US2366287A

US2366287A - Manufacture of slide fasteners

Info

Publication number: US2366287A
Application number: US458589A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis M Rabinowitz
Original assignee: LAMAR SLIDE FASTENER CORP
Current assignee: LAMAR SLIDE FASTENER CORP
Priority date: 1942-09-16
Filing date: 1942-09-16
Publication date: 1945-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-02

Description

' Jan. 2, 1945.

L.- M. RABINOWITZ MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FASTENERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1942 ATTOR EY 1945- M. RABINOWITZ MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Sept. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIC-3.4.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1945. M. RABINOWITZ I I MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FA STENERS Filed Sept. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /& ATTORNEY 1945 RAB |Nowl'rz ,28

MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Sept. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g j I-NVEI JTOR. BY s 1 I ATTORNEY with the tape.

d and mechanism in scoop production, lighter Patented Jan. 2, 1945- oF cE';

MANUFACTURE OF SLIDE rAsrciNnns- 7 Louis M. Rabinowitz, New York, N. Y., ss gnor to Lamar Slide Fastener Corp., New York, N.' Y., a corporation of New York j- 7 Application September 16, 1942, Serial-No. 458,589 (01. 153- 1) 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the manufacture of slide fasteners or so-called zippers and is more particularly directed to amethod and means for producing scoops or interlockable elements of such fasteners from preprocessed lengthsof appropriate material, and successively clamping the scoops in spaced relation upon the a usual tape, in a continuing operation, in the formation of the fastener stringers.

In accordance with standard practice, in the production of slide fasteners, wire or other suitable stock is passed between cooperating dies for deformation to produce a connected series of partially profiled scoops. This preformed stock is subsequently introduced to machines for comf pleting the formation of the scoops and clamping them to the beaded portion of a tape in the production of the fastener stringers. However, the machines now employed for producing the stringers are of a more or less complicated, design, with concomitant high installation and maintenance costs, which are necessarily reflected in the ultimate cost of the product to the consumer, the

waste of material in the formation of the scoops, together with the limited production capacity of the machines being contributing factors in the fixing of such ultimate cost.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to generally improve the manufacture of slide fasteners and more especially to eliminate waste and increase the rate of production of the stringers in a simple and efficient manner so as to at tain more economical production than is possible in the utilization of present methods of manufacture.

More specifically, it is an important object of this invention to provide a compact and dependable mechanism, capable of high-speed operation for automatically performing a series of co-related steps in a continuing operation thereof, for forming the scoops or interlockable fastener ele- "ments "from preprocessed material and assembling them upon tape in their final form for producing the fastener stringers.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a method and means for producing stringers for slide fasteners, as aforesaid, in which waste of the material from which the scoops are formed is eliminated, the material heretofore becoming scrapIin the functioning of existing mechanisms,

being utilized in the practicing of my method in increasing the strength and rigidity of the scoops and the security of their interlocking engagement By the employment of'my meththe operation of the mechanism,

gauge wireor other stock may be employed in their manufacture, with a resulting decreasein material costs, without "detracting from" the emciency and durabilityof thefaste ner in'which they may be incorporated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide in synchronized relation in a, continuing operation, of the mechanism at high speed, the'novel and efficient coordination of the elements of the assembly insuring dependable and accurate functioning of the mechanism under'such extreme operating conditions. j l

' Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing, of myinvention will becomejmanifest as the description ,proceedsj l For the purposes of this'disclosure; I 'have elected to' show andd'es'cribe a preferred mechanism for carryinginy invention into effect. However, .various structuralflchangias".ihay be made in my mechanism to meetdifierent produc'- tion and other requirements, within the purview of the appended claims;

r In the drawing- V Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved mechanism for producing stringers for slide'fasteners in a seriesof synchronized steps of a continuing high speed operation. I

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown-inFigure 1. 7 v

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure, 1. l

Figure 41 is a longitudinal section onthe line 4-4of Figure 1; I I v i I Figure o isanenla'rged sectionaldetail of the cooperating elements of the assembly for completing the formationoffthe scoops and attaching them'to the tape V s.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective, partly broken, of the dies for severing the preformed" scoops from the continuous lengths of previously processed stock, completing their romaine and clamping them to thetape in successive steps i n Figure 7 is an enlarged detaiL'in elevatiom of the means for arresting the operation of the dies for the progression of the tape through the mechanism to produce an area of demarcation between contiguousstringers. 1 :v t :15;-

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional vew of the mounting of the presser foot for feeding the strip of preformed material to the dies.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views, the preprocessed stock is introduced to the mechanism of the present invention from the left, as shown, in Figure 1, for the sequential performance of the several steps of the continuing opera;- tion in which the fastener stringer is produced. This preprocessed material may be flexible wire or other suitable stock which has been passed:

between made and female diesin a preceding independent operation, to deform thewire in producing a series of connected partially profiled or shaped scoops, the processed wire usually being wound upon a reel from which it is withdrawn, as required, in the operation of the stringer-producing mechanism.

In the functioning of the mechanism, the preprocessed stock is delivered or fed to the dies, includinga compound die, which are effective in shearing the individual partially formed elements from the, strip stock, the respective elements be-, ing subjected to further shaping in a succeeding step, the'final shaping of the scoops and their clamping engagement with the bead ofthe staa tionary tape being concurrently effected in response to the functioning of the compound die, in the final step of the die operations. The tape, a's herein shown, is drawn upwardly through the die area in a step-by-step or intermittent movement, for uniformly defining the spacing of the scoops thereon and periodically, as may be predetermined, the operation of the dies is arrested while the movement of the tape continues, t

provide gaps between adjacent series of scoops aflixed to the tape,,within the area of which the tape may be severed to form individual stringers. Stringers'of any desired length'may be produced by appropriate adjustment of the die arresting means, as will become apparent. The operation ofthe mechanism is continuous, so that several thousand feet of preprocessed stock and the requisite yardage of tape for producing a required quantity of stringers'may be run therethrough without interruption of" the operation of the curately shaped without waste in the functioning of the cooperating dies.

The processed strip, indicate at s, as introduced to the machine, is moved to the dies in successive steps by frictional feed mechanism, including a corrugated contact plate In forming a part of the presser foot l2, the strip-engaging surfaces of the plate [0, preferably conforming to the contour of the opposed surfacesof the strip s-. The presser foot 12 embodies an upright bearing portion l3, slotted as at Ma, the slot merging into a transverse annular bore for the reception of'the conical or tapered ends of the studs M by means off'which the presser-footis mounted for rock- 'ing movement within the bifurcated standard l5 of the slide 16, reciprocablerelative to the machine bed II. An arm" l1, fixed to the slide 16, carries a roller or cam follower l8 which is maintainedin constant engagement with the periphluby a, spring mounted on by thev slide and a post, 22 bed. A second spring 20a, spanning the cry of the cam the. pin 2| carried seated in the machine supported between the fitting l5a,

mechanism, as is frequently'necessary'in prior art .mechanisms, the scoops-being uniformly and acof, the spring-canted pressure-foot therewith, the

slide receding at the termination of the stripfeedingmovementunder the influence of the a spring 26. In the recession of the slide, and the concurrent outward movement of the presserfoot, the latter is oscillated in opposition to the spring 20a, as the contact plate in traverses the strip s which is stationary during the interval in which the shearing die is functioning, as will become apparent.

As the preformed strip 8 is advanced to the die position through the bifurcated standard 15, which serves as a guide, the forward end thereof impinges against the stationary die 25 seated in the support 26 disposed transversely of the machine bed, a female or shearing die 21 slidably mounted in the block 28 reciprocable in said support 26, coacting therewith, to sever the individual scoop elements from the strip in the termination of its descending movement in impingement with the buffer block 29. This, excursion of the die 21- is cushioned by a, spring 29a. interposedbetween the base of the recess 30a in the support 26 and a collar 30 on the rod 31 dependent, from the buffer block for movement in the guide 32. The female punch or die, as will be noted, is biased toward the strip s by a com pression spring 33; supported between the opposed surfaces of the die and the reciprocable block 28, the downward movement of the die being limited by the lug 34- traversing the slot 35 in said block. A second compression spring 36, seated in the support 26, abuts upon the arm 3] extending horizontally from the reciprocable block 28, to function in biasing the latter block upwardly to reset the punch or female die, in the, upward excursion of the die actuating lever 38 which is rockable on the pin 39.

The lever 38 carries a cam roller 40 which is traversed by the eccentric cam 4i revolublewith theshaft 42, the upper end of said lever overlying the head of the block 28 and being; threaded gagement with the work in the upward movement of the block 23, as previously set forth.

Mounted in juxtaposition to the shearing die 21 for relative opposite reciprocation in a. horizontal plane, are a pair of slides 43 and. 44 on which are mounted

dies

45 and 46. These latter dies, which will be hereinafter described in great,- er detail, are of the-compound type and func;- tion to complete the formation of a scoop that has been severed from the strip s and clamp it to the bead b of the tape t-in a single die action. The

slides

43 and 44, are provided with cam rollers 41: and 48 maintained in engagement with the cams 49. and 50 rotating respectively with the parallel shafts 42 and 5|, by the'springs 52 and preformed strip s and the scoops are formed and 53, the slides being urged inwardly in opposition to the

springs

52 and 53, to function the supported

dies

45 and 49, as their cam rollers are traversed by the active surfaces of said

earns

49 and 50. See Figure 3.

The tape 15 upon which the scoopsare secured in the operation of the

dies

45 and 46, as aforesaid, is fed vertically through the die position, passing between suitable friction guide rollers, from a reel or other carrier located beneath the bed of the machine in conforming traversing engagement 'with a drum 54 fixed to the shaft 55, disposed transversely of the machine. oppositely mount ed on said shaft 55 is a toothed wheel 56 which is pawl actuated to effect rotationof the drum 54 in a step-by-step or intermittent movement. The actuating pawl 57, embodying a nose 57a sequentially engageable with the teeth of the wheel 56, is pivotally mounted beneath said .wheel, as at 58, on an upright arm 59 of a slide 69, the nose of the pawl being retained in engagement. with the teeth of the wheel 55 by a spring 6i attached to.the pawl and to the arm of a post 62 rigid with the slide 69. This slide 60 also carries a cam roller, as at 63, maintained in contact with the face of the cam 54 mounted on the aforesaid shaft 42, by the spring 55, the outer end of the slide being supported bythe idler 65. As will be seen'from Figure 4, the active surface 64a of the cam 64 is conformed to impel the slide to the left, in opposition to the spring 55, to rotate the toothed wheel and the concentric drum 54 one step in each revolution .of the shaft 42, the slide moving in the opposite direction, under the infiuence-of said spring 65, as the roller rides the dwell of the cam, to position the pawl in engagement with the wheel 58 for the next rotative step thereof.

As will be apparent, the tape is advanced stepby-step, as just described, in synchronism with the functioning of the forming and clamping dies, the completed stringers, which are defined by gaps or blank spaces on the tape between adjacent series of scoops, produced as hereinafter described, traversing the drum to the take-off chute 61. A shoe 68, supported from an arm 69 mounted on a bracket 19 bolted to the bearing member H' of the drum shaft 55, is biased against h p riph ry of the drum by'a suitable spring 12,

as shown in Figure 1, and functionsto maintain.

the tape in frictional engagement with the drum in its passage thereover, the shoe cooperating with tape-engaging elementsat the die position to maintain the tape sufficiently taut and in the correct attitude relative to the clamping dies, for the emcient performance of the clamping operation. These tape-engaging elements comprise a pair of oppositely disposed guides I3 and 14 located parallel to and beneath the clamping dies 45 and 46 (see Figure the spacing of'the opposed surfaces of the guides defining a path for the movement of the tape therebetween. The guide 13 is fixed relative to one surface of the tape, while the guide 14 is laterally adjustable relative to the opposite surface thereof, in engagement with the block 15. The block 15 is pivotally mounted, as at 1B, in the bearing 11, a spring l8'connected to an axially projecting pin 19 on said block and to a hand adjusting screw 8t), as at 80a, provides for variations in the tention of the spring 18, to regulate the pressure'of the guide 14 upon thetape, so that the tape is yieldably retained in the requisite positionfor passage between the dies. i I

Since the tape t is continuous, -as is-also'the clamped to the tap'eina continuing operation, in .order to produce fastener stringers of the desired lengths, without slowing down the rate of production, a simple and novel arrangement is employed for arresting the advancement of the strip 8 into the die position, by locking the female punch orshearing die 21 in its lowermost postion, the die in this position gripping the strip in engagement with the buffer block and immobilizing it.

In its lowermost position, the legs of the die, indicated at 2111, straddlethe raised surface 2% of the buffer block, so that the end portion of the strip 8 is clamped between the-die and the buffer block surface 29b. The spring 29a biases the buffer block against the opposed surfaces of the' die, causing the forward edge of the strips to impinge against the stationary die 25, so that the strip cannot advance. While the strip is held against advancement, as pointed outgthe plate ll) of the presser foot [2 frictionally glides over the surfaces of the strip, during the continuing operation of the strip-feeding elements, as here'- tofore described. Preferably, the plate in i of softer material than that of the strip 8, to eliminate the possibility of abrasion of the preformed surfaces thereof, in the movement of the strip thereover, while it remains stationary. As heretofore pointed out, while the movement'of the strip 3 isarreste'd, the intermittent advancement of the tape 1? continues, as explained, but since no further scoop elements are supplied for .fixation to the tape, when the strip movement ceases, a gap or blank area in the tape results.

The mechanism for arresting the operation of -the die 21 and the movement of the strip 5 is actuated from the shaft 5| and includes a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted, as at 82a, onthe top of the standard 83, for rotation in a horizontal plane, parallel to that of the head of the strikerscrew 38a of the die-actuating lever 38. The minor arm 8| of said bell-crank, which is offset below the major arm 82 thereof, being apertured for mounting a clevis fitting 84 thereon for rela tive rotative movement on the axis of the at taching stud 83a. A turnbuckle 84a connects the clevis 84 to thecrank end 85 of the arm 86 fixed to, the shaft 81, horizontally mounted in the aforesaid standard 83, a lever 88, likewise rigid with said shaft, carrying a roller 89 disposed for riding the link-chain 90, the roller being held in contact with the chain by the action of the spring 9| connected to the crank 85 and a pin 92 seated i in the top of said standard, which is slotted adjacent the pin, as at 83b, to permit the .arm to extend thereabove, as shown in Figure 7. The chain traverses the angularly offset sprockets 93 and 94, the sprocket 93 being fixed to the shaft 95 rotating in bearings in the standard 83, while the sprocket 94 is adjustably mounted on the machine bed, as at 96 to facilitate chain adjustments and replacements. The shaft 95 is driven from the'shaft 5|, a worm or spiral gear 91 carried by the axial extension 5Ia of the latter shaft, in mesh with the Worm gear 98, transmitting torque to the shaft 95 through the gear 98, pinion 98a mounted on shaft 95a and gear 99 fixed to said shaft 95, inwardly of the sprocket 93.

Mounted on adjacent links of the chain 99', are a pair of camming elements I00, the effective surfaces of which are disposed for engagement bythe roller 89, as the chain 90 moves upon the sprockets 93 and 94. In its normal. non-effective position, the disposition of 'the' bell-crank lever issuch that'the outer end: of thei-maiorarm- 82 is in radially spaced'relation to and clear of the head of the striker-screw 30a, (see Figs. 1. and 2'), the roller 89; riding upon the links of the; chain 90, as the shaft 95 is driven in timed rela tion to the performance of the die operations, requisite for severing a predetermined number oi scoop elements from the strip s. However, when the; leading cam element Iengages beneath the roller 89, the. shaft 8! is rocked counterclockwise, the concurrent movement of the. arm 86, in opposition to the spring SI, effecting clockwise rotative movement of the bell crank lever to locate the end of its major arm 82 in engagement with the head of the strikerscrew 30a to hold the lever 38 inoperative in its die-actuating position, as the cam 4I Continues to rotate beneath the roller 40.. The. length of the gap, or blank area in the tape is determined by the in:- terval during which the arresting mechanism is in functioning condition, this period being controlled by the .number of cam elements that are associated with the chain 9.0, for sequential engagement with the roller 89.; also the length of the stringers may be varied by using chains of different lengths, with the appro-v priate adjustment of thesprocket 94 for the operation of the mechanism as described.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the novel method of making a stringer from a preformed continuous scoop strip. corresponding to strip s as herein described and shown in enlarged perspective in Figure 6. The form shown comprises adjacent humped portions I0l defining opposite corresponding cavities. I0 2 to provide the requisite male and female elements of cooperating scoop units. Arms I03 are formed in the sides of strip of the configuration shown, the individual scoop elements being sheared or cut from the continuous strip s, as will be described in connection with Figure 6, into the individual forms shown at I04 and I05.

The punching dies 25 and 21 are shaped to include a singlehumped section I01 and the longitudinally extending jaws, tongues or wings I06; Elements, I04 and I05. are the intermediate forms of the scoops prior to the clamping thereof on bead. b of tape t by clamper dies 45, 46. Scoop I051: is shown clamped upon tape t in its final form, with tongues I06 gripped about bead b and withv the side indulations Iilta absent therefrom, these latter surfaces being swaged into the scoop element, as it is smoothed out into the final required shape, in a manner to be described. The continuous scoop strip s is advanced against stationary punch die 24 in the manner previously described, the wings I of the forward end of strips encircling complemental projecting. section 25a of die 25. Coacting female die 23 is shown in broken lines to avoid confusion. As previously described, female punch 21 is vertically reciprocated in block 28 (Figure 5). and is slidable in the block through grooves 21". The. female die. is recessed, as at 21b, to coact with. the protruding portion 25a of male die 25.. As female punch 21-descends, legs 21a thereof over-lap the sides of strip s and force thev inner strip downward. against protruding section. 25a of die 25. A clean shearing action is effective against punching surface 25a to, smoothly shape the scoop elements in the form shown at Hi4.

Scoop element I04: is shown intermediate of scoop element I05 being clamped about tape: it

and. the unsevered end of continuousstripzs; vIn 7 the illustrated form, one scoop element I04 isin reserve. and free. between the scoop element I05 in process, of being clamped about the bead of tape. it and the scoop strip s, insuring better physical separation of the dies 25, 21 and formerclamper dies. 45, 46. It is to be understood that my invention may equally well be practiced with more than one. intermediate scoop element (corally against the. beaded portion of the, tape as indicated by the. arrows in Figures 5 and 6.

After dies 45, 46 are brought together and scoop I05 is clamped onto tape as shown, the dies. 45, 46 are. reversibly actuated, as previously described, permitting the upward advancement of tape 12 in an amount corresponding to predetermined spacing between zipper elements I05a thereon. During the advancement of tape t, female punch 21 is reciprocated upwards, permitting buffer block 29 to lift, the free end of scoop strip s, the strip being advanced by the intermittent frictional feed mechanism, as previously described, to locate the free end thereof against intermediate scoop element I04, which in turn is moved against bead b of tape t, since scoop element I05 has. previously been advanced upwards to the position of the scoop shown at IBM. in Figure 6. The female die 21 then descends, coacting with punch die 25 to sever another scoop from the end of strip s, corresponding to scoop I04. in Figure; 6.

As will be. observed, the clamping dies 45, 46 are of. the compound type,..the opposed ends 45a, 46a of the upper die sections" IIO., being conformed to. perform the. final shaping of the scoops concurrently with the pressing of the wings I06 into gripping engagement with the bead. of the tape, the undulations I03a in the sides: ofthe elements I03, as presented to-the die faces, being displaced inwardly in this operation into the. wings to increase their cross-sectional areaand produce. the scoop in its ultimate form, as at I136. The opposed ends 451) and 46b of the lower die. sections I H cooperate to initially clamp the scoop elements,v as at I05, to the tape bead and conform the wings for the completion of the forming and clamping operation, in the upward, progression of the. element tov the clampinggposition, it being manifest that as the clamping: operation is being performed with respect to the uppermost. element in the die position, the next below element is being partially shaped in the preliminary clamping of the element to the tape preparatory to its upward advancement,

It; is; to, be understood, that further die sections may be incorporated in the set of dies 45,, 46 to perform other functions or to separate this function from the intermediate shaping, and. final smoothing operation. The shaper die: surfaces 4541-4611., are of. such length that they envelop entire. length of each. side of the scoop being mounted, so that substantially the entire sheared scoop blank is shaped thereby.

The. plurality of operations by the dies 45,. 46, operated in synchronism with the. motivation of tape 1: and scoop strip s, simplifies the construction'of the machine as a whole, and minimizes the space requirement, and reduces the expanse of its construction. The individual sections of the clamper dies for intermediately shaping the scoops and imparting to them their final form in clamped position on tape t is accomplished in stages one above the other, spaced by the predetermined distance of scoops on tape t. The continuous scoop strip s is rolled or otherwise preformed into the described shape to permit the severing of the scoops corresponding to the shape shown at IUI in, Figure 6 in a single punch operation of the dies corresponding to 25, 21. One or more, or no intermediate scoops corresponding to NH may be stored between punch dies 25, 2'! and the shaper-clamper dies 45, 46.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the cam shafts 24 and are driven from the shaft 42 through bevel gears H2, the shaft 42 having a pulley H3 keyed to the outer end thereof, formed for the reception of a V belt H4, connectable to a pulley on a suitable motor (not shown) or other power transmitting means. The three shafts are journaled insuitable anti-friction bearings H5,

for rotation in the same horizontal plane, in

association with the usual removable retainers I I6, for facilitating the assembly of the drive. This arrangement provides a compact, rigid layout which is extremely durable under high speed operating conditions and also expedites the effecting of such adjustments and repairs as may be required, in which connection it may be noted that the cam 4| which operates the die-actuating lever 38 is carried by the driving. shaft 42,

so that the heaviest load is imposed directly on this shaft, with the attendant operational advantages and the elimination of possible backlash in the gearing, as would result in sustained operation were this load imposed on a gear driven shaft, as in piror art devices.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the method and details of the exemplification without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set.

forth in the following claims.

, I claim:

l. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting device including a stationary and avertically reoiprocable shearing die, shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of embryo fastener elements to said station, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping'and clamping dies for conversion into scoops, said strip-advancing'means comprising a reciprocable device and a rockably mounted member associated therewith for frictionally' engaging said strip during the movement of the reciprocable device in one direction to intermittently advance the strip toward the-die station, means for feeding a beaded tape through'said die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elements to the bead of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoopforming operation through the action of said shaping and clamping dies, means for operating said strip-advancing means, said cutting device and said shaping and clamping dies in timed re-- lation to the movement of the tape, ,means for locking said vertically reciprocable shearing die in gripping engagement with said strip to arrest the advancement of this latter, and means operable at predetermined intervals for actuating said means for locking the shearing die during the advancement of the tape to provide blank spaces between adjacent groups of scoops clamped to said tape. I

2. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting device including a stationary and a verticallymovable shearing die, shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of'connected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops, means for feeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elements to the head of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoop-forming operation, mechanism for operating said strip-advancing means, said cutting device and said shaping and clamping dies in timed relation to the movement of the tape, said operating mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said shaft and driven therefrom and a vertically reciprocable device operatively connected to the driving shaft for the actuation of said vertically movable shearing die, a pivoted member movable to a position for locking said vertically reciprocable device at the end of its downward stroke, to lock said vertically movable shearing die in its lowermost position in arresting contact with said strip to prevent advancement thereof, and

tently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops, means forfeeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuous uniform step-'by-stepmovement for the'clamping of the severed elements to the bead of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoop-forming operation, mechanism for operating said strip-advancing means, said cutting de-' vice and said shaping and clamping dies in timed relation to the movement of the tape, said operating mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said shaft and driven therefrom and a vertically reciprocable device operatively connected to the driving shaft for the actuation of said vertically movable shearing die, a pivoted member movable to a position for locking said vertically reciprocable device at the end of its downwardstroke,

' to lock said vertically movable shearing die-v in its lowermost position in arresting contact with said strip to prevent advancement thereof, means actuated by said second shaft for normally maintaining said pivoted member inoperative, and

:6 means associated with said last-mentioned means for periodically moving said pivoted member to its die-locking position during the movement of the tape, to provide blank spaces between ad jacent groups of scoops clamped to the tape.

4. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting device including a stationary and a vertically movable shearing die, shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops, said stripadvancing means comprising a reciprocable device and a rockable member associated therewith for frictionally engaging said strip during the movement of the reciprocable device in one direction, to intermittently advance the strip toward the die station, means for feeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for the clamp ing of the severed elements to the head of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoop-forming operation, mechanism for operating said stripadvancing means and said respective dies in timed relationto the feeding of the tape, said op erating mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said shaft and driven therefrom and a vertically reciprocable device operatively connected to the driving shaft for the actuation of said vertically movable shearing die, a pivoted member rotatable to a position for locking said vertioally reciprocable device at the end of its downward stroke, to lock said vertically. movable shearing die in its lowermost position in arresting contact with said strip vancement thereof, and means actuated by said driven shaft for periodically rotating said pivoted member to its die-locking position during the movement of the tape, to provide blank spaces between adjacent groups of scoops, the rockable member forming part of the strip-advancing means slidably traversing the strip toward .and from the die station during the periods of arrested movement of the strip.

-5. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising coacting dies forming a cutting device. one of said dies being a shearing die reciprocable in a vertical plane, shapin and clamping dies associated with the cutting device to provide a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastener elements to said die station, for successive severance there- .from, through the operation of said cutting device, of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops in clamped engagement with a tape traversing said die station, means for feeding said tape through said die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement, mechanism for actuating said strip-advancing means, said shaping and clampin dies and said cutting device in timed relation to the move ment of the tape, a rockable lever for engaging said vertically reciprocable shearing die and depressing the same to a position in gripping engagement with said strip, a shaft carrying cam means for actuating said lever, means for drivto prevent ad- 'a pivoted member movable ing said shaft, a second shaft mounted in paralllelism with said cam shaft and driven thereby, a member mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane .to a position for locking said lever in movement-restraining engagement with said reciprocable shearing die to maintain the same in its depressed position, thereby arresting the advancement of the strip, and means actuated by said second shaft for periodically rotating said member ,to its lever-locking position during the feeding of the tape.

6. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising a cutting device including a' stationary and a vertically movable die, shaping and clamping dies associated with saidcutting device to provide a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastener elements to said station, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops, means for feeding a beaded tape through said die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elements to the bead of the tape in spaced relation, in a final scoopforming operation, mechanism for operatingsaid strip-advancing means, said cutting device and said shaping and clamping diesin timed relation to the movement of the tape, said operating mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said shaft and driven therefrom and a vertically reciprocable device operatively connected to the driving shaft for the actuation of said vertically movable die,

to a position for locking said vertically reciprocable device at the end of its downward stroke, to lock said vertically movable die in its lowermost position in arresting contact with said strip to prevent advancement thereof, a continuous element driven by said second shaft, rockable means operatively associated with said continuous element for normally holding said pivoted member inoperative, and cam means carried by said continuous element for movement therewith for periodically oscillating said rockable means to cause said pivoted member to periodically move to its dielockin position during the advancement of the tape.

'7. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slidefastener assembly, comprising a cutting device including a stationary and a vertically reciprocable die, shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to provide a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of connected embryo fastener elements to said die station for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops in clamped engagement with a tape traversing said die station, a driving shaft, a second shaft mounted in parallelism with said driving shaft, a' third shaft disposed transversely of said shafts in torque-receiving connection with the driving shaft and in torque-transmitting connection with the second shaft. a cam on said third shaft for actuating said strip-advancing means, mechanism for operating said cutting device, a cam on said driving shaft for actuating said mechanism in timed relation with the advancement of the strip, mechanism for operating said shaping and ing the movement of the tape for actuating said clamping dies comprising a pair of. slides horizontally reciprocable transversely of vthe path of movement of the strip and carrying said dies, cams on said driving shaft and on said second shaft for conjointly actuating said slides in timed relation to the actuation of the cutting device, means for feeding the tape through the die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the individual fastener elements to the tape in spaced relation, a cam on said driving shaft for actuating said tape-feeding means in timed relation to the advancement of the strip, means for locking said vertically reciprocable die in gripping engagement with the strip to arrest the advancement thereof, and a device operable at predetermined intervals during the movement of the tape for actuatin said die-locking means, to provide blank spaces be-- tween adjacent groups of scoops clamped to the tape.

8. In a machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, in combination, a cutting device comprising a vertically reciprocable die,

I shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting device to form a die station in said machine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of connected partially formed fastener elements to said die station for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively converted into scoops, means for feeding a tape through the die station in a continuous uniform step-by-step movement for the clamping of the severed elements to the tape in spaced relation, means including a plurality of shafts rotating at the same speed and cams on said shafts for actuating said strip-advancing means, said cutting device and said shaping and clamping dies in synchronism with the movement of the tape, mechanism for locking said vertically reciprocable die in gripping engagement with said strip to arrest the advancement of this latter, and a device operable at predetermined intervals dur die-locking means to provide blank spaces of like area between adjacent groups of scoops clamped to said tape.

' 9. A machine for forming lengths of tape mounting groups of uniformly spaced scoops for slide fastener assembly, comprising co-acting cutting dies, shaping and clamping dies associated with said cutting dies to provide a die station in saidmachine, means for intermittently advancing a strip of connected partially formed fastener elements to said die station, for successive severance therefrom of individual elements to be progressively introduced to said shaping and clamping dies for conversion into scoops in clamped engagement with a tape traversing said 'die station, means for feeding the tape through the die station in'a continuous uniform step-bystep movement, mechanism for operating said cutting dies including a lever rockably mounted for movement in a plane at a right angle to the path of movement of said strip to the die station, a cam follower carried by said lever, a shaft mounted parallel to the path of movement of said strip, a cam on said shaft, yieldable means for maintaining said cam follower in engagement with said cam and means for driving said shaft to actuate said lever to engagingly operate said cutting dies in timed relation to the operation of the shaping and clamping dies and the movement of the tape through the die station, a shaft mounted in parallelism with said cam shaft and driven therefrom, means movable to a position for lockingly engaging said lever in its die-operating position to arrest the movement of said cutting dies in strip-engaging position, to prevent the advancement of the strip, and means propelled from said driven shaft for periodically actuating said movable means to their leverlocking position during the movement of the tape.

LOUIS M. RABINOWITZ.