A process for welding profiles (1) of a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer to a top layer (3) of a belt (2), such as a conveyor belt, also being made of a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer. The process uses thermal impulse welding and applies the welding heat onto the surface (21) of the belt (2) which is opposite to the top layer (3). The process is in particular suited for welding TPO profiles to TPO top layers.

A process for welding profiles (1) of a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer to a top layer (3) of a belt (2), such as a conveyor belt, also being made of a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer. The process uses thermal impulse welding and applies the welding heat onto the surface (21) of the belt (2) which is opposite to the top layer (3). The process is in particular suited for welding TPO profiles to TPO top layers.

A conveyor belt, power transmission belt or machine tape (1) being open-ended with two ending edges (6, 7) and with a longitudinal length (L) in a longitudinal direction, comprising: a) two parallel lateral edges (la, lb) running in said longitudinal direction, and being spaced apart from each other by a transversal width (W); b) a first textile layer (2); c) a first coating layer (3); and optionally d) one more through holes (5) perforating the belt through its overall thickness (T), each of these through holes (5) being formed by a hole edge (5a); characterized in that i) the first textile layer (2) comprises fibres or filaments of a thermoplastic and/or the first coating layer (3) comprises a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer; and ii) the lateral edges (la, lb) are ultrasound-cut or laser-cut and/or the optional hole edge(s) (5a) is(are) laser-cut. The belt or tape has melt-sealed edges, can be made endless by conventional end-joining and can be used in fluff-generating environments, such as a spindle tape.

A conveyor belt, power transmission belt or machine tape (1) being open-ended with two ending edges (6, 7) and with a longitudinal length (L) in a longitudinal direction, comprising: a) two parallel lateral edges (la, lb) running in said longitudinal direction, and being spaced apart from each other by a transversal width (W); b) a first textile layer (2); c) a first coating layer (3); and optionally d) one more through holes (5) perforating the belt through its overall thickness (T), each of these through holes (5) being formed by a hole edge (5a); characterized in that i) the first textile layer (2) comprises fibres or filaments of a thermoplastic and/or the first coating layer (3) comprises a thermoplastic or thermoplastic elastomer; and ii) the lateral edges (la, lb) are ultrasound-cut or laser-cut and/or the optional hole edge(s) (5a) is(are) laser-cut. The belt or tape has melt-sealed edges, can be made endless by conventional end-joining and can be used in fluff-generating environments, such as a spindle tape.

An apparatus for producing endless 3-D printed belts using in papermaking and an apparatus for producing endless 3-D printed belts laminated to a substrate for additional strength and dimensional stability during use.

One general aspect includes a method for generating an encapsulated belt containment system. The method also includes cutting a belt and removing rubber material from a portion of the belt to generate exposed belt end. The method also includes removing excess material from exposed cables of the exposed belt end. The method also includes organizing exposed cables into a plurality of cable groups and secure each group. The method also includes inserting the plurality of cable groups into a containment bag.

One general aspect includes a method for generating an encapsulated belt containment system. The method also includes cutting a belt and removing rubber material from a portion of the belt to generate exposed belt end. The method also includes removing excess material from exposed cables of the exposed belt end. The method also includes organizing exposed cables into a plurality of cable groups and secure each group. The method also includes inserting the plurality of cable groups into a containment bag.

Methods of manufacturing a conveyor belt (126) include applying a rubber composition (114) to a first side of fabric reinforcement (112) and scattering productive thermoplastic elastomer pellets (106) onto a second side of the fabric reinforcement to produce an uncured belt structure (120). The uncured belt structure (120) is continuous fed into a double belt press (116) to press the productive thermoplastic elastomer pellets (106) together with the fabric reinforcement (112) to produce an uncured belt (128). Uncured belt (128) is then heated in the double belt press (116) to a temperature of at least 300° F. and maintained in the double belt press (116) under a pressure of at least 12 psi and a temperature of at least 300° C. for a residence time of at least 20 minutes to produce a cured conveyor belt (130), which is continuously withdrawn from the double belt press (116).

Methods of manufacturing a conveyor belt (126) include applying a rubber composition (114) to a first side of fabric reinforcement (112) and scattering productive thermoplastic elastomer pellets (106) onto a second side of the fabric reinforcement to produce an uncured belt structure (120). The uncured belt structure (120) is continuous fed into a double belt press (116) to press the productive thermoplastic elastomer pellets (106) together with the fabric reinforcement (112) to produce an uncured belt (128). Uncured belt (128) is then heated in the double belt press (116) to a temperature of at least 300° F. and maintained in the double belt press (116) under a pressure of at least 12 psi and a temperature of at least 300° C. for a residence time of at least 20 minutes to produce a cured conveyor belt (130), which is continuously withdrawn from the double belt press (116).

This invention relates to a conveyor belt comprising a composition comprising a) a (co)polyester A comprising hard segments comprising a polyester and having a melting temperature T.sub.mA of between 200° C. and 240° C. as measured according to ISO 11357-1/-3 (10° C./min), wherein the (co)polyester A is present in an amount of between 1 and 60 wt % with respect to the total weight of the composition; and b) a copolyester B comprising hard segments comprising a polyester wherein the (co)polyester B has a melting temperature T.sub.mB of between 100° C. and 180° C., as measured according to ISO 11357-1/-3 (10° C./min), wherein the copolyester B is present in an amount of between 40 and 99 wt % with respect to the total weight of the composition. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the conveyor belt.