Refastenable mechanical fastening system and process of manufacture thereof.

THE METHOD PRODUCES A FASTENING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a method of producing a fastening system.

Reattachable mechanical fastening systems are well known in the art. Such fastening systems usually comprise two main components, a spike-shaped tip attached to the substrate and attached to a complementary second component, the receiving surface. The protruding portion of the spike-like tip of this attachment system penetrates the receiving surface and either attaches to or cuts through the strands or fibers of the receiving surface. The resulting mechanical failure and physical barrier prevents the fastening system from detaching from the receiving surface until the release forces exceed the tear or shear resistance of the fastening system.

Reattachable mechanical fastening systems are currently manufactured using at least two general methods.

One method requires the use of several fibrous yarns, each of which can be formed inside two spike-like tips. Examples of fastening systems made by this method are described in U.S. Patent No. 2,717,437, issued September 13, 1955 to de Mesteral, and U.S. Patent No. 3,934,981, issued March 16, 1976 to De Brandabar, the solution of these patents comprising a raised loop stack. Similar solutions are described in U.S. Patent 4,216,257, issued August 5, 1980 to Schams et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,454,183, issued June 12, 1984 to Wollman, and U.S. Patent No. 4,463,486, issued August 7, 1984 to Matsuda. These publications describe the heating of the ends of polymeric monofilament yarns. Other similar fastening systems made by said first method are described in U.S. Patent 4,307,493, issued December 29, 1981 to Ochia, and U.S. Patent 4,330,907, issued May 25, 1982 to Ochia.

Another common method of making mechanical fastening systems is to fabricate these systems by casting or extrusion, as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,471,528, issued September 8, 1964 to Erb, and U.S. Patent No. 359,486, issued July 27, 1971 to Erb. Continuous injection molding is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,594,865, issued July 27, 1971 to Erb.

Several different tip structures are previously known. For example, the above patents describe fastening systems whose arms have a generally constant cross-section. U.S. Patent No. 3,788,833, issued January 9, 1973 to Ribich et al., Discloses a spike-like tip that tapers slightly from the near end to the distal end and protrudes from a perpendicular substrate layer.

European Patent Application 0276970, filed January 26, 1988 by Procter & Gamble Company as Scripps, discloses a fastening device having a constant arm cross-section at an angle of about 30 ° to about 90 ° with respect to the substrate layer.

The invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Methods of making loosely shaped spike-shaped tips have not been previously described. Also not previously described is a mechanical fastening system structure in which the tip is positioned at a certain perpendicular angle to the base layer and includes tapered sides.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a freely shaped mechanical fastening system which is manufactured by a manufacturing method such as gravure printing. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a fastening system that includes tapered spike-like tips that do not protrude perpendicular from the respective substrate layer.

The present invention comprises a fastening system for fastening to a complementary receiving surface. The fastening system according to the invention comprises a base layer and at least one freely shaped spike-like tip comprising a base, an arm and a fastening means. The base of the tip is connected to the base layer, the arm being adjacent to it and extending outwards from the base. The fastening means is connected to the arm and extends laterally over the circumference of the arm. The arm is oriented at a certain perpendicular angle to the plane of the substrate layer. The shaft has a leading edge and a trailing edge that delimit the leading angle and the trailing angle, respectively. The front and rear angles are mainly different with respect to each other, so the sides of the arm are not parallel.

The fastening system according to the invention can be manufactured by a process comprising sufficiently heating the heat-sensitive material to reduce its viscosity for processing, preferably at least up to its melting point. A device for depositing different amounts of heated material is in use. The substrate layer to which the material is to be applied is moved in the first direction relative to the material layering means. The material is deposited on the transferred substrate layer in separate portions. Such a separate batch of material is then stretched in a direction whose component is generally parallel to the plane of the substrate layer, and the stretched material is cut to form an off-end and fastening means.

The fastening system made by the process of the present invention may be used in an illustrative and convenient manner, but not in a limiting sense, in connection with a disposable absorbent garment such as a diaper. This embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below.

Although this description ends with claims in which the invention is specifically defined and claimed separately, it is believed that the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals and like parts are indicated by one or more number 100, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fastening system according to the present invention, in which the fastening devices are substantially parallel;

Figure 2 shows a side elevational view of one of the pronged tips of the fastening system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention provided with generally hemispherical fastening means;

Figure 4 shows a schematic side elevational view of an apparatus that can be used to make a fastening system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a fastening system according to the present invention, in which the fastening means are oriented in substantially random directions; and

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an absorbent disposable article using the fastening system of the present invention with the cover and core portion of said article partially cut away.

The fastening system 20 of the present invention comprises at least one pronged tip 22, and preferably an array of tips 22 attached to the substrate layer 24 in a predetermined pattern as shown in FIG. The tips 22 include a base 26, an arm 28, and a fastening means 30. The bases 26 of the tips 22 are in contact with the base layer 24 and adhere to the proximal ends of the support arms 28. The arms 28 extend outwardly from the base layer 24 and the bases 26. The arms 28 terminate in a rear end connected to the fastening means 30. The fastening means extend laterally radially from the arms 28 in one or more directions and may resemble hook-like spikes. The term lateral used in this context means that the vector component generally extends parallel to the plane of the substrate layer 24 at the main tip 22 under consideration. The lateral projection of the fastening means 30 from the circumference of the arm 28 allows the fastening device 30 to be fastened to a complementary receiving surface (not shown). The fastening means 30 is connected to the distal end of the tip 22, preferably as an extension thereof. It will be appreciated that the fastening means 30 may be attached to the tip 22 in a position between the base 26 and the distal end of the arm 28.

The tip assembly 22 may be fabricated in any suitable manner, including methods that result in the free-form branch tip 22 described below and claimed. The tips 22 are placed on a discontinuous substrate 24 in a molten, preferably liquid, state and solidified by cooling to the desired rigid and preferably frozen structure and shape, as described below.

The freely shaped tip assembly 22 is preferably fabricated by a process that is generally similar to that used in gravure printing. Using this process, the substrate layer 24 with opposing surfaces is made to pass through the contact surface 70 of two generally cylindrical rollers, a printing roll 72 and a support roll 74, as shown in Figure 4. The rollers 72 and 74 have generally parallel centerlines and are maintained in contact with the substrate layer 24 as it passes through the contact surface 70. One roll, called the printing roll 72, has a series of closed ends closed from the cavity, i.e., cells 76, “corresponding to the desired pattern of tips 22 to be formed in the substrate layer 24. The second roll, the support roll 74, causes a reaction against the pressure roll 72 to place the base layer 24 against the pressure roll 72 as the base layer 24 passes through the contact surface

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through. The liquid, a heat-sensitive material, preferably a thermoplastic material from which the tips 22 are to be formed, is fed from a heated source, such as a tray 60. This heat-sensitive material is fed to the cells 76 as the pressure roll 72 rotates about its center line. The cells 76 containing the heat-sensitive material carry it until they come into contact with the substrate layer 24 and deposit this material on the substrate layer 24 in the desired pattern.

As the relative displacement between the base layer 24 and the rollers 72 and 74 continues, the tips 22 stretch a lateral component that is generally parallel to the plane of the base layer 24 to form the arm 28 and the securing means 30. Finally, the tip body 22 is separated from the securing device 30 by a separator 78. Due to the viscoelastic properties of the thermoplastic material, the tip 22 shrinks due to the combined effect of gravity and shrinkage that occurs after cooling. The tip 22 cools and preferably freezes into a solid structure in which the fastening means 30 forms an extension of the arm 28.

The fastening system 20 is fastened to the respective receiving surface. As used herein, the term receiving surface to which the fastening means 30 of the fastening system 20 is fastened means any plane or surface whose bare surface portion is provided with spaced openings for the fastening means 30 bounded by one or more strands or fibers, this bare surface portion being alternatively locally in a flexible way, so that the fastening means 30 become fastened, so that they cannot be pulled out without producing interference.

These openings or local resilient deformations allow the fastening means 30 to be positioned within the plane of the receiving surface, with strands (or deformed material) interposed between the receiving surface openings (or deformed areas) preventing the fastening system 20 from being pulled out or detached before or by the user. wants or fastening system 20 tears! shear strength is otherwise exceeded. The level of the receiving surface can be flat or curved.

The receiving surface containing the strands or fibers is said to be compatible or complementary when the openings between these strands or fibers are dimensioned to allow at least one fastening means 30 to penetrate the plane of the receiving surface, the strands being sized for fastening or cutting the fastening means 30. The locally deformable receiving surface is said to be complementary if the at least one attachment means 30 is capable of causing a local disturbance in the plane of the receiving surface, this disturbance resisting detachment or detachment of the attachment system 20 from the receiving surface.

Suitable receiving surfaces include reticulated foams, knitted fabrics, nonwoven materials, and stitched loop materials such as Velcro loop materials sold by Velcro, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. As a particularly suitable receiving surface, there may be mentioned a stitched fabric No. 970026 sold by Milliken Company, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

Referring to Figure 2, in which the components of the fastening system 20 are shown in more detail, the base layer 24 of the fastening system 20 should be strong enough to prevent tearing and detachment between individual tips of the fastening system 20, the base layer 24 acting as a surface The term attach means a situation in which a first member or component is attached to a second member or component, directly or indirectly, or in which a first member or component is attached or attached to an intermediate member or component, which in turn is attached or attached to a second member or component. The connection between the first member or component and the second member or component is intended to be maintained throughout the life of the product. The base layer is any bare surface to which one or more tips 22 are attached.

The substrate layer 24 should also be able to be flexibly rolled to facilitate conventional manufacturing processes so that the substrate layer 24 can be bent to the desired shape and able to withstand the heat of the liquid tips 22 deposited therein without melting or side effects until these tips 22 freeze. The substrate layer should also be available in different widths. Suitable substrate layers 24 include knitted fabric, nonwoven materials, rubber, vinyl, films, especially polyolefin films, and preferably kraft paper. White kraft paper with a basis weight of 0.08 kg / m '(50 lbs / 3000 square feet) has been found suitable.

The base 26 forms a generally planar portion of the tip 22 attached to the base 24 and forms a portion adjacent the proximal end of the tip arm 28. As used herein, the word base refers to that portion of the tip 22 that is in direct contact with the base layer 24 and supports the arm 28 of the tip 22. No boundary line need be between the base 26 and the arm 28. All that matters is that the arm 28 is not separate from the base 26 and that the base 26 is not separate from the base layer 24 during use. The cross-section of the nail 26 should provide sufficient structural rigidity and thus also a cross-sectional area for the desired tear and shear strengths of the fastening system 20 based on the pattern density of the tips 22 and the lengths of the arms 28 of the individual tips 22 and further providing adequate adhesion to the substrate layer 24. When using a longer arm 28, the cross-sectional area of ​​the base 26 should generally be larger to provide sufficient adhesion to the substrate layer 24 and to ensure the necessary structural rigidity.

The shape of the adhesion region of the base 26 to the substrate layer 24 is not critical and can be added in any direction to achieve greater structural strength and thus greater tear strength in that direction.

As used herein, the term adhesion region refers to the planar contact area of ​​the base on the substrate layer 24. The aspect ratio of this attachment area must not be too large, otherwise the tip 22 may behave unevenly under the influence of forces along the shorter side of the attachment area. An aspect ratio of less than about 1.5: 1 is preferred, and a generally circular attachment range is even more desirable.

For the embodiment described herein, a mounting area generally circular in shape and having a diameter of about 0.76 to 1.27 millimeters (0.030 to 0.050 inches) is suitable. If it is desired to increase the tear or shear strength of the fastening system 20 in a particular direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the base 26 may be modified to reinforce it in that direction so that strength and structural rigidity increase with respect to that axis. Such a variation makes the tips 22 more durable when pulled in the reinforced direction of the base 26.

The arm 28 is an extension of the base 26 and projects outwardly from the base 26 and the base layer 24. As used herein, the word arm refers to the portion of the tip 22 located between the base 26 and the fastening means 30 and integral therewith. The arm 28 places the fastening means 30 at a longitudinal distance from the base layer 24. In this context, the word longitudinal means the direction in which the vector component faces away from the substrate 24, this direction adding a perpendicular distance to the plane of the substrate layer 24 at the base 26 of the tip 22 and comprising, unless otherwise indicated, the direction of the vector component toward the plane of the substrate layer 24.

The arm 28 and the base of each tip 22 are associated with a starting point 36. The starting point of the arm 28 is a point that can be thought of as the center of the base 26 and is generally located within the attachment area of ​​the base 26. The starting point can be found by looking at the tip 22 in the side view. The side view is a view taken in any direction radially toward the arm 28 and the base 26 ′ ′, which also extends parallel to the plane of the base layer 24. If the fastening system 20 is manufactured by the process described and required above, it is desirable, but not necessary, that the tip 22 be viewed at machine end transverse directions with respect to the direction of travel of the substrate layer 24 through the contact area 70 to determine the starting point 36.

The lateral distance between the distal edges of the mounting area of ​​the base 26 for the side view in question can be detected, and this distance is halved to find the center of the base 26 for such a view. When the attachment area of ​​the base 26 is halved for the side view in question, minor discontinuities (such as moldings or jagged points during attachment to the substrate layer) are ignored. This point forms the starting point 36 of the arm 28.

The arm 28 forms an angle α with the plane of the base layer 24. As used herein, the term substrate layer level means a flat planar surface of the substrate layer 24 at the base 26 of the tip 22 under consideration. The angle α is determined as follows. Tip 22 is considered a profile view. The profile view of the tip comprises either side view and is observed as follows. The tip 22 is visually inspected by side views to determine the direction with the maximum side extent 38. This lateral extent comprises a distance taken laterally in the plane direction of the base layer 24 from the center of the base 26, i. from the starting point 36 of the arm 28, from the lateral point of the tip 22 to the furthest point of extension, which in this view is shown longitudinally and perpendicularly extending downwards towards the plane of the base layer 24.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the maximum lateral extent 38 extends from the starting point 36 to the outer periphery of the arm 28 or fastener 30. The side view of the tip 22 that maximizes the side extent 38 is a profile view of this tip 22. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that if the fastening system is manufactured by the process described and required below, the maximum lateral extent 38 is generally machine direction and thus the profile view is generally transverse to the machine. The side elevational view shown in Figure 12 shows one profile view of the tip 22. It will further be apparent to those skilled in the art that a second profile view may also be used, which is generally 180 ° opposite to the above-mentioned profile view (with the maximum side view 38 facing the left side of the viewer). Each of these two profile views is generally equally suitable for the process methods and uses described below.

The starting point 36 of the arm 28 is found, as described above, at the tip 22 in the profile view. Still holding the tip 22 in the profile view, an imaginary section plane 40-40, generally parallel to the plane of the substrate layer 24, is then caused to lateralize the periphery of the tip 22 at the point or segment portion of the tip 22 having the greatest perpendicular distance from the substrate layer 24 plane. This arrangement corresponds to the part of the tip 22 with the highest height. The imaginary cutting plane 40-40 is then set one-quarter of such maximum perpendicular distance closer to the substrate layer 24 from the highest elevation point so that the imaginary cutting plane 40-40 intersects the tip 22 at a longitudinal position three quarters of the perpendicular distance from the substrate layer 24.

The imaginary cutting plane 40-40 is then used to define three points on the tip 22. The first point is the point where the cutting plane intersects the leading edge 42 of the tip 22 and is called the 75% leading point 44. This leading point is the circumferential tip of the arm 28 longitudinally away from the base layer 24. The second point is set approximately 180 ° from the center of the tip 22 and comprises the point where the cutting plane 40-40 intersects the trailing edge of the tip 22, and is referred to as the 75% trailing edge 48. The trailing edge comprises a circumferential tip of the arm 28 longitudinally toward the base layer 24 and generally opposite the leading edge. 42. Of course, the line connecting the two points remains within the section plane 40-40 and is halved to determine the center 47 of the imaginary section plane 40-40. The straight line is then drawn to connect the center 47 of the imaginary section plane 40-40 to the starting point of the arm 28 at the base 26. This line forms an angle α with respect to the plane of the substrate layer, this angle being equal to the angle α of the arm 28.

Alternatively, the angle α formed by the arm 28 with respect to the plane of the base layer 24 is a 90 ° complement angle with respect to the furthest angle defined by the line in any view connecting the center of the intersection plane 47 to the starting point 36.

Thus, the smallest angle with respect to the plane of the substrate layer 24 when viewed in any radial direction towards the arm 28 and in particular the starting point 36, this direction being generally parallel to the plane of the substrate layer 24 and at right angles to the perpendicular plane, is the angle α of the arm 28. when the tip 22 is viewed approximately in the machine direction or at an angle of about 180 ° with respect to it, the angle α of the arm 28 is about 90 °. However, the angle α to be measured is the angle which deviates furthest from the perpendicular plane, and thus the angle α is generally determined by looking at the tip 22 in a profile view, usually in a direction transverse to the machine.

The angle α formed by the arm 28 may be generally perpendicular to the plane of the substrate layer 24 or most suitably sharp with respect to it to increase tear resistance in a particular direction which is generally parallel to the maximum longitudinal extent 38. However, the angle α of the arm 28 should not deviate too much from the perpendicular angle, otherwise a fastening system 20 with a more directional shear strength will result. For the embodiment described herein, an arm 28 having an angle α of about 45 'to about 80 °, preferably about 65 °, is suitable. If the angle of the arm 28 is less than about 80 °, is the arm 28 considered to be at an angle deviating from the perpendicular direction? with respect to the plane 24 of the substrate layer (except for the lateral direction).

An imaginary section plane 40-40 and a profile view can also be used to determine the angles of the leading edge 42 and trailing edge 44 with respect to the plane of the substrate layer 24. To determine these angles, the 75% front point 44 and 75% back point 48 described above are used. The front point 50 of the base 26 is determined as follows. The line passing through the base 26 shown in the profile view is made to intersect the leading edge 42 of the arm 28. This point of intersection forms the front point of the base. As mentioned above, small discontinuities in the stem 28 in the vicinity of the base 26 during attachment to the base layer 24 are not taken into account in determining the base front point 50. The 75% leading edge point 44 is connected by a straight line to the leading edge point 50 of the base. This straight line forms an angle βι with respect to the plane of the substrate layer 24, this angle opening towards the starting point 36 and the center of the arm 28. The angle βι can be considered as the angle of the leading edge 42 or simply as the leading edge angle.

The back end 52 of the base is generally at an angle of 180 ° from the front point 50 of the base along a line passing through the center of the base 26 and is determined as follows. The line passing through the mounting area of ​​the base 26 in the profile view is made to intersect the trailing edge 46 of the arm 28. This intersection is called the rear point of the base. As mentioned above, minor points of discontinuity in the arm 28 near the base 26 during attachment to the base layer 24 are not taken into account in determining the rear point 52 of the base. As described above, the 75% back point 48 is connected to the base back point 52 in a straight line. This straight line forms an angle βι with respect to the plane of the substrate layer 24 and opens in the direction of the starting point 36 and the center 28 of the shaft. The angle βι is called the angle of the trailing edge 46 or simply the trailing edge angle.

The angles βι and / 3t associated with the leading edge 42 and the trailing edge 46 define the orientation of the sides of the arm 28. If the angles βι and βτ of the leading and trailing edges 42 and 46 are not supplementary angles (their sum is not about 180 °), the sides of the arm 28 are said to be in different directions. If the sides of the arm 28 are in different directions, the straight lines bounding the angles βι and βτ (connecting the front and rear points 50 and 52 of the base with 75% of the front and rear points 50 and 52, respectively) intersect either above or below the plane of the base layer 24.

If the angles βί and βτ of the leading and trailing edges 42 and 46 are of different magnitudes and the lines delimiting these angles intersect above the plane of the substrate layer 24 (longitudinally outside the base 26), the tip 22 tapers from the base 26 towards the distal end and the fastener 30. Only when the corners of the leading and trailing edges 42 and 46 are βι. and / 3 * are parallel and of complementary angles, the angles / 3l and βτ of the leading and trailing edges 42 and 46 are considered to be equal and the sides of the arm 28 are parallel.

Arm 28 provided with a leading edge 42 forming 45 ° ±

With a base layer βί of 30 ° at the leading edge angle, is suitable. The trailing edge 46, which forms a trailing edge angle β * of about 65 ° ± 30 ° with the substrate layer, is suitable. The shank 28, which includes these angles / k and βτ of the leading edge 42 and trailing edge 46, works well with the range of aforementioned angles α of the shank 28, resulting in a tapered shank 28 that is preferably oriented relative to the base layer 24 to provide greater shear and tear resistance without additional tip material.

The above measurements can be easily performed using a protractor model 100-00115 sold by Rame-Hart Inc., Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, USA. If more accurate measurement is desired, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the profile view, starting point 36, section plane 40-40, anterior angle βί, posterior angle / 3 », angles 50 and 52, 75% points 44 and 48, and angle 28 of arm 28 can be advantageously determined by photographing the tip. 22. A Model 1700 electron scanning microscope sold by Amray, Inc., New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, has been found to be well suited for this purpose. If necessary, several photographs can be taken to determine the maximum side extent 38 and thus one of the profile views. -

The arm 28 should extend longitudinally from the base 26 at a sufficient distance to position the attachment means from the base layer 24 to a height position that allows the attachment means 30 to easily cut or adhere to the strands of the receiving surface. The relatively long arm 28 offers the advantage of being able to penetrate deeper into the receiving surface, allowing the attachment means 30 to cut or adhere to a larger number of strands or fibers. On the other hand, the advantage of a relatively short shank 28 results in a more durable shank 22 that also penetrates to a lesser extent within the receiving surface and thus may not be suitable for receiving surfaces comprising wool and loosely sewn bonding materials with fewer strands or fibers.

If a receiving surface comprising sewn or woven material is used, a relatively short shank is suitable having a longitudinal length from the substrate layer 24 to the highest point or segment portion of about 0.5 millimeters (0.020 inches), preferably at least 0.7 millimeters (0.028 inches). When using a receiving material made of a special material greater than about 0.9 millimeters (0.035 inches) thick, a relatively long arm 28 having a larger longitudinal dimension of at least about 1.2 millimeters (0.047 inches), preferably at least about 2.0 millimeters (0.079 inches), is more appropriate. As the length of the arm 28 increases and its shear strength decreases accordingly, the density of the tips 22 of the fastening system 20 may be increased to compensate for such loss of shear strength.

As described above, the longitudinal length of the arm 28 determines the longitudinal distance of the fastening means 30 from the base layer 24. The longitudinal distance represents the smallest perpendicular distance from the plane of the base layer 24 to the circumference of the fastening means 30. For the fastening means 30 of fixed geometric shape, the longitudinal distance of the fastening means 30 from the base layer 24 increases as the length of the longitudinal arm 28 increases. At least twice, and preferably about ten times, the longitudinal distance from the diameter of the strands or fibers contained in the receiving surface in use allows such strands or fibers to be well cut or attached and retained by the attachment means 30 of the attachment system 20. In the embodiment described herein, a tip 20 having a longitudinal distance of about 0.2 millimeters to about 0.8 millimeters (0.008 to 0.03 inches) performs excellently.

The cross-sectional shape of the arm 28 is not critical.

Thus, the arm 28 may have any desired cross-sectional shape in accordance with the above-mentioned parameters related to the cross-section of the cover 26. The cross-section means a planar area of ​​any part of the tip 22 perpendicular to the arm 28 or the fastening means 30. As noted above, the arm 28 preferably tapers as its cross-section decreases lengthwise and laterally toward the end of the arm 28 and toward the attachment means 30 of the tip 22. This arrangement provides a corresponding reduction in the moment of inertia of the arm 28 and the fastening means 30, resulting in a tip 22 with a more uniform stress when applying separating forces to the fastening system 20, thus reducing the amount of excess material contained in the tip 22.

In order to maintain the desired geometric shape over a wide size range of the tip 22, a generally uniform ratio of cross-sectional areas can be used to dimension the tips 22. One ratio that generally controls the overall taper of the tip 22 is the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the base 26 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the tip 22 at the highest point of the tip 22. The term highest point means the point or segment of the arm 28 or fastener that has the greatest perpendicular distance from the plane of the base layer 24. In general, tips 22 having a cross-sectional area ratio of the base 26 to the cross-sectional area at the highest point of about 4: 1 to about 9: 1 work well.

A generally circular shank 18 tapering from the aforementioned base 26 diameter of about 0.76 millimeters to about 1.27 millimeters (about 0.030 to about 0.050 inches) to the highest point diameter of about 0.41 millimeters to about 0.51 millimeters (0.016 to 0.020 inches). ) has been found to be suitable for the present embodiment. Looking in more detail for 17 minutes, a generally circular cross-section of about 0.46 millimeters (0.018 inches) in diameter at the highest point results in a cross-sectional area at this highest point of about 0.17 square millimeters (0.0003 square inches). The generally circular cross-section of the base 26 is about 1.0 millimeters (0.040 inches) in diameter to give the base 26 a cross-sectional area of ​​about 0.81 square millimeters (.0013 square inches). This structure gives a base 26 ratio between the cross-sectional area and the highest cross-sectional area of ​​about 5: 1, which is in the above-mentioned range.

The fastening means 30 is connected to the arm 28 and preferably forms an extension of the end of the arm 28. The fastening means 30 protrudes radially outwards and outwards from the circumference of the arm 28, and may further comprise a vector component projecting longitudinally, i. towards or away from the substrate layer 24. As used herein, the word attachment means any protrusion extending laterally from the circumference of the shank 28 (except for minor rusting of the circumference of the shank 28), this protrusion resisting separation or detachment from the receiving surface. The word perimeter denotes the outer surface of the tip 22. The term radially refers to a direction perpendicularly away from or toward the substrate layer 24 that generally passes through an origin 36 at the center of the mounting region of the base 26.

More specifically, the lateral protrusion includes a vector component that is parallel to and oriented toward the plane of the substrate layer 24. It should be noted that the attachment means 30 and the arm 28 may both include both lateral and longitudinal vector components. It is immaterial that the arm terminates at a precisely limited distal end or that the boundary line between the arm 28 and the fastening means be visible at all. All that matters is that the circumferential longitudinal surface of the arm 28 is interrupted so that the fastening means 30 includes a surface whose vector component is parallel to and abuts the plane of the substrate layer 24.

The fastening means 30 may have a larger lateral extent 38 than the arm 28, or vice versa, if desired. As can be seen from the figures, the fastening means 30 is preferably generally curved and may comprise an insertable curved portion. If the fastening means 30 includes an insertable curved portion, the fastening means 30 includes a segmental portion that approaches longitudinally the substrate layer 24 at or at a lateral distance from the base 26.

This segment portion is oriented laterally toward the arm 28, although this segment portion need not be oriented radially toward the starting point 36.

The fastening means 30 of each tip 22 of the fastening system 20 may extend laterally in substantially the same direction when relatively unidirectional tear resistance is desired, or may be randomly oriented to provide substantially isotropic tear strengths in any lateral direction. The fastening means may comprise hook-like spike tips projecting substantially from one side of the arm 28, generally delimiting a concave contour shape and penetrating the receiving surface opening to cut threads or fibers of the receiving surface at the inner arc radius 54 of the fastening means 30. Interference between the fastening means 30 and the strands or fibers of the receiving surface prevents the fastening system 20 from detaching from the receiving surface before the tear or shear resistance of the fastening system 20 is exceeded. The fastening means 30 should not extend radially too far laterally, otherwise the fastening means 30 may not penetrate the opening of the receiving surface. The cross-section of the fastening means 30 should be properly dimensioned for penetration into the openings in the receiving surface.

The cross-sectional area and geometric shape of the fastener 30 are not critical as long as the structural rigidity of the fastener 30 provides sufficient shear and flexural strengths in accordance with the desired tear and shear strengths of the fastener system 20 having a particular branch tip group 22. For the present embodiment, a hook-like spike attachment 19 means 30 having a maximum lateral extent 38 from the center of the base 26 to the farthest lateral outer circumference of about 0.79 millimeters to about 0.90 millimeters (0.03 to 0.04 inches) is suitable.

The tips 22 may be arranged in any desired pattern and density to achieve the tear and shear strengths required for the particular use of the fastening system 20. In general, as the group density increases, the tear and shear strength increase in a straight line in a directly proportional manner. The individual tips 22 should not be placed so close together that the attachment means 22 of the adjacent tips 22 would interfere with or prevent cutting the threads or fibers of the receiving surface. If the tips 22 are placed too close together, the strands or fibers of the receiving surface may compress or jam, causing the openings between these strands or fibers to become blocked. On the other hand, the tips 22 should not be so far apart that an additional substrate layer area 24 would be required to provide a fastening system with sufficient shear and tear resistance.

It is preferred to place the tips 22 in rows so that each tip 22 is generally equidistant from the adjacent tip 22. The rows are arranged generally in the machine direction and in the machine transverse direction according to the manufacturing process described and claimed below. Each machine direction and machine transverse tip row 22 should be equidistant from adjacent machine direction and machine transverse tip rows 22 to provide a generally uniform stress field to the entire mounting system 20 and receiving surface when separating forces are applied to the mounting system 20 and receiving surface.

In this context, the word pitch means the distance measured either in the transverse direction of the machine or between the centers of the attachment areas of the bases 26 of the tips 22 in adjacent rows. In general, a fastening system 20 that includes a tip array 22 having a pitch of about 1.02 mm to about 5.08 millimeters (0.04 to 0.20 inches) in both directions is suitable, with a pitch of about 2.03 millimeters (0.08 inches). preferred. Adjacent rows transverse to the machine are preferably set aside about half the pitch in the transverse direction of the machine to double the distance between adjacent rows in the transverse direction of the machine in the machine direction.

The tips 22 can be thought of as being placed in a matrix of one square centimeter squares with about 2 to 10 rows of rows per 22 centimeters (5-25 rows / inch) in both the machine direction and the transverse direction, preferably about five rows of tips 22 / cm (13 rows / inch). ) in both directions. This matrix results in an attachment system 20 having from about 4 to about 100 tips 22 per square centimeter (25 to 625 tips / square inch) of substrate layer 24.

The tips 22 included in the fastening system 20 can be made of any heat-sensitive material that is solid and shape-retaining in the solid state, but not so brittle that defects occur when the fastening system 20 is subjected to separating forces. As used herein, the term heat sensitive refers to a material that gradually changes shape from a solid state to a liquid state under the influence of heat. The failure is considered to occur when the tip 22 ruptures or is no longer able to maintain the reaction under separating forces. The modulus of elasticity of the tip material, measured in accordance with ASTM standard D-638, is preferably from about 24,600,000 to about 31,600,000 kg / m³ (35,000 to 45,000 pounds / square inch).

In addition, the melting point of the tip material should be low enough to provide easy handling and relatively high viscosity to achieve a sticky and tough composition near the melting point of the material so that the arms 28 can be stretched and the fastening means 30 easily formed according to the manufacturing method described below. It is also important that the tips 22 be viscoelastic to allow greater variation in the parameters that affect the structure of the tip 22 and in particular the geometric shape of the fastening means 30. A material having a complex viscosity of about 20 to 100 Pascals at the temperature of application to the substrate layer 24 is suitable.

Viscosity can be measured using a Rheoroetrics Model 1800 Mechanical Spectrometer using a dynamic mode of operation with a sampling frequency of 10 Hz and a material deformation of 10%. Disc and plate type geometry is especially recommended using a disc with a radius of about 12.5 millimeters with a gap of about 1.0 millimeters between the disc and the disc.

The tips 22 are preferably made of a thermoplastic material.

The term thermoplastic refers to non-crosslinked polymers of heat-sensitive material flowing under heat or pressure. Thermoplastics comprising a hot melt binder are particularly well suited for the manufacture of the fastening system 20 of the present invention, particularly in accordance with the process described and claimed below. As used herein, the term hot melt binder means a viscoelastic thermoplastic that retains residual stresses as it solidifies from a liquid state. Hot melt binders comprising polyester and polyamide are particularly suitable and desirable. As used herein, the terms polyester and polyamide refer to chains containing repeating ester and amide units, respectively.

If a polyester hot melt binder is selected, a binder with a complex viscosity of about 23 ± 2 Pascal seconds at a temperature of about 194 ° C has been found to work well. If the polyamide hot melt binder is again selected for use, the binder having a complex viscosity of about 90 ± 10 Pascal seconds at a temperature of about 204 ° C has been found to be suitable. The polyester hot melt binder marketed by Bostik, Middleton, Massachusetts, USA under number 7199, has been found to work well. The polyamide hot melt binder marketed by Henkel, Kankakee, Illinois, USA under the tradename Macromelt 6300, has also been found to work well.

In another embodiment of the fastening system 20 'shown in Figure 3, the fastening means 30' may be generally hemispherical (sponge) in shape. The term hemispherical generally refers to a circular shape that projects in multiple directions and includes spheres and hemispheres, but is not limited to any regular shape. This geometric shape, in particular the generally spherical structure of the fastening means 30 ', offers the advantage that there is generally less interference with the fibers of the receiving surface when the fastening means 30' is removed from the receiving surface. This causes less visible damage to the receiving surface, allowing this surface to be reused multiple times. If a hemispherical fastening means 30 'is selected for use, the arm 28' is preferably in a more perpendicular position to allow easier penetration of the receiving surface openings and to reduce damage to the receiving surface when the fastening means 30 'is removed from the receiving surface. An arm 28 'with an angle α of about 70 ° to about 90 ° is suitable.

To achieve a properly sized tip 22 'and a generally hemispherical fastener 30', the fastener 30 'should extend radially from the circumference of the shaft 28' to a lateral distance sufficient to cut the strands of the receiving surface, but not so far that the fastener 30 'does not become rigidly supported by the shaft 28'. or that the arm 28 'becomes otherwise unstable. As the angle α of the arm 28 'decreases, i. deviating further from the perpendicular direction, the mass of the fastening means 30 'becomes critical for the structural rigidity and cross-sectional area of ​​the arm 28'.

The tapered arm 28 ', which includes the cross-sectional area and diameter ratios described above from the base 26' to the uppermost height position, and the arm 28 'has a Kalma α of about 80 °, works well. It should be noted that the measurements related to the highest height position must be made at the highest height position of the arm 28 'and not the fastening means 30'.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, where there is no flat transition area from the arm 28 'to the fastener 30' and where the boundary line between the arm 28 'and the fastener 30' is readily defined, the imaginary section plane 40'-40 'is three quarters of the perpendicular distance 30 'between the tangent passing through the point closest longitudinally closest to the plane of the substrate layer 24'. The cutting plane 40'-40 'is then used to determine the angle α', the leading edge angle / 31 'and the trailing edge angle jSt · of the arm 28' as described above.

The fastening means 30 'should extend radially in each lateral direction from the circumference of the distal end of the arm 28' to at least about 25 percent of the diameter of the distal end 29 'of the arm 28', and preferably at least about 38 percent of this diameter. Alternatively, if the diameter of the distal end 29 'of the shaft 28' is normalized to 1.0, the diameter of the fastening means 30 'should be at least 1.5 and preferably at least 1.75 times the diameter of the distal end 29' of the shaft 28 '. In addition, the diameter of the base 26 'should be about 2.0 times the diameter of the end 29' of the stem 28 '. The height of the arm 28 'should be about 1.5 to about 2.0 times the diameter of the off-end 29' of the arm 28 'to position the fastening means 30' at a longitudinal distance from the base layer 24 '. Fastening means 30 '. the longitudinal dimension may be about 0.5 to about 1.5 times the diameter of the end 29 'of the arm 28'.

The fastening system 20 'of Fig. 3 is manufactured by heating the end of the fastening means 30 shown in Fig. 2 to at least the melting point of the fastening system 20. This is accomplished by connecting the attachment means 30 and the distal ends of the tips 22 to a heat source longitudinally toward the plane of the substrate layer, whereby the base 26 'and the proximal end of the arm 28' do not become heated, at least to the melting point. A suitable method is to place the highest point of the tip at a temperature of about 3.3 mm to about 10.1 mm (0.1 to 0.4 inches) of heat, such as approximately

Inside a hot wire heated to 440 ° C.

The 'leading edge angle' and the trailing edge angle βτ 'of the tip 22 are the same as in the corresponding hook-like spike-shaped fastening tip 22 from which the hemispherical fastening tip 22' is formed. This is because the angle α 'of the arm 28' and the front and rear edge angles / 3i 'and βτ · do not change significantly when the fastening means 30 according to Fig. 2 is heated to flow into the fastening means 30' shown in the figure.

For the aforementioned Milliken 970026 receiving surface, the fastener 30 'of Figure 3 should preferably have a side and length dimension of about 0.029 to about 0.032 mm (.001) and the fastener 30' should be positioned on an arm 28 'having a base 26' diameter of about 0; 30 mm to about 0.045 mm (0.012 to 002 inches) and the diameter of the off-end 29 'is about 0.016 mm to about 0.020 mm (0.0006 to 0.0007 inches). The outward end 29 'of the arm 28' should be positioned about 0.44 mm to about 0.50 mm (.017 to .020 inches) above the base layer 24 ', and the lateral projection 38' of the fastener 30 'should be about 0.56 mm about 0.70 mm (0.022 to 0.028 inches), preferably about 0.64 mm (0.025 inches).

The fastening system 20 of the present invention can be manufactured using a modified gravure printing process. Gravure printing is well known in the art, for example, according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,130, issued February 17, 1988 to Sheath et al., The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring to the figure, the substrate layer 24 is passed through a contact surface 70 formed between two rollers, a printing roll 72 and a support roll. The rollers 72 and 74 have substantially parallel centerlines with each other, which are also parallel to the plane of the substrate layer 24. The rollers 72 and 74 are rotated about respective centerlines at both the same surface velocities in both size and direction at the contact surface 70. If desired, both the pressure roll 72 and the support roll 74 can be driven by external kinetic force (not shown), or one roll can be driven by external friction and the other roll by frictional contact between it and the first roll. An AC motor with a power of about 1500 W provides sufficient motive power. As they rotate, the rollers 72 and 74 actuate a deposition device that deposits the tips 22 on the substrate layer 24.

The deposition device should be able to compensate for the temperature of the material of the tips 22 in the liquid state, form a sufficiently uniform pitch angle between the tips 22 both in the machine direction and in the transverse direction, and result in the desired density of the tips 22 within the group. The layering device should also be able to provide tips with different diameters of the base 26 and heights of the arm 23. In particular, the printing roll 72 forms a deposition device for depositing the tips on the substrate layer 24 as the desired group (or other pattern) described above in accordance with the present manufacturing process. The term layering device means any device that transfers a mass of liquid tip material to the substrate layer 24 in doses corresponding to the individual tips 22. The term layering means transferring the tip material from the pulp form and dispensing it onto the substrate layer 24 in units corresponding to the individual tips 22.

One suitable deposition device for depositing the tip material on the substrate layer 24 is an array formed by one or more cells 76 in the printing roll 72. As used herein, the word cell refers to any cavity or other component portion of the printing roll 72 that transfers tip material from a particular source to the substrate layer 24 and deposits that material on the substrate layer 24 as separate units.

The cross-sectional area of ​​the cell 76 taken on the surface of the printing roll 72 generally corresponds to the shape of the clamping area of ​​the base 26 of the tip 22. The cross section of the cell 76 should be approximately the same as the desired cross section of the base 26. The depth of the cell 76 partly determines the longitudinal length of the tip 22, in particular the perpendicular distance from the base 26 to the highest point or segment. However, as the depth of the cell 76 increases to greater than about 70 percent of the diameter of the cell 76, the longitudinal dimension of the tip 22 generally remains constant. This is because not all of the liquid tip material is drawn out of the cell 76 and deposited on the substrate layer 24. Due to the surface tension and viscosity of the liquid tip material, some of this liquid tip material remains in the cell 76 and does not migrate to the substrate layer 24.

For the present embodiment, a closed and generally cylindrical cell with a depth of about 50% to about 70% of the diameter is sufficient. If desired, the cell may be slightly tapered in the shape of a truncated cone to perform conventional manufacturing processes, such as chemical etching.

Being in the shape of a truncated cone, the taper angle of the cell 76 should not exceed 45 ° C to achieve the recommended slope and stem height ratios of the stem 28 mentioned above. If the cell 76 has a larger taper angle, an excessively tapered arm 22 may result. Again, if the taper angle is too small or the cell 76 is cylindrical in shape, the result may be a stem 28 with a generally uniform cross-section, thus having areas of higher stress. For the application described herein, a cell 76 having a taper angle of about 45 ° C and a roll circumference of about 0.89 mm to about 1.22 mm (0.035 to 0.048 inches) and a depth of about 0.25 mm to about 0.51 mm ( 0.01 to 0.02 inches) results in a suitable tip 22.

The pressure roll 72 and the support roll 74 should be compressed along a line connecting their centerlines to compress the binder in the cells 76 of the pressure roll 72 into the substrate layer 24 and provide sufficient frictional contact to drive the opposite roll if not driven externally. The support roll 74 should be slightly softer and more flexible than the printing roll 72 to cushion the tip material as it is deposited on the substrate layer 24 of the printing roll 72. A support roller with a rubber coating of about 40 to about 60 Shore A hardness measured with a durometer is suitable. The rollers 72 and 74 can be compressed together with a force that results in a print from about 6.4 mm to about 12.7 mm (0.25 0.50 inches) in the machine direction. The term imprint ** in this context means the contact area of ​​the softer roll with the substrate layer 24, the substrate layer passing through the contact surface 70.

The temperature of the pressure roll 72 is not critical. However, the pressure roll 72 should be heated to prevent the tips 22 from solidifying during transfer from the source through the deposit on the substrate layer 24. The surface temperature of the printing roll 72 should generally be close to the temperature of the source material. The temperature of the printing roll 72 of about 197 ° C has been found to be suitable.

It should be noted that a cold roll may be necessary if the substrate layer 24 is adversely affected by heat transferred from the tip material. If desired, the cold roll can be incorporated into the support roll using means well known to those skilled in the art. This arrangement is often necessary when using a substrate layer 24 made of polypropylene, polyethylene or other polyolefin material.

The material used to make the individual tips 22 must be stored to provide a suitable temperature for placing the tips 22 on the substrate layer 24. A temperature slightly above the melting point of the material is generally desirable. A material is considered to be at or above its melting point if the material is in a partially or completely liquid state. If the tip material is kept at too high a temperature, it may not become viscous enough and may result in a fastener 30 laterally associated with machine-adjacent tips 22. If the temperature of the material is very hot, the tip 22 becomes a slightly hemispherical mixture and the fastener 30 does not form. On the other hand, if the temperature of the material is too low, the tip material may not be transferred from the material source to the material deposition device 28 or subsequently not properly transferred from the deposition device 76 to the substrate layer 24 as a desired array or pattern. The material source should also provide a generally uniform temperature profile for the material in the machine direction, communicate with the device for depositing binder material to the substrate layer 24, and be easily replenishable or refillable once the tip material has been used up.

A suitable source of material is a trough 80 that is substantially as wide as the portion of the dimension of the printing roll 72 transverse to the machine direction in and adjacent to the cells 76. This trough includes a closed end base, an outer side, and an outer end. The top can be open or closed if desired. The inside of the tray 80 is open to allow free contact of the liquid material therein and connection to the circumference of the printing roll 72.

This source of material is heated externally by known devices (not shown) to keep the tip material in a liquid state and at a suitable temperature. The recommended temperature is above the melting point, but below the point where a significant loss of viscoelasticity occurs. If desired, the liquid material contained in the trough 80 can be mixed or recycled to promote homogeneity and uniform temperature distribution.

A scraper blade 82 is positioned parallel to the bottom of the tray 80 to adjust the amount of tip material to be placed on the pressure roller 72. The scraper blade 82 and trough 80 are held fixed as the paint roll 72 rotates, allowing the scraper blade 82 to wipe the periphery of the roll 72 and scrape off any tip material not deposited from the roll 72 within the individual cells 76, also allowing such material to be recycled. This arrangement allows the tip material to be deposited from the cells 76 onto the substrate layer 24 as a desired array according to the geometry of the cells 76 on the periphery of the printing roll 72. As shown in Figure 2, the scraper blade 82 is preferably positioned in a horizontal plane, in particular in the horizontal tip portion of the printing roller 72 located upstream of the contact point 70.

After being deposited on the substrate layer 24, the tips 22 are separated from the printing roll 72 and the deposition device 76 by a cutting device which separates the tips 22 at 78 into a fastening means 30 and a separating material of the fastening system 20. The word separating material in this context means any material separated from the tip 22 which does not form part of the fastening system 20.

The separating device 78 should be adjustable in size for the different tips 22 and the lateral projections 38 of the fastening means 30 and should also provide uniformity in the transverse direction with respect to the machine of this subassembly. The word separating device means any device that separates the separating material longitudinally from the fastening system 20. The word separating means separating the separating material from the fastening system 20 as described above. The separator 78 should also be clean and should not rust, oxidize, or transfer corrosive or fouling materials (such as separator) to the tips 22. A suitable separator is a wire 78 generally positioned axially of the rollers 72 and 74 and spaced from the substrate 24 at this distance. slightly greater than the perpendicular distance from the highest point of the solidified tip 22 to the base 24.

The wire 78 is preferably electrically heated to prevent the accumulation of molten tip material in the separator 78, to suitably cool the tip 22 between the exit of the tip material from the heat source and the separation, and to provide lateral elongation of the fastening means 30. The heating of the separator 78 should also provide a uniform temperature distribution in the transverse direction of the machine, so as to result in a tip array 22 having a substantially uniform geometric shape.

In general, as the temperature of the tip material increases, a separator at a relatively colder yarn 78 temperature may be used. As the speed of the substrate layer 24 also decreases, the hot wire 78 is cooled less frequently when separating each tip 22 and the separating material, which makes it possible to use a hot wire 78 with a relatively lower power at the same temperatures. It should be noted that as the temperature of the hot wire 78 increases, a tip 22 with a generally shorter shank 28 results. On the other hand, the length of the shank 28 and the lateral length of the fastening means 30 increase inversely with decreasing temperature of the hot wire 78. It is not necessary that the separating plate 78 actually come into contact with the tip 22 for separation to occur. The tip 22 can be separated by the radiant heat from the separation device 78.

For the present embodiment, a nickel chromium wire 78 of circular cross-section having a diameter of about 0.51 mm (0.02 inches) and heated to a temperature of about 343 ° C to about 416 ° C has been found to be suitable. It will be appreciated that a knife, laser cutting or other separating device 78 may also be used in place of the hot wire 78 described above.

It is important that the separating device 78 be placed in a position where it allows the tip material to stretch before the tip 22 is separated from the separating material. If the separating device 78 is placed too far from the plane of the substrate layer 24, the tip material passes under the separating device 78 without being cut, thus forming a very long fastening means 30 which is not placed at the correct distance from the substrate layer 24 or adjacent tips 22. On the other hand, if the separating device 78 is placed too close to the plane of the base layer 24, the separating device makes the arm 28 a torso and no fixing means 30 is formed.

The hot wire separating means 78 positioned about 14 to 22 mm (0.56 to 0.88 inches), preferably about 18 mm (0.72 inches) in the machine direction from the roll contact point 70, about 4.8 to 7.9 mm (0, 19 to 0.31 inches), preferably about 6.4 mm (0.25 inches) radially outward from the support roll 74 and about 1.5 to 4.8 mm (0.06 to 0.19 inches), preferably about 3, 3 mm (0.13 inches) radially outward from the pressure roller 72, is well placed in place for the manufacturing process described herein.

In practice, the substrate layer 24 is moved in the first direction with respect to the deposition device 76. Looking in more detail, the substrate layer 24 is moved through the roll contact surface 70, preferably pulled by a take-up roll (not shown). In this case, an unobstructed area is formed in the substrate layer 24 for continuous deposition of the tips 22, and those parts of the substrate layer 24 in which the tips 22 are deposited are removed. The direction generally parallel to the main direction of travel of the substrate layer 24, with the substrate layer 24 passing through the roll contact surface 70, is referred to as the machine direction. This machine direction, indicated by arrow 75 in Figure 4, is usually perpendicular to the center line of the pressure roll 72 and the support roll 74. The direction generally perpendicular to the machine direction, which is parallel to the plane of the substrate layer 24, is called the machine transverse direction.

The substrate layer 24 can be drawn through the roll contact surface 70 at a rate that is about 2% to about 10% higher than the surface speed of the rollers 72 and 74. This proceeds to minimize queuing or corrugation of the substrate layer 24 in the vicinity of the tip separator 78 to deposit the tip material on the substrate layer 24. The substrate layer 24 is moved through the roll contact surface 70 in the first direction at a speed of about 3 to about 31 m / min (10 to 100 ft / min).

The angle of the arm 28 can be influenced by the transfer rate of the substrate layer 24 passing through the roll contact surface 70.

If it is desired to result in tips 22 whose shank angle α is closer to a perpendicular angle with respect to the substrate layer 24, a slower transfer rate of the substrate layer 24 in the first direction is selected. On the other hand, if the transfer speed is increased, the angle α of the arm 28 decreases and the larger lateral protrusion 38 of the fastening means is “As a result.

If desired, the base layer 24 can be tilted at an angle γ, about 35 ° to about 55 °, preferably about 45 °, from the plane of the roll contact surface 70 to the support roll 74 to take advantage of the viscoelastic nature of the tip material and properly orient the fastener 30 laterally and longitudinally. This arrangement also provides greater force for extracting the tip material from the cell 76 and pulling the tip 22 away from the pressure roll 72. The angle suhteen with respect to the plane of the roller contact surface 70 should be increased if a smaller angle α of the arm 28 is desired. The increase in the deflection angle γ of the plane of the roller contact surface 70 also has a small but positive effect on the manufacture of the fastening means 30, the lateral protrusion 38 of which increases.

After depositing the tip material from the cell 76 on the substrate layer 24, the rollers 72 and 74 continue to rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows 75 in Fig. 4. This results in a period of relative displacement between the displaced substrate layer 24 and the cells 76, during which time (prior to separation) the tip material joins the substrate layer 24 and the printing roll 72. The word stretch in this context means an increase in the linear direction, at least part of this increase becoming essentially permanent for the service life of the fastening system 20.

As mentioned above, it is also necessary to separate the individual tips 22 from the pressure roller 72 as part of the process of forming the fastening means 30. The separated tip 22 is divided longitudinally into two parts, a distal end and a fastening means 30, which remain together with the fastening system 20, and a separating material (not shown) which remains together with the printing roll 72 and which can be recycled if desired. Once the tips 22 have been separated from the separating material, the fastening system 20 is allowed to freeze prior to contact between the tips 22 and other objects. After the tips 22 have solidified, the substrate layer 24 can be wound on a roll for storage as desired. -

According to a non-limiting embodiment of this process, the tip material is placed in a tray 80 and heated to a temperature slightly above the melting point in a manner generally known to those skilled in the art. If a hot melt binder made of polyester resin is selected for use, a material temperature of about 177 to 193 ° C, preferably about 186 ° C has been found to be suitable. If a polyamide resin is selected for use, a material temperature of about 193 to 213 ° C, preferably about 200 ° C, is suitable. The bleached kraft paper substrate layer 24, which is about 0.008 to about 0.15 mm (0.003 to 0.006 inches) thick on one side, works well with the tips 22 made of the hot melt binder. The tips 22 are connected to the bleached side of the kraft paper substrate layer 24.

For the present embodiment, a printing roll 72 having about 5 cells per 76 centimeters (13 cells 76 / inch) in both the transverse and machine direction, resulting in a web of about 26 cells 76 / cm^J (169 cells 76 / square inch) has been found to be suitable. This mesh density can be preferably used in a printing roll 72 having a diameter of about 16 cm (6.3 inches), cells 76 having a diameter of about 1 mm (0.045 inches), and a depth of about 0.8 mm (0.030 inches). A vertically aligned support roll 74 having a diameter of about 15.2 cm (6.0 inches) has been found to work well with the aforementioned printing roll 72. The transfer rate of the substrate layer 24 is about 3.0 m / min (10 ft / min).

Hot nickel-chromium wire 78, about 0.5 mm (0.02 in.) In diameter, placed about 18 mm (0.72 in.) From the roll contact surface 70 in the machine direction, about 0.3 mm (0.13 in.) radially outward from the pressure roll 72 and about 6.4 mm (0.25 inches) radially outward from the support roll 74, is heated to a temperature of about 382 ° C. The fastening system obtained by this operation can be advantageously used in connection with the product to be described below.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the geometric shape of the fastening means 30 is determined by the differential cooling of the tip 22. The rear end 46 of the tip 22 is protected and insulated from the heat generated by the separating device 78. On the other hand, the leading edge 42 is directly subjected to the heat generated by the separating device, which causes the leading edge 42 to cool more slowly compared to the cooling rate of the trailing edge 46.

The resulting differential cooling rate causes the leading edge 42 to stretch and the trailing edge 46 to shrink relative to each other. As this differential cooling rate increases, a relatively longer attachment means 30 is formed.

If desired, a fastening system 20 with relatively small tips 22 (not shown) can be fabricated using an inherent pattern provided by the pressure roller 72. As used herein, the term native pattern refers to an array of tips 22 obtained from a pressure roll 72 without cells 76, in which the surface of the roll 72 is used as the deposition means 76 instead of the cells. The pattern formed by the tips 22 is thus obtained by the clearance between the scraper blade 82 and the printing roll 72 and, to a lesser extent, by the surface finishing of the printing roll 72.

The scraper blade 82 should be adjusted to a radial clearance of about 0.03 to about 0.08 mm (0.001 to 0.003 inches) from the pressure roll 72. To form a characteristic pattern, the very small tips 22 provided by such a pressure roll 72 are preferably used with a reticulated foam receiving surface and openings, but instead having local resilient deformations that resist detachment of the fastening system 20.

Referring to Fig. 5, if it is desired to use a fastening system 20 '' with a more isotropic peel strength, such a fastening system 20 can be obtained by converting the fastening system 20 shown in Fig. 1 by a second-order differential temperature process.

As shown in Figure 5, the fastening system 20 of Figure 1 is further processed to form arms 28 provided with fastening means 30 extending radially from the arms 28 to various generally random lateral directions. The term random direction means that the lateral protrusions 38 and profile views differ significantly in their direction from the corresponding protrusions and views of the proximal tips 22.

This structure is achieved by creating a temperature difference between the profile or front surfaces 42 and the rear surfaces 46 of the fastening system 20 of Figure 1. This temperature difference can be increased by radiation or, preferably, by conduction.

When the temperature difference between the front surface 42 '' or the profile surfaces and the back surface 46 '' is reached, the fastening means 30 '' substantially changes or even reverses the direction of the lateral protrusion 38, providing a tip 22 with a direction other than the initially cooled or frozen tip. The differential temperature can be obtained in any manner known to those skilled in the art, such as using a heated wire or metal element, and preferably a pneumatic gun 84 positioned above the tips 22 capable of directing the temperature difference to the system 20.

It is desirable that the directional temperature difference source direct the airflow toward the fastening system 20 at an angle of about ± 90 ° to the first direction of movement of the substrate layer 24, which is also the machine direction. In this context, the expression ± 90 ° with respect to the first direction means a direction whose vector component is generally perpendicular or opposite to the first direction of travel of the substrate layer 24 and which includes a direction generally opposite to this first direction of travel.

If the directed temperature difference source 84 is set at an angle of about 180 ° to the first direction of travel of the substrate layer 24 '', the source 84 is directed toward the front surfaces 42 of the tips 22 of the fastening system 20 and is generally opposite to the machine direction described and required herein. Orienting the temperature difference of the source 84 directly toward the front surface 42 of the tip 22 causes the lateral protrusion 38 of the mounting means 30 to rotate to change its direction by about 180 °. A little aside, i.e. in the direction transverse to the machine, the fastening means 30 of the tips 22 placed from the directed temperature difference source 84 do not rotate approximately 180 °, but approximately 90 °. It is thus clear that the temperature differential source 84 transverse to the machine provides a mounting system 20 having tips 22 having a variety of lateral orientations transverse to the machine according to the position of the tip 22 '' with respect to the temperature difference source 84.

A compressed air gun 84 that sprays air at a temperature of about 88 ° C approximately 46 cm (18 inches) from the substrate layer 24 provides a suitable source of temperature difference. A 133-348 series heat gun sold by Dayton Electric Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois, oriented at an angle of about 45 ° to the plane of the base layer 24 and positioned approximately 46 cm (18 inches) from the tips, results in a pattern of mounting system 20 substantially similar to Figure 5. Submitted by. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more hot wires positioned above the tips 22 and oriented in the machine direction will result in a fastening system 20 that includes fastening means 30 transverse to the machine in a regular and slightly streaked pattern.

Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that the change in orientation of the mounting means 30 occurs due to cooling of the tip surfaces 22 or front surface 42 relative to the back surface 46, which may occur if The temperature difference resulting from cooling causes the portion of the tip 22 toward which the temperature difference source 84 is directed to shrink. This shrinkage may result in a change in the orientation of the fastening means 30 and the lateral protrusion 38 due to the differential cooling of the leading edge 42 relative to the rear surface 46. Without wishing to be bound by any further theory, it is believed that the release of residual stresses that occurs during cooling may affect the change in direction of the lateral protrusion 38.

It is still clear to a person skilled in the art that other changes can be made. For example, a tip 22 having a fastening means 30 projecting in more than one direction may be formed, or loosely formed tips 22 may be made by methods well known in the art other than gravure printing. If desired, only one roll may be used in the manufacturing process, provided that the substrate layer 24 is in contact with a circumferential region of at least about 180 ° from that roll.

An illustrative and non-limiting example of the use of a fastening system 120 in accordance with the present invention in a fabricated product is shown in Figure 6. Mechanical fastening systems have been preferably used in disposable absorbent articles, such as U.S. Pat. 07 / 132,281, Publication No. N97, filed on 18. December 1987, filed by Scripps, is described, with this patent application being incorporated herein by reference, describing the structure of the diaper 110 and the preferred use of the mechanical fastening systems 20 in such diaper structures 120.

For example, it is known that mechanical fastening systems 120 are not as easily soiled by oils and powders as adhesive tape fastening systems, and in addition can be easily reused. All of these characteristics provide benefits when applied to a disposable diaper for infant use 110. The reattachable fastening system also offers the advantage that the infant can be checked to see if the disposable diaper 110 is dirty during its period of use.

Figure 6 shows a disposable diaper 110 to be worn on the lower body of an infant. As used herein, the term disposable absorbent article refers to a garment worn by infants or adults with poor incontinence that is pulled between the wearer's legs, attached to the wearer's straps, and intentionally discarded after a single use without being washed or stored. Disposable baby diaper is a special disposable product intended for use by infants.

A preferred baby diaper 110 comprises a liquid-permeable cover 112, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 116, and an absorbent core 118 interposed between the cover 112 and the backsheet 116. The cover 112 and the back plate 116 are connected at least circumferentially to hold the core 118 securely in place. The elements of the sheath 110 can be assembled in a variety of ways known to those skilled in the art, with preferred methods generally being described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003, issued January 14, 1975 to Buell, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing a particularly preferred sheath structure 110.

The cover 112 of the sheath 110 and the backsheet 116 are generally equal in size and at least partially connected to each other by circumference, as mentioned above. The cover 112 and backsheet 116 can be bonded together using a hot melt binder such as Eastobond A3 sn manufactured by Eastman Chemical Products Company of Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. The length and dimensions of the absorbent core 118 are generally smaller than the cover 112 and backsheet 116. The core 118 is fixedly positioned between the cover 112 and the backsheet 116.

The circumference of the sheath 110 comprises opposing first and second ends 122 and 124. The sheath 110 has a first waist portion 142 and a second waist portion 144 extending from the first 122 and second ends 124 of the circumference of the sheath 110 toward the lateral centerline of the sheath 110, respectively, at a distance of about 1 / 5 to 1/3 of the length of the sheath 110. The waist portions 142 and 144 comprise those portions of the diaper 110 which, when the diaper is in use, surround the wearer's waist and generally form the highest point of the diaper 110 when the wearer is in an upright position. The crotch portion 146 of the diaper 110 comprises a portion between the first and second waist portions 142 and 144 which, when the diaper is used, comes between the wearer's legs.

An absorbent heart comprises any device that absorbs and retains fluid secretions from the body. The absorbent core 118 is generally compressible and conformable to body shapes and does not irritate the wearer's skin. The preferred core 118 includes first and second opposing surfaces and may be surrounded by tissue layers if desired. One opposite surface of the core 118 faces the cover 112 and the other opposite surface faces the backsheet 116.

The absorbent core 118 is placed on the backing plate 116 and suitably attached thereto in any manner known in the art, including adhesive bonding. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the adhesive bonding is accomplished by longitudinal adhesive tapes that connect the core 118 to the backplate 116. The backsheet 116 does not allow liquids to pass through and prevents liquids absorbed and retained by the absorbent core 118 from wetting underwear, other clothing, bedding, and other items in contact with the diaper 110. As used herein, the word backsheet means any barrier that is placed outside the core 118 when the sheath 110 is used and that retains the aspirated fluids within the sheath 110. The backsheet 116 preferably comprises a poleolefin film having a thickness of about 0.012 to about 0.051 mm (0.0005 0.002 inches). Polyethylene film is particularly desirable, and such film is manufactured by Monsanto Company of St. Louis, Missouri, USA under the tradename No. 8020. The backsheet 116 may be embossed or matted, if desired, to achieve a more garment-like appearance, or provided with ducts for steam to escape.

The cover 112 is flexible, comfortable to the touch and does not irritate the wearer's skin. The cover 112 prevents the absorbent core 118 and the fluids within it from contacting the wearer's skin. The cover 112 is liquid permeable, allowing liquids to pass therethrough. As used herein, the word cover refers to any liquid-permeable coating that is in contact with the wearer's skin when the diaper 110 is used and that prevents the core 118 from coming into contact with the wearer's skin. The cover 112 may be made of woven, nonwoven, spun or carded materials. The preferred cover 112 is carded and thermally bonded in a manner known to those skilled in the art. A particularly preferred coating 112 has a weight of about 18 to about 25 g / m 2³ , with a minimum dry tensile strength of about 400 g / cm³ in the machine direction and with a wet tensile strength of at least about 55 g / cm³ in a direction transverse to the machine.

The diaper 110 is provided with a fastening system 120 and a receiving surface 153 for holding the first waist portion 142 and the second waist portion 144 in an overlapping position relative to each other when the diaper 110 is used so that the diaper 110 engages the wearer's body. The diaper 110 is thus fitted to the wearer's waist and a side closure is formed when the fastening system 120 is fastened to the receiving surface 153.

The fastening system 120 should withstand the effects of detachable forces during use of the sheath. The term detachable forces refers to forces acting on the attachment system 120 and the receiving surface 153 that tend to detach, release, or remove the attachment system 120 from the receiving surface 153. These detachable forces include both shear and peeling forces. The term shear force generally refers to the partition forces acting tangentially to the receiving surface 153, which can be thought to be generally parallel to the plane of the base layer of the fastening system 120. The term peeling forces generally refers to longitudinally acting partition forces that are perpendicular to the plane of the receiving surface 153 and the base layers of the fastening system 120.

The shear forces are measured by pulling the fastening system 120 and the receiving surface 153 in opposite directions, generally parallel to the planes of the respective substrate layers. The method used to determine the shear strength of the mounting system 120 and the receiving surface 153 is described more fully in U.S. Pat. 4,699,622, issued 13. October, 1987, to Toussant et al., incorporated herein by reference, for the purpose of describing the measurement of shear forces.

Peeling forces are measured by pulling the fastening system 120 off the receiving surface 153 at an angle of about 135 ° C. The method used to determine the resistance of the fastening system 120 and the receiving surface 153 to peeling forces is more fully described in U.S. Patent Application No. 07 / 132,281, Publication No. N87, filed November 18, 1987, to Scripps, incorporated herein by reference, for the purpose of describing the measurement of peeling forces.

The release forces are generally generated by the movements or attempts of the diaper wearer to disengage the diaper 110. An infant will generally not be able to remove or remove the diaper 110 on it, and the diaper 110 will not come off due to normal release forces during its normal use. However, the adult should be able to remove the diaper 110 from its top to replace it when it is soiled or to check for soiling. In general, the fastening system 120 and the receiving surface 153 should withstand a peeling force of at least 200 g, preferably at least 500 g, and most preferably at least 700 g. In addition, the fastening system 120 and the receiving surface 153 should withstand a shear force of at least 500 g, preferably at least 750, and most preferably at least 1000 g.

The receiving surface 153 can be placed in a first position on any of the diapers 110, as long as the receiving surface 153 only engages the fastening means to overlap the first and second waist portions 144. For example, the receiving surface 153 may be placed on the outer surface of the second waist portion 144 or in any position in the sheath 110 in which it is placed, however, as it engages the fastening system 120. The receiving surface 153 may be the same piece as the sheath 110, a separate element attached to the sheath 110, or a single piece of material that is not divided or discontinuous with respect to a portion of the sheath 110, such as the cover 112 or backsheet 116.

Although the receiving surface 153 may vary in size and shape, it preferably comprises one or more fixed points positioned on the outer surface of the second waist portion 144 to allow for the best possible fit adjustment at the wearer's waist. As shown in Fig. 6, the receiving surface 153 is preferably in the form of a fixed portion of an elongate rectangle attached to the outer surface of the second waist portion 144.

A suitable receiving surface 153 is formed by a nonwoven fabric, a seam stitch, or some other fibrous or loop material well known in the art. The receiving surface 153 can be made of a variety of materials forming the fiber elements, and preferably loops, which can be cut and retained by means of fasteners. Suitable materials include nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. A suitable receiving surface 153 comprises a plurality of fiber loops projecting from the fabric. This material is commercially available as a woven Scotchmate nylon loop No. FJ3401 sold by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Another suitable receiving surface 153 comprises a leotard containing a plurality of nylon yarn loops projecting from the nylon backing. This material is sold by Gilford Mills of Greensboro, North Carolina, USA and is sold under the brand name Gilford No. 16110. One particularly recommended receiving surface is a seam-stitched loop material sold by Milliken Company of Spartanburg, Sotuh Carolina under the tradename No. 970026.

The purpose of the attachment system 120 is to engage a complementary receiving surface 153 for a secure attachment of the sheath 110. The fastening system 120 may be in the form of any system forming the side closure disposable diaper 110. The base layer of the fastening system 120 is attached to the sheath 110 at a distance from the receiving means 153. As shown in Figure 6, the fastening system 120 is preferably positioned on both the first and second longitudinal sides of the sheath 110. The preferred shape of the fastening system 120 minimizes potential contact between the tips of the fastening system 120 and the wearer's skin.

A preferred fastening system 120 comprises a Y-shaped tape arrangement, which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. 3,848,594, issued November 19, 1974, to Buell. An alternative preferred fastening system 120 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. 4,699,622, issued 13. October 1987 to Toussant et al., both of which are incorporated herein by reference to describe various settings for a fastening system in a disposable diaper 110.

The fastening system 120 of Figure 6 includes a manufacturer's head 156 and an opposed user's head 158. The manufacturer's head 156 is connected to the sheath 110, preferably in parallel with the first waist portion. The user head 158 is a free end and is attached to the receiving surface 153 with the sheath 110 attached to the user's body.

Once the diaper is fitted around the wearer's waist, the wearer's head 158 of the fastening system 120 is attached to the detachable receiving surface 153 and is preferably placed in a second waist portion 144, the diaper 110 surrounding the wearer's waist. The sheath 110 is now provided with an effective side closure. The tips (not shown) extend from the attachment system 120 of the user head 158 such that the attachment means of the tips intersect the strands of the receiving surface 153.

The fastening system 120 and the complementary receiving surface 153 having a strength of more than 700 g with respect to peeling forces and more than 1000 g with respect to shear forces can be manufactured as follows according to the specific parameters related to the fastening system 120 described in the above-mentioned manufacturing process description. The additional receiving surface 153 used in connection with the fastening system 120 is the aforementioned Milliken Company No. 970026 Stitched loop fabric.

The width of the fastening system 120 is at least about 2.54 cm (1 inch), with a length suitable for forming the user 158 in a comfortable manner, with a length of at least 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) being desirable. The array of tips in the fastening system 120 comprises a matrix of about 26 tips / cm^s (169 tips / square inch). The tips are preferably oriented in substantially the same direction and are positioned against the user's head 158 of the fastening tape.

In practice, the diaper 110 is fitted around the wearer's body by placing the first waist portion 142 around the wearer's back and pulling the rest of the diaper between the wearer's legs so that the second waist portion 144 is positioned in front of the wearer. The user ends 158 of the fastening system 120 are then attached to the receiving surface 153 on the outer surface of the second waist portion 144 to form a side closure.