Patent ID: 6343459
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: B65B,H04M

Abstract:
A method of evacuating and sealing a bag containing a charge of flowable product and formed from a sealable material so as to form a sealed package, comprising the steps of:(i) positioning a bag containing a charge of said flowable product and formed from a sealable material with its open end around a vacuum probe member and with said member extending into the bag to a first position; (ii) forming a temporary seal at the open end of the bag around the probe member; (iii) evacuating gas from the bag through the probe member so as to produce a first pressure in the bag; (iv) causing relative movement of the bag and said probe member so that said probe member is retracted relative to the bag and extends into the bag to a second position between said temporary seal and the charge; (v) maintaining a predetermined pressure which is higher than said first pressure in said probe member so that a predetermined small quantity of gas flows from said probe member into said bag, thereby to dislodge said flowable product from said probe member back into the bag and raise the pressure in the bag to a second reduced pressure; (vi) forming a permanent seal in the bag at the open end of the bag in a position between the charge and the probe member in said second position; and (vii) releasing the temporary seal to allow release of the bag following completion of the permanent seal.