Patent ID: 7228674
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A vacuum packaging machine for performing a vacuum sealing operation on product packages, comprising: a) a vertical stack of vacuum chambers each having an entry and an exit permanently aligned in a vertical stack so that said entrances and exits are positioned in a single vertical plane, respectively, and each arranged to receive at least one unsealed product package and operable to perform an independent vacuum sealing operation on the at least one product package, the vertical stack of vacuum chambers remaining stationery during the sealing operation; b) at least one in-feed conveyor operable to load a selected vacuum chamber with the at least one product package, the at least one in-feed conveyor being vertically movable to a position adjacent to the selected vacuum chamber to be loaded; and c) at least one out-feed conveyor operable to unload a selected vacuum chamber with the at least one product package, the at least one out-feed conveyor being vertically movable to a position adjacent to the selected vacuum chamber to be unloaded.