Vacuum packaging method and apparatus
AssigneeViskase Corporation
InventorVytautas Kupcikevicius
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vacuum packaging apparatus and method for evacuating and heat sealing bags employs a clamp, swingable over substantially the full length of the bagged product, to effect a temporary air-tight seal of an evacuated bag during transport of the evacuated bag from an evacuating zone to a heat sealing zone. The apparatus also includes a platen having a shallow V-shaped configuration to cradle the bagged product and the V-shaped being flattened to a plane and the platen being elevated to facilitate automatic removal of the bagged product from the platen.
Claims29
Vacuum packaging apparatus comprising at least one carrier movable in a closed path through successive loading, evacuation, heat sealing and unloading zones, each carrier comprising:
- a) a platen for receiving an open bag containing an article to be packaged, said platen having opposite first and second ends;
- b) an upstanding anvil adjacent said platen first end for receiving an open neck portion of said bag draped across said anvil;
- c) a clamp having end portions journaled at either side of said platen such that said clamp spans said platen and is pivotable over said platen from and between a full open position wherein said clamp is disposed adjacent said platen second end and a full closed position wherein said clamp is disposed against said anvil;
- d) drive means operable in an interval between said loading and evacuating zone for swinging said clamp from said full open position and towards said full closed position;
- and
- e) latch means operable in said evacuation zone for engaging and drawing said clamp tightly against said anvil to effect a mechanical air tight seal of the bag neck draped across said anvil.
Vacuum packaging method comprising the steps of:
- a) moving a carrier through successive loading, evacuating, heat sealing and unloading zones;
- b) placing an open article-containing bag having a pre-closed end onto said carrier at said loading zone and arranging the open end of the bag to a flat width;
- c) during transit between said loading and evacuating zones, swinging a clamp member, which spans the article-containing bag over substantially the full length of the bag from a full open position adjacent the pre-closed end of the bag and towards a position adjacent to but spaced from the open end of the bag;
- d) evacuating air from the article-containing bag in the evacuation zone and thereafter drawing said clamp member down to a position tightly clamped against the open bag end for effecting an air tight mechanical seal of the bag;
- e) moving said carrier to said heat sealing zone and in transit exposing said article-containing bag to atmospheric pressure while maintaining said air tight mechanical seal;
- f) heat sealing across the flat width of said bag to effect a permanent air tight seal thereof and then moving said carrier to said unloading zone;
- g) releasing said clamp member and swinging it back over the length of the article-containing bag to the clamp full open position;
- and
- h) removing the now sealed article-containing bag from the carrier at the unloading zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.