Patent ID: 7980047

Claim:
A method of severing and sealing a plurality of layers of film formed of a thermoplastic material, the method comprising the steps of: heating a cutting edge implement to a temperature between about 600° F. and about 800° F. for severing and sealing a plurality of layers of the film, the temperature being sufficient to melt but not to burn a thermoplastic material; feeding the plurality of layers of the film between the heated cutting edge implement and an opposing surface; moving the heated cutting edge implement and the opposing surface relative to one another to pinch the plurality of layers of film therebetween; and thereafter, suspending any relative lateral movement between the heated cutting edge implement, the plurality of layers of the film, and the opposing surface, while relatively biasing the heated cutting edge implement and the opposing surface together with the plurality of layers of film pinched therebetween, until the cutting edge implement, heated to the temperature between about 600° F. and about 800° F., severs the plurality of layers of the film by melting but not burning the plurality of layers, contacts the opposing surface, and seals the plurality of layers of the film together.