US3673760A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging method and apparatus
Assignee: Primerica Inc
•
Filing: 1970-10-26
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An automatic packaging machine makes hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted by laminating two continuous sheets of packaging material. A roll of film on one end of the machine supplies a continuous support sheet to a chain belt conveyor which grips the opposite edges of the support sheet leaving the web unsupported, and transports this sheet the length of the machine. A vacuum forming die makes a plurality of receptacles in the support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of the receptacles. Another roll of film supplies a continuous cover sheet which is applied over the support sheet, the cover sheet being expediently severed longitudinally by a cutting blade in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles prior to application over the support sheet. The sheets are then heat sealed along the transverse margins. Subsequently, an evacuation unit heat seals the sheets along the outer longitudinal edge margins and an evacuation head exhausts the air from the receptacles through the evacuation opening advantageously provided by the severed cover sheet. A sealing bar in the evacuation head then closes the opening and the cover sheet is finally heat sealed to the support sheet in the areas adjacent the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest V Canamero
- 👤 Christoph Ullmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B31/00; B65B31/02; B65B31/021; B65B41/00; B65B41/12; B65B41/14; B65B9/00; B65B9/02; B65B9/04; B65B9/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a support sheet of pAckaging material having a plurality of spaced receptacles formed therein; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; severing the web of a cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the space between the receptacles; applying said cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet transversely between the receptacles and along the outer longitudinal edges of said sheets; evacuating air from said receptacles through the opening formed by the severed cover sheet; and sealing said opening.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a support sheet of pAckaging material having a plurality of spaced receptacles formed therein; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; severing the web of a cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the space between the receptacles; applying said cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet transversely between the receptacles and along the outer longitudinal edges of said sheets; evacuating air from said receptacles through the opening formed by the severed cover sheet; and sealing said opening.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of packaging material; forming a plurality of spaced receptacles in said support sheet; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; severing the web of a cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the space between the receptacles; applying said cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet transversely between the receptacles and along the outer longitudinal edges of said sheets; evacuating air from said receptacles through the opening formed by the severed cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along the space between said receptacles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of packaging material; forming a plurality of spaced receptacles in said support sheet; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; severing the web of a cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the space between the receptacles; applying said cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet transversely between the receptacles and along the outer longitudinal edges of said sheets; evacuating air from said receptacles through the opening formed by the severed cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along the space between said receptacles.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of packaging material; forming a plurality of receptacles in said support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets; evacuating the air from said packages through the evacuation opening provided by the severed cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margins.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of packaging material; forming a plurality of receptacles in said support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets; evacuating the air from said packages through the evacuation opening provided by the severed cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margins.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including supplying a continuous support sheet of packaging material; forming a plurality of receptacles in said support sheet in aligned spaced rows; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the space between the receptacle rows; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet transversely between said rows of receptacles; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edges of the sheets; evacuating the air from said packages through the evacuation opening provided by the severed cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including supplying a continuous support sheet of packaging material; forming a plurality of receptacles in said support sheet in aligned spaced rows; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of packaging material in alignment with the space between the receptacle rows; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet transversely between said rows of receptacles; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edges of the sheets; evacuating the air from said packages through the evacuation opening provided by the severed cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of plastic film; vacuum forming a plurality of receptacles in said support in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles prior to the applicatioN of said cover sheet over said support sheet; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sequentially disposing successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation unit; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets while in said evacuation unit; evacuating the air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation unit; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation unit; and removing the packages formed therein from the evacuation unit.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of plastic film; vacuum forming a plurality of receptacles in said support in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles prior to the applicatioN of said cover sheet over said support sheet; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sequentially disposing successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation unit; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets while in said evacuation unit; evacuating the air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation unit; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation unit; and removing the packages formed therein from the evacuation unit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of deformable plastic film; conveying said support sheet with an unsupported web through the subsequent packaging steps; moving said support sheet in an intermittent mode providing periodic dwell periods for performance of the subsequent packaging steps; vacuum forming a plurality of receptacles in said support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets; sequentially disposing successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation chest; evacuating air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation chest; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation chest; and removing the packages formed therein from the evacuation chest.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of deformable plastic film; conveying said support sheet with an unsupported web through the subsequent packaging steps; moving said support sheet in an intermittent mode providing periodic dwell periods for performance of the subsequent packaging steps; vacuum forming a plurality of receptacles in said support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets; sequentially disposing successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation chest; evacuating air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation chest; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation chest; and removing the packages formed therein from the evacuation chest.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of plastic film; conveying said support sheet with an unsupported web through the subsequent packaging steps; sequentially vacuum forming successive groups of receptacles in said support sheet in two aligned longitudinal rows and a single aligned transverse row with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; constantly longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material at one point in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between said receptacles prior to the application of said cover sheet over said support sheet; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sequentially disposing said successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation unit; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets while in said evacuation unit; evacuating the air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation unit; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation unit; and removing the packages formed therein from said evacuation unit.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of plastic film; conveying said support sheet with an unsupported web through the subsequent packaging steps; sequentially vacuum forming successive groups of receptacles in said support sheet in two aligned longitudinal rows and a single aligned transverse row with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; constantly longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material at one point in alignment with the inner longitudinal margins between said receptacles prior to the application of said cover sheet over said support sheet; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sequentially disposing said successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation unit; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets while in said evacuation unit; evacuating the air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation unit; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation unit; and removing the packages formed therein from said evacuation unit.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has bEen exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of plastic film; conveying said support sheet with an unsupported web through the subsequent packaging steps; sequentially vacuum forming successive groups of receptacles in said support sheet in three aligned longitudinal rows and two aligned transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; constantly longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material at two points in alignment with the two inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles prior to the application of said cover sheet over said support sheet; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sequentially disposing said successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation unit; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets while in said evacuation unit; evacuating the air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation unit; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation unit; and removing the packages formed therein from said evacuation unit.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
239 words
A method of making hermetically sealed packages from which air has bEen exhausted including: supplying a continuous support sheet of plastic film; conveying said support sheet with an unsupported web through the subsequent packaging steps; sequentially vacuum forming successive groups of receptacles in said support sheet in three aligned longitudinal rows and two aligned transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; filling said receptacles with the items to be packaged; constantly longitudinally severing the web of a continuous cover sheet of flexible plastic material at two points in alignment with the two inner longitudinal margins between the receptacles prior to the application of said cover sheet over said support sheet; applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose said receptacles and the items therein; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; sequentially disposing said successive groups of said enclosed receptacles in an evacuation unit; heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets while in said evacuation unit; evacuating the air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by said severed cover sheet while in said evacuation unit; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margin while in said evacuation unit; and removing the packages formed therein from said evacuation unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
185 words
A packaging machine for making packages from continuous sheets of film including a plurality of transversely spaced evacuation chambers, transport means supplying a support sheet to said chambers, said support sheet having receptacles for items to be packaged formed in said sheet in transverse groups, said transport means supporting said support sheet generally at opposite edges with the unsupported web there between being supplied over said chambers, means for supplying a cover sheet over said support sheet, severing means for longitudinally cutting said cover sheet in alignment with the space between said chambers, means for placing said chambers and said support sheet in engagement so that a group of said receptacles are disposed in said chambers, means for sealing together said cover and support sheets about the periphery of a group of receptacles leaving said sheets of film unsealed adjacent the space between said chambers, means cooperating with said chambers for evacuating said receptacles through the opening provided by the severed cover sheet adjacent the space between said chambers, and means for sealing said cover and support sheets adjacent to the space between said chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
185 words
A packaging machine for making packages from continuous sheets of film including a plurality of transversely spaced evacuation chambers, transport means supplying a support sheet to said chambers, said support sheet having receptacles for items to be packaged formed in said sheet in transverse groups, said transport means supporting said support sheet generally at opposite edges with the unsupported web there between being supplied over said chambers, means for supplying a cover sheet over said support sheet, severing means for longitudinally cutting said cover sheet in alignment with the space between said chambers, means for placing said chambers and said support sheet in engagement so that a group of said receptacles are disposed in said chambers, means for sealing together said cover and support sheets about the periphery of a group of receptacles leaving said sheets of film unsealed adjacent the space between said chambers, means cooperating with said chambers for evacuating said receptacles through the opening provided by the severed cover sheet adjacent the space between said chambers, and means for sealing said cover and support sheets adjacent to the space between said chambers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The packaging machine of claim 9 wherein said means cooperating with said chambers for evacuating said receptacles is a stationary head mounted on said machine above said evacuation chambers; said head having an elongated evacuation channel extending in alignment with the space between said chambers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The packaging machine of claim 10 wherein said means for sealing said cover and support sheets adjacent to the space between said chambers is an elongated sealing bar slideably mounted within said evacuation channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The packaging machine of claim 11 wherein said chambers are formed in an evacuation chest slideably mounted for vertical movement between an open position and an elevated or closed position in sealing engagement with said head.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The packaging machine of claim 12 wherein said severing means for longitudinally cutting said cover sheet has a plurality of adjustable cutting blades mounted on the machine frame for cutting said cover sheet at one or more points prior to the application of said cover sheet over said support sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
182 words
Packaging apparatus for making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: a roll of film supplying a continuous sheet of packaging material; forming means for making a plurality of receptacleS on said support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; supplying means for providing a continuous cover sheet of packaging material; a cutting device longitudinally severing the web of said cover sheet in alignment with the longitudinal margins between the receptacles; means for applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose the receptacles and the items therein; transverse sealing means for heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; evacuation and sealing means for heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets; evacuating air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by the severing of said cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margins.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
182 words
Packaging apparatus for making hermetically sealed packages from which air has been exhausted including: a roll of film supplying a continuous sheet of packaging material; forming means for making a plurality of receptacleS on said support sheet in aligned longitudinal and transverse rows with transverse and longitudinal margins about the periphery of said receptacles; supplying means for providing a continuous cover sheet of packaging material; a cutting device longitudinally severing the web of said cover sheet in alignment with the longitudinal margins between the receptacles; means for applying said continuous cover sheet over said support sheet to enclose the receptacles and the items therein; transverse sealing means for heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the transverse margins between said receptacles; evacuation and sealing means for heat sealing said cover sheet to said support sheet along the outer longitudinal edge margins of the sheets; evacuating air from said receptacles through the evacuation opening provided by the severing of said cover sheet; and heat sealing said cover sheet adjacent said opening to said support sheet along said inner longitudinal margins.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The packaging apparatus of claim 14 wherein said evacuation and sealing means has a stationary head mounted on said machine and an evacuation chest which is periodically movable upward into sealing engagement with said head.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The packaging apparatus of claim 15 wherein said evacuation head has an elongated evacuation channel extending in alignment with the opening in said severed cover sheet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The packaging apparatus of claim 16 wherein an elongated sealing bar is movably mounted on said head in said evacuation channel for closing and sealing said opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The packaging apparatus of claim 17 wherein said cutting device has a plurality of adjustable blades mounted on the apparatus frame for constantly cutting said cover sheet at one or more points prior to the application of said cover sheet over said support sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2888787A
Cited
US3524298A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |