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.
Claims42
A process for forming projections suitable for use in a touch fastener 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 said first device and/or said second device contains a plurality of cavities, at least some of said cavities having a shape to produce a projection suitable for use in a touch fastener;
- positioning said substrate material between said first device and said second device;
- applying power to said second device to locally soften said substrate material such that a portion of said softened substrate material is forced into said cavities to form
- projections suitable for use in a touch fastener on a portion of said first surface of said substrate material and a portion of said substrate material serves as a touch fastener carrier for said projections.
A process for forming projections suitable for use in a touch fastener on a substrate comprising:
- providing a substrate material having a first surface;
- providing a device as a source of vibration energy, said device having a surface containing a plurality of cavities, said cavities arranged along at least a portion of said surface, at least some of said cavities having a shape to produce a projection suitable for use in a touch fastener;
- pressing said device against said first surface of said substrate material;
- applying power to said device to locally soften said substrate material such that a portion of said softened substrate material is forced into said cavities in said surface of said device to form projections suitable for use in a touch fastener on said first surface of said substrate material, said projections generally conforming to said shape of said cavities, a portion of said substrate serves as a touch fastener carrier for said projections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.