Storage container, and storage container molding method

Abstract

To provide: a storage container capable of easily maintaining freshness of an article such as fresh food or the like, and of easily forming a form where the freshness can be maintained; and a storage container molding method.SOLUTION: A storage container 1 is constituted from a container body 9 comprising a hollow part 7 and an opening part 5, and a lid body 11 for closing the opening part 5. The container body 9 is constituted from an outer box 13, and an inner box 15 installed in the outer box 13. The inner box 15 is formed from a thermoplastic resin material 25 containing a mineral exhibiting freshness-maintaining effects. Further, a sheet-like or film-like resin material is adopted as the thermoplastic resin material containing the mineral.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage container for maintaining the freshness of articles such as fresh food, and a method for forming the storage container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, containers and cooler boxes for storing or transporting fresh food while maintaining its freshness have been known. Also, a box-shaped storage container composed of an inner box and an outer box and incorporating a heat insulating material made of foamed resin between the inner box and the outer box is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The storage container of Patent Document 1 can store and transport fresh food in a cold storage state by storing the fresh food. On the other hand, although not box-shaped, an antibacterial film made of resin containing metal for maintaining the freshness of fresh food is known (for example, Patent Document 2). The antibacterial film of Patent Document 2 can store fresh food in an antibacterial state by wrapping the fresh food.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A box-shaped storage container equipped with a heat insulating material requires a refrigerant or ice to maintain the freshness of fresh food, and it was difficult to maintain the freshness of fresh food only with the storage container. Also, a box-shaped storage container equipped with a heat insulating material requires a process for incorporating the heat insulating material, and it was not easy to form. On the other hand, since the film for maintaining freshness by antibacterial is not box-shaped, complicated packaging work is required.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to be able to easily maintain the freshness of articles such as fresh foods and to be able to easily form a form capable of maintaining freshness.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention employs the following means. The storage container of the present invention, which is Means 1, is a storage container composed of a container body having a hollow portion and an opening, and a lid body for closing the opening. In the storage container in which the container body is composed of an outer box and an inner box housed in the outer box, the inner box is characterized by being formed of a thermoplastic resin material containing a mineral having a freshness maintaining effect.

[0007] Since the storage container of Means 1 is in a box shape including an inner box formed of a thermoplastic resin material containing a freshness maintaining mineral, the freshness can be easily maintained by storing fresh foods or the like and closing the lid body. Further, since the storage container of Means 1 forms an inner box for maintaining the freshness of articles such as fresh foods from a thermoplastic resin material containing a freshness maintaining mineral, it can be easily formed by thermally deforming the thermoplastic resin material.

[0008] The storage container of the present invention, which is Means 2, is as in Means 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin material forming the inner box is characterized by being in a sheet shape or a film shape.

[0009] Since the storage container of Means 2 can form the inner box by inserting a sheet-shaped or film-shaped thermoplastic resin material into a mold, the overall formation is easy without pouring a fluid resin into the mold to form the inner box.

[0010] The storage container of the present invention, which is Means 3, is as in Means 2, wherein the thermoplastic resin material is a two-layer structure composed of a base material layer and a mineral-containing resin layer. This is the feature.

[0011] Since the storage container of means 3 has a two-layer thermoplastic resin material forming the inner box, which consists of a base material layer and a mineral-containing resin layer, the thermoplastic resin material is easy to deform and easy to mold while containing freshness-maintaining minerals, and the inner box has a base material layer to reinforce the mineral-containing resin layer and prevent breakage.

[0012] The storage container of the present invention, which is means 4, is any one of the above means 1 to means 3, The outer box has an outer box edge, and the inner box has an inner box edge joined to the outer box edge, It is characterized by comprising a seal member for sealing the outer box edge of the outer box and the inner box edge of the inner box.

[0013] Since the storage container, which is means 4, comprises a seal member for sealing the outer box edge and the inner box edge, it can prevent the separation between the outer box edge and the inner box edge and fix the inner box edge to the outer box edge.

[0014] The storage container of the present invention, which is means 5, is in the above means 4, When a gap occurs between the outer box edge and the inner box edge, it is characterized in that the seal member enters the gap.

[0015] When a gap occurs between the outer box edge and the inner box edge of the storage container of means 5, since the seal member enters the gap, the contact area between the seal member and the outer box edge and the inner box edge is increased to enhance the adhesion, and the seal member can be firmly fixed to the inner box edge and the outer box edge. Also, the outer box edge and the inner box edge can be reliably sealed.

[0016] The method for forming a storage container of the present invention, which is means 6, is the method for forming the storage container of means 2 or means 3, The thermoplastic resin material is arranged on the upper part of the hollow part of the box-shaped mold, the thermoplastic resin material is heated, a downward biasing force is applied to the thermoplastic resin material, and the thermoplastic resin material deforms along the inner surface of the box-shaped mold to form the inner box.

[0017] The method for forming a storage container of means 6 can form an inner box by placing the sheet-like or film-like thermoplastic resin material on the upper part of a box-shaped mold and applying a downward biasing force. Therefore, there is no need to pour a fluid resin into the mold to form the inner box, and the overall formation is easy.

[0018] The method for forming a storage container of means 7 is the method for forming a storage container of means 4, characterized by forming the seal member by an edge mold along the outer box edge and the inner box edge.

[0019] The method for forming a storage container of means 7 can form a seal member with a certain shape because the seal member is formed by an edge mold. Therefore, the outer box edge of the outer box and the inner box edge of the inner box can be reliably sealed, and the separation between the outer box edge and the inner box edge can be reliably prevented.

[0020] The method for forming a storage container of means 8 is, in the means 7, characterized by causing the seal member to enter the gap when a gap occurs between the outer box edge and the inner box edge.

[0021] The method for forming a storage container of means 8 causes the seal member to enter the gap between the outer box edge and the inner box edge when a gap occurs between the outer box edge and the inner box edge. Therefore, in the formed storage container, the contact area between the seal member and the outer box edge and the inner box edge can be increased to enhance the adhesion, and the seal member can be firmly fixed to the inner box edge and the outer box edge. Also, the outer box edge and the inner box edge can be reliably sealed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] Since the storage container of the present invention is box-shaped and includes an inner box formed of a thermoplastic resin material containing freshness-maintaining minerals, freshness can be easily maintained by storing fresh food or the like and closing the lid. Further, since the storage container of the present invention forms an inner box for maintaining the freshness of articles such as fresh food from a thermoplastic resin material containing freshness-maintaining minerals, the inner box can be easily formed by thermally deforming the thermoplastic resin material. That is, the storage container of the present invention has the effect of being able to easily maintain freshness and being able to be easily formed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a storage container 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1(a), the storage container 1 is a container for storing and preserving fresh food 3 in order to maintain the freshness of the fresh food 3. The storage container 1 includes a container body 9 having an opening 5 and a hollow portion 7, and a lid 11 for closing the opening 5. The container body 9 includes an outer box 13 and an inner box 15 installed inside the outer box 13.

[0025] (Container Body 9) The outer box 13 constituting the container body 9 has a box shape and is formed of resin, but may be made of wood or metal such as aluminum. The outer box 13 has an outer box edge (flange) 13F that bends outward at a right angle near the opening 5. The inner box 15 constituting the container body 9 includes a base material layer 17 and a mineral-containing resin layer 19 laminated on the base material layer 17. The base material layer 17 is a resin having thermoplasticity. The mineral-containing resin layer 19 is formed of a resin having thermoplasticity and contains mineral particles having a freshness-maintaining effect. The inner box 15 has an inner box edge (flange) 15F that bends outward at a right angle near the opening 5.

[0026] The resin for forming the base material layer 17 and the resin for forming the mineral-containing resin layer 19 are formed from polyolefin resins such as polyethylene-based resins. The material of the resin for forming the mineral-containing resin layer 19 is not particularly limited as long as it can contain mineral particles having a freshness maintaining effect, is inseparably adhered to the base material layer 17, and is a resin having thermoplasticity. Examples of polyolefin resins include homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene (polyethylene-based resins), homopolymers and copolymers of propylene (polypropylene-based resins), and mixed resins of polyethylene-based resins and polypropylene-based resins. In addition, examples of resins other than polyolefin resins include polyester-based resins, polyamide-based resins, polystyrene-based resins, vinyl chloride-based resins, and fluorine-based resins.

[0027] The material of the mineral particles contained in the mineral-containing resin layer 19 is not particularly limited as long as it is a mineral having a sterilizing action, antibacterial action, or bactericidal action and can maintain the freshness of the fresh food 3, such as gold, carbon, silver, silver nitrate, zinc, or a compound or mixture containing these.

[0028] (Sealing member 21) On the upper surface of the outer box edge portion 13F, a sealing member 21 including the inner edge portion 15F is formed. The sealing member 21 can be fixed so that the position of the inner edge portion 15F does not shift and separate from the outer box edge portion 13F by sealing the outer box edge portion 13F and the inner edge portion 15F. The material of the sealing member 21 is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin that closely adheres to the upper surface of the outer box edge portion 13F and the outer peripheral surface of the inner edge portion 15F so as not to separate.

[0029] (Lid body 11) The lid body 11 is detachably attached to the container body 9. The lid body 11 covers the opening 5, the sealing member 21, and the end face 13E of the outer edge portion 13F, and seals the container body 9. The material of the lid body 11 is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the freshness of the fresh food 3 stored in the container body 9. For example, in addition to resins such as polyethylene-based resins, it may be made of wood or a metal such as aluminum.

[0030] (Forming method of the inner box 15) Figure 2 shows a method of forming the inner box 15 using a box-shaped mold 23 as an example of the forming method of the inner box 15. In this forming method, a thermoplastic resin material 25 composed of a base material layer 17 and a mineral-containing resin layer 19, which is in the form of a sheet or film, is placed on the upper surface of the box-shaped mold 23, and the outer peripheral end of the thermoplastic resin material 25 is fixed with a fixture 27, and then the following steps are carried out. First, the thermoplastic resin material 25 placed on the box-shaped mold 23 is heated by a heater 34 and becomes deformable. Next, by means of an air pump (not shown) or the like, the air in the cavity 29 of the box-shaped mold 23 is drawn out of the box-shaped mold 23 through the air holes 31 and the hollow portion 33 and out of the opening hole 35, so that the thermoplastic resin material 25 placed on the box-shaped mold 23 is drawn into and inserted into the cavity 29. The thermoplastic resin material 25 drawn into the cavity 29 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 29 and formed into the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 29.

[0031] (Forming method of the container body 9) The formed inner box 15 is closely fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the already formed outer box 13, the inner box 15 and the outer box 13 are joined, and the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 15F are joined. The fixing method between the inner box 15 and the outer box 13 is not particularly limited, such as welding or adhesion. The forming method of the outer box 13 is not particularly limited, such as forming by a resin mold composed of a normal cavity and core.

[0032] When the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 15F are joined, a seal member 21 (shown in FIG. 1) that seals the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F is formed. The seal member 21 is formed by injecting resin into a cavity of an edge mold (not shown) that covers the inner box edge portion 15F and adheres to the outer box end face 13E of the outer box edge portion 13F. At this time, if the vicinity of the middle of the inner box edge portion 15F is bent upward at an acute angle by the injection pressure of the seal member 21, or if the vicinity of the middle of the inner box edge portion 15F is bent upward at an acute angle by heating or the like and a gap is generated between the outer box edge portion 13F and the inner box edge portion 15F, it is preferable to allow the seal member 21 to enter the gap between the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F. Thereby, the contact area between the inner box edge portion 15F, the outer box edge portion 13F, and the seal member 21 can be increased to enhance the adhesion, and the seal member 21 can be firmly fixed to the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F. A resin seal member may be formed by ejecting resin from a resin spray so as to cover the inner box edge portion 15F and adhere to the upper surface of the outer box edge portion 13F.

[0033] (Effect of the storage container 1) In the storage container 1 of the present invention, by storing the fresh food 3 in the inner box 15 and closing the opening 5 with the lid body 11, the minerals contained in the inner box 15 exert an action such as preventing the growth of miscellaneous bacteria on the fresh food 3. Thereby, the freshness of the fresh food 3 stored in the inner box 15 can be maintained. That is, simply by storing the fresh food 3 in the inner box 15 and closing the opening 5 with the lid body 11, the freshness of the fresh food 3 can be easily maintained.

[0034] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage container 1 of the present invention can easily form the container body 9 using a sheet-like or film-like thermoplastic resin material 25 and a box-shaped mold 23. Therefore, a form capable of maintaining the freshness of the fresh food 3 can be easily formed. In addition, the storage container 1 of the present invention includes a seal member 21 that joins the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F and adheres to the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F. Therefore, the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F can be sealed, and the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F can be closely fixed. Furthermore, the mineral-containing resin layer 19 can be fixed so as not to separate from the base material layer 17.

[0035] Further, when it becomes necessary to replace the inner box 15 due to reasons such as deterioration, the inner box 15 can be taken out by peeling off the seal member 21, and a new inner box 15 can be attached to the outer box 13 for replacement. Since the seal member 21 covers only the inner box edge portion 15F of the inner box 15, the seal member 21 can be easily peeled off. After replacing the inner box 15, the seal member 21 is formed again.

[0036] (Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a storage container 50 according to the second embodiment. The storage container 50 has an outer box 13 made of a wooden housing. The storage container 50 has the same configuration as the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1, except that the outer box 13 is made of a wooden housing and is thicker. Since the outer box 13 of the storage container 50 is made of wood, it is lightweight and aesthetically pleasing.

[0037] (Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a storage container 100 according to the third embodiment. In the storage container 100, the inner box edge portion 15F is straight, the outer box edge portion 13F is sharply bent downward at the bent portion 13S, the seal member 21 covers the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F, and the outer box 13 is formed of a thermoplastic resin. Except for these configurations, the storage container 100 has the same configuration as the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] (Method of Forming the Storage Container 100) The outer box 13 and the inner box 15 of the storage container 100 are formed in the same manner as the outer box 13 and the inner box 15 of the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1. The formed outer box 13 and inner box 15 are joined as shown in FIG. 5(a), and the outer box edge portion 13F and the inner box edge portion 15F are joined in a straight state. Next, as shown below, a seal member 21 that covers the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F is formed by an edge mold 103 (shown in FIG. 5(b)) that extends horizontally along the inner box edge portion 15F and the outer box edge portion 13F. The edge mold 103 is composed of an upper mold 107 having a cavity 105 and a lower mold 109 that seals the cavity 105. The lower mold 109 includes a heating protrusion 111 that heats the outer box edge portion 13F and a gate 113 that injects resin into the cavity 105. The heating protrusion 111 is integrally formed with the lower mold 109. When the resin is injected from the gate 113 into the cavity 105, or before or after the injection, the heating protrusion 111 is pressed against the bent portion 13S of the outer box edge portion 13F, and the outer box edge portion 13F made of a thermoplastic resin is sharply bent downward at the bent portion 13S. In this way, in the cavity 105, a seal member 21 that covers the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F is formed.

[0039] (Effect of the storage container 100) In addition to the effects of the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1, the storage container 100 produces the following effects. According to the storage container 100, since the seal member 21 covers the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F, the seal member and the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F can be firmly fixed. Further, since the seal member 21 enters the gap between the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F, it is possible to prevent air from entering through the gap between the tip side of the inner box edge portion 15F and the tip side of the outer box edge portion 13F, and it is possible to prevent the inner box 15 and the outer box 13 from separating.

[0040] (Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a storage container 150 according to a fourth embodiment. In the storage container 150, the inner box edge 15F and the outer box edge 13F are straight. Except for this form, the storage container 150 has the same configuration as the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1. The method of molding the inner box 15 is the same as the method of molding the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 2. It is preferable to inject resin from above the storage container 150 so that the resin-made inner box edge 15F does not bend upward.

[0041] (Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a storage container 200 according to a fifth embodiment. The storage container 200 has a container body 9 composed of a base material layer 17 and a mineral-containing resin layer 19. That is, the container body 9 is composed only of the inner box. In this case, in order to maintain the strength of the container body 9 and the entire storage container 200, the seal member 21 is in contact with and adhered to the inner box edge 15F to the outer box end face 13E. Since the container body 9 of the storage container 200 is formed from the base material layer 17 and the mineral-containing resin layer 19, the raw material cost and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0042] (Second Embodiment of the Lid) FIG. 8 shows a lid 211 which is a second embodiment of the lid. The lid 211 is formed only from the base material layer 17 and the mineral-containing resin layer 19. In this case, in order to maintain the strength of the lid 211 and the entire storage container, the seal member 217 is in contact with and adhered to the end face 17E of the base material layer 17, the end face 19E of the mineral-containing resin layer 19, and the back surface 19U of the mineral-containing resin layer 19.

[0043] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above. That is, various modifications and improvements can be made within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, a partition plate may be provided in the inner box, and the partition plate may be formed of a resin containing a mineral having a freshness maintaining effect. In this case, the surface area of the resin containing the mineral having the freshness maintaining effect becomes large, and the freshness maintaining effect can be enhanced.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0044] 1, 50, 100, 150, 200… Storage container 3… Fresh food 5… Opening 7… Hollow part 9… Container body 11, 211… Lid 13… Outer box 13F… Outer box edge 13E… Outer box end face 13S… Bending part 15… Inner box 15F… Inner box edge 15S… Bending part 17… Base material layer 19… Mineral-containing resin layer 21… Sealing member 23… Box shape 25… Thermoplastic resin material 27… Fixture 29… Cavity 31… Air hole 33… Hollow part 34… Heater 35… Opening hole 103… Edge type 105… Cavity 107… Upper mold 109… Lower mold 111… Heating projection

Claims

1. A storage container comprising a container body having a hollow portion and an opening, and a lid for closing the opening, wherein the container body is composed of an outer box and an inner box housed in the outer box. The inner box is formed of a thermoplastic resin material containing a mineral having a freshness maintaining effect. A storage container characterized by the above.

2. The thermoplastic resin material for forming the inner box is in the form of a sheet or a film. The storage container according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The thermoplastic resin material is a two-layer structure composed of a base material layer and a mineral-containing resin layer. The storage container according to Claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The outer box has an outer box edge portion. The inner box has an inner box edge portion joined to the outer box edge portion. A sealing member for sealing the outer box edge portion of the outer box and the inner box edge portion of the inner box is provided. The storage container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. When a gap occurs between the outer box edge portion and the inner box edge portion, the sealing member enters the gap. The storage container according to Claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. A method for molding the storage container according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, The thermoplastic resin material is disposed on the upper part of the hollow portion of the box-shaped mold, the thermoplastic resin material is heated, a downward biasing force is applied to the thermoplastic resin material, and the thermoplastic resin material is deformed along the inner surface of the box-shaped mold to form the inner box. A method for molding a storage container, characterized by the above.

7. A method for molding the storage container according to Claim 4, The sealing member is formed by an edge mold along the outer box edge portion and the inner box edge portion. A method for molding a storage container, characterized by the above.

8. When a gap occurs between the outer box edge portion and the inner box edge portion, the sealing member is made to enter the gap. The method for molding a storage container according to Claim 7, characterized by the above.

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