Method for welding a packing band of thermoplastic resin and a welded band resulting therefrom

A method for welding a packing band of stretched thermoplastic resin having a flat cross section which comprises the steps of:

• overlapping a first part and second part of the band in a lengthwise direction thereof,
• heating a plurality of opposing separate portions of said first and second parts along said lengthwise direction where said first and second parts are overlapped to form at least one pair of melted portions on both said first and second parts, each said pair of melted portions respectively separated in said lengthwise direction by a non-melted portion, and
• pressing said opposing melted portions together to weld said opposing melted portions together by solid welds, so that said at least one pair of melted portions on said first part is respectively welded to said at least one pair of melted portions on said second part with said non-welded portion respectively existing between each said pair of welded portions in said lengthwise direction,
• wherein said welded portions extend across a width of said band, and said non-welded portion has a length in said lengthwise direction of said band at least equal to a thickness of said band and less than or equal to twice said width of said band.