EP4653334A1

EP4653334A1 - Paper container

Info

Publication number: EP4653334A1
Application number: EP23917589.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kouya Nakamura
Original assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd; Jujo Paper Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd; Jujo Paper Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-01-18
Filing date: 2023-08-31
Publication date: 2025-11-26
Also published as: WO2024154376A1; JPWO2024154376A1; KR20250136802A; TW202430437A

Abstract

In order to obtain a paper container that can easily pour out a liquid matter from the paper container in a short time with as little residue of the liquid matter as possible, in a body left side panel (7) contiguous with a gable wall forming panel (23) of a gable roof-type paper container (1), an imaginary base point (A) is set on an imaginary vertical line laterally bisecting the body left side panel (7) at a center of the body left side panel (7), and is set at a position distant by a half of a length of a bottom portion horizontal folding line (36) from a middle position in a length direction of the bottom portion horizontal folding line (36) at a lower end of the body left side panel (7). The body left side panel (7) has: first auxiliary folding crease lines (42) extending toward both ends of the bottom portion horizontal folding line (36) from the base point (A); a second auxiliary folding crease line (43) extending vertically from the base point (A) toward a top portion horizontal folding line (25); and a third auxiliary folding crease line (44) extending horizontally from the base point (A) to the body front panel (6) side to reach the body front panel (6) across a body vertical folding line (4) of the body front panel (6).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a paper container for storing a liquid matter.

Background Art

Hitherto, as a paper container for storing a liquid matter, there has been known a paper container, including: a body front panel, a body left side panel, a body right side panel, and a body back panel, which are contiguous with each other through body vertical folding lines; a vertical direction sealing panel, which allows edge portions of two of the body front panel, the body left side panel, the body right side panel, and the body back panel to be joined to each other so that a quadrangular tubular body is formed; a pair of gable roof forming panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with an upper end of the body front panel and an upper end of the body back panel through top portion horizontal folding lines, and include outer-side top sealing panels at upper portions of the pair of gable roof forming panels, respectively; a pair of gable wall forming panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with an upper end of the body left side panel and an upper end of the body right side panel through top portion horizontal folding lines, and include inner-side top sealing panels at upper portions of the pair of gable wall forming panels, respectively, any one of the pair of gable wall forming panels being formed into a pouring spout to be unsealed; a top portion formed by folding the pair of gable wall forming panels between the pair of gable roof forming panels, and by heating, sealing, and tightly closing the outer-side top sealing panels and the inner-side top sealing panels at predetermined positions; a pair of bottom panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with a lower end of the body front panel and a lower end of the body back panel through bottom portion horizontal folding lines; a pair of inner panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with a lower end of the body left side panel and a lower end of the body right side panel through bottom portion horizontal folding lines; and a bottom portion formed by folding, sealing, and tightly closing the pair of bottom panels and the pair of inner panels, any one or both of the body left side panel and the body right side panel, which is contiguous through the top portion horizontal folding line with one of the pair of gable wall forming panel on an unsealed side, having an unsealing auxiliary crease line that has a downwardly curved shape and has end portions arranged so as to connect positions at or near intersections of end portions of the body vertical folding lines on both sides of any one or both of the body left side panel and the body right side panel on the unsealed side and end portions of the top portion horizontal folding line (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
When the liquid matter stored in such paper containers is a viscous liquid matter, the liquid matter removes from inner surfaces of the paper container poorly, and a large amount of the liquid matter tends to remain in the paper container.
As a solution to such a problem, hitherto, a paper container having inner surfaces processed to improve liquid removal has been proposed (see Patent Literature 3). The paper container described in Patent Literature 3 is formed of a laminate including at least paper, a barrier layer, and a sealant layer laminated from an outer side of the laminate in the stated order. The paper container is characterized in that the sealant layer contains a resin mixture of a silicone-modified polyolefin-based resin, which is an olefinic polymer graft-polymerized with organosiloxane, and a non-modified polyolefin-based resin.
According to the paper container described in Patent Literature 3, the sealant layer, which is provided on an inner surface side of the paper container, contains a resin mixture of a silicone-modified polyolefin-based resin, which is an olefinic polymer graft-polymerized with organosiloxane, and a non-modified polyolefin-based resin. This can improve liquid removal and reduce an amount of the remaining liquid in the paper container.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[PTL 1] JP 2002-234524 A
[PTL 2] JP 2021-88402 A
[PTL 3] JP 2007-176538 A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

The paper container as described in Patent Literature 3 contains silicone in the sealant layer, and thus can improve liquid removal and reduce the amount of the remaining liquid in the paper container. However, a liquid removal property is not uniform depending on the viscosity of the liquid matter. When the viscosity is high, the liquid removal takes a long time, and thus there is a problem in that it becomes difficult to reduce the amount of the remaining liquid in the paper container. Further, the sealant layer contains silicone, which leads to corresponding increase in cost as a problem.
The inventor of the present invention has conducted a series of tests and studies in order to easily pour out a liquid matter from a paper container in a short time with as little residue of the liquid matter as possible, regardless of the viscosity of the liquid matter. As a result, the inventor of the present invention has come up with the idea of forming a paper container foldable without any gaps as much as possible so as to squeeze out the liquid matter, and thus has been conceived of the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper container, which can easily pour out a liquid matter from the paper container in a short time with as little residue of the liquid matter as possible, regardless of the viscosity of the liquid matter.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the invention described in claim 1, there is provided a paper container, including: a body front panel, a body left side panel, a body right side panel, and a body back panel, which are contiguous with each other through body vertical folding lines; a vertical direction sealing panel, which allows edge portions of two of the body front panel, the body left side panel, the body right side panel, and the body back panel to be joined to each other so that a quadrangular tubular body is formed; a pair of gable roof forming panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with an upper end of the body front panel and an upper end of the body back panel through top portion horizontal folding lines, and include outer-side top sealing panels at upper portions of the pair of gable roof forming panels, respectively; a pair of gable wall forming panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with an upper end of the body left side panel and an upper end of the body right side panel through top portion horizontal folding lines, and include inner-side top sealing panels at upper portions of the pair of gable wall forming panels, respectively, any one or both of the pair of gable wall forming panels being formed into a pouring spout to be unsealed; a top portion formed by folding the pair of gable wall forming panels between the pair of gable roof forming panels, and by heating, sealing, and tightly closing the outer-side top sealing panels and the inner-side top sealing panels at predetermined positions; a pair of bottom panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with a lower end of the body front panel and a lower end of the body back panel through bottom portion horizontal folding lines; a pair of inner panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with a lower end of the body left side panel and a lower end of the body right side panel through bottom portion horizontal folding lines; and a bottom portion formed by folding, sealing, and tightly closing the pair of bottom panels and the pair of inner panels, the body left side panel or the body right side panel, which is contiguous through the top portion horizontal folding line with one of the pair of gable wall forming panel on an unsealed side, having an unsealing auxiliary crease line that has a downwardly curved shape and has end portions arranged so as to connect positions at or near intersections of end portions of the body vertical folding lines on both sides of the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side and end portions of the top portion horizontal folding line. In the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side, an imaginary base point is set on an imaginary vertical line laterally bisecting the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side at a center of the body left side panel or the body right side panel, and is set at a position distant by a half of a length of the bottom portion horizontal folding line from a middle position in a length direction of the bottom portion horizontal folding line at the lower end of the body left side panel or the lower end of the body right side panel on the unsealed side. The body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side has: first auxiliary folding crease lines extending toward both ends of the bottom portion horizontal folding line from the base point or a vicinity of the base point; a second auxiliary folding crease line extending vertically from the base point or the vicinity of the base point toward the unsealing auxiliary crease line; and a third auxiliary folding crease line extending horizontally from the base point or the vicinity of the base point to the body front panel side to reach the body front panel across the body vertical folding line of the body front panel.
According to the invention described in claim 1, at the time of pouring out a liquid matter from the paper container, the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is pulled out and unsealed to form a pouring spout, and then the liquid matter is poured out. Under a state in which the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is pulled out, the tubular body is sandwiched and crushed from both side edges of the body left side panel and the body right side panel. Thus, the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side is mountain-folded along the first auxiliary folding crease lines, and a portion of the body left side panel or a portion of the body right side panel above the base point is mountain-folded along the second auxiliary folding crease line. Further, along with the mountain-folding along the second auxiliary folding crease line, the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is mountain-folded in the same direction as that of the mountain-folding along the second auxiliary folding crease line. In addition, the body left side panel or the body right side panel is valley-folded along the third auxiliary folding crease line, and along with the valley-folding along the third auxiliary folding crease line, the body front panel is valley-folded along the third auxiliary folding crease line 44 that reaches the body front panel across the body vertical folding line. Accordingly, when crushing of the both side edges of the body left side panel and the body right side panel of the tubular body is continued, inner surfaces of the tubular body are brought into press contact with each other, thereby being capable of folding the paper container into a flat state with almost no gap.
Accordingly, when the liquid matter is viscous and removes poorly so that a large amount of the liquid matter remains in the paper container, the liquid matter remaining in the paper container can be easily squeezed out and an amount of the remaining liquid can be reduced, by simple work of folding the paper container.
According to the invention described in claim 2, in claim 1, the second auxiliary folding crease line, which is formed on the body left side panel or the body right side panel contiguous with the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side, is formed so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line.
According to the invention described in claim 2, the second auxiliary folding crease line, which is formed on the body left side panel or the body right side panel contiguous with the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side, is formed so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line. Thus, at the time of unsealing the paper container, the top-portion corner portion of the tubular body formed by folding along the top portion horizontal folding line of the body left side panel with which the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is contiguous or along the top portion horizontal folding line of the body right side panel with which the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is contiguous, or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion is pushed in, the body left side panel or the body right side panel is mountain-folded along the unsealing auxiliary crease line to dent any one or both of an upper end portion of the body left side panel and an upper end portion of the body right side panel, and a space that opens among the gable wall forming panels and the body left side panel or the body right side panel is expanded, thereby allowing fingers to be inserted into the space easily. In the invention described in claim 2, the second auxiliary folding crease line, which is formed on the body left side panel or the body right side panel contiguous with the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side, is formed so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line. Thus, it is possible to prevent a force, which is generated when the top-portion corner portion of the tubular body formed by folding along the top portion horizontal folding line of the body left side panel with which the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is contiguous or along the top portion horizontal folding line of the body right side panel with which the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side is contiguous, or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion is pushed in, from being exerted to induce folding along the second auxiliary folding crease line.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent deformation of the body left side panel or the body right side panel due to the force exerted on the body left side panel or the body right side panel at the time of pushing in the top-portion corner portion of the tubular body or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion, and thus it is possible to reliably dent the upper end portion of the body left side panel or the upper end portion of the body right side panel along the unsealing auxiliary crease line.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to the paper container according to the present invention, when the liquid matter is viscous and removes poorly so that a large amount of the liquid matter remains in the paper container, the liquid matter remaining in the paper container can be easily squeezed out and an amount of the remaining liquid can be reduced, by simple work of folding the paper container.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a first example of a paper container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view for illustrating a carton blank for the paper container illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for illustrating another example of a third auxiliary folding crease line illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for illustrating an unsealed state of the paper container illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for illustrating a step of folding the unsealed paper container illustrated in FIG. 4 to squeeze out a remaining liquid.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for illustrating the step of folding the unsealed paper container illustrated in FIG. 4 to squeeze out the remaining liquid.
FIG. 7 is a plan view for illustrating a carton blank for a second example of the paper container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for illustrating an unsealed state of the paper container formed of the carton blank illustrated in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view for illustrating a step of folding the unsealed paper container illustrated in FIG. 8 to squeeze out the remaining liquid.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view for illustrating the step of folding the unsealed paper container illustrated in FIG. 8 to squeeze out the remaining liquid.

Description of Embodiments

Now, a paper container according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 are illustrations of a first example of a paper container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating the first example of the paper container. FIG. 2 is a plan view for illustrating a carton blank for the paper container illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for illustrating another example of a third auxiliary folding crease line illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for illustrating an unsealed state of the paper container illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are each an explanatory view for illustrating a step of folding the unsealed paper container illustrated in FIG. 4 to squeeze out a remaining liquid.
A paper container 1 in this example is formed of a carton blank 2 that is a paperboard material illustrated in FIG. 1 having a thermoplastic resin laminated on each of a front surface and a back surface thereof. The carton blank 2 includes four body panels contiguous with each other through body vertical folding lines 3, 4, and 5. One of the four body panels is used as a body front panel 6, and the others are used as a body left side panel 7, a body right side panel 8, and a body back panel 9.
At the time of forming the paper container 1, a vertical direction sealing panel 11 contiguous with the body right side panel 8 through a body vertical folding line 10 is joined to an edge portion 12 of the body back panel 9 so that the body front panel 6, the body left side panel 7, the body right side panel 8, and the body back panel 9 form a quadrangular tubular body 13 of the paper container 1.
A pair of gable roof forming panels 16 and 17 are contiguous with an upper end of the body panel 6 and an upper end of the body panel 9 through top portion horizontal folding lines 18 and 19. The pair of gable roof forming panels 16 and 17 include outer-side top sealing panels 14 and 15 at upper portions thereof, respectively, and are opposed to each other.
Further, a pair of gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 are contiguous with an upper end of the body left side panel 7 and an upper end of the body right side panel 8 through top portion horizontal folding lines 25 and 26. The pair of gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 include inner-side top sealing panels 20 and 21 at upper portions thereof, respectively, and are opposed to each other. Any one of the pair of gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 is formed into a pouring spout 22 and unsealed. In the first example, the gable wall forming panel 23 serves as an unsealed-side gable wall forming panel.
Guide folding lines 27 and 28 are formed on portions of the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17, respectively. Along the guide folding lines 27 and 28, folding of the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17 is guided at the time of unsealing. Further, tuck-in folding lines 29 and 30 are formed on the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24. Along the tuck-in folding lines 29 and 30, the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 are folded between the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17.
Then, at the time of forming the paper container 1, the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 are folded between the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17, and the outer-side top sealing panels 14 and 15 and the inner-side top sealing panels 20 and 21 are heated, sealed, and tightly closed at predetermined positions, thereby forming a gable roof-shaped top portion 31.
Further, a pair of bottom panels 34 and 35 are contiguous with a lower end of the body front panel 6 and a lower end of the body back panel 9 through bottom portion horizontal folding lines 32 and 33, and are opposed to each other. A pair of inner panels 38 and 39 are contiguous with a lower end of the body left side panel 7 and a lower end of the body right side panel 8 through bottom portion horizontal folding lines 36 and 37, and are opposed to each other. At the time of forming the paper container 1, the bottom panels 34 and 35 and the pair of inner panels 38 and 39 are folded, sealed, and tightly closed to form a bottom portion 40.
Further, an unsealing auxiliary crease line 41 having a downwardly curved shape is formed on the body left side panel 7 contiguous with the gable wall forming panel 23 on unsealed side through the top portion horizontal folding line 25. The unsealing auxiliary crease line 41 has end portions arranged so as to connect positions at or near intersections of end portions of the body vertical folding lines 3 and 4 on both sides of the body left side panel 7 and end portions of the top portion horizontal folding line 25.
Further, in the body left side panel 7, an imaginary base point A is set on an imaginary vertical line laterally bisecting the body left side panel 7 at a center of the body left side panel 7, and is set at a position distant by a half of a length of the bottom portion horizontal folding line 36 from a middle position in a length direction of the bottom portion horizontal folding line 36 at the lower end of the body left side panel 7. First auxiliary folding crease lines 42 are formed so as to extend toward both ends of the bottom portion horizontal folding line 36 from the base point A or a vicinity of the base point A. Further, a second auxiliary folding crease line 43 is formed so as to extend vertically from the base point A or the vicinity of the base point A toward the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41. Still further, a third auxiliary folding crease line 44 is formed so as to extend horizontally from the base point A or the vicinity of the base point A to the body front panel 6 side to reach the body front panel 6 across the body vertical folding line 4 of the body front panel 6.
Further, in the first example, the second auxiliary folding crease line 43 is formed on the body left side panel 7 so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41.
Further, in the first example, also on the body right side panel 8 contiguous through the top portion horizontal folding line 26 with the gable wall forming panel 24 that is not opened, similarly to the body left side panel 7, the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41 having a downwardly curved shape is formed. The unsealing auxiliary crease line 41 has end portions arranged so as to connect positions at or near intersections of end portions of the body vertical folding lines 3 and 4 on both sides of the body right side panel 8 and end portions of the top portion horizontal folding line 25.
Further, an imaginary base point A is set on an imaginary vertical line laterally bisecting the body right side panel 8 at a center of the body right side panel 8, and is set at a position distant by a half of a length of the bottom portion horizontal folding line 37 from a middle position in a length direction of the bottom portion horizontal folding line 37 at the lower end of the body left side panel 7. First auxiliary folding crease lines 42 are formed so as to extend toward both ends of the bottom portion horizontal folding line 37 from the base point A or a vicinity of the base point A. Further, a second auxiliary folding crease line 43 is formed so as to extend vertically from the base point A or the vicinity of the base point A toward the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41. Still further, a third auxiliary folding crease line 44 is formed so as to extend horizontally from the base point A or the vicinity of the base point A to the body front panel 6 side to reach the body front panel 6 across the body vertical folding line 5 of the body front panel 6.
The third auxiliary folding crease line 44 formed on the body left side panel 7, and the third auxiliary folding crease line 44 formed on the body right side panel 8 may be formed so as to continuous with each other on the body front panel 6 as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Further, the second auxiliary folding crease line 43 is also formed on the body right side panel 8 so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41.
In the first example of the paper container 1 configured as described above, a viscous liquid matter in the paper container 1 is poured out as follows.
First, unsealing of the paper container 1 and pouring out of the liquid matter in the paper container 1 are described.
When a top-portion corner portion 45 of the tubular body 13 formed by folding along the top portion horizontal folding line 25 of the body left side panel 7 with which the gable wall forming panel 23 on the unsealed side is contiguous, or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion 45 is pushed in, the body left side panel 7 is mountain-folded along the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41, and thus an upper end portion of the body left side panel 7 is easily dented so that a space that opens between the gable wall forming panel 23 and the body left side panel 7 is expanded. Accordingly, fingers are inserted into the space to unfold the gable wall forming panel 23, and the outer-side top sealing panels 14 and 15 and the inner-side top sealing panels 20 and 21 are separated from each other while valley-folding the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17 along the guide folding line 27 and 28, thereby being capable of easily pulling out and unsealing the gable wall forming panel 23 to form a pouring spout 22 (see FIG. 4). Thus, the liquid matter in the paper container 1 is poured out from the pouring spout 22.
Next, pouring out of the liquid matter remaining in the paper container 1 is described.
Under a state in which the gable wall forming panel 23 is pulled out, the tubular body 13 is sandwiched and crushed from both side edges of the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 so that the body left side panel 7 is protruded to an outer side of the paper container 1 in the same direction as a direction of pulling out the gable wall forming panel 23, and that the body right side panel 8, which is contiguous with the unopened gable wall forming panel 24, is tucked in to an inner side of the paper container 1 in the same way as the gable wall forming panel 24.
With the crushing of the tubular body 13, the body left side panel 7 is mountain-folded along the first auxiliary folding crease lines 42, and a portion of the body left side panel 7 above the base point A is mountain-folded along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43. Further, along with the mountain-folding along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43, the gable wall forming panel 23 is mountain-folded in the same direction as that of the mountain-folding along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43.
At this time, on the body right side panel 8 contiguous with the gable wall forming panel 24 that is not opened, similarly to the body left side panel 7, the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41, the first auxiliary folding crease lines 42, the second auxiliary folding crease line 43, and the third auxiliary folding crease line 44 are formed. Accordingly, when the top-portion corner portion 45 of the tubular body 13 formed by folding along the top portion horizontal folding line 26 of the body left side panel 8 with which the gable wall forming panel 24 is contiguous, or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion 45 is pushed in, and at the same time, the body right side panel 8 is pushed in along the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41, the body right side panel 8 is valley-folded along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43 and along the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41 (see FIG. 5). Thus, the body right side panel 8 can be easily pushed in between the body front panel 6 and the body back panel 9.
When an upper portion of the tubular body panel 13 is crushed, the upper portion of the tubular body panel 13 including the gable wall forming panel 23 that is pulled out, the body left side panel 7 that is mountain-folded along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43, the gable wall forming panel 24 that is sealed at the top, and the body right side panel 8 that is valley-folded along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43, a lower portion of the tubular body panel 13, which includes the body left side panel 7 mountain-folded along the first auxiliary folding crease lines 42, and the valley-folded body right side panel 8, allows the bottom portion 40 to be folded to the body front panel 6 side along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44, each of which extends horizontally from the base point A or the vicinity of the base point A to the body front panel 6 side to reach the body front panel 6 across the body vertical folding line 4 or 5 of the body front panel 6. In this case, along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44, the body left side panel 7 and the body front panel 6 are valley-folded, and the body right side panel 8 is mountain-folded.
Further, when the crushing of the tubular body 13 is continued and the bottom portion 40, which has been folded back along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44 to the body front panel 6 side, is pressed to the body front panel 6 side, inner surfaces of the tubular body 13 are brought into press contact with each other, thereby being capable of folding the paper container 1 into a flat state with almost no gap (see FIG. 6).
The paper container 1 can be thus folded into a flat state with almost no gap. Accordingly, when the liquid matter is viscous and removes poorly so that a large amount of the liquid matter remains in the paper container 1, the liquid matter remaining in the paper container 1 can be easily squeezed out and an amount of the remaining liquid can be reduced, by simple work of folding the paper container 1 and pressing the bottom portion 40 with a thumb (In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the gable wall forming panel 23 is on the unsealed side, and the bottom portion 40 is located on a near side. This provides a positional relationship that allows the bottom portion 40 to be easily pressed with the thumb. Even when the gable wall forming panel 24 is on the unsealed side, the bottom portion 40 is similarly located on the near side, and this provides a positional relationship that allows the bottom portion 40 to be easily pressed with the thumb.).
Further, in the first example, the second auxiliary folding crease line 43, which is formed on the body left side panel 7 contiguous with the gable wall forming panel 23, is formed so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41. Accordingly, at the time of unsealing, it is possible to prevent deformation of the body left side panel 7 due to a force exerted on the body left side panel 7 at the time of pushing in the top-portion corner portion 45 of the tubular body 13 or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion 45, and thus it is possible to reliably dent the upper end portion of the body left side panel 7 along the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41.
FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 are illustrations of a second example of the paper container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view for illustrating a carton blank for the second example of the paper container. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for illustrating an unsealed state of the paper container formed of the carton blank illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are each an explanatory view for illustrating a step of folding the unsealed paper container illustrated in FIG. 8 to squeeze out the remaining liquid.
The second example of the paper container 1 does not differ from the first example of the paper container 1 in terms of the basic configuration, and the same components as those in the first example are described with the same reference symbols.
A difference between the second example and the first example of the paper container is that, in the second example, the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24, which are contiguous with the upper end of the body left side panel 7 and the upper end of the body right side panel 8 through the top portion horizontal folding lines 25 and 26, respectively, are both unsealed so as to be used as the pouring spout 22. That is, in the second example, a top portion 31 is fully opened and becomes the pouring spout 22.
In the second example of the paper container 1 configured as described above, a viscous liquid matter in the paper container 1 is poured out as follows.
First, unsealing of the paper container 1 and pouring out of the liquid matter in the paper container 1 are described.
For each of the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8, when the top-portion corner portion 45 of the tubular body 13 formed by folding along the top portion horizontal folding line 25 of the body left side panel 7 with which the gable wall forming panel 23 is contiguous or along the top portion horizontal folding line 26 of the body right side panel 8 with which the gable wall forming panel 24 is contiguous, or the vicinity of the top-portion corner portion 45 is pushed in, the body left side panel 7 or the body right side panel 8 is mountain-folded along the unsealing auxiliary crease line 41 at the upper end portion of the body left side panel 7 or the upper end portion of the body right side panel 8, and thus can be easily dented.
The pouring spout 22 is formed by: denting the upper end portions of the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8; expanding a space that opens among the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24, the body left side panel 7, and the body right side panel 8; inserting fingers into the space to unfold the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24; valley-folding the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17 along the guide folding lines 27 and 28 to separate the outer-side top sealing panels 14 and 15 and the inner-side top sealing panels 20 and 21 from each other; and pulling out and unsealing the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 (see FIG. 8). Thus, the liquid matter in the paper container 1 is poured out from the pouring spout 22.
The pouring spout 22 may also be formed as follows. After the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 are unfolded and the gable roof forming panels 16 and 17 are valley-folded along the guide folding lines 27 and 28 to separate the outer-side top sealing panels 14 and 15 from each other, and then without pulling out the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24, one valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 14 and one valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 15, which are diagonally located, are pulled away from each other to separate another valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 14 and another valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 15, which are diagonally located, from the inner-side top sealing panels 20 and 21. After that, the another valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 14 and the another valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 15 (that are unstuck) are similarly pulled away from each other to separate the one valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 14 and the one valley-folded end portion of the outer-side top sealing panel 15 from the inner-side top sealing panels 20 and 21, thereby unsealing the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24.
Next, pouring out of the liquid matter remaining in the paper container 1 is described.
Under a state in which the gable wall forming panels 23 and 24 are pulled out, the tubular body 13 is sandwiched and crushed from both side edges of the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8.
With the crushing of the tubular body 13, the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 are mountain-folded along the first auxiliary folding crease lines 42, and a portion of the body left side panel 7 above the base point A and a portion of the body right side panel 8 above the base point A are mountain-folded along the second auxiliary folding crease lines 43. Further, along with the mountain-folding along the second auxiliary folding crease lines 43, the gable wall forming panel 23 is mountain-folded in the same direction as that of the mountain-folding along the second auxiliary folding crease line 43. In addition, the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 are valley-folded along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44, and along with the valley-folding along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44, the body front panel 6 is valley-folded along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44 (see FIG. 9).
Further, when the crushing of the tubular body 13 is continued and the bottom portion 40, which has appeared to the body front panel 6 side along with the valley-folding along the third auxiliary folding crease lines 44, is pressed to the body front panel 6 side, inner surfaces of the tubular body 13 are brought into press contact with each other, thereby being capable of folding the paper container 1 into a flat state with almost no gap (see FIG. 10).
The paper container 1 can be thus folded into a flat state with almost no gap. Accordingly, when the liquid matter is viscous and removes poorly so that a large amount of the liquid matter remains in the paper container 1, the liquid matter remaining in the paper container 1 can be easily squeezed out and an amount of the remaining liquid can be reduced, by simple work of folding the paper container 1.
In the second example, after the top portion 31 is fully opened, the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 are mountain-folded along the first auxiliary folding lines 42, and both the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 are shaped to be protruded to the outer side of the paper container. However, even when the top portion 31 is fully opened, the liquid matter can be squeezed out by mountain-folding any one of the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 along the first auxiliary folding crease lines 42 and valley-folding another one of the body left side panel 7 and the body right side panel 8 as illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

Reference Signs List

1 paper container
2 carton blank
3, 4, 5 body vertical folding line
6 body front panel
7 body left side panel
8 body right side panel
9 body back panel
10 body vertical folding line
11 vertical direction sealing panel
12 edge portion
13 tubular body
14, 15 outer-side top sealing panel
16, 17 gable roof forming panel
18, 19 top portion horizontal folding line
20, 21 inner-side top sealing panel
22 pouring spout
23, 24 gable wall forming panel
25, 26 top portion horizontal folding line
27, 28 guide folding line
29, 30 tuck-in folding line
31 top portion
32, 33 bottom portion horizontal folding line
34, 35 bottom panel
36, 37 bottom portion horizontal folding line
38, 39 inner panel
40 bottom portion
41 unsealing auxiliary crease line
42 first auxiliary folding crease line
43 second auxiliary folding crease line
44 third auxiliary folding crease line
45 top-portion corner portion
A base point

Claims

A paper container, comprising:
a body front panel, a body left side panel, a body right side panel, and a body back panel, which are contiguous with each other through body vertical folding lines;

a vertical direction sealing panel, which allows edge portions of two of the body front panel, the body left side panel, the body right side panel, and the body back panel to be joined to each other so that a quadrangular tubular body is formed;

a pair of gable roof forming panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with an upper end of the body front panel and an upper end of the body back panel through top portion horizontal folding lines, and include outer-side top sealing panels at upper portions of the pair of gable roof forming panels, respectively;

a pair of gable wall forming panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with an upper end of the body left side panel and an upper end of the body right side panel through top portion horizontal folding lines, and include inner-side top sealing panels at upper portions of the pair of gable wall forming panels, respectively, any one or both of the pair of gable wall forming panels being formed into a pouring spout to be unsealed;

a top portion formed by folding the pair of gable wall forming panels between the pair of gable roof forming panels, and by heating, sealing, and tightly closing the outer-side top sealing panels and the inner-side top sealing panels at predetermined positions;

a pair of bottom panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with a lower end of the body front panel and a lower end of the body back panel through bottom portion horizontal folding lines;

a pair of inner panels, which are opposed to each other and contiguous with a lower end of the body left side panel and a lower end of the body right side panel through bottom portion horizontal folding lines; and

a bottom portion formed by folding, sealing, and tightly closing the pair of bottom panels and the pair of inner panels,

the body left side panel or the body right side panel, which is contiguous through the top portion horizontal folding line with one of the pair of gable wall forming panel on an unsealed side, having an unsealing auxiliary crease line that has a downwardly curved shape and has end portions arranged so as to connect positions at or near intersections of end portions of the body vertical folding lines on both sides of the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side and end portions of the top portion horizontal folding line,

wherein, in the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side, an imaginary base point is set on an imaginary vertical line laterally bisecting the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side at a center of the body left side panel or the body right side panel, and is set at a position distant by a half of a length of the bottom portion horizontal folding line from a middle position in a length direction of the bottom portion horizontal folding line at the lower end of the body left side panel or the lower end of the body right side panel on the unsealed side, and

wherein the body left side panel or the body right side panel on the unsealed side has: first auxiliary folding crease lines extending toward both ends of the bottom portion horizontal folding line from the base point or a vicinity of the base point; a second auxiliary folding crease line extending vertically from the base point or the vicinity of the base point toward the unsealing auxiliary crease line; and a third auxiliary folding crease line extending horizontally from the base point or the vicinity of the base point to the body front panel side to reach the body front panel across the body vertical folding line of the body front panel.
The paper container according to claim 1, wherein the second auxiliary folding crease line, which is formed on the body left side panel or the body right side panel contiguous with the gable wall forming panel on the unsealed side, is formed so as not to reach the unsealing auxiliary crease line.