Improvements are disclosed for an apparatus for continuously molding small
fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin. The
apparatus comprises a cylindrical mold roll rotatable about an axis and
defining small fastener element-shaped mold cavities in the surface
thereof, and pressure-applying means to apply operating pressure to force
the resin into the cavities at a pressure zone. The pressure-applying
means and mold roll define a mold gap therebetween for forming the base
web. The advantageous use of relatively long mold rolls, to produce a
correspondingly wide web, and the use of higher molding pressures, e.g. to
form very small fastener elements, is enabled by various improvements,
including means to maintain the mold gap at a desired thickness profile
across the length of the molding region of the mold roll under operating
pressure. In some cases the pressure-applying means includes a pressure
roll, in other cases it includes a resin nozzle assembly or pressure head.
In some other cases it includes a belt. Various control schemes are also
disclosed, as are means to provide cooling. In some particularly useful
embodiments, at least one of the rolls of the apparatus has a resiliently
deformable surface. Methods of molding fastener elements directly on a
sheet material, such as sandpaper, are also disclosed, as well as methods
for laminating.