US20110138745A1 - Deaeration system and method for flexible packages - Google Patents

Deaeration system and method for flexible packages Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110138745A1
US20110138745A1 US12/996,578 US99657809A US2011138745A1 US 20110138745 A1 US20110138745 A1 US 20110138745A1 US 99657809 A US99657809 A US 99657809A US 2011138745 A1 US2011138745 A1 US 2011138745A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
package
sub
driving
along
belts
Prior art date
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Abandoned
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US12/996,578
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English (en)
Inventor
André Albert
Steve Michaud
Guillaume Lessard
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.)
Premier Tech Technologies Ltd
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Individual
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Priority to US12/996,578 priority Critical patent/US20110138745A1/en
Assigned to PREMIER TECH TECHNOLOGIES LTEE reassignment PREMIER TECH TECHNOLOGIES LTEE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ALBERT, ANDRE, LESSARD, GUILLAUME, MICHAUD, STEVE
Publication of US20110138745A1 publication Critical patent/US20110138745A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/041—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles acting from above on containers or wrappers open at their top
    • 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
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/046—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to packaging systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a deaeration system for flexible packages and a method associated thereto.
  • the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,102 involves an apparatus for extracting air from within flexible packages.
  • the package is displaced along a conveyor system and has air removed therefrom under a hood which is linked to a subsequent closing mechanism.
  • the present invention addresses at least one of the above-mentioned needs.
  • the present invention provides a system for removal of air from an interior of a flexible package before closure thereof, the system comprising:
  • the lower conveyor sub-system has a profile or shape that allows the package to increase in height sufficiently to remove vertical tension from the top of the package.
  • the bag-opening sub-system has a shape that allows the upper part of the package to be partially opened by a vacuum source connected to bag-opening sub-system.
  • the air removal section displaces the package through a perforated belt system or any other equivalent system allowing repositioning of the package and allowing passage of a certain quantity of air.
  • the air removal section opens a portion (in the upper part) of the package.
  • the upper sides of the package are maintained against the driving belts to spread it out, partially opening the package.
  • a source of vacuum applied behind the perforated belts, a pulley desynchronisation and a curved block or guiding structure constrain the two belts to follow a curved path (opposite of one another).
  • the present invention also provides a method for removing air from the interior of flexible packages before closure thereof, comprising the following steps:
  • a system for removing air from an interior of a flexible package before closure thereof comprising:
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of the system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is another side view of the system shown in FIG. 1 with the packages removed and the upper housing installed;
  • FIG. 3 is another side view of the system shown in FIG. 2 with the upper housing removed;
  • FIG. 4 is a another side view of the system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a side close-up view of the upper driving system shown in FIG. 4 ;
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are top and side-cut views respectively of an aluminium block or guiding structure and associated hardware from FIG. 4 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a detailed side view of the upper driving system (air removal section) shown in FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 8 is another side close-up view of the upper driving system shown in FIG. 4 ;
  • FIG. 9 is a side view of the system shown in FIG. 4 , during its operation with packages, illustrating different work stations;
  • FIG. 10 is a top view of part of the upper driving system shown in FIG. 4 ;
  • FIGS. 11 a and 11 b are front views of the interaction of a package with a system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing lower and upper positions of the package;
  • FIGS. 12 a to 12 c are side views of the interaction of a package with a system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as the package travels along the conveyor system;
  • FIGS. 13 a and 13 b are perspective views of the interaction of a package with the system shown in FIG. 11 , before and after removal of air;
  • FIGS. 14 a to 14 d are perspective views of the interaction of a package with the system shown in FIG. 11 , illustrating air extraction, vacuum shutdown and maintaining of the condition of the package after extraction.
  • FIGS. 15A to 15C are side, top and front views respectively of the system shown in FIG. 1 with the upper housing and associated support structure installed.
  • a deaeration system 10 for flexible packages 12 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 15 A to 15 C, a deaeration system 10 for flexible packages 12 according to the present invention is shown.
  • the system comprises a lower conveyor sub-system 14 .
  • the system 10 also has an upper driving system 16 maintaining continuously the upper part of the package 12 closed along a significant length of its displacement.
  • the upper driving system 16 comprises one or several bag-opening sub-systems, preferably connected to a vacuum source 18 , that allows opening of the flexible package at a specific location when the package travels along the upper driving system 16 and on the lower conveyor system 14 .
  • the system also comprises a deaeration port 20 located above the upper driving system 16 connected to the vacuum source 18 that allows removal of air from the interior of the package 12 when the package is positioned under the deaeration port 20 by the upper driving system 16 and the lower conveyor system 14 , under the bag-opening sub-system.
  • the deaeration port can be an aspiration port, a dedusting port, a vacuum port, a system connected to a vacuum source or any other equivalent system known to the person of skill in the art which is capable of removing air or substances from the package.
  • the lower conveyor 14 includes a steel frame 30 , conveyor rollers 32 and a conveyor belt 34 .
  • the conveyor belt is driven by a motor 36 at a constant linear velocity in order to displace the package towards the closing or sealing systems located downstream.
  • the steel frame has a shape 38 that allows the conveyor belt and the package to rise along a certain height while translating along the system.
  • the system 40 controlling the upper part of the package has three sections, 42 , 44 , 46 .
  • the first 42 and third 46 sections are made of aluminum blocks or guiding structures, pulleys and belts.
  • the upper part of the package is maintained closed through pressure exerted by the belts on the package.
  • the belts are driven by a motor 48 at the same linear velocity as the lower conveyor belt.
  • the mid-section of the system 44 includes aluminum blocks or guiding structures 50 having a special shape, perforated belts 52 , pulleys 54 and various other pieces of hardware.
  • a tube 56 connected to a high debit ventilator removes the air through an opening in the aluminum blocks or guiding structures and through the perforated belt.
  • the vacuum removal system 18 is a deaeration port 60 located above the upper section. This port is connected to a high flow ventilator 62 for removal of the air.
  • the package arrives from the packaging system with a certain quantity of air inside thereof, in addition to the packaged product.
  • the product reaches a certain height within the package.
  • the upper part of the package which is not filled is designated as the freeboard.
  • the sides of the freeboard approach one to another. Raising the package using the shape of the bottom conveyor will result in loose freeboard.
  • the blocks or guiding structures in the deaeration section have a special internal curvature.
  • the belts are assembled in a manner such that there is a greater length on the side on which the belts face each other to follow the curvature.
  • the source of vacuum produced by the high flow ventilator which removes the air from behind the belts constrains the belts to follow the curvature of the block or guiding structure.
  • the belts are perforated, a certain quantity of air passes through them so that the upper sides of the package are constrained to follow the belt and curvature of the block or guiding structure.
  • FIG. 9 the package can be seen along three different stations along the system. The steps presented below are shown on the figure.
  • FIG. 10 the air removal section of the system is seen from above.
  • the two blocks or guiding structures facing each other can be seen, as well as the package along three different positions during its displacement through the system.
  • the package is represented through bold lines and the hash marks represent the opening through which air is removed from the inside of the package.
  • FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate various aspects of the system during operation.
  • FIGS. 11 a and 11 b show lower and upper positions of the package along the conveyor illustrating how tension is removed from the top of the package once it is lifted.
  • FIGS. 12 a to 12 c are side views of the package as it travels along the conveyor system.
  • the slope is 3 inches over 2 feet, preferably at 150 fpm.
  • FIGS. 13 a and 13 b illustrate the package before and after removal of air.
  • FIGS. 14 a to 14 d are perspective views of the interaction of a package with the system shown in FIG. 11 , illustrating air extraction, vacuum shutdown and maintenance of the condition of the package after extraction of air.
  • the present invention offers the following performance parameters:
  • a method removing air from an interior of a flexible package before closure thereof comprising the following steps:
  • the method further comprises the step of decreasing, along the length of the displacement, a distance between a means for displacing the package in step a) placed under the package and a means for maintaining the package closed in step b) to remove vertical tension from the upper part of the package.
  • a package after going through the above-described deaeration system or method, can then be sealed or closed using any sealing or closing system known in the art.
  • the open package goes through the hood and it is gradually closed by the belts facing each other and located in the upper part.
  • the package is closed when it arrives at the air removal section (the package is held by the upper driving system belts) and it is partially opened. In fact, a portion of it stays closed while it is still held by the belts. This partial opening is done while the package is moving forward.
  • the upper part of the bag is not held before and during air extraction.
  • the upper part of the package is continuously held, even during air extraction, ensuring an exact positioning of the upper part of the bag, thus ensuring a constant transfer to the closing system and an increase in the closing system reliability and quality of the finished product.
  • the upper part of the package is not held before the end of air extraction; whereas in the present invention, the upper part of the bag is continuously held.
  • the distance between the conveyor which supports the lower part of the package and the belts supporting the upper parts of the package is adjustable. Consequently, it is possible to control tensions exerted to the sides of the package when the air is extracted from it. Since the distance between the conveyor supporting the lower part of the package and the belts holding the upper part of the package is controlled, the condition (behaviour) of the flap is also controlled and the distance between the closing system and the product level into the bag is decreased which reduces the freeboard required.
  • the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,102 has a voluminous hood that makes the system more burdensome, even cumbersome or bulky.
  • the present invention has a small deaeration port allowing a realization of the same functions more efficiently while keeping the system dimension to its minimum.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
US12/996,578 2008-06-04 2009-06-04 Deaeration system and method for flexible packages Abandoned US20110138745A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/996,578 US20110138745A1 (en) 2008-06-04 2009-06-04 Deaeration system and method for flexible packages

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5880508P 2008-06-04 2008-06-04
PCT/CA2009/000785 WO2009146553A1 (en) 2008-06-04 2009-06-04 Deaeration system and method for flexible packages
US12/996,578 US20110138745A1 (en) 2008-06-04 2009-06-04 Deaeration system and method for flexible packages

Publications (1)

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US20110138745A1 true US20110138745A1 (en) 2011-06-16

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US12/996,578 Abandoned US20110138745A1 (en) 2008-06-04 2009-06-04 Deaeration system and method for flexible packages

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20110138745A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2303705A4 (de)
BR (1) BRPI0913568A2 (de)
CA (1) CA2726536A1 (de)
MX (1) MX2010013358A (de)
NZ (1) NZ589853A (de)
WO (1) WO2009146553A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111792084A (zh) * 2020-05-19 2020-10-20 芜湖飞元智能装备有限公司 一种用于袋装食品的真空包装装置及其包装方法

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NZ601396A (en) * 2009-12-22 2014-01-31 Premier Tech Technologies Ltee Robotized transport and transfer system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4016705A (en) * 1974-11-01 1977-04-12 Fmc Corporation Method and apparatus for purging air from containers
US4418512A (en) * 1981-03-25 1983-12-06 Rexham Corporation Machine and method for making substantially air-free sealed pouches
US4510733A (en) * 1980-04-29 1985-04-16 Brdr. Schur International A/S Method and an apparatus for closing packing bags for slaughtered poultry
US5097648A (en) * 1990-04-26 1992-03-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Apparatus for evacuating and closing bag package
US6199350B1 (en) * 1997-04-22 2001-03-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Evacuation and closure device in linear construction
US7316102B2 (en) * 2006-04-10 2008-01-08 Campbell Wrapper Corporation Apparatus for extracting air from packages

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2164315B (en) * 1984-09-14 1988-05-11 Grace W R & Co Form-fill-seal machine and method with capability for providing a vacuum or inert gas atmosphere within the package
DE19640142A1 (de) * 1996-09-28 1998-04-02 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zum Evakuieren und Verschließen von Beutelpackungen

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4016705A (en) * 1974-11-01 1977-04-12 Fmc Corporation Method and apparatus for purging air from containers
US4510733A (en) * 1980-04-29 1985-04-16 Brdr. Schur International A/S Method and an apparatus for closing packing bags for slaughtered poultry
US4418512A (en) * 1981-03-25 1983-12-06 Rexham Corporation Machine and method for making substantially air-free sealed pouches
US5097648A (en) * 1990-04-26 1992-03-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Apparatus for evacuating and closing bag package
US6199350B1 (en) * 1997-04-22 2001-03-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Evacuation and closure device in linear construction
US7316102B2 (en) * 2006-04-10 2008-01-08 Campbell Wrapper Corporation Apparatus for extracting air from packages

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111792084A (zh) * 2020-05-19 2020-10-20 芜湖飞元智能装备有限公司 一种用于袋装食品的真空包装装置及其包装方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BRPI0913568A2 (pt) 2017-06-13
CA2726536A1 (en) 2009-12-10
MX2010013358A (es) 2011-09-28
NZ589853A (en) 2012-02-24
EP2303705A4 (de) 2014-12-17
WO2009146553A1 (en) 2009-12-10
EP2303705A1 (de) 2011-04-06

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Owner name: PREMIER TECH TECHNOLOGIES LTEE, CANADA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ALBERT, ANDRE;MICHAUD, STEVE;LESSARD, GUILLAUME;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110203 TO 20110204;REEL/FRAME:025833/0201

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION