Apparatus and method for preparing an evacuated container

Abstract

An apparatus for vacuum sealing a container is disclosed that includes a vacuum chamber in communication with a vacuum source, the vacuum chamber having at least a first port and an internal pressure, a securing device adapted to secure an open end of the container to the first port of the vacuum chamber; and a heating member at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber, the heating member is adapted to apply heat to a heat-activated sealant material positioned to cover at least the open end of the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for vacuum sealing a container, the apparatus comprising: 
 a vacuum chamber in communication with a vacuum source, the vacuum chamber having at least a first port and an internal pressure;    a securing device adapted to secure an open end of the container to the first port of the vacuum chamber; and    a heating member at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber, the heating member is adapted to apply heat to a heat-activated sealant material positioned to cover at least the open end of the container.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the securing device comprises a piston assembly adapted to impart a force against the container.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the piston assembly enables mating of the open end of the container to the first port on the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sealant material feeding device adapted to position the sealant material to cover at least the open end of the container.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the sealant material feeding device is further adapted to operate automatically.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sealant material cutting member at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber, the sealant material cutting member is adapted to cut the sealant material to a size that covers at least the open end of the container.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the sealant material cutting member is mounted to the heating member by a spring-loaded connection.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the sealant material cutting member is further adapted to operate automatically.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the heating member comprises a surface adapted to mate with a portion of the sealant material, the portion of sealant material is positioned proximate a surface of the container at least partially surrounding the open end of the container.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the heating member is further adapted to heat the sealant material to a temperature that is between approximately 300° F. and approximately 800° F.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating member is further adapted to apply pressure to the sealant material, and the pressure is between approximately 150 pounds per square inch and approximately 600 pounds per square inch.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source is adapted to create an internal pressure in the vacuum chamber that is between approximately 1 torr and approximately 60 torr.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a controller with at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal;  
 at least one sensor connected to the at least one input terminal, at least one of the sensors adapted to sense the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber;  
 at least one actuating device connected to the at least one output terminal, at least one of the actuating devices adapted to actuate the vacuum source;  
 wherein the controller is adapted to receive an input signal from the at least one sensor through the at least one input terminal, process the input signal, and transmit an output signal responsive to the input signal through the at least one output terminal to the at least one actuating device.  
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the controller is further adapted to cause at least one of the actuating devices to perform at least one action selected from a group consisting of: securing the open end of the container to the port on the vacuum chamber, actuating the vacuum source to create an internal pressure in the vacuum chamber, positioning the sealant material to cover at least the open end of the container, and applying heat and pressure to the sealant material proximate a surface at least partially surrounding the open end of the container.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for vacuum sealing and filling a container, the apparatus comprising: 
 a vacuum chamber in communication with a vacuum source, the vacuum chamber having at least a first port and an internal pressure;    a securing device adapted to secure an open end of the container to the first port of the vacuum chamber;    a heating member at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber, the heating member is adapted to apply heat to a heat-activated sealant material positioned to cover at least the open end of the container; and    a hollow feed tube at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the heating member comprises an internal passage, the hollow feed tube has an open end that can be in communication with the vacuum source and at least a portion of the hollow feed tube passes through the internal passage of the heating member.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the hollow feed tube is adapted to load a material into the container through the open end of the container.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the hollow feed tube comprises an open end and the hollow feed tube can be positioned so that the open end of the hollow feed tube is isolated from the vacuum source.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the open end of the hollow feed tube can be isolated from the vacuum source by mating the open end of the hollow feed tube with a recessed sealing area inside the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the vacuum source is adapted to create a pressure inside the vacuum chamber that is between approximately 1 millitorr and approximately 1000 millitorr.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the securing device comprises a piston assembly adapted to impart a force against the container.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the piston assembly enables mating of the open end of the container to the first port on the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a sealant material feeding device adapted to position the sealant material to cover at least the open end of the container.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the sealant material feeding device is further adapted to operate automatically.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a sealant material cutting member at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber and the sealant material cutting member is adapted to cut the sealant material to a size that covers at least the open end of the container.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the sealant material cutting member is mounted to the heating member by a spring-loaded connection.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the sealant material cutting member is adapted to operate automatically.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the heating member comprises a surface adapted to mate with a portion of the sealant material positioned proximate a surface of the container, the surface at least partially surrounding the open end of the container.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the heating member is further adapted to heat the sealant material to a temperature that is between approximately 300° F. and approximately 800° F.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the heating member is further adapted to apply pressure to the sealant material, and the pressure is between approximately 150 pounds per square inch and approximately 600 pounds per square inch.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the vacuum source is adapted to create a pressure inside the vacuum chamber that is between approximately 1 torr and approximately 60 torr.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a controller with at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal;  
 at least one sensor connected to the at least one input terminal, at least one of the sensors adapted to sense the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber;  
 at least one actuating device connected to the at least one output terminal, at least one of the actuating devices adapted to actuate the vacuum source;  
 wherein the controller is adapted to receive an input signal from the at least one sensor through the at least one input terminal, process the input signal, and transmit an output signal responsive to the input signal through the at least one output terminal to the at least one actuating device.  
 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the controller is further adapted to cause at least one of the actuating devices to perform at least one action selected from a group consisting of: 
 securing the open end of the container to the port on the vacuum chamber, actuating the vacuum source to create an internal pressure in the vacuum chamber, feeding a material into the container through the open end of the container, positioning the sealant material to cover at least the open end of the container, and applying heat and pressure to the sealant material proximate a surface at least partially surrounding the open end of the container.  
 
     
     
         34 . A method of preparing a container comprising: 
 securing an open end of the container to a port on a vacuum chamber, the open end having a surface at least partially surrounding the open end;    actuating a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum chamber to at least partially evacuate the vacuum chamber;    positioning a sealant material to cover at least the open end of the container and a portion of the surface at least partially surrounding the open end of the container; and    attaching the sealant material to the surface at least partially surrounding the open end of the container to cover at least the open end of the container.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein securing the open end of the container to the port on the vacuum chamber comprises applying a seating force with a movable assembly.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein actuating the vacuum source to at least partially evacuate the vacuum chamber results in a pressure inside the vacuum chamber that is between approximately 1 torr and approximately 60 torr.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein actuating the vacuum source to at least partially evacuate the vacuum chamber results in a pressure inside the vacuum chamber that is between approximately 1 millitorr and approximately 1000 millitorr.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein positioning the sealant material comprises using an automatic sealant feeding mechanism.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  wherein attaching the sealant material comprises applying heat and pressure to at least a portion of the sealant material proximate the surface at least partially surrounding the open end of the container.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising introducing a material into the container through the open end of the container before positioning the sealant material.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the material comprises a desiccant.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34  further adapted to be automatically repeated.  
     
     
         43 . A container prepared according to the method of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         44 . A container prepared according to the method of claim  40 .