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.

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.