(19)
(11) EP 0 641 529 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
24.04.1996 Bulletin 1996/17

(43) Date of publication A2:
08.03.1995 Bulletin 1995/10

(21) Application number: 94112927.2

(22) Date of filing: 18.08.1994
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: A44B 19/60
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 07.09.1993 JP 256219/93

(71) Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Endou, Masato
    Kurobe-shi, Toyama-ken (JP)
  • Yamazaki, Masao
    Uozu-shi, , Toyama-ken (JP)
  • Fukuzawa, Mitsuyasu
    Shimoniikawa-gun, Toyama-ken (JP)
  • Kuse, Kazuki
    Toyama-shi, Toyama-ken (JP)

(74) Representative: Patentanwälte Leinweber & Zimmermann 
Rosental 7/II Aufg.
80331 München
80331 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Apparatus for inspecting top end stops of slide fastener


    (57) An apparatus (13) for automatically inspecting top end stops (2) of a slide fastener (1) while the slide fastener (1) is fed by pulling it by grippers (9) toward a discharge station, with a slider (6) having a pull tab (7) and a bottom end stop (5) attached to the slide fastener (1), wherein an image sensor or camera (14) is disposed adjacent to the feed path on an upstream side of the discharge station to read an image of the top end stops (2) for inspecting an attached condition of the top end stops (2) effected on data of the image read by the camera (14) using an image-processing technique, and a fastener support unit (16) is disposed in the feed path upstream of the camera (14) for supporting a portion of the slide fastener (1) in the vicinity of the bottom end stop (5) to keep the slide fastener (1) stable while the image of the top end stops (2) is read by the camera (14).






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