GB2282849A - Automatic slide fastener chain joining machine - Google Patents

Abstract

In an automatic slide fastener chain joining machine, a detector 3 automatically detects the stapled joints of slide fastener chains 1 and an abnormal portion on the tape surface. According to a command from the control unit 6, the stapled joints about the staples 2 Fig. 5, not shown, are cut off and removed by a chain cutting means. Then an adhesive film sticking means 12 automatically sticks an adhesive film 13, Fig. 6, not shown, having a metallic surface, to each of opposite surfaces of the confronting chain cut ends. In addition to the joining function, the adhesive film 13, Fig. 6, has a marking function. Meanwhile, if an abnormal portion on the chain surface is detected by the detecting means 3, the adhesive film will be stuck to the abnormal portion. <IMAGE>

Description

AUTOMATIC SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN JOINING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention: This invention relates to an automatic machine for joining a number of slide fastener chains end to end, and more particularly to an automatic slide fastener chain joining machine for joining the slide fastener chains with their adjacent ends confronting each other, irrespective of the quality of the chains.

2. Description of the Related Art: In order to continuously operate the slide fastener chain manufacturing apparatus for a long time to improve the rate of production, attempts have been made to join the cofronting cut ends of slide fastener chains of, for example, different colors before being processed on the slide fastener chain manufacturing apparatus. To this end, it was a common practice to joint the confronting cut ends of the adjacent chains wit staples or to fuse the overlapping ends of thermoplastic tapes integrally.

An alternative method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HET 2-?39805 in which the confronting ends of thermoplastic fastener chains are fused, and the fused portion is compressed into a thin film under heat to make the surfaces of one fastener chain flush with the surf aces of the other fastener chain. In this known method, since the surfaces of each joint of the fastener chains are flush with the tape surfaces, the resulting slide fastener chains can pass through various stations without any difficulty.

In joining the adjacent slide fastener chains using the staples, since the metal staples projects on the joint surfaces of the chains, the chain joint portion would be an obstruction in manufacturing of the slide fastener chain, causing various operational troubles such as interruption of operation and variation of tape tension. The same troubles would be encountered with the case in which the overlapping chain ends are joined by fusing. The method of fusing the overlapping or confronting chain ends can only be applied to the thermomelting material; that is, it cannot be applied to, for example, fastener tapes made of cotton. Assuming that the ends of such adjacent fastener tapes are joined by fusing, the joint portion would be deteriorated or adversely become hard so that a smooth manufacturing process is difficult to achieve in a subsequent station.

For the slide fastener chains to pass through various manufacturing stations, it is most preferable to join the slide fastener chains with their adjacent ends confronting each other. Except the case where slide fastener chains are continuously manufactured subsequent to the weaving of fastener tapes, the joining of the tape ends take place during the switching of the supplied chain's colors or between the fastener chains of a length corresponding to the length of one lot. In this case, partly since there is time to spare and partly since it is unnecessary to depend on the quality of the fastener tapes, the automatic joining by fusing could not be advantageolls from operational and economical view points.

Otherwise, it is currently customary to join the chains by staples since it does not require a complicated and expensive machine for automatic joining by fusing, Also in the case where the chains are joined by staples, it is necessary to make a marking on the individual chain joint for positioning in various subsequent stations. For detecting the chain joints, a contact-type detecting mechanism for detecting a physical displacement is generally used.

Accordingly, the chain feed speed is 50 m/min at maximum so that it is impossible to perform the chain feed in synchronism with the operation of the current chain manufacturing apparatus whose chain feed speed 200 m/min. Further, with the contacttype detecting mechanism, it is impossible to detect any stain or damage on the t.ape surfaces simultaneously with the detect in of the chain joints. Consequently, in the conventional art, it was necessary to halt the operation of the apparatus and to make a marking manually, each time an inferiority on the tape surface is found.

With the foregoing circumstances in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a slide fastener chain joining machine which removes staples from joints of successive slide fastener chains quickly and reliably by locating the joining machine in a necessary position, joins the confronting chain ends Without protruding from the chain surfaces and, at tie same tine, makes markings the joined portions, and which detects a strain or damage on the fastener tape surfaces and makes markings on the inferior portions.

SUMMARY OF THF INVENTION In order to accomplish the above object, according to this invention, an automatic slide fastener chain joining machine for detecting joints of slide fastener chain, which is composed of successive fastener tapes joined with one anotelor eni to end with staples, and abnormal portions of the fastener tai)es, is characterized l)y ronprising detecting means, first and second chain grippers, cutting means, film sticking means, and a control unit.The detecting means is situated in a path of travel of slide fastener chain for detecting the passage of the individual staple and the abnormal portion on the fastener tape. The first and second chain grippers are situated downstream of the detecting means, and each of the first and second chain grippers has a gripping mechanism for supporting and guiding one surface of the slide fastener chain and for gripping coupling element rows of the slide fastener chain from opposite sides. The second chain gripper is located in a. fixed position in the chain travelling path downstream of the first chain gripper, while the first chain gripper is movable toward and away from the second chain gripper.The cutting means is situated between the first and second chain grippers for cutting off cha-in joints about the staples.

The film sticking means is situated adjacent to the first and second chain gripper and sticks an adhesive film onto the chain surface opposite to one supported by the first and second cha:in grippers, at the confronting cut chain ends. The control unit makes a necessary calculation upon reccipt of a detection signal from the detecting means and sends an operating command to the individual operative means according to a previously stored oporation procedure.

Tulle automatic slide fastener chain joining machine may further comprises drawing-back means situated adjacent to and upstream of the first gripper and drawing the upstream cut end of the chain cut by the cutting means back to a forward edge of the first chain gripper, and feeding means situated downstream of the second chain gripper and temporarily feeding the downstream clit end of the chain cut by the cutting means to a back edge of the second chain gripper, which also makes a normal chain feed.

It is preferable that the drawing-back means has a chain depressing section located upwardly of the chain travelling path and vertically movable by a predetermined distance by a hydraulic actuating means.

The detecting means may have a joint detector for detecting a physical displacement according to the staples and a chain surface abnormality detector for detecting an abnormality on the chain surface by a pickup tube, or the chain surface abnormality detector may be also used as a staple detector.

Preferably, each of said first and second grippers is divided into two jaws along the chain travelling path; one of the two jaws is fixed and the other jaw is movable, the two jaws having their confronting upper edges a pair of guide groove haves for receiving a pair of coupling element rows.

The movable jaw of each griper is movable toward and away from the fired jaw transversely of the chain travelling path for holding the pair of coupling element rows. Further, the cutting means is composed of first and second chain cutters spaced at a predetermined distance along the chain travelling path and simultaneously operative based on the command from the control unit. Alternatively, the cutting means may be composed of a chain supporting section and a cutting section for cutting off the chain joints with the staples successively based on the successively commands from the control unit.

It is al.so preferable that the film sticking means has a roll of the adhesive film in a tape-like form, an adhesive film drawing member having a roller supporting on its circumferenti.al surface an end of the adhesive film to be drawn from the rol and movable toward and away from the surface of the fastner chain on the first and second grippers and reciprocatingly movable by a predetermined distance along the chain travelling path, and an adhesive film sticking roller having a roller located upstream of and adjacent to the adhesive film drawing roller and operable in timed relation to the adhesive film drawing roller.

Further, it is preferable that the film has a metal surface.

In operation, when the successive slide fastener chains joined end to end by staples are supplied to the chain joining machine of this invention as they are guided by a plurality of glide members, either the existence of the staples or an abnormality on the chain surface can be detected by the detecting means to send a signal to the control unit . The image of at least one of opposite surfaces of the travelling slide fastener cha-ins is taken all times by the first and second pickup tubes, which transmit the image information successively to the control unit where image processing and arithmetic processing take place.If it finds an abnormality, the control unit wiil send an abnormality detection signal to the adhesive film sticking means to stick adhesive films to the opposite surfaces of the abnormal tape portion in timed relation with the chain feed speed.

As a staple detection signal sent from the detection means is processed by arithmetic process in the control unit, the control unit wilt send operational signals to various operational means, such as the first and second chain grippers, the cutting means, the film sticking means and feeding means, successively according to t.he predetermined procedure in timed relation with the chain feed speed. Upon arrival of the stapled joint at the cutting means, the control unit will send a chain feed interrupting signal to the feeding means.When the feeding means is deactivated, then the actuators of the first and second chain grippers will be actuated to move the respective movable jaws toward the corresponding fixed jaws, thus gripping the coupling element rows of the chain in the guide groove from Iho opposite sides.

I:pon completion of this gripping, the cutting means will t)e actuated to cut off the tape portion about the staples.

Then the individual actuator will be activated to release the chain arid, at the same time, the drawing-back means and the feeding means will b actuated to draw the upstream cut end of the dial-n back to the forward edge of the first chain gripper and to feed the downstream cut end of the chain to the lark edge of the s' oTld chain i n gripper respectively.

Subsequently, the first chain gripper will start moving toward the second chain gripper until they come into contact with each other. At that time, the cut ends of adjacent chains carried on the respective upper surfaces of the first and second chain grippers confront each other. At this stage, the first adhesive film sticking means is actuated to stick the adhesive film having a metallic surface to the upper surface of the confronting cut ends of the chains. Namely, the chain depressing member is lowered to press the chains against the upper surfaces of the grippers, securing the chains. Then, the adhesive film sticking member and the adhesive film drawing member will be lowered to stick the adhesive film, which extends over the circumferential surface of the adhesive film drawing member, to the upstream chain cut end. Then, the adhesive film sticking member and the adhesive film drawing member will be moved horizontally toward the downstream side jri synchronism with each other to stick a predetermined length of adhesive film to the downstream chain cut end. Upon termination of this sticking, firstly the adhesive film drawing member will. start rising c:ight3y prior to the adhesive film sticking member. Utilizing the time difference between the adhesive film sticking member and the adhesive flm drawing member, the adhesive film will be automatically cut by a film cutter attached to the front portion of the adhesive film sticking member.When this film cutting has been completed, the feed roller will restart feeding the slide fastener chains, with their confronting ends joined by the adhesive film, forwardly. When the adhesive-film-stuck portion arrives at the second adhesive film sticking means, this film sticking weans will be moved upwardly to press the adhesive-film-stuck portion against the receiving member and, at the sarle time, to stick the adhesive film to the lower chain surface of a predetermined length in response to the travelling of the chain. Upon termination of this film sticking, firstly the adhesive film drawing member will be lowered and then the adhesive sticking member will be lowered; utilizing their time difference, the adhesive film will be ct by the film cutter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a slide fastener chain joining machine according to a typical embodiment of this invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the joining machine; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the functions of first and second chain grippers applied to the joining machine; FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an adhesive film sticking unit as an adhesive fiin sticking means of the joining machine; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a slide fastener chains, showing their ends joined by staples; FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 5, showing the chain ends joined by adhesive films after the staples have been removed; FTG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a slide fastener chain, having a stain on the chain surface; and FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 7, showing a slide fastener chain having a stained portion to which the adhesive film having a marking function has been stuck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An embodiment of this invention will now be described in detaii with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a slide fastener chain joining machine according to a typical embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the present embodi runt.

The slide fastener chain joining machine is intending to remove, from a contiTluo11s slide fastener chain 1 composed of a plurality of fastener chains previously joined end to end by staples 2 amd having a pair of interengaged coupling element rows mounted on and along their confronting longitudinal cadges, each joint together with the staples 2 and then to join the confronting cut ends of the chains again. The whole structure of the chain joining machine will now be described in detail using FIGS. l and 2.

First of all, a detecting unit. 3 as a detecting means is sitijated in a travelling path of the continuous slide fastener chain 1. According to the illustrated embodiment, the detecting unit 3 -is composed of a joint detector 3a for detecting the passage of the staples 2, and first and second pickup tubes 3b, 3c for detecting abnormalities on front and back surfaces of the fastener chain. More specifically, the joint detector 3a detects the passage of the staples 2 by con verting a physical displacement into an electrical signal and has a physical displacement section 3a- such as a pressure roller, and an electrical signal generating section 3a-2 such as a piezoelectric device or a microswitch.Alternatively, the joint detector 3a may be omitted, and the first or second pickup tubes 3b, 3c may have also a joint detecting function. For each pickup tube 3b, 3c, an ordinary television camera may be used for taking a planar image. Tn order to grip an object three-dimensionally, it is preferable to combine one-dimensiorial scanning of coherent light and one-dimensional scanning of an object tn he detected, anci to define the object surface three-dimensionally using a one-dimensional CCD camera which converts reflected light or transparent light to electric signals.

on the downstream side of the detecting unit 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are supported on the upper surface of a table 5 a first chain gripper 4a reciprocatingly movable by a predetermined distance and adapted for supporting and guiding one surface of the chain travelling along a chain travelling path, and a second chain gripper 4b fixed at a predetermined position in the chain travelling path. The first and second chain grippers 4a, 4b are basically identical in construction with each other except that one gripper is movable and the other is fixed. Namely, the first chain gripper 4a repeatedly moves toward and away from the second chain gripper 4b along the chain travelling path on the upper surface of the table 5 based on the command from the control unit 6.This first chain gripper's movement is made such as by the rotation of a non-illustrated screw.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the first chain gripper 4a is in the form of a substantially cubic block 4a-l which is divided into two parts, i.e., a slidable jaw 4a-2 occupying a s)bstantialiy 1/4 corner cube of the block 4a-1, and a fixed jaw ita-3 occupying the remaining part of the block a-l. While the slide jaw 4a-2 is in contact with the fixed jaw 4a-3, there is defined in their upper surfaces along the entire meeting line of the first chain gripper 4a a guide groove 4a-4 for receiving and guiding a pair of interengaged coupling element rows 7.The width of the guide groove 4a-4' formed only in the block 4a-1 is slightly larger than a guide groove 4a-4" defined between the slid able jaw 4a-2 and the fixed jaw 4a-3. In other words, when the slidable jaw 4a-2 is moved close to the fixed jaw 4a-3, the pair of int.erengaged coupling element rows 7 of the slide fastener chain 1 is gripped horizontally from the opposite sides between the guide groove halves 4a-4'' of the two jaws.

The slidable jaw 4a-2 slides into and out of contact with the fixed jaw 4a-3 along a non-illustrated guide rail on the upper surface of the cutout part of the block 4a-l. This sliding is made by a hydraulic cylinder Ra.

The second chain gripper b, as shown in FIG. 1, has in its upper surface along the chain travelling path a guide groove 4b-4'' and is divided along the center line of the guide groove 4b-4'' into two parts, i.e., a slidable jaw 4b-2 and a fixed jaw 4b-3. The slidable jaw 4b-2 slides toward and away from the fixed jaw 4b-3 along a non-illustrated guide rail formed in the upper surface of the table 5. At that time, likewise the first chain gripper a, this sliding is made by a hydraulic cylinder 8b. While the chain 1 is travelling, the slideable jaw 4b-2 is slightly retracted from the fixed jaw 4b-3 to increase the width of the guide groove 4b-4'' so as not to impede the travelling of the chain 1.When the pair of interengaged coupling element rows 7 is to be gripped horizontally from the opposite sides, the slidable jaw 4b-2 is advanced a predetermined distance toward the fixed jaw 4b-3 to grip the coupling element rows 7 by the guide groove 4b-4' ' of the two jaws 4b-2, 4b-3.

Between the first and second chain grippers 4a, 4b, a chain cutting unit 9 as a cutting means is situated for cutting off the individual joint of adjacent chains joined with staples 2, together wit:h the staples 2. FIG. 1 schemati calls shows the cutting unit 9. The cutting unit 9 is composed of first and second tape cutters 9a, 9b arranged at fixed positions spaced a predetermined distance along the chain travelling path and operable in synchronism with each other upon receipt of commands from the control unit 6. This distance is safely larger than the length of the stap].es 2.

A chain drawing-back unit 10 as a chain drawing-back means for drawing tlle upstream cut end of the chain which is cit by the first tape cutter 9a, back to the forward end (right edge in FTG. 2) of the first chain gripper 4a is situated adjacent to arid upstream of the first chain gripper /a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chain drawing-back unit 10 is located upwardly of the slide fastener chain l and is composed of an elevating member which is moved vertically a predetermined stroke toward and away from the chain 1 by a hydraulic actuator according to a command from the control unit 6. Alternatively, the chain drawiiig-back unit 10 may be, for instance, a reversibly roller whose angle of rotation is controlled based on a command from the control unit 6.

On the downstream side of the second chain gripper 4b, a feed roller 11 is situated for temporarily feeding the downstream cut end of the chain, which is cut by the cutting unit 9, to the back edge (left edge in FIG. 2) of the second chain griper b, when the ends of the adjacent chains 1 are to be joined, and for feeding the chain during the normal operation. The operation of the feed roller 11 is also con troll-ed based on a command from the control unit 6 as described below.

T!pwardly of a position where the first chain gripper 4a is stopped when it is moved closest to the second chain gripper a a film sticking unit 12 as a film sticking means con- stituting a part of the characteristic features of this invention is situated The film sticking unit 12 of this embodiment, as is appar-ent from FIGS.I and b, is composed of a chain depressing member 12a, an adhesive film sticking member 12b having a roller for- sticking a tape-like adhesive film 13 having a metallic surface, and an adhesive film drawing member 12c having a roller fo@ drawing the adhesive film 13, which are arranged one after another in the direction of feeding the slide fastner cha-in 1.

The chain depressing member 12a is located in a fixed position and has a plate-like chain pressure section 12a-2 to he vertically moved by a hydraulic cylinder 12a-1. When necessary, the chain depressing member 12a will be lowered to press the slide fastener chain 1, which is gripped on the upper surface of the first chain gripper 4a, against the first chain grpper 4a, thus preventing the chain 1 from removing from that position.The adhesive film sticking member 12b has a flm sticking roller 12b-2 to be vertically moved by a hydraulic cylinder 12h-1, and a film cutter 12b-3 attached to the fr-ont portion (right side in FIG. 4) of the film sticking roller 12b-2. Further, the whole of the adhesive film sticking member 12b will be moved forwardly and backwardly a predetermined stroke along t.he chain travelling path by a non illustrated moving means according to a command from the control unit 6.The blade of the film cutter 12b-3 is located slightly upwardly from the lower end of the film sticking roller 12h-2. The adhesive film drawing member 12c is substantially identical. in construction with the adhesive film sticking member l2b, exccpt that the drawing member 12c has, instead of the film cutter 12b-3, a film supporting member 12c-3 resiliently contacting the circumferential surface of ari adhesive film drawing roller 12c-2. Also the adhesive film drawing member 12c will be moved substantially in synchronism with the adhesive film sticking member 12b, to be exact, it is moved by a hydraulic cylinder 12c-1 at a timing slightly earlier than the adhesive film sticking member 12b is moved by the hydraulic cylinder 12b-1, In this embodiment, a second film sticking unit 14 as a film sticking means is situated in confronting relation to the chain back surface on the down- stream side of the second chain gripper bb. But the second film sticking unit 1/, unlike the first film sticking unit 12, is devoid of a chain pressure member.The second film sticking unit 14 has a chain receiving member 14a located on a sid opposite to the chain travelling path (upper-surface side) and having a lower surface for guiding the chain 1. The second film sticking unit 14 a so has an adhesive fi in sticking member 14b on the downstream side of the chain receiving member 14a and an adhesive film drawing memlier 14c on the upstream side of the chain rfceiving member 14a.

The control unit 6 accommodates a production control data and a program and performs arithmetic process in an arithmetic section inside based on a detection signal from the detecting unit 3, serlding signals successively to various means tn be operated in the fowl lowing procedure.

When the slide fastener chains 1 joined end to end by staples 2 are supplied to the chain joining machine of this embodiment @s they are guided by a plurality of guide rollers 15 as shown in FIG. 2, firstly the existence of the staples 2 will be detected in terns of a physical displacement by the joint detector~ 53 to snd a detection signal to the control unit, 6.The images of the front and back surfaces of the slide fastener chains 1 are taken all times by the first and second pickup tubes 3b, 3c, which transmit the image information successively t-o the control unit 6 where image processing and arithmetic process-ing take place.If it finds an abnormality as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 6 will send an abnormality detection signal to the first and second adhesive film sticking units 12, 14 to stick adhesive films 13 to the opposite surfaces of the abnormal. tape portion in timed relation with the chain feed speed, making a marking as shown in FIG. 8.

As a staple e detection signal sent from the joint detector 3a is processed by arithmetic process in the control unit 6, the control unit 6 will send operational signals to various operational units, i.e., the first and second chain grippers 4a, Ah, the cutting unit 9, the first and second film sticking units 12, 14 and the feed roller 11, successively according to he predetermined pr-ocedure in timed relation with the chain feed speed. Upon arrival of the stapled joint at the cutting unit- 9, t.he control un-it 6 will send a chain feed interrupting signal to thr feed roller 11.When the feed roller 11 is deactivated, then the respective hydraulic cylinders 8a, 8b of the first and second chain grippers 4a, 4b will be actuated to move the espe(t3 ve movable jaws 4a-2, 4b-2 toward the corresponding fixed jaws 4a-3, 4b-3, thus gripping the coupling element rows 7 of t.he chain in the guide groove la-A'' 4b-4 ' ' from the opposite sides.

Upon completion of this gripping, the first and second tape cutters 9a, 9b will be actuated to cut off the tape portion about the staples 2 along cutting lines CL-1, CL-2 as shown in FTG. 5. Then the individual hydraulic cylinder 8a, 8b will be activated to release the chain l and, at the same time, the chain drawingAack unit 10 and the feed roller 11 will be actuated to draw the upstream cut end of the chain 1 back to the forward edge of the first chain gripper 4a and to feed the downstream cut end of the chain 1 to the back edge of the second chain gripper 4b respectively.

Subsequently, the first chain gripper 4a will start roving toward the second chain gripper sb until they come into contact with each other. At that time, the cut ends of adjacent chains 1 carried on the respective upper surfaces of the first and second chain grippers 4a, 4b confront each other. At this stagc, the first adhesive film sticking unit 12 is actuated to stick the adhesive film 13 for marking having a metallic surface to the upper surface of the confronting cut ends of the chains 1. Namely, the chain depressing member 12a is lowered by the hydraulic cylinder 12a-1 so as that the platelike chain pressure section 12a-2 will press the chains against the upper surface of the first chain gripper 4a, securing the chains 1.Then, the adhesive film sticking member 12b and the adhesive film drawing member 12c will be lowered to stick the adhesive film, which extends over the circum ferential surface of the adhesive film drawing member 12c, to the upstream chain cut end.

Then, 1-lie adhesive film sticking member 12b and the adhesive film drawing member l2c will be moved horizontally toward the downstream side in synchronism with each other to stick a predetermined length of adhesive film 13 to the downstream chain cut end. Upon termination of this sticking, firstly the adhesive film drawing member 12c will start rising slightly prior to the adhesive film sticking member 12b.

Utilizing the time difference between the adhesive film sticking member 12b and the adhesive film drawing member 12c, the adhesive film 13 will be automatically cut by a film cutter 12b-3 attached to the front portion of the adhesive film sticking member 12b. When this film cutting has been completed, the feed roller 11 will restart feeding the slide fastener chains 1, with their confronting ends joined by the adhesive film 13, forwardly. When the adhesve-film-stuck portion arrives at the second adhesive film sticking unit 14, this film sticking unit 14 will be moved upwardly to press the adhcsive-film-stuck portion against the receiving member 14a and, at the same time to stick the adhesive film 13 to the lower chain surface of a predetermined length in response to the travelling of the chain 1. Upon termination of this film sticking, firstly the adhesive film drawing member 14c will be lowered and then the adhesive sticking member 14b will be lowered; utilizing their time difference, the film cutter 14b-3 will cut the adhesive film 13.

Thus the joint of tlie slide fastener chains 1. joined by stables 2 is cut off and removed together with the staples 2.

The adhesive film 13 having a metallic surface is stuck to each of opposite surfaces of the confronting cut edges as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the slide fastener chains 1 are joined with their joints flat, and the adhesive film with a metallic surface serves also as a marking. The foregoing joining takes place fully automatically. Further, if an inferior portion is found on the chain surface as the chain surface is watched all times, the adhesive film 13 having a metallic surface is stuck tn the inferior portion automatically.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the slide fastener chain joining machine of this invention, as installed at a necessary position in the slide fastener chain manufacturing process, automatically detects the stapled joint of the slide fastener chain and an abnormal portion on the tape surface by the detecting unit and then cuts off the joint about tlie stalles, whereupon the joining machine will automatically stick the adhesive film having a metallic surface to each of opposite surfaces of confronting chain cut ends to join the adjacent chains without projection from the tape surfaces.

The adhesive film serves by itself as a marking. If an abnormal portion on the tape surface is detected, the adhesive film having a narking function will be stuck to the abnormal portion alltomatical ly.

Claims (10)

CLAIMES:

1. An automatic sle fastener chain joining machine for detecting joints of slide fastener chain (l) which is composed of successive fastener tapes joined with one another end to end with staples (2), and abnormal portions of the fastener tapes, cutting off each of chain joints about the corresponding staples (2), a.nd then joining the separated fastener tapes with one another at the cut ends, comprising:: (a) detecting means (3) situated in a path of travel of slide fastener chain (1) for detecting the passage of the individual staple (2) and the abnormal portion on the fastener tapes; (b) first and second chain grippers (4a, 4b) situated downstream of said detecting means (3), each of said first and second chain grippers (a, ZJb) having a gripping mechanism for supporting and guiding one surface of the slide fastener chain (1) and for gripping coupling element rows (7) of the slide fastener chain (1) from opposite sides, wherein said second chain gripper (4b) is located in a fixed position in the chain travelling patio downstream of said first chain gripper (4a) while said first chain gripper (4a) is movable toward and away from said second chain gripper (4b); (c) cutting means (9) situated between said first and second chain grippers (4a, 4b) for cutting off the chain joints about the staples (2);; (d) film sticking means (12) situated adjacent to said first and second chain grippers (4a, ab) for sticking an adhesive film (13) onto a chain surface opposite to the chain surface supported by said first and second chain grippers (4a, 4b), at the confronting cut chain ends; and (e) a control unit (6) for making a necessary calculation upon receipt of a detection signal from said detecting means (3) and for sending an operating command to the individual operative means according to a previously stored operation procedure.

2. An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means (3) is composed of a pickup tube (3b, 3c) connected to said control unit (6) for sending a control signal to the individual operative means based on the image processing in said control unit (6).

3. An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according t.n claim 1, wherein each of said first and second grippers (4a, 4b) is divided into two jaws (4a-2, 4a-3; 4b-2, 4b-3) along the chain travelling path, one of said two jaws (4a-3, 4b-3) being fixed and the other jaw (4a-2, 4b-2) being movable, said two jaws having in their confronting upper edges a pair of guide groove (4a-4, 4b-4) halves for receiving a pair of coupling element rows (7), said movable jaw (41-2, 4b-2) of each said gripper (4) being movable toward and away from said fixed jaw (4a-3, 4b-3) transversely of the chain travelling patii for holding the pair of coupling element rows (7) from opposite side.

4. An autoratic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 1, wherein said cutting means (9) is composed of first and second chain cutters (9a, 9b) spaced at a predetermined distance along the chain travelling path and simultancously operative based on a command from said control unit (6)

5.An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 1 , wherein said cutting means (9) has a chain supporting section and a cutting section for cutting off the chain joints about the staples successively based on the successively commands from said control unit (6).

6. An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 1 further comprising drawing-back means (10) sittiated adjacent to and upstream of said first gripper (4a) for drawing the upstream cut end of the chain cut by said cutting means (9) back to a forward edge of said first. chain gi I)per (4a) arid feeding means (11) situated downstrean of said second chain gripper (4b) for temporarily feeding the downstream cut end of the chain cut by said cutting means (9) to a back edge of sa-id second chain gripper (4b) and for making a normal chain feed;

7.An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 6, wherein said drawing-back means (10) has a chain depressing section located upwardly of the chain travelling path and vertically movable by a predetermined distance by a hydraulic: actuating means.

8. An automatic slide fastener chain joining machi.ne according to claim 3 , wherein said adhesive film (13) has a metal surface.

9. An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 1, wherein said film sticking means (12) has a roll of said adhesive film (13) in a tape-like form, an adhesive film drawing member supporting on its circumferential surface an end of said adhesive film to be drawn from said toil and movable toward and away from the surface of the fastner chain on the first and second grippers (4a, 4b) and reciprocatingly movable by a predetermined distance along the chain travelling path, and an adhesive film sticking roller located upstream of and adjacent to said adhesive film drawing roller and operable timed relation to said adhesive film d@ drawing roller.

10. An automatic slide fastener chain joining machine according to claim 3, wherein another film sticking means (14) is situated downstream of said first and second chain grippers (4a, 4b) for sticking an adhesive film (13) onto another chain surface opposite to said chain surface having said adhesive film (13) previously stuck thereon.