Abstract:
Methods and machines for making fastener products having molded projections or other molded features carried on a surface feature transferring resin in discrete doses through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotating die wheel.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to methods and machines for making fastener products.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Fastener products, such as hook components of hook-and-loop fasteners, or other projections for releasable engagement into a cooperating material, are often manufactured by a continuous molding method employing a cylindrical mold roll which has fastener-shaped mold cavities formed in its periphery. Often the mold roll is formed of an axially compressed stack of ring-form mold plates. In operation, molten polymer from an extruder is introduced into a pressure zone in which the molten polymer is forced under high pressure into the fastener cavities of the mold roll, to mold fastener elements, e.g., hooks, or stems from which fastener elements are later formed, integrally with a base layer. In some cases the pressure zone is a nip formed by a mold roll and an adjacent pressure roll. In other configurations the pressure zone is formed between a conforming stationary pressure head and a mold roll.  
         [0003]     For some applications, it is desirable that the fastener elements of the product be arranged only in discrete areas, and that the pattern of such areas be of a specific configuration.  
         [0004]     Further improvements in methods and machines for making fastener products are desirable. It is desirable that the improved methods be readily and efficiently adaptable with current manufacturing methods and equipment, thus eliminating or greatly reducing the need for large expenditures in new equipment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Several aspects of the invention feature new methods and machines for making fastener products having molded projections or other molded features carried on a surface. The new methods and machines feature transferring resin in discrete doses, or charges through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotating die wheel.  
         [0006]     One aspect of the invention features an apparatus for making fastener products having an array of male fastener elements formed of resin. The apparatus includes a mold roll that defines an array of cavities extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof. A counter-rotating pressure roll is positioned adjacent the mold roll to define a pressure nip. A rotating die wheel defines an extrusion orifice in an outer surface thereof and the die wheel is positioned so as to transfer extruded resin into the pressure nip in discrete regions corresponding to doses of resin extruded through the orifice. The discrete regions of resin are laminated to a carrier sheet and pressed into multiple cavities of the mold roll in the pressure nip to form at least the stems of the fastener elements. The base of the resin is formed on the surface of the mold roll and interconnects the fastener element stems.  
         [0007]     Another aspect of the invention features a method of making fastener products having an array of male fastener elements formed of resin. The method includes providing a mold roll that defines an array of cavities extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof. The mold roll is positioned adjacent to a counter-rotating pressure roll to define a pressure nip. Moldable resin is extruded in discrete doses through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotating die wheel. The extruded resin is transferred into the pressure nip in such a manner that the resin is transferred into the nip in discrete regions corresponding to the doses of extruded resin. The resin is laminated to a carrier sheet and the regions of resin are pressed into multiple cavities of the mold roll in the pressure nip to form at least the stems of the fastener elements. The base of the resin is formed on the surface of the mold roll and interconnects the fastener element stems. Stripping the resin from the mold roll surface on the carrier sheet frees the fastener product.  
         [0008]     In several implementations, the resin is transferred as a series of discrete regions spaced apart according to revolutions of the die wheel, or the resin is transferred as a multiple number of regions per revolution of the die wheel. In some embodiments, the die wheel defines multiple extrusion orifices and the extrusion orifices are spaced apart along a rotational axis of the die wheel. In some implementations, the extrusion orifices are spaced apart about a circumference of the die wheel, such that multiple discrete regions of resin are transferred per revolution of the die wheel.  
         [0009]     In certain implementations, the resin is extruded at such a rate that causes adjacent doses of resin to merge on the carrier sheet. In another implementation, adjacent doses merge under nip pressure to form the base as a contiguous layer of resin.  
         [0010]     In specific embodiments, multiple extrusion orifices are arranged adjacent one another in a grouping, such that doses of resin from the orifices in the grouping are transferred into the pressure nip in a pattern of an overall shape determined by a shape of the grouping of orifices in the die wheel. In another specific embodiment, the adjacent doses of resin in the transferred pattern merge to fill the overall pattern shape with a contiguous layer of resin.  
         [0011]     In some implementations, the orifice extends through the die wheel between two openings at the outer surface of the die wheel, the die wheel rotating adjacent a source of pressurized molten resin cyclically exposed to the orifice, and the source of pressurized molten resin comprises an extrusion shoe forming a seal against the die wheel. The two openings can be, for example, disposed on opposite sides of the die wheel, and the two openings can rotate within parallel planes spaced apart along a rotational axis of the die wheel, the orifice extending at an acute angle to the rotational axis. In another implementation, the orifice extends between an opening at an outer surface of the die wheel and an opening at an inner surface of the die wheel, the die wheel defining therein a reservoir containing pressurized, molten resin.  
         [0012]     In some embodiments, the die wheel includes a rotating sleeve disposed about a rotationally stationary cylinder defining an outer opening in hydraulic communication with the die wheel reservoir, the die wheel rotating to cyclically align the orifice and outer opening, and the outer opening of the cylinder includes a longitudinal slot.  
         [0013]     In preferred implementations, the method further includes adjusting a rotational orientation of the cylinder to position an extrusion orientation of the die wheel. The resin can be, for example, carried into the pressure nip on the carrier sheet. In a specific implementation, the carrier sheet is trained about the rotating die wheel, and the resin is wiped onto the carrier sheet from the outer surface of the rotating die wheel. In some implementations, the carrier sheet passes through a nip defined between the die wheel and a counter-rotating roller.  
         [0014]     In several embodiments, the resin is transferred into the pressure nip by first being transferred from the outer surface of the die wheel to the outer surface of the mold roll, and then carried into the pressure nip by rotation of the mold roll, or the resin is transferred into the pressure nip by first being transferred from the outer surface of the die wheel to an outer surface of the pressure roll, and then carried into the pressure nip by rotation of the pressure roll.  
         [0015]     In specific implementations, the resin is laminated to the carrier sheet in the pressure nip, the carrier sheet being carried into the nip between the resin and the mold roll, pressure in the nip forcing the resin through the carrier sheet to fill the mold roll cavities.  
         [0016]     In some implementations, the method further includes forming engageable heads on distal ends of the fastener element stems. The mold roll can, for example, include cavities that are shaped to mold the engageable heads. In some implementations, the heads are formed by deforming distal ends of the mold stems, after stripping the resin from the mold roll surface.  
         [0017]     Another aspect of the invention features a method of making fastener products having an array of male fastener elements formed of resin. The method includes providing a mold roll that defines an array of cavities extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof. The mold roll positioned adjacent a counter-rotating pressure roll to define a pressure nip. Moldable resin is extruded as discrete doses through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotating die wheel, the extruding occurs at such a rate that the discrete doses at least partially merge. The resin is transferred into the pressure nip and pressed so that the at least partially merged doses of resin enter the multiple cavities of the mold roll in the pressure nip to form at least the stems of the fastener elements. A contiguous base of resin is formed on the surface of the mold roll that interconnects the fastener element stems.  
         [0018]     Another aspect of the invention features a method of making fastener products having an array of male fastener elements formed of resin. The method includes providing a mold roll that defines an array of cavities extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof. Molded resin is extruded through an orifice defined in an outer surface of a rotatable die wheel while the die wheel is stationary (i.e., not rotating). The extruded resin is transferred into the pressure nip, and pressed into multiple cavities of the mold roll in the pressure nip to form at least the stems of the fastener elements. A base of the resin on the surface of the mold roll, the base interconnecting the fastener element stems, and the resin is laminated to a carrier sheet.  
         [0019]     In specific implementations, the outer surface defines a plurality of orifices, producing a fastener product with discrete strips of fastener elements along a first direction upon the carrier sheet, the discrete strips being contiguous in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. In another embodiment, the resin falls through a distance, for example, 0.5 to 36 inch (1.27-91.44 cm), onto the mold roll under the influence of gravity.  
         [0020]     Another aspect of the invention features a method of making fastener products having an array of male fastener elements formed of resin. The method includes providing a mold roll that defines an array of cavities extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof. Molten resin is deposited upon the outer surface of the mold roll under substantially atmospheric pressure conditions while the mold roll rotates so that the molten resin remains substantially on the outer surface of the mold roll. The resin is transferred into the pressure nip, and optionally laminated to a carrier sheet. The resin is pressed into multiple cavities of the mold roll in the pressure nip to form at least the stems of the fastener elements, while forming a base of the resin on the surface of the mold roll, the base interconnecting the fastener element stems.  
         [0021]     In specific implementations, the resin is transferred into the nip in discrete regions corresponding to discrete doses of extruded resin.  
         [0022]     The new methods and machines disclosed herein are useful in making fastener products, particularly products with fastener elements arranged in only discrete areas.  
         [0023]     It has been discovered that, under controlled conditions, applying molten resin to a moving surface that carries the resin into the forming nip, can advantageously precondition the resin for molding. The surface cooling of the resin as it is traveling into the nip, if properly controlled, can provide certain benefits while still allowing proper cavity filling. For example, some surface cooling may reduce the longitudinal orienting of polymer chains as the resin is drawn into the nip, improving longitudinal tear resistance. With moderate pre-nip cooling, some resins may be less likely to strike through to the opposite face of a carrier web, for applications in which full penetration is not desirable. This can enable the use of lighter, more open materials in such processes. When resin is transferred from a rotating die wheel directly to a mold roll or pressure roll at such a rate that adjacent doses of resin at least partially merge, particularly thin fastener products with contiguous base layers can be prepared which do not need a sheet material and which may exhibit a lower tendency for tear propagation in the production direction. Furthermore, the apparatus disclosed herein can be configured for rapid reconfiguration of the resin transfer pattern, simply by replacement or modification of the rotating die wheel.  
         [0024]     The systems and methods described herein can allow for operating at high speeds to achieve high production rates. It is noted that the faster the speed, the less the pre-delivered resin is subjected to cooling conditions of the chilled mold roll. With other conditions the same, a lower resin viscosity is achievable upon arrival at the forming nip, which can decrease the required calender pressure of the nip from that required at slower speeds.  
         [0025]     The systems and methods described herein can also be employed to advantage in the transfer of resin in discrete regions onto a carrier web for purposes other than the formation of fastener products. For example, discrete regions with or without fastener elements can be used advantageously to alter the stretch properties of the carrier sheet.  
         [0026]     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a molding stack featuring a rotating die wheel die that includes an end fed rotating sleeve.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of area  1 A shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of one of the cavities of the mold roll shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a mold cavity shaped to form a preform fastener element.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a rotating, multiple-orifice die wheel sleeve.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a castellated preform fastener element.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of an array of the fastener elements formed from the preforms shown in  FIG. 5 , after formation of nodular heads from the castellations.  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a machine for heating and modifying preform fastener elements to form functional fastener elements.  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of an end fed rotating die wheel.  
         [0036]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the die wheel shown in  FIG. 7 , taken along line  7 A- 7 A.  
         [0037]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the die wheel shown in  FIG. 7 , taken along line  7 B- 7 B.  
         [0038]      FIG. 7C  is an enlarged view of area  7 C shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 7D  is a cross-sectional view of a rotating sleeve showing flow channel geometry.  
         [0040]      FIG. 7E  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative rotating sleeve showing flow channel.  
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a back view of the rotating die wheel die shown in  FIG. 1 , looking into die housing.  
         [0042]      FIG. 9  is a top view of an exemplary fastener product.  
         [0043]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view of the fastener product shown in  FIG. 9 , taken along line  9 A- 9 A.  
         [0044]      FIG. 10  is a top view of another exemplary fastener product made from the die shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view of resin being delivered to a mold roll under the influence of gravity.  
         [0046]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the multiple-orifice wheel sleeve shown in  FIG. 4  delivering molten resin to a mold roll.  
         [0047]      FIG. 11A  is an enlarged view of area  11 A shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative rotating, multiple-orifice die wheel sleeve.  
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a molding stack featuring a rotating die wheel die that includes an end fed rotating sleeve delivering molten resin to a sheet material trained about a pressure roll.  
         [0050]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of a molding stack featuring a rotating die wheel die that includes an end fed rotating sleeve delivering molten resin to a sheet material trained about the mold roll.  
         [0051]      FIG. 14A  is an enlarged view of area  14 A shown in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a molding stack featuring a rotating die wheel die that includes an end fed rotating sleeve delivering molten resin to a mold roll, the resin being extruded at a rate that causes adjacent doses of resin to merge together.  
         [0053]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of a calender stack featuring a throat fed rotating die wheel die delivering molten resin to a mold roll.  
         [0054]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a throat fed rotating die wheel die shown in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of the rotating die wheel shown in  FIG. 17  disassembled from the housing.  
         [0056]      FIG. 18  is a top view of an exemplary fastener product made from the die shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0057]      FIG. 18A  is a side view of the fastener product shown in  FIG. 18 , taken along line  18 A- 18 A.  
         [0058]      FIG. 18B  is an enlarged view of area  18 B shown in  FIG. 18A .  
         [0059]      FIG. 19  is a side view of an alternative throat fed rotating die wheel.  
         [0060]      FIG. 20  is a top view of an exemplary fastener product made from the die shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of the die shown in  FIG. 17  delivering molten resin to a cylindrical transfer roll.  
         [0062]      FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of the die shown in  FIG. 17  delivering molten resin to a transfer belt.  
         [0063]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the die shown in  FIG. 17  with a sheet material trained about it. 
     
    
       [0064]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0065]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an apparatus for forming a sheet material having molded features on its surface includes a die  100  that includes a rotating cylindrical sleeve  103  that delivers discrete doses of resin  111  to a mold roll  104  through apertures  105  defined in an outer surface of the rotating sleeve  103 . Die  100  is connected to an extruder (not shown) that delivers molten resin to an end  109  of the cylindrical sleeve  103  through flexible tubing  107 . A pressure nip N is formed between a rotating pressure roll  102 , and a cooled, rotating mold roll  104 . Sheet material  130  is introduced to the pressure nip N, as is molten resin  108  by rotation of mold roll  104 . The pressure in the nip N fills multiple inwardly extending cavities  101  of mold roll  104  to form fastener elements, while base  112  is formed on the surface of the mold roll  104 . The pressure and heat in the nip N laminates base  112  to sheet material  130 . Stripping the fastener elements from the mold roll  104  by stripping roll  116  frees fastener product  117 . Further forming action, for example, “flat-topping” of the distal ends of the fastener elements or preforms, can occur between rolls  118  and  120 . Flat-topping is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,797, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Rotation direction of each roll is indicated by arrows.  
         [0066]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 2A , some fastener elements are formed in the shape of loop-engageable hooks  110  that extend outwardly from and are integral with base  112 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , in some other embodiments, mold roll  104  includes cavities  101 ′ in the form preform fastener elements intended to be subjected to further forming action. Other mold cavity shapes are also envisioned. For example,  FIG. 5  shows a castellated preform  144  that can be readily molded, and then deformed by heat and/or pressure at the distal ends of its upper projections to form useful fastener elements, the heads of the resulting fastener elements shown in the fastener product top view of  FIG. 5A . Further details regarding mold tooling are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,775,310, 6,163,939 and 6,131,251, the entire disclosure of each is incorporated in full by reference herein.  
         [0067]     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 5A  and  6 , a machine  158  for forming fastener heads  161  of fastener product  163  from preformed elements  144  with projections  159  includes a heating device  160 , that heats only a portion P of the projections  159 , leaving the remainder of the projections relatively cool and thus relatively rigid. Portion P is heated to a softening temperature, at which time it can be formed into a desired head shape. To ensure that only portion P is heated to the softening temperature, contact or non-contact heating techniques can be employed. Heating device  160  includes a non-contact heat source  162  that is capable of quickly elevating the temperature of material that is very close to the heat source, without significantly raising the temperature of material that is relatively further away from the heat source. After portion P of the projections  159  has been heated, the base passes between conformation roll  166  and drive roll  168 . Conformation roll  166  forms the portion P of the stems into a desired head shape, while drive roll  168  advances the base and flattens it against roll  166  to enhance head uniformity. Generally, to obtain the desired forming temperature it is advantageous to chill the conformation roll, e.g., by running cold water through a channel  170  in the center of the roll, to counteract heating of the conformation roll by the heat from portion P of the stems. Additional details regarding this process are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/455,240 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,276, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0068]     Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , rotating die wheel die  100  includes a rotating die wheel  200  that includes a rotating sleeve  103  that rotates over a stationary manifold  202 . Manifold  202  sits upon shaft  204  that is inserted through manifold  204  via a channel  205  defined therethrough. Shaft  204  is mounted into a pair of mounts  206 , 208  and the mounts connect the die wheel  200  to die housing  210  ( FIG. 8 ). Molten resin  108  enters the manifold through a hose  107  connected to a high pressure fitting  212  and flows through a channel  214  that terminates into a slit  216 . Molten resin flows under pressure from the slit  216  through an aligned aperture  105  in sleeve  103 . To maintain the resin in a molten state, manifold  202  is heated with three thermocouples  220 . Referring now particularly to  FIG. 7C , the spacing T between an inner surface  223  of sleeve  103  and an outer surface  221  of manifold  202  is maintained at less than about 0.005 inch (0.127 mm) to prevent leakage of plastic from the slit region. The spacing T employed depends in part upon the melt flow rate (MFR) of the resin used, as determined by ASTM test method D1238, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Generally, lower melt flow resins, e.g., 0.5 to about 5 g/10 minutes have a lower tendency to flash spacing T, while higher melt flow plastics, e.g., 20 to about 30 g/10 minutes have a higher tendency to flash spacing T. Referring back to  FIG. 7  for more detail on the rotational portion  226  of die wheel  200 . Rotational portion  226  is assembled upon shaft  204  by fixing manifold locators  230 , 232  in recess  234  using bolt  240 . Drive  242  is fixed to sleeve  103  using screw  246 . Drive  242  is connected to sprocket  250  that rides upon bearing  260  held in place with screws  261 , 263  by bearing retainer  262 . Worm gear drive connector  270  allows for minor adjustments in the location of sleeve  103  relative to slit  216 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 7  and  8 , sleeve  103  is rotated about stationary manifold by a motor  282  connected to sprocket  250  by chain  280 , such rotation of sleeve  103  by slit  216  delivering molten resin to a surface, for example, a mold roll, in discrete doses through apertures  105  defined in an outer surface of the rotating sleeve  103 .  
         [0069]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 7B , in some embodiments, slit thickness, t, and channel width, w, is 0.25 inch (0.635 cm) and 0.50 inch (1.27 cm), respectively. Although apertures  105  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7  are constant in cross-sectional area through the thickness of the sleeve, in some embodiments they are not. Referring particularly to  FIGS. 7D and 7E , the cross-sectional area from an inner surface  223  to an outer surface  225  of the sleeves can change gradually, as shown in  FIG. 7E , or it can change rapidly as a step, as shown in  FIG. 7D . This change in cross-sectional area causes a pressure drop, and this can be advantageous when it is desired to deliver molten resin to a surface at low pressures. In a particular implementation, rotating sleeve  103 ′ has a thickness, a, of 0.093 inch (0.236 cm), an entrance width, b, of 0.032 inch (0.0813 cm), and an exit width, c, of 0.093 inch (0.236 cm).  
         [0070]     In some instances, the cylindrical sleeve  103 , is metal. In some instances, when it is desired to inhibit adhesion of molten resin to the cylindrical sleeve, the rotating cylindrical sleeve is made entirely of an adhesion-resistant material or is coated with an adhesion-resistant material, for instance, a fluoropolymer. Cylindrical rotating sleeve  103  can be fabricated by machining apertures in circular cross-section stock. Among various embodiments, the number of apertures range from about 2 to about 20 or more, e.g., 5, 10, 15 or more, e.g., 100 depending upon the size of the desired size of the deposits and spacing between them. In some embodiments, the apertures are closely spaced such that adjacent doses of resin at least partially merge.  
         [0071]     In certain implementations, the turn rate of sleeve  103  is associated with a speed control device which functions independently of the speed of rotation of the mold roll  104  so that the surface speed of the sleeve may be equal to, faster than, or slower than the surface speed of the mold roll. This allows for design flexibility in the final product. For example, a differential speed can be maintained to cause the material to smear the deposit of resin onto a surface to obtain a particular shaped deposit. It is presently preferred for the surface speed of cylindrical sleeve  103  to be about two percent less than the surface speed of the mold roll to affect adequate transfer.  
         [0072]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , during the time of rotation from position I to position II, a resin mass is gradually delivered by pressure flow to the surface of roll  104 , available to be transferred at position III to the surface of mold roll. The flow of resin through the various apertures is aided by the phenomenon of “die swell”, i.e., the expansion of molten resin as it transitions from the high delivery pressure to atmospheric pressure. The effects cause molten resin to bulge outwardly, e.g., beyond the periphery of the sleeve as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In the region of the line of centers of sleeve  103  and mold roll, the bulged resin is engaged by the roughness of mold roll surface. The cavities provide a functional degree of effective roughness or “graspiness” to the surface of mold roll  104  and, aid in the separation of the resin from cylindrical sleeve  103 . It is not necessary that the transferred resin fill any portion of the cavities at this point, only that it cling to the surface of the mold roll.  
         [0073]     Referring to  FIG. 11A , with respect to applying the resin in advance of application of molding pressure, it is realized that the low thermal conductivity of the molten resin, the limited duration of contact of the resin with the mold roll surface between point of resin delivery and point of application of nip pressure, and the insulating quality of the air-filled mold cavities themselves combine to enable the successful later filling of the mold cavities with the applied resin. Thus we find it unnecessary, given the techniques described herein, to deliver molten resin directly to the mold nip, or to the cavities under pressure, as has been practiced in the past. The transferred resin  180  in regions  182  is subjected to a higher rate of cooling than the resin in regions  181  because regions  182  are in direct contact with the surface of the mold roll between adjacent cavities, whereas regions  181  have reduced thermal transfer characteristics because cavities  101  are filled with insulating air. This causes surface resin in regions  182  to be more solidified when entering the nip and therefore more resistant to shear flow and longitudinal polymer orientation. This can result in a fastener product with a lower tendency for tear propagation in the machine or production direction. Even so, it is presently preferred to position the point of application of the resin such that the resin is exposed to cooling for a time less than about 0.5 seconds before entering the nip, preferably less than about 0.1 second. At preferred line speeds, the point of application of the resin is spaced from the nip a distance of less than about 10 inches (25.4 cm), preferably less than 5 inches (12.70 cm). The presently preferred surface speed of the mold roll is at least 150 feet per minute (45.7 m/min), preferably more than 250 feet per minute (76.2 m/min).  
         [0074]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the transferred resin is introduced to a sheet material  130  in the nip. The sheet material can be a woven, non-woven, or a knit material. The sheet material can also be a foam, a film, a paper web, a polycoated paper web, a composite web, such as webs that include one or more elastomeric films. The parameters of the process can be selected to advantageously deliver partially solidified resin to the nip. This can be particularly useful with relatively open materials (e.g., fabrics) to lessen the tendency for excessive penetration of the resin into the material and to prevent strike-through of resin through the complete thickness of the material. Thus, a textile sheet material to which molded formations are laminated can more closely retain its original properties, while using less resin.  
         [0075]     In particular examples, the above technique is advantageously employed to apply molded features upon thin, spun bonded fabrics that heretofore have not been considered suitable to process for many end products. This is important since, in many fields, such as personal care products, medical sheets used for wrappings, clothing, and drapes, thinner, less expensive and more pliant webs are desired. The integrity of the molded base layer can enable the application of substantial demold forces even where very thin materials serve as a backing. Retention of the integrity of the resin base layer under neighboring hooks helps ensure that the layer has sufficient strength to enable demolding of complex shapes. In this manner hooks having highly aggressive profiles and preform stems of complex shape that resist demolding can be formed onto thin and relatively weak substrate materials.  
         [0076]     Allowing the resin to cool slightly as it travels on the mold roll surface before entering the nip reduces the overall exposure of the sheet material to hot molten resin. Heretofore, many sheet materials for in-situ lamination were restricted to relatively expensive polyesters or other temperature-resistant resins. The methods described herein can enable the use of lower cost materials or strands as supporting material, such as those formed of fibers of polypropylene, polyethylene or blends, in place of temperature resistant resins such as polyester.  
         [0077]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 12 , in one mode of rotational operation, the sleeve has circumferential arrays of apertures of desired form at desired circumferential spacings and the sleeve is turned continuously about the stationary slit  216  to bring individual apertures of each array in sequence into registry with slit  216 , by which each aperture of sleeve  400  in turn receives a flow of resin and forms a deposit on the mold roll of shape determined by the contour of the aperture, e.g., circular in cross-section or triangular in cross-section. In some implementations, the apertures are shaped like an ellipse in cross-section so that the deposits of resin form circular deposits after passing through the nip. Here the sleeve is effectively a printing roll that forms deposits of molten resin of desired peripheral size and shape. Referring to  FIGS. 9, 9A  and  12 , if the sleeve shown had only the two apertures of row R 5 , the resulting product would look like that shown in  FIGS. 9 and 9 A. The spacing S 5  in this particular example is 2πr, where r is the radius of the sleeve and the spacing S 6  in the product is the distance along the rotational axis between the center of the apertures in sleeve  400  as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0078]     In another mode of operation, sleeve  400  is held stationary (i.e., motor  282  is de-energized) at a suitable position to deliver a continuous flow of resin to the mold roll surface through selected apertures in the sleeve  400 . By adjustment of the position of sleeve  103 , a desired row of apertures R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , or R 5  can be brought into registry with slit  216 . Then, with sleeve  400  held stationary, continual streams of resin of desired width and location can be produced and transferred to the mold roll. Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 12 , if sleeve  400  is held stationary with the slit in registry with R 5 , the resulting product would look like that shown in  FIG. 10 . The spacing S 6  in the product is the distance along the rotational axis between the center of the apertures in sleeve  400  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Referring to  FIG. 10A , in some implementations, continual streams of resin of desired width and location can fall under the influence of gravity upon the mold roll. While the molding stack of  FIG. 10A  is shown with all rolls in a line, in some embodiments, they are staggered to accommodate the resin supply devices, e.g., devices that apply discrete doses of resin upon the surface of the mold roll, and material entry paths of the various systems mentioned herein.  
         [0079]     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , rather than resin being transferred from sleeve  103  to mold roll  104 , it can be delivered directly to sheet material  130  that is trained about pressure roll  102 . In some implementations, the insulating properties of the sheet material  130  can be advantageously used to deliver resin that is solidified at the sheet material/resin interface, but is molten above that so that the pressure of the nip can fill the cavities of the mold roll. This type of prenip delivery can be used to produce fastener products that show a lesser tendency for rip propagation in the machine direction due to less machine direction orientation that results from partially solidified resin at the material/resin interface.  
         [0080]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a molding stack with a vertical nip plane V N  is shown and illustrates that rather than resin being transferred by sleeve  103  to the mold roll  104 , it can be delivered directly to the pressure roll  102 , and then delivered to the nip N by rotation of pressure roll  102 . In this embodiment, the sheet material is a relatively porous type of material (e.g., a scrim material) such that when the molten resin and the sheet material come together in the nip N, the pressure therein forces the resin completely through the sheet material to mold fastener elements on the other side. A cross-sectional view of the resulting fastener product is shown in  FIG. 14A . Such porous sheet materials are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/688,301, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0081]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , resin can be transferred from sleeve  103  to mold roll  104  at such a rate that adjacent doses of resin at least partially merge on mold roll  104 . After passing through pressure nip N, one contiguous sheet of fastener elements is formed. This method can be used to produce fastener products with particularly thin bases  112 . In addition, this method can be used advantageously to produce fastener products with a lower tendency for tear propagation in the machine direction since the molten resin being in contact with mold roll  104  is cooled more relative to that not in contact with the mold roll as discussed above. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the base may be optionally laminated to a carrier sheet.  
         [0082]     Referring to  FIGS. 16-17A , die  500  includes two side plates  502 , 504  that mount and hold rotatable delivery cylinder  510 . Rotatable cylinder  510  is rotated by an axle  512  connected to a drive, for example, a chain driven by a gear motor. The throat fed (back fed) die includes an inlet port  514  for receiving the molten resin  108 . Cylinder  510  has two delivery channels  518 , 520 . These channels extend through the body of the delivery cylinder, terminating at respectively opposite pairs of apertures  521 , 522  and  524 , 526  in the cylinder surface. Channels  518 , 520  form angle α with each other, angle α shown here as 90°. Depending upon the pattern desired, the channels may be parallel to one another or set at other selected angles. The diameters of d 1 ,d 2  of channels  518 , 520 , are selected according to the size of the resin deposits to be delivered, and may range for instance between 1/16 inch and 0.50 inch (0.159-1.27 cm). As cylinder  510  turns, the apertures of the channels alternately serve inlet and delivery functions. With rotation of cylinder  510 , the cross-sectional area of each aperture, in turn, is exposed to the resin supply first partially, then fully, and then it is progressively closed by the surrounding portions of the stationary die housing  501 . As aperture  521  of channel  522  becomes closed, aperture  524  of channel  518  opens, in a manner that maintains the aggregate flow area so that a constant net flow can be maintained.  
         [0083]     Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , fastener product  540  is made using die  500  with cylinder  510 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 18 , on preformed web  130  there are discrete regions A, B, C and D, each having a large multiplicity of fastener elements, in this particular case, in the form of loop-engageable hook-shaped projections, as seen from  FIGS. 18A and 18B . Discrete regions A-D are arranged in rows R 1 , R 2  in a first direction, for example, the machine direction (MD), with a spacing S 1  between the rows in the orthogonal direction, e.g., the cross-machine direction (CD). Discrete regions in adjacent rows R 1 ,R 2  are offset by spacing S 2 . S 2  is the circumferential distance equal to αR, where R is the radius of cylinder  510  and S 1  is the distance between apertures as shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0084]     Although the diameters of the apertures shown in  FIG. 17  are the same, in other embodiments they are not. Referring to  FIG. 20 , fastener product  560  is shown that results from using the rotating cylinder  562  shown in  FIG. 19 . Die  570  delivers two deposits in row R 3  for each one deposit in row R 4 . In this example, the cross-sectional area of aperture  572  and its flow channel is substantially equal to twice the cross-sectional area of that of aperture  574  or  576 . In this example, regions E and F are arranged in respective rows R 3 ,R 4  with spacing S 3  between rows. The discrete regions are offset in the machine direction by a spacing S 4 , where S 4  is equal to α 1 R 1 , R 1  being the radius of the cylinder and α 1  being the angle in side view from the center of aperture  572  to the center of the wall  580  that separates apertures  574  and  576 . S 3  is the lateral distance between adjacent holes along rotational axis of the cylinder  562 , similar to that described above in reference to  FIG. 17 .  
         [0085]     Referring to  FIG. 21 , a cylindrical transfer roll  600  is combined with die  500  to apply molten resin  108  directly to a sheet material  130  trained about pressure roll  102 . This arrangement facilitates different machine configurations and can introduce a further mode of control. Using transfer rolls to deliver molten resin is described in a patent application filed concurrently herewith, entitled “Transferring Resin for Forming Fastener Products,” and assigned Ser. No. ______, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0086]     Referring to  FIG. 22 , a transfer belt  602  is combined with die  500  to deliver molten resin directly to a sheet material  130  trained about pressure roll  102 . The belt is formed of an insulating material, for example, a heat resistant synthetic material such as silicone rubber. Delivering molten resin by transfer belt  602  can be advantageous when the insulating properties of belt  604  are desired and/or when longer contact time with the sheet material is desired to obtain better transfer of the resin.  
         [0087]     Referring to  FIG. 23 , die  500  is delivering molten resin to sheet material  130  trained about it. By varying the upstream delivery location, the amount of cooling the resin undergoes atop the sheet material may be adjusted.  
         [0088]     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the nip plane of the calender stack shown in  FIG. 1  is horizontal, it can be vertical such that the molten resin falls out of the die under the influence of gravity. The point of delivery of the molten resin in any of the embodiments described above can be different than shown in the figures. For example, the molten resin being delivered to the tool roll shown in  FIG. 1  can be delivered closer or further away from the nip N. The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 21-23  can be used with either of the rotating die wheels described above. While  FIG. 1  shows fastener elements in the shape of hooks, and  FIG. 5A  shows fastener elements derived from preformed stems, other fastener elements are possible. For example, the fastener shapes described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,374, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.