Method for improved folding of a container

Abstract

A method includes flattening a first end portion and a second end portion of a first sealed end of a container. The container is filled with food product and includes a second sealed end positioned opposite the first sealed end. The method further includes folding the first end portion and the second end portion towards a middle portion of the first sealed end of the container that is located between the first and second end portions of the first sealed end of the container.

1 . A method comprising:
 flattening a first end portion and a second end portion of a first sealed end of a container, the container being filled with food product and including a second sealed end positioned opposite the first sealed end, and   folding the first end portion and the second end portion towards a middle portion of the first sealed end of the container that is located between the first and second end portions of the first sealed end of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the flattening of the first end portion of the first sealed end of the container is by a first flattening wheel, and   the flattening of the second end portion of the first sealed end of the container is by a second flattening wheel that is different from the first flattening wheel.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion is held down by a conveyor belt during the flattening of the first end portion and the second end portion of the first sealed end of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the folding of the first end portion and the second end portion towards the middle portion of the first sealed end of the container comprises:
 bending the first end portion and the second end portion substantially 90 degrees in relation to the middle portion while the middle portion is held in position by the conveyor belt.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conveying a plurality of the containers in a conveying direction using a conveyor comprised of a plurality of pockets, each of the plurality of the containers being positioned in one of the plurality of pockets of the conveyor.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first flattening wheel presses against and flattens the first end portion of the first sealed end of the container to move food product located in the first end portion of the first sealed end of the container toward the middle portion of the first sealed end of the container, and   the second flattening wheel presses against and flattens the second end portion of the first sealed end of the container to move food product located in the second end portion of the first sealed end of the container toward the middle portion of the first sealed end of the container.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 heating the first and second end portions of the first sealed end after the flattening of the first and second end portions of the first sealed end.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before the flattening of the first and second end portions of the first sealed end, folding the first sealed end of the container into a folded down position.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the folding of the first sealed end of the container into the folded down position is performed by a fixed plate. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 conveying a container filled with food product in a conveying direction, the container comprising opposing first and second sealed ends, the first sealed end of the container comprising a first end portion of the first sealed end, a second end portion of the first sealed end, and a middle portion of the first sealed end;   folding the first sealed end of the container into a folded-down position during the conveying of the container in the conveying direction to produce a folded-down first sealed end of the container;   applying pressure against the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container to move any of the food product located in the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container toward the middle portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container;   applying pressure against the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container to move any of the food product located in the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container toward the middle portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container; and   folding both the first end portion and the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container towards the middle portion of the first sealed end of the container.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the applying pressure against the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container comprises flattening the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container, and wherein the applying pressure against the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container comprises flattening the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the applying pressure against the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container comprises pressing a first wheel against the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container, and wherein the applying pressure against the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container comprises pressing a second wheel against the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 heating the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container after the applying of the pressure against the first end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container, and   heating the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container after the applying of the pressure against the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the folding of both the first end portion and the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container towards the middle portion of the first sealed end of the container comprises bending the first end portion and the second end portion in relation to the middle portion while holding the middle portion in position. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the folding of both the first end portion and the second end portion of the folded-down first sealed end of the container towards the middle portion of the first sealed end of the container comprises bending the first end portion and the second end portion in relation to the middle portion while holding the middle portion in position by a conveyor belt.