1. Field of the Invention
-
The present invention relates to a distribution container
for conveying perishable foods, and relates, more particularly,
to a foldable distribution container for conveying perishable
foods that can be easily folded, that is excellent in cold-temperature
retention (insulation and cooling effect), and that
can be re-utilized.
2. Description of the Related Art
-
In the distribution of perishable foods such as livestock
products like frozen meet and marine products like fresh fish,
packaging containers having various shapes, functions,
performance, and materials are used for perishable foods at
present, from the needs of cold-temperature retention and
protection from shock.
-
Among them, corrugated cardboard containers have
generally been used as packaging containers for distributing
livestock products. This is for the purpose of protecting the
frozen contents from external shocks and for distributing the
contents in lots. The cool keeping of the contents is achieved
through keeping of the contents in cold storage and distribution
of the contents by refrigerator car. Usually, the corrugated
cardboard containers once used are not utilized again, as these
containers are easily broken and stained, or as the cost of
manufacturing these containers is low. The once-used
containers are disposed as waste at the retailer side or the
consumer side.
-
Further, EPS(expandable polystyrene) containers are
generally used as containers for distributing marine products.
The purpose of this is similar to the above. The cool keeping
is achieved by similar means to the above. In addition,
excellent heat insulation performance of EPS is utilized. In
many cases, after ice or a cold insulator is inserted into the
container, the contents of fresh fish are accommodated.
However, bacteria are easily propagated in micro pores of a
porous material composition that is a unique characteristic of
EPS. Therefore, usually, the EPS container is utilized
repeatedly by two or three times in many cases. Thereafter,
the used EPS container is disposed as waste at the retail side
or the consumer side, like the corrugated cardboard container.
-
Containers having various shapes have already been
provided as distribution containers that can be re-utilized,
such as, distribution containers like return boxes, for example.
Usually, in order to improve the accommodation efficiency of
these containers in a truck at the time of recovering the
containers, it is required to reduce the volume of each
container itself by folding the container. Therefore, because
of the characteristics of the shapes, used materials, or the
folding mechanism of the containers, these containers cannot
satisfy the cold insulation performance that is required for
the perishable foods, unless an optional insulation part is
added to each container. Consequently, the corrugated
cardboard containers and EPS containers have been employed as
distribution containers for the perishable foods up to the
present.
-
The corrugated cardboard containers and EPS containers
use various kinds of materials and have various kinds of
structures and durability, by reflecting the variety of the
contents accommodated in these containers. Further, usually
most of them are distributed in one way from producers to
consumers, or used repeatedly by a few times, and are then
disposed as industrial waste or combustible waste. The amount
of the used packaging containers that are disposed as waste is
huge, judging from the amount of perishable foods that are daily
consumed. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the waste from
the viewpoint of global resource protection and environmental
protection, and this requirement has been enhanced recently.
However, because of the variety in functions and performance
required for the packaging containers as described above,
standardization and common use of the containers have not yet
been realized. As a result, only the problems have been made
clear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
-
In the light of the above situation, the present applicant
has proposed "a foldable distribution container for conveying
perishable foods, comprising: a container main body formed with
an approximately rectangular bottom plate for mounting
perishable foods thereon, four side walls having hinge portions
hinged to four side edges of said bottom plate and foldable to
said bottom plate, and a holding member for holding the erection
of said side wall by reinforcing said hinge portions: and a lid
unit for covering an upper opening of said container main body"
under Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-373285 A. Further,
the present applicant has proposed particularly "a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
said container main body and said lid unit are formed as
double-wall structures each having one-layer air layer inside".
According to these containers, it is possible to assemble and
fold the container main body quickly and securely in extremely
simple operation. Further, it is possible to securely shut out
the external air and insulate and keep cool the inside of the
container. Furthermore, waste is not produced. Thus, there
are excellent effects in the using aspect, the cooling aspect,
and the environmental aspect.
-
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
foldable distribution container for conveying perishable foods
capable of exhibiting further advanced insulation and cooling
effect, by adding further improvement to a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods.
-
The present invention relates to a foldable distribution
container for conveying perishable foods, and it is possible
to achieve the above object of the invention by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods. Namely,
the foldable distribution container comprises: a container main
body formed with an approximately rectangular bottom plate for
mounting perishable foods thereon, four side walls having hinge
portions hinged to four side edges of the bottom plate and
foldable to the bottom plate, and a holding member for holding
the erection of the side wall by reinforcing the hinge portions;
and a lid unit for covering an upper opening of the container
main body, wherein the bottom plate and the four side walls that
constitute the container main body, and the lid unit are formed
as multi-layer wall structures having a plurality of air layers
inside these structures respectively.
-
Further, it is possible to achieve the above object of
the present invention more effectively by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
the structures are three-wall structures having two air layers
respectively.
-
It is possible to achieve the above object of the present
invention more effectively by a foldable distribution container
for conveying perishable foods, wherein the bottom plate and
the four side walls that constitute the container main body,
and the lid unit are made of a synthetic resin material.
-
It is possible to achieve the above object of the present
invention more effectively by a foldable distribution container
for conveying perishable foods, wherein the synthetic resin
material is polypropylene.
-
Further, it is possible to achieve the above object of
the present invention more effectively by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
a foldable inner case having a set of folding lids is mounted
inside the container main body.
-
Further, it is possible to achieve the above object of
the present invention more effectively by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
the inner case is made of a material prepared by having an
aluminum-deposited polyester film adhered to foamed
polyethylene.
-
It is possible to achieve the above object of the present
invention more effectively by a foldable distribution container
for conveying perishable foods, wherein the four side walls
foldable to the bottom plate are hinged to the adjacent side
walls respectively, with two opposite side walls formed with
angular hinge portions rising from both lower ends of the side
walls, and the holding members for reinforcing the hinge
portions are sliders.
-
Further, it is possible to achieve the above object of
the present invention more effectively by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
the upper surface of the lid unit is formed with recess portions,
and the lower surface of the bottom plate of the container main
body is provided with projected bases that are engaged with the
recess portions.
-
Further, it is possible to achieve the above object of
the present invention more effectively by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
the lower surface of the bottom plate is formed in a shape to
be engaged with the upper opening of the container main body.
-
Still further, it is possible to achieve the above object
of the present invention more effectively by a foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods, wherein
the side wall of the container main body is provided with an
IC card accommodation pocket capable of accommodating an IC
card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
In the accompanying drawings:
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the whole container
relating to one embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container main body
according to the present invention;
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container main body
according to the present invention;
- FIG. 4 is a side view of the container main body according
to the present invention;
- FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the container main body
according to the present invention;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a hinge
portion of the container main body according to the present
invention;
- FIGs. 7A and 7B are a side view showing a structure of
a slider portion provided on the container main body and a
cross-sectional view cut along the B-B line;
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container main
body cut along the A-A line of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the sequence
of folding the container main body according to the present
invention;
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the sequence
of folding the container main body according to the present
invention;
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the sequence
of folding the container main body according to the present
invention;
- FIG. 12 is a top plan view for explaining the sequence
of folding the container main body;
- FIG. 13 is a time-temperature change characteristic
line-diagram showing the heat insulation and cooling effect of
a container relating to the present invention;
- FIGs. 14A and 14B are a side view showing another
structure of a slider portion provided on the container main
body relating to the present invention and a cross-sectional
view cut along the C-C line;
- FIG. 15 is a top plan view showing a status that a container
main body having the slider portions are folded flat;
- FIGs. 16 is a perspective view showing still another
structure of a slider portion provided on the container main
body relating to the present invention;
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a container having an
inner case relating to another embodiment of the present
invention; and
- FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a method of folding
the inner case.
-
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
-
Embodiments of a foldable distribution container for
conveying perishable foods relating to the present invention
will be explained in detail based on attached drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of
a foldable distribution container for conveying perishable
foods (hereinafter to be referred to as a "container C") relating
to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing,
1 denotes a container main body for accommodating perishable
foods, and 50 denotes a lid unit covered on an upper opening
of the container main body 1.
-
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure
of the container main body 1, with the lid unit 50 removed. This
container main body 1 consists of a bottom plate 10 and four
side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23. In other words, the bottom plate
10 is in approximately a rectangular shape. The four side walls
20, 21, 22, and 23 are erected from four side edges. These four
side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23 and the bottom plate 10 form the
container main body 1 capable of accommodating perishable foods.
In FIG. 2, 30 denotes slider portions to be described later,
and 43 denotes a grip.
-
As shown in a top plan view in FIG. 3, four side edges
11 of the bottom plate 10 are connected with four hinges H10.
The four side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23 are erected, and can be
folded on the upper surface of the bottom plate 10 with the
respective hinges H10 as creases. The four side walls 20, 21,
22 and 23 are formed as three-wall structures consisting of
external walls 20a, 21a, 22a and 23a, inner walls 20b, 21b, 22b
and 23b, and intermediate walls 20c, 21c, 22c and 23c,
respectively, as shown in partially sectional views in FIG. 3.
Two air layers S1 and S2 are formed between the walls. External
air is shut out by these air layers S1 and S2. and the inside
of the container main body 1 is insulated and held at low
temperature. Ribs 35 for reinforcing the three walls are
provided at some portions of the air layers S1 and S2, and the
bottom plate 10 and the lid unit 50 also have similar structures
to those of the side walls 20. These will be explained in detail
later with reference to FIG. 8. As a result of experiments
relating to insulation and cooling effect to be described later,
it has been confirmed that it is preferable to set 4 to 12 mm,
most preferably a value around 8 mm, as the layer thickness of
the air layers S1 and S2 respectively, that is, the distance
between the inner wall and the intermediate wall and the
distance between the intermediate wall and the external wall
respectively.
-
The four side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23 and the bottom plate
10 that constitute the container main body 1 are formed with
a transparent or translucent synthetic resin, preferably
polypropylene. With this arrangement, it is possible to look
through the inside of the container main body 1 from the outside.
Further, the inner wall surface of the container main body 1
is a smooth surface having no micro pores at all. Therefore,
it is possible to prevent propagation of bacteria inside the
container main body.
-
The container main bodies 1 are structured such that they
can be stacked together in a vertical direction. In other words,
as shown in a side view in FIG. 4, the end portion of the bottom
plate 10 supports approximately a half of the inside of the lower
end portions of the side plates 22 and 23 of the container main
body 1. On the other hand, recess portions 22c and 23c are
provided inside the upper end portions of the side walls 22 and
23. A short-sided portion of the bottom plate 10 provided on
the bottom portion of a separate container main body 1 that is
stacked above is engaged with these recess portions 22c and 23c.
At the same time, a long-sided portion of the bottom plate 10
is engaged with the inner wall surface of the side walls 20 and
21. Thus, a plurality of the container main bodies 1 can be
stacked together in a vertical direction in a status that the
inside of each container main body 1 is sealed. When the
container main bodies 1 are stacked together in this way, the .
lid unit 50 is covered on only the upper opening of the container
main body 1 that is positioned at the top of the stacking. In
this case, the bottom plate 10 of the container main body 1 placed
at the lowest position supports the whole vertical load.
-
Further, the lower surface of the bottom plate 10 of the
container main body 1 is provided with triangular bases 12, 13,
14 and 15 in projection as shown in the side view in FIG. 4 and
in a bottom plan view in FIG. 5. These bases 12, 13, 14 and
15 have a function of preventing a collapse or a positional
deviation of the containers C when they are conveyed in a stacked
status, as described later. In addition, the bases 12, 13, 14
and 15 have a function of preventing a collapse of the container
main bodies 1 when they are stacked together in a folded status,
as shown in a top plan view in FIG. 12(or FIG. 15).
-
The four side walls 20, 21, 22, and 23 that can be folded
on the bottom plate 10 are connected together with hinges H1,
H2, H3 and H4 at adjacent end portions respectively, as shown
in the top plan view in FIG. 3 and in a partially enlarged
perspective view in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows this status for the
side wall 20 and the side wall 23. As shown in the drawing,
one end of the side wall 20 is hinged to the adjacent one end
of the side wall 23 with the hinge H1. Similarly, the other
end of the side wall 20 is hinged to one end of the side wall
22 with the hinge H2. The other end of the side wall 23 is hinged
to one end of the side wall 21 with the hinge H3. The other
end of the side wall 22 is hinged to the other end of the side
wall 21 with the hinge H4. These hinge portions are formed thin
having strength sufficient enough to easily fold the side walls
20, 21, 22 and 23. As explained above, the four side walls 20,
21, 22 and 23 can be folded based on the hinge connection of
mutually adjacent side walls.
-
Of the four side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23, two opposite
long-sided side walls are formed with angular hinge portions
H5 and H7, and H6 and H8 that rise from both lower ends of the
side walls respectively, as shown in the side view in FIG. 4
and a top plan view in a folded status in FIG. 12. Along these
hinges H5, H6, H7 and H8, the corner portions of the container
main body 1 are folded on the upper surface of the bottom plate
10, as shown in FIG. 12.
-
The slider portions 30 are disposed along the hinges H5,
H6, H7 and H8 respectively, as shown in side views in FIG. 4
and FIG. 7A, and in the top plan view in FIG. 12. FIG. 7A is
the side view of a structure of the slider portion 30 disposed
on the hinge H8 of the side wall 21 as a part of the slider
portions. FIG. 7B is a view of the surface cut along the B-B
line of FIG. 7A. As shown in the drawings, an upper sheath
portion 31 is disposed at a right upper slanted position
orthogonal with the hinge H8, and a lower sheath portion 32 is
disposed at a lower slanted position. A slider 33 is slidably
inserted in the upper sheath portion 31 and the lower sheath
portion 32 respectively. A recess portion 21h is formed on the
surface portion of the side wall 21 where the slider 33 is
inserted and slides. The lower end of this slider 33 can move
between a position L indicated by a solid line of the lower sheath
portion 32 and a position U indicated by a dotted line of the
upper sheath portion 31. When an operator moves the lower end
of the slider 33 to the position L with a knob 33a, the slider
33 works as a bar to the hinge H8. Consequently, the erected
status of the side wall 21 is held firm. On the other hand,
when the lower end is moved to the position U, the holding of
the hinge H8 by the slider 33 is canceled, and the corner portion
of the side wall 21 becomes foldable along the hinge H8. FIG.
7 and FIG. 12 show the foldable status.
-
Further, on the external surface of the side wall 21,
there is provided an IC card accommodation pocket 40 capable
of accommodating an IC card 41 on which various kinds of
information is written such as the name of a product like
perishable foods accommodated in the container main body 1 and
a product convey destination, as shown in the side view in FIG.
4. With this arrangement, a relationship between the
accommodated product and the convey destination becomes clear,
and it becomes possible to prevent troubles like an error in
the contents and a transportation error, etc. Further, at the
outside of the side wall 22 and the side wall 23 respectively,
there is provided a grip 43 for carrying the container C, as
shown in the perspective view in FIG. 2 and in the side view
in FIG. 4.
-
The lid unit 50 is covered on the upper opening of the
container main body 1 having the above structure. This lid unit
50 is prepared using the same material and in the same structure
as those of the container main body 1, as shown in the perspective
view in FIG. 1 and in a sectional view cut along the A-A line
of FIG. 1 in FIG. 8. In other words, the lid unit 50 is formed
as a three-wall structure consisting of an external wall 50a,
an inner wall 50b, and an intermediate wall 50c, each made of
a transparent or translucent synthetic resin material of
polypropylene. Two air layers S1 and S2 are formed between the
walls. The reinforcing ribs 35 are prcvided at some portions
of the air layers S1 and S2. External air is shut out by this
lid unit 50, and the inside of the container main body 1 is
insulated and held at low temperature. Further, as the lid unit
50 is made of the same material as that of the container main
body 1, the lid unit 50 is crashed together with the container
main body 1, and is utilized again as a raw material, after the
service life of the distribution container.
-
As shown in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 8, the lower
surface of the external peripheral edge portion of the lid unit
50 is cut in a hook shape, and is formed with a stage portion
53. This stage portion 53 is engaged with each upper end of
the side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23 respectively, and has a function
of completely cutting the external air. Further, a recess
portion 54 is formed inside the upper surface peripheral portion
of the lid unit 50. This recess portion 54 is designed to be
engaged with the external side end portions of the stretched
bases 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively provided on the bottom
surface of the container main body 1. Based on this engagement,
it is possible to prevent a collapse or a positional deviation
of the distribution containers when they are conveyed in a
stacked status.
-
Next, a method of using the container C having the
above-described structure will be explained. Products like
perishable foods are accommodated inside the container main
body 1, and the container C is conveyed in a status that the
container main body 1 is completely sealed with the lid unit
50, as shown in the perspective view in FIG. 1 and in the
cross-sectional view in FIG. 8. Then, the container main body
1 after it has been used is folded in a flat shape according
to the order shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 12.
-
First, as explained with reference to FIG. 7, the lower
end portion of each slider 33 provided on the side walls 20 and
21 is slid from the lower position L to the upper position U.
Based on this, the holding of the hinges H5 and H7, and H6 and
H8 formed on the side walls 20 and 21 by the sliders 33 is canceled,
as shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, the side walls 20 and 21 are
gradually folded to the inside, with the respective hinges H5
and H7, and H6 and H8 as creases. Along the work of the side
walls 20 and 21, the short- sided side walls 22 and 23 that are
linked to these side walls and the hinges H1, H2, H3 and H4 are
also gradually folded to the inside, as shown in FIG. 10 and
FIG. 11 in sequence. Finally, all the side walls are folded
flat on the upper surface of the bottom plate 10, as shown in
FIG. 12. As explained above, the container main body 1 is folded
flat in simple operation by only slightly sliding the sliders
33.
-
On the other hand, in the case of assembling an erected
container main body 1 as shown in FIG. 2 from the folded status
as shown in FIG. 12, this can be achieved by carrying out the
operation in the opposite order to that of the folding operation.
In other words, the side walls 22 and 23 of the container main
body 1 in the folded status as shown in FIG. 12 are stretched
to the left and right respectively by holding the upper end of
the side wall. Then, the side walls 20, 21, 22 and 23 are erected
immediately. In this status, the lower end portion of each
slider 33 is slid from the upper position U to the lower position
L, thereby to firmly hold the erected status of the side walls
20, 21, 22 and 23. As explained above, the container main body
1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be
assembled or folded flat in extremely simple operation.
Example:
-
In order to confirm the heat insulation and the cooling
effect(low-temperature retention) of the container C explained
above, the following experiments have been carried out by making
trials of various kinds of containers with changed materials
that constitute the container C and changed sizes of structures.
-
First, three kinds of materials are selected for
manufacturing the container main body 1 and the lid unit 50
respectively. Namely, a container C1 is manufactured using a
synthetic resin(polypropylene), a container C2 is manufactured
using corrugated cardboard, and a container C3 is manufactured
using EPS. Next, structures that constitute the container main
body 1 and the lid unit 50 are selected as follows. The
container C1 has the following three types. A container C1a
has two air layers(S1, S2), each having a layer thickness of
8 mm, and the walls that form these air layers have a thickness
of 2 mm respectively. Similarly, a container C1b has two air
layers(S1, S2), each having a layer thickness of 5 mm, and the
walls that form these air layers have a thickness of 2 mm
respectively. Then, a container C1c relating to the above-described
prior application has one air layer having a layer
thickness of 14 mm, and the walls that form this air layer have
a thickness of 2 mm respectively. Further, the container C2
and the container C3 have no dirt(no air layers) respectively,
and walls of these containers have a wall thickness of 15 mm
and 5 mm respectively. The capacity of 2000 cc is set to each
of the above five kinds of containers(that is, C1a, C1b, C1c,
C2 and C3).
-
Next, 2000 cc of an antifreezing fluid at -15°C is sealed
into these five kinds of containers that have been manufactured
in the above-described manner. Temperatures of the inside of
each container along the lapse of time(0 to 8 hours)are measured
with a self-recording thermometer in the room at a normal
temperature (22°C). As a result, data showing temperature
changes(a vertical axis) along the lapse of time (a horizontal
axis) as shown in FIG. 13 has been obtained.
-
As can be understood from FIG. 13, the temperature within
each container gradually rises along the lapse of time.
Containers with excellent heat insulation and cooling effect,
that is, the containers in which the rise in temperature is small
along the lapse of time, are in the order of the containers C3,
C1a, C1b, C1c and C2. Following the container C3(the EPS
container), the container C1a(the polypropylene container,
with an air layer thickness 8 mm) is excellent, and the container
C2(the corrugated cardboard container) shows the worst value.
However, while the EPS container C3 is excellent from the
viewpoint of the heat insulation and cooling effect, this
container has drawbacks in that bacteria are easily propagated
in micro pores of the inner wall, and that the used container
is disposed as waste, as described above. On the other hand,
the synthetic resin container provided with air layers,
particularly, the container C1a, has heat insulation and
cooling effect, and has no propagation of bacteria, as the inner
wall surface is smooth. Further, this container has a high
practical value, as this container can be re-utilized. It is
also possible to provide three or more air layers in the
structures. However, this leads to an increase in
manufacturing cost along the complexity of the structures.
Furthermore, from the viewpoint of heat insulation and cooling
effect, it is preferable to form the above-described two-layer
structures.
-
In investigating the synthetic resin(polypropylene)
container C1 from the viewpoint of heat insulation and cooling
effect, it is more preferable to provide two air layers than
to provide one air layer on each structure. Further, the layer
thickness of 8 mm is preferable to 5 mm. Further, according
the experiments carried out by the present inventors, it has
been found that the practical range of the layer thickness is
4 to 12 mm, and most preferably, 8 mm. This is because the heat
insulation and cooling effect becomes lower when the layer
thickness is equal to or less than 3 mm. Also, the heat
insulation and cooling effect similarly becomes lower when the
layer thickness is equal to or larger than 13 mm, because of
the generation of convection inside the air layers.
-
While the content of the present invention has been
explained above with reference to one example, the present
invention is not limited to this example, and it is also possible
to make various modifications to the construction as follows.
-
First, as the holding member for holding the erection of
the side walls, it is possible to use slider portions 30A as
shown in FIGs. 14A and 14B in stead of the slider portions 30.
As shown in a front view in FIG. 14A and in a cross-sectional
view cut along the C-C line of FIG. 14A in FIG. 14B, slider
portion 30A is provided in a vertical direction across a hinge
H8 formed on a side wall 21. It is so structured that a slider
33 is slid along a vertical distance between an upper sheath
portion 31A and a lower sheath portion 32A as shown by arrow
marks, thereby to erect the side wall 21 and cancel the erection.
With the slider portion 30A provided in this way, the floating
of the upper end portion of the slider 30A is restricted by the
lower surface of the container main body 1 positioned above,
that is, by the bottom surface of the bottom plate 10, at the
time of conveying the container main bodies 1 in a stacked status.
Therefore, it is possible to hold the erection of the side wall
21 securely and firm, during the conveyance. When the container
main body 1 provided with this slider portion 30A is folded flat
as shown in FIG. 15, the upper portion of the knob of the slider
portion 30A is stretched above from the top of the side wall
20 and the side wall 21 respectively. Consequently, the side
wall 20 and the side wall 21 are pressed against the upper surface
of the bottom plate 10. As a result, it is possible to fold
the whole unit more flat.
-
As a further modification of the holding member, it is
also possible to use sliders 30B as shown in FIG. 16. These
sliders 30B are provided with a U-shaped channel member facing
downward respectively, and are slidable on the upper end
portions of the side wall 20 that is formed with angular hinges
H5 and H7 and the side wall 21 that is formed with angular hinges
H6 and H8 respectively, out of the four side walls 20, 21, 22,
and 23 of the container main body 1. For erecting the side walls
20 and 21, the sliders 30B are disposed on the top of the hinges
H5, H6, H7 and H8 respectively, as shown in FIG. 16. For folding
the sliders 30B, the sliders 30B are removed. According to
these sliders 30B, it is possible to manufacture the container
at low cost because of a simple mechanism. However, some device
is necessary in the aspect of sealing between the lid unit 50
and the container main body 1.
-
Further, as a method of folding the container main body
1, it is possible to employ various known methods, such as a
method used for a plastic container disclosed in Japanese Patent
.Application Laid-open No. 9-175541 A, for example. According
to this method, at the time of vacuum molding a plastic sheet,
ribs that can be folded toward the inside, when the container
after the molding is pressed to the up and down directions, are
integrally formed on side walls. Therefore, this plastic
container is suitable for conveyance and storage in a status
that the side walls are folded flat.
-
The above explains the container C structured in a single
unit consisting of the container main body 1 and the lid unit
50, for accommodating perishable foods therein. It is possible
to further increase the heat insulation and cooling effect of
the container according to the present invention, by providing
a container C' that is mounted with an inner case(an inner box)
100 that is foldable inside the container main body 1, as shown
in a perspective view in FIG. 17. This inner case 100 is a
foldable box unit having a set of folding lids that are prepared
by using a material consisting of an EPS sheet of a few mm
thickness adhered with a thin aluminum-evaporated polyester
film, with the aluminum-deposited surface facing inside. As
shown in the drawing, this container C' has a set of foldable
lid units 150a and 150b on the top. FIG. 18 shows a folded status
in a perspective view. The container C' has four side walls
120, 121, 122, and 123 around, and has bottom plates 110a and
110b at the bottom. This inner case 100 is designed as follows.
When the inner case 100 is developed, this becomes large enough
to be brought into contact with the inner surface of the
container main body 1 including the lid unit 50 and the bottom
plate 10 of the container C, and when the inner case 100 is folded
as shown by arrow marks in FIG. 18, this becomes in a flat plate
shape. For the material of the inner case 100, it is also
possible to use various kinds of plastic films or flexible
sheets having heat insulation property, in addition to the
above-described deposited film. However, it is preferable to
use the above-described material from the viewpoint of heat
insulation and cooling effect. Further, it is needless to
mention that it is possible to employ various kinds of known
methods for folding the inner case 100.
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For using the container C' having the inner case 100
accommodated therein, perishable foods are accommodated inside
the inner case 100, and the lid units 150a and 150b are closed.
Further, the lid unit 50 is covered on the upper opening of the
container main body 1, thereby to insulate the inside in double.
In the case of the container C' that uses this inner case 100,
it is needless to mention that it is not necessary to manufacture
the container main body 1 and the lid unit 50 with a transparent
or translucent material.
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As explained above, according to the present container
C', the inside of the container main body 1 is heat-insulated
in double. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the
heat insulation and cooling effect. Further, according to the
experiments carried out by the present inventors, it has been
made clear that changes in temperature of the container C' along
the lapse of time show approximately intermediate values
between the values of the container C3(the EPS container) and
the container C1a (the polypropylene container having two air
layers, with the layer thickness of 8 mm) shown in FIG. 13.
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As explained above, according to the foldable
distribution container for conveying perishable foods relating
to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the following
effects.
- (1) The container main body is formed with an
approximately rectangular bottom plate for mounting perishable
foods thereon, four side walls having hinge portions hinged to
four side edges of the bottom plate and foldable to the bottom
plate, and a holding member for holding the erection of the side
wall by reinforcing the hinge portions. Therefore, it is
possible to assemble and fold the container main body quickly
and securely in extremely simple operation.
- (2) Particularly, the four side walls foldable to the
bottom plate are hinged to the adjacent side walls respectively,
with two opposite side walls formed with angular hinge portions
rising from both lower ends of the side walls, and sliders for
reinforcing the hinge portions are provided. According to this
container, it is possible to further improve the above effect.
- (3) Further, the bottom plate and the four side walls that
form the container main body, and the lid unit are formed as
three-wall structures having two air layers inside respectively.
Therefore, it is possible to securely shut out the external air
and insulate and keep cool the inside of the container.
- (4) It is possible to further improve the above effect,
particularly by providing a container having a foldable inner
case, with a set of folding lids mounted inside the lid unit
and the container main body, more preferably, a container having
the inner case made of a material prepared by having an
aluminum-deposited polyester film adhered to foamed
polyethylene
- (5) Further, as the bottom plate and the four side walls
that form the container main body, and the lid unit are made
of the same material consisting of a transparent synthetic resin,
it is possible to confirm the products accommodated in the
container main body from the outside. Further, as the inner
wall of the container main body is a smooth surface having no
micro pores at all, it is possible to prevent propagation of
bacteria. After using the container main body, it is possible
to use this container main body again by simply cleaning it.
Further, as the container main body and the lid unit are made
of the same material, it is possible to use them for recycling
of the raw material, by crashing the container after the lapse
of the service period.
- (6) Further, as a recess portion is formed on the upper
surface of the lid unit, and also stretched bases for engagement
with this recess portion are provided on the lower surface of
the bottom plate of the container main body, a collapse or a
positional deviation does not occur even when a plurality of
distribution containers are conveyed in a stacked status. When
the container main bodies are stacked in a flat folded status,
the bases are engaged with the recess portion formed on the
container main body positioned above. Therefore, it is
possible to prevent a positional deviation.
- (7) Further, as the lower surface of the bottom plate is
formed in a shape to be engaged with the upper opening of the
container main body, it is possible to seal the inside without
the lid unit, by stacking the distribution containers.
- (8) Further, as an IC card accommodation pocket capable
of accommodating an IC card is provided on the side wall of the
container main body, a relationship between the accommodated
product and the convey destination becomes clear. It also
becomes possible to prevent troubles like an error in the
contents and a transportation error, etc.
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