Method for producing closing members for supporting hooks or eyes

A method for producing closing members from contiguous hook or eye tapes comprising top and bottom plies (10 and 11) made of thermoplastic material, a fabric insert (12) disposed between the two thermoplastic plies (10 and 11), and a cover strip 15 on which contiguous hooks or eyelets (3) are arranged in transverse rows, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) advancing the tapes at a predetermined stepped rhythm;
• (b) forming two lips
• (i) in the edge zone of the tapes
• (ii) for attachment of the closing member to a garment
• (iii) by the insertion of a strip (16) of non-weldable material between the cover strip (15) and the top ply (11), which strip (16), however, does not prevent the edges of the two lips from being simultaneously welded by a single welding operation on one side of one of the lips;
• and
• (c) welding the cover strip (15) to the top ply (11) in the portion of the tapes other than the two lips, the side edge of the top ply (11) to the side edge of the bottom ply (10) in the two lips, and the side edge of the cover strip (15)
• (i) at right angles to the lips,
• (ii) by a single ultrasonic or high frequency linear welding operation on one side of the tapes,
• (iii) while the plies are temporarily stopped,
• (iv) until zones disposed between the transverse rows of hooks or eyes secured on the tapes are rendered suitable for separation.