Method of forming a package

Abstract

A package includes a container formed to include an open mouth arranged to open into an interior product-storage region and a closure arranged to close the open mouth when the closure is coupled to the container.

1 . A process for forming a sealed package comprising the steps of
 providing an open vessel including a container formed to include a mouth arranged to open into an interior product-storage region of the container and a sheet-support ring,   providing a membrane sheet including a center portion, an outer seal band located in spaced-apart relation to the center portion and arranged to extend around and surround the center portion, and an inner seal band located between the outer seal band and the center portion and arranged to extend around and surround the center portion,   locating the membrane sheet relative to the open vessel to cause the center portion to overlie the mouth, the inner seal band to overlie and align with an upwardly facing surface of the brim, and the outer seal band to overlie and align with an outer surface of the sheet-support ring,   coupling the outer seal band to the outer surface of the sheet-support ring to form a permanent bond between the outer seal band and the sheet-support ring, and   coupling the inner seal band to the upwardly facing surface of the brim to establish a temporary bond between the inner seal band and the upwardly facing surface of the brim to establish a sealed package.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of filling the open vessel with products through the mouth into the interior product-storage region after the providing the open vessel step. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of cleaning the upwardly facing surface of the brim of any spilled products located on the upwardly facing surface of the brim during the filling step. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the locating step occurs after the providing the membrane sheet step and the providing the open vessel step. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the cleaning step occurs after the coupling the outer seal band step. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the cleaning step includes the steps of moving the sheet-support ring in a downward direction relative to the brim of the container and stretching the membrane sheet to cause any spilled food product trapped between the membrane sheet and the brim of the container to be wiped off the upwardly facing surface of the brim. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling the inner seal band step occurs after the coupling the outer seal band step. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the providing the membrane sheet step is performed after the providing the open vessel step. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of filling the open vessel with products through the mouth into the interior product-storage region after the providing the open vessel step. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of cleaning the upwardly facing surface of the brim of any spilled products located on the upwardly facing surface of the brim during the filling step. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the locating step occurs after the providing the membrane sheet step and the providing the open vessel step and the cleaning step occurs after the coupling the outer seal band step. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning step includes the steps of moving the sheet-support ring in a downward direction relative to the brim of the container and stretching the membrane sheet to cause any spilled food product trapped between the membrane sheet and the brim of the container to be wiped off the upwardly facing surface of the brim. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the open vessel step includes the steps of providing the container, providing the sheet-support ring, and coupling the sheet-support ring to the container to establish the open vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the sheet-support ring mates temporarily in snapping relation with a portion of the brim. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the locating step occurs after the coupling the sheet-support ring step. 
     
     
         16 . A process for forming a sealed package comprising the steps of
 providing an open vessel including a container formed to include a mouth arranged to open into an interior product-storage region of the container and a sheet-support ring coupled to a brim of the container,   providing a membrane sheet including a center portion, an outer seal band located in spaced-apart relation to the center portion, and an inner seal band located between the outer seal band and the center portion,   locating the membrane sheet relative to the open vessel to cause the inner seal band to overlie and align with a portion of the container, and the outer seal band to overlie and align with a portion of the sheet-support ring,   coupling the outer seal band to the portion of the sheet-support ring to form a permanent bond between the outer seal band and the sheet-support ring, and   coupling the inner seal band to the portion of the container to establish a temporary bond between the inner seal band and the container to establish a sealed package.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of filling the open vessel with products through the mouth into the interior product-storage region after the providing the open vessel step and before the locating step and cleaning an upwardly facing surface of the brim of any spilled products located on the upwardly facing surface of the brim during the filling step. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the cleaning step occurs after the coupling the outer seal band step. 
     
     
         19 . A process for forming a sealed package comprising the steps of
 providing an open vessel including a container formed to include a mouth arranged to open into an interior product-storage region of the container and a sheet-support ring coupled to a brim of the container,   providing a membrane sheet including a center portion, an outer seal band located in spaced-apart relation to the center portion and arranged to extend around and surround the center portion, and an inner seal band located between the outer seal band and the center portion and arranged to extend around and surround the center portion,   filling the open vessel with products through the mouth into the interior product-storage region,   locating the membrane sheet relative to the open vessel to cause the center portion to overlie the mouth, the inner seal band to overlie and align with an upwardly facing surface of the brim, and the outer seal band to overlie and align with an outer surface of the sheet-support ring,   coupling the outer seal band to the outer surface of the sheet-support ring to form a permanent bond between the outer seal band and the sheet-support ring after the locating step,   cleaning the upwardly facing surface of the brim of any spilled products located on the upwardly facing surface of the brim during the filling step after the coupling the outer seal band step, and coupling the inner seal band to the upwardly facing surface of the brim to establish a temporary bond between the inner seal band and the upwardly facing surface of the brim after the cleaning step to establish a sealed package.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning step includes the steps of moving the sheet-support ring in a downward direction relative to the brim of the container and stretching the inner seal band of the membrane sheet to cause any spilled food product trapped between the membrane sheet and the brim of the container to be wiped off the upwardly facing surface of the brim.