WO1998029307A1 - Sealing containers by vacuum in chamber - Google Patents
Sealing containers by vacuum in chamber Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998029307A1 WO1998029307A1 PCT/IL1997/000417 IL9700417W WO9829307A1 WO 1998029307 A1 WO1998029307 A1 WO 1998029307A1 IL 9700417 W IL9700417 W IL 9700417W WO 9829307 A1 WO9829307 A1 WO 9829307A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- vacuum
- chamber
- platform
- cover
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
- B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing foodstuff and other products by enclosing them in jars or other containers, evacuating the air to a certain degree and automatically closing them to maintain the vacuum.
- the invention relates particularly to a portable unit to be used in the kitchen or the laboratory.
- Still another object is to provide a domestic apparatus ready handling by anybody, without danger of being scalded by steam or boiling water.
- the method of preparing vacuumized jars and the like filled with perishable foodtuff comprises the steps of:
- a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for carrying the method into effect includes a compartment containing the mechanical equipment, viz an electrically operated vacuum pump, an automatically opened valve, piping and auxiliary equipment for starting the operation, while this is stopped automatically as soon as a preselected degree of vacuum has been reached.
- the compartment has a flat top which forms a platform serving to be covered by a cylindrical, hemispherical or bell- shaped cover adapted to withstand the pressure difference between vacuum and atmospheric pressure.
- the contact area between platform and cover is hermetically sealed by gasket means, attached either to the platform or to the cover.
- the platform and the cover form the vacuum chamber of the apparatus serving to have a number of product- filled containers or jars placed on the platfo , while they are loosely covered by lids or screwcaps.
- the platform is provided with a port connecting it to the vacuum pump by piping, and the delivery side of the pump s connected to the atmosphere.
- the platform, i.e. the chamber is further connected to the atmosphere by the afore mentioned valve which is to be manually closed and opens automatically as soon as the desired vacuum has been reached. Manual closing of the valve closes a switch which actuates the vacuum pump, and opening of the valve stops the pump. After insertion of the jars the chamber is closed by placing the cover onto the platform and the valve is closed starting the vacuum pump simultaneously.
- the valve opens automatically and the pump is stopped.
- the sudden entry of outside air into the chamber causes a pressure shock which closes the lids on the jars and containers hermetically by pressure difference caused by the atmosphere and the vauum in the container.
- a jar with a smooth opening may also be closed by placing a flat lid with a layer of rubber sheeting onto the opening which will be pressed onto it by atmospheric pressure.
- the compartment containing the vacuum pump and accessories is preferably in the shape of a cylinder with its top forming the platform for placing thereon the jars or containers and for closing the vacuum chamber by placing the cover onto the platform.
- the chamber is made airtight by either covering the platform with a layer of a resilient material such as rubber sheeting or by placing a gasket into a recess along the lower rim of the cover.
- the cover is made of a solid, preferably but not necessarily, transparent material such as glass or acrylic, but similarly of a non-corrosive metal.
- the compartment may be rectangular, with the cover having a circular or elliptical base, always provided that it is built to withstand the pressure difference.
- Still another embodiment of the apparatus includes a vacuum chamber spaced apart from the mechanical equipment and connected thereto by piping.
- the valve may be held in closed position either mechanically or by a permanent or electrical magnet so designed that the force which retains the valve can be adapted to fit the required vacuum. It is also important that flow resistance of the valve and the piping leading to the chamber is as low as possible in order to have the outside air enter the chamber shock-like which will serve to close the lids on the jars.
- the apparatus includes a storage chamber composed of a base and a hemispherical, removable cover and a hand- operated bellow mounted on top of the cover. After insertion of a closed jar the cover had to be placed onto the base and the bellows had to be operated until the desired level of vacuum had been reached.
- the check valve opens owing to the subpressure and the air is partly evacuated from the jar. Now a valve has to be opened allowing air at ambient pressure to enter, whereby the check valve closes and keeps the jar and its contents at vacuum pressure.
- U.S. Patent No.1,556, 981 which includes a bellows and two valves for opening and closing a vacuum chamber.
- An apparatus for packaging goods in a plastics bag or in a container having a deformable lid is descibed in U.S. Patent No. 4,744,199. He containers are placed into a vacuum chamber which is evacuaated causing the containers to be closed by flaps coated with adhesives by opening a valve to let outside air into the chamber.
- An electrically operated apparatus is on the market and includes a vacuum pump which has its suction port attached to a checkvalve in the screwcap of a jar. Air is sucked of the jar, whereupon the check valve closes, the connection to the vacuum pump is lifted off the screwcap and the closed jar is removed for storage.
- Figure 1A show a schematic section of the vacuum apparatus during evacuation of a lidded jar and illustrates the lid-liftingg effect due to air sucked out of the jar
- Figure 1B shows the apparatus of Figure 1 with the valve open and the lid pressed down by a shock wave
- Figure 2 illustrates a vacuum apparatus with separate vacuum chamber and vacuum pump equipment in opened state
- Figure 3 illustrtates the equipment of Figure 2 in closed state
- Figure 4 illustrates a vacuum chamber in the shape of a platform and a cylindrical cover
- Figure 5 illustrates a vacuum chamber mounted on a cylindrical compartment containing the vacuum pumping equipment
- Figure 6a illustrates a second embodiment of a valve and pump switch, in vacuum generating state
- Figure 6b illustrates the valve of Figure 6a in open state.
- Figure 1a and 1b show the vacuum apparatus schematically and does not represent a true section of a working model, but its intention is to show its working.
- Figure 1a showing it during evacuation of air, and Figure 1b during entrance of outside air.
- a jar 14 covered by a flat lid 15 placed inside the vacuum chamber 16.
- the chamber is formed by a cylindrical cover 2 placed on platform 1 with a layer of a resilient material 16 on the platform serving as an airtight gasket.
- the platform constitutes the top of a cylindrical compartment 13 which contains a vacuum pump 17 driven by an electric motor 18. It further contains a quick-acting valve 20 which is connected to the chamber by a pipe 4 via a port 7 and to the atmosphere by aa large opening 8.
- Pipe 4 is connected to vacuum pump 17 by a pipe 22, whereby pipe 4 acts both as suction and supply way.
- Not shown is a connection to a domestic supply outlet.
- the valve shown in Figure 1 represents one embodiment of a plurality of valves suitable for the purpose of opening automatically at a predesignated vacuum level, but it is of very simple design and accordingly cheap.
- Figure 1a it is shown in closed state while the vacuum chamber is evacuated as shown by arrows. It includes, a casing 25 which is connected to pipe 4 and features air inlet openings 26.
- a valve disk 28 is firmly attached to a valve stem 27 which extends out of the casing and is shown to press on switch 19 actuating the pump motor 18.
- the valve disk closes the valve by means of an O-ring 29 by contact with the tubular valve seat while the stem is pushed in wardly by means of a knob 30.
- the stem is provided, close to knob 30, with a circumferential groove 31 into which two steel balls 32 are urged by springs and screws 33.
- FIG. 1b demonstrates the state of affairs a moment after the valve has been opened by the pressure difference and outside air rushing into the vacuum chamber.
- the retreating valve stem has opened the micro-switch thereby stopping the vacuum pump.
- the shocklike entry of air has closed the lid onto the jar and the drawing shows it slightly pressed inwardly by atmospheric pressure.
- the valve is designed to open a wide passage permitting air to enter the vacuum chamber within ° a fraction of a second, thereby creating the afore mentioned shock.
- Figures 2 through 5 illustrate various embodiments of the apparatus without, however, showing any mechanical details:- 5
- Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a vacuum apparatus having separate vacuum chamber and vacuum pumping equipment, the latter contained in a box-shaped compartment 3.
- the chamber includes a circular platform 1 and a bell-shaped cover 2, shown separately in Figure 2 and in assembled 0 state in Figure 3.
- Platform 1 is connected to compartment 3 by two pipes 4 which connect the chamber by means of ports 5 and 6 in the platform surface with equipment in compartment 3, One of the pipes connects the chamber with the suction port of the vacuum pump with the aim to 5 exhausting the chamber.
- the second pipe connects the chamber to the automatic valve and to the controller configured to stop the pump motor and to open the valve.
- the vacuum chamber illustrtated in Figure 4 is similar to that of Figures 2 and 3 except for the size and shape of the chamber cover.
- This cover consists of a cylindrical envelope 10 closed at the upper end by a flat disk 11 which is provided with a lifting knob 12. It is pointed out that disk 11 has to be made of thicker material in order to withstand the pressure difference.
- the advantage of the cylindrical cover is the possibility of inserting into the chamber jars or containers of larger height, a matter not easily obtainable with the afore described bell -shaped cover.
- the chamber of Figure 4 may illustrate an alternative embodiment, namely that the cylinder is firmly attached to the platform, while the top cover 11 is a separate unit and serves as a cover for the cylindrical envelope.
- Gasket means are provided either on the upper rim of the cylinder or on the lid or cover 11. Jars are to be placed into the cylindrical space via the open top and likewise wi thdrawn.
- FIG. 5 shows vacuum chamber and vacuum pumping compartment united in one compact unit.
- platform 1 forms the top of a cylindrical compartment 13, while the chamber is formed by a bell -shaped cover 2 as in Figures 2 and 3.
- the chamber is made airtight by gasket means between platform and cover, either by covering the entire platform surface with a layer of a resilient material such as rubber sheeting, or by means of a gasket inserted into a recess in the rim of the cover.
- the units are portable and can be readily placed onto a suitable table or shelf in kitchen, pantry or laboratory, to be connected to the nearest wall outlet.
- FIG. 6a An alternative valve is illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b, wherein the resistance to opening of the valve is by the force of a magnet.
- the valve compopigs are enclosed in a casing 40 which features a port 41 for connection to the vacuum chamber by piping and ports 42 open to atmospheric pressure.
- a valve body 43 has a cylindrical portion which is connected to a valve stem 44 and a conical portion which encloses a steel bolt 45.
- Both casing and valve body are of a non-conductive material, the valve being closed by contact of the cylindrical portion with a U-ring seal 47 of a flexible material.
- the passage of the stem through the casing is sealed by a shaft seal 53 preventing air from entering the casing.
- a permanent magnet 48 attracting steel bolt 45.
- the magnet is of cylindrical shape and can be axially moved in a screw-threaded bore in an annular bottom part 49 of the casing, likewise of a non-conductive material. The magnet is thus shifted with the object of changing its distance from the steel bolt and adjusting the attracting force thereby.
- the steel bolt also holds a conductive disk 50 which, in closed position of the valve, connects two electrodes 51 configured to actuate the vacuum pump.
- a weak spiral spring 52 (Fig.6b) is mounted between the magnet and the bolt having the task of assisting the valve's opening upon the vacuum attaining the required level .
- Figure 6b shows the valve in open position with air flow shown in the form of arrows. It is reiterated that entry of outside air is within a fraction of a second creating the shock effect required for closing the jars.
- the platform may be square to serve as a cover of a rectangular compartment.
- the cover may be hemispherical which will allow a relatively thin walled construction to withstand the outside pressure.
- the cover material may be glass, plastics or metal, to suit every one's taste.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP97955077A EP0971841A1 (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-12-21 | Sealing containers by vacuum in chamber |
AU54087/98A AU5408798A (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-12-21 | Sealing containers by vacuum in chamber |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IL119934 | 1996-12-30 | ||
IL11993496A IL119934A (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1996-12-30 | Apparatus for quick evacuating and closing lidded jars and vessels containing foodstuff and other products |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998029307A1 true WO1998029307A1 (en) | 1998-07-09 |
Family
ID=11069638
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IL1997/000417 WO1998029307A1 (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-12-21 | Sealing containers by vacuum in chamber |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0971841A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU5408798A (en) |
IL (1) | IL119934A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998029307A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102022125556A1 (en) | 2022-10-04 | 2024-04-04 | Leonhard Burmester | Device and method for creating a vacuum inside disposable or reusable containers or other containers |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1594512A (en) * | 1924-06-23 | 1926-08-03 | Lippe-Lipski Elaine Von Der | Apparatus for preserving foods |
US1598089A (en) * | 1923-09-04 | 1926-08-31 | Langkopf Theodor | Apparatus for hermetically closing preserve glasses |
US1967346A (en) * | 1932-05-27 | 1934-07-24 | Owens Illinois Glass Co | Apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers |
US4478025A (en) * | 1981-08-31 | 1984-10-23 | Scanlan Gregory P | Vacuum packing device |
US4744199A (en) * | 1985-02-12 | 1988-05-17 | Fgl Projects Limited | Vacuum packaging |
US4909014A (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1990-03-20 | Zojirushi Corporation | Vacuum storage device |
US5056292A (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1991-10-15 | Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller Kg | Vacuum chamber packaging machine |
US5239808A (en) * | 1992-05-13 | 1993-08-31 | Hantover, Inc. | Vacuum packaging machine |
-
1996
- 1996-12-30 IL IL11993496A patent/IL119934A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1997
- 1997-12-21 EP EP97955077A patent/EP0971841A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-12-21 AU AU54087/98A patent/AU5408798A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-12-21 WO PCT/IL1997/000417 patent/WO1998029307A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1598089A (en) * | 1923-09-04 | 1926-08-31 | Langkopf Theodor | Apparatus for hermetically closing preserve glasses |
US1594512A (en) * | 1924-06-23 | 1926-08-03 | Lippe-Lipski Elaine Von Der | Apparatus for preserving foods |
US1967346A (en) * | 1932-05-27 | 1934-07-24 | Owens Illinois Glass Co | Apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers |
US4478025A (en) * | 1981-08-31 | 1984-10-23 | Scanlan Gregory P | Vacuum packing device |
US4744199A (en) * | 1985-02-12 | 1988-05-17 | Fgl Projects Limited | Vacuum packaging |
US4909014A (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1990-03-20 | Zojirushi Corporation | Vacuum storage device |
US5056292A (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1991-10-15 | Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller Kg | Vacuum chamber packaging machine |
US5239808A (en) * | 1992-05-13 | 1993-08-31 | Hantover, Inc. | Vacuum packaging machine |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102022125556A1 (en) | 2022-10-04 | 2024-04-04 | Leonhard Burmester | Device and method for creating a vacuum inside disposable or reusable containers or other containers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU5408798A (en) | 1998-07-31 |
IL119934A (en) | 2001-09-13 |
IL119934A0 (en) | 1997-03-18 |
EP0971841A1 (en) | 2000-01-19 |
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