Device and method for evacuating air from a package

An apparatus for packaging a package in a modified atmosphere, wherein the package includes a closed bottom, at least a first and a second wall opposed to each other and joined together along a first and a second opposite lateral portion, said at least first and second walls defining along their upper edge an aperture opposite said closed bottom, said apparatus comprising:

• a device for evacuating air from the package wherein the device includes:
• a conveyor system comprising a plurality of conveying means configured to suspend said package in a hanging orientation and to move said package from an arrival zone to a release zone through at least one processing station along a processing direction (L);
• an insufflation system comprising a gas supply unit, a gas transport pipeline connected to said supply unit and at least one rotating head positioned in said at least one processing station and configured to rotate about an axis (R) of rotation, said at least one rotating head being provided with at least one nozzle connected to said gas transport pipeline and having a body extending along a longitudinal axis (A) substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis of rotation (R), with a proximal end attached to said at least one rotating head and a distal end provided with an insufflation orifice;
• wherein said conveying means are configured to move said package along the processing direction (L), while said at least one rotating head is configured to be rotatably moved in a coordinated manner with movement of said conveying means, such that said at least one nozzle enters into an interior of the package through said aperture and rotates within the package along an arc of circumference (a) between a first insufflation position (a′), in which the insufflation orifice is oriented to eject gas directly towards the first lateral portion, and a second insufflation position (a″), in which the insufflation orifice is oriented to eject gas directly towards the second lateral portion, said at least one nozzle insufflating gas within the package while rotating along said arc of circumference (a), and wherein said conveying means are configured to maintain said aperture in an open configuration while said at least one nozzle enters and rotates within the package;
• and
• sealing means positioned downstream of the device for evacuating air and configured to seal the aperture of the package;
• wherein said conveying means comprise a first gripping element configured to hold said first lateral portion of said package and a second gripping element configured to hold said second lateral portion of said package, and
• wherein said first and second gripping elements are configured to maintain an open position while said at least one nozzle rotates within the package and insufflates gas, and are further configured to be moved away from each other to transition to a closed configuration before said at least one nozzle has completely exited the package through said aperture.

A method for evacuating air from a package, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a package having a closed bottom, at least a first and a second wall opposed to each other and joined along a first and a second opposite lateral portion, said at least first and second walls defining along an upper edge thereof an aperture at an end opposite said bottom;
• providing a conveyor system comprising a plurality of conveying means configured to suspend said package in a hanging orientation and to move said package along a processing direction (L);
• providing an insufflation system comprising a gas supply unit, a gas transport pipeline connected to said gas supply unit, and at least one rotating head positioned in a processing station and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (R), said at least one rotating head being provided with at least one nozzle connected to said gas transport pipeline and having a body extending along a longitudinal axis (A) substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis of rotation (R), with a proximal end attached to said rotating head and a distal end provided with an insufflation orifice;
• moving said package by said conveying means from an arrival zone to a release zone passing through said processing station;
• insufflating gas within said package with said insufflation orifice of said nozzle;
• wherein said step of insufflating is carried out by rotating the at least one nozzle along an arc of circumference (α) between a first insufflation position (α′) and a second insufflation position (α″) wherein, in said first insufflation position (α′), the insufflation orifice enters into the interior of the package and ejects gas directly towards the first lateral portion, and in said second insufflation position (α″), the insufflation orifice rotates within the package while ejecting gas towards the second lateral portion, said step of insufflating occurring while said package is moved by said conveying means along the processing direction (L), and wherein said conveying means maintain said aperture in an open configuration while said at least one nozzle enters and rotates within the package, and wherein said first and second lateral portions of said package are moved away from each other to bring said first and second walls closer together and close the aperture while said at least one nozzle exits the package through the aperture.