Apparatus for vacuum packaging a soft product

An apparatus for vacuum-packing an uncompressed soft product of a given height in a barrier bag, comprising:

• (a) a vacuum packaging and sealing machine having at least one vacuum inlet extending outwardly therefrom;
• (b) an air compressor operatively connected to said vacuum packaging and sealing machine;
• (c) a packing frame comprising a horizontally oriented base panel, a side wall extending vertically from the base panel to a height which is less than the height of the soft product prior to being vacuum packed, and a top panel hingedly attached to the side wall and closeable over the base panel;
• (d) said packing frame residing adjacent said vacuum packaging and sealing machine such that when said uncompressed soft product in said barrier bag is placed on said base panel said side wall provides the sole side closure around said barrier bag and said at least one vacuum inlet is engageable with an open end of said barrier bag;
• and
• (e) a flexible air flow panel adapted for being wrapped around said uncompressed product, and with said product inserted into the barrier bag in a manner enabling air within the barrier bag to flow through said air flow panel and to be conducted to said at least one vacuum inlet.