Vacuum sealer apparatus and a film cartridge for a vacuum sealer and a means of operating the vacuum sealer and the film cartridge

Abstract

A vacuum sealer for packaging, sealing and storing items and a film cartridge for a vacuum sealer is disclosed. The vacuum sealer has a means to feed, form, seal and cut film bags for storing items. The vacuum sealer preferably includes a body, a top portion, a base portion, a film cartridge, a drive mechanism, a sealing and cutting mechanism and a vacuum / pump mechanism. The film cartridge is operatively positioned in a feed opening in a top portion of the vacuum sealer. The film cartridge houses film for forming film bags for use in the vacuum sealer. The film cartridge may have tubular film contained in a collapsed state or may have two film rolls which are brought together and sealed at the edges. The vacuum sealer may be used in a vertical orientation or optionally in a horizontal or angled orientation.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 816,869 filed Jun. 28, 2006.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum sealer for packaging, sealing and storing items and a film cartridge for a vacuum sealer. More particularly, the invention relates to a vacuum sealer having a center filling film cartridge. The invention also relates to a vacuum sealer having a means to feed, form, seal and cut film bags for storing items. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many types of material and methods are available for packaging, sealing and storing various items, including vacuum packaging using plastic film bags. Vacuum packaging involves removing air and / or gases from a storage container or bag so that the contents thereof are not exposed to the air. Vacuum packaging is especially useful in protecting food and other perishable items from spoilage and the growth of bacteria or mold since air does not ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0035] When the film bag is initially being formed, air may be blown into the film bag to aid in forming the desired size of the film bag by pushing the desired amount of film from the film cartridge. Also, by using air to forward the film through the vacuum sealer, the film bag is substantially fully opened for convenient loading of the film bag by the user. Optionally, the inside wall of the vacuum sealer may have expansion chambers and / or may be lined with a bag opening aiding component to help keep the film bag fully opened once the air pressure is released.

[0039] The vacuum sealer of the invention preferably provides at least one of the following: (1) quick and convenient packaging of items, including, but not limited to, food items, liquids, fragile items and clothes; (2) containing items for long term storage; (3) quick and convenient packaging and freezing of leftovers or other items; (4) quick and convenient debulking and storing of items; (5) space reduction; (6) air packing of items to provide protection thereof; and (7) aesthetic design for convenient storage or display of the vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealing using the vacuum sealer of the invention enables a user to: extend the freshness of food (by up to five times longer than without vacuum sealing); eliminate freezer burn; keep moist foods from drying out; protect dry foods from moisture or from becoming hard or stale; keep foods high in fats and oils from spoiling; marinate meat and fish in minutes; protect collectibles and other nonfood items from aging and corrosion; protect items such as brittle snacks or collectibles by using the inflate mode; provide an adjustable bag size to fit desired contents; provide a film bag ready in the open position for filling; reduce the cost of film bag refills for the vacuum sealer; eliminate the need for a tool to open a film bag, e.g., such as a knife or scissors; provide better and easier packaging of liquid or fluid foods; eliminate spillage of liquid from food contents; eliminate a vacuum lock on a film bag; and / or reduce the amount of manual effort needed to use the vacuum sealer.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with conventional vacuum packaging methods and apparatus is that the items must be placed horizontally into a packaging bag such that the open end of the bag is on a side.

This creates difficulties when the items to be sealed are food items, especially those being liquid or having a liquid content.

However, current devices are big, clumsy and difficult to use.

Also, these devices do not provide an easy and efficient manner of sealing and storing liquid or partial liquid food items.

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