Storage container

Abstract

To provide a storage container capable of preventing adhesion of dew condensation to a moisture-conditioned object requiring adjustment of moisture even if there is a sudden temperature change, and capable of storing the object in a good state.SOLUTION: A storage container 1 comprises an airtight container body 2, a housing part 3 which is disposed in the container body and houses a moisture-conditioned object 10 requiring moisture adjustment, and a humidity conditioning part 4 for adjusting the humidity in the container body. The humidity conditioning part has a storage part 41 which has an opening 41a and stores a saturated salt solution 11 containing undissolved salts, and a moisture-permeable sheet 42 which allows air to pass through but does not allow the saturated salt solution to pass through and closes the opening. A wall 2a of the container body and a partition wall 41b of the storage part have heat insulating properties.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container for storing an object requiring humidity control.

[0002] Conventionally, devices and methods using saturated salt solutions for adjusting humidity have been known, and examples thereof include Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a humidity calibrator that includes a cylindrical permeable cylinder made of a porous synthetic resin that is permeable to water vapor but not permeable to liquid, with the inside of the permeable cylinder serving as a humidity control space. The following Patent Document 1 also discloses a humidity calibrator that includes an enclosed chamber in which a saturated salt solution is enclosed on the outer periphery of the permeable cylinder, a retaining cylinder on the outer periphery of the enclosed chamber, and an outer cylinder on the outer periphery of the retaining cylinder, with a heat insulating layer provided between the retaining cylinder and the outer cylinder.

[0004] The following Patent Document 2 discloses a method for maintaining the humidity in an airtight container at a target relative humidity by filling a watertight container that is permeable to water vapor with a humidity control agent of a predetermined concentration and placing the humidity control agent in the airtight container. The following Patent Document 2 also discloses that the relative humidity can be controlled to various levels by changing the alcohol aqueous solution or various salt aqueous solutions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-34556 [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-13873 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] By using a saturated salt solution in this way, it is possible to adjust the humidity in a specified space. However, in the case of a humidity control material installed in an airtight container as in Patent Document 2, if there is a sudden temperature rise at the installation location, condensation occurs on the outer wall surface of the humidity control section, and if there is a sudden temperature drop at the installation location, condensation occurs on the inner wall surface of the airtight container, which is a problem. When condensation occurs, the humidity in the specified space can be controlled over time, but the condensation adheres to the humidity control target contained in the space, causing adverse effects.

[0007] As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses that an insulating layer is provided between the retaining cylinder and the outer cylinder, and that this keeps humidity changes in response to changes in ambient temperature to a minimum. However, what is described in Patent Document 1 is a device used to calibrate a humidity sensor that measures humidity, and is not a storage container for storing objects that require humidity control.

[0008] To provide a storage container capable of preventing condensation from forming on an object requiring humidity control even when a sudden temperature change occurs, and capable of storing the object in good condition. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the storage container of the present invention is a storage container comprising an airtight container body, a storage section that is placed within the container body and contains an object to be humidity-controlled that requires humidity control, and a humidity control section that adjusts the humidity within the container body, wherein the humidity control section comprises a storage section having an opening and in which a saturated salt solution containing undissolved salts is stored, and a moisture-permeable sheet that covers the opening to allow air to pass through but not the saturated salt solution, and wherein the walls of the container body and the walls of the storage section are thermally insulating.

[0010] The following description of the embodiments will disclose that the storage container according to the present invention may include the following subsidiary configurations. <Configuration 2> In the above, the storage section may be provided with a space from each of an inner wall of the wall section of the container body and an outer wall of the partition wall of the storage section. <Configuration 3> In the above, the humidity adjustment unit may be configured separately from the container body, and a detachable unit that can freely fix and detach the humidity adjustment unit may be provided inside the container body. <Configuration 4> In the above, the humidity control section may be provided with a cover section that protects the moisture permeable sheet. <Component 5> In the above, the cover portion may be configured to have a detachable structure that covers the moisture permeable sheet to seal the storage portion. <Component 6> In the above, the humidity control object may be a flow path member that causes liquid to flow by capillary action. Effect of the Invention

[0011] Because the storage container of the present invention has the above-described configuration, even if there is a sudden temperature change, condensation can be prevented from forming on the humidity-control object that requires humidity adjustment, and the humidity-control object can be stored in good condition. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of a storage container to explain an example of a storage container according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of a storage container to explain a modified example thereof. [Diagram 2] 13(a) and 13(b) are cross-sectional views showing a schematic view of a storage container for explaining a further modified example. [Diagram 3] 13(a) and 13(b) are cross-sectional views showing a schematic view of a storage container for explaining a further modified example. [Figure 4] 13(a) and 13(b) are cross-sectional views showing a schematic view of a storage container for explaining a further modified example. [Diagram 5]1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a test example conducted on an example of a storage container according to the same embodiment, in which (a) is a perspective view showing a schematic view of the storage container used during the test, and (b) is a perspective view showing a schematic view of the humidity adjustment section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In some drawings, some of the detailed reference numerals used in other drawings are omitted. The storage container 1 according to this embodiment includes an airtight container body 2, a storage section 3 in which a humidity control target 10 that requires humidity control is stored and is installed in the container body 2, and a humidity control section 4 that controls the humidity in the container body 2. The humidity control section 4 includes a storage section 41 having an opening 41a in which a saturated salt solution 11 containing undissolved salts is stored, and a moisture permeable sheet 42 that closes the opening 41a through which air passes but not through the saturated salt solution 11, and the wall section 2a of the container body 2 and the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41 are thermally insulated. The saturated salt solution 11 used here is a saturated aqueous solution of salt containing undissolved salt, and the solution may be in the form of sherbet (slurry). This will be described in detail below.

[0014] First, a storage container 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The storage container 1 according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1(a) includes a container body 2, a storage section 3, a humidity control section 4, and a detachable lid section 6 that seals the container body 2. The container body 2 is a box-shaped body having an opening 2c that opens upward, and the opening 2c is closed and sealed by the lid section 6 so that gas and liquid do not enter. The airtight structure between the container body 2 and the lid section 6 is not particularly limited, but as shown in the figure, a gasket 6a made of rubber, soft resin, or the like that elastically contacts the wall 2ca of the opening 2c of the container body 2 may be interposed between the lid section 6 and the container body 2, or the lid section 6 may be structured so as to cover the opening 2c and screw it in. The container body 2 may be a glass bottle, synthetic resin, ceramic, metal, or the like, and may be transparent or colored. The overall shape of the storage container 1 and the positions and configurations of the storage section 3 and humidity control section 4 are not limited to those shown in the figures, and the storage container 1 may be, for example, circular or rectangular in plan view, as long as it is configured to accommodate the humidity control target 10 according to the humidity control target 10. FIG. 1(a) shows the storage container 1 in which the container body 2 is made of a bottomed cylinder and has a lid section 6 that is circular in plan view. The container body 2 has a wall section 2a that forms the side and bottom surfaces, and the wall section 2a has a wall section main body 21 and a heat insulating layer 20. The wall section main body 21 has an outer wall 21a that is the outer surface and an inner wall 21b that is the inner surface, and the heat insulating layer 20 is provided on the entire surface (side and bottom surfaces) of the outer wall 21a of the wall section main body 21 without any gaps. Here, the insulating layer 20 may be, for example, sheet-like expanded polystyrene, urethane foam, air bubble cushioning material, aluminum insulating sheet, vacuum insulating material, vacuum double structure, etc., and is attached to the outer wall 21a with an adhesive, double-sided tape, etc. Specifically, the inner side 20b of the sheet-like insulating layer 20 is attached to the outer wall 21a of the wall main body 21, and the outer side 20a of the insulating layer 20 becomes the outer wall 2aa of the wall part 2a of the container main body 2.

[0015] 1(a) shows an example in which the heat insulating layer 20 is provided only on the outer wall 21a of the wall body 21 of the container body 2, but the wall 2a itself may be a heat insulating material, or a double structure may be formed by providing a space 23 between the two wall bodies 21, 21 as shown in FIG. 4(b). Alternatively, the heat insulating layer 20 may be provided on the inner wall 21b of the wall body 21 of the container body 2, or on both the outer wall 21a and the inner wall 21b, or in the middle of the wall body 21. The heat insulating layer 20 may be provided according to the size, required strength, installation environment, price, etc. of the storage container 1 as long as it can mitigate a sudden temperature change in the container body 2 of the storage container 1 due to the installation environment.

[0016] The storage section 3 is provided in the container body 2 and is configured according to the humidity control target 10. Therefore, as long as it is partitioned from the humidity control section 4, a box-shaped or tray-shaped object with an upper opening in which the humidity control target 10 is stored may be the storage section 3, and the space in the container body 2 other than the humidity control section 4 may be the storage section 3. The humidity control target 10 is not particularly limited as long as it requires humidity control, and examples of the humidity control target 10 include fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits, rice, bread, wine, jewelry, and wooden musical instruments such as violins. In addition, as the humidity control target 10 in this embodiment, a flow path member such as a thin glass tube for analytical chemistry with a diameter of about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, which is considered to be difficult to manage the storage environment, is suitable. In this case, the glass tube may be placed in the storage section 3 by laying it on its side on a tray-shaped object. When analyzing flow using the capillary phenomenon of such a thin glass tube, if the amount of moisture adsorbed on the inner wall surface of the glass tube fluctuates, appropriate analysis cannot be performed. Furthermore, if condensation adheres to the inside of the glass tube, flow due to capillary phenomenon may not occur. If such a glass tube is stored in the container 3 of the storage container 1 of this embodiment, the amount of water adsorbed on the inner wall surface of the glass tube can be stabilized while preventing condensation from forming, allowing the glass tube to be stored in good condition.

[0017] The humidity control section 4 is provided in the container body 2, separated from the storage section 3, and the humidity control section 4 according to this embodiment is provided in a corner of the container body 2. The humidity control section 4 has a storage section 41 and a moisture permeable sheet 42. The storage section 41 has a partition wall 41b, which has a partition wall main body 44 and a heat insulating layer 40. The partition wall 41b has an outer wall 41ba that is the outer surface and an inner wall 41bb, and the partition wall main body 44 has an outer wall 44a that is the outer surface and an inner wall 44b that is the inner surface. The storage section 41 has a partition wall 41b that partitions the storage section 3 of the container body 2 and stores the saturated salt solution 11. The storage section 41 has an opening 41a that opens upward, and is configured to store the saturated salt solution 11 using the partition wall 41b and a part of the wall portion 2a that constitutes the bottom surface and side surface of the container body 2. According to this, the humidity adjustment unit 4 does not fall over. The opening 41a is covered and blocked by the moisture permeable sheet 42, so that the stored saturated salt solution 11 does not spill out. The moisture permeable sheet 42 is arranged so as to cover the opening 41a, and is fixed to the upper end surface 41bc of the partition wall 41b by adhesive, welding, a fixing member, or the like. The moisture permeable sheet 42 may be any sheet that allows air (gas) and moisture to pass through and does not allow the saturated salt solution 11 (liquid) to pass through. For example, a microporous film obtained by stretching polyethylene or polypropylene containing a calcium carbonate filler or the like after forming it into a sheet, or a nonwoven fabric made of ultrafine long polyethylene fibers, etc., may be mentioned. Specific examples of the moisture permeable sheet 42 include commercially available products such as Celpore (Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.), NF Sheet (Tokuyama Co., Ltd.), Breathlon (Nitto Denko Corporation), and Tyvek (registered trademark of DuPont Co., Ltd.). In addition, the smaller the moisture permeation resistance of the moisture permeable sheet 42, the shorter the moisture conditioning time and the less likely condensation occurs. Furthermore, when strength is required, a multi-layer structure in which a reinforcing material is bonded to a microporous film may be used, or a nonwoven fabric (Tyvek) made of ultrafine long polyethylene fibers may be used.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the humidity control section 4 may be provided with a cover section 7 that covers and protects the moisture permeable sheet 42. By configuring the moisture permeable sheet 42 to be covered by the cover section 7 in this manner, damage to the moisture permeable sheet 42 can be prevented. The cover section 7 in the storage container 1' is provided protruding laterally from the container body 2 so as to separate the moisture permeable sheet 42 from the storage section 3, and is provided with a gap between the moisture permeable sheet 42 and the cover section 7 so that the air in the storage section 3 reacts with the saturated salt solution 11 through the moisture permeable sheet 42. In FIG. 1(b), the container body 2 and the cover section 7 are shown as being integrated, but the cover section 7 may be a plate body that is detachably configured with respect to the container body 2, or an air hole may be formed through the cover section 7.

[0019] As described above, the saturated salt solution 11 is a solution containing undissolved salts, and is prepared by selecting salt that can adjust the humidity to a humidity suitable for the humidity-adjusting object 10, and is stored in the storage section 41. As the salt of the saturated salt solution 11, a water-soluble inorganic salt is used. Examples include potassium acetate, magnesium chloride, potassium carbonate, magnesium nitrate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium nitrate. With the saturated salt solution 11, the humidity inside the container body 2 can be kept constant depending on the type of salt used and the temperature of the place where the storage container 1 is installed. In other words, if the salt is selected according to the temperature of the storage place of the storage container 1 and the humidity-adjusting object 10 and the saturated salt solution 11 is prepared, the humidity inside the storage container 1 can be maintained at a desired humidity. For example, if magnesium chloride is selected as the salt, the saturated salt solution 11 is stored in the storage section 41, and the storage place of the storage container is at 25°C, the humidity inside the storage container 1 can be maintained at about 32.8%. Furthermore, when sodium chloride is selected as the salt, saturated salt solution 11 is stored in storage section 41, and the storage container is stored at 25°C, the humidity inside storage container 1 can be maintained at approximately 70% or more (specifically, 74% or more, theoretical value 75.3%). Furthermore, when potassium nitrate is selected as the salt, saturated salt solution 11 is stored in storage section 41, and the storage container is stored at 25°C, the humidity inside storage container 1 can be maintained at approximately 90% or more (specifically, 93% or more, theoretical value 93.6%). Furthermore, depending on the type of salt, humidity changes little with temperature changes; for example, in the case of sodium chloride, the humidity is 75.5% at 0°C and 75.1% at 30°C, and strict temperature control may not be necessary.

[0020] An insulating layer 40 is provided on the outer wall 44a (the side not in contact with the saturated salt solution 11) of the partition wall main body 44 of the partition wall 41b in the storage section 41 to provide thermal insulation. The insulating layer 40 may be the same as the insulating layer 20 attached to the container body 2. That is, the inner side 40b of the sheet-like insulating layer 40 is attached to the outer wall 44a of the partition wall main body 44, and the outer side 40a of the insulating layer 40 becomes the outer wall 41ba of the partition wall 41b. The inner wall 41bb of the partition wall 41b corresponds to the inner wall 44b of the partition wall main body 44, and the inner wall 41bb (44b) side becomes the surface in contact with the saturated salt solution. Tests have shown that by providing not only the insulating layer 20 on the outer wall 21a of the wall body 21 in this way but also the insulating layer 40 on the outer wall 44a of the partition wall body 44 of the partition wall 41b in the storage section 41 that constitutes the humidity adjustment section 4, it is possible to prevent condensation by gradual temperature changes in the storage section 3 and the humidity adjustment section 4 and adjusting the humidity earlier than condensation occurs, even if there is a change in the installation temperature of the storage container 1. This test will be described later.

[0021] In the storage container 1 of this embodiment, the heat insulating layers 20, 40 are provided on the outer wall 21a of the wall portion main body 21 of the container body 2 and the outer wall 44a of the partition wall main body 44 of the partition wall 41b in the storage section 41. Therefore, even if a sudden temperature change occurs in the place / space in which the container body 2 is installed, it is possible to prevent condensation from occurring in the container body 2 and maintain the environment inside the container body 2 adjusted to the desired humidity by the saturated salt solution 11 of the humidity control section 4. Furthermore, according to the storage container 1 of this embodiment with the above configuration, it is possible to prevent condensation from adhering to the humidity control target 10 and store the humidity control target 10 in a good condition. Furthermore, the storage section 3 in this embodiment is provided with a gap between each of the inner wall 2ab of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (the outside 40a of the heat insulating layer 40) of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41, and a space, i.e., an air layer 30, is interposed. Therefore, there is an even greater effect of preventing condensation from adhering, and even if some condensation occurs, its influence is unlikely to extend to the humidity control target 10. Furthermore, in the case of the storage container 1 of this embodiment, since the humidity control section 4 is configured in a corner inside the container body 2 as shown in FIG. 1(a), a large area for the storage section 3 can be ensured.

[0022] As described above, the configuration of the storage container includes a humidity control section and a storage section, and various configurations can be adopted as long as the wall of the container body and the partition wall of the storage section have thermal insulation properties. Although not limited to the illustrated examples, other embodiments of the storage container will be described with reference to Figs. 2(a) to 4(b). In each of the following embodiments, differences from the previously described embodiments will be mainly described, and similar configurations will be given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted or simplified. Also, explanations of the actions and effects achieved in the same manner as the previously described embodiments will be omitted or simplified.

[0023] In the storage container 1A shown in FIG. 2(a), a cover part 7 is provided directly above the humidity control part 4 to protect the moisture permeable sheet 42, and the cover part 7 is formed in a tray shape that also serves as the storage part 3. The humidity control part 4 is provided at a substantially central position in the container body 2, and a pair of partition walls 41b, 41b provided opposite each other are erected between the side surfaces of the container body 2. In this example, the bottom surface of the container body 2 is used as the bottom surface of the storage part 41. The partition wall 41b has an insulating layer 40 provided on the outer wall 44a (the side not in contact with the saturated salt solution 11) of the partition wall main body 44, which is the same as the above embodiment, but differs in that an air hole 43 is provided through the insulating layer 40 and the partition wall 41b. By providing the air hole 43 in this way, the air in the container body 2 can be taken into the humidity control part 4, and the humidity can be controlled by the saturated salt solution 11 stored in the storage part 41.

[0024] A cover portion 7 is provided above the moisture permeable sheet 42 and the air holes 43, and the cover portion 7 in the illustrated example is placed on the upper end surface 41bc of the partition wall 41b. The cover portion 7 is in the form of a tray having an upright portion 70 and a bottom portion 71, and is formed to a size that allows the moisture control object 10 to be put in and taken out from the opening 2c of the container body 2 while being stored on the bottom portion 71. In addition, since the cover portion 7 is arranged to cover the moisture permeable sheet, it is formed to be larger than the space between the partition walls 41b, 41b. The storage portion 3 is provided at intervals from each of the inner wall 2ab (inner wall 21b) of the wall portion 2a of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (outside 40a) of the partition wall 41b of the storage portion 41, and is provided with an air layer 30.

[0025] In the storage container 1A shown in FIG. 2(a), when a sudden temperature change occurs in the place or space where the container body 2 is installed, the container body 2 can be maintained in an environment in which humidity is controlled to a desired humidity level by the saturated salt solution 11 of the humidity control section 4 while preventing condensation from occurring in the container body 2, as in the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1(a). Even if condensation occurs on the inner wall 2ab (inner wall 21b) of the wall section 2a of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (outer side 40a) of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41, the condensation accumulates on the bottom side of the air layer 30 and does not affect the humidity control target 10. Therefore, the humidity control target 10 can be prevented from being condensed and can be stored in a good condition. In the case of the storage container 1A shown in FIG. 2(a), the cover section 7 is provided in a position close to the opening 2c, so that the humidity control target 10 can be easily taken in and out of the storage container 1A while being stored in the cover section 7, and the state of the humidity control target 10 can be easily confirmed.

[0026] The storage container 1B shown in FIG. 2(b) is an example in which the lid 6 plays the role of the cover 7, and the humidity control unit 4 is provided so as to be detachable from the lid 6. The structure for attaching and detaching the humidity control unit 4 and the lid 6 is not particularly limited, but for example, the lid 6 may be provided with a rail groove (not shown) so that the storage unit 41 can be slid and detached. The humidity control unit 4 is provided at two locations on the left and right sides of the lower side of the lid 6, and has two storage units 41. An opening 41c is provided between the two storage units 41, 41, and a moisture-permeable sheet 42 is arranged so as to straddle each of the partition walls 41b, 41b. The left and right ends of the moisture-permeable sheet 42 are fixed to the upper end surface 41bc of the partition wall 41b by adhesive, welding, a fixing member, or the like. As in the above example, the heat insulating layer 40 is provided on the outer wall 41ba of the partition wall 41b. In this example, the storage section 3 is also provided with a space between each of the inner wall 2ab (inner wall 21b) of the wall portion 2a of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (outside 40a) of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41, and is provided with an air layer 30.

[0027] Since the humidity control section 4 is provided on the lid section 6 side in this way, most of the space within the container body 2 can be made up of the storage section 3. Furthermore, since the moisture permeable sheet 42 is covered by the lid section 6 which also serves as the cover section 7, damage to the moisture permeable sheet 42 can be prevented. Note that unlike Figs. 1(b) and 2(a), the cover section 7 in this case does not protect the moisture permeable sheet 42 when the moisture control object 10 or the like is put in and taken out of the storage section 3, but protects the moisture permeable sheet 42 from the outside of the lid section 6 (storage container 1B).

[0028] 2(b), like the storage container 1 shown in FIG 1(a), when a sudden temperature change occurs in the place / space in which the container body 2 is installed, the storage container 1B shown in FIG 2(b) can prevent condensation from occurring inside the container body 2, while maintaining an environment conditioned to a desired humidity level by the saturated salt solution 11 in the humidity adjustment unit 4. As a result, condensation is prevented from adhering to the humidity adjustment target 10, and the object can be stored in good condition.

[0029] In the storage container 1C shown in FIG. 3(a), the humidity control unit 4 is configured separately from the container body 2, and the container body 2 is provided with a removable part 8 to which the humidity control unit 4 can be fixed and detached. The structure of the removable part 8 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a structure in which a locking protrusion is provided on the bottom side of the storage part 41 and a keyhole-shaped hole into which the locking protrusion is fitted into the removable part 8 fixed to the bottom surface of the container body 2, or may be configured with a hook-and-loop fastener. FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which the humidity control unit 4 is fixed by the removable part and a state in which the humidity control unit 4 is removed and taken out of the container body 2. As can be seen from the removed state (right side of the paper in FIG. 3(a)), the storage part 41 constituting the humidity control unit 4 is box-shaped with an opening at the top, and the side and bottom of the outer wall 41ba of the partition wall 41b are made of a heat insulating layer 40. The moisture permeable sheet 42 is fixed to the upper end surface 41bc of the partition wall 41b by adhesive, welding, a fixing member, etc. In this example, the storage section 3 is also provided with a space from each of the inner wall 2ab (inner wall 21b) of the wall portion 2a of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (outside 40a) of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41, and includes an air layer 30.

[0030] In this way, the humidity adjustment unit 4 is configured separately from the container body 2, and the humidity adjustment unit 4 can be attached and detached to the container body 2, so that the humidity adjustment unit 4 can be fixed at a predetermined position inside the container body 2. Therefore, when the storage container 1C is used as a portable storage container, the humidity adjustment unit 4 will not fall over. Furthermore, when the amount of saturated salt solution 11 increases or decreases due to absorption and release of moisture into the humidity adjustment unit 4 accompanying humidity adjustment, the entire humidity adjustment unit 4 can be replaced with a new one. Furthermore, when it is not necessary to adjust the humidity inside the container body 2, the humidity adjustment unit 4 can be removed and the storage container 1C can be used as a sealed container without a humidity adjustment function.

[0031] 1(a), the storage container 1C shown in Fig. 3(a) can prevent condensation from occurring inside the container body 2 when a sudden temperature change occurs in the place / space in which the container body 2 is installed, while maintaining an environment conditioned to a desired humidity level by the saturated salt solution 11 in the humidity adjustment unit 4. This prevents condensation from adhering to the humidity-adjustment target 10, allowing it to be stored in good condition.

[0032] The storage container 1D shown in FIG. 3(b) has a cover 7 configured with a detachable screw structure, and can be considered as a modified example of FIG. 1(b). The difference from FIG. 1(b) is that the storage container 1D is configured with partition walls 41b, 41b that configure the side surface of the storage section 41, and that the humidity control target 10 is stored in a box-shaped storage section 3 that opens upward. In this way, when the inner wall 2ab (inner wall 21b) of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (outside 40a) of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41 are formed separately from the side surface of the storage section 3, a partitioned space is formed between the inner wall 2ab of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41 and the side surface of the storage section 3. Therefore, when condensation occurs on the inner wall 2ab (inner wall 21b) of the container body 2 and the outer wall 41ba (outside 40a) of the partition wall 41b of the storage section 41, it is possible to prevent the condensation from adhering to the humidity control target 10. The cover part 7 has a cylindrical part 7a and a top surface part 7b, and a screw groove is formed on the inner surface side of the cylindrical part 7a. In addition, a screw groove that screws into the screw groove of the cylindrical part 7a is formed on the upper side of the outer wall 41ba of the partition wall main body 44 of the partition wall 41b. As a result, the top surface part 7b of the cover part 7 covers the moisture permeable sheet 42, and the opening part 41a is closed to seal the storage part 41. Therefore, when it is not necessary to adjust the humidity inside the container main body 2, if the cover part 7 is attached to the humidity adjustment part 4, it is possible to prevent the saturated salt solution 11 from increasing or decreasing, and it is possible to make the storage container 1D without a humidity adjustment function. When the humidity adjustment effect is used, if the cover part 7 is removed, it is possible to make the storage container 1D have the same humidity adjustment effect and condensation prevention effect as described above, and it is possible to configure the storage container 1D according to the purpose of use.

[0033] The storage container 1'' shown in FIG. 4(a) can be said to be a modified example of the example shown in FIG. 1(b). It differs from the storage container 1' shown in FIG. 1(b) in that a convex portion 2b is provided on the bottom surface of the container body 2, but the other configurations are the same. This convex portion 2b defines the area of ​​the storage section 3. Therefore, since it is provided so as to surround the storage section 3, it plays a role of blocking water droplets so that they do not reach the humidity control target stored in the storage section 3 even if condensation occurs on the inner wall 2ab of the wall portion 2a of the container body 2, for example. Such a convex portion 2b that defines the area of ​​the storage section 3 can be applied not only to the storage container 1' shown in FIG. 1(b), but also to the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1(a), the storage container 1B shown in FIG. 2(b), the storage container 1C shown in FIG. 3(a), and the like, in which the storage section 3 is provided on the bottom surface of the container body 2.

[0034] The storage container 1A' shown in FIG. 4(b) can be said to be a modified example of the example shown in FIG. 2(a). The structure of the wall 2a of the container body 2 is different from that of the storage container 1A shown in FIG. 2(a), but the other configurations are the same. The wall 2a shown here is configured with two layers of the wall body 21, and a space 23 is provided between the wall bodies 21, and this space 23 is an air (gas) layer, constituting the heat insulating layer 20. In addition, a packing 6a of the lid 6, which is removable, is pressed into the upper side of this space 23, and the container body 2 is sealed. If the wall 2a is made of a double structure in this way, the storage container 1A' can be made to have excellent heat insulating properties even without using a heat insulating material. The configuration of the space 23 is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and it may be a vacuum layer. In this case, the structure is such that it is closed so that air does not enter from above the space 23. Such a double-structure wall 2a can be applied not only to the storage container 1A' but also to all the examples shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4(a).

[0035] Next, with reference to FIG. 5 and Tables 1 to 3, two types of evaluation tests that verify the heat insulating effect (condensation prevention effect) of the storage container will be described.

[0036] <Evaluation Test 1> First, in <Evaluation Test 1>, a cylindrical container body 2 (50 ml) with a bottom as shown in FIG. 5(a) and a cylindrical humidity control section 4 (13.5 ml) with a bottom that is large enough to be accommodated in the container body 2 are prepared. 6 ml of a saturated salt solution using potassium nitrate is stored in the storage section 41 of the humidity control section 4. A glass bottle is used as the container body 2 and the humidity control section 4. A polypropylene-based microporous moisture-permeable film combined with a reinforcing nonwoven fabric is used as the moisture-permeable sheet 42. The moisture-permeable sheet 42 is disposed in the center of the lid of the glass bottle used as the humidity control section 4, with a through hole formed therein. The humidity control section 4 is disposed at a substantially central position in the container body 2, so that it is spaced apart from the inner wall of the wall section of the container body 2 and the outer wall of the partition wall of the storage section 41, with an air layer 30 interposed therebetween. A case in which a heat insulating layer (not shown) is provided on the outer wall of the wall body of the container body 2 and on the outer wall of the partition wall body of the storage section 41 is prepared as "Example 1", a case in which a heat insulating layer is provided on the outer wall of the wall body of the container body 2 and on the outer wall of the partition wall body of the storage section 41 without a heat insulating layer is prepared as "Comparative Example 1". A case in which a heat insulating layer is not provided on the outer wall of the wall body of the container body 2 and on the outer wall of the partition wall body of the storage section 41 without a heat insulating layer is prepared as "Comparative Example 2", and a case in which a heat insulating layer is not provided on either the container body or the storage section is prepared as "Comparative Example 3". As the heat insulating material constituting the heat insulating layer, Miramat (JSP Corporation), a highly expanded polyethylene sheet having a thickness of 2 mm, was used in a double structure.

[0037] <Test Method> Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 to Comparative Example 3 were placed in an oven heated to 40°C to create a 40°C environment. After that, they were removed from the oven and immediately placed in a thermostatic chamber at 0°C to create a 0°C environment. After that, they were further removed from the thermostatic chamber at 0°C and immediately placed in an oven heated to 40°C to create a 40°C environment. This was repeated every 12 hours to change the temperature, and the occurrence of condensation at that time was confirmed. Evaluation was performed visually, with ◯ representing no condensation, △ representing a small amount of condensation, and × representing a state in which water droplets were visible.

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] <Evaluation test 1: Results> Table 1 is a table showing the results obtained in the evaluation test 1. As shown in Table 1, in Example 1, almost no condensation was observed even when there was a sudden temperature change of 40°C. In Comparative Example 3, which does not have a heat insulating layer, water droplets were confirmed, and in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, it was found that condensation occurred on the side without the heat insulating layer. Therefore, in the evaluation test 1, it was found that the heat insulating layer is not sufficient only in the container body 2 or only in the storage section 41, but is necessary on the wall surfaces of both the container body 2 and the storage section 41 as in Example 1. In other words, by providing a heat insulating layer in the container body 2 to prevent a sudden temperature change, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation on the inner wall surface of the container body 2, and by providing a heat insulating layer in the storage section 41 to prevent a sudden temperature change, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation on the outer wall surface of the storage section 41. It was also found that by providing a heat insulating layer on the wall surfaces of both the container body 2 and the storage section 41 to prevent a sudden temperature change, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of condensation.

[0040] <Evaluation Test 2> In evaluation test 2, the salt used in the saturated salt solution 11 was potassium nitrate, and the occurrence of condensation in a high humidity state (90% or more at room temperature of 25°C) was confirmed not only by visual inspection but also by using condensation detection paper. In addition, a test was conducted to see whether the occurrence of condensation differs depending on the volume of the storage section 41 and the volume of the air layer 30. The heat insulating layer was tested with a heat insulating layer provided on the wall surfaces of both the container body 2 and the storage section 41 (Comparative Example 2 and Example 1), and with no heat insulating layer (Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 3). As the condensation detection paper, Dew Label (registered trademark) by NOF Corp. was used, and a dryness test paper by ADVANTEC was used to confirm the humidity state inside the container body 2. In <Evaluation test 2>, the container body 2 was a 50 ml cylindrical glass bottle shown in FIG. 5(a). In Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, a 13.5 ml cylindrical glass bottle with a bottom was used as the storage section 41 of the humidity control section 4, and 6 ml of saturated salt solution was stored in the bottle to perform the test. In Comparative Example 3 and Example 1, a 1.5 ml cylindrical glass bottle with a bottom was used, and 0.7 ml of saturated salt solution was stored in the bottle to perform the test. As the moisture permeable sheet 42, a polypropylene-based microporous moisture permeable film combined with a reinforcing nonwoven fabric was used. The humidity control section 4 was installed at a substantially central position in the container body 2, so that it was spaced apart from the inner wall surface of the container body 2 and the outer wall surface of the storage section 41, and an air layer 30 was interposed between the humidity control section 4 and the inner wall surface of the container body 2. As the heat insulating material constituting the heat insulating layer, Miramat (JSP Corporation), a highly expanded polyethylene sheet having a thickness of 2 mm, was used in a two-layer structure.

[0041] <Test Method> The dew condensation detection paper is attached to the inner wall of the container body 2 and the outer wall of the storage section 41, the dryness test paper is placed in the air layer 30 away from the inner wall of the container body 2 and the outer wall of the storage section 41, and the humidity control section 4 is housed in the container body 2 and sealed with the lid section 6. The dryness test paper is used to confirm that the inside of the container body 2 is highly humid at room temperature (23°C), and the temperature is kept constant in an oven at 40°C. Thereafter, the dryness test paper is used to confirm that the high humidity is maintained, and the dew condensation level is determined using the dew condensation detection paper. After 16 days at 40°C, the container is returned to room temperature (23°C) and then rapidly cooled to 1°C, and the dryness test paper is used to confirm that the high humidity is maintained, and the dew condensation level is determined using the dew condensation detection paper. Table 3 is a table for explaining the determination of the dew condensation level. The dew condensation level is determined by the color development state of the dew condensation detection paper and visual inspection, as shown in Table 3. If the condensation detection paper does not show any color, it is determined that there is no condensation, and depending on the color density of the condensation detection paper, it is determined that there is a little condensation, some condensation, or a lot of condensation. If water droplets are clearly visible, it is determined that there are water droplets.

[0042] [Table 2]

[0043] [Table 3]

[0044] <Evaluation test 2: Results> Table 2 is a table showing the results obtained in the evaluation test 2. As shown in Table 2, it was confirmed from this test that, in Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 3, when the comparative example does not have a heat insulating layer, condensation occurs. In addition, in the case of the comparative example having a heat insulating layer, even if there is a sudden temperature change outside the storage container 1, the temperature change in the container body 2 and the storage section 41, which are in a high humidity state, becomes gradual, and it was confirmed that the saturated salt solution 11 in the storage section 41 can suppress condensation by adjusting the humidity inside the container body 2 before condensation occurs. In addition, comparing Comparative Example 2 with Example 1, Example 1 had a lower condensation level and obtained better results. From this result, it was found that the occurrence of condensation on the outer wall surface of the storage section 41 can be suppressed by reducing the volume amount of the saturated salt solution 11, i.e., the heat capacity, and securing the area of ​​the air layer 30. In other words, since good results were obtained with 0.7 ml of saturated salt solution 11 for a 50 ml container body, it can be said that when constructing the storage container 1, the volume of the saturated salt solution 11 should be approximately 1.4% of the volume of the container body 2, and it was found that it is possible to ensure an air layer 30 and a large storage section 3.

[0045] The configurations and shapes of the container body 2, the storage section 3, the humidity control section 4, the lid section 6, the cover section 7, etc. constituting the storage container 1, 1', 1'', 1A-1D, 1A' in each of the above-mentioned embodiments are not limited to those shown in the figures. The configuration of the heat insulating layer 20 is also not limited to those shown in the figures, and the heat insulating layer may be provided on the lid section 6. The thickness of the heat insulating layers 20, 40 is also not limited to those shown in the figures, and the thickness of the heat insulating layer 20 provided on the wall surface of the container body 2 and the heat insulating layer 40 provided on the outer wall 41ba of the storage section 41 may be different, or a laminated heat insulating material may be used. Various configurations of the storage section 3 can also be adopted. In FIG. 2(a), the bottom 71 of the cover section 7 may have a through hole smaller than the humidity control object 10, and the cover section 7 may be fixed to the partition wall 41b. The cover section 7 may be in a mesh shape and in contact with the moisture permeable sheet 42, and it is sufficient if the moisture permeable sheet 42 can be protected when the humidity control object 10 or the like is put in and taken out of the storage section 3. In FIG. 2(b), a cover part 7 with through holes may be added below the moisture permeable sheet 42. The storage containers 1, 1', 1'', 1A-1D, and 1A' shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 merely show the configuration of each part in a schematic manner for the purpose of explanation, and are illustrated without considering the volume ratio of the saturated salt solution 11 to the volume of the container body 2. The actual humidity adjustment part 4 can be configured smaller than the example shown in the figure relative to the container body 2. If the volume of the saturated salt solution 11 is small, the life span due to the absorption and release of moisture into and from the humidity adjustment part 4 accompanying humidity adjustment will be shortened, and if the volume is large, it will cause condensation during a sudden temperature rise. Therefore, the volumes of the container body 2, the humidity adjustment part 4, etc. may be configured according to the usage environment, usage period, usage purpose, environment, the performance of the insulation material, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1,1',1'' ',1A~1D,1A' Storage container 2 Container body 2a wall 2c opening 20 Thermal insulation layer 3. Storage section 4. Humidity Control Section 40 Insulation Layer 41 Storage section 41a opening 41b Partition wall 41ba Exterior wall 42 Breathable sheet 7 Cover 8 Detachable part 10 Humidity control objects 11 Saturated salt solutions

Claims

1. A storage container including an airtight container body, a storage section that is placed in the container body and stores an object to be humidity-controlled that requires humidity control, and a humidity control section that adjusts the humidity in the container body, The humidity control unit includes a storage unit having an opening for storing a saturated salt solution containing undissolved salts, and a moisture permeable sheet for closing the opening, which allows air to pass through but does not allow the saturated salt solution to pass through. A storage container characterized in that the wall of the container body and the partition wall of the storage section have thermal insulation properties.

2. In claim 1, A storage container characterized in that the storage section is provided with a space between each of the inner wall of the wall portion of the container body and the outer wall of the partition wall of the storage section.

3. In claim 1 or 2, The humidity control unit is configured separately from the container body, A storage container characterized in that a detachable part for fixing and detaching the humidity control part is provided inside the container body.

4. In claim 1, The storage container is characterized in that the moisture conditioning section is provided with a cover section for protecting the moisture permeable sheet.

5. In claim 4, The storage container is characterized in that the cover portion is configured to be freely attached and detached so as to cover the moisture permeable sheet and seal the storage portion.

6. In claim 1, A storage container, wherein the humidity control object is a flow path member that allows liquid to flow by capillary action.

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