In a vacuum packaging machine there is provided the combination of a sealing unit and vacuum unit. The sealing unit comprises first and second sealing dies and the vacuum unit comprises a primary spacer located adjacent the input end of the sealing dies. The primary spacer is spaced from the first die to form a first web feeding passage therebetween and is spaced from the second die to form a second web feeding passage therebetween. The vacuum unit also includes a secondary spacer located adjacent the input end of the dies and mounted for movement between a retracted position permitting closure of the dies to effect sealing and an extended position maintaining at least a portion of the webs which passed through the first and second web feeding passages, in a spaced relationship to permit evacuation of the container space formed between the webs. A drive mechanism is provided for driving the secondary spacer to and fro between the retracted and extended positions and vacuum passages are provided in the vacuum drawing unit opening towards the sealing dies for communicating with the interior of a packaging space when the secondary spacers are in the extended position to maintain the webs in a spaced relationship whereby atmosphere from the container space may be withdrawn through the vacuum passage means prior to sealing of the webs.

An apparatus for shaping, filling and closing packaging containers is proposed. In order to create an inert gas atmosphere in the head room of packaging containers which are to be closed with a foil strip and in order to distribute portions of a product in the containers, the apparatus has a gas-treatment device having a chamber which narrows toward the closure device. This chamber is defined at the top by the foil strip moving toward it, which is supported by a slide track, and at the bottom by the containers. Protruding into this chamber in the direction in which the containers are conveyed and overlapping the lateral rims of the containers are gas supply lines, which have gas outlet openings directed transversely with respect to their longitudinal axis. The outlet openings are disposed in staggered fashion on sides of the gas supply lines which face one another.

An apparatus for packaging an item in a controlled atmosphere enclosure is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor for continuously conveying a series of containers along a defined path. The path has sequentially oriented first and second portions, and defines a first side border and an opposite second side border. The apparatus introduces a covering material over the path of containers such that a space is created between the containers and the moving covering material. A vacuum gallery is disposed substantially adjacent the first border for applying a vacuum to the space only in the first portion of the path. A gas gallery is disposed substantially adjacent the second border for continuously introducing a selected gas into the space in both the first portion and the second portion of the path. The apparatus also includes a sealing head for mating and sealing the containers with a corresponding section of the moving covering material in the second portion of the path to form a controlled atmosphere environment enclosure.

A sealing device for covering containers which prior to sealing has a member which reduces the volume of the container and in which the member is released after sealing to allow a vacuum circulation to exist in the sealed container. A further feature provides that the volume reducing, sealing and releasing steps occur while the containers are continuously moved along a conveyor.