# US 10,501,219 B2 · Combination chamber and external suction vacuum packaging machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,219 B2 - Document ID: US10501219B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/651,635 - Filed: 2017-07-17 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-26 - Assignees: Hantover, Inc. - Applicants: Hantover, Inc. - Inventors: David A. Rausch; Bernard G. Huff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501219B2 ## CPC - B65B 31/024: {specially adapted for wrappers or bags (B65B31/021, B65B31/022 take precedence)} - B65B 31/048: {specially adapted for wrappers or bags} - B65B 51/148: {Hand-operated members} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A combination chamber and external suction vacuum packaging machine is operable to evacuate a vacuum bag and seal closed an open margin of the bag. The vacuum packaging machine includes a base and a lid that define a vacuum chamber operable for use in a chamber packaging operation, where the bag is entirely received within the vacuum chamber, and an external packaging operation, where only part of the bag is received within the vacuum chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combination chamber and external suction vacuum packaging machine operable to evacuate a vacuum bag and seal closed an open margin of the bag, said vacuum packaging machine comprising: a vacuum container defining a vacuum chamber dimensioned and configured for use in a chamber packaging operation, wherein the bag is entirely received within the vacuum chamber, and an external packaging operation, wherein the margin and only part of the bag is received within the vacuum chamber; a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum chamber, said vacuum source being operable to evacuate the vacuum chamber and thereby the vacuum bag through the open margin thereof, during chamber packaging and external packaging operations; a seal bar operable to engage and seal closed the open margin of the vacuum bag after the vacuum bag has been evacuated, said vacuum container presenting opposed seal faces spaced apart to define a sealing gap therebetween, said vacuum container including a compressible seal configured to span the sealing gap and sealingly engage the seal faces during evacuation of the vacuum chamber and vacuum bag, said seal faces moving toward one another to decrease the sealing gap as the seal is compressed during evacuation of the vacuum chamber and vacuum bag; and a stop configured to limit compression of the seal during chamber packaging and external packaging operations and thereby define a minimum seal gap dimension, said stop being spaced away from the seal bar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, said stop being located outside of the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 2, said seal bar being located within the vacuum chamber, with the seal extending at least partly between the stop and the seal bar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 2, said stop projecting from one of the seal faces to engage the other one of the seal faces when the chamber is evacuated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 2, said seal bar comprising the only bag heating component of the vacuum packaging machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, said stop comprising a pair of spaced apart tabs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 6, said tabs being spaced on opposite sides of seal bar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 7, said tabs being located outside of the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 7, said seal bar being located within the vacuum chamber, with the seal extending at least partly between each tab and the seal bar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 8, said tabs projecting from one of the seal faces to engage the other one of the seal faces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 6, said tabs defining a slot therebetween, said slot being configured to receive the open margin of the bag therethrough during the external packaging operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 11, each of said tabs projecting from one of the seal faces, each of said tabs presenting an outermost end surface spaced outwardly from the one seal face to engage the other one of the seal faces when the chamber is evacuated, each of said tabs presenting a pair of at least substantially parallel side surfaces extending between the end surface and the one seal face. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, said vacuum container including a container pan and a container lid shiftably supported relative to one another for movement into and out of a closed position and presenting respective ones of the seal faces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 13, said stop comprising a pair of spaced apart tabs formed as part of the lid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 14, said tabs being spaced on opposite sides of seal bar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 15, said tabs being located outside of the vacuum chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 15, said tabs defining a slot therebetween, said slot being configured to receive the open margin of the bag therethrough during the external packaging operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 13, said seal including a flange section that flatly engages and is fixed relative to the seal face presented by the container lid, said seal including a flexible lip projecting from the flange section to the seal face of the container pan in the closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, said seal including a flange section that flatly engages and is fixed relative to a respective one of the seal faces, said seal including a flexible lip projecting from the flange section toward the other one of the seal faces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vacuum packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, said seal bar comprising the only bag heating component of the vacuum packaging machine.