JP2005131385A - Container manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container manufacturing device having a drilling means which can form a liquid filling hole in a shape near a circle with small flatness rate and small variation in opening areas and can be easily controlled in temperature. <P>SOLUTION: This container manufacturing device capable of manufacturing a container body of a thermoplastic material having a liquid storage part storing a drug solution and a liquid filling hole for controlling the dropping amount of the outflow drug solution to a set amount, comprises a drilling means X forming the liquid filling hole through the container body, wherein the drilling means X is provided with a needle-like part 10 forming the liquid filling hole through the container body and a PTC heater 11 heating the needle-like part 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  When producing a container body made of a thermoplastic material having a liquid storage part for storing a liquid and a liquid injection hole for controlling the amount of liquid droplets flowing out to a set amount, the liquid injection hole It is related with the container manufacturing apparatus provided with the perforation means which penetrates and forms.

In medical ophthalmic solutions, it is necessary to control the amount of ophthalmic solution to a constant amount, and for this purpose, an ophthalmic container equipped with an inner plug member having a liquid injection hole is widely used.
On the other hand, there is known an integrally molded ophthalmic container in which a container body and a liquid injection cylinder part are integrally formed without using such an inner plug member.
In this integrally molded ophthalmic container, the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of a thermoplastic resin container body (commonly called a bottle pack container body) filled and sealed simultaneously with blow molding or vacuum molding. A cap that is integrally formed with a needle-like projection (perforating means) for penetrating and forming a liquid injection hole at the tip of the container body is detachably screwed into the male thread formed on the container body. The liquid injection hole is formed through the tip of the container body with the needle-like protrusion of the cap by screwing to the tightening side that is one step deeper than the closed position.

In such an eye drop container, the liquid injection hole is formed while the tip of the container body is pierced by the needle-like protrusion of the cap, so that the amount of screwing operation from the normally closed position of the cap to the tightening side is appropriately performed. Otherwise, the shape and size of the liquid injection hole would be non-uniform, and there was a risk that the amount of liquid droplets extruded from the container body would vary.
In addition, if the cap is excessively operated from the normal closing position to the tightening side after the liquid injection hole has been formed through the tip of the container body, the needle-like protrusions on the cap are required for each excessive tightening operation. The liquid injection hole is expanded, and there is a possibility that the amount of liquid droplets extruded from the container body gradually increases.

In order to improve this, there is known a container in which a liquid injection hole is formed by a method in which a needle-shaped mold is pierced at the tip of a liquid injection cylinder part at the time of manufacturing the container body without using the needle-shaped protrusion of the cap.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method using a needle-shaped mold in a room temperature state or a heated state, and Patent Document 2 discloses a method using a heated needle (needle-shaped mold).

JP 2001-120639 A (see paragraph 0029 and the like) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 35-10375 (see page 1, Fig. 3)

  As described above, when forming the injection hole penetrating, if the needle-like protrusion of the cap that is a non-heated needle is used, the opening area of the injection hole varies, or the shape of the injection hole becomes a slit shape. That is, there is a disadvantage that the flatness ratio of the injection hole area is increased.

  Therefore, a needle-shaped mold heated by a heating means such as high-frequency induction heating, halogen lamp, or hot air disclosed in Patent Document 1 or a needle-shaped mold heated by a flame disclosed in Patent Document 2 is used. When the injection hole is formed through the mold, the injection hole having a substantially constant size corresponding to the diameter of the needle can be formed.

  However, it is difficult to control the temperature of the needle tip by the above-described heating by high-frequency induction heating, halogen lamp, hot air, flame or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine whether or not the needle tip has an appropriate temperature for penetrating the injection hole.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a container manufacturing apparatus that has a perforating means that can form a liquid injection hole having a shape close to a circle with little variation in opening area and a small flatness ratio, and that can be easily temperature controlled. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of a container manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; and a liquid injection hole that controls a liquid droplet amount flowing out to a set amount. In manufacturing a container body made of a thermoplastic material having a punching means for penetrating and forming the liquid injection hole, the punching means includes a needle-like part that penetrates and forms the liquid injection hole; And a PTC heater for heating the needle-like portion.

Here, the PTC heater self-heats by Joule heat when energized through the electrodes. When the temperature exceeds the Curie temperature (Tc), the resistance value increases logarithmically. Then, since electric current decreases and electric power is suppressed, the heat generation temperature decreases. At this time, since the resistance value is small, the current increases. Then, since electric power increases, the heat generation temperature rises. By repeating this cycle, the PTC heater functions as a constant temperature heating element having a self-control function.
At this time, if the needle-like part is provided close to the PTC heater or the like, heat is transferred from the self-heating PTC heater to the needle-like part.
Here, since the PTC heater is a constant temperature heating element having a temperature self-control function, the heat generation temperature is substantially constant. That is, the amount of heat transferred from the PTC heater to the needle-like portion is also considered to be substantially constant. Therefore, it becomes easy to keep the temperature of the needle-like part constant.

Therefore, the container manufacturing apparatus according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention is suitable for forming the injection hole by controlling the PTC heater to an appropriate temperature for forming the injection hole. It is possible to provide a punching means provided with a needle-like portion that can easily maintain a high temperature.
Therefore, this punching means has a needle-like portion that is a heating needle whose temperature is easily controlled, so that there is little variation in opening area, and a liquid injection hole having a shape close to a circle with a small flatness can be formed. When the PTC heater is controlled to a temperature suitable for penetrating and forming the liquid injection hole, the needle-like portion can maintain a temperature suitable for penetrating the liquid injection hole almost always.

  The 2nd characteristic structure of the container manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this invention exists in the point comprised so that the said PTC heater may surround the said needle-shaped part.

  If it is a container manufacturing apparatus as described in the 2nd characteristic structure of this invention, the heat | fever of the PTC heater which generate | occur | produced by supplying with electricity can be efficiently transferred to a needle-like part.

  The 3rd characteristic structure of the container manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this invention exists in the point comprised so that the said PTC heater may not contact the said acicular part directly.

  In the container manufacturing apparatus according to the third characteristic configuration of the present invention, the PTC heater is not in direct contact with the needle-like portion, so that even if the PTC heater is energized, the needle-like portion is not energized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a failure of the container manufacturing apparatus due to electric leakage, an unexpected change in the set temperature, and the like.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can be used, for example, in an application for punching a liquid injection hole through which a chemical solution flows out in an eye drop container mainly used for medical purposes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the eye drop container includes a container body A made of a flexible thermoplastic material filled with a predetermined amount of a chemical solution simultaneously with blow molding or vacuum molding, and a screw cylinder portion of the container body A. 5 and a cap B that is detachably screwed into a male screw portion 5a formed on the outer peripheral surface of 5.
The container body A is continuous with a liquid storage portion 7 for storing a liquid, a circular bottom portion 1 bent inward, a hollow cylindrical body portion 2 connected to the periphery thereof, and a shoulder portion 2 a of the body portion 2. A cylindrical neck portion 3, an annular step portion 4 that bulges outward in the diametrical direction from an upper position of the neck portion 3, a screw cylinder portion 5 having a male screw portion 5 a continuous on the upper side, and an upper side thereof It is comprised from the liquid injection cylinder part 6 which continues.
The liquid injection cylinder section 6 is provided with a liquid injection hole 6c for controlling the amount of liquid droplets flowing out to a set amount.

The container manufacturing apparatus is provided with a punching means for penetrating and forming the liquid injection hole 6c when manufacturing the container main body A described above.
As shown in FIG. 2, the perforating means X includes a needle-like portion 10 that penetrates and forms the liquid injection hole 6c, and a PTC heater 11 that heats the needle-like portion. Hereinafter, the punching means X will be described in detail.

For example, the needle-like portion 10 is configured to have a pointed shape such that the diameter becomes smaller toward the distal end side so that the injection hole 6c can be easily formed through. Specifically, it is preferable if the diameter on the tip side is in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 mm in diameter. This tip side protrudes outside through the hole 41 of the holder 40 that houses the needle-like portion 10.
The needle-like portion 10 is inserted through insertion holes 51 and 61 formed in the core 50 housed inside the holder 40 and the cover 60 that seals the holder 40, respectively. In the middle of the needle-like portion 10, a flat tip hole 35 that can contact the inner wall of the insertion hole 61 is provided. The cover 60 is fixed to the holder 40 with the cap bolt 33 through the insulating collar 32.

The needle-like part 10 is formed of, for example, SUS316. The tip side surface of the needle-like part 10 is preferably coated with DLC (diamond-like carbon).
Since the DLC coating is excellent in surface smoothness and frictional wear characteristics, it can be suitably used as a lubricating wear-resistant film, and the tool life can be extended. Moreover, since it has surface smoothness, it becomes possible to improve the peelability and releasability of the resin, and work efficiency is improved.

The PTC heater 11 refers to a heater using a PTC thermistor (Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor). And preferably, it is stored in the holder 40 in a state close to the needle-like portion 10.
The PTC thermistor is a semiconductor ceramic mainly composed of barium titanate (BaTiO ₃ ), and the Curie temperature (Tc) can be arbitrarily set depending on the material composition. And since it has the property that electrical resistance increases rapidly when it reaches the Curie temperature, it is used as a constant temperature heating element.

  Various shapes such as a disc shape, a square plate shape, a ring shape, and a tip shape can be applied to the PCT heater 11. In the present embodiment, a ring type having a hole 11a is shown. At this time, the needle-like part 10 can be inserted through the hole 11a.

The PTC heater 11 has an upper surface in contact with the upper surface electrode 30 and a lower surface in contact with the lower surface electrode 31, and is fixed by the core 50 via the upper surface electrode 30 and the washer 34.
The holder 40 and the cover 60 are provided with a connector case 70 in which two lead wires and terminals 71 and 72 are provided. The upper surface electrode 30 and the terminal 71 and the lower surface electrode 31 and the terminal 72 can be energized through each lead wire. Terminals 71 and 72 are each connectable to an external power supply.
And the PTC heater 11 is comprised so that it can respond to rated voltages, such as AC100V, AC200V, DC12V, DC24V etc., for example.

  The PTC heater 11 is preferably controlled to be about 70 to 120 ° C. This temperature control is performed by energizing the PTC heater 11 from the external electrodes through the terminals 71 and 72, the lead wires, and the electrodes 30 and 31. That is, when the electrodes 30 and 31 are energized, a voltage is applied to the PTC heater 11 in contact with the upper and lower surfaces, and the PTC heater 11 self-heats due to Joule heat. When the temperature exceeds the Curie temperature (Tc), the resistance value increases logarithmically. Then, since electric current decreases and electric power is suppressed, the heat generation temperature decreases. At this time, since the resistance value is small, the current increases. Then, since electric power increases, the heat generation temperature rises. By repeating this cycle, the PTC heater 11 functions as a constant temperature heating element having a self-control function.

As described above, the punching means X is provided with the needle-like portion 10 that penetrates the liquid injection hole 6c and the PTC heater 11 that is a constant temperature heating element.
During the drilling operation of the liquid injection hole 6c, as described above, the PTC heater 11 is energized through the electrodes 30 and 31 from the external power source. At this time, the PTC heater 11 generates heat and is transferred to the adjacent needle-like part 10.
Here, since the PTC heater 11 is a constant temperature heating element having a temperature self-control function, the heat generation temperature is substantially constant. Therefore, the amount of heat transferred from the PTC heater 11 to the needle-like part 10 is also substantially constant, and the temperature of the needle-like part 10 can be easily kept constant.
Therefore, during the drilling operation for forming the liquid injection hole 6c, by controlling the PTC heater 11 to a temperature suitable for penetrating the liquid injection hole 6c, a temperature suitable for penetrating the liquid injection hole 6c. It is possible to provide the perforation means X provided with the needle-like portion 10 that is easy to hold.
That is, since the punching means X has the needle-like portion 10 that is a heating needle whose temperature is easily controlled, it is possible to form the liquid injection hole 6c with little variation in the opening area. And if this needle-like part 10 is controlled to the temperature suitable for the PTC heater 11 penetratingly forming the liquid injection hole 6c, the needle-like part 10 always maintains the temperature appropriate for penetrating the liquid injection hole 6c. can do.

The PTC heater 11 is preferably configured so as to surround the needle-like portion 10.
In this embodiment, the needle-like part 10 is inserted through the hole 11 a of the ring-shaped PTC heater 11, and the inner wall of the hole 11 a surrounds the needle-like part 10. If comprised in this way, the heat | fever of the PTC heater 11 which generate | occur | produced by supplying with electricity can be efficiently transferred to the needle-like part 10. FIG.

Moreover, it is preferable that the PTC heater 11 is configured not to directly contact the needle-like portion 10.
In this case, for example, the diameter of the needle-like portion 10 can be 4.0 mm, and the diameter of the hole portion 11a of the PTC heater 11 can be 4.3 mm.
Here, during the drilling operation of the liquid injection hole 6 c, the PTC heater 11 is energized from the external power source via the both electrodes 30, 31. However, since the PTC heater 11 does not directly contact the needle-like part 10, the needle-like part 10. Is not energized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a failure of the container manufacturing apparatus due to electric leakage, an unexpected change in the set temperature, and the like.

  On the other hand, even if the PTC heater 11 is not in direct contact with the needle-like part 10, the radiant heat of the PTC heater 11 whose temperature is controlled by energization is transferred to the needle-like part 10, so that the needle-like part 10 is heated. Is possible.

Among the members described above, the insulating collar 32, the holder 40, the core 50, the connector case 70, and the connector cover 73 are made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) excellent in heat resistance, strength, and insulation. Although preferable, it is not limited to this.
As described above, when the core 50 and the connector cover 73 are made of a material having excellent heat resistance, the needle-like portions 10 that pass through the insertion holes 51 and 61 that are formed in the core 50 and the connector cover 73 pass through the liquid injection hole 6c. Even when the heat is kept, there is almost no risk that these members will be deformed or damaged.
In addition, the upper electrode 30, the lower electrode 31, the cap bolt 33, the washer 34, the flat tip holder 35, the cover 60, and the truss screw 74 are preferably formed of SUS304, but are not limited thereto.

  And the container manufacturing apparatus is a container main body manufacturing section that manufactures a container main body A that is filled with a chemical solution in a sealed state at the same time as molding by blow molding or vacuum molding, and a liquid injection molding that molds the liquid injection port 6a in the container main body A. Forming part having the means and the above-described perforating means X, a transport supply part for transporting the blow molded or vacuum formed container main body A to the forming part, and a processed container main body in which the liquid injection hole 6c is formed by the perforating means X Various devices necessary for manufacturing an eye drop container are usually provided in A, such as a delivery unit for transferring to a place where a process such as labeling or packaging is performed.

  The process of punching the liquid injection hole 6c in the eye drop container described above using the container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described below (see FIG. 3).

  Examples of the thermoplastic material that is a constituent material of the container body A include polyethylene, polyethylene-polypropylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polycarbonate. In a present Example, the container main body A formed with polyethylene is shown.

  The container body A is produced by blow molding or vacuum forming in the container body manufacturing section described above. Blow molding and vacuum molding can be performed by a conventional method. And the container main body A shape | molded by the conveyance supply part is conveyed to a shaping | molding part.

In the molding part, the liquid injection port 6a (see FIG. 1) is formed in the container main body A by the liquid injection port forming means.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a part of the liquid injection cylinder 6 which is the tip of the container main body A is heated at a room temperature or 70 ° C. to the first heating means C such as warm air, a halogen lamp or a laser beam. Heat to 150 ° C. The heating temperature depends on the material and shape of the container body A, but is preferably a temperature at which the tip of the container body A softens slightly.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, before the liquid injection cylinder portion 6 of the container main body A heated by the first heating means C is cooled, the convex mold 20 as the liquid injection port forming means is placed in the container. Pressing from the direction of the axis Y, the bottomed conical recess 6b (see FIG. 1) having a larger inner diameter toward the liquid injection port 6a is formed in the liquid injection cylinder 6 of the container body A.
The convex molding die 20 has a conical molding projection 20B that molds a conical recess 6b with a bottom and a bowl shape that molds the outer peripheral surface of the liquid injection cylinder 6 of the container body A at the tip of the mounting shaft 20A. A (bell-shaped) molding surface 20C is formed.

  The depth of the recess 6b is in the range of 2 to 7 mm, preferably in the range of 5 to 7 mm, most preferably 6 mm, and the diameter (mouth diameter) of the liquid injection port 6a is the liquidity (surface tension, The diameter is adjusted in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 mm according to the viscosity. In order to make the drop volume constant (adjusted within the range of 25 to 50 μL per drop volume according to the purpose), the liquid injection port 6a has a small diameter when the surface tension is large, and the surface tension is small. In the case of liquid, the diameter of the liquid injection port 6a is increased.

  After the liquid injection port 6 a is formed in the container main body A, the liquid injection hole 6 c is formed through the container main body A by the punching means X.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the punching means X is pressed from the container axis Y direction against the center position of the bottom surface of the recess 6b formed in the liquid injection cylinder 6 of the container body A. Thus, the liquid injection hole 6c is formed.
At this time, the PTC heater 11 of the punching means X generates heat when energized from the external electrode, and is transferred to the adjacent needle-like portion 10. The PTC heater 11 is heated to each temperature shown in Table 1 described later, for example. At this time, since the heat generation temperature of the PTC heater 11 that is a constant temperature heating element is substantially constant, the amount of heat transferred from the PTC heater 11 to the needle-like portion 10 is also substantially constant, and the temperature of the needle-like portion 10 is around the above-mentioned temperatures. Held constant. And the liquid injection hole 6c is penetrated and formed at each said temperature.

  The liquid injection hole 6c is formed by using the needle-like portion 10 having a tip-side diameter in the range of, for example, 0.1 to 0.8 mm. The diameter of this needle is preferably smaller, and most preferably about 0.2 mm. However, if it is too small, it becomes technically difficult, so in practice, a needle having a diameter in the range of 0.4 to 0.6 mm is used. .

  The container body A after processing in which the injection hole 6c was formed was subjected to labeling, packaging, etc. to produce an eye drop container.

In order to evaluate the liquid injection hole 6c in the ophthalmic container thus formed, the flatness ratio was measured. In the measurement, when the PTC heater 11 is not energized (room temperature) and when the PTC heater 11 is heated to each temperature shown in Table 1 up to 30 to 140 ° C., the injection hole 6c is formed at each temperature, The flatness of each liquid injection hole 6c was measured. Ten injection holes 6c were formed at each temperature, the flatness was measured, and the average value thereof was shown in Table 1.
The flatness is a value obtained by (minor axis / major axis) × 100 in the injection hole 6c.

From this result, it was found that when the PTC heater 11 was heated to 70 ° C. or higher, a good result with an aspect ratio of 70 or higher was obtained.
Here, when the heating temperature is 130 ° C. or higher, the resin may be difficult to peel from the tip of the needle-like portion 10. Therefore, the heating temperature of the PTC heater 11 is preferably in the range of 70 to 120 ° C, and more preferably in the range of 100 to 120 ° C when judged from the obtained flatness value.

  The container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can be used, for example, in an application for perforating a liquid injection hole through which a chemical solution flows out in an eye drop container mainly used for medical purposes.

Schematic diagram of eye drops container Schematic of the punching means in the container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention Schematic of the process of drilling a liquid injection hole in an eye drop container using the container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

6c Liquid injection hole 7 Liquid storage part 10 Needle-like part 11 PTC heater A Container body X Drilling means

Claims (3)

When manufacturing a container body made of a thermoplastic material having a liquid storage part for storing a liquid and a liquid injection hole for controlling the amount of liquid droplets flowing out to a set amount, the liquid injection hole is formed to penetrate therethrough. In the container manufacturing apparatus provided with the punching means,
The container manufacturing apparatus, wherein the perforating means includes a needle-like part that penetrates the liquid injection hole and a PTC heater that heats the needle-like part.   The container manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the PTC heater is configured to surround the needle-like portion.   The container manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the PTC heater is configured not to directly contact the needle-like portion.

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