Tray sealer and method

Abstract

A tray sealer and related method for sealing trays with a lid film wherein the trays may comprise several sealing planes that may be inclined with respect to each other. The tray sealer may include a tray seat and an upper sealing part operably disposed therein. The tray seat may comprise a circumferential tray edge support for supporting a tray edge of a tray. The upper sealing tool part may comprise a cutting facility and a circumferential sealing member for sealing a lid film onto the tray edge along a sealed seam. The tray edge support may include at least one first region with a first support plane and a second region with a second support plane. The first and second support planes may be orientated at an incline relative to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tray sealer comprising:
 a tray seat comprising a circumferential tray edge support for supporting a tray edge of a tray; and   an upper sealing tool part comprising a cutting facility and a circumferential sealing member for sealing a lid film onto the tray edge along a sealed seam;   wherein the tray edge support comprises at least one first region with a first support plane and a second region with a second support plane, the first and second support planes being disposed in at an inclination with respect to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The tray sealer according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a sealing area with at least one first region with a first sealing area and a second region with a second sealing area, the first and second sealing areas being disposed in at an inclination with respect to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The tray sealer according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential tray edge support and the circumferential sealing member are congruent with respect to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The tray sealer according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting facility comprises a circumferential cutting knife. 
     
     
         5 . The tray sealer according to  claim 4 , wherein the cutting knife has a lateral distance with respect to the sealing member, the lateral distance being related to the inclination of the sealing areas. 
     
     
         6 . The tray sealer according to  claim 4 , wherein the cutting knife comprises a projection with respect to the sealing area of the sealing member of at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The tray sealer according to  claim 4 , wherein the cutting knife comprises a constant projection with respect to the sealing areas of the sealing member. 
     
     
         8 . Method for operating a tray sealer for sealing a lid film onto a three-dimensionally shaped tray edge of a tray, the method comprising:
 inserting a tray into a tray seat, the tray edge being supported by the tray seat along a tray edge support, the tray edge support being congruent relative to the tray edge;   moving the tray seat and an upper sealing tool part toward each other;   clamping a film web between the tray seat and the upper sealing tool part;   cutting a lid film out of the film web using a cutting facility of the upper sealing tool part during the moving step;   resting a portion of the lid film on a portion of the tray edge;   folding another portion of the lid film not yet resting on a portion of the tray edge to the tray edge using a sealing member of the upper sealing tool part during the moving step; and   clamping and sealing the lid film onto the tray edge using a sealing area of the sealing member.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid film is completely cut at first contact of the cutting facility with the film web. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a cut edge of the lid film is produced such that the cut edge has a constant distance with respect to a sealed seam after the folding, sealing and clamping of said lid film. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a sealed seam is produced on a section of the tray edge, said section of the tray edge being inclined with respect to the horizontal line or with respect to a substantially horizontally orientated sealing plane of the tray.