Coextruded conveyor guide and application method

A method comprising:

• providing a coextruded conveyor guide that has a guide portion comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an interfacing portion extruded along the guide portion and comprising a thermoplastic elastomer;
• moving a conveyor belt in a conveyance direction over a rotating drum having a groove around a circumference of the rotating drum;
• heating the interfacing portion of the coextruded conveyor guide above 200° C;
• positioning the heated interfacing portion against an underside of the conveyor belt in a location aligned with the groove of the rotating drum;
• and
• pressing the heated interfacing portion against an underside of the conveyor belt with a force that the rotating drum is exerting against the conveyor belt.

A conveyor belt assembly comprising:

• a conveyor belt having a fabric carcass;
• and
• a coextruded conveyor guide thermally bonded to an underside of the fabric carcass, the coextruded conveyor guide comprising:
• a guide portion having an elongated body;
• and
• an interfacing portion disposed along the elongated body and bonded to the underside of the fabric carcass,
• wherein the guide portion comprises a thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the interfacing portion comprises a thermoplastic elastomer having a higher polarity than the thermoplastic polymer, and
• wherein the guide portion and the interfacing portion together have a transverse cross section that has a trapezoidal shape defining a base surface and an engagement surface larger than and parallel with the base surface.