Apparatus for electronically seam fusing dissimilar polymeric materials

An apparatus for electronically seam fusing polymeric materials, comprising:

• a first plate having a first cooling means therein and a first heating means thereon;
• a second plate spaced apart from said first plate and having a second cooling means therein and a second heating means thereon, there being polymeric materials disposed between said first and second plates;
• closure means interconnecting said first and second plates for closing said first and second plates upon said polymeric materials;
• and
• control means interconnecting said first and second plates, cooling means, and heating means for selectively activating and cycling said first and second cooling means and first and second heating means between different predetermined temperatures including cycling said first heating means to a first maximum temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of a first polymeric material and said second heating means to a second maximum temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of a second polymeric material, wherein the first maximum temperature is different from the second maximum temperature, while simultaneously controlling a pressure applied by said closure means and said first and second plates upon said polymeric materials and a dwell time thereof.

A method for electronically seam fusing polymeric materials which comprises the steps of:

• inserting polymeric materials between first and second plates;
• closing said first and second plates upon said polymeric materials for a predetermined period of time thereby fusing said materials together;
• regulating a temperature of a first heating element disposed on said first plate;
• regulating a temperature of a second heating element disposed on said second plate;
• regulating a temperature of a first cooling means disposed within said first plate;
• cycling said temperature of said first heating element to a first maximum temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of a first polymeric material and said second heating element to a second maximum temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of a second polymeric material, wherein said first maximum temperature is different from said second maximum temperature during said predetermined period of time;
• opening said first and second plates;
• and
• removing said seam fused materials.