Patent GB-1003488-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for gapping sliding clasp fastener stringers
IPC: A44B19/58
Filed: 1963-05-03
Abstract: 1,003,488. Sliding clasp fastenings. TALON Inc. May 3, 1963 [May 9, 1962], No. 17550/63. Heading E2S. Apparatus for gapping sliding clasp fastener stringers having a series of gap spaces and a severed section of mated filamentary elements arranged in a portion of each gap space at intervals along the stringers with an end stop member secured to an end of mated filaments at one end of each gap space, comprises means on a support to clamp the stringers intermittently as they are fed therealong, means on the support which co-operate with the end stops to control actuation of the clamping means, and an oscillating member on the support, between the clamping means and the control means, oscillated in timed relation with the clamping means for gripping a severed section of mated filament and pulling it from the edges of opposed stringer tapes. The invention is applied to fastener stringers in which sections of coil or like elements are severed from the fastener elements and in which part of each such section is previously removed by other apparatus to form a gap between the end stop and the remaining severed, but interlocked section of the stringers. As shown, the apparatus consists of a support 2, Figs. 1 and 4, having a top 4 on which is provided a plate member 5 having a guideway 6 through which the fastener stringers are drawn on to a drum 71. The stringers first pass beneath a holding guide block 7 and thereafter beneath a clamping member 8 and a guide 26 which latter co-operates with a pair of jaws 39, 40, Fig. 5, which grip and remove previously severed portions of the fastener elements. The upper end of the clamping member 8 is attached to one end of a rocker arm 10 through a spring-loaded stud 9 which is reciprocably mounted on an arm 13 carried by a bracket 14 on the member 5. The rocker arm 10 is pivotally mounted intermediate its length on one end of a shaft 12 carried by extensions 15 of the bracket 14. The other end of the shaft 12 which is similarly supported, carries a rocker 21 to one end of which is attached a spring-loaded stud 18 reciprocably mounted in an arm 19 carried by the bracket member 14 and forming part of an end stop contact assembly 16, the stud 18 being operatively connected to a plunger 17 positioned above the guideway 6. The plunger 17 co-operates with an arm 23 of a micro-switch 22 arranged in an electrical circuit controlling the actuation of the apparatus. A vertically extending movable spring-loaded member 26 is mounted on a block 24 mounted on a pin 25 carried by the bracket 14. A main drive shaft 27, Figs. 6 and 7, driven by an electric motor and having thereon a solenoidoperated clutch 28, sprocket 29 and pulley 30 also carries a crank plate assembly 31 to which a connecting rod 33 is attached. Another shaft 34, above the shaft 27, carries a cam member 35 to which the other end of rod 33 is attached. An oscillating member 38, also carried by shaft 34, includes a fixed jaw 39, Fig. 8, and a movable aw 40, the jaws co-operating at their inner ends with cam surfaces 42, 43 on the cam member 35. The jaw 40 is biased by a spring 44 into its "open" position. Adjustable screws 46, 46a on the cam member 35 co-operate with a pin 50 carried by a drum 48 for a brake band 49. Connecting rods 51 and 55 pivotally attached to the other ends of rockers 10 and 21 extend through the plate 5 to the pivoted connections with one end of rockers 53 and 57 respectively which are pivoted to extensions 60, 61 of the plate 5 and which carry intermediate their lengths, cam rollers 62, 63 for co-operation with eccentrics 64, 65 secured to the main drive shaft 27. A handwheel 66 is operatively connected to the sprocket 29 through a sprocket 68 and chain 69. A solenoid 70 is provided for controlling the clutch 28 which in turn controls the actuation of the member 38, the actuation of the solenoid being controlled by the microswitch 22. A bracket 73, Fig. 4, for the drum 71, which is driven by an electric motor (not shown), includes an extension for a spring- loaded hold-down roller 76 which maintains the fastener stringers in engagement with the drum 71. In use the motors are energized to drive their respective shafts 27 and 72, interlocked fastener stringers C, are fed into the guideway 6 and over the drum 71 which latter pulls the stringers through the guideway until an end stop B strikes the plunger 17 and so actuates the switch 22. Clamping member 8 then moves to clamp the stringers in the guideway, and switch 22 energizes the solenoid 70 to actuate the clutch 28, which latter allows oscillation of member 38. When the member 38 reaches the upper limit of its movement, the jaw 39 is positioned in a space between the stringer tapes T, T and the jaw 40 is positioned below the section of fastener elements 5 to be removed. Continued movement of the member 38 moves the jaw 40 into gripping engagement with the section 5. In this position, the pin 50 engages the screw 46a to rotate the drum 48 and hence move the member 38 with the jaws 39, 40 clear of the gap space between the tapes T, T. The jaws then move apart, under the action of spring 44, the clamping member 8 is released and the stringers move on to the drum 71 until the next end stop strikes the plunger of the assembly 16, the assembly 16 moving upwardly under the action of the eccentric 64.