing toward said second passage for receiving the loops after their first severance, and a plurality of second stationary cutting comb teeth defined at lower ends of said guide grooves;
• (ii) a first reciprocably movable blade slidably mounted on said stationary blade and having a plurality of parallel spaced first movable cutting comb teeth disposed above alternate ones of said first stationary cutting comb teeth for cutting the loops from the outside thereof on one of the legs thereof at a first point near the heads of the respective loops while the loops are guided along the remaining first stationary cutting comb teeth, and
• (iii) a second reciprocably movable blade slidably mounted on said stationary blade and having a plurality of parallel spaced second movable cutting comb teeth disposed below alternate ones of said second stationary cutting comb teeth for further cutting the severed legs from the outside of the severed loops at a second point near the foundation fabric while the severed legs are held in alternate ones of said guide grooves.