Patent ID: 7779612
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A process for forming a pouch having an evacuated headspace containing a flowable material comprising the steps of: providing a continuous tube of flexible and sealable film; supplying the continuous tube with a predetermined amount of flowable material; pinching the continuous tube above a sealing region so as to form a pinched portion of the continuous tube including providing an evacuating passage that passes through the pinched portion, said evacuating passage being formed by controlling the force applied to the pinched portion; transversely compressing the continuous tube beneath the pinched portion with deflating jaws thereby evacuating the headspace between the pinched portion and the predetermined amount of flowable material wherein air from the headspace passes through the pinched portion and flow of flowable material there through is limited; releasing the deflating jaws after evacuating the headspace before sealing the continuous tube and sealing the continuous tube at the sealing region to form a top seal of a previously formed pouch containing flowable material and a bottom seal of a next-to-be filled pouch.