Diffusion apparatus for volatile substances and method for manufacturing the apparatus

Abstract

The diffusion device comprises a container (1) having a recess for containing a liquid containing a volatile substance, and a cover member (2) attached to the container (1). The cover member (2) comprises a membrane (21), a barrier layer (22) which is removed before the first use of the device, an intermediate layer (24) positioned between the membrane (21) and the barrier layer (22), and a peelable tab (25) that defines a mounting area (3). The mounting area (3) is the area between the peelable tab (25) and the rest of the cover member (2) where the cover member (2) is attached to the container (1). The membrane (21) has a gap (26) or a thin section in the mounting area (3), and the membrane (21) terminates in the mounting area (3). This makes it possible to remove the barrier layer before the first use, thereby strengthening the opening and maintaining the membrane welded to the container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a volatile substance diffusion device and a method for manufacturing the device.

Background Art

[0002] In diffusion devices for volatile substances such as air fresheners and pest control devices, membranes have been used for many years.

[0003] In these devices, a membrane covers a container filled with a liquid containing a volatile substance, and only the vapor is diffused so that the liquid cannot escape from the container.

[0004] Since the creation of the initial polyethylene single membrane formed of a thin plastic plate with no holes formed, several new proposals have been made to improve performance.

[0005] Currently, the technology related to membranes is not only concerned with the membrane itself, but also includes the following to aim for a complete solution.

[0006] A membrane that can diffuse vapor but cannot diffuse a liquid containing a volatile substance, a container that can fix the membrane, and a startup system configured as a barrier layer that closes the system from manufacturing to the first use but can be removed before the first use.

[0007] As a basic solution, there is a multilayer film. The latest layer is a very thin (about 50 microns) polyethylene layer, and the others are formed around an aluminum barrier layer. One layer is a polyester for reinforcing aluminum, and the other layer is a layer for peeling off from the polyethylene layer by pulling.

[0008] This multilayer body is welded to a thermoformed cup containing an inner polyethylene layer, and a tab is formed on the outside of the cup.

[0009] When the user pulls the tab, the very thin polyethylene layer breaks from its sealed state, resulting in polyethylene remaining on the multilayer structure on the tab side, while on the container side, only the polyethylene separated from the multilayer structure remains on top of the container.

[0010] Using this type of multilayer film offers several advantages compared to a container production process where layers of different configurations are applied sequentially. First, the container can be formed using only two reels: one for the bottom layer and the other for the top layer, forming a multilayer structure. Second, because the multilayer structure is produced through continuous and stable processes such as lamination or co-extrusion, the adhesion between different layers can be easily controlled.

[0011] On the other hand, using polyethylene membranes presents a problem: their properties are based on permeability, and their extremely high selectivity may lead to the separation of aromatic components, thus limiting their effectiveness.

[0012] One way to significantly improve the effectiveness of fragrance is to use a membrane, specifically a plastic membrane with appropriate porosity. However, because such membranes have a microporous structure, the mass of the plastic itself is low, and their mechanical strength is significantly lower than that of a normal polyethylene thin film of the same thickness. They are likely to be so fragile that they could tear if a user pulls on the barrier tab, or that holes could easily be made by a user's fingers during product use.

[0013] Therefore, the membranes used in volatile substance diffusion devices need to be sufficiently thick (e.g., 80, 100, or even 300 microns). However, such thicknesses make it difficult for the user to break the membrane layer when removing the aluminum. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0014] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a volatile substance diffusion device and a method for manufacturing the same, which allows the barrier layer of the device to be removed before the first use, thereby strengthening the opening and maintaining the film welded to the container.

[0015] According to the apparatus and manufacturing method of the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved, and the following additional effects are obtained.

[0016] The diffusion apparatus and method for producing volatile substances according to the present invention are described in their respective independent clauses, while other optional features are described in the dependent clauses.

[0017] Specifically, the volatile substance diffusion device comprises a container having a recess for containing a liquid containing a volatile substance, and a cover member attached to the container, the cover member being, membrane and The barrier layer that is removed before the device's first use, An intermediate layer disposed between the aforementioned film and the barrier layer, It comprises a removable tab defining an attachment area, the attachment area being the area between the removable tab and the rest of the cover member where the cover member is attached to the container, The film has gaps or thin sections in the mounting region, and the film terminates in the mounting region.

[0018] It should be noted that the mounting area terminates before reaching the peelable tab, meaning it does not include the peelable tab.

[0019] A thin-walled section is a part of a film whose thickness is reduced compared to the thickness of the rest of the film.

[0020] The effect of providing a gap is that the thickness that makes it difficult to separate the barrier layer from the film disappears, so the gap may be partial, that is, a thin portion. In that case, the film is not completely interrupted at the portion corresponding to the gap, and only the thickness is reduced. The degree of thickness reduction depends on the mechanical strength of the film material itself.

[0021] Due to the above characteristics, the detachable tab makes it possible to remove the barrier layer without damaging the film.

[0022] Furthermore, the container has a flange portion, and the cover member is attached to the flange portion of the container. Preferably, the container is formed of polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the intermediate layer is formed of polyethylene and is attached to the polypropylene of the container, for example, by welding.

[0024] To reinforce the barrier layer, the cover member may include a reinforcing layer that adheres to the barrier layer.

[0025] According to two alternative embodiments, the detachable tab may extend from the barrier layer and the intermediate layer, or may extend from the barrier layer, the intermediate layer, and the film. In this case, a gap or a thin portion for directly attaching the intermediate layer to the container is formed in the film.

[0026] Preferably, the detachable tab that does not include the film, the gap or the thin portion has the same width as the recess of the container and has a length of 1 mm or more and up to the same length as the detachable tab.

[0027] The method for manufacturing the above-described volatile substance diffusion device is a step of thermoforming the container, a step of filling the container with a volatile substance, A step of sealing the container using a cover member including a film and a barrier layer, a step of at least partially removing the film in an attachment region, which is a region where the cover member is attached to the container, between a peelable tab and the other part of the cover member.

[0028] Preferably, the film is removed by a laser.

[0029] Furthermore, the sealing step is performed using a sealing tool, and it is preferable to apply pressure only to the attachment region during the sealing operation.

[0030] More preferably, the sealing tool applies pressure and heat in a range that exceeds the position where the film is cut or removed on one hand and does not reach the region corresponding to the thermoformed recess on the other hand.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing tool has a radius of at least 0.5 mm on the side near the recess of the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] For a better understanding of the above description, the drawings are attached. The drawings show specific embodiments as schematic and non-limiting examples. [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view of a volatile substance diffusion device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing process of a volatile substance diffusion device according to the present invention together with a welding machine. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing another example of a manufacturing process of a volatile substance diffusion device according to the present invention together with a welding machine.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0033] The volatile substance diffusion device according to the present invention comprises a container 1 having a recess formed for containing a liquid containing a volatile substance, and the container 1 has a flange portion 11 to which a cover member 2 is attached.

[0034] Container 1 is a cup thermoformed from, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP), with PET forming the main part of the container and PP being used for welding.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the cover member 2 includes the following layers.

[0036] For example, a film 21 made of polypropylene, for example, with a thickness of 100 microns, For example, a barrier layer 22 made of aluminum having a barrier function, A reinforcing layer 23, for example made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is provided to mechanically reinforce the barrier layer 22 so that it can withstand the peeling operation before the first use. An intermediate layer 24 is placed between the film 21 and the barrier layer 22, preferably made of polyethylene. This is because, although polyethylene can be welded to polypropylene, it does not exhibit very high adhesive strength and is peelable from polypropylene.

[0037] Although not shown in Figure 1, another layer may be added between the intermediate layer 24 and the barrier layer 22. Examples include a printed layer to enhance the appearance or convey a message to the user, or a pre-barrier layer, for example, made of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), to improve the chemical resistance during welding of the barrier layer 22.

[0038] Alternatively, the peelable bonding between the intermediate layer 24 and the other layers in the cover member 2 may be performed using an adhesive.

[0039] Container 1 is formed by filling it with a liquid containing a volatile substance, a cover member 2 is welded to the flange portion 11 of container 1, and container 1 is cut from the reel.

[0040] When cut, a recess filled with liquid is formed in container 1, and cover member 2 has a release tab 25 as shown in Figure 2. The release tab 25 may be formed by extending from cover member 2, or it may be welded to cover member 2 as an additional part.

[0041] Furthermore, the film 21 does not extend at least partially onto the release tab 25. The film 21 either does not pass over the release tab 25, as shown in Figure 2, or, as shown in Figure 3, there is a gap 26 between the release tab 25 and the portion of the cover member 2 other than the release tab 25. This gap 26 may be a thin-walled portion, as it provides the same technical effect as providing a gap.

[0042] In the manufacturing process of the apparatus according to the present invention, the film 21 is removed, for example, using a laser, in the mounting region 3 which corresponds to at least the space between the release tab 25 and the portion of the cover member 2 other than the release tab 25.

[0043] The portion from which the film 21 has been removed, corresponding to the peeling tab 25 or gap 26, preferably has the following dimensions.

[0044] The minimum length is 1 mm. The width is at least the same as the width of the recess in container 1.

[0045] Regarding the length, it should be at least 1 mm and no longer than the same length as the release tab 25.

[0046] Regarding the width, it should be between the width of the recess in container 1 and the width of the release tab 25.

[0047] Considering that the above deformation (removal of the film 21) in the cover member 2 must be performed before welding the cover member 2 to the flange portion 11 of the container 1, it is crucial that this removal be performed at the correct position on the reel, which is the same position where welding is to be performed.

[0048] A welding machine is shown in Figures 2 and 3 to indicate that the end of the gap 26 or membrane 21 coincides with the welding region 3 between the cover member 2 and the container 1.

[0049] Please note that the dimensions listed above are merely non-limiting examples to compensate for any lack of precision in the relative positions of the layers, and that actual dimensions may be slightly higher than the stated values.

[0050] Thus, when the cover member 2 is welded to the container 1, the film 21 is irremovably welded to the polypropylene portion of the container 1. However, in the area of ​​the release tab 25, only the intermediate layer 24 of the cover member 2 is welded to the container 1, and this layer is removable.

[0051] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the above-described apparatus can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope defined in the appended claims, and that all detailed structures are technically interchangeable with equivalents.

Claims

1. A diffusing device for volatile substances, The device comprises a container (1) having a recess formed for containing a liquid containing a volatile substance, and a cover member (2) attached to the container (1), wherein the cover member (2) is The membrane (21) and The barrier layer (22) is removed before the first use of the device, An intermediate layer (24) is disposed between the film (21) and the barrier layer (22), The mounting area (3) is defined by a removable tab (25) that defines the mounting area (3), the area between the removable tab (25) and the rest of the cover member (2) where the cover member (2) is attached to the container (1). A diffusion device for volatile substances, wherein the membrane (21) has a gap (26) or a thin-walled portion in the mounting region (3), and the membrane (21) terminates in the mounting region (3).

2. The volatile substance diffusion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container (1) has a flange portion (11), and the cover member (2) is attached to the flange portion (11) of the container (1).

3. The volatile substance diffusion apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container (1) is formed from polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.

4. The volatile substance diffusion apparatus according to any one of the claims, wherein the intermediate layer (24) is formed of polyethylene.

5. The volatile substance diffusion apparatus according to any one of the claims, wherein the cover member (2) further has a reinforcing layer (23) that adheres closely to the barrier layer (22).

6. The volatile substance diffusion apparatus according to any one of the claims, wherein the peelable tab (25) is formed by extending from the barrier layer (22) and the intermediate layer (24).

7. A volatile substance diffusion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the peelable tab (25) is formed by stretching from the barrier layer (22), the intermediate layer (24), and the film (21), and the film (21) has the gap (26) or thin portion for directly attaching the intermediate layer (24) to the container (1).

8. The diffusing apparatus for volatile substances according to any of the claims, wherein the release tab (25), which does not include the film (21) and the gap (26) or thin-walled portion, has the same width as the width of the recess in the container (1).

9. The diffusing apparatus for volatile substances according to any one of the claims, wherein the portion of the release tab (25) that does not include the film (21) and the gap (26) or thin-walled portion is 1 mm or more in length and has a length up to the same length as the release tab (25).

10. A method for manufacturing a volatile substance diffusion device according to any of the above claims, The process of thermoforming container (1), A step of filling the container (1) with a volatile substance, A step of sealing the container (1) using a cover member (2) having a membrane (21) and a barrier layer (22), A manufacturing method comprising the step of removing at least a portion of the film (21) in the mounting region (3), which is the area between the peelable tab (25) and the rest of the cover member (2) where the cover member (2) is attached to the container.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the film (21) is removed by a laser.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the sealing step is performed using a sealing device, and pressure is applied only to the mounting area (3) during the sealing operation.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 12, wherein the sealing device has a width of at least 0.5 mm on the side closer to the container (2).

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