JP7387982B2 - Containers and container manufacturing methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention stores high viscosity liquids such as toothpaste as contents, has a flexible container body, and can be pressed to pour out the contents or shake out solids and powder. Concerning containers that can also be used for various purposes.

Containers that store highly viscous liquids such as toothpaste, butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, and adhesives are extruded containers with flexible container bodies that are pressed to pour out the contents. I've done it. These are mainly containers made by cutting circular extruded tubes and welding the neck, or containers made by rolling a laminated sheet and sealing the back to form a body and welding the neck to it, or containers made by thin-walled soft blow tubes. It consists of molded containers, etc., and is used in many food and non-food fields.

Methods such as injection molding and compression molding are used to mold the neck, and there are two known methods: one in which the neck is fused to the body at the same time as molding, and the other in which the neck is fused in a separate process.
However, when these necks were tried to be fused to the end face of the body, the fused area was small and the strength was insufficient, causing problems such as the neck coming off from the body during pouring.

Regarding this problem, for example, in Patent Document 1,
In claim 1, there is provided a deformable main body with low permeability, a head connected to one end of the main body by a peripheral band, and a barrier member made of an impermeable material fixed to the inner surface of the head, a collapsible dispensing container comprising a barrier member having a structure embedded in the head to be fixed to the head;
3. A thermoplastic plastic head comprising a deformable tube body with low permeability, a peripheral band joined to one end of the body, and a thermoplastic plastic head affixed to an inner surface of the head to support the tube. a barrier member made of an impermeable material and having a peripheral end portion facing into the inner wall of the main body end and maintaining a distance from the inner wall, and the peripheral band of the head portion is formed at the peripheral end portion of the barrier member. A collapsible dispensing container is proposed which is provided with an annular bulge located on the lower side.

Here, instead of being fused only to the end face of the body of the distribution container, the end face of the body is embedded in the head, or an annular overhang is formed and fused to the inner surface of the tip of the body. This increases the strength of the fusion bond between the torso and the head.
At this time, this dispensing container has a head structure consisting of a neck with a threaded part and a thorax, with the thorax having a conical shape. In addition, a method has been adopted in which the chest is formed into an inclined conical shape to make it easier to pour out the contents and to ensure the strength of the fusion bond.
However, if the chest has a conical shape with an inclined surface, there is a problem that about 5 to 10% of the volume remains when dispensing.

Special Publication No. 46-5985

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a container in which the amount remaining when the contents are poured out to the end is less than 5% while maintaining high fusion strength between the body and the head.

The container of the present invention has a flexible body and pours out the contents by pressing, and the container has an opening that can be opened by breaking and removing a closing plate whose peripheral edge is formed of a fragile part. a spout comprising a side wall formed in a cylindrical shape around the opening, a fusion flange that can be fused to the body, and a hinge cap that fits into the side wall of the spout and can be opened and closed. , the periphery of the spout is formed of a fusion flange having a smooth inner surface, the body has a wall thickness of less than 200 μm, and the body covers the outer periphery of the fusion flange and extends inward. The body is pressed and bent in a right angle direction and fused, and the surface of the fused flange to which the body is fused is flat, the body can be crushed into a flat state, and the hinge cap The container is characterized in that an outer diameter of the fusion flange substantially matches an outer diameter of the fusion flange .

Since the container of the present invention has a spout with a flat inner surface and a flat surface, it is possible to form a flat welding surface, thereby increasing the strength of the welding between the body and the head.
In addition, by making the spout a shape with a smooth inner surface, there is no gap for the contents to accumulate below the head, and there is only a gap inside the neck where the screw part is formed, so the contents can be stored until the end. The amount left after pouring out the product can be extremely small.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container of the present invention with the hinge cap opened. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the spout showing a step of pulling up the pull-top of the top lid and opening the closure plate in the container of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container of the present invention in the vicinity of the spout, showing an opened state and a state where the hinge cap is closed after opening. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the contents of the container of the present invention have been poured out to the end. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a container of the present invention in which a barrier film is fused to the inner surface of the spout.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the container of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container 1 showing an example of the present invention, with a hinge cap 4 opened.
The container 1 of the present invention includes a body 2 that is thin and highly flexible, a spout 3 that is fused to one end of the body 2 and has rigidity, and a spout 3 that is fitted into the spout 3 by screwing or plugging. It is made up of a hinge cap 4 and a hinge cap 4.
The contents of the container 1 can be poured out by pressing the flexible body 2.

The body portion 2 is formed from a cylindrical sheet having a sealant layer 23 in at least the innermost layer. The body may be a tube extruded into a pipe shape using a profile extrusion method, or the left and right ends of a rectangular or square film may be partially overlapped to form a cylinder, and the vicinity of the joined ends are fused. It doesn't matter if it's the torso.
The body part 2 has a spout 3 and a spout fusion part 21 formed at the upper end, and a bottom seal part 22 is formed by combining the sealant layers 23 together after filling the contents at the lower end to form the container 1. .
The body 2 used in ordinary tube containers has a thickness of about 400 μm and is formed from a stiff sheet or tube, but the body 2 used in the container of the present invention has a thickness of 300 μm or less, preferably 200 μm. Make the torso thin and soft.
This makes it easier to push and bend the spout welding portion 21 inward in the right angle direction, and the body 2 can be easily welded to the spout 3.
For this reason, the body part 2 not only uses the sealant layer 23 as the innermost layer, but also the outermost layer 24 is made of thermoplastic resin material similar to the sealant with high fusibility, or biaxially stretched with high shrinkage. It is desirable to have a laminated structure including a crystalline resin layer.

The spout 3 has an opening 310 in the center that can be opened by breaking the closure plate 31 whose periphery is formed by a weakened part 311, a side wall 32 formed in a cylindrical shape around the opening 310, and a fused body 2. It is formed by a structure consisting of a weldable fusion flange 33.

A pull ring 312 is firmly fixed to the closure plate 31 via a support 313 on the outside. Then, by pulling up the pull ring 312 and tearing the closing plate 31 from the spout 3, the opening 310 that can be opened can be formed.
Note that the opening means is not limited to the above-mentioned method, and other methods may be used.

Further, the side wall 32 has a locking portion 321 that fits into the cap body 41 of the hinge cap 4. Instead of this locking portion 321, a screw thread (external thread) for screwing may be provided. In that case, it is necessary to provide a corresponding screw thread (female thread) on the cap main body standing side wall 411 and to apply a non-slip finish such as knurling to the outer surface of the cap main body outer wall 412.

The fusion flange 33 is formed of a flange having a smooth inner surface, a planar shape, and a uniform thickness.
The innermost sealant layer 23 of the body 2 and the outer surface of the fusion flange 33 are fused.
At this time, if the body 2 covers and fuses the outer peripheral edge of the fusion flange 33, the shape of the container becomes stable and the spout 3 can be more firmly fused to the body 2.
Further, since the inner surface of the fusion flange 33 is smooth and planar, the remaining amount of the contents is small, and the inner surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the trunk 2 are brought into close contact with each other, and The inner surface of the body portion 2 can be brought into close contact with the inner surface of the fusion flange 33. By doing so, the remaining amount of the contents will remain only in the spout portion surrounded by the side wall 32, and the remaining amount can be reduced to a very small amount.

The hinge cap 4 includes a cap body 41 that fits into the spout 3, and an upper lid 42 that is rotatable via a hinge 43 at one end of the outer periphery of the cap body 41.

The cap body 41 has a spout hole 410 in the center, a main body inner ring 413 on the inner side of the spout hole 410, a cap body inner wall 411 on the outside, and a cap body outer wall 412 on the outside. have.
The main body inner ring 413 and the cap main body inner wall 411 sandwich the side wall 32. Then, the locking ring 4111 of the cap body inner wall 411 is locked from the outside to the locking portion 321 of the side wall 32, and the main body inner ring 413 is brought into contact with the locking portion 321 of the side wall 32 from the inside, and a strong fit is established between the spout 3 and the cap body 4. It has a structure that forms a joint.
A pouring ring 414 and a lid stop ring 415 are provided on the outer surface of the cap body 41.

The upper lid 42 of the hinge cap 4 is provided with an upper lid top plate 421 , an upper lid side wall 422 that hangs down from the periphery of the upper lid top plate 421 , and an upper lid inner ring 423 that hangs down from the center of the upper lid top plate 421 . A hinge 43 is provided at the lower end and is fixed to the cap body 41.
When rotated via the hinge 43, the upper lid inner ring 423 is inserted into the spouting hole 410, comes into contact with the spouting ring 414, and is sealed.
Further, the upper lid side wall 422 is provided with an upper lid locking portion 4221, which locks onto the lid locking ring 415 of the cap body 41 so that the upper lid 42 can be held in a closed state.

FIG. 2-1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the container of the present invention in an unopened state.
In an unopened state such as in a store, the closing plate 31 is connected to the spout 3.
At the same time, the top lid inner ring 423 is inserted into the state in contact with the inner tip of the spouting ring 414, the top lid locking portion 4221 of the top lid side wall 422 is locked with the lid stop ring 415, and the top lid 42 is fitted into the cap body 41. It is in a closed state, covering the spout hole 410.

FIG. 2-2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the first step of opening the container of the present invention.
Hook a finger or the like on the collar 424 and pull the top lid 42 upward. At this time, the upper lid locking portion 4221 is disengaged from the lid retaining ring 415, so the upper lid 42 can be rotated around the hinge 43 and opened.
At the same time, the upper lid inner ring 423, which had been fitted into the spouting ring 414 forming the periphery of the spouting hole 410, comes off from the spouting hole 410, and the pull ring 312 is exposed.

FIG. 3-1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the process of opening the closure plate 31.
Hook the fingertip on the pull ring 312 in the spout hole 410 and pull it upward to open the closure plate 31. Since the closing plate 31 is surrounded by a thin weakened part 311 on its periphery, when the pull ring 312 is strongly pulled up, the weakened part 311 breaks and the area from the spout 3 where the closing plate 31 was opened opens. Can be plugged.
In this state, if you place your fingers on the front and back sides of the body 2, which is thin and highly flexible, and press them so as to shorten the distance between them, the contents will be poured out from the pouring hole 410. be able to.

FIG. 3-2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the hinge cap is closed after opening.
When the spout 3 was opened, the spout 3 where the closing plate 31 was located is open, but when the upper lid 42 is rotated via the hinge and the lid retaining ring 415 is engaged with the upper lid retaining portion 4221, the spout 3 of the spout hole 410 is opened. The upper lid inner ring 423 is inserted into the inner surface of the tip of the exit ring 414, making it possible to seal it again.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the contents 5 have been poured out to the end.
When the contents 5 are poured out to the end, the inner surfaces of the front and back of the body 2, which is thin and highly flexible, come into close contact with each other. At this time, the body 2 near the spout 3 approaches the inner surface of the spout. In the container of the present invention, since the inner surface of the spout is a fused flange made of a smooth plane, the inner surface of the body 2 can be brought into complete contact with the inner surface of the spout 3.
Therefore, the amount of content 5 remaining inside the container 1 is only inside the spout hole 410, so the amount remaining can be extremely reduced.
The body 2 may be in a state perpendicular to the inner surface of the spout I in order to push out the contents 5 more forcefully, but it should be pressed parallel to the inner surface of the spout II to ensure that it is in the body 2. It is possible to push out the contents 5 to the end.
By pressing the body against the inner surface of the spout in this manner, it is possible to reliably keep the remaining content to less than 5%.

The body used in the container of the present invention is a thin and soft body with a thickness of 300 μm or less, preferably less than 200 μm, and a sealant layer is used as the innermost layer.
As an example embodiment, the body may be a single extruded tube made of low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, etc.; It may be a very thin structure, such as a total thickness of 85 μm of /biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (thickness: 25 μm) /adhesive/low-density polyethylene (thickness: 30 μm).
In addition, the composition of low density polyethylene / adhesive / saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer / adhesive / low density polyethylene from the inside,
It may be a laminated film having a structure of low density polyethylene/adhesive/biaxially oriented polyamide film/adhesive/low density polyethylene, etc., and laminating these films together using a dry lamination machine or an extruder lamination machine.
In the case of such a configuration, a thin but high-strength body can be obtained, and the body is made of a laminate tube that is formed into a rectangular sheet shape, rolled into a cylindrical shape, and overlapping the left and right ends with the front and back sides and fused together.

Furthermore, from the inside, the composition is low density polyethylene/maleic anhydride modified low density polyethylene/saponified ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer/maleic anhydride modified low density polyethylene/low density polyethylene,
Even if the body is made of low density polyethylene/maleic anhydride-modified low-density polyethylene/polyamide/maleic anhydride-modified low-density polyethylene/low-density polyethylene, the body is directly formed into a tube shape using a co-extrusion profile extruder. Alternatively, a film extruded by a coextrusion inflation molding machine having such a configuration may be formed into a laminate tube.

The spout is made of a material that easily fuses with the sealant layer used for the body, and is also rigid enough to fit into the cap body of the hinge cap, and is molded using an injection mold and injection molding machine. do.
As the resin used for injection molding of the spout, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. can be used.

A film having barrier properties may be fused to the inner surface of the spout 3 to form the spout 3 having barrier properties. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a barrier film 34 is fused to the inner surface of the spout 3 before the body 2 is fused to the spout 3.
As shown in FIG. 5, the barrier film 34 may be fused after forming the spout 3, but when forming the spout 3, a film with high barrier properties is inserted on the inner side to create a spout with barrier properties. You can also do it.
FIG. 5 shows a state in which a weak film portion 341 is provided by scanning the laser beam so that when the closing plate 31 is broken, the barrier film 34 is simultaneously cut at the periphery of the closing plate 31.
Films with high barrier properties include low density polyethylene/adhesive/saponified ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer/adhesive/low density polyethylene,
Low density polyethylene/adhesive/biaxially oriented polyamide film/adhesive/low density polyethylene,
Low density polyethylene/aluminum foil/low density polyethylene,
Possible configurations include: It can also be obtained by inserting these into the inner surface of the spout and molding it.
If a film is fused to the entire inner surface and a weak film part 341 is provided by scanning a laser beam on the film in the fragile part, when the pull ring 312 is pulled up, the barrier film 34 which was fused at the same time will also be attached to the periphery of the closing plate 31. It can be broken to create a container with high barrier properties.

The hinge cap is manufactured by injection molding a resin that is easy to mold into a hinge.
As the resin used, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, etc. can be used.
Like the hinge cap in Figure 1, the hinge is molded in a straight state during molding, and the hinge is bent immediately after molding to align the molecular direction and prevent damage when opening and closing.

The container of the present invention as described above has a thin and highly flexible body in combination with a flat spout with a smooth inner surface, thereby increasing the strength of the fusion bond between the body and the spout. Moreover, the contents can be poured out almost to the end so that the remaining amount is small.
Further, since the spout can be made with a film laminated with a film having high barrier properties, the present invention has great merits such as being able to provide a container with high storage performance.

1...Container 2...Body section 21...Spout fused section 22...Bottom seal section 23... ... Sealant layer 24 ... Outermost layer 3 ... Spout 31 ... Closing plate 311 ... Weak section 312 ... Pull ring 313... Support column 32... Side wall 321... Locking part 33... Fusion flange 34... Barrier film 341... Film fragile part 4... Hinge cap 41... Cap body 410... Output hole 411... Cap body Inner wall 4111...Lock ring 412...Cap main body outer wall 413...Body inner ring 414...Pour ring 415...Lid Retaining ring 42...Top lid 421...Top lid top plate 422...Top lid side wall 4221...Top lid locking part 423...Top lid inner ring 424...Tsuba 43...Hinge 5...Contents

Claims (3)

In a container that has a flexible body and pours out the contents by pressing,
Consists of an opening that can be opened by breaking and removing a closing plate whose periphery is formed by a fragile part, a side wall formed in a cylindrical shape around the opening, and a fusion flange that can be fused to the body. a spout; a hinge cap that fits into a side wall of the spout and can be opened and closed;
The periphery of the spout is formed of a fused flange with a smooth inner surface,
The wall thickness of the body portion is less than 200 μm, and
The body portion covers the outer peripheral edge of the fusion flange and is bent inward at right angles and fused,
The surface of the fusion flange to which the body is fused is flat;
The body can be crushed into a flat state,
A container characterized in that an outer diameter of the hinge cap and an outer diameter of the fusion flange substantially match . 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the spout and the hinge cap are fitted together by screwing or plugging. In a method for manufacturing a container that has a flexible body and pours out the contents by pressing,
The container has an opening that can be opened by breaking and removing a closing plate whose periphery is formed of a fragile portion, a side wall formed in a cylindrical shape around the opening, and a fusion flange that can be fused to the body. and a hinge cap that fits into the side wall of the spout and can be opened and closed,
The periphery of the spout is formed of a fused flange with a smooth inner surface,
The wall thickness of the body portion is 200 μm or less,
The body covers the outer circumference of the fusion flange and is bent inward at right angles to be fused to the flat surface of the fusion flange ,
The body can be crushed into a flat state,
A method for manufacturing a container, characterized in that an outer diameter of the hinge cap and an outer diameter of the fused flange substantially match .

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