Tray sealing apparatus and method

Abstract

The present application relates to tray sealing apparatus (100) comprising a heat sealing tool (6), a pair of laterally spaced transfer mechanisms (66) for transferring trays to and away from the heat sealing tool along corresponding laterally spaced tray feed lanes, film supply apparatus for supplying respective heat sealable films to the sealing tool one in alignment with each tray feed lane. The sealing tool comprises a pair of lower support members (61a, 61b), each aligned with a respective one of the tray feed lanes and on to which one or more trays can be transferred. The tray sealing apparatus further comprises a common upper plate (65) having heaters aligned respectively in use with each tray on the lower support members; and means for selectively moving the lower support members towards the upper plate so as to bring the tray(s) on that lower support member into contact with the corresponding film, whereby the upper plate heat seals the film to the tray(s).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.