Apparatus and method for vacuumizing and sealing a package

Abstract

An apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing a package includes a plurality of platens and vacuum chambers, each chamber adapted to mate with a dedicated one of the platens; a conveying system for conveying the platens and chambers along a generally angular path having a single axis of rotation; an automated loading assembly having a linear component and configured to load a package onto each of the platens; an automated unloading assembly having a linear portion and configured to unload a vacuumized, sealed package from each loaded platen onto an outfeed conveyor; and a vacuumizing/sealing system configured to cause relative movement of each chamber/platen pair, along a portion of the angular path, to form therebetween an air-tight enclosure accommodating the package and effect vacuumization and sealing of the package.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A vacuum chamber assembly for use in evacuating air out of a package during a vacuumization and sealing process performed by a rotary vacuumization and sealing system, the vacuum chamber comprising:
 a vacuum chamber portion defining a chamber interior having an open lower end, wherein the vacuum chamber portion is configured to selectably mate with a platen supporting a package thereon to form an air-tight enclosure around the package; and   a support arm configured to operably move the vacuum chamber portion between a lowered position in which the vacuum chamber portion is mated with the platen and a raised position, wherein the support arm defines a vacuum conduit extending therethrough, wherein the vacuum conduit is in fluid communication with the chamber interior through a vacuum port extending through the chamber portion.   
     
     
         58 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , wherein the support arm is operably secured to the vacuum chamber portion via a hollow pivot point in fluid communication with the chamber interior through the vacuum port and is in fluid communication with the vacuum conduit defined in the support arm. 
     
     
         59 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , wherein the support arm is rotatably secured to a carousel via a hollow pivot point such that the support arm is permitted to rotate and move the vacuum chamber portion between the lowered position and the raised position, wherein the hollow pivot point is in fluid communication with the vacuum conduit defined in the support arm and a second vacuum conduit secured to the carousel. 
     
     
         60 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , further comprising a heat seal assembly positioned within the chamber interior, wherein the heat seal assembly is configured to engage a package and apply heat to the package to form a heat seal therein. 
     
     
         61 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 60 , wherein the heat seal assembly comprises a heat seal bar moveable between a retracted position and an extended position to compress a portion of the package between the heat seal bar and a corresponding seal bar on an opposite side of the package. 
     
     
         62 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 61 , wherein the heat seal bar is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by an inflatable diaphragm. 
     
     
         63 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , further comprising a cutting mechanism configured to sever a portion of a package positioned within the sealed enclosure. 
     
     
         64 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , further comprising a perforator mechanism configured to puncture holes into a package positioned within the sealed enclosure to facilitate evacuation of air from within the package. 
     
     
         65 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , wherein the vacuum chamber portion is configured to selectably mate with a single corresponding platen. 
     
     
         66 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 57 , further comprising a secondary support rod configured to maintain a chamber orientation while the chamber is moved between the lowered position and the raised position. 
     
     
         67 . The vacuum chamber assembly of  claim 66 , wherein the open lower end of the vacuum chamber portion remains substantially parallel to a horizontal plane while the chamber is moved between the lowered position and the raised position. 
     
     
         68 - 125 . (canceled) 
     
     
         126 . A method for vacuumizing a package having an open end allowing air to pass freely into a package interior, the method comprising:
 positioning the package on a support surface of a platen;   lowering a vacuum chamber over the package to engage the platen to form an air-tight enclosure around the package while permitting air within the air-tight enclosure to pass into the interior of the package, wherein the vacuum chamber is operably secured to a rigid support arm configured to move the vacuum chamber between a raised position and a lowered position, and wherein the rigid support arm defines a vacuum conduit extending therethrough to selectably place the interior of the air-tight enclosure in fluid communication with a vacuum system; and   evacuating air from within the air-tight enclosure through the vacuum conduit of the rigid support arm and to the vacuum system, wherein evacuating the air from within the air-tight enclosure evacuates the air from within the package interior.   
     
     
         127 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 126 , further comprising heat sealing the open end of the package after evacuating the air from within the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         128 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 126 , further comprising perforating the package to facilitate evacuating air from within the package interior. 
     
     
         129 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 126 , further comprising severing a portion of the package proximate the open end of the package. 
     
     
         130 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 129 , further comprising:
 raising the vacuum chamber after severing the portion of the package; and   directing a stream of compressed air across the support surface of the platen to blow the severed portion of the package off of the platen.   
     
     
         131 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 127 , further comprising:
 raising the vacuum chamber after heat sealing the open end of the package; and   removing the package from the support surface of the platen.   
     
     
         132 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 127 , wherein the platen is configured to travel along a platen travel path, and wherein positioning the package on the support surface of the platen comprises:
 automatically depositing the package onto the platen while the platen is travelling along the platen travel path.   
     
     
         133 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 132 , wherein the platen travel path comprises one or more linear path portions; and
 automatically depositing the package onto the platen comprises automatically depositing the package onto the platen while the platen is travelling along one of the one or more linear path portions.   
     
     
         134 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 132 , wherein the platen travel path extends around a single axis of rotation such that the platen is configured to rotate about the single axis of rotation. 
     
     
         135 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 132 , wherein the platen travel path extends around two or more axes of rotation, and wherein the one or more linear path portions are located between two of the two or more axes of rotation. 
     
     
         136 . The method for vacuumizing a package of  claim 132 , wherein automatically depositing the package onto the platen comprises automatically depositing the package onto the platen from an infeed system configured to convey the package in a linear direction toward the platen travel path. 
     
     
         137 - 145 . (canceled)