Patent No.: US 5,635,014 Date of Patent: July 3, 1997
Press-type apparatus for thermally bonding thermoplastic sheet material workpieces is provided with a pair of opposed platen assemblies which each include an inflatable set of compliant diaphragm members, a pair of opposed heat sources which may be brought into and retracted from contact with the diaphragm members, and a source of pressurized fluid for inflating the diaphragm sets and for cooling the heated workpieces. The method for operating the press-type apparatus basically involves both heating and cooling the assembled workpieces while they are simultaneously being retained in a condition of being clamped by the inflatable sets of the diaphragm members.