A belt splicer includes a pair of decks, each configured to hold a belt end. At least one of the decks is movable along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the belt ends to impart a shearing force at the at least partially molten interface between the belt ends. The movement of at least one of the at least partially molten mating edges generally parallel to the interface facilitates formation of an improved joint between the belt ends.

An endless fabric belt for use in a paper, cardboard or tissue machine has machine-direction threads and cross-machine-direction threads. At least part of the threads are yarns composed substantially of a thermoplastic polymer material which is transparent for light of a wavelength. The fabric belt is a flat-weave with two front-side ends that are subsequently connected by bringing together end sections of the machine-direction threads in pairs with the formation of junction points and are woven with cross-machine-direction threads, forming a seam region. A material-to-material bond is formed in the seam region by absorbing light at the wavelength at yarn contact points. In the seam region, a plurality of spaced-apart, strip-shaped fabric sections are formed, in which the junction points and the yarn contact points which are connected to one another are arranged, and one strip-shaped fabric section without junction points is formed between two immediately adjacent fabric sections having the junction points.

A method and apparatus for extrusion of an article is provided. A die assembly can apply flows of thermoplastic material to an array of reinforcing cables to form a composite extrusion. A slider fabric can be bonded to one side of the composite extrusion. After exiting the die assembly, the slider fabric can act to support the extrudate as it passes along an elongate mandrel, which can cause the base of the slider fabric to change shape from a flat profile to the final internal profile of the article. The extruded article can then be cooled to solidify the material. The die can include cooling for the slider fabric and means for promoting penetration of the thermoplastic into reinforcing cables.

A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

A belt carcass (1) comprising one, two, or more than two impregnated layers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25); characterised in that i) each impregnated layer (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) comprises, or consists essentially of, a non-woven fabric (3, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308) and an impregnation material (4, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408) comprising, or consisting essentially of, a first thermoplastic, first thermoplastic elastomer, first elastomer or first thermoset and optional additives; whereby, if there are two or more such impregnated layers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), they are adjacent to each other, ii) if the belt carcass (1) comprises one or more such impregnated layers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), then reinforcing filaments extending at least in part in one given direction and being in the form of one filament layer (51) are embedded in the non-woven fabric (3) of exactly one of said impregnated layers (21); or if the belt carcass (1) comprises two or more such impregnated layers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), then reinforcing filaments extending at least in part in one given direction and being in the form of one filament layer (52,53) are sandwiched between two adjacent such impregnated layers (21/22, 24/25), and iii) the belt carcass is devoid of woven fabrics. This belt carcass can be cut into longitudinal belts or into circular disks or corner belts.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.