Container body

Abstract

To prevent blocking without impairing the convenience of a container.SOLUTION: The container body has a bottom surface, a side wall inclined so as to be directed outward as being away from the bottom surface, and a peripheral edge portion connected to an upper end portion of the side wall. On at least one wall surface selected from the outer surface and the inner surface of the side wall, at least one raised portion formed so as to bulge from the wall surface is formed on a part of the peripheral edge portion in the circumferential direction at the upper end portion of the side wall. When two container bodies, a first container body and a second container body, are stacked, each of the at least one raised portion of the first container body contacts a side wall of the second container body. By this contact, a bottom-side gap is formed between the bottom surface of the first container main body and the bottom surface of the second container main body, a wall-side gap is formed between the side wall of the first container main body and the side wall of the second container main body, and the bottom-side gap, the wall-side gap, and the external space communicate with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a container body. [Background technology]

[0002] Container bodies equipped with a mechanism for smoothly removing one container body from a plurality of stacked container bodies, i.e., a mechanism for preventing blocking, are known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a container having an air inlet groove on its inner wall surface. When two containers are stacked, the lower end of the air inlet groove reaches an air pocket formed in the gap between the inner surface of the lower container and the outer surface of the upper container, and the upper end is open to the outside air. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-231665 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable to prevent blocking without impairing the convenience of the container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A container body according to one aspect of the present disclosure has a bottom surface, side walls that slope outward as they move away from the bottom surface, and a peripheral portion connected to the upper end of the side walls, and at least one raised portion formed to bulge from at least one wall surface selected from the outer and inner surfaces of the side walls is formed at the upper end of the side walls in a part of the circumferential direction of the peripheral portion, so that when two container bodies, a first container body and a second container body, are stacked, each of the at least one raised portion of the first container body contacts the side wall of the second container body, and due to this contact, a bottom gap is formed between the bottom surface of the first container body and the bottom surface of the second container body, and a wall gap is formed between the side wall of the first container body and the side wall of the second container body, and the bottom gap, the wall gap, and the external space are connected.

[0006] In this aspect, when two container bodies are stacked, at least one raised portion formed near the periphery of the first container body contacts the wall surface of the second container body. This contact limits the degree to which one container body penetrates into the other container body, forming a gap between the first and second container bodies from the side wall to the bottom, which communicates with the outside space. As a result, the air pressure in the gap between the stacked container bodies and the outside space is the same, i.e., no reduced pressure occurs between the container bodies, allowing one container body to be smoothly removed from the stacked container bodies. In addition, by providing a raised portion rather than a recess such as a groove, the phenomenon of other objects, such as contents, getting caught on the side wall is prevented or suppressed, thereby maintaining the convenience of the container. In other words, blocking can be prevented without compromising the convenience of the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, blocking can be prevented without impairing the convenience of the container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container body as seen from above. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container body as seen from below. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing two container bodies stacked together. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing two container bodies stacked together. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Various examples of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0010] [Container body overview] The container body according to the present disclosure is an article for storing contents. The container body has an opening on the top surface. The top surface is an imaginary surface that faces the bottom surface of the container body and is located at the upper end of the container body. In the present disclosure, the direction from the bottom surface toward the opening is referred to as the height direction, and the direction perpendicular to the height direction is referred to as the horizontal direction. In the height direction, the side where the bottom surface is located is referred to as the bottom, and the side where the opening is located is referred to as the top. When viewed from the height direction, the side toward the center of the container body is referred to as the inside, and the side away from the center of the container body, i.e., the side opposite the inside, is referred to as the outside.

[0011] The container body may be configured together with a lid that is removably attached to the container body to close the opening. The container may further include an inner tray that divides the internal space formed by fitting the lid to the container body into an upper space and a lower space. In this case, the inner tray is removably attached to the container body, and the lid is removably attached to the inner tray, thereby forming sealed upper and lower spaces in the container.

[0012] The contents refer to the tangible object contained in the container body. The contents may be various foods, such as prepared meals, boxed lunches, or noodles.

[0013] A plurality of container bodies (e.g., several tens of container bodies) may be provided in a stacked state. In the present disclosure, a plurality of stacked container bodies is also referred to as a "collected state" or a "stacked state." Each container body is removed from the stacked state, and contents are placed in each container body. In one example, the plurality of container bodies in the stacked state are set as is in a predetermined automatic feeder, and the automatic feeder removes each container body from the plurality of container bodies one by one. In another example, individual container bodies are manually removed from the plurality of container bodies in the stacked state.

[0014] Whether the removal of container bodies from a stacked state is performed automatically or manually, if blocking occurs in the stacked state, it becomes difficult to smoothly remove one container body from the stacked state. In the present disclosure, blocking refers to a phenomenon in which two adjacent stacked container bodies are in close contact with each other, or the air pressure between the two container bodies is lower than the air pressure in the external space, making it difficult to separate one container body from the other. The container body according to the present disclosure has a structure for preventing such blocking. This structure enables smooth removal of one container body from the stacked state. For example, the work of removing individual container bodies from the stacked state and filling each container body can be efficiently carried out. This work efficiency can be achieved regardless of whether the removal of container bodies from the stacked state is performed automatically or manually.

[0015] [Container configuration] The structure of an example of a container body 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container body 10 as seen from above. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container body 10 as seen from below. Figure 3 is a bottom view of the container body 10. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3.

[0016] The container body 10 is produced by applying a predetermined mold to a synthetic resin sheet material to form a predetermined shape. For example, the container body 10 may be produced from a thermoplastic resin foam sheet, or from a sheet material in which a thermoplastic resin film is laminated to a thermoplastic resin foam sheet. The container body 10 may also be produced from other types of foam sheet material, or from a non-foam sheet material. Examples of methods for forming the container body 10 include vacuum forming, pressure forming, vacuum-pressure forming, double-sided vacuum forming, and hot plate forming. The container body 10 can be produced by thermoforming a synthetic resin sheet using any of these methods. When using an oriented sheet, hot plate forming may be employed, in which the sheet is sandwiched between heated platens and a mold to form the sheet.

[0017] The container body 10 includes a cup-shaped storage section 11 for storing contents and a peripheral portion 12 that forms the opening of the storage section 11. In a plan view of the storage section 11, the peripheral portion 12 is circular. The storage section 11 includes a bottom surface 13 and a side wall 14 that extends from the periphery of the bottom surface 13 along the height direction and is formed to connect to the peripheral portion 12. Therefore, the peripheral portion 12 connects to the upper end of the side wall 14. The side wall 14 is formed to slope outward as it moves away from the bottom surface 13. As a result, the diameter of the peripheral portion 12 is larger than the diameter of the bottom surface 13. In this disclosure, the outer surface 14a and inner surface 14b of the side wall 14 are also referred to as the "wall surface."

[0018] A plurality of raised portions 15 are provided on the outer surface 14a of the side wall 14. The plurality of raised portions 15 are provided intermittently along the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion 12 at the upper end of the side wall 14. Each raised portion 15 is formed so as to bulge outward from the outer surface 14a, i.e., so as to bulge from the wall surface. Each raised portion 15 is formed on a part of the peripheral edge portion 12 so as to extend along the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion 12. Both ends of the raised portion 15 in the circumferential direction are formed so as to gradually narrow toward the peripheral edge portion 12. In other words, both ends of the raised portion 15 have a shape like the bow of a ship. The container body 10 has three raised portion pairs. A raised portion pair refers to a pair of raised portions 15 formed facing each other. The phrase "a pair of raised portions facing each other" means that, assuming an imaginary axis that extends along the height direction and passes through the center of the container body 10, one raised portion is located 180° apart from the other raised portion along the imaginary axis. The six raised portions 15 (or three pairs of raised portions) are located 60° apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the peripheral portion 12.

[0019] In the present disclosure, the region between two adjacent raised portions 15 is referred to as a non-raised region 16. The non-raised region 16 can also be said to be a region located outside both ends of the raised portions 15 in the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion 12.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4, the cross section of the peripheral edge portion 12 obtained by cutting the container body 10 along the radial direction has a generally C-shape that is convex upward. The edge of the peripheral edge portion 12 is provided with a tab 17 that extends outward in the horizontal direction. The tab 17 is provided around the entire circumference of the peripheral edge portion 12.

[0021] At least one of the rim 12 and the tabs 17 can function as a fitting structure for fitting with the lid or inner tray. Since the plurality of protrusions 15 are provided on the outer surface 14a of the sidewall 14, when the container body 10 is provided with the fitting structure, it can be said that the plurality of protrusions 15 are formed in a different position from the rim 12 and the tabs 17, i.e., in a different position from the fitting structure. Examples of fitting methods realized by the fitting structure of the container body 10 include an internal fitting method, an external fitting method, and an internal / external fitting method.

[0022] As another example, the lid or inner tray may be attached to the container body 10 by a method such as tape fastening, without employing such a fitting method. Therefore, the container body 10 does not need to have a fitting structure.

[0023] [Stacking container bodies] As described above, multiple container bodies 10 may be provided stacked. In this case, an accumulation state is formed such that one container body 10 fits into the receiving portion 11 of one of two adjacent container bodies 10. Hereinafter, the two adjacent container bodies 10 will be distinguished as a first container body 101 and a second container body 102, and prevention of blocking will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Both FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial cross-sectional views showing two stacked container bodies 10. FIG. 5 shows the raised portion 15 of one container body 10, and FIG. 6 shows the non-raised region 16 of one container body 10. Both FIGS. 5 and 6 show two container bodies 10 stacked such that the first container body 101 fits into the receiving portion 11 of the second container body 102, i.e., the first container body 101 is positioned above the second container body 102.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 5, when the first container body 101 and the second container body 102 are stacked, each of the multiple raised portions 15 of the first container body 101 contacts the side wall 14 (the inner surface 14b of the side wall 14) of the second container body 102. For example, each raised portion 15 of the first container body 101 contacts a portion including the upper end of the side wall 14 of the second container body 102. Fig. 5 indicates this contact by a circle 200. This contact forms a bottom gap 110 between the bottom surface 13 of the first container body 101 and the bottom surface 13 of the second container body 102, and a wall gap 120 between the side wall 14 of the first container body 101 and the side wall 14 of the second container body 102.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 6 , the wall-side gap 120 communicates with the external space 300, which is the space outside the stacked first container bodies 101, in the non-raised region 16 of the first container body 101. In addition, the bottom-side gap 110 and the wall-side gap 120 communicate with each other. As a result, a gap is formed between the first container body 101 and the second container body 102 from the side wall 14 to the bottom surface 13, and this gap communicates with the external space 300. Therefore, the air pressure in the gap between the two container bodies 10 (the bottom-side gap 110 and the wall-side gap 120) and the external space 300 is the same. In other words, no reduced pressure occurs between the two container bodies 10. Therefore, one container body 10 can be smoothly removed from the stacked container bodies 10.

[0026] Each of the multiple raised portions 15 of the first container body 101 is formed to be in surface contact, line contact, or point contact with the side wall 14 (inner surface 14b of the side wall 14) of the second container body 102. For example, each raised portion 15 of the first container body 101 is formed to be in surface contact, line contact, or point contact with a portion including the upper end of the side wall 14 of the second container body 102. Surface contact means that the contact area where two tangible objects come into contact has extension in both two axial directions of a two-dimensional coordinate system, that is, the contact area takes the shape of a two-dimensional figure. Line contact means that the contact area takes the shape of a line. Point contact means that the contact area is represented by a point. In the example of FIG. 5, the contact within the circle 200 is surface contact.

[0027] [Variations] Various examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail above. However, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples. Various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0028] In the above example, each raised portion 15 is provided on the outer surface 14a of the side wall 14, but the raised portion may also be provided on the inner surface of the side wall, or on both the outer and inner surfaces of the side wall. Since the raised portion is formed on the wall surface, it can be said to be part of the side wall. Therefore, even if raised portions are provided on both the outer and inner surfaces of the side wall and the raised portions of the first and second container bodies are in contact with each other when they are stacked, this is also an example of at least one raised portion of the first container body contacting the side wall of the second container body.

[0029] Although the container body 10 described above includes multiple raised portions 15, the container body may also include a single raised portion. When the container body includes multiple raised portions, each raised portion may be provided at any position on the upper end of the side wall, and in this regard, a raised portion pair may not be provided.

[0030] The shape of the periphery of the container body is not limited to a ring, and may be other shapes such as a rectangle, a polygon, a rounded rectangle, etc. In the present disclosure, a rounded rectangle includes a rectangle with four arc-shaped corners and a rectangle with the short sides replaced by semicircles (such as a shape like an athletics track).

[0031] [Note] As can be seen from the various examples above, the present disclosure includes the following aspects. (Appendix 1) A container body having a bottom surface, a side wall that slopes outward as it moves away from the bottom surface, and a peripheral portion that connects to an upper end of the side wall, At least one protruding portion formed so as to bulge from at least one wall surface selected from an outer surface and an inner surface of the side wall is formed at the upper end of the side wall in a part of the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion, When the two container bodies, i.e., the first container body and the second container body, are stacked, each of the at least one protrusion of the first container body contacts the side wall of the second container body; Due to the contact, a bottom gap is formed between the bottom surface of the first container body and the bottom surface of the second container body, a wall gap is formed between the side wall of the first container body and the side wall of the second container body, and the bottom gap, the wall gap, and an external space are communicated with each other. Container body. (Appendix 2) the at least one wall surface is the outer surface of the side wall; Container body as described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) Each of the at least one raised portion of the first container body contacts an upper end of the side wall of the second container body. Container body as described in Appendix 2. (Appendix 4) 4. The container body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is made of a thermoplastic resin foam sheet or a sheet material in which a thermoplastic resin film is laminated on a thermoplastic resin foam sheet. (Appendix 5) Each of the at least one raised portion is formed to extend along the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion. A container body according to any one of appendices 1 to 4. (Appendix 6) Each of the at least one raised portion of the first container body is formed to be in surface contact with the side wall of the second container body. 6. A container body according to any one of appendices 1 to 5. (Appendix 7) the at least one raised portion is a plurality of raised portions intermittently provided along the periphery; A container body according to any one of appendices 1 to 6. (Appendix 8) The plurality of protrusions include a protrusion pair, which is a pair of protrusions formed to face each other. Container body according to appendix 7.

[0032] According to Supplementary Note 1, when two container bodies are stacked, at least one raised portion formed near the periphery of the first container body contacts the wall surface of the second container body. This contact limits the degree to which one container body penetrates into the other container body, forming a gap between the first and second container bodies from the side wall to the bottom, which communicates with the external space. As a result, the air pressure in the gap between the stacked container bodies and the external space is the same, i.e., no reduced pressure occurs between the container bodies, allowing one container body to be smoothly removed from the stacked container bodies. In addition, by providing a raised portion rather than a recess such as a groove, the phenomenon of other objects, such as contents, getting caught on the side wall is prevented or suppressed, thereby maintaining the convenience of the container. In other words, blocking can be prevented without compromising the convenience of the container.

[0033] According to Supplementary Note 2, since at least one protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the side wall, blocking can be prevented without affecting the inside of the container body where the contents are stored. For example, blocking can be prevented while avoiding a situation in which the capacity of the container body changes or a change in the design of the container body to maintain that capacity.

[0034] According to Supplementary Note 3, the raised portion of the first container body contacts the upper end of the sidewall of the second container body. This contact sufficiently limits the degree to which one container body penetrates into the other container body, more reliably forming a gap between the stacked first and second container bodies. Therefore, blocking can be more reliably prevented.

[0035] According to Appendix 4, since the container body is made using a thermoplastic resin foam sheet, the container body has a predetermined thickness. This thickness provides the container body with a predetermined strength, allowing the protrusion of the first container body to maintain contact with the side wall of the second container body. For example, when multiple container bodies are stacked, a situation in which one of two adjacent container bodies becomes embedded in the other container body can be avoided. Therefore, a gap between the stacked first and second container bodies can be more reliably formed, and blocking can be more reliably prevented.

[0036] According to Supplementary Note 5, the raised portion is formed to extend along the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge, thereby increasing the contact area between the first container body and the second container body. As a result, the degree to which one container body penetrates into the other container body can be sufficiently limited, more reliably forming a gap between the stacked first container body and second container body. Therefore, blocking can be more reliably prevented.

[0037] According to Appendix 6, the first container body and the second container body are in surface contact, so that contact portion more reliably withstands the pressure generated between the two container bodies. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which one of two adjacent container bodies becomes stuck into the other. In addition, this surface contact allows the containers to be stacked in a stable state. As a result, a gap between the stacked first and second container bodies is more reliably formed, and blocking can be more reliably prevented.

[0038] According to Supplementary Note 7, the plurality of protrusions are provided intermittently along the periphery, so that the first container body and the second container body come into contact with each other at multiple locations. This increased contact area adequately limits the degree to which one container body penetrates into the other container body, and stabilizes the stacking of the container bodies. Therefore, blocking can be prevented more reliably.

[0039] According to Appendix 8, a pair of protruding portions formed facing each other is provided, so that the first container body and the second container body come into contact with each other so as to maintain balance in the circumferential direction of the periphery of the container body. As a result, the containers are stacked in a stable state. Because the stacking of the container bodies is more stable, blocking can be more reliably prevented. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10...container body, 11...storage section, 12...periphery, 13...bottom surface, 14...side wall, 14a...outer surface (wall surface), 14b...inner surface (wall surface), 15...raised portion, 16...non-raised area, 17...edge margin, 101...first container body, 102...second container body, 110...bottom gap, 120...wall gap, 300...external space.

Claims

1. A container body having a bottom surface, a side wall that slopes outward as it moves away from the bottom surface, and a peripheral portion that connects to an upper end of the side wall, At least one protruding portion formed so as to bulge from at least one wall surface selected from an outer surface and an inner surface of the side wall is formed at the upper end of the side wall in a part of the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion, When the two container bodies, i.e., the first container body and the second container body, are stacked, each of the at least one protrusion of the first container body contacts the side wall of the second container body; Due to the contact, a bottom gap is formed between the bottom surface of the first container body and the bottom surface of the second container body, a wall gap is formed between the side wall of the first container body and the side wall of the second container body, and the bottom gap, the wall gap, and an external space are communicated with each other. Container body.

2. the at least one wall surface is the outer surface of the side wall; The container body according to claim 1 .

3. Each of the at least one raised portion of the first container body contacts an upper end of the side wall of the second container body. The container body according to claim 2 .

4. 4. The container body according to claim 1, which is made of a thermoplastic resin foam sheet or a sheet material in which a thermoplastic resin film is laminated on a thermoplastic resin foam sheet.

5. Each of the at least one raised portion is formed to extend along the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion. The container body according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. Each of the at least one raised portion of the first container body is formed to be in surface contact with the side wall of the second container body. The container body according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. the at least one raised portion is a plurality of raised portions intermittently provided along the periphery; The container body according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The plurality of protrusions include a protrusion pair, which is a pair of protrusions formed to face each other. The container body according to claim 7.

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