Patent ID: 7441674
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: B67D

Abstract:
1. A method of evacuating a product package, comprising: a. loading a product package containing a recoverable portion and an unrecoverable portion into a package carrier having a pinch-off face and a recessed pinch-off area, wherein the the unrecoverable portion of the product package is disposed between the pinch-off face and the recessed pinch-off area; b. closing the package carrier to bring the pinch-off face and the recessed pinch-off area together, thereby forcing product disposed within the unrecoverable portion to move into the recoverable portion of the product package, wherein the unrecoverable portion is sealed off when the package carrier is in a closed position; c. inserting the loaded package carrier into a dispensing station of a product dispenser; and d. moving an evacuation member downward against the recoverable portion of the product package to force the product toward a package outlet.