Patent ID: 8407972

Claim:
Container sealing apparatus comprising: a linearly displaceable cutting member operable to cut a portion of sealing material from a web, the linearly displaceable cutting member comprising an electrically conductive material; an independently linearly displaceable transfer member extendible relative to the cutting member to transfer the cut portion of sealing material from the linearly displaceable cutting member to an open top of a container to be sealed, the linearly displaceable transfer member comprising an electrically insulating material; an induction coil which is operable to produce an induction field for heating the cut portion of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to enable the cut portion of sealing material to be sealed to the open top of the container, the linearly displaceable transfer member being operable to hold the cut portion of sealing material against the open top of the container during induction heating; and a field concentrator operable to concentrate the induction field in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member to optimize the induction heating of the cut portion of sealing material, wherein the field concentrator is mounted on the transfer member.