Vacuum Packaging and Sealing Appliance with Cooling Fan

Abstract

A vacuum sealing appliance is provided including a vacuum motor assembly generating suction, a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly configured to receive suction and evacuate a food container through an open end, and at least one heat sealing element adjacent the vacuum trough configured to heat seal the open end of the food container after evacuation. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes a control unit configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element. The vacuum sealing appliance further includes at least one channel disposed proximate the heat sealing element. The channel is fluidly connected to a cooling fan that generates a cooling air flow through the channel to remove excessive heat from the heat sealing element to prevent premature sealing of subsequent food containers between heat sealing events.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing appliance, comprising:
 at least one elongated heat sealing element configured to heat seal an open end of a food container when placed in proximity of the heat sealing element;   an elongated channel disposed proximate each heat sealing element; and   a cooling fan in fluid communication with the channel for generating a cooling air flow through the channel to remove excessive heat generated by the heat sealing element.   
     
     
         2 . The scaling appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cooling air intake vent in fluid communication with the cooling fan and the channel configured to allow entry of cooling air drawn by the cooling fan into the channel.   
     
     
         3 . The sealing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an exhaust vent in fluid communication with the channel configured to allow heated airflow to exit the channel.   
     
     
         4 . The sealing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fan is energized continuously. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a microprocessor and electronic control panel configured to control the operation of the cooling fan.   
     
     
         6 . The sealing appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the cooling fan is energized continuously when the electronic control panel is energized. 
     
     
         7 . A vacuum packaging device for evacuating and sealing one or more open ends of a flexible container for storing perishable items, comprising:
 a vacuum motor assembly generating suction;   a vacuum trough fluidly connected to the vacuum motor assembly configured to receive suction and evacuate the flexible container through one of the open ends;   at least one heat sealing element adjacent the vacuum trough configured to heat seal one of the open ends of the food container after evacuation;   a processor configured to control the vacuum motor assembly and the at least one heat sealing element;   an elongated channel disposed proximate each heat sealing element; and   a cooling fan in fluid communication with the channel for generating a cooling air flow through the channel to remove excessive heat generated by the heat sealing element.   
     
     
         8 . The sealing appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a cooling air intake vent in fluid communication with the cooling fan and the channel configured to allow entry of cooling air drawn by the cooling fan into the channel.   
     
     
         9 . The sealing appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an exhaust vent in fluid communication with the channel configured to allow heated airflow to exit the channel.   
     
     
         10 . The sealing appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the cooling fan is energized continuously. 
     
     
         11 . The sealing appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an electronic control panel connected to the processor configured to control the operation of the cooling fan.   
     
     
         12 . The sealing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling fan is energized continuously when the electronic control panel is energized.