Apparatus for vulcanizing endless rubber belts

A vulcanizing apparatus for endless rubber belts comprising:

• a cylindrical vulcanizing drum for winding and molding cylindrical unvulcanized rubber belt materials thereover, said vulcanizing drum being removably and rotatably supported on a transfer mechanism, said vulcanizing drum being rotatable around a vertical axis thereof;
• a pair of endless pressurizing bands arranged to oppose each other with said vulcanizing drum between, said pressurizing bands being operable to arcuately surround and press opposing side portions of belt materials on the circumferential surface of said vulcanizing drum, said pressurizing bands each being placed over a pair of guide rolls and tension rolls with which said vulcanizing drum is surrounded, said cylindrical unvulcanized rubber belt materials having an area and said pair of bands pressing the majority of said area, said belt materials being uniformly bent by said drum;
• means for heating the circumferential surface of said drum by introducing steam into the interior of said vulcanizing drum from a center bore at one end of said drum, said drum contacting and uniformly heating the entire area of said belt materials;
• and
• means for pressing said bands against said vulcanizing drum and for synchronously, equidirectionally rotating said bands so as to turn said vulcanizing drum and continuously vulcanize the cylindrical unvulcanized rubber belt material.