Patent Publication Number: US-2007113523-A1

Title: Vacuum packaging appliance with vacuum side channel latches

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present application claims priority to Baptista&#39;s provisional patent application 60/450,528, entitled “Vacuum Packaging System with a Secondary Vacuum Latching Mechanism,” and Baptista&#39;s provisional patent application 60/450,295, entitled “Vacuum Packaging System with Removable Trough,” both filed Feb. 27, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference. The present application is related to Baptista&#39;s utility patent application entitled “Vacuum Packaging Appliance with Removable Trough” filed herewith, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to home vacuum packaging appliances. In particular, the present invention teaches a vacuum packaging appliance with at least one vacuum latch for ease of maintaining closure of the appliance during a vacuum packaging process.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Various appliances and methods are used for the purpose of vacuum packaging and sealing plastic bags and containers to protect perishables, such as foodstuffs, and other products against oxidation. Conventional commercial devices and some consumer appliances are generally expensive to manufacture, complex in construction and/or cumbersome to operate. One conventional type of vacuum sealing system, primarily used for commercial packaging purposes, includes a vacuum chamber in which the entire packaged product is placed, along with heat sealers and attendant components of the system.  
      Another type of conventional vacuum sealing system uses a vacuum nozzle that is inserted within a plastic bag for evacuation purposes. Although adaptable for low-volume home use, this type of system is cumbersome to use and normally requires a liquid separator or filter to prevent liquids or powders, retained within the bag, from being drawn into a vacuum pump connected to the nozzle. Further, the heat sealer employed therein must be closely calibrated and synchronized with the positioning and withdrawal of the vacuum nozzle from the bag.  
      Still another known vacuum sealing system places a portion of a bag, containing a product to be packaged, in a first vacuum chamber and extends an open end or neck of the bag into a second vacuum chamber. The first vacuum chamber is then evacuated to expand the neck of the bag to isolate the chambers from each other. Then a vacuum is drawn in the second vacuum chamber to evacuate the bag. Thus, isolation of the two chambers from each other, during evacuation of the second vacuum chamber, is dependent on the physical properties composing the neck of the bag (which is intended to form a static seal between the two chambers) and very close synchronization and calibration of the evacuation and sealing procedures and controls therefor. A vacuum sealing system of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,938, for example.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,171 discloses another vacuum sealing system, which is not believed to have been commercialized. In particular, the open end of a plastic bag is placed between a pair of jaws or between a lower jaw and a flexible sheet to evacuate the bag that is then heat-sealed. An inner surface of the bag has protuberances that make point contact with an opposite surface of the bag to define air exhaust passages during evacuation of the bag. More recent successfully marketed appliances are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,310, the complete contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
      During operation of the home vacuum packaging appliance, the user must be provided a mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the vacuum circuit. Typically this is accomplished by requiring the user to manually depress on a lid of the home vacuum packaging appliance and maintain pressure while the bag or container is evacuated. What is needed is a simpler and more reliable mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the vacuum circuit during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the vacuum packaging appliance of the invention with the lid in a closed position.  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the underside of the appliance shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is an expanded isometric view of the control panel of the appliance shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the appliance shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in an open position.  
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the appliance shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in an open position and with the trough removed from the appliance.  
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the trough removed from the appliance.  
       FIG. 7  is transverse. cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a method of forming a hermetically sealed vacuum packaging container in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention teaches a variety of vacuum packaging appliances for making an evacuated and hermetically sealed container. In order to assist with maintaining the integrity of a vacuum circuit used for evacuating the container, the present invention teaches mechanisms and techniques for providing a vacuum latch which during operation tends to engage a lid and a base of the vacuum packaging appliance.  
       FIG. 1  shows a vacuum packaging appliance  100  for vacuum packaging and sealing articles in a container. The appliance  100  has a lid  102  and a base  104 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the lid  102  and base  104  are pivotally connected at a backside  106  of the appliance  100 . However, in alternate embodiments the lid and base are connected in any other convenient manner or they may be independent parts. In any event, the lid  102  and the base  104  engage in a manner that couples the container into a vacuum circuit of the appliance  100 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the lid includes a blade handle  108  that is associated with a blade (not shown) on the inside of the lid  102  of the appliance  100 . The blade handle  108  is slideably engaged within a slot  110  that extends substantially the entire length of the appliance  100 . Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes a blade handle  108  and associated blade (not shown) slideably coupled in a slot  110  in the lid  102  of the appliance  100 , in alternate embodiments the blade handle  108 , blade (not shown) and slot  110  may have various other configurations. Furthermore, in alternate embodiments, the device may not have a blade handle  108 , blade (not shown) or slot  110 . The blade is for cutting sections of flexible bag material used to form the container.  
       FIG. 1  also shows the base  104  of the appliance  100  including an aperture  112  that is covered by a door  114 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the door  114  is slideably mounted in the interior of the base  104  and includes a protrusion  116  that allows a used to more easily slide the door  114  between an open and a closed position. In alternate embodiments, the door  114  may take any convenient form and may be mounted to the appliance  100  in any convenient manner.  
      The appliance  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a control panel  118  that is coupled with the base  104  and extends above the lid  102 . In alternate embodiments, the control panel may be located in any convenient location on the appliance or may not be included.  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the underside of the appliance  100 .  FIG. 2  shows that the appliance  100  includes an alternating current (AC) power cord  202  that is coupled with the base  104 . However in alternate embodiments, the power cord  202  maybe coupled with any convenient part of the appliance  100  or may not be present. In still further alternate embodiments, the device may be powered by any convenient source such as one or more batteries providing direct current (DC) or various other known energy transfer technologies.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the base  104  has a recess  204  for storage of the power cord  202 . To at least partially retain the power cord in the recess  204 , the base also includes cord retention flanges  206 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , two of the chord retention flanges  206  are rotatably coupled with the base  104  of the appliance  100  and one chord retention flange  206  is fixed relative to the base  104 . The rotatable chord retention flanges  206  allow a user to more easily store the power chord in the recess  204 . However, in alternate embodiments any or all of the chord retention flanges  206  may all be fixed or rotatable or may not be present. In still further alternate embodiments, the recess  204  may take any convenient shape or may not be present.  
       FIG. 3  is a magnified view of the control panel shown in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the control panel  118  has a face plate  302  that is removably coupled with the base  104 . The faceplate  302  is removable to facilitate cleaning of the appliance  100  and so that the appliance  100  maybe manufactured with various faceplates that can accommodate a greater or fewer number of openings for controls. Although the embodiment in  FIG. 3  is shown with a removable faceplate  302 , in alternate embodiments the face plate  302  my be fixed or may be integral with the base  104  or any other portion of the appliance  100 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the control panel  118  has rotary dial control  304 , a cancel control  306 , an instant seal control  308 , a extended vacuum control  310 , an accessory port  312  and an indicator light  314 . However in alternate embodiments, various other controls may be included in the control panel  118  and/or various controls may be excluded from the control panel  118 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the rotary dial  304  has multiple positions that can control various aspects of the appliance  100 .  FIG. 3  shows that the rotary dial  304  has five positions: Accessory,  1 ,  2 ,  3  and Seal Only. However in alternate embodiments, the rotary dial may have more or fewer settings that can control various aspects of the appliance  100 . When the rotary dial  304  is in the accessory position, the accessory port  312  is activated and accessories (not shown) can be attached to the appliance  100  either directly or via a vacuum hose (not shown). When the rotary dial  304  is in any position other than the accessory position, the accessory port  312  is sealed off and a vacuum is not drawn through the accessory port  312 . Sealing off of the accessory port  312  can be accomplished by other convenient mechanism.  
      Positions  1 ,  2  and  3  allow the a user to control the length of time the sealing mechanism (not shown) is active. In one embodiment, the position  1  may active the sealing mechanism for a first predetermined period, position  2  may activate the sealing mechanism for a second predetermined period, and position  3  may activate the sealing mechanism for a third predetermined period. Thus, the user can select the duration of the sealing process. The seal only position allows a user to operate the sealing mechanism  420  ( FIG. 4 ) without requiring evacuation of the primary evacuation chamber  404  ( FIG. 4 ).  
      Although the appliance shown in  FIG. 3  includes a rotary dial  304  with five positions, in alternate embodiments the appliance can include a rotary dial  304  that has more or fewer positions. In still further alternate embodiments, the appliance may not include a rotary dial  304  or can include various buttons or other control mechanisms to control the various operations of the appliance  100 . Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the present invention contemplates a host of heat-sealing strategies not described according to the illustrations. For example, the heat sealing-mechanism may be controlled by a feedback device (electrical current, temperature, variable resistance, etc.) which may control the heating-sealing time. The type of container, the contents of the container, etc., are all factors that may be taken into consideration when controlling the heat-sealing process.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the control panel includes a cancel button  306 . The cancel button  306  allows a user to cancel a vacuum operation or sealing operation at any time during the operation. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the cancel button  306  is an electromechanical press-type switch. However, in alternate embodiments the cancel button  306  may be any type of user-activated control mechanism and/or the appliance may not include a cancel button  306 .  
      In embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the control panel  118  includes an instant seal button  308 . The instant seal button  308  allows a user to terminate the evacuation process and begin the sealing process at any time during operation of the appliance  100 . By way of example, a user may desire to only partially evacuate a container or not evacuate a container at all. Thus, the user may engage the container in the device and seal the container either without drawing a vacuum in the container or while drawing a vacuum in the container before the device begins automatically sealing the container.  FIG. 3  depicts the instant seal button  308  as an electromechanical press-type switch. However, in alternate embodiments the instant seal button  308  may be any type of user-activated control mechanism and/or the appliance may not include an instant seal button  308 .  
       FIG. 3  also shows that the control panel  118  includes an extended vacuum button  310 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the extended vacuum button  310  allows a user to extend the length of time for which the container (not shown) is evacuated. In one embodiment, if a user depresses the extended vacuum button  310  during the evacuation process, the container will continue to be evacuated for an additional predetermined amount of time after a first predetermined vacuum strength is reached. In an alternate embodiment, if a user depresses the extended vacuum button  310  during the evacuation process, the container will continue to be evacuated until the vacuum strength reaches a second predetermined strength. In a still further alternate embodiment, if a user depresses the extended vacuum button  310  during the evacuation process, the container will continue to be evacuated until either the vacuum strength reaches a second predetermined strength or until a predetermined time has expired after the vacuum strength reached a first predetermines vacuum strength. Although  FIG. 3  depicts the extended vacuum button  310  as a press-type electromechanical switch, in alternate embodiments the extended vacuum button  310  may be any type of control mechanism and/or the appliance  100  may not include an extended vacuum button  310 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the control panel  118  includes a accessory port  312 . The accessory port allows a user to connect the appliance to various containers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,310, by Hanns J. Kristen, issued Jul. 17, 1990, and assigned to the same assignee as this patent, the complete contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
      The control panel  118  shown in  FIG. 3  also includes an indicator light  314 . The indicator light  314  serves to notify a user of the status of the appliance  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the indicator light is off when the device is inactive, solid green while the device is actively evacuating a container and emits intermittent green flashes when the device is sealing a container (not shown). However, in alternate embodiment the light may emit light of various colors and/or intensifies and/or at various intervals to indicate various operations that the machine is performing. For example, the indicator light  314  may flash amber or some other color to indicate that the device is currently drawing an extended vacuum or the indicator light  314  may glow red to indicate that the accessory port  312  is active. In still further alternate embodiments, the control panel  118  may not include an indicator light  314 .  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the appliance  100  shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid  102  in an open position. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid  102  of the appliance  100  includes two pneumatic latch chambers  402  and a primary evacuation chamber  404 . Each of the pneumatic latch chambers  402  and the primary evacuation chamber  404  have flexible gaskets  406  at their perimeters. Additionally, the primary evacuation chamber  404  includes an evacuation port  408  that is coupled to a vacuum source (not shown) housed inside the appliance  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid also includes a sealing gasket  410 , a cutting mechanism  412  that includes the handle  100  and the blade (not shown) and a protrusion  414 .  
      The base  104  of the appliance  100  shown in  FIG. 4  includes an electromechanical switch  416 , evacuation apertures  418 , and a thermal sealing mechanism  420 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the electromechanical switch  416  is positioned on the base such that when the lid  102  is in a closed position, the protrusion  414  is substantially vertically aligned with the electromechanical switch  416 . Thus, when the lid  102  is in a closed position and then is further depressed, the protrusion  414  can actuate the electromechanical switch  416  and activate the appliance  100 . Of course, this switching control mechanism is optional and may be accomplished through an optical switch, etc.  
      The base  104  of the appliance  100  shown in  FIG. 4  has a recess  422  that is adapted to hold container material  424 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the container material  424  is a roll of flattened, tubular container material and is supported on rotational supports  426 . The rotation supports  426  are designed to engage the ends of the roll of container material  424  and rotate freely within the recess  422 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , each rotation support  426  has grooves at its perimeter to facilitate rotation of the rotational support  426  and the roll of container material  424 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  includes a recess  422  and a roll of container material  424  mounted on rotation supports  426 . In alternate embodiments the appliance  100  may not include storage space for a roll of container material  424 . The container material  424  can be mounted on a central spindle (not shown) and/or mounted using any other convenient mechanism. In a still further alternate embodiment, the roll or container material  424  may simply be place or stored in the recess  422  without any support mechanism to facility dispensing the container material  424 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the roll of container material is a single roll of continuously bonded plastic as described in U.S. Pat. No. RE34,929, by Hanns J. Kristen, issued May 9, 1995 a reissue patent based on U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,422, by Hanns J. Kristen, issued Jul. 12, 1988, assigned to the assignee of the present application, the complete contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, in alternate embodiments, the roll of container material  424  may be any convenient material.  
      The base  104  of the appliance  100  shown in  FIG. 4  also includes a groove  428  that is located between the thermal sealing mechanism  420  and a trough  430 . The groove  428  is positioned in the base  104  such that when the lid  102  is in a closed position, the cutting mechanism  412  is substantially vertically aligned with the groove  428 . In operation, a user can move the handle  108  on the lid  102  within the slot  110  which will cause the cutting mechanism  412  to travel within the groove  428 . When container material is present within the groove  428 , the container material will be cut by the cutting mechanism  412 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the cutting mechanism  412  is a safety cutting mechanism designed to reduce the risk of injury to a user. However in alternate embodiments, the cutting mechanism can be any convenient cutting mechanism. Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  includes a cutting mechanism  412  and associated components, in alternate embodiments, the cutting mechanism  412 , the groove  428 , the handle  108  and the slot  110  can have various other convenient forms or may not be present.  
      The thermal sealing mechanism  420  includes one or more electrically conductive wires (not shown) that produce heat when a voltage differential is applied across the length of the wire. In the embodiment shown, the electrically conductive wires (not shown) are covered with a Teflon tape. However, in alternate embodiments, the wires may be exposed or wrapped in a material. When the lid  102  is in a closed position, the sealing gasket  410  presses against the sealing mechanism  420 . If the sealing mechanism  420  is activated and container material  424  is disposed between the sealing gasket  410  and the sealing mechanism  420 , the container material  424  can be hermetically sealed. Although the appliance  100  is described as including a sealing mechanism  420  that is integrated with the appliance, in alternate embodiments, the sealing mechanism  420  maybe an external appliance or may not be included. Additionally in alternate embodiments, various other sealing mechanisms  420  may be used to seal the container material  424 , such as crimping or external clamps.  
      In operation, when the lid  102  is in a closed position and is depressed such that the protrusion  414  actuates the electromechanical switch  416 , the vacuum source (not shown) is activated. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the vacuum source first draws a vacuum in the latch chambers  402  via evacuation apertures  418 . The evacuation of the latch chambers  402  draws the lid  102  down towards the base  104 . Once the vacuum strength in the latch chambers  402  reaches a predetermined level, evacuation of the latch chambers  402  ceases and the vacuum source begins to evacuate the primary evacuation chamber  404  which is mated with the trough  430 .  
      Alternatively, after a predetermined time, vacuum to the primary evacuation chamber can be applied before vacuum is cut off to the latch chambers  402 . In a still further alternate embodiment, vacuum to the latch chambers  402  can be reduced in a step down manner as vacuum is being applied to the primary evacuation chamber  404  in a step-up manner. Evacuation of the primary evacuation chamber  404  and trough  430  is performed via the evacuation port  408 . In  FIG. 4 , when the lid  102  is in a closed position, the gasket  406  surrounding the primary evacuation chamber  404  and the gasket  406  surrounding the trough  430  are substantially vertically aligned such that a substantially contained environment is formed by the primary evacuation chamber  404  and the trough  430 .  
      In an alternate embodiment, the vacuum source may evacuate the latch chambers  402  for a fixed period of time instead of until a predetermined vacuum strength is reached. Additionally, in still further alternate embodiments, the latch chambers maybe associated with a vacuum source independent from the vacuum source associated with the primary evacuation chamber  408 . In still further alternate embodiments, each latch chamber  402  can be associated with an independent vacuum source.  
      While in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  the appliance  100  is shown having two latch chambers positioned at the outer boundaries of the appliance  100 , in alternate embodiments there maybe greater or fewer latch chambers  402  and they maybe positioned in any convenient location on the appliance. Additionally, while the evacuation apertures  418  are shown as being located in the base  104 , in alternate embodiments the evacuation apertures  418  can be located in any convenient location which will allow evacuation of the latch chambers  402 . Furthermore, the evacuation chambers  402  can have any convenient shape.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , for cleaning purposes, the trough  430  is removable from the base  104  of the appliance  100  through the aperture  111  when the door  114  is in an open position. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  the door  114  is manually slideable between an open and a closed position. However, in alternate embodiments, the door can be mechanically operated and/or can open in any convenient fashion. In still further alternate embodiments, the door  114  may not be present.  
      In operation, a user inserts an open end of a container, such as a flexible bag, into the trough  430  or attaches a container to the accessory port  312 . The user then selects a setting on the rotary dial  304 , closes the lid  102  and depresses the lid  102  past the closed position to actuate the electromechanical switch  416  with the protrusion  414 . The vacuum source will then evacuate the latch chambers  402  to hold the lid  102  relative to the base  104 . Once the lid  102  is secured relative to the base  104  by the latch chambers  402 , the primary evacuation chamber  404  and the trough  430  are evacuated thus evacuating the open container inserted into the trough  430 . When the vacuum strength reaches a predetermined level, the sealing mechanism will be activated to seal the container, if it is inserted into the trough  430 . The evacuated and scaled container may then be released from the appliance  100 .  
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the appliance shown in  FIG. 4  with the trough  430  removed and the door  114  in an open position. The embodiment shows a recess  502  in which the trough  430  may be inserted and removed.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the recess has retention flanges  504  that are designed to prevent substantial vertical and rotational movement of the trough  430  within the recess  502  when the trough  420  is inserted in the recess  502 . While the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  includes retention flanges  504 , in alternate embodiments the recess may use any convenient mechanism to restrict movement of the trough  430  when it is inserted in the recess  502 . Furthermore in alternate embodiments, the recess  502  may not have any mechanism for restraining vertical and/or rotational movement of the trough  430  within the recess  502 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the recess  502  has a slot  506  at the end of the recess  502  opposite the door  114 . The slot  506  is designed to mate with a protrusion in the trough  430  in a snap-fit manner. The snap-fit mating of the slot  506  and the recess in the trough  430  is designed to restrict horizontal movement of the trough  430  within the recess  502 . In alternate embodiments the recess  502  can includes alternate and/or additional mechanisms to inhibit movement of the trough within the recess  502 . Additionally instill further alternate embodiments, the appliance  100  may not include any mechanisms to inhibit horizontal movement of the trough  430 .  
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the trough  430  when removed from the vacuum packaging appliance  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the trough  430  includes an extension that includes a protrusion  602 . The protrusion  602  is designed to mate with the slot  506  in a snap-fit manner. Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes an extension with a protrusion  602 , in alternate embodiments other convenient mechanisms may be used and/or the trough  430  may not include a movement inhibiting mechanism.  
      The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes flanges  604  that, as described with reference to  FIG. 5 , are designed to engage with the retention flanges  504 . Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes retention flanges  604 , in alternate embodiments other convenient mechanisms may be used and or the trough  430  may not include a movement inhibiting mechanism.  
      The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  includes a handle  606 . The handle is included to facilitate removal and insertion of the trough  430 . Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  depicts the handle as an open type loop, any convenient handle shaper may be used. Additionally in alternate embodiments, the trough  430  may not include a handle.  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the appliance  100 , cut along the section line A-A indicated in  FIG. 1 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  shows the lid  102  in a closed position relative to the base  104 . The base  104  includes the thermal sealing mechanism  420  which is positioned in substantial vertical alignment with the sealing gasket  410  in the lid  102  of the appliance.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the trough  430  is mounted in the recess  502  such that the flanges  604  of the trough  430  are positioned below the retention flanges  504  of the recess  502 . Thus, vertical movement of the trough  430  with the recess  502  is substantially inhibited.  
      The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  also shows that the base of the appliance  100  includes a recess  204  and rotatably mounted chord retention flanges  206 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  also depicts a roll of container material  424  that is stored within the recess  422  within the appliance  100 .  
      The embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  also shows that when the lid  102  is in a closed position related to the base  104 , the gaskets  406  surrounding the primary evacuation chamber  408  and the trough  430  are in substantial vertical alignment and are in contact. The chamber  408  and the trough  430  thus define a signal evacuable space. Additionally, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  shown that the slot  110  in the lid  102  is in substantial vertical alignment with the groove  428  in the base  104 , thus allowing the cutting mechanism (not shown) to cut container material contained in the groove  428 .  
      The vacuum source or sources (not shown) may be contained in any convenient location within the appliance  100  or in alternate embodiments may be external to the appliance  100 . Although the vacuum source described in the present invention is described as a piston type vacuum, the vacuum source may be any convenient mechanism capable of drawing a vacuum.  
      Turning next to  FIG. 8 , a method  800  of forming a hermetically sealed vacuum packaged container from an open container using a vacuum packaging appliance will now be described. As will be appreciated, the method of the present invention can be used with any suitable vacuum packaging appliance. Accordingly, flow reference numbering as used in the above FIGS. will riot be used with reference to  FIG. 8  unless merely for example.  
      In any event, the method  800  begins with required initialization steps. For example, a user may take packaging material and form seals on all but three sides. This could be done with use of the roll of bag material  424 , or may be done by obtaining preformed bags. These are not specifically shown  
      In any event, in a step  802 , the user inserts an open end of a container into the vacuum packaging appliance in order to begin forming a vacuum circuit with the vacuum packaging appliance. This may involve placing the open end into a drip trough, etc. In a next step  804 , the operatively engages the lid and the base of the vacuum packaging appliance. As will be appreciated from the above discussion, engaging the lid and base closes the vacuum circuit formed by the container, the vacuum chamber(s) and the vacuum source. However, to provide a sufficient seal to evacuate the container via the vacuum circuit, a certain amount of pressure or force must be applied to maintain engagement of the lid with the base.  
      In a step  806 , the user activates the vacuum packaging appliance. This activation  806  could be triggered by a variety of actions. For example, activation could be initiated by the user engaging the lid and the base. Alternatively, the user may first engage the lid and base, and then activate (through switch or button, etc.) the device. This activation may include one step for forming the vacuum latch, and then another for evacuation of the container.  
      In a step  808 , a vacuum latch is formed between the lid and the base. The vacuum latch evacuation process could result in latch evacuation for a preset period of time, for a time as determined by the user, or until a certain sensed vacuum level is reached. As will be appreciated, using a process which evacuates the vacuum latch chambers described above would work well to form a vacuum latch between the lid and base. However, the present invention also contemplates other vacuum latch mechanisms. For example, a mechanical latch could be coupled to the vacuum circuit such that operation of the vacuum source causes the mechanical latch to provide the necessary tension of engagement between the lid and the base.  
      In a step  810 , the container is evacuated in order to form a vacuum. Container evacuation can be accomplished through any suitable method as desired by the particular application. For example, the user may control container evacuation. Alternatively, container evacuation could begin automatically a set time period after latch evacuation or after the vacuum latch reaches a set vacuum level.  
      In a step  812 , the container is sealed thereby forming a hermetically sealed vacuum packaging container. As will be appreciated, this sealing is often accomplished through a heat-sealing mechanism applied to the container. This heat-sealing mechanism can be engaged in any suitable manner; e.g., after a certain period of container evacuation or after a certain level of vacuum is reached within the container. In any event, once the container is sealed, the method  800  is complete.  
      It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-presented description is provided by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that numerous other embodiments of the invention are contemplated and possible which meet the scope and spirit of the invention.