Forming mold cavities
AssigneeVelcro Industries B.V.
InventorsStephen C. Jens, Andrew C. Harvey, Gilbert G. Fryklund, James W. Babineau
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Abstract
A method for producing a multiplicity of miniature cavities extending from a mold surface for molding a plastic product having features integrally molded with and extending from a product base, and a mold so produced. The mold cavities are formed by depositing multiple layers of plating material on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern selected to produce a desired mold cavity shape. The mold may be in the form of a roll or belt for continuous processing, or in any form for discrete injection molding. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of touch fastener products, such as those with arrays of miniature hooks.
Claims45
A method of producing a multiplicity of miniature mold cavities extending from a common surface, for molding a plastic product having a corresponding multiplicity of miniature features integrally molded with and extending from a common base, the method comprising
- depositing multiple layers of plating material onto a workpiece in predetermined patterns selected to produce desired mold cavity shapes such that the deposited plating material defines the multiplicity of miniature mold cavities and the common surface.
A method of producing a mold defining an array of mold cavities extending from a common surface, for producing an array of plastic elements integrally molded with and extending from a broad side of a base, the method comprising
- providing a master having a surface from which an array of master features extend, the features having shapes corresponding to the shapes of the elements to be molded;
- depositing plating material across the surface of the master to cover the master features;
- and
- removing the master from the deposited plating material to expose an array of cavities extending into the plating material, each cavity corresponding to a master feature and shaped for molding an element therein.
A method of producing a mold roll defining an array of cavities extending inward from a peripheral surface, for continuously molding an array of fastener element features exteniding from a sheet-form base, the method comprising
- providing a master having a surface from which an array of master features extend, the master features having shapes corresponding to the shapes of fastener element features to be molded;
- arranging the master inside a rigid sleeve;
- depositing plating material across the surface of the master to cover the master features and form a cylindrical mold sleeve of plating material;
- and
- removing the master from the deposited plating material to expose an array of cavities extending into the mold sleeve from a peripheral surface thereof, each cavity corresponding to a master feature and shaped for molding a fastener element feature therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.