Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

A molding device including a molding strip formed of a first material and extending along a machine direction, having a width defined along a transverse direction perpendicular to the machine direction, and a thickness measured along a direction perpendicular to the machine direction and to the transverse direction, and an inner face and an outer face, the molding strip including a plurality of cavities, characterized in that part of the cavities are at least partially obturated by a plugging material, so as to define molding cavities for forming retaining elements and/or preforms of retaining elements, and non-functional cavities.

Provided is a molded surface fastener capable of stably having high engaging strength with respect to a loop member. The molded surface fastener of the present invention includes a base portion and a plurality of engaging elements provided with a stem portion and an engaging portion, and is formed of synthetic resin containing lubricant at 0.15 wt % or more and 1.00 wt % or less. A top end surface of the engaging element is formed to be flat, and the engaging portion has a hanging portion which hangs down obliquely downward toward the base portion.

A system (10) for butt-joining two or more rubber strips (B1, B2) selected in accordance with a predetermined rubber mixture recipe in order to feed at least one extruder with a complex strip of rubber material (B.sub.12) made from the butt joined rubber strips is disclosed. The system includes at least one conveyor that transports the rubber strips from an inlet (12) of the system to an outlet (14) of the butt-joining system; a frame (18) that operationally supports the conveyor to allow the continuous transport of the rubber strips and also to allow the simultaneous butt-joining of the rubber strips fed to the system; and a roller system (20) that butt-joins the rubber strips without penetration. The invention also relates to a process for butt-joining rubber strips that is performed by the system.

Provided is a molded surface fastener having an improved balance between durability against repeated attachment and detachment operations and peeling strength. A molded surface fastener made of a thermoplastic resin, includes: a flat plate-shaped base portion; and a plurality of engaging elements protruding from one main surface of the base portion. Each engaging element includes: a stem upstanding from the main surface; and an engaging head portion formed at an upper end portion of the stem, the head portion including a projection portion extending mainly in a direction perpendicular to a molding direction as viewed in a planar view.

Provided is a molding apparatus used for manufacturing a molded surface fastener wherein a die wheel driving rotationally has a concentric double cylinder structure provided with an outer side cylindrical body that has provided therethrough a plurality of penetrating holes, and an inner side cylindrical body that has formed, in the outer peripheral surface thereof, a plurality of grooved portions, the grooved portions located in the inner side cylindrical body include a use grooved portion that intersects with the penetrating hole of the outer side cylindrical body and a non-use grooved portion that is covered by the inner peripheral surface of the outer side cylindrical body. By using this molding apparatus obtained is a molded surface fastener in which a plurality of types of engaging elements having different shapes in a plan view are arranged cyclically in a reference direction.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

Disclosed are methods for forming a double-sided optical sheet, and a vehicle lamp assembly having the double-sided optical sheet integrated therein. A first optical pattern is imprinted on a first side of a material, and a second optical pattern is imprinted on a second side of the material, opposite the first side. The first and second optical patterns are thereby formed on opposing sides of the same sheet. When oriented adjacent a light source, the double-sided optical sheet homogenizes light emitted from the light source. For a light source having a plurality of lighting elements, the double-sided optical sheet is configured to blend light emitted from the plurality of lighting elements to form one homogenous beam of light output resulting from a single light-modifying member.

A method of forming a retaining device with hooks, wherein: a molding strip is provided that presents an inside face and an outside face, and that has a plurality of cavities, each cavity defining a stem extending from the outside face towards the inside face and including an end forming a head that extends from the stem towards the inside face of the molding strip; the molding strip is positioned on rotary drive means, the inside face of the molding strip being arranged to bear against the drive means; and molding material is dispensed against the outside face of the molding strip.

A method of forming a retaining device with hooks, wherein: a molding strip is provided that presents an inside face and an outside face, and that has a plurality of cavities, each cavity defining a stem extending from the outside face towards the inside face and including an end forming a head that extends from the stem towards the inside face of the molding strip; and the molding strip is positioned on rotary drive means, comprising at least two rollers, the inside face of the molding strip being arranged to bear against the drive means.