JP3211669B2 - Insulated container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an insulated container, and more particularly to an insulated container suitable for use as a box in a fresh food distribution channel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bottomed box-shaped transport container made of non-foamed synthetic resin is lightweight and has high strength. It is widely used for transporting food and transporting food in supermarkets. For products that require distribution and storage in a low-temperature or constant-temperature environment, such as fresh foods, they have high heat insulation properties and are lightweight, so they are made of box-shaped plastic foam such as styrofoam. Molded articles are widely used.

However, foamed synthetic resin molded articles are brittle and fragile as compared with non-foamed synthetic resin molded articles, require careful handling, and generally have a short life. The box, which is a non-foamed synthetic resin molded product, is based on the assumption that the same thing will be used repeatedly over a long period of time,
In many cases, a foamed synthetic resin container is assumed to be used several times at most once.

As a container made of an improved foamed synthetic resin, a heat insulating material made of a foamed synthetic resin is inserted between an inner body and an outer body made of a non-foamed synthetic resin, and a butt portion between the inner body and the outer body is formed. One that has been improved by joining by welding and closing to improve the integrity (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-11098) has been proposed. In the case of this structure, the brittleness of the foamed synthetic resin molded product that is a heat insulating material is complemented by the interior and exterior bodies that are non-foamed synthetic resin molded products. Repeated use over a long period of time becomes possible.

[0005] On the other hand, in recent years, the introduction of insulated vehicles in the distribution of goods has been advanced, and insulated products such as perishable foods are required to be put in a synthetic resin container having no heat insulation function and stored in the insulated room of the insulated vehicle as it is. After putting the product on a distribution channel and taking it out of the insulated car at a store such as a supermarket, the product is taken out of the box or taken out therefrom and stored and stored in a cool facility such as a refrigerator in the supermarket. In this distribution mode, it is not always necessary to use a box with a heat insulation function as long as goods are immediately transferred from a refrigerator car to a store-side cold storage facility.

[0006]

A container in which a heat insulating material is put between an inner body and an outer body and then the inner body and the outer body are joined by welding is excellent in heat insulation and used repeatedly for a long period of time. Although it is possible and effective, it is necessary to combine and weld a plurality of members, which inevitably increases the manufacturing cost. Therefore, there is a need for a box having a simple structure, which can be manufactured at low cost, and which has heat insulation properties that can withstand repeated use.

[0007] On the other hand, in the case of logistics in a refrigerator car,
If there is close communication between the distributor and the store, the transfer of goods from the insulated truck to the insulated facility at the store will be carried out without delay, and the logistics will be carried out using a box without a heat insulation function. However, the quality of fresh foods and the like is not reduced. However, in practice, it is often difficult to transfer products instantaneously due to traffic conditions or the location of people on the store side, etc. It is possible that the device is left in an exposed state. In that case, the fresh food products discharged from the insulated truck are subjected to a large change in temperature, resulting in the promotion of damage.

[0008] For this reason, even if a logistics system using insulated vehicles is prepared, it is desired that cold-reserved commodities such as fresh foods be put in a container having a certain heat-insulating function and put on a distribution route. However, there is no low-cost, heat-insulated container that can meet such demands, and the creation of a special heat-insulated container for that purpose not only leads to a rise in distribution costs, but also has been used up to now. Use of a container having a shape and shape different from that of a hot box may cause confusion in the operation procedure and waste of space in the insulated car and at stores.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat-insulating container which can be manufactured at low cost and can withstand repeated use for a long period of time. Another object of the present invention is to use a large number of existing transport containers, thereby preventing confusion in the form of work during logistics or causing waste of space, etc., and allowing goods to be stored at a store cold storage facility. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-insulating container that can be carried in under a heat-insulating state.

[0010]

The thermal insulation container according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided by attaching and detaching an inner body made of a heat-insulating foamed resin to a shipping container made of a non-foamed synthetic resin. A heat-insulating container which is mounted as possible, wherein a through hole for a handle is provided on a side wall facing the transport container, and a position corresponding to the through hole for the handle is provided in the interior body, and the inside of the through hole is provided. Outside to the entry position
And a convex portion for preventing falling off which is gradually inclined downward and is provided.

As the "transport container made of non-foamed synthetic resin" in the present invention, a transport container commonly used in a conventional distribution route can be arbitrarily used. Further, the above-mentioned inner body may be provided with an inner body cover as necessary. The inner body and the inner body lid are formed of a heat-insulating foamed resin, and a foamable resin such as a styrene-based resin or a polyolefin-based resin that can be foamed in a mold can be suitably used.

The styrenic resin includes not only a homopolymer of a styrenic monomer but also a copolymer. Styrene monomers include methylstyrene, ethylstyrene and the like in addition to styrene. Further, the copolymer contains a copolymer containing 50 mol% or more of a styrene monomer. Examples of the counterpart monomer of the copolymer include methacrylates such as methyl methacrylate, acrylates, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, and maleic anhydride. In addition, butadiene rubber, high-impact polystyrene, styrene-butadiene block copolymer resin, graft copolymer resin, and the like can be appropriately mixed with the styrene resin. Examples of the polyolefin-based resin include polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers thereof, copolymers with other polymers copolymerizable therewith, and mixtures thereof. Further, a resin obtained by copolymerizing a polyethylene resin and styrene can be preferably used.

Further, the inner surface, the outer surface of the inner body and the inner body lid,
Or you may make it arrange | position a sheet for reinforcement on both surfaces. There is no particular limitation on the sheet for reinforcement, and a thermoplastic resin can be appropriately used according to the required function. Further, when arranging the reinforcing sheet, the adhesive sheet may be integrally attached and laminated, so that the reinforcing sheet is lost or partially biased at the time of washing or the like. This can be avoided.

In using the insulated container of the present invention, at the starting point of physical distribution, insulated products such as fresh foods are put in the interior of the insulated container, and are usually stacked in a multi-tiered state. It is stored in the warehouse. At this time, it is desirable to store the product in an appropriate place in the cool box without using the inner cover to improve the flow of cool air into the stored product. The outer shape and size of the heat retaining container are the same as those of a conventionally used transport container, and the worker may perform the storing operation in the same procedure as before.

[0015] After opening the cool box of the cool car at the store at the delivery destination and taking out the heat insulating container, preferably, each of them is covered with an inner body cover, stacked and stored in the store or in the store. Since the inner body and the inner body lid, which are foamed resin products, are kept warm, even if left for a long period of time, the inside product does not undergo a large temperature change, and quality deterioration is avoided. In addition, the volume of the heat-insulated containers stacked is the same as that of a conventional transport container, and the store does not require any special treatment in receiving the goods stored in the heat-insulated containers according to the present invention.

The outer part of the heat-insulating container according to the present invention is a conventional shipping container, which is not inadvertently damaged during handling, and the inner body and the inner body lid are protected by the shipping container. But again, there is no inadvertent damage. Therefore, it can be used repeatedly. The inner body is detachably attached to a transport container which is an outer portion. When the inner body is not required, the inner body can be removed to be used as a normal transport container. Even when the inner body is damaged, it can be easily replaced.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the thermal insulation container according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a heat insulating container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the heat insulating container is assembled, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a plurality of the heat retaining containers shown in FIG. 3 are stacked.

The heat-insulating container 1 includes a shipping container 10 made of a non-foamed synthetic resin, an inner body 20 made of a heat-insulating foamed resin that is removably accommodated in the container, and a crown covering the inner body 20. And an inner body cover 30 to be provided. The transport container 10 is conventionally known, and is provided with a large number of openings 11 on the side and bottom surfaces, and further provided with through holes 12 for handles on opposing side walls. The upper side is an upper horizontal flange 13, and as shown in FIG. 4, a bottom horizontal flange 14 is formed so as to overlap the upper horizontal flange 13 when the shipping containers 10 are stacked. Further, the bottom rear surface protrudes slightly below the bottom horizontal flange 14 to form a step 15 around it. The transport container 10 is formed of, for example, a non-foamed synthetic resin such as polypropylene.

The inner body 20 has an outer dimension to be accommodated in the transport container 10, and the height h1 is, as shown in FIG. The height of the upper edge 21 of the body 20 is set to a position slightly (h2) lower than the upper edge 16 of the through-holes 12 for handles formed in the shipping container 10. A protrusion 22 for preventing falling off is integrally formed at a position corresponding to the through hole 12 on the side wall of the interior body 20. The upper surface of the convex portion 22 is made the same plane as the upper edge 21 of the interior body 20 and, as shown in FIG. 3, protrudes outward to a position where it enters into the through-hole 12 and downwards therefrom. Inclined surface 23
It has reached the side. Also, as shown in FIG.
The width of the projection 22 is smaller than the width of the through hole 12.

The inner body cover 30 is provided on the upper edge 21 of the inner body 20.
The vertical flange portion 31 is sized so as to be able to close the internal space of the interior body 20, and to be fitted on the inner peripheral wall surface of the interior body 20 on the lower surface. Notches 33 (two in this example) are provided in a part of the periphery,
By inserting a finger there, the attachment / detachment of the interior cover 30 is facilitated. The thickness of the inner body cover 30 is
3, the upper surface of the container 10 is slightly (h3) below the surface of the upper horizontal flange 13 of the transport container 10, as shown in FIG. Thickness.

In using the thermal insulation container 1,
The inner body 20 is pushed into the transport container 10 from above. At the time of pushing, the slope portion 23 of the convex portion 22 formed on the side wall of the interior body 20 descends while sliding on the inner edge of the upper horizontal flange 13 of the shipping container 10. As a result, the side wall of the inner body 20 and the side wall of the shipping container 10 are gradually deformed in opposite directions to each other, and finally, the protrusion 22 is engaged with the opening 12 formed in the side wall of the shipping container 10. State. At that position, the inner body 20 is positioned in the transport container 10 and is in a mounted state.

An operator puts a predetermined product (not shown) into the interior space of the interior body 20 and stacks the required number of products. At this time, the inner body cover 30 may or may not be covered depending on the stored product. In the case of transportation by a shape-keeping car, the interior body cover 30 is not usually covered in order to send cool air into the interior space of the interior body 20. As described above, the interior body 2
The height h1 of 0 is the upper edge 1 of the through hole 12 for the handle formed in the transport container 10 by the upper edge 21 of the inner body 20.
6 so that a space for inflow of cold air is secured between the upper and lower heat retention containers 1 and 1 even when they are stacked.

At the carry-in destination, the worker holds the heat insulating container 1
From the freezer compartment. At that time, the accompanying inner body cover 30 is covered with each of the heat retaining containers 1,
If necessary, stack the required number again. FIG. 4 shows this state, and as described above, the thickness of the inner body cover 30 is
In a state in which the inner body cover 30 is covered with the inner body 20, as shown in FIG.
Of the upper horizontal flange 13 is slightly lower than the surface of the upper horizontal flange 13. Therefore, even if the stack is stacked, the bottom surface of the bottom of the heat insulating container 1 in the upper stage is formed by the step portion 15 formed. , Can enter the space above the thermal insulation container 1 in the lower stage, and the stacked state does not become unstable.

On the store side, the fingertip is inserted into the notch 33 formed in the interior body cover 30, the interior body cover 30 is removed, and the stored products are stored in the cool facility of the store side. The heat-insulated container 1 that has been emptied after being stored is returned to the delivery company together with the inner body cover 30, and is used again for physical distribution. When the inner body 20 is damaged or when it is necessary to replace the inner body 20 with a different one in relation to the goods to be distributed, the inner body 20 is used.
By removing the convex portion 22 from the through-holes 12 for handles formed on the transport container 10, the replacement can be easily performed.

According to the insulated container according to the present invention, only the inner body 20 and the inner body cover 30 prepared as necessary need to be newly manufactured, and the manufacturing cost of the insulated container is greatly reduced. . Further, the configuration of the inner body 20 and the inner body cover 30 is extremely simple. In particular, the upper surface of the convex portion 22 integrally formed with the inner body 20 and the inner body 20
By making the upper edge 21 and the same surface the same, molding becomes easier. Furthermore, the outer shape of the heat-insulating container is the same as the transport container 10 used conventionally, and the handling at the time of storing the goods, the handling at the time of distribution, and the handling at the time of taking out the goods are all conventionally used. When handling a transport container 10 that is present, the operation can be performed with the same working feeling, and there is no need to increase the burden on the operator.

[0026]

According to the insulated container according to the present invention, the entire container can be manufactured at low cost and can be repeatedly used for a long period of time. In addition, by using a large number of existing shipping containers,
It is possible to carry goods to a store cold storage facility in a warm state without causing confusion in the work form at the time of distribution or causing waste of space or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a heat retaining container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the heat insulating container is assembled.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view in partial cross section showing a state in which a plurality of the heat retaining containers shown in FIG. 3 are stacked.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Insulated container, 11 ... Opening, 12 ... Through-hole for a handle, 13 ... Top horizontal flange, 14 ... Bottom horizontal flange, 20 ... Interior body, 22 ... Convex part, 23 ... Slope part, 30 ...
Interior cover, 33 ... Notch.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-6-312769 (JP, A) JP-A-4-74676 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65D 81/38 B65D 85/50

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A thermal insulation container in which an inner body made of a foamed resin having heat insulating properties is detachably mounted in a shipping container made of a non-foamed synthetic resin, wherein the opposite side walls of the shipping container are provided. Is provided with a through hole for a handle, and the inner body projects outward to a position corresponding to the through hole for the handle, and gradually inclines downward. A heat-insulating container, characterized in that a convex portion for preventing falling off is provided.