Abstract This invention provides a means and method whereby materials, either liquid, plastic or solid, (e.g. foods) are encapsulated between vertically opposed sheets of plastic film such as polyvinyl chloride, by vacuum-drawing one or both of the sheets into pocket form of oversize dimensions with relation to the dimensions of a container capsule which is subsequently formed from the opposed sheets after depositing the content material into the pocket formed in the lower sheet. After deposition of the content material the sheets are brought together at the pocket margin and sealed to one another around the margin to develop a sealed capsule containing the content material. The plastic film material around the sealed margin is then severed from the capsule, preferably by heat-cutting performed as an incident to heat sealing of the margin, the suction that has been applied to form the pocket or pockets, is released, and the encapsulating film is permitted to shrink by plastic memory, into clinging contact with the enclosed contents of the capsule. In many applications, air is evacuated from the capsule during the encapsulating process, and for some foods a preservative gas is substituted.
Encapsulating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pressing means comprises: An upper suction cup having means for suction drawing said cover film into a cover pocket in opposed relation to said receptacle pocket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
Encapsulating apparatus comprising: A suction cup having a rim defining its mouth; An annular heat-sealing electrode encircling said rim adjacent thereto; Means for holding a heat-sealable plastic film across said rim; Means for applying suction within said cup so as to draw said film into the cup in bubble form to provide a receptacle pocket for content material; with a marginal portion of said film extended over said rim; Means for pressing a cover film against said marginal portion of the receptacle film outside said pocket; Said cover film pressing means comprising: An upper suction cup disposed above said receptacle-forming cup in opposed relation thereto, and operable to form a cover pocket in said cover film to receive the upper portion of said content material, and said upper suction cup having means for suction drawing said cover film into a cover pocket in opposed relation to said receptacle pocket; Means for heating said electrode so as to heat-seal said films to one another around said rim, whereby to produce a sealed casing enclosing said content material; And a vacuum frame into which said suction cups are insertable, said frame having means for applying suction between said films to evacuate air from said casing just prior to sealing the same.