WO2004089780A1

WO2004089780A1 - Stick for vacuum packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2004089780A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001696
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joon-Yeong Ahn
Original assignee: Joon-Yeong Ahn
Priority date: 2003-04-11
Filing date: 2003-08-22
Publication date: 2004-10-21
Also published as: AU2003252575A1; KR200323806Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag that is inserted into the plastic bag to form air discharging passages permitting the air in the plastic bag to be removed therefrom and is heat sealable together with the plastic bag. The stick of this invention includes a stick body of a solid type and an embossing part formed on the outer surface of the stick body, so that air discharging passages are formed on the outer surface of the stick body when the stick is inserted into the plastic bag, wherein the stick body and the embossing part are made of a heat sealable material so as to be heat sealed together with the plastic bag.

Description

STICK FOR VACUUM PACKAGING

Technical Field The present invention relates to a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag that is inserted into the plastic bag to form air discharging passages permitting the air in the plastic bag to be removed therefrom, and that is heat sealed together with the plastic bag.

Background Art Generally, plastic bags in which foods for storage are placed are vacuumed and sealed by a vacuum sealing apparatus, in order to keep the foods fresh.

As one of the prior arts, there is disclosed Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 92-0700998 entitled 'An apparatus for vacuum sealing plastic bags', which is illustrated in FIG. la. The conventional plastic bag 21 is provided with an embossing part 25 that is formed on the inner surface thereof in order to serve as air discharging passages at the time of sealing the plastic bag. The plastic bag 21 is vacuumed and heat sealed by the apparatus 20 as shown in FIG. lb.

In more detail, the conventional apparatus 20 for vacuum sealing the plastic bag 21 includes a base 32, a hood 33, a vacuum chamber 34 that is located between the base 32 and the hood 33, a vacuum pump (which is not shown in the drawing) adapted to vacuum a vacuum chamber 34, and a heat sealing part 50 for sealing the opening portion of the plastic bag 21.

In case of vacuum sealing the plastic bag 21 by using the conventional apparatus 20, articles like foods are first placed into an appropriate location on the inside of the plastic bag, and the opening portion of the plastic bag 21 is located on the interior of the vacuum chamber 34. Next, the hood 33 is descended above the base 32, such that the plastic bag 21 and the vacuum chamber 34 are all closed. If a predetermined switch is manipulated to operate the vacuum pump, then, the vacuum chamber 34 gets vacuumed by the operation of the vacuum pump, which enables the air in the interior of the plastic bag 21 to be removed therefrom. Finally, the opening portion of the plastic bag 21 is heat sealed by means of the heat sealing part 50. At that time, the formation of the embossing part 25 on one inside of the plastic bag 21, as shown in FIG. la, allows the air filled in the interior of the plastic bag 21 to be absorbed and removed. However, the conventional chamber type apparatus for vacuum sealing the plastic bag needs the embossing part that is fabricated at a high cost. In addition, the embossing part may be broken by means of a pair of rollers that have been heated during its manufacturing process, which makes the number of bad plastic bags substantially increase. Another example of the prior arts is disclosed in Korean Utility Model

Registration No. 20-0240756 (which is issued on July 20, 2001) entitled 'A vacuum sealing plastic pack', wherein the pack is provided with an embossing insertion sheet therein. As shown in FIG. lc, the pack includes a pack body 10 and an embossing insertion sheet 40 that is made of synthetic resin fibers and is adapted to be inserted in the interior of the pack body 10. With the embossing part generated by the fabrication of the synthetic resin fibers, air discharging passages are provided such that the internal air in the plastic pack can be removed and heat sealed.

In this prior art, however, the conventional plastic pack with the embossing insertion sheet therein is too flexible to be well inserted into the pack body 10. Moreover, in case where the articles for storage are first placed in the plastic pack, it is difficult to well insert the embossing insertion sheet into the pack body. Also, the embossing insertion sheet is too large, such that it is unnecessarily consumed, which makes the production cost increased.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above- described problems asnd it is an object of the present invention to provide a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag that is inserted and heat sealed together with the plastic bag, without any formation of an embossing part on the inside of the plastic bag. It is another object of the present invention is to provide a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag that is heat sealed together with the opening portion of the plastic bag after a vacuuming procedure.

It is still another object of the present invention is to provide a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag that is produced, kept and used in easy and simple manners, and that can rapidly achieve a vacuuming procedure.

It is still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag that is provided with the plurality of break lines, so that it is supplied in great quantities and is easily cut to a predetermined desired length, without any unnecessary consumption. Accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag, the stick including: a stick body of a solid type; and an embossing part formed on the outer surface of the stick body, so that air discharging passages are formed on the outer surface of the stick body when the stick is inserted into the plastic bag, wherein the stick body and the embossing part are made of a heat sealable material so as to be heat sealed together with the plastic bag.

Preferably, the embossing part is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the stick body or on any one surface thereof, in the form of protruding objects or grooves. If the embossing part is in the form of protruding objects, it provides continuous channels or dispersed objects. And, the stick of this invention, preferably, has a plurality of break lines that are formed along the outer surface of the stick body, such that the stick can be easily cut to a predetermined length. Otherwise, a plurality of bars having different thickness are coupled to one another along the outer surfaces thereof, thereby providing the stick body and the embossing part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. la is a perspective view showing a conventional plastic bag on which an embossing part is formed on the inside thereof;

FIG. lb is a perspective view showing the sealing method embodied with the conventional plastic bag with the embossing part on the inside thereof; FIG. lc is a perspective view showing the conventional plastic bag where an embossing insertion sheet is placed;

FIG 2 is a perspective view showing a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line A- A of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11a is a perspective view showing the stick of this invention placed in the plastic bag; and

FIG. lib is a perspective view showing the stick of this invention sealed tighter with the plastic bag.

Best mode for Carrying Out the Invention Now, an explanation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be given hereinafter.

FIGS. 2 to 10 show a stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag according to first to fifth embodiments of the present invention. The stick 10 of this invention includes a stick body 20 and an embossing part 30 and is made of a heat sealable material in such a manner as to be inserted into the plastic bag 40 (see FIG. 11a), thereby providing air discharging passages 33 from the plastic bag 20. After this vacuuming step, the stick 10 is heat sealed together with the plastic bag 40 by the operation of a heat sealing part 41. The stick body 20 is of a solid type, and preferably, it is made of a heat sealable material such as polyethylene, a high density of polyethylene, polypropylene and so on. And, the stick body 20 has a thickness (excluding the size of the embossing part) of tens of mm or less, which is sufficiently thicker than the plastic bag 20, so that in spite of its load, it can be still maintained at the predetermined shape thereof. As a result, the stick body 20 can be easily treated and then inserted into the plastic bag 40 for heat sealing together with the plastic bag 40. In this case, the solid type of stick body 20 means its interior is fully filled, unlike a hose or nozzle. In some cases, the solid type may include a net type where no internal passages are formed, unlike a nozzle. The stick itself has a substantially strong rigidity, unlike a plastic film, such that it is not plastic deformed by the load thereof, which is like a plastic material. For example, the stick body 20 has a shape similar to a coffee stick.

The embossing part 20 is formed on the stick body 20 in different embodiments of this invention, so that it provides the air discharging passages 33 that are continuously arranged in the direction of the stick 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stick 10 of the first embodiment of this invention has the embossing part 30 that has protrusions 31 continuously arranged on the upper and lower surfaces 21 and 22 thereof. Of course, the protrusions 31 may be dispersedly arranged. The formation of the embossing part 30 provides the air discharging passages 33 to the stick 10, so that the internal air in the plastic bag 40 can be smoothly discharged. Also, since the embossing part 30 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces 21 and 22 of the stick 10, the air discharging passages 33 are provided on the upper and lower portions of the stick 10, which permits vacuum to be more rapidly accomplished. With the embossing part 30, therefore, in case where the stick 10 is inserted into the plastic bag 40 and then compressed by the external force like a packing part of a vacuum sealing apparatus (not shown), the air discharging passages 33 are maintained thus to extract the air in the plastic bag 40 therefrom. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stick 10 of the second embodiment of this invention has the embossing part 30 that has grooves 32 continuously arranged on the upper and lower surfaces 21 and 22 thereof. Of course, the grooves 32 may be cross striped or substantially parallel in the direction of the stick 10. Thus, the air discharging passages 33 are formed along the grooves 32, so that the internal air in the plastic bag 40 can be smoothly discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the stick 10 of the third embodiment of this invention has the embossing part 30 that has protrusions 31 continuously arranged on the upper surface 21 thereof. Thus, the air discharging passages 33 are formed along the protrusions 32, so that the internal air in the plastic bag 40 can be smoothly discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the stick 10 of the fourth embodiment of this invention has the embossing part 30 that has grooves 32 continuously arranged on the upper surface 21 thereof. Thus, the air discharging passages 33 are formed along the grooves 32, so that the internal air in the plastic bag 40 can be smoothly discharged.

On the other hand, preferably, the stick 10 of this invention has a plurality of break lines 50 on the outer surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 10, so that it can be easily cut to a predetermined length when necessary in accordance with the size of the plastic bag 40. Thus, the stick 10 is supplied in a sufficiently long length, and if necessary, it is easily cut on their predetermined break line. Desirably, the break lines 50 are in the shape of a broken line or are cut by about half thickness of the stick body 20.

Now, an explanation of the operation and usage method of the stick 10 of this invention will be given below. As shown in FIGS. 11a and lib, the articles 43 like foods for storage are placed into the plastic bag 40, and the stick 10 of this invention is inserted into the plastic bag 40. After that, the plastic bag 40 is placed at a predetermined location of the vacuum sealing apparatus as shown in FIG. lb, and as the hood of the apparatus is closed, the opening portion of the plastic bag 40 is tightly closed. In this case, however, the air discharging passages 33 by the formation of the embossing part 30 of the stick 10 of this invention are maintained such that the air in the plastic bag 40 is completely removed. After the vacuuming step, the opening portion of the plastic bag 40 is heat sealed together with the stick 10 by the operation of the heat sealing part 41, thereby completing the vacuum sealing procedure.

Industrial applicability

As set forth in the foregoing, the stick of this invention can be provided at a substantially low cost and at a high efficiency, without any formation of an embossing part on the inside of the plastic bag. In addition, the stick of this invention can be heat sealed together with the opening portion of the plastic bag after the completion of the vacuuming procedure, thereby making it convenient to use.

The stick of this invention can be produced, kept and used in easy and simple manners and have the air discharging passages on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, such that the vacuuming procedure can be rapidly accomplished. Additionally, the stick of this invention can be provided with the plurality of break lines, so that it is supplied in great quantities and is easily cut to a predetermined desired length, without any unnecessary consumption.

While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A stick for vacuum sealing a plastic bag, the stick comprising: a stick body of a solid type; and an embossing part formed on the outer surface of the stick body, so that air discharging passages are formed on the outer surface of the stick body when the stick is inserted into the plastic bag, wherein the stick body and the embossing part are made of a heat sealable material so as to be heat sealed together with the plastic bag.

2. The stick according to claim 1, wherein the embossing part is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the stick body, respectively.

3. The stick according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the embossing part is made by forming a plurality of grooves on the stick body.

4. The stick according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the embossing part is made by forming a plurality of protrusions on the stick body.

5. The stick according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stick body has a plurality of break lines formed at predetermined regular intervals on the outer surface thereof.