Machine for vacuum packing products in plastic bags or rigid containers

Abstract

A machine ( 1 ) for vacuum packing in plastic bags and rigid containers ( 37 ) comprising:—an airtight chamber ( 4 ), suited to accommodate a plastic bag ( 26 ) with the relative product ( 27 ),—means for sucking air from said chamber ( 4 ), so as to create a vacuum in the chamber and in the bag ( 26 ) contained therein,—means for sealing the edges ( 25 ) of the bag ( 6 ) after the vacuum has been created therein,—air input means ( 13 ) for introducing air into the chamber ( 4 ) to remove the vacuum,—a suction device ( 35 ), connected to the suction means, for creating vacuum in rigid containers ( 37 ) provided with a valve ( 39 ).

1 . A machine for vacuum packing products in plastic bags and rigid containers comprising: 
 an airtight chamber, suited to receive a plastic bag with the relative product,    sucking means for sucking air from said chamber, so as to create a vacuum inside said chamber and said bag contained therein;    sealing means for sealing the edges of the bag after a vacuum has been created therein,    air input means able to introduce air into said chamber to remove the vacuum,    a suction device connected to said suction means, for creation of a vacuum in rigid containers provided with a valve.    
   
   
       2 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said chamber is formed in a basic body or base of the machine and is closed by a cover, sealing means able to ensure an airtight seal being provided between the base and the cover.  
   
   
       3 . A machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said sealing means comprise a gasket made in a single piece, with a lip-shaped cross-section to compensate for errors in planarity between the cover and the base body.  
   
   
       4 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said suction device is connected to said sucking means by a flexible tube, to create a vacuum in said chamber.  
   
   
       5 . A machine according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said flexible tube is wound on a spring-loaded tube-winding device disposed inside a housing separated from said chamber in which the vacuum is created.  
   
   
       6 . A machine according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said suction device is housed in a seat of said machine in which a connector communicating with said chamber is provided.  
   
   
       7 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said sucking means for sucking air from said chamber comprise a pump, operated by a motor, which pump by means of said suction device sucks air from said chamber through at least one opening made in said chamber.  
   
   
       8 . A machine according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said pump comprises two piston-cylinder assemblies working in push-pull fashion.  
   
   
       9 . A machine according to  claim 7 , characterized in that interposed between the motor and the pump is a reduction unit comprising a pinion splined to the shaft of the motor which meshes with a first gear wheel mounted on a first shaft on which is mounted a second gear wheel which meshes with a third gear wheel mounted on a second shaft which carries two cams for movement of the connecting rods of the pistons.  
   
   
       10 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said means for sealing the free edge of the bag comprise a welding bar extending in crosswise direction of the edge of the bag and means for moving said welding bar able to move it with a reciprocating movement to press the edges of said bag against a counter bar, so as to achieve heat welding of the edges of the bag.  
   
   
       11 . A machine according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said welding bar comprises an electrical resistance and is mounted so as to be able to slide vertically on the basic body by means of vertical pins which engage in respective bushings formed in the basic body, said pins providing the supply contacts of the electrical resistance.  
   
   
       12 . A machine according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said counter bar is mounted on a bridge structure integral with the base body.  
   
   
       13 . A machine according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said means for moving said welding bar comprise a geared motor which rotates a cam comprising a vertical pin which engages in a transverse recess of a slide which provides at least one horizontal pin that engages in at least one cam slot formed on said welding bar.  
   
   
       14 . A machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said air input means comprise an air valve operated by said means for moving the welding bar and mounted in a wall of the basic body to introduce air into said chamber from the outside.  
   
   
       15 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said basic body and said cover are made of plastic material.