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.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a heater structure for a packing machine, and more particularly to a heater structure for a packing machine that may package a food container by thermally fusing a packing paper stacked on the food container.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, in restaurants or big department stores, in order to package foods and deliver the foods to the consumers, the foods are contained in a disposable food container and then the food container is put into a packing machine to be delivered to the consumers after being packaged.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2009-0112437 (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the prior art’) discloses a technology for a container sealing apparatus.

The prior art discloses a technology of stacking a packing paper on a food container, and thermally fusing the packing paper to a periphery of the food container by using a ring-shaped heating wire.

However, according to the related art, an operation and a structure for fixing the ring-shaped heating wire and connecting the heating wire to an electric wire are complex, and overheating may occur when a connecting portion of the heating wire and the electric wire is bent.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a heater structure for a packing machine that easily connects a heating wire and an electric wire so that a work efficiency may be improved and overheating that may occur at a connecting portion of the heating wire and the electric wire may be minimized.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the objects, there is provided 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 including: 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.

At least one of the heating wire and the electric wire is detachably coupled to the mounting part.

The mounting part includes: 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.

The coupling member includes 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.

The heating wire includes: 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, 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, the number of the connection members corresponds to the number of the heating wires, and 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.

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 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.

The first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other contact each other below the insulation member.

Alternatively, the first insertion part and the second insertion part that face each other are spaced apart from each other below the insulation member, and the electric wire is electrically connected to both of the first insertion part and the second insertion part.

The insulation member has a through-hole through which the first insertion part and the second insertion part pass, and the first insertion part and the second insertion part that passed through the through-hole are fixed by the connection member.

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.

The housing is arranged in the interior of the through-hole, and 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.

The heater structure further includes: 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, the connection member includes a conductor, and the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the connection member.

The connection member further includes a cooling fin that protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the housing.

The heater structure further includes: 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, and the housing is fixedly coupled to the cover member.

Advantageous Effects

The heater structure for a packing machine according to the present invention has the following effects.

Because the heating wire and the electric wire may be easily connected to each other by the connection member, a working efficiency such as assembly and exchange may be improved.

Further, when the heating wire includes the first heating wire and the second heating wire, the present invention may assemble the first heating wire and the second heating wire more easily without coupling the first heating wire and the second wire through welding.

Furthermore, because the heating wire and the electric wire are connected to each other without being inserted into the connection member to be bent, overheating may be prevented at a bending point.

In addition, because the heating wire is inserted into the mounting hole so as not to be exposed to the outside, the heating wire may be prevented from being heated to red heat or being overheated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packing machine employing a heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heater structure according to the first embodiment, when the heater structure is viewed from one side;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heater structure according to the first embodiment, when the heater structure is viewed from another side;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heater structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a heater structure according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a heater structure of a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a heater structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packing machine employing a heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heater structure according to the first embodiment, when the heater structure is viewed from one side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heater structure according to the first embodiment, when the heater structure is viewed from another side. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heater structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a heater structure according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a heater structure of a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a heater structure of a packing machine that is mounted on a packing machine as illustrated in FIG. 1 to generate heat to thermally seal a packing paper 13 if an electric voltage is applied to a power supply unit (not illustrated).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the packing machine, to which the present invention may be applied, includes a base member 10 that has a seating recess 11 in which a food container 12 is seated, and a cover member 20 that is arranged on or over the base member 10 to cover the food container 12 seated in the seating recess 11.

The heater structure of the present invention is applied to the cover member 20 to thermally fuse to the packing paper 13 of a vinyl material, which is stacked on the food container 12, to the food container 12 to thermally seal the packing paper 13 with the heat generated as the electric voltage is applied.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the heater structure of the present invention includes an insulation member 30, a heating wire 40, and a connection member 50.

The insulation member 30 is arranged on or over the food container 12.

In more detail, the insulation member 30 is formed of a mica sheet, and is coupled to a lower side of the cover member 20 of a synthetic resin.

The heating wire 40 includes a nickel wire or the like that directly emits heat if an electric voltage is applied thereto, and has a band shape.

In the present embodiment, a section of the heating wire 40 has a wide band shape having a horizontal length that is larger than a thickness thereof.

Unlike the present embodiment, the section of the heating wire 40 may be circular or polygonal.

The heating wire 40 is mounted on a lower surface of the insulation member 30 and is connected to an electric wire 70 connected to the power supply unit to emit heat to thermally fuse the packing paper 13 to a periphery of the food container 12 if an electric voltage is applied thereto through the electric wire 70.

Further, in the present embodiment, the heating wire 40 includes a first heating wire 41 and a second heating wire 42, and the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42 have substantially stapler shapes, of which open sides are opposite to each other, respectively.

The first heating wire 41 is coupled to a lower surface of the insulation member 30, and the second heating wire 42 is coupled to a lower surface of the insulation member 30 while being arranged on the same plane on which the first heating wire 41 is arranged.

First insertion parts 43 are bent to extend from opposite ends of the first heating wire 41, and second insertion parts 44 are bent to extend from opposite ends of the second heating wire 42.

Then, through-holes 31 through which the first insertion parts 43 and the second insertion parts 44 pass upwards are formed in the insulation member 30.

Accordingly, most parts of the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42 are arranged under the insulation member 30, and the first insertion parts 43 and the second insertion parts 44 that are formed to be bent upwards pass through the through-holes 31 formed in the insulation member 30.

The connection member 50 is adapted to electrically connect the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70, and may have various structures and shapes.

The connection member 50 may be fixedly coupled to the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70, and may be detachably coupled.

Preferably, the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 are detachably coupled to the connection member 50 for easy assembly or replacement.

In the present embodiment, the connection member 50 includes a housing 51 and a mounting part 52.

The housing 51 may include an insulator or a conductor, but it is preferable that the housing 51 be formed of a conductor, through which a current may flow well as in the present embodiment.

In particular, when the housing 51 is formed of a conductor such as a metal, the heat generated by the heating wire 40 may be radiated more easily, so that generation of overheat may be minimized.

The housing 51 is arranged on or over the insulation member 30 such that a lower portion of the housing 51 contacts an upper surface of the insulation member 30, and may be fixedly coupled to the cover member 20 through screws or the like.

Because the cover member 20 is fixedly coupled to the housing 51 in this way, the housing 51 can be prevented from being shaken or separated.

Then, an arrange hole 25 into which the housing 51 may be inserted is formed in the cover member 20.

The mounting part 52 is formed in the housing 51, and the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 are electrically connected to each other by the mounting part 52.

The heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may contact each other to be directly connected to each other, and may be indirectly connected to each other through the mounting part 52.

When the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 is indirectly connected to each other through the connection member 50, the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may be electrically connected to each other as the connection member 50 is formed of a conductor.

The mounting part 52 may have various structures to be formed inside or outside the housing 51, and in the present embodiment, the mounting part 52 includes a mounting hole 53 and a coupling member 54.

The mounting hole 53 vertically passes through the interior of the housing 51 and is arranged above the through-hole 31, and the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 are inserted into the mounting hole 53.

In more detail, after passing through the through-hole 31, the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 of the heating wire 40 are inserted into the mounting hole 53 through a lower side of the mounting hole 53 formed in the housing inserted into and arranged in the arrangement hole 25, and the electric wire 70 is inserted into the mounting hole 53 through the upper side of the mounting hole 53.

The coupling member 54 functions to fix the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 inserted into the mounting hole 53 to the housing 51 so that the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may be prevented from being separated from the mounting hole 53.

The coupling member 54 may have various shapes and structures, and in the present embodiment, the coupling member 54 includes a screw that is mounted on the housing 51.

Accordingly, the coupling member 54 including a screw adheres the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 inserted into the mounting hole 53 to electrically connect the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 while fixing the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 to the housing 51.

Of course, according to occasions, the coupling member 54 may adhere the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 to the housing 51 separately, and may electrically connect the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 though the housing 51 of a conductor.

In addition, the connection member 50 may include a known one-touch terminal connector so that once being inserted, the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may be automatically fixedly coupled to the connection member 50 to be electrically connected to each other. The heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may be connected to each other more easily through the structure of the connection member 50.

Further, because the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 connected to each other are vertically connected to each other by the connection member 50 so as not to be bent or curved horizontally, overheating that may occur at the bending portion may be prevented.

In addition, the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 are fixed by the connection member 50.

In more detail, the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 that passed through the through-hole 31 are inserted into the mounting hole 53 arranged above the insulation member 30 to be fixedly coupled to the housing 51 by a pressing force of the coupling member 54.

The number of the connection members 50 corresponds to the number of the heating wires 40, and a first insertion part 43 and a second insertion part 44 that face each other are inserted into the same mounting hole 53 to be connected to the electric wire 70.

In the present embodiment, the heating wire 40 is split into two parts, and accordingly, two connection members 50 are provided.

The first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 contact each other below the insulation member 30.

In more detail, the bending portion of the first insertion part 43 of the first heating wire 41 and the bending portion of the second insertion part 44 of the second heating wire 42 may be situated below the insulation member 30, and the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42 are connected to each other by bringing the bending portions of the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 into contact with each other below the insulation member 30, and accordingly, the packing paper 13 stacked on or over the food container 12 may be thermally fused to a periphery of the food container 12 in a hollow closed curve shape.

Unlike this, the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 that face each other as illustrated in FIG. 6 may be spaced apart from each other below the insulation member 30.

In this case, because the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42 are spaced apart from each other below insulation member 30, the packing paper 13 stacked on or over the food container 12 may be thermally fused to the periphery of the food container 12 in a hollow opened curve shape instead of a hollow closed curve shape.

Then, the electric wire 70 is electrically connected to both of the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 that are spaced apart from each other, and accordingly, electric power is supplied to both of the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42.

A method for electrically connecting the electric wire 70 to the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42 may include a method for directly connecting the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 to the electric wire 70 as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 and a method for electrically connecting the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 through the housing 51 of a conductive material as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 6.

Further, the connection member 50 further includes a cooling fin 55 that protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the housing 51.

Heat generated by an electric current flowing through the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may be dissipated to the outside more easily by the cooling fin 55.

Further, according to the present invention, because the first heating wire 41 and the second heating wire 42 are coupled to each other through the connection member 50 without being welded to each other, they may be easily assembled.

In particular, because the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 may be detachably coupled to the connection member 50, they may be not only easily assembled but also may be easily repaired.

Meanwhile, the present invention may further include a temperature sensor 56 and a control unit 60.

The temperature sensor 56 is mounted on the connection member 50 to detect a temperature of the connection member 50.

To achieve this, the connection member 50 includes a conductor.

In more detail, the temperature sensor 56 is mounted on the housing 51 to detect a temperature of the housing 51 including a conductor.

The control unit 60 controls the switching-on/off of the power supply unit, according to the temperature of the connection member 50 that detected the temperature sensor 56.

The heating wire 40 may be prevented from being overheated, causing a fire, by the temperature sensor 56 and the control unit 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the heating wire 40 may have one band shape.

Then, the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 are bent to extend from opposite ends of the heating wire 40, and the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 that face each other are inserted into the mounting hole 53 to be connected to the electric wire 70.

In this case, the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 may be inserted into the same connection member 50 and may be inserted into separation connection members 50, and it is preferable that the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 be spaced apart from each other such that an applied current flows to the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44.

Then, it is preferable that the housing 51 include an insulator such that the first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 are not electrically connected to each other.

According to the heater structure of the present invention, the heating wire 40 may be assembled more easily, only the heating wire 40 may be easily replaced when the heating wire 40 is damaged, and overheating may be prevented as the connecting portion of the heating wire 40 and the electric wire 70 are connected to each other without being bent by the connection member 50.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a heater structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the heater structure of the second embodiment includes an insulation member 30, a heating wire 40, and a connection member 50.

A through-hole 31 is formed in the insulation member 30, and the housing 51 constituting the connection member 50 is arranged in the through-hole 31.

To achieve this, the size of the through-hole 31 is equal to or slightly larger than the size of the housing 51.

Further, an arrangement hole 25, into which the housing 51 may be inserted to be arranged, is formed in the cover member 20.

The first insertion part 43 and the second insertion part 44 is inserted into and fixed to the mounting hole 53 arranged in the through-hole 31.

Due to the above-described structure, the housing 51 may be supported in the through-hole 31 without being horizontally shaken by the insulation member 30.

The other items are the same as or similar to those of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The heater structure for a packing machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be variously modified without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The heater structure for a packing machine according to the present invention may be applied to a packing machine.

Claims

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.