Vacuum packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a vacuum packaging machine adapted such that even if a packaging bag accommodating a tall object-to-be-packaged is allowed to be received within a chamber, the capacity within the chamber is not excessively increased relatively to the packaging bag.SOLUTION: A vacuum packaging machine 10 comprises a chamber 20 in which a hermetically sealed space is formed by closing for open / close an upper side of a chamber base 21 by means of a chamber cover 22, a sealing unit that seals an opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag, and a vacuum pump 40 that makes an interior of the chamber negative in pressure. The sealing unit is provided at one side portion horizontally of the chamber, so as to seal the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag in a state the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag is clamped from above and below by lower and upper blocks extending as a lengthwise direction a second direction orthogonal to a first direction connecting the one side portion and the other side portion horizontal thereto. The chamber cover 22 is provided with a protrusion 22b whose central portion in the second direction assuming a lengthwise direction of the upper and lower blocks projects upward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum packaging machine that evacuates the inside of a chamber with a vacuum pump to create a negative pressure, and seals the opening peripheral edge of a packaging bag housed in the chamber with a sealing device, thereby sealing the inside of the packaging bag in a degassed state.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vacuum packaging machine for vacuum-packaging a packaging bag containing an object to be packaged such as food ingredients and cooked foods. This vacuum packaging machine includes a chamber provided at the upper part of a casing and forming a sealed space for housing a packaging bag therein, a sealing device provided in the chamber for sealing the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag by heat welding, and a vacuum pump provided at the lower part of the casing for evacuating the inside of the chamber to create a negative pressure. The chamber includes a shallow box-shaped chamber base with an open upper surface, and a plate-shaped chamber cover that opens and closes the upper side of the chamber base. The sealing device includes a lower block provided movably up and down on the chamber base, an upper block provided on the lower surface of the chamber cover, a heater provided on the upper surface of the lower block, and a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the lower block.

[0003] When vacuum-packaging a packaging bag with this vacuum packaging machine, the packaging bag is laid on the chamber base so that the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag lies on the upper side of the lower block. After closing the upper surface opening of the chamber base with the chamber cover, a vacuum packaging program is executed. When the vacuum packaging program is executed, the inside of the chamber is evacuated by the vacuum pump until a predetermined degree of vacuum is reached, and the inside of the packaging bag in the chamber is also evacuated. The evacuated packaging bag is welded by heating with the heater while the opening peripheral edge is clamped by the lower and upper blocks, and the packaging bag is sealed in a degassed state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The above vacuum packaging machine is mainly used for vacuum-packaging a packaging bag containing low-height packaged items such as cut vegetables and other food ingredients, and cooked foods such as stews. When using this vacuum packaging machine to put a high-height packaged item such as a block of meat (chunk of meat) into a packaging bag and perform vacuum packaging, there were cases where the upper side of the chamber base could not be closed by the chamber cover. On the other hand, if the depth of the chamber base is increased, or the chamber cover is also box-shaped and arranged opposite to each other with their openings facing each other like the chamber base to increase the depth of the chamber, a packaging bag containing a high-height packaged item such as a block of meat (chunk of meat) can be accommodated in the chamber. However, if the overall depth of the chamber is increased, the volume inside the chamber becomes excessively large with respect to the packaging bag, the time required to evacuate the inside of the chamber with a vacuum pump to make it negative pressure becomes longer, and a large amount of energy is consumed to evacuate and make it negative pressure. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to accommodate a packaging bag containing a high-height packaged item in the chamber without the volume inside the chamber becoming excessively large with respect to the packaging bag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides that the upper side of the chamber base is Below, a packing is provided at the peripheral partA chamber that forms a sealed space for accommodating a packaging bag inside by being openable and closable with a chamber cover, a sealing device provided inside the chamber for sealing the packaging bag by sealing the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag, and a vacuum pump for evacuating the sealed space inside the chamber to make it negative pressure. The sealing device is provided on one side portion in the horizontal direction of the chamber, and includes upper and lower blocks extending in the longitudinal direction with the second direction orthogonal to the first direction connecting one side portion and the other side portion in the horizontal direction. The upper and lower blocks sandwich the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag up and down to seal the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag. The chamber cover has a protruding portion where the central portion in the second direction protrudes upward and extends from one end to the other end in the first direction, Inside the part for sealing by packings provided on both sides in the second direction On both sides in the second direction of the protruding portion in the first direction One of the Extends from one end to the other end For reducing the volume inside the chamber And a flat portion having a flat shape, and provides a vacuum packaging machine characterized by this.

[0007] In the vacuum packaging machine configured as described above, a packaging bag containing a high-height object to be packaged is pulled in the height direction, so it is shorter in the second direction than a packaging bag containing a low-height object to be packaged. In order to securely seal the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag, the packaging bag is placed at the central portion in the second direction which is the longitudinal direction of the lower block, and the high-height object to be packaged inside the packaging bag is also placed at the central portion in the second direction. Since the central portion in the second direction where the packaging bag containing the high-height object to be packaged is placed of the chamber cover protrudes upward so as to extend from one end to the other end in the first direction by the protruding portion, not only can the packaging bag containing the high-height object to be packaged be accommodated in the chamber, but also even if the packaging bag containing the high-height object to be packaged can be accommodated in the chamber, Inside the part for sealing by packings provided on both sides in the second direction On both sides in the second direction of the protruding portion in the first direction One of the Extends from one end to the other end For reducing the volume inside the chamberSince it is provided with a flat portion having a flat shape, it is possible to suppress an increase in the volume on both sides in the second direction of the protruding portion where the packaging bag is difficult to be arranged, so that the volume in the chamber does not become excessively large with respect to the packaging bag. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the time required to evacuate the inside of the chamber by a vacuum pump to make it negative pressure, and it is also possible to suppress the energy consumption for evacuating and making it negative pressure.

[0008] In the vacuum packaging machine configured as described above 、 Since the chamber cover is configured to divide the surface by the protruding portion, the flat portion, and the rising portion, when the inside of the chamber is evacuated to make it negative pressure, the chamber cover is less likely to deform, and it is possible to suppress the concentration of stress generated in each part of the chamber cover. Further, in this case, it is preferable that the rising portion is an inclined surface that rises while approaching the protruding portion from the flat portion and is inclined obliquely. When configured in this way, even if a packaging bag containing a high object to be packaged is placed at a position deviated from the central portion in the second direction of the chamber base, the packaging bag is pushed by the rising portion formed by the inclined surface and is arranged at the central portion in the second direction, and the high object to be packaged in the packaging bag is arranged at a position where it does not hit the chamber cover.

[0009] In the vacuum packaging machine configured as described above, when placing a tall object to be packaged inside the packaging bag, in order to prevent wrinkles from forming at the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag, the object to be packaged is placed at the bottom side of the packaging bag as far as possible from the opening of the packaging bag, and the object to be packaged is arranged on the other side away from the side where the lower block is arranged. Also, even if a tall object to be packaged is stored below the opening of the packaging bag, since the packaging bag is pulled in the height direction, it is difficult to arrange the object to be packaged inside the packaging bag on the other side in the first direction. For this reason, when placing a packaging bag containing a tall object to be packaged into the chamber, the object to be packaged will be arranged in the middle between one side and the other side inside the chamber. The protruding portion of the chamber cover is formed such that the height in the middle between one side and the other side is the highest, and by setting the position where the tall object to be packaged inside the packaging bag is arranged to be the highest, even if a packaging bag containing a tall object to be packaged can be accommodated inside the chamber, the volume inside the chamber can be prevented from becoming excessively large with respect to the packaging bag.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the vacuum packaging machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present invention, the central portion in the left-right direction of the chamber cover 22 protrudes so as to bulge upward, and a packaging bag containing a high-height object to be packaged such as block meat can be accommodated in the chamber 20. The vacuum packaging machine 10 includes a chamber 20 provided at the upper part of the casing 11, a sealing device 30 for sealing the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag in the chamber 20, and a vacuum pump 40 provided at the lower part of the casing 11 below the chamber 20 to evacuate the inside of the chamber 20 to a negative pressure. In the following description, one side of the chamber 20 described in the claims is defined as the front part (front side part), the other side is defined as the rear part (rear side part), the first direction is the front-rear direction connecting the front part and the rear part, and the second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the horizontal direction is defined as the left-right direction for explanation.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the casing 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a chamber 20 is provided at the upper part of the casing 11. The chamber 20 includes a chamber base 21 and a chamber cover 22 provided at the upper part of the casing 11. A sealed space for accommodating the packaging bag is formed by closing the upper side of the chamber base 21 with the chamber cover 22 so as to be openable and closable.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the chamber base 21 has a shallow box shape with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having an open upper surface, and is formed by pressing a sheet metal member such as stainless steel. As shown in FIG. 3, a step portion 21a formed shallower than other portions is formed at the front part of the chamber base 21, and a lower block 31 constituting the sealing device 30 is provided above the step portion 21a so as to be movable up and down.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 4, the portion of the chamber base 21 excluding the stepped portion 21a is curved such that the central portion in the left - right direction is the lowest, and the packaging bag to be accommodated in the chamber 20 is likely to be placed at the central portion in the left - right direction where it is the lowest. By placing the packaging bag at the center in the left - right direction within the chamber 20, the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag can be placed on the central portion in the left - right direction of the lower block 31. Also, when placing a high - height packaged item such as block meat in the packaging bag, in order not to generate wrinkles at the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag, the packaged item in the packaging bag is placed at the middle portion in the front - rear direction at a position separated rearward from the lower block 31 arranged at the front portion of the chamber 20.

[0015] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the chamber cover 22 is a lid made of a pressure - resistant acrylic material that opens and closes the upper - surface opening of the chamber base 21, and forms a sealed space for accommodating the packaging bag between it and the chamber base 21. The rear end portion of the chamber cover 22 is pivotally supported by the rear end portion of the casing 11 around a horizontal axis, and the front portion of the chamber cover 22 can pivot up and down. As shown in Fig. 1, when the chamber cover 22 is in the horizontal position, it is in the closed position closing the upper - surface opening of the chamber base 21. As shown in Fig. 2, when the front portion of the chamber cover 22 is pivoted upward, the chamber cover 22 is in the inclined position and becomes the open position opening the upper surface of the chamber base 21.

[0016] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a gas spring 12 is provided at the rear portion of the casing 11, and the gas spring 12 biases the front portion of the chamber cover 22 upward, biasing the chamber cover 22 to the open position where it opens from the chamber base 21. As shown in Figs. 2 - 4, a rubber packing 23 is provided as a seal member at the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the chamber cover 22, and the packing 23 hermetically seals the space between the chamber base 21 and the chamber cover 22 when the chamber cover 22 is closed to the closed position.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the chamber cover 22 includes flat portions 22a having a flat plate shape on both left and right sides in the left-right direction, and a protruding portion 22b protruding upward at the central portion in the left-right direction. Further, a rising portion 22c rising from the flat portion 22a to the protruding portion 22b is formed between the flat portion 22a and the protruding portion 22b. The lower surface of the flat portion 22a is at a height that abuts against the upper edge portion of the chamber base 21, and covers both left and right side portions of the chamber base 21. The packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20 is easily placed at the central portion in the left-right direction by the curved surface of the bottom wall of the chamber base 21. When a packaging bag containing a tall object to be packaged is placed at the central portion in the left-right direction of the chamber base 21, it is difficult to place the tall object to be packaged in the packaging bag above the flat portion 22a of the chamber cover 22. Thus, the flat portion 22a is located at a position where it is difficult to place a tall object to be packaged in the packaging bag, and has a function of preventing excessive space from being formed in both left and right side portions of the chamber 20.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the rising portion 22c is an inclined surface that rises while approaching the protruding portion 22b from the flat portion 22a. The rising portion 22c formed of the inclined surface has a function of arranging the object to be packaged in the tall packaging bag placed on the chamber base 21 at the central portion in the left-right direction. Note that the rising portion 22c is not limited to being an inclined surface that rises while approaching the protruding portion 22b from the flat portion 22a, and even if the rising portion 22c is made to stand vertically, although it becomes difficult to arrange a tall object to be packaged at the central portion, it may be acceptable.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the protrusion 22b of the chamber cover 22 has a function of making it difficult for the packaging bag containing the tall packaged item to hit the chamber cover 22 when the packaging bag is placed at the center in the left - right direction of the chamber base 21. The length of the protrusion 22b of the chamber cover 22 in the left - right direction is approximately 1 / 2 of the width (length in the left - right direction) of the chamber cover 22. The packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20 is likely to be placed at the center in the left - right direction. When the packaging bag containing the tall packaged item is placed at the center in the left - right direction of the chamber base 21, the protrusion 22b of the chamber cover 22 can accommodate the packaging bag containing the tall packaged item.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the protrusion 22b rises while approaching a little to the rear side from the front end than the central part in the front - rear direction, and descends while approaching from a little to the rear side of the central part in the front - rear direction to the rear end, and is formed such that the height of the intermediate part in the front - rear direction (a little to the rear side of the central part in the front - rear direction) is the highest.

[0021] When accommodating the packaging bag containing the tall packaged item in the chamber 20, in order not to generate wrinkles at the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag, the packaged item is placed at the bottom side of the packaging bag as far as possible from the opening of the packaging bag. The tall packaged item is placed on the rear side (the other side part side) away from the front part (one side part) of the chamber 20 where the lower block 31 is arranged. Also, even if the tall packaged item is stored below the opening of the packaging bag, since the packaging bag is pulled in the height direction, the packaged item in the packaging bag is not arranged at the rear part (the other side part in the first direction) in the chamber 20. For this reason, when the packaging bag containing the tall packaged item is accommodated in the chamber 20, the packaged item is arranged at the intermediate part in the front - rear direction (the intermediate part between one side and the other side) in the chamber 20.

[0022] The protrusion 22b of the chamber cover 22 is formed such that the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the chamber 20 where high-height packaged items in the packaging bag are likely to be placed is the highest. Therefore, even if a packaging bag containing high-height packaged items can be accommodated in the chamber 20, the volume inside the chamber 20 can be prevented from becoming excessively large with respect to the packaging bag.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a gas spring 12 is provided at the rear end portion of the casing 11. The gas spring 12 biases the front portion of the chamber cover 22, which is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis at the rear portion of the casing 11, upward. A stopper 13 is rotatably provided about a horizontal axis at the front end portion of the right side surface of the casing 11. The stopper 13 engages with the upper surface of the front portion of the chamber cover 22 and has a function of holding the chamber cover 22 in a position closing the upper surface opening of the chamber base 21.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5, a cover detector 14 for detecting the closed state of the chamber cover 22 is provided at the rear portion of the casing 11. The cover detector 14 uses a proximity switch such as a reed switch. A magnet 15 for detecting the closed state of the chamber cover 22 by the cover detector 14 is provided at the rear portion of the chamber cover 22. When the chamber cover 22 is in the closed position closing the upper surface opening of the chamber base 21, the magnet 15 is close to the cover detector 14, and the cover detector 14 outputs an on signal. When the chamber cover 22 is in the open position opening the upper surface opening of the chamber base 21, the magnet 15 is separated from the cover detector 14, and the cover detector 14 outputs an off signal.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a sealing device 30 is provided at the front part (one side part in the horizontal direction) of the chamber 20. The sealing device 30 seals the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20 by heat welding to seal the packaging bag. The sealing device 30 includes lower and upper blocks 31 and 32 that sandwich the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag. The lower block 31 is made of an aluminum square pipe member and is supported on the upper side of the stepped portion 21a of the chamber base 21 so as to be detachable and vertically movable. A strip-shaped heater 33 made of nichrome material is provided on the upper surface of the lower block 31. The upper block 32 is made of an elastically deformable silicon block body and is attached to the front part of the lower surface of the chamber cover 22 at a position facing the upper side of the lower block 31.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of left and right elevating mechanisms 34 for vertically raising and lowering the lower block 31 are provided on the lower surface of the stepped portion 21a of the chamber base 21. Each elevating mechanism 34 includes a support shaft 35 penetrating the bottom wall of the stepped portion 21a of the chamber base 21 and an elevating cylinder 36 for vertically moving the support shaft 35. As shown in FIG. 5, a flange portion 37 is provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the support shaft 35, and the flange portion 37 hermetically partitions the inside of the elevating cylinder 36 into an upper space 36a and a lower space 36b. A spring member 38 is interposed between the outer periphery of the support shaft 35 and the upper space 36a of the elevating cylinder 36, and the spring member 38 biases the support shaft 35 downward via the flange portion 37.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, a vacuum pump 40 is provided at the lower part inside the casing 11. The vacuum pump 40 mainly sucks the inside of the chamber 20, exhausts the air in the sealed space inside the chamber 20, and sucks the inside of the chamber 20 under negative pressure. A suction pipe (suction path) 41 connecting the vacuum pump 40 and the chamber 20 is provided inside the casing 11, and a vacuum valve 42 is interposed in the suction pipe 41. The air inside the chamber 20 can be sucked by the vacuum pump 40 when the vacuum valve 42 is opened.

[0028] An outside air introduction pipe 43 for introducing outside air is connected to the suction pipe 41 between the chamber 20 and the vacuum valve 42. The outside air introduction pipe 43 includes a first pipe portion 43a and a second pipe portion 43b branched from the first pipe portion 43a. First and second outside air introduction valves 44 and 45 for opening and closing these are interposed in the first and second pipe portions 43a and 43b. The first outside air introduction valve 44 is formed with a larger valve diameter than the second outside air introduction valve 45. When the first outside air introduction valve 44 is opened, outside air is quickly introduced into the chamber 20, and when the second outside air introduction valve 45 is opened, outside air is slowly introduced into the chamber 20.

[0029] A pressure detection pipe 46 is connected to the suction pipe 41 via the first pipe portion 43a of the outside air introduction pipe 43, and a vacuum gauge 47 for detecting the pressure in the chamber 20 is provided in the pressure detection pipe 46. When the inside of the chamber 20 is not degassed by the vacuum pump 40, the pressure in the chamber 20 detected by the vacuum gauge 47 is the same as the atmospheric pressure, 100 kPa (abs), and the degree of vacuum at this time is 0%. When the inside of the chamber 20 is degassed by the vacuum pump 40 to form a negative pressure and the pressure in the chamber detected by the vacuum gauge 47 is 0 kPa (abs), the degree of vacuum is 100%. Although the pressure directly detected by the vacuum gauge 47 is the pressure in the chamber 20, in the following description, the pressure detected by the vacuum gauge 47 will be replaced with the degree of vacuum P in the chamber 20 for explanation.

[0030] A cylinder tube 48 branches from the suction tube 41 between the vacuum pump 40 and the vacuum valve 42, and the cylinder tube 48 is connected to the upper space 36a of the elevating cylinder 36. A three-way valve 49 is installed in the cylinder tube 48. Two ports of the three-way valve 49 are connected to the vacuum pump 40 side and the elevating cylinder 36 side of the cylinder tube 48, and the remaining one port of the three-way valve 49 is open to the outside air side. When the vacuum pump 40 is operated with the vacuum pump 40 side and the elevating cylinder 36 side of the three-way valve 49 in communication, the upper space 36a of the elevating cylinder 36 is depressurized, and the support shaft 35 rises against the biasing force of the spring member 38. When the elevating cylinder 36 side and the outside air side of the three-way valve 49 are in communication, the upper space 36a of the elevating cylinder 36 is not depressurized, and the support shaft 35 descends due to the biasing force of the spring member 38.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a swelling detection unit 50 for detecting the swelling of the packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20 is provided in the chamber 20. The swelling detection unit 50 includes a detection plate 51 rotatably supported about a horizontal axis at the front part of the lower surface of the chamber cover 22, a magnet 52 fixed to the rear end of the detection plate 51, and a swelling detector 53 such as a proximity switch including a reed switch for detecting the position of the detection plate 51.

[0032] The detection plate 51 has a strip shape extending in the second direction similar to the lower and upper blocks 31, 32. The detection plate 51 is disposed immediately behind the upper block 32 on the lower surface of the chamber cover 22 and is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis so that the rear side moves up and down. A magnet 52 is fixed to the rear end of the left end portion of the detection plate 51, and the magnet 52 moves up and down by the rotation of the detection plate 51. When the packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20 is not swollen, the detection plate 51 is inclined obliquely downward, and the magnet 52 at the rear end of the detection plate 51 is located at the lower part (lower position) in the chamber 20 (shown by the solid line in FIGS. 3 and 5). When the packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20 is swollen, the detection plate 51 is lifted and rotated by the swollen packaging bag, and the magnet 52 at the rear end of the detection plate 51 is located at the upper part (upper position) in the chamber 20 (shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 3 and 5).

[0033] The swelling detector 53 detects the swelling of the packaging bag by detecting the position of the magnet 52 at the rear end of the detection plate 51 that rotates upward when the packaging bag swells. The swelling detector 53 is disposed at a position facing the magnet 52 of the detection plate 51 that is in the upper position outside the chamber base 21. When the packaging bag is not swollen and the magnet 52 of the detection plate 51 is in the lower position, the swelling detector 53 outputs an off signal because the magnet 52 in the lower position is separated. When the packaging bag swells and the magnet 52 of the detection plate 51 is in the upper position, the swelling detector 53 outputs an on signal because the magnet 52 in the upper position approaches.

[0034] The vacuum packaging machine 10 is provided with a control device 60. As shown in FIG. 6, this control device 60 is connected to a cover detector 14, a heater 33, a vacuum pump 40, a vacuum valve 42, first and second outside air introduction valves 44, 45, a vacuum gauge 47, a three-way valve 49, a swelling detector 53, and an operation panel 61 provided on the front surface of the casing 11. The control device 60 has a microcomputer (not shown), and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and a timer (all not shown) that are respectively connected via a bus.

[0035] The control device 60 has a packaging program in the ROM for sealing the packaging bag in a degassed state. The packaging program is a program for evacuating the inside of the chamber 20 to a negative pressure by a vacuum pump 40 to a predetermined pressure, evacuating the packaging bag accommodated in the chamber 20, and then sealing the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag by a sealing device 30 to seal the packaging bag in a degassed state.

[0036] The packaging program has a plurality of different programs set, such as the degree of vacuum in the chamber 20 and the way of opening the first and second outside air introduction valves 44 and 45 according to the temperature of the cooked food placed in the packaging bag. As an example of the packaging program, the packaging program when the cooked food is at room temperature (low temperature) will be specifically described. Before executing the packaging program, the vacuum valve 42 and the second outside air introduction valve 45 are in a closed state, and the lifting cylinder 36 side and the outside air side of the three-way valve 49 are in communication (the vacuum pump 40 side is in a closed state). Put the items to be packaged, such as food ingredients and cooked food, into the packaging bag, and place the packaging bag in the chamber 20 so that the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag rests on the upper side of the lower block 31. Operate the operation panel 61 to select the packaging program when the cooked food is at room temperature, and wait for the execution of the selected packaging program.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 7, in step 101, the control device 60 determines whether an on-signal is input from the cover detector 14 to determine whether the chamber cover 22 is closed. When the chamber cover 22 is not closed, since the magnet 15 is not close to the cover detector 14, the cover detector 14 outputs an off-signal to the control device 60, and the control device 60 repeatedly executes the "NO" judgment in step 101 and waits. When the chamber cover 22 is closed and the magnet 15 approaches the cover detector 14, the cover detector 14 outputs an on-signal to the control device 60, and the control device 60 determines "YES" in step 101 and proceeds to step 102. In step 102, when the control device 60 opens the vacuum valve 42, closes the first outside air introduction valve 44, and operates the vacuum pump 40, the inside of the chamber 20 is evacuated by the vacuum pump 40 and becomes negative pressure.

[0038] In step 103, the control device 60 repeatedly determines whether or not the degree of vacuum P in the chamber 20 detected by the vacuum gauge 47 is equal to or higher than a preset degree of vacuum Px (equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure). As the pressure in the chamber 20 gradually decreases and the degree of vacuum P in the chamber 20 detected by the vacuum gauge 47 becomes equal to or higher than the preset degree of vacuum Px (equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure), the control device 60 determines "YES" in step 103 and proceeds to step 104. In step 104, the control device 60 closes the vacuum valve 42 to stop the degassing in the chamber 20 and proceeds to step 105.

[0039] When the inside of the chamber 20 reaches a degree of vacuum Px or higher (equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure) set as the predetermined pressure and the inside of the packaging bag is also degassed, in step 105, the control device 60 communicates the lifting cylinder 36 side and the vacuum pump 40 side of the three-way valve 49 (closes the outside air side). The upper space 36a of the lifting cylinder 36 is depressurized by the vacuum pump 40, the support shaft 35 rises against the biasing force of the spring member 38, and the lower block 31 rises due to the rising support shaft 35. The lower block 31 is pressed against the upper block 32 by the rising support shaft 35, and the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag is clamped by the lower block 31 and the upper block 32. In step 106, when the control device 60 energizes the heater 33 to generate heat, the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag is closed by heat welding, and the packaging bag is sealed in a degassed state (vacuum state).

[0040] In step 107, the control device 60 stops the operation of the vacuum pump 40 and opens the first outside air introduction valve 44. In step 108, the lifting cylinder 36 side and the outside air side of the three-way valve 49 are communicated (the vacuum pump 40 side is in a closed state). The inside of the chamber 20 is returned to atmospheric pressure by the outside air introduced from the first outside air introduction valve 44, and the chamber cover 22 is not negatively pressure-sucked but opened by the biasing force of the gas spring 12. Further, by opening the lifting cylinder 36 side and the outside air side of the three-way valve 49, outside air is introduced into the upper space 36a of the lifting cylinder 36 to release the negative pressure state, the support shaft 35 descends by the biasing force of the spring member 38, the lower block 31 separates from the upper block 32, and the state where the opening peripheral edge portion of the packaging bag is clamped by the lower and upper blocks 31 and 32 is released. In this way, the packaging bag is sealed in a degassed state (vacuum state).

[0041] The vacuum packaging machine 10 configured as described above can vacuum-pack a packaging bag containing a high-height object to be packaged such as block meat. Since the packaging bag containing a high-height object to be packaged such as block meat is pulled in the height direction, it becomes shorter in the left-right direction (second direction) in the width direction than the packaging bag containing a low-height object to be packaged. In order to surely seal the opening peripheral edge portion of the packaging bag, the packaging bag is placed at the center in the left-right direction (second direction) in the longitudinal direction of the lower block 31, and the high-height object to be packaged in the packaging bag is also placed at the center in the left-right direction (second direction) in the chamber 20.

[0042] In this vacuum packaging machine 10, in the central portion in the left - right direction (the second direction) where the packaging bag containing the tall object to be packaged is placed, the chamber cover 22 protrudes upward by the protruding portion 22b. In this embodiment, the chamber cover 22 includes flat portions 22a having a flat shape on both sides in the left - right direction (the second direction) of the protruding portion 22b, and rising portions 22c rising from the flat portions 22a to the protruding portion 22b. Thereby, even if the packaging bag containing the tall object to be packaged can be accommodated in the chamber 20, the volume in the chamber 20 can be prevented from becoming excessively large with respect to the packaging bag. The time required to evacuate the inside of the chamber 20 by the vacuum pump 40 to make it negative pressure can be suppressed, and the energy consumption for evacuating and making it negative pressure can also be suppressed.

[0043] Also, since the chamber cover 22 is configured to be divided by the protruding portion 22b, the flat portions 22a, and the rising portions 22c, when the inside of the chamber 20 is evacuated to make it negative pressure, the chamber cover 22 is less likely to deform, and the concentration of stress generated in each part of the chamber cover 22 can be suppressed.

[0044] Also, the rising portion 22c is an inclined surface that rises while approaching the protruding portion 22b from the flat portion 22a and is inclined obliquely. Thereby, even if the packaging bag containing the tall object to be packaged is placed at a position deviated from the central portion in the left - right direction (the second direction) of the chamber base 21, the packaging bag is pushed by the rising portion 22c formed by the inclined surface and is arranged below the protruding portion 22b at the central portion in the left - right direction (the second direction), so that the packaging bag is arranged at a position where it does not hit the chamber cover 22.

[0045] Further, the protrusion 22b of the chamber cover 22 is formed such that the height of the middle portion in the front-rear direction (the middle portion between one side portion and the other side portion) is the highest. Since the high-height packaged item is stored below the opening of the packaging bag, when the packaging bag with the high-height packaged item is accommodated in the chamber 20 with the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag placed on the lower block 31, the high-height packaged item in the packaging bag is disposed at the middle portion in the front-rear direction (the middle portion between one side portion and the other side portion) rather than on the lower block 31 on which the peripheral edge of the opening of the packaging bag is placed. By making the position where the high-height packaged item in the packaging bag is disposed the highest by the protrusion 22b, even when the packaging bag containing the high-height packaged item is accommodated in the chamber 20, the volume in the chamber 20 can be prevented from becoming excessively large with respect to the packaging bag.

[0046] In the vacuum packaging machine 10 configured as described above, the sealing device 30 is provided at the front portion as one side portion in the horizontal direction of the chamber 20, and includes the lower and upper blocks 31 and 32 extending in the longitudinal direction with the front-rear direction (the first direction connecting one side portion and the other side portion) and the left-right direction (the second direction) perpendicular to the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sealing device 30 may be provided at the rear portion as one side portion in the horizontal direction of the chamber 20, and include the lower and upper blocks 31 and 32 extending in the longitudinal direction with the front-rear direction (the first direction connecting one side portion and the other side portion) and the left-right direction (the second direction) perpendicular to the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction.

[0047] Similarly, the sealing device 30 may be provided at the left side portion or the right side portion as one side portion in the horizontal direction of the chamber 20, and include the lower and upper blocks 31 and 32 extending in the longitudinal direction with the left-right direction (the first direction connecting one side portion and the other side portion) and the front-rear direction (the second direction) perpendicular to the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction. In this case, the chamber cover 22 may be provided with a protrusion 22b protruding upward at the central portion in the front-rear direction (the second direction).

[0048] In the vacuum packaging machine 10 configured as described above, the chamber base 21 has a shallow box shape with an open top surface, and the chamber cover 22 closes the top surface opening of the chamber base 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The chamber base 21 may have a flat plate shape, and the chamber cover 22 may have a shallow box shape with an open bottom surface, and a protruding portion 22b that protrudes upward may be provided at the central portion in the second direction of the chamber cover 22 having a shallow box shape with an open bottom surface.

Explanation of Signs

[0049] 10... Vacuum packaging machine, 11... Casing, 20... Chamber, 21... Chamber base, 22 Chamber cover, 22a... Flat portion, 22b... Protruding portion, 22c... Upright portion, 30... Sealing device, 31... Lower block, 32... Upper block, 40... Vacuum pump.

Claims

1. A chamber that is openably and closably sealed by a chamber cover with a packing provided at the lower surface peripheral edge of the upper side of the chamber base, thereby forming a sealed space for accommodating a packaging bag therein; A sealing device provided in the chamber for sealing the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag to seal the packaging bag; A vacuum pump for evacuating the sealed space in the chamber to make it negative pressure, and The sealing device is provided on one side portion in the horizontal direction of the chamber, and includes upper and lower blocks extending in the longitudinal direction with a first direction connecting the one side portion and the other side portion and a second direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction. The vacuum packaging machine is configured to seal the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag while sandwiching the opening peripheral edge of the packaging bag up and down by these upper and lower blocks, The chamber cover includes a protruding portion with a central portion in the second direction protruding upward and extending from one end portion to the other end portion in the first direction, and flat portions extending from one end portion to the other end portion in the first direction on both sides of the protruding portion in the second direction, inside the portions sealed by the packings provided on both sides in the second direction, and having a flat shape for reducing the volume inside the chamber. The vacuum packaging machine is characterized by this.

2. In the vacuum packaging machine according to Claim 1, The chamber cover is characterized by including a rising portion rising from the flat portion to the protruding portion.

3. In the vacuum packaging machine according to Claim 2, The rising portion is an inclined surface that rises while approaching the protruding portion from the flat portion and is inclined obliquely. The vacuum packaging machine is characterized by this.

4. In the vacuum packaging machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, The protruding portion is formed such that the height of the intermediate portion, which is the intermediate portion between the one side portion and the other side portion, is the highest. The vacuum packaging machine is characterized by this.

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