JP3290729B2 - Liquid 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 liquid container, and more particularly to a liquid container in which an inner bag made of a flexible sheet material is housed in an outer box.
It relates to a liquid container of the state. Further, the present invention relates to a liquid container having such a configuration, wherein the liquid container uses a planar passage member which makes it possible to take out the contents well and reduce the residual amount.
It also relates to body containers .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a flexible inner bag made of a plastic film or the like is housed in an outer box made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or the like, and a spout fixed to the inner bag is placed outside the outer box. A bag-in-box in which liquid contents such as juice are stored in the inner bag is used. In this bag-in-box, the spout is normally connected to a connector connected to the pump, and the contents are sucked out from the spout to take out the contents. The inside volume of the bag is reduced. Usually, a four-side seal bag was used for the inner bag.

[0003]

However, since the bag-in-box requires an outer box to protect the inner bag,
There was a problem that the cost was high. If the outer box is omitted, the cost can be reduced, but the shape of the inner bag containing the liquid becomes unstable, which causes a problem that handling becomes difficult.

Further, the conventional bag-in-box has a problem in taking out the contents. That is, if the contents of the inner bag are simply suctioned out from the spout, the contents in the inner bag are locally suctioned, the inner bag is more easily wrinkled, and the inner bag is removed before the entire contents are taken out. A part of the bag may stick to the spout to confine the contents, or a part of the inner bag may stick to a part of the inner bag at a position away from the spout to confine the contents. There was a problem that it was not possible to take things out. In particular, when a high-viscosity material such as ink is contained as the content, this problem becomes prominent.

Therefore, in order to prevent the spout from being closed by the inner bag, a passage plate having a large number of convex portions formed on one side of the flat plate portion covers the spout, and the convex portion is formed on the spout side. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-242565). In the liquid container disclosed in this publication, as the contents are taken out, even if a part of the inner bag moves toward the spout, a part of the inner bag is supported by the flat plate portion of the passage plate, and A passage is secured between the projections, and the contents can be discharged well. However, even in this liquid container, when the inner bag is deformed in accordance with the removal of the contents, the top plate portion facing the passage plate of the inner bag is not deformed so as to move uniformly toward the passage plate. In some cases, the inner bag is deformed non-uniformly, and the top plate of the inner bag is stuck to the side surface to confine the contents, and there is a problem that the residual amount in the inner bag cannot be reduced sufficiently.

[0006] Further, in the conventionally used passage plate, since the opposite side of the convex portion is a concave portion, there is a problem that the contents entering the concave portion remain as it is, and the residual amount increases. In order to prevent this problem, a film or the like may be attached to the surface of the passage plate and the entrance of the concave portion on the opposite side of the convex portion may be closed, but in that case, an extra process of attaching the film is required, and cost is reduced. This raises the problem of becoming high. Further, if the convex portion is solid, no concave portion is formed on the opposite side, so that the residual amount of the content is reduced. However, in this configuration, a large amount of material for forming the passage plate is required, which also increases the cost. I will. It is to be noted that although the material can be reduced by making the protrusions thinner, the passage formed between the protrusions becomes large, and the amount of contents remaining in this portion increases, which is not preferable.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the cost is reduced by omitting an outer box. In addition, a flexible bag is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when the contents are contained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid container which can be easily handled, can be taken out even from contents such as high-viscosity ink, and can reduce the residual amount.

[0008]

[0009]

According to the present invention, a gusset bag formed of a flexible sheet material and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when inflated is provided inside the gusset bag on one side. A planar passage member attached to a position that becomes one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped when the gusset bag is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a flat plate portion having an area substantially equal to the one surface, and protruding from the flat plate portion toward the inner surface of the gusset bag. A plurality of convex portions, a planar passage member having a plurality of through holes formed in the flat plate portion, a spout attached to one surface to which the planar passage member of the gusset bag is attached, and a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A liquid container having a flat plate having an area substantially equal to that of the gusset bag attached to a surface of the gusset bag opposite to the one surface to which the planar passage member is attached.

[0010] Further, the invention described in claim 2 of the present application is the above- mentioned invention.
The planar passage member has a convex portion formed on the
It is a hollow cylinder with a closed, open end, and
The formed through-holes are formed at positions where the plurality of cylindrical protrusions are formed.
Is formed so as to avoid the above.

[0011]

The liquid container having the above-mentioned structure is formed of a gusset bag, so that when the contents are filled and inflated, the liquid container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The surface is kept flat and no rounding occurs due to the attachment. This facilitates the handling such as storage and transportation of the liquid container filled with the contents without using the outer box, and provides the same handling as the conventional bag-in-box. Next, at the time of taking out the contents, a passage is formed between the projections of the planar passage member provided so as to cover the spout, and a passage is formed from a through hole formed in the flat plate portion or a peripheral edge of the passage plate. A passage leading to the outlet is formed, and the contents are suctioned relatively uniformly from the entire gusset bag. Moreover, at this time, the surface opposite to the surface on which the planar passage member is provided is held flat by the flat plate attached thereto, and in this state, the surface moves in the direction approaching the planar passage member in accordance with the removal of the contents. I do. For this reason, most of the contents in the bag can be taken out without the bag being deformed unevenly and confining the contents.

Here, the planar passage member is formed therein.
The convex part is a hollow part with the flat part closed and the tip opened.
The through-hole formed in the flat plate portion has a cylindrical shape.
The positions where the cylindrical protrusions (hereinafter referred to as cylindrical protrusions) are formed
If it is configured so as to be avoided , this planar passage member is put in the bag such that the cylindrical convex portion is on the inner surface side of the bag, and the cylindrical convex portion is adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the bag. by, it is possible to always secure a passage for passage of and the cylindrical protrusion outside content between the flat portion and the bag inner surface, the teeth
Since the flat portion of the cylindrical projection is closed and the opening at the tip is sealed by the inner surface of the bag, the contents do not enter and stay in the bag, and the material used is reduced. However, since it is possible to form a large cylindrical protrusion, the passage formed between the protrusions can be made smaller, so that the amount of residue in the passage can be reduced. it can. Further, since the cylindrical convex portion formed on the flat plate portion has an open end, the planar passage member having this configuration can be manufactured at low cost by molding a resin.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid container according to an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a container for storing ink, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a planar passage member used in the liquid container, and FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the liquid container. A liquid container, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes a gusset bag 2 made of a flexible sheet material, a spout 3 and a cap 4 attached to the gusset bag 2, and attached inside the gusset bag 2. And a flat plate 6 attached to the outer surface of the gusset bag 2.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gusset bag 2 is made of a cylindrical sheet material, and the front and back flat surfaces 2a, 2b
Are formed so as to form a folded portion 2c therebetween, and at both ends thereof, a seal portion 7 is formed which is entirely sealed, and a seal portion 8 is formed by sealing the surfaces 2a, 2b and the folded portion 2c opposed thereto in an oblique direction. When the contents are put into the container and expanded, as shown in FIG. 4, the container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As the sheet material constituting the gusset bag 2, a commonly used soft packaging material, for example, a laminated material of a resin film is used. However, unlike the conventional bag-in-box, the gusset bag 2 may be used without an outer box, so that a gusset bag having a necessary strength is used. The layer configuration of the laminated material used for the gusset bag is specifically selected in consideration of necessary strength, barrier properties, heat sealing properties, and the like.
/ Laminated material of polyethylene 60μ, polypropylene 60μ
/ Nylon 15μ / polyethylene 60μ, etc., and a metal foil may be put in the lamination as required. The gusset bag 2 made of a soft wrapping material alone tends to be rounded when inflated, and tends to be deformed due to the weight of the contents. Since it is reinforced by the member 5 and the flat plate 6, there is no problem.

The spout 3 is attached to one surface 2a of the gusset bag 2, and the planar passage member 5 is provided on the surface 2a to which the spout 3 is attached and when the gusset bag 2 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped. One side of the cuboid (hereinafter referred to as the first side)
2A (see FIGS. 1 and 4). This planar passage member 5 has an area approximately equal to the first surface 2A, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 to 9, a flat plate portion 5a and one side of the plate portion 5a. A plurality of cylindrical protrusions 5b having a constant height,
A has a plurality of through holes 5c formed avoiding the positions where the plurality of cylindrical protrusions 5b are formed. The cylindrical convex portion 5b is hollow, and its flat plate portion side is closed, but its tip is left open, and molding is possible. These cylindrical convex portions 5b and through holes 5c are formed at a substantially constant pitch over the entire area of the flat plate portion 5a. The planar passage member 5 is usually formed by molding resin. The planar passage member 5 has a greater rigidity than the sheet material forming the gusset bag 2 so that the planar passage member 5 can always be kept flat.

The planar passage member 5 is disposed by pressing the cylindrical projection 5b against the inner surface of the gusset bag 2, and the tip of the cylindrical projection 5b is adhered to the inner surface of the gusset bag 2 by heat sealing or the like. Installed. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the space 10 in the cylindrical convex portion 5b is closed by the gusset bag 2, and the contents accommodated in the gusset bag 2 do not enter therein. On the other hand, the space 11 outside the cylindrical convex portion 5b communicates vertically and horizontally between the flat plate portion 5a and the gusset bag 2 and also communicates with the spout 3 and is formed in the flat plate portion 5a. The through hole 5c communicates with the upper side of the flat plate portion 5a. Thus, the space 11 has the flat plate portion 5a.
Constitutes a passage for communicating the upper part of the container with the spout 3, and is hereinafter referred to as a passage. This passage 11 is provided with the gusset bag 2
This is for allowing the contents to flow when the contents are sucked and taken out through the spout 3 from the inside, and it is preferable that the contents be large in order to make the contents easy to be taken out. In this respect, the smaller the better, the better. The dimensions of the passage 11 (accordingly, the height and diameter of the cylindrical protrusion 5b, the gap between adjacent cylindrical protrusions, etc.) are determined in consideration of these. The dimensions such as the height, diameter, and gap of the cylindrical convex portion 5b vary depending on physical properties such as viscosity of the content, but generally, the height is 1 to 5 mm and the diameter is 5 to 1 mm.
0 mm and the gap is selected to be about 3 to 6 mm. However, it is not a limited value. Note that the shape of the cylindrical projection 19 is not limited to the illustrated cylindrical shape, and can be variously changed, such as a rectangular cylindrical shape.

In FIG. 1, the flat plate 6 is attached to a surface (hereinafter, referred to as a second surface 2B) of the rectangular parallelepiped formed by the gusset bag 2 which faces the first surface 2A. The flat plate 6 has substantially the same area as the second surface 2B, and has a greater rigidity than the sheet material forming the gusset bag 2, and is for always holding the second surface 2B almost flat. . As the flat plate 6, a resin plate, cardboard, or the like can be used. The flat plate 6 is not limited to being attached to the outer surface of the gusset bag 2, but may be attached to the inner surface.

Next, a method of using the liquid container 1 having the above configuration will be described. The gusset bag 2 is filled with the contents 13 such as ink, and the whole is expanded. As a result, the gusset bag 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIGS. At this time,
Since the planar passage member 5 and the flat plate 6 are attached to the opposing first surface 2A and second surface 2B of the rectangular parallelepiped, respectively, the first surface 2A and the second surface 2B are kept flat, and a soft sheet is provided. Even though the gusset bag 2 is made of a material, the whole is maintained in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In this state, storage, transportation, and the like of the liquid container 1 are performed. Here, as described above, since the entire liquid container 1 is maintained in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, it is easy to handle such as storage and transportation. If necessary, one liquid container 1 may be packed in one box for handling, or a plurality of liquid containers 1 may be packed in one box for handling.

Next, in order to take out the contents 13 from the liquid container 1, the liquid container 1 is set downward on a machine such as a printing apparatus as shown in FIG. And the contents 13 are sucked out of the spout 3 and taken out. At this time, the contents 13 in the gusset bag 2 are inserted into the through holes 5c of the flat plate portion 5a of the planar
And enters the passage 11 below the flat plate portion 5a through the peripheral edge of the flat portion 5a. For this reason, the contents on the planar passage member 5 are relatively uniformly sucked from a large area, and the upper surface of the gusset bag 2 (the second surface 2B).
Is always held flat by the flat plate 6, so that as the internal volume of the gusset bag 2 is reduced in accordance with the suction of the contents, the upper surface 2B of the gusset bag 2 is, as shown by a two-dot chain line 2B ', In a flat state, it descends substantially parallel to the planar passage member 5. Thus, the contents in the gusset bag 2 are sucked out of the spout 3 well. Also, for example, gusset bag 2
Even if the upper surface 2B of the sheet member is inclined and descends, after the upper surface 2B contacts the upper surface of the sheet member 5,
, And the passage 11 leading to the spout 3 is always secured, so that the suction of the contents from the spout 3 is continued. Therefore, the suction of the contents is performed until the upper surface 2B of the gusset bag 2 comes into close contact with the entire upper surface of the planar passage member 5, and the area of the planar passage member 5 spreads over the entire bottom surface of the gusset bag 2. Therefore, most of the contents contained in the gusset bag 2 are suctioned and taken out. Thus, in this liquid container 1, according to the suction of the contents,
Since the upper surface 2B of the gusset bag 2 descends in a state substantially parallel to the bottom surface, the displacement of the upper surface 2B is stable, so that there is little variation among products and reproducibility is extremely high.
Therefore, the contents can be satisfactorily discharged from any of the products, and the residual amount can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the spout 3 and the planar passage member 5 are shown as separate parts.
It is also possible to make the and the planar passage member 5 an integral structure. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show an embodiment in that case.
The main part of the planar passage member 15 provided with a spout is shown.
The planar passage member 15 also has a flat plate portion 15a, a plurality of cylindrical protrusions 15b formed so as to protrude on one surface of the plate portion 15a, and a plurality of through holes 15c formed in the plate portion 15a. The flat plate portion 15a
A protrusion 15d having a height substantially equal to that of the cylindrical protrusion 15b is formed, and a spout 15e is integrally formed at the center thereof. Further, on the opposite side of the spout 15e, a cylindrical portion 15f
And a groove 15g is formed in the cylindrical portion 15f.
The planar passage member 15 having this configuration is attached to the inner surface of the gusset bag 2 by heat sealing the protruding portions 15d and the tips of the cylindrical convex portions 15b, and is used in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG.
Here, when the inner surface of the gusset bag is deformed and approaches the spout 15e, the cylindrical portion 15f supports that portion to prevent the spout 15e from being closed. The planar passage member 15 having a configuration in which the spout is integrated with the planar passage member has an advantage that the number of components constituting the liquid container can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

Although the liquid container of the above embodiment uses the planar passage members 5 and 15 provided with the cylindrical projections, the planar passage member used in the liquid container of the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, the planar passage member used for the liquid container of the present invention may have a flat plate portion, a plurality of convex portions protruding from the flat plate portion on one surface, and a plurality of through holes formed in the flat plate portion. The shape of the convex portion is not limited. However, as in the illustrated embodiment, the planar passage member provided with the cylindrical convex portion 5b or 15b is formed by bonding the tip of the cylindrical convex portion 5b or 15b to the inner surface of the gusset bag 2 by heat sealing or the like. In addition, there is an advantage that the content does not enter and accumulate in the cylindrical convex portion, and the residual amount in the gusset bag can be reduced.

The liquid container of the present invention can be used not only for storing the ink described above but also for storing any other liquid.

[0023]

As described above, according to the liquid container of the first aspect of the present invention, since the planar passage member is attached to one surface of the gusset bag, and the flat plate is attached to the opposite surface, the contents are improved. When the items are filled, the whole can be made almost rectangular parallelepiped, the outer box can be omitted without impairing the handling, the cost can be reduced compared to the conventional bag-in-box, and the contents can be taken out In this case, the suction is performed from a wide portion of the planar passage member, and the planar surface member moves while the opposing surface is kept flat by the flat plate. Therefore, the contents can be always stably taken out, and the gusset bag can be taken out. This has the effect that the residual amount in the inside can be extremely reduced.

According to the liquid container of the second aspect of the present invention, the convex portion of the planar passage member is closed at the flat plate portion side and at the tip end.
An open hollow cylinder, and a through hole formed in the flat plate portion
Holes are formed avoiding the formation positions of the plurality of cylindrical projections.
With the configuration described above, the hollow cylindrical convex portion is closed on the flat plate side, and the tip is sealed by the bag inner surface,
Since the contents do not enter and remain therein, and are hollow, a large convex portion is formed without increasing the amount of material used, the passage between the convex portions is reduced, and the amount of content remaining in the passage is reduced. It is possible to reduce the residual amount of the contents after all, and furthermore, in the production of the planar passage member, it can be produced in one step by molding without using many materials,
This has the effect that it can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a planar passage member used in the liquid container shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the planar passage member.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the liquid container described above.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the above-described liquid container in a state before filling the contents.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of a joint portion between the planar passage member and the gusset bag in the liquid container at a position passing through the center of a cylindrical convex portion of the planar passage member.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of a joining portion between the planar passage member and the gusset bag in the liquid container at a position passing through the center of a through hole of the planar passage member.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic bottom view showing a part of a planar passage member used in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of a planar passage member integrally provided with a spout.

FIG. 11 is a schematic top view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid container 2 Gusset bag 2A 1st surface 2B 2nd surface 3 Injection port 5 Planar passage member 5a Flat plate part 5b Tubular convex part 5c Through hole 6 Flat plate 11 Passage (space) 13 Contents

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65D 33/36 B65D 30/20 B65D 83/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A gusset bag formed of a flexible sheet material and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when inflated, and one surface of the gusset bag inside one surface of the gusset bag and when the gusset bag is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A planar passage member attached at a predetermined position, the planar portion having an area substantially equal to one surface thereof, a plurality of convex portions protruding from the flat plate portion toward the inner surface of the gusset bag, and formed on the flat plate portion. A planar passage member having a plurality of through holes, a spout attached to one surface of the gusset bag to which the planar passage member is attached, and one surface of the rectangular gusset bag to which the planar passage member of the gusset bag is attached. A liquid plate having a flat plate attached to a surface opposite to the flat plate and having an area approximately equal to that surface. 2. A projection formed on the planar passage member,
It has a hollow cylindrical shape with the flat part closed and the tip open.
The through hole formed in the flat plate portion of the sheet-like passage member is
Being formed avoiding the positions where the number of cylindrical protrusions are formed
The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein: