Method and apparatus for dispensing fasteners

Claim 1

In fastener stock of the type comprising two continuous and elongated plastic side members that are cross-coupled by a plurality of filaments, the stock being proportioned to be fed as a unit to a position where individual fasteners are separated therefrom within a machine, one of said side members being proportioned so that each separated fastener includes an end-bar formed from a portion of the said side member and is configured for feeding through the bore of a hollow needle having a longitudinal slot for passage of the associated filament, and in which each filament is foldable towards the associated end-bar that is feedable through said hollow needle; the improvement adapted for continuous molding in long lengths and for feeding and dispensing individual fasteners therefrom with dispensing apparatus which advances the end fastener adjacent the rear portion of the needle bore with its end-bar transversely disposed thereto, rotates the end-bar into alignment therewith, and contacts the end of the end-bar with plunger means to sever the end-bar from the stock and force it through the bore; said improvement comprising fastener stock wherein each of said filaments is molded with a D-shaped cross-section having its maximum width at a substantialy flat plane at one side thereof, said end-bars being wider in cross-section at said plane than in other planes parallel thereto, and wherein adjacent end-bars are connected end-to-end at a portion of their peripheries adjacent to said plane by means of a severable connector substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than said end-bars to expose a major portion of the end of at least one of the connected end-bars, one face of each of said connectors being located substantially at said plane.