JP6274513B2 - Container body and container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a container and a container body for filling and sealing contents.

  A resin container that seals retort food and the like includes a container body and a lid. A container main body is comprised from a bottom part, a trunk | drum, and a flange part.

  In the molding factory, the container body and the lid are molded and shipped from the molding factory to the food factory. In the food factory, the contents are filled, the flange part and the lid part are welded, and the contents are sealed. In this state, the product is shipped from the food factory to the store. A consumer purchases a product at a store, peels off the lid, and eats the contents.

  Since the retort food is heat-treated, an internal force acts on the sealed container as the internal temperature changes. In addition, when the contents move due to vibrations during transportation from the food factory, internal force acts on the container. On the other hand, there is a possibility that an external force such as the containers interfere with each other due to vibration during transportation or the like. Therefore, it is essential for the basic performance of the container to be “hard to peel off” (sealing property).

  On the other hand, retort food is eaten on a daily basis, and consumers expect it to be “easy to peel” (easy peel property).

  As described above, the container is required to have a performance in which the sealing property and the easy peel property are contradictory, and it is important to realize the two performances in a balanced manner.

  For example, it is common to secure sealing performance by increasing the sealing strength such as increasing the welding area, and to achieve easy peelability by extending a tongue-like tab on the outer edge of the lid (Patent Document 1, etc.). is there.

JP 2007-176585 A

  While tongue-like tabs are widely used in commercial food containers, they have the following problems.

  When transporting from a food factory to a store, the tongue-shaped tabs or the tongue-shaped tab and an adjacent container may come into contact with each other, and the contents may leak through the tongue-shaped tab. Moreover, even if there is no leakage of the contents, the commercial value is lost only by the tongue tab being bent or bent.

  Furthermore, when the products are arranged at the storefront, the direction of the tongue-like tabs are not aligned, giving a cluttered impression and reducing the product value. Even just aligning the direction of the tongue-shaped tab, it becomes a labor of the store clerk.

  As a result of the tongue-like tabs, the concept of plan view, up / down / left / right directions is generated, and the design of the lid is restricted.

  By the way, in an area where the so-called easy peel culture is rooted in daily life, consumers are accustomed to peeling off the sealing lid using a tongue-like tab. However, the essential performance of the container is hermetic and in some areas there is no easy peel culture. In such areas, consumers not only do not understand how to use tongue tabs, but can also cause unnecessary confusion. In recent years, with the rapid globalization of the economy, the concept of universal design is attracting attention regardless of regional or cultural differences.

  This invention solves the said subject and aims at providing the container which does not need a tongue-like tab.

  In order to achieve the above object, a container body according to the present invention includes a bottom portion, a body portion, and a flange portion, and a seal provided on the surface of the flange portion so as to have a convex cross section and a planar ring shape. The ring further includes a wave shape repeat.

  Preferably, in the above invention, the repeating unit length of the corrugated shape is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

  In the above invention, preferably, the distance between the innermost position of the corrugated shape and the outer edge of the flange portion is 40% or more and 80% or less of the flange portion width.

  Preferably, in the above invention, the annular shape has a wave shape repetition all around.

  A space formed by the corrugated outer side, the flange portion outer edge, and the lid portion constitutes a finger insertion portion. This realizes easy peelability. In addition, a tongue-like tab is not required.

  The corrugated shape is less likely to peel off than the shed shape. Thereby, sealing performance is realized.

  That is, both sealing performance and easy peelability can be realized with a good balance.

  Preferably, in the above invention, the auxiliary seal portion is further provided on the surface of the flange portion between the innermost position of the corrugated shape and the outer edge of the flange portion so as to have a convex cross section. The convex height of is lower than the convex height of the seal portion.

  Thereby, sealing property can be improved, maintaining easy peel property. In addition, foreign matter can be prevented from entering the finger insertion portion.

  Preferably, in the above invention, the bottom portion includes a raised bottom portion that is raised from the outer edge toward the center and a lowered bottom portion that is lowered from the inner edge of the raised bottom portion.

  Preferably, in the above invention, the raised bottom portion has a first raised bottom portion and the second raised bottom portion continuous with the first raised bottom portion and the lowered bottom portion, and the gradient of the first raised bottom portion is the second It is steeper than the slope of the raised bottom.

  In order to achieve the above object, the container of the present invention includes the container body and a lid part welded to the seal part.

  According to the present invention, a tongue-like tab is not required, and both sealing performance and easy peelability can be realized in a balanced manner.

  Furthermore, the lid can be easily peeled from anywhere in the annular shape.

Schematic configuration diagram of the container body Top view of the container body Cross section of flange Cross section of container body Schematic configuration diagram of container body (Modification 1) Plan view of container body (Modification 1) Plan view of container body (Modification 1) Sectional view of flange (Modification 1) Plan view of container body (Modification 2) Plan view of container body (Modification 3) Plan view of container body (Modification 4)

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

~Constitution~
The configuration of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a container body according to the present embodiment. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flange portion. The container body includes a bottom portion 1, a trunk portion 2, and a flange portion 3 as a basic configuration. The container includes a container body and a lid 4.

  The bottom 1 will be described later. The body 2 extends continuously from the bottom 1 and forms an inverted truncated cone shape. The flange portion 3 is formed to protrude from the outer periphery at the upper end of the body portion 2.

    A seal portion 5 is provided on the surface of the flange portion 3 in a convex shape in cross section (see FIG. 3) and in a planar ring shape (see FIG. 2).

  The annular shape of the seal portion 5 is obtained by repeating the basic unit over the entire circumference with the corrugated shape 51 as a basic unit. When the ring is converted into a straight line, a sine wave or a curve similar to a sine wave is obtained. However, strict periodicity and constant amplitude are not required. In the figure, it has periodicity and constant amplitude.

  That is, the corrugated shape 51 is a smooth curve, and adjacent corrugated shapes 51 are also smoothly continuous. In other words, there are no discontinuous points when the ring is differentiated in the circumferential direction.

  For convenience, in the corrugated shape 51, the outermost position is called a peak 52 and the innermost position is called a valley 53. In the drawing, both ends of the basic unit are peaks 52, and the center of the basic unit is a valley 53. The aa cross section of FIG. 3 shows a valley 53 and the bb cross section of FIG.

  A space formed by the corrugated shape 51, the outer edge of the flange portion 3, and the lid portion 4 constitutes the finger insertion portion 6.

  The size of the finger insertion unit 6 is determined on the assumption that the thumb is inserted into the space and the end of the lid 4 is picked up by the index finger.

  The circumferential width (repeating unit length) L1 of the corrugated shape 51 is not less than 10 mm and not more than 20 mm. More preferably, it is 12 mm or more and 16 mm or less. In the example shown, it is 14 mm.

  A distance L2 between the valley 53 and the outer edge of the flange portion 3 (finger insertion portion 6 depth) L2 is 40% or more and 80% or less of the flange portion 3 width. Preferably, it is 50% or more and 70% or less of the width of the flange portion 3. Considering that the flange width of a general container is 5 to 12 mm, the depth L2 is equivalent to 3 to 9 mm. In the illustrated example, the depth is 3.4 mm with respect to the flange width of 6.8 mm. In addition, the valley 53 uses a convex vertex as a measuring point.

  The convex height h1 of the seal portion 5 is preferably 0.4 mm or more and 1 mm or less. In the illustrated example, it is 0.6 mm.

  The inventor separately conducted a consumer questionnaire, and if the repeat unit length L1 is 10 mm or more and the depth L2 is 40% or more of the flange width ratio, 90% or more of the respondents pick the end of the lid 4 without a sense of incongruity. I have confirmed that

  On the other hand, if the repeat unit length L1 exceeds 20 mm and the depth L2 exceeds 80% of the flange width ratio, the size of the finger insertion portion 6 becomes too large, and the problem of foreign matter contamination (described later) cannot be ignored. If the repeat unit length L1 is 20 mm or less and the depth L2 is 80% or less of the flange width ratio, there is no possibility that a problem of foreign matter mixing will occur.

  The lid portion 4 is welded to the seal portion 5 to form a container.

~ Operation ~
A series of operations in this embodiment will be described.

  In the food factory, after the retort food is filled in the container body, the lid 4 is welded to the seal part 5, and the retort food is sealed in the container. In this state, the product is shipped from the food factory to the store. At this time, the sealing property of this embodiment functions (described later).

  The consumer purchases a product at the store, peels off the lid 4 and eats the retort food. The container is provided with a finger insertion portion 6 over the entire circumference. The consumer inserts a thumb into an arbitrary finger insertion portion 6, picks up the end portion of the lid portion 4 with an index finger, and raises it. Thereby, welding is cancelled | released along the waveform 51 in the corresponding location. Further, this force is transmitted to the fusion surface of the adjacent corrugated shape 51, and the next welding is released. By repeating the transmission of force and the release of welding, the lid 4 is peeled off. At this time, the easy peel property of this embodiment functions (described later).

~effect~
First, the effect of each configuration will be described.

  Due to the corrugated shape 51, the direction of the first acting force and the direction in which the welding is peeled off substantially coincide. Thereby, it can peel off easily compared with the case where it is not the waveform shape 51 (for example, the shape of a curve along the circumferential direction, in other words, the circular shape with the flange inner edge offset).

  The presence of the corrugated shape 51 can increase the rigidity in the width direction of the flange as compared to the case where the corrugated shape 51 is not used (described above). Thereby, when applying force so as to peel off the welding, the flange is prevented from being deformed and following the lid portion, so that it can be easily peeled off.

  Since the wave shape 51 and the continuation of the wave shape 51 are smooth curves, the wave shape 51 is less likely to be peeled off compared to a case where the annular shape is not smooth (for example, a mouth shape). By the way, in order to reinforce the easy peel property, there is also a conventional example in which the seal portion has a mouth shape. However, conversely, it becomes easy to peel off from the mouth, and the sealing performance of the part is significantly reduced. That is, it is not preferable in terms of a balance between sealing properties and easy peel properties. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, there is no part that is remarkably easily peeled over the entire circumference.

  Moreover, by adjusting the top width of the convex shape of the seal portion 5, it is possible to adjust the welding area and obtain an appropriate sealing property.

  The size of the finger insertion portion 6 is determined based on the result of studying that the easy peel function functions and the problem of foreign matter mixing does not occur. In other words, it can be easily peeled off according to the predetermined size of the finger insertion portion 6.

  The container is provided with a finger insertion portion 6 over the entire circumference. Thereby, it can peel off from arbitrary places. In other words, it can be peeled from anywhere.

  Based on the effect of each configuration described above, the effect of this embodiment will be described.

  This embodiment can realize both sealing performance and easy peelability with a good balance.

  The finger insertion portion 6 eliminates the need for a tongue-like tab. As a result, a series of problems relating to the tongue-like tab does not occur.

  The present embodiment has a feature that the lid can be easily peeled from any annular shape. Thereby, universal design can be realized. For example, consumers in areas where there is no easy-peel culture have no idea of stripping from specific locations. Even in this case, in this embodiment, the consumer can experience the easy peel property regardless of the difference in region or culture without being aware of the specific opening location.

  The basic shape of the container body may be a plane rectangle, but the effect that the lid can be easily peeled from anywhere in the ring by applying it to a circular or pentagonal or more polygonal container body is clearer. Become.

~ About the bottom ~
As described above, the retort food is subjected to heat treatment, and internal force acts on the sealed container as the temperature changes. If the internal force action can be absorbed in the form of downward deformation of the bottom shape, the sealing performance required for the container body is also reduced. From such a background, a raised bottom structure is generally used.

  A general raised bottom structure is formed to be in a raised position from the outer edge toward the center. As a result, even when the bottom shape is deformed downward, it is not displaced below the lower end of the body portion, and the grounding of the container does not become unstable.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container body according to the present embodiment including the bottom. The bottom portion 1 according to the present embodiment has a characteristic configuration of a raised bottom structure 11 and a lowered bottom structure 14 having a two-step gradient. Hereinafter, the characteristic structure which concerns on a bottom part is explained in full detail.

  First, the background, configuration, and effects of the lowered bottom structure 14 will be described.

  Conventionally, vacuum forming has been the mainstream for container forming. However, in recent years, with technological innovation, from the viewpoint of production efficiency, it is changing to pressure forming or a combination of vacuum forming and pressure forming. In the compressed air molding, a plug is inserted into the container through the container opening and compressed air is applied.

  At this time, with the conventional general raised bottom structure, there is a limit to the amount of plug insertion, and as a result of the long distance from the plug to the continuous portion 19 between the bottom portion 1 and the body portion 2, sufficient shaping properties cannot be obtained. It was. In other words, it could not be molded into the shape you expected.

  On the other hand, the bottom 1 according to this embodiment has a raised bottom structure 11 and a lowered bottom structure 14. The raised bottom structure 11 is in a raised position from the outer edge toward the center. The lowered bottom structure 14 is in a lowered position from the inner edge of the raised bottom structure 11 toward the center.

  Due to the lowered bottom structure 14, the center of the bottom is positioned below the figure as compared to the conventional type. Thereby, the insertable amount of the plug is increased, and the distance from the plug to the continuous portion 19 between the bottom portion 1 and the body portion 2 is shortened. As a result, the formability is improved.

  Next, the background, configuration, and effects of the raised bottom structure 11 having a two-stage gradient will be described.

  As described above, the basic idea of the raised bottom structure is to absorb the internal force action in the form of downward deformation of the bottom shape. However, since this embodiment has the lowered bottom structure 14, the downward displacement allowable amount is further limited. In other words, the center of the bottom may be grounded with a small downward displacement compared to the conventional type.

  In addition, when the raised bottom slope is in one stage as in the conventional type, a moment is generated with the outer edge 19 in section view as a fulcrum, so that the displacement at the bottom center becomes extremely large. As a result, the bottom center may be grounded.

  On the other hand, the raised bottom structure 11 according to the present embodiment includes a first raised bottom portion 12 and a second raised bottom portion 13 having different gradient amounts. The first raised bottom portion 12 is in a raised position from the outer edge toward the center. The second raised bottom portion 13 is in a raised position from the inner edge of the first raised bottom portion 12 toward the lowered bottom structure 14. In the illustrated example, the slope of the first raised bottom 12 is steeper than the slope of the second raised bottom 13.

  The steep slope of the first raised bottom 12 compared to the slope of the second raised bottom 13 can be rephrased as the first raised bottom 12 being a spring that is easier to extend than the second raised bottom 13. That is, the first raised bottom portion 12 is more easily displaced downward than the second raised bottom portion 13.

  Further, in the second raised bottom portion 13, a moment is generated with a bending point ring 15 (described later) as a fulcrum, so that the turning radius is shortened and the moment is reduced, so that downward displacement is also suppressed.

  That is, in the conventional type, the downward displacement of the bottom center becomes extremely large, whereas in the present embodiment, the entire bottom surface is displaced downward in a balanced manner. As a result, the downward displacement of the bottom center can be suppressed.

  Further, a bending point ring 15 is formed at the boundary between the first raised bottom portion 12 and the second raised bottom portion 13. A bending point ring 16 is formed at the boundary between the second raised bottom portion 13 and the lowered bottom structure 14.

  Since the bending point rings 15 and 16 function as ribs and increase the rigidity, the downward displacement of the bottom center can be suppressed.

  Thus, the raised bottom structure 11 having a two-stage gradient suppresses downward displacement of the bottom center. As a result, even when the lowered bottom structure 14 is employed, it is possible to prevent the grounding from becoming unstable.

~ Modification 1 ~
The background, configuration, and effects of the first modification will be described.

  In the said embodiment, the size of the finger insertion part 6 is determined based on the result of having examined that an easy peel property functions and the problem of a foreign material mixing does not occur. That is, since the size of the finger insertion portion 6 is sufficiently small, there is very little possibility that foreign matter or the like is mixed. In addition, each company such as a molding factory, a food factory, and a sales shop pays close attention to prevent foreign matters from being mixed.

  On the other hand, the container of the present embodiment is intended for retort foods and has a high interest in consumer safety. Some sensitive consumers feel that it is a problem just because foreign matter is mixed into the finger insertion section 6 even if no foreign matter is mixed in the food itself.

  It is preferable to take multiple safety measures in preparation for unexpected problems.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a container body according to Modification 1. 6 and 7 are plan views, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view (AA) of the flange portion.

  In Modification 1, the auxiliary seal portion 7 is added to the above embodiment. The structure which concerns on the auxiliary seal part 7 is demonstrated.

  The auxiliary seal portion 7 is provided on the surface of the flange portion 3 between the trough 53 of the corrugated shape 51 and the outer edge of the flange portion 3 so as to have a convex cross section.

  The convex height h2 of the auxiliary seal part 7 is lower than the convex height h1 of the seal part 5. In the illustrated example, h1 is 0.6 mm, whereas h2 is 0.3 mm.

  Although the planar shape (rectangular in FIG. 6 or circular in FIG. 7) of the auxiliary seal portion 7 is not limited, the welding area is smaller than that of the corrugated shape 51.

  The lid portion 4 is welded to the auxiliary seal portion 7.

  The effect concerning the auxiliary seal part 7 is demonstrated.

  As described above, the possibility of foreign matter mixing into the finger insertion portion 6 is extremely low, but can be further reduced by welding at the auxiliary seal portion 7.

  Since the auxiliary seal portion 7 is outside the corrugated shape 51, first, an external force acts on the auxiliary seal portion 7. As a result, an unintended external force is prevented from acting on the seal portion 5 and trying to peel it off. Thereby, sealing property further improves.

  On the other hand, since the convex height h <b> 2 is lower than the convex height h <b> 1, the welding height at the auxiliary seal portion 7 is higher than the welding height at the seal portion 5. When an external force acts, a large moment is generated in welding at the auxiliary seal portion 7. Furthermore, a large shearing force is generated in combination with a small welding area. As a result, the welding at the auxiliary seal portion 7 is easily released. As described above, the welding at the auxiliary seal portion 7 hardly impairs the easy peel property. In other words, there is no trade-off relationship for improving sealing performance.

  Thus, the modification 1 can improve sealing performance, maintaining easy peel property.

  Moreover, since the auxiliary seal part 7 is located between the trough 53 and the outer edge of the flange part 3, there is no negative effect such as an increase in the flange width.

~ Modification 2 ~
In the above embodiment, the corrugated shape 51 is corrugated on both the inner side and the outer side. However, the outer shape forming the finger insertion portion 6 is important, and the inner shape may not be a corrugated shape.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view according to the second modification. The corrugated shape 55 has a corrugated shape on the outer side, but has a curved shape (arc shape) along the circumferential direction on the inner side.

  The annular shape of the seal portion 5 is obtained by repeating the basic unit over the entire circumference with the corrugated shape 55 as a basic unit.

  The configuration of Modification 2 is almost the same as the configuration of the above embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.

  Moreover, since the welding area in the corrugated shape 55 increases, sealing performance improves. Furthermore, the corrugated shape 55 is preferable in terms of sealing performance against internal force. Therefore, the modified example 2 is preferable when the easy peel property can be sufficiently secured.

~ Modification 3 ~
In the above embodiment, the annular shape of the seal portion 5 is obtained by repeating the basic unit over the entire circumference with the corrugated shape 51 as the basic unit. Thereby, it can peel from anywhere.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view according to the third modification. The wavy lines obtained by repeating the three wavy shapes 51 are arranged in four directions, and the four wavy lines are continued by a curved line 56 (arc) along the circumferential direction to form an annular shape of the seal portion 5.

  In the modification 3, it can peel off from any of four cyclic | annular directions.

~ Modification 4 ~
FIG. 11 is a plan view according to the fourth modification. In the third modified example, the wavy lines are arranged in four directions, but in the fourth modified example, the wavy lines are arranged in one direction.

  Although the effect that the lid portion can be easily peeled from anywhere in the above-described embodiment cannot be obtained, other effects can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bottom part 2 Body part 3 Flange part 4 Cover part 5 Seal part 6 Finger insertion part 7 Auxiliary seal part 11 Raised bottom structure 12 1st raising bottom part 13 2nd raising bottom part 14 Lowering bottom structure 15 Bending point ring 16 Bending point ring 19 Bottom edge 51 Wave Shape 52 Wave Mountain 53 Wave Valley 55 Wave Shape (Modification)
56 curves

Claims (6)

A bottom, a body, and a flange,
A seal portion provided on the surface of the flange portion in a convex cross-section and in a planar ring shape;
The annulus has an annular outer edge and an annular inner edge;
The annular outer edge has a repetition of corrugated shapes that are smoothly changing curves, and adjacent corrugated shapes are also smoothly continuous,
The annular inner edge has a repetition of corrugated shapes that are smoothly changing curves, and adjacent corrugated shapes are smoothly continuous with each other. The container main body according to claim 1, wherein a repeating unit length of the corrugated shape is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less. The container body according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the innermost position of the corrugated shape and the outer edge of the flange portion is 40% or more and 80% or less of the flange portion width. The container body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the annular shape has a repeated wave shape on the entire circumference. Further provided on the surface of the flange portion is an auxiliary seal portion provided in a convex cross section between the innermost position of the corrugated shape and the outer edge of the flange portion,
The convex body of this auxiliary seal part is lower than the convex height of the said seal part. The container main body of any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The container body according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
And a lid portion welded to the seal portion.

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