Device and method for guiding bands to be joined to one another along their longitudinal edges

A device for guiding bands to be joined to one another along their longitudinal edges, comprising guide elements which form a first track for guiding a first band of the bands to be joined, and guide elements which form a second track for guiding a second band to be joined along one of the longitudinal edges of the first band, wherein the tracks are configured such that the bands guided thereon approach one another in direction of transport and the longitudinal edges thereof to be joined to one another rest on one another at a non-overlapping contact point, wherein at least one of the tracks is formed from a plurality of supporting frames, each supporting frame comprising a plurality of transport rollers mounted on lifting elements at varying heights such that at least one of the tracks is configured to be undulating with a wavelength of ¼≦λ≦2 and transverse displacement of the band guided thereon occurs, wherein the axes of rotation or the longitudinal central axes of a plurality of successive guide elements of the undulating track are inclined towards the other track at different angles of inclination in relation to a horizontal plane of reference, such that the band guided on said track is rotated about its longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of successive guide elements forming at least one of the first track and the second track are adjustable such that a height of each guide element can be adjusted in a vertical direction and an angle of inclination of the axes of rotation or the longitudinal central axes of the plurality of successive guide elements can be adjusted in relation to a horizontal plane of reference to adjust a feed angle between the first band and the second band as they approach the contact point.