Patent Description:
In general, products such as foods, medicines and articles, are packed and distributed in packaging bags in the form of a bag, and a synthetic resin is generally used as a material of the packaging bags.

For example, the packaging bags may be provided as plastic bags in the form of an envelope, and the plastic bags each have a structure in which surfaces other than one surface are sealed. That is, the non-sealed one surface of the packaging bag serves as an inlet for accommodating the products.

As the industry develops, a plastic bag opening device for accommodating many products in plastic bags in a short time is developed. The plastic bag opening device includes first and second adsorption pads that adsorb two opposite surfaces of the plastic bag, respectively, and a movable member that moves the first and second adsorption pads in directions that are away from each other, to open the inlet of the plastic bag.

However, there is a limit to how the plastic bag opening device according to the related art completely opens the inlet of the plastic bag solely by the first and second adsorption pads. That is, the inlet of the plastic bag is difficult to open because of frictional force and static electricity. Accordingly, capacity utilization may be reduced and packaging failure may occur because of a plastic bag opening error.

<CIT> relates to a seasoning liquid filling bagging packaging device. <CIT> relates to a vacuum packaging device that picks up empty bags from a bag hopper, holds the empty bags open at an angle, bags the packaged items in an inclined state, transports the filled bags in an inclined state and vacuum-seals them, and continuously conveys away the vacuum-sealed packaging bags. <CIT> relates to a bag opening forming device. <CIT> relates to a method and device for opening a bag mouth. <CIT> relates to a device for quickly and accurately combining and weighing small and lightweight rubber products that are likely to stick to packaging equipment and automatically packaging them in a vinyl bag.

<CIT> relates to a a zipper bag opening device for an automatic packaging machine. <CIT> relates to a method for opening a gusseted bag in a bag feeding, filling and packaging method. <CIT> relates to an opening method for opening a fastener of a zippered packaging bag.

<CIT> relates to providing containers, and more particularly, to providing bags to a product filling area
<CIT> is directed to a method for the automatic supply of bags for packing bulk material by means of positive guidance of the bags from a bag stack, open-ing the bag filling opening, and hanging the open end of the bag at a filling sleeve.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a device for opening a plastic bag, which includes an air blower to more easily open an inlet of the plastic bag, and particularly, to completely open the inlet of the plastic bag and accordingly, may increase capacity utilization and prevent an occurrence of defective packaging, and a method for opening a plastic bag using the device.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a plastic bag opening device that opens an inlet of a plastic bag having a pocket shape. The plastic bag opening device includes an elevating member that lifts the plastic bag in a state in which one surface of the plastic bag is adsorbed; and an air blower that injects air toward the inlet of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member so that the inlet of the plastic bag is opened to be widened.

The elevating member may include an adsorption pad, which adsorbs the one surface of the plastic bag, and an elevating part that allows the adsorption pad to ascend so as to lift the plastic bag adsorbed to the adsorption pad up to a horizontal line at which the air blower is disposed.

The air blower may include an injection nozzle, which injects the air toward the inlet of the plastic bag so that the inlet of the plastic bag is opened to be widened, and a frame to which the injection nozzle is coupled. In the injection nozzle, an air injection opening may be provided to be inclined downward at a set angle with respect to the horizontal line.

The set angle may be set to <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

The injection nozzle may be coupled to the frame so that the angle is adjustable up and down or left and right.

The plastic bag opening device further includes a rotating member that rotates the elevating member so that the inlet of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member faces upward.

The plastic bag opening device further includes a finger member provided with a pair of fingers that are inserted into the inlet of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member and pull and expand the inlet of the plastic bag in two opposite directions.

The plastic bag opening device further includes a movable member that moves the elevating member to be far away from the finger member, so that the inlet of the plastic bag is expanded by an area between the finger member and the elevating member.

The present invention relates to a plastic bag opening method that opens an inlet of a plastic bag having a pocket shape. The plastic bag opening method may include: an elevating process of adsorbing one surface of the plastic bag and then lifting the plastic bag by using an elevating member; and an opening process of opening the inlet of the plastic bag to be widened by using an air blower to inject air toward the inlet of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member so that the air injected from the air blower flows into the plastic bag through the inlet.

In the elevating process, the elevating member may lift the plastic bag up to a horizontal line at which the air blower is disposed. In the opening process, the air blower may inject the air toward the inlet of the plastic bag so that the air is injected downward at a set angle with respect to the horizontal line.

The plastic bag opening method may include a rotating process of rotating the elevating member by using a rotating member so that the inlet of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member is disposed to face upward, when the opening process is completed.

The plastic bag opening method may include a primarily expanding process of pulling and expanding the inlet of the plastic bag in two opposite directions by inserting a pair of fingers provided in a finger member into the inlet of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member and moving the pair of fingers in directions that are away from each other, when the rotating process is completed.

The plastic bag opening method may include a secondarily expanding process of expanding the inlet of the plastic bag by an area between the finger member and the elevating member by using a movable member to move the elevating member to be far away from the finger member, when the primarily expanding process is completed.

The plastic bag opening device according to the present invention may include the air blower to inject the air into the inlet of the plastic bag and completely open the inlet of the plastic bag. Accordingly, the capacity utilization may increase, and the occurrence of the defective packaging may be prevented.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains to easily carry out the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited by the embodiments set forth herein. The parts unrelated to the description will be ruled out in the drawings in order to clearly describe the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the whole specification.

Referring to <FIG>, a plastic bag <NUM> has a structure in the form of a pocket having one surface in which an inlet <NUM> is formed. The plastic bag <NUM> having such a structure is kept in a state in which the plastic bag <NUM> is pressed flat so that one surface <NUM> and the other surface <NUM> are in close contact with each other. When using the plastic bag <NUM>, the inlet <NUM> thereof is opened to store or pack products, etc..

However, there is a problem that the plastic bag <NUM> is not easily opened because of frictional force or static electricity occurring between the one surface <NUM> and the other surface <NUM>.

A plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the present invention may automatically open the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, and particularly, completely open the inlet of the plastic bag. Accordingly, efficiency of accommodating articles may be improved.

Hereinafter, the plastic bag opening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a structure that opens the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> having a pocket shape. That is, the plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an elevating member <NUM>, which lifts the plastic bag <NUM> in a state in which one surface <NUM> (a top surface of the plastic bag in <FIG>) of the plastic bag <NUM> is adsorbed, and an air blower <NUM> which injects air toward the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is opened to be widened.

The elevating member <NUM> is intended to lift the plastic bag <NUM>.

That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the elevating member <NUM> includes an adsorption pad <NUM>, which adsorbs the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, and an elevating part <NUM> which allows the adsorption pad <NUM> to ascend and lifts the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the adsorption pad <NUM> up to a horizontal line (O) at which the air blower <NUM> is disposed.

Here, the adsorption pad <NUM> may be provided in plurality so as to lift the entire one surface <NUM> provided at a side of the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, and preferably, five or more adsorption pads <NUM> may be provided.

In particular, the adsorption pad <NUM> may have a structure in which an air suction force is used to adsorb the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>. The elevating part <NUM> may be provided as a hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder that allows the adsorption pad <NUM> to ascend or return to an initial position.

The elevating member <NUM> having the structure as described above may stably adsorb the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> and effectively lift the adsorbed plastic bag <NUM>.

The air blower <NUM> is intended to open the inlet of the plastic bag.

That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the air blower <NUM> includes an injection nozzle <NUM>, which injects the air toward the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is opened to be widened, and a frame <NUM> to which the injection nozzle <NUM> is coupled.

Here, the frame <NUM> is formed to extend in a direction corresponding to the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> (a front and rear direction in <FIG>), and the injection nozzle <NUM> is provided in plurality at set intervals on one surface of the frame <NUM>, which faces the plastic bag <NUM>.

Here, the injection nozzle <NUM> may be provided to face the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> so that an air injection opening through which the air is injected is inclined downward at a set angle α° with respect to the horizontal line (O). The air injected from the injection nozzle <NUM> may be injected toward the other surface <NUM> rather than the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>. Accordingly, the other surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, which adheres to the one surface <NUM> by static electricity, etc., may be easily separated to open the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>.

Here, the set angle α° may be set to <NUM>° to <NUM>°, and preferably, may be provided as <NUM>° to <NUM>°. When an injection angle of the injection nozzle <NUM> is <NUM>° or less, there is no significant difference compared to the case of injecting toward the horizontal line. When the injection angle is <NUM>° or greater, the air may be injected outside the inlet <NUM>, and thus the efficiency may be reduced.

In an operation state of the plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the structure as described above, the elevating member <NUM> lifts the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> in the adsorbed state. Here, the other surface (a bottom surface of the plastic bag in <FIG>) of the plastic bag <NUM> may have a portion adhering to the one surface by static electricity. The entirety of the other surface <NUM> may also adhere to the one surface, and the entirety of the other surface <NUM> may also be separated from the one surface due to the load.

Then, the air blower <NUM> is used to inject the air toward the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>. The air injected by the air blower <NUM> may flow into the inlet <NUM> to open the inlet <NUM>, and part of the air having flowed into the plastic bag <NUM> may be discharged through the inlet <NUM> to reopen the inlet <NUM>.

Thus, as the plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes the elevating member <NUM> and the air blower <NUM>, the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be opened to be completely widened.

The plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a rotating member <NUM> that rotates the elevating member <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> faces upward.

That is, as the rotating member <NUM> allows the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> to be disposed to face upward as illustrated in <FIG>, a product may be more easily introduced into the plastic bag <NUM>.

In one example, the rotating member <NUM> includes a rotating body <NUM>, to which the elevating member <NUM> is rotatably coupled, and a rotating part <NUM> which rotates the elevating member <NUM> coupled to the rotating body <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM> is disposed to face upward. The rotating part <NUM> may be a driving motor.

The plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a finger member <NUM> that pulls the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> to primarily expand the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> in two opposite directions.

That is, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the finger member <NUM> includes a pair of fingers <NUM>, and the pair of fingers <NUM> pulls the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM> in the two opposite directions while moving in directions that are away from each other, in a state inserted into the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>.

In one example, the finger member <NUM> includes the pair of fingers <NUM>, which pulls the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM> in the two opposite directions while moving in the directions that are away from each other, in the state inserted into the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, a first driving part <NUM>, which allows the pair of fingers <NUM> to descend toward the plastic bag <NUM> so that the pair of fingers <NUM> are inserted into the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, and a second driving part <NUM> which allows the pair of fingers <NUM> to move in the directions that are away from each other.

The finger member <NUM> having such a structure may expand the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> in the two opposite directions, and may also prevent the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> from sagging.

The plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a movable member <NUM> for secondarily expanding the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>.

That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the movable member <NUM> moves the elevating member <NUM> to be far away from the finger member <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is secondarily expanded by an area between the finger member <NUM> and the elevating member <NUM>. In other words, the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag is adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM>, and the other surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is supported by the finger member <NUM>. Thus, when the movable member moves the elevating member <NUM>, the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be expanded while the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> moves together with the elevating member <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an opening method using the plastic bag opening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a plastic bag opening method according to a first embodiment of present invention includes an elevating process, an opening process, a rotating process, a primarily expanding process, and a secondarily expanding process in order that an inlet <NUM> of a plastic bag <NUM> having a pocket shape is opened to be widened.

The plastic bag opening method according to the first embodiment of present invention uses the plastic bag opening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, and the plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an elevating member <NUM>, an air blower <NUM>, a rotating member <NUM>, a finger member <NUM>, and a movable member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in the elevating process, the elevating member <NUM> is used to adsorb one surface <NUM> (a top surface in <FIG>) of a plastic bag <NUM> stacked at an uppermost side of stacked plastic bags <NUM> and then to lift the plastic bag <NUM>.

That is, the elevating member <NUM> adsorbs the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> through an adsorption pad <NUM> and lifts the plastic bag <NUM> through an elevating part <NUM>. Here, the elevating member <NUM> lifts the plastic bag <NUM> up to a horizontal line (O) at which the air blower <NUM> is disposed.

Here, the one surface <NUM> (the top surface in <FIG>) and the other surface <NUM> (a bottom surface in <FIG>), which are disposed at a side of an inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, may have an entirely close contact state or a partially close contact state by adhesion or static electricity.

Referring to <FIG>, in the opening process, the air blower <NUM> is used to inject air toward the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM>. Then, the inlet <NUM> may be opened by pressure of the air injected from the air blower <NUM>. In particular, even when the one surface <NUM> and the other surface <NUM> that are disposed at the side of the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> are in close contact with each other, the one surface <NUM> and the other surface <NUM> may be easily separated from each other by the air pressure, and as a result, the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be opened to be widened.

Furthermore, part of the air having flowed into the plastic bag <NUM> may be discharged to the outside through the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>, and the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be completely opened by the air discharged to the outside of the plastic bag <NUM>.

In the opening process, the air blower <NUM> may inject the air toward the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> so that the air is injected downward at a set angle α° with respect to the horizontal line. That is, the air blower <NUM> may inject the air toward the other surface <NUM> disposed at the side of the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> and accordingly, the other surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be easily separated from the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>. As a result, the inlet <NUM> may be effectively opened.

The set angle α° may be set to <NUM>° to <NUM>°, and preferably, may be set to <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

When the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is opened, the rotating process, the primarily expanding process, and the secondarily expanding process may be performed for expanding an area in an inlet <NUM> direction of the plastic bag <NUM> in order to easily accommodate articles.

Referring to <FIG>, the rotating process is intended to dispose the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> to face upward, and when the opening process is completed, the rotating member <NUM> is used to rotate the elevating member <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM> is disposed to face upward.

Referring to <FIG>, the primarily expanding process is intended to primarily expand the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> and prevent the inlet <NUM> from sagging, and when the rotating process is completed, a pair of fingers <NUM> provided in the finger member <NUM> are inserted into the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> adsorbed to the elevating member <NUM>, and the pair of fingers <NUM> are moved in directions that are away from each other. Then, the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be pulled by the pair of fingers <NUM> in two opposite directions to primarily expand the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in the secondarily expanding process, the movable member <NUM> is used to move the elevating member <NUM> to be far away from the finger member <NUM> when the primarily expanding process is completed. Then, the one surface <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> moves together with the elevating member <NUM>, and as a result, the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> may be secondarily expanded by an area (or a distance) between the finger member <NUM> and the elevating member <NUM>.

When the processes as described above are completed, the articles may be conveniently inserted into the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> and packed.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described using the same reference symbol for the same element as the embodiment described above, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plastic bag opening device <NUM> according to a second embodiment of present invention includes an elevating member <NUM> and an air blower <NUM>. The air blower <NUM> includes an injection nozzle <NUM>, which injects air toward an inlet <NUM> of a plastic bag <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> of the plastic bag <NUM> is opened to be widened, and a frame <NUM> to which the injection nozzle <NUM> is coupled.

Here, the injection nozzle <NUM> may be coupled to the frame <NUM> so that an angle is adjustable up and down or left and right.

In one example, referring to <FIG>, a spherical coupling part <NUM> is formed in the injection nozzle <NUM>, and a spherical coupling groove <NUM> to which the spherical coupling part <NUM> is coupled is formed in the frame <NUM>. That is, the spherical coupling part <NUM> may rotate up and down or left and right within the spherical coupling groove <NUM>, and the injection nozzle <NUM> may operate with the spherical coupling part <NUM> to adjust the angle up and down or left and right.

Claim 1:
A plastic bag opening device configured to open an inlet (<NUM>) of a plastic bag (<NUM>) having a pocket shape, the plastic bag opening device comprising:
an elevating member (<NUM>) configured to lift the plastic bag in a state in which one surface (<NUM>) of the plastic bag is adsorbed; and
an air blower (<NUM>) configured to inject air toward the inlet (<NUM>) of the plastic bag adsorbed to the elevating member (<NUM>) so that the inlet (<NUM>) of the plastic bag is opened to be widened,
the device being characterized in further comprising a rotating member (<NUM>) configured to rotate the elevating member (<NUM>) so that the inlet (<NUM>) of the plastic bag (<NUM>) adsorbed to the elevating member (<NUM>) faces upward,
further comprising a finger member (<NUM>) provided with a pair of fingers (<NUM>) that are inserted into the inlet (<NUM>) of the plastic bag (<NUM>) adsorbed to the elevating member (<NUM>) and configured to pull and expand the inlet (<NUM>) of the plastic bag (<NUM>) in two opposite directions, and
further comprising a movable member (<NUM>) configured to move the elevating member (<NUM>) to be far away from the finger member (<NUM>), so that the inlet (<NUM>) of the plastic bag (<NUM>) is expanded by an area between the finger member (<NUM>) and the elevating member (<NUM>).