Vacuum packaging method and vacuum packaging apparatus
The invention provides a vacuum packaging method and a vacuum packaging apparatus that can sufficiently degasify the inside of a packaging bag without any trouble and in which bubbles are less likely to remain inside the packaging bag after vacuum packaging, even if a liquid is included in a packaged object.
1. A vacuum packaging method of packaging a liquid-containing object in a packaging bag having an opening to insert the object, using a vacuum packaging apparatus having a chamber in which the packaging bag containing the object is set and an inflation detector is provided to detect inflation of the packaging bag, comprising the steps of:
closing the opening of the packaging bag;
decompressing the chamber, resulting in inflation of the packaging bag and boiling of the liquid in the packaging bag;
detecting the inflation of the packaging bag with the inflation detector;
opening the opening of the packaging bag, if the inflation is detected, to release a gas from the packaging bag into the chamber;
sealing the opening of the packaging bag after releasing the gas; and
returning the pressure inside the chamber to the pressure before the decompressing.
2. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 1 , wherein decompressing the chamber is stopped if the inflation detector detects the inflation of the packaging bag.
3. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the inflation detector includes a bag abutting portion that abuts against an upper portion of the packaging bag and an inflation detection sensor that detects a change in position of the bag abutting portion.
4. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid is soup.
5. A vacuum packaging method of packaging a liquid-containing object in a packaging bag having an opening to insert the object, using a vacuum packaging apparatus having a chamber in which the packaging bag containing the object is set and an inflation detector is provided to detect inflation of the packaging bag, comprising the steps of:
decompressing the chamber;
closing the opening of the packaging bag;
further decompressing the chamber, resulting in inflation of the packaging bag and boiling of the liquid in the packaging bag;
detecting the inflation of the packaging bag with the inflation detector;
opening the opening of the packaging bag, if the inflation is detected, to release a gas from the packaging bag into the chamber;
sealing the opening of the packaging bag after releasing the gas; and
returning the pressure inside the chamber to the pressure before the decompressing.
6. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 5 , wherein decompressing the chamber is stopped if the inflation detector detects the inflation of the packaging bag.
7. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 5 , wherein the inflation detector includes a bag abutting portion that abuts against an upper portion of the packaging bag and an inflation detection sensor that detects a change in position of the bag abutting portion.
8. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 5 , wherein the liquid is soup.
9. A vacuum packaging apparatus, comprising;
a chamber that accommodates a packaging bag having an opening to insert a liquid-containing object;
a pump that decompresses the chamber to degas inside of the packaging bag;
a closing device that is provided in the chamber to close the opening of the packaging bag;
a sealing device that seals the opening of the packaging bag;
an inflation detector which detects an inflation of the packaging bag;
a valve which brings the chamber to an atmospheric pressure; and
a controller that controls the pump, the closing device, the sealing device, the inflation detector and the valve,
wherein the controller performs
closing the opening of the packaging bag;
decompressing the chamber, resulting in inflation of the packaging bag and boiling of the liquid in the packaging bag;
detecting the inflation of the packaging bag with the inflation detector;
opening the opening of the packaging bag, if the inflation is detected, to release a gas from the packaging bag into the chamber;
sealing the opening of the packaging bag after releasing the gas; and
returning the pressure inside the chamber to the pressure before the decompressing.
10. The vacuum packaging apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the controller performs stopping the decompression if the inflation detector detects the inflation of the packaging bag.
11. The vacuum packaging apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the inflation detector includes a bag abutting portion that abuts against an upper portion of the packaging bag and an inflation detection sensor that detects a change in position of the bag abutting portion.