JP2022060061A - Synthetic resin container - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a synthetic resin container with a label such as a shrink label attached thereto, which makes a pressure reduction absorption panel provided on the container body hardly noticeable and yet exhibits a certain pressure reduction absorption performance and restricts deformation such as extension in the height direction, even when provided for heated sales.SOLUTION: A pressure reduction absorption panel 6 is fringed with a rim part 6a and formed so as to depress toward inside the container against the peripheral surface of a body 4. Vertical grooves 7 that extend along the height direction are juxtaposed on both end sides along the peripheral direction of the pressure reduction absorption panel 6. The pressure reduction absorption panel 6 and the vertical groove 7 are provided on the peripheral surface of the body 4 so as for a central angle θa, which is located on both end sides along the circumferential direction of the pressure reduction absorption panel 6 and is against the clearance of the neighboring vertical grooves 7 with the pressure reduction absorption panel 6 therebetween, to be larger than a central angle θb, which is located between the pressure reduction absorption panels 6 neighboring along the circumferential direction and is against the clearance between the vertical groove 7 juxtaposed on the pressure reduction absorption panel 6 and the vertical groove 7 juxtaposed on the other pressure reduction absorption panel 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a synthetic resin container.

Conventionally, using a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, a bottomed tubular preform is produced by injection molding or compression molding, and this preform is molded into a bottle shape by biaxial stretching blow molding. The manufacturing container is used in a wide range of fields as a container containing various beverages, various seasonings and the like as a content liquid.

Further, when filling this type of container with the content liquid, the content liquid sterilized by heating is filled (hot-filled) at a high temperature (for example, about 85 ° C.), which also serves as a sterilization treatment for the container. It is known that a container sterilized with a chemical solution is filled with the content solution at room temperature (acceptic filling) in an environment controlled in an aseptic state to suppress the growth of bacteria after filling. There is.

During hot filling, the inside of the container cooled to room temperature becomes decompressed after filling with the content liquid. Therefore, in general, the container is deformed inward with cooling to reduce the volume of the container and reduce the internal pressure. A container in which a decompression absorption panel for absorbing a component is arranged along the circumferential direction on the body of the container is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, in aseptic filling, the pressure change in the container immediately after filling can be ignored, but the water content of the filled content liquid gradually permeates through the container and leaks, or the oxygen in the headspace dissolves in the content liquid. As a result, the pressure inside the container may decrease over time. Therefore, even in the case of aseptic filling, a container having a predetermined decompression absorption performance is used as needed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-206331

By the way, this type of container is often fitted with a so-called shrink label, which is made of a heat-shrinkable film material with a desired print. At that time, if the decompression absorption panel is arranged on the body of the container, the decompression absorption panel can be seen through as if floating on the surface of the shrink label.

In the recent situation where the use of this type of container has become more common, it is desirable to have design features in order to differentiate it from other products. Attempts have been made to obtain an appearance that resembles a glass bottle, for example. For that purpose, it is required that the decompression absorption panel is inconspicuous.

In addition, the sales form of beverages using this type of container is also diversifying, and in the cold season of winter, it can be displayed on hot warmers in stores to warm the beverages to an appropriate temperature and sell them. Although becoming more familiar as a common sales form, hot warmer display shelves are usually designed so that there are as few gaps as possible above the displayed products in order to increase heating efficiency. There is. For this reason, if the content liquid expands during heating and the pressure inside the container increases, causing the container to deform so that it extends in the height direction, the product cannot be taken out or the top plate of the display shelf. There is a risk that the container mouth that is pressed against the container will be deformed and cannot be opened.

In view of such circumstances, the present inventors have a predetermined decompression absorption performance while making the decompression absorption panel arranged on the container body inconspicuous with a label such as a shrink label attached. The present invention has been completed as a result of diligent studies so as to be able to suppress deformation that extends in the height direction even when the product is exhibited and is used for heated sales.

The synthetic resin container according to the present invention is a synthetic resin container provided with a mouth portion, a shoulder portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, and a plurality of pressure reducing absorption panels are provided along the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface of the body portion. The decompression absorption panel is arranged so as to be bordered by an edge portion that is convexly curved outward of the container so as to be recessed inward of the container with respect to the peripheral surface of the body portion, and the decompression absorption panel is formed. Vertical grooves extending along the height direction are juxtaposed on each of the sides of both ends along the circumferential direction, and are located on both sides of the decompression absorption panel along the circumferential direction to reduce the pressure. The central angle θa with respect to the separation distance of the vertical grooves adjacent to each other with the absorption panel in between is located between the adjacent decompression absorption panels along the circumferential direction, and is juxtaposed on one side of the decompression absorption panel. The configuration is larger than the central angle θb with respect to the separation distance between the vertical groove and the vertical groove arranged side by side on the other side of the decompression absorption panel.

According to the present invention, when a label such as a shrink label is attached, a predetermined decompression absorption performance is exhibited and heating is performed while making the decompression absorption panel arranged on the container body inconspicuous. It is possible to provide a synthetic resin container capable of suppressing deformation that extends in the height direction even when it is offered for sale.

It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the synthetic resin container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the outline of the synthetic resin container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the outline of the synthetic resin container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an end view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is a BB end view of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows Example 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows Example 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the comparative example 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows the comparative example 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a synthetic resin container according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a front view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.
Further, FIG. 4 is an end view of AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an end view of BB of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. , The wall thickness that appears on the end face is omitted.

The container 1 shown in these figures includes a mouth portion 2, a shoulder portion 3, a body portion 4, and a bottom portion 5, and by forming the body portion 4 in a cylindrical shape, an appearance resembling a glass bottle can be obtained. I have to.

For such a container 1, a bottomed tubular preform is produced by injection molding, compression molding, or the like using a thermoplastic resin, and this preform is molded into a predetermined container shape by biaxial stretch blow molding or the like. Can be manufactured by.

As the thermoplastic resin to be used, any resin capable of blow molding can be used. Specifically, thermoplastic polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, amorphous polyarylate, polylactic acid, polyethylene furanoate or copolymers thereof can be used, and in particular, ethylene terephthalate such as polyethylene terephthalate can be used. The system thermoplastic polyester can be preferably used. Two or more of these resins may be mixed, or other resins may be blended. Polycarbonate, acrylonitrile resin, polypropylene, propylene-ethylene copolymer, polyethylene and the like can also be used.
Further, the preform is not limited to being molded into a single layer, but can also be molded into multiple layers including a gas barrier layer and the like, depending on the characteristics required for the container 1.

The mouth portion 2 is a cylindrical portion that serves as a spout for the content liquid, and a lid that seals the inside of the container is attached to the mouth portion 2.

The lower end of such a mouth portion 2 is connected to a shoulder portion 3 that expands in diameter toward the body portion 4 and connects the mouth portion 2 and the body portion 4. In the illustrated example, the shoulder portion 3 is formed into a rounded cone shape, but the shape of the shoulder portion 3 is not limited to this.

Further, the body portion 4 is a portion that occupies most of the height direction of the container 1, and the upper end is connected to the shoulder portion 3 and the lower end is connected to the bottom portion 5. In the illustrated example, each of the upper end side and the lower end side of the body portion 4 is annular along the circumferential direction for the purpose of increasing the load bearing strength against a load from the lateral direction (direction orthogonal to the height direction). Peripheral grooves 8 and 9 extending to the above are provided, but such peripheral grooves 8 and 9 may be omitted as appropriate.

Here, the height direction means a direction orthogonal to the horizontal plane when the container 1 is upright on the horizontal plane with the mouth portion 2 facing up, and the container 1 is in this state (the state shown in FIG. 2). The vertical and horizontal directions and the vertical and horizontal directions of are specified.
Further, although the central axis C is shown by a alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, a cross section cut along a plane orthogonal to the central axis C is referred to as a cross section unless otherwise specified.

In the present embodiment, the peripheral surface of the body portion 4 is deformed so as to bend toward the inside of the container as the internal pressure of the container 1 decreases, thereby reducing the volume inside the container and absorbing the decrease in the internal pressure. A plurality of decompression absorption panels 6 are arranged along the circumferential direction. The number of the decompression absorption panels 6 is not particularly limited, but each decompression absorption panel 6 is uniformly deformed toward the central axis C of the container 1 to suppress irregular deformation of the container 1 and reduce the pressure. In order to prevent the appearance of the container 1 from being significantly changed during absorption, it is preferable to arrange the four decompression absorption panels 6 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction.

Each of the decompression absorption panels 6 arranged on the peripheral surface of the body portion 4 is bordered by the edge portion 6a that curves convexly outward of the container so as to be recessed inward with respect to the peripheral surface of the body portion 4. It is formed. As shown in the figure, the decompression absorption panel 6 formed in this way is based on a relatively narrow vertically long rectangular shape, and the corners of the four corners each draw an arc toward the center of the upper and lower ends. It is preferably formed with a symmetrical contour rounded to. The edge portion 6a of the decompression absorption panel 6 is curved with a radius of curvature smaller than the radius of curvature along the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface of the body portion 4 (radius of the maximum body diameter portion of the body portion 4). At both ends along the circumferential direction of 6, the portion where the radius of curvature changes with respect to the peripheral surface of the body portion 4 appears as the contour of the decompression absorption panel 6.
The range of the edge portion 6a in the cross section is shown in FIG. 6 by a thin chain line extending from the central axis C.

Further, vertical grooves 7 extending along the height direction are arranged side by side on both ends of each pressure reducing absorption panel 6 arranged on the peripheral surface of the body portion 4 along the circumferential direction. There is. In other words, every other decompression absorption panel 6 is arranged between the vertical grooves 7 adjacent to each other along the circumferential direction.
The range of the vertical groove 7 in the cross section is shown in FIG. 6 by a thin chain line extending from the central axis C.

In this way, when the decompression absorption panel 6 and the vertical groove 7 are arranged on the peripheral surface of the body portion 4, the decompression absorption panel 6 is located on both ends along the circumferential direction of the decompression absorption panel 6. Central angle with respect to the separation distance of the adjacent vertical grooves 7 (the angle formed by the line connecting the deepest portion of each of the vertical grooves 7 and the central axis C in the cross section shown in FIGS. 4 and 6). θa is located between adjacent decompression absorption panels 6 along the circumferential direction, and a vertical groove 7 juxtaposed on one decompression absorption panel 6 side and a vertical groove 7 juxtaposed on the other decompression absorption panel 6 side. The central angle with respect to the distance from the groove 7 (the angle formed by the line connecting the deepest portion of each of the vertical grooves 7 and the central axis C in the cross section shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) θb. , Adjust these arrangements as appropriate. In such an arrangement, when four decompression absorption panels 6 are arranged on the peripheral surface of the body 4 at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction, the relationship between θa and θb is θa + θb = 90 °. Is true.

By doing so, the container 1 is covered with a heat-shrinkable film material having a desired print in a cylindrical shape, and this is heated and shrunk so as to be in close contact with the peripheral surface of the container 1. When the so-called shrink label L, which is attached by the above, is attached, the decompression absorption panel 6 can be made inconspicuous so that an appearance resembling a glass bottle can be obtained. In particular, since the shrink label L is normally attached in close contact with the body portion 4 while contracting in the circumferential direction, the decompression absorption panel 6 is bordered by the edge portion 6a that curves convexly outward of the container. By doing so, the peripheral surface of the body 4 and the decompression absorption panel 6 become smoothly continuous along the circumferential direction, and the outline of the decompression absorption panel 6 floats up on the surface of the shrink label L and can be seen through. It can be effectively avoided.

In FIG. 1, the shrink label L is shown by a chain line, and the shrink label L is attached in a range extending from the lower end side of the shoulder portion 3 to the bottom portion 5. If the shrink label L can be attached to the range including the decompression absorption panel 6 to make the decompression absorption panel 6 inconspicuous so that an appearance similar to a glass bottle can be obtained, the range in which the shrink label L is attached is. Not particularly limited.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example of a container used for aseptic filling is shown, and as described above, the decompression absorption panel 6 is formed so as to be recessed inward with respect to the peripheral surface of the body portion 4. When the water content of the filled content liquid gradually permeates through the container and leaks out, or the oxygen in the headspace dissolves in the content liquid and the pressure inside the container decreases over time, the specified depressurization occurs. The absorption performance is exhibited.

The portion inside the edge portion 6a of the decompression absorption panel 6 can be a flat surface or a curved surface whose cross section is curved inwardly in the container, and in any case, the edge portion 6a. It is preferable to form it so as to be smoothly continuous. When the portion inside the edge portion 6a of the decompression absorption panel 6 is formed into a curved surface as described above, the depth of the decompression absorption panel 6 (in the cross section shown in FIG. 6, the decompression absorption panel 6 passes through the central axis C). The length along the bisector between the bisector that is orthogonal to the bisector that bisects in the circumferential direction and that is in contact with the decompression absorption panel 6 from the outside of the container and the decompression absorption panel 6) The Dp is preferably 1.5 mm or less.
When the portion inside the edge portion 6a of the decompression absorption panel 6 is formed in a flat shape, the depth Dp of the decompression absorption panel 6 is 0 mm.

Further, the decompression absorption panel 6 has a central angle (the angle formed by a line connecting both ends of the decompression absorption panel 6 and the central axis C in the cross section shown in FIG. 6) θp with respect to the width thereof. 50% or more of the central angle θa with respect to the separation distance of the flutes 7 adjacent to each other with the decompression absorption panel 6 sandwiched between them, located on both sides along the circumferential direction of the decompression absorption panel 6 and the flutes. It is preferable to form the width so that it does not come into contact with 7.

By appropriately adjusting the shape, dimensions, and the like of the decompression absorption panel 6 in this way, as the internal pressure of the container 1 decreases, the decompression absorption panel 6 takes precedence over other parts of the peripheral surface of the body 4. It becomes deformed toward the inside of the container, whereby a predetermined vacuum absorption performance is exhibited, but the deformation is reversible. Therefore, in a situation where the content liquid expands and the pressure inside the container increases due to heating and selling, the decompression absorption panel 6 is deformed so as to swell outward from the container, and the pressure inside the container is increased. It also works to absorb the increase. Then, in the present embodiment, the decompression absorption panel 6 is provided by arranging the vertical grooves 7 extending along the height direction in parallel on each of both ends and sides along the circumferential direction of the decompression absorption panel 6. Is deformed so as to bulge outward from the container, and the vertical grooves 7 juxtaposed to the decompression absorption panel 6 are deformed so as to be expanded from the inside of the container, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It is possible to deform the body portion 4 so as to expand the diameter evenly as a whole.

Then, the central angle θa with respect to the separation distance of the vertical grooves 7 which are located on both ends side along the circumferential direction of the decompression absorption panel 6 and are adjacent to each other with the decompression absorption panel 6 in between is adjacent along the circumferential direction. Central angle θb with respect to the separation distance between the vertical groove 7 juxtaposed on one decompression absorption panel 6 side and the vertical groove 7 juxtaposed on the other decompression absorption panel 6 side located between the decompression absorption panels 6. As described above, the arrangement of the decompression absorption panel 6 and the flutes 7 is appropriately adjusted so as to be larger than the above. It can be reversibly deformed so that the body 4 expands evenly as a whole when the pressure in the container increases without preventing the body 4 from being deformed evenly.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when the container 1 is subjected to heated sales, the body 4 is deformed so as to expand the diameter evenly as a whole, thereby suppressing the irregular deformation of the container 1. While doing so, it is possible to absorb the increase in pressure inside the container, thereby suppressing the container 1 from being deformed so as to extend in the height direction. Further, it is possible to effectively avoid the inversion of the bottom portion 5 which is deformed so that the bottom portion 5 protrudes to the outside of the container due to the increase in the internal pressure.

In order to make such an effect more effective, the circumference of the body 4 is relative to the circumference (Dmax × π) of a circle having the same diameter as the maximum body diameter Dmax of the body 4. The decompression absorption panel 6 and the flutes 7 are arranged so that the actual circumference including the undulations of the decompression absorption panel 6 and the flutes 7 that trace the surface along the circumferential direction is 1 to 5% longer. preferable. Considering this, the depth of the vertical groove 7 (in the cross section shown in FIG. 6, orthogonal to the extension line passing through the deepest part of the vertical groove 7 from the central axis C, and outside the container at the edge of the vertical groove 7). The length (length) Dg along the extension line between the line tangent to the vertical groove 7 and the deepest portion of the vertical groove 7 is preferably 0.8 to 2.5 mm.

Further, considering the shapeability at the time of blow molding, the cross section of the vertical groove 7 is preferably V-shaped with the edges and the bottom of the vertical groove 7 rounded as shown in the figure. In this case, the vertical groove 7 is formed. The angle θg of 7 is preferably 60 to 120 °. If the angle θg is less than this range, it may be difficult for the body portion 4 to be deformed so as to expand the diameter evenly as a whole. If the angle θg exceeds this range, the vertical groove 7 may float on the surface of the shrink label L and be seen through, or it may be difficult to increase the actual circumference in the above range.

According to the present embodiment as described above, in a state where a label such as a shrink label L is attached, the decompression absorption panel 6 arranged on the body 4 is made inconspicuous, but the predetermined decompression absorption performance is achieved. Even when it is exhibited and sold by heating, it is possible to suppress deformation that extends in the height direction.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to specific examples.

[Example 1]
Using a polyethylene terephthalate resin, a preform weighing about 21 g was produced by injection molding. After the prepared preform was heated and softened, it was set in a blow molding mold, and the container 1 was molded so as to have the container shape shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by biaxial stretch blow molding.
The average wall thickness of the container 1 calculated from the weight of the preform was about 0.3 mm.
In the container 1 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations common to the above-described embodiments, but θa in the container 1 is 50 °, θb is 40 °, and θp is 34 °. θg was 90 °, Dp was 0.4 mm, and Dg was 1.5 mm.

Such a container 1 was filled with water as a content liquid at room temperature, and a lid 10 was attached to the mouth 2 in a fully filled state to seal the inside of the container. The top plate of the lid 10 was provided with a rubber stopper capable of puncturing an injection needle while maintaining the hermeticity inside the container.
In this state, the height H from the ground contact surface of the bottom portion 5 to the top surface of the lid 10 was 169.6 mm, and the maximum body diameter Dmax of the body portion 4 was 69.5 mm.

Next, an injection needle was punctured into the rubber stopper provided on the lid 10, and 24.7 mL of water was injected into the container using a syringe to make the inside of the container positive pressure.
In this state, the height H from the ground contact surface of the bottom portion 5 to the top surface of the lid 10 was 171.6 mm, and the maximum body diameter Dmax of the body portion 4 was 70.7 mm.

[Comparative Example 1]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the same container 100 as in Example 1 was prepared except that the vertical groove 7 was omitted, and water was filled as the content liquid at room temperature, and the mouth portion 2 was fully filled. The lid 10 was attached to the container and the inside of the container was sealed.
In this state, the height H from the ground contact surface of the bottom portion 5 to the top surface of the lid 10 was 169.6 mm, and the maximum body diameter Dmax of the body portion 4 was 69.5 mm.
In the container 100 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations common to the above-described embodiments.

Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, 24.7 mL of water was injected into the container to make the inside of the container positive pressure.
In this state, the height H from the ground contact surface of the bottom portion 5 to the top surface of the lid 10 was 173.7 mm, and the maximum body diameter Dmax of the body portion 4 was 69.9 mm.

From the above results, in Example 1 in which the vertical grooves 7 extending along the height direction are arranged side by side on both ends of the decompression absorption panel 6 along the circumferential direction, the amount of change in the height H is large. It was 2.0 mm, and it was confirmed that the elongation in the height direction was suppressed to less than half of the change amount of 4.1 mm in the height H in Comparative Example 2 in which the vertical groove 7 was omitted.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Nor.

1 Container 2 Mouth 3 Shoulder 4 Body 5 Bottom 6 Decompression absorption panel 7 Vertical groove

Claims (8)

A synthetic resin container with a mouth, shoulders, body, and bottom.
A plurality of decompression absorption panels are arranged along the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface of the body portion.
The decompression absorption panel is bordered by an edge portion that curves convexly outward of the container, and is formed so as to be recessed inward of the container with respect to the peripheral surface of the body portion.
Vertical grooves extending along the height direction are juxtaposed on each of both ends and sides along the circumferential direction of the decompression absorption panel.
The central angle θa with respect to the separation distance of the flutes adjacent to the decompression absorption panel located on both sides along the circumferential direction with the decompression absorption panel in between is the decompression adjacent to the decompression absorption panel along the circumferential direction. Located between the absorption panels, the central angle θb with respect to the separation distance between the vertical groove arranged side by side on one side of the decompression absorption panel and the vertical groove arranged side by side on the other side of the decompression absorption panel. A synthetic resin container characterized by its large size. The synthetic resin container according to claim 1, wherein the portion inside the edge portion of the decompression absorption panel is formed into a flat surface or a curved surface whose cross section is curved inward inward. The synthetic resin container according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum absorption panel has a depth of 0 to 1.5 mm. The central angle θp with respect to the width of the decompression absorption panel is located on both ends side along the circumferential direction of the decompression absorption panel, and the central angle with respect to the separation distance of the adjacent vertical grooves with the decompression absorption panel in between. The synthetic resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is 50% or more of θa. The synthetic resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vertical groove has a depth of 0.8 to 2.5 mm. The synthetic resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vertical groove angle is 60 to 120 °. According to any one of claims 1 to 6, the body portion is formed in a cylindrical shape, and four pressure reducing absorption panels are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface of the body portion. The synthetic resin container described. The synthetic resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a shrink label is attached to a range including the vacuum absorption panel.

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