Joining of flexible materials

摘要

A method of butt jointing flexible materials and particularly polyurethane foam comprises moving a heat source 15 past at least one of the surfaces to be joined to bring the surface into a melted condition and bringing the surfaces into contact with one another behind heat source 15 while the heated surface remains sufficiently melted to cause the surfaces to adhere to one another. The surfaces are preferably arranged to return into contact with one another due to the inherent resilience of the material. Preferably heating is effected by passing a heated bar or wire between the surfaces at a temperature between 400‹C and 600‹C and moving at a speed of 20 to 50 cms per minute. The unheated surfaces may be separated by a separating guide bar movable ahead of and at the same speed as the heat source.