Apparatus and method for formation of sealed packages

Apparatus for evacuating and sealing a bag containing a charge of a flowable product and formed from a sealable material so as to form a sealed package, comprising:

• (i) a vacuum probe member for evacuation of a bag having an open end positioned around the probe member such that the probe member extends into the bag to a first position, which bag contains a charge of a flowable material and is formed from a sealable material;
• (ii) means for forming outer and inner spaced temporary seals at the open end of the bag and around said probe member in said first position;
• said means including jaw members relatively movable between open and closed positions which are arranged so that in their closed positons they press against the bag so as to form said inner temporary seal at the open end of the bag around said probe member in said first position, and means for forming said outer temporary seal at the open end of the bag around said probe member;
• said inner temporary seal being positioned between the charge and the outer temporary seal and spaced from the outer temporary seal;
• (iii) means for evacuating the bag through the probe member;
• (iv) means for causing relative movement of the bag member and said probe member so that said probe member is retracted relative to the bag and extends into the bag to a second position in which said member extends through said outer temporary seal but not through said inner temporary seal;
• (v) means for forming a permanent seal in the bag at the open end of the bag at an intermediate region between said outer and inner temporary seals and between the charge and the probe member in said second position;
• and
• (vi) means for causing relative movement of the bag and the jaw members after said inner temporary seal has been formed so as to cause the adjacent surface of the charge to be pressed into a desired shape by impingement of the bag material adjacent that held between the jaw members against the jaw members;
• said apparatus being arranged whereby upon releasing the outer and inner temporary seals the bag is released following completion of the permanent seal.