Method and apparatus for producing hook fasteners
OwnerGerald Rochainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and process are described for forming projections on a substrate for use as hook-type fasteners in touch fastening systems, wherein vibration energy may be used to soften a substrate which may be positioned between a mold and a source of vibration. The mold may include a plurality of cavities into which the softened substrate may be forced to form the projections. The substrate may comprise a film, sheet, web, composite, laminate, etc. and be useful as an attachment strip for temporary or permanent fastening. The source of vibration may be an ultrasonic horn. The process to form such projections may be operated in a continuous, semi-continuous or intermittent manner.
Claims32
A process for forming projections on a substrate comprising:
- providing a first device having an outer surface;
- providing a solid substrate material having a first surface;
- providing a second device as a source of vibration energy;
- wherein one or both of the first device and the second device contain a plurality of cavities, the cavities having a shape to produce projections, wherein the projections have a shape of one or more of hooks, curved pins, and angled pins, wherein the angled pins have a rectangular cross section;
- positioning the substrate material between the first device and the second device;
- applying power to the second device to locally soften the substrate material such that a portion of the softened substrate material is forced into the cavities to form the projections on a portion of the first surface of the substrate material and a portion of the substrate material serves as a carrier for the projections.
A process for forming projections on a substrate comprising:
- providing a first device having an outer surface;
- providing a substrate material having a first surface;
- providing a second device as a source of vibration energy;
- wherein one or both of the first device and the second device contain a plurality of cavities, at least some of the cavities having a shape to produce a projection suitable for use in a touch fastener, the first device having a shape to produce intermittent patterns of projections formed in islands on the substrate;
- positioning the substrate material between the first device and the second device;
- applying power to the second device to locally soften the substrate material such that a portion of the softened substrate material is forced into the cavities to form projections suitable for use in a touch fastener on a portion of the first surface of the substrate material and a portion of the substrate material serves as a touch fastener carrier for the projections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.