Method of manufacturing attachable container and container manufactured thereby

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic container (24), comprising the following steps: producing a base element (21), a parison or a preform; inserting a magnet (44) into the cavity (52) of the opened blow mould (54); inserting the base element into the opened blow mold; and closing the mold and introducing air into the base element for forming a container in the mold, whereby the magnet is integrated in and attached to the formed container. The invention also relates to a container produced by this method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to containers for products for personal use, and in particular, to containers that can be attached to each other for ease of handling. Background Art

[0002] There are many different products that people use every day, such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, to name a few. These types of products are often sold in containers that function well when left stationary and stored in bathrooms and restrooms.

[0003] However, these containers are often too large and cumbersome to carry when travelling, especially if several are carried together. Furthermore, restrictions on the amount of liquids allowed in cabin baggage when flying make them inappropriate due to their size.

[0004] A variety of travel containers have been developed that have a volume that makes them easy to carry and also suitable for use in cabin luggage. A disadvantage of most of these containers is that they must be filled by the user with the desired product, and their openings are often very small, making filling cumbersome and laborious. Another disadvantage is that carrying several of these small containers, for example, in the shower or at the gym, requires a bag or larger container.

[0005] Over the years, several solutions have been developed for interconnecting containers to form a single unit that is easy to carry. Some solutions include form-locking elements, such as molded protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses to form a detachable connection. While these solutions are functional, they are not very aesthetically pleasing. Other solutions include magnets attached to the outer surface of the container. One solution is disclosed in document US2015 / 0164003, which describes a modular container system in which each container is provided with a shell on a side surface. The shell is provided with magnets arranged in recesses. To attach one container to another, a separate element called a container connector, which also contains magnets, is attached to the two shells of the container. This means that an additional component is required, and if it is lost, the function of the container system is lost. Furthermore, the protruding magnetic shell is not very attractive.

[0006] Document CN107972954 discloses boxes provided with magnetic elements on their outer surfaces for stacking. This document does not disclose how these magnets are attached to these boxes.

[0007] Thus, there is room for improvement in this area of ​​technology. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved solution for containers that can be attached to one another. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred solutions of the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] According to one aspect, a method for manufacturing a plastic container is provided, comprising the steps of: manufacturing a base element, a parison, or a preform; inserting a magnet into the cavity of an open blow mold; inserting the base element into the open blow mold; closing the mold and introducing air into the base element to form the container in the mold, whereby the magnet is integrated into and attached to the formed container. With this method, when the actual container is formed, the magnets for connecting a plurality of containers to each other are integrated together in a very reliable and smooth manner, without requiring additional methods or adhesives for attaching the containers.

[0010] According to another aspect, the magnet can be placed in a magnet holder that is inserted into the cavity. In this regard, the magnet holder can be made of the same material as the preform. The magnet holder provides a very good connection with the container, firmly integrating the magnet in the container.

[0011] In order to enhance the appearance of the container, the method may further comprise the step of inserting at least one label into the cavity, whereby the at least one label is attached to the outer surface of the formed container. With this solution, no additional adhesive is required to attach the label, only the material of the container during the forming process provides the attachment.

[0012] According to another aspect of enhancing the appearance of the container, at least a portion of the cavity can be structured to provide a structured exterior surface on the resulting container. Furthermore, to reduce the cost of manufacturing the molding die and increase the number of different structures that can be formed on the container, the cavity can be arranged to accommodate multiple inserts each provided with a structured surface. To change the structure on the resulting container, one insert can be easily replaced with one having a different structure without having to modify the entire molding die.

[0013] Preferred methods for forming the container include injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding, or stretch blow molding.

[0014] The container manufactured by this method can be formed with two substantially planar opposing side surfaces into which magnets are integrated so that several containers can be attached side by side by the interaction of the magnets of one container with the magnets of another container. Thus, several containers thus manufactured can be releasably attached to each other in a very convenient and simple manner.

[0015] The shaped container may further include an opening formed by a threaded neck and have a closure attachable to the threaded neck. In this regard, the closure may include a tubular element arranged to fit into the neck of the container to stabilize the neck. This is advantageous if the container is made of a relatively soft material, which enables the user to squeeze the contents out of the container without the risk of the neck being deformed by the closure during its attachment.

[0016] Preferably, the closure may include a lid for opening and closing the dispensing channel in the closure. To prevent dripping, the lid may be provided with a first sealing element arranged to engage into the dispensing channel when the lid is closed. For additional protection against dripping, the lid may be provided with a second sealing element in the form of an annular protrusion arranged to engage into a corresponding annular recess surrounding the dispensing channel. To facilitate dispensing of the contents, the dispensing channel may be provided with a flexible diaphragm having a slit that can be opened under pressure from the dispensing liquid in the container.

[0017] A manufacturing unit can also be provided, which has a subunit that can manufacture preforms or parisons for placement in an open molding die. The manufacturing unit also includes a subunit that can pick up magnets from a storage and place the magnets in the open molding die. The subunit can further include a storage portion for a magnet holder, which is moved to a position where the magnet can be attached to the holder before being placed in the molding die. The subunit for picking up the magnet can be a robot with a clamping element, wherein the robot can be linearly and rotationally movable so as to position the magnet in the open molding die. The clamping element can use vacuum suction to pick up the magnet. In addition, vacuum can also be used to hold the magnet in the molding die.

[0018] The manufacturing unit may further include a subunit having a robot that can pick up labels from a storage device and position the labels in the opened molding die. The subunit for the labels can use vacuum to pick up the labels. The robot can be linearly and rotationally movable to position the labels in the opened molding die.

[0019] These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and from the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0021] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of a manufacturing process in which the method according to the invention may be utilized,

[0022] Figure 2Schematically shows an example of placing different objects in a molding die before forming a container,

[0023] Figure 3 and Figure 4 shows an example of a magnet holder that can be used in the method according to the invention,

[0024] Figure 5 shows an example of a container manufactured by the method according to the invention,

[0025] Figure 6 and Figure 7 schematically shows an insert that can be used in the method according to the invention, and

[0026] Figure 8 and Figure 9 An example of a closure to be attached to a container made in accordance with the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] A method for manufacturing a container will be described below. One example of a manufacturing process is injection blow molding. Figure 1 An injection blow molding machine 10 is shown schematically. The machine comprises a central turntable 12 that can be indexed in at least three stations. In a first station A, a core rod or metal shank 14 is positioned in an injection molding die 16. Granular material stored in a storage container 18 is melted and fed into the molding die in an extruder 20, thereby forming a so-called parison or preform 21. Preferably, a threadable neck is formed at the end of the preform.

[0028] The injection molding die 16 is then opened and the turntable 12 is rotated to the second station B, where the preform 21 is on the core rod 14. In the second station B, the preform is placed in a blow mold 22 having a cavity 23 formed into the container to be manufactured. Air is introduced into a channel in the core rod 14, which is provided with an outlet, whereby the preform is blown and expands or expands to the surface of the cavity, forming a container 24. After the container has cooled, the blow mold 22 is opened, and the turntable 12 is rotated together with the formed container 24 to the third station C, where the container formed at the third station C is pushed away from the core rod 14. Since the turntable 12 is provided with three core rods, each step of the described method is performed at all positions of the turntable, providing a continuous manufacturing process.

[0029] According to the present application, the machine further comprises a unit 26 for manipulating the magnets, arranged at the second station B. The unit 26 comprises Figure 2Two continuous movable belts 28 are shown positioned opposite each other. Each belt 28 is divided into sections 30, wherein each section includes a recess 32 in which a magnet holder 34 can be placed. The magnet holder 34 is placed in a vertical bracket 36 above the continuous belt. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the figure, the magnet holder 34 is shown as a flat plastic piece with two recesses 38, each with a thin bottom layer 40. Downstream of the bracket 36 carrying the magnet holder 34 are two vertical brackets 42, which store magnets 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnets 44 are round, so the brackets 42 can be tubes with an appropriate inner diameter. Thus, for each belt, the first magnet holder 34 is placed in the recess 32 in a first position I. The belt 28 is then moved to a second position II, where the magnet holder 34 is positioned below the magnet bracket 42, thereby introducing a magnet 44 into each recess 38 of the magnet holder 34. The segment 30 with the magnet holder containing the magnets is then moved to a third position III, where it is rotated 90 degrees, for example, around a pulley of the belt 28.

[0030] The machine further comprises two robotic arms 46 provided with gripping elements 48, each of which can grip a magnet holder having a magnet. The gripping elements 48 can be vacuum suction cups or mechanical holders. The two robotic arms 46 are preferably arranged on a common base 50, which can be moved along Figure 2 The base 50 and the arm 46 are movable along the axis X1 in the blow mold, and the two robot arms can be moved individually in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis X1. Thus, when picking up a magnet holder with a magnet, the robot arm 46 first moves towards the magnet holder in the third position III, wherein the gripping element 48 grips the magnet holder 34. The base 50 and the arm 46 then move the magnet holder 34 along the axis X1 into the cavity 52 in the section 54 of the open blow mold. Figure 2 In FIG, only one segment 54 is shown, but it will be understood that the second segment is positioned vertically above the segment shown, with its cavity facing the cavity of the segment shown. The robot arm 46 is preferably designed so that it can pass through the core rod, with the preform positioned between the mold segments, for clarity. Figure 1 Not shown in the figure.

[0031] In this position, the base 50 with the robotic arms 46 is rotated 90 degrees about the axis X1 and each arm 46 is then moved perpendicularly to the axis X1 towards the mold section. The cavity 52 of the blow mold section is provided with a holding element 56 which can hold the magnet holder 34 against the cavity wall of the molding mold section. The holding element 56 can be a hole connected to a vacuum source. Once the magnet holder is Figure 2The molding die is closed around the core rod as shown in dashed lines in position and oriented so that the bottom layer 40 of the recess 38 faces the cavity wall. The cylindrical portion of the core rod 14 fits into the tubular cavity section of the closed molding die with an annular gap 58 between the core rod and the cavity section, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in station B in FIG, the neck of the container to be manufactured is formed. In this regard, the cavity section is preferably provided with a recess forming a threaded section in the formed neck. Air from a pressurized air source (not shown) is now introduced into the mold through an opening in the core rod.

[0032] The parison or preform is then blown to expand to the surface of the cavity. The magnet holder 34 will then be covered by the blown material and adhered to it by the heat in the mold and the material. In this way, the magnet will be "integrated" into the blown container 24 and protected by the layer 40. Preferably, the material of the magnet holder 34 is the same as the material of the container and also preferably has the same melting point in order to have a very good integration of the magnet holder and the magnet with the container. After cooling, the blown container is removed from the molding die and pushed away from the core rod. An example of a container 24 is shown in FIG. Figure 5 Shown in.

[0033] In order to provide information about the container and / or to give the container a good and individual appearance, the outer surface of the container can be provided with labels. These can be applied to the finished container, but can also be attached during the blow molding process. In the latter case, a robotic arm 60 is provided which is movable along the axis X2. The robotic arm 60 is further provided with gripping elements. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the gripping element comprises a cylindrical roller 62 rotatably attached to a robotic arm 60. The roller 62 is provided with a plurality of holes 64 connected to a vacuum source (not shown). A stack of labels 66 is placed adjacent to the axis X2. In order to pick up the label 66, the robotic arm 60 moves the roller 62 so that its outer periphery contacts the topmost label in the stack. The robotic arm 60 moves while the roller 62 rotates, whereby the vacuum in the holes 64 of the roller 62 will cause the label 66 to attach around the outer surface of the roller 62. The robotic arm 60 then moves along the axis X2 toward the open molding die, rotates 90 degrees and moves the roller 62 into the open molding die.

[0034] like Figure 2As shown in the middle dashed line, when the roller 62 is in position relative to one of the mold cavities, the robotic arm lowers the roller 62 so that the roller is positioned within the mold cavity 52 of section 54. The vacuum is closed, whereby the label 66 is released from the roller 62 and will unfold to contact the surface of the cavity. Since the opening of the cavity faces upward, the label stands in the cavity with one side edge resting on the lower cavity wall. In order to ensure that the label remains in the proper position against the surface of the cavity, air can be blown onto the label or a vacuum can be used. When the molding die is closed and the container is blown into shape, its outer surface will come into contact with the label, and due to the heat of the container's material, the label will adhere to the outer surface of the container. Therefore, no glue or other adhesive material other than the material of the container is used to attach the label. The material of the label is selected to both withstand the heat in the cavity and provide good adhesion to the container.

[0035] Another way to give the container a good appearance is to provide a structure on the outside of the container. The mold cavity can then of course be shaped to provide the structure. However, in order to have the possibility of providing many different structures, the mold cavity can be arranged to accommodate inserts 70 ( Figure 6 ). Figure 7 An example of an inwardly facing surface of an insert 70 is shown. Suitable attachment elements may be provided to anchor the insert within the mold cavity. In this way, containers having many different configurations may be manufactured using different inserts without the significant expense of manufacturing complete molding molds having different internal configurations.

[0036] As mentioned, the container is preferably blow-molded. For this, in addition to injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding or stretch blow molding can be used. In addition, there are of course other ways of introducing the magnet into the molding die and other ways of providing the magnet into the magnet holder.

[0037] like Figure 5 The manufactured container 24 shown in the example of FIG is designed to have two generally planar side surfaces 78, in which magnets are embedded. In this way, two or more containers can be attached side by side to each other by magnets. The container 24 is further provided with an opening 80 having a preferably threaded neck 84. The opening 80 has been selected to be quite large so as to facilitate the user to fill and refill the container 24 from a larger container without any tools (such as a funnel) and without overflowing, and is also large enough to be able to reach the interior of the container with a finger. The threads also provide for the attachment of the closure after filling and refilling.

[0038] Figure 8 and Figure 9An example of an open closure 86 is shown in FIG. Closure 86 has a generally planar base 88. A central support tube 90 is integrated into base 88, having an outer diameter that generally corresponds to the inner diameter of neck 84 of container 24. This provides stability to the neck and prevents it from deforming inward when the closure is tightened. This is particularly advantageous if the container is made of a relatively soft material. Such soft materials are preferred to facilitate the extrusion of the contents from the container.

[0039] The base is further provided with a central channel 92 which is preferably smaller than the diameter of the neck. In order to provide a metered dosing function, the central channel may be provided with an elastic membrane 91 having a slit 93 which opens when the liquid is pressed against the membrane, e.g. Figure 8a As shown. The closure is further preferably provided with a lid 94 that is hingedly attached to the base via a living hinge 96. The inner surface of the lid 94 is preferably provided with a protrusion 98 having the same shape and size as the central channel 92 so as to fit therein and provide a sealing function when the lid is closed. The length of the protrusion is preferably selected so that the end of the protrusion contacts the membrane 91, thereby blocking the slit 93.

[0040] An additional sealing function can be provided by an annular recess 100 in the base surrounding the channel 92. The inner surface of the lid 94 is then provided with an annular protrusion 102, which is sized to fit into the recess 100 when the lid 94 is closed. Furthermore, to prevent accidental opening of the lid 94, walls 104 are provided on both sides of the lid so that the lid 94 is positioned between the walls 104 when the lid 94 is closed. The lid 94 can then only be opened from the side of the lid opposite the hinge 96. A cutout 106 can be provided on this side for opening the lid 94 with a fingertip or fingernail.

[0041] As mentioned, the material of the container is preferably quite soft and the preferred material in this respect is an elastomer which is suitable for blow molding and also has hygienic properties. However, it will of course be understood that other types of plastic materials may be used to make the container according to the present invention.

[0042] The container and closure according to this application can be used for a variety of liquids and products. One area is health and beauty, with products such as shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, liquid soap, and the like. This solution makes it easy to carry these products with you when traveling, such as to the gym. Another area is food ingredients, with products such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard, salad dressing, oil, and vinegar, to name a few. This solution is very convenient for outdoor adventures, picnics, and other places where you don't want to carry a large container. For this purpose, the container can be filled with dishwashing liquid and other detergents. In short, only imagination sets the limit to the products that can be filled with this solution.

[0043] It is to be understood that the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings are to be regarded only as non-limiting examples of the invention and that they can be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a plastic container (24), comprising the following steps: - manufacturing a base element (21), a parison or a preform, - inserting the magnet (44) into the cavity (52) of the opened blow mould (54), - inserting the base element into the opened blow mould, - Closing the mould and introducing air into the base element for forming the container in the mould, whereby the magnet is integrated in and attached to the formed container.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The magnet (44) is placed in a magnet holder (34) which is inserted into the cavity.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The magnet holder is made of the same material as the preform.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of: At least one label (66) is inserted into the cavity, whereby the at least one label is attached to the outer surface of the formed container.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The label is inserted so that it stands upright with one side edge resting against the cavity wall.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: At least a portion of the cavity is structured (72) to provide a structured outer surface on the formed container.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The cavity is configured to receive an insert (70) provided with a structured surface (72).

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The container is formed by injection blow molding, extrusion blow molding or stretch blow molding.

9. A container manufactured by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A container according to claim 9, formed with two substantially planar opposing side surfaces (78), wherein: The magnets (44) are integrated into the side surfaces for attaching multiple containers side by side by the magnets of one container interacting with the magnets of another container.

11. The container according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising an opening (80) formed by a threaded neck (84).

12. The container of claim 11 further comprising a closure (86) attachable to the threaded neck.

13. The container according to claim 11, wherein The closure comprises a tubular element (90) arranged to fit into the neck of the container for stabilizing the neck.

14. The container according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: The closure includes a cover (94) for opening and closing a dispensing passage (92) in the closure.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein The cover is provided with a first sealing element (98) arranged to cooperate with the dispensing channel when the cover is closed.

16. The container according to claim 14 or 15, wherein The cap is provided with a second sealing element in the form of an annular projection (102) arranged to cooperate with a corresponding annular recess (100) surrounding the dispensing channel.

17. A container according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein The dispensing channel is provided with a flexible membrane (91) provided with a slit (93) which can be opened under pressure from a dispensing liquid in the container.

18. A container according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein The closure also includes walls (104) on either side of the cover, the walls extending at least to an outer surface of the cover.

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