Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L11/00—Hoses, i.e. flexible pipes
  • F16L11/04—Hoses, i.e. flexible pipes made of rubber or flexible plastics
  • F16L11/045—Hoses, i.e. flexible pipes made of rubber or flexible plastics with four or more layers without reinforcement
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D15/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, sections made of different materials
  • B65D15/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, sections made of different materials of curved, or partially curved, cross-section, e.g. cans, drums
  • B65D15/04—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, sections made of different materials of curved, or partially curved, cross-section, e.g. cans, drums with curved, or partially curved, walls made by winding or bending paper
  • B65D15/06—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, sections made of different materials of curved, or partially curved, cross-section, e.g. cans, drums with curved, or partially curved, walls made by winding or bending paper with end walls made of metal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D3/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies or peripheral walls of curved or partially-curved cross-section made by winding or bending paper without folding along defined lines
  • B65D3/22—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies or peripheral walls of curved or partially-curved cross-section made by winding or bending paper without folding along defined lines with double walls; with walls incorporating air-chambers; with walls made of laminated material

Definitions

• This invention relates to containers for flow- able materials including liquids such as fruit juices and the like, and to a method of canning such materials in sealable containers wherein the materials are heat treated and packaged. More particularly, it relates to tubular wall members for forming tubular containers in which flowable materials, e.g., a beverage such as fruit juice, are sealed and packaged for long-term storage. In addi- tion, the invention has to do with a cap or closure member for hermetically sealing the aforesaid containers, and which is capable of alleviating internal negative pres ⁇ sure.
• containers or “cans” for packaging flowable or pourable materials including liquids, par ⁇ ticularly beverages such as fruit juice and other food- stuffs have been generally formed of glass, tinplate, aluminum and the like. Although these materials are satisfactory from the standpoint of airtightness and strength, difficulty is often encountered in disposing of these materials after use, in a manner consistent with environmental considerations, and a long-felt need has therefore existed for a container which can be so readily disposed of. From the standpoint of economy of resources, it is also desirable that containers be made of inexpen ⁇ sive substitutes for increasingly expensive conventional materials.
• the container may not only be deformed but also, due to the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of the container, may rupture at the seal between the lid and . side wall, thereby exposing the contents to infection by infiltration from without, e.g., by bacteria, mal ⁇ odorants and the like, with resulting curtailment of shelf storage life. For this reason, it has been cus- tomary to use materials of such lower rigidity only for containers intended, e.g., for non-pasteurized or car ⁇ bonated beverages and the like which provide a neutral or positive pressure within the container.
• tinplate has been the material of choice in making blanks for "tin cans" designed to with ⁇ stand the aforementioned negative pressure due to its greater rigidity, and for airtightness.
• tinplate is relatively expensive compared to cup paper and the newer synthetic resins and the like and also requires
• end-closure 2_ of can body _1_ is not flat ⁇ tened but rather, is provided with, say, two concentric convex circular ribs 3_ and to provide flexibility and permit the closure to deform in response to the internal negative pressure and decrease the latter, thereby prevent ⁇ ing container wall J5 from being dented.
• the small degree of deformation permitted in closure cover 2_ limits reduc ⁇ tion in the negative pressure but is enough in the case of containers made of conventional tinplate.
• tubular member or element which defines the wall of a fully airtight and easily disposable container for sealingly packaging flowable materials including beverages and other foodstuffs for long-term storage.
• Another object is to provide an improved tubula container wall member or element which effectively protects the contents of the container from impregnation by offensive odors and infectious organisms from without, and which is made of relatively inexpensive and easily disposable materials.
• Another object is to provide an improved tubula container and a process for hermetically sealing therein flowable material such as a beverage or other foodstuff, - e.g., fruit juice, which are adapted to respond to and relieve internal negative or sub-atmospheric pressure without breaking the seal.
• flowable material such as a beverage or other foodstuff, - e.g., fruit juice
• Another object is to provide a container cover or closure member adapted to respond to and relieve internal negative pressure created, for example, by thermal contraction of the contents of the container, without breaking the seal.
• Another object is to provide a container cover or closure member designed so that internal negative pressure created, for example, by thermal contraction within the container, causes the closure cover to become depressed inwardly to an extent not exceeding the degree of thermal contraction, thereby substantially relieving such negative pressure.
• Yet another object is to provide fully airtight and easily disposable liquid containers made of materials such as thin aluminum, plastic or synthetic resins, laminated paper, kraft paper, cup paper and the like, which containers are defined by a tubular wall member and by two cover or end-closure members at least one of which end-closure members is adapted to relieve negative pres ⁇ sure generated within the container.
• the container comprises a tubular side-wall member her ⁇ metically sealed at both ends, preferably with at least one deformable end-closure described in greater detail hereinbelow.
• the tubular side-wall member is preferably cylindrical, i.e., having a circular cross-section.
• the tubular wall member can have a poly ⁇ gonal or elliptical cross-section.
• the tubular wall member of the tubular container comprises a tubular element composed of five plies bonded together, preferably with an adhesive.
• the first, third and fifth plies are each formed of an elongated helically wound polymeric resin sheet material, preferably polyolefin, e.g., polypropylene.
• the upper and lower edges of the convolutions of each of the first, third and fifth plies are overlapped with those of'the adjacent convolutions and the overlapped portions are bonded to each other, preferably with an adhesive, to form a tubular layer or ply.
• the second and fourth plies are formed of a helically wound elongated cellulosic sheet material, preferably cup paper, having abutted convolu- tions and which is desirably thicker than the polymeric sheet material of the first, third and fifth plies.
• the first, third and fifth plies each desira has a thickness of between about 0.08 and about 0.12 mm, and preferably about 0.1 mm; and the second and fourth plies each desirably has a thickness of between about 0. and about 0.30 mm, and preferably about 0.25 mm. Very good results are obtained with a container whose side-wa member has a total thickness of about 0.8 mm.
• a tubular container wall member having a novel con ⁇ figuration which permits the use of inexpensive kraft paper liner sheet material as a substantial constituent the tubular element in applications where such material would otherwise be ineffective for preventing the odor o the container's contents from permeating the container wall and escaping or for preventing an offensive odor from infiltrating the container contents from without.
• the tubular wall member has a bonded multilayer tubular element comprising, starting from the inner wall surface, a first ply of polymeric sheet material, preferably polyolefin; a second ply of aluminum sheet material both sides of which are laminate by thin paper; a third ply of kraft liner sheet material and a fourth ply of polymeric sheet material, preferably polyolefin.
• the third ply of kraft liner sheet is desir ably formed of a plurality of layers of such material, preferably two layers.
• the various plies are preferably bonded to each other, preferably with adhesive.
• the first, second and fourth plies of the tubular element are preferably each formed of a helically wound elongated sheet material having overlapping convolu ⁇ tions, the overlapped portions of said convolutions being bonded to each other, preferably with adhesive, to form a tubular ply.
• Each layer of the second ply is formed of a helically wound elongated sheet material, which is prefer ⁇ ably thicker that each of the first, third and fourth plies. Further, the edges of adjacent convolutions of each layer of the second ply are in abutment rather than overlapped, to form a tubular layer.
• the first and second plies each desirably has a thickness of between about 0.08 and 0.12 mm, and preferably about 0.1 mm; each of the kraft liner paper sheets or layers constituting the third ply has a thickness of between about 0.2 and about 0.4 mm, and preferably about 0.3 mm, and the fourth ply has a thickness of between about 0.05 and about 0.1 mm, and preferably about 0.07 mm.
• the container of the invention can be her ⁇ metically sealed at one or both ends with a sealing or closure member according to the present invention after being charged with filler, e.g., a heated liquid.
• a sealing or closure member according to the present invention after being charged with filler, e.g., a heated liquid.
• Such closure is formed of rigid sheet material of sufficient flexibility and is provided with an outwardly bulged dish-shaped portion before sealing, whereby said bulged portion is capable of undergoing inward deflection by the negative pressure created in the container due to thermal contraction of its contents.
• the dish-shaped portion of the closure is desirably bulged to such an outward extent that the volume by which the container is reduced by inward deflection of said portion does not exceed the degree of thermal contraction, but rather corresponds substantially to the thermal contraction of the contents of the container or can, thereby substan- tially relieving such negative pressure.
• Suitable materials for forming the end-closure include aluminum, plastic, cup paper and the like, with aluminum sheet material be
• the bulged portion is formed in the end-closure so as to be inwardly deflected in preference to any deflection or deformation of the side wall by the negative pressure generated in the container.
• Such end-closure must therefore be designed to initially withstand the negative pressure to a lesser degree than the side wall of the container body. This requires the end-closure to be thinner than would normally be the case with more conventional non-deformable end-closures, and since the heat of the heated container contents tends to lessen the strength of the container body, the end-closure must also be thin enough to compensate for such reduction in strength.
• a hermetic seal between the end-closure and the container body is usually achieved by folding their peripheries in a -manner which is apparent to those skilled in the container art. Accordingly, with the thinner end-closure of the present invention it may be somewhat difficult to obtain proper hermetic sealing of the container.
• the container wall is of a composite structure made according to the present invention of materials such as cup paper, laminated cup paper sheet and the like and synthetic resin paper, it is difficult to form a lap seam relying on plastic defor- mation of such elements, since these materials, in con ⁇ trast to metal, have neither malleability nor plasticity.
• the container body is sealed by the end- closure in such a way that the metal end-closure material is adapted to have its periphery folded to rigidly hold the periphery of the container body.
• the end-closure is made thinner this not only weakens its
• a further aspect of the invention which provides a process or method of canning goods in a sealable container and an end-closure used for such purpose whereby the negative pressure created,in the container can be sufficiently relieved and a bonding of the container body and the end-closure is fully ensured.
• the ini ⁇ tially outwardly bulged portion of the top end-closure is inwardly depressed by a press or the like as opposed to the previously described aspect of the invention wherein the bulged portion is depressed by the negative pressure created in the container.
• t e sealing apparatus can be of conventional design thereby reducing production cost, while the substantial inward depression of the end-closure affords the desired avoid ⁇ ance of any buildup in negative pressure.
• the end-closure of this embodiment of the invention is not
• OMPI WIPO - limited to the use of aluminum and the like, but rather, can be formed of conventional tinplate blanks thereby substantially reducing the cost (to about half as much as aluminum) of manufacturing the end-closure.
• the bulged portion can be formed in the bottom end-closure and/or th top-end closure.
• the other end can be fitted with any other suitable conventional closure such as an easy-open top of the pilfer or pull-up tab type which are well-known in the beverage art.
• Such end-closure can be made of any convenient material, e.g., aluminum, and. is joined to the container body before the latter is charged with filler.
• the innermost ply or layer of the tubular element of the tubular wall member is provided with means adapted to be inflated inwardly in response to negative pressure developed in the container, thereby decreasing the negative pressure so as to protect the container wall from deformation, improve airtightness, and preserve the shelf-life of the contents.
• tubular wall member of this aspect of the invention has a bonded multilayer tubular element comprising a plurality of plies, the innermost ply being formed of a helically wound elongated polymer-
• the tubular element comprises three plies bonded together with adhesive, the middle ply, i.e., the second ply from the innermost ply, being formed of a helically wound elongated
• cellulosic sheet material preferably one or more layers of kraft liner paper, which is thicker than either the first or third ply.
• the edges of the adjacent convolut ⁇ ions of the middle ply are in abutment to form a tubular layer.
• the third or outermost ply is preferably formed of
• a helically wound elongated cellulos-ic sheet material preferably kraft liner paper, having overlapping convolu ⁇ tions, the overlapped portions of which are bonded to eac other, preferably by means of adhesive, to form a tubular layer or ply.
• the first ply has a thickness of desirably between about 0.08 and about 0.12 mm, and preferably abou 0.1 mm.
• the second ply has a thickness of desirably between about 0.2 and about 0.4 mm, and preferably about 0.3 mm.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional foodstuff container shown in partial cross-section to emphasize the details of its construction
• FIG. 2 is a side view in partial cross-section of a beverage container having an end-closure and cylind ⁇ rical wall member or element according to one embodiment ' of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a partial transverse cross-sectional view of the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a representation of the structures of the first, third, and fifth plies forming the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 is a representation of the structures of the second and fourth plies forming the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross- section of the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the top-end closure prior to being joined to the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 8 is a side view partially broken away of a sealed cylindrical container according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 8;
• FIG. 10 is a representation of the formation of the first, second and fourth plies forming the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 8;
• FIG. 11A is a top plan view of one form of an end-closure according to the present invention suitable for use in forming the container of FIG. 8;
• FIG. 11B is an enlarged orthographic projection of the end-closure depicted in FIG. 11A shown partially in section;
• FIG. 11C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a peripheral portion of the end-closure of FIG. 11A;
• FIG. 12A is -an orthographic projection, partially in section, of one form of a bottom end-closure suitable for use with the cylindrical wall member and top end-closure of the present invention in forming the container of FIG. 8; and FIG. 12B is a bottom plan view of the end- closure depicted in FIG. 12A;
• FIG. 13 is a side view, partially broken away, of a sealed cylindrical container according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the cylindrical wall member of the con- tainer of FIG. 13;
• FIG. 15 is a side view, partially broken away, of the outermost layer of the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 13;
• FIG. 16 is a side view, partially broken away, of the second layer of the cylindrical wall member of the container of FIG. 13.
• Container _1_2- includes top end-closure or cover JjO joined to the upper edge or flange of cylindrical body member or element 14, and bottom end-closure or cover _5 joined to the bottom edge or flange of the cylindrical body member.
• the container body J_4 can be formed of any suitable material such as aluminum, synthetic resin or plastic, and cup paper insofar as they provide the desired permeability and airtightness.
• container body J_4 comprises a laminated composite of five plies as shown in FIG. 3.
• the first, third, and fifth plies _1_ , J_8, and 2 ⁇ are each composed of elongated polymeric resin sheet material helically wound as shown in FIG. 4.
• the second and fourth plies 22_ and _24 are each composed of elongated cup paper sheet material helically wound between the adjacent plies J_6 ⁇ , _1_8 ⁇ and 2Q_ as shown in FIG. 5.
• the upper edge _2 ⁇ 3 and lower edge ⁇ _ of one convolution 26B of each of the polymeric plies respec ⁇ tively overlaps and is overlapped by adjacent convolutions 26A and 26C at their respective associated lower and upper edges, the overlapped portions being bonded or glued to each other by an adhesive therebetween to form a cylind ⁇ rical layer.
• a preferred example of the polymeric resin sheet material is sold commercially by Toyo Tafuper Co., Ltd. under the trademark "Tafuper" a polyolefin containing much inorganic substance.
• An example of a suitable adhesive for the overlapping portions of convolutions 26A, 26B and 26C is sold commercially by Gisuke Konishi & Co. , Ltd.
• the second and fourth plies 22_ and 2 ⁇ _ are helically wound; however, convolution 32B of each ply is butted at its upper and lower edges to adjacent convolutions 32A and 32C instead of being overlapped.
• the sheet for first ply _1_6 is initially wrapped about a cylindrical mandrel (not shown) of a desired diameter.
• the convolutions of the wound sheets are overlapped or butted, as the case may be, and the sheets are joined to each other by a suitable adhesive, e.g., of the type sold by Koatsu Gas Kogyo Co., Ltd. under the trademark "Pegarl 21OP".
• This cylindrical member is then cut to a desired length to obtain container body 14.
• the second and fourth plies _ ⁇ 2 and 2_4 impart adequate mechanical strength to cylindrical body element 14.
• the sheets of polymeric resin and cup paper can be.employed in various thicknesses consistent with the foregoing disclosure.
• the sheet material used for the first, third and fifth plies _6_, Jj ⁇ , and 2Q_ is about 0.1mm thick
• the sheet material used for the second and fourth plies _22 and 2 ⁇ _ is about 0.25mm thick.
• the average total thickness of all the plies of container body J_4 is about 0.8 mm.
• a double seam 4_1_ is formed as shown in FIG. 2 in order to provide airtightness between container body J_4 and top end-closure J_0 and likewise between the container body and bottom end-closure JJ5.
• the bottom end- closure V5 . i s conventional and can take the form of an easy-open end such as a pilfer or pull-up tab well-known
• the bottom end-closure J_5 in this instance is made of aluminum and is joined to container body J_4 before the container J_2 is filled.
• top-end closure and bottom end-closure are used herein with reference to the drawings; in the context of actual use of the container in the upright position, the “bottom end- closure” would normally become the top and vice versa.
• the top-end closure YQ_ is formed with the con ⁇ figuration .shown in FIG. 7, and has an initially convex or dish-shaped bulge portion 2_, an inclined side A Q_, an an ⁇ nular shoulder _36. adapted to be fitted into the interior of container body _1_4, and a flange 3_8 ⁇ which is adapted to be double-seamed by conventional means (not shown) to the upper flange of the container body.
• Top end-closure J_0 is hermetically joined to the upper edge of the container body immediately after the filler, e.g., fruit juice which has been heated to a predetermined temperature (normally at least about 90°C), has been charged to the container body and bottom-end closure assembly.
• the beverage-filled container After being fully sealed, the beverage-filled container is allowed to stand at ambient temperature or is placed in a refrigerator. In such circumstances the pressure of the fluid- within the container decreases, thereby producing a negative pressure. As a result, the dish-shaped bulge 2_ is in ⁇ wardly deflected or "popped" to form a concavity or "dent" in top-end closure _1_0 as shown in FIG. 2.
• the extent to which the volume of container J_2 is thereby reduced is defined by the disc-shaped bulge 42 shown by the dotted line and the concavity shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and is enough to compensate for the thermal contraction of the filler, thereby substantially relieving the negative pressure in the container.
• top end-closure 10 be formed in such a manner that the degree to which the volume of the can is reduced by inward deflection of bulge . corresponds to the degree o thermal contraction of the contents in the can so that th negative pressure is essentially reduced to zero, i.e., neutralized.
• top-end closure J_0 can be dimensioned so that some negative pressure is left in container J_2 after the dent is formed in bulge _42 ⁇ so long as it does not affect the strength or airtightness of the container. Very good results are obtained by forming the above-described end-closure from H-24 0.20 MT aluminum sheet material sold by Kito Sangyo and Shibazeki Susakasg Co. under the name "Flexiend".
• a sealed fruit juice con ⁇ tainer S0_ is formed by applying top-end closure _ ⁇ 4 and bottom end-closure _56_ to the upper and lower edges of cylindrical container body 52.
• cylindrical member 52 is composed of a plurality of plies.
• cylind ⁇ rical member j ⁇ 2 comprises, starting from the inside (right-hand of FIG. 9), layer 5%_ (first ply) of polyolefi resin sheet material; aluminum sheet layer 6Q_ (second ply both sides of which are laminated with thin paper sheets 61 and S3_; kraft liner paper sheet layer J5J3 (third ply) having respectively inner and outer layers _62 ⁇ and A_ of kraft liner paper, and a further layer j56> (fourth ply) of polyolefin resin sheet material.
• the container body is preferably formed using aluminum as the second pl 60
• the present invention can also be applied to tinplate particularly thinner tinplates than those conventionally used, thereby effecting substantial cost savings.
• FIG. 9 66 shown in FIG. 9 are helically wound as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10.
• the upper edge ]_0_ of one convolution overlaps the lower edge 72 ⁇ of the adjacent convolution and the thus- overlapped portions of the convolutions are bonded together to form a cylindrical ply.
• the inner layer 6 ⁇ 2 and the outer layer jv4 of the third ply 8 are, as apparent from FIG. 9, respectively made by spirally winding an elongated sheet of kraft liner paper without overlapping, but rather, by abutting the edges of the convolutions.
• the first, second, third and fourth plies _58 J5JD, •$%_ and 66 and the inner and outer layers 2_ and j4 of the third ply are bonded to each other, preferably by adhesive.
• container body _52 is formed by wrapping or winding the sheet for the first ply about a mandrel (not shown) of a desired diameter.
• the sheets for the second, third (inner and outer layers), and fourth plies are successively wrapped or wound about the mandrel to form an elongated cylindrical member.
• the convolutions of the sheets are overlapped or abutted, as the case may be, and the sheets are joined to each other by application of an adhesive between successive windings.
• the thus-formed cylindrical member is then cut to a desired length to obtain container body 52.
• the first ply 58_ of polyolefin resin serves to fully prevent the fruit juice from permeating the wall of the container, although an acceptable loss through ab ⁇ orp- tion by the first ply of some product aroma may be in ⁇ evitable.
• the second ply ⁇ 0 of aluminum laminated by thin paper sheets J5_1_ and S3_, serves to fully prevent the aroma of the fruit juice from escaping further.
• the kraft liner paper of the third ply 68_ both inner and outer layers >2_ and 64 are not mandatory; either a single layer or a
• OMPI W multiplicity of layers provides sufficient strength to resist internal - external pressure dif ⁇ ferences and corresponding tensile or compressive forces in the axial direction.
• kraft liner paper has more strength than the cup paper used in the embodiment of Example 1 and FIGS. 1-7, it is somewhat less desirable due to its odor.
• aluminum sheet layer _6 is employed as the second ply to inhibit any offensive odor of kraft liner paper from infiltrating the contents of the container so that such paper can be advantageously used as the th ' ird ply.
• polyolefin resin sheet layer S _ is applied as the fourth ply out ⁇ wardly of the kraft liner paper j5_8 to fully prevent moisture entering from without.
• the materials listed below are especially suitable for use as the first, second, third, and fourth plies for container body 5_2_ of container _5_0 of FIGS. 8 through 10.
• the container J5JD typically has an outer diameter of 56 mm, a height of 137 mm, and a side-wall thickness of 0.87 mm, an arrangement which has been found to be particularly satisfactory for packaging fruit juices.
• First ply "Tafuper", -FR 0.1 mm-, manufactured by Toyo Tafuper Co. , Ltd. ;
• the material "Tafuper (OMT)" used as the fourth ply is characterized in that it accepts conventional printing materials directly on its surface and therefore can be conveniently used as the outermost layer.
• the following adhesives are especially suitable for bonding adjacent plies to one another and for bonding the overlapped portions of the convolutions of the first, second and fourth plies: "Tafuper” to “Tafupef”: “K ⁇ -820” manufactured by Gisuke Konishi & Co., Ltd.
• end-closure _5_4 has a convexity or bulge portion 74 formed in the center.
• Bulge portion 1 _ is adapted to be inwardly deflected to reduce the volume of the container and thereby increase (i.e., relieve) the internal negative pressure which results, e.g., when the temperature of the sealed contents decreases. In this way, compressive stress generated on the cylindrical wall member of the con ⁇ tainer is reduced.
• bulge portion _74 is about 3.4 cm 3
• end-closure _56_ is provided with a conventional so-called "pull-top" which is opened by outwardly pulling tab 76 to tear off a portion of the closure defined by line 78 so that the flowable contents of the container such as fruit juice 'can be poured or drunk from the resulting opening.
• a suitable pull-top end-closure is manufactured and sold by Hokkai Seikan. An accelerated stability test establishes that liquids such as fruit juice can be stored and preserved in the sealed container formed according to the present invention for at least seven months without deterioration.
• the container can readily be disposed of, since the polyolefin resin sheet material, typically "Tafuper” and the kraft liner paper will burn at about 700° - 720°C with liberation of 5000 - 7000 calories per gram without generating noxious gas and excessive smoke.
• the polyolefin resin sheet material typically "Tafuper” and the kraft liner paper will burn at about 700° - 720°C with liberation of 5000 - 7000 calories per gram without generating noxious gas and excessive smoke.
• a sealed fruit juice container _ ⁇ 0_ is formed by applying top end-closure J34 and bottom end-closure _8_5 to the upper and lower edges respectively of cylindrical tubular container body 80.
• cylindrical body _82 ⁇ consists of four layers or plies.
• Outermost layer ⁇ is, as shown in FIG. 15, made by spirally winding an elongated sheet of water ⁇ proof paper, the upper and lower edges of each convolution 90 overlapping and being overlapped by the edges of the adjacent upper and lower convolutions, respectively, the
• Second layer ⁇ 6 and third layer JT7 are each made as shown in FIG. 16 by spirally winding an elongated sheet of kraft liner paper of relatively greater thickness than outer layer ⁇ 8, the edges of each convolution being in abutment to each other to form a cylindrical layer.
• Innermost layer 9 _ is also made by spirally winding an elongated sheet of polymeric resin and overlapping the edges 96_ of each convolution with those of the adjacent convolutions in a manner similar to outermost layer j3j ⁇ ; here, however, the attach ⁇ ment of overlapped edges 96_ is effected in the manner shown in FIG. 14; that is, along the overlapped edge portions, there are provided two continuous elongated welds or bonds 98_ and 100 which are spaced apart from each other. Between the welds some slack 104 is left. These welds can be formed by heat-welding, supersonic welding, and the like and the above four layers or plies are bonded to each other, in the manner described above.
• the bond between the polymeric resin ' sheet of innermost layer 9_4 and the kraft liner paper of third layer 81_ is advantageously strengthened by the application of corona discharge to the polymeric resin sheet to form a roughness on the surface thereof prior to bonding.
• Innermost layer 9 _ serves to prevent liquid material from permeating the container and to provide airtightness.
• “Fresckfil” sold by Takigawa Chemical Kogyo Co., Ltd. is used as the mate ⁇ rial of innermost layer 9_4 and has been found to be particularly satisfactory.
• "Fresckfilm” consists of the following four layers: polyethylene (about
• O PI 40 microns O PI 40 microns
• polyester about 12 microns
• evaporated aluminum less than several microns
• nylon about 15 microns
• polyethylene about 40 microns
• the kraft liner paper of the second and third layers 3j5 and 8J_ provides mechanical strength to container body j h
• the second and third layers are made of kraft liner paper "A 220 g, 0.3 mm" manufactured by Tohoku Pape Mills Co., Ltd. Insofar as achieving the necessary mechanical strength to resist internal pressure and resulting compressive forces in the axial direction is concerned, it is possible to use a single layer of kraft liner paper in place of the two layers illustrated in thi example.
• Conventional closure means e.g., aluminum covers
• the bottom, conventional end-closure is advantageously provided with opening means such as the so-called pull-top described hereinabove. Even if nega ⁇ tive internal pressure develops after container _8 equipped with conventional end-closures is sealed, the slack 104 in innermost layer _ is taken up inwardly in response to the negative pressure, thereby substantially lowering or relieving the negative pressure.
• the overlapped portion of the innermost layer is provided with two welds or bonds 98 and 100, three or mor
• Q welds can be formed so as to form any desired number of slacks 104. Furthermore, both of the welds or bonds j3 and 100 are formed continuously along the overlapped portion of innermost layer 94_; however since the airtight- ness of the layer is maintained by the first continuous weld, the second weld need not necessarily be formed continuously as long as some slack in the inner sheet is left between the first and second welds. Furthermore, although innermost layer ⁇ 4 illustrated above is formed by spirally winding an elongated sheet, it is not limited as such; for example, it can be formed by making a wide width sheet into a circle to form a.cylindrical layer.
• tubular container bodies of this invention are not limited to those having a cylindrical (circular cross-section) configuration, but rather, can be formed, e.g., with a polygonal, elliptical or other non-circular cross-section.
• container V2_ is manufactured according to a method of the invention.
• the container Y2_ can be manufactured by the steps of heating and charging a beverage such as fruit juice in container body J_4 in the form of cylindrical container, to which a bottom end-closure J5 has been joined, and joining a top end-closure JJD formed of desired material such as tinplate to the upper end of the body member.
• the top end-closure J_0 is formed into a dish shape as shown and is provided substantially centrally thereof with an outwardly bulged portion _42 before being joined to the container body.
• OMPI _ After covering container body with the top end-closure JJD, flange _3J3 of the top end-closure and the upper end of the container body are overlapped and then folded to form a so-called "double-seam" _4J by means of a sealer or sealing apparatus (not shown) whereby the container is closed and sealed.
• the initially outwardly bulged portion 42 of the top end-closure J_0 is urged by a press (not shown) toward the interior of the container body, thereby reversing the bulge and inwardly deflecting or "popping" it to form a concavity as shown in FIG. 2.
• This pressing step should be performed prior to lowering the temperature of the contents in the container otherwise the drop in temperature and consequent thermal contraction of air within the container will create an unrelieved nega ⁇ tive pressure which tends to inwardly deform the wall of the container.
• the top-end closure bulges outwardly to such an extent that reduction in volume of the container will be approximately equal to the volume of the "thermal contraction of the container contents.
• the present invention pro ⁇ vides a composite container for liquids which can function fully as a substitute for conventional containers made of glass, tinplate and the like. It also provides a closure member for hermetically sealing a container after it has been filled with a heated beverage and is characterized by a dish-shaped portion which is outwardly bulged before sealing and which undergoes inward deflection by the negative pressure created by thermal contraction in the container after sealing and upon cooling. In this way, the negative pressure in the container is substantially relieved so that the container can be made of inexpensive materials with lesser rigidity than would be otherwise necessary, such as plastics, cup paper and the like, instead of the tinplate now widely used.
• the container can be made of materials which can be readily disposed of e.g. , by burning.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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ID=27520623

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

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Citations (3)

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• 1979
  • 1979-05-08 CA CA327,143A patent/CA1133837A/en not_active Expired
  • 1979-05-15 NL NL7903812A patent/NL7903812A/nl not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1979-05-16 AU AU47110/79A patent/AU525365B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1979-05-23 WO PCT/US1979/000351 patent/WO1979001113A1/en unknown
  • 1979-05-23 DE DE792950514A patent/DE2950514A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1979-05-23 BE BE0/195360A patent/BE876506A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1979-05-23 GB GB8001935A patent/GB2036684A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1979-05-23 IT IT7968101A patent/IT1192775B/it active
  • 1979-05-23 BR BR7908695A patent/BR7908695A/pt unknown
  • 1979-12-17 EP EP19790900616 patent/EP0015272A4/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1980
  • 1980-01-23 SE SE8000539A patent/SE8000539L/xx unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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