A belt seam treatment apparatus includes a support element with a smooth surface
that supports the seam region of the belt, a heat source that heats a treatment
strip and the belt seam region, and a pressure applicator that forces the treatment
strip against the belt seam region. The support element can be a tube over which
the belt hangs and can include a vacuum belt hold system that secures the seam
region against the tube during treatment. The heat source can be an infrared laser
or an infrared lamp. Optics form a heat spot or a heat line on the strip and seam
region, and a pressure wheel traverses the seam region after heating to compress
the strip and seam and bond a thermoplastic polymer of the strip to the seam region
of the belt.
