JP7253581B2 - container - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a capsule container containing a character toy sold by a capsule vending machine.

A capsule container used in a capsule vending machine is constructed such that an interior space is formed by closing the opening edges of a first container half and a second container half connected by a hinge. and is conventionally spherical (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-30508 JP 2017-206266 A

However, the container as described above may contain, for example, flat-shaped products. Especially in recent years, the demand for flat products has increased. When a flat plate-shaped product is stored in a spherical container, the internal space of the container becomes excessive, resulting in wasted space within the container. In this case, the container itself is unnecessarily large, resulting in high material costs for the container and high production costs for the container. On the other hand, for use in capsule vending machines, it is necessary to ensure the rollability of the container.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a container for accommodating flat-plate products and the like, which is used in a capsule vending machine and which reduces the cost of the container by reducing the material cost of the container while ensuring the rollability. Its purpose is to

A container according to an aspect of the present invention is a container used in a capsule vending machine, comprising a first container half, a second container half, and a first container half and a second container. and a hinge connecting the halves, wherein the opening edges of the first container half and the second container half are aligned and closed to form an internal space, the opening edges having an elliptical shape and being closed. Occasionally flattened spherical shape.

According to this aspect, the opening edge of the container has an elliptical shape, and when the container is closed, it has a flat spherical shape, so that the volume can be reduced while securing the area of the internal space in one direction. Moreover, the rollability of the container can be ensured. Therefore, in a container used in a capsule vending machine for storing flat products, it is possible to reduce the material cost of the container and reduce the cost of the container while ensuring the rollability. In addition, since the size of the container can be made relatively smaller than that of flat products, a larger number of containers can be accommodated in the capsule vending machine.

In the above aspect, the opening edge may have an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter on the short axis is 80% or more and 99% or less of the outer diameter on the long axis.

In the above aspect, the container, when closed, may have an elliptical outer shape in a side view seen from the longitudinal direction of the opening edge.

In the above aspect, in a cross section cut along a plane including the short axis of the opening edge and perpendicular to the long axis, the outer edge of the container has an outer diameter on the short axis of 70% or more and 90% or less of the outer diameter on the long axis. You may make it have an elliptical shape which becomes.

In the above aspect, the container, when closed, may have an elliptical external shape in a side view seen from the minor axis direction of the opening edge.

In the above aspect, the outer edge of the container is an ellipse in which the outer diameter on the short axis is 90% or more of the outer diameter on the long axis in a cross section taken along a plane that includes the major axis of the opening edge and intersects the minor axis at right angles. It may have a shape.

In the above aspect, a locking mechanism for locking the first container half and the second container half to each other is provided, and the locking mechanism is provided at least near the apexes of both sides on the long axis of the opening edge. You can let it be.

In the above aspect, the locking mechanism may be further provided near a vertex on the minor axis of the opening edge.

In the above aspect, the hinge may be provided near the vertex on the minor axis of the opening edge.

In the above aspect, ribs are provided on the inner surface of at least one of the first container half and the second container half, and the ribs are provided in a direction from the center of the inner surface to the vertex on the long axis of the opening edge. You may make it extend to.

In the above aspect, the rib may extend from the central portion of the inner surface toward the vertex on the minor axis of the opening edge.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container which is used in a capsule vending machine and stores flat-plate-shaped products, and which can reduce the cost of the container by reducing the material cost of the container while ensuring the rollability. be able to.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a container in a closed state; FIG. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the container in an open state; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container in an open state; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container in a closed state as seen from the upper side in the height direction. FIG. 4 is a side view of the closed container viewed from the width direction side; 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4 taken along line MM; FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the container in a closed state as seen from the front side in the depth direction; 5 is a NN cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4; FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the shape of the opening part of a half.

An example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the positional relationship such as top, bottom, left, and right of the drawings is based on the positional relationships shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a closed container 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container 1 in an open state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container 1 is configured to have a flat spherical shape when closed. The container 1 is made of synthetic resin such as PP (polypropylene). The container 1 includes, for example, a first container half 10, a second container half 11, a hinge 12 connecting the first container half 10 and the second container half 11, and a first container half. A locking mechanism 13 for locking the half 10 and the second container half 11 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first container half 10 is formed in a hemispherical shape with a small wall thickness. The first container half 10 has an oval opening edge 30 . That is, the opening edge 30 has a short axis A1, a long axis B1, and four vertices 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d. have. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening edge 30 has an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter r1 on the short axis A1 is 80% or more and 99% or less, preferably 85% or more and 95% or less of the outer diameter r2 on the long axis B1. are doing. In this specification, the terms "outer diameter on the minor axis" and "outer diameter on the major axis" are the distance between the vertices on each axis on the elliptical curve along the outer surface of the container 1, For example, if the vertices have unevenness, the distance between the vertices when a virtually smooth elliptical curve is drawn is used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second container half 11 is formed in a hemispherical shape with a small wall thickness, like the first container half 10 . The second container half 11 has an elliptical opening edge 40 having the same shape as the opening edge 30 of the first container half 10 . That is, the opening edge 40 has an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter r1 on the short axis A1 shown in FIG. are doing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge 12 connects the vicinity of one vertex 30a on the minor axis A1 of the opening edge 30 of the first container half 10 and the short edge of the opening edge 40 of the second container half 11. The vicinity of one vertex 40a on the axis A1 is connected. As a result, the container 1 can be freely opened and closed, and the inner space S (shown in FIG. 1) is formed by closing the opening edges 30 and 40 of the first container half 10 and the second container half 11 together. be. When the container 1 is closed, the end faces of the opening edges 30 and 40 may be butted against each other, or the opening edges 30 and 40 may be overlapped so that one is inside and the other is outside.

In this specification, the short axis direction of the opening edges 30 and 40 of the container 1 is also referred to as the "depth direction" (the X direction shown in FIG. 1), and the long axis direction is also referred to as the "width direction" (the Y direction shown in FIG. ), and the direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the width direction is also called the “height direction” (the Z direction shown in FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 4, the container 1 in a closed state has an elliptical outer shape when viewed from the second container half 11 side in the height direction Z when viewed from above.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the container 1 has an elliptical outer shape elongated in the height direction Z in a side view seen from the width direction Y in a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 6, a first cut along a plane that includes the short axis A1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 and intersects the long axis B1 at right angles (a plane that passes through the center C of the opening edges 30 and 40 and is perpendicular to the width direction Y). In a cross section (MM cross section in FIG. 4), the outer edge portion 50 of the container 1 has an elliptical shape. In the outer edge portion 50 of the container 1, the outer diameter r3 on the short axis A2 in the depth direction X is 70% or more and 90% or less, more preferably 75% or more and 85% of the outer diameter r4 on the long axis B2 in the height direction Z. % or less.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the container 1 has an elliptical outer shape elongated in the height direction Z in a side view seen from the front side in the depth direction X in the closed state.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second cut along a plane that includes the long axis A1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 and intersects the short axis B1 at right angles (a plane that passes through the center C of the opening edges 30 and 40 and is perpendicular to the depth direction X). In a cross section (NN cross section in FIG. 8), the outer edge portion 60 of the container 1 has an elliptical shape. The outer edge portion 60 of the container 1 has an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter r5 on the minor axis A3 in the width direction Y is 90% or more of the outer diameter on the major axis B3 in the height direction Z. Further, the outer diameter r5 on the short axis A3 in the width direction Y is preferably 90% or more and 99% or less, more preferably 95% or more of the outer diameter r6 on the long axis B3 in the height direction Z. Note that the outer edge portion 60 of the container 1 may have a circular shape.

The ratio R1 (r1/r2) of the outer diameter r1 on the short axis A1 and the outer diameter r2 on the long axis B1 at the opening edges 30 and 40, the outer diameter r3 on the short axis A2 at the outer edge 50 of the container 1 and the long axis The ratio R2 (r3/r4) of the outer diameter r4 on B2 and the ratio R3 (r5/r6) of the outer diameter r5 on the minor axis A3 and the outer diameter r6 on the major axis B3 at the outer edge 60 of the container 1 are For example, there is a relationship of R2>R3>R1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, locking mechanisms 13 are provided, for example, at three locations around opening edges 30 and 40 of container 1 . For example, the first locking mechanism 70 of the locking mechanism 13 is provided near the vertex 30b facing the hinge 12 on the minor axis A1 of the opening edges 30, 40, and the second locking mechanism 71 of the locking mechanism 13 is provided. are provided near vertexes 30c and 30d on both sides of the long axis B1 of the opening edges 30 and 40, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example, the first locking mechanism 70 includes a locking portion 80 provided near the vertex 30b on the minor axis A1 of the opening edge 30 of the first container half 10, 2, the opening edge 40 of the container half 11 has a locked portion 81 provided in the vicinity of the vertex 40b on the minor axis A1.

The locking portion 80 has, for example, a claw-shaped protrusion 90 that protrudes outward (in a direction away from the center C) with respect to the opening edge 30 . A flat portion 91 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first container half 10 near the vertex 30 b , and the projection 90 is provided on the flat portion 91 .

The engaged portion 81 is formed at a tongue-shaped portion 100 extending from the opening edge 40 toward the first container half 10 in the height direction Z, and at a proximal end of the tongue-shaped portion 100 . It has a through hole 101 . The tongue-like portion 100 has, for example, a substantially square or semicircular plate shape, and a hole 101 is formed in the vicinity of its proximal end.

The locking portion 80 is locked to the locked portion 81 by the protrusion 90 of the locking portion 80 being caught in the hole 101 of the tongue-shaped portion 100 of the locked portion 81 .

The second locking mechanism 71 includes locking portions 120 provided near vertices 30c and 30d on the long axis B1 of the opening edge 30 of the first container half 10, and the second container half 11. It has locked portions 121 provided near vertexes 40c and 40d on the long axis B1 of the opening edge 40. As shown in FIG.

The locking portion 120 includes a linear portion 130 extending from the outer surface of the opening edge 30 toward the second container half 11 in the height direction X, and an outer side (a direction away from the center C) from the tip of the linear portion 130 . It has a claw-shaped protrusion 131 protruding toward.

The locked portion 121 has a bridge portion 140 formed on the outer surface of the opening edge 40 and a hole 141 formed inside the bridge portion 140 and penetrating in the height direction Z. As shown in FIG. The bridge portion 140 extends along the opening edge 40 , both ends are connected to the opening edge 40 , and the central portion is spaced outwardly from the opening edge 40 . A hole 141 is provided in the central portion of the bridge portion 140 .

The locking portion 120 is locked to the locked portion 121 by the protrusion 131 of the locking portion 120 entering the hole 141 of the locked portion 121 and being caught by the bridge portion 140 .

2 and 3, the container 1 has ribs 151, 161 on the inner surfaces 150, 160 of the first container half 10 and the second container half 11, respectively.

A plurality of ribs 151 of the first container half 10 are provided radially from the central portion 152 side of the inner surface 150 toward the opening edge 30 .

A plurality of ribs 161 of the second container half 11 are provided radially from the central portion 162 side of the inner surface 160 toward the opening edge 40 .

A plurality of ribs 151, for example, the same number, are provided on the hinge 12 side and on the locking portion 80 side of the first locking mechanism 70 with respect to the long axis B1.

A plurality of ribs 161 are provided on the hinge 12 side and on the locked portion 81 side of the first locking mechanism 70 with respect to the long axis B1. The rib 161 includes a rib 161a extending from the central portion 162 toward the vertexes 40c and 40d on the long axis B1 where the locked portion 121 of the second locking mechanism 71 is located, It has a rib 161b extending toward the apex 40b on the short axis A1 where the locked portion 81 of the locking mechanism 70 is located. It should be noted that the rib 151 does not have anything corresponding to, for example, the ribs 161a and 161b. Moreover, the ribs 151 and 161 may be formed from the central portion to the opening edge, or may be formed in the middle from the central portion to the opening edge.

When using the container 1 constructed as described above, a flat article such as a toy is placed in the first container half 10 or the second container half 11, and then placed in the first container half. The opening edges 30, 40 of the container 10 and the second container half 11 are aligned with each other, and the first container half 10 and the second container half 11 are locked to each other by the locking mechanism 13, and the container 1 is closed. be done. The toy is thus accommodated in the internal space S of the container 1 .

Also, the container 1 is accommodated in a storage section of a capsule vending machine. The container 1 rolls on the inclined surface of the reservoir and waits near the exit, and is discharged from the exit when, for example, a coin is inserted and a lever is operated.

According to this embodiment, the opening edges 30 and 40 of the container 1 have an elliptical shape, and the container 1 has a flat spherical shape when closed. It is possible to reduce the volume while ensuring. In addition, the rollability of the container 1 can be ensured. Therefore, in a container 1 used in a capsule vending machine and containing flat-plate-shaped products, the cost of the container 1 is reduced by reducing the material cost (weight) of the container 1 while ensuring the rollability of the container 1. be able to. In addition, since the size of the container 1 can be made relatively smaller than that of flat products, a larger number of containers 1 can be accommodated in the capsule vending machine.

The opening edges 30 and 40 have an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter r1 on the short axis A1 is 80% or more and 99% or less, more preferably 85% or more and 95% or less of the outer diameter r2 on the long axis B1. . In this case, since the container 1 has an elliptical shape that is long in the width direction Y and short in the depth direction X, the volume is sufficiently reduced while securing the area of the internal space S in one direction, and the rollability of the container 1 is sufficiently improved. can be secured.

Since the container 1 in a closed state has an elliptical outer shape in a side view (FIG. 5) seen from the longitudinal direction (width direction Y), the volume is sufficiently increased while securing the area of the internal space S in one direction. , and the rollability of the container 1 can be sufficiently ensured.

In a first cross section (FIG. 6) cut along a plane including the short axis A1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 and perpendicular to the long axis B1, the outer edge 50 of the container 1 is positioned on the short axis A2 in the first cross section. It has an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter r3 is 70% or more and 90% or less, more preferably 75% or more and 85% or less, of the outer diameter r4 on the major axis B2. In this case, since the container 1 has an elliptical shape that is long in the height direction Z and short in the depth direction X, the volume is sufficiently reduced while securing the area of the internal space S in one direction, and the rollability of the container 1 is sufficiently improved. can be secured to

When the container 1 is closed, it has an elliptical outer shape in a side view (FIG. 7) seen from the short axis direction (depth direction X), so that the area of the internal space S in one direction is secured and the volume is sufficiently increased. In addition, the rollability of the container 1 can be sufficiently ensured.

In a second cross section (FIG. 8) cut along a plane including the long axis B1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 and perpendicular to the short axis A1, the outer edge 60 of the container 1 is positioned on the short axis A3 in the second cross section. It has an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter r5 is 90% or more of the outer diameter r6 on the major axis B3. In this case, since the container 1 has an elliptical shape that is slightly elongated in the height direction Z, the rollability of the container 1 can be sufficiently ensured while securing the area of the internal space S in one direction to reduce the volume. .

The container 1 comprises a locking mechanism 13 for locking the first container half 10 and the second container half 11 to each other. are provided near vertices 30c, 30d, 40c, and 40d on both sides of the major axis B1 of the . When the container 1 has a flat spherical shape, when an external force is applied, the amount of deformation of the container 1 near the vertices on the long axis B1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 increases. Therefore, by providing the second locking mechanism 71 near the vertices 30c, 30d, 40c, and 40d of the opening edges 30 and 40, it is possible to prevent the container 1 from opening unintentionally.

The first locking mechanism 70 is provided near the apexes 30b, 40b of the opening edges 30, 40 on the minor axis B1. In such a case, the flat portion (collapsed portion) of the container 1 is provided with the first locking mechanism 70 , so that the first locking mechanism 70 holds the first container half 10 and the second container half 11 together. It becomes easy to perform the locking operation and the unlocking operation of the locking.

The hinges 12 are provided near the vertices 30a, 40a of the opening edges 30, 40 on the short axis B1. In such a case, for example, the hinge 12 is provided in a gentle curve rather than a circle, so that the strength of the hinge 12 is improved, and the hinge 12 breaks to separate the first container half 10 and the second container half 11. It will be suppressed.

The inner surface 150, 160 of the first container half 10 or the second container half 11 is provided with ribs 151, 161, of which the rib 161 extends from the central portion 162 of the inner surface 160 to the longitudinal axis of the opening edge 40. It has ribs 161a extending in the direction toward the vertices 40c and 40d on B1. In such a case, deformation of the container 1 in the width direction Y can be suppressed. As a result, unintentional opening of the container 1 at the second locking mechanism 71, for example, can be suppressed.

The rib 161a extends from the central portion 162 of the inner surface 160 toward the vertex 40b on the short axis B1 of the opening edge 40. As shown in FIG. As a result, deformation and breakage of the container 1 in the depth direction X can be suppressed.

The embodiments described above are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit and interpret the present invention. Each element included in the embodiment and its arrangement, materials, conditions, shape, size, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be changed as appropriate. Also, it is possible to partially replace or combine the configurations shown in different embodiments.

For example, the outer shape of the container 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and may be any other shape as long as it has an elliptical opening edge and a flat spherical shape when closed. In addition, the “elliptical shape” in this specification includes not only a mathematical ellipse but also a substantially elliptical shape (elliptical shape). For example, the degree of curvature (curvature) of an elliptical curve that connects adjacent vertices of the “elliptical shape” can be changed as appropriate. Further, the "elliptical shape" of the opening edges 30, 40 includes those having straight lines in part as shown in FIG.

For example, the location of the hinge 12 of the container 1 may be other locations on the opening edges 30,40. The configuration, number, and arrangement of the locking mechanisms 13 are not limited to those of the above embodiment. Moreover, the contents accommodated in the container 1 are not particularly limited, and may be items other than flat-plate-shaped products.

An experiment was conducted on the dischargeability (rollability) of the container 1 of the present invention. The outer diameter r1 on the minor axis A1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 is 54.33 mm, the outer diameter r2 on the major axis B1 is 59.91 mm, the outer diameter r3 on the minor axis A2 is 54.33 mm, and the major axis B2 is A container 1 having an outer diameter r4 of 67.75 mm, an outer diameter r1 of 49.95 mm on the minor axis A1 of the opening edges 30 and 40, an outer diameter r2 of 63.50 mm on the major axis B1, and a minor axis A2 of A container 1 having an outer diameter r3 of 49.95 mm and an outer diameter r4 on the major axis B2 of 68.02 mm was prepared. Then, 40 of each container 1 were stored in an existing general capsule vending machine (model name “Gashapon Station”), and then the number of containers that were not properly discharged from the exit by operating the lever was counted. This operation was repeated 175 times, and rolling properties were confirmed for a total of 7,000 containers 1 . As a result, 0.04% of the former containers 1 were not properly discharged, and 0.34% of the latter containers 1 were not properly discharged. Both containers 1 are considered to have high rolling properties, but the former was superior in rolling properties.

In the former container 1, the outer diameter r1 on the minor axis A1 of the opening edges 30 and 40 is about 90% of the outer diameter r2 on the major axis B1. The length of the outer diameter r1 on the minor axis A1 of 40 is about 78% of the outer diameter r2 on the major axis B1. In the former container 1, the outer diameter r3 on the minor axis A2 in the first cross section (FIG. 6) is about 80% of the outer diameter r4 on the major axis B2, and the latter container 1 has a short The length of the outer diameter r3 on the axis A2 is about 73% of the outer diameter r4 on the major axis B2. In both cases, the outer diameter r5 on the short axis A3 in the second cross section (FIG. 8) is 90% or more of the outer diameter r6 on the long axis B3.

The present invention provides a container used in a capsule vending machine for storing flat-plate products, which reduces the material cost of the container and reduces the cost of the container while ensuring rollability. Useful.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 container 10 first container half 11 second container half 12 hinge 13 locking mechanism 30, 40 opening edge A1 short axis B1 long axis S interior space

Claims (7)

A container used in a capsule vending machine,
a first container half;
a second container half;
a hinge connecting the first container half and the second container half;
An internal space is formed by aligning the opening edges of the first container half and the second container half and closing them,
The opening edge has an elliptical shape and becomes a flat spherical shape when closed,
When the container is closed, it has an elliptical external shape in a side view viewed from the longitudinal direction of the opening edge,
In a cross section cut along a plane including the short axis of the opening edge and perpendicular to the long axis, the outer edge of the container is an ellipse in which the outer diameter on the short axis is 75% or more and 90% or less of the outer diameter on the long axis. having the shape
When the container is closed, it has an elliptical external shape in a side view viewed from the minor axis direction of the opening edge,
In a cross section cut along a plane including the major axis of the opening edge and perpendicular to the minor axis, the outer edge of the container has an elliptical shape in which the outer diameter on the minor axis is 90% or more of the outer diameter on the major axis. , container. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said opening edge has an elliptical shape in which the outside diameter on the short axis is 80% or more and 99% or less of the outside diameter on the long axis. a locking mechanism for locking the first container half and the second container half,
3. The container according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is provided at least in the vicinity of both apexes on the long axis of the opening edge. 4. The container according to claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism is further provided near a vertex on the minor axis of said opening edge. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the hinge is provided near the vertex on the short axis of the opening edge. Ribs are provided on the inner surface of at least one of the first container half and the second container half,
The container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein said rib extends from the central portion of said inner surface in a direction toward a vertex on the long axis of said opening edge. 7. The container according to claim 6 , wherein said rib extends from a central portion of said inner surface toward a vertex on a minor axis of said opening edge.

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