Transition Plug Cap

Abstract

The present invention provides a transition plug cap that prevents the transition plug from falling out and has a measuring function. [Solution] A transition plug cap 3 having a cap body 4 and a lid 5, wherein a transition plug 6 is integrally connected to the cap body 4 via a weakening portion 7 within the discharge port 4a, and when the lid 5 is detached the weakening portion 7 breaks and the transition plug 6 moves to the lid 5, wherein the cap body 4 has a measuring cylinder 11a, a measuring bottom wall 11b having an opening 11b1, and a movable valve 8 held inside the measuring cylinder 11a, discharging contents 9 as the movable valve 8 moves from a lower limit position to an upper limit position, the movable valve 8 has a contact portion 8a1 that contacts the contact portion 4b which is the lower surface of the discharge port 4a at the upper limit position, and a support portion 8b1 that can support the transition plug 6 at the upper limit position, and the cap body 4 can hold the movable valve 8 at the upper limit position by inserting a pin through the opening 11b1 to push up the movable valve 8 and bring the contact portion 8a1 into contact with the contact portion 4b,

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer plug cap.

Background Art

[0002] A transfer plug cap having a cap body attached to the mouth of a container body and a lid body detachable from the cap body is known. Before the start of use, a transfer plug is integrally connected to the cap body through a weakened portion in the discharge port. As the lid body is detached at the start of use, the weakened portion breaks and the transfer plug moves from the cap body to the lid body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document ①

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the capping process of setting the lid body on the cap body by screwing or plugging during the manufacture of the transfer plug cap, the weakened portion may break under a load, resulting in a defect in the dropping of the transfer plug. In addition, it is also required to provide the transfer plug cap with a metering function for limiting the discharge amount per time.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a transfer plug cap that can prevent a defect in the dropping of the transfer plug and has a metering function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is as follows.

[0007] [1] A transition plug cap having a cap body that is attached to the mouth of a container body having a mouth, body and bottom facing downward in that order, and a lid that can be detached upward from the cap body, wherein before use, a transition plug is integrally connected to the cap body via a weakening portion within the discharge port, and when the lid is detached at the start of use, the weakening portion breaks and the transition plug moves from the cap body to the lid, The cap body comprises a measuring cylinder extending vertically, a measuring bottom wall connected to the lower end of the measuring cylinder and having an opening in the center, a movable valve held within the measuring cylinder so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a discharge channel extending radially inward from the measuring cylinder to the discharge port. After use begins, the contents of the container body flow into the measuring cylinder from the opening, the contents of the container body are discharged through the discharge channel as the movable valve moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, and the discharge channel is blocked when the movable valve reaches the upper limit position. The transfer valve has a contact portion that contacts a contact portion which is the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the discharge port integrally connected to the weakening portion at the upper limit position, and a support portion which can support the lower surface of the transfer valve at the upper limit position before use begins, the transfer valve cap.

[0008] [2] The transition plug cap according to [1], wherein, before use, the transfer valve can be held in the upper limit position by inserting a pin through the opening in the measuring bottom wall to push up the transfer valve and bringing the contact portion into contact with the contacted portion.

[0009] [3] The transfer valve is a transition plug cap according to [1] or [2], having a partition wall extending vertically in the vertical direction, an upper outer peripheral wall extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall with its upper end forming the contact portion, and an upper inner peripheral wall extending upward from the partition wall radially inward from the upper outer peripheral wall with its upper end forming the support portion.

[0010] [4] The transfer valve is a transition plug cap as described in [3], having a lower outer circumferential wall extending downward from the partition wall and having the same vertical length and diameter as the upper outer circumferential wall, and a lower inner circumferential wall extending downward from the partition wall and having the same vertical length and diameter as the upper inner circumferential wall.

[0011] [5] A method for manufacturing a transition plug cap, which manufactures a transition plug cap as described in any one of items [1] to [4], A method for manufacturing a transition plug cap, comprising a capping step of inserting the pin through the opening in the measuring bottom wall to push up the movable valve, bringing the contact portion into contact with the contacted portion to hold the movable valve in the upper limit position, and setting the lid on the cap body in a state where the support portion of the movable valve can support the lower surface of the transition plug. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the transition plug from falling out and to provide a transition plug cap that has a measuring function. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing a dispensing container in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the capping process in an example of a method for manufacturing transition plug caps. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge container 1 includes a container body 2 having a cylindrical mouth portion 2a centered on a central axis O, a body portion 2b whose diameter expands from the lower end of the mouth portion 2a, and a bottom portion (not shown) connected in this order downward, and a transition plug cap 3 attached to the mouth portion 2a. Note that the mouth portion 2a may be in a cylindrical shape other than a circular cylinder. The transition plug cap 3 has a cap body 4 attached to the mouth portion 2a and a lid body 5 that can be detached (in this embodiment, screwed off) upward from the cap body 4. Before the start of use, the transition plug 6 is integrally connected to the cap body 4 via a weakened portion 7 within the discharge port 4a. With the detachment of the lid body 5 at the start of use, the weakened portion 7 breaks and the transition plug 6 moves from the cap body 4 to the lid body 5.

[0016] In this embodiment, the direction along the central axis O of the mouth portion 2a is referred to as the vertical direction, the direction from the bottom of the container body 2 toward the mouth portion 2a along the vertical direction is referred to as the upward direction, the opposite direction is referred to as the downward direction, the direction perpendicular to the central axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction around the central axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0017] The cap body 4 has a cylindrical measuring cylinder 11a extending in the vertical direction and centered on the central axis O, a measuring bottom wall 11b connected to the lower end portion of the measuring cylinder 11a and having an opening 11b1 at the center, a moving valve 8 held within the measuring cylinder 11a so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a discharge flow path that passes through the plurality of side holes 11a1 of the measuring cylinder 11a and reaches the discharge port 4a beyond the radial inner side.

[0018] After the start of use, in the cap body 4, the content 9 within the container body 2 flows into the measuring cylinder 11a from the opening 11b1, and while the moving valve 8 moves from the lower limit position (the position shown in Fig. 1) to the upper limit position (the position shown in Fig. 2), the content 9 within the container body 2 is discharged through the discharge flow path, and when the moving valve 8 reaches the upper limit position, the discharge flow path is blocked. Thereby, the measuring function can be exhibited.

[0019] The content 9 is not particularly limited and is, for example, a liquid. The discharge container 1 of this embodiment is particularly suitable when the content 9 is a food such as dressing or soup.

[0020] The cap body 4 has a body member 10 and a metering member 11 attached to the body member 10. The body member 10 has a mounting portion 10a (mounting cylinder 10a1, annular wall 10a2, and inner cylinder 10a3) mounted on the mouth portion 2a, an engaging cylinder 10b extending upward from the inner peripheral edge of the mounting portion 10a, an annular top wall 10c extending radially inward from the upper end of the engaging cylinder 10b, and a discharge cylinder 10d extending upward from the inner peripheral edge of the top wall 10c and partitioning the discharge port 4a radially inward. The metering member 11 has a metering cylinder 11a, a metering bottom wall 11b, and a flange portion 11c extending radially outward from the upper end of the metering cylinder 11a, and is fitted and held on the upper end portion (projections 10e1 of the vertical ribs 10e provided at intervals in the circumferential direction) of the inner peripheral surface of the engaging cylinder 10b of the body member 10 via the flange portion 11c. The upward movement of the metering member 11 relative to the body member 10 is restricted by contact with the lower surface of the top wall 10c, and the downward movement of the metering member 11 relative to the body member 10 is restricted by engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the engaging cylinder 10b.

[0021] The metering cylinder 11a has a plurality of side holes 11a1 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the upper part of the metering cylinder 11a below the flange portion 11c. Note that the number of side holes 11a1 provided in the metering cylinder 11a is not limited to a plurality and may be one.

[0022] The mounting portion 10a is mounted by fitting so that upward movement relative to the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a is restricted, and includes a mounting cylinder 10a1, an annular wall 10a2 extending radially inward from the upper end of the mounting cylinder 10a1 and abutting against the upper end surface of the mouth portion 2a, and an inner cylinder 10a3 extending downward from the inner peripheral edge of the annular wall 10a2 and closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a. The engaging cylinder 1ob has a male-threaded engaging portion 10b1 centered on the central axis O on its outer peripheral surface. The top wall 10c has a plurality (three in this embodiment) of projections 10c1 protruding upward arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on its upper surface. The discharge cylinder 10d has a tubular shape that expands in diameter upward.

[0023] The transition plug 6 has a plug bottom wall 6a and a plug cylinder portion 6b that extends upward from the plug bottom wall 6a radially inward from the outer peripheral edge of the plug bottom wall 6a. The outer peripheral surface of the plug cylinder portion 6b has a surface with intermittent protrusions 6b1 arranged in the circumferential direction. The inner peripheral surface of the plug cylinder portion 6b has a fitting protrusion 6b2 that protrudes radially inward above the lower end of the inner peripheral surface. Before use, the outer peripheral edge of the plug bottom wall 6a is connected to the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the discharge cylinder 10d via a weakened portion 7. The weakened portion 7 is formed to be thinner than either the top wall 10c or the plug bottom wall 6a so that it can be easily broken.

[0024] The lid 5 has a top wall 5a, a columnar portion 5b extending downward from the top wall 5a and being inserted into and fitted into the plug portion 6b, a seal cylinder 5c extending downward from the top wall 5a radially outward from the columnar portion 5b and in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the discharge cylinder 10d, and an engaged cylinder 5d extending downward from the top wall 5a radially outward from the seal cylinder 5c and engaging (screwing) with the engaging portion 10b1 of the engaging cylinder 10b. The engaged cylinder 5d has an engaged portion 5d1 that unscrews when rotated circumferentially to one side relative to the engaging portion 10b1 and screws in when rotated circumferentially to the other side. The columnar portion 5b is fitted to the fitting projection 6b2 of the plug portion 6b in such a way that upward movement is restricted. The inner circumferential surface of the seal cylinder 5c is fitted to the recessed portion 6b1 of the plug portion 6b so as to rotate together in one side circumferentially.

[0025] The inner circumferential surface of the seal cylinder 5c is fitted to the grooves 6b1 of the stopper cylinder portion 6b so as to rotate freely in the other direction in the circumferential direction. For this purpose, one or both of the grooves 6b1 of the stopper cylinder portion 6b and the inner circumferential surface of the seal cylinder 5c are serrated. In other words, the grooves 6b1 of the stopper cylinder portion 6b and the inner circumferential surface of the seal cylinder 5c form a ratchet structure. During the capping process in the manufacturing of the transition stopper cap 3, the seal cylinder 5c can be fitted to the stopper cylinder portion 6b by rotating it freely using the ratchet structure while the cover 5 is screwed onto the cap body 4.

[0026] The lid 5 has multiple vibrating pieces 5e extending downward from the top wall 5a at circumferential intervals (the same number as the protrusions 10c1 on the top wall 10c), located radially outward from the discharge cylinder 10d and radially inward from the engaged cylinder 5d. When the lid 5 is attached (screwed) to the cap body 4, the vibrating pieces 5e vibrate by elastically deforming in the circumferential direction, overcoming the corresponding protrusions 10c1 on the top wall 10c, and then returning to their original position. When the lid 5 is reattached to the cap body 4 after use, the vibration confirms that the attachment is complete.

[0027] The lid 5 has an outer peripheral wall 5f that extends radially outward from the engaged cylinder 5d and downward from the top wall 5a beyond the lower end of the engaged cylinder 5d. The outer peripheral wall 5f can be used as a gripping portion to be held in order to attach or detach the lid 5 from the cap body 4.

[0028] The movable valve 8 has a contact portion 8a1 that, at the upper limit position, contacts the contact portion 4b, which is the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the discharge port 4a that is integrally connected to the weakening portion 7 (the lower surface of the inner peripheral edge of the top wall 10c), and a support portion 8b1 that can support the lower surface of the transition plug 6 (the lower surface of the outer peripheral edge of the plug bottom wall 6a) at the upper limit position before use begins.

[0029] The movable valve 8 has a partition wall 8c that extends vertically in the vertical direction, an upper outer peripheral wall 8a that extends upward from the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall 8c and whose upper end constitutes a contact portion 8a1, and an upper inner peripheral wall 8b that extends radially inward from the upper outer peripheral wall 8a and upward from the partition wall 8c, and whose upper end constitutes a support portion 8b1. The movable valve 8 also has a lower outer peripheral wall 8d that extends downward from the partition wall 8c and has the same vertical length and diameter dimensions as the upper outer peripheral wall 8a, and a lower inner peripheral wall 8e that extends downward from the partition wall 8c and has the same vertical length and diameter dimensions as the upper inner peripheral wall 8b. The outer peripheral surfaces of the upper outer peripheral wall 8a and the lower outer peripheral wall 8d slide vertically on the inner peripheral surface of the measuring cylinder 11a when the movable valve 8 moves between the lower limit position and the upper limit position.

[0030] After use begins, with the lid 5 detached from the cap body 4, the discharge container 1 is tilted and the body 2b of the container body 2 is squeezed (pressed). This causes the contents 9 inside the container body 2 to flow into the measuring cylinder 11a through the opening 11b1 of the measuring bottom wall 11b, hitting the lower surface of the partition wall 8c of the movable valve 8, causing the movable valve 8 to move smoothly upward. Furthermore, the contents 9 inside the container body 2 can be discharged through the discharge channel until the movable valve 8 moves to its upper end position and blocks the discharge channel.

[0031] In this embodiment, before use, the cap body 4 can hold the movable valve 8 in the upper limit position by inserting the pin 12a1 through the opening 11b1 of the measuring bottom wall 11b to push up the movable valve 8 and bringing the contact portion 8a1 into contact with the contacted portion 4b. Therefore, in the capping process, as shown in Figure 2, the movable valve 8 can be held in the upper limit position by inserting the pin 12a1 through the opening 11b1 of the measuring bottom wall 11b to push up the movable valve 8 (see the white arrow in Figure 2) and bringing the contact portion 8a1 into contact with the contacted portion 4b, and the lid 5 can be set on the cap body 4 in a state where the lower surface of the transition plug 6 can be supported by the support portion 8b1 of the movable valve 8. Therefore, in the capping process, when the columnar portion 5b and the sealing cylinder 5c are fitted into the stopper cylinder portion 6b, the downward load applied to the weakened portion 7 from the columnar portion 5b and the sealing cylinder 5c via the transition plug 6 prevents the weakened portion 7 from breaking and prevents the transition plug 6 from falling properly.

[0032] The capping process can be performed using a jig 12 and a capping device 13 as shown in Figure 2. The jig 12 has a jig body 12b that supports the lower surface of the flange portion 11c of the weighing member 11, and a movable body 12a that has a vertically elongated pin 12a1 and is movable vertically relative to the jig body 12b. The capping device 13 grips and sets the lid 5 on the cap body 4 supported by the jig 12 (see the thick arrow in Figure 2).

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the movable valve 8 has a lower outer circumferential wall 8d having the same vertical length and diameter dimensions as the upper outer circumferential wall 8a, and a lower inner circumferential wall 8e having the same vertical length and diameter dimensions as the upper inner circumferential wall 8b. Therefore, even if the movable valve 8 is placed upside down inside the measuring cylinder 11a, the same function can be obtained, and the movable valve 8 can be placed without distinguishing its vertical orientation. For this reason, the cap body assembly process, in which the movable valve 8 is placed inside the measuring member 11 before the capping process, and then the measuring member 11 is attached to the main body member 10, can be easily performed.

[0034] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the embodiments described above can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0035] For example, in the embodiment described above, the engaging cylinder 10b has a male screw-shaped engaging portion 10b1, and the lid 5 is set by screwing it onto the cap body 4 while rotating it during the capping process. However, the configuration is not limited to this, for example, the lid 5 may be set by driving it into place during the capping process. In this case, a ratchet structure may not be provided between the columnar portion 5b of the lid 5, the fitting projection 6b2 of the transition plug 6, and the recessed and recessed portions 6b1 of the plug cylinder portion 6b and the inner circumferential surface of the seal cylinder 5c. Instead, the projection (not shown) on the inner circumferential surface of the seal cylinder 5c may be fitted into the recess (not shown) on the outer circumferential surface of the plug cylinder portion 6b. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1 Discharge container 2. Container body 2a Mouth 2b Torso 3. Transition Plug Cap 4 Cap body 4a Discharge port 4b Abutted part 5. Lid 5a Top wall 5b Columnar part 5c sealing tube 5d Engaged tube 5d1 Engaged part 5e vibrating piece 5f outer wall 6 Transition Plug 6a Plug bottom wall 6b Stopper cylinder part 6b1 Uneven part 6b2 Fitting projection 7 Weakened part 8. Mobile valve 8a Upper outer peripheral wall 8a1 Contact part 8b Upper inner peripheral wall 8b1 Support part 8c Bulkhead 8d Lower peripheral wall 8e Lower inner peripheral wall 9 Contents 10 Main body components 10a Mounting part 10a1 Mounting tube 10a2 Ring Wall 10a3 inner cylinder 10b Engagement tube 10b1 Engagement part 10c ceiling wall 10c1 protrusion 10d discharge tube 10e Vertical Rib 10e1 protrusion 11 Measuring component 11a Measuring tube 11a1 side hole 11b Metering bottom wall 11b1 opening 11c flange section 12 Jigs 12a Mobile object 12a1 pin 12b Jig body 13. Capping device O center axis

Claims

1. A transition plug cap having a cap body that is attached to the mouth of a container body having a mouth, body and bottom facing downward in that order, and a lid that can be detached upward from the cap body, wherein before use, a transition plug is integrally connected to the cap body via a weakening portion within the discharge port, and when the lid is detached at the start of use, the weakening portion breaks and the transition plug moves from the cap body to the lid, The cap body comprises a measuring cylinder extending vertically, a measuring bottom wall connected to the lower end of the measuring cylinder and having an opening in the center, a movable valve held within the measuring cylinder so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a discharge channel extending radially inward from the measuring cylinder to the discharge port. After use begins, the contents of the container body flow into the measuring cylinder from the opening, the contents of the container body are discharged through the discharge channel as the movable valve moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, and the discharge channel is blocked when the movable valve reaches the upper limit position. The transfer valve has a contact portion that contacts a contact portion which is the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the discharge port integrally connected to the weakening portion at the upper limit position, and a support portion which can support the lower surface of the transfer valve at the upper limit position before use begins, the transfer valve cap.

2. The transition plug cap according to claim 1, wherein, before use, the cap body can hold the transfer valve in the upper limit position by inserting a pin through the opening in the measuring bottom wall to push up the transfer valve and bringing the contact portion into contact with the contacted portion.

3. The transfer valve has a partition wall extending vertically in the vertical direction, an upper outer peripheral wall extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall with its upper end forming the contact portion, and an upper inner peripheral wall extending upward from the partition wall radially inward from the upper outer peripheral wall with its upper end forming the support portion, the transfer plug cap according to claim 1.

4. The transfer valve has a lower outer circumferential wall extending downward from the partition wall and having the same vertical length and diameter as the upper outer circumferential wall, and a lower inner circumferential wall extending downward from the partition wall and having the same vertical length and diameter as the upper inner circumferential wall, as described in claim 3.

5. A method for manufacturing a transition plug cap as described in claim 1, A method for manufacturing a transition plug cap, comprising a capping step of inserting the pin through the opening in the measuring bottom wall to push up the movable valve, bringing the contact portion into contact with the contacted portion to hold the movable valve in the upper limit position, and setting the lid on the cap body in a state where the support portion of the movable valve can support the lower surface of the transition plug.

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