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US 6,540,863 B2Granted
Forming fastener components of multiple streams of resin
AssigneeVelcro Industries B.V.
InventorsRandall B. Kenney, Brian J. Routhier, Martin I. Jacobs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fastening component of a separable fastener is molded out of two separate flows of resin joined under pressure in a nip as the fastening elements are molded in cavities of a cavity roller. The joined flows of resin travel about the cavity roller while being cooled, and are then passed about a stripping roller to pull the formed fastener strip from the cavity roller.
Claims14
A method of continuously forming a separable touch fastener strip having a flexible base unitarily molded with a plurality of fastening elements extending from a fastening surface thereof, the method comprising:
- providing an apparatus having
- a cavity roller that contains cavities for forming the fastening elements, and
- a base roller which defines, together with the cavity roller, a nip;
- supplying a first stream of molten plastic to the nip under conditions which cause the plastic of the first stream to fill the cavities of the cavity roller and form the fastening surface of the base;
- while
- supplying a second stream of molten plastic to the nip along with the first stream of molten plastic, such that plastic of the first stream and plastic of the second stream are joined in the nip to form the fastener strip;
- allowing the formed fastener strip to travel around the cavity roller;
- and then
- passing the formed fastener strip around a stripping roller to pull the formed fastener strip from engagement with the cavity roller.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.