Patent ID: 6368440
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B29C,B29L,F16G,G03G,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a flexible belt with a puzzle-cut seam, the flexible belt having an outer belt surface, an inner belt surface, a first end terminating in a first puzzle-cut pattern of fingers, a second end terminating in a matching second puzzle-cut pattern of fingers, a length therebetween, the first and second puzzle-cut patterns of fingers arranged to be mated and joined together, the method comprising the steps of:first, join the first and second puzzle-cut patterns of fingers to form a juncture; second, apply an adhesive strip comprising thermally-activated adhesive material directly to the outer belt surface to cover the juncture, the adhesive strip comprising an adhesive surface, such that the adhesive strip directly contacts the outer belt surface; third, simultaneously compress both the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip on the outer belt surface and the inner belt surface together at a point proximate to the juncture and, while compressing, perform the following fourth, fifth and sixth steps: fourth, apply heat directly to the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip for a fixed heating period to melt the adhesive material and fill a crevice between the mated fingers with the melted adhesive material; fifth, cool the adhesive strip for a fixed cooling period; and subsequent to the foregoing fixed cooling period, sixth, determine when a puzzle-cut seam formed by the foregoing joining, applying, compressing, heating and cooling steps is satisfactory; wherein the above first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth steps are performed in sequence and wherein, prior to both said first step of joining the first and second puzzle-cut patterns of fingers to form a juncture and said second step of applying said adhesive strip directly to the outer belt surface, both said outer belt surface and said inner belt surface are devoid of adhesive material.