Molded surface fastener and molding method and molding apparatus of the same

Molten resin material is continuously extruded from an extruding hole (102) including a plurality of engaging-element-molding portions (102a) disposed with a constant pitch in a width direction of an extruding nozzle (101) and a substrate-molding portion (102b) with which lower ends of the engaging-element-molding portions (102a) communicate. An ascending/descending member (103) disposed at a front face of the extruding nozzle (101) and made of a laterally long plank ascends and descends to vertically open and close the extruding hole (102) of the extruding nozzle (101). As a result of such continuous molding, a surface fastener is continuously molded in which each of plurality engaging elements (12) has stem (13) and an engaging extruding head (14) projecting at least toward one side from an end of the stem (13) standing on a surface of a flat substrate (11). The engaging element (12) thus molded has a thickness, in a direction perpendicular to a projecting direction of the engaging head (14), gradually increasing from a top portion of the engaging head (14) to a base end of the stem (13). With such engaging elements that can be molded with a not conventional but new shape in various sizes, and its molding method and apparatus, maintenance and management are easy and productivity is high.