Milk storage tank

Abstract

The invention discloses a milk storage tank, relates to the technical field of milk storage equipment, and aims to solve the problems that the sealing performance of an existing milk storage tank is reduced, parts are easy to deform and milk is easy to pollute due to the change of air pressure in the tank in the refrigerating and heating processes. The milk storage tank comprises a bottle body, a cover and a membrane, the membrane is connected with the cover in a clamped mode, and the membrane is provided with an organ folding structure, an invisible notch, a reinforcing rib and a groove; during refrigeration, air in the tank shrinks to generate negative pressure, the membrane deforms towards the interior of the tank, the organ folding structure is flattened, the invisible notch is kept sealed due to extrusion, and meanwhile external air supplements pressure through the related grooves; during heating, air in the tank expands to generate high pressure, the diaphragm deforms to stretch the invisible notch, and gas is discharged through the invisible notch; through the special design of the diaphragm, the air pressure in the tank is effectively balanced, the sealing performance is ensured, the service life is prolonged, and the milk pollution risk is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of milk storage equipment technology, specifically to a milk storage tank with a pressure balancing function. Background Technology

[0002] In daily life and maternal and infant care, milk storage containers are widely used to store breast milk and other milk products. However, existing milk storage containers have many problems during use.

[0003] When a milk storage container is placed in the refrigerator, the air inside shrinks due to the lower temperature, creating negative pressure inside the container. For milk storage containers with poor sealing, outside air can easily enter, and bacteria and impurities in the air can contaminate the milk, posing a serious threat to its quality and safety, especially for breast milk consumed by infants, where such contamination may affect the infant's health. Even for milk storage containers with good sealing, prolonged negative pressure can exert continuous pressure on the internal components, potentially causing deformation. This deformation not only affects the normal use of the milk storage container but also shortens its lifespan. Furthermore, with increased use, the sealing performance of the milk storage container will also be compromised, further increasing the risk of milk contamination.

[0004] Furthermore, when the milk in the storage tank needs to be heated, the air inside the tank expands due to the increased temperature, causing high pressure to form inside. For storage tanks with good sealing, frequent switching between large temperature differences and negative and high pressure states during long-term use will further accelerate the wear and tear on components and reduce their lifespan. At the same time, the sealing performance is more easily damaged under such repeated pressure changes, and once the sealing performance deteriorates, the risk of milk contamination will greatly increase.

[0005] Therefore, how to solve a series of problems caused by air pressure changes during the refrigeration and heating of milk storage tanks has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects of existing milk storage tanks and provide a milk storage tank that can automatically balance the internal air pressure during refrigeration and heating, ensure sealing performance, extend service life, and reduce the risk of milk contamination.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0008] This invention provides a milk storage container, including a bottle body (1), a lid (2) and a membrane (4). The membrane (4) is tightly fitted to the bottle mouth of the bottle body (1) and is snapped into the bottom of the lid (2). The lid (2) covers the bottle body (1).

[0009] The diaphragm (4) has an accordion folding structure (5) in the middle, which protrudes towards the cover (2); the diaphragm (4) has a wave-shaped structure (6) around the accordion folding structure (5), and the thickness of the wave-shaped structure (6) is greater than the thickness of the accordion folding structure (5); the top of the wave-shaped structure (6) has at least one hidden cut (7); the edge of the wave-shaped structure (6) has multiple grooves (9) spaced apart, which allow the top of the diaphragm (4) to communicate with the outside atmosphere of the tank to achieve air pressure balance;

[0010] When the environment is low temperature, the pressure inside the bottle body (1) decreases, the accordion folding structure (5) deforms into the can, and the deformation trend at the hidden cut (7) position is compression, thereby ensuring a seal; when the environment is high temperature, the pressure inside the bottle body (1) increases, the accordion folding structure (5) deforms outward, the deformation trend at the hidden cut (7) position is stretching, the sealing performance at the hidden cut (7) decreases, and the gas inside the bottle body (1) can be automatically discharged to the outside of the can through the hidden cut (7).

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invisible incision (7) is a strip-shaped structure or a line-shaped structure.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the accordion folding structure (5) has three rings, the first ring structure is hemispherical, and a recessed area is formed between adjacent two ring structures.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side of the diaphragm (4) is provided with a channel (10) connected to the groove (9) to prevent the negative pressure inside the bottle body (1) from being too large, thus preventing the cap (2) from being opened.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of reinforcing ribs (8) are spaced apart on the front side of the wave-shaped structure (6) to increase the strength of the wave-shaped structure (6).

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion (11) is provided on the back side of the wave-shaped structure (6) to increase the stability of the diaphragm (4).

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a friction structure (3) is provided on the side of the cover (2) to facilitate the rotation of the cover (2).

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottle body (1) and the cap (2) are made of food-grade polypropylene material, and the diaphragm (4) is made of food-grade silicone rubber material.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention provide a milk storage tank, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] (1) Effective pressure balance: During refrigeration, the accordion fold structure of the diaphragm deforms and extends into the tank, while external gas replenishes the pressure, balancing the negative pressure inside the tank; during heating, the high pressure inside the tank reduces the sealing performance of the concealed slit, and gas is discharged through the slit, balancing the high pressure inside the tank. In this way, the adverse effects of drastic pressure changes caused by temperature variations in the milk storage tank are avoided.

[0020] (2) Ensuring sealing performance: At low temperatures, the concealed slit remains sealed due to compression; at high temperatures, the sealing performance of the concealed slit decreases only when venting is required, and a good sealing effect is still guaranteed under normal circumstances. The design of reinforcing ribs and membrane thickness difference further improves the sealing performance in low-temperature environments and reduces the risk of milk contamination.

[0021] (3) Extended service life: It avoids the deformation of components caused by switching between negative pressure and high pressure for a long time, reduces the wear and tear of components, and thus extends the service life of the milk storage tank.

[0022] (4) Reasonable structural design: The diaphragm and the cover are snapped together, making installation and disassembly convenient; the accordion folding structure, hidden cuts, reinforcing ribs and grooves work together to achieve the functions of air pressure balance and sealing, making the structure compact and practical. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the lid of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a top view of the lid of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a front view of the diaphragm of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a top view of the diaphragm of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 7 A side view of the diaphragm of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the bottle body, lid, and diaphragm of a milk storage tank provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application. The terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," and "right," etc., used when describing the installation position or direction of the structure or components in this embodiment are based on the orientation shown in the accompanying drawings. They are merely for convenience of description, used to distinguish the relative positions of various components or directions, and do not represent the orientation of the device or functional components in this embodiment during use. The terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] like Figures 1-4 As shown in the figure, this embodiment of the invention provides a milk storage container, including a bottle body 1, a lid 2 and a membrane 4. The membrane 4 is tightly fitted to the bottle mouth of the bottle body 1 and is snapped into the bottom of the lid 2, with the lid 2 covering the bottle body 1.

[0034] like Figures 5-8 As shown, a pleated structure 5 is provided in the middle of the diaphragm 4, and the pleated structure 5 protrudes towards the cover 2; a wave-shaped structure 6 is provided on the periphery of the diaphragm 4 corresponding to the pleated structure 5. Figure 5 The central circle line 5-1 marks the boundary between the accordion folding structure 5 and the wave-shaped structure 6. The thickness of the wave-shaped structure 6 is greater than that of the accordion folding structure 5. The top of the wave-shaped structure 6 has at least one concealed cutout 7, preferably a strip or line structure, with a length of 1-2 cm, which can be appropriately set according to specific conditions; no specific limitation is made here. Multiple grooves 9 are spaced apart on the edge of the wave-shaped structure 6. These grooves 9 allow the top of the diaphragm 4 to communicate with the outside atmosphere, achieving pressure balance. In this embodiment, the multiple grooves 9 are located on the front edge step 6-1 of the wave-shaped structure 6.

[0035] When the temperature is low, the pressure inside the bottle 1 decreases, and the accordion folding structure 5 deforms inward. The deformation trend at the hidden cut 7 is compression, thus ensuring a seal. When the temperature is high, the pressure inside the bottle 1 increases, and the accordion folding structure 5 deforms outward. The deformation trend at the hidden cut 7 is stretching, and the sealing performance at the hidden cut 7 decreases. Gas inside the bottle 1 can be automatically discharged to the outside of the can through the hidden cut 7.

[0036] like Figure 5 As shown, the accordion folding structure 5 has three rings. The first ring is hemispherical, and there are recessed areas between adjacent two rings. The diaphragm 4 has a channel 10 on its side that connects to the groove 9 to prevent excessive negative pressure inside the bottle 1 from making it impossible to open the cap 2.

[0037] Multiple reinforcing ribs 8 are spaced apart on the front of the wave-shaped structure 6 to increase its strength. In this embodiment, the portion of the wave-shaped structure 6 with the concealed cutout 7 is thicker and less prone to deformation. Through the difference in diaphragm thickness and the design of the reinforcing ribs, it is ensured that the middle area of ​​the diaphragm (accordion fold structure 5) deforms first when the negative pressure inside the tank is too high, further improving the sealing performance in low-temperature environments.

[0038] like Figure 7 As shown, a protrusion 11 is provided on the back of the wave-shaped structure 6 to increase the stability of the diaphragm 4. In this embodiment, the protrusion 11 is provided on the protrusion 6-2 on the back of the wave-shaped structure 6. A friction structure 3 is provided on the side of the cover 2 to facilitate the rotation of the cover 2.

[0039] The bottle body 1 is made of food-grade material, possessing excellent sealing and temperature resistance, and is used for storing milk. The bottle body shape can be designed as cylindrical, square, etc., according to actual needs. Its opening has a matching connection structure, such as threads, to ensure that the cap 2 can tightly seal onto the bottle body 1. The cap 2 is also made of food-grade material and has an internal snap-fit ​​structure that mates with the diaphragm 4, allowing the diaphragm 4 to be securely installed on the cap. The connection between the cap 2 and the bottle body 1 further enhances the overall sealing of the milk storage container.

[0040] The diaphragm 4 is the core component of this invention, made of food-grade material with a certain degree of elasticity and toughness. The accordion fold structure 5 on the diaphragm 4 is located in a specific area with a smaller thickness, allowing the diaphragm 4 to deform smoothly under air pressure. The accordion fold design allows the diaphragm to gradually flatten as it deforms into the can, thereby compressing its volume to adapt to changes in negative pressure inside the can, resulting in a volume compression of 8-10 ml.

[0041] like Figure 5 and Figure 8A concealed slit 7, with specific dimensions and shape, is provided at the top of the corrugated structure 6. The corrugated portion with the slit is relatively thick, a design that makes this portion less prone to deformation, ensuring the sealing performance of the slit under normal conditions. When the pressure inside the tank changes, the slit will change its sealing state according to the deformation trend: at low temperature and negative pressure, the slit compresses and seals; at high temperature and high pressure, the slit stretches, allowing gas to escape.

[0042] The diaphragm 4's corrugated structure 6 is further reinforced with multiple reinforcing ribs 8. The reinforcing ribs 8 are made of the same material as the diaphragm 4 and are connected to the diaphragm 4 through integral molding or other methods. The reinforcing ribs 8 enhance the structural strength of the diaphragm 4. Combined with the thickness differences in different areas of the diaphragm 4, this ensures that when the negative pressure inside the tank is too high, the middle area of ​​the diaphragm deforms first, thereby achieving better sealing and pressure balance.

[0043] The upper surface of the diaphragm 4 is provided with grooves 9, which allow the space above the diaphragm 4 to communicate with the outside atmosphere. When a negative pressure is generated inside the tank, external gas can enter the upper surface of the diaphragm through relevant small openings and other structures, replenishing the air and pressure between the diaphragm and the lid, and providing favorable conditions for the deformation of the diaphragm. Figure 8 The red arrow indicates the airflow direction. Additionally, a pressure regulating channel 10 is provided at the connecting groove 9 to prevent the cap from being difficult to open due to excessive negative pressure inside the bottle.

[0044] The working process of a milk storage tank is as follows:

[0045] When a milk storage container is filled with milk and placed in the refrigerator, the air inside the container shrinks due to the lower temperature, creating negative pressure. Under this negative pressure, the diaphragm 4 deforms inwards, and the accordion fold structure 5 gradually flattens, compressing the volume by 8-10 ml. Since the concealed cut 7 deforms under low temperature and negative pressure with a tendency to compress, the cut remains sealed, preventing external air from entering and contaminating the milk. Simultaneously, external gas flows through a small opening and into the groove 9 on the upper surface of the diaphragm 4, replenishing the air and pressure between the diaphragm 4 and the lid 2. This ensures that the diaphragm 4 can deform smoothly, balancing the negative pressure inside the container and preventing deformation of components due to excessive negative pressure.

[0046] When the milk in the storage tank needs to be heated, the air inside the tank expands due to the increased temperature, creating high pressure. At this time, the diaphragm 4 deforms under high pressure, with the deformation at the concealed cut 7 tending towards stretching, leading to a decrease in the sealing performance at the cut. The gas inside the tank is automatically discharged to the outside through the concealed cut 7 under high pressure, thus balancing the high pressure inside the tank, preventing damage to the storage tank due to high pressure, and also preventing the sealing performance from being affected by long-term high pressure.

[0047] Throughout use, the thickness difference design of the reinforcing rib 8 and the diaphragm 4 ensures that the diaphragm 4 can deform as expected under different air pressure conditions, further guaranteeing sealing performance and air pressure balance. The snap-fit ​​structure between the diaphragm 4 and the lid 2 ensures the stable installation of the diaphragm, while the tight connection between the lid 2 and the bottle body 1 enhances the overall sealing of the milk storage tank.

[0048] Material Selection: The bottle body 1, cap 2, and diaphragm 4 should all be made of materials that meet food hygiene standards. The bottle body 1 and cap 2 can be made of polypropylene (PP), which has good temperature resistance, chemical stability, and mechanical strength, and is non-toxic and odorless, making it suitable for food contact. The diaphragm 4 needs to have a certain degree of elasticity and toughness, and is made of food-grade silicone rubber. Silicone rubber is an option, as it has excellent high and low temperature resistance, elasticity, and sealing properties, and is not prone to aging, meeting the requirements for use of the diaphragm under different temperature and pressure conditions.

[0049] Manufacturing Process: The bottle body 1 and cap 2 can be manufactured using injection molding, a process with high production efficiency that ensures dimensional accuracy and surface quality. The diaphragm 4 can be manufactured using compression molding. For complex structures such as accordion folds, concealed cuts, reinforcing ribs, and grooves, compression molding can effectively achieve the design requirements. During manufacturing, strict control of material quality and process parameters is necessary to ensure that the product performance meets design standards.

[0050] Installation and Maintenance: During installation, first attach the membrane 4 to the lid 2 using the snap-fit ​​mechanism, ensuring that the membrane 4 is securely installed and correctly positioned. Then, place the lid 2 onto the bottle 1 containing the milk, tightening or fastening it in place to ensure the milk storage container is airtight.

[0051] During daily use, the milk storage tank should be cleaned and sterilized regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria from milk residue. For cleaning, the lid and diaphragm can be removed, washed with clean water and a neutral detergent, and then dried before reinstallation. During cleaning, care should be taken to protect the diaphragm structure, avoiding pulling or damaging the cut edges, reinforcing ribs, or other components. If the diaphragm shows signs of aging, damage, or decreased sealing performance, it should be replaced promptly to ensure the proper use of the milk storage tank and the safety of the milk.

[0052] The milk storage tank of this invention, through its ingenious structural design, can effectively balance the air pressure inside the tank, ensure sealing performance, extend service life, and reduce the risk of milk contamination, thus possessing high practical value and promising prospects for promotion.

[0053] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative effort. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation on the basis of existing technology should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A milk storage tank, characterized in that, It includes a bottle body (1), a cap (2) and a membrane (4). The membrane (4) is tightly fitted to the bottle mouth of the bottle body (1) and snapped into the bottom of the cap (2). The cap (2) covers the bottle body (1). The diaphragm (4) has an accordion folding structure (5) in the middle, which faces the lid (2). The diaphragm (4) has a wave-shaped structure (6) around the accordion folding structure (5), and the thickness of the wave-shaped structure (6) is greater than the thickness of the accordion folding structure (5). The top of the wave-shaped structure (6) has at least one hidden cut (7). The edge of the wave-shaped structure (6) has multiple grooves (9) spaced apart, which allow the top of the diaphragm (4) to communicate with the outside atmosphere to achieve air pressure balance. When the environment is low temperature, the pressure inside the bottle body (1) decreases, the accordion folding structure (5) deforms into the can, and the deformation trend at the hidden cut (7) position is compression, thereby ensuring a seal; when the environment is high temperature, the pressure inside the bottle body (1) increases, the accordion folding structure (5) deforms outward, the deformation trend at the hidden cut (7) position is stretching, the sealing performance at the hidden cut (7) decreases, and the gas inside the bottle body (1) can be automatically discharged to the outside of the can through the hidden cut (7).

2. The milk storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hidden incision (7) is a strip-shaped structure or a line-shaped structure.

3. The milk storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The accordion folding structure (5) has 3 rings. The first ring structure is hemispherical, and there are recessed areas between the two adjacent ring structures.

4. The milk storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diaphragm (4) has a channel (10) connected to the groove (9) on its side to prevent the negative pressure inside the bottle (1) from being too high, which would prevent the cap (2) from being opened.

5. The milk storage tank according to claim 4, characterized in that, The wave-shaped structure (6) has multiple reinforcing ribs (8) spaced apart on its front side to increase the strength of the wave-shaped structure (6).

6. The milk storage tank according to claim 5, characterized in that, The wave-shaped structure (6) has protrusions (11) on its back side to increase the stability of the diaphragm (4).

7. The milk storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lid (2) has a friction structure (3) on its side to facilitate rotation of the lid (2).

8. The milk storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottle body (1) and the cap (2) are made of food-grade polypropylene material, and the diaphragm (4) is made of food-grade silicone rubber material.

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