Patent ID: 8381788

Claim:
A device for connecting a plurality of sheet pieces in a longitudinal direction to form a continuous sheet, each of the sheet pieces having cords covered by rubber, the device for connecting the plurality of sheet pieces comprising: a plurality of conveyor belts disposed with a space kept mutually in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and capable of running along the longitudinal direction thereof in such a state that the sheet pieces with cords are placed thereon; and a lift mechanism installed between the plurality of conveyor belts and configured to lift and support at least one of an upstream longitudinal end or a downstream longitudinal end of the sheet pieces placed on the conveyor belts; a lifting/lowering range setting unit including a plurality of band bodies arranged between the individual conveyor belts and along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belts; a plurality of sheet supporting members installed partially along the band bodies in the longitudinal direction to project upward from the sheet placing surfaces of the conveyor belts when the band bodies are at a lifted position; and a position adjustment portion which allows the band bodies to move in the longitudinal direction to adjust a position of the plurality of sheet supporting members; wherein the lift mechanism is provided with the lifting/lowering range setting unit for independently setting a horizontal length along which the lifting mechanism provides a lifting action in each of the spaces between parallel conveyor belts, and the sheet supporting members of the lift mechanism are installed at shorter intervals in a vicinity of a joining position of the sheet pieces than at other parts.