Vacuum sealing system with a sealing element inside an evacuation chamber

Abstract

A vacuum packaging appliance for sealing items in a plastic bag is disclosed. The appliance comprises a lid adapted to define a vacuum chamber when it is moved to a closed position relative to a trough in the base of the device. The trough in the lower portion of the device contains a heat-sealing element used to seal the contents of the bag once the vacuum packaging is complete. In another embodiment, the heat-sealing element is mounted on the lid of the device and comes into contact with the vacuum bag when the lid is in a closed position. The placement of the heat-sealing element minimizes wasted bag material as the heat seal is placed closer to the end of the bag itself

1 . A vacuum sealing system, comprising: 
 a housing, including a hermetic inlet configured to receive at least a portion of a vacuum sealable container, wherein inner surfaces of said housing define a vacuum chamber therein;    a vacuum source, in fluidic communication with said vacuum chamber, configured to substantially evacuate said vacuum chamber during an evacuation procedure; and    a sealing element, located within the inner surfaces of said housing, configured to secure a first part of said portion of said vacuum sealable container to a second part of said portion of said vacuum sealable container when said portion of said vacuum sealable container is proximate to said sealing element at least during a time period in which said vacuum chamber is substantially evacuated during said evacuation procedure.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said hermetic inlet is between an upper hermetic member and a lower hermetic member, wherein said housing further includes: 
 an upper housing member, including an upper hermetic member, that is configured to be opened to facilitate placement of said vacuum sealable container; and    a lower housing member, wherein during said evacuation procedure said upper housing member is closed such that said upper hermetic member contacts said lower hermetic member, thereby forming a barrier to substantially prevent air from entering said vacuum chamber via said hermetic inlet.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing element includes a heat sealing element.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power conduit configured to provide power from a power source to drive said sealing element at least during said time period.  
   
   
       5 . A system for vacuum sealing a container, comprising: 
 an evacuation means for evacuating a vacuum chamber during an evacuation procedure;    a hermetic inlet means for facilitating insertion of at least a portion of a vacuum sealable container into said vacuum chamber;    a sealing means, located within said vacuum chamber, for securing a first part of said portion of said vacuum sealable container to a second part of said portion of said vacuum sealable container during said evacuation procedure;    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said sealing means includes a heat sealing means.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a power conduit means for providing power to drive said sealing element.  
   
   
       8 . A method for vacuum sealing a container, including the acts of: 
 placing a vacuum sealable container, that contains contaminants, in a position such that an open end of said vacuum sealable container is in fluidic communication with a vacuum chamber;    evacuating said vacuum chamber such that at least some of said contaminants are evacuated out of said vacuum sealable container; and    activating a sealing element located in said vacuum chamber, wherein the activated sealing element causes at least a portion of said vacuum sealable container to seal.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 applying pressure to an upper housing of said vacuum chamber to bring an upper and lower hermetic member firmly together, thereby ensuring said vacuum chamber is hermetically sealed prior to evacuating said vacuum chamber;    releasing said pressure after the activated sealing element causes at least a portion of said vacuum sealable container to seal; and    removing said vacuum sealable container from said vacuum chamber.    
   
   
       10 . A vacuum sealing device, comprising: 
 a housing, wherein inner surfaces of said housing define an evacuatable chamber therein when said housing is operationally configured;    an evacuation detection mechanism for determining whether said evacuatable chamber is at least partially evacuated; and    a sealing element, coupled to said housing, inside the evacuatable chamber, positioned such that said sealing element seals a container that is at least partially inserted into said evacuatable chamber when said vacuum detection mechanism determines that said evacuatable chamber is at least partially evacuated.    
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a power conduit for providing power to said sealing element at least when said vacuum detection mechanism determines that said evacuatable chamber is at least partially evacuated.    
   
   
       12 . A method for vacuum sealing a container, comprising: 
 at least partially evacuating an evacuatable chamber;    determining that the evacuatable chamber is at least partially evacuated; and    sealing a portion of a container that extends into the evacuatable chamber.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 energizing the sealing element in response to determining that the evacuatable chamber is at least partially evacuated.    
   
   
       14 . A vacuum sealing apparatus for sealing a container using a heating element located within a vacuum chamber, said vacuum sealing apparatus comprising: 
 a first evacuation module member;    a second evacuation module member, wherein said first evacuation module member and said second evacuation module member are configured to fit together such that a vacuum chamber is defined by inner surfaces of said first evacuation module member and said second evacuation module member;    a heating element connected to at least one of said inner surfaces;    a power coupling that engages said heating element for at least a first period of time during which said vacuum chamber is defined by said inner surfaces; and    an evacuation channel that extends from said vacuum chamber when said vacuum chamber is defined by said inner surfaces;    a vacuum module, coupled to said evacuation channel, that evacuates said vacuum chamber of at least some contaminants through said evacuation channel for at least a second period of time during which said vacuum chamber is defined by said inner surfaces,    wherein said heating element is energized by power received through said power coupling for at least a third period of time during which said vacuum chamber is defined by said inner surfaces.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said first evacuation module member has an evacuation port formed therein, wherein said evacuation channel is connected to said first evacuation module member at said evacuation port, and wherein said contaminants are evacuated from said vacuum chamber through said evacuation port.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said second evacuation module member includes a trough.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said first evacuation module member is a lid that covers said trough while said inner surfaces define said vacuum chamber.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said power coupling includes two contact points connected to said first evacuation module member, and wherein said contact points contact said heating element when said first evacuation module member and said second evacuation module member fit together to define said vacuum chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a first gasket connected to said first evacuation module member;    a second gasket connected to said second evacuation module member, wherein said first gasket and said second gasket are positioned between said first evacuation module member and said second evacuation module member when said first evacuation module member and said second evacuation module member fit together to define said vacuum chamber, wherein said first gasket and said second gasket together form a hermetic barrier into said vacuum chamber, and wherein a container is insertable between said first and second gasket without substantially degrading the hermetic barrier, such that said container extends at least partially into said vacuum chamber.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said first gasket includes a pressure profile to push a zone of said container into said heating element to assist in forming a seal on said container substantially along said zone when said container is at least partially inserted into said vacuum chamber.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a pressure profile to push a zone of a container, that is at least partially inserted into said vacuum chamber, into said heating element to assist in forming a seal on said container substantially along said zone.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a barrier wall configured to segregate said power conduit from said vacuum chamber.  
   
   
       23 . A method for sealing a container using a heating element located within a vacuum chamber, said method comprising the acts of: 
 defining a vacuum chamber by fitting together first and second evacuation module members;    inserting a container at least partially into the vacuum chamber;    evacuating the vacuum chamber of at least some contaminants;    energizing a heating element located within the vacuum chamber; and    sealing the container using heat from the heating element.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising pushing a zone of the container onto the heating element, wherein the act of sealing the container includes sealing the container substantially along the zone.  
   
   
       25 . A trough module for use with a vacuum packaging system, said trough module comprising: 
 a trough that defines a volumetric depression that, when said trough is operationally configured for use in a vacuum packaging system, makes up part of an evacuation chamber; and    a heat sealing element connected to said trough, said heat sealing element extending along at least a portion of said trough, wherein, when said trough is operationally configured for use in said vacuum packaging system, said heat sealing element is enclosed within said evacuation chamber.    
   
   
       26 . The trough module of  claim 25 , further comprising a removable drip tray suspended within said trough, wherein, when said trough is operationally configured in a vacuum packaging system, said drip tray is positioned beneath at least a portion of a heat sealable bag that extends into said evacuation chamber.  
   
   
       27 . The trough module of  claim 25 , further comprising a power conduit connecting a power source to said heat sealing element.  
   
   
       28 . The trough module of  claim 27 , further comprising a barrier wall that makes up part of said evacuation chamber, wherein said barrier wall segregates said power conduit from said evacuation chamber.  
   
   
       29 . The trough module of  claim 25  further comprising baffolding to prevent liquid intake into said evacuation chamber from a heat sealable bag that extends into said evacuation chamber.  
   
   
       30 . A vacuum chamber lid with integrated power coupling for use with a vacuum packaging system, comprising: 
 a lid for covering a trough that defines a volumetric depression, wherein said trough includes an integrated sealing element, and wherein said lid and trough together define an evacuatable chamber that includes said volumetric depression; and    a power coupling connected to said lid, wherein said power coupling contacts said integrated sealing element, thereby facilitating powering said integrated sealing element.    
   
   
       31 . The vacuum chamber lid with integrated power coupling of  claim 30 , wherein said power coupling has a vampire wing configuration.  
   
   
       32 . A vacuum chamber lid with integrated heat sealing element for use with a vacuum packaging system, said vacuum chamber lid comprising: 
 a lid for covering a trough that defines a volumetric depression, wherein said lid and trough together define an evacuatable chamber that includes said volumetric depression when said lid and trough are operationally configured in a vacuum packaging system; and    a heat sealing element connected to said lid; wherein, when said lid and trough are operationally configured in a vacuum packaging system, a portion of a heat sealable bag that is within said evacuatable chamber and proximate to said heating sealing element is sealed by said heat sealing element.    
   
   
       33 . The vacuum chamber lid of  claim 32  wherein said heat sealing element is configured to rest against a pressure profile connected to said trough.