Method for continuously producing a multi-hook fastner member and product of the method

A method suitable for continuously producing an elongated strip-like fastener member having a base portion and a great multiplicity of hook-like project extending integrally from one surface of said base portion, comprising the steps of:

• forming a strip-like extrusion of molten plastic material;
• providing a first, cooled forming roller having a plurality of hook-forming cavities defined about the periphery thereof wherein each said cavity includes a throat portion adjacent the periphery of said forming roller having an inwardly tapering configuration, and each said cavity includes an inner end portion communicating with the throat portion thereof and extending in a direction back toward the periphery of said forming roller;
• providing a second pressure roller in position for coaction with said first forming roller;
• concurrently rotating said first and second rollers in opposite directions about respective parallel axes;
• directing said extrusion in between said first and second rollers at an interface thereof so that said plastic material fills said hook-forming cavities to form said base portion of said strip-like fastener member and with said hook-like projections extending integrally from one surface of the base portion, each said hook-like projection having a free end portion;
• cooling said fastener member to a desired temperature by carrying it on the periphery of said rotating, cooled forming roller through a substantial portion of a revolution of said forming roller;
• and
• removing said strip-like fastener member from said first forming roller at a position spaced from the interface of said first and second rollers by maintaining tension on the elongated fastener member thus-formed so that said hook-like projections are withdrawn from said hook-forming cavities, after being sufficiently cooled so that unacceptable deformation of the hook-like projections is avoided, without opening said cavities by drawing the free end portion of each said hook-like projection through the throat portion of the respective one of said cavities, the free end portion of each said hook-like projection extending generally toward the base portion of said fastener member.

A method suitable for continuously producing an elongated strip-like fastener member comprising the steps of:

• forming a strip-like extrusion of plastic material;
• directing said extrusion to a cooled forming roller having a plurality of hook-forming cavities defined about the periphery, each of said hook-forming cavities including a throat portion adjacent the periphery of said forming roller, and at least one inner end portion communicating with said throat portion, said inner end portion extending in a direction generally radially away from said throat portion;
• providing pressure directed toward said extrusion and said forming roller;
• rotating said forming roller while maintaining said pressure thereagainst such that said plastic material fills said hook-forming cavities to form a base portion of a strip-like fastener member and a great multiplicity of hook-like projections extending integrally from one surface of said base portion;
• cooling said fastener member to a desired temperature by carrying it on the periphery of said rotating, cooled forming roller;
• and
• separating said strip-like fastener member and said cooled forming roller downstream of the location of entry of said plastic material into said hook-forming cavities without opening the roll surface of said hook-forming cavities such that said hook-like projections are withdrawn therefrom when sufficiently cooled so that unacceptable deformation of the hook-like projections is avoided, each said hook-like projection having at least one free end portion extending generally radially away from said stem and generally toward said base.

A method suitable for continuously producing an elongated strip-like fastener member having a base member and a multiplicity of hook-like engaging elements in the form of projections upstanding thereform, at least certain of said hook-like projections each having a resilient stem supported at one end thereof on said base member and at least one radial extension on the unsupported end of said stem, comprising the steps of:

• forming a strip-like extrusion of plastic material;
• directing said extrusion to a cooled forming roller having a plurality of hook-forming cavities defined about the periphery, each said hook-forming cavities including a throat portion adjacent the periphery of said forming roller, and at least one inner end portion communicating with said throat portion, each said inner end portion of each hook-forming cavity extending in a direction generally radially away from said throat portion and in a direction generally toward the periphery of said forming roller;
• providing coactive pressure directed toward said extrusion and said forming roller;
• rotating said forming roller while maintaining said coactive pressure thereaganist such that said plastic material fills said hook-forming cavities to form a base portion of a stirp-like fastener member and a great multiplicity of hook-like projections extending integrally from one surface of said base portion;
• cooling said fastener member to a desired temperature by carrying it on the periphery of said rotating, cooled forming roller;
• and
• removing said strip-like member from said cooled forming roller at a position spaced from the location of entry of said plastic material into said hook-forming cavities without opennng said hook-forming cavities such that said hook-like projections are withdrawn therefrom when sufficiently cooled so that unacceptable deformation of the hook-like projections is avoided, each said hook-like projection having at least one free end portion extending generally toward said base portion.

A method suitable for continuously producing an elongated strip-like fastener member having a base member and a multiplicity of hook-like engaging elements in the form of projections upstanding therefrom, at least certain of said hook-like projections each having a resilient stem supported at one end thereof on said base member and at least one radial extension on the unsupported end of said stem, comprising the steps of:

• forming a strip-like extrusion of plastic material;
• directing said extrusion to a first cooled forming roller having a plurality of hook-forming cavities defined about the periphery thereof, each said hook-forming cavities including a throat portion adjacent the periphery of said forming roller, and at least one inner end portion communicating with said throat portion, each said inner end portion of each hook-forming cavity extending generally radially away from said throat portion and in a direction generally toward the periphery of said forming roller;
• providing coactive pressure directed toward said extrusion and said forming roller by a second pressure roller in position for coaction with said forming roller;
• concurrently rotating said first and second rollers in opposite directions about substantially parallel axes such that said plastic material fills said hook-forming cavities to form a base portion of a strip-like fastener member and a great multiplicity of hook-like projections extending integrally from one surface of said base portion;
• cooling said fastener member to a desired temperature by carrying it on the periphery of said rotating, cooled forming roller;
• removing said strip-like fastener member from said cooled forming roller at a position spaced from the location of entry of said plastic material into said hook-forming cavities without opening said hook-forming cavities such that said hook-like projections are withdrawn therefrom when sufficiently cooled so that unacceptable deformation of the hook-like projections is avoided, each said hook-like projection having at least one free end portion extending generally radially away form said stem and toward said base portion.

A method suitable for continuously producing an elongate strip-like member on an apparatus having a first cooled, forming roller defining a plurality of hook-forming cavities about the periphery thereof, each of said hook-forming cavities including a throat portion adjacent the periphery of said forming roller and an inner hook-forming portion communicating with said throat portion and extending generally toward said periphery, means for providing pressure directed toward said forming roller, comprising the steps of directing a strip-like extrusion of molten palstic material in between said forming roller and said pressure means at an interface thereof such that said plastic material fills said hook-forming cavities to form a base portion of said strip-like member and a great multiplicity of hook-like projections extending from one surface of said base portion and formed integrally therewith, at least partially cooling said member to a desired temperature by carrying it on the periphery of said rotating forming roller, and removing said strip-like member from said first forming roller at a position spaced from said interface of said forming roller and said pressure means such that said hook-like projections are withdrawn from said hook-forming cavities, only after being sufficiently cooled so that unacceptable deformation of the hook-like projections is avoided, without opening the roll surface defining said hook-forming cavities.