10/5/2010

7,806,677
Molding Apparatus and Related Systems and Methods
Fastener products, such as hook and loop releasable fasteners are manufactured by a calendar roll with properly distributed fastener-shaped mold cavities. This roll can be formed by an axially compressed stack of ring-mold plates.  In operation, molten polymer from an extruder is introduced into a pressure nip to force the molten polymer under high pressure into the fastener cavities , hooks or stems of the calendar roll.  At the same time, the roll can form a sheet from which the fastener elements extend.  Clarner and Gallant of Velcro have developed a roll assembly which includes an inner member with multiple molding tools extending to the molding surface.  Each molding tool includes at least one molding plate that defines a molding cavity.  (RDC 1/4/2010)