US 12,077,337 B2
Systems and methods for sealing a container
Mark Edwin Peters, New London, WI (US); Kevin Michael Swanson, Larsen, WI (US); Ryan Joseph Schuh, Kimberly, WI (US); Daniel E. Myers, Vancouver, WA (US); Michael Aaron Barger, Camas, WA (US); Robert A. De La O, Battle Ground, WA (US); and Jacob Charles Dahl, Menasha, WI (US)
Assigned to Yum Connect, LLC, Louisville, KY (US)
Filed by YUM CONNECT, LLC, Louisville, KY (US)
Filed on May 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/329,490.
Application 17/329,490 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/700,164, filed on Dec. 2, 2019, granted, now 11,472,579.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/848,735, filed on May 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/775,227, filed on Dec. 4, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0292016 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. B65B 7/16 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/78 (2006.01); B65B 41/18 (2006.01); B65B 51/10 (2006.01); B65B 57/02 (2006.01); B65B 61/26 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 7/164 (2013.01) [B29C 65/7817 (2013.01); B29C 66/53461 (2013.01); B29C 66/849 (2013.01); B29C 66/98 (2013.01); B65B 41/18 (2013.01); B65B 51/10 (2013.01); B65B 57/02 (2013.01); B65B 61/26 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7132 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for securing a film to a container, the apparatus comprising:
a body portion to house film;
a sealing portion comprising:
a sealing volume for receiving a top portion of the container;
a plurality of near-infrared light emitting diodes (NIR LEDs) positioned within the sealing volume so as to at least partially surround the top portion of the container when the top portion of the container is positioned within the sealing volume;
a sensor configured to sense when the top portion of the container is at least partially positioned within the sealing volume; and
a loading zone sized to receive a portion of film from the body portion and position the portion of the film for insertion into the sealing volume with the top portion of the container; and
a controller configured to:
receive sensor input from the sensor indicating that the top portion of the container is at least partially positioned within the sealing volume;
cause, in response thereto, activation of at least one of the plurality of NIR LEDs to secure the portion of the film to the top portion of the container;
operate the at least one of the plurality of NIR LEDs for a sealing cycle to secure the portion of film to the top portion of the container; and
adjust the energy output of at least one first NIR LED of the plurality of NIR LEDs relative to at least one second NIR LED of the plurality of NIR LEDs during the sealing cycle such that an operation characteristic of the at least one first NIR LED is different than the at least one second NIR LED, wherein the operation characteristic is at least one of an amount of time of operation or a power output.