Patent Publication Number: US-10766649-B2

Title: Vacuum device for bag

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a vacuum device, and more particularly, to a vacuum device for evacuating a packing bag for vacuum packaging food or articles. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Vacuum devices for removing air from a packing bag to which food or articles are introduced, to reduce a volume of food or articles to pack the same in order to prevent oxidation and deterioration of food or cooked food and store the same for a long period of time have been developed and used. 
     For reference, a packing bag may have a check valve such as a vacuum valve of Korean Patent Application No. 2010-0057083, which is configured to allow air to be released externally from the packing bag and prevent an introduction of air, and such a packing bag may be a zipper bag having a zipper formed along the edge of one end as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     However, air suction may not be easily performed during a process of evacuating the inside of a packing bag by the vacuum device. 
     The reason is because, during the process of sucking air from inside the packing bag with the vacuum device, an air suction part of the vacuum device and the check valve of the packing bag are not in airtight communication with each other each other, forming a gap between the air suction part and the check valve to allow ambient air to be sacked into the vacuum device. 
     That is, in the process of bringing the check valve of the packing bag into contact with the air suction part of the vacuum device, the packing bag may not be in close contact with the air suction part, that is, the packing bag, while in a corrugated state, may be brought into contact with the air suction part, or while the packing bag may be in close contact with the air suction part, the corresponding state may not be continuously held during a vacuum suction process and a slightly separated state may occur, causing ambient air to be introduced to the inside of the packing bag through a gap not in close contact, and thus, the packing bag cannot be smoothly evacuated within a short time. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An aspect of the present disclosure provides a vacuum device capable of evacuating the inside of a packing bag smoothly within a short period of time. 
     Technical Solution 
     In an aspect of the present invention, a vacuum device may include: a vacuum unit sucking air from inside a packing bag through a check valve of the packing bag to evacuate the packing bag; and a clamping unit provided at the vacuum unit and clamping the packing bag such that the check valve of the packing bag airtightly communicates with an air suction part of the vacuum unit. 
     Here, the clamping unit may include: a first support plate having a connection hole to which the air suction part is connected; and a second support plate connected to be in close contact with the first support plate, wherein when the first support plate is moved to the second support plate to press the second support plate, the check valve of the packing bag positioned between the first support plate and the second support plate may airtightly communicate with the connection hole. 
     Here, the first support plate may be hinge-coupled to the second support plate. 
     Also, a torsion spring may be installed at a hinge shaft in a portion in which the first support plate and the second support plate are hinge-coupled, to elastically press the first support plate against the second support plate. 
     In addition, the clamping unit may further include a rest part extending from the hinge-coupled side at the second support plate or a rest plate installed on a side of the second support plate opposing the side to which the first support plate is coupled and having a size equal to or greater than the sum of the second support plate and the rest part, to prevent shaking when the first support plate rotates. 
     In addition, a friction pad may be mounted on at least one of corresponding surfaces of the first and second support plates. 
     Meanwhile, in the present disclosure, the vacuum device may further include: an operation unit installed on one side portion of the vacuum unit and electrically associated with the vacuum unit to sense clamping of the packing bag by the clamping unit to operate the vacuum unit. 
     Here, the operation unit may include a sensing unit sensing movement of the first support plate to the second support plate or sensing the packing bag disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate when the first support plate is moved to the second support plate to press the second support plate. 
     Here, the sensing unit may protrude and move upon being pushed by the packing bag disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate, when the first support plate is moved to the second support plate to press the second support plate. 
     In addition, a sensing releasing unit, which includes an operation releasing recess to which the sensing unit is inserted when the first support plate is moved to the second support plats to press the second support plate, when the packing bag is absent between the first support plate and the second support plate, may be installed on one side portion of the second support plate. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The vacuum device according to the present disclosure includes the clamping unit clamping a packing bag such that the check valve of the packing bag tightly communicates with the air suction part of the vacuum unit. Since the check valve of the packing bag is in close contact with the air suction part of the vacuum device by the clamping unit and the close contact state is firmly maintained during an air suction process, the inside of the packing bag may be evacuated smoothly and quickly. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a vacuum unit is removed from a clamping unit in the vacuum device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are views illustrating a process of vacuum-packing a packing bag with the vacuum device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the vacuum device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a process of sensing, by a sensing unit of an operation unit, a packing bag clamping of the clamping unit in the vacuum device of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In adding reference numerals for elements in each figure, it should be noted that like reference numerals already used to denote like elements in other figures are used for elements wherever possible. Moreover, detailed descriptions related to well-known functions or configurations will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure subject matters of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a vacuum unit is removed from a clamping unit in the vacuum device of  FIG. 1 , and  FIGS. 3 and 4  are views illustrating a process of vacuum-packing a packing bag with the vacuum device of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to the drawings, the vacuum device of the present disclosure includes a vacuum unit  100  and a clamping unit  200 . 
     Here, the vacuum unit  100  is a unit for sucking air from inside a packing bag  1  through a check valve  1   a  of the packing bag  1  to evacuate the packing bag  1 . A specific component for evacuation is not limited by the present disclosure and the handy type unit as illustrated in the drawings may be utilized as an example. 
     Further, although not shown, a vacuum packaging device disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2013-0124623 may be utilized as the vacuum unit  100 , and here, the vacuum device may be connected to a vacuum suction pipe (not shown) by the clamping unit  200 . 
     The clamping unit  200  is provided in the vacuum unit  100  and clamps the packing bag  1  such that the check valve  1   a  of the packing bag  1  airtightly communicates with an air suction part  100   a  of the vacuum unit  100 . 
     Specifically, the clamping unit  200  may include a first support plate  210  to which the air suction part  100   a  of the vacuum unit  100  is connected, and a second support plate  210  which is connected to the first support plate  210  and is in close contact with the second support plate  210 . 
     Here, the first support plate  210  includes a connection hole  210   a  to which the air suction part  100   a  of the vacuum unit  100  is connected. The connection hole  210   a  of the first support plate  210  and the air suction part  100   a  of the vacuum unit  100  may be detached from each other. 
     Also, the second support plate  220  has a structure which is in close contact with the first support plate  210 . When the first support plate  210  is moved and pressed to the second support plate  220 , the check valve  1   a  of the packing bag  1  positioned between the support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  may airtightly communicate with the connection hole  210   a  of the first support plate  210 . 
     Here, the connection structure in which the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  are in close contact with each other will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example. The first support  210  may be hinge-coupled to the second support plate  220 . Accordingly, the first support plate  210  rotates about a hinge shaft  231  and rotates toward the second support plate  220  to be brought into close contact with a contact surface of the second support plate  220  when comes into contact with the second support plate  220 . 
     Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 , when the packing bag  1  is seated on the second support plate  220 , the first support plate  210  rotates about the hinge shaft  231  toward the second support plate  220 , whereby the packing bag  1  is tightly pressed between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  by the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  and thus the check valve  1   a  of the packing bag  1  may airtightly communicate with the connection hole  210   a  of the first support plate  210 . 
     In addition, a torsion spring  232  may be mounted in the hinge shaft  231  in a position in which the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  are hinge-coupled such that the first support plate  210  may be elastically pressed against the second support plate  220 . 
     Here, the torsion spring  232  is hooked on an upper surface of the first support plate  210  and the other end thereof is hooked on an upper surface of the second support plate  220 , whereby resilient returning force is increased when the first support plate  210  rotates in a direction away from the second support plate  220  so that the first support plate  210  is resiliently pressed against the second support plate  220 . 
     In addition, a friction pad  211  may be mounted on at least one of the surfaces of the first and second support plates  210  and  220  corresponding to each other. Here, for example, the friction pad  211  is mounted only on the first support plate  210 . The friction pad  211  allows the packing bag  1  positioned between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  to be pressed by the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  so as to be more firmly clamped without sliding, when clamped. 
     The connection structure between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  may be such that the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  are connected to each other so as to be in close contact with each other and is not limited by the present disclosure. For example, although not shown, the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  may be connected to each other by a screw shaft so that a distance between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  may be reduced when the screw rotates. 
     Further, although not shown, in order to prevent shaking of the first support plate  210  when the first support plate  210  is rotated, the clamping unit  200  may include a rest part (not shown) extending from a hinge-coupled side at the second support plate  220 . 
     In another example, in order to prevent shaking of the first support plate  210  when the first support plate  210  is rotated, the clamping unit may further include a rest plate  240  provided on the opposite side of the second support plate  220  to which the first support plate  210  is coupled, and having a size larger than the sum of the second support plate  220  and the rest part, as illustrated. 
     Accordingly, since the clamping unit, in a state of being seated in a portion having a predetermined surface like a bottom and stably supported by the rest part or the rest plate  240  described above in the seated portion, to prevent shaking when the first plate  210  rotates, thus having a stable operational structure. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the vacuum device of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a process of sensing, by a sensing unit  310  of an operation unit  300 , the packing bag  1  clamping of the clamping unit  200  in the vacuum device of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the present disclosure may further include the operation unit  300  for operating the vacuum unit  100  when the packing bag  1  is clamped by the clamping unit  200 . 
     The operation unit  300  may be installed on one side of the vacuum unit  100 , may be electrically connected to the vacuum unit  100 , and may operate the vacuum unit  100  by mechanically or electronically sensing that the packing bag  1  is clamped by the clamping unit  200 . 
     More specifically, the operation unit  300  may include s sensing unit  310  sensing the packing bag  1  positioned between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  when the first support plats  210  is moved to the second support plate  220  and pressed against the second support plate  220 . 
     The sensing unit  310  is configured to mechanically or electronically detect clamping of the packing bag  1  by the clamping unit  200 , and here, when an electronic sensing structure is used, various sensors may be utilized. 
     Also, when the sensing unit  310  has a mechanical sensing structure, for example, as illustrated, when the first support plate  210  is moved to the second support plate  220  to press the second support plate  220 , the sensing unit  310  may be pushed by the packing bag  1  disposed between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220  so as to be moved. That is, the sensing unit  310  is a protruding operation switch which is pushed to an inner side of the operation unit  300  by the packing bag  1  when the sensing unit  310  is brought into contact with the packing bag  1  during a process of movement of the first support plate  210  toward the second support plate  220 , thereby realizing control of the operation of the operation unit  300  with respect to the vacuum unit  100 . 
     In addition, a sensing releasing unit  320  having an operation releasing recess  320   a  may be provided on one side of the second support plate  220 . 
     Here, in case where the packing bag  1  is not present between the first support plate  210  and the second support plate  220 , if the first support plate  210  is moved and pressed to the sensing unit  220 , the sensing unit  310  is inserted into the operation releasing recess  320   a  of the sensing releasing unit  320 , whereby the sensing unit  310  may not be pushed into the operation unit  300 , and thus, the vacuum unit  100  does not operate. 
     The sensing releasing unit  320  may have a surface structure coplanar with a mounting surface of the second plate  220  on which the packing bag  1  is seated, in order to upwardly support the packing bag  1  at the same level as that of the second support plate  220  when the packing bag  1  is placed on the second support plate  220 . 
     Meanwhile, the vacuum unit  100  of the present disclosure may be equipped with an operation switch (not shown) which may be separately pressed by the user so as to be operated, without the aforementioned operation unit  300 . In addition, a separate operation switch (not shown) may also be installed together with the aforementioned operation unit  300 , and in this case, when the operation switch is turned on, it may be operated, regardless of control of the operation unit  300 . 
     As a result, as described above, in the present disclosure, since the clamping unit  200  clamping the packing bag  1  is configured such that the check valve  1   a  of the packing bag  1  airtightly communicates with the air suction part  100   a  of the vacuum unit  100 , the check valve  1   a  of the packing bag  1  may be brought in close contact with the air suction part  100   a  of the vacuum device by the clamping unit  200  and the close contact state if firmly maintained during an air suction process, whereby the inside of the packing bag  1  may be evacuated smoothly and quickly. 
     While the present disclosure has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.