Abstract: A foil-less binding tape is provided. The binding tape includes a coated backing strip, a first hot melt spine adhesive stripe coated on a coated side of the backing strip, wherein the first hot melt adhesive stripe is located away from the edges of the strip and the first hot melt adhesive stripe runs substantially from one end of the strip to the other end of the strip about the long axis of the strip; and at least two second hot melt flap adhesive stripes coated on a coated side of the backing strip wherein the second adhesive stripes are located in areas other than those covered by the first adhesive stripe.

Abstract: A binding tape including:

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fabricating a flexible belt comprising conveying the leading edge of a flexible web from a supply roll to a slitting station, slitting the web a predetermined distance from the leading edge to form a web segment having the leading edge at one end and a trailing edge at the opposite end, conveying the leading edge toward the trailing edge, flowing at least one stream of fluid upwardly against the web segment to form an upwardly extending bulge in the segment adjacent the leading edge, flowing at least one stream of fluid downwardly against the web segment to form the web segment into a U-shape, overlapping the leading edge and the trailing edge of the web segment to form a joint, and welding the joint to permanently join the leading edge and the trailing edge together to form a belt. Apparatus for carrying out this process is also disclosed.