Dehumidifier container and dehumidification method

Abstract

To provide a dehumidifier container that can contain a sufficient amount of a deliquescent agent while controlling bulkiness and maintaining a good moisture absorption rate from immediately after the start of use to the end of use, and a dehumidification method.SOLUTION: A dehumidifier container 100 comprises: a waterproof container body 40 having a bottom surface 10, side surface 20, and a top surface opening 30 formed by a top surface being opened; a flange 50 extending from an upper end of the side surface 20; a deliquescent agent 60 contained in the container body 40; a permeable waterproof sheet 70 covering the top surface opening 30 and bonded to an upper surface side of the flange 50; and a nonpermeable lid sheet 80 covering the permeable waterproof sheet 70. Gas inside the container body 40 is degassed, and the side surface 20 is irregularly contracted. A height H2 from a lower surface of the bottom surface 10 to an upper surface of the flange 50 is configured to be smaller than a height from the bottom surface 10 to the upper surface of the flange 50 before degassing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a desiccant container containing a deliquescent agent therein and a dehumidification method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, tank-type dehumidifiers have been widely proposed as a way to remove moisture from storage spaces such as closets, storage compartments, or shoe cabinets. These dehumidifiers absorb moisture in the air, liquefy it, and store the liquefied moisture in a container using a deliquescent chemical such as calcium chloride.

[0003] For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a tank-type dehumidifier (hereinafter, also referred to as Prior Art 1) that uses a self-supporting container with an open top made of a synthetic resin material. Prior Art 1 is configured such that a tray with multiple drip holes is placed in the vertical middle of the container, a granular deliquescent drug is stored on the tray, and the top opening of the container is covered with a moisture-permeable, waterproof sheet. In Prior Art 1, the deliquescent liquid generated by the deliquescent drug absorbing moisture is stored below the tray through the drip holes.

[0004] Also, bag-type dehumidifiers have been proposed in addition to the tank-type dehumidifiers of Prior Art 1. For example, Patent Document 2 below discloses a dehumidifying bag (hereinafter also referred to as Prior Art 2) made by overlapping a transparent film and a moisture-permeable film made of polyethylene or polypropylene or the like and heat-sealing three sides to form a bag, filling this with a deliquescent agent such as calcium chloride, and heat-sealing the opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-274985 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-245332 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The above-mentioned prior arts 1 and 2 each have the following problems. That is, since the deliquescent chemical becomes a deliquescent liquid by absorbing moisture in the air and increases in volume, the tank-type dehumidifier as in Prior Art 1 is designed to be sufficiently large in consideration of the amount of deliquescent liquid at the end of product use. Therefore, the tank-type dehumidifier is bulky, which causes problems in terms of transportation during shipping, carrying by consumers who purchase the dehumidifier at a store, storage, and the like.

[0007] In addition, the tank-type dehumidifier as in the prior art 1 has a problem of slow moisture absorption speed. According to the study by the present inventors, the closer the distance between the deliquescent chemical and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, the easier it is to absorb moisture. Also, even after becoming a deliquescent liquid, the closer the distance between the deliquescent liquid surface and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, the easier it is to absorb moisture. Based on this knowledge, the prior art 1 can start absorbing moisture at a sufficient speed immediately after starting use because the distance between the deliquescent chemical contained on the tray in the container and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the upper opening of the container is relatively close, but the deliquescent liquid generated as a result is stored below the tray. Therefore, it was thought that the distance between the deliquescent chemical and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet becomes farther as the deliquescent liquid is generated, and the moisture absorption speed slows down after a while after opening.

[0008] On the other hand, in conventional technology 2, a transparent film and a moisture-permeable film are formed into a bag shape to store a deliquescent drug, so the volume is smaller than that of conventional technology 1. However, because the volume of the bag is small, the amount of liquefied drug stored is large. The amount of the deliquescent agent was limited, and therefore the amount of moisture absorbed was also limited. In addition, in the configuration of conventional technology 2, the deliquescent liquid was stored in the moisture-permeable film, so there was a risk that part of the aqueous solution would seep out over a long period of use.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a desiccant container and a dehumidification method that can store a sufficient amount of a deliquescent chemical while suppressing bulkiness and can maintain a good moisture absorption rate from immediately after the start of use to the end of use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The desiccant container of the present invention comprises a waterproof container body having a bottom portion, side portions and a top opening formed by openings in the bottom portion, side portions and top portion, a flange portion extending from the upper end of the side portion, a deliquescent drug contained in the container body, a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening and adhered to the upper surface side of the flange portion, and a non-moisture-permeable lid sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, characterized in that gas inside the container body is degassed, the side portions shrink irregularly, and a height H2 from the bottom portion to the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet is smaller than a height H1 from the bottom portion to the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet before degassing. Further, the present invention provides a dehumidification method for a container comprising: a waterproof container body having a bottom portion, a side portion and a top opening formed by openings in the bottom portion, a flange portion extending from an upper end of the side portion; a deliquescent drug contained in the container body; a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening and attached to an upper surface side of the flange portion; and a moisture-impermeable lid sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, wherein gas inside the container body is degassed and the side portion is shrunk, and a height H2 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion is increased by 100% from the lower surface of the bottom portion before degassing to the height H3 of the bottom portion before degassing. The method is characterized in that the lid sheet of a desiccant container which is smaller than the height H1 to the top surface of the flange portion is peeled off and opened, and the container is placed on a horizontal surface, and a deliquescent liquid is generated by causing the deliquescent agent to absorb moisture through the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, thereby increasing the sum of the volume of the deliquescent agent and the deliquescent liquid in the desiccant container after opening to be greater than the volume of the deliquescent agent alone before opening, thereby expanding the contracted side portion and maintaining a state in which the deliquescent liquid is close to or in contact with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The desiccant container of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration is deaerated and reduced in volume so as to be compressed in the height direction, so that it is prevented from becoming bulky, and is easy to transport and store. In addition, because it is compressed in the height direction, the distance between the deliquescent agent contained inside and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening is short. Therefore, the present invention has a fast moisture absorption rate from the start of use. Moreover, as the volume of the deliquescent liquid generated by moisture absorption increases, the deaerated and compressed container body expands and returns to its original shape, so that the deliquescent liquid surface is always near the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet. Therefore, the present invention maintains a fast moisture absorption rate even after many days have passed since the start of use. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a desiccant container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2(A) to 2(C) are explanatory views illustrating an example of a manufacturing process for a container body used in the present invention. [Diagram 3] 3(A) to 3(C) are explanatory views illustrating an example of a manufacturing process for the desiccant container of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4(A) to 4C are explanatory views illustrating the state of a dehumidifying agent container of the present invention from the beginning to the later stages of use. [Diagram 5] 1 is a graph showing the long-term change in moisture absorption amount during use of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 3. [Figure 6] The photographs show Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 2 taken from the side at the start of use, on the 10th day, and on the 31st day. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations are omitted as appropriate. Note that the drawings used for the description of the present invention do not limit the dimensions, dimensional ratios, and shapes of the present invention and the members included in the present invention. In this specification, the term "up-down direction" refers to the direction from the top to the bottom as viewed from an arbitrary height position, and the term "horizontal direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the above-mentioned direction.

[0014] First, an overview of a desiccant container according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a side view of a desiccant container 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The desiccant container 100 includes a waterproof container body 40 having a bottom portion 10, a side portion 20, and a top opening 30 formed by opening the top surface, a flange portion 50 extending from the upper end of the side portion 20, and The container body 40 includes a deliquescent chemical 60, a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 that covers the top opening 30 and is attached to the upper surface of the flange portion 50, and a moisture-impermeable lid sheet 80 that covers the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70. In the desiccant container 100, the gas inside the container body 40 is degassed. Therefore, the height H2 from the lower surface of the bottom portion 10 to the upper surface of the flange 50 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the height H2 before opening after degassing) is configured to be smaller than the height H1 from the lower surface of the bottom portion 10 to the upper surface of the flange portion 50 before degassing (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the height H1 before degassing). Note that the container body 30 showing the height H1 before degassing is shown in FIG. 3A showing the cross section of the container body.

[0015] The desiccant container 100 having such a configuration is reduced in volume by deaerating the inside of the container body 40 so that the dimension in the height direction of the container body 40 is reduced. Therefore, the desiccant container 100 is small in volume and easy to transport and store. In addition, since the desiccant container 100 is deaerated so that its height dimension becomes smaller than before deaeration as described above, the distance between the deliquescent chemical 60 contained in the container body 40 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 becomes shorter. Therefore, a good moisture absorption rate is exhibited from the start of use. Other effects of the present invention will be described in turn in the detailed description of the desiccant container 100 given below.

[0016] (Container body) The container body 40 has a bottom surface portion 10, a side surface portion 20, and a top surface opening portion 30. The bottom surface portion 10 is a portion configured to have a predetermined area and a substantially flat plate shape, and its shape is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a square, a circle, an ellipse, or any other shape. The side surface portion 20 extends upward from the outer edge of the bottom surface portion 10, and divides the inside and outside of the container body 40. The upper end side of the side surface portion 20 is open, and a top surface opening 30 is formed. As shown in FIG. 3A, the side surface portion 20 before degassing is a wall-like shape without wrinkles or folds. In contrast, the container body 40 shown in FIG. 1 is in a degassed and sealed state, and the side surface portion 20 shrinks irregularly, making the height dimension of the container body 40 smaller than that before degassing. That is, the container body 40 is configured such that the height H2 before opening after degassing is smaller than the height H1 before degassing. In the present invention, degassing means removing a part of the gas inside the container body 40. The volume of the container body 40 is substantially reduced by degassing. Therefore, in the container body 40, at least the side portion 20 is made of a flexible material that can shrink by degassing while maintaining the storage capacity of the deliquescent liquid, thereby reducing the volume of the container body 40. Specifically, for example, a resin sheet having a suitable thickness and strength can be used. By using such a resin sheet to configure the side portion 20 or the entire container body 40, the amount of plastic and other materials used can be reduced compared to the container of a conventional tank-type dehumidifier, and the present invention is also advantageous in that the amount of waste at the time of disposal can be reduced.

[0017] The constituent member of the side portion 20 may be any member that can shrink when the container body 40 is degassed as described above and can store the deliquesced liquid in that state. In consideration of moldability, the constituent member may be a waterproof resin sheet made of a polyethylene resin, a nylon resin, a polypropylene resin, a polystyrene resin, or the like. The resin sheet is composed of one or more mixed resins of the above-mentioned resin members. In consideration of flexibility, a resin sheet containing a polyethylene resin as a constituent member is preferable. The resin sheet may be a single-layer sheet or a laminated sheet having a plurality of resin layers. For example, a laminated sheet having a polyethylene resin layer on both outermost surfaces and another resin layer between them is preferable from the viewpoint of flexibility, and a more specific example is a laminated sheet having a polyethylene resin layer / nylon resin layer / polyethylene resin layer laminated in this order.

[0018] The bottom surface portion 10 may be made of the same material as the side surface portion 20, or may be made of a different material. Considering ease of manufacture and disposal, it is preferable that bottom portion 10 and side portion 20 are made of the same material, it is more preferable that bottom portion 10 and side portion 20 are both made of a resin material, and it is even more preferable that bottom portion 10 and side portion 20 are made of the same resin material.

[0019] The container body 40 including the bottom surface portion 10 and the side surface portion 20 described above is preferably made of a single resin sheet. This makes the boundary between the bottom surface portion 10 and the side surface portion 20 continuous, effectively preventing the deliquescent liquid from leaking out. Furthermore, since the number of parts required during manufacturing can be reduced, making the container body 40 out of a single resin sheet is also advantageous in terms of manufacturing. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the container body 40 and the flange portion 50 are configured from a single resin sheet. This is advantageous in terms of the manufacturing process as it reduces the number of parts required, and also makes it less likely for the flange portion 50 to fall off or be damaged due to contact or the like.

[0020] The thickness Tb (μm) of the bottom portion 10 and the thickness Ts (μm) of the side portion 20 in the container body 40 made of the resin sheet described above are not particularly limited as long as they allow volume reduction due to degassing. From the viewpoint of the shape retention and moisture resistance of the container body 40, the thicknesses Tb and Ts are preferably 10 μm or more, and more preferably 20 μm or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of allowing degassing and reducing the amount of material used while maintaining good shape retention and moisture resistance, the thicknesses Tb and Ts are preferably 400 μm or less, and more preferably 380 μm or less.

[0021] The desiccant container 100 has a feature that the gas inside the container body 40 is degassed and the container body 40 contracts in the vertical direction. Therefore, from the viewpoint of improving the stability of the container body 40 in the degassed state, enabling the container body 40 to contract sufficiently in the vertical direction during degassing, and avoiding contraction of the bottom portion 10, the ratio Ts / Tb of the thickness Ts (μm) of the side portion 20 to the thickness Tb (μm) of the bottom portion 10 is preferably less than 1, more preferably 0.8 or less, and even more preferably 0.6 or less. If the ratio Ts / Tb is 1 or more, the bottom surface portion 10 may wrinkle during degassing, and the container may not be installed stably. After the desiccant container 100 is used, the container body 40, which has shrunk due to degassing, expands in a direction to return to its original shape as the deliquescent liquid accumulates in the container body 40. However, if the deliquescent liquid accumulates in a wrinkled state in the bottom surface portion 10, the wrinkles in the bottom surface portion 10 are difficult to straighten under the weight of the deliquescent liquid, and the expanded container body 40 may tilt. If the container body 40 tilts in this way, there is a risk that the deliquescent liquid and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 may come into contact with each other in the latter half of the usage period. Since the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is waterproof, it is normally configured so that the deliquescent liquid will not leak out even if such contact occurs. However, if a pinhole occurs in the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 or if part of the bonded moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 and the flange portion 50 peels off, there is a risk of the deliquescent liquid leaking out.

[0022] On the other hand, from the viewpoint of moisture resistance of the side surface portion 20 and shape retention of the container body 40 when the deliquescent liquid accumulates, the ratio Ts / Tb is preferably 0.2 or more, and more preferably 0.3 or more. As shown in Fig. 3A, in the desiccant container 100, the thickness Tb (μm) of the bottom portion 10 refers to the thickness of the center of the bottom portion 10 of the container body 40, and the thickness Ts (μm) of the side portion 20 refers to the thickness of the side portion 20 in a region corresponding to a height position that is 3 / 8 from the top of the height H1 from the lower surface of the bottom portion 10 to the upper surface of the flange portion 50 in the container body 40 before degassing. The thickness Ts of the side portion 20 is the arithmetic average value of thicknesses at four randomly selected points at the height position described above. The thicknesses Tb and Ts described above may be measured before or after degassing.

[0023] The dimensions and shape of the container body 40 are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined taking into consideration the amount of the deliquescent chemical 60 contained therein, the purpose, the size of the space in which it is planned to be used, and the like. When the dehumidifying agent container 100 is used for home use, the capacity of the container body 40 can be designed to be, for example, about 300 ml to 1200 ml, and from the viewpoint of securing an appropriate area of ​​the top opening 30, the height of the container body 40 before degassing can be designed to be about 3 cm to 10 cm. Here, the dehumidifying agent container 100 is degassed and contracted in the vertical direction, and the height H2 before opening after degassing is smaller than the height H1 of the container body before degassing, and the bulkiness is improved compared to conventional containers. Therefore, even if the container body 40 is designed to be about 2 to 10 times larger than the capacity and height suitable for home use as the dehumidifying agent container 100 for commercial use, it is easy to transport and store.

[0024] (Flange part) The desiccant container 100 is provided with a flange portion 50 extending from the upper end of the side portion 20 of the container body 40. The flange portion 50 extends from the upper end of the side portion 20 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and the upper surface side is an adhesive surface with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70. The moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 covering the top opening 30 is firmly supported by the flange portion 50. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the flange portion 50 extends approximately horizontally from the upper end of the side portion 20 toward the outside of the container. The flange portion 50 provided toward the outside of the container is easy to manufacture together with the container body 40 in the deep drawing process described later. On the other hand, as a modified example not shown, the flange portion 50 may be extended toward the inside of the container (i.e., in a direction that does not protrude outward from the container body 40 when viewed from above), and such an embodiment is preferable in that the shape of the desiccant container 100 can be made more compact. The flange portion 50 is provided on at least a part of the top surface opening 30, and preferably on the entire periphery of the opening.

[0025] The flange portion 50 may be formed separately from the container body 40 and adhered or joined to the upper end of the side surface portion 20, but is preferably provided integrally with the side surface portion 20. For example, the side surface portion 20 and the flange portion 50 can be integrally molded using a single waterproof resin sheet. Of course, the container body 40 including the side surface portion 20 and the flange portion 50 may also be integrally molded.

[0026] The thickness Tf (μm) of the flange portion 50 made of a resin member is not particularly limited as long as it is thick enough to support the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70. Considering the balance with the container body 40, a specific preferred thickness range is that the thickness Tf (μm) of the flange portion 50 is 180 μm or more and 400 μm or less, and the ratio Tf / Tb of the thickness Tf (μm) of the flange portion 50 to the thickness Tb (μm) of the bottom surface portion 10 is preferably 1 or more, and more preferably exceeds 1. A flange portion 50 within this thickness range can adequately support the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 during deaeration and use. Here, the thickness Tf of the flange portion 50 is the arithmetic average value of thicknesses measured at four randomly selected points on the flange portion 50.

[0027] In the desiccant container 100, the bottom portion 10, the side portion 20, and the flange portion 50 are integrally formed using one resin sheet, and it is more preferable that the flange portion 50 satisfies the above-mentioned preferable thickness range, and that the ratio Ts / Tb of the thickness Ts (μm) of the side portion 20 to the thickness Tb (μm) of the bottom portion 10 is less than 1. This makes it possible to maintain good shape retention while shrinking the side portion 20 and reducing the volume of the container body 40 during degassing.

[0028] For example, in a dehumidifier container 100 in which the container body 40 and the flange portion 50 are integrally formed using one waterproof resin sheet 42 (see FIG. 2A), it is preferable that the thickness of the waterproof resin sheet 42 used is 200 μm or more and 400 μm or less, and that the thickness of the flange portion 50 Tf (μm)≧the thickness of the bottom portion 10 Tb (μm)>the thickness of the side portion 20 Ts (μm). In this embodiment, the side portion 20 can be easily contracted in the up-down direction by deaeration while the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is firmly supported, and contraction of the bottom portion 10 can be prevented, and the strength sufficient to store the deliquescent liquid generated by moisture absorption and the shape retention of the container body 40 can be easily ensured.

[0029] (Deliquescent Drugs) Next, the deliquescent drug 60 will be described. The deliquescent drug 60 includes a wide range of agents that are turned into an aqueous solution by absorbing moisture, and specific examples thereof include deliquescent substances such as calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, and potassium acetate, and calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are particularly preferred in terms of moisture absorption capacity and price. The deliquescent drug 60 is composed of one or more known deliquescent substances. For example, the deliquescent drug 60 is formulated into granules by a dropping granulation method, an air-cooling granulation method, or the like, using one or more of the above-mentioned deliquescent substances.

[0030] The amount of deliquescent drug 60 contained in the container body 40 is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately determined taking into consideration the volume of the container body 40 before degassing, the size of the space in which it is planned to be used, and the like.

[0031] (Breathable waterproof sheet) The moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 covering the top opening 30 of the container body 40 is a moisture-permeable and waterproof sheet (i.e., a property that prevents the passage of deliquescent liquid). For example, a microporous membrane resin sheet is preferable as the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70. The manufacturing method of this microporous membrane resin sheet is not particularly limited, but it can be manufactured, for example, by molding a thermoplastic resin sheet containing an inorganic filler and then stretching it. Examples of thermoplastic resins used in molding this microporous membrane resin sheet include polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide, etc. Examples of moisture-permeable waterproof films made of this microporous membrane resin sheet include "Celpore" manufactured by Sumika Sekisui Film Co., Ltd., "NF Sheet" manufactured by Tokuyama Corporation, "Breathlon" manufactured by Nitoms Corporation, and "Exepole" manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. As long as the moisture permeability of the microporous resin sheet is not impaired, the microporous resin sheet may be laminated with a nonwoven fabric or other porous film to form a multilayer sheet.

[0032] The outer edge region of the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is attached and fixed by adhesion to the flange portion 50. Methods for bonding to the flange portion 50 include, but are not limited to, ultrasonic welding, hot plate welding, and high-frequency welding.

[0033] (Lid sheet) The lid sheet 80 is a moisture-impermeable sheet that covers the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70. It is preferable that the lid sheet 80 completely covers the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 at least in the area of ​​the top opening 30 when viewed from above. The lid sheet 80 seals the container body 40 before use to prevent the deliquescent drug 60 contained in the container body 40 from absorbing moisture and to maintain a degassed and reduced-volume state, and is peeled off and removed when used.

[0034] The cover sheet 80 may be transparent or opaque as long as it is moisture-impermeable (gas barrier). Examples of moisture-impermeable sheets include resin-based sheets such as oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylidene chloride-coated PET (K-PET), polyvinylidene chloride-coated OPP (K-OPP), silica-deposited PET, and alumina-deposited PET, as well as aluminum sheets. These moisture-impermeable sheets may be used in a single layer or in a composite (laminated) of multiple layers. The non-permeable sheet has an easily peelable adhesive layer on the side that contacts the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, so that the lid sheet can be easily peeled off at the start of use.

[0035] (Manufacturing method) Next, an example of a manufacturing method for the desiccant container 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2A to Fig. 2C are explanatory diagrams for explaining an example of a manufacturing process for the container body 40, and show a process of deep drawing the container body 40 into a predetermined shape by forming using a plug for forming assistance (hereinafter, also referred to as plug assist) in deep drawing. Fig. 3A to Fig. 3C are explanatory diagrams for explaining an example of a manufacturing process for manufacturing the desiccant container 100 using the container body 40. Each of the drawings shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view. Incidentally, one embodiment of a method for manufacturing the desiccant container 100 will be described below, but this description does not limit the method for manufacturing the desiccant container of the present invention in any way.

[0036] The manufacturing method of the desiccant container 100 in this embodiment includes a container forming step, a housing step, and a deaeration and sealing step. These steps will be described in order. The container forming process is a process in which, as shown in Figures 2A to 2C, a waterproof resin sheet 42 is placed in a predetermined molding die 201 and deep-drawn into a predetermined shape having a bottom portion 10, a side portion 20, and a flange portion 50 extending from the upper end of the side portion 20, to form a container body 40 having the flange portion 50. More specifically, first, as shown in Fig. 2A, waterproof resin sheet 42, which is a resin sheet constituting container body 40, is placed on a desired forming die 201. The outer edge of waterproof resin sheet 42 is clamped by clamping body 204 and maintained in a horizontally stretched state. When deep drawing container body 40, it is also possible to suck (vacuum suck) waterproof resin sheet 42 through suction holes 203 provided in forming die 201 without using plug assist and process it into a desired shape along the inner wall surface of forming die 201, but by employing plug assist, container body 40 in a more desirable desired shape is more easily obtained. Although the heating device is not shown in FIG. 2, the desired container body 40 can be easily obtained by appropriately heating and softening the waterproof resin sheet 42 before deep drawing.

[0037] The plug 202 is paired with the mold 201 in an uneven manner, and the mold 201 and the plug 202 are opposed to each other via the waterproof resin sheet 42, and then the uneven mating is performed as shown in Fig. 2B, whereby the waterproof resin sheet 42 can be formed into the container body 40 of a desired shape. By employing not only vacuum suction but also plug assist, it is possible to prevent the thickness of the portion corresponding to the bottom surface portion 10 from becoming too thin during deep drawing, and it is easy to adjust the ratio Ts / Tb of the thickness Tb (µm) of the bottom surface portion 10 to the thickness Ts (µm) of the side surface portion 20 to be less than 1.

[0038] 2C, the plug 202 is removed from the mold 201. Thereafter, the outer edge region of the waterproof resin sheet 42 is cut away, leaving the portion that will become the flange portion 50, thereby forming the container body 40 and the flange portion 50 that continues from the upper end of the side surface portion 20 integrally.

[0039] FIG. 3A shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the container body 40 formed in the container forming step described above. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, a deliquescent drug 60 is contained in the container body 40 obtained by carrying out the container formation process, and then a containing process is carried out in which the outer edge of a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is adhered to the upper surface of the flange portion 50. After that, a non-moisture-permeable lid sheet 80 that covers the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is laminated on the upper surface of the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70, and while maintaining the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 stretched in the planar direction, as shown in FIG. 3C, a degassing and sealing process is carried out in which the gas inside the container body 40 is degassed and the container body 40 is sealed with the lid sheet 80.

[0040] In general, the volume of the deliquescent drug 60 increases as it absorbs moisture and becomes a deliquescent liquid. Therefore, in the above-mentioned storage step, as shown in FIG. 3B, the volume of the container body 40 before degassing is sufficiently reduced. The container body 40 contains an amount of the deliquescent chemical 60 that circulates around the container body 40. Therefore, before degassing, there is a significant distance between the upper surface of the deliquescent chemical 60 contained in the container body 40 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70. When degassing is not performed, this distance is a factor that slows down the moisture absorption rate of the deliquescent chemical 60 at the start of use. In contrast, the desiccant container 100 has the gas inside the container body 40 degassed, and as a result, the height H2 before opening after degassing becomes smaller than the height H1 before degassing, and the volume of the desiccant container 100 becomes smaller.

[0041] Here, the degassing method may be any method that can reduce the volume by shrinking the container body 40 in the vertical direction. For example, the gas inside the container body 40 may be sucked out using a suction machine, or pressure may be applied from above and below to physically crush the container body 40 until it reaches an appropriate height (height H2).

[0042] In the degassing and sealing step, the gas inside the container body 40 may be sucked in to reduce the pressure and the container body 40 may be sealed with the lid sheet 80 so that the internal pressure is less than atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, the container body 40 may be physically crushed in the vertical direction to push out the air inside and reduce the volume, and then sealed with the lid sheet 80, and the container body 40 may be sealed with the lid sheet 80 in a state where the internal pressure of the container body 40 is approximately atmospheric pressure. In other words, the desiccant container of the present invention includes both an embodiment in which the internal pressure of the container body is less than atmospheric pressure and an embodiment in which the internal pressure is approximately the same as atmospheric pressure. According to the desiccant container 100 in which the internal pressure of the container body 40 is less than atmospheric pressure, the reduced volume state is easily maintained until use, and compactification (bulk reduction) is achieved well.

[0043] The degree of degassing may be appropriately determined in consideration of the amount of the contained deliquescent drug 60, etc., within the range of height H1 before degassing>height H2 after degassing and before opening. For example, it is preferable that the volume is reduced to such an extent that the upper surface of the deliquescent drug 60 contained in the container body 40 contacts the lower surface of the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 when the container is degassed and reduced in volume from the state of Fig. 3B to the state of Fig. 3C.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3C, the desiccant container 100 manufactured as described above has a closer distance between the upper surface of the deliquescent chemical 60 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 than the state before degassing shown in FIG. 3B. Therefore, moisture absorption occurs at a high speed immediately after peeling off the cover sheet 80 and starting use. A high moisture absorption speed immediately after starting use is very desirable for the user of the desiccant container 100, since it allows the effect of moisture absorption to be confirmed more quickly. In addition, the desiccant container 100 maintains a high moisture absorption speed not only at the start of use, but also during and after the middle period of use. Such effects will be further explained in the use example described later.

[0045] (Example of use) Next, an example of how the desiccant container is used will be described with reference to Figures 4A to 4C. Figures 4A to 4C are explanatory views for explaining the desiccant container 100 from the start of use to the later stages of use, and all of them are shown in longitudinal cross section.

[0046] When the desiccant container 100 manufactured as described above is used, the cover sheet 80 is peeled off and the container body 40 is opened. Fig. 4A shows a height H3 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion after deaeration and at the start of use (hereinafter also referred to as height H3 immediately after opening after deaeration). The height of the desiccant container 100 satisfies the following relationship: height H2 before opening after degassing≦height H3 immediately after opening after degassing<height H1 before degassing. The reason that the height H3 immediately after opening after degassing can be higher than the height H2 before opening after degassing is that a part of the side surface portion 20 that has shrunk due to degassing expands in an attempt to return to its original shape due to elastic deformation of the resin member or the like, and the space 44 between the deliquescent agent 60 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 can become larger than before opening.

[0047] As described above, in order to increase the moisture absorption rate, it is desirable that the distance between the deliquescent chemical 60 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is as short as possible (the height H3 immediately after opening after deaeration is as small as possible). For this purpose, it is preferable that the above-mentioned ratio Ts / Tb is less than 1. When the ratio Ts / Tb is 1 or more, the strength of the side portion 20 is increased, and when the lid sheet 80 is removed, the side portion 20 is more likely to be subjected to a force that causes it to return to its original shape.

[0048] When moisture absorption starts, as shown in Fig. 4B, a deliquescent liquid 62 is generated and the amount of the deliquescent chemical 60 decreases. The deliquescent chemical 60 increases in volume as it absorbs moisture and becomes the deliquescent liquid 62, so the sum of the volumes of the deliquescent chemical 60 and the deliquescent liquid 62 after opening is greater than the volume of the deliquescent chemical 60 alone before opening. As a result, in the desiccant container 100, the upper surface of the deliquescent liquid 62 stored in the container body 40 can always be located close to (or in contact with) the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70, and this allows a high moisture absorption rate to be maintained satisfactorily.

[0049] When the amount of the deliquescent liquid 62 further increases, all of the deliquescent drug 60 liquefies to an extent that cannot be visually confirmed, as shown in Fig. 4C. The moisture absorption in the dehumidifying agent container 100 does not stop at this point, but continues due to the moisture absorption ability of the deliquescent liquid 62 itself. The container body 40 expands the side surface portion 20, which had contracted, due to the increase in the volume of the content (deliquescent liquid 62), and gradually begins to return to the volume before degassing. In other words, even at this time, the container body 40 is expanded by an amount corresponding to the increased volume of the deliquescent liquid 62 , so that the upper surface of the deliquescent liquid 62 is maintained in a position close to the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 .

[0050] As described above, with the desiccant container 100, at the beginning of use, the distance between the deliquescent chemical 60 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is short, and from the middle to the latter stages of use, the distance between the deliquescent liquid 62 and the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet 70 is short, so that a fast moisture absorption rate is always maintained and high moisture absorption capacity is exhibited. EXAMPLES

[0051] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. Figures 5 and 6 are used to explain some of the examples and comparative examples. Table 1 shows the manufacturing conditions, the dimensions of the container body, and the evaluation. Fig. 5 is a graph showing the long-term change in moisture absorption during use of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 3. Fig. 6 is photographs of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 2 taken from the side at the start of use, on the 10th day, and on the 31st day. In order to observe the long-term change over time, three samples each (six in total) were prepared for Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 3, one for observation up to the 31st day and one for long-term change over time (up to 180 days), and these were used for the observation up to the 31st day and the long-term change over time (up to 180 days), respectively.

[0052] Example 1 A moisture-impermeable multilayer film (thickness 200 μm) consisting of three layers of polyethylene resin / nylon resin / polyethylene resin was set in the mold of a vacuum-pressure molding machine capable of deep drawing, and the multilayer film was plug-assisted while being vacuumed to form a container body having a rectangular opening of 80 mm x 167 mm and a height of 80 mm. The width of the flange was 18 mm on the short side and 15 mm on the long side. The container body formed as described above was filled with a deliquescent drug (280 g of calcium chloride dihydrate). Note that 280 g of calcium chloride dihydrate is the amount of deliquescent drug that can absorb approximately 650 g of water. Next, a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet was heat-welded to the upper surface of the flange portion, and then the container was evacuated to degas it until the deliquescent drug was in firm contact with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet. A lid sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet was then heat-welded in a peelable manner to obtain the desiccant container of Example 1. The moisture-permeable waterproof sheet was made by laminating nonwoven fabric with a sheath-core structure, in which the core layer was made of polyethylene terephthalate and the sheath layer was made of polyethylene, on both sides of a polyolefin-based microporous film. The cover sheet was made of an alumina-deposited polyethylene terephthalate film. A gas barrier sheet was used, which was made by laminating a sheet of oriented polypropylene (OPP) film and applying a part coating agent to the side that came into contact with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet.

[0053] Example 2 A desiccant container was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the thickness of the multilayer film constituting the container body was changed to 400 μm, and this was designated Example 2. Example 3 A desiccant container was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that plug assist was not performed, and this was designated Example 3. Example 4 A desiccant container was produced in the same manner as in Example 3 except that the thickness of the multilayer film constituting the container body was changed to 400 μm, and this was designated Example 4.

[0054] Comparative Example 1 A desiccant container was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the lid sheet was heat-welded without deaeration, and this was designated Comparative Example 1. Comparative Example 2 A desiccant container was produced in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, except that the thickness of the multilayer film constituting the container body was changed to 400 μm, and this was designated Comparative Example 2. Comparative Example 3 A commercially available tank-type dehumidifier (tank dimensions: width 150 mm × depth 85 mm × height 101 mm, type and amount of deliquescent chemical contained: calcium chloride dihydrate / 280 g) was prepared and used as Comparative Example 3.

[0055] (Container body dimension measurement 1) Before filling with the deliquescent drug, the height H1 of the container body, the thickness Tb (μm) of the bottom part, the thickness Ts (μm) of the side part, and the thickness Tf (μm) of the flange part were measured for each of the container bodies used in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. The measurements were performed on one sample that was visually judged to be the most standard among the three samples in each Example and Comparative Example. The height H1 of the container body was measured as the distance from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange. The thickness Tb of the bottom surface was measured at the center of the bottom surface. The thickness Ts of the side portion was determined by measuring the thickness at four randomly selected locations at a height position 3 / 8 of the height H1 from the bottom surface of the base portion to the top surface of the flange portion, and calculating the arithmetic average value. The thickness Tf of the flange portion was determined by measuring the thickness at four randomly selected points of the flange portion and calculating the arithmetic average value.

[0056] (Container body dimension measurement 2) The height H2 of the container body immediately before use (height H2 before opening after degassing) was measured. For each example and comparative example, the measurement was performed on one sample that was visually judged to be the most standard among the three samples. The measurement was performed by avoiding the visually highest and lowest points, and the distance from the lower surface of the bottom part to the upper surface of the flange was measured at one midpoint, and this was taken as the height H2. Immediately after the lid sheet was peeled off, the height H3 (height H3 after opening after deaeration) was measured again in the same manner as in measuring the height H2.

[0057] (Measurement and Evaluation) The examples and comparative examples prepared as described above were used to carry out measurements and evaluations as follows. The cover sheet of each Example and Comparative Example was peeled off and opened, the weight W0 at the start was measured, and the container was placed on the floor with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet facing up. The indoor environment was 25°C and 80% RH. The mixture was then left for one month. After one month, the weight W1 of each Example and Comparative Example was measured, and the value obtained by subtracting the weight W0 from the weight W1 was defined as the increased weight on the 31st day of use. For the weight measurement, the weights of all three samples were measured in each Example and Comparative Example, and the average value was calculated, and the increased weight was calculated by determining the difference between the average value and the weight W0.

[0058] The height H4 of the container body on the 31st day of use was measured in the same manner as the height H2.

[0059] The shape of the desiccant container after 31 days of use was evaluated as follows. 〇...It was stable and self-supporting, and when viewed from the side, the breathable waterproof sheet was positioned approximately horizontally with little inclination. △: It was observed that wrinkles remained on the bottom, the container body was significantly distorted, or the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet was significantly tilted when viewed from the side. × When viewed from the side, it was confirmed that the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet was noticeably tilted or the container body was noticeably distorted.

[0060] (Long-term moisture absorption evaluation) For Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 3, the weights were further measured up to the 180th day, and the difference (amount of increase) from the weight W0 at the start of use was determined. A graph plotting the results is shown in Figure 5. For the weight measurements, the weights of all three samples were measured in each Example and Comparative Example, the average value was calculated, and the difference (amount of increase) between the average value and the weight W0 was determined.

[0061] (Photo observation) For Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 2, photographs were taken from the side at the start of the test, on the 10th day, and on the 31st day. The results are shown in Figure 6. Note that, for each of Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 2, one sample that was visually judged to be the most standard was selected from the three samples and used for photographing.

[0062] From the results of the above-mentioned examples and comparative examples, it was confirmed that the weight increase of Examples 1 and 3 was significantly larger in Examples 1 and 3, which used a resin sheet with a thickness of 200 μm, and Comparative Example 1. A similar tendency was also confirmed in Examples 2, 4, and Comparative Example 2, which used a resin sheet with a thickness of 400 μm. Moreover, Comparative Example 3, which is a commercially available tank-type product, showed the smallest weight increase.

[0063] Examples 3 and 4 showed a desirable result with a higher weight gain than the comparative example, but the side thickness Ts / bottom thickness Tb was greater than 1, meaning that the side thickness was relatively large and the bottom thickness was relatively small. Therefore, the shape evaluation after 31 days of use showed results that were slightly inferior to Examples 1 and 2.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 5, it was confirmed that Examples 1 and 2 had a high moisture absorption rate from the beginning of use, and maintained a high moisture absorption rate thereafter. Also, it was confirmed that Examples 1 and 2 had a weight increase of 650 g, which is considered to be a guideline, in about 3 months. On the other hand, Comparative Example 3 showed a moisture absorption rate similar to Examples 1 and 2 immediately after the start of use, but it soon slowed down, and thereafter, the moisture absorption rate remained slow, and at the point 60 days after the start of use, the amount of moisture absorption (weight increase) was about half that of Example 1.

[0065] As shown in Figure 6, at the start (immediately after removing the lid sheet), it was confirmed that the container body of Example 1 and Example 2 had shrunk in the vertical direction, and it was also visually confirmed that the volume had decreased. Furthermore, on the 10th day, Example 1, which had the fastest moisture absorption rate, had almost no deliquescent drug visible to the naked eye, and on the 31st day, Example 2 also had almost no deliquescent drug visible to the naked eye. No drug could be confirmed. This confirmed that the Example had a high rate of moisture absorption even by visual inspection. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 2, the deliquescent drug remained even on the 31st day, and it was confirmed that the moisture absorption rate was slow.

[0066] [Table 1] [Industrial Applicability]

[0067] The dehumidifying agent container of the present invention can be used as a household dehumidifier for the purpose of dehumidifying a specific space in the home, such as a closet, a storage room, a shoe cabinet, or a room. In addition, since the dehumidifying agent container of the present invention is deaerated and reduced in volume as described above, even if it is large, it is easy to transport, store, and dispose of. Therefore, the present invention is also suitable as a commercial dehumidifier having a large container body that contains a large amount of deliquescent material for use in large spaces such as commercial food storage, rental warehouses, and rooms where precision equipment that dislikes humidity is installed.

[0068] The present invention described above encompasses the following technical ideas. (1) a waterproof container body having a bottom portion, a side portion, and a top surface opening; A flange portion extending from an upper end of the side surface portion; A deliquescent drug contained in the container body; A moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening and adhered to the upper surface side of the flange portion; A moisture-impermeable cover sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet; Equipped with The gas inside the container body is degassed, and the side surface portion is irregularly shrunk, A desiccant container, wherein a height H2 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion is smaller than a height H1 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion before degassing. (2) The desiccant container according to the above (1), wherein the container body is self-supporting. (3) The desiccant container according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the side portion is contracted entirely in the up-down direction. (4) A waterproof container body having a bottom portion, a side portion and a top opening, a flange portion extending from the upper end of the side portion, a deliquescent drug contained in the container body, a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening and attached to the upper side of the flange portion, and a moisture-impermeable lid sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, the lid sheet of the dehumidifying agent container is peeled off and opened, and the container is placed on a horizontal surface, the lid sheet being peeled off and the lid sheet being opened, the lateral side portion being shrunk by degassing the container body, and the height H2 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion being smaller than the height H1 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion before degassing; The deliquescent agent is caused to absorb moisture through the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet to generate a deliquescent liquid, A dehumidification method characterized in that the sum of the volumes of the deliquescent chemical and the deliquescent liquid in the desiccant container after opening is increased to be greater than the volume of the deliquescent chemical alone before opening, thereby expanding the contracted side portions and maintaining a state in which the deliquescent liquid is close to or in contact with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet. (5) A method for producing a desiccant container according to any one of (1) to (3), comprising the steps of: a container forming step of placing a waterproof resin sheet in a predetermined mold and deep drawing the sheet into a predetermined shape having a bottom portion, a side portion, and a flange portion extending from an upper end of the side portion to form a container body having the flange portion; A step of accommodating a deliquescent chemical in the container body and then bonding an outer edge of a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet to an upper surface of the flange portion; and a deaeration and sealing process for laminating a non-permeable lid sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet on the upper surface of the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, and while maintaining the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet stretched in the surface direction, deaeration of the gas inside the container body to reduce the volume of the container body, and sealing the container body with the lid sheet; The method for manufacturing a desiccant container includes the steps of: (6) A method for manufacturing a desiccant container as described in (5) above, in which, during the deep drawing process in the container forming step, a plug that matches the inner wall shape of the mold is used from the upper side of the waterproof resin sheet, and the resin sheet is sandwiched between the inner wall surface of the mold and the outer peripheral surface of the plug to form the container body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10...Bottom part 20...Side part 30 Top opening 40... Container body 42...Waterproof resin sheet 44...space 50 Flange section 60 Deliquescent Drugs 62...deliquescent liquid 64...deliquescent liquid level 70···Breathable waterproof sheet 80 Lid sheet Tb, Ts, Tf...Thickness 100 ···Desiccant container 201...Molding mold 202···Plug 203...Suction hole 204...Holding body H1: Height from the bottom surface of the base to the top surface of the flange before degassing H2: Height from the bottom surface of the base to the top surface of the flange after degassing and before use H3: Height from the bottom surface of the base to the top surface of the flange after degassing and at the start of use

Claims

1. a waterproof container body having a bottom portion, a side portion and a top surface opening; A flange portion extending from an upper end of the side surface portion; A deliquescent drug contained in the container body; A moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening and adhered to the upper surface side of the flange portion; A moisture-impermeable cover sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet; Equipped with The gas inside the container body is degassed, and the side surface portion is irregularly shrunk, A desiccant container, wherein a height H2 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion is smaller than a height H1 from the lower surface of the bottom portion to the upper surface of the flange portion before deaeration.

2. 2. The desiccant container according to claim 1, wherein the container body is self-supporting.

3. 3. The desiccant container according to claim 1, wherein the side surface portion is contracted entirely in the vertical direction.

4. The container comprises a waterproof container body having a bottom portion, a side portion and a top opening, a flange portion extending from an upper end of the side portion, a deliquescent drug contained in the container body, a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet covering the top opening and attached to the upper surface side of the flange portion, and a moisture-impermeable lid sheet covering the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet, the lid sheet of the dehumidifying agent container is peeled off and opened, and the container is placed on a horizontal surface, the lid sheet being peeled off and ... The deliquescent agent is caused to absorb moisture through the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet to generate a deliquescent liquid, A dehumidification method characterized in that the sum of the volumes of the deliquescent chemical and the deliquescent liquid in the desiccant container after opening is increased to be greater than the volume of the deliquescent chemical alone before opening, thereby expanding the contracted side portions and maintaining a state in which the deliquescent liquid is close to or in contact with the moisture-permeable waterproof sheet.

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