EP1149768A1 - Vorrichtung zum Vakuumverpacken von Lebensmitteln - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zum Vakuumverpacken von Lebensmitteln Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1149768A1
EP1149768A1 EP00830305A EP00830305A EP1149768A1 EP 1149768 A1 EP1149768 A1 EP 1149768A1 EP 00830305 A EP00830305 A EP 00830305A EP 00830305 A EP00830305 A EP 00830305A EP 1149768 A1 EP1149768 A1 EP 1149768A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
chamber
vacuum chamber
vacuum
electrical resistance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00830305A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Carlo Bertani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mo El SRL
Original Assignee
Mo El SRL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mo El SRL filed Critical Mo El SRL
Priority to EP00830305A priority Critical patent/EP1149768A1/de
Publication of EP1149768A1 publication Critical patent/EP1149768A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65B31/024—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for wrappers or bags

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for the vacuum packaging of food, of the type comprising the features set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
  • the simplest apparatuses belonging to the known art comprise a pump connected through a suction duct with an end piece to be operatively brought into engagement with a container in which the vacuum is to be created.
  • the end piece In apparatuses intended for packaging of food in rigid containers, the end piece generally consists of a rubber nozzle to be sealingly coupled to a seating arranged in a single-acting valve associated with the container.
  • the food In may cases however it is preferable for the food to be packaged in containers of a simpler structure, such as envelopes or bags of plastic material which have a smaller bulkiness than rigid containers.
  • a bag-closing member and a heat-sealing system for the bag.
  • Packaging involves insertion of the sucking end piece into the bag opening disposed on a work top. Then the air contained in the bag is drawn out. During this step the bag opening is maintained tightly closed, behind the sucking end piece, by the closing member.
  • the bag When suction is over, the bag is definitively sealed by a heat seal carried out in front of the sucking end piece by means of an electric resistance against which the bag opening is pressed by means of a pressure bar.
  • an apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber which is accessible through an upper door and is adapted to receive a bag containing the food to be vacuum-packaged.
  • a duct brings the chamber into communication with a sucking pump.
  • an electrical resistance which can be switched over and is movable between an inactive condition in which it does not engage the bag and an active condition in which it exerts pressure against the bag opening.
  • the vacuum is created in the chamber and consequently in the bag. Since the bag is in a vacuum environment, the presence of air pockets within this environment is avoided. Then the resistance is pressed against the bag opening and power supplied over a given period of time in order to heat seal the bag.
  • the thermal inertia leads the resistance and the insulating material carrying it to reach increasingly higher operating temperatures.
  • a passage of current in the electrical resistance for a period of "n" seconds brings this resistance from the room temperature to a temperature t1.
  • the second packaging is carried out the starting temperature of the resistance will be higher than the room temperature due to the preceding heating.
  • a passage of current for the same "n" seconds will therefore make the resistance reach a temperature higher than t1.
  • the main task of the present invention is to ensure an optimal heat sealing of the food container, even in the case in which more packaging operations in sequence are carried out.
  • Another object of the invention is to devise an apparatus capable of, at the end of the packaging process, providing a container for vacuum-packaged foods which can be immediately handled without particular precautions being required and which is not subject to the risk of being torn.
  • the apparatus for the vacuum packaging of food in accordance with the invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.
  • the apparatus comprises a conveniently shaped base 2 so that it can be steadily positioned on a horizontal rest surface.
  • Base 2 carries a vacuum chamber 3 adapted to receive a food container having a portion to be heat sealed.
  • the container preferably consists of an envelope (or bag) made of plastic material or the inside surface of which is covered with plastic material, and open on one side.
  • the envelope close to the open side thereof has a pair of holes the shape of which matches that of two protrusions 4, 5 present in the vacuum chamber. Engagement of the envelope takes place by fitting the holes on these protrusions 4, 5.
  • the vacuum chamber 3 has an inclined extension direction, just as an indication at an angle of at least 30° and preferably in the order of 45° and greater with respect to the horizontal rest surface 2a of base 2. This enables an upward orientation of the container opening to be sealed, so that the packaged foods are prevented from coming out.
  • Chamber 3 also has an opening 9 for introduction of the food container to be vacuum packaged.
  • the opening can be hermetically closed by an appropriate lid 6.
  • chamber 3 is made up of two shell halves 7, 8.
  • the lower shell half 8 is mounted to the base 3 whereas the upper shell half 7 is hinged on the lower shell half 8.
  • opening 9 through which the food container is inserted in chamber 3 is obtained by lifting the upper shell half 7 from the lower one 8, lid 6 being embodied by the upper shell half 7 itself.
  • Means 10 to seal the container by heat sealing is active within the vacuum chamber 3, as seen in detail in Figs. 2 and 5.
  • This means comprises a holding frame 11 having side walls consecutively disposed in a closed perimetric line.
  • Frame 11 is mounted on the lower shell half 8 and surrounds a support 12 to which an electrical resistance 13 is mounted. Finally said resistance is covered, on its side opposite to support 12, with an interchangeable film 13a of PTFE (polyethylene terephthalate) or other heat-resistant and adhesion-preventing material.
  • PTFE polyethylene terephthalate
  • Said heat-resistant and adhesion-preventing material can be subject to deterioration over time due to its being used plenty of times at high temperature.
  • hooking elements 33 and 34 which are fixed with respect to the electrical resistance, have been arranged in the vacuum chamber 3, and fitted on these elements are the respectively opposite ends of the film strip 13a, conveniently provided with holes for the purpose.
  • Two clips 35, 36 that can be each removably engaged on one of the hooking elements 33, 34 prevent accidental disengagements of the film 13a.
  • Support 12 comprises a rigid element 14 and a body 15 of deformable material, silicone for example.
  • Said body 15 has one or more perimetric tailpieces 15a getting hermetically in engagement with the upper edge 16 of frame 11, preferably over the whole perimetral extension of the upper edge itself.
  • the electrical resistance 13 and support 12 are movable between an active condition in which the resistance 13 abuts by pressure against the container portion to be heat sealed and an inactive condition in which the resistance 13 does not exert any pressure on the container.
  • the sealing means for the container further comprises a counter-bar 18 mounted at the inside of the vacuum chamber 3, on the upper shell half 7. Positioning of bar 18 takes place in such a manner that the resistance, when it is in its active condition, pushes the container portion to be heat sealed against the counter-bar 18 itself.
  • Means 17 to switch over the electrical resistance 13 between its inactive condition and its active condition is placed within frame 11, under support 12.
  • This means 17 comprises a pneumatic actuator 19 having a control chamber 20.
  • Chamber 20 is of variable volume depending on the pressure difference between the control chamber itself and the vacuum chamber 3.
  • control chamber 20 has a movable portion 20a, preferably consisting of a deformable diaphragm on which support 12 is mounted.
  • the apparatus of the invention further comprises pneumatic means operatively active in the chamber to move the air between the inside and outside of the chamber itself along at least one air path of travel 21 (identified in chain lines in Figs. 1 and 2).
  • the air path of travel 21 extends at least partly along a main air duct 22.
  • the same path 21 lightly touches both the sealing means 10 and the container region close to the portion to be heat sealed. For this reason the means 10 for tightly closing the container by heat sealing is advantageously located close to the main air duct 22.
  • Duct 22 is formed at least partly within support 12.
  • the duct 22 portion extending within the body 15 of deformable material comprises a longitudinal channel 23, clearly shown in Fig. 4.
  • a series of side channels 24 branch off from this longitudinal channel 23 and they are in communication with the inside of the vacuum chamber 3.
  • the electrical resistance 13 constitutes at least one portion of the inner wall of the main air duct 22.
  • the electrical resistance 13 defines an upper confining wall of the longitudinal channel 23 and the side channels 24.
  • the pneumatic means comprises a pump 37, of known type and therefore only diagrammatically shown in the drawings, to draw the air out of the vacuum chamber 3.
  • Pump 37 can be housed for example in base 2 and is connected with a nozzle 25 ending in a pre-chamber 3a delimited within chamber 3 by a holding framework 29 the perimetral edges of which are sealingly engaged, by a gasket 29a, against the inner surface of the lower shell half 8 of the chamber itself.
  • the holding framework 29 at the upper part thereof has a rest surface 29b substantially coplanar with the junction line between the lower shell half 8 and the upper shell half 7 and carrying said protrusions 4, 5, and hooking elements 34, 35 positioned close to the opposite ends of a through slit 30 through which the sealing means 10 appears and under the perimetral edge of which the body 15, made of deformable material, of the support 12 sealingly engages.
  • the pre-chamber 3a is therefore brought into fluid communication with the vacuum chamber 3 through the main air duct 22.
  • the pneumatic means further comprises a first valve 38 active on the main air duct.
  • the first valve 38 consisting of a three-way solenoid valve of known type for example, can be switched over between a first operating condition in which it brings pre-chamber 3a, and consequently duct 22, into communication with pump 37 and a second condition in which it brings duct 22 into communication with the environment external to the vacuum chamber 3.
  • the described apparatus comprises a secondary air duct 26 bringing the control chamber 20 into communication with a second valve 39.
  • the second valve 39 can be switched over between a first operating condition in which it brings duct 26 into communication with pump 37 and a second condition in which it brings duct 26 into communication with the surrounding atmosphere.
  • Apparatus 1 may further comprise auxiliary means 27 to create the vacuum in containers external to the vacuum chamber 3.
  • This means 27 comprises a suction end piece 28 disposed in the extension of nozzle 25 within pre-chamber 3a, and accessible through a connecting opening 31 arranged in the holding framework 29 and provided with a small cover 32 that can be removed or opened.
  • the container in the form of an envelope, into which the food to be packaged under vacuum has been previously introduced, is inserted in the vacuum chamber 3 through opening 9.
  • the container is then fastened to the lower shell half 8, by fitting the container holes, arranged close to the open side thereof, on the respective protrusions 4, 5 arranged on the rest surface 29b of the holding framework 29.
  • the upper shell half 7 at this point is closed so that the volume inside the vacuum chamber 3 is hermetically isolated from the surrounding environment.
  • the first and second valves 38, 39 are such arranged that they bring the main air duct 22 and duct 26 respectively into communication with pump 37.
  • the latter is started, by means of a push-button 40 operated by the closure of lid 6 for example, so as to create the vacuum in the pre-chamber 3a and the control chamber 20.
  • the vacuum created in the pre-chamber 3a causes suction of the air contained in the vacuum chamber 3, through the path of travel 21. Consequently, also the air present in the container is drawn out of the latter.
  • the air from the container and the vacuum chamber 3 is thus obliged to lightly touch the electrical resistance 13 which is in its inactive condition. If the electrical resistance 13 has been overheated during the preceding packaging operations, the air flow coming out of chamber 3 ensures the resistance cooling and, more generally, cooling of the means 10 for the container sealing.
  • the second valve 39 is switched over so that it can bring the control chamber 20 into communication with the surrounding atmosphere.
  • a pressure difference is created between the control chamber 20 and the vacuum chamber 3.
  • This difference causes an upward displacement of the movable portion 20a. Movement of the movable portion 20a, in turn, brings the electrical resistance 13 to the active condition. In this condition the resistance 13 presses the portion of the envelope to be heat sealed against the counter-bar 18.
  • the electrical resistance 13 is activated and power supplied over a previously set period of time, so as to cause a correct heat sealing of the opposite flaps of the container in the form of an envelope along the open side thereof.
  • This interval of time can be conveniently selected depending on the type of material of which the container is made (PE-PA (polyethylene-polyamid) or aluminium with PE-PA), through control push-buttons denoted by 40a and 40b respectively in Fig. 3 and connected with respective timing circuits each of them being set based on a respective supply time for the electrical resistance 13.
  • PE-PA polyethylene-polyamid
  • 40b control push-buttons denoted by 40a and 40b respectively in Fig. 3 and connected with respective timing circuits each of them being set based on a respective supply time for the electrical resistance 13.
  • the first valve 38 is switched over so that it brings the main air duct 22 into communication with the surrounding atmosphere.
  • the upper shell half 7 can be lifted to enable extraction of the container holding the vacuum packaged foods.
  • the invention achieves important advantages.
  • First of all the apparatus of the invention ensures an optimal heat sealing of the food container, even when several consecutive packaging operations are carried out.
  • Another advantage of the invention resides in that, at the end of the packaging process, a container holding vacuum packaged foods is provided which can be immediately handled without requiring particular precautions.
  • the apparatus of the invention ensures that the container portion just heat sealed will be brought to a temperature close to the room temperature before the container is drawn out of the packaging device. This also enables the container to recover its normal physical properties, thereby avoiding the risk of easy tearing, due to loss of toughness, of portions that are at high temperature.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
EP00830305A 2000-04-20 2000-04-20 Vorrichtung zum Vakuumverpacken von Lebensmitteln Withdrawn EP1149768A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00830305A EP1149768A1 (de) 2000-04-20 2000-04-20 Vorrichtung zum Vakuumverpacken von Lebensmitteln

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00830305A EP1149768A1 (de) 2000-04-20 2000-04-20 Vorrichtung zum Vakuumverpacken von Lebensmitteln

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1149768A1 true EP1149768A1 (de) 2001-10-31

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Family Applications (1)

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EP00830305A Withdrawn EP1149768A1 (de) 2000-04-20 2000-04-20 Vorrichtung zum Vakuumverpacken von Lebensmitteln

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EP (1) EP1149768A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015056284A1 (en) * 2013-10-17 2015-04-23 Sirman S.P.A. Combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature
EP3130447A1 (de) * 2015-08-11 2017-02-15 MICHATEK, k.s. Schweissbalken für vakuumschublade sowie vakuumschublade

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1284509A (en) * 1971-01-14 1972-08-09 Grace W R & Co Method and apparatus for vacuum welding of plastics envelopes
US5239808A (en) 1992-05-13 1993-08-31 Hantover, Inc. Vacuum packaging machine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1284509A (en) * 1971-01-14 1972-08-09 Grace W R & Co Method and apparatus for vacuum welding of plastics envelopes
US5239808A (en) 1992-05-13 1993-08-31 Hantover, Inc. Vacuum packaging machine

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015056284A1 (en) * 2013-10-17 2015-04-23 Sirman S.P.A. Combined machine for vacuum packaging and for cooking food at low temperature
EP3130447A1 (de) * 2015-08-11 2017-02-15 MICHATEK, k.s. Schweissbalken für vakuumschublade sowie vakuumschublade
CN106428729A (zh) * 2015-08-11 2017-02-22 米恰特克公司 用于真空抽屉的焊接棒以及真空抽屉
US10421567B2 (en) 2015-08-11 2019-09-24 Michatek K.S. Sealing bar for a vacuum drawer and vacuum drawer
CN106428729B (zh) * 2015-08-11 2019-09-27 米恰特克公司 用于真空抽屉的焊接棒以及真空抽屉
AU2016213813B2 (en) * 2015-08-11 2021-04-15 Gronbach K.S. Sealing bar for a vacuum drawer and vacuum drawer

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