Reusable Vacuum Valve Assembly for Flexible Food Container Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern kitchen appliances with vacuum sealing functions require dedicated containers equipped with specific adapters for vacuumizing, limiting the applicability and convenience of the vacuumizing process.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum valve comprising a first and second component, with a sealing mechanism, allowing for the attachment of a flexible sheet (such as a food container foil) between them, enabling vacuum application without the need for dedicated containers, and facilitating air flow in one direction while inhibiting it in the opposite direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated containers with specific adapters are used for vacuumizing, then the vacuum sealing function can be effectively performed, but the applicability and convenience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum valve is designed with a universal interface that can be attached to various container types (bags, boxes, jars) without requiring dedicated adapters for each container type. The valve body includes a connection interface that universally interfaces with the vacuum pump, while the sheet material can be any flexible or rigid material that can be sealed around the valve, making the system applicable to diverse containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum valve is divided into separable components: a reusable valve body with vacuum pump interface and a disposable or reusable sheet/foil that interfaces with the container. This segmentation allows the complex vacuum control mechanism to be reused while adapting to different containers through simple sheet changes, enhancing versatility without compromising reliability.
2Reliability
If dedicated containers with adapters are required, then proper vacuum sealing can be achieved, but material and storage space are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum valve serves multiple functions: it interfaces with the vacuum pump, seals around the container opening, and provides the vacuum sealing function. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated adapters for different container types, reducing material consumption and storage requirements while maintaining reliable vacuum sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet or foil that interfaces with the container can be designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use, while the expensive vacuum valve body is recovered and reused for subsequent vacuum sealing operations. This approach minimizes material waste and storage needs compared to requiring complete dedicated adapter assemblies for each container type.
3Ease of operation
If a vacuum valve with sealing mechanism is used, then air flow can be controlled in one direction, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet or foil acts as an intermediary element between the vacuum valve body and the container. It provides the sealing function around the container opening while the valve body contains the internal sealing mechanism that controls air flow direction. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall device complexity by separating the sealing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism within the vacuum valve is designed to automatically control air flow direction based on pressure differential. During vacuum application, the sealing elements automatically close to prevent air leakage. During vacuum release, the sealing elements automatically open to allow air backflow. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual control systems while maintaining ease of operation.
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
Enlarges the range of vacuumable containers, enhances user convenience, and allows multiple uses of the vacuum valve, saving material and storage space by not requiring dedicated containers and enabling easy vacuum release.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum pump is configured to extract air from the food container when the valve body and closure are combined with each other, with a sheet of the food container at least partially between them
Implementation Method 2
By means of the sealing, the vacuum valve is configured to inhibit that air flows in a first direction (further referred to herein as 'sealing direction') through an air channel within the vacuum valve
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~5b
Figure 6a~6c
AI summary
Disclosed is a vacuum valve 10, 10', 10" for a kitchen appliance. The vacuum valve comprises a first component 11, 11', 11", a second component 12, 12', 12" and a sealing 13, 13', 13". The second component is configured to be attached to a power unit 20 of the kitchen appliance, and to be combined with the first component 11, 11', 11", with a sheet 31 at least partially therebetween. The vacuum valve is configured to inhibit, by means of the sealing 13, 13', 13", an air flow through an air channel 14, 14', 14" within the vacuum valve and in a sealing direction D, and to facilitate sucked air A flowing through the air channel 14, 14', 14" in a sucking direction S opposite to the sealing direction D. Further disclosed are an assembly and a kitchen appliance each comprising such vacuum valve, and a method of utilising the vacuum valve.