Patent ID: 6938330

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a pusher linearly movable without rotation from a retracted position to an extended position for inserting a slider onto a first section of a zipper comprising mutually interlockable first and second zipper strips; first and second guides disposed on opposite sides of a second section of said zipper; first and second grippers respectively disposed on opposite sides of a third section of said zipper disposed between said first and second sections, each of said first and second grippers being linearly movable without rotation between respective extended and retracted positions to grip said zipper when said grippers are in said extended positions and to not grip said zipper when said grippers are not in said extended positions; third and fourth grippers respectively disposed on opposite sides of a fourth section of said zipper, said first section being disposed between said third and fourth sections, each of said third and fourth grippers being linearly movable without rotation between respective extended and retracted positions to grip said zipper when said grippers are in said extended positions and to not grip said zipper when said grippers are not in said extended positions; and a splitter plate disposed between said first and second zipper strips along said second and third sections.