JP2000255536A - Cooling container and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a cooling plastic container usable repetitively for obtaining solid bodies in a fixed shape and to reduce the time required for cooling by a method wherein a metal layer is formed at the internal surface and/or external surface of the plastic container which has an opening and is elastically deformable a film layer is formed thereon so as to cover at least the metal layer. SOLUTION: A laminated body 2 having at least a film layer 3 and a metal layer 4 is arranged a molding die and a cavity formed by mold clamping is filled with a melted resin, and the die is opened after cooling and the laminated body 2 is united with a container 1. The laminated body 2 has at least the film layer 3 and the metal layer 4, and the film layer 3 protects the metal layer 4 and has a function of allowing contents 7 to be taken out easily. With a fluoridated film used, mold releasing becomes excellent and the contents can be taken out with the shape being maintained. The metal layer 4 is made of a metal such as aluminum and because of its excellent heat conductance, the contents can be cooled effectively. The laminated body 2 is resistive against repetitive twisting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for cooling a liquid material and solidifying it into an arbitrary shape. The container can be used repeatedly after taking out the solidified material and a method for producing the same. About. It is mainly used as a container for making frozen desserts, ice, and the like that are cooled and used in the refrigerator at home.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a container for cooling a liquid content and solidifying it into an arbitrary shape, a metal container such as aluminum is used as a cooling container which can be used repeatedly after taking out the solidified material. There were containers made of resin and containers made of resin such as polypropylene and polyethylene.

[0003] Metal containers have excellent thermal conductivity,
There is an advantage that the contents can be cooled quickly. In addition, the resin container has an advantage that it is not easily plastically deformed and is suitable for repeated use.

[0004]

However, a metal container has a problem that it is difficult to take out the solidified material because the container is hard to twist when the solidified material is taken out, and in some cases, the solidified material cannot be taken out according to the shape of the container. there were. Further, when the metal is thinned and twisted easily, the metal is plastically deformed at the time of removal and does not return to the original shape, so that there is a problem that it cannot be used repeatedly to obtain a solidified product having the same shape.

On the other hand, a resin container has a problem that it takes a long time to cool the contents because of poor thermal conductivity.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling container which can be used repeatedly to obtain a solidified product having a predetermined shape, and which can shorten the cooling time, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, in the cooling container of the present invention, a metal layer is formed on an inner surface and / or an outer surface of an elastically deformable plastic container having an opening, and a film layer is further formed thereon so as to cover at least the metal layer. It was configured to be formed.

Further, in the above invention, the plastic container and the metal layer may be configured to be bonded via an adhesive film.

In the above invention, the film layer may be constituted by a fluorine-containing film.

In the above invention, the metal constituting the metal layer may have a thermal conductivity of 80 W / m · k or more.

Further, in the above invention, the metal layer may be exposed at the end face.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing a cooling container of the present invention, a laminate having at least a film layer and a metal layer is arranged in a molding die, and a cavity formed by clamping is filled with a molten resin; After cooling, the mold was opened, and the elastically deformable plastic container and the laminate were integrated.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing a cooling container of the present invention, a laminate having at least a film layer and a metal layer is preformed into a predetermined shape, then mounted on a molding die, and formed by clamping. Filling the cavity with molten resin,
After cooling, the mold was opened, and the elastically deformable plastic container and the laminate were integrated.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a cooling container according to the present invention. 2 to 4 are sectional views showing one of the steps of the method for manufacturing a cooling container of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pattern of a metal layer of the cooling container of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a plastic container, 2 is a laminated body, 3 is a film layer, 4 is a metal layer, 5 is an adhesive layer, 6 is an adhesive film, 7 is a content, and 8 is an uneven portion.

According to the cooling container of the present invention, a metal layer 4 is formed on the inner surface and / or outer surface of an elastically deformable plastic container 1 having an opening, and a film layer is formed thereon so as to cover at least the metal layer 4. 3 is formed (see FIG. 1). In order to obtain a cooling container having such a configuration, the laminate 2 having at least the film layer 3 and the metal layer 4 is arranged in a molding die, and a cavity formed by clamping is filled with a molten resin. After cooling, open the mold,
It is preferable to integrate the plastic container 1 and the laminate 2.
Alternatively, after forming the laminate 2 having at least the film layer 3 and the metal layer 4 into a predetermined shape, the laminate 2 is attached to a mold,
The cavity formed by mold clamping is filled with molten resin, and after cooling, the mold is opened, and the plastic container 1 and the laminate 2 are opened.
(See FIGS. 2 to 4).

The laminate 2 has at least a film layer 3 and a metal layer 4 (see FIG. 2).

The film layer 3 has a function of protecting the metal layer 4 and facilitating the removal of the contents 7. Film layer 3
Since it is necessary to form into a shape conforming to the shape of the cooling container in the manufacturing process, it is preferable to use a material having excellent moldability. As such a film layer 3, polyethylene, polypropylene, chlorinated polypropylene, polyester, urethane, Teflon, vinylidene fluoride,
Examples include a single-layer film of silicone or the like, and a mixed or laminated film thereof. In particular, it is preferable to use a fluorine-containing film such as Teflon or vinylidene fluoride as the film layer 3 because the content 7 can be taken out while maintaining excellent shape with excellent releasability.

The thickness of the film layer 3 is suitably from 4 to 300 μm, and more preferably from 16 to 100 μm.
If the thickness of the film layer 3 is less than 4 μm, lamination with the metal layer 4 is difficult, and the protective function is insufficient. Also,
If the thickness exceeds 300 μm, the cooling effect is impaired, and the economy is further impaired.

The metal layer 4 has a function of enhancing the cooling effect of the contents 7 due to its excellent thermal conductivity. The thickness of the metal layer 4 is suitably from 7 to 400 μm, and more preferably from 50 to 100 μm. If the thickness of the metal layer 4 is less than 7 μm, the cooling effect will be insufficient, and if it exceeds 400 μm, the moldability will be poor.

Generally, metal has higher thermal conductivity than resin, so that the cooling effect can be increased. In particular, the metal layer 4
The effect is more remarkable when the thermal conductivity of the metal constituting is 80 W / m · k or more. Such metals include iron, nickel, chromium, indium, and the like. Most preferably, the thermal conductivity is at least 150 W / mk. Such metals include aluminum, copper, magnesium.

For laminating the film layer 3 and the metal layer 4, an ordinary laminating method can be used. For example, a so-called thermal laminating method in which the metal layer 4 is bonded by heating until the surface of the film layer 3 exhibits adhesiveness, a so-called dry laminating method in which the film layer 3 and the metal layer 4 are bonded through an adhesive, and the like. is there. Further, a so-called extrusion coating method in which a resin to be the film layer 3 is coated on the metal layer 4 by extrusion molding may be adopted. Further, the metal layer 4 may be formed on the film layer 3 by a plating method or the like. The film layer 3 is configured to cover at least the metal layer 4.

The metal layer 4 may be partially formed. When the metal layer 4 is partially provided, the metal layer 4 formed in a predetermined shape in advance may be bonded to a predetermined portion of the film layer 3. After the metal layer 4 is bonded to the entire surface of the film layer 3, the metal layer 4 may be partially formed in a predetermined shape by an etching method or the like. If the metal layer 4 is provided in a portion requiring cooling and the metal layer 4 is not formed in a portion which is greatly deformed when the contents 7 are taken out, the durability of the cooling container can be further increased.
As an example of such a case where the metal layer 4 is partially provided, a pattern of the metal layer 4 as shown in FIG. 5 can be used.

Further, an adhesive layer 5 may be provided in order to improve the adhesion of the surface of the laminate 2 to be bonded to the molding resin. The adhesive layer 5 may be appropriately selected from those that adhere to the molding resin and the metal layer 4, and are not particularly limited. For example, a polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, or the like can be used.
Further, as the adhesive layer 5, polyurethane, polyethylene,
Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVA), polyester,
An adhesive film 6 made of polypropylene or the like may be provided by being laminated on the metal layer 4. For laminating the adhesive film 6 on the metal layer 4, the same method as that for laminating the film layer 3 and the metal layer 4 can be used. The thickness of the adhesive film 6 is suitably from 4 to 300 μm. When the adhesive films 6 are laminated, the total thickness of the laminate 2 is preferably 100 to 1000 μm. 1
When the thickness is smaller than 00 μm, when the molding resin is injected, wrinkles are easily generated in the laminate 2 due to the heat pressure of the molding resin. 1000
If it exceeds μm, the moldability of the laminate 2 is poor, and it is difficult to process the laminate 2 into a three-dimensional shape. In particular, 250
６００600 μm is preferred. The laminate 2 in this range has good workability of punching, cutting, and inserting the laminate 2 into an arbitrary shape. Further, since the laminate 2 is excellent in moldability, the laminate 2 can be processed into a three-dimensional shape in a short time.

Next, a method for manufacturing a cooling container using the laminate 2 having the above-described structure will be described.

First, the laminate 2 is set on the surface of a movable mold, which is a mold for injection molding, by a clamp member.

As a specific example of a method of setting a movable mold, the long laminate 2 is once wound around a roll shaft to form a roll, and the roll is moved above the movable mold for injection molding. It is placed so as to be movable integrally with the mold, and while unwinding the laminate 2 from the roll-shaped roll, it is passed between the retracted movable mold and the fixed mold, and the movable mold is placed under the movable mold for injection molding. What is necessary is just to wind up the laminated body 2 by the roll axis | shaft of the film winding means installed movably integrally. As another example, it is also possible to use a single-wafer laminated body 2 and set it on a movable surface by a robot or manually. When setting the laminate 2 on the surface of the movable mold, the laminate 2 is disposed on the surface of the movable mold, and then the position of the laminate 2 with respect to the surface of the movable mold is determined by a positioning sensor or the like, and the laminate 2 is ejected. It is preferable to press down on the surface of the movable mold for molding by a clamp member.

Next, after the laminate 2 is set on the surface of the movable mold for injection molding, the laminate 2 is placed on the cavity forming surface of the movable mold by utilizing the vacuum suction holes formed in the movable mold for injection molding. By performing vacuum suction so as to conform to the shape of the cavity, the movable mold for injection molding is processed into a three-dimensional shape along the concave portion, that is, the cavity forming surface of the cavity. As a specific example, a heating plate inserted between the movable mold and the fixed mold, etc.
The laminate 2 set on the surface of the movable mold is heated and softened to a temperature higher than its softening point, and the space between the concave portion of the movable mold for injection molding and the laminate 2 is sealed and exhausted from the vacuum suction hole. There is a method of vacuum suction and bringing the laminate 2 into close contact with the inner surface (cavity forming surface) of the concave portion of the movable mold for injection molding. When processing into a three-dimensional shape, or when pressing and fixing the laminate 2 with a clamp member, an unnecessary portion of the laminate 2 may be punched.

Instead of the above-described method, before setting the laminate 2 on the surface of the movable mold for injection molding, the laminate 2 is formed by using a three-dimensional processing mold different from the movable mold for injection molding and the fixed mold. 2 is preformed three-dimensionally into a desired shape (see FIG. 3), and after punching into a desired shape (see FIG. 4), the three-dimensionally processed laminate 2 is placed in the concave portion of the movable mold for injection molding. You may make it fit. Examples of a method of processing into a three-dimensional shape include a vacuum forming method, a pressure forming method, a press forming method of pressing heated rubber, a press forming method, and a hydroforming method. It should be noted that punching may be performed at the same time as processing into a three-dimensional shape. Moreover, after punching, it may be processed into a three-dimensional shape.

Next, the movable mold is closed with respect to the fixed mold, and the molded resin in a molten state is injected into the cavity from the gate portion of the fixed mold, and the molded resin is solidified to form the plastic container 1 in the cavity. And at the same time a laminate 2
Are bonded together.

The place where the laminated body 2 is disposed is preferably a portion in contact with the contents 7 of the cooling container, but if it is further extended to an upper part where the contents 7 are not in contact, heat exchange between the contents 7 and the cool air is promptly performed. The cooling effect is great because it can be achieved Also,
If the cross section of the metal layer 4 is exposed by exposing the cross section of the laminate 2, the heat exchange with the cool air can be quickly achieved, so that the cooling effect is increased. Further, the place where the laminated body 2 is disposed may be either the inner surface or the outer surface of the cooling container, or may be disposed on both surfaces.

As the molding resin, a resin that can withstand a twist in taking out a solid material is preferable, and a resin that is easily elastically deformed is preferable. As such a molding resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and the like are preferable.

The shape of the molded article may be one piece or a plurality of pieces.

After removing the molded product from the movable mold, unnecessary portions of the laminate 2 adhered to the plastic container 1 are removed. In the case where the desired shape has been punched in advance as described above, the operation of removing unnecessary portions of the laminate 2 is unnecessary.

In the case of the horizontal injection molding machine, as described above, in the case of the vertical injection molding machine, the relationship between the fixed mold and the movable mold is opposite to that in the case of the horizontal injection molding machine. The mold of the injection molding machine can be applied not only to the case of a two-piece mold but also to the case of a three-piece mold.

[0037]

EXAMPLE A metal layer made of chlorinated polypropylene having a thickness of 100 μm and aluminum having a thickness of 100 μm was used as a metal layer. Both were dry-laminated via a urethane-based adhesive and laminated. Then, a film made of polypropylene having a thickness of 100 μm was laminated as an adhesive film on the metal layer side by a dry lamination method via a urethane-based adhesive to obtain a laminate.

The laminate thus obtained was preformed into a pudding container shape by a mold press, and unnecessary portions were cut and removed.

Next, the preformed laminate was mounted on a molding die and molded using polypropylene as a molding resin.

Thus, a cooling container having a metal layer covered with a film layer on the inner surface of the polypropylene container was obtained.

When the pudding material was cooled as a content using the cooling container thus obtained, a pudding having a well-formed shape could be repeatedly produced in a short time.

[0042]

Since the present invention employs the above-described configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, in the laminate of the present invention, a metal layer is formed on the inner surface and / or the outer surface of an elastically deformable plastic container having an opening, and a film layer is formed thereon so as to cover at least the metal layer. So that it can withstand repeated twists,
Moreover, it has excellent heat conductivity and a high cooling effect.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing a laminate of the present invention, a laminate having at least a film layer and a metal layer is arranged in a molding die, a cavity formed by mold clamping is filled with a molten resin, and cooled. Since the rear mold is opened and the elastically deformable plastic container and the laminate are configured to be integrated, a cooling container that can be used repeatedly to obtain a solidified product of a certain shape and can reduce the cooling time can be achieved. Can be easily obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a cooling container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing one of the steps of the method for manufacturing a cooling container of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing one of the steps of the method for manufacturing a cooling container of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing one of the steps of the method for manufacturing a cooling container of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a pattern of a metal layer of the cooling container of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plastic container 2 Laminated body 3 Film layer 4 Metal layer 5 Adhesive layer 6 Adhesive film 7 Contents 8 Uneven part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B29L 22:00 F term (Reference) 3E033 BA07 BA08 BA09 BA13 BA15 BA16 BA17 BB08 FA01 FA02 GA03 4B014 GB18 GB21 GE12 GQ08 GU25 4F100 AB01B AK01A AK01C AK17A BA03 BA10A BA10C CB00 DB01 EA061 EC032 EH362 EJ502 EJ933 GB16 GB23 JJ01B JK07 YY00B 4F206 AA04 AA11 AA16 AD03 AD08 AG03 AH55 JA07 JB13 JB24

Claims (7)

[Claims] A metal layer is formed on an inner surface and / or an outer surface of an elastically deformable plastic container having an opening, and a film layer is formed thereon so as to cover at least the metal layer. Container for cooling. 2. The cooling container according to claim 1, wherein the plastic container and the metal layer are bonded via an adhesive film. 3. The cooling container according to claim 1, wherein the film layer is a fluorine-containing film. 4. The metal constituting the metal layer has a thermal conductivity of 80.
The cooling container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is at least W / mk. 5. A metal layer is exposed on an end face.
5. The cooling container according to any one of 4. 6. A laminate having at least a film layer and a metal layer is placed in a molding die, a molten resin is filled in a cavity formed by clamping, and after cooling, the die is opened.
A method for manufacturing a cooling container, wherein an elastically deformable plastic container and a laminate are integrated. 7. A laminate having at least a film layer and a metal layer is preformed into a predetermined shape, then mounted on a molding die, a cavity formed by mold clamping is filled with a molten resin, and cooled. A method for manufacturing a cooling container, comprising opening a mold and integrating an elastically deformable plastic container and a laminate.