Vollrath VP12 User manual

Operator’s Manual
Vacuum Packing Machine with 12" Sealing Bar
(For machines with serial numbers after and including J021-00414847)
©2020 The Vollrath Company L.L.C. Part No. 26131-1 ml 2/27/20
Thank you for purchasing this Vollrath equipment. Before operating the
equipment, read and familiarize yourself with the following operating
and safety instructions. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE. Save the original box and packaging. Use this packaging
to ship the equipment if repairs are needed.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
To ensure safe operation, read the following statements and understand
their meaning. This manual contains safety precautions which are
explained below. Please read carefully.
Warning is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that will or can
cause severe personal injury or death.
Caution is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that will or can
cause minor or major personal injury if the caution is ignored.
NOTICE: Notice is used to note information that is important but not
hazard-related.
To reduce risk of injury or damage to the equipment:
• Unplug when not in use.
• Keep unit and power cord away from open flames, electric burners
or excessive heat.
• Do not operate unattended.
• Do not operate if unit has been damaged or is malfunctioning in
any way.
FUNCTION AND PURPOSE
This unit is intended to vacuum seal food products in a commercial
kitchen environment. It is not intended for household, industrial or
laboratory use.
Table of Contents
Installation ................................................................... page 2
Operation .................................................................... page 3
Packing Liquid Products .............................................. page 4
Cleaning ...................................................................... page 4
Maintenance ................................................................ page 5
Troubleshooting .......................................................... page 7
CLEARANCE AND ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS
NOTICE: Never place the machine near a heat source. This can
damage the lid.
• 6" (15 cm) clearance on all sides and 15½" (39.4 cm) above the
machine for the lid to fully open.
• Ambient temperature must be between 41-86 °F (5-30 °C).
WARNING
CAUTION
Item No. Model Description
40831 VP12 Vacuum Packing Machine with 12" Sealing Bar

2 Vacuum Packing Machine with 12" Sealing Bar Operator’s Manual
INSTALLATION
NOTICE: Do NOT tilt the machine. Tilting could allow oil to flow out
of the pump and cause damage to the machine.
NOTICE: Using a voltage other than the nameplate rated voltage will
cause damage to the unit. Incorrect voltage, modification
to the power cord or electrical components can damage
unit and will void the warranty.
NOTICE: Running the machine without oil or insufficient oil will
damage the machine and void the warranty.
1. Remove all packing material and tape, as well as any protective
plastic from the equipment.
2. Clean any glue residue left by the plastic or tape.
3. Place the vacuum pack machine on a flat, level surface.
4. Check the oil gauge window at the back of the machine. Verify the
oil level is between the minimum and maximum fill lines.
5. Plug the power cord into a grounded electrical outlet that matches
the nameplate rated voltage.
6. Run the Pump Conditioning program. See Run the Pump
Conditioning Program on page 4 in this manual.
FEATURES AND CONTROLS
ALid
BChamber
CSealing Bar
DControl Panel
ELid Retainer
FSeal Pad
D
B
C
E
F
A
AOn/Off Button
BOil Cleaning Program Button
CFunction LEDs
DDecrease/Cancel Button. Decreases vacuum pressure, vacuum
plus or seal time. Also cancels the cycle.
EVacuum Gauge. A value of -1 bar is equivalent of 99% vacuum.
FIncrease/Stop Button. Increases vacuum pressure, vacuum plus
or seal time. Also stops the vacuum.
GDisplay
HFunction Select Button. Selects vacuum, vacuum plus or seal
functions.
H
B C D E
G F
A

Vacuum Packing Machine with 12" Sealing Bar Operator’s Manual 3
OPERATION
NOTICE: Never pack products that can be damaged by vacuum
packaging.
Avoid packing warm products to reduce condensation and
corrosion risks for the pump.
Special instructions apply for packing liquid products. See
“Packing Liquid Products” on page 4.
The machine is designed for a maximum use of five hours
per day.
This machine is not designed for continuous use. Allow 15
seconds between packing cycles. Do not exceed a vacuum
time of 60 seconds.
If the machine has been in use for one hour, stop the
machine and allow it to cool to ambient temperature.
Move or transport the machine in an upright position. Do
NOT tilt the machine because it can cause damage to the
pump.
Turn On the Machine
1. Press the On/Off button.The display shows codes for the software
revision. For example:
2. If the machine has not been used for a while, run the Pump
Conditioning Program. See Run the Pump Conditioning Program
on page 4.
Place the Product in the Chamber
NOTICE: If packing food, see important information under PACKING
FOOD on page 4.
1. Place the food product in a vacuum sealing bag that fits completely
within the chamber.
2. Place the bag in the chamber with the open end over the sealing
bar. Make sure the bag is smooth, without wrinkles or folds.
Multiple vacuum bags can be placed over the sealing bars. Do NOT
overlap vacuum bags.
For small products, place one or more insert plates under the
product. This fills empty space in the chamber, which reduces the
cycle time.
Set the Vacuum Percentage
1. Press until the Vacuum LED illuminates.
2. Press or to set a vacuum pressure.
• The recommended minimum is 50%.
• To use Vacuum Plus, Vacuum Pressure must be set to 99%.
3. Press to use Vacuum Plus or set the duration of sealing
time.
Vacuum Plus
Extends the vacuum cycle to enable air trapped in the food to escape
the bag.
1. Make sure the pressure is 99%.
2. Set the duration.
Press or to set the number of seconds. A dot next to
the number indicates Vacuum Plus mode.
Set the Seal Time
1. Press until the Seal LED illuminates.
2. Press or to set the number of seconds. 2.0 to 2.5
seconds is recommended for most bags.
Run the Program
1. Close the lid.
NOTICE: Do NOT use the lid retainer. Using the lid retainer
during a packing cycle will interfere with the cycle.
2. The cycle automatically starts.
3. The lid opens automatically when the cycle is complete.
4. Remove the packed product.
5. Wait 15 seconds before packing another product.
Stop the Machine
1. To stop the vacuum step and move to seal step, press .
2. To stop and cancel the entire cycle, press .
CAUTION
Burn Hazard
Sealing bar may become hot after repeated use. Do not touch
the sealing bar when placing vacuum bags in the chamber.
vacuum
seal
vac
stop stop
vac
stop stop
vacuum
seal
vac
stop stop
vac
stop
stop

4 Vacuum Packing Machine with 12" Sealing Bar Operator’s Manual
Packing Liquid Products
Special care must be taken when packing liquids.
1. Cool food before packing. Hot food quickly reaches the boiling
point, which can lead to an insufficient seal.
NOTICE: Hot products create condensation, which can damage
the pump.
2. Watch the vacuum process through the clear lid.
3. Press as soon as bubbles appear in the product.
This stops the vacuum and starts the seal step.
NOTICE: Do not let products boil. Boiling will increase the
amount of moisture that enters the pump, which can
lead to corrosion.
4. Run the Pump Conditioning Program at the end of the work day.
CLEANING
NOTICE: Do NOT tilt the machine. Tilting could enable oil to flow out of the pump and cause damage to the machine.
NOTICE: If the machine will be idle for more than one month, the oil should be drained from the pump. Moisture in the oil could corrode the
pump.
Daily
Run the Pump Conditioning Program
The Pump Conditioning Program removes any moisture that may have
accumulated in the pump. During the program, the pump and oil reach
operating temperature, which evaporates any moisture in the pump.
1. Press .
2. The display shows .
3. Close the lid.
4. The program starts. Moving dots appear on the display.
5. The program runs for approximately 15 minutes. Do not interrupt
the program. If the program is interrupted, it must be run again to
ensure completion.
Clean the exterior and interior
NOTICE: Do not use cleaners containing ammonia, alcohol, acetone
or dry cleaning products. Cleaners with these chemicals
will damage Plexiglas®, acrylic and other plastics. These
will damage the finish.
NOTICE: Do not use paper towels, abrasive materials, scratching
cleansers, razor blades, brushes, steel wool or scouring
pads, such as Scotch Brite™ pads.These will damage the
finish.
NOTICE: Do not use WD-40®or petroleum, industrial or commercial
cleaning products. These will damage the finish.
1. Unplug the machine. Allow it to cool.
2. Wipe the vacuum chamber, lid, sealing bar, silicone holder and
exterior with a soft, lint free or microfiber cloth and warm water, or
a mixture of warm water and a small amount of mild dish
detergent.
3. Thoroughly wipe off any mild soap or chemical cleaners. Residue
could corrode the surface of the unit.
vac
stop
WARNING
Electrical Shock Hazard
Keep water and other liquids from entering the inside of the
equipment. Liquid inside the equipment could cause an
electrical shock. Do not spray water or cleaning products.
Liquid could contact the electrical components and cause a
short circuit or an electrical shock.
CAUTION
Burn Hazard
Allow equipment to cool before moving or cleaning.

Vacuum Packing Machine with 12" Sealing Bar Operator’s Manual 5
MAINTENANCE
NOTICE: All maintenance must be performed by a qualified service
technician.
NOTICE: Do NOT tilt the machine. Tilting could enable oil to flow out
of the pump and cause damage to the machine.
The following maintenance schedule is only a guideline. Actual
maintenance needs will vary depending on machine use. Inspect your
machine regularly.
Replace the Sealing Wires and Teflon®Tape
Check the sealing bar for damage. Replace the Teflon tape or sealing
wires if the seal quality is no longer sufficient or if the Teflon tape or
seal wires are worn.
Tools Needed:
• Phillips screwdriver
• Tensioning tool or pliers
• Scissors
• Lint-free cleaning cloth
• Replacement Teflon tape
• Replacement sealing wire
1. Pull up on the sealing bar to remove it from the machine.
2. Remove the Teflon tape that protects the sealing wires.
3. Remove the screws on the bottom side of the seal bar.
4. Remove the sealing wires.
5. Remove the Teflon tape from the sealing bar.
6. Clean the sealing bar with a lint-free cloth.
7. Cut a piece of replacement Teflon tape to the same length as the
sealing bar.
8. Apply the replacement tape to the sealing bar.
9. Cut new sealing wires to the length of the sealing bar, plus about 6"
(15 cm).
10. Attach one wire to one side of the seal bar by tightening the screw.
11. Pull the wire across the sealing bar straight and tight.
12. Attach it by tightening the screw.
13. Repeat steps 10 through 12 for the second wire.
14. Trim the wires.
15. Cut a piece of Teflon tape the same length of the sealing bar, plus
about 2" (5 cm).
16. Apply the tape smoothly over the sealing wires on the sealing bar.
17. Trim the tape.
18. Place the sealing bar back in the machine. Verify that the sealing
bar is properly snapped into the holder.
WARNING
Electrical Shock Hazard
Unplug unit before servicing.
Interval Procedure
Weekly Check the oil by viewing the Oil Inspection Window.
Inspect the seal bar for wear.
Inspect the seal pad under the lid for wear.
Inspect the lid gasket and lid.
Every six
months Replace the oil in the vacuum pump. Contact Vollrath Technical Services.
Replace the sealing wires and Teflon®tape.
Replace the seal pad under the lid.
Replace the lid gasket.
Yearly Inspect the oil exhaust filter. Contact Vollrath Technical
Services.
Every four
years Replace the lid, gas springs and seal cylinder membranes. Contact Vollrath Technical Services.