KR102185835B1 - Vacuum sealing food container - Google Patents

Abstract

A vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a lower case (10) and an upper case (20) coupled to each other in a hinge manner; a vacuum chamber (35) provided in the lower case (10); an air inlet (50) mounted in the vacuum chamber (35); a vacuum pump communicating with the air inlet (50) to suck air from the vacuum chamber (35) and an opened entrance of a container positioned in the vacuum chamber (35); a heater (60) sealing the opened entrance of the container by thermal fusion after sucking the air by the vacuum pump is finished; an ultraviolet irradiation light source (21) mounted on the bottom surface of the upper case (20) in an exposure manner to face the vacuum chamber (35) in a state that the upper case (20) is closed toward the lower case (10) and sterilizing the vacuum chamber (35); a vacuum release path selectively communicating with the vacuum chamber (35) and external air to release vacuum of the vacuum chamber (35); a monitoring unit monitoring operating voltage or operating current applied to the vacuum pump; and a control unit controlling operation of the vacuum pump and the heater (60) according to a signal from the monitoring unit. The control unit senses whether vacuum is achieved without vacuum sensors according to the signal from the monitoring unit to execute control of power-down with respect to the vacuum pump.

Description

Food vacuum packaging machine {VACUUM SEALING FOOD CONTAINER}

The present invention relates to a vacuum packaging machine for food.

In order to prevent food from being deteriorated due to exposure to microorganisms, oxygen, and moisture in the air, and to minimize the storage volume, a food vacuum packaging machine is packaged through a vacuumization process that removes air from a container such as a plastic bag containing food. It is a device to implement.

In general, vacuum packaging machines achieve vacuumization by suctioning the air in the container, a heater that seals the vacuumed container, a controller that controls the operation of the vacuum pump and the heater, and the vacuum of the container by the vacuum pump is made to a sufficient degree. It includes a vacuum sensor that detects whether it has lost or not.

1 is a view showing a conventional vacuum packaging machine. The vacuum packaging machine works as follows.

First, the user puts the food 80 to be stored in the container 90, places the inlet portion of the container 90 in the vacuum chamber 35 provided in the lower case 10, and rotates the upper case 20 to The vacuum chamber 35 is sealed by bringing the packing 30 and the upper packing 40 into close contact.

In this state, when the operation switch 11 is pressed, a vacuum pump, not shown, operates. Air in the vacuum chamber 35 is sucked through the air inlet 50 according to the operation of the vacuum pump. As a result, a vacuum pressure is formed in the vacuum chamber 35, and air inside the vessel 90 is sucked through the inlet of the vessel 90 located in the vacuum chamber 35.

Thereafter, when the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber 35 reaches a certain level, a vacuum sensor (not shown) detects it and sends a signal to the controller, and as the power is applied to the heater 60, the container 90 is thermally fused. Sealed.

The present inventor(s) conducted research and development focusing on removing or reducing contamination by bacteria while using a general vacuum packaging machine as described above. Among the structures of the vacuum packaging machine, the vacuum chamber 35 is judged to be the area with the greatest possibility of contamination by bacteria. During the suction of air through the inlet of the container 90, foods inside the container 90 are frequently sucked out, and the sucked food remains in the vacuum chamber 35 even after vacuum packaging is completed. After the use of the vacuum packaging machine is completed, unless the vacuum chamber 35 is cleaned every time, there is a high possibility that bacteria harmful to the human body grow by food remaining in this area. Accordingly, the present inventor(s) actively sterilizes the vacuum chamber 35 and derives a vacuum packaging machine structure capable of reducing the possibility of bacterial occurrence even in the passage communicating with the vacuum chamber 35, leading to the present invention. Became.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum packaging machine capable of actively sterilizing a vacuum chamber having a high possibility of generating bacteria due to residual food in the vacuum packaging machine structure.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum packaging machine capable of actively sterilizing the passage communicating with the vacuum chamber, more specifically, the communication passage between the vacuum chamber and the outside air when the vacuum is released by a vacuum release button.

In addition, the present invention enables the detection of whether the vacuum is achieved even when the vacuum sensor for detecting whether the vacuum is achieved and the communication path to the vacuum sensor is removed from the vacuum packaging machine, so that bacteria in the communication path between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum pump can The purpose of this is to provide a vacuum packaging machine with a reduced area of possible contamination.

The vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower case 10 and an upper case 20 hinged to each other; A vacuum chamber 35 provided in the lower case 10; An air intake port 50 mounted in the vacuum chamber 35; A vacuum pump in communication with the air intake port 50 to suck air from the open inlet of the vacuum chamber 35 and the container located in the vacuum chamber 35; A heater (60) for sealing the open inlet of the container by thermal fusion after the suction of air by the vacuum pump is completed; In a state where the upper case 20 is closed toward the lower case 10, it is mounted in an exposed manner on the lower surface of the upper case 20 so as to face the vacuum chamber 35 to sterilize the vacuum chamber 35 An ultraviolet emission light source 21; A vacuum release passage through which vacuum in the vacuum chamber 35 can be released by selectively communicating the vacuum chamber 35 with outside air; A monitoring unit for monitoring an operating voltage or an operating current applied to the vacuum pump; It includes a control unit for controlling the operation of the vacuum pump and the heater 60 according to the signal from the monitoring unit. The control unit may detect whether or not a vacuum is achieved without a vacuum sensor according to a signal from the monitoring unit, and thereby control an operation stop of the vacuum pump.

In addition, an additional configuration may be further included in the vacuum packaging machine according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, a vacuum packaging machine capable of actively sterilizing a vacuum chamber having a high possibility of generating bacteria due to residual food in the vacuum packaging machine structure can be provided.

In addition, according to the present invention, there may be provided a vacuum packaging machine capable of actively sterilizing the passage communicating with the vacuum chamber, more specifically, the communication passage between the vacuum chamber and the outside air when the vacuum is released by the vacuum release button.

In addition, according to the present invention, the vacuum sensor for detecting whether the vacuum is achieved and the communication path to the vacuum sensor are removed from the vacuum packaging machine, so that the detection of whether the vacuum is achieved is possible, so that bacteria in the communication path between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum pump are A vacuum packaging machine can be provided with a reduced area of the area where there is a possibility of contamination by.

1 is a view showing a conventional vacuum packaging machine.
2 is a view showing the overall appearance of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing the upper case 20 of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exploded view of the upper case 20 of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 and 6 are views showing the UV sterilization structure for the vacuum release passage provided in the upper case 20 of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing a state in which the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is combined with a stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The detailed description of the present invention to be described later refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in detail sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are different from each other, but need not be mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be changed from one embodiment to another and implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual elements in each embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the detailed description to be described below is not made in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention should be taken as encompassing the scope claimed by the claims of the claims and all scopes equivalent thereto. Hereinafter, various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to enable those skilled in the art to easily implement the present invention.

Overall structure of a vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention

Hereinafter, the overall structure of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. 2 is a view showing the overall appearance of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The vacuum packaging machine is largely composed of a lower case 10 and an upper case 20. Since the upper and lower cases are hinged to each other, the upper case 20 can be rotated between a closed position and an open position while the lower case 10 is placed on the floor. 2 shows the upper case 20 in an open state. Reference numeral 23 designates a fastening part provided in the upper case 20. This fastening part 23 has a shape corresponding thereto and is inserted into the fastening hole 31 provided in the lower case 10 to close the upper case 20 to operate the vacuum suction function of the vacuum packaging machine. The fastening is maintained so that it is not separated from the lower case 10. This fastening holding function can be released when a vacuum inside the container containing food is achieved and the container needs to be removed from the vacuum packaging machine. The fastening part 23 and the fastening hole 31 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be replaced by other means known in the art at the time of filing of the present invention, and the vacuum packaging machine according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2 It should be understood that it is not limited to having means.

Reference numeral 35 designates a vacuum chamber. This vacuum chamber 35 is a space that communicates with a vacuum pump not shown in FIG. 2 through the air inlet 50, and when the upper case 20 is fastened to the lower case 10, the lower packing of the lower case 10 Since 30 and the upper packing 40 of the upper case 20 are formed in contact with each other, and the packings 30 and 40 form a seal, air in/out is prevented. The container containing food is mounted on the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention in the same manner as in the conventional vacuum packaging machine shown in FIG. 1. In order to ensure the installation of the container containing food in the correct position, the vacuum packaging machine of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 introduces a new component that the vacuum packaging machine of the prior art does not have, and the component indicated by reference numeral 36 is That is it. The name of the component indicated by reference numeral 36 is referred to as a guide. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of guides 36 may be provided inside the vacuum chamber 35, and preferably, a pair, ie, two, spaced at predetermined intervals on both sides of the left and right sides may be provided. When the user's skill in using the vacuum packaging machine is poor, the open end of the container containing food may be mounted on the vacuum packaging machine out of the position for good vacuum packaging. The open end of the container containing food should be mounted on the vacuum packaging machine so that it is located in the area inside the vacuum chamber 35, and in some cases, the open end of the container containing food is less than the vacuum chamber 35 or out of the vacuum chamber 35. Can be mounted on the outside. In this case, vacuum suction to remove air from the container containing food cannot be performed properly. The guide 36 assists the user's mounting operation so that the open end of the container containing food can be mounted in an optimal position in the vacuum chamber 35. The user can properly mount the container to be vacuum packaged to the vacuum packaging machine by a simple operation of bringing the open end of the container containing food into close contact with the guide 36. Reference numeral 60 denotes a heater, and the heater 60 performs the same function as a conventional vacuum packaging machine for sealing by heat-sealing an appropriate position of a container that has been evacuated while being turned on/off by a controller.

Reference numeral 33 designates a door locking switch, and the door locking switch 33 is provided at a position in contact with the protrusion 28 provided on the lower surface of the upper case 20 when the upper case 20 is closed. When the upper case 20 is fastened to the lower case 10 and closed, the protrusion 28 of the upper case 20 presses the door locking switch 33 of the lower case 10. As a result, the controller (not shown) can recognize the fastening of the upper and lower cases, and the heater 60 can be operated only in this state, so that power is applied to the heater 60 while the vacuum packaging machine is open to generate high temperature heat. Can be prevented. As a result, the effect of preventing the user from getting a thermal injury due to the user's careless operation of the heater 60 is achieved, which should be understood as one of the characteristics of the vacuum packaging machine according to the present invention.

Reference numerals 24 to 27 denote various switches that a user can press to operate the vacuum packaging machine. Reference numeral 24 is a manual operation switch, and the vacuum pump operates only while this switch is pressed. Reference numeral 25 denotes an automatic operation switch, and when this switch is pressed, the operation and stop of the vacuum pump and the sealing operation by the heater 60 are automatically performed in a state in which vacuum exhaust by the vacuum pump is completed. Reference numeral 26 basically functions as a stop operation switch, and no matter what operation the vacuum packaging machine is doing, pressing this switch stops the ongoing operation. The stop operation switch 26 may also perform a function of controlling the ultraviolet emission light source 21 to be described later. If the stop operation switch 26 is pressed shortly once, the stopping function as described above is performed, but when pressed for a predetermined time or longer, the controller can recognize as a command to operate the ultraviolet emission light source 21 to perform sterilization. Even during such sterilization, the sterilization operation may be stopped by briefly pressing the stop operation switch 26 once. Reference numeral 27 denotes a sealing switch, and when the sealing switch 27 is pressed, power is applied to the heater 60 to seal the container entrance by heat.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a vacuum stopper that operates in conjunction with the vacuum release button 29 shown in FIG. 3. When the vacuum release button 29 is not pressed, the vacuum stopper 22 is not shown in FIG. 2 and does not communicate air through the vacuum release passage shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5 in a closed state. By operating the vacuum pump, the vacuum chamber 35 and the air in the container are discharged to the outside so that the vacuum is completed, and the sealing of the container by the heater 60 is completed, and the user removes the upper case 20 from the lower case 10. The upper case 20 must be opened by releasing the fastening. However, at this time, it is not easy to open the upper case 20 by simply releasing the upper case 20 from the lower case 10 due to the pressure difference inside and outside the vacuum packaging machine, and a pressure that overcomes the vacuum pressure must be applied. In order to solve this problem, the vacuum stopper 22 and the vacuum release button 29 are provided. When the vacuum release button 29 is pressed downward, the vacuum stopper 22 operatively connected thereto moves from the closed position to the open position, and the vacuum chamber 35 communicates with the atmosphere through the vacuum release passage, and the pressure inside and outside the vacuum packaging machine As this becomes the same, the upper case 20 can be easily separated from the lower case 10.

Reference numeral 21 designates an ultraviolet emission light source. Such a light source may be implemented with an LED or the like that mainly emits light in a specific wavelength band corresponding to ultraviolet rays. As described above, the vacuum chamber 35 is a region with the highest possibility of generating bacteria due to food residues in the vacuum packaging machine structure. The ultraviolet emission light source 21 provided in plural in the inner space of the upper packing 40 of the upper case 20, that is, at a position facing the vacuum chamber 35, is turned on/off by a user operating a switch to the vacuum chamber 35 Active sterilization can be carried out. The ultraviolet emission light source 21 may be operated at predetermined time intervals or automatically operated for a predetermined time at a predetermined time according to a program embedded in the controller. Reference numeral 32 denotes a display lamp, and the display lamp 32 may externally display various operating states of the vacuum packaging machine in various colors. For example, the display lamp 32 may be implemented to emit light of a specific color when ultraviolet sterilization is being performed.

4 is an exploded view of the upper case 20 of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

From FIG. 4, it is possible to understand in more detail the mounting structure of the ultraviolet emission light source 21 described above. The ultraviolet emission light sources 21 are all mounted on the PCB P1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. An electric circuit provided on the PCB P1 supplies power to each of the ultraviolet emission light sources 21, and the PCB P1 is electrically connected to the above-described controller and operation switch. When the upper case 20 is closed, the PCB P1 is provided at a position facing the vacuum chamber 35, and a hole for the vacuum stopper 22 is formed in the center thereof.

Sterilization structure for the vacuum chamber and the outside air communication path of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention

5 and 6 are views showing the UV sterilization structure for the vacuum release passage provided in the upper case 20 of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the present invention is a vacuum packaging machine capable of actively sterilizing the passage communicating with the vacuum chamber, more specifically, the passage communicating with the vacuum chamber 35 and the outside air when the vacuum is released by the vacuum release button 29. It is one of the various purposes to provide, and the structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a means for achieving this purpose.

In FIG. 5, a communication path between the vacuum chamber 35 and the outside air, that is, a vacuum release passage, is generally shown, wherein the component indicated by reference numeral 43 is a wall of the vacuum release passage. The wall 43 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and a button interlocking part 41 of a hollow shape that is interlocked with the pressing of the vacuum release button 29 described above is operably mounted therein. All of the wall portions of the wall 43 are not blocked, and some are open in the vertical direction. The open portion of the wall 43 can be clearly identified from FIG. 5, and a part of the structure of the button linkage 41 may protrude through the open portion in the vertical direction, and the vacuum release button 29 is pressed. The protruding portion of the button linking portion 41 that moves up and down during or when depressed may be guided by the open portion of the wall 43. A spring 42 may be mounted to the outside of the button linkage part 41, and this spring 42 is compressed when the button linkage part 41 moves downward by pressing the vacuum release button 29, and releases the vacuum. When the button 29 is released, the vacuum release button 29 and the button linking part 41 can be returned to their original shape by returning to the original shape. The above-described vacuum stopper 22 is connected to the bottom of the button linkage part 41, so when the vacuum release button 29 is pressed downward, the vacuum chamber 35 communicates with outside air, and the vacuum release button 29 is pressed. When is released, the vacuum chamber 35 is blocked by the original position operation by the spring 42.

The vacuum release passage described above is a passage through which bacteria in the atmosphere can penetrate into the vacuum chamber 35, and a space in which bacteria that reproduce in the vacuum chamber 35 can invade and proliferate, but it is clearly understood from the overall drawings attached to the present specification. As possible, it is a place that cannot be reached without disassembling the upper case 20, so it is impossible to clean after disassembly unless the product can be safely disassembled, such as an AS center. The inventor(s) recognized that if this space is contaminated, no matter how cleanly the vacuum chamber 35 is managed, it is not possible to completely prevent the bacteria from proliferating into the vacuum chamber 35 again. The UV sterilization structures shown in 5 and 6 were derived.

The component indicated by the reference numeral P2 in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a PCB for mounting an ultraviolet emission light source 21 such as an LED that irradiates ultraviolet rays to the vacuum release passage. The PCB P1 described above with respect to FIG. 4 and the PCB 21 on which the ultraviolet emission light source 21 for sterilization of the vacuum release passage is mounted are connected to each other. More specifically, the PCB (P2) is vertically connected to the PCB (P1) on which the ultraviolet emission light source involved in the sterilization of the vacuum chamber (35) is mounted. Simply put, these PCBs can be all-in-one PCBs that have a structure like “ㅗ”. As a result, the UV-emitting light sources involved in sterilization of the vacuum chamber 35 and the UV-emitting light sources involved in the sterilization of the vacuum release passage can be simultaneously powered or released by the same circuit, and have a simple structure. Easy to assemble. Ease of assembly due to a simple structure can be more clearly understood with reference to FIG. 4 attached to the present specification. In a state where the upper case 20 is separated into two inner and outer plates, the PCB (P1) with the ultraviolet light emitting light source 21 mounted thereon is mounted at a predetermined position on the outer plate (left plate in Fig. 4) When the PCB (P2) is vertically coupled at a position corresponding to the vacuum release path on the PCB (P1) and the ultraviolet emission light source (21) is mounted in advance, it is not necessary to set a separate position for the PCB (P2). The operation can complete the assembly of the sterilization structure for the vacuum chamber 35 and the vacuum release passage. On the other hand, it is preferable that the wall 43 is removed at a location where the PCB P2 is provided in order to widely apply the sterilizing ultraviolet rays to the entire vacuum release passage, and this structure can be clearly confirmed from FIG. 6.

Vacuum sensor replacement structure of a vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention

The vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention does not include a vacuum sensor. In this respect, the present invention is different from the vacuum packaging machine of the prior art. Due to this characteristic, in the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the device can be miniaturized as much as the space occupied by the vacuum sensor and the cost of the vacuum sensor component can be reduced. Furthermore, additional advantages can also be achieved with regard to the sterilizing function. In the prior art, in order to measure the vacuum pressure through the vacuum sensor, an air suction passage for sucking air from the vacuum chamber 35 and a separate hose communicating with the vacuum pump must be provided, and the vacuum sensor must be placed in the hose. If these communication hoses and vacuum sensors are removed, the area of concern for contamination by bacteria in the evacuation passage can be reduced. The vacuum chamber 35, which is the area most likely to be contaminated by bacteria among the vacuum packaging machines, must inevitably communicate with the evacuation passage, that is, the passage connecting the vacuum pump and the vacuum chamber, in order to perform the evacuation function. No special attention was paid to the contamination by bacteria in the evacuation passage). This area is located inside the main body of the vacuum packaging machine and is not exposed until the user disassembles the main body, so it is difficult to sterilize by cleaning. In order to remove contamination of this area, there is a method of actively sterilizing by facilitating disassembly from the main body, but it is clear that reducing the contaminated area itself will contribute to contamination prevention. The removal of the vacuum sensor and its communication path can greatly reduce the area of a contaminated area among the vacuumization passages essential for the vacuum packaging machine, thus contributing to the hygienic use of the vacuum packaging machine.

The vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention does not include a vacuum sensor, but includes a monitoring unit for the operating current or voltage of the vacuum pump. In this embodiment, a method of converting the amount of change of the current flowing through the vacuum pump into a DC voltage and monitoring the value will be described.

First, a description will be given of a case where the vacuum pump starts to operate and sucks air inside the container to reach a desired degree of vacuum (first mode). The monitoring unit monitors the operating voltage value of the vacuum pump after a first predetermined time elapses after the operation of the vacuum pump is started. The first predetermined time is set so that the peak voltage value induced by the coil is excluded from the monitoring object at the time when the operating current starts to be applied to the vacuum pump. The monitoring unit primarily determines whether the monitored voltage value is maintained at a first predetermined value, for example, 2.85 V or more in this time range. The first predetermined value is a voltage value normally measured when the vacuum pump is actively sucking air in the container. According to the experimental results repeatedly performed by the present inventor(s), the operating voltage of the vacuum pump was measured to be a relatively high value in the initial stage in which the amount of air sucked by the vacuum pump from the inside of the container was large. Whether or not the primary condition is satisfied may be reviewed multiple times. When this condition is satisfied, the monitoring unit monitors the operating voltage value of the vacuum pump after a second predetermined time has elapsed. Whether or not the monitored voltage value in this time range is maintained at a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value, eg, 2.0 V or less, is secondarily determined. The second predetermined value is a voltage value normally measured when the vacuum operation by the vacuum pump reaches a completion stage and the amount of air sucked in by the vacuum pump is significantly reduced. According to the experimental results repeatedly performed by the present inventor(s), in the later stage in which the amount of air sucked by the vacuum pump from the inside of the container was small, the operating voltage of the vacuum pump was measured to be a relatively low value. Whether or not the secondary condition is satisfied may also be reviewed multiple times. When this condition is satisfied, the monitoring unit determines that the vacuum has been normally achieved, and performs control of stopping the operation of the vacuum pump through the vacuum pump controller.

Next, a description will be given of a case in which a vacuum operation start command is issued to the same container by a user even though the vacuum pump sucks in air inside the container to reach a vacuum state (second mode). Even in this case, the monitoring unit monitors the operating voltage value of the vacuum pump after a first predetermined time elapses after the operation of the vacuum pump is started. It is determined whether the monitored voltage value in this time range is equal to or less than the second predetermined value and is maintained at a third predetermined value lower than this value, for example, 1.3 V or higher. Whether the above conditions are satisfied may be reviewed multiple times. When this condition is satisfied, the monitoring unit determines that the vacuum has been normally achieved, and performs control of stopping the operation of the vacuum pump through the vacuum pump controller.

Lastly, a description will be given of a case in which the user has incorrectly mounted the container in the vacuum packaging machine or a vacuum operation start command is issued while the upper case 20 is not completely fastened to the lower case 10 (third mode). Even in this case, the monitoring unit monitors the operating voltage value of the vacuum pump after a first predetermined time elapses after the operation of the vacuum pump is started. The monitoring unit determines whether the operating voltage of the vacuum pump is higher than the second predetermined value, eg, 2.0 V, for a third predetermined time, eg, 40 seconds, but does not reach the first predetermined value, eg, 2.85 V. If the container is installed incorrectly, the amount of air sucked in by the vacuum pump does not reach the amount in normal operation, and as a result, the operating voltage of the vacuum pump reaches the operating voltage of the first predetermined value during normal vacuum operation. It doesn't reach during the time interval. When detecting such an event, the monitoring unit determines that the container is incorrectly installed, and controls the operation of the vacuum pump to stop through the vacuum pump controller, and at the same time, the separate LED is turned on or a sound is generated to cause the container to be incorrectly mounted. Controls can be exercised to notify the user of the facts.

It should be understood that the determination by the monitoring unit between the three modes described above may be carried out in other ways, and in this case also falls within the scope of the present invention. Although described as monitoring the operating voltage in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the same function can be achieved with the operating current monitoring method.

Description of other improvements compared to the prior art of the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention

The vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a temperature sensor (not shown). Such a temperature sensor may be mounted in the space inside the lower case 10 or may be mounted to be exposed to the outside of the device. The role of the temperature sensor is to measure the temperature at the place where the vacuum packaging machine is installed and transmit the value to the controller. The controller may control the operating time of the heater 60 by receiving the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor. When the temperature of the place where the vacuum packaging machine is installed is low, the time for applying power to the heater 60 should be controlled to be relatively long, so that the entrance of the food container by thermal fusion can be satisfactorily sealed. Conversely, when the temperature of the place where the vacuum packaging machine is installed is high, good heat fusion can be achieved even if the time for applying power to the heater 60 is relatively short.

7 is a view showing a state in which the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is combined with a stand, and in this regard, another advantage compared to the prior art of the present invention is described.

It has been described above that the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention does not include a vacuum sensor, so that the device can be miniaturized as much as the space occupied by the vacuum sensor in a conventional vacuum packaging machine including a vacuum sensor. Due to the miniaturization of such a device, the vacuum packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is advantageous to be implemented as a portable device with a built-in rechargeable battery. In this way, when the vacuum packaging machine is implemented as a portable with a built-in rechargeable battery, the device needs to be charged. The stand s shown in FIG. 7 may incorporate a charging adapter circuit for filling the vacuum packaging machine. If the stand (s) is provided with a terminal that can be connected to the charger terminal provided on the rear side of the vacuum packaging machine, the charger of the vacuum packaging machine can be charged by a simple method of placing the vacuum packaging machine on the stand (s). Even when the vacuum packaging machine does not include a rechargeable battery, the advantage of safely storing the vacuum packaging machine in a cramped kitchen is achieved just by storing the vacuum packaging machine in a simple stand (s) where electricity is not connected.

In the above, the present invention has been described by specific matters such as specific elements and limited embodiments and drawings, but this is provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs can make various modifications and changes from such description.

Therefore, the spirit of the present invention is limited to the above-described embodiments and should not be defined, and all ranges equivalent to or equivalently changed from the claims to be described later as well as the claims to be described later are the scope of the spirit of the present invention. It will be said to belong to.

10: lower case
20: upper case
21: ultraviolet emission light source
22: vacuum plug
23: fastening part
24: manual operation switch
25: automatic operation switch
26: stop operation switch
27: sealing switch
28: protrusion
29: vacuum release button
30: lower packing
31: fastening hole
32: indication lamp
33: door lock switch
35: vacuum chamber
36: guide
40: upper packing
41: button linkage
42 spring:
43: wall
50: air inlet
60: heater
P1, P2: PCB
S: stand

Claims (7)

delete The lower case 10 and the upper case 20 are hinged to each other,
A vacuum chamber 35 provided in the lower case 10,
An air intake port 50 mounted in the vacuum chamber 35,
A vacuum pump communicating with the air inlet 50 to suck air from the open inlet of the vacuum chamber 35 and the container located in the vacuum chamber 35,
A heater 60 for sealing the open inlet of the container by thermal fusion after the suction of air by the vacuum pump is completed,
In a state where the upper case 20 is closed toward the lower case 10, it is mounted in an exposed manner on the lower surface of the upper case 20 so as to face the vacuum chamber 35 to sterilize the vacuum chamber 35 An ultraviolet light emitting light source 21 and
A vacuum release passage capable of releasing vacuum in the vacuum chamber 35 by selectively communicating the vacuum chamber 35 with outside air,
A monitoring unit that monitors an operating voltage or operating current applied to the vacuum pump,
And a control unit for controlling the operation of the vacuum pump and the heater 60 according to a signal from the monitoring unit,
The control unit detects whether a vacuum is achieved without a vacuum sensor according to a signal from the monitoring unit, and controls the operation of the vacuum pump to stop,
An ultraviolet emission light source 21 for sterilizing by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the vacuum release passage is mounted inside the upper case 20,
Vacuum packaging machine. The method of claim 2,
The PCB (P2) mounting the ultraviolet light source 21 for sterilization of the vacuum release passage is vertically coupled to the PCB (P1) mounting the ultraviolet light emission light source 21 for sterilization of the vacuum chamber 35, and the The PCB (P2) and the PCB (P1) have a structure of "ㅗ" as a whole,
When the upper case 20 is separated into two internal and external plates, and the PCB P1 in which the ultraviolet emission light source 21 is mounted is mounted at a predetermined position on the external plate, the PCB P2 is Since it is vertically coupled at a position corresponding to the vacuum release path on the PCB (P1) and the ultraviolet emission light source (21) is mounted in advance, the vacuum chamber (35) and the vacuum chamber (35) in one operation without the need for a separate position setting for the PCB (P2) Assembly of the sterilization structure for the vacuum release passage is completed,
Vacuum packaging machine. The method of claim 3,
A guide 36 for setting the mounting position of the container inside the vacuum chamber 35 is mounted,
Vacuum packaging machine. The method of claim 4,
The monitoring unit performs a determination between a plurality of predetermined modes,
The plurality of predetermined modes,
A first mode when the vacuum pump starts to operate and sucks air inside the container to reach a predetermined vacuum state normally;
A second mode in which a vacuum operation start command is given to the same container even though the vacuum pump sucks in air inside the container to reach a predetermined vacuum state; and
Including a third mode when a vacuum operation start command is issued while the container is mounted in an incorrect position or the upper case 20 is not completely fastened to the lower case 10,
Vacuum packaging machine. The method of claim 5,
The monitoring unit performs a determination between the plurality of modes after a first predetermined time has elapsed from a point in time when an operating current is applied to the vacuum pump.
Vacuum packaging machine. The method of claim 6,
The monitoring unit primarily determines whether the measured voltage value is maintained above a first predetermined value, and secondly determines whether the measured voltage is maintained below a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value after a second predetermined time elapses. Is judged as, and if both conditions are satisfied, the decision to the first mode is performed,
It is determined whether the measured voltage value is greater than or equal to a third predetermined value lower than the second predetermined value, but is maintained below the second predetermined value, and when this condition is satisfied, a determination to a second mode is performed, and
It is determined whether the measured voltage value is higher than the second predetermined value for a third predetermined time, but does not reach the first predetermined value, and when this condition is satisfied, a determination to a third mode is performed,
Vacuum packaging machine.

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