JP2958830B2 - Metal container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a metal container and, more particularly, to a metal container provided with a pinless hinge device for opening and closing a container body and a lid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hinge device for a metal container which is mass-produced by press molding is desirably a simple, lightweight and easy-to-handle hinge device made of the same metal material. The container body and the lid are connected by a thin and long pin member. (Hereinafter referred to as a pin type) is preferably used. Because the pin member of this pin type hinge device is thin, if it is held by the curled portion of the edge of the lid, no special installation space is required, and the projection of the hinge device is allowed to slightly project inside the container. For example, this type is often used for a portable container such as a pencil case, which can suppress excessive protrusion to the outside of the container and requires lightness and safety. On the other hand, there is also known a type (hereinafter, referred to as a pinless type) in which the advantages of the pin type are utilized without using a pin member (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-13795 and No. 60-13796). Gazette).

As shown in FIG. 14, this pinless hinge device forms a connecting means between the container body 1 and the lid 2 by keeping the edge of the connecting portion 2a of the lid 2 inward while keeping a small diameter. Following the curled annular portion 2b, shaft portions 2c and 2d extending straight in opposite directions are formed.
c and 2d are rotatably mounted on the accommodating portions 1c and 1d, respectively, which are raised and lowered in the connecting portion 1a of the container main body 1 so that the openings face each other to form a hinge device. To attach the shafts 2c and 2d to the housings 1c and 1d, the connecting portions 1a and 2a face each other, insert the tip of the shaft 2c into the opening of the other housing 1c, and insert the shaft 2c into the back. At this time, the opening of the accommodating portion 1d and the tip of the shaft portion 2d are aligned, and the connecting portions 1a, 2a are moved in opposite directions to each other to move
d is sent into the housing portion 1d. Here, the shaft portions 2c and 2d maintain the same diameter as the ring portion 2b, maintain the same annular shape following the curled shape, and act as pivots similarly to the pin member of the pin type hinge device.

[0004]

By the way, the process of producing a metal container, which is a mass-produced product, through press molding to form a container main body and a lid, and combining both using a hinge device to form a single container, shows that The only process that is not suitable for production is the assembly of the hinge device described above. In this step, in the case of the pin type, the center of the pin member is aligned with the center of the opening of the accommodation portion of both the container body and the lid, that is, so-called alignment is performed, and the alignment is relatively easily performed by hand. This can be done, but when doing this by automatic assembly, this alignment is not easy. That is, the container body and the lid each form a receiving portion by press molding, and the opening positions of both are rarely aligned concentrically due to variations due to processing, while the pin member is thin and long, so it is being assembled. It is easy to bend if the force is not good enough, making it an almost unsuitable combination for such alignment.

On the other hand, in the pinless type, if there is no pin member, the two parts must be centered, that is, the housings 1c and 1d of the container body 1 and the shafts 2c and d of the lid 2 must be aligned. Well, even if there is some advantage over the pin type if automatic assembly is taken into account, this is primarily intended for assembly by hand,
The arrangement is not suitable for automatic assembling, for example, the assembling cannot be performed without centering the c and 2d with the receiving sections 1c and 1d and moving in the axial direction.

Further, the conventional pinless shafts 2c, 2c
d can be freely attached to and detached from the housing portions 1c and 1d;
That is, the ineffectiveness of the constraint in the axial direction eventually impairs the function of the hinge device as the connecting means. That is, if careless force is applied in the axial direction to open the lid 2 during handling of the container, the lid 2 comes off from the container main body 1 because the shaft portions 2c and 2d do not have a restraining portion. , The container needs to be reassembled or sometimes the long shaft 2
There are disadvantages such as bending of c and 2d and requiring correction before assembly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a metal container which can be assembled without a relative movement in an axial direction between a shaft formed on a lid and a housing provided on a container body. Is to do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a container body having at least one hinge device that is vertically combined and a lid, and acts as a pivot on a hinge device coupling portion of the lid. In a metal container having a pair of shaft portions, each of which is provided with an accommodating portion for accommodating the shaft portion in the hinge device connecting portion of the container body, the shaft portions are connected to a connecting edge annular portion formed at the connecting portion edge of the lid. Along with being formed so as to extend in substantially the same amount in the opposite direction to each other, a pair of inner hooks that determine the position of the hinge device in the axial direction are formed in the connecting portion inside the boundary between the connecting edge annular portion and the shaft portion, The two accommodating portions are connected to the connecting portion of the container body so that the length of the connecting edge annular portion along the axial direction is slightly longer than the bent length of the shaft portion and is appropriately shorter than the length of the extended shaft portion. Openings are provided facing each other. The shaft portion forms a guide portion that is slid along the guide portion, so that during assembly, while pressing both the shaft portions along the guide portion with a pressing force applied to both connecting portions, the guide portion is guided to the receiving portion, The present invention is characterized in that the hinge is extended in a straight line following the connecting edge annular portion to constitute a pivot of a hinge device.

[0009]

The constituent elements of the hinge device are arranged at the joint between the container body and the lid so as to be suitable for automatic assembly.
That is, the shaft portion of the lid is formed so as to extend equally in opposite directions following the connection edge annular portion formed at the connection portion edge. On the other hand, both housing portions of the container main body have dimensions slightly longer than the length at the time of bending the shaft portion in the length along the axial direction of the connecting edge annular portion, and the shaft portion is extended. The openings are provided so as to face each other so as to have an appropriate value shorter than the time length. Further, a guide portion extending toward the opening of the housing portion is formed.
However, when combining both connecting portions, if both are pressed at a position where the connecting portions face each other, the shaft portions inclined outward with respect to the axis and directed toward the opening of the housing portion along the guide portion. It slides and is guided through the opening into the interior of the housing. Then, when the pressing force is still applied, the shaft portion is straightened, and finally becomes straight while keeping concentricity with the connecting edge annular portion. During this assembling, the members are not centered, and the working accuracy by the press may be the same as that of the prior art, and is optimal for automatic assembly of mass-produced products.

[0010] As a result of the extension of the shaft portion by an appropriate force, the function of the hinge device as a pivot is superior to that of the pin member. The appropriate amount of the shaft part fits into the housing part and is not unnecessarily long, so even if an inadvertent force is applied during handling, it will not bend easily. Since the movement is restricted, it does not come off from the accommodation portion.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a metal container according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an example of application to a pencil case.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the entire construction of the pencil case. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a lid 12 is put on a container body 11, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the lid 12 is opened. The container body 11 and the lid 12 are manufactured from a single thin surface-treated steel sheet (for example, 0.3 mm in thickness) through press molding. This procedure will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings.

The container body 11 has a short bottom 13 and four side walls 14 extending upward at the same height.
The edge of each side wall 14 is curled inward while maintaining a small diameter to form a peripheral annular portion 15. Of the four side walls 14,
One surface is located at a position facing a connecting portion of the lid 12 described later as a connecting portion 16 of the hinge device. Both accommodation sections 17
Reference numerals a and 17b are formed such that their openings face each other while keeping the height of the connecting portion 16 from the bottom portion 13 the same. The dimensions between the facing storage portions 17a and 17b are maintained in an appropriate dimensional relationship with a shaft portion described later for assembling considerations. Further, the connecting portion 16 includes a housing portion 17.
The guide grooves 18 are formed so as to extend toward the respective openings while maintaining concentricity with the guide grooves 18a and 17b.
Has a size capable of receiving a shaft portion described later.

On the other hand, the lid 12 has a short ceiling portion 19 and four side walls 20 extending downward while maintaining the same length, except for a central portion of one surface configured as a connecting portion. The edges of the three side walls 20 are curled outward while maintaining a small diameter to form a peripheral annular portion 21. The connecting portion 22 of the lid 12 facing the connecting portion 16 of the container body 11 has a slightly larger diameter than the peripheral annular portion 21, and is curled inward to form a connecting annular portion 23, and the connecting annular portion 23. Shafts 24a and 24b are formed to extend substantially equally in opposite directions by being similarly curled inward. The division between the connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shaft portions 24a and 24b serving as pivots will be described. In FIG. 3, which shows a state before assembly of the container body 11 and the lid 12, the connecting edge annular portions 23 are accommodated. Part 17
a, a straight shaft portion 24a facing obliquely with 17b,
Parts other than 24b are referred to. This is shown in FIG.
It is always kept shorter than the dimension S0 indicating the linear length between 7a and 17b. When the required lengths of the linear shaft portions 24a and 24b are indicated by T1 and T2, the length including the connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shaft portions 24a and 24b is equal to the length before assembly (this connecting edge annular portion). The arrangement of the shaft portions is referred to as "when the shaft portion is bent" and the state after assembly (the arrangement of the connecting edge annular portion and the shaft portion is referred to as the "extension of the shaft portion"). That is, when the shaft portion is bent, the length S1 of the connecting edge annular portion 23 in the direction following the axial direction is the shaft portion 2
Bending is performed on the connecting edge annular portion 23 before reaching to 4a and 24b, and is slightly shorter than the dimension S0. On the other hand, when the shaft portion is extended, as shown in FIG. 4, the shaft portions 24a and 24b which have been tilted once change their postures and are accommodated in the housing portions 17a and 17b, respectively. The length S2 is longer by the sum of the required lengths T1 and T2. In order to receive the shaft portions 24a and 24b, the length between the two housing portions 17a and 17b along the axial direction of the connecting edge annular portion 23 is somewhat longer than the length S1 when the shaft portion is bent. It is necessary to make the length larger than the length S2 when the shaft is extended. Incidentally, the required lengths T1 and T2 of the shaft portions 24a and 24b are 1.5 to
3.0 mm is appropriate.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Are formed with cuts 25a and 25b. The cuts 25a, 25b cut the inner hooks 26a, 26b at right angles to the axis of the shaft at a position slightly inside the boundary between the connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shafts 24a, 24b,
The outer periphery is largely cut out in accordance with the size of the housing portions 17a and 17b. At the same time, in the present embodiment, small longitudinal cuts 27a, 27 cut inside the inner hooks 26a, 26b while maintaining a slight cut width.
b is formed.

Next, a method of manufacturing the metal container having the above configuration will be described. In FIG. 5, first, a prepared raw material plate is subjected to punching and drawing to form a ceiling portion 19 and a side wall 20 extending over four surfaces (a central portion of one surface is used as a connecting portion 22). At this time, the edge of each side wall 20 is bent into a slightly open shape in order to prepare for later processing (a).

Next, in order to form the connecting portion 22, the connecting portion length including the connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shaft portions 24a, 24b, and the cutting positions of both the inner hooks 26a, 26b are determined, and the cuts 25a, Cut off 25b part (b
´). At this time, the small cuts 27a and 27b are also cut off at the same time. At this time, the edge of the connecting portion 22 is bent inward in preparation for later processing (b).

Next, the edge of each side wall 20 and the edge of the connecting portion 22 that have been bent in advance are curled while being wound, respectively, so that the peripheral annular portion 21, the connecting edge annular portion 23, and the shaft portions 24a, 24b. Is formed (c).

Next, a connecting portion bending process in which the entire connecting portion 22 is slightly inclined outward and an annular portion bending process in which the shaft portions 24a and 24b are positioned at a bending position inclined with respect to the axis. Simultaneously (d).

Next, the lid 12 finished through the above steps
Then, the container body 11 finished through a conventionally known process is assembled using an assembling device 31 having two fluid pressure cylinders and a jig 32 shown in FIG. here,
The container body 11 and the lid 12 are operated by the two hydraulic cylinders at positions where the connecting portions 16 and 22 face each other, and are advanced to a position immediately before they are brought close to each other (see FIG. 3). The portions 24a and 24b are slid along the guide grooves 18 of the container body 11 and extended from the openings of the receiving portions 17a and 17b while being guided into the inside thereof, and are finally straightened while being concentric with the connecting edge annular portion 23. To Except for the last assembling step, all of the above steps can be performed by press molding using a mold (not shown). The above assembly process is performed by the shaft 2
Although it has been described that a hydraulic cylinder is used to extend the 4a and 24b, when the hydraulic cylinder is not used, a mechanical pressing means such as a cam mechanism may be used.

Although the method of proceeding from (b) to (c) has been described as the process order of the present embodiment, the order is reversed, (c) is performed first, and then the process proceeds to (b). The way is also possible.

In the metal container having the above configuration, when the connecting portions 16 and 22 of the container body 11 and the lid 12 are combined, the connecting portions are pressed at a position where the connecting portions face each other, and the shaft portions 24a and 24b are moved. It can be slid along the guide groove 18 and guided inside through the openings of the receiving portions 17a, 17b to extend into straight shaft portions 24a, 24b, and the relative shaft between the connecting portions 16, 22 can be formed. The assembly can be completed without going through the directional movement. Needless to say, the conventional pin-type hinge device is assembled while moving the connecting portion through the centering of the shaft portion and the housing portion, while the pinless hinge device is assembled, while the shaft portion and the housing portion are misaligned. The configuration according to the present embodiment using the guide groove 18 that solves the above-mentioned problem provides the best result when performing automatic assembly.
This configuration has the same working accuracy as a conventional press, and does not require high-precision component sorting for automatic assembly, and is optimal for automatic assembly of mass-produced products.

Further, the shaft portions 24a and 24b, which are once accommodated in the storage portions 17a and 17b, do not bend even if an inadvertent force is applied during handling of the container, and the inner portions 26a and 26b Does not come off because it restrains the axial movement of the connecting portion 22. Therefore, the function of the hinge device as the connecting means is not impaired. Further, there is no problem that the pin member does not come off or fall off during transportation as seen in the pin type hinge device.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclined shaft portion 24 is formed by small longitudinal cuts 27a and 27b.
It is possible to reduce an increase in springback when returning the shapes of a and 24b to the original linear position.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 shows an application example of the pinless hinge device according to the present invention to a large metal container. The hinge device itself is the same as that used for the pencil case shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but the arrangement in the figure is as viewed from inside the container. It is shown that the shaft portions 24a, 24b fit into the receiving portions 17a, 17b and function as pivots of the hinge device. The hinge device extends longer in the longitudinal direction of the container than in the case of the pencil case, and demonstrates the features of the present invention perfectly. In other words, the pin member, which is indispensable for the pin type, has a longer overall length in the case of a large one. Increase. On the other hand, the pinless type according to the present invention basically has no centering of the shaft portions 24a and 24b, and there is no disadvantage in automatic assembly even if the hinge device is elongated. The hinge device has to be lengthened in proportion to the size of the metal container, but the shaft portions 24a and 24b of the hinge device according to the present invention are not functionally affected by such an extension. FIG. 8 shows the main body container 11 and the lid 12 of the metal container of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, both of which show shapes immediately before being assembled in the shape of FIG.

Still another embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 shows an application example of the present invention to a metal container having a relatively small depth. Housing parts 17a, 17b, shaft part 2
Since 4a and 24b and cuts 25a and 25b need to be accommodated in the narrow connecting portions 16 and 22, all are small.

FIG. 10 shows an example of application to a metal container having a depth. The accommodating portions 17a and 17b, the shaft portions 24a and 24b, and the cuts 25a and 25b are formed to be larger as the widths of the connecting portions 16 and 22 are increased.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which a plurality of connecting portions are formed. In the present embodiment, the accommodating portions 17a and 17b of the first connecting portion 16a, the accommodating portions 17c and 17d in the second connecting portion 16b, and the shaft portion 24 of the first connecting portion 16b.
a, 24b, the shaft portion 24c,
24d are formed. In the figure, reference numerals 25c and 25c
d indicates a cut, and 27c and 27d indicate small cuts, respectively.

The operation of the pinless hinge device of these embodiments is the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the small cuts 28a and 28b are formed by cutting the extended portions of the cut lines of the cuts 25a and 25b by a required length.
a, 28b. When this shape is used, the extended portions of the above-mentioned cut lines do not necessarily have to be aligned, and may be provided at an arbitrary position in the space up to the accommodation portions 17a and 17b. This is especially true for the cut 25
This is a preferable method when there is no dimensional margin including the installation space for a and 25b.

The connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shaft portions 24a and 24b of the present embodiment are different from the connecting portions 22 of the above embodiments in which the edge of the connecting portion 22 is curled inward, but are curled outward. is there. The manner in which the connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shaft portions 24a and 24b are formed by curling while being wound outward is not limited to the pencil case of the present embodiment, but may be equally applied to the containers of the above-described embodiments. it can.

Although the connecting edge annular portion 23 and the shaft portions 24a and 24b in the above embodiments have been described as having the same diameter, the diameters may be different between the two. . For example, it is desirable not to make the inner and outer diameters of the shaft portions 24a and 24b largely different from those of the housing portions 17a and 17b in order to reduce the backlash of the pivot of the hinge device. However, as shown in FIG. In addition, it is preferable to reduce the outer diameter of only the ends of the shaft portions 24a and 24b in order to reduce interference when entering the openings of the housing portions 17a and 17b.

As described above, according to the present invention, the pressing edge applied to the connecting portion of the hinge device slides the shaft portion of the lid along the guide portion of the container body and guides the shank portion to the receiving portion, thereby connecting the connecting edge circle. Since the hinge device is formed so as to extend in a straight line following the ring portion, the assembly can be completed without any relative axial movement between both connecting portions during assembly. Therefore, since there is no need to perform centering between the shaft portion and the housing portion between the two connecting portions, it is possible to easily carry out the automatic assembling without worrying about occurrence of excessive misalignment. On the other hand, the container body and the lid have an excellent effect that the hinge unit does not bend and does not easily come off after assembly, so that the hinge device is not damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a lid of the metal container shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a container body and a lid before assembling the metal container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cut shape of the hinge device of the metal container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a process chart showing a manufacturing procedure of the metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example of a metal container assembling apparatus and a jig.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a container body and a lid before assembling the metal container shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a shape of a shaft of a metal container according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional pinless metal container.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Container main body 12 ... Lid 16, 22 ... Connection part 17a, 17b ... Housing part 18 ... Guide groove 23 ... Connection edge ring part 24a, 24b ... Shaft part 25a, 25b ... Cut 26a, 26b ... Inner hook 27a, 27b , 28a, 28b ... small cut

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container body having at least one hinge device that vertically engages and a lid, and a pair of shaft portions serving as pivots for a hinge device connection portion of the lid body is connected to the hinge device of the container body. In a metal container provided with a housing portion in which the shaft portion is accommodated in the portion, the shaft portion is connected to a connection edge annular portion formed at the connection portion edge of the lid and extends in a direction substantially opposite to each other by an equal amount. And a pair of inner hooks that determine the position of the hinge device in the axial direction are formed at a connection portion inside a boundary between the connection edge annular portion and the shaft portion, and the both housing portions are formed. In the connecting portion of the container main body, the length of the connecting edge annular portion along the axial direction is slightly longer than the length at the time of bending the shaft portion, and the opening of each other is appropriately shorter than the length at the time of extending the shaft portion. The two shaft portions are provided so as to face each other and are aligned with the openings of the two housing portions. Forms a guide portion which is slid along the guide portion, and at the time of assembling, the two shaft portions are slid along the guide portion by the pressing force applied to the both connecting portions and guided to the receiving portion. A metal container extending in a straight line following the connecting edge annular portion to constitute a hinge of the hinge device. 2. The metal container according to claim 1, wherein said guide portion is formed so as to extend linearly between said two accommodating portions so as to also serve as a groove for receiving said connecting edge annular portion. 3. The metal container according to claim 1, wherein a notch corresponding to the size of the housing portion and a small notch in a longitudinal direction are formed in connection with the inner hook. 4. The metal container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting edge annular portion and the shaft portion connected to the connecting edge annular portion are formed in an annular shape by curling the edge of the connecting portion inward or outward.