Patent ID: 6960314

Claim:
A method of forming a multiplicity of elements with stems integrally molded with and extending from a common strip-form base, the method comprising providing a molding apparatus including a series of circular mold plates held together face to face to form a rotating cylindrical mold roll defining, at outer edges of the plates, rows of mold cavities extending into the mold roll for molding the elements, and an opposed forming member having a surface defining, together with the edges of the plates, a mold gap for forming the strip-form base integral with the molded stems when moldable resin is applied to the gap under conditions that cause the resin to fill the mold cavities, wherein the mold cavities extend into the mold roll to a depth of less than about 0.025 inch; and the gap has a nominal thickness of less than about 0.003 inch, for forming a correspondingly thin fastener tape; supplying a continuous flow of resin to the gap under conditions causing the resin to fill the molding cavities; cooling the resin on the rotating mold roll; and then stripping the cooled resin from the mold roll.