Vacuum packaging machine and packaging method thereof

Abstract

A vacuum packaging machine and a packaging method thereof are disclosed. The vacuum packaging machine includes a support structure. An automatic bag feeding structure, an evacuating structure, a heat-sealing structure, and a driving structure are provided on the support structure. The evacuating structure includes a first vacuum compartment movably connected to the support structure and a second vacuum compartment arranged beside the first vacuum compartment. The heat-sealing structure is arranged between the automatic bag feeding structure and the evacuating structure. As such, a user places an opening of a packaging bag on the automatic bag feeding structure that automatically drives the packaging bag into the machine. The driving structure then drives the heat-sealing structure and the evacuating structure to operate for evacuation and heat sealing applied to the packaging bag. Finally, the automatic bag feeding structure removes the packaging bag out of the machine.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A vacuum packaging machine, the vacuum packaging generally comprising:
 a support structure;   an automatic bag feeding structure, the automatic bag feeding structure being mounted on the support structure for driving a packaging bag into the vacuum packaging machine;   an evacuating structure, the evacuating structure being mounted on the support structure, the evacuating structure comprising a first vacuum compartment that is movably connected to the support structure and a second vacuum compartment that is mounted on the support structure and arranged beside the first vacuum compartment;   a heat-sealing structure, the heat-sealing structure being movably connected to the support structure and arranged between the automatic bag feeding structure and the evacuating structure; and   a driving structure, the driving structure being mounted on the support structure, the driving structure being operable for controlling a movement of the heat-sealing structure and an opening and closing operation of the evacuating structure.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving structure comprises at least a first electric machine mounted on the support structure, at least a driver mounting plate mounted on the support structure, at least a driver device movably mounted on the driver mounting plate, and at least a driver gear mounted on the support structure and connected to the first electric machine. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the driving structure further comprises at least a sensing element  55  mounted on the driver mounting plate, a detector section being arranged on the driver device. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the automatic bag feeding structure comprises a plurality of driving members rotatably mounted on the support structure, at least a first gear mounted on the support structure and connected to the driving members, at least a second gear mounted on the support structure and connected to the driving members, and at least a second electric machine  24  mounted on the support structure and connected to drive the first gear or the second gear to rotate, the first gear and the second gear being in mating engagement with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein an inspection module is mounted on the support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat-sealing structure comprises one of a heating filament assembly and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the heating filament assembly comprises a heat-sealing presser bar movably mounted on the support structure and a heating filament arranged on a bottom of the heat-sealing presser bar, the base support structure being provided with at least a first through opening and at least a first elastic element, the heat-sealing presser bar comprising at least a first pivoting section rotatably coupled to the support structure and at least a first abutting section movably receivable in the first through opening, the first elastic element having two ends respectively supported on the support structure and the first abutting section. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the base support structure is provided with at least a second through opening and at least a second elastic element, the first vacuum compartment comprising a second pivoting section and a second abutting section, the first vacuum compartment being rotatably mounted on the support structure by the second pivoting section, the second abutting section being movably receivable in the second through opening, the second elastic element having two ends respectively supported on the support structure and the second abutting section. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving structure comprises a plurality of fluid-driving elements. 
     
     
         10 . A packaging method of a vacuum packaging machine, comprising:
 (a) positioning an opening of a packaging bag that is stuffed with a food product on an automatic bag feeding structure provided on a support structure;   (b) the automatic bag feeding structure driving the opening of the packaging bag into an evacuating structure;   (c) a driving structure provided on the support structure driving a first vacuum compartment of the evacuating structure to close on a second vacuum compartment and also driving a heat-sealing structure to press against the packaging bag;   (d) the evacuating structure carrying out an evacuating operation in the packaging bag until a predetermined level of vacuum is achieved or a predetermined time is reached;   (e) the heat-sealing structure carrying out a heat-sealing operation on the packaging bag until a second predetermined time is reached;   (f) the driving structure driving the heat-sealing structure away from the packaging bag;   (g) the driving structure driving the evacuating structure to open; and   (h) the automatic bag feeding structure moving out the packaging bag.   
     
     
         11 . The packaging method of the vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 10 , wherein in step (b), an inspection module of the vacuum packaging machine is operable to inspect a location of the packaging bag. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging method of the vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 10 , wherein in step (c), the driving structure controls the evacuating structure to close and the heat-sealing structure to press against the packaging bag in a sequential manner. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging method of the vacuum packaging machine according to  claim 10 , wherein after step (f), a step (f1) is performed to carry out an operation of pressure releasing in the evacuating structure so as to make a pressure inside the evacuating structure close to an external air pressure.