Vacuum packaging arrangement, kitchen cabinet and kitchen furniture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351278-B2
Application number	US-201415035668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2014
Priority date	Jan 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A vacuum packaging arrangement comprises a drawer configured to cooperate with a kitchen cabinet, and a vacuum packaging device. The vacuum packaging device is functionally integrated in a ready-to-operate configuration within the drawer and provides, within the drawer, an operational interface to receive a minor first section of a vacuum bag, and to vacuum the vacuum bag upon activation of the vacuum packaging device. The vacuum packaging device is implemented such that a major second section of the vacuum bag comprising a closed end of the vacuum bag is arranged outside of the vacuum packaging device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vacuum packaging arrangement comprising:
a drawer configured to cooperate with a kitchen cabinet, the drawer having different first and second sections, the second section being lower than the first section; and
a vacuum packaging device configured for vacuum packaging items in vacuum bags, the vacuum packaging device comprising an operational interface configured to receive a minor first section of a vacuum bag that comprises an open end of said vacuum bag during a vacuuming operation, and to vacuum the vacuum bag during said vacuuming operation upon activation of the vacuum packaging device, wherein a major second section of the vacuum bag that comprises a closed end of the vacuum bag is arranged outside of the vacuum packaging device, and wherein the vacuum packaging device is disposed in the first section of the drawer, and the major second section of the vacuum bag is disposed in the second section of the drawer during the vacuuming operation.

2. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum packaging device is configured such that an outer surface of at least the major second section is exposed to atmospheric pressure during the vacuuming operation.

3. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a welding unit configured for vacuum-tightly sealing vacuum bags by generating a vacuum bag welded seam.

4. A vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 3 , said interface further comprising a clamping unit configured for clamping the minor first section of the vacuum bag at least during generating the welded seam.

5. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a height difference between the first section and the second section is such that at least the major second section or at least a major part of the vacuum bag can rest substantially upright during the vacuuming operation.

6. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising a sensor arrangement configured to detect liquid flowing out of the major second section of the vacuum bag during the vacuuming operation, in a direction towards a vacuum pump of the vacuum packaging device, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a control unit adapted to stop the vacuuming operation or issue a warning if a liquid flows from the major second section towards the vacuum pump.

7. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections correspond to first and second partial volumes of the interior of the drawer, respectively, and wherein a bottom section of the drawer in the second partial volume is configured as a support surface for supporting the vacuum bag during the vacuuming operation.

8. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the drawer comprises a third partial volume, distinct from the first and second sections, and configured for accommodating therein vacuum packaging machine related consumables.

9. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the third partial volume of the drawer is located laterally to, in front of or behind the first and/or second partial volume and adjacent to at least one lateral side wall, front wall or back wall of the drawer.

10. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the drawer comprises a back wall and an opposing front wall spaced therefrom, wherein the first partial volume is located in a rear drawer subsection adjacent to the back wall, and the second partial volume is located in a front drawer subsection adjacent to the front wall.

11. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the drawer comprises two lateral side walls, and wherein the first partial volume is located adjacent to one of the lateral side walls.

12. A vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the second partial volume is located adjacent to the other lateral side wall, and/or the first and second partial volumes are arranged immediately adjacent to one another.

13. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of an inner surface of the drawer comprises a hygienic lining.

14. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the drawer comprises a power supply terminal configured to be electrically connected to a power connector of the vacuum packaging device.

15. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising a safety switching arrangement configured to deactivate the vacuuming operation of the vacuum packaging device in a closed state of the drawer, and to activate the vacuuming operation of the vacuum packaging device in an opened state of the drawer.

16. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising an electronic user interface arranged at or integrated in the drawer and/or kitchen cabinet, and configured to allow control and/or operational control of the vacuum packaging device.

17. A kitchen cabinet comprising the vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 .

18. A kitchen furniture comprising the kitchen cabinet according to claim 17 .

19. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 1 , said vacuum bag being disposed in said drawer such that the major second section thereof is received in the second section of the drawer and the minor first section thereof is received in said operational interface of said vacuum packaging device.

20. A vacuum packaging arrangement comprising:
a drawer configured to cooperate with a kitchen cabinet, the drawer having different first and second sections, the second section being lower than the first section;
a vacuum packaging device configured for vacuum packaging items in vacuum bags, the vacuum packaging device comprising an operational interface configured to receive a minor first section of a vacuum bag, said minor first section comprising an open end of said vacuum bag, said operational interface configured to vacuum the vacuum bag upon activation of the vacuum packaging device, wherein a major second section of the vacuum bag, comprising a closed end thereof, is arranged outside of the vacuum packaging device, the operational interface comprising a welding unit configured to vacuum-tightly seal the vacuum bag by generating a vacuum bag welded seam, and a clamping unit configured to clamp the minor first section of the vacuum bag while generating the vacuum bag welded seam, and wherein the vacuum packing device is disposed in the first section of the drawer and the major second section of the vacuum bag is disposed in the second section of the drawer during a vacuuming operation; and
a sensor arrangement configured to detect liquid flowing out of the major second section of the vacuum bag during the vacuuming operation, in a direction towards a vacuum pump of the vacuum packaging device, the sensor arrangement comprising a liquid sensor and a control unit adapted to stop the vacuuming operation or issue a warning if a liquid flows from the major second section towards the vacuum pump, said liquid sensor being arranged between the clamping unit and the vacuum pump.

21. The vacuum packaging arrangement according to claim 20 , comprising a safety switching arrangement configured to deactivate the vacuuming operation of the vacuum packaging device in a closed state of the drawer, and to activate the vacuuming operation of the vacuum packaging device in an opened state of the drawer.

Assignees

• Electrolux Appliances AB

Inventors

• Chierchia Lucia
• Turchetti Piero
• Walther Christoph

Classifications

• A47B77/12

  for attachment of portable kitchen machines · CPC title

• B65B57/18

  causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals · CPC title

• B65B31/00 Primary

  Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers · CPC title

• B65B57/16

  and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole · CPC title

• A47B77/08

  for incorporating apparatus operated by power, including water power; for incorporating apparatus for cooking, cooling, or laundry purposes · CPC title