Vacuum sealer and method of sealing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11753196-B2
Application number	US-202117521105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2021
Priority date	Nov 11, 2020
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A vacuum sealer includes: a housing comprising a vacuum chamber therein; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber; a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber; a valve positioned and configured to releasably seal the vacuum chamber, the valve movable between a first position, in which the valve forms a seal with the sealing chamber, and a second position, in which the valve does not form a seal with the sealing chamber; and a controller operatively connected with the vacuum pump, the sealing mechanism, and the valve. The controller is configured to move the valve from the first position to the second position during sealing.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A vacuum sealer, comprising:
a housing comprising a vacuum chamber therein;
a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber;
a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber;
a valve positioned and configured to releasably seal the vacuum chamber, the valve movable between a first position, in which the valve forms a seal with the vacuum chamber, and a second position, in which the valve does not form a seal with the vacuum chamber; and
a controller operatively connected with the vacuum pump, the sealing mechanism, and the valve, the controller configured to move the valve from the first position to the second position during sealing by the sealing mechanism.

2. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is a two-step sealing mechanism.

3. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to move the valve from the first position to the second position after the first step of two-step sealing is completed.

4. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism is a one-step sealing mechanism.

5. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to move the valve from the first position to the second position without sealing by the sealing mechanism being interrupted.

6. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 1 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve.

7. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 1 , wherein the controller moves the valve from the first position to the second position based on a predetermined pressure measurement.

8. The vacuum sealer defined in claim 1 , wherein the controller moves the valve from the first position to the second position based on the passage of a predetermined duration from the onset of sealing by the sealing mechanism.

9. A method of vacuum sealing a bag, comprising the steps of:
a) positioning an edge of a bag to be sealed in a vacuum chamber of a vacuum sealer having a sealing mechanism;
b) applying a vacuum to the bag through the vacuum chamber;
c) sealing a first portion of the edge of the bag with the sealing mechanism;
d) opening a valve in the vacuum chamber to release the vacuum in the vacuum chamber; and
e) sealing a second portion of the edge of the bag with the sealing mechanism to complete sealing after step d) is performed.

10. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein steps c) and e) are interrupted.

11. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein steps c) and e) proceed continuously.

12. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve.

13. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein step d) begins based on a predetermined pressure measurement.

14. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein step d) begins based on the passage of a predetermined duration from the initiation of either step b) or step c).

Assignees

• Hamilton Beach Brands Inc

Inventors

• Schandel David Matthew

Classifications

• B65B31/06 Primary

  the nozzle being arranged for insertion into, and withdrawal from, the mouth of a filled container and operating in conjunction with means for sealing the container mouth · CPC title

• B65B31/00 Primary

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

• B65B2051/105

  Heat seal temperature control · CPC title

• B65B51/146

  Closing bags · CPC title

• B65B51/148

  Hand-operated members · CPC title