US 12,668,390 B2 · Vacuum extraction and sealing of containers

Abstract

A system for evacuating and sealing containers filled with product, for example, food product, includes an enclosed, sealed housing wherein the pressure level and the atmospheric content can be controlled. A vacuum shroud is positioned in registry with a container entrance opening in the housing, the shroud connectible to a vacuum source and to a source of replaceable gas to replace the ambient air to be removed from the container. The shroud is advanceable to seal the container entrance opening and is retractable from the container entrance opening. A container transport system inserts the container through the housing entrance opening and into the shroud. Thereupon, a sealing system seals the housing from the ambient after the container has been inserted into the shroud. After the air in the container has been replaced with an inert gas and then the shroud retracted, a closure subsystem applies a cover to the evacuated container. Thereafter, an out feed subsystem removes the closed container from the housing while maintaining the atmospheric content and pressure level within the housing.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An assembly for evacuating and gassing filled containers having open tops, comprising:

(a) a chamber into which an open container is received for evacuation and gassing, the chamber comprising an upper shroud and a base, the shroud having a closed upper and an open bottom for receiving therein a filled container, the interior of the shroud being larger than the exterior of the container to define a volume between the exterior of the container and the interior of the shroud;
(b) a closure, for closing the open bottom of the chamber to enclose the container within the chamber;
(c) a porous barrier for temporarily positioning over the open top of the container;
(d) at least one port through which air is removed from the chamber and thereafter the gasses comprising a modified atmosphere are introduced into the chamber, wherein the air is removed from the filled container and removed from the volume that is between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the container;
and wherein the gasses are introduced into the filled container and into the volume that is between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the container;
and
(e) an actuator for retracting the shroud from the base after the gasses are introduced into the filled container and into the volume that is between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the container.

4 more elements

An assembly for evacuating and gassing filled containers having open tops, comprising:

(a) a chamber into which an open container is received for evacuation and gassing, the chamber comprising an upper shroud and a base, the shroud having a closed upper and an open bottom for receiving therein a filled container without the presence of a lid for the container, the interior of the chamber being larger than the exterior of the container to define a volume between the exterior of the container and the interior of the chamber;
(b) a porous barrier for temporarily positioning over the open top of the container;
and
(c) at least one port through which air is removed from the chamber and thereafter the gasses comprising a modified atmosphere are introduced into the chamber, wherein the air is removed from the filled container and removed from the volume that is between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the container, and wherein gasses are introduced into the filled container and into the volume that is between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the container.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vacuum extraction and sealing of containers

Life of this patent

Vacuum extraction and sealing of containers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15