Hermetic packaging apparatus

A hermetic packaging apparatus for heat-sealing an opening portion of a thermoplastic package containing contents, comprising:

• a nozzle having a flat tip and for at least one of reducing pressure, increasing pressure and filling said packaging bag with gas;
• nozzle holding means movable in forward and backward directions for holding said nozzle;
• nozzle driving means for moving said nozzle holding means in the forward and backward directions in response to an external instruction;
• pressure control means coupled to said nozzle for controlling pressure so that the pressure in said packaging bag is one of reduced, increased and held constant;
• waste water storage means coupled to said nozzle for storing liquid sucked from the contents in said packaging bag when the pressure of said packaging bag is reduced by said nozzle;
• a sealing base provided below said nozzle and extending in a direction orthogonal to said nozzle;
• heating means for heating the opening portion of said packaging bag placed on said sealing base;
• and
• pressuring means for pressing said opening portion of the packaging bag heated by said heating means from above to heat-seal the opening portion of the packaging bag.

A hermetic packaging apparatus in which an opening portion of a thermoplastic packaging bag containing contents is heat-sealed, comprising:

• a nozzle for at least one of reducing, increasing and maintaining pressure within said packaging bag;
• pressure control means connected to said nozzle for controlling pressure within said packaging bag to control at least one of reducing the pressure, increasing the pressure and keeping a prescribed gas pressure in said packaging bag;
• heat-sealing means for applying heat to the opening portion of said packaging bag in which the pressure has been one of reduced, increased and kept constant for heat-sealing;
• a metal base on which said nozzle, said pressure control means and said heating means are attached;
• nozzle holding means provided on said metal base and movable in forward and backward directions for holding said nozzle;
• and
• nozzle driving means for moving said nozzle holding means in the forward and backward directions in response to an external instruction, said nozzle driving means comprising;
• a motor which rotates in at least one of the forward and backward directions in response to the external instruction,
• a gear member for moving said nozzle holding means in the forward and backward directions in response to the rotation of said motor, and
• a torque limiter coupled between said motor and said gear member for idling said motor when a load larger than a prescribed level is applied for the forward and backward moving of said nozzle holding means.