Vacuum Sealing Appliance Including Vacuum Cycle With Transducer Feedback

Abstract

A vacuum sealer apparatus includes a housing having a vacuum chamber therein, a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber, a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to execute program code stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to calculate a rate of change of a vacuum level in the vacuum chamber responsive to energizing the vacuum pump to withdraw air from the vacuum chamber, and to energize the sealing mechanism and/or reduce power to the vacuum pump based on the rate of change of the vacuum level. Related methods of operation are also discussed.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vacuum sealer apparatus, comprising:
 a housing comprising a vacuum chamber therein;   a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber;   a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber; and   at least one processor that is configured to execute program code stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to perform operations comprising:   calculating a rate of change of a vacuum level in the vacuum chamber responsive to energizing the vacuum pump to withdraw air from the vacuum chamber; and   energizing the sealing mechanism based on the rate of change of the vacuum level.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 reducing power to the vacuum pump based on the rate of change of the vacuum level.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 identifying a transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level,   wherein the energizing the sealing mechanism and/or the reducing the power to the vacuum pump is responsive to identifying the transition.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level comprises a transition from a negative slope to a positive slope. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 calculating the rate of change of the vacuum level comprises generating vacuum level data based on a signal output from at least one sensor responsive to the energizing the vacuum pump, and   identifying the transition comprises determining that a first rate of change between first samples of the vacuum level data is greater than a second rate of change between second samples of the vacuum level data.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the signal comprises a voltage signal, and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure transducer that is in or mechanically coupled to the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the vacuum chamber is configured to receive an open end of a polymeric bag adjacent the periphery thereof, and wherein the transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level indicates substantial removal of air from the polymeric bag without substantial removal of fluid from the polymeric bag. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises at least one heating element adjacent the periphery of the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a baseline pressure for the vacuum chamber based on a signal output from the at least one sensor in a calibration process; and   identifying a vacuum leak when the vacuum level does not reach the baseline pressure within a predetermined time after the energizing the vacuum pump.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum sealer apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining an atmospheric pressure based on a signal output from the at least one sensor when the vacuum chamber is not sealed; and   correcting the vacuum level data based on the atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a vacuum sealer apparatus, the method comprising:
 executing, by at least one processor of the vacuum sealer apparatus, program code stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to perform operations comprising:   calculating a rate of change of a vacuum level in a vacuum chamber having a vacuum pump in fluid communication therewith responsive to energizing the vacuum pump to withdraw air from the vacuum chamber; and   energizing a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber based on the rate of change of the vacuum level.   
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 reducing power to the vacuum pump based on the rate of change of the vacuum level.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 identifying a transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level,   wherein the energizing the sealing mechanism and/or the reducing the power to the vacuum pump is responsive to identifying the transition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level comprises a transition from a negative slope to a positive slope. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 calculating the rate of change of the vacuum level comprises generating vacuum level data based on a signal output from at least one sensor responsive to the energizing the vacuum pump, and   identifying the transition comprises determining that a first rate of change between first samples of the vacuum level data is greater than a second rate of change between second samples of the vacuum level data.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the signal comprises a voltage signal, and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure transducer that is in or mechanically coupled to the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the vacuum chamber is configured to receive an open end of a polymeric bag adjacent the periphery thereof, and wherein the transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level indicates substantial removal of air from the polymeric bag without substantial removal of fluid from the polymeric bag. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a baseline pressure for the vacuum chamber based on a signal output from the at least one sensor in a calibration process; and   identifying a vacuum leak when the vacuum level does not reach the baseline pressure within a predetermined time after the energizing the vacuum pump.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining an atmospheric pressure based on a signal output from the at least one sensor when the vacuum chamber is not sealed; and   correcting the vacuum level data based on the atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         20 . A vacuum sealer apparatus, comprising:
 a housing comprising a vacuum chamber therein, wherein the vacuum chamber is configured to receive an open end of a polymeric bag adjacent a periphery thereof;   a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber;   a sealing mechanism comprising at least one heating element adjacent the periphery of the vacuum chamber; and   at least one processor that is configured to execute program code stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to perform operations comprising:   calculating a rate of change of a vacuum level in the vacuum chamber responsive to energizing the vacuum pump to withdraw air from the vacuum chamber;   identifying a transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level in the vacuum chamber, wherein the transition indicates substantial removal of air from the polymeric bag without substantial removal of fluid from the polymeric bag; and   energizing the at least one heating element and reducing power to the vacuum pump responsive to identifying the transition in the rate of change of the vacuum level.