Patent ID: 7850804

Claim:
A method for making an ultrasonically welded seamed flexible imaging member belt comprising: providing sheets of electrophotographic imaging material to be joined at opposite edges of the sheets; overlapping the sheets at the opposite edges; positioning over the overlapping region an improved member for ultrasonically welding seamed flexible imaging member belts comprising a ridge defined at an end of the member, and a tapered groove being defined in the ridge, wherein the tapered groove has a mouth and a tail; rotating the improved member such that the electrophotographic imaging material contacts the end of the member at the mouth of the tapered groove and exits the tail of the tapered groove or from either side of the tapered groove; and contacting the overlapping region with the improved member to focus heat and pressure along the overlapping region while pulling the opposite edges together such that a flexible belt having a smooth welded seam is produced.