JP2008133897A - Beverage hose - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage hose excellent in flexibility while preventing alteration in taste, the oxidation degradation and generation of bacteria in beverage caused by the transfer of smell, taste, a coloring agent or the like from the beverage remaining in the hose. <P>SOLUTION: An inner layer 1 formed of polyethylene or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an intermediate layer 2 formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and an outer layer 3 formed of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer are integrated by co-extrusion molding. By high gas-barrier properties of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer of the intermediate layer 2, the smell, taste, coloring agent, or the like from the inner layer 1 is not transferred, and oxygen permeability through the inner and outer surfaces of the hose is extremely low. Therefore, the beverage remaining in the hose is prevented from being oxidized, and also the hose is entirely softened by the flexibility of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the outer layer 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is generally used for beverages such as cup-type vending machines and dispensers in order to supply water from an external water supply port such as a water supply to beverage equipment such as a vending machine or to supply syrup from a syrup tank to a server. The present invention relates to a beverage hose used as a conduit or a conduit for drinking water that communicates with a water supply source or a hot water supply source.

  Conventionally, as this type of beverage hose, on the outside of the inner layer made of polyethylene, an intermediate layer (outer layer) made of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) that is compatible and flexible with polyethylene is laminated, By laminating the outermost layer made of high-density polyethylene on the outer periphery, there is a pressure-resistant hose that does not allow EVA odor, taste, and oxygen to pass therethrough and that is highly flexible (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-97771 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

However, in such a conventional conventional beverage hose, if the beverage flowing in the hose has a strong odor, taste or coloring such as concentrated syrup, the remaining time is left in the hose. After that, the odor, taste and coloring contained in the syrup move from the inner surface of the hose to the outer surface, and the odor, taste and coloring move to the beverage flowing in another hose placed close to this hose. There was a problem that the taste changed.
In particular, in recent years, a plurality of hoses in which different syrups and the like flow are often used in a bundle, and demands for improving the taste by shifting from these syrups and the like are increasing year by year.
In addition, beverages such as syrup remaining on the inner surface of the hose are liable to be deteriorated by oxygen permeated through the hose and cause bacteria to be produced.

Of the present invention, the invention described in claim 1 is excellent in flexibility while preventing taste change, oxidative deterioration and generation of bacteria due to the transfer of odor, taste and coloring from the beverage remaining in the hose. The object is to provide a beverage hose.
In addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 2 aims to improve the adhesion between the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer.
In addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 3 is intended to improve the adhesion between the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer.
In addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1, 2 or 3, the invention described in claim 4 is a beverage made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, modified polyolefin or modified elastomer used for the inner layer and adhesive layer. The purpose is to prevent taste changes.
In addition to the object of the invention described in claim 1, the invention described in claim 5 aims to achieve both pressure resistance and flexibility.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an inner layer made of polyethylene or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an intermediate layer made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, an ethylene- The outer layer made of a vinyl acetate copolymer is integrated by coextrusion molding.
The invention according to claim 2 adds the structure in which the modified elastomer is added to the polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the inner layer and the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the outer layer to the structure of the invention of claim 1. It is characterized by that.
The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that a structure in which an adhesive layer made of modified polyolefin or modified elastomer is laminated between the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer is added to the structure of the invention described in claim 1. And
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a structure in which an innermost layer made of linear low density polyethylene is laminated inside the inner layer is added to the structure of the invention according to claim 1, 2 or 3. .
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, a reinforcing layer in which a reinforcing material is wound outside the outer layer, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the outer layer And an outermost layer made of a material having good compatibility is added.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an inner layer made of polyethylene or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an intermediate layer made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and an outer layer made of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. By co-extrusion and integration, the intermediate layer ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer has a high gas barrier property, and the odor, taste and colorant from the inner layer do not move, and oxygen permeates to the inner and outer surfaces of the hose. Since the property is also extremely low, oxidation of the beverage remaining in the hose is prevented, and the entire hose is softened by the flexibility of the outer layer ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a beverage hose having excellent flexibility while preventing taste changes, oxidative deterioration, and generation of bacteria due to the transfer of odor, taste and colorant from the beverage remaining in the hose. .
As a result, when time passes with the concentrated syrup remaining in the hose, the hose where different syrups flow is bundled in comparison with the conventional one where the odor, taste and coloring move and the taste changes easily. Even if it is used, it is possible to prevent a change in taste due to a scent from the syrup flowing through these hoses, and to reliably suppress the occurrence of diseases such as oxidative deterioration of beverages and food poisoning caused by bacteria.

In addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the invention of claim 2 is modified elastomer by adding a modified elastomer to the inner layer polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and the outer layer ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. Is diluted with the inner layer polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or the outer layer ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and the affinity with the intermediate layer ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having poor compatibility is increased.
Therefore, the adhesiveness between the inner layer, the intermediate layer, and the outer layer can be improved.
As a result, satisfactory adhesive strength can be obtained only by coextrusion molding, and the layers are not peeled off during use, and can be used for a long time.

In the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, an adhesive layer made of a modified polyolefin or a modified elastomer is laminated between the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer, respectively, so that the ethylene- Since the inner layer of polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and the outer layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer are laminated with the adhesive layer made of modified polyolefin or modified elastomer sandwiched between the inside and outside of the vinyl alcohol copolymer, It becomes possible to bond alternately.
Therefore, the adhesiveness between the inner layer, the intermediate layer, and the outer layer can be improved.
As a result, satisfactory adhesive strength can be obtained only by coextrusion molding, and the layers are not peeled off during use, and can be used for a long time.

  In addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3, the invention of claim 4 is used for the inner layer and the adhesive layer by laminating an innermost layer made of linear low density polyethylene inside the inner layer. The odor and taste of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, modified polyolefin, modified elastomer and the like are not easily transferred to the beverage in the hose, and the taste change of the beverage can be prevented.

In addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, the invention of claim 5 has a reinforcing layer on which the reinforcing material is wound outside the outer layer, and a material having good compatibility with the material of the outer layer By laminating the outermost layer made of, the reinforcing layer is held between the outer layer and the outermost layer, and the diameter of the inner layer, the intermediate layer, and the outer layer is prevented by this reinforcing layer.
Therefore, both pressure resistance and flexibility can be achieved.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the beverage hose A of the present invention comprises an inner layer 1 mainly composed of either polyethylene or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (hereinafter referred to as EVA), and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. The intermediate layer 2 mainly composed of a polymer (hereinafter referred to as EVOH) and the outer layer 3 mainly composed of EVA are laminated and integrated by coextrusion molding.

The polyethylene of the inner layer 1 is preferably linear low density polyethylene (hereinafter referred to as LLDPE), but is not limited thereto, and is not limited to low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), or high density polyethylene (HDPE). Etc. may be used.
As the EVOH of the intermediate layer 2, a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of 2 to 60 mol% and a saponification degree of 85 mol% or more is used.

  Furthermore, the EVOH of the intermediate layer 2 has poor compatibility with the polyethylene or EVA of the inner layer 1 and the EVA of the outer layer 3, and it is difficult to obtain satisfactory adhesive strength even by coextrusion molding. , By adding to polyethylene or EVA as the main component of the inner layer 1 and EVA as the main component of the outer layer 3, respectively, it is diluted with polyethylene or EVA to increase the affinity with EVOH, Improves compatibility and adhesion with the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3.

  As another example, by laminating adhesive layers 4 and 5 made of modified polyolefin or modified elastomer between the inner layer 1, the intermediate layer 2 and the outer layer 3, respectively, the EVOH of the intermediate layer 2 and the inner layer 1 Increases adhesion of polyethylene and outer layer 3 to EVA.

  The polyolefin used for the modified polyolefin of the adhesive layers 4 and 5 is preferably polyethylene such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), or high density polyethylene (HDPE), or polypropylene.

The elastomer used for the modified elastomer of the inner layer 1, the outer layer 3 and the adhesive layers 4 and 5 is a high-molecular substance exhibiting rubber elasticity at room temperature, and is stretched more than twice at room temperature. A high-molecular substance that returns to the form of
It is preferable that it is thermoplastic from the viewpoint of handleability and ease of molding.

The modified polyolefin or modified elastomer in the present invention is one in which a functional group capable of reacting with a hydroxyl group is introduced into the polyolefin or elastomer.
Examples of the functional group capable of reacting with a hydroxyl group include a carboxyl group, a carboxylic acid ester group, a carboxylic acid anhydride group, a carboxylic acid group, a boronic acid group, a boronic acid ester group, a boronic acid anhydride group, a boronic acid group, an isocyanate group, At least one functional group selected from the group consisting of an ester bond, a urethane bond and an amide bond is preferred.
In order to greatly improve the adhesiveness between the intermediate layer 2 and the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3, or the adhesiveness between the intermediate layer 2, the adhesive layer 4 and the adhesive layer 5, as a functional group capable of reacting with a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, At least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid ester group, a carboxylic acid anhydride group, a carboxylic acid group, a boronic acid group, a boronic acid ester group, a boronic acid anhydride group, and a boronic acid group is preferably used. It is done.

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

  In Example 1, as shown in FIG. 1, LLDPE, which is the main component of the inner layer 1, and “Sinarbind” IK-750 manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd. used as the modified elastomer are appropriately dry blended (not melted). The additive is simply mixed), and EVA which is the main component of the outer layer 3 is dry-blended with “Sinarbind” IK-750 made by Kuraray Co., Ltd. as a modified elastomer, and these are EVOH which is the main component of the intermediate layer 2 Are put into an extruder and co-extruded to form a multi-layer structure hose.

  Furthermore, in order to avoid the taste of the beverage after molding, that is, the odor and taste including migratory odor, being changed by the influence of the inner layer 1, the innermost layer 6 made of LLDPE or the like is formed inside the inner layer 1 by coextrusion molding. It is preferable to laminate.

  Further, on the outside of the outer layer 3, a reinforcing layer 7 in which a reinforcing material 7a is wound in the hose axial direction, and EVA, a styrene-based elastomer, an olefin-based elastomer, or the like as a material having good compatibility with the EVA of the outer layer 3 are used. The outermost layer 8 is laminated.

As the reinforcing material 7a of the reinforcing layer 7, for example, a synthetic resin reinforcing yarn such as polyester, nylon, or aramid, a reinforcing fiber or a monofilament (monofilament), or a metal reinforcing wire such as stainless steel is used. It is configured by winding in a spiral shape (coil shape) or a net shape along the outer peripheral surface of the outer layer 3.
In the illustrated example, a case where a plurality of reinforcing yarns are wound in a net shape at equal intervals is shown.

Next, the function and effect of the beverage hose A will be described.
Since the mixed material of the inner layer 1 in which the modified elastomer is added to LLDPE and the mixed material of the outer layer 3 in which the modified elastomer is added to EVA are coextruded with the EVOH of the intermediate layer 2 interposed therebetween, the modified elastomer is It is diluted with polyethylene or EVA of the outer layer 3, and affinity with EVOH having poor compatibility with polyethylene or EVA is increased.

Thereby, the compatibility / adhesion between the intermediate layer 2 and the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 is improved, the adhesion between these three layers is improved, and delamination does not occur during use.
EVOH of the intermediate layer 2 has a high gas barrier property, and the odor, taste, colorant and the like from the inner layer 1 do not move, and the permeability of oxygen to the inner and outer surfaces of the hose is extremely low. The generation of bacteria can be prevented and the flexibility of the EVA of the outer layer 3 makes the entire hose soft and excellent in flexibility.

  If necessary, the inner layer 6 made of LLDPE or the like is laminated on the inner side of the inner layer 1 so that the beverage and the inner layer 1 are separated from each other by the inner layer 6, and the taste of the beverage after molding due to the influence of the inner layer 1, i.e. Can prevent odor and taste changes.

  Further, since the reinforcing layer 7 in which the reinforcing material 7a is wound and the outermost layer 8 made of a material having good compatibility with the material of the outer layer 3 are laminated on the outer side of the outer layer 3, the outer layer 3 and the outermost layer are laminated. The reinforcing layer 7 is held between the inner layer 1, the intermediate layer 2 and the outer layer 3, and the pressure resistance is improved.

  As another embodiment, the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 laminated on the outer side of the innermost layer 6 are formed by appropriately drying EVA and the modified elastomer (“Sinarbind” IK-750 manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) at an appropriate ratio. It is also possible to make a multi-layer structure hose by blending and charging these and EVOH which is the main component of the intermediate layer 2 into an extruder and co-extrusion molding.

  Also in this case, the modified elastomer is diluted with EVA of the inner layer and the outer layer 3, and the affinity between EVA and EVOH having poor compatibility is increased. Therefore, the compatibility / adhesion between the intermediate layer 2, the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 is improved. By improving the adhesion of these three layers, delamination does not occur during use, and the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In this Example 2, as shown in FIG. 2, instead of adding a modified elastomer to the material of the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. is used as the modified polyolefin between the inner layer 1, the intermediate layer 2 and the outer layer 3. Unlike the Example 1 shown in the said FIG. 1, the structure made into the multilayer structure hose by co-extrusion molding with an extruder so that the adhesive layers 4 and 5 which consist of company "Admer" may be arrange | positioned, respectively. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  Therefore, in Example 2 shown in FIG. 2, the LLDPE of the inner layer 1 and the EVA of the outer layer 3 are laminated by sandwiching the adhesive layers 4 and 5 made of modified polyolefin between the inside and outside of the EVOH of the intermediate layer 2 by coextrusion molding. Therefore, they can be bonded to each other, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  As another example, between the inner layer 1, the intermediate layer 2, and the outer layer 3, Kuraray Co., Ltd. “Sinarbind” IK-750 was dry blended in an appropriate ratio as a modified elastomer to polyethylene such as LLDPE. It is also possible to form a multi-layered hose by co-extrusion with an extruder so that the adhesive layers 4 and 5 made of a material are arranged.

  Also in this case, the LLDPE of the inner layer 1 and the EVA of the outer layer 3 are respectively laminated by coextrusion molding with the adhesive layers 4 and 5 made of polyethylene to which the modified elastomer is added inside and outside the EVOH of the intermediate layer 2. Therefore, they can be bonded to each other, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

It is a partially notched perspective view which shows one Example of the hose for drinks of this invention. It is a partially notched perspective view which shows the other Example of the hose for drinks of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Beverage hose 1 Inner layer 2 Intermediate layer 3 Outer layer 4, 5 Adhesive layer 6 Innermost layer 7 Reinforcing layer 7a Reinforcing material 8 Outermost layer

Claims (5)

Coextruded inner layer (1) made of polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, intermediate layer (2) made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and outer layer (3) made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer A beverage hose characterized by being molded and integrated. The beverage hose according to claim 1, wherein a modified elastomer is added to the polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the inner layer (1) and the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the outer layer (3). The beverage hose according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer (4, 5) made of modified polyolefin or modified elastomer is laminated between the inner layer (1), the intermediate layer (2), and the outer layer (3). The beverage hose according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein an innermost layer (6) made of linear low-density polyethylene is laminated inside the inner layer (1). On the outside of the outer layer (3), a reinforcing layer (7) in which a reinforcing material (7a) is wound, and an outermost layer made of a material having good compatibility with the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of the outer layer (3) ( The beverage hose according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein 8) is laminated.

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