JP7422418B2 - Containers with lids, container lids, and how to attach and remove container lids - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container with a lid, a container lid, and a method for attaching and removing the container lid, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a container with a lid that includes an open container body that is heat-shrinkable by heating, and a container that covers the open container body that has been heat-shrinked by heating. The present invention relates to a method for attaching and detaching a container lid that can be fitted to a lid and an open container body that is heat-shrinkable by heating.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a container with a lid that includes an open container body that opens upward in the vertical direction and a container lid that is detachably fitted to the opening side of the open container body. In the open state, contents such as liquid, semi-solid, solid, etc. are filled into the open container main body through the opening, and the container is stored, cooked, transported, etc. while maintaining the vertical orientation.

In a conventional container with a lid, a lid side fitting part provided on the container lid is fitted from the outside in the horizontal direction to a main body side fitting part provided on the open container main body around the horizontal direction. By mating, the open container main body and the container lid fit together (Patent Document 1). In addition, fitting in which the container lid fits from the outside of the open container body is called external fitting, while fitting in which the container lid fits inside the open container body is called external fitting. This is known as an internal fit.

Since the conventional container with a lid is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet, the main body side fitting part and the lid side fitting part are likely to be elastically deformed, and when fitting the container lid to the open container main body, and, when the container lid is removed from the open container main body, the main body side fitting portion deforms moderately inward in the horizontal direction, and the lid side fitting portion deforms moderately outward in the horizontal direction. transforms into

As a result, in the conventional container with a lid, the main body side fitting part and the lid side fitting part are in close contact with each other in the fitted state, the container lid seals the open container main body, and the lid can be easily pressed by hand. It is possible to freely attach and detach the container lid to the open container body by fitting the container lid together or removing the container lid with your fingers.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-115002

By the way, containers with lids that users such as consumers and businesses purchase and transport from convenience stores, supermarkets, suppliers, factories, etc. are filled with foods such as side dishes, noodles, and sweets in advance. Some open containers are filled with these foods and heated using a heating device such as a microwave oven, oven, or baking line. Furthermore, after removing the container lid from a container with a lid that is purchased and transported empty, there are cases where the open container body is filled with hot food and then covered again with the container lid.

Furthermore, the open container body may be sterilized by heat by exposing it to heated steam or the like.

In the conventional lidded containers, some of the open container bodies thermoformed from the synthetic resin sheet have the property of shrinking due to such heating. Such thermal shrinkage due to reheating after thermoforming is also referred to as secondary shrinkage. Therefore, while the container lid is externally fitted to the open container main body, if the open container main body is thermally shrunk, a gap is created between the main body side fitting part and the lid side fitting part, A situation may arise where these do not come into close contact.

Furthermore, if this gap is large, there is a possibility that the container lid may come off from the open container body.

Due to these, it is difficult for the container lid to seal the open container main body after the open container main body is thermally shrunk.

In view of such problems, the present invention provides a container with a lid, a container lid, and a container lid, in which the container lid can seal the open container body both before and after heat shrinkage of the open container body. The purpose is to provide a method for attaching and detaching.

(1) The present invention is a container with a lid that includes an open container body and a container lid that is removably fitted to the opening side of the open container body, wherein the open container body is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet. and has a property of thermally shrinking when heated, and the open container main body and the container lid are annular flange portions that protrude toward the opening of the open container main body at their respective peripheral edges. The container lid has a flange part and a lid flange part, and the lid flange part fits into the main body flange part and fits into the open container main body after the open container main body is thermally shrunk by the heating. The present invention provides a container with a lid, which is characterized by the following.

That is, since the lid flange portion fits inside the main body flange portion, the annular lid flange portion fits inside the main body flange portion located away from the center thereof. At this time, the open container main body is thermally shrunk and the annular main body flange portion is contracted toward its center, so that the contracted main body flange portion and the lid flange portion come into close contact with each other.

Thereby, the container with a lid of the present invention enables the container lid to seal the open container body.

(2) The present invention provides a container with a lid, comprising an open container body that opens upward in the vertical direction, and a container lid that is removably fitted to the opening side of the open container body, is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of thermally shrinking when heated, and the open container body and the container lid are provided with annular flange portions that protrude upward at their respective peripheries. It has a main body flange portion and a lid flange portion, and the lid flange portion is externally fitted to the main body flange portion in the fitted state, and is a peripheral wall that the main body flange portion has on the inside in the horizontal direction. It has an inner lid peripheral wall that is a peripheral wall disposed inwardly from a certain inner peripheral wall of the main body, and the inner peripheral wall of the lid has a thermal shrinkage margin in the horizontal direction of the inner peripheral wall of the main body with respect to the inner peripheral wall of the main body. To provide a container with a lid, which is characterized in that the container is separated by a distance equivalent to that of the lid.

That is, in the container with a lid of the present invention, the lid flange portion is externally fitted to the main body flange portion, thereby allowing the container lid to seal the open container main body.

Further, after the open container main body is thermally shrunk, the position of the main body inner peripheral wall is displaced inward in the horizontal direction by the heat shrinkage amount as the main body flange portion shrinks. Since the inner circumferential wall of the lid is arranged in advance at a distance equal to the heat shrinkage allowance before shrinking, the inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid come into close contact with each other after shrinking, and the container lid seals the open container body.

As described above, the lidded container of the present invention allows the container lid to seal the open container body both before and after the open container body is thermally shrunk.

Note that this sealed state is achieved because the inwardly facing portion, such as the inner circumferential wall of the lid, comes into close contact with the open container main body and the open container main body and the container lid fit together, so that the inner fitting described above does not occur. Applicable if

(3) Furthermore, the main body inner circumferential wall and the lid inner circumferential wall may be inclined such that the upper side in the vertical direction is located on the inner side.

That is, in the internally fitted state after heat shrinkage of the open container main body, the inner peripheral wall and the lid inner peripheral wall, which are in close contact with each other, engage by being inclined so that the upper side is positioned closer to the inner side. This engagement must be released in order for the container lid to be removed from the open container body. As a result, in the container with a lid of the present invention, the container lid is difficult to come off from the open container main body, and the sealed state can be easily maintained.

(4) Further, the main body flange portion has a flange-like locking flange portion that protrudes outward in the horizontal direction, and the lid flange portion has a locking flange portion that extends outward from the lid outer peripheral wall that is the peripheral wall that the lid flange portion has on the outside in the horizontal direction. It has a convex locking convex portion that projects inward in the horizontal direction, and the locking convex portion locks the locking collar portion downward in the vertical direction in the fitted state. Good too.

That is, since the fitting portion on the open container main body side for external fitting is compactly constituted by the locked flange, the container lid can be attached to the open container main body for filling contents, cleaning, etc. When the container is removed from the container, the inward elastic deformation of the open container body side and the outward elastic deformation of the container lid side can be made smaller. Thereby, in the container with a lid of the present invention, although the container lid has a structure that seals the open container main body, the container lid can be easily attached and detached.

(5) The present invention provides a container lid that covers an open container body to form a container with a lid, and includes a lid flange portion that protrudes toward the opening of the open container body at the periphery and is provided in an annular shape. The present invention also provides a container lid characterized in that, after the open container main body is thermally shrunk by heating, the lid flange portion is internally fitted into the open container main body to cover the open container main body.

That is, since the lid flange portion fits inside the open container main body, the annular lid flange portion fits inside the open container main body located away from the center thereof. At this time, since the open container main body undergoes thermal contraction and shrinks toward its center, the open container main body and the lid flange portion come into close contact with each other after the shrinkage.

Thereby, the container lid of the present invention seals the open container body.

(6) The present invention is a method for attaching and detaching a container lid that fits into an open container body, which is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of shrinking when heated. , a container lid removal step of removing the container lid externally fitted onto the open container main body, a heating step of heating the open container main body after the container lid removal step, and after the heating step and a refitting step of internally fitting the container lid removed in the container lid removal step into the open container body that has been heat-shrinked in the heating step. It is.

That is, in the container lid attachment/detachment method of the present invention, in the container lid removal step, there is no need to prepare another container lid that matches the dimensions of the open container body after heat shrinkage after the heating step. The opened container body can be covered again with the removed container lid. Therefore, the single container lid can seal the open container body both before and after the open container main body is thermally shrunk.

(7) The open container main body and the container lid each have a main body flange portion and a lid flange portion that protrude vertically upward at their respective peripheral edges and are annularly provided, and the container In the externally fitted state before the lid removal process, the lid inner peripheral wall, which is a peripheral wall disposed inwardly from the main body inner peripheral wall, which is the peripheral wall that the main body flange has on the inside in the horizontal direction, is attached to the lid flange. and the lid inner circumferential wall is spaced apart from the main body inner circumferential wall by a distance equivalent to the horizontal heat shrinkage margin of the main body inner circumferential wall, and the container lid removing step The engagement between the collar-shaped locking flange projecting outward in the horizontal direction from the flange and the convex locking protrusion projecting inward from the lid outer circumferential wall, which is the outer peripheral wall of the lid flange. The refitting step includes a step of releasing the stopped state, and the refitting step covers the open container main body with the container lid, and also moves the lid flange portion so that the inner peripheral wall of the main body and the inner peripheral wall of the lid are in contact with each other. The method may include a step of internally fitting the main body flange portion.

That is, in the heating step, as the main body flange portion contracts, the position of the main body inner peripheral wall is displaced inward in the horizontal direction by the amount of heat shrinkage. Since the inner circumferential wall of the lid is arranged in advance at a distance equal to the heat shrinkage allowance before shrinking, the inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid come into close contact with each other after shrinking, and the container lid can seal the open container body.

In this way, in the refitting process, the inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid, which are surfaces, are brought into close contact with each other, so even when filled with contents that tend to leak from gaps, such as liquids or semi-solids. In the container lid attachment/detachment method of the present invention, the container lid can firmly seal the open container body.

(8) The present invention is a method for attaching and detaching a container lid that fits into an open container body, which is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of shrinking when heated. a container lid removal step of removing the container lid externally fitted onto the open container main body from the open container main body; and a filling step of filling the open container main body with food in a high temperature state after the container lid removal step; After the filling step, the method includes a refitting step of internally fitting the container lid removed in the container lid removal step into the open container body that has been heat-shrinked in the filling step. The present invention provides a method.

That is, in the container lid attachment/detachment method of the present invention, in the container lid removal step, there is no need to prepare another container lid that matches the dimensions of the open container body after heat shrinkage after the filling step. The opened container body can be covered again with the removed container lid. Therefore, the single container lid can seal the open container body both before and after the open container main body is thermally shrunk.

(9) Further, the open container body and the container lid have a main body flange portion and a lid flange portion that protrude vertically upward at their respective peripheral edges and are annularly provided, and the container In the externally fitted state before the lid removal process, the lid inner peripheral wall, which is a peripheral wall disposed inwardly from the main body inner peripheral wall, which is the peripheral wall that the main body flange has on the inside in the horizontal direction, is attached to the lid flange. and the lid inner circumferential wall is spaced apart from the main body inner circumferential wall by a distance equivalent to the horizontal heat shrinkage margin of the main body inner circumferential wall, and the container lid removing step The engagement between the collar-shaped locking flange projecting outward in the horizontal direction from the flange and the convex locking protrusion projecting inward from the lid outer circumferential wall, which is the outer peripheral wall of the lid flange. The refitting step includes a step of releasing the stopped state, and the refitting step covers the open container main body with the container lid, and also moves the lid flange portion so that the inner peripheral wall of the main body and the inner peripheral wall of the lid are in contact with each other. The method may include a step of internally fitting the main body flange portion.

That is, in the heating step, as the main body flange portion contracts, the position of the main body inner peripheral wall is displaced inward in the horizontal direction by the amount of heat shrinkage. Since the inner circumferential wall of the lid is arranged in advance at a distance equal to the heat shrinkage allowance before shrinking, the inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid come into close contact with each other after shrinking, and the container lid can seal the open container body.

In this way, in the refitting process, the inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid, which are surfaces, are brought into close contact with each other, so even when filled with contents that tend to leak from gaps, such as liquids or semi-solids. In the container lid attachment/detachment method of the present invention, the container lid can firmly seal the open container body.

The present invention provides a container with a lid, a container lid, and a method for attaching and detaching the container lid, in which the container lid can seal the open container body both before and after heat shrinking of the open container body. Can be done.

1 shows a front view of a container with a lid 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a front cross-sectional view of an open container main body 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a plan view of an open container main body 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A front sectional view of a container lid 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A plan view of a container lid 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. An enlarged view of the S portion of the plane of the container lid 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown. 1 shows a front sectional view of a lidded container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a partial end view of the lidded container 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a fitted state Bs before secondary contraction in the EE cross section. FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the lidded container 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention in the EE cross section in the fitted state As after secondary contraction. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a first container lid attachment/detachment method CS1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A flow diagram showing a second container lid attachment/detachment method CS11 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a container lid according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated below based on the drawings. In the front view of FIG. 1, 1 is a container with a lid. The lidded container 1 includes an open container main body 2 and a container lid 3 that is removably fitted to the open side of the open container main body 2. As shown in a plan view of an open container main body 2 and a plan view of a container lid 3, which will be described later, the lidded container 1 is formed into a substantially elliptical shape that is elongated from side to side in plan view.

Regarding the orientation of the lidded container 1 shown in the figure, the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 that constitute this, the up-down direction in the front view is called the vertical direction V, and the direction in which the open container main body 2 opens is called the upward direction U. The opposite direction is called downward D. In addition, the horizontal direction including the left and right and front and back directions of the front view is simply called the horizontal direction H, the left and right direction of the front view of the horizontal direction H is called the width direction W, and the left direction of the front view is simply called the left direction L. The opposite direction is called rightward R. Furthermore, the direction approaching the center of the open container body 2 or the container lid 3 in the horizontal direction H is called inward direction I, and the direction away from the center is also called outward direction O. In the horizontal direction H, the side facing inward I is called the inside, and the side facing outward O is also called the outside.

The open container main body 2 is a molded product in the shape of a lidless and bottomed container obtained by thermoforming a synthetic resin sheet, and has an opening in an upward U direction and a constant vertical direction V so that the food F can be held inside. has a depth of The synthetic resin sheet molded into the open container body 2 includes those made from crystalline polymers, such as polypropylene (PP), PET-based resins including crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (C-PET), and polylactic acid. Including raw materials. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the open container main body 2 is colored white.

It is known that synthetic resin sheets made from these crystalline polymers and the like shrink when heated after molding. For example, in the case of PET resin, it is known that when heated to 110° C. or higher, the resin shrinks at a rate of 2/1000 to 18/1000, depending on the type of resin. Such thermal shrinkage due to reheating after thermoforming is also referred to as secondary shrinkage.

As shown in the front view of FIG. 1 and the front cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the open container main body 2 has a main body flange portion 4 which is an annular flange portion that protrudes upward in the U direction at the periphery. As shown in FIG. 2, the open container main body 2 opens upwardly U from a container portion 2a for holding food F through a stepped portion 2b. A main body flange portion 4 is provided so as to annularly surround the main body opening 2c. The front cross section in FIG. 2 is the EE cross section shown in the plan view of the main body of the open container in FIG.

As shown in the front view of FIG. 1 and the front sectional view of FIG. 4, the container lid 3 has a lid flange portion 5 that protrudes upward in the U direction at the periphery and is an annular flange portion. The container lid 3 hangs down in a downward direction D from the end of a canopy portion 3a, which is a ceiling portion, and the lowermost part of the lid 3 forms a lid opening 3b. A recessed portion 3c extending outward O is provided outside the lid opening 3b. Further, an annular lid flange portion 5 surrounding the recess 3c is provided at the outer peripheral edge of the recess 3c so as to rise from the recess 3c.

The container lid 3 is a molded product obtained by thermoforming a synthetic resin sheet in the same way as the open container body 2, but it is made of a raw material that does not cause secondary shrinkage like the open container body 2, or A raw material is used whose shrinkage rate is smaller than the shrinkage rate of the open container main body 2 during the second shrinkage even when the second shrinkage occurs. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the container lid 3 is transparent.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body flange portion 4 extends in an outward direction O from the main body opening 2c.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body flange portion 4 has a main body flange contact surface 4a that is an upwardly U-shaped plane. Further, the main body flange portion 4 has a locking collar portion 6 that hangs downward D from the outer end of the main body flange contact surface 4a and projects outward O from the lower end thereof. Further, the main body flange portion 4 has a main body inner peripheral wall 7 that is an inner peripheral wall and is inclined so that the upper side of the vertical direction V is located inward.

As shown in the lid plan view of FIG. 5, the lid flange portion 5 extends outward from the recessed portion 3c outside the lid opening 3b in an outward direction O.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid flange portion 5 has a lid flange contact surface 5a that is a plane facing downward D. The lid flange portion 5 is an outer peripheral wall, and has a lid outer peripheral wall 8 that hangs downward D from the outer end of the lid flange contact surface 5a. Furthermore, the lid flange portion 5 has a lid inner peripheral wall 9 that is an inner peripheral wall and is inclined so that the upper side of the vertical direction V is positioned inward. Note that arrows are attached to FIGS. 4 and 5 to indicate the EE cross section and the FF cross section of the lidded container 1, which will be described in detail later.

The locking collar portion 6 is provided so as to protrude leftward L in the width direction W in the left half of FIG. 2, and to protrude rightward R in the width direction W in the right half. Further, the locking flange portion 6 surrounds the entire circumference of the main body flange contact surface 4a, as shown in FIG. That is, the locking collar portion 6 is provided over the entire circumference of the main body flange portion 4 so as to protrude outward O.

The main body inner circumferential wall 7 and the lid inner circumferential wall 9 are formed so that their respective inclination angles are substantially the same.

The lid outer peripheral wall 8 has a plurality of locked convex portions 8a. Each of the locked protrusions 8a is formed in a convex shape, and protrudes rightward R in the width direction W in the left half of FIG. 4, and protrudes leftward L in the width direction W in the right half. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the locked protrusions 8a is formed in an elongated manner along the lid outer circumferential wall 8, and is disposed annularly and discontinuously. FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the container lid 3 shown by the imaginary line S in FIG.

The lid outer peripheral wall 8 forms a lid outer peripheral wall recess 8b that is recessed outward O below the lid flange contact surface 5a in the vertical direction V and above each of the locked protrusions 8a.

FIG. 7 shows a front sectional view of the lidded container 1 with the container lid 3 fitted to the open container main body 2. In this state, the open container main body 2 has not undergone secondary contraction. Further, the lid flange contact surface 5a closely contacts the main body flange contact surface 4a from above in the vertical direction V. This fitted state before secondary contraction is hereinafter referred to as pre-secondary contraction fitted state Bs.

The dimensions of the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 are such that, in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction, the shape in plan view formed by the outwardly pointing O tip of the locking collar 6 is the same as the shape in plan view formed by the lid outer circumferential wall recess 8b. The dimensions are set to be the same as or slightly smaller than the shape of the lid outer circumferential wall recess 8b in plan view.

Also, the height H1 in the vertical direction V from the locking flange portion 6 to the lid flange contact surface 5a is higher than the height H2 in the vertical direction V from the upper end of each locked convex portion 8a to the lid flange contact surface 5a. The dimensions are set to be smaller.

Further, the dimensions of the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 are set such that the main body flange portion 4 fits into the lid flange portion 5 from below in the vertical direction V in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction.

Moreover, the dimensions of the open container body 2 and the container lid 3 are such that the recessed portion 3c of the container lid 3 is located above the stepped portion 2b of the open container body 2 in the vertical direction V in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction. Set to dimensions.

With this configuration, the lid flange portion 5 can be externally fitted to the main body flange portion 4, and the container lid 3 can be externally fitted to the open container main body 2 in the lidded container 1 as a whole. By this external fitting, the lidded container 1 reaches the pre-secondary contraction fitted state Bs, and the container lid 3 seals the open container body 2.

In addition, since the locking flange 6 of the open container body 2 locks the locked convex portion 8a of the container lid 3 in the downward direction D, the container lid 3 does not come off from the open container body 2, and the secondary The pre-shrinkage fitted state Bs is maintained. At this time, the locking flange 6 is fitted into the lid outer circumferential wall recess 8b.

When the user fits the container lid 3 onto the open container main body 2 or when the user intentionally removes the container lid 3 from the open container main body 2, the open container main body 2, the container lid 3, or the open container main body 2 and Slightly elastically deforming the container lid 3 and fitting the locking flange 6 into the recess 8b on the outer circumferential wall of the lid, and locking the latched protrusion 8a with the latching flange 6; is removed from the lid outer circumferential wall concave portion 8b, and the locked state of the locked convex portion 8a by the locking collar portion 6 is released. Since both the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 are molded products made of synthetic resin sheets, they can be easily deformed to lock or release the locked state.

In addition, since the locking convex portions 8a are disposed discontinuously, the friction generated between the open container body 2 and the container lid 3 can be reduced, and the locking or locking by the locking flange 6 can be reduced. The stopped state can be easily released. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in a plan view of the container lid 3, each of the locked protrusions 8a is arranged symmetrically in the width direction W and the depth direction Y. Therefore, the degree of difficulty in fitting or removing the container lid 3 due to the locking flange 6 locking the locked convex portion 8a can be set to be approximately uniform for the left, right, front, and rear of the container with lid 1. .

The lid inner circumferential wall 9 is spaced apart inside the main body inner circumferential wall 7 in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction. In the enlarged front end view of the EE cross section of the left flange portions 4 and 5 in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction in FIG. The separation distance wd before secondary contraction of the EE cross section is shown as the distance apart in the horizontal direction H.

In this state, the main body flange contact surface 4a and the lid flange contact surface 5a are in contact with each other. Then, by externally fitting the lid flange portion 5 to the main body flange portion 4, the container lid 3 of the lidded container 1 as a whole is externally fitted to the open container main body 2.

Here, the dimensions of the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 are defined as the EE section pre-secondary shrinkage separation distance wd which is the distance between the left and right main body inner circumferential walls 7 shown in FIG. Set to be 1/2 of the distance obtained by subtracting the EE cross-section distance between the peripheral walls after secondary contraction w2, which is the distance between the left and right inner peripheral walls 7 of the main body after the open container main body 2 undergoes secondary contraction, from w1. do. This distance of (w1-w2)/2 is called the EE section secondary shrinkage allowance wa. That is, the dimensions of the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 are set so that the EE section pre-secondary shrinkage separation distance wd corresponds to the EE section secondary shrinkage allowance wa.

Regarding the relationship between the dimensions before secondary shrinkage and the dimensions after secondary shrinkage, if the raw material of the open container body 2 is, for example, crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (C-PET), the ratio is from 2/1000 to 18/1000. It is known that there is.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the open container main body 2 undergoes secondary contraction due to heating, and the left main body inner peripheral wall 7 shown in FIG. 2 is displaced rightward R by a distance of the EE section secondary shrinkage wa. Although the left main body inner peripheral wall 7 is displaced rightward R, the lid flange contact surface 5a remains in close contact with the main body flange contact surface 4a as before the secondary contraction. Further, the lower surface of the recessed portion 3c of the container lid 3 comes into contact with the upper surface of the stepped portion 2b of the open container body 2.

Since the lid inner circumferential wall 9 was located inward from the main body inner circumferential wall 7 in the horizontal direction H in the pre-secondary contraction fitted state Bs as shown in FIG. When the open container main body 2 is covered again with the container lid 3 after the secondary shrinkage of the open container main body 2, the main body inner peripheral wall 7 has an EE cross-section secondary shrinkage allowance wa corresponding to the EE cross-section pre-secondary shrinkage separation distance wd. Since the distance is displaced inward I, the main body inner circumferential wall 7 contacts and closely adheres to the lid inner circumferential wall 9. Thereby, the lid flange portion 5 is internally fitted into the main body flange portion 4, and the container lid 3 can be internally fitted into the open container main body 2 in the lidded container 1 as a whole. Such a fitted state after secondary contraction will be referred to as a post-secondary contraction fitted state As hereinafter.

In this fitted state As after secondary contraction, the container lid 3 seals the open container body 2.

In addition, since the lid inner circumferential wall 9 is inclined so that the upper side of the vertical direction V is located inward, and the main body inner circumferential wall 7 is also inclined, in the fitted state As after secondary shrinkage, the container lid 3 is attached to the open container. Even when a force trying to pull it away from the main body 2 in an upward direction U is exerted, the main body inner peripheral wall 7 can lock the container lid 3 in a downward direction D and maintain a sealed state.

When the user fits the container lid 3 onto the open container main body 2 or when the user intentionally removes the container lid 3 from the open container main body 2, the open container main body 2, the container lid 3, or the open container main body 2 and The container lid 3 is slightly elastically deformed to slide the lid inner peripheral wall 9 against the main body inner peripheral wall 7 and move it downward D or upward U. Since both the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3 are molded products made of synthetic resin sheets, they can be easily deformed to lock or release the locked state.

Although FIGS. 8 and 9 show the end face in the front cross section of the E-E cross section, the side cross section of the F-F cross section marked with an arrow in FIGS. The main body 2 and the container lid 3 are similarly constructed. For example, in the FF cross section, the inner peripheral wall 7 of the main body on one side of the left and right sides has a distance of a secondary shrinkage allowance ya of the FF cross section (not shown) in a rightward direction R.
It is displaced and comes into close contact with the inner peripheral wall 9 of the lid. That is, regarding the entire circumference of the lidded container 1, in the fitted state As after secondary contraction, the main body inner circumferential wall 7 contacts and tightly adheres to the lid inner circumferential wall 9, so that the cover flange portion 5 is attached to the main body flange portion 4. The container lid 3 of the lidded container 1 as a whole can be internally fitted into the open container body 2.

In FIG. 10, CS1 exemplifies an embodiment of the first container lid attachment/detachment method of the present invention. The first container lid attachment/detachment method CS1 is a container lid with a lid that fits into an open container body 2 that is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of being heat-shrinkable by heating. This is a method of attaching and detaching 3.

In the lidded container 1 before performing the first container lid attachment/detachment method CS1, for example, the container lid 3 is removably fitted into the open container body 2 with the open container body 2 filled with food F that can be cooked. It is placed in a suitable condition. Food F at this time is at room temperature.

Similarly, the lidded container 1 may be placed in a state where the open container main body 2 is not filled with anything, for example, in order to sterilize the inside thereof with superheated steam.

Before performing the first container lid attachment/detachment method CS1, the lidded container 1 is in the pre-secondary shrinkage fitted state Bs. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, the lid flange portion 5 is externally fitted to the main body flange portion 4, and thereby the container lid 3 is externally fitted to the open container main body 2.

The first container lid attachment/detachment method CS1 includes a container lid removal step S1 in which the container lid 3 is removed from the open container body 2, a heating step S2 in which the open container body 2 is heated, and a container lid 3 is removed from the open container body 2. and a refitting step S3 of internally fitting the two.

In the container lid removal step S1, a flange-like locking flange portion 6 protrudes outward from the main body flange portion, which is an annular flange portion that protrudes upward in the U direction at the periphery of the open container main body 2, and the container lid. A locking protrusion 8a is a convex locking convex portion 8a that protrudes upwardly U at the peripheral edge of the lid and protrudes inwardly I from a lid outer circumferential wall 8, which is an outer peripheral wall of the lid flange portion 5, which is an annularly provided flange portion. It includes step S1a of releasing the locked state.

In step S1a of releasing the locked state between the locking flange 6 and the locked protrusion 8a, after releasing this locked state, the container lid 3 is pulled away from the open container main body 2 in an upward direction U. The container lid 3 removed in this way is stored during the heating step S2, which will be described next, in order to be used in the refitting step S3.

Through the container removal step S1, the user of the container 1 with a lid, such as a consumer or business operator, can see the container 1 filled with food F immediately after being purchased and delivered from a convenience store, supermarket, supplier, factory, etc. The open container body 2 can be heated with a heating device such as a microwave oven, an oven, or a baking line. Alternatively, the inside of the lidded container 1 can be sterilized by superheated steam.

In the heating step S2, after a user such as a consumer or business operator removes the container lid 3 from the open container main body 2, the open container main body 2 is filled with a food F such as a prepared dish, noodles, or sweets. This includes the step of cooking food F by heating it with a heating device such as a microwave oven, an oven, or a baking line. Alternatively, after a user such as a business operator removes the container lid 3 from the open container main body 2, the open container main body 2, which is not filled with anything, is exposed to superheated steam or the like, and the open container main body 2 is heated. including a step of sterilizing.

By heating the food F and sterilizing it with superheated steam, the two main bodies of the open container are heated. At this time, the temperature of the open container main body 2 increases to 110° C. or more, causing secondary contraction. That is, by passing through the heating step S2 of heating the open container body 2, the open container body 2 causes secondary contraction, and for example, in the case of the EE cross section, the distance between the left and right inner peripheral walls 7 of the main body becomes the secondary shrinkage of the EE cross section. The distance between the circumferential walls before contraction w1 decreases to the distance between the circumferential walls after secondary contraction in the EE section w2.

Among the above-mentioned side dishes and sweets, it is known that when cooking gratin or baked confectionery, the temperature is raised to 150°C or 230°C, respectively.

On the other hand, if the raw material for the container lid 3 is a raw material that does not cause secondary shrinkage, no secondary shrinkage will occur even after the heating step S2. Further, even when a raw material that causes secondary shrinkage is used, secondary shrinkage does not occur because the container lid 3 has already been removed from the open container body 2. As a result, only the open container main body 2 undergoes secondary contraction through the heating step S2.

In the refitting process S3, the container lid 3 that was stored during the heating process S2 is combined with the open container body 2 that has been heated and heat-shrinked in the heating process S2, and the open container body 2 is covered with the container lid 3. Including a step of capping.

Further, the refitting step S3 includes a step S3a of internally fitting the lid flange portion 5 into the main body flange portion 4 so that the main body inner peripheral wall 7 and the lid inner peripheral wall 9 are in contact with each other. Through this refitting step S3, the container lid 3 is internally fitted into the open container body 2.

For example, users such as consumers do not eat food F such as side dishes or noodles that have been heated in a microwave oven immediately, but rather wait a certain period of time for storage, transportation, additional cooking using steam or the passage of time, etc. Sometimes I eat it after cooking. Further, a user such as a business operator may distribute food F such as a prepared dish or confectionery in a packaged state, which has been heated and cooked in an oven, a baking line, etc., for example.

In such a case, in order to steam the food F, to prevent the food F from spilling, and to prevent foreign matter from getting mixed into the food F, the user uses the first container lid removal method CS1 of the present invention to remove the container lid 3. This allows the open container body 2 to be covered and the container lid 3 to be refitted to the open container body 2. In the refitting step S3, the inner circumferential wall 7 of the main body and the inner circumferential wall 9 of the lid come into contact to form a seal, so even when filled with contents that tend to leak from gaps, such as liquids or semi-solids, a strong seal can be achieved. Can be done.

Business operators such as convenience stores and supermarkets heat and cook the food F filled in the open container main body 2 in these stores, and then cover the food F with the container lid 3 again, according to sales. Freshly prepared and appropriate quantities of cooked products can be displayed on store shelves.

Even when the open container main body 2 is sterilized, the user covers the open container main body 2 again with the container lid 3 in order to maintain the sterile or sterile state inside the open container main body 2.

In the lidded container 1 used in the container lid attachment/detachment method CS1 of the present invention, the lid flange portion 5 is externally fitted to the main body flange portion 4 in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction, and the lid flange is in contact with the main body flange contact surface 4a. Surface 5a contacts to prevent leakage of contents. On the other hand, in the fitted state As after secondary contraction, the inner circumferential wall 7 of the main body and the inner circumferential wall 9 of the lid, which are located inside these contact surfaces 4a and 5a, come into contact and seal, so that the contents do not leak. There is less fear of releasing it.

Further, when the inner peripheral walls 7 and 9 are inclined, one locks the other, so that the degree of sealing is higher.

The lidded container 1 and the first container lid attachment/detachment method CS1 of the present invention utilize the heat-shrinking property of the open container body 2 due to the unique structure of the open container body 2 and the container lid 3 used therein. A strong internal fit between the open container body 2 and the container lid 3 is realized.

Moreover, the container lid 3 used in the pre-secondary contraction fitted state Bs can be shared in the post-secondary shrinkage fitted state As. Therefore, the container lid 3 removed in the container lid removal step S1 can be used as is for the refitting step S3, and another container lid 3 that matches the dimensions of the open container body 2 after heat shrinkage is prepared. There's no need.

In FIG. 11, CS11 exemplifies the second container lid attachment/detachment method of the present invention. The second container lid attachment/detachment method CS11 includes, in order, a container lid removal step S11, a filling step S12, and a refitting step S13.

The lidded container 1 before performing the second container lid attachment/detachment method CS11 is in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction, the open container main body 2 is not filled with anything, and the container lid 3 is in the open container main body. 2 and is placed in a state in which it is removably fitted into the holder.

The container lid removal step S11 has the same configuration as the container removal step S1 of the previously described embodiment, and also includes step S11a of releasing the locked state between the locking collar portion 6 and the locked convex portion 8a. .

A user such as a consumer or a business operator makes the open container main body 2 of the prepared lidded container 1 ready to be filled with contents such as food F through the container removal step S11.

Next, in the filling step S12, the open container main body 2 is filled with the food F in a high temperature state. The food F to be filled is, for example, side dishes, noodles, etc., and is heated to 110° C. or higher. By filling the food F in such a high temperature state, the entire open container main body 2 is heated. At this time, the temperature of the open container main body 2 increases to 110° C. or more, causing secondary contraction. That is, by going through the filling step S12, the open container main body 2 undergoes secondary contraction, and for example, in the case of the EE cross section, the distance between the left and right main body inner peripheral walls 7 changes from the distance between the peripheral walls w1 of the EE cross section before secondary contraction. After the secondary contraction of the EE section, the distance between the peripheral walls decreases to w2.

Finally, the refitting step S13 has the same configuration as the refitting step S3 of the previously described embodiment, and the container lid 3 stored during the filling step S12 is heat-shrinked by the filling step S12. The method includes a step of combining the open container body 2 with the container lid 3 and covering the open container body 2 with the container lid 3. As a result, the lidded container 1 reaches the fitted state As after secondary contraction. In addition, the configuration of the second container lid attachment/detachment method CS11 is common to the configuration of the first container lid attachment/detachment method CS, unless otherwise specified.

For example, users such as consumers do not eat foods F such as side dishes and noodles immediately that have been filled in a high temperature state, but rather wait a certain period of time for storage, transportation, additional cooking using steam or the passage of time, etc. I sometimes eat from. In addition, users such as business operators may distribute foods F such as side dishes and sweets filled in a high temperature state in a packaged state.

In such a case, in order to steam the food F, to prevent the food F from spilling, and to prevent foreign matter from getting into the food F, the user uses the container lid 3 to close the open container using the container lid attachment/detachment method CS11 of the present invention. The main body 2 can be capped and the container lid 3 can be refitted to the open container main body 2. In the refitting step S13, the inner circumferential wall 7 of the main body and the inner circumferential wall 9 of the lid come into contact to form a seal, so even when filled with contents that tend to leak from gaps, such as liquids or semi-solids, a strong seal can be achieved. Can be done.

With the above configuration, the lidded container 1, the container lid 3, and the container lid attachment/detachment methods CS1 and CS11 of the present invention allow the container lid 3 to attach to the open container body 2 both before and after the open container body 2 is heat-shrinked. Allows for airtight sealing.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the planar shape of the lidded container 1, the open container main body 2, the container lid 3, the main body flange portion 4, and the lid flange portion 5 may be in a shape other than the approximately oval shape shown in each figure, and the planar shape of the lidded container 1, the open container main body 2, the container lid 3, the main body flange portion 4, and the lid flange portion 5 may be in a shape other than the approximately oval shape shown in each figure. If the main body flange portion 4 and the lid flange portion 5 can have cross-sectional structures in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction and the fitted state As after secondary contraction as shown in FIG. It may have a rectangular or circular shape. As a modification, the planar shape of the container with a lid, the open container main body, the container lid, the main body flange portion, and the lid flange portion may be circular. For example, a circular container lid is shown in the plan view of FIG. There is.

Further, the main body flange contact surface 4a and the lid flange contact surface 5a may be formed on a plane other than the plane shown in each figure, and in each of the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction and the fitted state As after secondary contraction, As long as they are in close contact with each other over the circumference, they may be formed into a curved surface that bulges upward in a U-shape, a curved surface that bulges in a downward D-shape, or the like.

Further, the main body inner circumferential wall 7 and the lid inner circumferential wall 9 may be formed on a plane other than the plane shown in each figure, and if they contact each other over the entire circumference in the fitted state As after secondary contraction and are in close contact with each other, the outwardly facing O It may be formed into a curved surface that bulges inward, a curved surface that bulges inward, or the like.

The main body flange portion 4 has a main body outer peripheral wall on the outside, and in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction, the lid outer peripheral wall 8 contacts the main body outer peripheral wall in the inward direction I, so that the lid flange portion 5 becomes the main body flange portion. 4 may be configured to fit externally. Further, at this time, the main body outer circumferential wall and the lid outer circumferential wall 8 may be inclined so that the upper side thereof is positioned further outward, so that the main body outer circumferential wall locks the cover outer circumferential wall 8 in the downward direction D.

Even if the main body inner circumferential wall 7 and the lid inner circumferential wall 9 are not inclined, if the fitted state can be maintained by friction between these inner circumferential walls 7 and 9 in the fitted state As after secondary contraction, for example, in the vertical direction It may be upright in V.

The container lid 3 may be made of a material other than the synthetic resin sheet, and the open container body 2, the container lid 3, or the open container body 2 and the container lid 3 are elastically deformed as necessary for removal or fitting. If possible, materials other than synthetic resins such as paper, wood, and glass may be used. Further, the container lid 3 may be a molded product obtained by thermoforming, or may be obtained by casting, laminating, cutting, cutting, compression molding, or the like.

Examples of the purpose of removing the container lid 3 from the lidded container 1 in the container removal step S1 include heating cooking, filling food F in a high temperature state, and sterilization using superheated steam. It may also be for purposes such as surface treatment, molding, and coating that involve heating. Further, the reason for heating the open container main body 2 in the heating step S2 may be for these purposes.

Although cooking has been cited as an example of the purpose of heating the food F, purposes other than cooking such as reheating the food F or high-temperature sterilization may also be used. Furthermore, although the food F is taken as an example of the content to be filled in the open container main body 2, solids, semi-solids, liquids, etc. other than the food F, such as medicinal solutions, cosmetics, and chemicals, may also be used.

Although 110° C. in the case of PET-based resin has been cited as an example of the temperature that causes secondary shrinkage, this temperature varies depending on the type of synthetic resin used for the open container body 2.

Although we have taken as an example a case where only the open container main body 2 causes secondary shrinkage and the container lid 3 does not cause secondary shrinkage, even if the container lid 3 causes thermal contraction due to a smaller shrinkage rate than the open container main body 2. , the separation between the main body inner peripheral wall 7 and the lid inner peripheral wall 9 in the fitted state Bs before secondary contraction, such as the EE cross-section pre-secondary contraction separation distance wd, depending on the difference in shrinkage rate between the open container main body 2 and the container lid 3. Just set the distance.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized for a container with a lid which requires sealing between the open container main body and the container lid.

1 Container with lid 2 Open container main body 3 Container lid 4 Main body flange portion 4a Main body flange contact surface 5 Lid flange portion 5a Lid flange contact surface 6 Locking flange portion 7 Main body inner peripheral wall 8 Lid outer peripheral wall 8a Locked convex portion 8b Lid Outer circumferential wall recess 9 Lid inner circumferential wall CS1 First container lid attachment/detachment method CS11 Second container lid attachment/detachment method S1, S11 Container removal process S2 Heating process S12 Filling process S3, S13 Refitting process

Claims (7)

A container with a lid, comprising an open container body and a container lid that is removably fitted to the opening side of the open container body,
The open container body is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of shrinking when heated,
The open container main body and the container lid have one main body flange portion that protrudes toward the opening of the open container main body at their respective peripheries and is an annular flange portion, and one lid flange portion. ,
The one main body flange portion has a flange-like locking flange portion that protrudes outward in a horizontal direction;
The one lid flange portion has a convex locked protrusion projecting inward in the horizontal direction from the lid outer circumferential wall, which is a peripheral wall provided on the outer side in the horizontal direction;
The locking flange locks the locking convex portion downward in the vertical direction in the fitted state before heat shrinking;
After the open container main body is thermally shrunk by the heating, the lid flange portion that is the same as the one lid flange portion is internally fitted into the one main body flange portion and fitted into the open container main body,
The main body flange portion fits within the same lid flange portion before and after heat shrinkage,
A container with a lid characterized by: A container with a lid, comprising an open container body that opens upward in the vertical direction, and a container lid that is detachably fitted to the opening side of the open container body,
The open container body is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of shrinking when heated,
The open container main body and the container lid have one main body flange portion and one lid flange portion, which are flange portions that protrude upward and are annularly provided at their respective peripheral edges,
The one lid flange portion has a flange-like locking flange portion that projects outward in the horizontal direction before heat shrinking, and the one lid flange portion has a locking flange portion that projects outward in the horizontal direction. By having a convex locking protrusion projecting inward in the horizontal direction from the lid outer circumferential wall, which is a circumferential wall on the outer side of the lid, the locking convex portion is externally fitted to the one main body flange portion, and The lid flange portion, which is the same as one lid flange portion, has a lid inner peripheral wall that is a peripheral wall that is spaced apart from the main body inner peripheral wall that is a horizontal wall inside the main body,
The inner circumferential wall of the lid is spaced apart from the inner circumferential wall of the main body by a distance equivalent to a heat shrinkage margin in the horizontal direction of the inner circumferential wall of the main body,
The main body flange portion fits within the same lid flange portion before and after heat shrinkage,
A container with a lid characterized by: The container with a lid according to claim 2, wherein the main body inner circumferential wall and the lid inner circumferential wall are each inclined so that the upper side in the vertical direction is located on the inner side. A method for attaching and detaching a container lid that fits into an open container body that is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of shrinking when heated,
a container lid removal step of removing the container lid externally fitted onto the open container main body from the open container main body;
a heating step of heating the open container body after the container lid removal step;
After the heating step, a refitting step of internally fitting the container lid removed in the container lid removal step into the open container body that has been heat-shrinked in the heating step,
The open container main body and the container lid have one main body flange portion and one lid flange portion that protrude vertically upward at the respective peripheral edges and are annularly provided flange portions,
In the externally fitted state before the container lid removal step, the lid inner peripheral wall is a peripheral wall that is spaced inward from the main body inner peripheral wall, which is a peripheral wall that the one main body flange portion has on the inside in the horizontal direction. the one lid flange portion has, and the lid inner peripheral wall is spaced from the main body inner peripheral wall by a distance equivalent to the heat shrinkage margin in the horizontal direction of the main body inner peripheral wall,
The step of removing the container lid includes removing a flange-shaped locking flange projecting outward in the horizontal direction from the one main body flange, and an inner peripheral wall from the outer peripheral wall of the lid, which is a peripheral wall that the one lid flange has on the outside. including the step of releasing the locked state from the locked convex portion that projects in the direction;
The refitting step includes covering the open container main body with the container lid and attaching the one lid flange to the one main body flange so that the inner peripheral wall of the main body and the inner peripheral wall of the lid are in contact with each other. the step of internally mating;
The one lid flange portion covers the one main body flange portion before and after the heating step,
The main body flange portion fits within the same lid flange portion before and after heat shrinkage,
A method for attaching and detaching a container lid. The inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid are each inclined such that the upper side in the vertical direction is located on the inner side.
The method for attaching and detaching a container lid according to claim 4. A method for attaching and detaching a container lid that fits into an open container body that is thermoformed from a synthetic resin sheet and has the property of shrinking when heated,
a container lid removal step of removing the container lid externally fitted onto the open container main body from the open container main body;
a filling step of filling the open container body with food at a high temperature after the container lid removal step;
After the filling step, a refitting step of internally fitting the container lid removed in the container lid removal step into the open container body that was heat-shrinked in the filling step ,
The open container main body and the container lid have one main body flange portion and one lid flange portion that protrude vertically upward at the respective peripheral edges and are annularly provided flange portions,
In the externally fitted state before the container lid removal process, the lid inner peripheral wall, which is a peripheral wall disposed inwardly from the main body inner peripheral wall, which is a peripheral wall provided on the inside of the main body flange in the horizontal direction, is the lid flange portion has, and the lid inner peripheral wall is spaced apart from the main body inner peripheral wall by a distance equivalent to the heat shrinkage margin in the horizontal direction of the main body inner peripheral wall,
The step of removing the container lid includes removing a flange-shaped locking flange projecting outward in the horizontal direction from the one main body flange, and an inner peripheral wall from the outer peripheral wall of the lid, which is a peripheral wall that the one lid flange has on the outside. including the step of releasing the locked state from the locked convex portion that projects in the direction;
The refitting step includes covering the open container main body with the container lid and attaching the one lid flange to the one main body flange so that the inner peripheral wall of the main body and the inner peripheral wall of the lid are in contact with each other. the step of internally mating;
The one lid flange portion covers the one main body flange portion before and after the filling process,
The main body flange portion fits within the same lid flange portion before and after heat shrinkage,
A method for attaching and detaching a container lid. The inner circumferential wall of the main body and the inner circumferential wall of the lid are each inclined such that the upper side in the vertical direction is located on the inner side.
The method for attaching and detaching a container lid according to claim 6.

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