US 11,725,748 B2
Apparatus and method for vacuumizing and sealing a package
Gregory E. McDonald, Duncan, SC (US); Gregory H. Grossman, Duncan, SC (US); Joe A. Price, Duncan, SC (US); Rod Hodgson, Duncan, SC (US); John L. King, Jr., Duncan, SC (US); Shuichi Nakamoto, Hiroshima (JP); Yoshitaka Nii, Hiroshima (JP); Silvio Rohrer, Stalden (CH); Joel Caillier, Cham (CH); and Peter Schmalz, Hochdorf (CH)
Assigned to Cryovac, LLC, Charlotte, NC (US); and Furukawa Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Cryovac, LLC, Charlotte, NC (US); and Furukawa Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Aug. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/817,227.
Application 17/817,227 is a continuation of application No. 17/159,742, filed on Jan. 27, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/159,742 is a continuation of application No. 15/762,491, granted, now 10,941,879, issued on Mar. 9, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2016/053279, filed on Sep. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/232,856, filed on Sep. 25, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0403955 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 31/02 (2006.01); F16K 51/02 (2006.01); B65B 51/14 (2006.01); F16K 3/02 (2006.01); F16K 3/18 (2006.01); B65B 25/06 (2006.01); B29C 65/22 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/74 (2006.01); B29C 65/38 (2006.01); B29C 65/78 (2006.01); G01F 17/00 (2006.01); G01F 22/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 51/02 (2013.01) [B29C 65/223 (2013.01); B29C 65/224 (2013.01); B29C 65/38 (2013.01); B29C 65/7451 (2013.01); B29C 65/7885 (2013.01); B29C 66/00145 (2013.01); B29C 66/1122 (2013.01); B29C 66/244 (2013.01); B29C 66/2442 (2013.01); B29C 66/30621 (2013.01); B29C 66/43121 (2013.01); B29C 66/73921 (2013.01); B29C 66/82421 (2013.01); B29C 66/8322 (2013.01); B29C 66/849 (2013.01); B65B 25/067 (2013.01); B65B 25/068 (2013.01); B65B 31/022 (2013.01); B65B 51/146 (2013.01); F16K 3/029 (2013.01); F16K 3/0254 (2013.01); F16K 3/184 (2013.01); B29C 66/71 (2013.01); B29C 66/723 (2013.01); B29C 66/7234 (2013.01); B29C 66/72341 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7128 (2013.01); B65B 31/024 (2013.01); G01F 17/00 (2013.01); G01F 22/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing one or more packages, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of platens operably secured to a rotating carousel configured to rotate about a single axis of rotation, wherein the plurality of platens are configured to travel along a platen travel path comprising an angular portion of the platen travel path and one or more linear portions of the platen travel path around the single axis of rotation and wherein each of the plurality of platens is operably secured to the carousel by a linear motion mechanism configured to enable each of the platens to travel in a linear direction during at least one portion of the angular platen travel path;
a plurality of vacuum chambers configured to selectably engage a corresponding platen to form an air-tight enclosure therebetween and operably secured to the rotating carousel such that the plurality of vacuum chambers travel along an angular chamber travel path synchronously with the plurality of platens such that each vacuum chamber is aligned with the corresponding platen relative to the single axis of rotation;
an automated loading system configured to convey packages in a linear direction parallel to one of the one or more linear portions of the platen travel path toward the plurality of platens, wherein the automated loading system is configured to load at least one package onto a top surface of a platen of the plurality of platens while the platen is travelling along the one of the one or more linear portions of the platen travel path; and
a vacuumization and sealing system configured to evacuate air from within the packages to form a vacuum therein and to seal the packages to maintain the vacuum within the packages.