Method for fabricating non-linear side wall conveyor belting

A method for fabricating conveyor belting having undulated side walls, comprising the steps of:

• providing a mold adapted for forming side wall material into an undulated shape and for supporting said side wall material during curing together with uncured conveyor belt material so as to produce undulated side wall conveyor belting, said mold having respective fixed inner side wall mold components conforming in shape to a suitable inner undulated side wall configuration, and associated movable outer side wall mold components conforming in shape to a suitable outer undulated side wall configuration, said mold further including backing support means fixed at a position adjacent to an open position of the outer side wall mold components;
• moving said outer side wall mold components to an open position sufficiently spaced from the inner side wall mold components to permit placement of substantially straight uncured side wall material adjacent to said inner side wall mold components;
• placing uncured side wall material adjacent the inner side wall components;
• placing uncured conveyor belt material into said mold;
• positioning wedge means for insertion between said fixed backing support means and respective outer side wall mold components;
• inserting said wedge means in order to cause the outer side wall mold components to be displaced from an open position adjacent to said backing support means to a closed position wherein the inner and outer side wall mold components are spaced apart at a distance corresponding to a suitable side wall thickness, thereby forming the uncured side wall material into an undulated shape;
• and
• simultaneously curing the undulated side wall material and the conveyor belt material under suitable conditions of heat and pressure so as to form conveyor belting having undulated side walls unitarily bonded thereto.