US3570434A - Zip fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of simultaneously sewing two halves of a sliding clasp fastener forming part of a continuous fastener tape, with the fastener-coupling members on each half in engagement with each other, to a support such as the top material of a garment. The fastener tape with the desired length of both halves sewn onto the support is severed in a part that is provisionally left disconnected from the support, and in that the tape is provided simultaneously with a connection to join together the interengaging coupling members on the two halves in the region of the severing. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Description

[54] ZIP FASTENER United States Patent [1113,570,434

[72] Inventor Pe 0- Gustavsson 3,381,639 5/1968 Miller 1 12/130 Bog slm g Sweden 3 ,425 ,373 2/1969 1 12/130 [21] App]. No. 734,262 2,993,251 7/1961 i12/265X I [22] Filed June 4, 19 3,129,498 4/1964 1 12/265X [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 3,225,429 12/1965 Fady 1 12/265X [32] Priority Sept. 6, 1967, June 5, 1967 FOREIGN PATENTS [33] Germany and Sweden [31] P422946 and 7,840 1,476,118 2/1967 France 24/205.11F

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Assistant ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A method of simultaneously sewing two halves of a sliding clasp fastener forming part of a continuous fastener tape, with the fastener-coupling members on each half in engagement with each other, to a support such as the top material of a garment. The fastener tape with the desired length of both halves sewn onto the support is severed in a part that is provisionally left disconnected from the support, and in that the tape is provided simultaneously with a connection to join together the interengaging coupling members on the two halves in the region of the severing. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Patented March 16, 1911 $510,434

2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR Pnflr D 505M058! 7' Patented March 16, 1971 I 3,570,434

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR Farm; Guatwaawm ZllP FASTENER The present invention relates firstly to a method of simultaneously sewing the two halves of a continuous zip fastener tape, with their coupling members in engagement, onto a support such as the top material of a garment.

One proposed method was for the two halves of the closed continuous fastener tape unwound from a supply reel to be fed to the two needles of a double needle sewing machine, by means of which the end portion of the tape was stitched into a slit in a garment. When the desired length had been sewn onto the garment the sewn-on part of the tape was severed by hand. Only subsequently, in a separate operation, were the two halves of the attached length of fastener provided with clips to join them together. The clips both served to hold the two halves of the fastener together at the place where they were fitted and acted as a stop for the as yet unfitted slide of the finished fastener.

This proposed method wastes time and is expensive. When the length of fastener tape has been sewn on, the garments have to be fed to a special machine in order to be provided with the clips. Moving and handling of large garments during this process is very laborious. Another disadvantage is that the end portion of continuous fastener tape on the reel, which is left disconnected from the garment and is only to be sewn on to the approaching garment at the next stage, is in the meantime not provided with a clip to join the two halves. There is therefore a danger that the coupling members on the two halves of the zip fastener may easily come out of engagement where the tape has been cut, so that the tape cannot be properly sewn on and difficulties will be encountered when it is subsequently provided with clips. As the closed fastener tape has to be passed through the stitching point of the machine for the stitching process, it is not possible to fit the clips in the desired position before this process is carried out. And in any case the first-mentioned disadvantage of laborious time consuming handling and high production costs could not be avoided.

An aim of the present invention is circumvent or reduce these disadvantages.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of simultaneously sewing two halves of a sliding clasp fastener forming part of a continuous fastener tape, with the fastenercoupling members on each half in engagement with each other, to support such as the top material of a garment, characterized in that the fastener tape with the desired length of both halves sewn onto the support is severed in a part that is provisionally left disconnected from the support, and in that the tape is provided simultaneously with a connection to join together the inter-engaging coupling members on the two halves in the region of the severing.

it will be appreciated that severing the tape and mounting the connector between the two halves of the fastener takes place in one operation. This eliminates one of the separate operations hitherto required and avoids laborious time-consuming process of aligning the garment with the fastener attached to it when mounting the connector, since when the zip fastener has been stitched on it is automatically in exactly the right position relatively to the mounting station for the connector. in this way unnecessary work is cut out and cost considerably reduced.

it is particularly advisable to mount the connector on the end portion of tape, provisionally left disconnected from the support, during the severing operation. This ensures that the two halves of the length of fastener destined to be joined to the next support cannot accidentally come out of engagement. The connector holds the two halves of the fastener securely together at the place where it is mounted near the end of the tape.

The connection may take various known forms. One possibility is for it to be made by stapling clips between the two halves of the fastener during the severing of the length of tape stitched to the garment. Another possibility is for the connection to he made by welding or sticking the two halves of the fastener together during the severing of the sewn-on length.

Welding may be carried out either with materials of the same type as the chain of fastener members and/or the supporting tape if these are made of weldable substances or by subsequently applying a substance capable of securing the halves together.

As mentioned, the invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the above method. The basic machine used for the purpose is a multineedle sewing machine known per se, wherein the needles each simultaneously stitch one-half of a continuous closed zip fastener tape into an opening in a support, such as the slit in the top material of a garment.

Such a apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a cutting instrument is provided behind, i.e. downstream of, the stitching point of the machine to sever the length of fastener sewnonto the support from the supply of fastener tape not sewn on, and in that the cutting instrument is associated with a means for connecting the two halves of the fastener which means can be operated synchronously with the severing operation to join the two halves of the fastener in certain places. i

It will be realized that the severing of the attached length of tape and the joining of the two halves of the fastener takes place in a single operation and in one and the same machine, so that if the process is automated these parts of the machine may be controlled'by a single. control device. Compact construction of the apparatus is facilitated.

In order to simplify operation of the machine it is advisable for the connecting means for the two halves of the fastener to be located between the sewing point and the two-part cutting instrument, and for the said means to be joined to one movable cutting jaw of the instrument for movement together. On actuation of the cutting instrument the cone connection between the two halves is thus formed at the correct distance from both the stitching point and the cutting instrument and the connecting means is put into action in exactly the same working rhythm as the said instrument.

The connection means may take various forms. One possibility is for it to consist of a two-part stapler including a ram which picks up the clips and drives them through the fastener tape from one side and a plate for bending over the ends of the clips on the opposite sides of the tape.

Another form which the connecting means may take is a tool for welding together the two halves of the fastener at the desired place. The welding tool is associated with a guide for conveying the welding material in strip form, if the material making up the two halves of the fastener is insufficient for the welding process or incapable of being welded itself.

For the first case, where the connecting means in the form of a stapler, it is recommended that the ram of the stapler should be associated with a conveyor to supply prefabricated clips. This will ensure that the apparatus according to the in vention can operate without interruption as the clips will not have to be replenished by the conveyor, they can instead be supplied continuously to the operating station of the connect mg means.

Instead of feeding prefabricated clips to the stapler it is possible to provide it with a stamping tool which can cut and shape the clips substantially without any wastage from a strip supplied thereto.

The above-mentioned advantages of joining the two halves of the continuous fastener tape at the end portion provisionally left disconnected are of interest particularly in cases where an apparatus according to the invention can not only dispose of one source of supply for a single type of fastener tape but where numerous different types of tape have to be processed in any sequence, according to requirements. When the tape is changed from one type to another, the end portion of disconnected tapeleft in the machine will in such a case have to be removed and replaced by a different one. During the exchanging process one could hitherto hardly prevent the engaged coupling members from accidentally opening up at the place where the tape is cut. But this danger is removed by the method according to the invention, in that the disconnected halves at the end portion are stapled or welded together. The end of one tape can be pulled out and the end of a different type inserted even in a rough manner as the ends are held together by the connection. The danger of the originally engaged coupling members gaping apart is avoided.

An example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a piece of top material with a length of continuous zip fastener tape sewn onto it by the method according to the invention and, in front of it, the end of the part of the tape left disconnected from the top material;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a partly sectional side view of the same apparatus as seen along the line of section 111-111 in FIG. 2.

The various stages in the method according to the invention can be clarified by reference to FIG. 1.

The sliding clasp fastener tape 1, comprising the two halves 2 and 3, is wound as a continuous tape of any length onto a supply reel (not shown) which in FIG. 1 is arranged on the far side of the lower end of the drawing. In addition to this reel for one tape several other types of tape may be provided on other reels, ready to be inserted in the apparatus according to the invention. These other ready-for-use sources of supply for other types of tapes are not illustratedln the present case the illustrated tape 1 is picked up and inserted in the machine (shown only in FIGS. 2 and 3) in the direction of the arrow 4. The tape is joined to the associated support at the stitching point of the machine, the exact location of which is at the lower end of the row of stitching 5 shown in chain lines in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the support as part of a top material 6 consisting of two parts separated by a slit 7.

The slit 7 in the top material 6 is so arranged relatively to the tape passing through the machine that it is exactly aligned with the engaging fastener members 8 and 9 on the two halves 2, 3 of the fastener. The top material 6 and tape 1 are picked up by the conveyor at the stitching point of the machine and joined together by lines of stitching 5 formed simultaneously in both halves 2 and 3 of the fastener. The top material may be folded in known manner in the region of the slit 7 known folding devices being used for the purpose and mounted e.g. at the presser foot of the sewing machine.

When the desired length of tape 1 has been sewn onto the top material 6 this length 10 is severed from the end piece 11 of tape 1, still connected to the supply reel and not yet joined to the support 6 as shown by the cut 12 in FIG. 1. At the same time as the cut is made a connector 13 is fitted onto the as yet unprocessed end 'portion 11 of the tape 1 to keep the fastener members 8, 9 of the two halves 2, 3 securely engaged at that point.

When the length 10 has been stitched onto the top material and severed from the end portion 11 the top material 6 is removed and passed on for further preparation of the sliding clasp fastener such as the fitting of the slide. The end portion 11 of the machine is now already correctly positioned for suitable attachment to a further piece of top material (not shown). In the meantime, the connector 13 ensures that the fastener members of the two halves 2 and 3 do not become separated and gape apart in the process.

As will be seen from the chain lines in FIG. 1, the lines of stitching 5 have to in the present case been continued beyond the end of the top material 6 into the end portion 11 still joined to the reel. But the parts located in the end portion 11 below the cut 12 are of no importance as far as attachment to the illustrated material 5 is concerned. The fact should be mentioned, however, that when the connector 13 has been fitted it is then already of the far side of the stitching point and so cannot obstruct the further process of stitching the end portion 11 onto the next piece of top material.

If the requirement is for a difierent color or size of fastener tape to be joined to the next piece of top material instead of the tape 1 illustrated, the end portion 11 then in the machine can simply by pulled out and the end of the other tape inserted. The connector 13 will ensure that the fastener members on the two halves 2, 3 do not come apart in the process even if roughly treated.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the details of a machine for carrying out such a method. The zip fastener tape I seen in FIG. 3 coming from a supply reel (not shown) is fed to the machine from the left. In the position shown the tape is on the point of being joined to a piece of supporting material about to be inserted. On its way into the machine the tape 1 first passes through a guide 20 before passing through the stitching point 23 where the two needles 21 and the pressure foot 22 are located. Before leaving the machine the tape 1 has to go through a twopart cutting instrument 24, 25. The instrument comprises a movable cutting jaw 24 and a stationery one 25. The two cutting edges of the jaws 24, 25 define the cutting point 26 of the machine.

The movable jaw 24 is connected to a piston rod 17 to a piston 28 in a compressed air cylinder 29. The piston 28 is vertically reciprocated in dependence on the supply of compressed air through the pipes 30, 31. A corresponding movement is imparted to the movable jaw 24, whereby the two cutting edges of the jaws 24, 25 of the instrument sever the length of tape 1 passed between them from the end portion of the tape left in the machine.

In accordance with the invention the connecting point 32 for the two halves of the zip fastener is located between the stitching point 23 and the cutting point 26. The connecting device to make the joint is a two-part stapler comprising a plunger 33 and a plate 34 to bend over the ends of the clips. The connecting means used are clips 35 with four prongs, two of which are passed through each half of the fastener.

The clips 35 are fed to the plunger along a conveying path 36. At the end of the path 36 is a barrier 37 responsible for advancing the clips one at a time along the path. The conveying path is in the form of a rail leading from an elevated clip container, down which rail the clips automatically slide by gravity. At the top end (not shown) of the path 36 is the container for the prepared open clips. By vibratory movements within the container the clips are automatically brought in an aligned position with the guiding path 36, where they are carried down.

The plunger 33 of the stapler is mounted on the piston rod 37 together with the movable cutting jaw 24. On the abovementioned movement of the piston rod 27 the plunger 33 is thereby synchronously moved up and down. On its downward movement the barrier 37 is moved about its point of rotation 39, thereby automatically advancing the clips the distance of one clip towards the ram 33, so that the apparatus is always ready for operation.

By virtue of the positioning of the fastener tape 1 in exact alignment with the machine, the clip 35 which is lowered with the ram 33 is inserted in the end portion of tape 1 (left in the machine) at the correct desired distance from the cutting point. When the ends of the clips have penetrated the tape 1 they come into contact with the bending plate 34 of the stapler, where they are bent over on the desired direction by means of suitable cavities.

As already mentioned the drawings only show examples of the invention and the invention is not restricted to these. Thus a weld made of plastics, as illustrated in FIG. 1, could act as the connector instead of a clip. In this case the stapler on the machine would be replaced by a welding apparatus known per se which, by heat and pressure, would melt thermoplastic material supplied to it, for example in the form of a strip, The melted plastics material would then solidify to secure the two halves of the zip fastener together at the desired place.

Iclaim:

1. A method of connecting two halves of a continuous slide fastener with the coupling members of the two halves in engagement with each other, to a support such as the material of a garment, comprising the steps of simultaneously feeding the slide fastener strip and the material in overlapping relationship while simultaneously sewing the two halves to the material;

step comprises the step of stapling said two slide fastener halves to each other.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting step comprises the step of applying a thermoplastic material transversely over at least part of the cut ends of both halves and welding the thermoplastic material thereto.

Claims (4)

1. A method of connecting two halves of a continuous slide fastener with the coupling members of the two halves in engagement with each other, to a support such as the material of a garment, comprising the steps of simultaneously feeding the slide fastener strip and the material in overlapping relationship while simultaneously sewing the two halves to the material; simultaneously cutting transversely through both slide fastener halves at a point beyond an edge of the material; and connecting the thus cut ends of the two slide fastener halves to each other before sewing the next garment material to the continuous remainder of the slide fastener strip.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting and connecting steps are carried out simultaneously.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting step comprises the step of stapling said two slide fastener halves to each other.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting step comprises the step of applying a thermoplastic material transversely over at least part of the cut ends of both halves and welding the thermoplastic material thereto.

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