Patent ID: 7464521

Claim:
A vacuum packaging machine for performing a vacuum sealing operation on a product package containing two or more products, comprising: a) an in-feed conveyor; and b) a vacuum chamber; the in-feed conveyor arranged to deliver the product package from an upstream station to a position adjacent the vacuum chamber, and having a longitudinal direction defined by the direction of travel of the product package on the in-feed conveyor; the vacuum chamber arranged to receive the product package containing two or more products and perform a vacuum, sealing and cutting operation on the product package, the vacuum chamber comprising a) a heat sealing and cutting assembly, and b) end walls; the heat sealing and cutting assembly being oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the in-feed conveyor, and located in a position in the vacuum chamber such that there is sufficient spacing between the end walls of the vacuum chamber and the heat sealing and cutting assembly for the product package containing two or more products to be loaded into the vacuum chamber with at least one product located in front of the heat sealing and cutting assembly and at least one other product located behind the heat sealing and cutting assembly, the heat sealing and cutting assembly arranged to seal and cut across the product package between two products to form two separate evacuated packages; wherein the vacuum packaging machine comprises one or more chamber conveyors, the one or more chamber conveyors being separate from the in-feed conveyor, disposed in the vacuum chamber, for receiving the product package into the vacuum chamber and/or conveying the product package from the vacuum chamber following the vacuum, sealing and cutting operation.