JP7532889B2 - Packaging container with pouring function and storage cap - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging container with a dispensing function that can store beverages such as alcoholic beverages, juices, and lactic acid drinks, toiletries such as shampoo, body soap, and conditioner, and liquids such as hand cream, hand soap, liquid laundry detergent, household detergent, and liquid fertilizer, and that can dispense the contents using a pump dispenser installed in the container.

Conventionally, dispensing containers consisting of blow-molded bottles with pump dispensers attached have been expensive, and attempts have been made to conserve resources and reduce costs by using refill packaging bags for the contents to be supplied to these containers.
However, even so, blow-molded bottles as dispensing containers are expensive, and there is a large loss of contents due to leakage during refilling, and there is also a problem that the amount of contents remaining in the refill container is not negligible.
In view of this, a method has been devised in which a pump dispenser is directly inserted into a refillable packaging bag, thereby replacing the pump dispenser and using the refillable packaging bag as a container as is.

For example, in Patent Document 1,
A packaging bag with a dispenser, comprising: a main body portion made of a resin sheet and formed into a self-supporting bag shape; a spout attached to the main body portion; and a dispenser detachably attached to the spout,
The dispenser is provided with a support member that is inserted into the mouthpiece and disposed inside the main body, and that receives a force applied downward,
The support member includes a tubular support body constituting an upper portion thereof and a bottomed cylindrical abutment body constituting a lower portion thereof, and in a cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the main body, a cross-sectional area of the abutment body is formed to be larger than a cross-sectional area of the support body,
An inlet hole is formed on the peripheral surface of the abutting body to allow the contents contained in the main body to flow into the support member, and a lower end surface of the abutting body is formed to have a curved surface portion that curves upward as it extends outward, and no opening is formed on the lower end surface,
The support member is formed so that a gap is created between the lower end surface of the abutment body and the bottom surface of the main body when the main body is in a self-supporting state, and a packaging bag with a dispenser is proposed, characterized in that when the main body is deformed in response to a force applied downward, the lower end surface of the abutment body abuts against the bottom surface of the main body.

In this packaging bag with a dispenser, a spout is attached to a self-supporting bag-shaped main body, and the dispenser attached to the spout is provided with a support member for receiving a force applied downward thereto.
However, when the contents run out and the container is discarded or replaced, the support member attached to the tip of such a dispenser causes problems such as the contents 5 adhering to the pump dispenser 4 and dripping, as shown in FIG. 5, and the amount of the contents adhering or remaining amount increasing due to the support member 45.

Patent No. 5551897

The present invention aims to prevent the contents attached to the pump dispenser from dripping and soiling the surrounding area when replacing a pump dispenser in a packaging container that is used by attaching a pump dispenser to a packaging bag.

Claim 1 of the present invention is a packaging container with a pouring function comprising a packaging bag to which a stopper is welded and a pump dispenser that can be attached to the stopper, wherein the pump dispenser comprises, from the top, a pump head, a locking cap, a suction chamber, and a pipeline, and the stopper comprises a threaded portion that screws into the locking cap, a flange, a fused portion, and a spout hem that extends downward from the lower end of the fused portion , the hem tip of the spout has a tapered portion whose diameter narrows downward and a straight portion connected to the tip of the tapered portion, the diameter of the pipe tip is partially larger than the inner diameter of the hem tip, and when the pump dispenser is attached to the stopper , the pipe tip is pressed into the straight portion, thereby bringing the outer surface of the pipe into close contact with the inner surface of the spout hem.

In the packaging container with dispensing function of claim 1, the end of the pump dispenser's pipe is inserted near the end of the bottom of the spout of the plug, and the outer surface of the pipe end is in close contact with the inner surface of the bottom end, so the contents do not adhere to the outer surface of the pipe. Therefore, when the pump dispenser is removed, it can be taken out without the contents adhering to the outer surface of the pipe, so there is almost no risk of the contents soiling the surrounding area.

The second aspect of the present invention is a packaging container with a pouring function according to the first aspect, characterized in that the bottom end of the bottom protrudes further into the packaging container than the end of the pipe, or is fitted flush with the end of the pipe.

In the packaging container with a dispensing function of claim 2 , the bottom end of the pump dispenser protrudes further into the packaging container than the end of the pipe, or is flush with the surface, so the contents are only on the end surface of the pipe, and the amount of contents is small, so the surrounding area is hardly soiled with the contents.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a packaging container with a pouring function according to the first or second aspect, characterized in that the end of the pipe and the end of the skirt are cylindrical.

In the packaging container with pouring function of claim 3 , the end of the pipe and the end of the bottom are cylindrical, thereby creating a sealed state without any gaps, so that the contents do not leak to the inside of the spout and the contents do not stick to the outside of the pipe.

Claim 4 of the present invention is a packaging container with a pouring function described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a storage cap can be attached to the packaging container body instead of a pump dispenser, and that when the storage cap is screwed onto the spout, it has a closing protrusion that fits into the hem tip in a state where it interferes with the hem tip, making it possible to close the container .

In the packaging container with a pouring function of claim 4, an interference portion is provided between the bottom end and the end of the storage cap, so that the contents do not enter inside the spout, and therefore, when the storage cap is removed, the contents do not adhere to the container and do not soil the surroundings, allowing refilling.

Claim 5 of the present invention is a packaging container with a pouring function as described in claim 4, characterized in that when the storage cap is fitted with the spout , the closing protrusion is inserted in a state where it protrudes inside the packaging container beyond the hem tip, and the tip of the closing protrusion protruding beyond the hem tip has a tapered portion inclined inward.

In the packaging container with a pouring function of claim 5, the tip of the closing protrusion is inserted in a state where it protrudes further inside the packaging bag than the bottom edge, so the contents do not get inside the plug. Moreover, the tip of the closing protrusion that protrudes further inside the container than the plug is inclined inward, so the contents do not easily adhere to the tip of the closing protrusion that touches the contents, and adhesion is kept to a minimum, so the surroundings of the container are not soiled when refilling.

In the packaging container with dispensing function of the present invention, the end of the pump dispenser's pipe is inserted near the bottom end of the plug, and the outer surface of the pipe end is in close contact with the inner surface of the bottom end, so the contents do not adhere to the outer surface of the pipe. Therefore, when the pump dispenser is removed, it can be taken out without the contents adhering to the outer surface of the pipe, so there is almost no risk of the contents soiling the surrounding area.

1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a packaging container with a pouring function of the present invention. 1A and 1B are a longitudinal sectional view and a perspective view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of a combination of a spout and a pump dispenser used in a packaging container with a dispensing function of the present invention, respectively. 1A and 1B are a longitudinal sectional view and a perspective view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of a combination of a spout and a storage cap used in a packaging container with a pouring function of the present invention, respectively. 1A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a fitting state between a spout and a pump dispenser in the packaging container with a dispensing function of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pump dispenser is removed and the container is replaced. 1A and 1B are a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional packaging container with a dispensing function, a vicinity of a spout and a pump dispenser, and a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pump dispenser is removed and the container is replaced.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the packaging container with a dispensing function of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown here. The present invention is limited by the claims.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an embodiment of a packaging container with a pouring function 1 of the present invention.
The packaging container body 2 may be a packaging bag formed from a film as shown in Fig. 1, or a thin, flexible blow-molded container. Of course, it may be a standing pouch having a gusset portion 21 at the bottom as shown in Fig. 1, but it may also be a general packaging bag that is not self-supporting and is sealed on four or three sides, or a packaging bag that has gusset portions (gusset portions for folding) not only at the bottom but also on the left and right.

A plug 3 is fused to one side of the packaging container body 2.
A pump dispenser 4 is attached to the plug 3 and is locked by a locking cap 43 .

Figure 2-1 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which a spout 3 and a pump dispenser 4 used in a packaging container with a dispensing function of the present invention are combined (fitted together). Figure 2-2 shows an external perspective view of the pump dispenser 4, and Figure 2-3 shows an external perspective view of the spout 3.

As shown in Figures 2-1 and 2-3, the plug 3 has a threaded portion 31 at the top that screws into the locking cap 43 of the pump dispenser or the storage cap 6 described below, a flange 32 below the threaded portion 31 to support the entire packaging container when filling or pouring the contents, a fused portion 33 with a boat-shaped cross section with a gap below the flange 32, and a spout hem 34 below the fused portion 33 that covers the suction chamber 44 and the pipeline 41. It also has an insertion hole 35 that penetrates the inside center of the threaded portion 31, flange 32, fused portion 33, and spout hem 34 from top to bottom.

In the embodiment, the flange 32 is configured as two hexagonal plates, but the external shape of the flange 32 may be a variety of shapes other than hexagon, such as a circle, an oval, an ellipse, or an octagon, and may be formed of one plate or multiple plates such as three plates, rather than just two plates as shown in the figure. When formed of two or more plates, it is preferable to provide a rib between the flanges to enhance the rigidity of the flange 32.

The gap between the flange 32 and the fused portion 33 may be large enough to support the packaging container body and allow the insertion of a U-shaped jig for alignment when filling the packaging container body with contents.
For this reason, it is preferable to provide a curved chamfer at the base of the flange 32 and to give the flange 32 sufficient rigidity by the thickness thereof, etc., so that the flange 32 has the strength to support the entire weight.

The fusion section 33 is shaped so that the plug 3 is inserted between the front and rear films and fused to the packaging container body 2 to form an insertion hole 35, and the thickness of both the left and right ends is gradually reduced to gradually narrow the gap, allowing for stable, sealed fusion. Although some parts are thick, it is desirable to provide a thinned portion 331 or the like to ensure stable welding and prevent sink marks from occurring and making the fusion unstable.

A spout hem 34 extending downward from the lower end of the fused portion 33 is inserted into the inside of the packaging container body 2 to serve as a cover for covering the suction chamber 44 of the pump dispenser 4 and the like.
As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2-1, the conduit 41 of the pump dispenser 4 is inserted into the insertion hole 35 of the plug 3, and the conduit tip 411 is fitted in a position adjacent to the hem tip 341 of the inner tip of the spout hem 34 of the plug 3. At this time, the tip of the spout hem 34 has a tapered section whose diameter narrows downward and a straight section beyond that, and the inner surface of the hem tip 341 is in intimate contact with the outer surface of the tip of the conduit 41 at the straight section.
As shown in FIG. 4-1, when the pump dispenser 4 is attached to the spout 3 of the packaging container body 2, the hem tip 341 is in close contact with the outer surface of the end of the conduit 41, so that the contents do not enter the gap 340 between the conduit 41 and the spout hem 34.
Furthermore, when the pipe 41 is removed upward, the contents do not adhere to the outer surface of the pipe 41. Even if the contents adhere to the outer surface of the pipe, the outer surface of the pipe is wiped by the bottom end 341, so the contents are not removed while still adhering to the outer surface of the pipe 41.

FIG. 2-2 shows an external view of the pump dispenser 4.
The pump dispenser 4 is composed of a pump head 42, a locking cap 43, a suction chamber 44, and a pipeline 41 from the top.
As shown in FIG. 2-1, the suction chamber 44 has a spring and at least two valves, a first valve body 441 and a second valve body 442, and the contents are sucked from the packaging bag below by the up and down movement of the extraction tube 421 hanging downward from the center of the pump head 42, and the contents are extracted from the extraction outlet at the tip of the pump head 42.
The locking cap 43 is a cap for locking the pump dispenser 4 to the plug 3, and is screwed onto the threaded portion 31 of the plug 3 to lock it in place.
The pipeline 41 is connected to the lower part of the suction chamber 44 and transfers the contents between the inside of the packaging container body and the suction chamber 44 .
When the pump dispenser 4 having the above-mentioned configuration has finished dispensing the contents of the packaging container body, the pump dispenser 4 is replaced with a new packaging container body containing the contents and used.
At this time, if the pipes (support member 71) of the pump dispenser 4 are immersed in the contents as shown in FIG. 5, there is a problem that the contents drip onto the surrounding area, causing soiling.
Furthermore, even in the case of a pump dispenser for a bottle that has a side hole that allows outside air to enter, the bottom is sealed, so it can be used without any problems.

Fig. 2-1 shows the state in which the pump dispenser 4 of the present invention is fitted to the plug 3. The partially enlarged view of Fig. 2-1 also shows the state in which the pipe end 411 of the pipe 41 and the hem end 341 of the spout hem 34 are inserted and fitted into each other.
When the pump dispenser 4 is fitted to the spout 3, the hem tip 341 is formed so as to protrude further inwardly of the packaging container body than the pipe tip 411.
This ensures that the outer surface of the pipe 41 is covered by the spout bottom 34, preventing the contents from adhering to the outer surface of the pipe 41.

As shown in the enlarged view, the diameter of the pipe tip 411 is partially made larger than the inner diameter of the spout bottom tip 341 , so that the tip of the pipe 41 is press-fitted into the plug 3 .
A pipe ring protrusion 412 is provided around the pipe tip 411, although only partially, and its diameter is made larger than the inner diameter of the skirt tip 341 to interfere with it and to be press-fitted.
Conversely, a skirt ring protrusion 342 is provided around the inside of skirt tip 341, and its diameter is made smaller than the outer diameter of pipe tip 411 to interfere with it and to be press-fitted.
By inserting and fitting the contents 5 by press-fitting in this manner, it is possible to prevent the contents 5 from entering between the conduit 41 or the suction chamber 44 and the spout bottom 34. Therefore, there is no risk of the contents adhering to the outer surfaces of the conduit 41 or the suction chamber 44, and even if the pump dispenser 4 is removed, the contents do not soil the surroundings.
By making the pipe tip 411 and the bottom tip 341 cylindrical in order to insert and fit them in this manner, the shape can be reliably and stably formed, and the packaging container can be made in such a way that the ring protrusions are less likely to be damaged by insertion and fitting.

FIG. 3-1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which a spout 3 and a storage cap 6 used in a packaging container with a pouring function of the present invention are combined (fitted together), and FIG. 3-2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of each of the spout 3 and the storage cap 6.
The packaging container with dispensing function of the present invention is used by pouring out the contents of the packaging container body and then replacing the pump dispenser with a new packaging container body containing the contents when the contents inside are exhausted.
That is, the contents are sold in the main packaging container, but the expensive and bulky pump dispenser is reused.
For this reason, the packaging container body containing the contents to be sold is sold and distributed with a storage cap 6 attached to the packaging container body in place of a pump dispenser 4 screwed onto the spout 3.

As shown in Figures 3-1 and 3-2, the storage cap 6 is composed of a top plate 61 that covers the spout, a side wall 62 that hangs down from the periphery of the top plate 61, an internal thread 621 that is provided on the inside of the side wall and screws into the threaded portion 31 of the stopper 3, and a closing protrusion 63 that hangs down from near the center of the top plate 61 and is inscribed on the inside of the bottom end 341 of the stopper 3.

As shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 3-1, the tip of the closing protrusion 63 is adapted to interfere with the bottom ring protrusion 342 provided on the inner circumference of the bottom tip 341. The outer diameter of the tip of the closing protrusion 63 is made larger than the diameter of the bottom ring protrusion 342 of the bottom tip 341 to allow interference and to be press-fitted.
The interference portion between the hem end and the storage cap end prevents the contents from entering inside the spout, and when the storage cap is removed, the contents do not stick to the bottle and do not soil the surroundings, allowing refilling.
In addition, since the closing protrusion 63 has a closed tip, deformation such as creep caused by application of a load for a long period of time is prevented, making the storage cap 6 less likely to leak even when stored for a long period of time.

Furthermore, the closing protrusion 63 of the storage cap 6 is inserted in a state where it protrudes further inside the packaging container than the bottom end 341, and has a closing protrusion tip 631 that protrudes from the tip end face of the bottom end 341, and a closing plate portion 64 is formed via a tapered portion 65 that slopes inwardly from the closing protrusion tip 631.
Of course, if the tapered portion 65 is formed on the tip side of the bottom edge 341 when fitted, the closing plate portion 64 does not have to be provided beyond the tapered portion 65 .
The tapered portion 65 at the tip of the closing protrusion 63 makes it difficult for the contents to easily adhere to the tip 631 of the closing protrusion that comes into contact with the contents, and adhesion is kept to a minimum, making it difficult for the surroundings of the container to become soiled when refilling.

The material of the stopper used in the packaging container with pouring function of the present invention must be highly resistant to stress cracking, be less susceptible to the effects of the contents, have appropriate rigidity, and be easily fused to the front and rear films.
In addition, from the viewpoint of insertion and fitting, it is preferable that the material of the cap used for the pump dispenser is different from that of the cap used for the pump dispenser.
For this reason, the molding resins used are linear low-density polyethylene, high-pressure low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc., and these resins are injection molded using an injection molding die and injection molding machine.

The pump dispenser used in the packaging container with a dispensing function of the present invention may be a general pump dispenser.
The materials for the pipelines, nozzles, locking caps, etc. should be highly rigid materials such as polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, linear low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polymethylpentene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyoxymethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, and polyphenylene ether.

The film used in the packaging container with pouring function of the present invention may be configured to have a base layer on the outside and a sealant layer on the inside, but it is preferable to provide an intermediate layer that includes a barrier layer that improves the storage stability of the contents and a layer that provides flexibility so that the bag is less likely to break when dropped, etc.

Examples of the substrate layer include polyethylene terephthalate film, polypropylene film, polystyrene film, nylon film, polycarbonate film, polyacrylonitrile film, polyimide film, etc. There are no particular limitations as long as it has mechanical strength and dimensional stability. In particular, biaxially stretched films using crystalline resins are preferred. These films may also be provided with an aluminum vapor deposition layer.

In addition, the base layer may be provided with a suitable printed layer as necessary. The printed layer is a layer printed with ink made of urethane-, acrylic-, nitrocellulose-, or rubber-based binder resin to which various pigments, extender pigments, plasticizers, drying agents, stabilizers, etc. have been added. As the printing method, for example, known printing methods such as gravure printing, silk screen printing, and inkjet printing can be used. In addition, the adhesion of the printed layer can be improved by subjecting the surface of the base layer to a corona treatment or ozone treatment as a pretreatment in advance.

For the sealant layer, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, and ionomer resin can be used. These resins can be formed into a film using an extruder such as a T-die or inflation. It may be a single layer or multiple layers. The thickness of the film is preferably in the range of 50 to 200 μm.

For the adhesive layer, a dry lamination adhesive can be used. For example, a two-component curing urethane adhesive, a polyester urethane adhesive, a polyether urethane adhesive, an acrylic adhesive, a polyester adhesive, a polyamide adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, etc. can be used. The lamination method can be a dry lamination method, but it is also possible to use an extruder lamination machine to form a film on the sealant layer side while laminating, or to use sand polyethylene processing.

In addition, if it is necessary to improve the physical properties of the laminate sheet, for example, to improve the rigidity, drop strength, puncture strength, etc. of the laminate sheet, or to improve the barrier properties against water vapor, oxygen gas, etc., an intermediate layer can be provided.

For example, an aluminum foil, an aluminum-deposited polyester film, an inorganic oxide-deposited polyester film, a polyamide film, etc. can be used as the intermediate layer. In addition, to laminate the intermediate layer, they can be attached by a dry lamination method via an adhesive layer.

As inorganic oxides to be deposited, metal oxides such as silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, tin oxide, sodium oxide, boron oxide, titanium oxide, lead oxide, zirconium oxide, and yttrium oxide can be used. Among these, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, and magnesium oxide are preferred from the standpoint of productivity and cost.

The gusset film used at the bottom or the like may have the same structure as the front and rear films. However, from the viewpoint of ease of use and productivity, it is preferable to use a biaxially oriented film such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, or polypropylene for the surface to be folded. It is also preferable to make the gusset film thinner than the front and rear films so that it can be opened and closed smoothly.

The packaging container with pouring function of the present invention is as described above, having a spout hem extending downward from the lower end of the fused portion of the stopper, with the diameter of the tip of the hem narrowed, into which the tip of the pipeline of a pump dispenser is inserted, and the outer surface of the pipeline and the inner surface of the spout hem are tightly attached to each other.
By tightly contacting the outer surface of the conduit with the inner surface of the spout bottom, the pump dispenser can be removed from the packaging container body without the contents adhering to the surroundings.
Similarly, the storage cap used with the packaging container body is provided with a closing protrusion that hangs down from the center of the top plate and is inscribed inside the bottom end of the plug, and is inserted into the bottom end in a state where it interferes with the bottom end, making it possible to close the packaging container body. By providing the closing protrusion, the storage cap can be removed from the packaging container body without the contents sticking to the surrounding area when opening the packaging container body.
As a result, the replacement process of removing the pump dispenser from the packaging container body after the contents have been dispensed, removing the storage cap from the refill packaging container body, and attaching the removed pump dispenser to a new packaging container body can be carried out smoothly without soiling the surroundings with the contents.
The packaging container with pouring function of the present invention has great advantages, particularly in that it can be used without adding any new component parts.

1 . . . Packaging container with pouring function 2 . . . Packaging container body 21 . . . Gusset portion 3 . . . Plug 31 . . . Screw portion 32 . . . Flange 33 . . . Fused portion 331 . . . Thickness-reducing portion 34 . . . Spout bottom 340 . . . Gap (gap between pipe and spout bottom)
341: Hem tip (spout hem tip)
342: Bottom ring projection 35: Through hole 4: Pump dispenser 41: Pipe 411: Pipe tip 412: Pipe ring projection 42: Pump head 421: Dispensing tube 43: Locking cap 44: Suction chamber 441: First valve body 442: Second valve body 45: Support member 5: Contents 6: Storage cap 61: Top plate 62: Side wall 621: Internal thread 63: Closing projection 631: Closing projection tip 64: Closing plate portion 65: Tapered portion 71: Support member 72: Pump portion 73: Lid portion 75: Contact body

Claims (5)

A packaging container with a dispensing function, comprising a packaging bag to which a stopper is welded, and a pump dispenser that can be attached to the stopper,
The pump dispenser includes, from above, a pump head, a locking cap, a suction chamber, and a conduit.
The plug comprises a screw portion that screws into the locking cap, a flange, a fusion portion, and a spout bottom that extends downward from a lower end of the fusion portion,
The tip of the spout bottom has a tapered portion whose diameter narrows downward and a straight portion connected to the tip of the tapered portion,
The diameter of the pipe tip is partially larger than the inner diameter of the skirt tip,
When the pump dispenser is attached to the plug, the tip of the conduit is pressed into the straight section, thereby bringing the outer surface of the conduit into close contact with the inner surface of the spout bottom. The packaging container with a pouring function according to claim 1, characterized in that the hem tip protrudes further into the packaging container than the pipe tip or is fitted flush with the pipe tip. The packaging container with a pouring function according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pipe end and the skirt end are cylindrical. A storage cap can be attached to the packaging container body instead of the pump dispenser,
A packaging container with a pouring function as described in any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that it has a closing protrusion that fits into the hem tip when the storage cap is screwed onto the spout, thereby enabling the container to be closed. 5. The packaging container with pouring function according to claim 4, characterized in that, when the storage cap is fitted with the spout, the closing protrusion is inserted in a state in which it protrudes further inside the packaging container than the bottom end, and the tip of the closing protrusion protruding from the bottom end has a tapered portion inclined inward.

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