GB2042062A

GB2042062A - Apparatus for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers

Info

Publication number: GB2042062A
Application number: GB7908739A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Lightning Fasteners Ltd
Current assignee: Lightning Fasteners Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-13
Filing date: 1979-03-13
Publication date: 1980-09-17
Also published as: FI800738A; DK107580A; AU5638380A; SE8001936L; ZA801425B; FR2451176A1

Abstract

A slider clamping means 22 and end stop forming anvil 25 are in mutually fixed relationship and are supported by a carrier 19 which is pivotally mounted on pin 18 of bracket 16 of a stationary support 13. The slider clamping means 22 and end stop forming anvil 25 are thus movable between a slider mounting station and an end stop forming station. As the stringers with the slider 11 and end stop 12 are moved from the end stop forming station, the slider 11 is automatically released from the slider clamping means 22 by the engagement of a cam 47 with a fixed pin 44 thereby rotating a two-armed lever 37 which pulls a slide pin 33. In this manner manual release of the slider 11 is unnecessary. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers The present invention relates to apparatus for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers.

In the manufacture of garments having an opening closeable by a sliding clasp fastener, particularly trousers and jeans, it is well known to attach fastener stringers to left-hand and right-hand garment parts, to mount a slider on the stringers to couple them together, and then to provide an end stop in the form of a staple at the bottom or closed end of the stringers. The slider is mounted on the stringers whilst it is clamped in a slider jig and the assembled end portion of the stringers is then located on an anvil of a stapling machine and moved to a staple attaching station beneath the head of the stapling machine.

It is known from UK Patent No 750946 to provide a slider jig and a stapling anvil adjacent one another and to move a stapling head towards the anvil.

It is known from UK Patent No 809 333 to provide a stationary slider jig and a stapling anvil movable towards and away from a staple attaching station.

UK Patent No 1024708 teaches an arrangement in which a slider jig as well as a stapling anvil are movable together between a slider fitting station and a staple attaching station.

However, in all of the prior art teachings, a slider has to be manually released from the clamping action of the slider jig.

According to the invention, apparatus, for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers, includes a carrier mounted for movement relative to a stationary support, a slider clamping means, and an end stop forming anvil, the slider clamping means and the anvil being in mutually fixed relationship and supported by the carrier for movement between a slider mounting station and an end stop forming station, the slider clamping means including a clamping mechanism for releasably clamping a pull member of the slider, actuating means for releasing the clamping mechanism and actuated by relative movement between the carrier and the support to release the clamping mechanism at a slider release station intermediate the end stop forming and slider mounting stations when the carrier is moved from the end stop forming station towards the slider mounting station.

A locking means is preferably provided for holding the carrier in the slider mounting station and a manual release is supported by the carrier so that an operator of the apparatus can release the locking means when the slider has been mounted.

The actuating means preferably includes a cam which is engageable with an abutment on the stationary support to cause the actuating means to release the clamping mechanism at the slider release station of the carrier, the cam subsequently being capable of over-riding the abutment when the carrier moves towards the slider mounting station.

The actuating means preferably includes a two-arm level pivotally mounted on the carrier, one arm being operably linked to the clamping mechanism and the other arm carrying the cam.

The abutment may be fixed, the cam being resiliently movable relative to the abutment when the carrier is moved towards the slider mounting station. Alternatively the cam may be fixed to the arm; abutment being resiliently movable and relative to the cam when the carrier is moved towards the slider mounting station. The locking means is preferably arranged between the stationary support and the other arm of the two-arm lever, and the manual release is arranged to rotate the twoarm level until the locking means is released.

The clamping mechanism preferably includes relatively fixed and movable clamping surfaces which can effect a releasable wedging action on the slider pull member. The movable surfaces may be provided by a freely rotatable roller. The clamping mechanism preferably includes a movable member for effecting the relative movement of the fixed and movable clamping surfaces, and the movable member is operated by a cam through movement of the actuating means.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, df an apparatus secured to a stapling machine; Figure 2 is a view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section, of an alternative arrangement of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Figure 4, is a side view, partly in section, of another apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an apparatus 10 for mounting a slider 1 4 and providing a bottom end stop 1 2 on sliding clasp fastener stringers (not shown) includes a stationary support means 1 3 which takes the form of an upper bracket 14, a strut 1 5 and a lower bracket 1 6. The upper bracket is arranged to be bolted to the underside of a stapling machine head 17.

The lower bracket 1 6 carries a pivot pin 1 8 which supports a carrier means 1 9. This carrier means includes a column 20 which is movable upon the pin 1 8 between a slider mounting station in which the column is inclined forwardly of the stapling head 17, and an end stop forming station in which the column lies beneath the stapling head as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper end of the column 20 is spig gotted into a block 21 which forms part of a slider clamping means 22 and a recess 23 in the block 21 receives a plate 24. The upper end of this plate 24 and the adjacent part of the block 21 is shaped to form a rest for the slider 11. The inner face of the plate 24 is inclined with respect to the opposite wall of the recess 23. The block 21 also accommo dates an end stop forming anvil 25 as an insert so that the slider clamping means 22 and the anvil 25 are in mutually fixed relation ship. The upper surface of the block 21 at either side of the anvil 25 serves to support a pair of slide fastener stringers.

The slider clamping means 22 includes a clamping mechanism 26 to clamp a pull member 27 of the slider 11, the mechanism 26 comprising a freely rotatable roller 28 carried on a pin 29 supported at each end in a slide 30 which is mounted in the block 21.

The slide has an aperture 31 of which the lower edge 32 is chamfered. A slide pin 33 is slidably mounted in the block 21 at right angles to the slide 30 and has a notch with an inclined side 34 to cooperate with the chamfered edge 32 of the slide 30. This slide is resiliently urged upwards by two compression springs 35.

An actuating means 36 comprises a twoarm lever 37 pivotally mounted on the carrier means 1 9 by means of a pin 38 which extends through a lug 39 projecting from the lower end portion of the block 21. An adjustable stop pin 40 is fitted in the lug for contact with the strut 1 5 to determine the stapling position of the carrier means. One arm 41 of the lever 37 extends upwardly to enter an aperture in the slide pin 33 so as to be operably linked to the clamping mechanism.

The other arm 42 is arcuate about the pivot pin 18-and adjacent the free end of the arm 42 a slot 43 is provided to engage with a pin 44 projecting from the side of the strut 1 5 and serves as a fixed abutment. The lever 37 is urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 by a compression spring 45 operating between the block 21 and a boss 46 of the lever. The arcuate arm 42 carries a cam 47 on pivot pin 48 and is resiliently urged anti-clockwise against a stop pin 49 by means of a tension spring 50, anchored to a peg 51 in the arcuate arm 42. This arm 42 also carries an actuator 52 to operate an electric proximity detector 53 fixed to the upper bracket 14 and arranged to operate staple attaching tools in the stapling machine head 1 7 when the carrier means 1 9 reaches the required position.

A manually operable plunger 54 is mounted in the block 21 to move the lever 37 anticlockwise against the action of the spring 45 to release the clamping mechanism.

In operation of the apparatus the carrier means 1 9 is moved clockwise to a slider mounting position in which the slot 43 en gages the pin 44. A slider 11 is located on the block 21 by pushing the slider pull mem ber ber 27 between the inclined face of the plate 24 and the roller 28 which thus clamps the pull member. A pair of sliding clasp fastener, stringers are then threaded through the slider to mount it on the stringers so that coupled end portions lie over the anvil 25. The plunger 54 is then depressed to pivot the lever 37 anti-clockwise and disengage the slot 43 from the pin 44. The block 21 is moved to the end stop forming station at which the anvil lies beneath the stapling head, as in Fig.

1, the cam 47 pivotting beneath the pin 44 against the action of spring 50.

In this position the actuator 52 operates the detector 53 which triggers the stapling tools to lower a staple 1 2 and clench it around coupled fastener members of the stringers overlying the anvil 25.

As the block 21 is returned in the clockwise direction the cam 47 abuts the pin 44 and causes the lever 37 to pivot anti-clockwise, thereby drawing the slide pin 33 to the left and drawing the roller 28 downwards away from the slider pull member 27 whereupon the slider is automatically released from the clamping effect of the roller, allowing the operator to remove the fastener stringers from the block 21 without the need for any manual release of the clamping mechanism. The final continued movement of the block again engages the slot 43 with the pin 44.

By virtue of the spigotted assembly of the block 21 on the column 20, the block can be pivotted to provide an arrangement shown in Fig. 3 in which the slider clamping means 22 and the end stop forming anvil 25 are transposed. This allows an operator to assemble fastener stringers through a slider in the opposite direction to that employed with the Fig. 1 arrangement.

In alternative arrangements, if bottom end stops other than staple-type end stops are required, then the stationary support means may be secured to appropriate equipment. For example, if a welded type end stop is required, the stationary support means may be mounted on an ultra-sonic welding head so that a sonotrode descends on to coupled fastener members disposed on a suitable anvil inserted in the block 21.

If desired the cam 47 may be fixed to thet second arm 42, the pin 44 being supported by the strut 1 5 so that it will over-ride the cam 47 when the carrier is moved towards the slider mounting position. The cam 47 and the pin 44 may of course be interchanged.

Although the second arm 42 may conveniently be made generally arcuate about the arms of pivot pin 18 it may be of any convenient shape provided that the slide pin 33 is appropriately operated and provided that there is preferably some form of locking means equivalent to the slot 43 and pin 44 for holding column 20 in its slider mounting station.

In an alternative arrangement, the slider clamping means and end stop forming anvil are secured on a carrier means which is slidable between slider mounting and end stop forming stations.

Referring to Fig. 4 in which parts similar to those in Figs. 1 and 2 have the same reference numbers, a stationary support means 55 includes a bracket 56 having a horizontal slideway 57 through its lower end. The bracket 56 is arranged for mounting beneath a stapling machine head 1 7. A carrier means 58 includes a block 21 which supports a slider clamping means 22 and an end stop forming anvil 25 in mutually fixed relationship. The block 21 is secured to a slide 59 which moves along the slideway 57.

An actuating means 60 comprises a lever 61 pivotted on a pin 62 fitted in a lug 63 which projects from the block 21. The lever 61 is urged clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, by a compression spring 64. An arm 65 of the lever 61 extends upwardly and the upper end engages in an aperture in the slide pin 33 so that the lever is operably linked to a slider clamping mechanism 26. A second arm 66 of the lever 60 extends substantially horizontally and adjacent its free end has a slot 67 to engage a pin 68, secured in and projecting from the side of the bracket 56, when the carrier means 58 is in its slider mounting station. The arm 66 carries a cam 69 on pivot pin 70 and is resiliently urged anti-clockwise against a stop pin 71 by tension spring 72 anchored to a peg 73 which projects from the arm.This arm 66 also has a lug 74 to operate a microswitch 75 fixed to the bracket 56 to initiate staple attaching tools in the head 1 7.

Operation of the apparatus commences with the carrier means 58 fully forward, ie to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, from the stapling machine head 1 7 to locate the block 21 in a slider mounting station and to engage the slot 67 with the pin 68.

A slider 11 is located in its nest on the block 21 so that the slider pull member is clamped between the roller 28 and the plate 24. A pair of slide fastener stringers are threaded through the slider to mount it on the stringers and the coupled end portions are located over the anvil 25. The plunger 25 is depressed to pivot the lever 61 and release the slot 67 from the pin 68. The block 21 is then moved towards and beneath the stapling machine head 17, ie to the end stop forming station shown in Fig. 4, the cam 69 pivotting beneath the pin 68 against the action of spring 72. At the end stop forming station the leg 74 operates the microswitch 75 to trigger end end stop forming tools and clench a staple end stop around fastener members of the stringers lying over the anvil 25. During the return movement of the block 21, the cam 69 abuts the pin 68 and causes the lever 61 to pivot anti-clockwise thereby drawing the slide pin 33 to the left and drawing the roller 28 downwards to release the clarriping action on the slider pull member so that the operator can remove the fastener stringers from the apparatus without the need for any manual release of the clamping mechanism. Continued movement of the carrier means 58 to the slider station causes the slot 67 to engage again with the pin 68.

Claims

1. Apparatus, for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers, including a carrier mounted for movement relative to a stationary support, a slider clamping means, and an end stop forming anvil, the slider clamping means and the anvil being in mutually fixed relationship and supported by the carrier for movement between a slider mounting station and an end stop forming station, the slider clamping means including a clamping mechanism for releasably clamping a pull member of the slider, actuating means for releasing the clamping mechanism and actuated by relative movement between the carrier and the support to release the clamping mechanism at a slider release station intermediate the end stop forming and slider mounting stations when the carrier is moved from the end stop forming station towards the slider mounting station.

2. Apparatus, according to Claim 1, in which a locking means is provided for holding the carrier in the slider mounting station and a manual release is supported by the carrier so that an operator of the apparatus can release the locking means when the slider has been mounted.

3. Apparatus, according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the actuating means includes a cam which is engageable with an abutment on the stationary support to cause the actuating means to release the clamping mechanism at the slider release station of the carrier, the cam subsequently being capable of over-riding the abutment when the carrier moves towards the slider mounting station.

4. Apparatus, according to Claim 3, in which the actuating means includes a two-arm lever pivotally mounted on the carrier, one arm being operably linked to the clamping mechanism and the other arm carrying the cam.

5. Apparatus, according to Claims 3 or 4, in which the abutment is fixed and the cam is resiliently movable relative to the abutment when the carrier is moved towards the slider mounting station.

6. Apparatus, according to Claims 3 or 4, in which the cam is fixed to the arm and the abutment is resiliently movable relative to the cam when the carrier is moved towards the slider mounting station.

7. Apparatus, according to any of Claims 4, 5 or 6, in which the locking means is arranged between the stationary support and the other arm of the two-arm lever, and the manual release is arranged to rotate the twoarm lever until the locking means is released.

8. Apparatus, according to any preceding claim, in which the clamping mechanism ins cludes relatively fixed and movable clamping surfaces which can effect a releasable wedging action on the slider pull member.

9. Apparatus, according to Claim 8, in which the movable surface is provided by a freely rotatable roller.

10. Apparatus, according to Claim 8 or 9, in which the clamping mechanism includes a movable member for effecting the relative movement of the fixed and movable clamping surfaces, and the movable member is operated by a cam through movement of the actuating means.

11. Apparatus, for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers, constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 2. Apparatus, for mounting a slider and providing a bottom end stop on sliding clasp fastener stringers, constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.