JPH05162717A - Vacuum packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the safety and workability of a product sealed by a wrapping material placed on the liner by setting a heating hood on the top of packaging area and, at the same time, disposing a sealing frame free to turn at the pivot on a base 12 of the bottom of the heating hood. CONSTITUTION: A heating hood 14 is set on the top of open packaging area 16 and a stroke table 26 having two dents for packaging positioned adjacent thereto is set on the base 12 of the bottom of the heating hood. The table 26 has a roller rolling on the track fixed on the base 12 and is operated in slide in the longitudinal direction by actuation of a motor. Sheet 52 of wrapping material is retained between an upper frame 46 of the sealing frame and a lower frame 50 by disposing free turning sealing frame 44 around pivot point 48 on base 12 of the bottom of heating hood 14. After heating bringing up the sealing frame to a position adjacent to the heating hood 14, and the frame is lowered to a cover product 38 and a liner 34.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to devices for packaging a variety of articles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vacuum packaging machine for encapsulating a product placed on a backing plate with packaging material. The present invention is not limited to
In particular, it is useful to shrink wrap a paperboard backing card printed with a clear plastic film to seal and package the product between the plastic film and the backing card.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many types of vacuum packaging devices that use a vacuum to pull a sheet of plastic film onto a backing plate to package a product. Conventional vacuum packaging machines typically include a fixed platen or table on which a paperboard backing is placed. The product is placed on the back plate by the operator and a sheet of plastic film is placed on the product to coat the product and the paperboard. The sheet is typically heated before or during placement on the product and the paperboard, and after such placement, a vacuum is drawn from below the paperboard,
Air is removed from between the paperboard and the film to seal the product on the paperboard with the film. The sealed package containing the product is then cut to the desired dimensions.

However, there are several disadvantages associated with using conventional vacuum packaging machines. For example, some conventional machines use movable heating hood components to provide the necessary heating of the packaging film. Such moveable heating hood components typically lie horizontally back and forth across the work area where the film is sealed onto the product and paperboard. Such moveable hoods are typically designed to generate heat only after the operator has put it in place to prevent operator burns. Also, such conventional hoods use heating elements such as electric rods or light bulbs that take some time to heat and cool. The time of the process of putting the hood in or out of place and heating and cooling unfortunately adds undesired time in the packaging process, reducing productivity.

Other conventional packaging devices that use a fixed heating hood require an operator to place the back plate on a platen that is fixed under the heating hood in the packaging work area. This requires the operator to reach the packaging work area, place the backing plate in place, and reach the work area to place the product on the backing plate in the proper orientation.
However, placing and positioning the product on the back plate cannot be done during the packaging operation. Instead, the operator must wait until the packaging operation is complete and the finished plate is removed before the next plate can be placed on the platen and the product can begin to be positioned on the plate. This tends to slow down package operations. Also, since the placement and positioning of the product is done under the heating hood, the operator is quite likely to inadvertently touch the heating hood while it is still hot.
In such a situation, there is a high risk that the worker will get burned.

In view of the above, the present invention thus recognizes the need for a vacuum packaging machine that is safe and convenient to operate. We also recognize the desire to increase packaging productivity. The present invention further recognizes the need for a vacuum packaging machine designed to provide greater stability and durability in use.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum packaging machine in which a product can be vacuum packaged with packaging material while at the same time an operator can place another product on the next paperboard for the next packaging operation. It is in. Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine that operates safely and in a highly productive manner. A further object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which is durable and reliable in operation and which can be easily maintained. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine that is simple and convenient to operate and cost effective to manufacture.

A preferred embodiment of a vacuum package machine for the product summary plastic film tightly holds the vacuum seal the product on the back plate of the invention includes a base having a heating hood fixed. A vacuum motor is located in the base below the heating hood, and a reciprocating table is located on the base between the fixed heating hood and the vacuum motor. As contemplated by the present invention, the table has two packaging recesses arranged in a side-by-side relationship, and each packaging recess has a back plate when the back plate is placed over the packaging recess. And a roller for holding and supporting. The table is
When one packaging recess is placed under the hood, it reciprocates horizontally horizontally so that the other packaging recess extends from the base and out under the heating hood.

A sealing frame is disposed on the lower base of the heating hood, the frame including an upper frame and a lower frame hingedly connected to each other. The upper frame can be moved to an open position to load a sheet of plastic film into the sealing frame and also to remove the final packaged product. The upper frame is also
The upper frame is arranged on the lower frame and the plastic sheet can be moved to a closed position where the plastic sheet is stretched between the upper frame and the lower frame. The lower frame is connected to a lift disposed on the base and vertically moving the sealing frame vertically between the heating position and the sealing position. When in the heating position, the sealing frame abuts the heating hood for heating the sheet of packaging material held in the frame. Alternatively, when the sealing frame is lowered to the sealing position, the frame places a sheet of packaging material on the packaging well located below the heating hood.

A vacuum motor is located on the platform located in the base and below the reciprocating table that carries the packaging wells. The platform on which the vacuum motor is located is connected to a lift mounted on the base. Operation of this lift raises and lowers the platform (and vacuum motor) between upper and lower positions. In the upper position, the vacuum motor is located adjacent to any packaging recess that will be located below the heating hood. Thereafter, the vacuum motor is activated to provide a vacuum seal around the product pre-placed film in the packaging well and on the back plate. When the vacuum motor is not used, the platform on which the vacuum motor is located is maintained in the down position.

The preferred embodiment further includes a canopy storage cabinet located rearward of the bottom of the base,
There, a rotatable shaft is arranged to hold the roll of packaging material. The feed roller is located at the base above the rotatable shaft and is adjacent to the sealing frame below it or when in the packaging position. When the roll of packaging material is so arranged,
An operator can pull the packaging material from the roll across the feed roller and into the sealing frame.

The vacuum packaging method according to the present invention includes the steps of placing the backing plate over any packaging recess not located under the heating hood and then placing the product on the backing plate. While the product is on the back plate, the sealing frame is opened and a sheet of packaging material is pulled across the frame. Pulling the wrapping material across the sealing frame closes the upper frame over the lower frame and holds the sheet in the sealing frame. The sealing frame, which holds the sheet of packaging material, is raised to a heated position adjacent to the hood. At the same time, the table is slidably moved to position the backing plate and the packaging recess carrying the product in the packaging position below the heating hood. After the sealing frame holds the sheet of packaging material in the heating position for a sufficient period of time, the heated sheet is then dropped onto the backing plate and the product in the packaging well that has been moved to the underside of the hood. At the same time as the heated sheet descends, the vacuum motor is lifted to a position below the back plate. A vacuum is then applied to seal the product with a heated sheet of packaging material, thus packaging the product on the back plate. During this process, the operator has sufficient time to place another backing plate over the packaging well not below the heating hood and place the product on the backing plate for the next package operation. Once the product is packaged on the board, the operator opens the sealing frame and removes the packaged product. It can be seen that removing the packaged product is also pulling a sheet of packaging material across the sealing frame and loading another sheet of packaging material into the sealing frame. The packaged product can then be separated from the packaging material and the operator can immediately continue and repeat the packaging operation.

The invention itself, and its novel features both with respect to its structure and its operation are best understood from the accompanying drawings in view of the following description. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate like parts.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a vacuum packaging apparatus 10 for packaging a product between a packaging material and a backing plate is shown. In particular, the device 10 includes a base 12, which includes a stationary heating hood 14. The heating hood 14 is supported above the package work area 16 opened by the vertical support member 18. The vertical support member 18 is attached to the base 12 and the support heating hood 14 at a predetermined distance above the work area 16 substantially as shown in FIG. For purposes of the present invention, the base 12, support member 18 and hood 14 are advantageously made of a strong and durable material such as steel.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, an array of heating elements 20 is arranged in the heating hood 14. In the preferred embodiment shown, each heating element 20 comprises a two-part ceramic socket 22 and a one-part wire-wrn.
apped) Consists of a ceramic cone 24. Each cone 2
4 are screwed into their respective sockets 22 and can be conveniently and individually removed or replaced. To obtain uniform heating, the heating element 20 provides a uniform output for all sockets 2.
It is wired in series with a power supply (not shown) that supplies the power to the unit 2.

Still referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the reciprocating table 26 has a base 12 below the fixed hood 14.
It can be seen that it is placed on top. As shown, the table 26 is horizontally moveable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the array of heating elements 20 disposed in the hood 14. In addition, the table 26 has two package recesses 2 which are located next to each other in a side-by-side relationship.
Including 8 and 30. With this arrangement, the table 26 is
When one packaging recess is located below the hood 14, the other packaging recess is not located below the hood, but instead is substantially outside the base 12 as shown in FIGS. It can reciprocate laterally so that it extends to. Each packaging well 28 and 30 has a roller 32, which is designed to hold back plates 34 and 36, respectively. Each backing plate 34 and 36 may be paper, cardboard or some similar porous packaging material well known in the art.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the reciprocating table 26 has a track 4 fixed on the base 12.
2 has a roller 40 that rotates. The table 26 is slid sideways by a motor (not shown).
As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the table 26 can be slidably positioned so that the packaging recess 28 is outside the packaging work area 16 and not under the hood 14. With the packaging well 28 positioned in this manner, the other packaging well 30 is located in the packaging work area 16 below the hood. Alternatively, when the table 26 slides into the position shown in FIG. 2, the package well 28 is within the package area 16, just below the hood 14, while the other package well 30 is in the package work area. It is located outside 16 and exits under hood 14. This allows an operator to alternately utilize either packaging recess 28, 30 that is not under the hood 14 to place the backing plate in the available recess and place the product 38 there. To This greatly improves operational productivity, as it provides direct use for easy loading into the package well without requiring the operator to enter the package work area.

Further, as shown, the sealing frame 44 is disposed on the base 12 below the hood 14. The sealing frame 44 is of sufficient size to fit over each packaging recess 28, 30 as described below. The sealing frame 44 is hingedly connected to the lower frame 50 at a pivot point 48, as seen in FIGS. As best understood with reference to FIG. 6, the upper frame 46 is raised by the axial movement to remove the finished plate after packaging. Also, the upper frame 46
As the sheet rises, a section of the sheet of packaging material 52 can be drawn into the frame 44. The wrapping material is a transparent plastic film or some other suitable non-porous thin sheet 52.
Can be used as packaging material. For example, Surlyn, PV
Various well known commercial films such as C, polyethylene, Barex or Visqueen can be used. The sheet 52 is supplied from a roll held on a rotating shaft 58 located in a rear cabinet 56 over which the base 12 is draped. The covered rear cabinet 56 removes dust and dirt from the roll 54 and maintains the cleanliness of the seat 52. The feed roller 60 is located at the rear of the base 12 above the rear cabinet 56, where the cover 52 is covered, so that the operator can feed the sheet 52 to the feed roller 60.
Of the roll 54 of the sealing frame 44 across the lower frame 50
Can be conveniently pulled out through the rear part. The upper frame 46 then descends onto the lower frame 50 to stretch the compartments of the sheet 52 across the sealing frame 44.

The lower frame 50 of the sealing frame 44 is attached at its edge to a telescopic lift cylinder 62 arranged in the base 12. Cylinder 62 may be an air or hydraulic cylinder operated by conventional equipment well known in the art, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the lift cylinder 62 is powered by a conventional air over hydraulic system (not shown). In such systems, air moves hydraulic fluid from its reservoir to regulate the working length and speed of the cylinder arm. In FIG. 4, the lift cylinder 62 is shown in an extended position, with the sealing frame 44 raised to a position within the hood 14 adjacent the ceramic heating cone 24. In FIG. 5, the lift cylinder 62 is shown in a retracted position in which the sealing frame 44 is lowered to a position adjacent to any of the packaging recesses 28 or 30 located below the hood 14.

A platform or frame 64 is located in the base below the reciprocating table 26 and has a pair of vacuum motors 68a and 68b thereon. The platform 64 is coupled to a lift cylinder 66, which is fixedly disposed in the base 12, which cylinder 66 is adjustable to extend to raise and lower the platform 64. As shown in FIG. 5, when the platform 64 is in the raised position, the vacuum motors 68a and 6a are
8b is located adjacent to the bottom of any of the package recesses 28, 30 located below the hood 14. In the raised position, vacuum motors 68a and 6a
8b fully contacts the package recess 28 or 30 to establish a vacuum seal of the sheet 52 onto the back plate 34.
When the platform 64 is in its lower position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the vacuum motors 68a and 68a are
b not used and packaging recess 2
It is located away from 8, 30 and deviates from the track of the table below the track 42.

In operation, an operator places the back plate 34 on the package recess 28 extending from under the hood, as shown in FIG. The operator places one or more products 38 on the plate 34 in the desired orientation. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the previously packaged plate 36, which is already wrapped by the sheet 52 from the previous packaging operation, is still in the packaging well 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing frame 44 is opened. When the sealing frame 44 opens, the plate 3
6 can be removed from the packaging recess 30 and when the plate 36 is removed, the sheet 5 of packaging material
2 is drawn across the bottom frame 50. The upper frame 46 then descends to retain the seat 52 in the sealing frame 44.

The actual cycle of events in the packaging process is such that the sheet of packaging material 52 is sealed by the sealing frame 44.
It can best be understood by starting from an arrangement that is held in and the back plate 34 is loaded with product 38. At this point, the operator presses a start button (not shown) to begin the packaging cycle or operation. When the cycle begins, the table 26 automatically moves horizontally to place the package well 28 in the packaging work area 16 below the hood 14 (see changes to FIGS. 1-2). At the same time, cylinder 62 is activated to raise sealing frame 44 to the raised position adjacent heating element 20 as shown in FIGS. The ceramic cone 24 is activated to heat the packaging material 52 sufficiently soft to heat it onto the plate 34 for a suitable substantially vacuum seal. In the preferred embodiment to reach the appropriate sealing temperature, the sheet 52 is a ceramic cone 24.
Held at a distance of about 2 inches from about 12 seconds apart.

After the heating interval, a timing switch (not shown) then actuates cylinder 62 to lower sealing frame 44 to the sealing position as shown in FIGS. At the same time, the lift cylinder 66 operates to raise the vacuum motor 68 to a position below the table 26 as shown in FIG. When the sealing frame 44 is lowered to the packaging position, the sealing frame 44 fits over the packaging recess and is sealed on the plate 34 and the product 38.
establish agement). Thus, the sealing frame 44 is
The sheet 52 is positioned so that it covers the plate 34.
Once in place, vacuum motor 68 operates to remove air from between sheet 52 and plate 34. This vacuum seals the heated sheet across the product 38 and on the plate 34.
The product 38 is thus packaged on the plate 34. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper frame 46 is opened again by the operator to separate the upper frame 46 from the lower frame 50. The finished vacuum packaged product on plate 34 is then removed by the operator from sealing frame and packaging well 28. Since the sheet 52 is still fastened to the plate 34, by removing the finished plate 34 from the frame 44, the operator should know to pull a new section of the sheet 52 of packaging material into position across the lower frame 50. is there. The upper frame is then lowered by the operator onto the lower frame, which holds the new compartment of the sheet 52 in the closed sealing frame for the next vacuum packaging operation. Also, the finished plate 34 is separated from the sheet 52 after the packaged plate 34 is removed from the sealing frame. In the meantime, while the above process was achieved, the worker
There is sufficient time to place it on the empty packaging well 30 extending from underneath the hood 14 and place the product 38 on such next plate. Eventually, to repeat the process, the operator pushes the start button to raise the sealing frame 44 and move the packaging well 30 and such next plate to the packaging position.

Certain vacuum packaging machines, such as those shown and described in detail herein, are capable of achieving the objectives and providing advantages as previously described, which is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that this is merely an example and is not intended to be limited to the details of construction or form presented herein, other than as shown in the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a vacuum packaging device loaded for use in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with a partial cross-section for perspective.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for further explaining a packaging process.
3 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG.

4 is a side sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, showing heating the packaging material during the packaging process.

FIG. 5 illustrates drawing a vacuum during the packaging process,
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the removal of the packaged product, FIG.
2 is a side sectional view of the device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Vacuum Packaging Device 12 Base 14 Heating Hood 16 Package Working Area 18 Vertical Support Member 20 Heating Element 22 Ceramic Socket 24 Ceramic Cone 26 Reciprocating Table 28, 30 Package Dimple 32 Roller 34, 36 Back Plate 38 Product 40 Roller 42 Track 44 sealing frame

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A vacuum packaging device for sealing a product between a sheet of packaging material and a backing plate, the base having a fixed heating hood disposed at the top, further comprising a first doorway. A first side having a second side having a second doorway opposite the first side, the sides having a product working area below the hood between the sides. A horizontal table having a first package recess and a second package recess side-by-side, the reciprocating motion on the base for the table to move in a first direction. Arranged to exercise,
In such a first direction, the first packaging well and the first backing plate and product thereon are moved into the work area through the first doorway and the second packaging well and package. The discharged second product is discharged from the work area through the second door,
And the table has the second direction opposite to the first direction.
Moving in the direction of to return the second packaging recess, another backing plate and a third product to the work area through the second inlet and outlet and the first packaging recess and the first packaged package. A table through which the product is returned to the outside of the work area through the first doorway and the first and second packaging recesses are alternately moved to a packaging position below the hood; A sealing frame movably arranged on the base for holding a seat; a first position at which the sealing frame is located adjacent to a heating hood for heating the seat; and the sealing. A second frame for locating the heated sheet in the work area of the product adjacent to the product and for placing the heated sheet on a backing plate located in the one packaging recess; A means for moving between the mountings; a vacuum associated with the packaging well for pulling a vacuum through the back plate and against the heated sheet to seal the heated sheet on the back plate. A vacuum packaging device comprising: 2. A first package recess having a side-by-side relationship with a second package recess and said first and second package recesses for alternately carrying said package recess to said packaging position. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, including a reciprocating table disposed on the base. 3. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating hood includes a ceramic cone heating element. 4. The vacuum packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing frame includes a lower frame and an upper frame hingedly connected to the lower frame. 5. The sealing frame has an open position in which the sheet of packaging material can be located across the lower frame and a closed position in which the sheet of packaging material is positively retained in the sealing frame. The vacuum packaging device according to claim 4, wherein the vacuum packaging device is movable between them. 6. The vacuum packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sealing frame includes means for cutting the sheet when the upper frame moves to the closed position. 7. The vacuum means further comprises: a first position at which the vacuum means is isolated from the one packaging recess in the working area; and the vacuum means is at one of the first locations in the working area. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1 including means for moving through the backing plate adjacent to the packaging well and between a second position to draw a vacuum on the heated sheet. 8. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a capped means located at the rear of the base below the packaging recess for disposing a roll of packaging material. 9. Working between and having a roof, a first side having a first doorway and a second side having a second doorway opposite the first sideway. A base on which the area is installed; fixed heating element means mounted on the roof of said base; a table movably arranged on said base,
The table has a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.
The first recess means and the second recess means that are in side-by-side relationship for moving in the first direction, and in the first direction, the first recess means and the first back plate and above it. Product enters the work area through the first doorway and the second indentation means and the packaged second
Product exits the working area through the second doorway and in the second direction, the second recess means,
Another backing plate and a third product enter the work area through the second doorway and the first indentation means and the packaged first product exit the work area; and a sheet of packaging material. Frame means for holding the frame means; a heating position at which the sheet is held adjacent to the fixed heating element means for heating the sheet, and the frame means within the package work area. The frame for seating adjacent to the table and for moving the heated seat between a sealing position on the one back plate located in the work area on the table. Lifting means coupled to the means; associated with the table for pulling the heated sheet against the back plate on the table in the working area to seal the sheet on the back plate Vacuum packaging device including a vacuum means that. 10. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 9 wherein said frame means includes an upper frame hingedly connected to the lower frame. 11. The vacuum means comprises a first position in which the vacuum means is located in the work area, separated from the lower side of the one indentation means, and the vacuum means is located in the work area. 11. The vacuum packaging device of claim 10, located adjacent to the indentation means and movable between a second position in which a vacuum is drawn on the back plate. 12. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heating element means comprises a heating hood having a plurality of ceramic heating elements. 13. The vacuum packaging device of claim 12, wherein the sealing frame includes an upper frame hingedly coupled to the lower frame. 14. The vacuum packaging apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sealing frame includes means for cutting the sheet of packaging material to a size sufficient to cover the backing plate. 15. A vacuum packaging method comprising the steps of: a base, a heating hood disposed on the base, a reciprocating table disposed on the base, and for holding a sheet of packaging material. A device having a sealing frame movably arranged on the base and a vacuum means arranged on the base, wherein the base has a first side having a first inlet and a second and a second side. The first with the doorway of
A first package recess and a second package recess juxtaposed thereto, the table including a first package recess and a second side opposite the first package defining a working area between the sides. Placing a first backing plate in the first packaging well and placing a product on the first backing plate; placing a first sheet of packaging material in the sealing frame, 1 sheet is raised to a heating position adjacent to the fixed hood to heat the sheet, and the first package recess and the first back plate are moved to the work area through the first doorway. , Simultaneously withdrawing the second packaging recess and the second backing plate from the working area through the second doorway; lowering the sealing frame and the heated sheet onto the first backing plate; One A vacuum is applied to the plate to seal the heated sheet to the first backing plate; the second backing plate is placed in the second packaging well and the product is placed on the second backing plate. Placing a second sheet of packaging material in the sealing frame;
The sealing frame and the second sheet are raised to the heating position; the second package recess and the second back plate are moved to the package work area through the second port, and at the same time the first package is moved. The package recess and the first backing plate are brought out of the work area through the first doorway; the sealing frame and the heated sheet are removed while the first backing plate is taken out of the first packaging recess. Lower onto the second backing plate; evacuate the backing plate to seal the second heated sheet onto the second backing plate; and repeat the above steps as necessary.