EP1970313A1

EP1970313A1 - Vacuum packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1970313A1
Application number: EP08101069A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chang Ho Kim
Original assignee: Lock and Lock Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lock and Lock Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-12
Filing date: 2008-01-29
Publication date: 2008-09-17
Also published as: KR100853751B1; US20080223006A1

Abstract

A vacuum packaging apparatus includes a main body (110) including a vacuum pump (140); a chamber body (200) provided in the main body (110) and having a chamber, the chamber body (200) having a packaging bag insertion (210) at a front of the chamber body (200) and a predetermined space at a rear portion of the chamber body, and an intake (230) coupled to the vacuum pump (140); and a chamber cover (300) that is configured to close the packaging bag insertion (210) of the chamber body (200).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum packaging apparatus that evacuates air from a packaging bag and then seals the packaging bag by heating, particularly a vacuum packaging apparatus that has a packaging bag insertion at the front and a small chamber with the rear closed, secures vacuum-packing, and minimizes waste of a vacuum packaging bag.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vacuum packaging apparatuses are packaging apparatuses that are used to store an object to vacuum-process, such as food, over a long period of time while preventing oxidization of the food by putting the food inside a packaging bag, evacuating the inside air, and then sealing the packaging bag. Although, it is possible to prevent food from spoiling by keeping the food at low temperature using a refrigerator, the food can be stored over a longer period of time by vacuum-packing the food to prevent air from contacting the food.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a common vacuum packaging apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 1, a common vacuum machine includes a body 10 equipped with a variety of components, such as a vacuum pump, etc. (not shown), and a cover 20 hinged to the body 10 to open/close the upper side of the body 10.
The body 10 includes a lower sealing member 12 disposed around a lower chamber part 11 that is formed in the left-to-right direction, an air intake 13 formed inside the lower chamber part 11, a vacuum pump (not shown) connected with the air intake 13 and sucking up air, and a heating means 14 disposed in the left-to-right direction in front of the lower chamber part 11 and sealing a vacuum packaging bag by heating.
The cover 20 has an upper sealing member 22 that is disposed corresponding to the lower sealing member 12 and creates a vacuum space by sealing the lower chamber part 11 when the upper side of the body 10 is closed by the cover 20 and a pressing member 23 that is disposed corresponding to the heating member 14 and presses the heating member 14. An upper chamber part 21 that is recessed may be formed on the lower side of the cover 20, where the upper sealing member 22 is disposed, in the left-to-right direction, corresponding to the lower chamber part 11.
The operation of a common vacuum packaging apparatus having the above configuration is as follows.
First, a user puts an object 40 to vacuum-pack into a packaging bag 30, places an opening 31 of the packaging bag 30 at the lower chamber part 11 of the body 10, and then contacts the upper sealing member 22 to the lower sealing member 12 by pivoting the cover 20. As a result, the space between the lower chamber part 11 and/or the upper chamber part 21 becomes airtight.
Under this condition, when a predetermined operation switch 15 is pushed, the vacuum pump (not shown) is actuated, and as the vacuum pump operates, the air in the closed space formed by the lower chamber part 11 and the upper chamber part 21 is sucked into the air intake 13. Accordingly, the lower chamber part 11 forms a vacuum, such that the air in the packaging bag 30 is exhausted through the opening 31 of the packaging bag 30 at the lower chamber part 11.
After the vacuum process for the inside of the packaging bag 30 is completed as described above, power is applied to the heating member 14 at the same time the pressing member 23 presses the heating member 14, resulting in the opening 31 of the packaging bag 30 to be sealed by heat fusion.
However, according to the vacuum packaging apparatus in the related art, when the cover 20 is closed, a closed space is defined between the upper sealing member 22 and the lower sealing member 12, i.e. the lower chamber part 11 and the upper chamber part 21; therefore, it is required to position the packaging bag 30 exactly in the lower chamber part 11.
When the packaging bag 30 is not exactly positioned in the lower chamber part 11 formed by the lower sealing member 12 and a portion of the packaging bag 30 extends beyond the lower chamber part 11, the packaging bag 30 is unable to completely vacuumed.
In order to overcome the above problems, in the vacuum packaging apparatus in the related art, the lower chamber part 11 and/or the upper chamber part 21 are formed to have a predetermined width in the front-to-rear direction. That is, the chamber parts 11, 21 are formed wide such that a user is able to put the packaging bag between the chamber parts 11, 21 without any problems.
However, this configuration has additional problems.
First, the wider the chamber parts 11, 21, the more the distance between the opening 31 of the packaging bag 30 and the heat-fused portion by the heating means 14 increases, such that the user has to cut more of the sealed portion to reuse the packaging bag 30. This means that the user has to re-form the opening 31 by cutting the heat-fused sealing line to reuse the packaging bag 30, but the user has to cut more the portion including the opening 31 of the packaging bag 30 when the chamber parts 11, 21 are widened as described above, which increases waste of the packaging bag 30.
Second, when the chamber parts 11, 21 increase in width, the spaces for the chamber parts 11, 21 are also increased, such that the vacuum packaging apparatus more protrudes forward. To be more detailed, in a common vacuum packaging apparatus, few components for vacuum packing are disposed in the lower space of the body 10 where the chamber parts 11, 21 and the heating member 14 are provided. However, in the related art, since the unnecessary space increases with increase in width of the chamber parts 11, 21, the vacuum packaging apparatus increases in length and more space is needed to install the vacuum packaging apparatus.
On the other hand, in a common vacuum packaging apparatus, necessary components for vacuum process in the chamber parts 11, 21, such as the vacuum pump (not shown), are mostly disposed in the body 10 and the lower chamber part 11 is recessed down at the upper side of the body 10.
Accordingly, the air intake 13 has to be formed at the lower side of the lower chamber part 11 in a vacuum packaging apparatus in the related art, such that when food with water is vacuum-packed, the water may flow out of the packaging bag 30 to the lower chamber part 11 and then flow into the air intake 13.
In this case, the components, such as the vacuum pump (not shown), may be damaged and other problems, such as accidents relating to safety including an electric shock, may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in order to overcome at least a part of the above problems, according to an aspect of the invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum packaging apparatus that allows a user to be able to easily place a packaging bag at a desired position to seal the packaging bag under vacuum while minimizing the size of the chamber, thereby minimizing waste of the packaging bag.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, it is another object of the invention to provide a compact vacuum packaging apparatus having a chamber that is small in the front-to-rear direction by minimizing the chamber. Further, according to another aspect of the invention, it is another object of the invention to provide a vacuum packaging apparatus that can obviate damage to a vacuum pump or an accident, such as an electric shock, due to water flowing in a chamber from a packaging bag.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, it is another object of the invention to provide a vacuum packaging apparatus that can securely and safely seal the chamber.
In order to achieve the objects of the invention, a vacuum packaging apparatus includes: a main body including a vacuum pump; a chamber body that is provided in the main body and has a chamber, which has a packaging bag insertion at the front and a predetermined space at the rear portion, and an intake connected with the vacuum pump and formed through a side of the chamber; and a chamber cover that closes the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
Preferably, the chamber cover may close a packaging bag insertion of the chamber body while sliding up/down vertically or at a slant along guides formed in the chamber body or the chamber.
More preferably, the chamber body may have an extension that extends forward to close the lower portion of the packaging bag insertion and contacts with the lower side of the chamber cover.
The chamber cover may have an upper cover that extends backward to cover the upper portion of the packaging bag insertion and contacts with the upper side of the chamber body.
The chamber cover may have a side cover that extends backward to cover the sides of the packaging bag insertion and contacts with the sides of the chamber body.
Preferably, the guides may be formed at both sides of the packaging bag insertion and the chamber cover or the chamber body may have sliders that slide along the guides.
Further, preferably, the chamber cover may close the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body while pivoting by hinges provided to the chamber body.
It is preferable to provide the plurality of hinges at the upper portion of the chamber body.
Preferably, the chamber cover may be made of a sealable material to seal the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
A vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention may further include a sealing member that is disposed between the chamber body and the chamber cover and seals the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
Preferably, the sealing member may be disposed where the chamber cover contacts with the chamber body.
Further, preferably, the sealing member may be disposed around at least one of the entire chamber cover and the entire packaging bag insertion, or around a portion of the chamber cover and a portion of the packaging bag insertion.
Further, preferably, the sealing member may be disposed on a sealing member seat that protrudes or is recessed on the rear of the chamber cover or around the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
Preferably, the lower side of the chamber of the chamber body may be declined toward the packaging bag insertion.
Further, preferably, the chamber of the chamber body may have an angle such that the packaging bag insertion is wide and the rear is narrow.
Further, it is preferable that the intake is formed through the rear or a side of the chamber body.
Further, a vacuum packaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention may further include elastic means that provide an elastic force to the chamber cover to keep at least a portion of the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body open while an external force is not applied.
Preferably, the chamber cover may close the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body by pivoting by the hinges provided to the chamber body and the elastic means may be provided to the hinges.
Further, preferably, the chamber cover may have sliders to slide up/down along the guides formed in the chamber body and the elastic means may provide an elastic force to the sliders or the lower side of the chamber cover.
Preferably, the main body may have a body where the chamber body is provided and a cover that pivots to cover the body, and the chamber cover may be closed by the cover pivoting.
Further, the vacuum packaging apparatus may further include a sealing member that is disposed between the chamber body and the chamber cover and closes the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body, in which the sealing member may have a thickness such that the sealing member provides an elastic force by contacting with the chamber cover and the chamber body, to keep at least a portion of the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body open while an external force is not applied.
Preferably, the chamber body and the chamber cover may be separable from the main boy.
Further, preferably, the chamber body may have a heating means that seals a packaging bag by heating and the chamber cover may have a pressing means at the lower side to press the packaging bag to the heating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a common vacuum packaging apparatus;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing main parts of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the center portion of the vacuum packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 2 that is closed;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber body and the chamber cover shown in FIG. 4, in which a packaging bag insertion is open;
FIG. 5B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber body and the chamber cover shown in FIG. 4, in which a packaging bag insertion is closed;
FIGS. 6A to 6E are cross-sectional views schematically showing chamber bodies and chamber covers according to a variety of embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views schematically showing a chamber body and chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber body and the chamber cover shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention, in which a packaging bag insertion is open; and
FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention, in which a packaging bag insertion is closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereafter in detail with accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing main parts of a vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the center portion of the vacuum packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 2 that is closed.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a vacuum packaging apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention includes a main body 110 including a vacuum pump 140, a chamber body 200 provided in the main body 110, and a chamber cover 300 that closes a packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200.
The main body 110 may has a body 120 equipped with a variety of components, such as the vacuum pump 140, and a cover 130 pivotably hinged to the body 120 to open/close the upper side of the body 120.
A recessed seating groove 121 is formed in the left-to-right direction on the upper side of the body 120 to seat the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300, and a heating means 122 that seals a packaging bag by heating is provided in the left-to-right direction in front of the seating groove 121.
Further, the cover 130 has a pressing member 132 that is disposed corresponding to the heating means 122 and descends and presses the heating means 122 and a receiving groove 131 that is recessed to receive the chamber body 200 and chamber cover 300. Further, it is possible to start vacuum packing process using a protrusion 133 that is provided to the cover 130 such that the protrusion 133 pushes a switch 123 as the cover 130 descends and contacts with the upper side of the body 120, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it may be possible to start vacuum packing process using a separate switch 15 provided on the outside of the body 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the chamber body 200 is disposed in a space between the seating groove 121 of the main body 120 and the receiving groove 131 of the cover 130 and has a chamber 220 with the packaging bag insertion 210 at the front and a predetermined space inside and an intake 230 formed through a side of the chamber 220 and connected with the vacuum pump 140. The intake 230 is connected with a hose 141 of the vacuum pump 140 through an intake port 231 passing through the body 120.
Further, the heating means 122 and the pressing member 132 are respectively provided to the body 120 and the cover 130 in FIGS. 2 and 3, but as shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, they may be provided at the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300, respectively.
In order to seal the chamber 220 and make ready for starting the vacuum packing process at the same time, it is preferable that the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 is closed by the chamber cover 300 that is moved down by the cover 130 pivoting down. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration, it may be possible to close the packaging bag insertion 210 by moving the chamber cover 300 before closing the cover 130.
Therefore, with the packaging bag (not shown) placed in the chamber 220, when the chamber cover 300 moves down and closes the packaging bag insertion 210, the chamber 220 is sealed by a sealing member 400 in a sealing member seat 310. Subsequently, when the vacuum pump 140 is actuated, the pressure is decreased in the chamber 220 and the chamber cover 300 moves toward the intake 230. Accordingly, a sealing force of the sealing member 400 increases and it is possible to achieve more complete sealing and a vacuum process for the chamber 220.
Therefore, it is possible to achieve a smooth vacuum process for the packaging bag (not shown) in the chamber 220.
In particular, the vacuum packaging apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention has the advantage of securely positioning the packaging bag (not shown) inside the chamber 220 because when being inserted into the chamber 220, the packaging bag (not shown) reaches the rear of the chamber 220 and cannot be inserted further. Therefore, it is possible to easily position the packaging bag and minimizes the front-to-rear directional size of the chamber. In detail, according to the vacuum packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a packaging bag that is inserted is not restricted, such that it is required to secure a sufficiently large front-to-rear directional size for the chamber; however, the vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention can overcome the problem. Therefore, according to the vacuum packaging apparatus of an embodiment of the invention having the chamber 220 having the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the front-to-rear size of the chamber 220 as compared with the related art, such that it is possible to minimize waste of the packaging bag in reusing the packaging bag and also achieves a compact vacuum packaging apparatus.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable that the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300 are separable from the main body 120 to wash the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300.
Chamber covers 200 and chamber covers 300 according to a variety of embodiments of the invention are described hereafter with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 5A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber body and the chamber cover shown in FIG. 4, in which a packaging bag insertion is open, FIG. 5B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber body and the chamber cover shown in FIG. 4, in which a packaging bag insertion is closed, FIGS. 6A to 6E are cross-sectional views schematically showing chamber bodies and chamber covers according to a variety of embodiments of the invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a chamber body and chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, according to a vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, a chamber cover 300 is able to slide up/down vertically or at a slant along guides 240 formed in the chamber body 200 to close a packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200.
It is preferable to form an extension 250 that extends forward from the chamber body 200 to close the lower portion of the packaging bag insertion 210 by contacting with the lower side of the chamber cover 300. As shown in FIG. 5, that is, it is preferable to form the extension 250 that extends forward from the chamber body 200 to prevent a packaging bag P from folding when the chamber cover 300 closes the packaging bag insertion 210 after the packaging bag P is inserted.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable to form sliders to the chamber cover 300 that are guided by the guides 240 to slide the chamber cover 300 along the guides 240. However, in contrast to FIG. 4, sliders may be formed on the chamber body 200 and guides may be formed in the chamber cover 300.
Preferably, the guides 240 are formed at both sides of the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 such that they securely seal the packaging bag insertion 210.
In order to securely seal the chamber 220 as described above, the vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention may further include a sealing member 400 that is provided between the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300 and seals the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200.
The sealing member 400 may adhere to or be fitted in where the chamber cover 300 contacts with the chamber body 200.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the sealing member 400 may be fitted in sealing member seats 270, 310 that each protrude or are recessed on the rear of the chamber cover 300 or around the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the sealing member 400 may be fitted in a recessed sealing member seat 310 formed around the entire chamber cover 300 or, as shown in FIG. 6C, may be fitted in a recessed sealing member seat 270 formed around the entire packaging bag insertion 210. Though not shown in the figures, the sealing member 400 may be provided around the entire chamber cover 300 and packaging bag insertion 210.
Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6A, 6D, 6E, 7A, and 7B, the sealing member 400 may be provided around a portion of the edge of the chamber cover 300 and a portion of the edge of the packaging bag insertion 210, respectively.
The packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 may be sealed by making the chamber cover 300 itself of a sealable material, without using the sealing member 400.
Further, the vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 4, may include elastic members 370 that provide an elastic force to the chamber cover 300 to insert a packaging bag smoothly by keeping at least a portion of the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 open when an external force is not applied.
That is, the elastic member 370 is disposed in the guide 240 or at a position corresponding to the lower side of the chamber cover 300 and provides an elastic force to the lower side of the slider 320 or the lower side of the chamber cover 300 to keep the packaging bag insertion 210 open. Preferably, a stopper 325 that restricts the upper movement limit of the chamber cover 300 is provided to prevent the chamber cover 300 from being separated from the chamber body 200 and a stop groove (not shown) may be formed inside the guide 240 to fit the stopper 325.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the slider 320 of the chamber cover 300 is slightly spaced apart from the guide 240 of the chamber body 200 to slide smoothly. When a gap is not provided between the slider 320 of the chamber cover 300 and the guide 240 of the chamber body 200, it is preferable that the slider 320 slides at a distance from and along the guide 240 to prevent unsmooth sliding of the slider 320 due to contact of the sealing member 400 with the guide 240 or the slider 320 (see FIG. 5A). As described above, after the chamber cover 300 slides down such that the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 is closed, as the air inside the chamber 220 is sucked through the intake 230, as shown in FIG. 5B, the chamber cover 300 presses the sealing member 400 while moved to the intake 230 by the suction force, such that the sealing of the chamber 220 is completed.
On the other hand, it is preferable to form the intake 230 through the rear or the side of the chamber body 200. According to vacuum packaging apparatuses in the related art, in a vacuum packing process of a packaging bag in the chamber 220, in addition to an accident, such that an electric shock, the vacuum pump or other parts may be damaged by the substance, such as water, which flows out of the packaging bag and then flows into the intake 230. That is, in the related art, foreign substances, such as water, easily flow into the intake 230 because the intake 230 is disposed at the lower side of the chamber 220. However, according to an embodiment of the invention, the intake 230 is disposed at the side of the rear of the chamber body 200, such that it is possible to prevent damage to the vacuum pump and accidents such as an electric shock.
FIGS. 6A and 7B show a variety of embodiments for closing the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 by the chamber cover 300 sliding. However, the embodiments are provided by way of example and do not limit the invention.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the lower side of a chamber 220 of a chamber body 200 may be declined to the packaging bag insertion. By declining the lower side of the chamber 220 as described above, it is possible to prevent foreign substances flowing out of a packaging bag from flowing into an intake 230. That is, the foreign substances, such as water, which flows out of the packaging bag, flows along the slope of the lower side of the chamber 220 to the packaging bag insertion 210 at the front of the chamber 220. In this embodiment, thought not shown in the figure, a foreign substance collector may be provided at the front of the packaging bag insertion 210. In addition to the lower side, the upper side of the chamber 220 may have a predetermined angle. That is, the inside of the chamber 220 may be entirely inclined such that the packaging bag insertion 210 is wide and the intake 230 is narrow of the chamber 220.
Further, in a vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, the chamber cover 300 may slide at an angle. As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, that is, a slope 211 may be formed at the upper portion of a packaging bag insertion 210 and a chamber cover 300 slides at a predetermined angle on the slope 211. In this embodiment, in addition to the slope 211, slopes that are the same as the slope 211 are formed at both sides of the packaging bag insertion 210 of a chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300 slides along the slopes 211 at the upper portion and both sides of the packaging bag insertion 210. Further, a sealing member 400, as shown in FIG. 6B, may be provided in a sealing member seat 310 formed around the chamber cover 300, but, as shown in FIG. 6C, may be provided in a sealing member seat 270 formed around the packaging bag insertion 210.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6A, a portion of the sealing member 400 may be provided around the chamber cover 300 and the other may be provided around the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6D and 6E, the chamber cover 300 may have an upper cover 340 that extends backward to cover the upper portion of the packaging bag insertion 210 and contacts with the upper side of the chamber body 200. Further, the chamber cover 300 may have a side cover (not shown) that extends backward to cover the sides of the packaging bag insertion 210 and contacts with the sides of the chamber body 200. Accordingly, the chamber cover 300 covers the upper portion and/or both sides of the packaging bag insertion 210 to improve sealing of the packaging bag insertion 210. In this embodiment, similar to the embodiments in FIGS. 6A to 6C, a sealing member 400 may be provided around the entire chamber cover 300 or the entire packaging bag insertion 210, or around a portion of the chamber cover 300 and a portion of the packaging bag insertion 210.
Other embodiments for the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300 of the invention are described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a chamber body 200 may have a heating means 260 for sealing a packaging bag by heating and a chamber cover 300 may have a pressing member 330 at the lower side to press the packaging bag against the heating means 260. That is, the heating means 122 and the pressing member 132 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be provided in the chamber body 200 and the chamber cover 300, not the main body 110 of the vacuum packaging apparatus. In this embodiment, the heating means 122 is very close to the chamber 220 of the body 200, it is possible to achieve a compact vacuum packaging apparatus that minimizes waste of the packaging bag when reusing the packaging bag by cutting the sealed portion of the sealed packaging bag.
The chamber bodies 200 and the chamber covers 300 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B may have a variety of shapes as shown in FIGS. 5A to 6E and a sealing member 400 may be provided at a variety of positions.
Another embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, according to a vacuum packaging apparatus of the invention, a chamber cover 300 is connected to a chamber body 200 by hinges 280 such that the chamber cover 300 pivots to cover a packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200.
It is preferable to provide a plurality of hinges 280 at the upper portion of the chamber body 200 to allow the chamber cover 300 to pivot stably.
An elastic means 360 that provides an elastic force to the chamber cover 300 may be provided for smooth insertion of a packaging bag by keeping at least a portion of the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 open while an external force is not applied.
The elastic means 360 may be provided to the hinge 280. That is, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 8, the elastic means 360 may be disposed between a protrusion 283 of a first hinge part 282 at the chamber body 200 and a protrusion 351 of a second hinge part 350 at the chamber cover 300 such that the packaging bag insertion 210 is open while an external force is not applied.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower side of the chamber 220 of the chamber body 250 may be declined toward the packaging bag insertion. By declining the lower side of the chamber 220 as described above, it is possible to prevent foreign substances flowing out of a packaging bag from flowing into an intake 230.
As shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the lower side, the upper side of the chamber 220 may have a predetermined angle. That is, the inside of the chamber 220 may be entirely inclined such that the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber 220 is wide and the rear where the intake 230 is formed is narrow. Further, when a predetermined angle corresponding to the shape of the chamber 220 is provided to the chamber cover 300, it is possible to achieve complete sealing because the chamber cover 300 and a sealing member 400 provided in the chamber cover are moved to the intake 230 in evacuating the chamber through the intake 230.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a heating means 260 may be provided at the lower side of the chamber body 200. According to this configuration, heat-sealing is performed at a position close to the chamber 220, such that the sealed portion of a packaging bag to cut for reuse is reduced and waste of the packaging bag is minimized. The sealing member 400 provided in the chamber cover 300 functions as a pressing member that presses the heating means 260 while sealing the chamber 220.
The chamber 220 is sealed by the sealing member 400 of the chamber cover 300 in FIG. 9, but it may be sealed by the chamber cover 300 that is made of a sealable material.
Another embodiment that illustrates closing the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body 200 by pivoting the chamber cover 300 is described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention and FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber body and the chamber cover shown in FIG. 10.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a vacuum packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a chamber body 200 that has a chamber 220 having a packaging bag insertion 210 at the front and a predetermined space at the rear portion, and a chamber cover 300 that pivots by hinges 280 to close the packaging bag insertion 210.
The chamber body 200 is provided with a sealing member 400 disposed in a sealing member seat 270 formed in front of the packaging bag insertion 210, a heating means 260 in front of the sealing member 400, and an intake 230 that is formed through the rear of the chamber 220 and has an intake port 231 connected with a hose of a vacuum pump.
Further, the chamber cover 300 has a second hinge part 350 that is connected with a first hinge part 282 of the chamber body 200 and pivots on a hinge shaft 281, such that the chamber cover 300 pivots by the hinges 280 and closes the packaging bag insertion 210.
Further, chamber cover 300 may have an upper cover 340 and a side cover 311 to completely cover the upper side and both sides of the chamber 220 of the chamber body 200, but the configuration is not limited thereto as long as it can cover the packaging bag insertion 210.
Further, a sealing member seat 310 may be formed on the inside, i.e. the upper side and both side inside the chamber cover 300 and the sealing member 400 may be provided in the seat and a sealing member 400 may be provided at an extension 250 that extends forward from the packaging bag insertion 210 of the chamber body 200 to maintain sealing while contacting with the lower side of the chamber cover 300. Furthermore, a pressing member 330 that presses a packaging bag may be provided in the chamber cover 300, corresponding to the heating means 260.
The second hinge part 350 may be connected with the upper cover 340 and the side cover 311 that closes the packaging bag insertion by an independent extending member 390, but this configuration is also not limited as long as the chamber cover 300 can pivot. Further, the upper cover 340 and the side cover 311 can pivot on a shaft 315 with respect to the extending member 390 to close effectively the packaging bag insertion 210. The extending member 390 may be connected or in contact with the cover (130 in FIG. 2) of main body of the vacuum packaging apparatus such that the chamber cover 300 closes the packaging bag insertion 210 when the cover 130 is closed.
Further, a protrusion 313 shown in FIG. 10 may press the chamber cover 300 downward backward while guided by a groove formed in front of a protrusion 216 of the chamber body 200 in evacuating the chamber 220 to improve the sealing of the chamber 220.
FIGS. 12A and 12B is schematic cross-sectional views of a chamber body and a chamber cover according to another embodiment of the invention, in which a packaging bag insertion is open in FIG. 12A and closed in FIG. 12B.
As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, according to another embodiment of the invention, it is possible to keep at least a portion of a packaging bag insertion 210 of a chamber body 200 open while an external force is not applied by forming a sealing member 400 in a predetermined thickness. That is, while an external force is not applied, the packaging bag insertion 210 is kept open by the sealing member 400 that is in contact with the upper portion of the packaging bag insertion 210. Further, projections 215 may be provided to the chamber body 220 to restrict excessive movement of the chamber cover 300 into the chamber 220.
As described above, according to an aspect of the invention, because a packaging bag insertion is formed at the front of a chamber and the rear of the chamber is closed, it is easy to place a packaging bag exactly at a desired position inside the chamber, such that it is possible to minimize the size of the chamber. Therefore, since the length in the front-to-rear direction of the chamber is reduced, it is possible to minimize waste of the packaging bag in reuse of the packaging bag and achieve a compact vacuum packaging apparatus as well.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, because an intake is formed not at the bottom of the chamber, but the rear or the side of a chamber, it is possible to minimize a possibility that foreign substances, such as water, flows into the intake. Therefore, it is possible to obviate damage to a vacuum pump or accidents, such as an electric shock.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, because the lower side of a chamber may be declined toward a packaging bag insertion such that the packaging bag insertion-sided portion is wide and the rear is narrow, it is possible to achieve secure and stable sealing.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, it is possible to achieve a compact vacuum packaging apparatus by providing a heating means to a chamber body and a pressing member to a chamber cover to press the heating means against the vacuum packaging apparatus.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

A vacuum packaging apparatus comprising:
a main body including a vacuum pump;

a chamber body provided in the main body and having a chamber, the chamber body having a packaging bag insertion at a front of the chamber body and a predetermined space at a rear portion of the chamber body, and an intake coupled to the vacuum pump; and

a chamber cover that is configured to close the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber cover is configured to close the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body while sliding vertically or at a slant along guides formed in the chamber body or the chamber.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chamber body has an extension that extends forward to close a lower portion of the packaging bag insertion and contacts with a lower side of the chamber cover.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the chamber cover has an upper cover that extends backward to cover an upper portion of the packaging bag insertion and contacts with an upper side of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the chamber cover has a side cover that extends backward to cover sides of the packaging bag insertion and contacts with sides of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guides are formed at both sides of the packaging bag insertion, and
the chamber cover or the chamber body has sliders that slide along the guides.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber cover is configured to close the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body while pivoting by hinges provided to the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of hinges are provided at an upper portion of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber cover is made of a sealable material to seal the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a sealing member disposed between the chamber body and the chamber cover and configured to seal the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sealing member is disposed where the chamber cover contacts with the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sealing member is disposed around entirely at least one of the chamber cover and the packaging bag insertion, or around a portion of the chamber cover and a portion of the packaging bag insertion.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sealing member is disposed on a sealing member seat that protrudes or is recessed on the rear of the chamber cover or around the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein a lower side of the chamber of the chamber body declines toward the packaging bag insertion.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber of the chamber body has an angle such that the packaging bag insertion is wider than and the rear portion of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake is formed through the rear portion or a side of the chamber body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one elastic component that provides an elastic force to the chamber cover to keep at least a portion of the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body open while an external force is not applied.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 17, wherein the chamber cover closes the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body by pivoting by the hinges provided to the chamber body, and
the elastic component provided to the hinges.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 17, wherein the chamber cover has sliders to slide along the guides formed in the chamber body, and
the elastic component provides an elastic force to the sliders of a lower side of the chamber cover.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body has a body where the chamber body is provided and a cover that pivots to cover the body, and
the chamber cover is closed by pivoting of the cover .
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a sealing member that is disposed between the chamber body and the chamber cover and configured to close the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body,
wherein the sealing member has a thickness such that the sealing member provides an elastic force by contacting with the chamber cover and the chamber body, to keep at least a portion of the packaging bag insertion of the chamber body open while an external force is not applied.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber body and the chamber cover is separable from the main body.
The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber body has a heating component that seals a packaging bag by heating and the chamber cover has a pressing component at a lower side to press the packaging bag to the heating component.