U.S. patent application number 12/567375 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-22 for vacuum sealing appliance.
Invention is credited to Vincent J. Cefalu, Caitlin D. Noonan, Mary C. Olsen, Roger H. Redin, JOSEPH W. ZAKOWSKI.
Application Number | 20100095638 12/567375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42107521 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100095638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ZAKOWSKI; JOSEPH W. ; et
al. |
April 22, 2010 |
VACUUM SEALING APPLIANCE
Abstract
A vacuum sealing appliance 1 for sealing food product or other
articles in a flexible container, the appliance comprises a housing
containing a roll of container material 19, an electric motor and
associated drive system for causing the container material to
automatically advance out of the housing at a predetermined length,
a heat element 89 for creating seals on the container material, a
vacuum chamber 39 for creating vacuum pressure within a section of
container material, and a cutting mechanism 26 for cutting off the
container material to create a sealed container containing the food
product.
Inventors: |
ZAKOWSKI; JOSEPH W.; (New
Canaan, CT) ; Redin; Roger H.; (Stamford, CT)
; Olsen; Mary C.; (New Canaan, CT) ; Noonan;
Caitlin D.; (Monroe, NY) ; Cefalu; Vincent J.;
(Sea Cliff, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence Cruz;Conair Corporation
One Cummings Point Road
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
42107521 |
Appl. No.: |
12/567375 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61100057 |
Sep 25, 2008 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/433 ;
53/511 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 31/046 20130101;
B65B 51/148 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/433 ;
53/511 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/00 20060101
B65B031/00 |
Claims
1. An electric appliance for forming a vacuum-sealed container from
a roll of flexible material around an object, said appliance
comprising a housing adapted to receive a roll of flexible, two-ply
material that is formed from two layers that are joined at their
longitudinal side edges to form a continuous roll of material
having an opening at each end in a flattened, tube shape; a driven
roller for advancing said material from said roll by frictionally
engaging part of said roll of material; a control circuit for
controlling operations of said appliance and for automatically
controlling operation of said driven roller so that said material
is advanced from said roll in a predetermined length; a heating bar
for applying heat to a section of said material perpendicular to
its longitudinal side edges in order to seal together the two
layers to form a first sealed edge; a cutting mechanism for cutting
said material along said first sealed edge so that a container
section of material is separated from said roll; and a vacuum pump
for applying vacuum pressure to an opened edge of said container
section of material.
2. An appliance according to claim 1, further comprising at least
one sensor arranged to detect the presence and location of an edge
of container material inserted into said appliance and adapted to
generate a signal and transmit it to said control circuit.
3. A method of forming a vacuum-sealed container from a roll of
flexible material around an object, said method comprising
providing an appliance having a housing adapted to receive a roll
of flexible, two-ply material that is formed from two layers that
are joined at their longitudinal side edges to form a continuous
roll of material having an opening at each end in a flattened, tube
shape, said appliance having a control circuit for controlling
operations of said appliance; activating an electrical switch on
said appliance causing a driven roller to automatically advance
said material from said roll by frictionally engaging part of said
roll of material to a predetermined length; applying heat to a
section of said material perpendicular to its longitudinal side
edges in order to seal together the two layers to form a first
sealed edge; cutting said material along said first sealed edge so
that a container section of material is separated from said roll;
removing said container section from said appliance; placing an
object into said container section through an opened edge of said
container section; inserting said opened edge of said container
section into said appliance; applying vacuum pressure to said
opened edge of said container section of material; applying heat to
said container section at its opened edge in order to form a second
sealed edge; cutting said container section along its second sealed
edge; and removing said container section from said appliance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to electric appliances and,
more particularly, to food preservation appliances of the type
having a vacuum pressure sealing means for introducing vacuum
pressure into a flexible container holding food product, and
subsequently causing the container to be sealed.
Description of Related Art
[0003] Various designs exist for vacuum sealing appliances that
introduce vacuum pressure into a flexible container holding food
product, and subsequently causing the container to be sealed. Such
known designs require either predetermined sizes of containers for
automatic function, or a manual mode carried out by the user for
custom sizes.
[0004] It is undesirable to always use a predetermined size
container for various reasons including waste of material. It is
undesirable to operate such appliances manually due to
inconvenience and potential for error by the user.
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum
sealing appliance having a variety of available pre-set sizes for
automatic operation, as well as custom size mode.
[0006] These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the present invention, a vacuum sealing
appliance for sealing food product or other articles in a flexible
container, the appliance comprises a housing containing a roll of
container material, an electric motor and associated drive system
for causing the container material to advance out of the housing, a
heat element for creating seals on the container material, a vacuum
chamber for creating vacuum pressure within a section of container
material, and a cutting mechanism for cutting off the container
material to create a sealed container containing the food
product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a another side view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a rear, partial perspective view of a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a front, partial perspective view of a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 12A is a front, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 12B is a rear, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a partial, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 16 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 17 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 18 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 19 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 20 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 21 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 22 is a front, partial view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 25 is a partial, side, cross-sectional view of a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 26 is a partial, exploded view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 27 is a partial, exploded view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 28A is a perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 28B is a perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 29A is a partial, cross-sectional views of a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 29B is a partial, cross-sectional views of a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 29C is a partial, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 30A is a partial, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 30B is a partial, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 30C is a partial, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 32A is a perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 32B is a perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 33 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 34 is a partial, perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0048] Referring to the Drawing Figures, an appliance 1 according
to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises
a housing 2 having a frame portion 3 and a lid 4. A plurality of
foot supports 9 are on the bottom surface of the fame portion 3 to
facilitate resting the appliance 1 on a flat surface. A pair of
protruding members 10, 11 extend from the rear side of the housing
2 for wrapping the electrical cord (not shown) of the type
generally known to those skilled in the art for conveniently
storing the cord when not in use. A release button 12 is on one
side of the housing 2 which, when depressed by the user, will
unlock an internal locking mechanism that retains the lid 4 in a
closed position during operation. The lid 4 is pivotally attached
to the frame portion 3 via pair of hinges 20. A hose port 13 is
located on the front of the housing 2. A control panel 5 is
positioned on the lid 4 and has a plurality of lights 6, an LCD 7,
and a plurality of buttons 8. The lights and LCD display
information relating to the operation of the appliance. The various
buttons are used to input information regarding specific functions
related to operation of the appliance, as explained below.
[0049] On the front of the housing frame portion 3 is a beveled
edge 15 which forms a ramp for feeding container material into the
appliance 1. The edge 16 of the lid 4 aligns with but does not
touch the beveled edge 15 in order to leave a gap 17 between the
two to provide space of feeding the container material into the
appliance 1.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 8, the lid 4 has a transparent section 18
through which a user can view the roll of container material 19
which is mounted within the appliance 1.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 9 and to FIG. 27, a pair of pulley wheels
21, 22 are mounted within the housing 2. Pulley wheel 21 is in
communication with and driven by an first electric motor 23 and
associated gear box 24. A flexible drive belt 25 is mounted on the
pulley wheels 21, 22 for movement therewith. A cutter assembly 26
is fixed to the belt 25 for movement therewith. As the driven
pulley wheel 21 is moved by the first electric motor 23 and
associated gear box 24, the cutter assembly 26 moves linearly to
cut container material positioned adjacently. A cutting blade 27 is
part of the cutting assembly 26. A set of driven wheels 28 are
mounted to a driven shaft 29. The shaft 29 is driven by a first
motor as explained below. Opposing the driven wheels 28 are idler
wheels 30 which are fixed to an idler shaft 31 which is freely
rotatable. The driven wheels 28 are spring-biased into contact with
the idler wheels 30. A control circuit board 32 is positioned in
the lid 4 beneath the control panel 5. A power management circuit
board 33 is positioned beneath the control circuit board 32. A
plurality of bag stoppers 34 are pivotally attached to the frame
37. An elliptical gasket 36 is provided adjacent to a vacuum frame
37 which receives a vacuum insert 38, forming a passage 39. A
silicone bar 40 extends along the frame 37. A set of infrared
sensors 41, 42, 43 are mounted to the frame portion 3 of the
housing 2. A chamber-forming surface 44 integrally formed with the
frame portion 3 has recess 45 that is of the same length and width
as passage 39. The recess 45 and the passage 39 form a vacuum
chamber when the frame 37 is closed such that it is in sealing
contact with the chamber-forming surface 44, as described below. A
vacuum pump 46 of a type known to those generally skilled in the
art is provided within the frame portion 3 to provide vacuum
pressure to the vacuum chamber during operation.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, a roll of container material 19
comprising two sheets of flexible material such as but not limited
to a common plastic material is positioned on a support surface.
The sheets are joined along parallel sides lengthwise but open at
each end so as to form a long, flat, open ended tube that is rolled
upon itself. A material feed gear box 47 is operatively connected
to a second electric motor 48. A drive gear 49 is driven by an
output shaft 51 and engages and turns a gear 50. Springs and
linkages 52, 53 move the idler wheels 30. The second motor 48 and
associated drive parts cause the roll of container material 19 to
be unrolled during operation. This is accomplished by the driven
wheels 28 and the driven shaft 29 being turned by the second motor
48.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 11 and to FIG. 26, a sliding plate 54 is
mounted for longitudinal movement along the frame portion 3.
Downwardly extending keys 55, 56 extend from the plate 54 and
engage track means to prevent the plate 54 from moving away from
the track or in a nonlinear manner. A control panel bracket 57
extends from the control panel 5 and has a horizontal surface 58
including fastener holes 59 for fastening to the frame portion 3.
Referring to FIGS. 30A-30C, a clamping motor 61 and associated gear
box 60 drive a drive gear 62 which, in turn, drives a driven gear
63. The driven gear 63 is attached to a first linkage arm 64, which
is attached to a second linkage linkage arm 65. A clamping rod 66
is attached to the second linkage arm 65. The second linkage arm 65
has an extending portion 67 with a pin roller 68. The pin roller 68
is adapted to engage a hook portion 69 at the end of an extending
member 70 that extends downwardly from the lid 4. When the driven
gear 63 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 71, the
clamping rod 66 rotates in the direction shown in the arrow 72
causing the pin roller 68 to move into the slot 73 of the hook
portion 69. On the other end of the rod 66 is a third linkage arm
74 also having a pin roller 75 that is adapted to engage a slotted
hook portion 76 at the end of a member 77 extending downwardly from
the lid 4. A flag 78 attached to the linkage arm 74 moves
downwardly when the clamping rod 66 rotates in order to contact and
actuate the microswitch 79 to operate the vacuum pump 46. A pair of
ratchet latching mechanisms 80, 81 are provided for engaging
locking tabs ( ) on the inside of the lid 4 in order to lock the
lid 4 closed during operation. Each latching mechanism 80, 81 is
slidably mounted to a respective latch rod 82, 83. Each latch rod
82, 83 has a spring 84, 85 mounted thereon to draw a respective one
of each latching mechanism 80, 81 toward each other to cause the
latching mechanisms 80, 81 to engage locking tabs ( ) inside the
lid 4. Each latching mechanism 80, 81 has a slanted surface for
camming action to cause the respective mechanism to move laterally
and return to latch. To release the latching mechanisms 80, 81, a
user depresses the latch release button 12, which displaces a third
rod 86. The third rod 86 moves the spring anchor 87 toward the
latching mechanism 80 to relieve tension in the spring 84 to enable
displacement of the latching mechanism 80 and, therefore, release
of both latching mechanisms 80, 81.
[0054] Operation of the appliance 1 will now be described with
particular reference to FIGS. 12-20, generally. Referring to FIG.
13, a roll of container material 19 is being manually loaded by a
user into the appliance 1. The lid 4 is opened as shown in order to
place the roll 19 therein. The distal end 88 of the roll of
material is fed manually to the position shown in FIG. 13. The
material distal end 88 passes between the wheels 28, 30. When the
roll 19 is fully set inside the appliance 1 and the lid 4 is closed
as shown in FIG. 16, the user depresses a control button causing
the driven wheel 28 to rotate and advance the material, as well as
causing the cutting blade 27 to move out of the way of the distal
end 88 of the material. The wheels 28, 30 close together upon each
other in contact on each side of the container material as shown in
FIG. 16. This provides sufficient friction to advance the material.
The bag stoppers 34 are contacted by the distal end 88 and pivoted
out of the way as shown in FIG. 17. In response to a user input
command to initiate container material sealing, the vacuum frame 37
and the silicone bar 40 are lowered together onto the previously
fed container material. Once the silicone bar 40 is lowered it
presses against the container material causing it to press against
the heat sealing bar 89. The user command initiates activation of
the heat sealing bar 89. The heat sealing bar 89 may be one of any
known electrical heat generating means such as, preferably, a NiCad
wire embedded in the bar 89.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 19, once the sealing bar 89 has heated the
container material causing the two-sheet material to bond along
where the bar contacted it, the result is the creation of a sealed
region 90 that runs across the entire width of the sealing material
to form what will later be the edge of a sealed container. The
vacuum frame 37 and silicone bar 40 are raised to enable the
material to be advanced again. The material is advanced so that the
distal end 88 is positioned outside of the appliance 1 at a
distance corresponding to the desired size of container and
designated by the user manually or by an automatic preset.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 20, the vacuum frame 37 and silicone bar
40 are lowered to hold the container material and prevent it from
further advancing or retreating while the cutting blade 27 is
activated to cut the container material at the desired length.
After cutting, the frame 37 and silicone bar 40 are raised so the
user can remove the cut section of container material. As shown in
FIG. 20a, the previously cut section of container material is
removed by the user and is in the form of a four sided container
having a single, opened end 91, as shown in FIG. 34.
[0057] At this point, a user can insert food product or another
object to be sealed in the container material. The user manually
holds together the two layers of material at the un-sealed end 93
and inserts the unsealed end 93 into the appliance 1, and then the
vacuum frame 37 and silicone bar 40 are closed again as shown in
FIG. 21. The portion of the container material containing the
object or food product is shown in FIG. 21 as designated by numeral
92.
[0058] During insertion the infra red sensors 41, 42, 43 detect the
presence of the opaque markings 94 printed along the edges of the
container material as shown in FIG. 32. By do, the sensors can
signal to a control circuit how much length of material is inserted
so that it can determine when the edge of the material is
positioned for operation of the vacuum feature and subsequent final
sealing. As shown in FIG. 21, the unsealed end 93 of the container
material is manually advanced until it contacts the bag stoppers
34. It is not necessary that the container material contact the
stoppers 34, as the stoppers 34 merely prevent over-insertion.
[0059] As the container material markings 94 advance past the
sensors 41, 42, 43, signals generated are processed by the
controller and the controller initiates the vacuum pressure
function. As part of this function, the vacuum frame 37 lowers over
the chamber 45. Since the edge of the container material has been
stopped by the stoppers 34, the edge remains in the chamber 45
which is now subjected to vacuum pressure. After suction is applied
until there is minimal air left within the container material, the
heat sealing bar 89 is activated and causes opposing surfaces of
the container material to fuse together forming a sealed edge.
[0060] While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been disclosed herein, it is understood that various modification
can be made without departing from the scope of the presently
claimed invention.
* * * * *