U.S. patent application number 15/651825 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-25 for vacuum sealing system, apparatus, and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROSS INDUSTRIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is ROSS INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to David McAuley Alexander, William Lee Harrison, Andrew William Jones.
Application Number | 20180022490 15/651825 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60989785 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180022490 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harrison; William Lee ; et
al. |
January 25, 2018 |
VACUUM SEALING SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD
Abstract
A vacuum sealing system includes a vacuum pump, a lower tool to
hold one or more trays carrying product, an upper tool to seal a
plastic film onto the one or more trays, the upper tool including
at least one seal plate with a seal plate cavity and a vacuum
clamp, the system also including a controller to control the vacuum
pump, the lower tool, and the upper tool.
Inventors: |
Harrison; William Lee;
(Culpeper, VA) ; Jones; Andrew William;
(Remington, VA) ; Alexander; David McAuley;
(Purcellville, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ROSS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
Midland |
VA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ROSS INDUSTRIES, INC.
Midland
VA
|
Family ID: |
60989785 |
Appl. No.: |
15/651825 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62365038 |
Jul 21, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/403 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 31/025 20130101;
B65B 59/001 20190501; B65B 31/00 20130101; B65B 11/52 20130101;
B65B 59/003 20190501; B65B 57/00 20130101; B65B 2051/105 20130101;
B65B 51/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/00 20060101
B65B031/00; B65B 51/10 20060101 B65B051/10 |
Claims
1. A vacuum sealing system, comprising: a vacuum pump; a lower tool
to hold one or more trays carrying product; an upper tool to seal a
plastic film onto the one or more trays, the upper tool comprising:
at least one seal plate, each seal plate comprising: a seal plate
cavity; and a plurality of first holes to allow air to be drawn out
of the seal plate cavity with the vacuum pump to draw the plastic
film into the seal plate cavity, and to allow the seal plate cavity
to be vented to equalize an air pressure therein with ambient air
pressure; a vacuum clamp disposed around the seal plate, the vacuum
clamp comprising: a groove to receive the plastic film; and a
plurality of second holes to allow air to be drawn out of the
groove with the vacuum pump and thereby hold the plastic film in
the groove; and a controller to control the vacuum pump, the lower
tool, and the upper tool.
2. The vacuum sealing system of claim 1, wherein the controller
comprises: a user interface to receive a user input to control the
vacuum pump, the lower tool, and the upper tool; and a memory
device to store one or more timing charts, each timing chart
comprising instructions to control the vacuum pump, the lower tool,
and the upper tool.
3. The vacuum sealing system of claim 1, wherein the groove
comprises a square cross-section.
4. The vacuum sealing system of claim 1, further comprising a set
of blades to cut the plastic film.
5. The vacuum sealing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one
seal plate further comprises a heating element to heat the plastic
film to a predetermined temperature.
6. The vacuum sealing system of claim 5, wherein the at least one
seal plate further comprises a temperature probe to determine a
temperature of the at least one seal plate.
7. The vacuum sealing system of claim 1, further comprising: a set
of grippers to move one or more trays from an entry conveyor to
between the upper tool and lower tool, and to move one or more
trays from between the upper tool and lower tool and onto an exit
conveyor.
8. A vacuum sealing apparatus, comprising: at least one seal plate,
each seal plate comprising: a seal plate cavity; and a plurality of
first holes to allow air to be drawn out of the seal plate cavity
to draw a plastic film into the seal plate cavity, and to allow the
seal plate cavity to be vented to equalize an air pressure therein
with ambient air pressure; a vacuum clamp disposed around the seal
plate, the vacuum clamp comprising: a groove to receive the plastic
film; and a plurality of second holes to allow air to be drawn out
of the groove and thereby hold the plastic film in the groove.
9. The vacuum sealing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least
one seal plate further comprises a heating element to heat the
plastic film to a predetermined temperature.
10. The vacuum sealing system of claim 9, wherein the at least one
seal plate further comprises a temperature probe to determine a
temperature of the at least one seal plate.
11. A method of vacuum sealing, the method comprising: moving one
or more trays holding product into a packaging portion comprising
an upper tool and a lower tool; forming a first vacuum in the upper
tool to hold a plastic film; forming a second vacuum on a first
side of the plastic film to draw the plastic film into one or more
seal plate cavities over the one or more trays; strengthening the
second vacuum to form a third vacuum on the first side of the
plastic film; forming a fourth vacuum on a second side of the
plastic film after forming the third vacuum, the second side of the
plastic film being opposite from the first side of the plastic
film; and releasing the third and fourth vacuums to force the
plastic film onto the one or more trays.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: releasing the
fourth vacuum after the third vacuum to generate a pressure
differential between the plastic film and the tray carrying the
product.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: heating the plastic
film to a predetermined temperature prior to forming the second
vacuum.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising increasing air
pressure against the first side of the plastic film after releasing
the third vacuum.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more trays are moved
into the packaging portion simultaneously as the first vacuum is
formed.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: moving the one or
more trays out of the packaging portion after forcing the plastic
film onto the one or more trays; and simultaneously moving one or
more additional trays carrying product into the packaging
portion.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium to contain
computer-readable codes as a program to execute the method of claim
11.
18. A vacuum sealing system comprising: a lower tool to receive at
least one tray carrying a product; and an upper tool including a
seal plate cavity with a plurality of first holes therein to
receive a vacuum to draw a plastic film into the seal plate cavity
and a groove surrounding an outer perimeter of the seal plate
cavity and including a plurality of second holes therein to receive
a vacuum to draw the plastic film into the groove; wherein at least
one of the lower tool and the upper tool moves toward the other
tool to seal the plastic film to the at least one tray.
19. The vacuum sealing system of claim 18, further comprising: a
vacuum pump to form a vacuum; and a controller to control movement
of at least one of the upper and lower tools and to control the
vacuum pump to create a first and second vacuum to be drawn through
the first holes and a third vacuum to be drawn through the second
holes.
20. The vacuum sealing system of claim 18, wherein the upper tool
further comprises a heating element to heat the plastic film to a
predetermined temperature.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional
Application No. 62/365,038, filed on Jul. 21, 2016, in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT
[0002] Vacuum-sealed products, for example meat or pre-made meals,
are customarily arranged on a tray of plastic or Styrofoam, and
plastic film is vacuum-sealed onto the product and the tray, making
an airtight seal around the product. This helps to preserve the
product and also stores it in a standard package size, allowing for
easier shipping and display for sale. This process may also be
called Vacuum Skin Pack ("VSP"). For the purposes of this
application, "product" includes any item or group of items which
may be arranged on a tray and vacuum-sealed thereon.
[0003] In the conventional process for vacuum sealing, one or more
trays carrying product are loaded into a machine. Each tray
includes a cavity to hold product, and a flange surrounding the
cavity to engage with the packaging machine, such that the tray is
held in place in the machine.
[0004] Once trays carrying product are loaded into the machine, a
vacuum is applied to the chamber above the tray, while a similar
vacuum is applied to the chamber below the tray. This vacuum can be
any level of vacuum below ambient atmospheric pressure (approx.
1000 millibars (mbar) at sea level), but is customarily very
strong, e.g., 10 mbar. At an appropriate time, the vacuum above the
tray is released. This generates a pressure differential between
the tray and the surrounding air. This pressure differential
presses a plastic film onto the tray and around the product.
[0005] For the purposes of this application, a "vacuum" is an
artificially generated reduction in air pressure to significantly
lower than the ambient pressure. A "stronger" vacuum has a lower
pressure, such that the pressure differential between the vacuum
and the surrounding air is higher. Similarly, a "weaker" vacuum has
a higher pressure.
[0006] This conventional process has many drawbacks, and as a
result cannot keep up with demand. The meat-packaging industry has
a production requirement of approximately 30,000 pigs and 60,000
chickens' worth of packaged food every day, and this requirement is
expected to increase as the world population increases. A packaging
system is therefore required which can package food fast enough to
keep up with this demand for production. However, the packaging
process as currently known has several processes which slow down
the packaging operation. First, the film must be held in place to
be properly affixed to the tray. Unfortunately, holding the film in
place according to the conventional method requires closing the
tool over the tray. Only after the tool is closed can the vacuum be
generated and the food packaged. This requirement of closing the
tool before any vacuum can be generated slows down the packaging
process. Additionally, since the film is delicate plastic, it is
difficult to hold the film steady as the tool is closed such that
the film is positioned over the trays. It becomes even more
difficult to hold the film steady if heat is applied, which makes
the film pliable.
[0007] Furthermore, since the pressure differential noted above is
key to sealing the plastic film around the product, a strong vacuum
of, e.g., 10 mbar is customarily required to ensure a firm seal.
However, generating a 10 mbar vacuum takes a prohibitively long
time, since the time to generate a vacuum increases exponentially
as the desired pressure decreases. Therefore, the requirement of a
strong vacuum slows down the process considerably.
[0008] Additionally, the conventional packaging process is limited
as to what kind of trays and product can be used. If the product is
a soft or aerated item such as, for example, mashed potatoes,
contacting the film too early (e.g., while the vacuums are being
generated) will deform the product, resulting in an undesirable
visual appearance, e.g., food that has been flattened or different
foods that have been mashed together. Contacting the plastic film
too early may even damage the product, making it unusable.
Accordingly, to avoid this damage to the product, a tray holding a
soft product must have a sufficient depth to hold the product
without the product extending past a flange of the tray. As a
result, different products require different trays, depending on
the height and consistency of the product. Since each type of tray
requires different tooling (e.g., different mechanisms to move the
trays in and out of the machine, and different mechanisms to hold
the trays while film is affixed to them), using different trays for
different products requires re-tooling a machine for each different
type of tray, which also slows down the packaging process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a system, apparatus, and method which improves upon prior
art packaging systems, machines, and processes as described above,
and addresses their related drawbacks.
[0010] Additional features and utilities of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0011] The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a
vacuum sealing system, including a vacuum pump, a lower tool to
hold one or more trays carrying product, an upper tool to seal a
plastic film onto the one or more trays, the upper tool including
at least one seal plate, each seal plate including a seal plate
cavity, and a plurality of first holes to allow air to be drawn out
of the seal plate cavity with the vacuum pump to draw the plastic
film into the seal plate cavity, and to allow the seal plate cavity
to be vented to equalize an air pressure therein with ambient air
pressure, a vacuum clamp disposed around the seal plate, the vacuum
clamp including a groove to receive the plastic film, and a
plurality of second holes to allow air to be drawn out of the
groove with the vacuum pump and thereby hold the plastic film in
the groove, and a controller to control the vacuum pump, the lower
tool, and the upper tool.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the controller includes a user
interface to receive a user input to control the vacuum pump, the
lower tool, and the upper tool, and a memory device to store one or
more timing charts, each timing chart comprising instructions to
control the vacuum pump, the lower tool, and the upper tool.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the groove includes a square
cross-section.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes a
set of blades to cut the plastic film.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one seal plate
further includes a heating element to heat the plastic film to a
predetermined temperature.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one seal plate
further comprises a temperature probe to determine a temperature of
the at least one seal plate.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum sealing system
further includes a set of grippers to move one or more trays from
an entry conveyor to between the upper tool and lower tool, and to
move one or more trays from between the upper tool and lower tool
and onto an exit conveyor.
[0018] The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a vacuum sealing apparatus, including at least one seal plate, each
seal plate including a seal plate cavity, and a plurality of first
holes to allow air to be drawn out of the seal plate cavity to draw
a plastic film into the seal plate cavity, and to allow the seal
plate cavity to be vented to equalize an air pressure therein with
ambient air pressure, a vacuum clamp disposed around the seal
plate, the vacuum clamp including a groove to receive a plastic
film, and a plurality of second holes to allow air to be drawn out
of the groove and thereby hold the plastic film in the groove.
[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one seal plate
further includes a heating element to heat the plastic film to a
predetermined temperature.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one seal plate
further includes a temperature probe to determine a temperature of
the at least one seal plate.
[0021] The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method of vacuum sealing, the method including moving one or more
trays holding product into a packaging portion comprising an upper
tool and a lower tool, forming a first vacuum in the upper tool to
hold a plastic film, forming a second vacuum on a first side of the
plastic film to draw the plastic film into one or more seal plate
cavities over the one or more trays, strengthening the second
vacuum to form a third vacuum on the first side of the plastic
film, forming a fourth vacuum on a second side of the plastic film
after forming the third vacuum, the second side of the plastic film
being opposite from the first side of the plastic film, and
releasing the third and fourth vacuums to force the plastic film
onto the one or more trays.
[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes
releasing the fourth vacuum after the third vacuum to generate a
pressure differential between the plastic film and the tray
carrying the product.
[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes
releasing the fourth vacuum after the third vacuum to generate a
pressure differential between the plastic film and the tray
carrying the product.
[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes
heating the plastic film to a predetermined temperature prior to
forming the second vacuum.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes
increasing air pressure against the first side of the plastic film
after releasing the third vacuum.
[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more trays are moved
into the packaging portion simultaneously as the first vacuum is
formed.
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes
moving the one or more trays out of the packaging portion after
forcing the plastic film onto the one or more trays, and
simultaneously moving one or more additional trays carrying product
into the packaging portion.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory
computer-readable recording medium contains computer-readable codes
as a program to execute the method of vacuum sealing.
[0029] The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a vacuum sealing system including a lower tool to receive at least
one tray carrying a product, and an upper tool including a seal
plate cavity with a plurality of first holes therein to receive a
vacuum to draw a plastic film into the seal plate cavity and a
groove surrounding an outer perimeter of the seal plate cavity and
including a plurality of second holes therein to receive a vacuum
to draw the plastic film into the groove, wherein at least one of
the lower tool and the upper tool moves toward the other tool to
seal the plastic film to the at least one tray.
[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum sealing system may
further include a vacuum pump to form a vacuum, and a controller to
control movement of at least one of the upper and lower tools and
to control the vacuum pump to create a first and second vacuum to
be drawn through the first holes and a third vacuum to be drawn
through the second holes.
[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the upper tool further includes
a heating element to heat the plastic film to a predetermined
temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and
not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying
drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar
elements and in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a vacuum sealing system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of upper and lower
tools in a vacuum sealing system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present general inventive concept;
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of an upper tool
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a view of a seal plate and vacuum clamp according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a cutaway side view of an upper tool
prior to forming a vacuum according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present general inventive concept;
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates an expanded cutaway side view of an upper
tool when a first vacuum is formed to hold a plastic film in a
vacuum clamp according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
general inventive concept;
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a cutaway side view of an upper tool when
a first vacuum is formed to hold a plastic film in a vacuum clamp
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates a cutaway side view of an upper tool and
a lower tool when the tools are closed together and a vacuum is
applied to both tools according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present general inventive concept;
[0041] FIG. 9 illustrates a cutaway side view of an upper tool and
a lower tool when a plastic film is forced onto product held on a
tray in the lower tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present general inventive concept;
[0042] FIGS. 10A-10C are expanded views of a timing chart according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0043] FIG. 10D is the complete time chart illustrated in FIGS.
10A-10C; and
[0044] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a controller according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present general inventive concept, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below in order to explain the present general inventive
concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the
present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about
related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish
the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept
are omitted.
[0046] It will be understood that although the terms "first" and
"second" are used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first
element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second
element may be termed a first element without departing from the
teachings of this disclosure.
[0047] Expressions such as "at least one of," when preceding a list
of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify
the individual elements of the list.
[0048] All terms including descriptive or technical terms which are
used herein should be construed as having meanings that are obvious
to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, the terms may have
different meanings according to an intention of one of ordinary
skill in the art, case precedents, or the appearance of new
technologies. Also, some terms may be arbitrarily selected by the
applicant, and in this case, the meaning of the selected terms will
be described in detail in the detailed description of the preferred
embodiments. Thus, the terms used herein are defined based on the
intended meaning of the terms together with the description
throughout the specification.
[0049] Also, when a part "includes" or "comprises" an element,
unless there is a particular description contrary thereto, the part
can further include other elements, not excluding the other
elements.
[0050] Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive
concept are directed at speeding up the process of vacuum sealing
product P, as well as allowing for product P which extends past the
flange 1510 of a tray 1500, thereby allowing a single type of tray
1500 to be used for a variety of different products. Exemplary
embodiments of the present general inventive concept include
multiple processes which may occur simultaneously, thereby
increasing packaging efficiency. Exemplary embodiments of the
present general inventive concept also include processes of holding
film 400 in place prior to tools 100 and 300 (illustrated for
example in FIG. 2) being closed over a tray 1500, thereby allowing
a vacuum to be formed earlier in the packaging operation.
[0051] A packaging system 2000 according to the present general
inventive concept includes several components to package product P.
An overall outside view of such a system 2000 is illustrated in
FIG. 1. As illustrated therein, the system 2000 includes an entry
conveyor 1100 leading into a packaging portion 1000 and an exit
conveyor 1200 leading away from the packaging portion 1000. The
entry conveyor 1100 may include one or more sensors 1110 and a
plurality of retractable tray stops 1120. As trays 1500 move down
the entry conveyor 1100 and are detected by the sensor(s) 1110,
tray stops 1120 may be raised to separate and space the trays 1500
at a preset distance from each other, so that grippers 1300
(described below) can more readily grasp trays 1500 and move them
into the packaging portion 1000.
[0052] The system 2000 may further include a film feeding apparatus
which advances film through the packaging portion. The film feeding
apparatus may include an upstream roll 410 to feed fresh film into
the packaging portion, and a downstream roll 420 to take up used
film 400 exiting the packaging portion 1000 and to add tension to
the film 400, thereby allowing the film to be held in place per the
apparatuses and processes described below.
[0053] Trays 1500 (illustrated, for example, in FIG. 8) may be
"staged," i.e. loaded with product P, after which they may be
placed on the entry conveyor 1100, and separated by tray stops
1120. In an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive
concept, when a predetermined number of trays 1500 (e.g., three
trays 1500) have been detected on the entry conveyor 1100, a set of
grippers 1300 grasps the trays 1500 and moves them into the
packaging portion 1000. The grippers 1300 may be configured such
that as they carry one set of trays 1500 from the entry conveyor
1110 and into the packaging portion 1000, they simultaneously carry
another set of trays 1500 from the packaging portion 1000 and onto
the exit conveyor 1120.
[0054] As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2, inside the packaging
portion 1000 are an upper tool 100 and a lower tool 300 which can
be separated and brought together. The upper tool 100 may include
one or more seal plates 200, each of which corresponds to one of
the trays 1500 which is brought into the packaging portion 1500. As
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, each seal plate 200 may define a seal
plate cavity 210 therein. Each seal plate 200 may include a
plurality of holes 220 to allow a vacuum pump to generate a vacuum
in the seal plate cavity 210 and draw plastic film 400 against the
seal plate 200, as well as to vent the seal plate 200 to the
ambient atmospheric pressure. Each seal plate 200 may also include
a heating element 230 and a temperature probe 240 (illustrated in
FIG. 4) to heat the film 400, in a process described below.
[0055] The lower tool 300 may include a carrier 310 and a tray pad
assembly 320 to support the trays 1500 which are brought into the
packaging portion 1000, and to hold the trays 1500 in place as the
upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 are closed together.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the upper tool 100 may
include a vacuum clamp 110 around each seal plate 200. The vacuum
clamp 110 may comprise a groove 111 and a plurality of holes 112
formed therein to enable a vacuum pump 600 to form a vacuum in the
groove 111. This vacuum pump 600 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a
single pump. However, it will be understood that any number of
vacuum pumps 600 may be included in the system 2000, to form the
vacuums which will be described in detail infra. The vacuum pump
600 may be attached to the holes 112 through various through holes
120 formed in the upper tool 100 and extending through the upper
tool 100, connecting to the plurality of the holes 112 as
illustrated in FIGS. 4-9. The through holes 120 may optionally
include plugs which allow the through holes 120 to be sealed or
opened according to a specific embodiment of the present general
inventive concept.
[0057] The groove 111 of the vacuum clamp 110 may have, for
example, a square cross-section, but may have any cross-section
shape to allow it to hold film 400, per the process described in
greater detail below.
[0058] The upper tool 100 may also include an O-ring 130 around the
perimeter of the seal plate(s) 200 to help form an airtight seal
when the upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 are closed together.
[0059] Each seal plate 200 may also include a plurality of holes
220 formed in the surface thereof. A vacuum pump 600 may draw air
out through these holes 220 to draw the film up into the seal plate
cavity. The vacuum pump 600 attached to these holes may be the same
or different from the vacuum pump 600 which draws air out of the
vacuum clamp 110.
[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the lower tool 300 may be
physically lower than the upper tool 100, such that gravity helps
to hold the trays 1500 on the carrier 310 and tray pad assembly
320. However, it will be understood that the terms "upper" and
"lower" are used only for convenience and to distinguish the tools
100 and 300 from each other, and are not intended to be
limiting.
[0061] Another part of the system 2000 is a controller 1400, which
may be, for example, a computer. The controller 1400 may include a
user interface 1410 (e.g., a touchscreen, a monitor, mouse, and
keyboard, etc.) to allow a user to input commands to the system
2000. The controller 1400 may further include a memory device 1420
to store electronic data. A block diagram of the controller 1400 is
illustrated in FIG. 11. The controller 1400 may be used to control
the functions of the various components of the system 2000 and the
timing of the operations, as described below.
Example of Operation
[0062] In an exemplary embodiment of the operation of the
invention, product P is staged in one or more trays 1500 on the
entry conveyor 1100, separated by tray stops 1120 such that the
grippers 1300 will be able to move the staged trays 1500 into the
packaging portion 1000. As part of staging, product P may be
arranged in a specific manner, for example arranged so that
packaged food will be readily visible through the final
packaging.
[0063] In operation of the packaging portion 1000, plastic film 400
is first fed into the packaging portion 1000, extending over the
seal plate(s) 200 in the packaging portion 1000 as illustrated in
FIG. 5. The film 400 may be, e.g., 0.006'' thick, and may
optionally include an adhesive layer on one side, for example, the
side facing the seal plate(s) 200. Once extended over the seal
plate(s) 200, a vacuum pump 600 may draw air out of the vacuum
clamp 110, which draws the film 400 into the vacuum clamp 110 and
holds it in place over each seal plate 200 as illustrated in FIG.
6. During this operation, the upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 may
be vented, i.e., maintained at a pressure equal to the ambient
pressure around the packaging portion 1000. As a venting operation,
vents in the upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 which allow a vacuum
pump 600 to draw out air are opened to ambient atmosphere.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general
inventive concept, the holes 220 in the seal plate 200 allow
effective venting of the seal plate 200 and upper tool 100.
"Venting" as used herein may also be used to describe releasing a
vacuum that has been formed in one or both of the tools 100 and
300, thereby allowing air pressure in the tool 100 or 300 to
equalize with the ambient air pressure.
[0064] Once the film is held in place, each seal plate 200 may be
heated via the heating element 230 in each seal plate 200, to
transfer heat into the film 400. The temperature of each seal plate
200 may be monitored by the controller 1400 via the temperature
probe 240 in each seal plate 200, and may be heated to a
temperature of, e.g., about 380 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or any
other temperature according to the specific film 400 in use. The
temperature is set such that preheating the film 400 at this
temperature causes the film 400 to become pliable while still being
held in place by the vacuum clamp 110.
[0065] The vacuum clamping and preheating steps may take, for
example, approximately 1 second. Once the film 400 is clamped and
preheated, a second vacuum may be formed by drawing air through the
holes 220 in each seal plate. This second vacuum draws the film up
400 into each seal plate 200, such that the film 400 has an overall
shape matching that of each seal plate 200, as illustrated in FIG.
7. The second vacuum may also be called a "gentle vacuum," as it
has a relatively higher pressure as compared to subsequent vacuums
(described in detail below). Having a higher pressure relative to
the ambient pressure means the pressure differential between the
vacuum and the outside air is smaller. As a result, a relatively
lower force is exerted on the film 400 by this second vacuum, which
reduces the risk of damaging the film 400 as it is drawn up into
the seal plate(s) 200.
[0066] Once drawn up into the seal plate cavity 210, the film 400
may be held in place by the second vacuum. If the film 400 includes
an adhesive layer on the side facing the seal plate(s) 200, the
film 400 may additional be held in place by this adhesive.
Significantly, the film 400 cannot be held on a heated seal plate
200 for too long, or it will be damaged or melt. Accordingly,
simultaneously with the above process of feeding film 400 into the
packaging portion 1000, clamping the film 400 in place, and drawing
the film 400 up into the seal plate(s) 200, the grippers 1300 may
be moving one or more trays 1500 from the entry conveyor 1100 and
into the packaging portion 1000. At the same time, the grippers
1300 may be moving other trays 1500 from the packaging portion 1000
and onto the exit conveyor 1200. The grippers 1300 position trays
1500 in the packaging portion 1000 such that each tray 1500 lines
up with and corresponds to a separate seal plate 200.
[0067] Once trays 1500 are moved from the entry conveyor 1100 and
into the packaging portion 1000, the grippers 1300 may retract to
the home position to be ready to move more trays 1500 into the
packaging portion 1000. Simultaneously with the grippers 1300
moving to the home position, the upper tool 100 and lower tool 300
may be moved together to form an airtight seal therebetween, as
illustrated in FIG. 8. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower tool
300 may be moved up to contact the upper tool 100 while the upper
tool 100 is held stationary. Alternatively, the upper tool 100 may
be moved down to contact the lower tool 300 while the lower tool
300 is held stationary, or both the upper tool 100 and lower tool
300 may be moved to contact each other.
[0068] Since each seal plate 200 defines a seal plate cavity 210,
and the film 400 lines the inside of the seal plate 200, product P
may extend beyond a flange 1510 of each tray 1500 and into this
space defined by the seal plate 200 and film 400, without
contacting the film 400 or the seal plate 200, as illustrated in
FIG. 8. Significantly, care must be taken so that the product P
does not extend so far that it contacts the seal plate 200, since
the seal plate 200 is heated and contact therewith may sear the
product P.
[0069] Once the upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 are brought
together such that the O-ring 130 around the seal plate(s) 200
contacts the lower tool 300 to form an airtight seal and hold the
film 400 to the edges of the seal plate(s) 200, the first vacuum is
no longer necessary to hold the film 400 in place, since the film
400 is held in place by the upper tool 100, lower tool 300, and the
second vacuum. At this point, the vacuum clamp 110 may be released,
i.e. the first vacuum is no longer maintained by a vacuum pump 600.
After releasing the vacuum clamp 110, a third vacuum may be formed
in the upper tool 100 by drawing air out through the seal plates
200. This third vacuum is, in effect, an enhancement of the second
vacuum. The third vacuum functions similarly to the second vacuum,
above, but has a lower pressure and is therefore a "stronger"
vacuum. The third vacuum is unlikely to damage the film 400, since
by the time the third vacuum is formed the film 400 has already
been drawn up into the seal plates 200 by the second vacuum.
Although the third vacuum is stronger than the second vacuum, the
third vacuum may be weaker than prior art vacuums, since by the
time the third vacuum is formed the film 400 has been preheated and
drawn up into the seal plate(s) 200. According to the prior art, a
film cannot be manipulated and a vacuum cannot be formed until the
film is held in place by closing the tools, and as a result a
significantly stronger vacuum (e.g., 10 mbar) is required to push
the film down onto the product. In comparison, in exemplary
embodiments of the present general inventive concept, due to the
use of first and second vacuums to hold the film 400 in place
during preheating before the tools 100 and 300 are closed, the
third vacuum may be, for example, 100-200 mbar. This increased
pressure of the third vacuum results in increased efficiency of the
packaging process, as detailed below.
[0070] The third vacuum may be formed with the same vacuum pump 600
that forms the second vacuum, or a different vacuum pump 600. The
third vacuum may be formed immediately after switching off the
vacuum clamp 110, or optionally may be formed after a preset delay
has passed (e.g., 0.1 seconds after the vacuum clamp is
released).
[0071] Shortly after starting to form the third vacuum, a fourth
vacuum may be formed in the space between the tools, corresponding
to the space occupied by the product. The fourth vacuum may be
formed, for example, with valves in the lower tool 300 connected to
a vacuum pump 600, which may be the same or different from the
vacuum pump(s) 600 which generates the first, second, and/or third
vacuums. In an exemplary embodiment of the present general
inventive concept, the fourth vacuum may start being formed 0.1
seconds after the third vacuum has started being formed, but this
delay may be changed depending on the particular embodiment. This
delay ensures that the fourth vacuum does not draw the film 400
away from the seal plate(s) 200, thereby avoiding any risk of the
film 400 contacting the product P prematurely. Furthermore, since
the film 400 held on the seal plates(s) 200 forms an airtight seal
between the upper tool 100 and the lower tool 300, forming the
fourth vacuum does not interfere with the third vacuum. In an
exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the
fourth vacuum may be as strong as the third vacuum, e.g., 100-200
mbar.
[0072] Once the third and fourth vacuums are formed, the third
vacuum may be released, such that the upper tool 100 is allowed to
equalize with the ambient pressure (approximately 1000 mbar at sea
level). The fourth vacuum may subsequently be released after a
brief delay (e.g., 0.22 seconds), such that the lower tool 300 is
allowed to equalize with the ambient pressure shortly after the
upper tool 100. Releasing the third and fourth vacuums in this
manner packages the product P in the film 400, taking advantage of
two pressure differentials to do so. The process is detailed as
follows:
[0073] The third vacuum generates a pressure differential between
the upper tool 100 and the ambient pressure. When the third vacuum
is released (and the upper tool 100 is optionally pressurized, as
detailed below), this creates a force that pushes the film 400
towards the product P. Furthermore, the fourth vacuum generates a
pressure differential between the upper tool 100 and the lower tool
300. Since the fourth vacuum is released after the third vacuum,
such that the fourth vacuum still exists when the film 400 is being
pushed towards the product P by the third vacuum being released,
this pressure differential between the upper tool 100 and lower
tool 300 also generates a force drawing the film 400 towards the
product P. The two pressure differentials (between the upper tool
100 and the ambient pressure, and between the upper tool 100 and
lower tool 300) therefore generate a combined force that presses
the film 400 down onto the tray 1500 and the product P. If the film
400 has been heated and is therefore pliable, the film 400 can
efficiently conform to the shape of the product P and the tray
1500, as illustrated in FIG. 9. As the film 400 cools, it may
solidify, and may thereby make a firm seal over the product P and
the tray 1500. This process may happen rapidly, such that when the
film 400 conforms to the shape of the product P and solidifies, it
may do so without damaging the product P or even deforming the
product P's appearance. In other words, packaged product P leaving
the packaging portion 1000 has the same appearance as staged
product P entering the packaging portion 1000.
[0074] Optionally, the system 2000 described herein may also
artificially increase pressure to further increase the force
pressing the film 400 against the tray 1500 and the product P.
After the upper tool 100 equalizes with the ambient pressure (a
process taking, e.g., approximately 0.5 seconds), pressure on the
upper tool 100 may be artificially increased, for example with an
air pump 700, which may pump air through the holes 220 in each seal
plate 200. This enhances the pressure differential between the
upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 and therefore further helps to
press the film 400 onto the product P and the tray 1500.
[0075] In effect, exemplary embodiments of the present general
inventive concept use the first and second vacuums with preheating
to prepare the film 400, and then the third and fourth vacuums, and
optionally a pressurization operation, to generate a combined force
on the film 400. As a result of using this four-vacuum process with
preheating, each of the third and fourth vacuums may be made
relatively "weaker" than the vacuums of a prior art packaging
apparatus. Whereas a prior art packaging apparatus may use vacuums
of approximately 10 mbar as noted above, a packaging system 2000
according to the present general inventive concept may use third
and fourth vacuums of, for example, approximately 100 to 200 mbar.
When the third and fourth vacuums are sequentially generated and
released as described above, and the upper tool 100 is optionally
pressurized, the resulting force on the film 400 pushes the film
400 towards the tray 1500 to efficiently vacuum seal the product P
held thereon. Since the time to create a vacuum increases
exponentially as the desired pressure is decreased, by increasing
the required vacuum pressure to, e.g., 100 to 200 mbar, the time
needed to generate the third and fourth vacuums is significantly
reduced from conventional packaging apparatuses, without
compromising the packaging effectiveness.
[0076] Once the film seal is formed, the upper tool 100 and lower
tool 300 may be vented again to ensure equalization with the
ambient pressure (for example, if the upper tool 100 was
artificially pressurized). After a delay of, e.g., 0.1 seconds, to
allow the pressure around the sealed package to equalize with the
ambient pressure, retractable blades 500 may cut the film around
the tray(s) 1500. These blades 500 may extend, e.g., from around
the seal plate(s) 200.
[0077] After the film 200 is cut by the blades 500, the upper tool
100 and lower tool 300 may be separated. Optionally, there may be a
delay between cutting the film 400 and separating the tools 100 and
300, to allow the system 2000 to settle (e.g., for the film 400 to
cool further). Whichever tool moved to bring the tools 100 and 300
together may be moved to separate the tools 100 and 300. The film
400 may then be advanced, such that the used film 400 is removed
from the packaging portion 1000 and fresh film 400 is positioned
over the seal plate(s) 200. At this point the cycle is completed,
and may be repeated with new trays 1500 and new product P, which
may have already been staged and moved onto the entry conveyor 1100
by the time the upper tool 100 and lower tool 300 are separated. As
described above, as the grippers 1300 move new trays 1500 into the
packaging portion, they may simultaneously move the completed
(film-wrapped) packages out of the packaging portion 1000 and onto
the exit conveyor 1200, where they can be moved along in the
shipping process, for example being inserted into cardboard boxes,
etc.
[0078] Notably, the above process may be used regardless of the
type of product P or type of tray 1500 being used, without any
significant re-tooling of a packaging apparatus. As noted above,
the construction of the seal plate 200 and the upper and lower
tools 100 and 300 allows the system to physically accommodate
different types of product P. However, different products P may
require using different vacuums and/or different timing of the
operations (for example, slower equalization with the ambient
pressure) to avoid damaging the product P. For example, when the
product P is relatively soft or delicate (e.g., mashed potatoes),
the upper tool 100 may be equalized more slowly with the ambient
pressure, such that the film 400 is pushed down onto the product P
with relatively lower force, followed by a sharper equalization for
greater force to firmly affix the film 400 to the tray 1500 and the
product P. Similarly, whether additional pressure is added to the
upper tool 100 to force the film 400 onto the tray 1500 and product
P, whether the fourth vacuum is maintained longer to maintain the
pressure differential between the upper tool 100 and lower tool
300, the length of any delay before each operation, and so on may
also allow for different packaging for different products P. Put
another way, a timing chart 1430 of the system 2000 can be adjusted
according to the product P being packaged.
[0079] The timing chart 1430 defines the timing for the various
operations of the system 2000 to package product P, as well as
other relevant details such as, e.g., the strength of each vacuum
formed during packaging. A sample timing chart 1430 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept is
illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C, which are expanded views of the
complete sample timing chart 1430 illustrated in FIG. 10D. The
timing chart 1430 further includes instructions for the controller
1400 to control the system 2000 according to the listed timing.
Adjustments to the operation of the system 2000 can be made
entirely by adjusting the timing chart 1430 via the user interface
1410 of the controller 1400. By adjusting the timing chart 1430 in
this manner, a user may set different strengths of vacuum and
timing of the processes for packaging. Since as noted above the
strengths of the vacuums and the timing of the processes are all
that need to be changed for different products P, the system 2000
therefore may package different products P without needing to
change its tooling or other physical components.
[0080] It will be understood that the timing chart 1430 illustrated
in FIGS. 10A-10D is only an example, and that not all timing charts
1430 will include the same timing or the same processes. For
example, another timing chart 1430 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present general inventive concept may omit the
operation of pressurizing the upper tool 100.
[0081] In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of timing charts
1430a-n, corresponding to, e.g., a plurality of different products
P, may be preprogrammed into the controller 1400 and stored in the
memory device 1420, such that a user simply uses the user interface
1410 to select a timing chart 1430 (for example, according to which
type of product P is being packaged) and the controller 1400
controls the system 2000 according to the corresponding timing
chart 1430. The result is a more efficient and flexible vacuum
packaging process. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the controller
1400, and additionally illustrates the communication between the
controller 1400 and the packaging portion 1000.
[0082] The present general inventive concept can also be embodied
as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The
computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording
medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The
computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that
can store data as a program which can be thereafter read by a
computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium
include a semiconductor memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a
random-access memory (RAM), a USB memory, a memory card, a blue-ray
disc, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data
storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be
distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the
computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed
fashion. The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit
carrier waves or signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission
through the Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code
segments to accomplish the present general inventive concept can be
easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the
present general inventive concept pertains.
[0083] The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and
modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent
to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above
disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the
claims, and by their equivalents.
* * * * *