Film securing apparatus and method

An apparatus, comprising:

• a body portion configured to house a film roll that includes a film;
• a sealing portion configured to receive at least a top portion of a container, wherein the sealing portion comprises an aperture sized to receive the top portion of the container therethrough, wherein the body portion defines a film path leading from the film roll to the sealing portion;
• a nip defined by a drive roller and a pinch roller, wherein the nip is positioned along the film path and configured to receive the film therethrough;
• a motor configured to operate the drive roller to cause advancement of the film along the film path;
• at least one heating element configured to activate to emanate energy;
• a printer configured to print on the film;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• cause the printer to print one or more messages or images on the film;
• cause the motor to operate to cause the drive roller to advance a portion of the film into the sealing portion;
• and
• cause the at least one heating element to activate to emanate energy to cause the portion of the film within the sealing portion to seal the top portion of the container to form a lid for the container with the one or more messages or images printed thereon.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a body portion configured to house a film roll that includes a film;
• a sealing portion configured to receive at least a top portion of the container, wherein the sealing portion comprises an aperture sized to receive the top portion of the container therethrough, wherein the body portion defines a film path leading from the supply of film to the sealing portion;
• a nip defined by a drive roller and a pinch roller, wherein the nip is positioned along the film path and configured to receive the film therethrough;
• a motor configured to operate the drive roller to cause advancement of the film along the film path;
• a piercer configured to pierce the film, wherein the piercer is configured to form at least two spaced apart slits in the film;
• at least one heating element configured to activate to emanate energy;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• cause the piercer to pierce the film to form at least two spaced apart slits in a portion of the film;
• cause the motor to operate to cause the drive roller to advance the portion of the film into the sealing portion;
• and
• cause the at least one heating element to activate to emanate energy to cause the portion of the film within the sealing portion to seal the top portion of the container to form a lid for the container with the at least two spaced apart slits.