Compact Vacuum Sealer with Segmented Heat Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum sealing devices are cumbersome due to the need for large, heavy appliances with extensive resilient foam strips that interfere with operation and occupy excessive space, making them difficult to use and store.
Innovation Solution
A compact vacuum sealing device design that minimizes the use of resilient foam by incorporating a movable vacuum nozzle and heat-sealing mechanism, allowing for efficient air evacuation and sealing of plastic bags without requiring a large device, with optional hand-held embodiments that eliminate the need for a heavy pump and reduce kitchen counter space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resilient foam sealing strips extend around the entire opening of the bag to seal off ambient air during evacuation, then the bag is effectively isolated from ambient air, but the device becomes cumbersome and requires a large size that exceeds the bag length
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two distinct components: a localized foam sealing strip positioned only at the nozzle opening to prevent ambient air leakage, and a separate heat-sealing mechanism that creates an initial seal on the bag. This segmentation allows the device to be much shorter than the bag while maintaining effective sealing during evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-sealing mechanism performs a preliminary sealing action on the bag before the evacuation process begins. This initial seal isolates the bag interior from ambient air, allowing the foam sealing strip to be minimal in size while still ensuring complete isolation during the vacuum process.
2Reliability
If resilient foam strips are used to seal the bag opening during evacuation, then ambient air is prevented from entering, but the strips interfere with the closing of the cover and make operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The foam sealing strip is extracted from the cover structure and repositioned to surround only the nozzle opening. This extraction eliminates the interference between foam strips and cover closing, while the heat-sealing mechanism provides the primary sealing function that enables easy cover operation.
3Productivity
If a heavy vacuum pump is included in the appliance body to provide vacuum evacuation, then effective air evacuation is achieved, but the device becomes heavy and burdensome to move
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a lightweight handheld sealing unit and a separate stationary vacuum pump system. The handheld unit contains only the heat-sealing mechanism and nozzle, making it light and easy to maneuver, while the vacuum pump remains stationary and provides the necessary evacuation power.
4Area of stationary object
If the device is made compact to reduce kitchen space occupation, then space efficiency is improved, but the ability to seal full-sized bags is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld sealing unit is designed to be dynamic and adaptable, allowing it to accommodate bags of various sizes. The unit can be positioned and oriented as needed, and the heat-sealing mechanism adjusts to different bag configurations, enabling a compact device to handle full-sized bags effectively.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables easy operation, reduced size, and lighter usage, allowing for efficient vacuum sealing of full-sized plastic bags with minimal interference and space occupation, addressing the issues of cumbersome and space-intensive prior devices.
Implementation Method 1
vacuum sealing appliances are used domestically and commercially to evacuate air from various containers
Implementation Method 2
drawing air from the interior of the bag
Implementation Method 3
a single sealing door operated in conjunction with a heat-sealer to seal the bag closed
Data Source
AI summary
A method of preserving foodstuffs in a heat-sealable plastic bag wherein three of the bag's four peripheral edges are permanently sealed together and the fourth of the edges comprises a temporary interlocking linear seal. After foodstuffs are placed into the interior of the bag, the linear seal is interlocked to form an inner chamber and to isolate those foodstuffs therein from the outside environment. The bag is then pierced to provide an opening through which the inner chamber of the bag is evacuated. Then, while the inner chamber is evacuated, heat is applied to seal around the opening or between the opening and the portion of the inner chamber containing the foodstuffs to isolate the foodstuffs within said evacuated inner chamber from the outer environment. The foodstuffs may be removed from the bag by opening the interlocking seal and the bags may be reused numerous times by re-interlocking the seal and repeating the evacuating and sealing process.