Abstract: A sealing assembly (10) for sealing flexible packaging materials comprising: a sealing mechanism for sealing the packaging material; and a spreading mechanism for spreading the packaging material to be sealed prior to sealing, the spreading mechanism including at least two pair of opposed spreading members (15a, 15b), each pair having opposing converging contact edges (17a, 17b) which engage either side of the packaging material during spreading; wherein the spreading members are mounted for relative movement between a first open orientation and a second closed orientation such that, as the spreading members travel from said first to said second orientation, the contact edges initially contact the packaging material at convergent ends of the contact edges and then proceed to contact the packaging material along the length of the contact edges to divergent ends thereof, and wherein subsequently or simultaneously the spreading members engage the packaging material between the contact edges and travel transverse

Abstract: A reclosable container includes a container having an opening defined by a rim, a reclosable lid having a rim-engaging portion and a recessed portion inwardly of the rim-engaging portion, and a sealing sheet material separate from the lid, the sealing sheet material extending across the opening and being removably secured to the container rim beneath the lid, wherein the recessed portion of the lid projects into the container opening and the sealing sheet material has a recessed portion which accommodates the recessed portion of the lid.