JP2012030486A - Liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container in which no cracks occur, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the container.SOLUTION: The liquid container (100) includes: an inner layer (1) in contact with the liquid; an outer layer (3) in contact with the outside air; and a barrier layer (2) for suppressing evaporation of the liquid. The inner layer (1) and the outer layer (3) are layered so as to sandwich the barrier layer (2). The inner layer (1) and the outer layer (3) are comprised of resin with higher elasticity than the barrier layer (2).

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid storage container in which a container body is crushed and discharges a liquid.

  In recent years, development of a container in which a liquid such as ink is stored in a container main body and the liquid is instantaneously discharged from the mouth of the container main body has been advanced. Specifically, a strong impact is instantaneously applied to the container body, the internal pressure in the container body is increased by the instantaneously applied impact, and the liquid stored in the container body is instantaneously discharged from the mouth. It is a container for.

  In developing the container described above, the container body includes a barrier layer such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin (EVOH) to prevent evaporation of ink and other liquids contained in the container body. ing. However, since barrier layers such as EVOH are brittle and fragile, if a strong impact is momentarily applied to the container body composed of the barrier layers, the container body may be cracked.

  If a crack occurs in the container body, the liquid leaks from the cracked part, or the internal pressure in the container body does not rise, and it is impossible to discharge all the liquid from the mouth. I will.

  For this reason, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the container body, it is necessary to develop a container that does not cause cracks in the container body.

  In addition, as a document filed earlier than the present invention, it is possible to prevent the moisture evaporation of various liquids and block the permeation of oxygen from the outside to prevent the deterioration and deterioration of various liquids over a long period of time. There is a document that discloses a multilayer container that is excellent in flexibility, drainage, and reliability even at low temperatures (for example, Patent Document 1: JP 2007-118520 A).

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, water content of various liquids can be obtained by disposing a fluororesin excellent in water barrier property and a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer excellent in gas barrier property with a relatively low film thickness. Evaporation is prevented and oxygen permeation from the outside is blocked to prevent deterioration and deterioration of various liquids over a long period of time. In addition, it has excellent flexibility, drainage, and high reliability even at low temperatures. Enables multi-layer containers.

JP 2007-118520 A

  Patent Document 1 discloses a multilayer container having a barrier layer. However, the above Patent Document 1 does not consider any cracks in the multilayer container.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage container that does not crack even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the container.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following features. The description in () described below is added to clarify the correspondence between “Claims” and “Embodiments of the Invention”. The interpretation of the technical scope of the invention described in “Scope” is not intentionally limited.

The liquid storage container (100) according to the present invention includes:
A liquid storage container (100) for storing liquid,
The liquid container (100) is
An inner layer (1) in contact with the liquid, an outer layer (3) in contact with the outside air, and a barrier layer (2) that suppresses evaporation of the liquid, the inner layer (1) and the outer layer (3) And so as to sandwich the barrier layer (2),
The inner layer (1) and the outer layer (3) are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than the barrier layer (2).

  According to the present invention, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the container, it is possible to prevent cracks from occurring.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a liquid ejection device and a liquid storage container 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross-sectional configuration example of a liquid storage container 100. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structural example of 2nd Embodiment.

<Outline of Liquid Storage Container 100 of this Embodiment>
First, an outline of the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The liquid storage container 100 of this embodiment is a liquid storage container 100 that stores liquid. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment includes an inner layer 1 in contact with the liquid, an outer layer 3 in contact with the outside air, and a barrier layer 2 that suppresses evaporation of the liquid. The inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than that of the barrier layer 2.

  In the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment, since the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than the barrier layer 2, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the liquid storage container 100, the liquid storage container 100 is cracked. Can be prevented from occurring. Hereinafter, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
<Configuration example of liquid ejection device>
First, a configuration example of the liquid ejection device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the liquid ejection device of the present embodiment in a state where a part of the liquid storage container 102 is broken.

  The liquid ejection device of the present embodiment is installed in a cash storage case of an ATM device, and is composed of a liquid storage container 102 made of a casting as shown in FIG.

  The liquid storage container 102 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the internal space of the liquid storage container 102 is partitioned into a gas filling chamber 105 and a liquid storage container built-in chamber 106 via a movable portion 107. The movable portion 107 moves in the liquid storage container 102 in the container axial direction X. The gas filling chamber 105 is a part that generates gas and closes one end of the opening of the liquid storage container 102.

  The liquid storage container built-in chamber 106 contains a liquid storage container 100 in which a liquid such as colored ink is stored. Further, the other open end of the liquid storage container built-in chamber 106 opposite to the gas filling chamber 105 side is closed with a stopper 114, and a liquid outlet 115 is provided near the center of the stopper 114. The liquid in the liquid storage container 100 is discharged from the liquid outlet 115 to the outside.

  The liquid ejection device according to the present embodiment ejects a required amount of gas from the gas filling chamber 105 at a stroke, causes the gas pressure to act on the movable portion 107, and moves the movable portion 107 toward the liquid storage container built-in chamber 106. Along with the movement of the movable portion 107, the liquid storage container 100 is compressed toward the liquid outlet 115, and gas flows from the gap between the outer periphery of the movable portion 107 and the inner periphery of the liquid storage container 102 to the liquid storage container 100. The liquid container 100 is compressed by flowing in the direction. As a result, the liquid in the liquid storage container 100 is discharged from the liquid outlet 115 to the outside.

<Configuration example of liquid storage container 100>
Next, a configuration example of the liquid storage container 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration example of the liquid storage container 100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment has a five-layer structure including an inner layer 1, an adhesive layer 4, a barrier layer 2, an adhesive layer 5, and an outer layer 3.

  The barrier layer 2 is made of a resin capable of preventing evaporation of liquid such as ink stored in the liquid storage container 100, and has an ethylene content of 45 mol% or less, preferably 35 mol% or less, more preferably 30 mol. % Ethylene or vinyl alcohol copolymer resin (EVOH) having a saponification degree of 96% or more. Any known resin can be used for the barrier layer 2 as long as it has a gas barrier property.

  The inner layer 1 is a layer in contact with a liquid such as ink stored in the liquid storage container 100, and the outer layer 3 is a layer in contact with outside air.

  The inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than that of the barrier layer 2. It comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of mixtures. The inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 have an elongation at −20 ° C. of 200% or more and a hardness of 40 to 80 in order to prevent cracking below freezing point (for example, −20 ° C.). It is preferable to use a resin having a glass transition temperature of −20 ° C. or lower. This is because polypropylene resin and the like are brittle at low temperatures, and cracks and the like occur below the freezing point (for example, −20 ° C.) or lower.

  In addition, the outer layer 3 can be configured by mixing recycled resin obtained by recycling the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment. For example, the inner layer 1 may be composed of a single elastomer resin, and the outer layer 3 may be composed of a mixed resin of an elastomer resin and a recycled resin. The mixing ratio of the recycled resin and the elastomer resin is not particularly limited, and the recycled resin can be arbitrarily mixed with the elastomer resin as a main component.

  Suitable olefin elastomers in the present embodiment include ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber, ethylene-butene copolymer rubber, propylene-butene copolymer rubber, hydrogenated product of butadiene-styrene copolymer rubber, and the like. It is done.

  Examples of the styrene elastomer include styrene-butadiene block copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, styrene-isoprene block copolymer, styrene-isoprene- Examples thereof include styrene block copolymers and hydrogenated products thereof.

  The adhesive layers 4 and 5 are layers for adhering between the inner layer 1 and the barrier layer 2 and between the barrier layer 2 and the outer layer 3, respectively. The material constituting the adhesive layers 4 and 5 is not particularly limited as long as it can adhere between the inner layer 1 and the barrier layer 2 and between the barrier layer 2 and the outer layer 3, and is appropriately known as appropriate. It is possible to apply an adhesive thermoplastic resin.

  However, the adhesive layers 4 and 5 are made of acid-modified or epoxidized olefin resin such as SEBS rubber to prevent detachment of each layer due to drainage during transportation or use of the liquid storage container 100. Those containing a base elastomer are preferred.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment is configured to include a trunk portion 10, a mouth portion 11, and a bottom portion 13.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment is configured to have corner portions 21 and 22 on the upper side and the lower side of the container body, and the upper side corner portion 21 is, for example, The radius of curvature R is configured to be R3.0. Further, the lower corner 22 is configured such that the radius of curvature R is R5.0, for example. Thereby, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the liquid storage container 100 from being cracked.

  The liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment has a strong impact (for example, a pressure of 1 MPa or more) against the bottom 13 of the liquid storage container 100 in order to instantaneously discharge the liquid stored in the liquid storage container 100 from the liquid outlet 115. ) Is added instantaneously. As a result, the internal pressure of the liquid storage container 100 rises, the opening 11 opens, and the liquid in the liquid storage container 100 is discharged from the liquid outlet 115. Thereafter, the entire liquid storage container 100 is crushed, and most of the liquid stored in the liquid storage container 100 (for example, 96% or more of the liquid) is discharged from the liquid outlet 115.

  In addition, since the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment includes the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than the barrier layer 2, a strong impact is instantaneously applied to the bottom 13 of the liquid storage container 100. Even when added to the above, it is possible to prevent the liquid storage container 100 itself from cracking. As a result, when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the bottom 13 of the liquid storage container 100, the internal pressure of the liquid storage container 100 is increased and the liquid in the liquid storage container 100 is discharged from the liquid outlet 115. Can do.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment has an inner layer 1, an adhesive layer 4, a barrier layer 2, an adhesive layer 5, and an outer layer 3. The elastic modulus of each layer is as follows: inner layer 1> adhesive layer 4> barrier layer 2 <adhesive layer 5 <outer layer 3 is configured. That is, the elastic modulus is configured to decrease as it approaches the barrier layer 2 side.

  Therefore, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment can mitigate the impact with the elastic modulus of the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3. As a result, even if the barrier layer 2 is brittle and easily broken, it is possible to prevent the liquid storage container 100 itself from being cracked.

  The liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment has an overall thickness A shown in FIG. 2 of 700 μm or more, and preferably 800 μm or more. The inner layer 1 is composed of 150 μm to 350 μm, preferably about 200 μm. The outer layer 3 is composed of 350 μm to 600 μm, preferably about 450 μm. The adhesive layer 4 is composed of 50 μm to 90 μm, preferably about 65 μm. The adhesive layer 5 is composed of 10 μm to 35 μm, preferably about 20 μm. The barrier layer 2 is composed of 75 μm to 110 μm, preferably about 80 μm.

  Note that the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment can be formed by a known method such as blow molding, sheet blow molding, or injection molding.

<Operation / Effect of Liquid Storage Container 100 of this Embodiment>
As described above, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment is laminated so that the barrier layer 2 is sandwiched between the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3, and the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than the barrier layer 2. . Thereby, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the liquid storage container 100, the liquid storage container 100 can be prevented from cracking.

  As a result, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment reduces the internal pressure of the liquid storage container 100 when a strong impact (for example, a pressure of 1 MPa or more) is momentarily applied to the bottom 13 of the liquid storage container 100. The liquid storage container 100 can be discharged and the liquid in the liquid storage container 100 can be discharged from the mouth portion 11, and the entire liquid storage container 100 is crushed and most of the liquid stored in the liquid storage container 100 (for example, 96% or more of the liquid) Can be discharged from the mouth portion 11. For this reason, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment can satisfy a desired drainage.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment, the inner layer 1 and the barrier layer 2 are laminated via the adhesive layer 4, and the outer layer 3 and the barrier layer 2 are laminated via the adhesive layer 5. Therefore, in the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment, the inner layer 1 and the barrier layer 2 are bonded via the adhesive layer 4, and the outer layer 3 and the barrier layer 2 are bonded via the adhesive layer 5, and the inner layer 1 1, each layer (wall surface) of the adhesive layer 4, the barrier layer 2, the adhesive layer 5, and the outer layer 3 is integrated. As a result, in the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment, even if the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than the barrier layer 2, the apparent elastic modulus of the entire wall surface of the liquid storage container 100 is obtained. Will be lowered.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner layer 1, the barrier layer 2 and the outer layer 3 are laminated without the adhesive layers 4 and 5, and the inner layer 1, the barrier layer 2 and the outer layer 3 are respectively formed (wall surfaces). It is an independent configuration. As a result, the apparent elastic modulus of the entire wall surface of the liquid storage container 100 can be made higher than that of the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment. As a result, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the liquid storage container 100, it is possible to prevent the liquid storage container 100 from cracking compared to the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example in which the adhesive layers 4 and 5 are removed from the layer configuration example of the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  Since the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment has a configuration in which the respective layers (wall surfaces) are integrated via the adhesive layers 4 and 5, when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the liquid storage container 100. The impact is applied to the integrated layers, and the impact cannot be reduced between the layers.

  In contrast, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment has a structure in which each layer (wall surface) is independent of each other without the adhesive layers 4 and 5, so that a strong impact is instantaneously applied to the liquid storage container 100. In this case, an impact is applied to each independent layer, and the impact can be reduced between the layers. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the liquid storage container 100 from cracking compared to the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment. As a result, the liquid storage container 100 of this embodiment can make the total thickness of each layer (wall surface) thinner than the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment. The liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment instantaneously applies a strong impact (for example, a pressure of 1 MPa or more) to the bottom 13 of the liquid storage container 100 to increase the internal pressure of the liquid storage container 100, thereby In addition to discharging the liquid in the liquid outlet 115 from the liquid outlet 115, it is necessary to crush the entire liquid storage container 100 and to discharge most of the liquid stored in the liquid storage container 100 (for example, 96% or more of the liquid) from the liquid outlet 115. is there. For this reason, it is preferable to reduce the overall thickness of each layer (wall surface) of the liquid storage container 100 as much as possible. For this reason, it is preferable that each layer (wall surface) has an independent configuration without the adhesive layers 4 and 5 as in the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment.

<Operation / Effect of Liquid Storage Container 100 of this Embodiment>
As described above, the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment has the inner layer 1, the barrier layer 2, and the outer layer 3 laminated without the adhesive layers 4 and 5, and the inner layer 1, the barrier layer 2, and the outer layer 3 (wall surfaces). Are independent of each other. As a result, the apparent elastic modulus of the entire wall surface of the liquid storage container 100 can be made higher than that of the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment. As a result, even when a strong impact is momentarily applied to the liquid storage container 100, it is possible to prevent the liquid storage container 100 from cracking compared to the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment. In addition, the overall thickness of each layer (wall surface) can be made thinner than the liquid storage container 100 of the first embodiment.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation is possible.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 are configured in a single layer structure. However, it is also possible to configure the inner layer 1 and the outer layer 3 with a multilayer structure.

  In addition, the shape of the liquid storage container 100 of the present embodiment is not particularly limited, and when an impact is received, the liquid storage container 100 is crushed and the liquid stored in the liquid storage container 100 is discharged from the mouth portion 11. Any shape can be used as long as the shape is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Liquid container 1 Inner layer 2 Barrier layer 3 Outer layer 4,5 Adhesive layer 10 Trunk part 11 Mouth part

Claims (4)

A liquid storage container for storing a liquid,
The liquid container is
An inner layer in contact with the liquid, an outer layer in contact with the outside air, and a barrier layer that suppresses evaporation of the liquid, and is laminated so as to sandwich the barrier layer between the inner layer and the outer layer,
The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are made of a resin having a higher elastic modulus than the barrier layer.   The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are laminated with the barrier layer without an adhesive layer.   The liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer include an elastomer resin. The liquid storage container has a mouth for discharging the liquid,
4. The liquid storage container according to claim 1, wherein, when an impact is instantaneously received, the liquid storage container is crushed and the liquid is discharged from the mouth portion. 5.

Images