Apparatus and process for evacuation of packages

Abstract

A device () for evacuating gas from a package () in a packaging apparatus, the package () having an open end (), the open end () having a terminal portion (), a non-terminal portion (), and an intermediate portion () located between the terminal portion () and the non-terminal portion () of the open end (), the device () comprising a vacuum chamber () having an elongated opening () extending along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum chamber (), an evacuation means configured for providing the vacuum chamber () with an internal vacuum pressure that is lower than an ambient pressure outside the vacuum chamber (), means for moving () a package () relative to the vacuum chamber (), and a control unit () programmed for controlling the means for moving () to relatively move a package () to be evacuated with respect to the vacuum chamber (), the package () and the means for moving () each being arranged with respect to the vacuum chamber () so that a main movement direction () of packages () placed on the means for moving () and the longitudinal axis of the vacuum chamber () are substantially parallel to one another, the package () to be evacuated being positioned so that, during the relative movement of the package () with respect to the vacuum chamber (), a terminal portion () of the open end () of the package () relatively moves within the vacuum chamber () and a non-terminal portion () of the open end () relatively moves outside the vacuum chamber (), an intermediate portion () of the open end () passing through and relatively moving along the opening (), and activating the evacuation means to provide the vacuum chamber () with the internal vacuum pressure. A packaging process using the gas evacuation device and a packaging apparatus including the device are also disclosed.