System and method for forming a thermoplastic carpet seam

摘要

A system for forming a carpet seam including source and take-up carpet roller assemblies and a seaming support having a work surface upon which two carpet sections can be aligned. The seaming support includes a roller and an electric current source for providing an electric current to electrically self-heating thermoplastic bonding tape. The method of the present invention includes the steps of cutting out a defective section of carpet on the seaming support work surface, aligning the leading edge of the resulting front carpet section with trailing edge of the rear carpet section, applying a strip of electrically self-heating thermoplastic bonding tape to the backing side of the carpet, applying an electric current to the tape, and rolling the rejoined carpet onto the take-up roller assembly.