Method for producing a continuous band of rubberized fabric having transversal reinforcing metal elements

In a method for manufacturing a continuous band of rubberized fabric provided with transversal reinforcing metal cords, by butt-splicing, without overlapping, two identical quadrangular pieces of said rubberized fabric along their facing splicing edges, parallel to said metal cords, said edges being respectively defined as "terminal end" and "initial end", the "terminal end" being the edge of the continuous band already built up, and the "initial end" being the edge of the piece to be spliced to said band, said method comprising the steps of:

• arranging the terminal end of said continuous band between two corresponding parts of a first operating portion of a splicing apparatus,
• advancing the piece to be spliced towards said band so that at the end of said advancement said piece is coplanar with said band, arranged between two corresponding parts of a second operating portion of said splicing apparatus with its initial end facing the terminal end of said band,
• blocking said band and said piece, by pressing them between said two parts respectively, of said first operating portion and said second operating portion of the splicing apparatus,
• mutually approaching said ends for a first determined distance, in order to obtain the butt-splicing of said band with said piece,
• releasing said band and said piece from the two parts of said respective first operating portion and said second operating portion of the splicing apparatus, and
• winding up the continuous band so built up, onto a collecting drum,
• the improvement comprising the steps of
• applying said blocking pressure on the area of said band and said piece beginning from a pre-established distance from each of said respective terminal and initial ends, so that both said band and said strip of fabric are free from said blocking pressure along said pre-established distance and along the ends to be spliced, and
• causing, by said mutual approaching of said ends, an increase of the density of the reinforcing cords in the zone astride the contact surface of said ends whose width depends on said pre-established distance and said first determined distance, and an accumulation of the rubber about the cords in said zone, causing the thickness of the fabric to be raised in this zone.