Patent ID: 7984741

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a nip roll having a high release material cover and a high release belt comprising a first tape and a second tape, each tape having a high release side and an adhesive side, wherein the adhesive side of each tape is joined to the adhesive side of the other tape, with the side edges of the tapes aligned so that top and bottom surfaces of the belt comprise the high release side of each tape, the belt comprising a leading section wherein a portion of the first tape has been removed at the leading section, thereby exposing a portion of the adhesive side of the second tape at the leading section, the belt comprising a trailing section wherein a portion of the second tape has been removed at the trailing section, thereby exposing a portion of the adhesive side of the first tape at the trailing section, wherein the portion of the exposed adhesive side of the first tape at the trailing section is adhered to the portion of the exposed adhesive side of the second tape at the leading section to form a closed belt and wherein a portion of the belt is positioned on the nip roll to protect the nip roll at a location that otherwise would be vulnerable to molten thermoplastic material.