Heater structure for packing machine

Abstract

A heater structure mounted on the packing machine to generate heat to thermally fuse a packing paper to a food container, and to seal the food container includes: an insulation member that is arranged on or over the food container; a band-shaped heating wire that is mounted on a lower surface of the insulation member and is connected to an electric wire connected to the power supply unit to generate heat if an electric voltage is applied thereto through the electric wire and to thermally fuse the packing paper to a periphery of the food container; and a connection member that electrically connects the heating wire and the electric wire to each other, the connection member includes: a housing; and a mounting part formed in the housing, and the heating wire and the electric wire are electrically connected to each other by the mounting part.

1 . A heater structure for a packing machine that is mounted on the packing machine to generate heat if an electric voltage is applied from a power supply unit thereto, to thermally fuse a packing paper to a food container, and to seal the food container, the heater structure comprising:
 an insulation member that is arranged on or over the food container;   a band-shaped heating wire that is mounted on a lower surface of the insulation member and is connected to an electric wire connected to the power supply unit to generate heat if an electric voltage is applied thereto through the electric wire and to thermally fuse the packing paper to a periphery of the food container; and   a connection member that electrically connects the heating wire and the electric wire to each other,   wherein the connection member comprises:   a housing; and   a mounting part formed in the housing, and   wherein the heating wire and the electric wire are electrically connected to each other by the mounting part.   
     
     
         2 . The heater structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the heating wire and the electric wire is detachably coupled to the mounting part. 
     
     
         3 . The heater structure of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting part comprises:
 a mounting hole that passes through the interior of the housing and into which the heating wire and the electric wire are inserted; and   a coupling member that fixes the heating wire and the electric wire inserted into the mounting hole to the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The heater structure of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling member comprises a screw that is mounted on the housing, and the coupling member electrically connects the heating wire and the electric wire inserted into the mounting hole. 
     
     
         5 . The heater structure of  claim 3 , wherein the heating wire comprises:
 a first heating wire that is coupled to a lower surface of the insulation member; and   a second heating wire that is coupled to the lower surface of the insulation member and is arranged on the same plane on which the first heating wire is arranged,   wherein first insertion parts are bent to extend from opposite ends of the first heating wire and second insertion parts are bent to extend from opposite ends of the second heating wire,   wherein the number of the connection members corresponds to the number of the heating wires, and   wherein one of the first insertion parts and one of the second insertion parts that face each other are inserted into the mounting hole to be connected to the electric wire.   
     
     
         6 . The heater structure of  claim 3 , wherein the heating wire has one band shape such that a first insertion part and a second insertion part are bent to extend from opposite ends of the heating wire, and
 wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other are mounted into the mounting hole to be electrically connected to the electric wire.   
     
     
         7 . The heater structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other contact each other below the insulation member. 
     
     
         8 . The heater structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other are spaced apart from each other below the insulation member, and
 wherein the electric wire is electrically connected to both of the first insertion part and the second insertion part.   
     
     
         9 . The heater structure of  claim 5 , wherein the insulation member has a through-hole through which the first insertion part and the second insertion part pass, and
 wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that passed through the through-hole are fixed by the connection member.   
     
     
         10 . The heater structure of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is arranged on an upper surface of the insulation member, and the first insertion part and the second insertion part that passed through the through-hole is inserted into and fixed to the mounting hole arranged above the insulation member. 
     
     
         11 . The heater structure of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is arranged in the interior of the through-hole, and
 wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part are inserted into and fixed to the mounting hole arranged in the interior of the through-hole.   
     
     
         12 . The heater structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor that is mounted on the connection member; and   a control unit that controls the power supply unit according to a temperature detected by the temperature sensor,   wherein the connection member comprises a conductor, and   wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the connection member.   
     
     
         13 . The heater structure of  claim 3 , wherein the connection member further comprises a cooling fin that protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The heater structure of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a cover member of a synthetic resin that is arranged on or over the insulation member and to which the insulation member is coupled; and   a base member that is arranged under the cover member and having a seating recess in which the food container is seated,   wherein the housing is fixedly coupled to the cover member.   
     
     
         15 . The heater structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other contact each other below the insulation member. 
     
     
         16 . The heater structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other are spaced apart from each other below the insulation member, and
 wherein the electric wire is electrically connected to both of the first insertion part and the second insertion part.   
     
     
         17 . The heater structure of  claim 6 , wherein the insulation member has a through-hole through which the first insertion part and the second insertion part pass, and
 wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part that passed through the through-hole are fixed by the connection member.   
     
     
         18 . The heater structure of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is arranged on an upper surface of the insulation member, and the first insertion part and the second insertion part that passed through the through-hole is inserted into and fixed to the mounting hole arranged above the insulation member. 
     
     
         19 . The heater structure of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is arranged in the interior of the through-hole, and
 wherein the first insertion part and the second insertion part are inserted into and fixed to the mounting hole arranged in the interior of the through-hole.