U.S. patent application number 10/536193 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-16 for apparatus for vacuum packages and method of controlling it.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zeropack Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Joung-Geun Ahn, Ei-Jae Sung.
Application Number | 20060053748 10/536193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36113858 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060053748 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ahn; Joung-Geun ; et
al. |
March 16, 2006 |
Apparatus for vacuum packages and method of controlling it
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag
and/or container and a method of controlling the apparatus. The
method of controlling the apparatus having an upper casing with an
upper concave part therein, a lower casing with a lower concave
part therein, a vacuum chamber formed by the close contact between
the upper concave part and the lower concave part, such that an
opening portion at one end of the plastic bag is inserted into the
vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump for providing vacuum to the vacuum
chamber, and a heater for heat sealing the plastic bag being in a
vacuum sate at the front portion thereof, including the steps of:
descending the upper casing above the lower casing to thereby
operate a first switch and a second switch together, the first
switch and the second switch disposed protrudedly on the contact
surface between the upper casing and the lower casing, being
connected to a digital control unit; and operating the vacuum pump
and the heater in a sequential order by the control of the digital
control unit, such that the plastic bag is vacuumed in a plastic
mode.
Inventors: |
Ahn; Joung-Geun;
(Kyunggi-do, KR) ; Sung; Ei-Jae; (Incheon,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
Zeropack Co., Ltd.
#310, Imdae Factory, 672, Sungkok-dong, Ansan-city
Kyunggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
36113858 |
Appl. No.: |
10/536193 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 25, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR03/02554 |
371 Date: |
May 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/434 ;
53/512 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 51/148 20130101;
B65B 31/046 20130101; B65B 51/146 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/434 ;
053/512 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/00 20060101
B65B031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2002 |
KR |
10-2002-0073651 |
Claims
1. A method of controlling an apparatus for vacuum sealing a
plastic bag and/or a container, the apparatus having an upper
casing with an upper concave part therein, a lower casing with a
lower concave part therein, a vacuum chamber formed by the close
contact between the upper concave part and the lower concave part,
such that an opening portion at one end of the plastic bag is
inserted into the vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump for providing a
vacuum to the vacuum chamber, and a heater for heat sealing the
plastic bag being in a vacuum sate at the front portion thereof,
the method comprising the steps of: descending the upper casing
above the lower casing to thereby operate a first switch and a
second switch together, the first switch and the second switch
disposed protrudely on the contact surface between the upper casing
and the lower casing, being connected to a digital control unit;
and operating the vacuum pump and the heater in a sequential order
by the control of the digital control unit, such that the plastic
bag is vacuumed in a plastic bag mode.
2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the apparatus
comprises a suction inlet placed in the upper concave part or the
lower concave part in such a manner as to be directly connected to
the vacuum pump and a hose detachably mounted on the suction inlet
at one end thereof and detachably mounted on the container at the
other end thereof, and when only the second switch is operated, the
vacuum pump is just operated by the control of the digital control
unit such that the container is vacuumed in the container mode.
3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the plastic bag mode
comprises the steps of: if the first switch and the second switch
are operated together, entering a step of setting the plastic bag
mode at an initial preparation step by the control of the digital
control unit; operating the vacuum pump by the control of the
digital control unit, thereby providing the vacuum to the vacuum
chamber; determining whether the vacuum chamber is vacuumed at a
predetermined degree by the control of the digital control unit,
and returning to the step of operating the vacuum pump if the
predetermined degree of vacuum is not reached, but entering a step
of operating the heater if the predetermined degree of vacuum is
reached; operating the heater by the control of the digital control
unit and sealing the plastic bag; and after sealing the plastic
bag, returning to the initial preparation step, and the container
mode comprises the steps of: if only the second switch is operated,
entering a step of setting the container mode at the initial
preparation step by the control of the digital control unit;
operating the vacuum pump by the control of the digital control
unit and providing the vacuum to the container by use of the hose
and the suction inlet connected to the vacuum pump; determining
whether the container is vacuumed at a predetermined degree by the
control of the digital control unit, and returning to the step of
operating vacuum pump if the predetermined degree of vacuum is not
reached, but entering a step of returning to the initial
preparation step if the predetermined degree of vacuum is reached;
and after vacuuming the container, returning to the initial
preparation step.
4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein if the first switch or
the second switch is turned off in the plastic bag mode, the steps
of operating the vacuum pump, the heater, and both of the vacuum
pump and the heater are returned to the initial preparation step,
and if the second switch is turned on again in the container mode,
the step of operating the vacuum pump is returned to the initial
preparation step.
5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein if it is determined
that the predetermined degree of vacuum is reached, a step of
operating the vacuum pump and the heater together is added and
after the step, the step of operating the heater is carried
out.
6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined
degree of vacuum in the plastic bag mode and the container mode is
measured by a pressure switch that is coupled to the hose connected
to the vacuum pump and transmits an output signal to the digital
control unit.
7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a temperature switch
is mounted on a power source transformer, the temperature switch
transmitting an output signal to the digital control unit, and if
the temperature switch is operated in the plastic bag mode and the
container mode, the step of returning to the initial preparation
step is carried out by the control of the digital control unit.
8. An apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a container
that has an upper casing with an upper concave part therein, a
lower casing with a lower concave part therein, a vacuum chamber
formed by the close contact between the upper concave part and the
lower concave part, such that an opening portion at one end of the
plastic bag is inserted into the vacuum chamber, a vacuum chamber
for providing vacuum to the vacuum chamber, and a heater for heat
sealing he plastic bag being in a vacuum state at the front portion
thereof, the apparatus comprising: a suction inlet placed in the
upper concave part or the lower concave part, that suction inlet
directly connected to the vacuum pump; and a hose detachably
mounted on the suction inlet at one end thereof and detachably
mounted on the container at the other end thereof.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein a vacuum releasing
valve for the vacuum chamber is closed normally and if pressed, it
is opened such that the vacuum in the vacuum chamber is released,
the vacuum releasing valve being located on the upper casing.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising: a
first switch protruded on the contact surface between the upper
casing and the lower casing, the first switch being connected to
the digital control unit; a second switch protruded on the contact
surface between the upper casing and the lower casing, the second
switch being connected to the digital control unit; the vacuum pump
driven by a motor connected to the digital control unit; the heater
connected to the digital control unit and operated; and the digital
control unit for setting the plastic bag mode to operate the vacuum
pump until a predetermined degree of vacuum is reached in the
vacuum chamber and driving the heater, if the first switch and the
second switch are operated together, and for setting the container
mode to operate the vacuum pump, if only the second switch is
operated.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a
three-color LED lamp connected to the digital control unit,
displaying different colors at the time of an initial preparation,
the operation state of the vacuum pump, and the operation state of
the heater.
12. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the predetermined
degree of vacuum in the plastic bag mode and the container mode is
measured by a pressure switch that is coupled to the hose connected
to the vacuum pump and transmits an output signal to the digital
control unit.
13. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the predetermined
degree of vacuum in the plastic bag mode and the container mode is
measured by a pressure switch that is coupled to the hose connected
to the vacuum pump and transmits an output signal to the digital
control unit.
14. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the predetermined
degree of vacuum in the plastic bag mode and the container mode is
measured by a pressure switch that is coupled to the hose connected
to the vacuum pump and transmits an output signal to the digital
control unit.
15. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the predetermined
degree of vacuum in the plastic bag mode and the container mode is
measured by a pressure switch that is coupled to the hose connected
to the vacuum pump and transmits an output signal to the digital
control unit.
16. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein a temperature switch
is mounted on a power source transformer, the temperature switch
transmitting an output signal to the digital control unit, and if
the temperature switch is operated in the plastic bag mode and the
container mode, the step of returning to the initial preparation
step is carried out by the control of the digital control unit.
17. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein a temperature switch
is mounted on a power source transformer, the temperature switch
transmitting an output signal to the digital control unit, and if
the temperature switch is operated in the plastic bag mode and the
container mode, the step of returning to the initial preparation
step is carried out by the control of the digital control unit.
18. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein a temperature switch
is mounted on a power source transformer, the temperature switch
transmitting an output signal to the digital control unit, and if
the temperature switch is operated in the plastic bag mode and the
container mode, the step of returning to the initial preparation
step is carried out by the control of the digital control unit.
19. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein a temperature switch
is mounted on a power source transformer, the temperature switch
transmitting an output signal to the digital control unit, and if
the temperature switch is operated in the plastic bag mode and the
container mode, the step of returning to the initial preparation
step is carried out by the control of the digital control unit.
20. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising: a
first switch protruded on the contact surface between the upper
casing and the lower casing, the first switch being connected to
the digital control unit; a second switch protruded on the contact
surface between the upper casing and the lower casing, the second
switch being connected to the digital control unit; the vacuum pump
driven by a motor connected to the digital control unit; the heater
connected to the digital control unit and operated; and the digital
control unit for setting the plastic bag mode to operate the vacuum
pump until a predetermined degree of vacuum is reached in the
vacuum chamber and driving the heater, if the first switch and the
second switch are operated together, and for setting the container
mode to operate the vacuum pump, if only the second switch is
operated.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for vacuum
sealing a plastic bag and/or a container in which articles like
food for storage are put in a vacuum state to thereby prevent the
oxidization or decay of the articles and a method of controlling
the apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for vacuum
sealing a plastic bag and/or a container wherein one of a plastic
bag mode and a container mode is selected by just touching switches
under the control of a digital control part, such that if the
container mode is selected, only the container is vacuumed by
connecting a hose to a suction inlet in a vacuum chamber, while the
vacuum chamber is not being vacuumed, thereby preventing the air
leakage in conventional vacuum sealing apparatuses.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, articles like food for storage are packaged by
plastic wrap or a vinyl bag and then placed in refrigerators. In
this case, however, the articles stay good for a predetermined
length of time, but as time is elapsed, they get oxidized and
decayed by the air charged in the interior of the packaged
container or vinyl bag. To solve this problem, there have been
developed various kinds of apparatuses for vacuum sealing the
plastic bag from which air is eliminated.
[0003] As one of the prior arts, there is disclosed Korean Patent
Application Publication No. 92-0700998 (entitled `an apparatus for
vacuum sealing plastic bags`). As shown in FIGS. 1a to 1c, in more
detail, according to the conventional vacuum sealing apparatus a
switch 59 is manipulated to operate a vacuum pump 53 as a hood 33
is descended above a base 32, and after vacuuming, a vacuum display
56 is operated to permit a switch 68 to be manipulated by a user,
which enables a heater 50 to operate. Thereby, the plastic bag is
completely sealed. At that time, there occurs a problem that
ventilating means 67 (see FIG. 1c) that is opened normally should
be continuous to be pressed by means of a button 66 (see FIGS. 1b
and 1c) through the user during vacuum sealing, thereby making it
inconvenient to use. In addition, in the conventional vacuum
sealing apparatus the vacuum pump 53 and heater switches 59 and 60
are directly connected to a high voltage of power, such that a
liquid like soup flowing over the plastic bag and/or the container
during vacuum sealing may make the switches short-circuited. This
even may make the user get shocked. As shown in FIG. 1b,
furthermore, in the conventional vacuum sealing apparatus the hood
33 is descended above the base 32, and the container is vacuumed
through the vacuum chamber 34. Thus, the air charged unnecessarily
in the interior of the vacuum chamber 34 should be removed. Also,
the ventilating means 67 that is opened normally should be kept to
be pressed by the button 66 through the user during the vacuum
sealing for the container.
[0004] To solve the afore-mentioned problems, there is disclosed
Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0235323 (entitled
`Apparatus for vacuum sealing`) by one of the same inventors as the
present invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, the
conventional vacuum sealing apparatus is set to a heater mode, a
plastic bag mode, or a container mode by the manipulation of a menu
switch 102 and the vacuum sealing is automatically carried out by
the manipulation of a switch 108 in the set mode. However, there
are some inconveniences that the mode should be set by the user and
the switch 108 should be also manipulated by the user. Moreover,
vacuum container suction means 64 is connected to a vacuum
transferring groove 60 that is placed between the vacuum pump and
the vacuum chamber, such that if the vacuum container suction means
64 is not fit well in the vacuum transferring groove 60, the air in
the passage from the vacuum chamber to the vacuum pump may be
leaked, which causes the vacuum to be incompletely carried out.
Also, the vacuum transferring groove 60 is exposed to the outside,
and as time is elapsed, the dust or foreign materials are
accumulated thereon, such that there is a problem that the dust or
foreign materials are sucked to the vacuum pump through the vacuum
container suction means 64 and a hose 72 placed on the vacuum
transferring groove 60.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide an apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag
and/or a container and a method of controlling the apparatus,
wherein a plastic bag mode is set by pressing a first switch and a
second switch together under the control of a digital control unit,
such that the plastic bag is automatically sealed in a vacuum
state, and a container mode is set by pressing only the second
switch under the control of the digital control unit, such that the
container is automatically sealed in the vacuum state, which makes
it convenient and safe to use.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a container and a
method of controlling the apparatus, wherein a first switch and a
second switch are pressed together as an upper casing is descended
above a lower casing, such that the plastic bag is automatically
vacuumed by the control of a digital control unit.
[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a container
and a method of controlling the apparatus, wherein vacuum sealing
halts automatically as an upper casing gets opened in a plastic bag
mode and as a second switch is pressed again in a container
mode.
[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a
container and a method of controlling the apparatus, wherein a
vacuum pump and a heater are operated together for a predetermined
length of time in a plastic bag mode, thereby greatly improving a
degree of vacuum.
[0009] It is yet still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a
container and a method of controlling the apparatus, wherein a
vacuum chamber does not need to be vacuumed in a container mode,
while solving the leakage of air in the conventional vacuum sealing
apparatus.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a container
and a method of controlling the apparatus, wherein vacuum sealing
is carried out by simply touching a switch, removing an
inconvenience that a vacuum releasing valve or a second switch
should be kept to be pressed during the vacuum sealing.
[0011] To achieve these and other objects, according to the present
invention, there is provided a method of controlling an apparatus
for vacuum sealing a plastic bag and/or a container, the apparatus
having an upper casing with an upper concave part therein, a lower
casing with a lower concave part therein, a vacuum chamber formed
by the close contact between the upper concave part and the lower
concave part, such that an opening portion at one end of the
plastic bag is inserted into the vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump for
providing vacuum to the vacuum chamber, and a heater for heat
sealing the plastic bag being in a vacuum state at the front
portion thereof, the method including the steps of: descending the
upper casing above the lower casing to thereby operate a first
switch and a second switch together that are disposed protrudedly
on the contact surface between the upper casing and the lower
casing, being connected to a digital control unit; and operating
the vacuum pump and the heater in a sequential order by the control
of the digital control unit, such that the plastic bag is vacuumed
in a plastic bag mode.
[0012] According to the present invention, the first switch and the
second switch are all operated as the upper casing is descended
above the lower casing, such that the apparatus becomes in the
plastic bag mode under the control of the digital control unit, and
the plastic bag is automatically vacuumed by simply touching the
switches. Also, according to the present invention, a hose is
connected to a suction inlet in the vacuum chamber, such that the
vacuum chamber does not need to be vacuumed in a container mode,
which enables a leakage problem suffered in the conventional
apparatuses to be clearly solved. Furthermore, the installation of
the digital control unit and the vacuum releasing valve that stays
closed in a normal state completely removes the inconvenience that
the vacuum releasing valve or the second switch should be kept to
be pressed during the vacuum sealing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] 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:
[0014] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum
sealing apparatus, wherein a plastic bag is vacuumed;
[0015] FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the conventional vacuum
sealing apparatus, wherein a container is vacuumed;
[0016] FIG. 1c is a circuit diagram of the conventional vacuum
sealing apparatus;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional vacuum
sealing apparatus;
[0018] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a vacuum sealing apparatus
according to the present invention, wherein the apparatus is being
in a closed state;
[0019] FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.
3a;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vacuum sealing apparatus
according to the present invention, wherein the apparatus is being
in an opened state;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vacuum sealing apparatus
according to the present invention, wherein a container is being in
a vacuumed state;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hose assembly used in the
vacuum sealing apparatus of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of controlling the vacuum sealing
apparatus of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 8a is a flowchart showing the control of the vacuum
sealing apparatus of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8b is a flowchart showing the control in a plastic bag
mode; and
[0026] FIG. 8c is a flowchart showing the control in a container
mode.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0027] Now, an explanation of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be in detail given with reference to
attached drawings. FIGS. 3a to 8b show the preferred embodiments of
a vacuum sealing apparatus 100 and a method according to the
present invention. First of all, an explanation of the vacuum
sealing apparatus 100 will be in detail given.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3a and 4, the vacuum sealing apparatus 100
includes an upper casing 200, a lower casing 300, a vacuum chamber
400, a vacuum pump 500, a heater 600, a hose assembly 700 and a
digital control unit 800. Thereby, a plastic bag or a container 901
is vacuumed by means of the vacuum sealing apparatus 100. In some
cases, the vacuum sealing apparatus can be manufactured only for
the purpose of the plastic bag, and desirably, the vacuum pump 500,
the heater 600 and the digital control unit 800 are housed in the
lower casing 300. The upper casing 200 is pivoted by the lower
casing 300 in such a manner as to be opened and closed. In more
detail, in a plastic bag mode where the plastic bag is vacuumed,
the opening portion at one end of the plastic bag (which is not
shown in the drawing) is inserted into the vacuum chamber 400, and
after that, the upper casing 200 is descended above the lower
casing 300, such that the vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600 are
sequentially operated by the control of the digital control unit
800 in an automatic one touch type, thereby completing the vacuum
sealing for the plastic bag. On the other hand, in a container mode
where the container 901, as shown in FIG. 5, is vacuumed, the hose
assembly 700 is connected between the suction inlet 420 in the
vacuum chamber 400 and the vacuum valve of the container 901, such
that the vacuum pump 500 is operated by the control of the digital
control unit 800 as a second switch 811 as will be discussed later
is simply pressed, thereby completing the vacuum sealing for the
container 901. Hereinafter, an explanation of the parts in the
vacuum sealing apparatus of the present invention will be in detail
given.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3a and 4, the upper casing 200 is
hingeably mounted on the lower casing 300 in such a manner as to be
opened and closed. The upper concave part 230 is formed on the
bottom surface of the upper casing 200, and desirably, an elastic
upper pad 231 is provided to surround the periphery of the upper
concave part 230, such that when the upper casing 200 is descended
above the lower casing 300, the upper concave part 230 is engaged
with the lower concave part 330 of the lower casing 300, thereby
forming the vacuum chamber 400 therein.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the vacuum releasing valve 210
is formed on the top surface of the upper casing 200, and normally,
the vacuum chamber 400 (see FIG. 4) is not in communication with
the air. However, when the vacuum releasing valve 210 is pressed,
the vacuum chamber 400 gets in communication with the air, thereby
making the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 400 released, such that the
upper casing 200 can be easily opened. This gets rids of the
inconvenience that in the plastic bag mode the vacuum releasing
valve 210 should be kept to be pressed during the vacuum sealing.
As shown in FIG. 3b, for example, the vacuum releasing valve 210
includes a hole 214 located on the upper concave part 230, a
protrusion 215 for opening/closing the hole 214, a button 211 for
moving up the protrusion 215 to thereby open the hole 214, and a
spring 213 for moving down the protrusion 215 to thereby return the
protrusion 215 to its original closed position for the hole 214.
Otherwise, the vacuum releasing valve 210 may be various kinds of
mechanical or electromagnetic switch valves.
[0031] As the upper casing 200 is descended above the lower casing
300, a contact surface 203 (see FIG. 4) comes in contact with the
contact surface 302 of the lower casing 300 on which a first switch
810 and a second switch 811 are positioned, such that the first and
second switches 810 and 811 are pressed together. An explanation of
the first and second switches 810 and 811 will be in detail given
with reference to the digital control unit 800 as will be described
later.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower casing 300 houses all
kinds of vacuum pumps 500 (see FIG. 7), the heater 600 (see FIG.
7), and the digital control unit 800 (see FIG. 7) therein. In some
cases, they may be housed in the upper casing 200. And, the lower
concave part 330 is formed on the top surface of the lower casing
300, and desirably, an elastic lower pad 331 is provided to
surround the periphery of the lower concave part 330. Thus, when
the upper casing 200 is descended above the lower casing 300, the
lower concave part 330 is engaged with the upper concave part 230
of the upper casing 200, thereby forming the vacuum chamber 400
therein. Desirably, the lower concave part 330 is separable from
the lower casing 300 and is substantially high in depth, having a
substantially large rounding angle at the corners, so that the
liquid or powder material generally flowing over the plastic bag
during the vacuum sealing is accumulated in the vacuum chamber 400,
not entering the vacuum pump 500. This also enables the lower
concave part 300 to be easily cleaned.
[0033] The lower casing 300 is provided with the first switch 810
and the second switch 811 that are protruded on the left and right
sides on the contact surface 302, operated when the upper casing
200 is descended above the lower casing 300. The lower casing 300
is further provided with a three-color LED lamp 310 (see FIG. 3a)
that is located on the rear top end thereof and is electrically
connected to the digital control unit 800. For example, the
three-color LED lamp 310 is the lamp where each of a green LED and
a red LED is formed and with the combination of the green LED and
the red LED, green, red and orange colors are displayed. The LED
lamp 310 emits the green, orange and red colors to indicate the
preparation state and the operation states of the vacuum pump 500
and the heater 600.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the vacuum chamber 400 is
formed by the tight contact between the upper concave part 230 of
the upper casing 200 and the lower concave part 330 of the lower
casing 300. At that time, the front of the opening portion of the
plastic bag is inserted into the vacuum chamber 400 and the
interior air of the plastic bag is discharged as the vacuum chamber
400 is vacuumed. In some cases, the vacuum chamber 400 may be
formed by the plane that replaces the upper concave part 230 of the
upper casing 200 and by the lower concave part 330 of the lower
casing 300. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the suction inlet 420 is
located in the vacuum chamber 400, for example, in the lower
concave part 330 and is directly connected to the vacuum pump 500
through a hose (now shown), without having any vacuum transferring
groove 60 (see FIG. 2) of the conventional vacuum sealing
apparatus, thereby allowing the vacuum chamber 400 to be vacuumed.
In the state where the upper casing 200 is opened, as shown in FIG.
5, the suction inlet 420 is connected to the hose assembly 700,
such that the container 901 is just vacuumed, while the air in the
vacuum chamber 400 is not being discharged.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, on the other hand, the hose assembly 700
is provided with a hose 701 and two connecting elements 702 mounted
on the both ends of the hose 701, for connecting the suction inlet
420 of the vacuum chamber 400 with the container 901, thereby
allowing the container 901 to be vacuumed. The hose 701 is
preferably made of a transparent flexible plastic material, and
each of the connecting elements 702 is a stepped pipe type and is
made of a relatively hard plastic material, which makes it easy to
be detachably mounted on the suction inlet 420 and the container
901. Of course, it is possible that the suction inlet 420 is
connected with the container only by means of the hose 701, without
having the connecting elements 702.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the heater 600 is desirably formed of a
heat wire electrically heated and is located on the front of the
lower concave part 330 on the top surface of the lower casing 300.
The heater 600 is coupled to a pad 602 on the upper casing 200, and
after completing the vacuum sealing procedure, it is driven by the
control of the digital control unit 800 to thereby heat and seal
the front portion of the plastic bag. And, the vacuum pump 500 (see
FIG. 7) is desirably housed in the lower casing 300 and driven by
the digital control unit 800.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, in the container mode the hose assembly
700 is connected to the valve on the container 901 at one end
thereof and to the suction inlet 420 in the lower concave part 330
through the hose 701 at the other end thereof and the second switch
811 is manipulated, with the help of a user, thereby allowing the
container 901 to be vacuumed.
[0038] According to the vacuum sealing apparatus of the present
invention, in the plastic bag mode the vacuum pump 500 and the
heater 600 are sequentially operated under the control of the
digital control unit 800 by simply pressing the first and second
switches 810 and 811, thereby enabling the plastic bag to be
vacuumed, and in the container mode the vacuum pump 500 is operated
under the control of the digital control unit 800 by simply
pressing the second switch 811, thereby enabling the container 901
to be vacuumed. Now, an explanation of a method of controlling the
vacuum sealing apparatus 100 of the present invention will be in
detail given.
[0039] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing all kinds of parts of the
vacuum sealing apparatus 100 electrically connected to one another
and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the
vacuum sealing apparatus 100.
[0040] The digital control unit 800 is housed in the upper casing
200 or the lower casing 300, and receives the state information of
the first switch 810, the second switch 811, a temperature switch
820, and a pressure switch 821 and transmits output signals to the
vacuum pump 500, the heater 600, and the three-color LED lamp 310.
The digital control unit 800 includes a memory in which an
operation determiner, programs and data are stored, a timer, and a
micro controller or IC chip having input/output ports, such that it
controls the vacuum sealing apparatus 100 in a safe manner in
substantially small power through the signals indicating all state
information. In more detail, even though the liquid like soup flows
over the plastic bag during the vacuum sealing in the state where
the sealing material for the first switch 810 and the second switch
811 is worn due to the repeated contact between the upper casing
200 and the lower casing 300, the trouble like electric shock or
electric leakage can be completely avoided.
[0041] A power source 830 is employed with batteries or alternating
current power for domestic use that is rectified by a transformer
831 and a rectifying circuit (not shown). A thermal fuse 832 for
the transformer use and a thermal fuse 833 for the heater use are
located on the transformer 831 and the heater 600 and are connected
to the power source 830. The supply of the power source 830 stops
when the thermal fuses 832 and 833 overheat.
[0042] The first switch 810 is formed in such a manner as to be
protruded on the contact surface 203 of the upper casing 200 or on
the contact surface 302 of the lower casing 300, and as the upper
casing 200 is descended above the lower casing 300, it is
automatically operated. Otherwise, after the upper casing 200 is
opened, it is manipulated by the user to thereby make the apparatus
set to the plastic bag mode or the container mode. Then, the signal
for the set mode is transmitted to the digital control unit 800,
thereby making the vacuum pump 500 or the heater 600 operated. The
first switch 810 and the second switch 811 may have various
mechanical configurations, and they can be turned on and off by
means of the protruded portion on the upper casing 200.
[0043] The temperature switch 820 is located on the transformer 831
and if a predetermined temperature or more is reached, it is turned
on (or off). The temperature switch 820 includes a bimetal, a
thermistor, and so on. The signal of the temperature switch 820 is
transmitted to the digital control unit 800 to thereby stop
operating the vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600, and the digital
control unit 800 starts to an initial preparation state at a step
840 (see FIG. 8a), thereby improving the safety of the vacuum
sealing apparatus 100.
[0044] The pressure switch 821 is located on the hose (not shown)
connecting the vacuum pump 500 and the suction inlet 420, and if a
predetermined degree of vacuum or more is reached, it is turned on
(or off). The pressure switch 821 includes a strain gage, a
piezoelectric element, and so on. The signal of the pressure switch
821 is transmitted to the digital control unit 800 to thereby stop
operating the vacuum pump 500 or determine whether the vacuum is
completed.
[0045] The vacuum pump 500 is housed in the lower casing 300 and is
operated by driving, for example, a DC motor by the control of the
digital control unit 800.
[0046] The heater 600 is located on the surface of the upper casing
200 or the lower casing 300, operated by the control of the digital
control unit 800.
[0047] The three-color LED lamp 310 is the lamp on which the green
LED and the read LED are formed and with the combination of the
green LED and the red LED, green, red and orange colors are
displayed. The three-color LED lamp 310 is located on the rear top
end of the lower casing 300 and is electrically connected to the
digital control unit 800. The LED lamp 310 emits the green, orange
and red colors to indicate the preparation state and the operation
states of the vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600.
[0048] The digital control unit 800 controls the vacuum sealing
apparatus 100 in each of the plastic bag mode where the plastic bag
is vacuumed and the container mode where the container 901 is
vacuumed. The control procedure for the vacuum sealing apparatus
100 of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 8a to 8c.
[0049] If an initial power source is supplied, as shown in FIG. 8a,
at the step 840 the digital control unit 800 enters the initial
preparation step where the operation of the vacuum pump 500 and the
heater 600 stops and the three-color LED lamp 310 emits the green
color light.
[0050] If the first and second switches 810 and 811 are operated
together, for a predetermined length of time, the initial
preparation step 840 enters a step 850 of setting the plastic bag
mode. If only the second switch 811 is operated for the
predetermined length of time, the initial preparation step 840
enters a step 860 of setting the container mode.
[0051] First, an explanation of the step 850 of setting the plastic
bag mode will be given.
[0052] At a step 851 of operating the vacuum pump, the vacuum pump
500 is operated under the control of the digital control unit 800,
and thereby, vacuum is provided in the vacuum chamber 400. The
plastic bag is vacuumed through the vacuum chamber 400. At this
time, the three-color LED lamp 310 displays the orange color.
[0053] At a step 852, it is determined whether the plastic bag is
vacuumed at a prescribed degree through the signal from the
pressure switch 821 under the control of the digital control unit
800. If the prescribed degree of vacuum is not reached, the step
852 is returned to the step 851, and if so, it enters a step 854 of
operating the heater 600.
[0054] At the step 854, a power source is applied for a
predetermined length of time, for example, for 4 seconds to the
heater 600 under the control of the digital control unit 800, and
thus, the plastic bag is heat sealed. At this time, the three-color
LED lamp 310 displays the red color.
[0055] In some cases, if the vacuum is completed at the step 852, a
step 853 where the vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600 are operated
together is added. Thereafter, the step 853 enters the step 854. In
more detail, the vacuum pump 500 is operated together with the
heater 600 for the predetermined length of time, for example, for 4
seconds during which the plastic bag is heat sealed. In this case,
the degree of vacuum of the plastic bag is substantially reliable
and improved.
[0056] After the heater operating step 854 is finished, it is
returned to a step 855 of returning to the initial preparation step
840. Thus, the digital control unit 800 is at the initial
preparation step 840.
[0057] FIG. 8b shows the control in the plastic bag mode, wherein
the vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600 halt because they are
interrupted by the first switch 810, the second switch 811 and the
temperature switch 820, and thus, the steps 851, 853 and 854 are
returned to the initial preparation step 840.
[0058] At a step 870, a temperature interrupt occurs when the
transformer 831 is over the predetermined temperature at the step
851 where the vacuum pump 500 is operated, the step 854 where the
heater 600 is operated and the step 853 where the vacuum pump 500
and the heater 600 are operated together. At this time, the
temperature switch 820 is operated to transmit the output signal to
the digital control unit 800, such that the steps are returned to
the initial preparation step 840 where the vacuum pump 500 and the
heater 600 halt, thereby preventing overheating the vacuum sealing
apparatus 100. And, the temperature interrupt is checked at any
time at the steps 851, 854 and 853, and if the temperature switch
820 is not operated, the step 870 enters a plastic bag interrupt
step 880.
[0059] At the step 880, the plastic bag interrupt occurs when the
upper casing 200 is opened to cause the first switch 810 or the
second switch 811 to be turned off for a predetermined length of
time (for example, for 0.5 seconds). At this time, the vacuum pump
500 and the heater 600 halt by the control of the digital control
unit 800, and the plastic bag interrupt step 880 is returned to the
initial preparation step 840. If the plastic bag interrupt does not
occur, the steps 851,854 and 853 are carried out.
[0060] Next, an explanation of a step 860 of setting the container
mode is given with reference to FIG. 8a.
[0061] If the container mode is set at the step 860, the vacuum
pump 500 is operated by the control of the digital control unit 800
such that the container 901 is vacuumed, at a step 861. At this
time, before this step the suction inlet 420 and the container 901
should be connected to each other by the use of the hose assembly
700 through the user. In this case, the three-color LED lamp
displays the orange color.
[0062] At a step 862, it is determined whether the container is
vacuumed at a prescribed degree through the signal from the
pressure switch 821 under the control of the digital control unit
800. If the prescribed degree of vacuum is not reached, the step
862 is returned to the step 851, and if so, it enters a step 863 of
returning to the initial preparation step 840.
[0063] Thus, the digital control unit 800 is at the initial
preparation step 840.
[0064] FIG. 8c shows the control in the container mode, wherein the
vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600 halt because they are
interrupted by the second switch 811 and the temperature switch
820, and thus, the step 861 where the vacuum pump 500 is operated
is returned to the initial preparation step 840.
[0065] At the step 870, the temperature interrupt occurs when the
transformer 831 is over the predetermined temperature at the step
861. At this time, the temperature switch 820 is operated to
transmit the output signal to the digital control unit 800, such
that the step 861 is returned to the initial preparation step 840
where the vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600 halt, thereby
preventing overheating the vacuum sealing apparatus 100. And, the
temperature interrupt is checked at any time at the step 861, and
if the temperature switch 820 is not operated, the step 870 enters
a container interrupt step 890.
[0066] At this step 890, the container interrupt occurs when the
second switch 811 is turned on again for a predetermined length of
time (for example, for 0.25 seconds). At this time, the vacuum pump
500 and the heater 600 halt by the control of the digital control
unit 800, and the container interrupt step 890 is returned to the
initial preparation step 840. If the container interrupt does not
occur, the step 861 is carried out.
[0067] If the vacuum sealing apparatus 100 is not in use, it stays
at a stand-by state at the initial preparation step 840 where the
vacuum pump 500 and the heater 600 halt by the control of the
digital control unit 800.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0068] As set forth in the foregoing, there is provided a vacuum
sealing apparatus and a method of controlling the vacuum sealing
apparatus, wherein a plastic bag mode is set by pressing a first
switch and a second switch together under the control of a digital
control unit, such that the plastic bag is automatically sealed in
a vacuum state, and a container mode is set by pressing only the
second switch under the control of the digital control unit, such
that the container is automatically sealed in the vacuum state,
which makes it convenient and safe to use.
[0069] The first switch and the second switch are operated together
as an upper casing is descended above a lower casing, such that the
plastic bag is automatically vacuumed by the digital control unit,
and there is a vacuum releasing valve that is opened normally, such
that there is no need for manipulating the upper casing or the
switch during the vacuum sealing.
[0070] In the container mode, there is no need for providing the
vacuum to the vacuum chamber, and also, there is no vacuum
transferring groove, thereby solving the conventional problem that
air is leaked.
[0071] With a three-color LED lamp, in addition, various operation
states of the vacuum sealing apparatus of the present invention are
displayed with a few colors.
[0072] In the plastic bag mode, the vacuum halts when the upper
casing is opened, and in the container mode, it halts when the
second switch is pressed again, thereby making it safe and
convenient to use.
[0073] In the plastic bag mode, the vacuum pump and the heater are
operated together for a predetermined length of time, thereby
enhancing a degree of vacuum.
[0074] The installation of a temperature switch prevents the vacuum
sealing apparatus of the present invention from being
overheated.
[0075] 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.
* * * * *