JPH10218154A - Object housing container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent stain from attaching to s surface for keeping it clean and facilitate removal of attached stain. SOLUTION: After a layer T containing titanium oxide (photocatalytic material) is coated on a surface of an object housing container whose substrate R is made of synthetic resin, ultraviolet rays are radiated, thereby improving hydrophilicity of the surface of the container. Since water is more compatible with the surface than stain on a hydrophilic photocatalytic surface, the stain can be prevented from attaching to the surface of the object housing container, and in addition, the stain once attached can be easily removed only by washing in water not using agent, a brush or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article storage container used for storing, storing, carrying, and delivering articles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology for modifying the surface of the article storage container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At the time of distribution and manufacture of articles, various article storage containers are used for storing, storing, carrying, or delivering these articles. Such an article storage container has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a side of about several tens of centimeters, and is often formed of a synthetic resin thin plate having a thickness of about 1 cm to 2 cm. Further, the article storage container has a form in which an upper part is opened and a lid is provided separately from the container main body, or a form in which the lid is directly formed on the container main body. Since these article storage containers are collected after use and used repeatedly for a long period of time, those used in the distribution stage are collectively referred to as returnable boxes. Such returnable boxes are convenient for efficiently transporting uniform items, and are used in a large number of distribution stages along with the rapid spread of convenience stores that operate as chain stores and the restaurant industry.

[0003] The returnable box is mostly made of synthetic resin because it is easy to manufacture, easy to handle, and lightweight. In recent years, various structures have been devised in order to improve the usability as a returnable box and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the returnable box.

For example, an article storage container 20 made of a synthetic resin shown in FIG. 2 is called a container, and a part or all of a bottom plate portion 25 made of a thin plate so as not to impair durability. Is meshed. In addition, a plurality of through holes 22 are formed in the side plate portion 26 in addition to the through hole 23 for the handle so as not to impair the durability. The reason why the mesh portion 21 and the through-hole 22 are provided in this manner is to make it easy to visually recognize the stored articles inside from the sides and the bottom side of the container, to improve the ventilation, and to further reduce the weight. . In order to achieve such a weight reduction, a hole (not shown) which does not penetrate the container may be formed to make this portion a thin portion.

FIG. 3 shows an article storage container 30 made of synthetic resin.
Is a so-called "counterweight" or "tambako", and neither the bottom plate portion 35 nor the side plate portion 34 has a through hole. With such a weight, the side plate portion 34 and the bottom plate portion 35 are often made of thin plates in order to reduce the weight. Therefore, although it is suitable for carrying relatively light objects, there is a problem in strength when carrying heavy articles. Therefore, in the case of a box type returnable box, a structure for supplementing the strength to the outer surfaces of the side plate portion 34 and the bottom plate portion 35 is often added. For example, in the returnable type returnable box shown in FIG. 4, thin ribs are erected perpendicularly to the side plate portion 34 and the bottom plate portion 35, and these reinforcing vertical ribs 46 and reinforcing horizontal ribs 47 (reinforcing ribs of the bottom plate portion) are provided. Are not shown.) At right angles. Also,
As another reinforcing structure, a thick portion (not shown) may be provided in a part instead of the rib.

The article storage container 50 made of synthetic resin shown in FIG. 5A is a so-called folding container, and its volume can be reduced by folding. That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, the flip-up side plate 58 is connected to the upper frame portion via a shaft (not shown), and the lower end portion of the flip-up side plate 58 is connected to the bottom plate portion. A folding side plate 55 is provided which can be detachably attached and can be folded at a central portion by a hinge 59. Therefore, after the flip-up side plate 58 is flipped up inside the container, the folding side plate 55 is folded inward at the hinge 59 so that the entire folded container can be crushed. Therefore, the folding container is considerably complicated in mechanical structure as compared with a normal container, a weight, and the like. Also,
Other foldable returnable boxes include containers that have a bellows structure partially or entirely made of a soft synthetic resin and that can be easily expanded and contracted.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, liquids contained in containers such as sake containers used for transporting a bottle of sake or the like (a so-called salmon container), glass bottles, plastic bottles, paper packs, etc., especially soft drinks and alcohol In a synthetic resin article storage container used for transporting beverages, etc., or a synthetic resin article storage container used for transporting food or the like having a certain shape, the inside of each container should be kept so that the individual articles do not come into contact with each other. Is often provided with a partition for fixing the position of the article.

Further, the above-mentioned containers and weights are often stacked and transported and stored, and some of them are structurally devised in order to reduce the height when the containers are stacked. Usually, a plurality of returnable boxes such as containers are used while being stacked with a plurality of articles stored therein, and are transported. When multiple returnable boxes are stacked after taking out the goods, the stacking method is different from that used when transporting returnable boxes, specifically, the stacking direction and angle of returnable boxes are different from those used, and they are stacked. There is a return box having a stacking structure that can reduce the height. The returnable box with such a stacking structure has a certain height so as not to damage the inside of the product during use, but has irregularities inside, so by combining these irregularities, after use, When they are stacked, their height can be reduced as much as possible.

The article storage container used as such a returnable box becomes temporarily unnecessary when the article is taken out after the article is transported and delivered to a retail store or a restaurant. Unnecessary returnable boxes are usually left stacked outside the store. Such returnable boxes that are temporarily unnecessary and stored in a plurality are stacked at a height where it is difficult to secure a storage place in a store other than a container having a stacking structure or a foldable container. Therefore, it is sufficient to set up a dedicated storage place outside the store, but this is not actually performed due to cost problems and convenience of the delivery person. Containers with a stacking structure or folded and foldable containers occupy the same floor area even if the stacking height can be reduced, so it is impossible to secure storage space inside the store, so it is impossible to secure Stored outside the store. Such a state continues until the next delivery worker comes to collection. Such an action should not be performed in order to keep the return box clean, but is currently performed on a daily basis under the circumstances described above. as a result,
The return box is exposed to the weather, and dust and dust of exhaust gas adhere to the surface of the return box. If left for a longer period of time, scale and fungi may adhere. In addition, these stains become so-called baked by being irradiated with sunlight, and cannot be easily removed by ordinary washing with water after drying.

On the other hand, an article storage container used only in a food factory is unlikely to be contaminated with the above-described dirt such as exhaust gas dust. However, such goods storage containers often transport and store foods in the manufacturing stage directly without special packaging, and liquids such as seasoning liquids on the food surface and edible oil adhere to the boxes through which they pass. Then, of course, it must be washed before the next use. Here, it is well known that if an oily liquid adheres to an article made of synthetic resin, it is difficult to remove it with a normal neutral detergent. Also, article storage containers used in food factories are frequently used more frequently than returnable boxes used for distribution. Therefore, in terms of directly storing, storing and transporting food, it is required that such a food storage container always be considered with respect to hygiene. This is because, in the food storage container, if dirt remains, germs are likely to be generated in the portion and may adhere to food. Also, if the dirt is adhered too much, the appearance becomes poor, and the trust of the business operator handling the food decreases. For this reason, the food storage container is discarded when it becomes dirty to a certain extent, and a new returnable box is purchased and refilled. However, such replacement requires enormous cost.

Therefore, when the article storage container becomes dirty to a certain degree or more, the owner of the article storage container or a distribution company once collects the article storage container, and then removes the dirt attached thereto with a detergent and a brush. Use and drop. Also, various detergents and cleaning devices for removing dirt attached to the surface of the article storage container made of synthetic resin have been developed.

[0012]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

(General issues with storage containers)
In a conventional method for removing dirt attached to the surface of a synthetic resin article storage container with a detergent and a brush, the following problems exist. First, in the step of cleaning dirt attached to the article storage container using a detergent, as described above, the article storage container has a complicated structure for weight reduction, reinforcement, and space saving. It is difficult to remove remaining dirt. For example, a meshed part of a container or a hinge part of a foldable container,
It is very troublesome to remove all dirt remaining in corners such as counts, portions where reinforcing ribs are arranged or intersected at narrow intervals, partition portions of salmon cones, uneven portions of the stacking structure, and the like. In addition, since these article storage containers are repeatedly exposed to the wind and rain and repeatedly subjected to the process of being baked by sunlight, more dirt is deposited on the remaining dirt, so that it is considerably difficult to wash them. Further, it is irrational in terms of cost and work efficiency to manually wash a large number of article storage containers in detail using a brush or the like. As described above, the complexity of the structure devised for the sake of convenience is rather a drawback in the cleaning process. On the other hand, returning an article storage container having such a complicated structure to a simple structure that is easy to wash requires compatibility with article distribution containers (returnable boxes) currently in circulation, This is virtually impossible due to the cost of replacement.

On the other hand, the immersion washing method is widely used at present as a method of not physically cleaning the remaining stains or minute stains with a brush or the like. In this method, a large amount of a washing solution prepared by diluting a high-concentration alkaline detergent solution as needed is prepared in a huge water tank, and a return box is immersed in the solution for several hours or more. After the washing operation, the return box is almost completely cleaned, but naturally, a large amount of alkaline waste liquid is generated. This waste liquid causes water pollution and environmental destruction. For this reason, it cannot flow directly into a septic tank or the like, and must be diluted with water or neutralized with an acid, which requires material costs and human costs associated with this step. After the washing step, it is necessary to perform a rinsing step in order to remove water remaining on the surface of the returnable box. This rinsing process generates static electricity,
It is generally considered that dirt is likely to adhere. This may cause a vicious cycle in which dirt tends to adhere each time washing is performed. As a matter of course, when the rinsing step is performed, the cost and the like of the rinsing liquid also increase.

(Problems Concerning Food Storage Containers) Among the product storage containers, those used by individuals as a sealed container or a lunch box also have various problems. Such a food storage container,
Wooden materials have been widely used since ancient times, but due to the recent development of petrochemical technology, those made of synthetic resins are now dominant. These food storage containers are used repeatedly in each home. Also, food containers such as lunch boxes used for industrial lunches and catering are often made of synthetic resins because they are easy to handle and inexpensive. Once used, these food storage containers are collected, washed and used repeatedly. In any of the food storage containers, a partition is often formed inside, and particularly, a lunch box for dispensing has many partitions. In such a food storage container, since the synthetic resin has a property of being adapted to and soluble in oil, when the edible oil comes into contact with the edible oil, the edible oil hardly sticks to the container. In particular, the oil adhering to the corners of the container, the corners of the partition, etc., is very difficult to wash off.

On the other hand, many disposable food storage containers are available. Products that store food in such disposable food storage containers have been able to deliver cooked foods, including partially cooked foods such as lunch boxes and prepared foods, to various places after the development of distribution. It is often sold at stores and convenience stores.
Since these disposable containers are also required to be lightweight and inexpensive, they are mainly made of synthetic resins such as OPS (ductile polystyrene) and styrene foam. However, since synthetic resin has the property of being compatible with or soluble in oil, in food containers made of synthetic resin, the resin component begins to melt and the strength of the container is reduced and the container tends to be damaged. There is a problem of sticking to food. In particular, if the cooked food stored in the disposable food storage container is reheated with a microwave oven or the like while the food is stored, the temperature of the edible oil contained in the food will increase,
Further, melting of the food storage container is promoted. As a result, when the cooked food such as fried food is heated, it contains a large amount of edible oil, and the food storage container may be destroyed. Overheating when the heating time is too long or the output is large than necessary is further promoted by melting of the food storage container.Therefore, a method of attaching a sticker indicating the cooking time or the like can be considered. The work is costly. Although it is conceivable to write the cooking time in the container from the beginning, the versatility of the container itself is lost.

Therefore, a sheet of PP (polypropylene) having a size of about several centimeters square may be interposed on the contact surface between the food storage container and the stored food. PP has relatively high oil resistance and is not easily affected by edible oil contained in hot food. However, if the lid is colorless and transparent or translucent, the appearance becomes poor if the PP sheet is interposed between the lid and the food. The PP sheets are peeled off one by one from the stacked bundle and placed on the food by hand, and currently there is no automation by machine. Take it. In some cases, the lid is raised to prevent the food from coming into contact with the lid in order to prevent the lid portion from melting. However, such an increase in the lid increases the cost of the food storage container. Further, when the cooked food stored in the disposable food storage container is heated with a cooking appliance such as a microwave oven, steam is generated inside, and fogging occurs in the lid. In the case of a disposable food storage container, the lid is mostly colorless and transparent or translucent so that the contents can be confirmed, and when the fogging occurs on the lid, the contents cannot be confirmed and the appearance is poor.

Furthermore, regardless of whether the container is a collection container or a disposable container, when the cooked food is stored in the food storage container and the lid is closed, steam is condensed inside the container.
If such dew forms water droplets on the inner surface of the lid, which drips down and adheres to the food, the seasoning becomes weak or watery, and the taste changes and decreases, resulting in a decrease in commercial value. In addition, the pH value and the salt concentration of the prepared food are strictly controlled, thereby preventing the propagation of bacteria and the like. However, when water adheres to food, the pH changes or the salt concentration decreases, and the probability of bacteria generation increases. Further, water droplets attached to the food container may become a hotbed of bacteria, which may cause food poisoning. Therefore, as a means for removing generated steam, there is a method of arranging cloth or paper called rice cooked paper, moisture-absorbing cellophane on the surface, and sucking the steam. However, placing cooked paper on the food surface of the food storage container is unsightly. Especially in disposable food storage containers, the lid is often colorless and transparent, so if you put rice cooker or moisture-absorbing cellophane, it will be difficult to confirm the contents,
It looks bad. The surface of the hygroscopic cellophane is finely wavy due to the absorption of moisture, and the appearance is reduced.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an article storage container which can prevent dirt or the like from adhering to the surface, keep the surface clean, and can easily remove dirt even if adhered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a food storage container having high oil resistance and capable of preventing fogging of a lid and preventing adhesion and formation of water droplets.

[0020]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, an article storage container according to the present invention is characterized in that a layer containing a photocatalytic material such as titanium oxide is formed on the surface.

In the article storage container thus configured, when the layer containing the photocatalytic material is not formed, the normal contact angle of water on the resin surface is from 70 to 90 degrees. After forming a layer containing a photocatalytic material on the resin surface using a coating agent combining titanium oxide, which is a photocatalytic material, and a silicone resin, the contact angle of water on the resin surface is almost 0 degrees when irradiated with sufficient ultraviolet rays. Becomes Since water is easier to adjust to the surface of the surface where the hydrophilicity is dramatically improved than oil and the like, even if oil droplets adhere, the oil is released only by submerging the article storage container in the water. . Therefore, the adhered oil stains can be easily removed simply by washing with little detergent. Therefore, it is possible to remove almost all of the remaining stains only by washing with water, without immersing in a high-concentration alkaline detergent or washing with a brush or the like, so that the cost of the detergent and the human cost can be reduced. Further, since a high concentration of an alkaline detergent is not required, the health of a washing operator or a food consumer is not adversely affected. Moreover, since there is no need to treat the detergent waste liquid, there is no fear of water pollution or environmental destruction.

The present invention is particularly effective when the base material of the article storage container is a synthetic resin. When a synthetic resin is exposed to sunlight for a long period of time, the resin structure is deteriorated by the influence of ultraviolet rays. On the other hand, as in the present invention, a layer containing a photocatalytic material is formed on the surface of an article storage container made of synthetic resin. In this case, since the photocatalytic material absorbs ultraviolet rays, the synthetic resin is not directly exposed to sunlight, and thus the deterioration of the resin structure can be suppressed. Therefore, deterioration of the article storage container caused by ultraviolet rays can be prevented, and the life of the article storage container itself is prolonged. For this reason, the cost for replacing the article storage container with a new one can be reduced. Further, in the conventional photocatalytic technology of decomposing the deposits such as dirt, there is a problem that when using an organic substrate such as a synthetic resin, the substrate itself is damaged by the photocatalytic technology. The photocatalyst technology applied to such an article storage container is effective even in a state where there is almost no photocatalytic decomposition action, and thus there is no problem in using the article storage container made of synthetic resin.

Further, the present invention is more effective when the base material of the article storage container is made of an ultraviolet transmitting material. Even if a layer containing a photocatalytic material is formed in a place where ultraviolet light does not normally reach, ultraviolet light reaches through a substrate made of an ultraviolet transmitting material, so that such a portion can be made superhydrophilic.

Such an article storage container is suitable for storing food. That is, in the food storage container to which the present invention is applied, even if the vapor adheres to the lid or the container, the water due to the vapor spreads evenly by the photocatalytic material, so that the vapor does not grow into water droplets. For this reason, the taste does not decrease due to the attachment of water droplets to the food, and propagation of bacteria and the like due to a decrease in the salt concentration of the food and a change in the pH value can be prevented.

When the present invention is applied to a food container as described above, the layer containing the photocatalytic material is preferably formed at least on the inner surface side of the lid. Transparent lids are often used for disposable food containers, but even if vapor adheres to such a transparent lid, if a layer containing a photocatalytic material is formed there, The water is spread evenly by the photocatalytic material, so that the lid does not fog. Therefore, in the food storage container, the contents can be satisfactorily confirmed through the lid, and the appearance is good.

In the present invention, the layer containing the photocatalytic material is formed, for example, at least on the surface of a portion that comes into contact with a storage object such as the surface of an article storage section in the container body. Further, the layer containing the photocatalytic material may be formed on a surface of the container body other than the article storage portion.

In the present invention, it is preferable that at least one of the container bottom and the container side has a net-like portion. In addition, it is preferable that at least one of the container bottom and the container side has a lightening structure including at least one of a through hole and a thin portion.
Further, it is preferable that at least one of the container bottom and the container side has a reinforcing structure composed of at least one of a rib and a thick portion. Furthermore,
It is preferable that the article storage container has a structure that can be folded using a hinge, a bellows, or the like. In the present invention, the article storage section in the container body may be divided into a plurality of sections by partitions. If a layer containing a photocatalytic material is formed on such an article storage container having an uneven portion or a corner portion where such a brush is difficult to reach, it is difficult for dirt to adhere thereto, and even if it adheres, it is washed with water. , The article storage container can be kept clean.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an article storage container according to the present invention will be described.

(Example of Article Storage Container) In an article storage container to which the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 1, a photocatalytic material such as titanium oxide is contained on the surface of a synthetic resin as a base material R of the article storage container. It is characterized in that a layer T is formed.

In the article storage container thus configured, when the layer T containing the photocatalytic material is not formed, the contact angle of water on the ordinary resin surface (the surface of the base material R) is 7 °.
On the other hand, the layer T containing the photocatalytic material is coated on the surface of the resin using a coating agent in which titanium oxide as the photocatalytic material is combined with a silicone resin, for example, about 0.1 μm to 50 μm. After the formation, when a sufficient ultraviolet ray is irradiated, the contact angle of water on the resin surface (the surface of the base material R) becomes almost 0 degrees. This phenomenon is called superhydrophilicity, and the property is called superhydrophilicity. The reason is that the resin surface is covered with hydrophobic molecules and has the property of repelling water, whereas the photocatalytic material decomposes these hydrophobic molecules by irradiating ultraviolet rays, stabilizing a thin layer of water molecules on the surface. It is thought that it forms in order.

As described above, the layer T containing a photocatalytic material is coated on the surface of an article storage container made of a synthetic resin, and the surface of the article container is irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the hydrophilicity of the surface is dramatically improved. Oil adhering to the surface or the like cannot be easily removed unless a detergent or the like is used. On the other hand, on a surface that has been made superhydrophilic by a photocatalyst, water is more easily applied to the surface than oil stains. Therefore, for example, even when oil droplets are made to adhere to the surface of a synthetic resin coated with a photocatalytic material, the oil is released only by submerging the oil droplets in water. In the present invention, a superhydrophilic photocatalyst having such properties is coated on the surface of an article storage container made of a synthetic resin, so that dirt such as oil adhered can be easily removed only by washing with water with little use of a detergent. In addition, even if dirt such as dust or dirt containing water derived from automobile exhaust gas or the like adheres, it can be similarly easily removed.

Here, since the article storage container is often placed outdoors, ultraviolet irradiation of the layer T containing the photocatalytic material coated on the surface of the article storage container is conveniently performed by sunlight. Is done automatically by
Even if the stain is dried, it is not burned on the synthetic resin itself. Also, the article storage container whose surface has become super hydrophilic,
It is expected that some of the dirt will be washed away by rain while it is placed outdoors. Here, once superhydrophilized by ultraviolet irradiation, the effect is maintained for several tens of hours, so that antifouling properties can be maintained even at night or in stormy weather when ultraviolet irradiation is not so expected. Therefore, it can be said that there is no problem in placing the article storage container made of synthetic resin outdoors, and on the contrary, it is more convenient and effective for preventing and removing the article storage container.

Further, even if the surface of the synthetic resin-made article storage container coated with the photocatalytic material has been stained for a long time and the photocatalytic material is not irradiated with sufficient sunlight, the article can be stored. By artificially irradiating the container with ultraviolet light after the container is collected, the state in which dirt can be easily removed is obtained. Therefore, even if it is not immersed in a high-concentration alkaline detergent or washed with a brush or the like, almost all of the remaining dirt can be removed only by the water washing operation, so that the cost of the detergent and the human cost can be reduced. Further, since a high concentration of an alkaline detergent is not required, the health of a washing operator or a food consumer is not adversely affected. Moreover, since there is no need to treat the detergent waste liquid, there is no fear of water pollution or environmental destruction.

When the synthetic resin serving as the base material R is exposed to sunlight for a long period of time, the resin structure is deteriorated by the influence of ultraviolet rays. On the other hand, the synthetic resin contains a photocatalytic material as in the present invention. If the layer T is formed on the surface of the article storage container made of synthetic resin, the photocatalytic material absorbs ultraviolet rays, so that the synthetic resin is not directly exposed to sunlight and the deterioration of the resin structure is suppressed. Can be. Therefore, deterioration of the article storage container caused by ultraviolet rays can be prevented, and the life of the article storage container itself is prolonged. For this reason, the cost for replacing the article storage container with a new one can be reduced.

Further, regarding the cost when the article container is coated with a photocatalytic material, in particular, titanium oxide and the like can be obtained at low cost in the market, and the cost of the silicone resin is low. There is little rise.

In the conventional photocatalytic technology of decomposing the deposits such as dirt, there is a problem that when a base material made of an organic material such as a synthetic resin is used, the base material itself is damaged by the photocatalyst. Since the photocatalyst technology applied to the article storage container according to the present invention exerts its effect in a state where there is almost no photocatalytic decomposition action, there is no problem in using the article storage container made of synthetic resin.

(Coating Form 1) In the present invention,
If the layer T containing the photocatalytic material is coated on the entire surface of the article storage container in the article storage container made of synthetic resin, no matter how the article storage container is used, the surface can be prevented from being stained. It can be kept clean and the attached dirt can be easily removed.

(Coating Form 2) Also, coating the following parts on the surface of the article storage container, for example, has a great effect on the antifouling property and the removal of dirt.

First, even if only a layer T containing a photocatalytic material is coated only on at least a portion in contact with a stored article, for example, only on the surface of the article storage section, the surface becomes superhydrophilic due to ultraviolet irradiation, so that dirt is not easily attached. Dirt can be easily removed.

(Coating Form 3) In the case of a returnable box which is left outdoors after use, a layer T containing a photocatalytic material is provided on the surface of the portion exposed outside when stacked (surface other than the article storage section). If coated, the surface of this portion can be made super hydrophilic by irradiating ultraviolet rays, so that dust and dust of exhaust gas can be prevented from adhering.

(Coating Mode 4) For example, in the container (article storage container 20) shown in FIG. 2, a part or all of the bottom plate and the side plate made of a thin plate are meshed so as not to impair the durability. And a plurality of through holes 22 are formed in the side plate in addition to the through hole 23 for the handle. The reason for providing the net-like portion 21 and the through-hole 22 in this manner is to make it easier to visually recognize the stored articles inside from the sides and the bottom of the container, to improve the ventilation, and to reduce the weight. In order to achieve such weight reduction, a hole that does not penetrate the container (not shown)
, This portion may be a thin portion. In a container having such a structure, a layer T containing a photocatalytic material is coated on a net surface A of the net portion 21 or a surface B in a side hole 22 of a side plate portion provided for the purpose of weight reduction or the like. If it is, even if it is a structure which is hard to wash off dirt, dirt can be easily washed off only by washing with water.

(Coating Form 5) In the article storage container 30 such as the weight shown in FIG. 3 and the tobacco shown in FIG. 4, the angular corners C in the container and the ribs 46 and 47 having a reinforcing structure intersect. The surface of the corner D is coated with a layer T containing a photocatalytic material. By coating a layer T containing a photocatalytic material on a portion that is difficult to wash such dirt,
Dirt can be easily washed off only by washing with water.

(Coating Form 6) Further, FIG.
The foldable container (article storage container 50) shown in (a) and (b) has a structure in which many parts are assembled, and dirt easily adheres to the joint portion E such as the hinge 59 and the contact portion F. Therefore, the joint portion E such as the hinge 59 and the contact portion F, etc.
A layer T containing a photocatalytic material is coated on portions where dirt is likely to adhere. Although not shown, a layer T containing a photocatalytic material is coated on a portion where dirt is likely to adhere to the bellows-type foldable container. If such a portion is coated with a layer T containing a photocatalytic material, it is possible to prevent dust and dust of exhaust gas from adhering only by irradiating sufficient ultraviolet light once, and Even if dust or the like has adhered, the dust or the like can be easily removed only by bringing it into contact with water.

(Other Embodiments) In the case of an article storage container having a complicated structure, such as the foldable container shown in FIG. 5 or the container having a through hole or a net portion shown in FIGS. There is a possibility that a portion that is not sufficiently irradiated even if ultraviolet rays are irradiated may occur. Such a problem can be solved by forming the base material R of the article storage container from an ultraviolet transmitting material, for example, a transparent synthetic resin material. That is, even if the layer T containing the photocatalytic material is formed in a place where the ultraviolet ray does not normally reach, the ultraviolet ray reaches through the base material R made of the ultraviolet transmitting material, so that such a portion can also be made super hydrophilic.

[Example of Food Storage Container Used for Collection] FIG. 6
Shows an example of a food storage container 60 having no lid, and the food storage container 60 is collected and used. This food storage container 60 is used, for example, as an industrial lunch or catering lunch, and is often made of synthetic resin. In the food storage container 60, there are a plurality of partitions 62 inside the container main body 61, and the foods stored in the respective partitions 63 and their tastes do not mix. Such a food storage container 60
In the above, the layer T containing the photocatalytic material is
The effect can be expected by coating at least the entire part of the container body 61 on the side that comes into contact with the food, that is, the entire inside of the container body 61.

FIG. 7 shows a food container 7 to be collected and used.
An example of a type having a lid out of 0 is shown. Similar to the one shown in FIG. 6, inside the container body 71 of the food storage container 70, there are several partitions 73 partitioned by partitions 72. A lid 74 is attached to the food container 70 so that dust and the like do not enter from the outside. In many cases, the food container 70 is opaque because the container main body 71 and the lid 74 are made to resemble wooden lacquer ware in order to give a sense of quality. In such a food storage container 70, an effect can be expected by coating the layer T containing the photocatalytic material on at least a portion in contact with food, such as the inside of the container body 71 and the inner surface of the lid 74.

In such food storage containers 60 and 70, oily dirt such as edible oil adhered to the surface of the ordinary synthetic resin cannot be easily removed by washing with water unless a detergent or the like is used. Food storage container 6
Nos. 0 and 70 conventionally use hot water or a detergent to remove oil stains on the inner surface of the container in the washing process of the automatic washing machine. It is difficult to remove completely with a washing machine. For this reason, in the past, it was necessary to drop with a brush etc. relying on hand, but in the food storage container to which the present invention is applied,
Since the surface which has been made superhydrophilic by the photocatalysis acts more easily on water than oil, even if oil droplets adhere to the surface of the base material R, the oil is released only by submerging the oil droplets in water.
Therefore, if a step of irradiating the food storage container coated with the layer T containing the photocatalytic material with ultraviolet rays is performed, the surface is superhydrophilic, so that the dirt on the fine parts and corners due to the partition can be prevented. It can be easily removed only by washing with water. Therefore,
Detergent costs and personnel costs can be reduced. Furthermore, since a high concentration of detergent is not required, the health of washing workers and food consumers is not adversely affected. In addition, there is no need to perform detergent waste liquid treatment, and there is no fear of water pollution or environmental destruction. Furthermore, hot water is not required, and facilities such as a boiler and piping for producing hot water are not required, and the running cost thereof is also unnecessary. In addition, the surface that has been made superhydrophilic by irradiation with ultraviolet light lasts for several tens of hours, preventing contamination of food storage containers from providing food to consumers until it is collected and used. You can also expect the effect of doing.

In many cases, instruments used in the food-related field are irradiated with ultraviolet rays for sterilization. This ultraviolet irradiation step for sterilization can be regarded as a superhydrophilization step of the photocatalytic material layer on the surface of the food storage container, and if an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus is already provided, a new ultraviolet irradiation apparatus or process can be used. No need to provide. Therefore, it can be said that the method of performing the ultraviolet irradiation step on the synthetic resin food container as before is convenient and effective from the viewpoint of making the food container ultra-hydrophilic. Even if an ultraviolet irradiation device is not provided, the ultraviolet irradiation device itself is widely used in general and is not so expensive, so that the cost does not increase as a whole.

Further, in the food container to which the present invention is applied, regardless of whether the container is a collection container or disposable as described later, the lid 70 and the container main bodies 61, 7
Even if the steam adheres to the inside 1, water due to the steam spreads evenly by the photocatalytic material, so that the steam does not grow into water droplets. For this reason, the taste does not decrease due to the attachment of water droplets to the food, and the propagation of bacteria and the like due to a decrease in the salt concentration of the food and a change in the pH value can be prevented.

As long as the article to be stored is food, the compatibility of the photocatalyst with the human body poses a problem. However, since this photocatalyst technology can be used for contact lenses and catheters, there is no problem. Further, in particular, titanium oxide, which is a photocatalytic material, is currently used for food packaging materials and the like.
In addition, it has been recognized that titanium oxide has an antibacterial effect, and it can be expected that bacteria and fungi can be prevented from adhering to the surface of the layer containing the photocatalytic material.

It is to be noted that a substance which forms a germicidal environment composed of a combination of the above photocatalyst layer and a known organic acid can be used in combination. The substance forming the anaerobic environment forms an environment in which various bacteria are unlikely to exist, thereby forming an environment in which at least bacteria do not grow, and does not necessarily have a bactericidal action itself. As an aspect of the combined use, for example, there is an aspect of kneading with the photocatalyst layer.

[Example of Disposable Food Storage Container] FIGS. 8 and 9 show disposable food storage containers 80 and 90, both of which include container main bodies 85 and 95 and a transparent or translucent lid 86. It consists of 96. In the food storage container 80 shown in FIG. 8, the container main body 85 has no partition, and in the food storage container 90 shown in FIG. In such food containers 80 and 90 made of synthetic resin, the layer containing the photocatalytic material is coated on at least a portion in contact with food, such as the inner surfaces of the container bodies 85 and 95 and the inner surfaces of the lids 86 and 96. The effect can be expected by putting.

Disposable food storage containers 80, 90
In the related art, there has been a problem that the resin component is dissolved by the edible oil, and the like, but the food storage container 80 to which the present invention is applied,
In 90, when the surface becomes superhydrophilic by photocatalysis, water such as water contained in food is selectively attracted, and as a result, oil is kept away. That is,
An aqueous layer is formed between the surfaces of the food storage containers 80 and 90 (the layer T containing the photocatalytic material) and the edible oil layer. Therefore, even if a food product containing a large amount of oil is stored, it is possible to prevent the resin component from melting out, and it is possible to prevent the strength of the container from being reduced or broken, and prevent the resin component from adhering to the food product. Therefore, by previously forming the layer containing the photocatalytic material on at least the portion of the food storage containers 80 and 90 that comes into contact with the food, the labor for inserting the PP sheet or the like can be reduced.

Further, the disposable food storage container 8
In the case of 0 and 90, the lids 86 and 96 are often transparent, and in that case, ultraviolet rays are sufficiently transmitted, so that ultraviolet rays are further irradiated by natural light. Even if it is translucent, once it is superhydrophilized by ultraviolet irradiation, its effect is maintained for several tens of hours. Therefore, even after the food storage containers 80 and 90 have passed to the purchaser, the contents are not expired before the expiration date. Super hydrophilicity can be sufficiently maintained.

Further, the lids 86 and 96 and the container bodies 85 and 95
Even if the steam adheres to the inside, the water due to the steam spreads evenly by the photocatalytic material, so that the steam does not grow into water droplets. For this reason, the taste does not decrease due to the attachment of water droplets to the food, and the propagation of bacteria and the like due to a decrease in the salt concentration of the food and a change in the pH value can be prevented. Even if steam adheres to the lids 86 and 96, the dewed water spreads evenly by the photocatalytic material.
6, 96 does not fog. Therefore, the food storage container 80,
At 90, the contents can always be satisfactorily confirmed from the transparent or translucent lids 86, 96, and the appearance is good.

[0056]

As described above, in the article storage container according to the present invention, the use of the photocatalytic technique can prevent the surface of the synthetic resin article storage container from being stained. Further, the adhered dirt can be easily removed only by ultraviolet irradiation and washing with water. Furthermore, since there is almost no effect on the human body, the layer containing the photocatalytic material may be formed on the surface of an article storage container for transporting and delivering food. Thus, by using the photocatalytic technology according to the present invention for a food container,
The problems inherent in the food container can be solved at once. That is, in the food container made of synthetic resin, as a result of the improvement of the hydrophilicity of the surface of the container, the oil resistance of the surface of the container is improved. In addition, since the lid can be prevented from fogging and the attachment and formation of water droplets in the container can be prevented, it is possible to prevent a change in the taste of food due to the attachment of water and the generation of bacteria in the water droplets.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the function of a layer containing a photocatalytic material formed on the surface of an article storage container to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an article storage container made of a synthetic resin called a so-called container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an article storage container made of a synthetic resin, which is called a so-called count or tenbaco.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view when the article storage container of the type shown in FIG. 3 is reinforced with ribs.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing an article storage container made of a synthetic resin called a so-called folding container,
(B) is a perspective view showing the folded state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a lidless food storage container to be collected and used.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a food storage container with a lid to be collected and used.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a disposable food storage container having no partition therein.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a disposable food storage container having a partition therein.

[Explanation of symbols]

20, 30, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 Article storage container 21 Net-like portion 22 Side through hole 23 Handle through hole 34 Side plate 35 Bottom plate 46 Vertical rib for reinforcing side plate 47 Horizontal rib for reinforcing side plate 55 Folding side plate 58 Bouncing side plate 59 Hinge 61, 71, 85, 95 Food container main body 62, 72, 97 Partition 63, 73 Inside partition 74, 86, 96 Lid A Surface of mesh bottom B Inner surface of side through hole C Surface inside corner of container D Surface near intersection of reinforcing rib E Joint part of hinge F Contact part between folded side plates R Base made of synthetic resin T Layer containing photocatalytic material

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An article storage container comprising a layer containing a photocatalytic material provided on a surface thereof. 2. The article storage container according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalytic material is titanium oxide. 3. The article storage container according to claim 1, wherein a base material of the article storage container is made of a synthetic resin material. 4. The article storage container according to claim 1, wherein the base material of the article storage container is made of an ultraviolet transmitting material. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein
An article storage container, wherein the article is food. 6. The article storage container according to claim 5, wherein the layer containing the photocatalytic material is formed at least on the inner surface side of the lid. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The article storage container, wherein the layer containing the photocatalytic material is formed at least on a surface of a portion that comes into contact with the storage item. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The article storage container, wherein the layer containing the photocatalytic material is formed at least on a surface of the article storage section in the container body. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The article storage container, wherein the layer containing the photocatalytic material is formed on at least a surface other than the article storage section of the container body. 10. The article storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the container bottom portion and the container side portion has a mesh portion. 11. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the container bottom and the container side has a light-weight structure using at least one of a through hole and a thin portion. Characteristic goods storage container. 12. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the container bottom portion and the container side surface includes:
An article storage container comprising a reinforcing structure using at least one of a rib and a thick portion. 13. The article storage container according to claim 1, wherein the article storage container has a folding structure. 14. The article storage container according to claim 13, wherein the folding structure is configured using one of a hinge and a bellows. 15. The food storage container according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the article storage portion of the container body is divided into a plurality of parts by partitions.