U.S. patent application number 14/912625 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-07 for surface fastener molding apparatus and its operational method, and a method for producing a surface fastener.
The applicant listed for this patent is YKK Corporation. Invention is credited to Masashai DAIDOJI, Atsunori SUGIMOTO, Toru UMEKAWA.
Application Number | 20160193757 14/912625 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52742281 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160193757 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUGIMOTO; Atsunori ; et
al. |
July 7, 2016 |
Surface Fastener Molding Apparatus and its Operational Method, and
a Method for Producing a Surface Fastener
Abstract
A surface fastener molding apparatus includes a supporting
structure and a second supporting structure for axially supporting
a mold roll in a rotatable manner at a first end side and a second
end side of the mold roll which is opposite to the first end side.
The mold roll includes a circumferential surface in which a
plurality of mold cavities for molding engaging elements of the
surface fastener is provided. A first linear driving means and
second linear driving means are provided which are for,
respectively, advancing or retracting the first supporting
structure and the second supporting structure. The degree of
closeness between the extruding nozzle and the mold roll is
regulatable across the first end side and the second end side of
the mold roll, based on at least one activation of the first
driving means and the second driving means.
Inventors: |
SUGIMOTO; Atsunori; (Toyama,
JP) ; UMEKAWA; Toru; (Toyama, JP) ; DAIDOJI;
Masashai; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YKK Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52742281 |
Appl. No.: |
14/912625 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
September 26, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/076147 |
371 Date: |
February 18, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
264/214 ;
425/162; 425/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 2043/465 20130101;
B29C 2043/5833 20130101; B29C 43/222 20130101; B29C 41/26 20130101;
B29L 2031/729 20130101; B29C 2043/5825 20130101; B29C 41/52
20130101; B29C 41/36 20130101; B29C 2043/5841 20130101; A44B
18/0049 20130101; B29C 43/58 20130101; B29C 2043/5875 20130101;
B29C 43/46 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B29C 41/26 20060101
B29C041/26; B29C 41/52 20060101 B29C041/52; B29C 41/36 20060101
B29C041/36 |
Claims
1. A surface fastener molding apparatus in which a first supporting
structure and a second supporting structure axially support a mold
roll in a rotatable manner at the first end side and the second end
side of the mold roll which is opposite to the first end side, the
mold roll including a circumferential surface in which a plurality
of mold cavities for molding engaging elements of a surface
fastener is provided, the surface fastener molding apparatus
comprising: driving means for advancing or retracting the mold roll
relative to an extruding nozzle, the advancing of the mold roll
toward an extruding mouth of the extruding nozzle defining a mold
space for a substrate of the surface fastener between the
circumferential surface of the mold roll and an opposed surface of
the extruding nozzle, wherein the driving means comprises first
driving means and second driving means for advancing or retracting
the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure
respectively, and wherein the degree of closeness between the
extruding nozzle and the mold roll is regulatable across the first
end side and the second end side of the mold roll based on at least
one activation of the first driving means and the second driving
means.
2. The surface fastener molding apparatus according to claim 1 in
which the first driving means comprises a first linear driving
means for linearly advancing or retracting the first supporting
structure, and the second driving means comprises a second linear
driving means for linearly advancing or retracting the second
supporting structure, wherein the first linear driving means and
the second linear driving means each comprising: a ball screw in
which a nut is movable along a threaded shaft; and a drive source
that produces a rotational force transmitted to the threaded shaft
of the ball screw.
3. The surface fastener molding apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the first end side of the mold roll is axially supported in
a rotatable manner by a first bearing provided at the first
supporting structure and the second end side of the mold roll is
axially supported in a rotatable manner by a second bearing
provided at the second supporting structure.
4. The surface fastener molding apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the first supporting structure and the second supporting
structure are respectively mounted onto one or more linear
rails.
5. The surface fastener molding apparatus according to claim 2,
each of the first linear driving means and the second linear
driving means further comprises a speed reducer that decelerates
the rotational force generated by the drive source and transmits
the reduced rotational force to the threaded shaft.
6. The surface fastener molding apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: controlling means configured to transmit a
drive signal to each drive source of the first driving means and
the second driving means, wherein one end of the rotational axis of
the mold roll pivots relative to the other end of the rotational
axis based on at least one control of the first driving means and
the second driving means by the controlling means.
7. The surface fastener molding apparatus according to claim 6,
further comprising: first position determining means for
determining the position of the first end side of the mold roll;
and second position determining means for determining the position
of the second end side of the mold roll, wherein the controlling
means is configured, based on the output of the first position
determining means, to transmit a drive signal to the first linear
driving means for moving the first supporting structure such that
the displacement of the mold roll at the first end side is
compensated; and the controlling means is further configured, based
on the output of the second position determining means, to transmit
a drive signal to the second linear driving means for moving the
second supporting structure such that the displacement of the mold
roll at the second end side is compensated.
8. A method of manufacturing a surface fastener by the use of a
surface fastener molding apparatus, the surface fastener molding
apparatus comprising: a first supporting structure and a second
supporting structure for axially supporting a mold roll in a
rotatable manner at a first end side and a second end side of the
mold roll which is opposite to the first end side, the mold roll
including a circumferential surface in which a plurality of mold
cavities for molding engaging elements of the surface fastener is
provided; and first driving means and second driving means for
advancing or retracting the first supporting structure and the
second supporting structure respectively, the method comprising:
advancing the mold roll toward an extruding mouth of the extruding
nozzle based on activation of the first driving means and the
second driving means; receiving melted resin being extruded from
the extruding mouth of the extruding nozzle by the rotating mold
roll so that the mold cavities at the circumferential surface are
filled with the melted resin and a substrate of the surface
fastener is formed between the circumferential surface of the mold
roll and the opposed surface of the extruding nozzle; activating at
least one of the first driving means and the second driving means
in accordance with the thickness of the substrate of the formed
surface fastener to regulate the degree of closeness between the
extruding nozzle and the mold roll across the first end side and
the second end side of the mold roll.
9. The method of producing a surface fastener according to claim 8,
the first end side of the mold roll is axially supported in a
rotatable manner by a first bearing provided at the first
supporting structure and the second end side of the mold roll is
axially supported in a rotatable manner by a second bearing
provided at the second supporting structure.
10. The method of producing a surface fastener according to claim 8
in which the first driving means comprises a first linear driving
means for linearly advancing or retracting the first supporting
structure and the second driving means comprises a second linear
driving means for linearly advancing or retracting the second
supporting structure, the method comprising: determining a position
of the first end side of the mold roll; determining a position of
the second end side of the mold roll; activating the first linear
driving means for compensating the displacement of the first end
side of the mold roll based on the determination of the position of
the first end side of the mold roll; and activating the second
linear driving means for compensating the displacement of the
second end side of the mold roll based on the determination of the
position of the second end side of the mold roll.
11. An operational method of a surface fastener molding apparatus
that comprises a first supporting structure and a second supporting
structure for axially supporting a mold roll in a rotatable manner
at a first end side and a second end side of the mold roll which is
opposite to the first end side, the mold roll including a
circumferential surface in which a plurality of mold cavities for
molding engaging elements of the surface fastener is provided; and
first linear driving means and second linear driving means for
advancing or retracting the first supporting structure and the
second supporting structure respectively, the method comprising:
advancing the mold roll toward an extruding mouth of the extruding
nozzle based on activation of both of the first driving means and
the second driving means so that a mold space for a substrate of
the surface fastener is defined between the circumferential surface
of the mold roll and the opposed surface of the extruding nozzle;
activating at least one of the first linear driving means and the
second linear driving means to regulate the degree of closeness
between the extruding nozzle and the mold roll across the first end
side and the second end side of the mold roll.
12. The operational method of a surface fastener molding apparatus
according to claim 11, the method comprising: determining a
position of the first end side of the mold roll; determining a
position of the second end side of the mold roll; activating the
first linear driving means for compensating the displacement of the
first end side of the mold roll based on the determination of the
position of the first end side of the mold roll; and activating the
second linear driving means for compensating the displacement of
the second end side of the mold roll based on the determination of
the position of the second end side of the mold roll.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a surface fastener molding
apparatus and its operational method, and a method for producing a
surfaces fastener.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Patent document 1 discloses, as understandable from its
FIGS. 1 and 2, a configuration in which a die wheel (2) is provided
closer to a extruding nozzle (1), and a surface fastener is
continuously molded between the extruding nozzle (1) and the die
wheel (2) and then transferred by take-up rolls (6, 7). The die
wheel (2) is configured by the stack of ring-shaped plates along a
rotational axis as shown in FIG. 3 of the same document.
[0003] Patent document 2 discloses, as illustrated in its FIG. 1, a
configuration in which resin is supplied and molded between a
pressure roll (2) and a mold roll (1). A load roll (3) is provided
below the mold roll (1) such that a load applied by means of the
pressure roll (2) and the load roll (3) can be regulatable. FIGS.
13 and 13a-13c discloses that the pressure roll (2) is controlled
by means of left and right ball screws such that the axis of the
pressure roll (2) is skewed relative to the axis of the mold roll
(1). Accordingly, a more uniform nip gap can be formed along the
mold roll (1). See specification page 30, line 13 from bottom to
page 31, line 17 from top.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-174693
[PTL 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-514141
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] The relative position between the extruding nozzle and the
mold roll in the extruding machine may vary due to various factors,
and the substrate thickness of the molded surface fastener may
possibly fluctuate in some cases.
Solution to Problem
[0005] A surface fastener molding apparatus according to an aspect
of the present invention may be a surface fastener molding
apparatus (100) in which a first supporting structure (50) and a
second supporting structure (80) axially support a mold roll (10)
in a rotatable manner at the first end side (13) and the second end
side (16) of the mold roll (10) which is opposite to the first end
side (13), the mold roll (10) including a circumferential surface
(11) in which a plurality of mold cavities (12) for molding
engaging elements (910) of a surface fastener (900) is provided.
The surface fastener molding apparatus (100) includes driving means
for advancing or retracting the mold roll (10) relative to an
extruding nozzle (450), the advancing of the mold roll (10) toward
an extruding mouth (490) of the extruding nozzle (450) defining a
mold space for a substrate (910) of the surface fastener (900)
between the circumferential surface (11) of the mold roll (10) and
an opposed surface of the extruding nozzle (450). The driving means
includes first driving means (30) and second driving means (60) for
advancing or retracting the first supporting structure (50) and the
second supporting structure (80) respectively, wherein the degree
of closeness between the extruding nozzle (450) and the mold roll
(10) is regulatable across the first end side (13) and the second
end side (16) of the mold roll (10) based on at least one
activation of the first driving means (30) and the second driving
means (60).
[0006] In a case where the first driving means (30) comprises a
first linear driving means (30) for linearly advancing or
retracting the first supporting structure (50), and the second
driving means (60) comprises a second linear driving means (60) for
linearly advancing or retracting the second supporting structure
(80), the first linear driving means (30) and the second linear
driving means (60) each may preferably include a ball screw (34,
64) in which a nut (36, 66) is movable along a threaded shaft (35,
65); and a drive source (31, 61) that produces a rotational force
transmitted to the threaded shaft (35, 65) of the ball screw (34,
64).
[0007] The first end side (13) of the mold roll (10) may preferably
be axially supported in a rotatable manner by a first bearing (530)
provided at the first supporting structure (50), and the second end
side (16) of the mold roll (10) may preferably be axially supported
in a rotatable manner by a second bearing (560) provided at the
second supporting structure (80).
[0008] the first supporting structure (50) and the second
supporting structure (80) may preferably be respectively mounted
onto one or more linear rails (351, 352, 651, 652).
[0009] Each of the first linear driving means (30) and the second
linear driving means (60) may preferably further include a speed
reducer (32, 62) that decelerates the rotational force generated by
the drive source (31, 61) and transmits the reduced rotational
force to the threaded shaft (35, 65).
[0010] The apparatus may preferably further include controlling
means (850) configured to transmit a drive signal to each drive
source (31, 61) of the first driving means (30) and the second
driving means (60), wherein
[0011] one end of the rotational axis (AX10) of the mold roll (10)
may preferably pivot relative to the other end of the rotational
axis (AX10) based on at least one control of the first driving
means (30) and the second driving means (60) by the controlling
means (850).
[0012] The apparatus may preferably further include first position
determining means (353) for determining the position of the first
end side (13) of the mold roll (10); and second position
determining means (653) for determining the position of the second
end side (16) of the mold roll (10), wherein the controlling means
(850) may preferably be configured, based on the output of the
first position determining means (353), to transmit a drive signal
to the first linear driving means (30) for moving the first
supporting structure (50) such that the displacement of the mold
roll (10) at the first end side (13) is compensated; and the
controlling means (850) may preferably be further configured, based
on the output of the second position determining means (653), to
transmit a drive signal to the second linear driving means (60) for
moving the second supporting structure (80) such that the
displacement of the mold roll (10) at the second end side (16) is
compensated.
[0013] A method of manufacturing a surface fastener according to
another aspect of the present invention may be a method of
manufacturing a surface fastener by the use of a surface fastener
molding apparatus, the surface fastener molding apparatus
including: a first supporting structure (50) and a second
supporting structure (80) for axially supporting a mold roll (10)
in a rotatable manner at a first end side (13) and a second end
side (16) of the mold roll (10) which is opposite to the first end
side (13), the mold roll (10) including a circumferential surface
(11) in which a plurality of mold cavities (12) for molding
engaging elements (910) of the surface fastener (900) is provided;
and first driving means (30) and second driving means (60) for
advancing or retracting the first supporting structure (50) and the
second supporting structure (80) respectively, the method
including: advancing the mold roll (10) toward an extruding mouth
(490) of the extruding nozzle (450) based on activation of the
first driving means (30) and the second driving means (60);
receiving melted resin being extruded from the extruding mouth
(490) of the extruding nozzle (450) by the rotating mold roll (10)
so that the mold cavities (12) at the circumferential surface (11)
are filled with the melted resin and a substrate of the surface
fastener (900) is formed between the circumferential surface (11)
of the mold roll (10) and the opposed surface of the extruding
nozzle (450); activating at least one of the first driving means
(30) and the second driving means (60) in accordance with the
thickness of the substrate (910) of the formed surface fastener
(900) to regulate the degree of closeness between the extruding
nozzle (450) and the mold roll (10) across the first end side (13)
and the second end side (16) of the mold roll (10).
[0014] The first end side (13) of the mold roll (10) may preferably
be axially supported in a rotatable manner by a first bearing (530)
provided at the first supporting structure (50), and the second end
side (16) of the mold roll (10) may preferably be axially supported
in a rotatable manner by a second bearing (560) provided at the
second supporting structure (80).
[0015] In a case where the first driving means (30) comprises a
first linear driving means (30) for linearly advancing or
retracting the first supporting structure (50), and the second
driving means (60) comprises a second linear driving means (60) for
linearly advancing or retracting the second supporting structure
(80), the method may include: determining a position of the first
end side (13) of the mold roll (10); determining a position of the
second end side (16) of the mold roll (10); activating the first
linear driving means (30) for compensating the displacement of the
first end side (13) of the mold roll (10) based on the
determination of the position of the first end side (13) of the
mold roll (10); and activating the second linear driving means (60)
for compensating the displacement of the second end side (16) of
the mold roll (10) based on the determination of the position of
the second end side (16) of the mold roll (10).
[0016] An operational method of a surface fastener molding
apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention may
be an operational method of a surface fastener molding apparatus
that may include a first supporting structure (50) and a second
supporting structure (80) for axially supporting a mold roll (10)
in a rotatable manner at a first end side (13) and a second end
side (16) of the mold roll (10) which is opposite to the first end
side (13), the mold roll (10) including a circumferential surface
(11) in which a plurality of mold cavities (12) for molding
engaging elements (910) of the surface fastener (900) is provided;
and first linear driving means (30) and second linear driving means
(60) for advancing or retracting the first supporting structure
(50) and the second supporting structure (80) respectively, the
method including: advancing the mold roll (10) toward an extruding
mouth (490) of the extruding nozzle (450) based on activation of
both of the first driving means (30) and the second driving means
(60) so that a mold space for a substrate (900) of the surface
fastener (900) is defined between the circumferential surface (11)
of the mold roll (10) and the opposed surface of the extruding
nozzle (450); activating at least one of the first linear driving
means (30) and the second linear driving means (60) to regulate the
degree of closeness between the extruding nozzle (450) and the mold
roll (10) across the first end side (13) and the second end side
(16) of the mold roll (10).
[0017] The method may preferably include: determining a position of
the first end side (13) of the mold roll (10); determining a
position of the second end side (16) of the mold roll (10);
activating the first linear driving means (30) for compensating the
displacement of the first end side (13) of the mold roll (10) based
on the determination of the position of the first end side (13) of
the mold roll (10); and activating the second linear driving means
(60) for compensating the displacement of the second end side (16)
of the mold roll (10) based on the determination of the position of
the second end side (16) of the mold roll (10).
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0018] According to the present invention, the maintenance of the
mold roll may be easier and the stabilization of the substrate
thickness of the surface fastener may be facilitated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a surface fastener
molding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. A mold roll is at an operating position and is closely
facing a non-illustrated extruding nozzle. Illustration of a
control computer and wirings is omitted in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic plane view of the surface fastener
molding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, illustrating that the mold roll is at a retracted
position and greatly spaced apart from the extruding nozzle.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic plane view of the surface fastener
molding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, illustrating that the mold roll is at the operating
position and closely facing the extruding nozzle.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the mold roll and
pick-up roll of the surface fastener molding apparatus according to
the first embodiment of the present invention, additionally
illustrating the extruding nozzle in section, and further
illustrating a pachymeter located at a downstream side of the
pick-up roll. In FIG. 4, the mold roll is at the operating position
and closely facing the extruding nozzle similar to FIG. 3.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the mold roll and
the axially-supporting mechanisms for both ends of the mold roll,
illustrating that the mold cavities are formed in a circumferential
surface of the mold roll. Axially-supporting structures at both
ends of the mold roll are schematically illustrated in section, and
similarly the extruding nozzle is schematically illustrated in
section.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating, in more detail, the
axially-supporting structure for the left end of the surface
fastener molding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
present invention, the configuration of a left bearing included in
the axially-supporting structure being illustrated.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a
state in which a rotational axis of the mold roll of the surface
fastener molding apparatus is pivoted (i.e. an end of the mold roll
is moved relative to the other end of the mold roll), illustrating
distance between the circumferential surface of the mold roll and
the opposed surface of the extruding nozzle being skewed across the
both ends of the mold roll. It should be noted that the FIG. 7 is
solely schematic and does not show an actual degree of pivoting of
the rotational axis.
[0026] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically illustrating
that, in the surface fastener molding apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, force is applied to the
left and right bearings in accordance with the degree of
counterclockwise pivotal movement of the rotational axis of the
mold roll when the figure is viewed in front.
[0027] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view schematically illustrating
that, in the surface fastener molding apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, force is applied to the
left and right bearings in accordance with the degree of clockwise
pivotal movement of the rotational axis of the mold roll when the
figure is viewed in front.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an operational
method of the surface fastener molding apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart related to the operational
method of the surface fastener molding apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the present invention, and is particularly
illustrating how the posture of the mold roll is regulated.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a simplified timing chart related to the
operational method of the surface fastener molding apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is
illustrating that the posture of the mold roll is regulated in
accordance with the fluctuation of extrusion pressure applied by
the extruding nozzle.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a simplified timing chart related to the
operational method of the surface fastener molding apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is
illustrating that the posture of the mold roll is regulated in
accordance with the thickness fluctuation of the substrate of the
molded surface fastener.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to drawings. Respective embodiments are
not individually independent, and the skilled person would be able
to combine them as appropriately without requiring excess
descriptions and would be able to appreciate the synergic effects
obtained by such combinations. Duplicative descriptions between
embodiments shall be omit in principle. Referenced drawings are
mainly for explanatory purposes and may be simplified as
appropriately.
[0033] In the instant specification, front side/frontward may
indicate a direction along which a mold roll moves closer to an
extruding nozzle; back side/backward may indicate a direction along
which the mold roll moves away from the extruding nozzle. That is,
the movement of the mold roll getting closer to the extruding
nozzle may indicate "frontward travel", and the movement of the
mold roll getting away from the extruding nozzle may indicate
"backward travel". The moving direction of the mold roll relative
to the extruding nozzle may be referred to as a travel direction.
Left-right direction may be a direction parallel to the rotational
axis of the mold roll. That is, first end of the mold roll may be a
left-side end, and second end opposite to the first end may be a
right-side end. Up-down direction may be a direction orthogonal to
the travel direction and left-right direction. It should be noted
that various manners are envisaged for the definitions of
directions, and thus another definition could be made in view of
the following detail description.
First Embodiment
[0034] Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view
of a surface fastener molding apparatus. A mold roll is at an
operating position and is closely facing a non-illustrated
extruding nozzle. Illustration of a control computer and wirings is
omitted in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plane view of the surface
fastener molding apparatus, illustrating that the mold roll is at a
retracted position and greatly spaced apart from the extruding
nozzle. FIG. 3 is a schematic plane view of the surface fastener
molding apparatus, illustrating that the mold roll is at the
operating position and closely facing the extruding nozzle. FIG. 4
is a schematic sectional view of the mold roll and pick-up roll of
the surface fastener molding apparatus, additionally illustrating
the extruding nozzle in section, and further illustrating a
pachymeter located at a downstream side of the pick-up roll. In
FIG. 4, the mold roll is at the operating position and closely
facing the extruding nozzle similar to FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a
schematic view illustrating the mold roll and the
axially-supporting mechanisms for both ends of the mold roll,
illustrating that the mold cavities are formed in a circumferential
surface of the mold roll. Axially-supporting structures at both
ends of the mold roll are schematically illustrated in section, and
similarly the extruding nozzle is schematically illustrated in
section. FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating, in more detail,
the axially-supporting structure at the left end of the surface
fastener molding apparatus, the configuration of a left bearing
included in the axially-supporting structure being illustrated.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a state in
which a rotational axis of the mold roll of the surface fastener
molding apparatus is pivoted (i.e. an end of the mold roll is moved
relative to the other end of the mold roll), illustrating distance
between the circumferential surface of the mold roll and the
opposed surface of the extruding nozzle being skewed across the
both ends of the mold roll. It should be noted that the FIG. 7 is
solely schematic and does not show an actual degree of pivoting of
the rotational axis. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically
illustrating that, in the surface fastener molding apparatus, force
is applied to the left and right bearings in accordance with the
degree of counterclockwise pivotal movement of the rotational axis
of the mold roll when the figure is viewed in front. FIG. 9 is an
explanatory view schematically illustrating that, in the surface
fastener molding apparatus, force is applied to the left and right
bearings in accordance with the degree of clockwise pivotal
movement of the rotational axis of the mold roll when the figure is
viewed in front. FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an
operational method of the surface fastener molding apparatus. FIG.
11 is a schematic flowchart related to the operational method of
the surface fastener molding apparatus, and is particularly
illustrating how the posture of the mold roll is regulated. FIG. 12
is a simplified timing chart related to the operational method of
the surface fastener molding apparatus, and is illustrating that
the posture of the mold roll is regulated in accordance with the
fluctuation of extrusion pressure applied by the extruding nozzle.
FIG. 13 is a simplified timing chart related to the operational
method of the surface fastener molding apparatus, and is
illustrating that the posture of the mold roll is regulated in
accordance with the thickness fluctuation of the substrate of the
molded surface fastener.
[0035] A surface fastener molding apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to
5 may axially supports a mold roll 10 and may be configured to
advance the mold roll 10 closer to an extruding nozzle 450 of an
extruding machine 400 or to backwardly move the mold roll 10 away
from the extruding nozzle 450 of the extruding machine 400. The
roll 10 may be a metal-made rotator in which a plurality of mold
cavities 12 for molding engaging elements 920 of a surface fastener
900 are provided in its circumferential surface 11. The rotator may
be provided with a coolant water circulation channel inside thereof
and may be cooled when a surface fastener is being molded, thereby
facilitating the solidification of melted resin at the
circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10, i.e. the
solidification of the surface fastener 900. It should be noted that
the extruding machine 400 may be extremely heavy machine, and may
be fixed to a base in a manufacturing room in a factory.
[0036] The mold roll 10 may comprise of a number of laminated
ring-like plates along the rotational axis similar to FIG. 3 of
Patent document 1, the entire content of Patent document 1 being
incorporated herein by reference. Any specific shape may be
possible for the engaging elements 920 which are molded by the mold
cavities 12 of the mold roll 10. The exemplary engaging element 920
shown in FIG. 4 has oppositely extending two heads in an arc over
the base, but other shapes such as J-shaped hook and so on may be
adopted.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the surface fastener molding
apparatus 100 may advance the mold roll 10 until the mold roll 10
faces the extruding mouth 490 of the extruding nozzle 450 of the
extrusion machine 400. Under this state, a mold space for the
substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 is defined between the
circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10 and a lower arc
surface 495 at the extruding mouth 490 of the extruding nozzle 450.
The arc surface 495 of the extruding nozzle 450 may preferably be
formed in an arc having the same curvature as the curvature of the
circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10, not necessarily
limited thereto though. This arc surface 495 cooperates with the
mold roll 10 for molding the substrate 910 of the surface fastener
900 and is a surface opposed to the circumferential surface 11 of
the mold roll 10, thus may be referred to as "opposed surface".
[0038] The extruding nozzle 450 may supply the melted resin to the
circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10 through the
extruding mouth 490 so that the melted resin may be pushed into the
mold cavities 12 at the circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll
10 and may be filled into the mold space between the
circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10 and the lower arc
surface 495 at the extruding mouth 490 of the extruding nozzle 450.
The engaging elements 920 of the surface fastener 900 are molded by
the mold cavities 12, and the substrate 910 of the surface fastener
900 is molded by the mold space between the circumferential surface
11 of the mold roll 10 and the arc surface 495 of the extruding
nozzle 450.
[0039] The extruding nozzle 450 may be configured arbitrarily as
far as being provided with a molding surface which is opposed to
the circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10 and which
corporate with the circumferential surface 11 to mold the substrate
910 of the surface fastener 900. The extruding nozzle 450 according
to the present example may have the extruding mouth 490 being wider
along the rotational axis of the mold roll 10. The channel provided
in the extruding nozzle 450 may have an axial channel 411,
intermediate plenum 412, coupling channels 413, and discharging
plenum 414. The intermediate plenum 412 and the discharging plenum
414 are mutually connected via the plural coupling channels 413
which are arranged in parallel and are arranged along the wider
width direction of the extruding mouth 490. The opening of the
discharging plenum 414 may form the extruding mouth 490.
[0040] Hereinafter, specific configuration of the surface fastener
molding apparatus 100 may be described in detail. As shown in FIGS.
1 to 5, the surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may axially
support the axial left end 13 of the mold roll 10 having the
rotational axis AX10 in a rotatable manner by the use of a
left-side bearing 530 in the left-side supporting structure (first
supporting structure) 50; and may axially support the axial right
end 16 of the mold roll 10 in a rotatable manner by the use of a
right-side bearing 560 in a right-side supporting structure (second
supporting structure) 80. The axial left end 13 may be provided at
a first end side of the mold roll 10, and the axial right end 16
may be provided at a second end side opposite to the first end side
of the mold roll.
[0041] The surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may be equipped,
as a drive source for the mold roll 10, with an electric motor 444
which may be controlled by a controller (controlling means) 850
shown as a block in FIGS. 2 and 3 to generate rotational force that
is directly or indirectly transmitted to the mold roll 10 through
any arbitrary power transmission so that the mold roll 110 can be
passively rotated. The surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may
have a connector 445 that couples the internal channel in the mold
roll 10 with an external coolant water circulation channel. The
connector 445 may be provided adjacent to the external side of the
right-side supporting structure 80, not necessarily limited thereto
though.
[0042] The left-side supporting structure 50 rotatably supporting
the axial left end 13 of the mold roll 10 may be secured to a nut
36 of a left-side ball screw 34 and may be movable forward or
backward in accordance with the left-side or right-side rotation of
the threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball screw 34. Similarly,
the right-side supporting structure 80 rotatably supporting the
axial right end 16 of the mold roll 10 may be secured to a nut 66
of a right-side ball screw 64 and may be movable forward or
backward in accordance with the left-side or right-side rotation of
the threaded shaft 65 of the right-side ball screw 64. When the
mold roll 10 at a retracted position shown in FIG. 2 is advanced to
an operating position shown in FIG. 3, both of the left-side ball
screw 34 and the right-side ball screw 64 are synchronously
controlled and the left and right sides of mold roll 10 will
advance at a constant speed. The threaded shaft at each ball screw
34, 64 may be provided with a groove having a predetermined pitch
and the travel distance of the nut can be precisely controllable,
by the micrometer for example, in accordance with the amount of
rotation of the threaded shaft. The maintenance or replacement of
the mold roll 10 may be easily possible by retracting the mold roll
10 from the operating position shown in FIG. 3 to the retracted
position shown in FIG. 2.
[0043] The left-side supporting structure 50 may have a base plate
51, a carriage 52, a side plate 53, and an attachment plate 54 as
shown in FIG. 1. The nut 36 of the left-side ball screw 34 may be
firmly secured to the side plate 53 and the base plate 51 through
any fastening means so that the left-side supporting structure 50
may be mounted onto the nut 36 of the left-side ball screw 34.
[0044] Also, the left-side supporting structure 50 may be
configured to slide on a pair of first and second linear rails 351,
352 provided on the stage, thereby ensuring the stable linear
movement along the axis of the left-side ball screw 34. The first
and second linear rails 351, 352 are arranged in parallel on the
stage, and threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball screw 34 is
positioned intermediately. In other words, the first and second
linear rails 351, 352 are arranged in parallel and positioned lower
than the threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball screw 34.
[0045] The carriage 52 provided on the bottom side of the base
plate 51 of the left-side supporting structure 50 may be mounted
onto the first and second linear rails 351, 352 in a slideable
manner. Two carriages 52 may be provided respectively for the first
linear rail 351 and the second linear rail 352, but the number of
carriages 52 may be increased in accordance with the size and load
of the left-side supporting structure 50.
[0046] The right-side supporting structure 80 may be configured
similarly to the left-side supporting structure 50. Description
made above may similarly apply with necessary interchanging of the
first and second linear rails 351, 352 by third and fourth linear
rails 651, 652; the left-side ball screw 34 by right-side ball
screw 64; the base plate 51 by base plate 81; the carriage 52 by
carriage 82; the side plate 53 by side plate 83; and the attachment
plate 54 by attachment plate 84.
[0047] Rotational power generated by a left-side electric motor 31
may be transmitted to the threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball
screw 34 via a left-side speed reducer 32. The left-side ball screw
34 may have a distal end closer to the extruding nozzle 450 of the
extruding machine 400, and a proximal end closer to the power
source. The distal end is axially supported in rotatable manner by
a bearing of a left-side tip axially-supporting portion 37 provided
on the stage, and the proximal end is coupled to the output of the
left-side speed reducer 32. The left-side speed reducer 32 may
intermediate between the left-side electric motor 31 and the
left-side ball screw 34 so that the rotational force generated by
the left-side electric motor 31 may be decelerated and transmitted
to the threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball screw 34, thereby
ensuring greater torque which may sufficiently counteract the
supply pressure of the melted resin supplied from the extruding
nozzle 450 of the extruding machine 400.
[0048] Electric motors may preferably be used as a drive source,
and more preferably an electric motor may be used which is provided
with a function where its operation is feedback controlled based on
the detection of the operating state such as rotational amount,
rotational speed and so on. General speed reducers may be used as
the left-side speed reducer 32 which reduce the rotational speed by
the use of gears and so on and output it. A parallel axis gear
speed reducer, planet gear speed reducer and so on may be used. In
the present example, appropriate power transmissions (worms and
crowns etc.) are utilized so that the left-side electric motor 31
and the left-side speed reducer 32 are orthogonally arranged.
[0049] Right-side ball screw 64 may be configured similarly to the
left-side ball screw 34 and may be passively rotatable in response
to the rotational force generated by a drive source. Description
made above may similarly apply with necessary interchanging of the
left-side electric motor 31 by right-side electric motor 61;
left-side speed reducer 32 by right-side speed reducer 62; and
left-side tip axially-supporting portion 37 by a right-side tip
axially-supporting portion 67.
[0050] As understandable from the above description and a region
outlined by a dotted line in FIG. 2, driving means included in the
surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may be divided to a
left-side linear driver (first linear driving means) 30 for
advancing and retracting the left-side supporting structure 50, and
a right-side linear driver (second linear driving means) 60 for
advancing and retracting the right-side supporting structure 80.
Accordingly, the left-side supporting structure 50 and the
right-side supporting structure 80 may be independently and
linearly displaced in a direction parallel to the travel direction
of the mold roll 10, allowing the rotational axis of the mold roll
10 to be out of plumb with the travel direction of the mold roll
110 within a range allowed by the bearings axially supporting the
left and right ends of the mold roll 10, thus making it possible to
regulate the degree of closeness between the mold roll 10 and the
extruding nozzle 450 along a direction of the rotational axis of
the mold roll 10. The left-side linear driver 30 may operate to
advance and retract the axial left end 13 of the mold roll 10 and
the left-side bearing 530 by necessity. Similarly, the right-side
linear driver 60 may advance and retract the axial right end 16 of
the mold roll 10 and the right-side bearing 560 by necessity.
[0051] In this example, the left-side linear driver 30 may include
the above-described left-side electric motor 31, the left-side
speed reducer 32 and the left-side ball screw 34, but other
differently configured power transmission may be adopted as far as
the linear driving is ensured. In this example, the right-side
linear driver 60 may include the above-described right-side
electric motor 61, the right-side speed reducer 62 and the
right-side ball screw 64, but other differently configured power
transmission may be adopted as far as the linear driving is
ensured.
[0052] The surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may have a
left-side position determining instrument 353 that is adopted to
determine a position of left-side supporting structure 50 which is
driven by the left-side linear driver 30, a position of left-side
bearing 530, and further a position of axial left end 13 of the
mold roll 10. The left-side position determining instrument 353 may
determine a position of targeted left-side supporting structure 50
by any means such as mechanical, optical, electrical, and magnetic
and so on, and may preferably determines an absolute position
thereof.
[0053] For example, the left-side position determining instrument
353 may be a linear absolute encoder which can determine that
absolute position by the use of head along a linear scale. In this
instance, the head on the linear scale may be secured to an
external surface of the left-side supporting structure 50, thereby
enabling the absolute position determination for the left-side
supporting structure 50. Alternatively, a marking may be provided
at the left-side supporting structure 50, and the displacement of
the marking may be optically or magnetically detected for
determining the position. The output of the left-side position
determining instrument 353 may be coupled to the latter-described
controller 850 via a coupling wirings or network.
[0054] The surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may have a
right-side position determining instrument 653 that is adopted to
determine a position of right-side supporting structure 80 which is
driven by the right-side linear driver 60, a position of right-side
bearing 560, and further a position of axial right end 16 of the
mold roll 10. The above description made with respect to the
left-side position determining instrument 353 may be similarly
applicable to the right-side position determining instrument
653.
[0055] The surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may have the
controller 850 for controlling the left-side linear driver 30 and
the right-side linear driver 60. The controller 850 may include at
least one computer and may generate various processing, i.e.
various instructions, along with the execution of program by a CPU
(Central Processing Unit), in particular allowing independent
respective control for the left-side linear driver 30 and the
right-side linear driver 60 in this example. In this example, the
controller 850 may perform a feedback control of the left-side
linear driver 30 in accordance with the output from the left-side
position determining instrument 353, and performs a feedback
control of the right-side linear driver 60 in accordance with the
right-side position determining instrument 653. The processing
performed by the controller 850 may be described later. The present
exemplary controller 850 comprises of a main computer 851, a
left-side driver circuit 853, and a right-side driver circuit 856,
but other system configuration may be adopted. In some cases, the
driver circuit may be a microcomputer and a kind of computer.
[0056] The surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may have a
pachymeter 859 that is adapted to measure the thickness of the
substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 transferred by the
pick-up roll 110 as shown in FIG. 4. An operator may manipulate the
main computer 851 in accordance with a measurement value by the
pachymeter 859 to control the left-side linear driver 30 and
right-side linear driver 60 so that the operating position of the
mold roll 10 may be regulated. If the output of the pachymeter 859
is coupled to the controller 850, the controller 850 may
autonomously control the left-side linear driver 30 and the
right-side linear driver 60 in accordance with the output of the
pachymeter 859 such that the operating position of the mold roll 10
can be changed.
[0057] Specific configuration of the pachymeter 859 may be
arbitrary, and it is envisaged that a type of instrument that
gauge-measures the thickness of the substrate 910 of the surface
fastener 900 or a type of instrument that optically measures may be
utilized. The pachymeter 859 may not necessarily be incorporated
into the surface fastener molding apparatus 100, and it would be
possible to measure the molded surface fastener at a constant time
interval using a pachymeter 859 (micrometers and so on) that can be
hand-held by an operator.
[0058] The extent of the mold space for the substrate 910 of the
surface fastener 900 as described with reference to FIG. 4 at the
beginning may fluctuate for various causes. For example, the supply
pressure of the melted resin supplied from the extruding nozzle 450
may fluctuate, and the extent of the mold space may possibly
fluctuate. Alternatively, the mold roll 10 may be deformed due to
hear transmitted from the melted resin supplied from the extruding
nozzle 450, possibly changing the extent of the mold space.
Mechanical support such as axial support for the mold roll 10 may
be necessary for disposing the mold roll 10, and the
above-described pressure or heat fluctuation may affect or greatly
affect the axially-supporting mechanism for the mold roll 10.
[0059] Even if the relative position between the extruding nozzle
450 and the mold roll 10 was precisely irrevocably initialized,
there may also be a possibility where the thickness of the
substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 may fluctuate as being
influenced when the surface fastener molding apparatus operates.
Moreover, in this case, maintenance for the surface fastener
molding apparatus 100 may require a re-installation of the removed
mold roll 10, obstructing the operation of the surface fastener
molding apparatus 100.
[0060] It may be envisaged that the above-described fluctuation of
the mold space for the substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900
may be compensated by configuring the mold roll 10 movable along a
single axis using one ball screw and so on. However, according to
the testing performed by the present inventors, it has been turned
out that even such a configuration had been adopted, the
above-described fluctuation of the mold space for the substrate 910
of the surface fastener 900 caused from various factors may not be
remedied.
[0061] In the present embodiment, the driving means included in the
surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may be divided to the
left-side linear driver 30 and the right-side linear driver 60
which are capable of moving the left-side supporting structure 50
(left-side bearing 530) and the right-side supporting structure 80
(right-side bearing 560), respectively. Here, the degree of
closeness between the mold roll 10 and the extruding nozzle 450
along the mold roll 10 across the axial left end 13 to the axial
right end 16 may be regulated based on at least one activation of,
exemplary and typically only one of the left-side linear driver 30
and the right-side linear driver 60.
[0062] According to such a configuration, dynamical compensation
may be possible even the extent of the mold space for the substrate
910 of the surface fastener 900 was fluctuated for various causes,
thus the thickness of the substrate 910 of the molded surface
fastener 900 will be much highly stabilized. The stabilization of
the thickness of the substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 may
contribute in avoiding the production of irregular surface fastener
900, in increasing the production yield of the surface fastener
900, and in decreasing the production cost for the surface fastener
900. As individual control of positions of the axial left end 13
and the axial right end 16 of the mold roll 10 is possible,
thickness control of the substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900
may be more easily achievable.
[0063] Hereinafter, more detailed description will follow in regard
to the regulatable degree of closeness between the mold roll 10 and
the extruding nozzle 450 along the mold roll 10 across the axial
left end 13 and the axial right end 16, based on at least one
activation of the left-side linear driver 30 and the right-side
linear driver 60.
[0064] As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the left-side bearing 530
axially supporting the axial left end 13 of the mold roll 10 may
have an outer ring 531, an inner ring 532, and rolling elements
533, and a not-illustrated retainer. The outer ring 531 may be
secured to the attachment plate 54 of the left-side supporting
structure 50, and the inner ring 532 may be secured to the axial
left end 13 of the mold roll 10. The inner ring 532 may be freely
rotatable with respect to the outer ring 531 through the assisting
rolling of the rolling elements 533. Any type of bearing may be
adoptable and the rolling element may be a ball, cylinder, or a
combination thereof, for example. The rolling elements may be
pressurized. The right-side bearing 560 may be configured similarly
to the left-side bearing 530.
[0065] As understandable from the schematic view of FIG. 7, when a
difference is caused between the positions of the axial left end 13
and the axial right end 16 of the mold roll 10 in the travel
direction of the mold roll 10 based on at least one activation of
the left-side linear driver 30 and the right-side linear driver 60,
the rotational axis AX10 of the mold roll 10 that is perpendicular
to the travel direction of the mold roll 10 may pivot clockwise or
counterclockwise when FIG. 7 is viewed in front, i.e. axial
misalignment may be caused. As an example, when the rotational axis
AX10 of the mold roll 10 is oriented perpendicular to the travel
direction of the mold roll 10 and then the axial right end 16 is
moved relative to the axial left end 13 by several micrometer
forward, the rotational axis AX10 of the mold roll 10 may pivot
counterclockwise around the axial left end 13 as schematically
shown in FIG. 7 when the figure is viewed in front, and the axial
right end 16 of the mold roll 10 may be positioned closer to the
extruding nozzle 450 than the axial left end 13.
[0066] As schematically shown in FIG. 8, the right-side bearing 560
has been moved slightly forward compared to the left-side bearing
530, and the rotational axis of the mold roll 10 has been pivoted
counterclockwise when FIG. 8 is viewed in front. In this case, the
backward force may be applied to the inner ring 532 of the
left-side bearing 530 from the axial left end 13 of the mold roll
10, and the forward force may be applied to the inner ring 532 of
the right-side bearing 560 from the axial right end 16 of the mold
roll 10. The rotation of the inner ring 532 relative to the outer
ring 531 at each bearing may be ensured even such forces are being
applied.
[0067] As schematically shown in FIG. 9, when the left-side bearing
530 has been slightly moved forward relative to the right-side
bearing 560 and the rotation axis of the mold roll 10 has been
pivoted clockwise, the backward force may be applied to the inner
ring 532 of the right-side bearing 560 from the axial right end 16
of the mold roll 10, and the forward force may be applied to the
inner ring 532 of the left-side bearing 530 from the axial left end
13 of the mold roll 10. The rotation of the inner ring 532 relative
to the outer ring 531 at each bearing may be ensured even such
forces are being applied.
[0068] The maximum allowable offset amount between the left-side
bearing 530 and the right-side bearing 560 in the travel direction
of the mold roll 10 may be, for example, 0.35 mm, allowing the
rotational axis AX10 of the mold roll 10 to pivot within 0.05
degree clockwise or counterclockwise. According to the present
embodiment, the rotational axis AX10 of the mold roll 10 are
configured to be moveable in the front-back direction relative to
the left-side and right-side supporting structure 50, 80 so that
one end of the rotational axis AX10 can pivot relative to the other
end of the rotational axis AX10.
[0069] The operation of the surface fastener molding apparatus 100
will be described with reference to FIG. 10. It should be noted
that a control program has already been installed in the main
computer 851 of the controller 850, each component in the
controller 850 has been activated. Required power has been supplied
to the drive source and other motorized equipment included in the
surface fastener molding apparatus 100. The computer may typically
be comprise of an arithmetic processing unit such as a
representative CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage such as
representative hard-drive and memory, and may additionally comprise
of auxiliary components such as a display, an input device, an
output device, and a communication device and so on. In the
computer, the CPU execute the control program stored in the hard
drive successively so that various control instructions may be
generated along with such an execution, for example. The controller
850 may not be necessarily configured solely depending on software
control, but wired-logic or ASIS (Application Specific Integrated
Circuits) and so on may be utilized wholly or partially.
[0070] First, an operator may input an instruction for advancing
the mold roll 10 from the retracted position to the operating
position using the input device such as a mouth of the main
computer 851 of the controller 850 so that the mold roll 10 of the
surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may be advanced from the
retracted position to the operating position (S71). In accordance
with the instruction for advancing which is input by the operator,
the main computer 851 may transmit a drive signal for advancing to
both of the left-side driver circuit 853 and the right-side driver
circuit 856 so that the left-side supporting structure 50 and the
right-side supporting structure 80 are instructed to advance until
they reach a predetermined operating position. The respective
operating position of the left-side supporting structure 50 and the
right-side supporting structure 80 stated in this paragraph may
correspond to the operating position of the mold roll 10.
[0071] The left-side driver circuit 853 may receive from the main
computer 851 the instruction for advancing, and may generate and
supply to the left-side electric motor 31 a drive signal for
causing the movement toward the operating position specified by the
instruction for advancing. Accordingly, the shaft of the left-side
electric motor 31 may rotate and this rotational force is
transmitted to the threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball screw 34
via the left-side speed reducer 32, allowing the nut 36 on the
threaded shaft 35 to advance and also allowing the left-side
supporting structure 50, the left-side bearing 530, and the axial
left end 13 of the mold roll 10 to advance.
[0072] Similarly, the right-side driver circuit 856 may receive
from the main computer 851 the instruction for advancing, and may
generate and supply to the right-side electric motor 61 a drive
signal for causing the movement toward the operating position
specified by the instruction for advancing. Accordingly, the shaft
of the right-side electric motor 61 may rotate and this rotational
force is transmitted to the threaded shaft 65 of the right-side
ball screw 64 via the right-side speed reducer 62, allowing the nut
66 on the threaded shaft 65 to advance and also allowing the
right-side supporting structure 80, the right-side bearing 560, and
the axial right end 16 of the mold roll 10 to advance.
[0073] Accordingly, the mold roll 10 at the retracted position
shown in FIG. 2 may be advanced to the operating position shown in
FIG. 3 so that the mold roll 10 closely faces the extruding mouth
490 of the extruding nozzle 450 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the
mold space for the substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 may be
defined between the circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10
and the arc surface 495 at the extruding mouth 490 of the extruding
nozzle 450.
[0074] It may be preferable to confirm if the mold roll 10 has been
moved to the operating position specified by the main computer 851.
For example, the left-side driver circuit 853 included in the
controller 850 may compare the current absolute position indicated
by the output value of the left-side position determining
instrument 353 and the target absolute position specified by the
instruction for advancing received from the main computer 851, and
may determine if the left-side supporting structure 50 has been
properly moved by the left-side linear driver 30. The target
absolute position stated in this paragraph may be understood as an
equivalent or correspondent of the above-described operating
position. The moving toward the operating position does mean the
moving toward the target absolute position, however, the operating
position may not necessarily be identical with the target absolute
position as errors may possibly be caused during the actual
movement. The left-side driver circuit 853 may drive the left-side
electric motor 31 in accordance with a difference between the
current absolute position and the target absolute position if any,
and may perfectly match the current absolute position with the
target absolute position.
[0075] Next, the surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may
activate the circulation of coolant water through the control of
the main computer 851 by the operator, or through the autonomous
control by the main computer 851, or through the autonomous or the
operator-instructed control by a controlling system independent of
the controller 850 (S72). For example, the main computer 851 may
start the cooling of the mold roll 10 by activating a coolant water
circulator (not illustrated) for circulating the coolant water in
the mold roll 10.
[0076] Next, the surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may start
the rotation of the mold roll 10 through the control of the main
computer 851 by the operator, or through the autonomous control by
the main computer 851, or through the autonomous or the
operator-instructed control by a controlling system independent of
the controller 850 (S73). For example, the main computer 851 may
supply a rotation signal to the electric motor 44 for driving and
rotating the mold roll 10. Accordingly, the shaft of the electric
motor 44 may rotate and this rotational force may be transmitted to
the axial portion of the mold roll 10 directly or through any power
transmission so that the mold roll 10 is rotated at a predetermined
speed. Any manner for controlling the electric motor 44 by the main
computer 851 may be adopted, and the operation of the electric
motor 444 may be controlled by a pair of rotation start signal and
a rotation stop signal. In this case, the rotational speed of the
electric motor 444 may be specified by the rotation start
signal.
[0077] Next, the extruding machine 400 may start the supply of the
melted resin through the control of the main computer 851 by the
operator, or through the autonomous control by the main computer
851, or through the autonomous or the operator-instructed control
by a controlling system independent of the controller 850 (S74).
For example, the extruding machine 400 may supply the melted resin
at a predetermined speed and at a predetermined supply pressure
into its channel from a raw material tank storing the melted
material using a built-in pump and so on so that the melted resin
is supplied to the circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10
through the extruding mouth 490 of the extruding nozzle 450. The
mold roll 10 is being rotated and the mold cavities 12 of the mold
roll 10 may be filled by the melted resin. The melted resin may be
molded between the circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll 10
and the arc surface 495 at the extruding nozzle 450. The surface
fastener 900 may be formed continuously on the circumferential
surface 11 of the mold roll 10 as schematically shown in FIG. 4.
The melted resin on the circumferential surface 11 of the mold roll
10 may be cooled by the mold roll 10, and may be cooled by a
coolant water in a water pool (not illustrated) disposed below the
mold roll 10 so that the melted resin may be solidified while its
molded shape between the mold roll 10 and the arc surface 495 of
the extruding nozzle 450 is maintained.
[0078] Next the posture of the mold roll 10 may be regulated
through the control by the controller 850 (S75). In regard to this
feature, detail description will be presented with reference to
FIGS. 11 to 13. As shown in FIG. 11, the surface fastener molding
apparatus 100 may take an autonomous control state in which the
position of the mold roll 10 is autonomously controlled in
accordance with the fluctuation in the supply pressure of the
melted resin supplied from the extruding nozzle 450 during the
continuous manufacturing of the surface fastener 900 (S751). Also,
the surface fastener molding apparatus 100 may detect the thickness
of the substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 using the
pachymeter 859 (S752). Further, the surface fastener molding
apparatus 100 may control the left-side linear driver 30 and
right-side linear driver 60 autonomously or through the operator in
accordance with the measured value by the pachymeter 859 to change
the operating position of the mold roll 10 (S753).
[0079] Step S751 will be described with reference to FIG. 12. As
shown in FIG. 12, at time t1, the supply pressure of the melted
resin may become greater than the initial value. Then, both of or
one of the position of the axial left end 13 or the axial right end
16 of the mold roll 10 may be moved away from the extruding nozzle
450. That is, the current absolute position will shift from the
target absolute position. It is assumed that only the axial left
end 13 of the mold roll 10 is retracted, for the purpose of
explanation, hereinafter.
[0080] The left-side position determining instrument 353 are
measuring the current absolute position of the left-side supporting
structure 50 at highly time-resolved manner, and rapidly transmit,
to the left-side driver circuit 853, the determined current
absolute position if the axial end position is displaced. The
left-side driver circuit 853 comperes the target absolute position
instructed by the main computer 851 and the received current
absolute position from the left-side position determining
instrument 353, and generates and transmits the drive signal to the
left-side electric motor 31 for driving the left-side linear driver
30 and for advancing the nut 36 of the left-side ball screw 34 for
the sake of compensating the difference. The left-side electric
motor 31 may rotate its shaft in a direction in accordance with the
input signal, and this force is transmitted to the threaded shaft
35 of the left-side ball screw 34 via the left-side speed reducer
32. The threaded shaft 35 is rotated and the nut 36 is advanced
along the threaded shaft 35. Accordingly, the axial end position
will get back to the previous operating position, immediately
correcting the thickness fluctuation of the surface fastener
900.
[0081] At time t4, the supply pressure of the melted resin is
lowered. Then, the axial end position of both or one of the axial
left end 13 and the axial right end 16 of the mold roll 10 will
move closer to the extruding nozzle 450. This is because force for
advancing the mold roll 10 is applied to the mold roll 10 in order
to counteract the supply pressure of the melted resin from the
extruding nozzle 450. It is assumed that only the axial left end 13
of the mold roll 10 is advanced, for the purpose of
explanation.
[0082] The left-side position determining instrument 353 may
rapidly transmit, to the left-side driver circuit 853, the
determined current absolute position if the axial end position is
displaced. The left-side driver circuit 853 comperes the target
absolute position instructed by the main computer 851 and the
received current absolute position from the left-side position
determining instrument 353, and generates and transmits the drive
signal to the left-side electric motor 31 for driving the left-side
linear driver 30 and for advancing the nut 36 of the left-side ball
screw 34 for the sake of compensating the difference. The left-side
electric motor 31 may rotate its shaft in an opposite direction in
accordance with the input signal, and this force is transmitted to
the threaded shaft 35 of the left-side ball screw 34 via the
left-side speed reducer 32. The threaded shaft 35 is rotated and
the nut 36 is advanced along the threaded shaft 35. Accordingly,
the axial end position will get back to the previous operating
position, immediately correcting the thickness fluctuation of the
surface fastener 900.
[0083] Steps S752 and S753 will be described with reference to FIG.
13. As shown in FIG. 13, at time t1, the thickness of the substrate
910 of the surface fastener 900 measured by the pachymeter 859
increases to pass through the threshold value and to be out of the
targeted range. In response, the operator may manipulate the input
device of the main computer 851 manually to regulate the posture of
the mold roll 10 by activating the one of or both of the left-side
linear driver 30 and the right-side linear driver 60. Specifically,
the operator may try to compensate the thickness fluctuation of the
substrate 910 of the surface fastener 900 by changing the target
absolute position of the mold roll 10.
[0084] For example, the operator may manually manipulate the input
device of the main computer 851 to instruct the left-side linear
driver 30 to perform the movement operation toward the target
absolute position that is advanced by several micrometer. The main
computer 851 may transmit the instruction (COM.sub.FORWARD)
indicating the target absolute position to the left-side driver
circuit 853. The left-side driver circuit 853 may compare the
current absolute position determined by the left-side position
determining instrument 353 and the target absolute position, and
may generate and transmit, to the left-side electric motor 31, the
signal reflecting that difference. Then, the shaft of the left-side
electric motor 31 may rotate and, finally the position of the axial
left end 13 of the mold roll 10 may be moved closer to the
extruding nozzle 450, and the posture of the mold roll 10 is
regulated. In a case of FIG. 13, the substrate thickness of the
surface fastener 900 may recover to the target value. However, if
it does not work so, the operator may instruct for the left-side
linear driver 30 another target absolute position retracted by
several micrometer. Alternatively, an instruction similar to above
may be sent to the right-side linear driver 60. Some trial and
error may contribute for the recovery of the substrate thickness of
the surface fastener 900 within a target range.
[0085] With respect to Steps S752 and S753, the controller 850 may
possibly perform the autonomous control in accordance with the
output of the pachymeter 859. When the output of the pachymeter 859
indicates an increase/decrease in the thickness of the substrate
910 of the surface fastener 900, the controller 850 may instruct at
least one of the left-side linear driver 30 and the right-side
linear driver 60 to perform the movement toward the target absolute
position that is advanced and/or retracted by a distance in
accordance with the change in thickness, and confirm if the
thickness fluctuation of the substrate 910 of the surface fastener
900 has been compensated or not by referring to the output of the
pachymeter 859. If an amount of the fluctuation was deteriorated
and not improved, the controller 850 may instruct a movement in an
opposite direction in contrast to the previous instruction.
[0086] The drive signal and drive instruction and so on are
schematically illustrated in binary value or multilevel in FIGS. 12
and 13, however these supplemental and schematic illustration is
only for promoting the understanding, and the drive signal or drive
instruction may be configured according to a common communication
technique between apparatuses.
[0087] Based on the above teachings, the skilled person in the art
could add various modifications to the respective embodiments. The
reference numbers in claims are just for a reference and should not
be referenced for narrowly construing the claimed scope. Any
specific mechanical configuration or any computer related specific
system configuration may be adoptable. Any type of bearing may be
adoptable. Any specific configuration of the linear driver may be
adoptable.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0088] 100 Surface fastener molding apparatus [0089] 10 Mold roll
[0090] 11 Circumferential surface [0091] 13 axial left end [0092]
16 axial right end [0093] 530 Left-side bearing (First bearing)
[0094] 560 Right-side bearing (Second bearing) [0095] 30 Lest-side
linear driver (First linear driver) [0096] 34 Ball screw [0097] 35
Threaded shaft [0098] 36 Nut [0099] 60 Right-side linear driver
(Second linear driver) [0100] 64 Ball screw [0101] 65 Threaded
shaft [0102] 66 Nut [0103] 50 Left-side supporting structure (First
supporting structure) [0104] 80 Right-side supporting structure
(Second supporting structure)
* * * * *