Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DUAL HEAT STRIP AND REMOVABLE TRAY FOR A VACUUM SEALING
MACHINE
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to machines that preserve food, and,
more
particularly, to vacuum sealing machines.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Vacuum sealing machines are typically used by consumers to package a
desired
portion of perishable items (e.g., food, such as meat) in a manner that
preserves the food
during long term-storage, such as storage in a freezer. To use the vacuum
sealing machine,
the desired portion of food is placed in an open end of an appropriately-sized
plastic sealable
bag. The open end of the bag is then inserted into a receiving portion, such
as a slot, of the
vacuum sealing machine, and a vacuum process is initiated by the user to
evacuate air from
the interior of the bag. When the air evacuation process is complete, a heat
sealer creates a
transverse seal across the open end of the bag to create a completely sealed
package
enclosing the portion of food.
[0003] Typically, a large quantity of food is vacuum sealed at the same time.
In such
instances, frequent use causes the temperature of the heat sealer to rise and
remain at
unacceptable levels. When at such levels, placing the open end of the bag in
contact with the
heat sealer, which occurs during the air evacuation process, results in
unwanted sealing of the
bag before air is fully evacuated. To avoid such unwanted premature sealing,
the heat sealer
must be allowed to cool between uses to a temperature in which no premature
sealing of the
bag occurs. However, it is difficult for the user to determine when the
temperature falls to an
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acceptable level, and the user wastes a significant amount of time waiting for
the temperature
to fall.
[0004] In addition, food particles and liquid can spill out of the open end of
the bag and
into a vacuum chamber formed in an interior portion of the vacuum sealing
machine during
the air evacuation process. Such a vacuum chamber is typically difficult to
access when it is
desired to clean the vacuum chamber after use. Further, a user typically uses
a single-sized
open-ended plastic sealable bag regardless of the size of the portion to be
preserved. Thus,
bag space is wasted or multiple bags are used when a single, larger bag is
desired.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a vacuum sealing machine that does not
prematurely seal an open end of a sealable bag and does not require
significant downtime to
wait for the heat sealer to cool. There is also a need for a more accessible
vacuum chamber
to make cleaning more convenient. Moreover, there is a need for a custom bag
creator that
easily allows for the creation of a desired bag size.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] A vacuum sealing machine includes a base assembly having a lower base
portion
having a lower vacuum gasket and an upper base portion removably secured to
the lower
base portion, the upper base portion having an upper vacuum gasket. The upper
base portion
displaces relative to the lower base portion from a first closed position to a
second open
position, and the lower vacuum gasket and the upper vacuum gasket cooperate to
at least
partially define a vacuum chamber in the first closed position. The vacuum
sealing machine
also includes two or more heating strips disposed on a first one of the lower
base portion or
the upper base portion of the base assembly, and each of the two or more
heating strips is
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adapted to seal a portion of an open end of a sealable bag disposed between
the lower base
portion and the upper base portion. The vacuum sealing machine further
includes at least one
securement feature disposed on a second one of the lower base portion or the
upper base
portion of the base assembly, and the at least one securement feature is
adapted to apply
pressure to a portion of the open end of the inserted sealable bag when the
sealable bag is
sealed by at least one of the heating strips. In addition, the vacuum sealing
machine includes
a control unit including at least one microprocessor and a memory unit, and
the control unit is
in communication with each of the two or more heating strips.
[0007] A method of controlling a vacuum sealing machine having a lower base
portion and
an upper base portion that displaces relative to the lower base portion from a
first closed
position to a second open position includes issuing a first command by a
control unit of the
vacuum sealing machine to energize a first heating strip disposed on one of
the lower base
portion or the upper base portion to heat a portion of an open end of a first
sealable bag
disposed between the lower base portion and the upper base portion in the
first closed
position. The method also includes issuing a second command by the control
unit of the
vacuum sealing machine to energize a second heating strip disposed adjacent to
the first
heating strip disposed on one of the lower base portion or the upper base
portion to heat a
portion of an open end of a second sealable bag disposed between the lower
base portion and
the upper base portion in the first closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure 1 is a first perspective view of an embodiment of a lower base
portion of a
vacuum sealing machine;
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[0009] Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the embodiment of the lower
base portion
of Figure 1;
[0010] Figure 3 is a third perspective view of the embodiment of the lower
base portion of
Figure 1;
[0011] Figure 4 is a rear view of the embodiment of the lower base portion of
Figure 1;
[0012] Figure 5 is a front view of the embodiment of the lower base portion of
Figure 1;
[0013] Figure 6 is a first side view of the embodiment of the lower base
portion of Figure
1;
[0014] Figure 7 is a second side view of the embodiment of the lower base
portion of
Figure 1;
[0015] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an upper base
portion of a
vacuum sealing machine;
[0016] Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of a vacuum sealing machine in
a closed
position;
[0017] Figure 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vacuum sealing
machine in
an open position;
[0018] Figure 11 is a first side view of an embodiment of a vacuum sealing
machine in an
open position;
[0019] Figure 12 is a second side view of an embodiment of a vacuum sealing
machine in
an open position;
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[0020] Figure 13 is a perspective view of an first upper hinge member or
second upper
hinge member;
[0021] Figure 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vacuum sealing
machine in
an open position;
[0022] Figure 15 is diagram of an embodiment of a control function of an
embodiment of a
custom bag assembly;
[0023] Figure 16 is diagram of an embodiment of a control function of an
embodiment of a
custom bag assembly;
[0024] Figure 17 is diagram of an embodiment of a control function of an
embodiment of a
custom bag assembly;
[0025] Figure 18 is diagram of an embodiment of a control function of an
embodiment of a
custom bag assembly;
[0026] Figure 19 is diagram of an embodiment of a control function of an
embodiment of a
custom bag assembly;
[0027] Figure 20 is diagram of an embodiment of a control function of an
embodiment of a
custom bag assembly;
[0028] Figure 21 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing including
a vacuum
sealing machine and a custom-sized bag creator assembly;
[0029] Figures 22A to 22C are various views of an embodiment of a housing
including a
vacuum sealing machine and a custom-sized bag creator assembly;
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[0030] Figures 23 to 26 are various perspective views of various embodiments
of a
housing including a vacuum sealing machine and a custom-sized bag creator
assembly;
[0031] Figures 27A to 34 are various front views of various embodiments of a
housing
including a vacuum sealing machine and a custom-sized bag creator assembly;
[0032] Figure 35A is a front view of an embodiments of a housing including a
vacuum
sealing machine and a custom-sized bag creator assembly; and
[0033] Figure 35B is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 35A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, a base assembly 10 of a vacuum
sealing machine
may include a lower base portion 12 and an upper base portion 14 that
cooperate to (1) form a
vacuum chamber to evacuate fluid, such as air, from an open end of an inserted
sealable bag
and (2) seal (e.g., heat seal) the open end of the inserted sealable bag, such
as a plastic bag.
Either (or both) of the lower base portion 12 and the upper base portion 14
may include a
plurality of heating areas, such as heating strips 16, and either or both of
the lower base
portion 12 and the upper base portion 14 may include a securement feature
(such as an
elongated gasket) that applies pressure to a portion of the open end of the
inserted sealable
bag when the sealable bag is sealed by one or more of the plurality of heating
areas.
[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the lower base portion
12 may
include two heating strips 16a, 16b, and each heating strip 16a, 16b may be
elongated and
may extend along a longitudinal axis 18a, 18b that may each be parallel to the
Y-axis of the
reference coordinate system provided in Figure 1. Each of the two heating
strips 16a, 16b
may extend from a first end to a longitudinally-opposite second end. The first
end may be
disposed at or adjacent to a first lateral edge portion of the lower base
portion 12 and the
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second end may be disposed at or adjacent to a second lateral edge portion of
the lower base
portion 12. Instead of a single heat strip extending from the first end to the
second end, each
strip may be an assembly of segments that cooperate to form the heating strip,
and the
segments may cooperate to extend from the first end to the second end. Each of
the two
heating strips 16a, 16b may be identical, and each of the two heating strips
16a, 16b may be
disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis 20a of an elongated vacuum gasket 22a
that at least
partially defines a vacuum chamber 24 (e.g., see Figure 9). While two heating
strips 16a, 16b
are illustrated, any number of heating strips in any configuration is
contemplated. Each
heating strip 16a, 16b may provide heat in any suitable manner, such as by
electrical
resistance. Accordingly, each heating strip 16a, 16b may be connected to a
source of
electricity. Each heating strip 16a, 16b may be in communication with a
control unit that
may include at least one microprocessor and a memory unit.
[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the upper base portion 14
may be adapted
to releasably engage or couple with the lower base portion 12 in a closed
position (illustrated
in cross-section in Figure 9). The upper base portion 14 may releasably engage
the lower
base portion 12 manually or automatically. For example, the user may pivot the
upper base
portion 14 towards the lower base portion 12. In the closed position, a vacuum
gasket 22b of
the upper base portion 14 may be aligned or substantially aligned with the
vacuum gasket 22a
of the lower base portion 12, and the vacuum gasket 22b of the upper base
portion 14 and the
vacuum gasket 22a of the lower base portion 12 may cooperate to define the
vacuum
chamber 24. The upper base portion 14 may include a plurality of securement
features 26.
Each securement feature 26 may be an elongated gasket 27a, 27b having a planar
or slightly
curved bottom portion that overlaps or contacts a corresponding portion of a
corresponding
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one of the heating strips 16a, 16b when the upper and lower base portions 12,
14 are in the
closed position (and when a bag or other item to be sealed is not disposed
over the heating
strip 16a, 16b). In the closed position with a sealable bag inserted, the
securement features
26 provide pressure to the portion or portions of the sealable bag that engage
(i.e., are heated
by) the heating strips 16a, 16b to form an airtight seal across the open end
of the sealable bag.
[0037] While the Figures illustrate that the two heating strips 16a, 16b are
arranged on the
lower base portion 12 and the elongated gaskets 27a, 27b are disposed on the
upper base
portion 14, the two heating strips 16a, 16b may be arranged on the upper base
portion 14 and
the elongated gaskets 27a, 27b may be disposed on the lower base portion 12.
[0038] Each of the plurality of securement features 26 may correspond in
length,
orientation, and general size to a corresponding heating strip 16a, 16b. For
example, the
upper base portion 14 may include two gaskets 27a, 27b that each extend along
a longitudinal
axis 28a, 28b that may each be parallel to the Y-axis of the reference
coordinate system
provided in Figure 1. Each of the two gaskets 27a, 27b may extend from a first
end to a
longitudinally-opposite second end. The first end may be disposed at or
adjacent to a first
lateral edge portion of the upper base portion 14 and the second end may be
disposed at or
adjacent to a second lateral edge portion of the upper base portion 14.
Instead of each gasket
being a single gasket 27a, 27b extending from the first end to the second end,
each gasket
27a, 27b may be an assembly of segments that cooperate to form the gaskets
27a, 27b, and
the segments may cooperate to extend from the first end to the second end.
Each of the two
gaskets 27a, 27b may be identical, and each of the two gaskets 27a, 27b may be
disposed
parallel to the longitudinal axis 20b of the elongated vacuum gasket 22b.
While two gaskets
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27a, 27b are illustrated, any number of gaskets 27a, 27b in any suitable
configuration may be
used.
[0039] As illustrated in Figures 10 to 14, the lower base portion 12 may
include one or
more lower mating features 30 and the upper base portion 14 may include one or
more upper
mating features 32 that cooperate with the lower mating features 30 to couple
the lower base
portion 12 to the upper base portion 14. In the embodiment illustrated in
Figures 10 to 12,
the one or more upper mating features 32 may cooperate with the lower mating
features 30 to
removably and rotatably couple the lower base portion 12 to the upper base
portion 14.
However, the one or more upper mating features 32 may cooperate with the lower
mating
features 30 to couple the lower base portion 12 to the upper base portion 14
in a non-
removable manner such that the one or more upper mating features 32 may
cooperate with
the lower mating features 30 to form a permanent hinge.
[0040] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the one or more lower mating
features 30 may
include a first lower hinge member 34a and a second lower hinge member 34b
disposed on
the lower base portion 12. The first lower hinge member 34a may be disposed
along or
adjacent to a lateral edge 36 of the lower base portion 12 that is parallel to
(or substantially
parallel to) the Y-axis of the reference coordinate system of Figures 1 and
10, and the
vacuum gasket 22a may be disposed between the two heating strips 16a, 16b and
the lateral
edge 36. The first lower hinge member 34a may also be disposed along or
adjacent to a first
transverse edge 38 of the lower base portion 12 that is parallel to (or
substantially parallel to)
the X-axis of the reference coordinate system of Figures 1 and 10. The second
lower hinge
member 34b may be disposed along or adjacent to the lateral edge 36 of the
lower base
portion 12 that is parallel to (or substantially parallel to) the Y-axis of
the reference
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coordinate system of Figure 10. The second lower hinge member 34b may also be
disposed
along or adjacent to a second transverse edge 40 of the lower base portion 12
that is parallel
to (or substantially parallel to) the first transverse edge 38.
[0041] As illustrated in Figures 1, 10, and 12, the first lower hinge member
34a may
include a support portion 42a, and a receiving portion 44a that may be defined
in a surface of
the support portion 42a. The receiving portion 44a may be an aperture formed
through the
surface of the support portion 42a or may be a cavity formed by a portion of a
cylindrical
wall that extends inward (i.e., along or parallel to the Y-axis of the
reference coordinate
system of Figure 10) from the surface of the support portion 42a. The aperture
or cavity may
have a circular cross-sectional shape or any suitable cross-sectional shape.
The aperture or
cavity may extend along a longitudinal axis that extends along or parallel to
the Y-axis of the
reference coordinate system of Figure 10.
[0042] As illustrated in Figures 2, 10, and 11, the second lower hinge member
34b may
include a support portion 42b, and a receiving portion 44b may be defined in a
surface of the
support portion 42b. The second lower hinge member 34b may be identical to,
but a minor
image of, the first lower hinge member 34a. Specifically, the receiving
portion 44b may be a
aperture formed through the surface of the support portion 42b or may be a
cavity formed by
a portion of a cylindrical wall that extends inward (i.e., along or parallel
to the Y-axis of the
reference coordinate system of Figure 10 and towards the first transverse edge
38) from the
surface of the support portion 42b. The aperture or cavity may extend along a
longitudinal
axis that extends along or parallel to the Y-axis of the reference coordinate
system of Figure
10.
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[0043] As illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the upper base portion 14 may
include one or
more upper mating features 32, and the one or more upper mating features 32
may include a
first upper hinge member 46a and a second upper hinge member 46b. The first
upper hinge
member 46a may be adapted to releasably engage the first lower hinge member
34a, and the
second upper hinge member 46b may be adapted to releasably engage the second
lower hinge
member 34b.
[0044] Still referring to Figures 10 to 12, the first upper hinge member 46a
may include a
cantilevered tab portion 48a that extends generally along the Z-axis of the
reference
coordinate system of Figure 10 when the upper base portion 14 is in the closed
position. The
tab portion 48a may be disposed along or adjacent to a lateral edge 50 of the
upper base
portion 14 that is parallel to (or substantially parallel to) the Y-axis of
the reference
coordinate system of Figure 10. The tab portion 48a may also be disposed along
or adjacent
to a first transverse edge 52 (see Figure 10) of the upper base portion 14
that is parallel to (or
substantially parallel to) the X-axis of the reference coordinate system of
Figure 10.
[0045] As illustrated in Figure 13, a projection 54a may be disposed on or
extend from a
surface of the tab portion 48a that faces the surface of the support portion
42a of the first
lower hinge member 34a that includes the receiving portion 44a when the lower
base portion
12 is coupled to the upper base portion 14. The projection 54a may have a
front face 56a and
a side wall 58a, and the side wall 58a may have a cylindrical shape having a
longitudinal axis
that extends along or parallel to the Y-axis of the reference coordinate
system of Figure 10.
The longitudinal axis of the side wall 58a of the projection 54a may coaxially
align with the
longitudinal axis of the aperture or cavity of the receiving portion 44a of
the first lower hinge
member 34a, and all or a portion of the projection 54a (such as all or part of
the side wall 58a
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of the projection Ma) may be received into the aperture or cavity of the
receiving portion 44a
such that the projection Ma may rotate within the aperture or cavity of the
receiving portion
44a. The projection Ma may be dimensioned such that the diameter may be
slightly less than
(e.g., 5% to 15% less that) the diameter of the aperture or cavity of the
receiving portion 44a.
The front face 58a may be planar or partially planar, and may extend along the
X-Z plane of
the reference coordinate system of Figure 10. Alternatively, the front face
56a may be angled
to facilitate the insertion of the projection 54 within the receiving portion
44a. In other
contemplated embodiments, the front face 56a may be or include a contoured
surface, such as
a spherical surface, and the side wall 58a and the front face 56a may
cooperate to form a
rounded nub or spherical nub. The tab portion 48a may be cantilevered from a
bottom
portion of the upper base portion 14 such that the tab portion 48a may flex in
the direction of
the Y-axis of the reference coordinate system of Figure 10 to allow the
projection 54a to be
inserted into (and removed from) the receiving portion 44a.
[0046] As illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the one or more upper mating
features 32 of the
upper base portion 14 may include the second upper hinge member 46b. The
second upper
hinge member 46b may be adapted to releasably engage the second lower hinge
member 34b,
and the second upper hinge member 46b may be identical to, but a minor image
of, the first
upper hinge member 46a. Specifically, the second upper hinge member 46b may
include a
cantilevered tab portion 48b that extends generally along the Z-axis of the
reference
coordinate system of Figure 10 when the upper base portion 14 is in the closed
position. The
tab portion 48b may be disposed along or adjacent to the lateral edge 52 of
the upper base
portion 14 that is parallel to (or substantially parallel to) the Y-axis of
the reference
coordinate system of Figure 10. The tab portion 48b may also be disposed along
or adjacent
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to a second transverse edge 60 (see Figure 11) that is parallel to and offset
from the first
transverse edge 52 of the upper base portion 14.
[0047] As illustrated in Figure 13, a projection 54b may be disposed on or
extend from a
surface of the tab portion 48a that faces the surface of the support portion
42b of the second
lower hinge member 34b that includes the receiving portion 44b when the lower
base portion
12 is coupled to the upper base portion 14. The projection 54b may have a
front face 56b and
a side wall 58b, and the side wall 58b may have a cylindrical shape having a
longitudinal axis
that extends along or parallel to the Y-axis of the reference coordinate
system of Figure 10.
The longitudinal axis of the side wall 58b of the projection 54b may coaxially
align with the
longitudinal axis of the aperture or cavity of the receiving portion 44b of
the second lower
hinge member 34b, and all or a portion of the projection 54b (such as all or
part of the side
wall 58b of the projection 54b) may be received into the aperture or cavity of
the receiving
portion 44b such that the projection 54b may rotate within the aperture or
cavity of the
receiving portion 44b. The projection 54b may be dimensioned such that the
diameter may
be slightly less than (e.g., 5% to 15% less that) the diameter of the aperture
or cavity of the
receiving portion 44b. The front face 58b may be planar or partially planar,
and may extend
along the X-Z plane of the reference coordinate system of Figure 10.
Alternatively, the front
face 56b may be angled to facilitate the insertion of the projection 54b
within the receiving
portion 44b. In other contemplated embodiments, the front face 56b may be or
include a
contoured surface, such as a spherical surface, and the side wall 58b and the
front face 56b
may cooperate to form a rounded nub or spherical nub. The tab portion 48b may
be
cantilevered from a bottom portion of the upper base portion 14 such that the
tab portion 48b
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may flex in the direction of the Y-axis of the reference coordinate system of
Figure 10 to
allow the projection 54b to be inserted into (and removed from) the receiving
portion 44b.
[0048] In alternative embodiments, the lower mating features 30 of the lower
base portion
12 may include the first upper hinge member 46a and the second upper hinge
member 46b,
and the upper mating features 32 of the upper base portion 14 may include the
first lower
hinge member 34a and the second lower hinge member 34b. That is, the
projections Ma, 54b
may be disposed on the lower base portion 12 and the receiving portions 44a,
44b may be
disposed on the upper base portion 14. The upper base portion 14 and/or the
lower base
portion 12 may each be a component of a housing assembly (e.g., the housing
assembly 15
illustrated in Figures 31 to 35B) or may each operate independent of the
housing assembly.
[0049] As illustrated in Figure 2, the lower base portion 12 may include
vacuum
connections 62 and/or electrical connections 64 that operate as quick
connections. That is,
when the lower base portion 12 is inserted into the housing assembly, the
vacuum
connections 62 and/or electrical connections 64 automatically engage
corresponding vacuum
connections and/or electrical connections formed in the housing assembly.
[0050] In use, the lower base portion 12 and the upper base portion 14 may be
in an open
position in which the lower base portion 12 is offset from the upper base
portion 14. More
specifically, the lower mating features 30 may rotate relative to the upper
mating features 32
(or vice versa). In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, the first
lower hinge
member 34a may rotate relative to the first upper hinge member 46a (or vice
versa) and the
second lower hinge member 34b may rotate relative to the second upper hinge
member 46b
(or vice versa). In the open position, the open end of the inserted sealable
bag (that is sealed
on three sides) is inserted within the inner perimeter of the vacuum gasket
22a. The upper
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base portion 14 is then moved to the closed position (in any manner, such as
by pivoting as
previously described) such that the open end of the inserted sealable bag is
disposed within
the vacuum chamber 24. When a start command is given, such as by pressing a
start button
on an input device that is in communication with the control unit, air may be
evacuated from
the vacuum chamber 24 and from the interior of the sealable bag in a known
manner. When
the evacuation process is complete, one of the two (or more) heating strips
16a, 16b, such as
the first heating strip 16a, is engaged or activated to seal the open edge of
the bag and create a
sealed bag that is sealed on four sides. The command to engage the first
heating strip 16a
may originate automatically from the control unit after the evacuation process
is complete, or
the command may be initiated by a user pressing a button on the input device.
Air may
continue to be evacuated from the vacuum chamber 24 during the sealing
process, or the
evacuation process may be terminated at any time prior to engagement or
activation of one of
the two (or more) heating strips 16a, 16b. Once the sealable bag is sealed,
the lower base
portion 12 is disengaged from the upper base portion 14 (in any manner, such
as by pivoting
as previously described). The sealable bag that is sealed can then be removed
from the upper
base portion 14 and/or the lower base portion 12. An additional bag may then
be inserted
within the vacuum chamber 24 as previously described, and a second one of the
two (or
more) heating strips 16a, 16b, such as the second heating strip 16b, is
engaged or activated to
seal the open end of the additional bag as previously described.
[0051] The sealing time may be predetermined by the control unit, or may be
manually
adjusted or controlled by the user. Sensors, such as heat sensors, may be in
communication
with the control unit to alert the control unit (or user) that the transverse
seal is secure.
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[0052] Each of the heating strips 16a, 16b may alternate after each use, or
may alternate
after a predetermined number of uses. The sensor(s) may also allow the control
unit to
automatically alternate heating strips 16a, 16b if a limit temperature is
reached. In some
applications, both heating strips 16a, 16b may be employed simultaneously to
form two
parallel transverse seals that improves bond strength.
[0053] Accordingly, the two (or more) heating strips 16a, 16b allow the user
of a vacuum
sealer machine to continuously utilize the machine without waiting the usual
"cool down"
period in which the temperature of single heating strip decreases. That is,
one of the two (or
more) heating strips 16a, 16b will always be in a cool-down state. Existing
vacuum sealing
machines having a single heat strip require an average 20 seconds of "cool
down" between
cycles and usually after 8 continuous cycles a 20 minute "cool down." These
cool down
periods can be eliminated with the two (or more) heating strips 16a, 16b of
the current
configuration.
[0054] To facilitate cleaning, the lower base portion 12 and the upper base
portion 14 are
removable, as mentioned. To disengage the lower base portion 12 from the upper
base
portion 14, the first upper hinge member 46a and the second upper hinge member
46b are
displaced such that the projections Ma, 54 are no longer received into the
receiving portions
44a, 44b of the first and second lower hinge members 34a, 34b. The first and
second upper
hinge members 46a, 46b may be manually displaced by flexing the tab portions
48a, 48b by
an outward force (i.e., away from the lower base portion 12) applied along the
Y-axis of the
reference coordinate system of Figure 10. Instead of manual displacement, the
projections
54a, 54b may be retracted or extended by an automatic mechanism that may be
controlled by
a user's command. Alternatively, the first and second upper hinge members 46a,
46b may be
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displaced by a displacement of the lower base portion 12 from the upper base
portion 14
along the X-axis of the reference coordinate system of Figure 10. When
removed, the lower
base portion 12 may be cleaned and the surface(s) that partially form(s) the
vacuum chamber
24 may be drained of fluid. To reinstall the lower base portion 12, the
installation is reversed.
That is, the first and second upper hinge members 46a, 46b are displaced as
described above,
and the projections Ma, 54 are inserted into the receiving portions 44a, 44b
of the first and
second lower hinge members 34a, 34b. When the lower base portion 12 is coupled
to the
upper base portion 14 (and/or the housing assembly), the operating system may
automatically
reset itself. In addition, the vacuum connections 62 and/or electrical
connections 64 are self
wiping such that removing and inserting the lower base portion 12 from/into
the housing
assembly ensures secure and active electrical and pneumatic connections
between the lower
base portion 12 and the upper base portion 14 (and/or the housing assembly).
[0055] As illustrated in Figure 2, the lower base portion 12 may include
vacuum
connections 62 and/or electrical connections 64 that operate as quick
connections. That is,
when the lower base portion 12 is inserted into the housing assembly, the
vacuum
connections 62 and/or electrical connections 64 automatically engage
corresponding vacuum
connections and/or electrical connections formed in the housing assembly.
[0056] In another embodiment, a mechanism or assembly to create custom-sized
bags is
illustrated, and the custom-sized bags can be used in any suitable vacuum
sealing machine,
including the vacuum sealing machine previously described. The custom bag
assembly 10
may be a portion of a vacuum sealing machine or may be a stand-alone device.
The custom
bag assembly 10 may include a roll of material that is pre-sealed along a
first lateral edge and
a second lateral edge but is not sealed between the first and second lateral
edges. The length
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of the roll (i.e., the distance between the first and second lateral edges)
may have any suitable
value, such as 10" or 8". The roll may be mounted, or may be adapted to be
mounted, inside
the housing assembly.
[0057] The custom bag assembly 10 may also include one or more seal bar or
pair of seal
bars. The seal bar or pair of seal bars cooperate to form a transverse seal
(i.e., a seal that
extends from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge) on the
material stored on the
roll, and the transverse seal, the pre-sealed first lateral edge, and the pre-
sealed second lateral
edge may cooperate to form a sealable bag having a single open end that is
adapted to be used
in a suitable vacuum sealing machine. The seal bar or pair of seal bars may
form any type of
seal on the sealable bag, and the seal bar or pair of seal bars may have a
heated portion to
form a heat seal. The seal bars or pair of seal bars may be stationary and may
disposed
within an interior portion of the housing along a feed path of the material
that is fed from the
roll. Alternatively, the seal bars or pair of seal bars may displace relative
to the roll, or the
roll may displace relative to the seal bar or pair of seal bars. The seal bars
or pair of seal bars
may be the dual heat strip configuration previously described, and the use of
the heat strips
may alternate to reduce down time.
[0058] The custom bag assembly 10 may also include a cutting mechanism may be
disposed along the feed path of the material that is fed from the roll, and
the cutting
mechanism may be disposed adjacent to the seal bar or pair of seal bars. The
cutting
mechanism may cut the material of the roll adjacent to the transverse seal to
create an edge of
a sealable bag having a single open end. The cutting mechanism may be powered
in any
suitable manner, such as by an electric motor that may be disposed within the
housing.
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[0059] The custom bag assembly 10 may also include a feeding mechanism that
may
advance the material along the feed path that is fed from the roll, and the
feed path may
extend from the roll to an outlet location of the custom bag assembly 10. The
feeding
mechanism may include one or more rollers and the rollers may be disposed at
any suitable
location along the feed path. The feeding mechanism may be disposed within the
housing.
The feeding mechanism may be powered by an electric motor that may be disposed
within
the housing.
[0060] The custom bag assembly 10 may also include a control unit that may be
in
communication with the feeding mechanism, the cutting mechanism, and the one
or more
seal bar or pair of seal bars. The control unit may include one or more
microprocessors, and
the control unit may be disposed in any suitable location, such as within the
housing.
[0061] In operation, a custom bag of an adjustable length may be created by a
user.
Specifically, the user may initiate the process by entering a desired volume
or length (i.e.,
distance normal to the distance between the first lateral edge and the second
lateral edge) of a
sealable bag. The user may initiate the process by pressing one of a plurality
of buttons or
keys or areas on an input device (e.g., a touchscreen device or a tactile
keypad), and the input
device may be in communication with the control unit. Each of the plurality of
buttons may
correspond to a preselected bag volume. For example, one button may correspond
to a
gallon-sized bag and a second button may correspond to a quart-sized bag. When
a desired
size is input (by pressing a corresponding button, for example), the control
unit may
command the feeding mechanism to advance a portion of the material of the roll
to a
predetermined location. One or more sensors that may be in communication with
the control
unit may be used to accurately position the roll. The control unit may then
command the seal
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bar or pair of seal bars to form a transverse seal at the portion of the
material, and the control
unit may next command the cutting mechanism to cut the material of the roll
adjacent to the
transverse seal to create an edge of a sealable bag having a single open end.
The control unit
may then command the feeding mechanism to advance the sealable bag to the
output
location, which may be a slot formed in the housing. A user may then remove
the sealable
bag from the slot, and the sealable bag may be ready to be vacuum sealed. In
other
embodiments, the seal bar or pair of seal bars may move relative to the roll
to form a
transverse seal at the portion of the material.
[0062] In addition to preset sizes, the custom bag assembly 10 may generate
custom-sized
sealable bags based on user input. For example, the user may initiate the
process by pressing
one of a plurality of buttons on the input device, such as an advance button
in communication
with the feeding mechanism that advances the roll to as long as the button is
pressed. The
outlet location may be disposed adjacent to the seal bar or pair of seal bars
and the cutting
mechanism so that the user can see the size of the bag prior to creating the
transverse seal and
cutting the transverse edge. When the user has determined that the roll has
advanced to a
desired location, the user may release the advance button. A second button,
such as a seal
button, may then be pressed by the user to create a desired transverse seal
and cut edge as
previously described. If necessary, the control unit may then command the
feeding
mechanism to advance the sealable bag to the output location. A user may then
remove the
sealable bag from the slot, and the sealable bag may be ready to be vacuum
sealed. In other
embodiments, the seal bar or pair of seal bars may move relative to the roll
to form a
transverse seal at the portion of the material.
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[0063] The automatic bag creation feature takes the "guess work" out of
creating a bag for
the consumer. The consumer can purchase rolls of material in bulk, thus saving
money and
still be able to create a given bag size as if they purchased it directly from
the store in a pre-
cut size. The custom size bag creation also allows for flexibility in that the
consumer is not
limited to a specific bag size, but can create any desired bag size, based on
the roll length.
[0064] Example process flow charts are provided in Figures 15 to 20.
[0065] While various embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is
not
intended to be limited thereto, and variations can be made to the disclosed
embodiments.
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