Volumetric vacuum control

An apparatus for vacuum sealing a container, said apparatus compensating for variations in atmospheric pressure, comprising:

• a base for supporting the container;
• a hood for creating a scaled environment for the container;
• evacuation means for withdrawing a fluid from an interior of the container;
• a vacuum sensor system, said vacuum sensor system comprising:
• a first sensor for generating a first signal when a first preset vacuum level is reached;
• a second sensor for generating a second signal when a second preset vacuum level is reached;
• and
• circuit means including a stored algorithmic factor and a timer means for determining an elapsed time period between said first and second preset vacuum level, said circuit means determining an additional time period for which the pump is to run to achieve a predetermined vacuum level in the container using said elapsed time period and said stored algorithmic factor.

A vacuum system for evacuating the container, comprising:

• a chamber in communication with the container;
• a pump in communication with the chamber for drawing fluid therefrom the chamber and the container;
• a motor connected to the pump for driving the pump;
• a first pressure sensor in communication with the chamber for sensing the pressure therein when the pressure level reaches a first preset level and for generating a first pressure signal to start a time count-down;
• a second pressure sensor in communication with the chamber for sensing the pressure therein when the pressure level reaches a second preset level and for generating a second pressure signal to stop the time count-down;
• a control means coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to receive the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal therefrom, and including:
• i) a stored algorithmic factor,
• i) means for calculating an elapsed time between the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal,
• iii) means for determining a time required to evacuate the container to a pre-determined vacuum level by multiplying said stored algorithmic factor by said elapsed time period.

A method for forming a vacuum in a container to a target vacuum level with a vacuum packaging device, the vacuum packaging device including a pump for evacuating the container, and a control circuit including a stored algorithmic factor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) running the pump for evacuating the container;
• (b) measuring a first time between a first vacuum level and a second vacuum level as the pump evacuates the container;
• and
• (c) computing a second time for which the pump must be run to reach the target vacuum level using said first time and the stored algorithmic factor.