Deaeration system and method for flexible packages

Abstract

System for allowing removal of air from the interior of flexible packages, in which material can be found, including a conveyor transporting and supporting the bottom of the flexible packages or package, a second sub-system holding the top part of the package and an air extraction system. The package is raised vertically while being displaced along the conveyor. Removing the air from the packages before closing them results in a flat and straight flap, while reducing the distance between the product and the sealed or sewn joint. The process is accomplished through a continuous displacement of the package. These advantages result in packing material savings. A method for allowing removal of air is also disclosed.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system for removal of air from an interior of a flexible package before sealing thereof, the system comprising:
 a lower conveyor sub-system for continuously displacing the package along a length of the system;   an upper driving sub-system holding continuously an upper part of the package, keeping the upper part closed along a length of its displacement, said upper driving sub-system comprising at least one perforated belt bag-opening sub-system comprising:
 at least one pair of adjacent guiding structures, each guiding structure having a profile surface facing a corresponding profile surface of the opposite guiding structure; 
 a plurality of driving belts, each belt circulating around a corresponding guiding structure of the at least one pair of guiding structures, each of said belts following a path along the corresponding profile of the guiding structure on which the driving belt is travelling; 
 a pulley system for driving displacement of the plurality of driving belts around the guiding structures; and 
 a belt sub-system vacuum source applying vacuum behind the belts, said at least one bag-opening sub-system spreading partially open the upper part of the package at a specific location along the length of the system when passing between the profile surfaces of adjacent guiding structures, said upper driving sub-system being synchronized with the lower conveyor sub-system; 
   
       and
 a deaeration port located above the bag-opening sub-system allowing removal of air from the interior of the package when the package is positioned under the port. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein a distance between a top surface of the lower conveyor sub-system and the upper driving sub-system decreases along the length of the system to remove vertical tension from the upper part of the package. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the bag-opening sub-system repositions the package and allows passage of a certain quantity of air. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the guiding structures is a block comprising a concave surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method for removing air from an interior of a flexible package before sealing thereof, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing a system for removal of air comprising:
 a lower conveyor sub-system for continuously displacing the package along a length of the system; 
 an upper driving sub-system holding continuously an upper part of the package, keeping the upper part closed along a length of its displacement, said upper driving sub-system comprising at least one perforated belt bag-opening sub-system comprising:
 at least one pair of adjacent guiding structures, each guiding structure having a profile surface facing a corresponding profile surface of the opposite guiding structure; 
 a plurality of driving belts, each belt circulating around a corresponding guiding structure of the at least one pair of guiding structures, each of said belts following a path along the corresponding profile of the guiding structure on which the driving belt is travelling; 
 a pulley system for driving displacement of the plurality of driving belts around the guiding structures; 
 a belt sub-system vacuum source applying vacuum behind the belts, said at least one bag-opening sub-system spreading partially open the upper part of the package at a specific location along the length of the system when passing between the profile surfaces of adjacent guiding structures, said upper driving sub-system being synchronized with the lower conveyor sub-system; 
 
 and 
 a deaeration port located above the bag-opening sub-system allowing removal of air from the interior of the package when the package is positioned under the port, 
   b) displacing continuously the package along a horizontal direction, using the low conveyor sub-system;   b) maintaining continuously an upper part of the package closed along a length of its displacement, using the upper driving sub-system;   c) partially opening the upper part of the package at a specific location along the length of the system, using said bag-opening sub-system; and   d) removing air from the interior of the package when the package is positioned, at said specific location, using the deaeration port.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of decreasing, along the length of the displacement, a distance between the lower conveyor sub-system and the upper driving sub-system to remove vertical tension from the upper part of the package. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the guiding structures is a block comprising a concave surface. 
     
     
         17 . A system for removing air from an interior of a flexible package before sealing thereof, comprising:
 displacement means for continuously displacing the package along a horizontal direction while supporting a bottom of the package and holding an upper part of the package at all times;   raising means for raising the bottom of the package along a distance of travel of the package to reduce vertical tension within the package; and   opening means for opening a portion of the upper part of the package, said opening means comprising:
 at least one pair of guiding structures, each guiding structure having a profile surface facing a corresponding profile surface of the opposite guiding structure; 
 a plurality of driving belts, each belt circulating around a corresponding guiding structure of the at least one pair of guiding structures, each of said belts following a path along the corresponding profile of the guiding structure on which the driving belt is travelling; 
 a pulley system for driving displacement of the plurality of driving belts around the guiding structures; and 
 a belt sub-system vacuum source applying vacuum behind the belts, said bag-opening sub-system spreading partially open the upper part of the package at a specific location along the length of the system when passing between the profile surfaces of adjacent guiding structures, while maintaining displacement of the package; 
   
       and
 a deaeration port located above the opening means allowing removal of air from the interior of the package when the package is positioned under the port.