Abstract: A vacuum assembly for recovering and dispensing flowable packaging material is comprised of a chamber, an air pump, a screen, and a handle. The air pump, which may be an electric motor and squirrel cage blower, is stationed to pump air into the mouth, through the chamber, through the screen, and out an exhaust where the air may be useful for blowing flowable packaging material. The screen may be contoured or flat, and is configured to allow the passage of air but not the passage of flowable packaging material. The mouth opens to the exterior of the vacuum assembly, and is configured such that flowable packaging material that is contained within the chamber can fall out of the mouth, under the influence of gravity, when the mouth is oriented downward and the air pump is not pumping air. The chamber may increase in cross-sectional area from the mouth to the screen. A door, flap or other shutting mechanism may be used to shut the mouth.

Abstract: An overhead vacuum assembly for recovering, storing and dispensing flowable packaging material including a flexible storage bag having an open upper end for receiving flowable packaging material, a dispensing valve mounted at the lower end of the bag, a liner or frame for maintaining the perimeter shape of the flexible bag, a cover mounted at the open upper end of the flexible bag, a fan motor assembly, including a filter, mounted to the cover for creating a vacuum in the bag and a hose mounted to the cover. The filter acts as a deflector to evenly distribute the loose fill throughout the bag during the recovery process. The cover may have a pyramidal shape and tear-away panels for ease of maintenance.