JP2004535995A - Container with spout - Google Patents

Abstract

The container is particularly adapted for foodstuffs, from which the foodstuffs are pushed out through a spout (14). The spout shapes the product when the product is extruded, and the spout is such that the movement of the movable member 25 is restricted by the restricting means (28, 29) so that the member (25) is opened (14). Will be located across the product being extruded through.

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to containers, particularly food containers, wherein each container has a spout so that the internal volume of the container can be reduced so that the product can be pushed out of the spout.
[Background Art]
[0002]
Patent Documents 1 and 2 below disclose containers in which food, particularly ice cream, is extruded through a spout having a smaller cross-sectional area than the containers. In these conventional containers, the internal volume of the container is reduced by the deformation of the container. However, there are other ways to reduce the volume of the container, such as using a piston in the container. Such containers have a spout from which the product is discharged, the spout shaping the product and enhancing the appearance of the product during discharge.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
International Publication No. WO96 / 01224 pamphlet [Patent Document 2]
International Publication WO94 / 13154 pamphlet [Disclosure of the Invention]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0004]
Improving the practicality of the container requires a direct means of opening the spout providing sufficient assurance that the product will not be inadvertently discharged.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0005]
The present invention is a container having a spout, wherein the container is configured to reduce the internal volume of the container so that the product can be extruded from the spout, and the spout forms the product when the product is discharged. Wherein the spout is a member of the container that can be displaced to the outside of the container by the pressure of the product in the container, the opening of the displacement member, that is, the movement of the displacement member. Is limited by a movement restricting means coupled to the displacement member.
[0006]
Preferably, the displacement member is usually formed in one arc-shaped piece. Interconnecting means may be provided between successive pieces to make the interconnecting means fragile when the displacement member is subjected to the pressure of the product in the container. Advantageously, the product is formed into a star-shaped cross section with three to six pieces. The displacement members are separated by a weak radial line extending from the center of the spout.
[0007]
A spout is formed in the region of the container that is concavely shaped, and when the internal pressure of the container increases, the concave shape deforms outward to help the displacement members separate from one another.
[0008]
In one configuration, the displacement member involves a projecting means, and the displacement means engages with the means for adjusting the displacement member following the displacement, and the adjusting means regulates the movement of the displacement member. Control the cross-sectional shape of the extruded product.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0009]
Further features of the invention are illustrated by the following embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, and by the following figures.
【Example】
[0010]
The container shown in the drawing is intended for use in a dispensing device of the type described in the above-mentioned patents. In using the container, the container is filled with the product at a location remote from the dispensing device, frozen, transported to the device, and then dispensed by extrusion into a receiving container.
[0011]
The illustrated container comprises a base 11 and a lid or stopper 12. The base 11 has a hemispherical lower part 13 with a circular cross section, in which a spout 14 is formed located in the center of the base part 11, but if necessary one or more in the base 11 Can be provided. An intermediate step 15 on the base 11 and an outwardly sloping portion 16 ending at an edge 17 at the top of the base 11, which is an inlet 18, from which product is loaded into the base 11 from the inlet Is done. After filling, the stopper 12 is placed over the rim 17 and is sealingly engaged with the base 12. The plug 12 forms a hemispherical portion 20 in the center and expands upward, the hemisphere having a flattened area 21 in the center. If a food container is used, the product is pushed out of the spout 14 by a plunger (not shown) engaging the hemispherical part 20 and is discharged, and the inner surface part 13 of the base 11 Causing downward deformation. This deforming action reduces the internal volume of the container and pushes the product therein by pressure, causing the product to be extruded through the spout 14 in a known manner.
[0012]
The spout 14 is formed and arranged so that the outer shape of the product extruded through the spout is in the shape of the spout 14.
[0013]
In particular, FIGS. 3 to 6 show the spout 14 in one embodiment in more detail. In this configuration, the spout consists of five pieces 25, which are hingedly movable at 25A near the end of the widened piece, and when the container is ready for use, the 13 parts of the base 11 It is on the same plane as the lower side. Each segment 25 has a weak radial line formed between successive segments radially extending from the central portion 27. In that configuration, the pressure on the product inside the container causes the pieces to separate from each other along a weak line and rotate near the hinged line 25A, thereby causing the center to move as shown in FIG. The opening 30 is opened. The hinged line 25A is formed with a hinge that has been pre-processed in the molding process, for example, by partially reducing its thickness.
[0014]
Very preferably, the size and shape of the opening 30 is determined by the limit moved near the hinge 25A to which the piece 25 is attached. A projection or stop member 28 is formed on each piece 25 to predetermine the limit of this movement. Supplementary projections or stop members 29 are formed integrally with base member 13 and are arranged in line with stop members 28 to abut. The stop members 28 and 29 have abutment surfaces 28A and 29A which abut, during dispensing, the fragments 25 move closer to the hinges 25A, and the abutment surfaces 28A and 29A come into contact with each other and further fragment 25 Movement should be regulated near the hinge 25A. The stop members 28 and 29 are arranged in a predetermined size and regulate the piece to move a predetermined amount depending on the shape of the opening 30 required.
[0015]
As shown, the aperture 30 is shaped to form a star with five rays, but it is preferable to change the shape by increasing or decreasing the number of pieces to five, but still the aperture 30 is star-shaped. It is preferable that The stop members 28 and 29 are positioned to ensure movement near the hinge to which the fragments 25 are joined, and the restricted movement limits form the opening 30 in the desired shape. If the piece 25 is moved to a position at a right angle to the base, the shape of the opening will be pentagonal, and when the product is extruded through the opening 30, the cross-sectional shape will no longer form a star. For ice cream products, customers generally prefer ice cream extruded into a star-shaped cross-section. The arrangement shown ensures this by opening the spout arrangement under the pressure at which the product is released.
[0016]
7 and 8 show another example of the configuration of the spout. In this example, the configuration is similar to the previous embodiment, but with the concave surface projecting outside the container when the piece 25 is closed. The arrangement of the stop members 28 and 29 for each piece is similar, but in this embodiment, the initial movement of the piece 25 outwards ensures that the weak line is broken and the first movement of the To separate them. The fragments move in the direction of the outwardly convex shape with such movement.
[0017]
FIGS. 9 and 10 show a further arrangement similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, but in this case each piece 25A is provided with a stop member 31 so that the pieces can be moved downward by a predetermined amount. When moved, the piece portion 31A contacts the underside of the base 13 of the container so as to limit the movement limit of the piece.
[0018]
It should be noted that in the preceding figures, the stop members 28, 29 and 31 have been shown on only one of the pieces 25 for illustration purposes.
[0019]
The spouts of the containers shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 are usually elongated rectangles and are intended for extruding the product and forming it in a zigzag shape as shown by the hatched area 45 in FIG.
[0020]
The area inside the spout rectangle is closed by the rotatable pieces 23 when the spout is closed, as in FIGS. 11 and 12, each piece being usually triangular along the opposite side of the vertex 47. The hinge 46 is adapted to rotate near the line 46 between the closed position of FIGS. 11 and 12 and the open position of FIGS.
[0021]
Fragment 25 is fragilely connected to adjacent fragment 25 at its side end 48 such that if the pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined amount, the fragile connection breaks into a hinged line segment 46. It is adjusted to rotate outward along.
[0022]
In the alternative, the piece 25 is not connected to the adjacent piece at the side end 48, but is in tightly closed contact so that the internal pressure of the product is applied in the direction of rotation of the piece, causing a rotational movement of the piece. Has become.
[0023]
Frangible connections are obtained by weak lines, perforations, lines of thin material, or materials that can be cut along that line, along side edges 48.
[0024]
Each piece is provided with a narrow projection-shaped stop member 28 on the outside thereof, the outer end 49 of which is located near the spout on a support which supports the container during operation and extrusion, or on the base of the container. It can be made to engage with the abutment 29 formed to project upward.
[0025]
The abutment 29 has a surface 50 which extends at an appropriate angle to the container body as shown, is engaged with the end surface 49 of each piece to restrict the rotational movement of each piece and to allow each piece to be in FIGS. And the shape of the spout is 45 as described.
[0026]
Preferably, other means of controlling movement of the fragment 25 near the hinge 25A to which the fragment 25 is attached can be provided. For example, the pieces 25 can have different thicknesses from the radially inner to the outer portion to make the radially inner portion more flexible. This allows the piece 25 to be flexible and to have an opening similar in shape to the opening 40 in FIG. In this configuration, the hinge 25A can be omitted.
[0027]
The configuration shown eliminates the need for a peel seal over the spout, which has safety concerns, especially when dispensing from the container in a vending machine. In addition, the product should not be able to penetrate along the weak line 26 when filling, transporting and storing the container. The pieces 25 can be separated from one another along said radial line without danger of leakage before the internal pressure is applied, the product inside the container is frozen and the pieces contact each other, whereby the pieces are sealed. Because it is.
[0028]
In using the above-described container, the container is mounted in the device. Internal pressure is applied to the product in the container, the pieces separate along the weak line 26, the pieces move downward near the hinge line 25A, and the product is shaped into the opening 30 and discharged.
[0029]
The container can dispense a portion of the product one or more times. This is due to the fact that, after the first dispensing, the restoring force of the hinge connection closes and seals the spout pieces.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0030]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a two-part container suitable for use in the present invention in a separated state.
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a spout of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 2 in a state where a spout is closed.
FIG. 4 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a state where a spout is opened.
5 shows a section on line AA of FIG. 4 with the spout open.
FIG. 6 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 5 with the spout closed.
FIG. 7 is a cross section of another shape of the spout in a closed position.
FIG. 8 is a cross section in which the spout corresponding to FIG. 7 is open.
FIG. 9 is yet another alternative shape of the spout in the closed position.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the spout in FIG. 9 in an open position.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of another shape of the spout in a closed position. And
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a view showing an open position corresponding to FIG. 11; And
14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 in FIG. And
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the container of FIGS. 3 to 6;

Claims (14)

A container having a spout configured to reduce the internal volume of the container and extrude the product from the spout, the spout configured to form the product when the product is discharged; The spout is formed by a part of the container that can be displaced to the outside of the container by the pressure of the product in the container to form an opening between the displacement members, and the movable range of the displacement member is A container characterized by being regulated by a coupled movement regulating means. The container according to claim 1, wherein the displacement member is formed in an arc-shaped piece. 3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the successive pieces are interconnected so as to be displaced by a fragile connection means when the member is under the pressure of the product in the container. The said displaceable member is 3 to 6 pieces so that the product which leaves the said opening | mouth may be shape | molded by a general star-shaped cross section, The Claims characterized by the above-mentioned. container. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the displaceable members are separated from each other by a weak radial line extending from a central portion of the spout. 6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the spout is formed in a region of the container formed into a concave shape so that the concave shape is deformed outward when the internal pressure of the container is increased. The container according to Item. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the displaceable member includes a projecting unit that engages with an adjusting unit that restricts the movement of the displacement member when the container is displaced. The restricting means is in a general radial relationship with the center of the spout, and each displaceable member has an outwardly facing component that engages the abutment that adjusts the spout when fully displaced. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mating surfaces on the abutment and the abutment are slanted relative to each other before the surfaces engage and before the displacement achieves the desired displacement. container. The spout is elongate in shape with two sets of displaceable members, one set of members extending along one side of the opening and the other set of members extending along the other side of the opening. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The container according to claim 10, wherein the spout is generally rectangular, and is a portion extending along each long side of the rectangle. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the displaceable member is integral with the container and moves outward from the surface of the container by movement of a hinge near one side. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the members are each hinged to a container near a hinge line. 14. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the member is adjacent but distant from an adjacent member.