Method and apparatus for sealing tamper-indicating tabs to a container sidewall

The method of completing a double-seal tamper-indicating container having an inner sheet, an inner sheet closure, and an outer lid closure comprising:

• disposing a tamper-indicating square-shaped, wax-coated plastic sheet across the open top of the non-coated sidewall of a container, locating said sheet in the top edge of said sidewall so that portions of each of the corners of said sheet extend beyond the periphery of said sidewall, applying an outer lid closure means over said sheet and the top edge of the sidewall to engage the sheet between the closure means and the top edge of the sidewall, said corners of said sheet forming tabs projecting from the periphery of said closure means, moving said container upright along a process path, deflecting said projecting tabs downwardly to position them alongside said sidewall while subjecting said tabs to a first application of heat whereby said tabs take on a heat-set orientation in a downwardly deflected position, moving said container between a pair of first and second tab sealing members, rotating said container about its vertical axis, subjecting said tabs to a second application of heat with said first member to melt said wax coating, and pressing each of said tabs against said sidewall with said first and second members to secure said tabs to said sidewall.

The method of completing a double-seal tamper-indicating container having an inner sheet closure and an outer lid closure means, said method comprising:

• disposing a heat-securable tamper-indicating sheet over the top edge of a container sidewall, positioning said sheet so that tabs thereon project from the periphery of said container sidewall, applying an outer lid closure means over the top edge of the container sidewall and the marginal portion of said sheet, deflecting said projecting tabs downwardly to position the tabs alongside said sidewall, while subjecting said tabs to a first application of heat whereby said tabs take on a heat-set orientation in a downwardly deflected position, subjecting each of said tabs to a second application of heat, and pressing each of said heated tabs against said sidewall with at least one tab sealing member to secure said tabs against said sidewall.

Apparatus for securing heat-securable tamper-indicating closure sheet tabs to the sidewall of a container having closure means disposed over the top edge of the sidewall, said tabs projecting from the periphery of said closure means, said apparatus comprising:

• conveyor means for moving said container in upright orientation along a process path, means on said process path for bearing against said projecting tabs to deflect them downwardly alongside said sidewall, means for subjecting said tabs to a first application of heat as they are deflected downwardly whereby said tabs take on a heat-set orientation in a downwardly deflected position, first sealing means for subjecting said tabs to a second application of heat, and second sealing means cooperating with said first sealing means for pressing each of the heated tabs against the container sidewall to secure the tabs to the sidewall.