A belt seam treatment apparatus includes a support element with a smooth
surface that supports the seam region of the belt and a heat and pressure
source that heats a treatment strip and the belt seam region and that
forces the treatment strip against the belt seam region. The support
element can be a tube over which the belt hangs and can include a vacuum
belt hold system that secures the seam region against the tube during
treatment. The heat and pressure source can be a heated pressure bar
engaging the entire seam region or a heated pressure wheel traversing the
seam region of the entire belt width.
