INKBIRD INK-VS04 Large Vacuum Sealer Instruction Manual

Introduction

This instruction manual provides essential information for the safe and efficient operation of your INKBIRD INK-VS04 Large Vacuum Sealer. This household vacuum sealer is designed to improve kitchen preservation efficiency by offering various sealing modes for different ingredients, helping to preserve the original flavor and nutrients of dry, moist, or liquid foods.

The INK-VS04 features dual motors and dual pumps for fast vacuuming, an intelligent LED display for real-time feedback, and multiple safety features including overheat protection. Please read this manual thoroughly before first use and keep it for future reference.

Safety Warnings

Read and fully understand all instructions and warnings prior to using this appliance.

1. Read the instructions carefully.
2. Do not allow the appliance to be used as a toy.
3. This appliance should not be operated by children.
4. Do not operate the appliance with a damaged mains power cord or plug.
5. Do not use the appliance on a wet or hot surface, or near a heat source.
6. Always use the appliance on a level surface.
7. Do not immerse any part of the appliance, mains power cord or plug into water or other liquid.
8. To disconnect, unplug the mains power cord from the mains power socket. Do not disconnect by pulling on the mains power cord. Always unplug the appliance before cleaning and when not in use.
9. Do not operate the appliance if it malfunctions or is in any way damaged. If the mains power cable or the appliance is damaged, return it to our after-sales department for proper service, replacement or repair.
10. Close supervision is required when this appliance is used near children.
11. The appliance is not for commercial use. If sealing more than 20 bags continuously, wait at least 25 minutes before resuming use of your appliance.

Product Overview

Familiarize yourself with the components and controls of your INKBIRD INK-VS04 Vacuum Sealer.

Control Panel Functions

• DRY: Vacuums and seals dry food (e.g., nuts, grains). Stops automatically when done.
• MOIST: Vacuums and seals moist food with small liquid content (<= 20 ml) (e.g., fresh fish, meat). Stops automatically when done.
• LIQUID: Vacuums and seals food with significant liquid content (<= 50 ml) (e.g., marinated food, suitable for sous vide).
• GENTLE MODE: Slower vacuum speed, suitable for foods with more liquid or delicate items.
• NORMAL MODE: Regular vacuum speed for dry or slightly moist food.
• EXTENDED SEALING TIME: Increases sealing time (levels 4 or 5) for thicker bags. Default is level 3.
• REDUCED SEALING TIME: Decreases sealing time (levels 1 or 2) for thinner bags.
• VAC & SEAL: Initiates both vacuuming and sealing process after food and mode selection.
• CANCEL: Stops any ongoing process.
• CANISTER: Used for vacuuming with an external canister (requires accessory hose).
• PULSE: Provides manual control over vacuuming for soft or delicate foods, or to prevent liquid suction. Press and hold to vacuum, release to stop. Press SEAL ONLY to seal.
• SEAL ONLY: Seals the bag without vacuuming.
• LED DISPLAY SCREEN: Shows the countdown time for the vacuum seal process.

Components

1. Handle: For opening and closing the lid. The machine automatically locks when the lid is closed.
2. Silicone Sealing Strip: Ensures an airtight seal.
3. Hook: Part of the locking mechanism.
4. Sealing Gaskets (Upper): Upper part of the sealing mechanism.
5. Roll Storage Chamber: Conveniently stores vacuum sealer bag rolls (up to 23ft in length).
6. Cutter Bar: Guides the cutter for straight cuts.
7. Cutter: Built-in tool to create custom bag sizes.
8. Sealing Gasket (Lower): Lower part of the sealing mechanism.
9. Vacuum Chamber: Area where air is extracted from the bag. Features a removable vacuum slot to catch overflow liquid for easy cleaning.
10. Lock: Secures the lid during operation.
11. Heating Element: Seals the bag. May get hot; avoid contact.
12. Accessory Port: Allows connection for vacuum packaging with canisters and other accessories. Note: This port must not be blocked if not in use, as it is also the gas outlet.
13. Socket: Connects the power cord to the appliance.

Specifications

Setup and Initial Use

How to Make a Custom Sized Bag

This vacuum sealer is equipped with a roll storage chamber compatible with a roll of 20ft/6m and a built-in cutter.

1. Plug in the power cord. The buttons will light up.
2. Open the lid. Place a roll into the roll storage area. Pull enough bag material to hold the item to be vacuum packaged, plus 2 inches (about 5cm) for sealing. Use the embedded cutter on the sealer to cut the desired bag length from the roll. Make sure to cut in a straight line.
3. Place one end of the cut bag onto the heating bar. It is acceptable if you accidentally place any material onto the gasket area.
4. Lower down the lid using the handle.
5. Press the SEAL ONLY button to create a custom sized bag. When the indicator number on the screen counts down to 0, the process is done. All buttons will light up again.
6. Lift the handle to release the air and open the lid. It is now safe to take out the newly created bag.

CAUTION: Make sure you give the appliance time to cool down. Wait at least 20 seconds between seals. Under very heavy usage, the appliance will shut off automatically to prevent overheating. If it does, wait 25 minutes to allow the appliance to cool off.

Operating Modes

How to Vacuum Seal with a Vacuum Bag

1. Place the item to be sealed into the pre-cut or custom sized bag. Leave at least 2 inches (about 5cm) between the contents and the top of the bag to allow for bag contraction.
2. Open the lid. Place the open end of the bag down into the vacuum chamber. Ensure that the air holes in the vacuum chamber slot are not covered by the bag.
3. Lower down the lid using the handle.
4. Plug in the appliance.
5. Choose DRY, MOIST, or LIQUID button according to the food type.
6. Press VAC & SEAL. The appliance will vacuum and seal, then stop automatically. When the indicator number on the screen counts down to 0, the process is done.
7. Lift the handle to release the air and open the lid. It is now safe to take out the bag.

Tips: When vacuuming wet food, please choose the "moist" food mode. The liquid in the bag should not exceed 0.68oz/20ml. Pour off excess liquid and wipe the bag opening clean before sealing. Alternatively, place it into the refrigerator for 20 minutes before sealing. The liquid in the bag should not exceed 1.7oz/50ml when using "liquid" mode.

How to Use Pulse Function

The Pulse function allows for manual control of vacuum time and pressure, preventing delicate items from being crushed or liquids from being sucked out.

1. Place the item to be sealed into the pre-cut or custom sized bag. Leave at least 2 inches (about 5cm) between the contents and the top of the bag to allow for bag contraction.
2. Open the lid. Place the open end of the bag down into the vacuum chamber.
3. Lower down the lid using the handle.
4. Plug in the appliance.
5. Press and hold the PULSE button continually until it reaches the desired pressure. You can observe the vacuum bag to determine the pressure. Releasing the button will stop vacuuming; pressing it again will resume.
6. When the pressure reaches what it needs, press the SEAL ONLY button to start sealing.
7. When the indicator number on the screen counts down to 0, the process is done. All buttons will light up again.
8. Lift the handle to release the air and open the lid. It is now safe to take out the bag.

How to Use Canister Function

NOTE: Canisters are not included with this appliance. The hose may not fit all canister lids.

1. Wipe the canister cover and base to ensure they are clean and dry.
2. Place the food into the canister and leave at least one inch (about 2.5cm) of space between the food and the cover.
3. Place the cover onto the canister. Insert one end of the accessory hose into the port on the appliance. Put the other end onto the canister port, pressing down firmly to ensure a tight fit.
4. Plug in the appliance.
5. Press the CANISTER button. The appliance will start vacuuming the canister automatically.
6. When the indicator number on the screen counts down to 0, the process is done. All buttons will light up again. Then it is safe to remove the hose from the appliance and the canister.

Video: Demonstration of INKBIRD INK-VS04 Vacuum Sealer in action, showing bag cutting, sealing, and canister use.

Care & Maintenance

1. Always unplug the appliance before cleaning.
2. Do not use abrasives to clean the appliance.
3. Wipe the outer surface with a soft, damp cloth and soap.
4. To clean the inside of the appliance, wipe away any food or liquid with a paper towel.
5. Dry all parts thoroughly before you plug in and operate the appliance again.
6. The vacuum slot may trap liquids that were drawn from the bag; it can be removed from the sealer. Use a mild dishwashing soap and a warm-damp cloth to wipe away any left-behind liquid from the vacuum slot. Dry thoroughly.

Troubleshooting

Nothing happens when I press the DRY or MOIST button:

• Make sure the mains power cord is correctly plugged into the mains power socket.
• Make sure the mains power cord is not damaged in any way.
• Make sure the mains power socket is operative by plugging in another appliance. If it's not, check the circuit breakers or fuses in your home.
• Make sure the bag is positioned correctly down into the vacuum chamber.
• Wait 25 minutes to allow the appliance to cool off, and then try using again.

Air is not vacuumed from the bag:

• Check that there are no gaps, folds, wrinkles, or holes in the pre-sealed bags.
• Check for loose, worn, or cracked Upper and Lower sealing gaskets.
• Foods with high liquid contents may prevent the bag from sealing properly. Cut the bag open and wipe the top of the inside of the bag and reseal.
• Check to see if the bag is properly inserted into the vacuum chamber.
• Make sure you've placed the bag in the proper place. When making a bag from a roll, make sure the end of the cut piece is on the heating bar.

Bag melts:

• The heating bar may have been too hot during the sealing process. Allow the appliance to cool for 20 seconds between uses. If the bag continues to melt, allow the appliance to cool for 25 minutes before using.

Air has seeped back into the vacuumed bag:

• Check the seal of the bag. There may be a hole or wrinkle that is allowing air to re-enter the bag. Carefully cut the bag open and re-seal it, or use an entirely new bag.
• Make sure that there is no moisture or liquid from the food present within the bag seal. You may need to cut open the bag and re-seal it, or use an entirely new bag. Partially freeze foods with excess liquids prior to vacuum sealing.
• Make sure there are no food items with sharp edges that may have punctured the bag. If you find a puncture hole, seal the item in an entirely new bag.
• Make sure no liquids were drawn to the heating bar area.
• Check for loose, worn, or cracked Upper and Lower sealing gaskets.
• Moisture of foods with high liquid content will prevent the bag from sealing properly. Cut the bag open and wipe the top of the inside of the bag and reseal.

Bag will not seal:

• Check that there aren't any gaps, folds, wrinkles, or holes in the pre-sealed edges.
• Moisture of foods with high liquid content will prevent the bag from sealing properly. Cut the bag open and wipe the top of the inside of the bag and reseal.
• Make sure you've placed the bag in the proper place. When making a bag from a roll, make sure the end of the cut piece is on the heating bar.
• Make sure you've given the appliance time to cool down. Wait 20 seconds between seals.

User Tips

• You can use pre-cut vacuum bags with this sealer, in addition to creating custom-sized bags from a roll.
• For best results with moist foods, ensure the bag opening is clean and dry before sealing. If there's too much liquid, consider partially freezing the food first or using the 'Liquid' mode.
• When using the Pulse function for delicate items like chips, press and release the button intermittently to control the vacuum level and prevent crushing.

Warranty & Support

For product support, warranty information, or service inquiries, please contact INKBIRD TECH.C.L. using the details below:

• Email: support@inkbird.com
• Factory Address: 6th Floor, Building 713, Pengji Liantang Industrial Area, NO.2 Pengxing Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, China
• Office Address: Room 1803, Guowei Building, NO.68 Guowei Road, Xianhu Community, Liantang, Luohu District, Shenzhen, China

This product is Made in China and complies with EDUS, FC, CE, and ROHS standards.