Abstract: A container for a food product generally includes a tray and a cover attached to the tray by ultrasonic bonds. The tray includes a bottom having a perimeter and a sidewall extending along the perimeter of the bottom to form a cavity sized to receive the food product. The sidewall defines an opening for the food product to be placed into the cavity. The tray also includes a flange extending from an edge of the sidewall and around the opening. The flange has a single layer first area with a first thickness and a second area comprised of at least two layers with a second thickness. The second thickness is at least twice as thick as the first thickness. The ultrasonic bonds extend along the entire sidewall of the container to form a continuous, hermetic seal between the cover and the tray around the opening.

Abstract: A container for a food product generally includes a tray and a cover attached to the tray by ultrasonic bonds. The tray includes a bottom having a perimeter and a sidewall extending along the perimeter of the bottom to form a cavity sized to receive the food product. The sidewall defines an opening for the food product to be placed into the cavity. The tray also includes a flange extending from an edge of the sidewall and around the opening. The flange has a single layer first area with a first thickness and a second area comprised of at least two layers with a second thickness. The second thickness is at least twice as thick as the first thickness. The ultrasonic bonds extend along the entire sidewall of the container to form a continuous, hermetic seal between the cover and the tray around the opening.

Abstract: A system for packaging a food product in a container generally includes a conveyance apparatus operable to move trays in a machine direction, a delivery apparatus operable to deposit the food product into cavities of the trays, and a positioning apparatus operable to position covers relative to the trays. The positioning apparatus is configured to position each cover on a respective tray to overlap a flange of the respective tray. The system also comprises an ultrasonic bonding apparatus configured to receive the flange and the cover of each container in the nip between a first bonding module and a second bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency and delivers ultrasonic energy to at least one of the cover and the flange to seal the container.

Abstract: A system for packaging a food product in a container generally includes a conveyance apparatus operable to move trays in a machine direction, a delivery apparatus operable to deposit the food product into cavities of the trays, and a positioning apparatus operable to position covers relative to the trays. The positioning apparatus is configured to position each cover on a respective tray to overlap a flange of the respective tray. The system also comprises an ultrasonic bonding apparatus configured to receive the flange and the cover of each container in the nip between a first bonding module and a second bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency and delivers ultrasonic energy to at least one of the cover and the flange to seal the container.