JP2005035596A - Deoxidation resin cork stopper - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a deoxidation resin cork stopper for preventing a taste of wine from degrading. <P>SOLUTION: The deoxidation resin cork stopper consists of (A) a pillar-like deoxidizing body made of a foaming thermoplastic resin containing a free-oxygen scavenger composition and (B) an isolating part made of a foaming thermoplastic resin not containing a free-oxygen scavenger with the isolating part (B) covering at least a bottom in contact with a liquid of the deoxidizing body (A). The stopper prevents free-oxygen absorbing ingredients from eluting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cork stopper having a deoxygenation function. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cork stopper that does not elute the deoxidized composition.

In order to maintain the freshness of wine, antioxidants such as sulfites are added, but from the tendency to refrain from using additives, oxidation control methods that replace antioxidant addition have been studied, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes the use of a cap having a deoxygenating function.
Patent Document 2 also proposes the use of a sheet or film having a deoxygenating function as a storage container lid or cap.
Patent Document 3 describes that an oxygen scavenger is kneaded into the crown liner, but there is a problem that the oxygen scavenger component may elute from the liner surface into the wine and impair the wine flavor. It was.

In addition, traditional cork stoppers are used for wine stoppers, but they tend to deteriorate. Therefore, a resin cork stopper made of a foamed thermoplastic resin that maintains the shape of the cork stopper has been developed.
Furthermore, Patent Document 4 discloses a cork stopper that prevents oxidation deterioration of contents by laminating a gas barrier layer, a deoxygenation layer, and an oxygen permeable layer on cork.
JP-A-1-199879 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-191921 JP-A-2-269667 JP 2003-104405 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a resin cork stopper that imparts oxygen scavenging performance and prevents the oxygen scavenger component from eluting into the contents in order to maintain the freshness of the contents.

As a result of intensive studies, the inventors have (A) a columnar deoxygenating main body made of a foamed thermoplastic resin containing a deoxygenating composition, and (B) a foamed thermoplastic resin containing no deoxygenating agent. Consisting of a combination with the isolation part consisting of
(B) The isolation portion covers at least the wetted side bottom surface of the (A) deoxygenating main body portion, thereby preventing the contact between the deoxygenating composition and the wine and preventing the wine flavor from being impaired. developed. Furthermore, a non-penetrating cavity can be provided in advance in the center of the cork stopper to facilitate opening.

  The wine cork stopper for wine of the present invention comprises (A) a columnar deoxidizing main body portion made of a foamed thermoplastic resin containing a deoxygenating composition, and (B) a foamed thermoplastic resin not containing a deoxidizing agent. It consists of a combined configuration with an isolation part, and has the same shape as a conventional wine cork stopper as a whole. Specifically, it is a cylinder, preferably a cylinder having a bulge at the center of the body or the lower part of the body (wetted side).

(A) The deoxidizing main body is made of a foamed thermoplastic resin containing a deoxidizing composition. The shape is a cylinder or a prism, and is preferably a cylinder.
Examples of the oxygen scavenging composition used in the present invention include metal-based oxygen scavenging compositions mainly composed of metal components typified by iron powder and the like, and organic components such as ascorbic acids, polyhydric alcohols, polyhydric phenols, etc. Examples thereof include organic deoxygenated compositions based on the above, or compositions such as unsaturated hydrocarbons and hydrogenated rubbers. Among these, an iron powder-based oxygen scavenging composition is preferred because it is easy to prevent alteration when kneaded with a resin. The iron powder-based deoxygenation composition is composed of a composition containing iron powder and a metal halide salt, and in particular, a powder obtained by coating or dispersing and adhering a metal halide salt on the surface of the iron powder is preferably used. Furthermore, auxiliary components such as activated carbon, lime, diatomaceous earth, and zeolite can be added as necessary.

  Examples of the iron powder used in the iron powder-based oxygen scavenging composition include reduced iron powder, electrolytic iron powder, and sprayed iron powder. The particle size of the iron powder particles is not particularly limited, but a finer one is preferable for forming the deoxygenation layer. Particularly, the average particle size is preferably 100 μm or less, and more preferably 50 μm or less. Examples of the metal halide include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, barium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium bromide, calcium bromide, sodium iodide, calcium iodide and the like. The metal halide is used in the range of 0.1 to 15 parts by weight, preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the iron powder.

  As the foamed thermoplastic resin, a thermoplastic resin foam is used. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include styrene resins such as polystyrene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, olefin resins such as polymethylpentene, low density polyethylene, and high density. Polyethylene and polypropylene are preferred. A known foaming agent is added to these resins in order to impart foamability. For example, 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile, azodicarbonamide, or 4,4'-oxybisbenzenesulfonyl hydrazide, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and the like.

  The amount of the oxygen scavenging composition is preferably large from the viewpoint of the oxygen absorption capacity of the oxygen scavenging main body, but if it is too much, physical properties as a resin cork stopper will be reduced or the oxygen scavenging composition will be eluted. To increase the possibility, too much is not preferable. Therefore, it is 1 to 50 weight% as a deoxygenation composition, More preferably, it is 3 to 30 weight%.

  The oxygen scavenging composition may be thinly coated by a coating method using a polymer compound having high oxygen permeability such as silicone and polymethylpentene. By covering the surface of the deoxygenated composition with a polymer compound having high oxygen permeability, it is possible to reliably prevent elution of the deoxygenated composition. Examples of the polymer compound having high oxygen permeability include silicone polymer compounds, fluorine polymer compounds, butadiene polymer compounds, and urethane polymer compounds. These may be used alone or in combination. it can. In order to increase the adhesion between these polymer compounds and the oxygen scavenging composition, the oxygen scavenging composition may be treated with a coupling agent.

  By covering 50% or more, more preferably 70% or more of the surface of the deoxygenated composition with the polymer compound to be coated, the deoxygenation ability can be maintained while preventing the deoxygenated components from being eluted. The amount of the coating agent used is 7 to 100% by weight, preferably 10 to 60% by weight, based on the deoxidized composition particles. If the amount of the coating agent used is small, the surface of the oxygen scavenging composition is exposed too much to prevent the oxygen scavenging component from being eluted. If the coating agent is too much, the coating agent covering the surface of the oxygen scavenging composition becomes too thick, thereby hindering the oxygen scavenging function of the oxygen scavenging main body, or reducing the physical properties of the resin cork stopper.

  In order to coat the deoxygenated composition, it is easy to mix the polymer compound as the coating agent with the deoxygenated composition and directly apply it to the deoxygenated composition. It is preferable to advance the polymerization reaction of the coating agent while mixing the polymer compound monomer or intermediate serving as the agent with the oxygen scavenger.

(B) The isolation part is made of a foamed thermoplastic resin that does not contain an oxygen scavenger, and (A) covers at least one liquid contact side bottom surface of the oxygen scavenging main body part.
As the foamed thermoplastic resin used in the isolation part, a thermoplastic resin foam is used. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include styrene resins such as polystyrene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, olefin resins such as polymethylpentene, low density polyethylene, and high density. Polyethylene and polypropylene are preferred. A known foaming agent is added to these resins in order to impart foamability. For example, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, azodicarbonamide, or 4,4′-oxybisbenzenesulfonyl hydrazide, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate and the like.

  (B) It is preferable that the thermoplastic resin used in the isolation part is the same resin type as (A) the oxygen-removable main body part because the interlayer bonding force due to the fusion of the resins is large. By using the foamed thermoplastic resin as the (A) deoxygenating main body portion and (B) the separating portion, the physical characteristics as a resin cork stopper are exhibited, and the oxygen permeability is enhanced to enhance the deoxygenation performance.

  (B) As the thickness of the isolation portion increases, there is an effect of suppressing elution of the deoxygenated composition present in the deoxygenated layer, but if it is too thick, oxygen permeability may be hindered. In addition, since the size of the cork stopper is usually defined, the thicker isolating portion results in a smaller deoxygenating main body portion. Therefore, a thick isolating portion is not preferable in terms of oxygen absorption capacity. The preferable thickness of the isolation part is 0.5 to 10 mm, more preferably 1 to 5 mm.

(B) The surface of the foamed thermoplastic resin in the isolation portion may be thinly coated with a highly oxygen permeable resin such as silicone or polymethylpentene by a coating method.
The deoxidizing resin cork stopper of the present invention does not have a gas barrier layer. Thereby, unnecessary gas, such as a carbon dioxide produced | generated by ageing | curing | ripening of a content, can be discharge | released to external air.

  As a method for molding the deoxidizing cork stopper of the present invention, a method usually used for resin molding such as injection molding or extrusion molding is used. For example, in the case of an injection molding method, there is a two-color molding method in which two types of molds of a deoxidizing main body part and an isolating part are prepared, and after the deoxidizing main body part is molded, the isolating part is molded thereon Since it is excellent in productivity, it is preferable. In this case, an isolation part is formed on the surface in contact with the wine.

Further, in the case of the extrusion molding method, using two extruders, after forming the deoxygenating main body portion, the isolation portion is laminated so as to cover the main body portion side surface and the main body portion bottom surface (wetted side).
Alternatively, (A) after the formation of the deoxidizing main body portion, (B) the isolation portion may be entirely covered or bonded. Whatever method is used, it is necessary that the isolation part is laminated at least on the bottom surface (wet contact side) of the deoxidizing main body part.

One embodiment of the present invention is a deoxygenating cork stopper in which a non-penetrating cavity is provided from a bottom surface opposite to a liquid contact side bottom surface toward a liquid contact side bottom surface. Opening is facilitated by providing such a cavity.
The size of the non-penetrating cavity is not used beyond the spiral diameter of the wine opener to be used, and if it is too small, the purpose is not achieved. Therefore, the size of the non-penetrating cavity is 1 to 20 mm in diameter, more preferably 5 to 10 mm in diameter, and the depth is preferably 50 to 100% of the (A) deoxygenating main body. The number of non-through cavities can be one or many.
It is possible to form this non-penetrating cavity even after the cork stopper is manufactured. However, in consideration of productivity and cleanliness of the cork stopper, it is preferably formed at the time of cork stopper preparation. It is most preferable to produce a cork stopper by injection molding using a mold having a matching shape.

The deoxidizing cork stopper of the present invention can be used as a bottle stopper for wine, sparkling wine, other alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages.
The oxygen-absorbing resin cork stopper of the present invention can be suitably used particularly for wine bottles.

  The deoxygenating resin cork stopper of the present invention can remove oxygen in the bottle and prevent oxygen from entering from the outside of the bottle, so that the flavor of the contents in the bottle can be maintained well for a long period of time. be able to.

The composition was coated at a ratio of 2 parts by weight of calcium chloride to 100 parts by weight of iron powder to obtain a deoxygenated composition (average particle size 50 μm). 40 parts by weight of this deoxygenated composition and 100 parts by weight of linear low density polyethylene were kneaded and extruded to produce pellets containing the deoxygenated resin composition.
10 parts by weight of sodium hydrogen carbonate as a foaming agent was added to 100 parts by weight of the pellets, kneaded and injection molded to obtain a cylindrical deoxygenating main body of 45 mmH × 25 mmφ.
A deoxygenating resin cork stopper shown in FIG. 1 was formed by coating one bottom surface of the deoxygenating main body portion with a thickness of 5 mm with a separating portion made of linear low density polyethylene by two-color molding.
Red wine (750 ml) was placed in a glass bottle (volume 800 ml), stoppered with this deoxidizing resin cork stopper, and stored for 6 months at 25 ° C. with the bottle lying on its side. Meanwhile, the entire cork stopper bottom was in contact with red wine.
The wine was sampled after opening, but no decrease in flavor was felt.

A non-penetrating cavity of 30 mmH × 5 mmφ is provided from the center of the bottom surface on the side opposite to the separating portion of the deoxidizing resin cork stopper obtained in Example 1 to the bottom surface on the separating portion side, and the deoxidizing cork stopper shown in FIG. Got.
Red wine (750 ml) was placed in a glass bottle (volume 800 ml), stoppered with this deoxygenating cork stopper, laid down and stored at 25 ° C. for 6 months. Meanwhile, the entire cork stopper bottom was in contact with red wine.
The wine was sampled after opening, but no decrease in flavor was felt.

Comparative Example 1

A deoxygenated cork stopper of 50 mmH × 25 mmφ was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the coating layer was not provided with the same composition as in Example 1.
Red wine (750 ml) was placed in a glass bottle (volume 800 ml), stoppered with this deoxygenated cork stopper, and stored for 6 months at 25 ° C. with the bottle lying on its side. Meanwhile, the entire cork stopper bottom was in contact with red wine.
When tasting after opening, a little iron odor was observed.

The surface of the deoxygenated composition used in Example 1 was coated with 10 parts by weight of a silicone resin per 100 parts by weight of iron powder to obtain a deoxygenated resin composition. 60 parts by weight of the deoxygenated resin composition and 100 parts by weight of polypropylene were kneaded and extruded to produce pellets containing the deoxygenated resin composition.
10 parts by weight of sodium hydrogen carbonate as a foaming agent was added to 100 parts by weight of the pellets, kneaded, and injection molded to obtain a cylindrical deoxygenated main body of 36 mmH × 17 mmφ.
The entire deoxygenating main body was covered with polypropylene as an isolation part to produce a deoxygenating cork stopper having a size of 40 mmH × 21 mmφ shown in FIG.
Red wine (750 ml) was placed in a glass bottle (volume 800 ml), stoppered with this deoxygenating cork stopper, laid down and stored at 25 ° C. for 6 months. Meanwhile, the entire cork stopper bottom was in contact with red wine.
The wine was sampled after opening, but no decrease in flavor was felt.

Deoxygenating resin cork stopper having an isolation part only on the bottom surface on the wetted side Deoxygenating resin cork stopper with isolation on both bottom surfaces only Deoxygenating resin cork stopper with a whole isolation part Deoxygenating resin cork stopper that has a non-penetrating cavity only on the bottom of the wetted side Deoxygenating resin cork stopper with a whole isolation part and a non-penetrating cavity Deoxygenating resin cork stopper with a non-penetrating cavity with a separator on the bottom and side surfaces of the wetted side

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Columnar deoxygenating main-body part which consists of a foamed thermoplastic resin containing a deoxidizing composition 2 Isolation part 3 which consists of a foamed thermoplastic resin which does not contain a deoxygenating agent 3 The liquid contact side from the bottom face on the opposite side of a liquid contact side Non-penetrating cavity provided toward the bottom

Claims (3)

(A) a columnar deoxygenating main body made of a foamed thermoplastic resin containing a deoxygenating composition;
(B) consisting of a separating part made of a foamed thermoplastic resin containing no oxygen scavenger,
(B) A deoxidizing resin cork stopper, wherein the isolation part covers at least the bottom surface on the liquid contact side of the (A) deoxygenating main body part. The deoxidizing resin cork stopper according to claim 1, wherein the deoxidizing composition is coated with a resin composition. 3. The deoxidizing resin cork stopper according to claim 1, wherein a non-penetrating cavity is provided from a bottom surface opposite to the liquid contact side bottom surface toward the liquid contact side bottom surface.

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