Patent ID: 7182826
Filing Date: 2007-02-27
Classification: B29D,F16G

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a power transmission belt comprising a rubber body, a strain-resisting tensile member embedded in the body, and an exterior belt back surface at which a textile reinforcement is positioned to lend lateral stability and minimized noise generation when the belt is run against a device such as a pulley or tensioner impinging against the exterior belt back surface, comprising: a. providing a belt building drum with a given outside diameter; b. providing a seamless tubular radially stretchable textile material the unstretched outer diameter of which is less than or equal to the outside diameter of the building drum; c. forming on the building drum a belt sleeve core by: d. radially stretching the seamless tubular textile material to an outside diameter exceeding the outside diameter of the building drum; e. positioning the seamless tubular textile material which has been pre-stretched, over the drum and in contact with one of said rubber layers forming a portion of the belt sleeve core, to form a vulcanizable belt sleeve; f. subjecting the belt sleeve to heat and pressure to vulcanize the same; wherein the steps of the method proceed according to the following sequence: the pre-stretched seamless tubular textile material is placed on the building drum; the first rubber layer is wrapped over the tubular textile material; the tensile cord is helically wound about the first rubber layer; and thereafter the second rubber layer is wrapped over the tensile cord to form the vulcanizable belt sleeve; and wherein a transfer label comprising a printing strip with printing thereon is placed on the building drum with the printing facing away from the drum; the pre-stretched tubular textile material is wrapped over the transfer label and building drum; and, upon vulcanization, the printing strip is removed; and wherein upon removal of the printing strip the depression left behind in the surface of the belt sleeve does not exceed about 0.0008 inches in depth.