Patent ID: 7305744

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a power transmission belt/belt sleeve, the apparatus comprising: first and second shafts about which an endless belt/belt sleeve preform can be trained, at least one of the first and second shafts capable of being driven to cause a belt/belt sleeve preform trained around the first and second shafts to be moved in an endless travel path, the first shaft having a small diameter portion between spaced larger diameter portions arranged so that the belt/belt sleeve preform traveling around the first and second shafts resides between the larger diameter portions; a pushing component at a cutting location; at least one guide element at the cutting location; and a cutter to bear against and form a part of a belt/belt sleeve preform trained around the first and second shafts, the pushing component serving to reinforce a belt/belt sleeve preform that is trained around the first and second shafts and borne against by the cutter, the at least one guide element situated to bear against a side of a belt/belt sleeve preform trained around the first and second shafts to confine movement of a belt/belt sleeve preform at the cutting location, and wherein a belt/belt sleeve preform trained around the first and second shafts defines an inner circumference within which a cutting space is defined in which the cutter is movable toward and away from the belt/belt sleeve preform.