An apparatus (10) for vacuumizing and sealing a package (322) includes a plurality of platens (12) and vacuum chambers (14), each chamber (14) adapted to mate with a dedicated one of the platens (12); a conveying system (16) for conveying the platens (12) and chambers (14) along a generally angular path having a single axis of rotation (18); an automated loading assembly (20) having a linear component (22c) and configured to load a package (322) onto each of the platens (12); an automated unloading assembly (26) having a linear portion and configured to unload a vacuumized, sealed package (322) from each loaded platen (12) onto an outfeed conveyor (30); and a vacuumizing/sealing system configured to cause relative movement of each chamber (14)/platen (12) pair, along a portion of the angular path, to form therebetween an air-tight enclosure accommodating the package (322) and effect vacuumization and sealing of the package (322).

A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, at least one measurement device and a plurality of work units for different processes. One of the work units is designed as a sealing station which comprises at least one moisture sensor designed as the measurement device which is functionally connected to the control unit and is designed to detect moisture within the sealing station as a time-dependent measured variable during a program sequence of the sealing station. The program sequence may comprise an evacuation process, wherein the control unit is designed to calculate a rate of change in the moisture during the evacuation process of the sealing station. The control unit may abort the evacuation process performed on the sealing station, based on the rate of change, before reaching a target vacuum pressure within the sealing station, immediately or after a specified delay time elapses.

A programmable rotary vacuum packing machine uses an array of shells on a rotating turntable as temporary vacuum chambers. for sealing each bag. Each shell has three groups of bidirectional pneumatic actuators. A computer controls separately addressable pneumatic valves upon the rotating turntable to determine some timings of the sequential vacuum packing process within each shell. Timing and intensity of heat sealing after application of pressure is also controlled. During operation, the machine accepts real-time process modifications according to bag type or contents characteristic so that any particular bag. as identified upstream or by the operator. receives a customized process.

An aseptic filling machine of envelope-type bags provided with a filling mouth closed by a removable cap, comprising an empty bag supply device, a discharge device configured to discharge full bags, a carousel device on which at least two filling stations are located; each filling station comprising a sterile chamber; a raising device configured to raise the mouth of the empty bag internally of the sterile chamber; an overpressure device configured to place the chamber in slight overpressure; a removal device configured to remove the cap and positioning it by a side of the mouth; and a dispenser-batcher device that is vertically slidable and configured to engage with the mouth.

A system and method for monitoring the performance of a product vacuum packaging machine allows for a determination of the performance of platen and chamber combinations, especially in systems using multiple platens and chambers, and particularly where individual platens are used in combination with differing chambers during packaging operations.