Continuous molding of fastener products and the like and products produced thereby
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for continuously molding an array of miniature fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin, the apparatus comprisinga cylindrical mold roll comprising a stacked series of plates rotatable about an axis of rotation and together defining an array of miniature, fastener element-shaped mold cavities in a peripheral surface of the mold roll, andpressure-applying means to apply operating pressure to force the resin into said cavities at a mold gap defined between the pressure-applying means and the peripheral surface of the mold roll, to form said fastener elements, the apparatus characterized in thatthe apparatus includes a support member on the side of said mold roll generally opposite said pressure-applying means, said support member arranged to apply a substantial reaction force to the peripheral surface of the mold roll sufficient to resist radial deflection of said mold roll caused by said operating pressure, under conditions in which the miniature mold cavities in the surface of the mold roll are protected against permanent deformation from the reaction force, to maintain said mold gap at a desired thickness profile across the width of said base web under said operating pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improvements for an apparatus for continuously molding small fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin. The apparatus includes a rotating cylindrical mold roll defining small fastener element-shaped mold cavities in its peripheral surface. Resin is forced into the cavities under pressure at a gap between the mold roll and either a pressure roll, a pressure nozzle, or a belt. The improvements compensate for the crowning of the mold roll under high molding pressures, enabling the molding of wider products. Other gap controls include skewing, product thickness feedback, and active roll bending. Some pressure and backup rolls have compliant surfaces for conforming to the mold roll to avoid high contact loads that can damage the cavities.
104 Citations
27 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for continuously molding an array of miniature fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin, the apparatus comprising
a cylindrical mold roll comprising a stacked series of plates rotatable about an axis of rotation and together defining an array of miniature, fastener element-shaped mold cavities in a peripheral surface of the mold roll, and pressure-applying means to apply operating pressure to force the resin into said cavities at a mold gap defined between the pressure-applying means and the peripheral surface of the mold roll, to form said fastener elements, the apparatus characterized in that the apparatus includes a support member on the side of said mold roll generally opposite said pressure-applying means, said support member arranged to apply a substantial reaction force to the peripheral surface of the mold roll sufficient to resist radial deflection of said mold roll caused by said operating pressure, under conditions in which the miniature mold cavities in the surface of the mold roll are protected against permanent deformation from the reaction force, to maintain said mold gap at a desired thickness profile across the width of said base web under said operating pressure.
Specification