Apparatus for evacuating and sealing rectangular packages
AssigneeSIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
InventorWerner Muller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for evacuating and sealing rectangular packages includes a turntable, a plurality of vacuum hoods arranged circumferentially on the turntable and having an open position in which a package to be evacuated and sealed is received and a sealed, closed position. There is provided a package-engaging surface on each hood on its inside and an abutting mechanism arranged on the turntable below each vacuum hood. Each abutting mechanism also has a package-engaging surface. The abutting mechanism is arranged for radially outward movement for displacing, with its package-engaging surface, a package towards the package-engaging surface of the vacuum hood. In the closed position of the vacuum hood the package thereunder is engaged at opposite sides by the two surfaces.
Claims10
ln an apparatus for evacuating and sealing rectangular packages, including a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis thereof, a plurality of vacuum hoods, each defining a vacuum chamber, arranged circumferentially on said turntable and means for lifting each vacuum hood into an open position in which a package to be evacuated and sealed is received and for lowering each vacuum hood into a sealed, closed position, the improvement comprising
- (a) a first surface provided on each hood within the vacuum chamber;
- (b) an abutment means arranged on said turntable below each said vacuum hood;
- each abutment means including a second surface;
- and
- (c) means for supporting the abutment means and for displacing the abutment means radially outwardly with respect to said vertical axis in the direction of said first surface for displacing a package towards said first surface by said second surface and engaging the package at opposite sides by said first and second surfaces in the closed position of the respective vacuum hood.
In an apparatus for evacuating and sealing rectangular packages having a top face, a bottom face and four side faces, including a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis thereof, a plurality of vacuum hoods, each defining a vacuum chamber, arranged circumferentially on said turntable and means for lifting each vacuum hood into an open position in which a package to be evacuated and sealed is received and for lowering each vacuum hood into a sealed, closed position, the improvement comprising
- (a) a first surface provided on each hood within the vacuum chamber;
- (b) an abutment means arranged on said turntable below each said vacuum hood;
- each abutment means including a second surface;
- (c) means for supporting the abutment means and for displacing the abutment means radially outwardly with respect to said vertical axis in the direction of said first surface for displacing a package towards said first surface by said second surface and engaging the package at opposite sides by said first and second surfaces in the closed position of the respective vacuum hood;
- (d) a pair of cooperating package grasping jaws arranged on said turntable below each said vacuum hood for engaging the package at opposite sides adjacent the sides to be engaged by said first and second surfaces;
- (e) a base plate arranged on said turntable below each said vacuum hood for engaging a bottom of the package received by the vacuum hood;
- (f) means for supporting and vertically displacing said base plate;
- (g) sealing means supported by said turntable below each said vacuum hood for sealing a top of the package received by the vacuum hood;
- (h) hold-down plates secured to said sealing means;
- said hold-down plates being arranged to engage a top surface of said package during sealing of said top;
- and
- (i) said first and second surfaces, said package grasping jaws, said base plate and said hold-down plates simultaneously engaging the four sides, the bottom and the top of the package during an operational phase in the course of evacuating and sealing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.