JP3268316B2 - Refill container and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for refilling detergents, shampoos and the like and a method for producing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Containers such as detergents and shampoos, for example, bottle containers, must be capable of tightly storing and holding contents, capable of being repeatedly opened and closed, and capable of stably and satisfactorily discharging contents. In order to satisfy the necessary items such as easy handling operation, the structure becomes complicated, the production requires many man-hours, and a relatively large amount of material is required to mold one product. Therefore, the product unit price is high.

[0003] In addition, these containers do not lose the function of satisfying the above-mentioned requirements even after the contents have been consumed, and can be reused sufficiently and without inconvenience.

In addition, since these containers are formed of a relatively large amount of synthetic resin material, they become waste, so that the amount of synthetic resin in the waste treated by incineration or the like increases. It is one of the factors that makes waste disposal difficult.

[0005] In order to solve these inconveniences, contents such as detergent and shampoo are stored in a refill container using a simple container, and the contents stored in the refill container are transferred to an empty bottle container. The technique of refilling and using has been well received.

This conventional refillable container has a bag shape made of a synthetic resin sheet and is generally called a stand pouch. The refillable container is extremely low in manufacturing cost and easy to dispose of. Has demonstrated its advantages.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the opening of the refillable container is achieved by cutting the corners of the bag-shaped container with scissors or the like. When the content is refilled into an empty container, particularly an empty container having a small opening such as a bottle container, there is a problem that the content spills out of the bottle container.

In addition, since the entire refill container is soft, the entire refill container must be supported by both hands during the refill operation, which makes it difficult to stably hold the bottle container in the upright posture. there were.

[0009] Even if the entire refill container is supported by both hands, the shape of the entire container changes as the outflow of the contents progresses, and the opening and the shape change with this change. There is a problem that the refilling operation for the bottle container becomes unstable.

[0010] Further, since the refillable container is in the shape of a bag, its self-shape retention ability is extremely low, so that when it is displayed at a store, it is bent and becomes unsightly.
Since stacking is not possible, there is a problem that only a small number of products can be displayed in a certain space.

There is a bag-shaped body that is the main body of the refill container with a spout with a cap of another part attached thereto. However, a refillable container that is a disposable container has a cap-type pouring cap that can be used repeatedly. Providing a mouth
There is a problem that not only the manufacturing cost is unnecessarily increased but also the sealing capacity of the contents may be reduced.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and has a refilling container having a stable self-shape holding ability and a spout having a constant shape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple container for a technical problem, and to achieve simple and stable refilling of contents, and to achieve good and safe handling of transportation, storage, and display. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing such a container, and in particular, aims to prevent a crack from being generated near an opening at a lower end of a container body due to an impact.

[0013]

A refill container according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned technical problem has a tubular body (in which an outer flange-shaped flange piece (5) is integrally provided around a lower end closing edge). A thin synthetic resin sheet (41) in which a shoulder (3) is continuously provided on the upper end of (2), and a nozzle cylinder (4) having a short-topped cylindrical shape is erected from the center of the shoulder (3). A thin container body (1), which is a thermoformed molded product from the above, and a sealing film (7) that is tightly welded to the lower surface of the flange piece (5) to seal the lower end opening of the container body (1). Wherein the periphery of the lower end opening edge of the body (2) is extended not only in the vertical direction but also in the circumferential direction of the body, and the resin at that portion is oriented in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Container.

It is more preferable that the resin of the flange piece (5) is non-oriented. Here, even if the shoulder (3) is depressed inward toward the body (2) and molded, the body (2)
May be molded into a shape protruding upward. In either case, the shoulder can be inverted from a shape protruding from the trunk to a shape depressed in the trunk, or vice versa.

The height of the nozzle cylinder in the container body is preferably set to a value smaller than the height of the shoulder. It is effective to form an enlarged step at the lower end of the body of the container body, and to give the body a downwardly tapered withdrawal taper.

According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, a shoulder (3) is continuously connected to an upper end of a cylindrical body (2) having an outer flange-shaped flange piece (5) integrally provided around a lower end closing edge. A thin container main body made of a thin synthetic resin sheet (41), wherein a nozzle cylinder (4) having a short-topped cylindrical shape is erected from the center of the shoulder (3).

In the method of the present invention, the cavity (30) having the shape of the container main body, opening a portion corresponding to the bottom of the container main body, and providing a groove (51) around the opening in the inner periphery of the opening. ) And a molding die (31)
A plug (32) that can penetrate into the cavity (30) of (31) is used.

Then, the step of covering the cavity opening of the molding die (31) with a synthetic resin sheet (41), and the step of covering the synthetic resin sheet (41) around the cavity opening with the molding die (3).
1) and a step of sandwiching and holding between the sheet holding ring (33), and while holding down the synthetic resin sheet (41) with the holding ring (33), the synthetic resin sheet (41) is heated. During the step of pushing the cavity (30) inward by the plug (32) and the step of pushing the plug (32), a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity (30) is generated at the boundary of the synthetic resin sheet (41). And the step of bringing the synthetic resin sheet (41) into close contact with the inner surface of the cavity (30) to produce the container body.

Note that the case where a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity (30) is generated with the synthetic resin sheet (41) as a boundary at the time of the pushing step is defined as a case where a pressurized gas and compressed air are used from outside the cavity (30). When the resin sheet (41) is pushed into the cavity (30), when the inside of the cavity (30) is negative pressure, when the synthetic resin sheet (41) is sucked, and when both pressurization and negative pressure are applied Can be exemplified.

The shape of the plug (32) may be similar to the shape of the cavity (30). The container body is sold to a user, for example, a detergent maker or the like, and the user fills the container body with a detergent or the like, and tightly welds a sealing film (7) to the lower surface of the flange piece (5) to form the container body. Close the lower opening of (1).

[0021]

According to the method of the present invention, the synthetic resin sheet around the cavity opening is sandwiched and held between the molding die and the sheet holding ring, and the sheet is pressed and molded with a plug. In this case, the sheet is pulled in the plug pushing direction and is oriented in that direction.

At the same time, the sheet extends in the circumferential direction in the groove (51) surrounding the inner periphery of the opening provided in the cavity. As a result, the resin around the opening edge of the lower end of the body is oriented in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

As a result, the strength of this portion is increased and cracks are reduced. In molding, around the cavity opening, a synthetic resin sheet at a portion to be a flange piece of the container body is sandwiched and pressed between the molding die and a sheet pressing ring, and the sheet is pressed with a plug. When pressed to form, the sheet is pulled in the plug pushing direction and oriented in that direction, but the flange piece portion held by the retaining ring is not affected by the tensile force, so that portion is non-oriented. Becomes As a result, this portion does not crack in the radial direction, and is more effective when combined with the present invention.

Since the container body is a stretch-formed product formed by thermoforming a thin synthetic resin sheet, the entire body becomes thin, so that its body is easily elastically bent and depressed and deformed by pressing with one hand. At the same time, the shoulder is easily inverted by pressing down, and elastically deforms into a shape depressed in the trunk.

The filling of the contents into the container main body is achieved by inverting the container main body in a state where the shoulder portion is inverted and depressed in the body portion, and from the lower end opening located above the inverted main body.

After the container body has been filled with a fixed amount of contents, the lower end opening of the container body is sealed tightly by welding a sealing film to the flange piece of the container body to thereby close the container body. Achieve sealed storage.

In the sealed state of the contents, since the shoulder portion is inverted and depressed in the body portion, the nozzle cylinder does not protrude from the upper end edge of the body portion or protrudes only slightly.
Since the containers can be stacked one on top of the other and the height of the entire container is reduced, the storage and storage space is reduced accordingly.

When refilling the contents into empty bottle containers,
By pressing the torso of the container body by holding it with one hand, etc., the internal pressure of the container body is increased, and the shoulder that has been inverted and displaced in the torso is inverted and returned to the upper part with respect to the body After returning to the protruding position, the upper end of the nozzle cylinder protruding from the shoulder is cut off with scissors or the like and opened to form a spout for the contents.

When refilling the contents into a bottle container, the opened nozzle tube faces the mouth of the bottle container. Achieved by fitting into the mouth. Since the refilling of the contents in the bottle container is performed through a cylindrical nozzle tube having a fixed shape, the contents are discharged in a stable and favorable state.

After the refilling is completed, that is, after all the contents are poured out, the whole is crushed flat and discarded in a bulkless state. It is easy to crush the seal film by breaking the seal film at the time of crushing, and the crushing process is also easy because the container body itself is a thin container.

[0031]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing an embodiment of a refill container according to the present invention. The container body 1 is thermoformed from a thin synthetic resin sheet, and a flange at the lower end opening of the container body 1 is shown. A sealing film 7 sealing the lower end opening of the container body 1 by being tightly welded to the piece 5;
It is composed of

The container body 1 is provided with an outer flange-shaped flange piece 5 at the lower end of the lower end portion which is enlarged through the step portion 6, that is, at the lower end opening, and has a cylindrical body portion slightly reduced in diameter upward. At the top of 2,
A tapered cylindrical shoulder 3 whose diameter is expanded at a steep angle downward is continuously provided, and a short-topped cylindrical nozzle tube 4 is provided upright at the center of the upper end of the shoulder 3. The nozzle cylinder 4
Since the portion from the refill container to the empty bottle container 8 (see FIG. 4) forms a spout, its outer diameter is set to a value smaller than the diameter of the mouth of the bottle container 8. The height a of the nozzle cylinder 4 is equal to the height b of the shoulder 3.
Is set to a smaller value.

The reason why the outer diameter of the nozzle tube 4 is set to a value smaller than the diameter of the mouth of the bottle container 8 is that the nozzle tube 4 is
In this state, the contents can be refilled in a state where the contents are inserted into the mouth of the bottle. Thus, by refilling the contents by inserting the nozzle cylinder 4 into the mouth of the bottle container 8, the contents are refilled. A safe refilling process can be achieved without spilling.

The reason why the height a of the nozzle cylinder 4 is smaller than the height b of the shoulder portion 3 is that the shoulder portion 3 is elastically inverted and deformed to be depressed in the body 2. This is because the upper end edge of the nozzle tube 4 does not protrude from the upper end edge of the body portion 2 and is positioned lower than the upper end edge of the body portion 2 without fail.

As described above, by preventing the upper end edge of the nozzle tube 4 from projecting upward from the upper end edge of the body portion 2 in the state where the shoulder portion 3 is inverted and deformed, it is possible to stack the refill containers as products. As a result, the refill containers can be displayed without any inconvenience, and a large number of refill containers can be displayed in a narrow space.

Also, the height of the refill container is set to the height (a
+ B) Since storage, transportation, packing, and the like can be handled with the size reduced by + b), efficient handling that effectively uses space can be obtained.

Further, the container body 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape in which the body portion 2 is slightly reduced in diameter upward, and a step portion 6 is provided at a lower end portion of the body portion.
Is provided, when the container bodies 1 are stacked, the container bodies 1 do not strongly fit each other,
Thereby, the handling of the container body 1 before filling the contents is easy and good.

In order to manufacture the container main body 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the container main body 1 is formed into a shape, and a portion corresponding to the bottom of the container main body 1 is opened. A molding die 31 having a cavity 30 provided with a groove 51 surrounding the opening in the portion, and a plug 32 that can enter the cavity 30 of the molding die 31 are used.

Then, the step of covering the cavity opening of the molding die 31 with a synthetic resin sheet 41, and the step of covering the synthetic resin sheet 41 around the cavity opening to become the flange piece 5 of the container body 1 A step of sandwiching and pressing between the molding die 31 with a sheet holding ring 33 having an inner diameter substantially the same as or smaller than the diameter of the cavity opening; A step of pushing the synthetic resin sheet 41 inward in the cavity with the plug 32 under a heated state while holding down a portion to be the flange piece 5 of the first resin piece 5; The container body is manufactured by the step of applying a negative pressure to the inside and bringing the synthetic resin sheet 41 into close contact with the inner surface of the cavity.

According to this method, the container main body 1 has a thickness of 1.
From a 50mm polypropylene single layer sheet, the total height is 160
mm, the height b of the shoulder 3 is 12 mm, and the height of the nozzle cylinder 4 is a1
The thickness of the shoulder 3 was about 0.37 mm on average when the foam was thermoformed into the structure shown in FIG.
And a portion of the trunk 2 connected to the shoulder 3, that is, the trunk 2
Had an average thickness of about 0.16 mm at the upper end.

As described above, since the thickness of the upper end portion of the body portion 2 is sufficiently reduced, the elastic reversal deformation of the shoulder portion 3 can be easily and stably achieved, and the thickness of the shoulder portion 3 is reduced. Since it is relatively large, the shoulder 3 itself can stably and self-hold its inverted deformation state.

The sheet film 7 for sealing the lower end opening of the container body 1 is made of a synthetic resin having high compatibility with the container body 1 and forms a "seat" of the refill container. Since it also becomes an "overlapping portion" when the refill containers are stacked one on top of another, a container having a mechanical strength capable of sufficiently supporting the weight of the refill containers is used.

For example, the unstretched polypropylene layer of 0.06 to 0.08 mm and the nylon of 0.015 to 0.025 mm are used in order from the container body 1 side as the sheet film 7 to be assembled to the 500 ml container body 1 described above. Layer, and a polyethylene terephthalate layer having a thickness of 0.012 mm, a drop impact strength test from a height of about 1 m while containing a liquid detergent as a content is performed. As a result of the test, sufficient strength was exhibited without breaking, and stable durability was exhibited even for several (3 to 4) step stacks. Also,
In the drop test, the flange piece 5 was not cracked radially. This is because the collar piece is non-oriented.

The container body 1 is filled with the contents by inverting the container body 1 in a state in which the shoulder portion 3 is depressed in the body portion 2, and a lower end positioned above the inverted container body 1. Achieved from the opening.

After the container body 1 has been filled with a fixed amount of contents, the lower end opening of the container body 1 is tightly welded to the flange piece of the container body 1 by sealingly sealing the sealing film 7 to thereby close the container body. Achieve a sealed storage of the contents relative to 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refilling of the contents in the empty bottle container 8 is performed by first applying a pressing force F to the body 2 by, for example, grasping with one hand to increase the internal pressure of the container for refilling.
The shoulder portion 3 which has been depressed and deformed by this internal pressure is projected and returned from the inside of the body portion 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the nozzle tube 4 projecting upward by the return of the shoulder portion 3 to the reverse position is cut with scissors or the like, and the upper end of the nozzle tube 4 is opened.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the refill of the contents is performed while the upper end of the opened nozzle tube 4 faces the mouth of the empty bottle container 8 and the refill container is inclined.

At this time, although the container body 1 is a thin container, it has a basically cylindrical shape, so that it exhibits a relatively high self-shape holding ability. It does not make refilling difficult.
Further, by fitting the nozzle cylinder 4 into the mouth of the bottle container 8, refilling can be achieved more safely.

When the refilling is completed and becomes empty, as shown in FIG. 6, the whole is crushed flat and discarded. At this time, as shown in FIG.
, The container body 1 can be easily crushed.

The container body 1 and the sheet film 7
The molding material is not limited to a carbon synthetic resin sheet or film, and a laminated sheet and a film having required physical properties can be used. It is desirable to decorate by printing.

The container body may be formed into the shape shown in FIG.

[0052]

Since the present invention has the above-described structure, the following effects can be obtained. Since the opening is formed by cutting the upper end of the nozzle cylinder formed into a short-topped cylinder shape,
The opening that is formed always has a constant shape, and the nozzle cylinder itself acts to guide the constant discharge of the contents, so that the contents can be discharged in a constant state, and refilled During operation, the inconvenience of spilling contents can be completely eliminated, and refilling can be achieved very well.

Since the container body exhibits a relatively high self-shape retention capability, the container for refilling can be held in a stable state with one hand during the refilling operation, so that the contents can be stably and safely refilled. Obtainable.

Since the container has a stable self-shape retention capability, containers can be stacked one on top of the other, so that a large number of containers can be displayed in an appropriate posture in a narrow space. Since the shoulder is inverted and depressed and displaced in the body, the space can be effectively used, and a suitable and efficient handling can be obtained.

Since the container body is a thermoformed molded product made of a thin synthetic resin sheet, it can be molded by high cycle molding of multiple pieces, thereby achieving high production efficiency, achieving cost reduction, and significantly increasing the price of the container. Can be lowered.

Since the container is a thin container, it can be easily crushed flat after refilling, and can be easily and satisfactorily disposed without being bulky at the time of disposal.

Then, the periphery of the lower end opening edge of the body portion (2) is extended not only in the vertical direction but also in the circumferential direction of the body portion, and the resin in that portion is oriented in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Even if an impact is applied by dropping or the like, there is no possibility that a crack will occur at the edge of the opening at the lower end of the container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in which only the upper end is broken in a handling state in which contents are accommodated.

FIG. 3 is an overall front view showing a state in which a shoulder is projected and inverted from the state of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an overall view showing a state where contents are refilled into empty bottle containers.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which the seal film has been broken after refilling.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view showing a state of being crushed flat.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2; body 1; container body 4; nozzle cylinder 3; shoulder 6; step 5; collar piece 8; bottle container 7; seal film b; shoulder height a; nozzle cylinder height 30; cavity F; Pressing force 31; Mold 51; Groove 32; Plug 33; Sheet retaining ring 41; Synthetic resin sheet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65D 8/18 B29C 51/10 B65D 33/36 B65D 37/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A shoulder (3) is continuously provided on the upper end of a cylindrical body (2) having an outer flange-shaped flange piece (5) integrally provided around the lower end closing edge. 3) From the center of
(4) a thin container body (1) which is a thermoformed product from a thin synthetic resin sheet (41),
And a sealing film (7) that is tightly welded to the lower surface of (5) to seal the lower end opening of the container body (1). A refill container characterized in that it is stretched not only in the direction but also in the circumferential direction, and the resin at that portion is oriented in both the vertical and horizontal directions. 2. A shoulder (3) is continuously provided at the upper end of a cylindrical body (2) having an outer flange-shaped flange piece (5) integrally provided around a lower end closing edge. 3) From the center of
(4) A method for manufacturing a thin container body made of a thin synthetic resin sheet (41), wherein the container body has a shape, and a portion corresponding to the bottom of the container body is opened, and the inside of the opening is formed. A mold having a cavity (30) provided with a groove (51) around the opening in the periphery
(31) and a plug (32) that can penetrate into the cavity (30) of the molding die (31), and the synthetic resin sheet is used to open the cavity opening of the molding die (31).
(41) covering, a step of sandwiching and holding the synthetic resin sheet (41) around the cavity opening between the molding die (31) and a sheet holding ring (33), and the holding ring While holding the synthetic resin sheet (41) by (33), the synthetic resin sheet (41) is heated,
A step of pushing inwardly of the cavity (30) by the plug (32), and at the time of the pushing step by the plug (32), a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity (30) is generated at the boundary of the synthetic resin sheet (41), A method for producing a refill container, comprising: a step of bringing a synthetic resin sheet (41) into close contact with an inner surface of a cavity (30). 3. A synthetic resin sheet (41) around the cavity opening is formed on the molding die (31) and a sheet pressing ring (3).
3) in the step of holding and holding between the container body
3. The method for manufacturing a refill container according to claim 2, wherein the synthetic resin sheet (41) at least at a portion to be the peripheral portion of the flange piece (5) of (1) is pressed. 4. The sheet holding ring (33) having an inner diameter substantially equal to or smaller than the diameter of the cavity opening as the sheet holding ring (33). 3. The method for producing a refill container according to 1.