Container, film with tape, tape member, method for manufacturing film with tape, and method for manufacturing container

Abstract

A container is provided that includes: a film forming a container body; and a tape member including a tearing strip and a base, the tearing strip being directly or indirectly bonded to the film, the base being layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, in which the tearing strip includes a thin portion formed by pressing in the vicinity of one end of the tearing strip.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a container, a tape-attached film, a tape member, a method of manufacturing a tape-attached film, and a method of manufacturing a container.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] As for a typical container having a bag shape for packaging medicine, food, or the like, a variety of bags are known, each having a zipper tape bonded to a bag body formed of a film. In such a bag with a zipper tape, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1 for instance: portions of a single film are adhered at a back and the film is bonded in a direction orthogonal to the back-adhered direction to thereby configure a bag body; a reclosable fastener is bonded to, out of a front wall and a rear wall of the bag body opposed to each other, the front wall; and a pull-out plug or a thread for unsealing is attached to the front wall in the vicinity of the fastener.

[0003] In the technique described in Patent Literature 1 above, multiple holes may be formed in the front wall by a punching mechanism to form the pull-out plug, and the holes can deteriorate sealability of the bag. It is also disclosed that the thread is provided on an inner surface of the front wall for unsealing; however, there is no disclosure about a specific method for exposing an end portion of the thread to the outside to form a tab. Typically, it is considered that a hole for the thread to pass through the film of the bag body is formed in the front wall to make an end portion of the thread serve as a tab. However, in this case also, the hole can deteriorate the sealability of the bag.

[0004] In view of the foregoing, Patent Literature 2 and Patent Literature 3 each propose a bag, a film, and a method of manufacturing bags, which can make it possible to achieve high sealability. Specifically, the bag includes: a bag body having a containing space, a tape member that is provided on one surface of a film that configures the bag body, and includes a base and a tearing strip; and a tab having an outer edge formed by a cutting line that passes through the base, the tearing strip, and the film. Providing a protector to cover an area where the tab is formed from the inside of the bag makes it possible to maintain the sealability of the bag even when the bag includes the tab for unsealing.

[0005] In the technique described in Patent Literatures 2 and 3 above, a cut is formed in the film and the tearing strip in the vicinity of an end opposite to the tab of the tearing strip. An end point of the cutting with use of the tearing strip can be easily provided by forming the cut. If the cut passes through the base, a protector is provided also for an area where the cut is formed to maintain the sealability of the container, as described in Patent Literature 3.CITATION LISTPATENT LITERATURE(S)

[0006] Patent Literature 1: JP H11-510461 A Patent Literature 2: JP 2018-188196 A Patent Literature 3: JP 2022-065719 A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONPROBLEM(S) TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, it is not always easy to form a cut not passing through the base with an accurate depth, and if the cut passes through the base due to manufacturing errors, for instance, the sealability of the bag is deteriorated. Although the sealability of the bag is more reliably ensured by providing the protector, the amount of resin used and the number of manufacturing steps increase, which needs further improvement.

[0008] Thus, an object of the invention is to provide a container in which an end point of the cutting can be provided while the sealability of the container is ensured without using additional members, a tape-attached film, a tape member, a method of manufacturing a tape-attached film, and a method of manufacturing a container.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM(S)

[0009] [1] A container including: a film forming a container body; and a tape member including a tearing strip and a base, the tearing strip being directly or indirectly bonded to the film, the base being layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, in which the tearing strip includes a thin portion formed by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip. [2] The container according to [1], in which the thin portion is positioned within a range of 20% or less of a total length of the tearing strip from the one end of the tearing strip. [3] The container according to [1] or [2], in which the thin portion is formed by pressing applied from a side near the film. [4] The container according to [3], in which the film has a pressure mark at a position corresponding to the thin portion. [5] The container according to any one of [1] to [4], in which the tearing strip is continuous through the thin portion. [6] The container according to any one of [1] to [5], in which a tab for opening the container is formed on the tearing strip at a position different from the thin portion. [7] The container according to any one of [1] to [6], in which the base includes a first base and a second base that are bonded to the film, the second base being wider than the first base, a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion are provided on the first base and the second base, respectively, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion being engageable with each other, and the tearing strip is layered between the second base and the film. [8] A tape-attached film including: an elongated film; and a tape member arranged on the film so that a longitudinal direction of the tape member corresponds to a width direction of the film and bonded to the film, the tape member including a tearing strip bonded to the film and a base layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, in which the tearing strip includes a thin portion formed by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip. [9] A tape member including: a tearing strip bondable to a film; and a base layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, in which a thin portion is formed on the tearing strip by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip.

[10] A method of manufacturing a tape-attached film, the method including: bonding, to a film, a tape member including a tearing strip and a base layered on the tearing strip so that the base is arranged at a side opposite to the film with respect to the tearing strip; and forming a thin portion on the film and the tearing strip in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip, by pressing applied from a side near the film, after the bonding the tape member to the film.

[11] A method of manufacturing a tape-attached film, the method including: forming a thin portion on a tape member including a tearing strip and a base layered on the tearing strip, by pressing the tearing strip in a vicinity of one end thereof from a side opposite to the base; and bonding the tape member to the film so that the base is arranged at a side opposite to the film with respect to the tearing strip, after the forming the thin portion.

[12] A method of manufacturing a container, the method including: the bonding the tape member to the film and the forming the thin portion in the method of manufacturing the tape-attached film according to

[10] or

[11] ; and forming a container body using the film.

[0010] According to the above configurations, the end point of the cutting with use of the tearing strip for forming an opening in the container is provided in a form of the thin portion. Therefore, it is possible to provide the end point of the cutting while ensuring the sealability of the container without forming a cut that does not pass through the base or providing a protector.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bag-shaped container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a thin portion of the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates another exemplary configuration of the thin portion of the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary formation process of the thin portion illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary formation process of the thin portion illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a tape member of the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 illustrates another exemplary configuration of the tape member in the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 illustrates sill another exemplary configuration of the tape member in the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 illustrates a tape-attached film according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. 10 is a plan view illustrating another example of the bag-shaped container according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0012] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this description and the accompanying drawings, components that have substantially the same functional configurations are indicated by the same reference codes, and thus redundant description thereof is omitted.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bag-shaped container according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, a bag-shaped container 100 includes a film 110 that forms a container body including a first surface 111A and a second surface 111B facing each other, and a tape member 120 bonded to the first surface 111A of the film 110. The tape member 120 includes a base 121 and a tearing strip 122. A thin portion 131, which will be described later, is formed in the vicinity of one end of the tearing strip 122. A tab 141 for opening the bag-shaped container 100 is formed in the vicinity of the other end of the tearing strip 122, and a protector 142 is arranged to cover the tab 141.

[0014] The film 110 includes, for instance, a single-layer or multi-layer thermoplastic resin film. Specifically, a thermoplastic resin may be low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or polypropylene (PP). PP may be a polypropylene homopolymer (HPP), a polypropylene random copolymer (RPP), or a polypropylene block copolymer (BPP). When the film 110 includes a multi-layered film, biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (OPET), or biaxially oriented nylon (ONy) may be used for a surface base material. A film constituting the film 110 may include a layer of a metal material such as aluminum, or a layer of an inorganic material. Further, a resin film containing any amount of bioplastics such as biopolyethylene is also usable.

[0015] In the exemplary embodiment, the elongated film 110, as in an example to be described later, is folded back on both sides in a width direction and overlapped ends in the width direction are bonded together with a seal portion 112, thereby forming the first surface 111A and the second surface 111B. Seal portions 113 and 114 are formed at an upper end and a lower end, respectively, of the container body. For instance, when the bag-shaped container 100 is to be filled with contents after the completion of the bag-shaped container 100, at least one of the seal portion 113 or the seal portion 114 may not be formed.

[0016] In the tape member 120, the tearing strip 122 is bonded to the first surface 111A of the film 110, and the base 121 is layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the first surface 111A of the film 110. When the tearing strip 122 is pulled starting from the tab 141, the tearing strip 122 cuts the first surface 111A of the film 110 while being peeled off from the base 121 thereby to form an opening in the bag-shaped container 100. The thin portion 131 provides an end point of the cutting with use of the tearing strip 122. In the illustrated example, the tab 141 is a cut formed in the first surface 111A of the film 110, the tearing strip 122, and the base 121, and the protector 142 is arranged to prevent deterioration of the sealability of the bag-shaped container 100 due to the cut. The tape member 120 may configure a zipper tape in which the base 121 includes a pair of opposing portions each having an engagement portion.

[0017] In the tape member 120 as described above, the base 121 is formed by extrusion molding of a polyolefin-based resin, for instance. More specifically, the base 121 may include low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or polypropylene (PP). PP may be a polypropylene homopolymer (HPP), a polypropylene random copolymer (RPP), or a polypropylene block copolymer (BPP). These may each be an environmentally friendly bio-plastic or a mixture of a resin derived from fossil fuel and a biomass plastic such as biopolyethylene. In consideration of the environment, the base 121 may be formed by extrusion molding of a biodegradable resin such as polylactate (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), poly(butylene adipate / terephthalate) (PBAT), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(caprolactone / butylene succinate) (PCLBS), poly(butylene succinate / adipate) (PBSA), poly(butylene succinate / carbonate) (PEC), poly(ethylene terephthalate / succinate) (PETS), poly(tetramethylene adipate / terephthalate) (PTMAT), polyethylene succinate (PES), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-H), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and poly(hydroxybutyrate / hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH). These may be biodegradable resins derived from biomass. A known additive such as a stabilizer, antioxidant, lubricant, antistatic agent, or coloring agent may be added to the material of the base 121, as necessary.

[0018] The tearing strip 122 is formed, for instance, by extrusion molding of a polyolefin-based resin, similarly to the base 121. The tearing strip 122 formed from a resin having low compatibility with a resin included in the base 121 enables the base 121 and the tearing strip 122 to undergo interfacial peeling on a bonding surface. For this purpose, for instance, one of the base 121 and the tearing strip 122 may be formed from a low-density polyethylene resin, and the other may be formed from a polypropylene random copolymer resin. Specific examples of such a combination include low-density polyethylene (LDPE) / polypropylene random copolymer (RPP), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) / RPP (some of which include m-LL), LDPE / polypropylene homopolymer (HPP), LLDPE / HPP (some of which include m-LL), LDPE / polystyrene (PS), LLDPE / PS (also including m-LL), RPP / PS, HPP / PS, LDPE / polyethylene terephthalate (PET), LLDPE / PET, RPP / PET, HPP / PET, PS / PET, LDPE / nylon (Ny), LLDPE / Ny, RPP / Ny, HPP / Ny, and PS / Ny. If the base 121 contains a biodegradable resin, it is preferable that the tearing strip 122 also contains a biodegradable resin.

[0019] Figs. 2 and 3 each illustrate an exemplary configuration of the thin portion in the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1, which is a cross-sectional view taken along a II-II line or a III-III line in Fig. 1. The illustration of the second surface 111B of the film 110 is omitted. In both of the exemplary configurations, thin portions 131A and 131B (also referred to as the thin portion 131 collectively) are each formed on the tearing strip 122 by pressing. The thin portion 131 being formed by pressing can be identified by that the tearing strip 122 is stretched but is continuous through the thin portion 131, for instance. Alternatively, the thin portion 131 being formed by pressing may be identified by that the extruded resin is accumulated on both sides of the thin portion 131.

[0020] In the exemplary configuration illustrated in Fig. 2, since the thin portion 131A is formed after bonding of the tape member to the film as will be described later, a pressure mark is formed on the first surface 111A of the film 110 at a position corresponding to the thin portion 131A. This pressure mark is observable, for instance, as a portion of the first surface 111A curved along a concave cross section of the thin portion 131A.

[0021] On the other hand, in the exemplary configuration illustrated in Fig. 3, since a thin portion 131B is formed before the bonding of the tape member to the film, no pressure mark is formed on the first surface 111A of the film 110 at a position corresponding to the thin portion 131B, and there is a gap between the first surface 111A and a concave portion of the thin portion 131B. In this exemplary configuration as well, for instance, contraction of air in the gap after the bonding of the tape member to the film may cause the first surface 111A to curve at a position corresponding to the thin portion 131B.

[0022] The tearing strip 122 having a thickness of, for instance, 0.25 mm or less at the thin portion 131 makes it possible to break the tearing strip 122 that has been pulled while cutting the first surface 111A of the film 110, thereby to provide the end point of the cutting. From the viewpoint of easily breaking the tearing strip 122, the thickness of the tearing strip 122 at the thin portion 131 is preferably 0.23 mm or less, more preferably 0.20 mm or less. Since the tearing strip 122 is peeled off from the base 121 as described above, the thin portion 131 may not be formed in the base 121.

[0023] On the other hand, by leaving a part including the tearing strip 122 and the base 121 at the thin portion 131, i.e., by making a thickness of that part greater than 0 mm, the sealability of the bag-shaped container 100 can be maintained without providing a protector for the thin portion 131. From this viewpoint, the thickness of the part including the tearing strip 122 and the base 121 at the thin portion 131 is preferably 0.01 mm or more, more preferably 0.02 mm or more. Since the sealability can be maintained as long as the thickness of the base 121 remains, the thickness of the tearing strip 122 at the thin portion 131 may be 0 mm.

[0024] Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate exemplary formation processes of the thin portions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. In the exemplary formation process illustrated in Fig. 4, after the bonding of the tape member to the film, the thin portion 131A is formed by pressing applied from a side near the film 110 using a pressing member 201A. In the exemplary formation process illustrated in Fig. 5, before the bonding of the tape member to the film, the thin portion 131B is formed by pressing applied on the tearing strip 122 from a side opposite to the base 121 using a pressing member 201B. The pressing members 201A and 201B each have a cross-sectional shape such as a V-shape, U-shape, or wedge shape. The pressing members 201A and 201B each having the shape as referred to above make it possible to concentrate a force on a part of the tearing strip 122 and easily form the thin portion. The pressing members 201A and 201B may be made of metal, for instance, and may form the thin portion by softening the resin by heating or applying ultrasonic vibration.

[0025] Figs. 6 to 8 each illustrate an exemplary configuration of the tape member in the bag-shaped container illustrated in Fig. 1. The tape member 120 including the base 121 and the tearing strip 122 can adopt various known configurations as exemplified below.

[0026] In the exemplary configuration illustrated in Fig. 6, two opposing bases 121A and 121B are both bonded to the first surface 111A of the film 110. The base 121B is wider than the base 121A. The bases 121A and 121B include engagement portions 123A and 123B, respectively, and the engagement portions 123A and 123B are engageable with each other. Thus, the tape member 120 configures a pair of zipper tapes. The tearing strip 122 is layered between the base 121B and the first surface 111A of the film 110 and bonded to the first surface 111A. As in the exemplary configuration illustrated in Fig. 7, the tearing strip 122 may be layered between the base 121A bonded to the first surface 111A and the base 121B. In this arrangement, the tearing strip 122 is indirectly bonded to the first surface 111A. Two or more engagement portions may be provided, as exemplified by engagement portions 123C and 123D in Figs. 6 and 7. The engagement portion 123A has a male shape, the engagement portion 123B has a female shape, and the engagement portions 123C and 123D each have a hook shape in the illustrated exemplary configurations. However, the male and female shapes may be reversed, or the shapes of the engagement portions are not limited to the male and female shapes or hook shape, and various known shapes of engagement portions in zipper tapes can be adopted.

[0027] In the exemplary configuration illustrated in Fig. 8, two portions 121C and 121D of the base 121 with a slit therebetween are bonded to the first surface 111A of the film 110. The tearing strip 122, which is disposed in a recess formed in the base 121 at a side near the first surface 111A, is bonded to the first surface 111A. In this exemplary configuration also, at least one of the two portions 121C and 121D of the base 121 may be interposed between the tearing strip 122 and the first surface 111A, and the tearing strip 122 may be indirectly bonded to the first surface 111A. In either case, cutting the first surface 111A with use of the tearing strip 122 can form an opening in the bag-shaped container 100 through the slit between the two portions 121C and 121D of the base 121.

[0028] Fig. 9 illustrates a tape-attached film according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. A tape-attached film 101 illustrated in Fig. 9 is a material for manufacturing the bag-shaped container 100 as described above with reference to Fig. 1, for instance. The illustrated tape-attached film 101 includes the elongated film 110 wound into a roll, and tape members 120 that are arranged on the film 110 so that a longitudinal direction of each tape member 120 corresponds to the width direction of the film 110, and are bonded to the film 110. The tape member 120 is arranged so that the tearing strip 122 is bonded to the film 110 and the base 121 is layered on the tearing strip 122 at a side opposite to the film 110, though the illustration thereof is omitted in Fig. 9. The thin portion 131 is formed by pressing in the vicinity of one end of the tape member 120 that includes the tearing strip 122, and the tab 141 is provided together with the protector 142 in the vicinity of the other end.

[0029] The tape-attached film 101 as described above is folded back near both ends of the tape member 120 and both edges of the tape-attached film 101 are overlapped, and then the tape-attached film 101 is cut along the width direction of the film 110, i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the tape member 120. Thus, the first surface 111A and the second surface 111B of the container body are formed by the film 110 and the bag-shaped container 100 as illustrated in Fig. 1 is manufactured. As described above with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, when the tape-attached film 101 is manufactured, the thin portion 131 may be formed before the tape member 120 is bonded to the film 110 or after the tape member 120 has been bonded to the film 110.

[0030] Fig. 10 is a plan view illustrating another example of the bag-shaped container according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. A bag-shaped container 100A in the example illustrated in Fig. 10 differs from the example illustrated in Fig. 1 in that a surrounding seal portion 143 is formed around the tab 141 without providing the protector. In this example as well, the surrounding seal portion 143 separates an area where the tab 141 is located from the other area inside the container, thereby preventing deterioration of the sealability of the container due to the cut in the tab 141. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the configurations are not particularly limited except for the thin portion formed in the vicinity of one end of the tearing strip. As a specific example, the configuration related to the tab for opening the container as described above is not particularly limited, and various known configurations may be adopted. For instance, an opening may be formed in the container by pulling the tearing strip toward opposite sides from two tabs provided near the center of the tearing strip. In such a configuration, another thin portion may be formed also in the vicinity of the other end of the tearing strip. From the viewpoint of usability of the bag-shaped container, the vicinity of the end of the tearing strip indicates, for instance, a range of 20% or less of the total length of the tearing strip from the end of the tearing strip. This range is preferably 15% or less, more preferably 10% or less. The lower limit value thereof is not particularly limited but exceeds 0%.EXPLANATION OF CODES

[0031] 100, 100A...bag-shaped container, 101...tape-attached film, 110...film, 111A...first surface, 111B...second surface, 112, 113, 114...seal portion, 120...tape member, 121...base, 122...tearing strip, 131, 131A, 131B...thin portion, 141...tab, 142...protector, 143...surrounding seal portion, 201A, 201B...pressing member.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a film forming a container body; and a tape member including a tearing strip and a base, the tearing strip being directly or indirectly bonded to the film, the base being layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, wherein the tearing strip includes a thin portion formed by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the thin portion is positioned within a range of 20% or less of a total length of the tearing strip from the one end of the tearing strip.

3. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thin portion is formed by pressing applied from a side near the film.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the film has a pressure mark at a position corresponding to the thin portion.

5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tearing strip is continuous through the thin portion.

6. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a tab for opening the container is formed on the tearing strip at a position different from the thin portion.

7. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base includes a first base and a second base that are bonded to the film, the second base being wider than the first base, a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion are provided on the first base and the second base, respectively, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion being engageable with each other, and the tearing strip is layered between the second base and the film.

8. A tape-attached film comprising: an elongated film; and a tape member arranged on the film so that a longitudinal direction of the tape member corresponds to a width direction of the film and bonded to the film, the tape member including a tearing strip bonded to the film and a base layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, wherein the tearing strip includes a thin portion formed by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip.

9. A tape member comprising: a tearing strip bondable to a film; and a base layered on the tearing strip at a side opposite to the film, wherein a thin portion is formed on the tearing strip by pressing in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip.

10. A method of manufacturing a tape-attached film, the method comprising: bonding, to a film, a tape member including a tearing strip and a base layered on the tearing strip so that the base is arranged at a side opposite to the film with respect to the tearing strip; and forming a thin portion on the film and the tearing strip in a vicinity of one end of the tearing strip, by pressing applied from a side near the film, after the bonding the tape member to the film.

11. A method of manufacturing a tape-attached film, the method comprising: forming a thin portion on a tape member including a tearing strip and a base layered on the tearing strip, by pressing the tearing strip in a vicinity of one end thereof from a side opposite to the base; and bonding the tape member to the film so that the base is arranged at a side opposite to the film with respect to the tearing strip, after the forming the thin portion.

12. A method of manufacturing a container, the method comprising: the bonding the tape member to the film and the forming the thin portion in the method of manufacturing the tape-attached film according to claim 10 or 11; and forming a container body using the film.

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