Release-Coated Packaging Tooling

Abstract

Tooling for a tray-sealing machine is coated with an electroless metal release coating. The coating is applied over the surface of the severing knives and/or clamp of the tooling that is utilized with the tray-sealing machine that comes into contact with a lidding material film used by the machine and penetrates into the surface of the tooling to be integrally formed in the tooling. The coating prevents any of the lidding material film used in forming a cover on the tray from adhering to the knives or the clamp during operation of the machine.

1 . Tooling for use in severing lidding material to a tray, the tooling comprising;
 a) a heated sealing member adapted to seal the lidding material to the tray;   b) a heated cutting member adapted to cut the lidding material around the tray; and   c) a release coating deposited at least partially within both the sealing member and the cutting member to prevent the lidding material from adhering to the sealing member and the cutting member.   
   
   
       2 . The tooling of  claim 1  wherein the release coating is formed at least partially of at least one fluoropolymer. 
   
   
       3 . The tooling of  claim 2  wherein the at least one fluoropolymer comprises particles having a size of less than 1 micron. 
   
   
       4 . The tooling of  claim 3  wherein the at least one fluoropolymer consists of particles having a size of less than 1 micron. 
   
   
       5 . The tooling of  claim 1  wherein the cutting member comprises:
 a) a knife ring; and   b) a knife set connected to the knife ring, wherein the release coating is deposited at least partially on the knife ring and the knife set.   
   
   
       6 . The tooling of  claim 5  wherein the knife set includes a pair of knives, each knife having a lower cutting edge. 
   
   
       7 . The tooling of  claim 5  further comprising a heating element disposed on the knife ring and capable of heating both the knife ring and knife set. 
   
   
       8 . The tooling of  claim 1  wherein the sealing member is mounted within the cutting member. 
   
   
       9 . The tooling of  claim 1  wherein the release coating is deposited at least partially within the sealing member. 
   
   
       10 . The tooling of  claim 8  wherein the sealing member is generally rectangular in shape. 
   
   
       11 . The tooling of  claim 9  wherein the cutting member is generally rectangular in shape. 
   
   
       12 . The tooling of  claim 1  wherein the release coating is formed at least partially of a nickel layer. 
   
   
       14 . A cutting member for severing a thermoplastic web around an item, the cutting member comprising:
 a) a body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end including a cutting surface; and   b) a release coating integrally formed within the cutting surface.   
   
   
       15 . The cutting member of  claim 14  wherein the release coating is formed with submicron particles of at least one fluoropolymer. 
   
   
       16 . The cutting member of  claim 15  wherein the release coating is formed with a nickel alloy component.