Patent ID: 9486971
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: B29C,B29D,B29L,F16G,H05B

Claim Text:
1. A belt welding apparatus for joining monolithic belt ends, the belt welding apparatus comprising: an elongate frame; a pair of elongate platens mounted to the frame with at least one of the platens being laterally movable toward and away from the other platen, the pair of elongate platens being configured for supporting belt ends thereon; and a non-contact ribbon heating device having an elongate ribbon heating element for generating thermal radiation, the elongate ribbon heating element having opposite ends and opposite side faces with the elongate ribbon heating element extending linearly between the opposite ends thereof, the non-contact ribbon heating device being mounted to the frame to be vertically movable between a lowered, stowed position below the platens and a raised, heating position with the elongate ribbon heating element exposed in an elongate air gap between the platens with the opposite side faces oriented to face corresponding belt ends with only air therebetween so that thermal radiation is emitted from the elongate ribbon heating element across the air gap for melting material of the belt ends supported on the platens.