JP2000072111A - Vacuum packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent positively surrounding atmosphere from entering a storing bag during a period in which an inner side of the storing bag is set to be a vacuum state and the storing bag is sealed by thermal melting and adhesion after a suction pipe is removed. SOLUTION: In the case of packaging operation, a suction pipe 33 is inserted into an opening Fa of a storing bag F having a stored item P stored therein, the opening Fa is extended in a lateral direction, the pipe is overlapped on it to seal it together with the suction pipe 33. Under this state, air in the storing bag F is sucked to make a substantial vacuum state, thereafter the suction pipe 33 is pulled off. Also after removal of it, since the opening Fa of the storing bag F is kept at its air-sealed state by seal members 24, 25, so that the surrounding atmosphere is prevented from entering the storing bag F. After this operation, if the opening Fa of the storing bag F is heated by a heater 28 to seal it with thermal melting, its packaging is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum packaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of compactly storing textiles such as futons and clothes, the articles to be stored are stored in a thermoplastic resin storage bag, and the air in the storage bag is evacuated. 2. Description of the Related Art It has been practiced to compress an object and seal an opening of the storage bag in an airtight state by heat fusion while keeping the inside of the storage bag in a substantially vacuum state. As an apparatus for performing such vacuum packaging, there is an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-29767. This is to put the object to be stored in the storage bag, leave the insertion part of the suction hose, partially seal the opening of the storage bag by heat welding, bleed the air in the storage bag through the suction hose, The suction hose is pulled out of the insertion portion, and finally, the insertion portion is sealed by heat fusion.

[0003]

In this conventional device,
From when the suction hose is removed to when the insertion part is heat-sealed
The insertion portion is not sealed. For this reason, there is a problem that the outside air enters the storage bag from the insertion portion, and the storage bag, which has been reduced in size, expands. The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and reliably prevents outside air from entering the storage bag during a period from the time when the inside of the storage bag is vacuumed to the time when the suction pipe is extracted and sealed by heat sealing. It is intended to be.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an object to be stored is housed in a storage bag made of a thermoplastic resin, and the storage bag is suctioned and substantially evacuated. A vacuum packaging apparatus for sealing the opening of the storage bag in an airtight state by heat fusion, the suction pipe being connected to vacuum pressure generating means, and capable of being inserted and withdrawn from the opening of the storage bag; By holding the opening of the storage bag horizontally and sandwiching it in a closed state, the storage bag is kept open in both the state where the intake pipe is inserted into the opening and the state where the intake pipe is removed. By heating a sealing means capable of sealing the opening in an airtight state over the entire area, and heating an area of the opening of the storage bag which is different from a sealing area by the sealing means, the opening is provided over the entire area. Airtight by heat fusion And a configuration and a sealable heat fusion means status.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the storage bag comprises a pair of tension members which can be inserted into the opening portion of the storage bag, and the two tension members are separated from each other so that the opening portion of the storage bag can be opened. Is provided with a tensioning means which can be extended to the side and held in a tensioned state.

[0006]

[Functions and Effects of the Invention] [Invention of claim 1] When packaging, an object to be stored is stored in a storage bag, an intake pipe is inserted into an opening of the storage bag, and the opening is extended laterally. Then, the opening is closed together with the suction pipe by a sealing means to seal in an airtight state.
In this state, the air in the storage bag is sucked through the suction pipe by the vacuum pressure generating means, and the inside of the storage bag is brought into a substantially vacuum state. Thereafter, the suction pipe is pulled out of the storage bag. Even after the suction pipe is pulled out, the opening of the storage bag is kept airtight by the sealing means. Then, if the opening of the storage bag is heated by the heat-sealing means and sealed by heat-sealing, the packaging is completed. Since the inside of the storage bag is kept sealed over the entire area by the sealing means from the time when the inside of the storage bag is vacuumed to the time when the suction pipe is pulled out and sealed by heat sealing, the outside air enters the storage bag. Can be reliably prevented.

[0007] [Invention of claim 2] When sealing or heat sealing is performed in a state where the opening is wavy, the wavy portion overlaps and a gap remains there, from which outside air enters the storage bag. Although there is a danger, in the invention of claim 2, since the opening of the storage bag is sealed and heat-fused in a state where the opening is tightened by a pair of tension members, that is, in a state where there is no wavy, the gap caused by the wavy There is no risk of occurrence, and an airtight state can be reliably obtained.

[0008]

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The vacuum packaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that one edge is an opening Fa, and the opening Fa is used for storing a thermoplastic resin storage bag F containing a compressible deformable storage object P such as a futon or clothing. The inside of the storage bag F is made substantially vacuum, and then sealed in an airtight state to perform vacuum packaging. The apparatus body 10 and the top plate 1 of the support frame 11 of the apparatus body 10 are provided.
2 and a table 13 integrally extending rearward.

On the top plate 12 of the support frame 11, a horizontally long movable holding member 15 supports a support shaft 16 at its front end by a bearing 14
It is supported by being fitted to. An opening / closing lever 17 is provided at one end of the support shaft 16 so as to be integrally rotatable. By operating the opening / closing lever 17, the movable holding member 15 is held at a holding position parallel to the top plate 12 (see FIG. 6).
And a release position (see FIG. 5) retracted upward from the top 12. The movable holding member 15 is arranged in series substantially parallel to the support shaft 16 and has a link 18.
Are provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction (lateral direction). Movable holding member 15
Is in the holding position, the end of each lock bar 19 opposite to the link 18 is provided with a lock hole 20 formed in the bearing 14.
And the movable holding member 15 is locked in the holding position (see FIG. 7). Also, one lock bar 19
A lock release lever 21 is connected to the end of the lock lever 17 so as to line up with the open / close lever 17.
Comes out of the lock hole 20 against the elasticity of the return spring 22. As a result, the movable holding member 15 is unlocked and can be turned to the release position. At the time of unlocking, if the palm is applied to the opening / closing lever 17 and the unlock lever 21 is gripped with a finger, as in the case of a hand brake of a motorcycle, the operation is facilitated.

The bearing 14 has a movable holding member 15.
A guide plate 23 is provided which is inclined so as to be positioned on the rotation trajectory of the lock bar 19 at the time of rotation. When the movable holding member 15 is at the release position, the return spring 22
Lock bar 1 protruding outward due to elasticity
Since the distal end of 9 is engaged with the guide plate 23, the movable holding member 15 is held at the release position. Further, when the movable holding member 15 at the release position is rotated to the holding position, the lock bar 19 slides against the guide plate 23 so as to resist the elasticity of the return spring 22 inward in the axial direction (lock release direction). , The operation of releasing the lock release lever 21 is unnecessary. Of course, the rotation may be performed in a state where the lock is released. When the movable holding member 15 reaches the holding position, the lock bar 19 moves outward (in the locking direction) by the elastic force of the return spring 22, and the lock hole 20 is locked.
And is automatically locked.

An upper seal made of rubber and having a predetermined thickness, which is elongated in the left-right direction, is provided on a rear end edge (edge near the table 13) of a lower surface (a surface facing the top plate 12) of the movable holding member 15. The member 24 is fixed. Meanwhile, top plate 1
A lower seal member 25 made of rubber that is in elastic contact with the upper seal member 24 when the movable holding member 15 is at the holding position is fixed to 2. The lower seal member 25 is also elongated in the left-right direction like the upper seal member 24, is set to a size larger than a maximum width of an opening Fa of the storage bag F described later, and has a predetermined thickness. . The upper seal member 24 and the lower seal member 25 constitute the sealing means of the present invention.

On the lower surface of the movable holding member 15, a rubber receiving member 26 is fixed at a position near the front (opposite to the table 13) of the upper sealing member 24. The size of the receiving member 26 is set to be larger than the maximum opening width of the storage bag F, and the size of the receiving member 26 is set so that the lower surface of the receiving member 26 and the lower surface of the upper seal member 24 are substantially flush. ing. On the other hand, on the top plate 12 side, a horizontally long heater 28 corresponding to the receiving member 26 is moved in the vertical direction while being guided by the cylinder 29. The heater 28 is connected to a pedal 30 provided below the table 13 via a link bar (not shown). When the pedal 30 is depressed by a foot, the heater 28 has a height at which the heater 28 elastically contacts the receiving member 26. When the foot is lifted from the pedal 30 while being raised to the heat fusion position, the work is processed to a standby position separated from the receiving member 26 by a return spring (not shown). Since the maximum step allowance of the pedal 30 is regulated by a stopper (not shown), there is no possibility that the heater 28 excessively presses the receiving member 26.

The heater 28 and the receiving member 26 constitute a heat sealing means of the present invention. When a heating wire wired inside the heater 28 is energized, the upper surface of the heater 28 is raised to a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the heated heater 28 is increased.
Is heated while being sandwiched between the receiving member 26 and the opening Fa of the storage bag F, the opening Fa of the storage bag F is hermetically sealed by heat fusion. A limit switch (not shown) for detecting the displacement of the link bar is provided in the vicinity of one of the link bars, and when the heater 28 rises to a position where heat fusion is possible, the limit switch is turned on. When the heater 28 is moved down from the heat fusion position, the limit switch is turned off and the power to the heater 28 is cut off. An operation panel 31 is provided on a side surface of the support frame 11, and when electricity is supplied to the heater 28, a heat fusion operation display lamp 31 A is turned on.

A guide rail 32 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper surface of the top plate 12, and an intake pipe 33 elongated in the front-rear direction can reciprocate along the guide rail 32. The intake pipe 33 has a flat cylindrical shape that is long in the lateral direction, and has a slit-shaped intake port 33A at the tip (rear end) thereof, which is open toward the table 13. The intake pipe 33 crosses the space between the heater 28 and the receiving member 26 and the space between the upper seal member 24 and the lower seal member 25, and has an air supply port behind the seal members 24 and 25 (on the table 13 side). And the intake position to project to
Forward of the heater 28 and the receiving member 26 (table 1
(3 and the opposite side). An operation lever 34 is provided at the front end of the intake pipe 33, and the intake pipe 33 is moved by gripping the operation lever 34.

Further, one end of a flexible intake hose 35 is connected to the front end of the intake pipe 33. The intake hose 35 passes through the top plate 12 and
1 below. A vacuum pump 36 (vacuum pressure generating means, which is a component of the present invention) is installed below the support frame 11.
Are connected to each other. The vacuum pump 36 is started by pressing a pump start switch 31B of the operation panel 31, and the suction pipe 33 and the suction hose 3 are supplied from the air supply port 33A.
The air is sucked through 5. By pressing the pump stop switch 31C, the vacuum pump 3
The operation of 6 stops. The adjustment of the vacuum pressure can be arbitrarily set and adjusted by operating the pressure adjustment lever 31D.

A pair of left and right tension pins 3 constituting the tensioning means of the present invention is provided on the top plate 12 at a position forward of the heater 28 and the receiving member 26 (on the side opposite to the table 13).
7, 38 (a tension member which is a constituent element of the present invention) are provided. One (right side in FIG. 8) of the pair of tension pins 37 and 38 is fixed to the top plate 12. The other pulling pin 38 is a guide rail 39
This allows movement in the left-right direction (the direction in which the fixed-side tension pin 37 comes in contact with or separates from the fixed-side tension pin 37), and is urged by the tension spring 40 in the direction away from the fixed-side tension pin 37. The two tension pins 37 and 38 are stored in the storage bag F
When the movable side tension pin 38 is moved by the tension spring 40, the opening Fa of the storage bag F is extended laterally and overlaps with the tension spring 40. Is maintained in a tensioned state without waving (slack).

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. At the time of vacuum packaging, the movable holding member 15 is lifted to the release position, and the suction pipe 33 is made to protrude toward the table 13 so that the storage bag F in which the storage object P is stored.
Is placed on the table 13, the opening Fa of the storage bag F is expanded laterally, and the distal end of the suction pipe 33 is inserted into the opening Fa while being applied above the lower seal member 25 and the heater 28. Further, after one end of the opening Fa is hooked on the tension pin 37 on the fixed side, the tension pin 38 on the movable side is moved to the center side to be hooked on the end opposite to the opening Fa, and The tension pin 38 is moved outward according to the bias of the tension spring 40. Then, the opening Fa of the storage bag F is flattened in the lateral direction and held in a tensioned state.

Next, the movable holding member 15 is rotated downward and locked at the holding position. Then, the tensioned opening Fa is elastically pressed between the upper seal member 24 and the lower seal member 25 in a state where the intake pipe 33 is inserted, so that the opening Fa is sealed in a substantially airtight state. Is done. From this state, the main switch 31E of the operation panel 31
Is turned on, the power-on display lamp 31F is turned on to notify that the preparation for starting the vacuum pump 36 and the heater 28 is completed. After this, the pump start switch 31B
When the is pressed, the vacuum pump 36 is activated, the air in the storage bag F is sucked through the suction pipe 33 and the suction hose 35, and the inside of the storage bag F is brought into a substantially vacuum state. At this time, the storage object P is compressed by the pressure from outside the storage bag F, and the amount of compression can be arbitrarily adjusted by operating the pressure adjustment lever 31D.

During intake, it is inevitable that a small gap is left between the outer surface of the intake pipe 33 and the seal members 24 and 25 due to the thickness of the intake pipe 33 on both the left and right sides. However, since the intake pipe 33 has a thin and flat shape, the amount of outside air flowing into the storage bag F from this gap is much smaller than the amount of intake air from the vacuum pump 36, and the outside air flows from this gap. Is negligible in practice. Now, when the inside of the storage bag F reaches a desired vacuum state, the pump stop switch 31C is pressed to stop the suction,
Thereafter, the suction pipe 33 is quickly pulled out of the storage bag F. At this time, since the intake pipe 33 has a flat shape and is guided by the guide rail 32, the pull-out operation can be performed smoothly. The portion of the opening Fa of the storage bag F from which the intake pipe 33 has been extracted is tightly sealed in an airtight manner by the upper seal member 24 and the lower seal member 25 being elastically restored. Thus, the opening Fa of the storage bag F is kept airtight over the entire area. Further, since the elasticity of the seal members 24 and 25 after the extraction is quickly restored, the amount of the outside air flowing into the storage bag F from the portion after the extraction of the intake pipe 33 is negligible.

Thereafter, when the pedal 30 is depressed, the heater 2
8 rises to the heat fusion position and elastically sandwiches the opening Fa of the storage bag F between the receiving member 26 and the limit switch (not shown) is switched to the ON state, and the heater 28 is energized. Then, the opening Fa of the storage bag F is heated and hermetically sealed by heat fusion. At this time, since the tension pins 37 and 38 keep the opening Fa in a tensioned state, the opening Fa is uniformly heat-sealed over the entire area thereof.
There is no heat fusion in a partially overlapped state, and no gap is produced without heat fusion. While the heat fusion is being performed, the heat fusion operation display lamp 31A is turned on.
When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the heat fusion, the power supply to the heater 28 is cut off and the heat fusion operation display lamp 31A is turned off. After confirming this light off,
Release the foot from 0 and lower the heater 28 to the standby position. Thereafter, when the movable holding member 15 is unlocked and rotated to the upper release position, and the storage bag F is slid toward the table 13, the tension pins 37 and 38 are disengaged from the opening Fa, and the vacuum packaging is performed. Complete the work.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the storage bag F is evacuated to a vacuum state, the suction pipe 33 is pulled out, and the opening Fa of the storage bag F is sealed by heat sealing. The portion Fa is kept airtight by the upper seal member 24 and the lower seal member 25 over the entire area, so that the outside air can be reliably prevented from entering the storage bag F. Further, since the opening Fa of the storage bag F is sealed and thermally fused in a state where the opening Fa is tensioned by the pair of tension pins 37 and 38, that is, in a state where there is no waving, there is no possibility that a gap due to waving is generated. Thus, an airtight state can be reliably obtained. Further, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, when the same portion as the seal portion by the seal members 24 and 25 is heat-sealed, the portion after the suction pipe 33 is pulled out generates wavy or wrinkles, and the heat-sealing failure is caused. There is a possibility of inviting. However, in this embodiment, since the heat-sealing area is set at a position different from the position for sealing, the intake pipe 33
The undulating state resulting from the extraction of the sheet is avoided. In addition, since the heat-sealed portion is disposed outside the seal portion and is kept in a tensioned state by the tension pins 37 and 38, it is possible to perform good heat-sealing.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, a pair of tension pins (tensile members) is used to heat-seal the opening of the storage bag without loosening. However, according to the present invention, no tension pins are provided. It can also be structured.

(2) In the above embodiment, the heat-sealing area is set at a position closer to the opening end than the sealing area. However, according to the present invention, the sealing area is set at a position closer to the opening end than the heat-sealing area. You may. (3) In the above embodiment, the suction pipe is arranged at one end of the opening of the storage bag, but the position of the suction pipe with respect to the opening of the storage bag can be set arbitrarily such as at the center. (4) In the above embodiment, one of the pair of tension pins is fixed and the other is movable, but according to the present invention, both tension pins may be movable.

(5) In the above embodiment, a dedicated vacuum pump is used as the vacuum pressure generating means. However, according to the present invention, a household vacuum cleaner may be used as the vacuum pressure generating means. (6) In the above embodiment, the apparatus main body and the table are integrated, but according to the present invention, the table can be separate from the apparatus main body. In this case, the table may be a dedicated table or a table for another purpose.

(7) In the above embodiment, a part of the table (a side edge or an edge opposite to the apparatus) is a movable plate, and the movable plate is hinged to a horizontal state and a folded state. And the movable plate portion may be slid while being kept horizontal. With this configuration, the size of the table can be appropriately changed according to the sizes of the storage bag and the storage object. Further, the table may be folded in two or three so that the table can be stored. In this way, the table does not occupy wasted space when not in use.

(8) In the above embodiment, casters may be attached to the apparatus body and the table. (9) In the above embodiment, the storage bag placed on the table and the holding plate for holding the storage object from above may be provided. If the storage bag and the object to be stored are sandwiched between the holding plate and the table while inhaling the inside of the storage bag, the object to be stored such as the compressible deformable futon is flat without wrinkles. Can be compressed. In this way, when the compressed objects to be stored are stacked, no useless gap is left between the superposed surfaces, and the space can be saved.

(10) In the above embodiment, the case where the object to be stored is a compressible deformable fiber product such as a futon or clothing is described, but the present invention relates to the case where the object to be stored is incompressible. Can also be applied. (11) In the above embodiment, the heater of the heat-sealing means is moved up and down. However, according to the present invention, the heater is fixed at a height in contact with the storage bag, and the electric heating is performed only when performing the heat-sealing. You may make it. (12) In the above embodiment, the main switch of the operation panel is turned ON as a means for preparing to start the vacuum pump and the heater. However, when the apparatus of the present invention is installed in a coin laundry or the like and used for business purposes, The player may be ready to start by inserting coins into the coin box. (13) In the above embodiment, the operation of the heat fusion is displayed by turning on a lamp, but according to the present invention, the operation may be displayed by sounding a buzzer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a storage bag is set.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an opening of the storage bag is sealed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which air in a storage bag is sucked.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where a movable holding member is opened.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a movable holding member is closed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a lock member of the movable holding member.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a tensioning means.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged front view showing a sealing state when an intake pipe is sandwiched.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged front view showing a sealing state when an intake pipe is pulled out.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged side view showing a state before heat fusion.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged side view showing a state in which heat fusion is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F: storage bag Fa: opening P: object to be stored 24: upper seal member (seal means) 25: lower seal member (seal means) 26: receiving member (heat fusion means) 28: heater (heat fusion means) 33 ... suction pipe 36 ... vacuum pump (vacuum pressure generating means) 37 ... tension pin (tensile member, tension means) 38 ... tension pin (tensile member, tension means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An object to be stored is stored in a storage bag made of a thermoplastic resin.
A vacuum packaging device for sealing an opening of the storage bag in an airtight state by heat sealing, wherein the suction pipe is connected to a vacuum pressure generating means, and is capable of being inserted into and removed from the opening of the storage bag. By holding the opening of the storage bag horizontally and pinching it in a closed state, in both the state where the intake pipe is inserted into the opening and the state where the intake pipe is pulled out, Sealing means capable of sealing the opening of the storage bag in an airtight state over the entire area, and heating the opening of the storage bag different from the sealing area by the sealing means, thereby opening the opening. A vacuum packaging apparatus, comprising: heat sealing means capable of sealing in an airtight state by heat sealing over the entire area. 2. A storage bag comprising a pair of tension members that can be inserted into an opening of the storage bag, and by separating the two tension members, the opening of the storage bag can be extended laterally and held in a tensioned state. The vacuum packaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tensioning means.