Opening and closing device for container outlet and container

Abstract

To provide a container pour-out port opening / closing device capable of automatically opening / closing a pour-out port before and after pouring a content out without depending on a container structure or the like on a reception side, and to provide a container thereof.SOLUTION: A container pour-out port opening / closing device 30 provided at a pour-out port of a container comprises a passage-forming member 10 for forming a passage of the pour-out port, and an insertion member 20 inserted into the passage-forming member 10. The insertion member 20 comprises a valve body 24 that is displaceable along the passage formed by the passage-forming member 10, and an energizing body 23 for energizing the valve body 24 from a pour-out port tip side onto a base end side. The passage-forming member 10 comprises a valve seat part 17 that annularly surrounds circumference of the passage. The valve body 24 can switch between a closed position at which the passage is closed by coming into contact with the valve seat part 17 and an open position at which the passage is opened by being displaced onto the pour-out port tip side of the valve seat part 17.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening and closing device for a container spout and a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a conventional refill packaging bag in which a pipe is inserted into the part that forms the protruding spout, and a refill packaging bag that has been improved so that the tip of the pipe can protrude from the tip of the spout when the bag is opened. Patent Document 2 describes a packaging bag in which a deformable spiral filament is fixed between two synthetic resin films on the front and back that form a protruding spout. Instead of the conventional pipe, a coil spring-like structure is used, and this structure is also fixed to the film by a welding seal. Patent Document 3 describes a packaging bag in which a plurality of hollow rings connected by connecting rods are fixed between two synthetic resin films on the front and back that form a protruding spout.

[0003] Patent Document 4 describes a spout for pouring in which a closure member separate from the cylindrical pouring part is fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical pouring part in such a manner that the inlet can be opened and closed, and the closure member is biased from the container body side toward the inlet by a biasing body. This closure member is removed from the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical pouring part against the biasing force of the biasing body by an external force applied from the outlet side. When the external force is removed, the closure member is biased toward the inlet by the biasing force of the biasing body, closing the inlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4008538 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4057177 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 4057178 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 6194132 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, in the case of a spout in which a structure such as a pipe is fixed between flexible films, the structure ensures a flow path cross-sectional area between the flexible films when pouring the contents, making pouring easy. However, since the flow path cross-sectional area is widely open before or after the contents are poured, there is a problem that the contents may drip unintentionally.

[0006] The spout described in Patent Document 4 operates so that the closure member is removed when the nozzle of the receiving container is inserted. Therefore, even if the spout is turned upside down before the nozzle is inserted into the spout or after the nozzle is removed from the spout, the contents do not spill out and do not leak out of the cylindrical spout. However, if the receiving container does not have a nozzle, it is not easy to operate the closure member before pouring.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an objective of providing a container spout opening and closing device and a container that can automatically open and close the spout before and after pouring the contents, without depending on the structure of the receiving container, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an opening and closing device for a container spout that is provided at the spout of a container, comprising a flow path forming member that forms a flow path of the spout, and an insertion member that is inserted into the flow path forming member, wherein the insertion member has a valve body that is displaceable along the flow path formed by the flow path forming member, and a biasing body that biases the valve body from the tip side to the base end side of the spout, wherein the flow path forming member has a valve seat portion that surrounds the flow path in a ring shape, and the valve body is switchable between a closed position in which it contacts the valve seat portion to close the flow path, and an open position in which it is displaced more toward the tip side of the spout than the valve seat portion to open the flow path.

[0009] The insertion member may have an annular fixing portion whose outer circumferential side can be fixed to the flow path forming member and whose inner circumferential side surrounds the flow path, and the biasing body may be disposed between the annular fixing portion and the valve body.

[0010] The insertion member may have a biasing body on the tip side of the spout relative to the valve body and on the base side of the spout relative to the valve body, and when the valve body is subjected to an external force from the base end side of the spout, the valve body is displaced toward the tip side of the spout and the biasing body biases the valve body from the tip side to the base end side of the spout, and when the valve body is subjected to an external force from the tip side of the spout, the valve body is displaced toward the base end of the spout and the biasing body biases the valve body from the base end side to the tip side of the spout. The insertion member may have the biasing body on a tip side of the spout relative to the valve body.

[0011] The insertion member may have a supporting annular portion between the valve body and the biasing body, the supporting annular portion being displaceable together with the valve body with respect to the flow passage forming member and surrounding the flow passage on an inner peripheral side thereof. The insertion member may have an opening between the support annular portion and the valve body in a direction intersecting with a flow direction of the flow passage.

[0012] The flow path forming member may have an opening in a direction intersecting with a flow direction of the flow path. The flow passage forming member may be tubular and have openings on both the distal end and proximal end. The container spout opening and closing device may be used for a pouch container in which the spout is formed from a film, and the flow path forming member may have a joining region joined to the film. The flow path forming member may have a base portion joined to a main container body on a base end side, and a tip end side of the flow path forming member may protrude from the main container body.

[0013] The present invention also provides a container having a pouring outlet provided with the container pouring outlet opening and closing device. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container spout opening and closing device and a container that can automatically open and close the spout before and after pouring the contents, regardless of the structure of the receiving container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an opening and closing device for a container spout of a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a flow path forming member of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an insert member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an opening and closing device for a container spout of a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views showing a method of assembling the container spout opening and closing device of the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an opening and closing device for a container spout of a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an insert member according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the insert member of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings. In the following description, in the flow direction of the contents in the flow path of the spout, the side where the contents are stored in the container is referred to as the base end side, and the side where the contents are poured out from the spout is referred to as the tip end side. The direction intersecting the center line of the flow direction is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction surrounding the center line of the flow direction is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0017] The flow direction of the flow path connecting the distal end side and the proximal end side may be linear or may be curved, such as an arc. The flow path may have a bent portion, such as a C-shape, a J-shape, an L-shape, an S-shape, or a U-shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow direction is linear. Each figure is drawn with the flow direction being the up-down direction of the paper.

[0018] First Embodiment Fig. 1 shows the appearance of an opening and closing device 30 of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a flow path forming member 10 of the opening and closing device 30. Fig. 3 shows an insertion member 20 of the opening and closing device 30. Fig. 4 shows the inside of the opening and closing device 30.

[0019] The opening and closing device 30 is an opening and closing device for a container spout provided at the spout of a container, and will be simply referred to as the opening and closing device 30 in the description of the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, the opening and closing device 30 is disposed in a film F that forms the spout of a pouch container or the like, and opens and closes the flow path. As shown in Fig. 1, the opening and closing device 30 includes a flow path forming member 10 that forms the flow path of the spout, and an insertion member 20 that is inserted into the flow path forming member 10.

[0020] Of the flow path P of the spout formed between the films F, the section in which the flow path forming member 10 is arranged may be the entire flow path P, or may be a part of the flow direction of the flow path P. The opening and closing device 30 may be arranged on any of the tip side, middle part, and base end side of the flow path P. When the spout formed from the film F is opened, part of the opening and closing device 30 may be exposed from the tip of the openable part of the film F.

[0021] 2, the flow path forming member 10 has end side annular portions 11, 12 arranged at both ends in the flow direction, a connecting portion 13 connecting the end side annular portions 11, 12, and an intermediate annular portion 14 arranged midway between the connecting portion 13. In the following description of the flow path forming member 10 of the first embodiment, the end side annular portions 11, 12 and the intermediate annular portion 14 may be collectively referred to simply as the annular portions 11, 12, 14.

[0022] A valve seat 17 is provided on the inner circumferential side of the intermediate annular portion 14. The valve seat 17 is a portion that comes into contact with a valve body 24, which will be described later, in a closed position, which will be described later. The valve seat 17 annularly surrounds the periphery of the flow passage 18 formed by the flow passage forming member 10. Although not particularly shown, an intermediate annular portion 14 that does not have a valve seat 17 may be provided between the intermediate annular portion 14 having the valve seat 17 and at least one of the end side annular portions 11, 12.

[0023] The annular portions 11, 12, and 14 are formed in a hollow ring shape, and have openings 11a, 12a, and 14a on the inner circumferential side. The openings 11a, 12a, and 14a of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14 form the cross section of the flow path 18. That is, at the positions of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14, the flow path 18 is defined in a range narrower than the flow path P formed between the films F. The shape of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, and a polygon. The shapes of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14 may be the same or approximately the same as each other.

[0024] 4, the outer periphery of the annular portions 11, 12, 14 has a joining region 19 where it is joined to the film F. The flow path forming member 10 is fixed to the spout by joining the flow path forming member 10 to the film F in the joining region 19. In addition, by surrounding the flow path forming member 10 with the film F, a flow path 18 is formed so that the contents pass between the openings 11a, 12a of the end side annular portions 11, 12.

[0025] In a pouch container, the spout can be formed in the film F. The film F of the spout may be formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by placing two films F opposite each other and joining the two films F along the flow direction on both sides of the width direction of the spout. The spout may be formed by rolling one sheet-like film F into a cylindrical shape. The spout may be formed from a tubular film F that is continuously molded without seams in the circumferential direction.

[0026] When the spout is formed integrally with the body in which the contents are accommodated in the container, two films F having an area that becomes the spout and projects from the body may be joined to form the pouch container. When the spout of the pouch container is formed to project from the body, the spout may be protruding from one side of the body, or may be protruding from a corner that contacts two sides of the body. In an area of ​​the pouch container other than the spout, a film other than the two films F may be joined to form a gusset portion, a self-supporting bottom, etc. The orientation of the spout relative to the bottom of the pouch container is not particularly limited, but examples include upward, diagonally upward, and horizontal.

[0027] The shape of the connecting portion 13 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, columnar, rod-like, plate-like, wall-like, or cylindrical. In the case of the illustrated flow path forming member 10, the connecting portions 13 are arranged at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14. Openings 13a are formed at intervals between the connecting portions 13 in the circumferential direction. The openings 13a of the connecting portions 13 are open in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the flow paths 18. The contents in the flow paths 18 may flow between the outer periphery of the connecting portion 13 and the film F through the openings 13a. The connecting portion 13 may not have the openings 13a and may be cylindrical and continuous in the circumferential direction.

[0028] The outer circumferential side of the connecting portion 13 is located radially inward of the joining region 19 of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14. Therefore, when the outer circumferential side of the flow path forming member 10 is joined to the film F, the outer circumferential side of the connecting portion 13 is unlikely to come into contact with the film F. For example, when joining the flow path forming member 10 by heat welding from the outside of the film F, when the outer circumferential sides of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14 are heated, the outer circumferential side of the connecting portion 13 does not protrude radially outward, so that the joining process can be concentrated on the joining region 19. In this case, the film F does not need to be joined to the outer circumferential side of the connecting portion 13, but the film F may be joined to at least a part of the outer circumferential side of the connecting portion 13.

[0029] By arranging the joining region 19 on the outer periphery side of the annular portions 11, 12, 14, the process of joining the flow path forming member 10 to the film F becomes easier. Since the flow path forming member 10 can be easily attached to the film F, it is possible to suppress gaps between the annular portions 11, 12, 14 and the film F. Since the periphery of the annular portions 11, 12, 14 is covered with the film F, even if gaps are partially generated between the annular portions 11, 12, 14 and the film F in the circumferential direction, leakage of the contents in the thickness direction of the film F does not occur.

[0030] Around the intermediate annular portion 14 having the valve seat portion 17, it is preferable to join the intermediate annular portion 14 to the film F over the entire circumferential direction to reduce the gap with the film F. This makes it possible to prevent leakage of the contents through the gap between the intermediate annular portion 14 and the film F when the valve body 24 described below is in the closed position. The allowable range of the gap can be set depending on the viscosity of the contents, etc.

[0031] Around at least one of the end side annular portions 11, 12 arranged on the tip side of the spout, it is preferable to join the end side annular portion 11, 12 to the film F at multiple points in the circumferential direction to reduce the gap with the film F. This allows the end side annular portions 11, 12 on the tip side to stably hold the flow path P on the tip side of the film F when the contents are poured out from the spout. If both of the end side annular portions 11, 12 can be arranged on the tip side, it is preferable to reduce the gap with the film F in both end side annular portions 11, 12.

[0032] An engagement protrusion 16 that engages with the insertion member 20 is formed on the inner circumferential side of the end side annular portion 11. The inner circumferential side of the end side annular portion 12 does not have an engagement protrusion 16, and the opening 12a of the end side annular portion 12 is formed wider than the opening 11a of the end side annular portion 11. When inserting the insertion member 20 into the flow path forming member 10, the insertion member 20 can be inserted through the opening 12a of the end side annular portion 12 toward the engagement protrusion 16. Either of the end side annular portions 11, 12 may be disposed on the tip side of the spout.

[0033] The flow path forming member 10 includes a frame 15 formed from annular portions 11, 12, 14 and a connecting portion 13. The frame 15 surrounds the periphery of the valve seat portion 17 and prevents deformation of the film F from interfering with the flow path 18. The outer shape of the frame 15 defines the general shape of the flow path 18. Even if the spout is formed from a flexible film F, the shape of the spout is maintained by the frame 15, and the flow direction and cross-sectional shape of the flow path 18 can be stabilized.

[0034] The flow path forming member 10 can be integrally molded from a molding resin or the like. The flow path forming member 10 may be composed of two or more members. For example, each of the annular portions 11, 12, and 14 and the connecting portion 13 can be formed from separate members and integrated together.

[0035] 3 and 4, the insertion member 20 has a valve body 24 that is displaceable along the flow path 18 formed by the flow path forming member 10, and a biasing body 23 that biases the valve body 24 from the tip side to the base end side of the spout. The insertion member 20 also has fixing annular parts 21, 22 that surround the flow path 18 on the inner circumferential side. The outer circumferential sides of the fixing annular parts 21, 22 can be fixed to the flow path forming member 10.

[0036] The fixing annular portions 21 and 22 are formed in a hollow ring shape, and have openings 21a and 22a on the inner circumferential side. These openings 21a and 22a form the cross section of the flow path 18. That is, at the positions of the fixing annular portions 21 and 22, the flow path 18 is defined in an area narrower than the area surrounded by the flow path forming member 10. The shape of the fixing annular portions 21 and 22 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, a polygon, and the like. It is preferable that the shapes of the fixing annular portions 21 and 22 are the same or approximately the same as each other.

[0037] When the insertion member 20 in the illustrated example is fixed to the flow path forming member 10, one of the fixing annular portions 21 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 16. The engaging protrusion 16 may be elastically deformed inward in the radial direction due to contact with the fixing annular portion 21. The elastic force of the engaging protrusion 16 brings the fixing annular portion 21 and the engaging protrusion 16 into firm contact. The first end portion 31 of the opening and closing device 30 has an end side annular portion 11 and a fixing annular portion 21. At the first end portion 31 in the illustrated example, the fixing annular portion 21 is disposed at approximately the same position as the end side annular portion 11 in the flow direction.

[0038] The other fixing annular portion 22 is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the end side annular portion 12 which does not have the engaging protrusion 16. The outer peripheral side of the fixing annular portion 22 has a fixing protrusion 22b whose width along the flow direction is narrower than the width of the fixing annular portion 22 itself. The outer peripheral shape of the fixing protrusion 22b is made smaller than the inner peripheral shape of the end side annular portion 12, and the two are elastically fitted together, so that the fixing annular portion 22 and the end side annular portion 12 come into firm contact with each other. A second end portion 32 of the opening and closing device 30 has the end side annular portion 12 and the fixing annular portion 22.

[0039] By elastically fixing the insert member 20 to the flow path forming member 10, the insertion member 20 can be fixed simply by inserting it into the flow path forming member 10, thereby reducing the number of steps. It also becomes possible to separate the insert member 20 from the flow path forming member 10. The insert member 20 can also be fixed to the flow path forming member 10 by welding with the material forming the flow path forming member 10 or the insert member 20, or by adhesion using another adhesive or the like.

[0040] The first end 31 and the second end 32 are ends of the opening and closing device 30 in the flow direction. At the first end 31, a recess may be formed in the end side annular portion 11, and the fixing annular portion 21 may be fitted into this recess. Also, the end side annular portion 11 and the fixing annular portion 21 may be fixed to each other by the above-mentioned adhesion, welding, etc. At the second end 32, the end side annular portion 12 and the fixing annular portion 22 may be fixed to each other by the above-mentioned adhesion, welding, etc.

[0041] The biasing body 23 is disposed between the fixing annular portions 21, 22 and the valve body 24. In the illustrated insertion member 20, the biasing body 23 is disposed on each side of the valve body 24 in the flow direction. In the following description, the biasing body 23 between the fixing annular portion 21 and the valve body 24 may be referred to as biasing body 23A, and the biasing body 23 between the fixing annular portion 22 and the valve body 24 may be referred to as biasing body 23B.

[0042] When the valve body 24 is displaced in a direction approaching the annular fixing portion 21, the biasing body 23A is deformed so as to contract, and the biasing body 23B is deformed so as to expand. When the valve body 24 is displaced in a direction approaching the annular fixing portion 22, the biasing body 23A is deformed so as to expand, and the biasing body 23B is deformed so as to contract. In either case, the biasing bodies 23A and 23B bias the valve body 24 in a direction to return the valve body 24 to its original position in response to the displacement of the valve body 24.

[0043] Each of the biasing bodies 23A, 23B can generate a biasing force whether it is deformed to contract or to expand. Therefore, either of the biasing bodies 23A, 23B may be disposed on the tip side of the spout. That is, the biasing body 23A may be disposed on the tip side of the valve body 24, and the biasing body 23B on the base end side. Conversely, the biasing body 23A may be disposed on the base end side of the valve body 24, and the biasing body 23B on the tip side.

[0044] The opening and closing device 30 has biasing bodies 23 on both sides of the valve body 24 along the flow direction, and the valve body 24 can be displaced to either the tip side or the base end side between the fixing annular parts 21, 22, resulting in a structure that is highly symmetrical in the flow direction. Therefore, either the first end 31 or the second end 32 may be disposed on the tip side of the spout. When the first end 31 is on the tip side, the second end 32 is on the base end side. When the first end 31 is on the base end side, the second end 32 is on the tip side. For example, when disposing the opening and closing device 30 on the film F, it is not necessary to distinguish between the first end 31 and the second end 32, so a simple parts feeder that handles rod-shaped parts can be used.

[0045] The shape of the biasing body 23 is not particularly limited as long as it can bias along the flow direction, and examples thereof include a spiral, plate, rod, spiral, and linear shape. When the biasing body 23 is spiral, it may be wound one or more times in the circumferential direction, or may be wound less than one time. The biasing body 23 may be, for example, a coil shape.

[0046] The shape of the valve element 24 is not particularly limited as long as it can contact the valve seat portion 17 entirely in the circumferential direction of the flow path 18, and examples of the shape include a plate shape, a sphere shape, and a block shape. The valve element 24 may be a plate shape along a plane intersecting the flow direction. When the valve element 24 is plate-shaped, the planar shape is not particularly limited, and examples of the planar shape include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, and a polygon. The pressure-receiving surfaces 24a and 24b on which the valve element 24 receives an external force along the flow direction may be flat or curved, and if curved, may be concave or convex.

[0047] When the valve body 24 receives an external force from the base end side, the valve body 24 is displaced toward the tip end side, and the biasing body 23 (23A, 23B) biases the valve body 24 from the tip end side to the base end side. When the valve body 24 receives an external force from the tip end side, the valve body 24 is displaced toward the base end side, and the biasing body 23 (23A, 23B) biases the valve body 24 from the base end side to the tip end side.

[0048] When the valve body 24 is not subjected to an external force, the outer circumferential side of the valve body 24 contacts the valve seat portion 17. In order to ensure the contact of the valve body 24 with the valve seat portion 17, an annular protrusion 25 may be formed on the outer circumferential side of the valve body 24 as a portion where the valve body 24 contacts the valve seat portion 17. It is preferable that the annular protrusion 25 is formed continuously in the circumferential direction. The width of the annular protrusion 25 along the flow direction is smaller than the thickness of the valve body 24 in the portion other than the annular protrusion 25. Therefore, when the valve body 24 is displaced along the flow direction, the friction acting between the annular protrusion 25 and the valve seat portion 17 can be reduced.

[0049] The valve element 24 can be switched between a closed position where the valve element 24 contacts the valve seat 17 to close the flow path 18, and an open position where the valve element 24 is displaced further toward the tip side than the valve seat 17 to open the flow path 18. When the valve element 24 is not subjected to an external force, as described above, the valve element 24 contacts the valve seat 17 and is in the closed position. When the valve element 24 is displaced further toward the tip side or base end side than the valve seat 17, the valve element 24 may contact the inner surface of the connecting portion 13, or a gap may be generated between the valve element 24 and the inner surface of the connecting portion 13.

[0050] When pouring out the contents, for example, if the tip side of the spout is directed downward or diagonally downward, the weight of the contents acts on the valve body 24 from the base end side toward the tip side. This causes the valve body 24 to displace further toward the tip side than the valve seat 17, switching from the closed position to the open position. In the open position, the flow path 18 is opened between the valve body 24 and the valve seat 17, allowing the contents to be poured out from the base end side to the tip side.

[0051] Prior to pouring out the contents, for example, if the tip side of the spout is oriented sideways, the weight of the contents acting on the valve body 24 is small, so that the valve body 24 cannot displace toward the tip side against the biasing force of the biasing body 23, and the closed position is maintained. In other words, for the valve body 24 to switch to the open position, the contents must exert a weight sufficient to resist the biasing body 23. For this reason, for example, when the spout is inserted into the receiving container, the valve body 24 is maintained in the closed position, and unintended dripping of the contents can be suppressed.

[0052] Even when the spout is removed from the receiving container after the desired contents have been poured, if the angle at which the tip of the spout faces downward becomes smaller, the weight of the contents applied to valve body 24 decreases. As a result, the weight is no longer sufficient for valve body 24 to maintain the open position against biasing body 23, and valve body 24 switches to the closed position. Since the switching is performed automatically by the biasing force of biasing body 23, unintended dripping of the contents can be suppressed.

[0053] When the tip of the spout is oriented horizontally or oriented diagonally downward close to horizontal, the contents in flow path 18 may be biased vertically downward in the flow path cross section of the spout. In this case, the weight of the contents acts on valve body 24 in an area biased vertically downward, so in order to prevent unintended switching, it is preferable that the biasing force of biasing body 23 acts approximately evenly in the circumferential direction of valve body 24.

[0054] For example, in the illustrated insertion member 20, the biasing body 23A between the fixing annular portion 21 and the valve body 24 has biasing bodies 23 at three locations in the circumferential direction. Similarly, the biasing body 23B between the fixing annular portion 22 and the valve body 24 also has biasing bodies 23 at three locations in the circumferential direction. When the biasing bodies 23 are disposed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the valve body 24, the biasing force of the biasing body 23 can be made more uniform in the circumferential direction of the valve body 24. In addition, it is preferable that the position where the biasing body 23 is connected to the valve body 24 is on the outer circumferential side of the valve body 24.

[0055] The insert member 20 can be integrally molded from a molding resin or the like. The insert member 20 may be composed of two or more members. For example, the fixing annular portions 21 and 22, the biasing body 23, and the valve body 24 can be formed from separate members and integrated together.

[0056] The opening / closing device 30 in the illustrated example has the biasing bodies 23A and 23B on both sides of the valve body 24, but it is also possible to omit one of the biasing bodies 23A and 23B. When the biasing body 23A is omitted, the fixing annular portion 21 and the engaging protrusion 16 may be omitted. In this case, the valve body 24 is held in a cantilever manner from the fixing annular portion 22 via the biasing body 23B. When the biasing body 23B is omitted, the fixing annular portion 22 may be omitted. In this case, the valve body 24 is held in a cantilever manner from the fixing annular portion 21 via the biasing body 23A.

[0057] Even when one of the biasing bodies 23A, 23B is omitted from the opening / closing device 30, the flow path forming member 10 has the end side annular portions 11, 12 on both sides of the intermediate annular portion 14 having the valve seat portion 17, and the valve body 24 can be displaced to either the tip side or the base side along the inner surface of the connecting portion 13. Therefore, either the first end portion 31 or the second end portion 32 may be disposed on the tip side. Since it is not necessary to distinguish between the first end portion 31 and the second end portion 32, a simple parts feeder or the like that handles rod-shaped parts can be used.

[0058] In an opening / closing device 30 in which the biasing body 23A is omitted, when the valve body 24 is displaced in a direction approaching the first end 31, the biasing body 23B is deformed so as to expand. When the valve body 24 is displaced in a direction approaching the second end 32, the biasing body 23B is deformed so as to contract. In either case, the biasing body 23B biases the valve body 24 in a direction returning it to the valve seat portion 17 side in response to the displacement of the valve body 24 along the flow direction.

[0059] In an opening / closing device 30 in which the biasing body 23B is omitted, when the valve body 24 is displaced in a direction approaching the first end 31, the biasing body 23A is deformed so as to contract. When the valve body 24 is displaced in a direction approaching the second end 32, the biasing body 23A is deformed so as to extend. In either case, the biasing body 23A biases the valve body 24 in a direction returning it to the valve seat portion 17 side in response to the displacement of the valve body 24 along the flow direction.

[0060] The biasing body 23 can generate a biasing force whether it is deformed to contract or to expand. Therefore, when one of the biasing bodies 23A and 23B is omitted from the opening / closing device 30, the biasing body 23 may be disposed on the tip side of the valve body 24, or the biasing body 23 may be disposed on the base end side of the valve body 24.

[0061] When the biasing body 23 is provided on the tip side of the valve body 24, the biasing body 23 is less likely to come into contact with the contents than when the biasing body 23 is provided on the base end side of the valve body 24. When the biasing body 23 is provided on the base end side of the valve body 24, the structure on the tip side of the valve body 24 is simpler when the valve body 24 is in the closed position than when the biasing body 23 is provided on the tip side of the valve body 24, so that the amount of contents remaining on the tip side of the valve body 24 can be reduced.

[0062] When it is possible to specify whether the first end 31 or the second end 32 of the opening / closing device 30 is disposed on the tip side of the spout, the valve body 24 may be displaced only on the valve seat 17 or in a range further tip-side than that. In other words, the valve body 24 may be prevented from displacing toward the base end side of the valve seat 17. In this case, a protrusion that prevents displacement of the valve body 24, a portion with an inner diameter smaller than that of the valve seat 17, or the like may be formed on the inner surface of the connecting part 13 on the base end side of the valve seat 17.

[0063] The opening and closing device 30 can be made as small as the structures such as pipes fixed to the spouts described in Patent Documents 1 to 3. For this reason, it can be applied to existing pouch containers using conventional bag making equipment.

[0064] <Second embodiment> Fig. 5 shows a method for assembling the opening and closing device 100 of the second embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the opening and closing device 100. Fig. 7 shows an insertion member 120 of the opening and closing device 100. The opening and closing device 100 is an opening and closing device for a container spout that is provided at the spout of a container, and is simply referred to as the opening and closing device 100 in the explanation of the embodiment. The opening and closing device 100 includes a flow path forming member 110 that forms a flow path 118 of the spout, and an insertion member 120 that is inserted into the flow path forming member 110.

[0065] 5 and 6, the flow path forming member 110 has a base portion 112 on the base end side to be joined to a main container (not shown), and has a cylindrical portion 111 on the tip end side of the base portion 112. The flow path forming member 110 is cylindrical having openings 114, 116 on the tip end side and base end side, respectively. The tip side opening 114 is formed on the tip side of the cylindrical portion 111. The base end side opening 116 is formed on the base end side of the base portion 112. The flow path 118 is formed between the openings 114, 116.

[0066] The cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 111 on a plane intersecting the flow direction is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, a polygon, and the like. In the illustrated example of the cylindrical portion 111, an opening 114 is formed on a plane perpendicular to the flow direction. The opening 114 on the tip side may be formed along an inclined surface, a curved surface, and the like. A structure protruding in a gutter shape toward the tip side in the flow direction may be formed around the opening 114.

[0067] To close the opening 114 on the tip side, a lid member such as a cap, a sealing film, or a plug may be attached to the cylindrical portion 111. When a female thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lid member, a male thread may be formed on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 111. When a male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lid member, a female thread may be formed on the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 111 at a position that does not interfere with the operation of the opening and closing device 100.

[0068] In the illustrated example, the flow path forming member 110 has an outer circumferential side of the base 112 that protrudes radially beyond the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion 111 on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion 111. Also, a flange portion 113 is provided at a position slightly away from the base 112 toward the tip side. Although not particularly shown, the outer circumferential side of the base 112 may pass through an outer circumferential surface that is continuous with the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical portion 111. Although not particularly shown, a protruding structure such as a rib may be formed on the outer circumferential side of the flow path forming member 110 for the purpose of reinforcement or the like.

[0069] The cross-sectional shape of the base 112 in a plane intersecting the flow direction is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, a polygon, etc. When the base 112 is joined to the main container, the cylindrical part 111 protrudes from the main container. The main container to which the opening and closing device 100 is attached is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a pouch container, a bottle container, a tube container, etc.

[0070] The pouch container has a body in which the contents are accommodated, which is formed from a flexible film. In an area other than where the base 112 is joined to the body, a film different from the film to which the base 112 is joined may be joined to form a gusset portion, a self-supporting bottom portion, etc. The direction in which the tubular portion 111 protrudes from the bottom portion is not particularly limited, but examples include upward, diagonally upward, and sideways.

[0071] When two films are joined together to form the peripheral edge of the body at least near flow path forming member 110 which serves as the pouring outlet, base 112 may be sandwiched between the two films and joined to the inner surface of the films. When base 112 is joined to the peripheral edge of the body, tubular portion 111 may protrude from one side of the body, or may protrude from a corner that contacts two sides of the body.

[0072] The cross-sectional shape of base 112 may be boat-shaped, bulging out around opening 116 and having triangular pointed ends on both sides away from opening 116. When boat-shaped base 112 is used, the distance between the two films joined to the outer periphery of base 112 gradually decreases along the pointed ends, and the films are joined to each other at the tips of the pointed ends.

[0073] When joining the base 112 to the pouch container, a through hole may be formed in any one of the surfaces of the film forming the pouch container, and the base 112 may be joined around the through hole. In this case, the base 112 may be in the form of a plate along the film surface. When joining the base 112 to the film surface, the base 112 may be joined to the same surface as the side from which the cylindrical portion 111 protrudes, or the base 112 may be joined to the surface opposite to the side from which the cylindrical portion 111 protrudes.

[0074] The body of the bottle container can be formed, for example, from a hard, semi-hard or soft resin. The body may be joined to the periphery of the base 112, or the body of the bottle container may be molded so as to be integrated with the base 112 by insert molding or the like. The body of the bottle container and the flow path forming member 110 can also be molded integrally from molten resin or the like.

[0075] The body of the tube container is formed from a flexible sheet or the like. The body may be formed by rolling a single sheet into a cylindrical shape. The body may be formed from a tube-shaped sheet that is continuously molded without seams in the circumferential direction. The outer periphery of the base 112 may be joined to an opening formed at one end of the cylindrical body. The body of the tube container may be formed from a film.

[0076] In the case where the opening / closing device 100 is disposed at only one end of the cylindrical body of the tube container, the inner faces of the sheet or the like forming the body may be opposed to each other at the opposite end, and the inner faces may be joined together. The end of the body opposite to the opening / closing device 100 may be used as the bottom, making the tube container self-supporting. On the bottom side of the body, a member such as a film, sheet, or molded product may be joined around the opening to close the opening.

[0077] The flow path forming member 110 can be integrally molded from a molding resin or the like. The flow path forming member 110 can be composed of two or more members. For example, the cylindrical portion 111 and the base portion 112 can be formed from separate members and integrated together. The base portion 112 can be formed integrally with the main body container and separated from the cylindrical portion 111. The upper portion of the main body container can be molded integrally with the flow path forming member 110 or the base portion 112 and separated from the lower portion of the main body container.

[0078] The insertion member 120 has a valve body 122 that is displaceable along the flow path 118 formed by the flow path forming member 110, and a biasing body 123 that biases the valve body 122 from the tip side to the base end side of the spout. The insertion member 120 also has a fixing annular part 121 that surrounds the flow path 118 on its inner periphery. The outer periphery of the fixing annular part 121 can be fixed to the flow path forming member 110.

[0079] The annular fixing portion 121 is formed in a hollow ring shape and has an opening 121a on the inner circumferential side. The opening 121a forms a cross section of the flow path 118. That is, at the position of the annular fixing portion 121, the flow path 118 is defined in an area narrower than the area surrounded by the flow path forming member 110. The shape of the annular fixing portion 121 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, and a polygon.

[0080] The section of the flow passage 118 of the flow passage forming member 110 in which the insertion member 120 is arranged may be the entire flow passage 118, or may be a part of the flow passage 118 in the flow direction. The insertion member 120 may be arranged on the tip side, intermediate portion, or base end side of the flow passage 118. In the flow passage forming member 110 of the illustrated example, the insertion member 120 is arranged between the step portion 115 and the valve seat portion 117.

[0081] The valve seat portion 117 is a portion with which the valve body 122 comes into contact in a closed position, which will be described later. The valve seat portion 117 surrounds the periphery of the flow path 118 in an annular shape. In the flow path forming member 110 shown in the figure, the valve seat portion 117 is formed on the inside of the cylindrical portion 111. Although not particularly shown, the valve seat portion 117 may also be formed on the inside of the base portion 112.

[0082] When inserting the insertion member 120 into the flow path forming member 110, the insertion member 120 can be inserted through the opening 114 of the cylindrical portion 111 toward the valve seat portion 117. The outer peripheral shape of the fixing annular portion 121 is made smaller than the inner peripheral shape of the cylindrical portion 111, and the fixing annular portion 121 is elastically fitted into the cylindrical portion 111, thereby enabling the two to come into firm contact with each other.

[0083] The outer circumferential side of the fixing annular portion 121 has a locking portion 125 that protrudes radially further toward the tip side than the base end side. Corresponding to the locking portion 125, the inner circumferential side of the tubular portion 111 has a step portion 115 that expands radially further toward the tip side than the base end side. When the insertion member 120 is inserted toward the base end side, the locking portion 125 is locked by the step portion 115, thereby preventing further insertion of the insertion member 120.

[0084] By elastically fixing the insert member 120 to the flow path forming member 110, the insertion member 120 can be fixed simply by inserting it into the flow path 118, thereby reducing the number of steps. It also becomes possible to separate the insert member 120 from the flow path forming member 110. The insert member 120 can also be fixed to the flow path forming member 110 by welding using the material forming the flow path forming member 110 or the insert member 120, or by adhesion using another adhesive or the like.

[0085] The biasing body 123 is disposed between the fixing annular portion 121 and the valve body 122. In the illustrated insertion member 120, the biasing body 123 is disposed on the tip side of the valve body 122. When the valve body 122 is displaced toward the tip side, the biasing body 123 is deformed so as to contract, and when the valve body 122 is displaced toward the base end side, the biasing body 123 is deformed so as to expand. In either case, the biasing body 123 biases the valve body 122 in a direction to return the valve body 122 to its original position in response to the displacement of the valve body 122.

[0086] When the valve element 122 receives an external force from the base end side, the valve element 122 is displaced toward the tip end side, and the biasing element 123 biases the valve element 122 from the tip end side to the base end side. The valve element 122 can be switched between a closed position where the valve element 122 contacts the valve seat portion 117 to close the flow path 118, and an open position where the valve element 122 is displaced toward the tip end side beyond the valve seat portion 117 to open the flow path 118. When the valve element 122 is not receiving an external force, the valve element 122 contacts the valve seat portion 117 and is therefore in the closed position.

[0087] In the illustrated opening / closing device 100, the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 118 is smaller on the base end side of the valve seat portion 117 than on the tip end side of the valve seat portion 117. Therefore, the range in which the valve body 122 is displaced along the flow direction is limited to on the valve seat portion 117 or further on the tip end side. Although not particularly illustrated, it is also possible to make the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 118 on the base end side of the valve seat portion 117 larger than the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 118 at the valve seat portion 117.

[0088] 5, when the insertion member 120 is inserted into the flow path forming member 110, the valve body 122 comes into contact with the valve seat portion 117 before the locking portion 125 reaches the step portion 115. That is, as a dimension along the flow direction in a natural shape in which the biasing body 123 is not deformed by an external force, the length from the valve body 122 to the locking portion 125 is longer than the distance from the valve seat portion 117 to the step portion 115.

[0089] 6, when the locking portion 125 is locked to the step portion 115 and the insertion member 120 is fixed to the flow path forming member 110, the biasing body 123 is compressed from its natural length, and the biasing body 123 biases the valve body 122 toward the valve seat portion 117. Therefore, even in a state in which the valve body 122 is not subjected to an external force, the valve body 122 is biased to come into contact with the valve seat portion 117, and the flow path 118 can be closed more firmly.

[0090] The position of the biasing body 123 in the flow direction may be within the range of the cylindrical portion 111, or may reach the base portion 112 side within the flow path 118. It is also possible for the biasing body 123 to protrude from the opening 114 on the tip side. In the illustrated example of the opening / closing device 100, the biasing body 123 is fixed in the flow path 118 via the fixing annular portion 121. In addition, since the opening 114 on the tip side of the cylindrical portion 111 and the opening 121a of the fixing annular portion 121 are concentrically arranged, the flow of the contents on the tip side of the cylindrical portion 111 becomes smooth.

[0091] 6 and 7, the insertion member 120 has a supporting annular portion 124 that surrounds the flow path 118 on the inner circumferential side between the valve body 122 and the biasing body 123. The supporting annular portion 124 is connected to the valve body 122 on the base end side and supports the biasing body 123 on the tip end side. The outer circumferential side of the supporting annular portion 124 has a gap with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the flow path 118. Therefore, when the valve body 122 is displaced relative to the flow path forming member 110, the supporting annular portion 124 can be displaced together with the valve body 122.

[0092] The supporting annular portion 124 is formed in a hollow ring shape, and has an opening 124a on the inner peripheral side. The supporting annular portion 124 and the valve body 122 are connected by a connecting portion 126. The connecting portion 126 has an opening 126a between the supporting annular portion 124 and the valve body 122, in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the flow path 118. In the open position, when the flow path 118 is opened between the valve body 122 and the valve seat portion 117, the flow of the contents can be guided from the outside to the inside in the radial direction through the opening 126a.

[0093] In the illustrated example of the insert member 120, a supporting annular portion 124 having openings 124a, 126a or a connecting portion 126 is disposed between the valve body 122 and the biasing body 123. This makes it easier to mold the insert member 120 or to facilitate the flow of the contents around the valve body 122, compared to when the biasing body 123 is directly supported by the valve body 122.

[0094] The shape of the valve element 122 is not particularly limited as long as it can contact the valve seat portion 117 entirely in the circumferential direction of the flow path 118, and examples of the shape include a plate shape, a sphere shape, and a block shape. The valve element 122 may be a plate shape along a plane intersecting the flow direction. When the valve element 122 is plate-shaped, the planar shape is not particularly limited, and examples of the planar shape include a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle, a hexagon, and a polygon. The pressure-receiving surface 122a where the valve element 122 receives an external force along the flow direction may be a flat surface or a curved surface, and if it is a curved surface, it may be a concave surface or a convex surface.

[0095] In the case of the illustrated insertion member 120, a protruding portion 127 that protrudes from near the center in the radial direction and has a larger space on the outer periphery in the radial direction is formed on the pressure receiving surface 122a, which is the surface on the base end side of the valve body 122. When the contents flowing from the base end side along the flow path 118 come into contact with the protruding portion 127, a flow from the inside to the outside in the radial direction is likely to occur.

[0096] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the shape of the protrusion 127 is a radial shape extending to four places in the circumferential direction, such as a substantially X-shape (cross shape). The shape of the protrusion 127 is not particularly limited, and in the case of a radial shape, it may be a Y-shape extending to three places in the circumferential direction, or a shape extending to five or more places. The shape of the protrusion 127 may be a cone shape, a pyramid shape, a step shape, or the like. The position of the protrusion 127 in the flow direction may be within the range of the cylindrical portion 111, or may reach the base portion 112 side within the flow channel 118. The protrusion 127 may protrude from the opening 116 on the base end side.

[0097] When pouring out the contents, for example, if the tip side of the spout is directed downward or diagonally downward, the weight of the contents acts on valve body 122 from the base end side toward the tip side. This causes valve body 122 to be displaced toward the tip side beyond valve seat portion 117, and the valve body 122 switches from the closed position to the open position. In the open position, flow path 118 is opened between valve body 122 and valve seat portion 117, and the contents can be poured out from the base end side to the tip side.

[0098] Prior to pouring out the contents, for example, if the tip side of the spout is oriented sideways, the weight of the contents acting on valve body 122 is small, so valve body 122 cannot displace toward the tip side against the biasing force of biasing body 123, and the closed position is maintained. In other words, for valve body 122 to switch to the open position, the contents must apply a weight sufficient to resist biasing body 123. For this reason, for example, when the spout is inserted into a receiving container, valve body 122 is maintained in the closed position, and unintended dripping of the contents can be suppressed.

[0099] Even when the spout is removed from the receiving container after the desired contents have been poured, if the angle at which the tip of the spout faces downward becomes smaller, the weight of the contents applied to valve body 122 decreases. As a result, the weight is insufficient for valve body 122 to maintain the open position against biasing body 123, and valve body 122 switches to the closed position. Since the switching is performed automatically by the biasing force of biasing body 123, unintended dripping of the contents can be suppressed.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 7, the biasing body 123 of the insertion member 120 has spiral biasing bodies 123a and 123b at two locations in the circumferential direction. When the biasing bodies 123a and 123b are arranged at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the valve body 122, the biasing force of the biasing body 123 can be made more uniform in the circumferential direction of the valve body 122. In addition, it is preferable that the position where the biasing body 123 is connected to the valve body 122 is on the outer circumferential side of the valve body 122. When the biasing body 123 is connected to the valve body 122 via the support annular portion 124 and the connecting portion 126, it is preferable that the position where the biasing body 123 is connected to the support annular portion 124 and the connecting portion 126 are on the outer circumferential side of the valve body 122.

[0101] In the case of the illustrated opening / closing device 100, as described above, the pressure-receiving surface 122a of the valve body 122 has the protrusion 127, so that the load tends to concentrate on the outer circumferential side of the valve body 122 when the contents are poured out. The biasing body 123 is compressed in advance when the locking portion 125 is locked to the step portion 115, and biases the valve body 122 against the valve seat portion 117 even before the pressure of the contents is applied. Therefore, even if the pressure of the contents is applied unevenly to a part of the valve body 122 when pouring starts, the valve body 122 is displaced in a direction inclined from the flow direction, and the flow path 118 is prevented from being partially opened in a part of the circumferential direction.

[0102] The shape of the biasing body 123 is not particularly limited as long as it can bias along the flow direction, and examples of the shape include a spiral, plate, rod, spiral, and line shape. When the biasing body 123 is spiral, it may be wound one or more times in the circumferential direction, or may be wound less than one time. The biasing body 123 may be, for example, a coil shape.

[0103] Fig. 8 shows an insertion member 120S having a biasing body 130 having a different shape from the biasing body 123, as a modified example of the insertion member 120. This insertion member 120S can be combined with the flow path forming member 110 shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The same reference numerals are used for parts of the insertion member 120S shown in Fig. 8 that are common to the insertion member 120 shown in Fig. 7, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0104] The urging body 130 of the insertion member 120S is a substantially U-shaped urging body 136 mainly formed of a first elastic piece portion 134 and a second elastic piece portion 135. The first elastic piece portion 134 is connected to the support ring portion 124 on the valve body 122 side via a first connecting end portion 131. The second elastic piece portion 135 is connected to the fixing ring portion 121 via a second connecting end portion 132. The substantially U-shaped urging body 136 formed of the first elastic piece portion 134 and the second elastic piece portion 135 is disposed at two positions in the circumferential direction and is connected to each other via a connecting ring portion 133. The connecting ring portion 133 is formed in the middle portion of the urging body 130 in the flow direction.

[0105] The U-shaped biasing body 136 expands and contracts so as to change the distance between the first connection end 131 and the second connection end 132. Since the orientation of the U-shape is rotationally symmetric about the center line along the flow direction, deformation in a direction intersecting the center line is canceled out between the two biasing bodies 136, and deformation along the center line becomes dominant.

[0106] The insert members 120 and 120S may be integrally molded from a molding resin or the like. The insert members 120 and 120S may be composed of two or more members. For example, the fixing annular portion 121, the biasing bodies 123 and 130, the valve body 122, etc. may be formed from separate members and integrated together.

[0107] The above-mentioned insertion members 120, 120S can be housed in the flow path 118 of the flow path forming member 110. Since the insertion members 120, 120S do not protrude from the openings 114, 116 at both ends of the flow path 118, the weight of the contents can be applied to the valve body 122 during pouring, but other external forces are unlikely to act on the insertion members 120, 120S. This makes it possible to suppress unintended positional displacement, etc. of the insertion members 120, 120S even during transportation, storage, etc. of the opening / closing device 100 or a container equipped with the same.

[0108] The opening and closing device 100 in which the above-mentioned insert members 120, 120S are built into the flow passage forming member 110 can be made as small as a spout molded product attached to an existing main container. Therefore, it can be easily applied to an existing main container using a conventional bag making device. Since the insert members 120, 120S do not protrude from the openings 114, 116 at both ends of the flow passage 118, even if the insert members 120, 120S are built into the flow passage 118 before joining the flow passage forming member 110 to a main container such as a pouch container, the operation of the bag making device is unlikely to be hindered. Alternatively, the insert members 120, 120S may be inserted into the flow passage 118 after joining the flow passage forming member 110 to the main container.

[0109] <Supplementary information for each embodiment> The container provided with the opening / closing device 30, 100 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments can be suitably applied to refilling or replenishing the contents poured into the receiving container. In particular, it is suitable for the case where the contents used are those for which leakage during refilling or replenishing is a problem, such as printing ink, seasonings, medicines, cosmetics, detergents, drugs, paints, fuels, etc. The fluid of the contents is not limited to liquids such as solutions and dispersions, but may also be powders, granules, etc.

[0110] According to the opening / closing device 30, 100 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the valve body 24, 122 is in the closed position while not receiving an external force, and the valve body 24, 122 is in the open position due to the weight when the contents are poured out. Therefore, even when the contents of the container are used in multiple batches, the switching between the closed position and the open position can be automatically repeated multiple times. Since the valve body 24, 122 returns to the closed position after pouring, the contents remaining in the container are less likely to come into contact with the outside air. Therefore, deterioration of the contents can be suppressed.

[0111] The molding material for forming the flow path forming member 10, 110 and the insert member 20, 120, 120S is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a resin, a rubber, an elastomer, a metal, etc. When the biasing body 23, 123, 130 is integrally molded with the insert member 20, 120, 120S, a molding material having a suitable elasticity is preferable. The molding material of the flow path forming member 10, 110 and the molding material of the insert member 20, 120, 120S may be the same as or different from each other.

[0112] From the viewpoint of cost, etc., the molding material is preferably a molding resin. Additives such as rubber, elastomer, and filler may be blended into the molding resin. The type of molding resin is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene (PE) resin, polypropylene (PP) resin, and polyolefin resin such as cyclic olefin resin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyester resin. The molding resin may be a petroleum-derived resin or a plant-derived resin. The molding resin may be a blend of two or more resins.

[0113] The main container having a body in which the contents are accommodated may be formed separately from the flow path forming member 10, 110. It is also possible to integrally mold the main container and the flow path forming member 10, 110. Examples of the main container include the above-mentioned pouch container, bottle container, and tube container, but are not limited to these. When the body of a bottle container or the like is integrally molded with the flow path forming member 10, 110, the main container may be formed from a resin, rubber, elastomer, metal, etc., or a mixture containing two or more of these components.

[0114] The material for forming the main container is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include resins such as thermoplastic resins. The main container may be formed from a laminate mainly made of resin. Examples of resins used in the laminate include, but are not limited to, polyolefin resins, polyester resins, and polyamide resins. Examples of materials other than the resin used in the laminate include metals such as aluminum, inorganic compounds such as alumina and silica, fibrous materials such as paper, and cellulose materials. When a different material is combined with a resin material, a layer of the different material may be laminated with a resin layer, or particles or short fibers of the different material may be kneaded into the resin.

[0115] The orientation of the spout when the valve body 24 switches between the closed position and the open position is not particularly limited. For example, the switching may occur when the spout is facing diagonally downward at a predetermined angle. The switching may occur so that the spout is in the open position when facing horizontally, diagonally downward, or downward, and is in the closed position when facing upward or diagonally upward. The switching may occur so that the spout is in the open position only when facing approximately straight down, and is in the closed position in other orientations.

[0116] To design the orientation of the spout when switching between the closed position and the open position occurs, for example, the biasing force of the biasing body 23, 123, 130, the density of the contents, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 18, 118, the shape of the valve body 24, 122, etc. may be appropriately changed. Depending on the viscosity of the contents, it may be designed so that switching from the closed position to the open position occurs in an orientation closer to directly below.

[0117] Although the present invention has been described above based on the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. Modifications include addition, substitution, omission, and other changes of components in each embodiment. In addition, components used in different embodiments can be appropriately combined.

[0118] In the opening and closing device 30 of the first embodiment, similarly to the flow path forming member 110 of the second embodiment, the flow path forming member 10 may be tubular and have no opening 13a between the openings 11a, 12a on the tip or base end side in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the flow path 18. In this case, the flow path forming member 10 may be joined only on the base end side to a main container such as a pouch container, and the tip side of the flow path forming member 10 may protrude from the main container.

[0119] The base end side of the flow path forming member 10 of the first embodiment may be formed with a shape that protrudes radially outward from the frame 15, like the base portion 112 and flange portion 113 of the second embodiment. When the second end portion 32 is disposed on the base end side of the spout, at least one of the end side annular portion 11 and the fixing annular portion 21 may be formed into a cylindrical shape at the first end portion 31, which is the tip side, and extended toward the tip side. The structure for fixing the fixing annular portion 21 to the end side annular portion 11 may be the same as the step portion 115 and the locking portion 125 of the second embodiment.

[0120] In the opening and closing device 30 of the first embodiment, similar to the supporting annular portion 124 of the second embodiment, a supporting annular portion that is displaceable together with the valve body 24 with respect to the flow path forming member 10 may be formed between the valve body 24 and at least one of the biasing bodies 23A, 23B. When a supporting annular portion is added to the insertion member 20, a connecting portion that connects the valve body 24 and the supporting annular portion can be added, and an opening can be formed in this connecting portion in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the flow path 18.

[0121] In the opening and closing device 100 of the second embodiment, similarly to the opening and closing device 30 of the first embodiment, the biasing bodies 123, 130 can be arranged on the tip side and base end side of the valve body 122, respectively. In this case, the fixing annular portions 121 of the insertion members 120, 120S may be arranged on the tip side and base end side of the valve body 122, respectively. When the fixing annular portion 121 is arranged on the base end side of the valve body 122, the fixing annular portion 121 on the base end side may be fixed to the base portion 112.

[0122] In the opening and closing device 100 of the second embodiment, when the biasing bodies 123, 130 and the annular fixing portion 121 are arranged on the base end side of the valve body 122 in the flow path 118, the flow path 118 on the base portion 112 side may be expanded to an inner diameter approximately equal to that of the flow path 118 on the tubular portion 111 side. The biasing bodies 123, 130 or the annular fixing portion 121 arranged on the base end side may have a structure different in shape, size, etc. from the biasing bodies 123, 130 or the annular fixing portion 121 arranged on the tip end side. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] F...film, P...flow path between films, 10,110...flow path forming member, 11,12...end side annular portion, 11a,12a...opening of end side annular portion, 13...connecting portion, 13a...opening of connecting portion, 14...middle annular portion, 14a...opening of middle annular portion, 15...frame, 16...engagement protrusion, 17,117...valve seat portion, 18,118...flow path, 19...joining region, 20,120,120S...insertion member, 21,22,121...annular portion for fixing, 21a,22a,121a...opening of annular portion for fixing, 22b...protrusion for fixing, 23,23A,23B,123,123a,123b,130 ,136...biasing body, 24,122...valve body, 24a,24b,122a...pressure-receiving surface, 25...annular convex portion, 30,100...opening / closing device, 31...first end, 32...second end, 111...cylindrical portion, 112...base, 113...flange portion, 114...opening of cylindrical portion, 115...step portion, 116...opening of base, 124...support annular portion, 124a...opening of support annular portion, 125...locking portion, 126...connecting portion, 126a...opening of connecting portion, 127...protrusion, 131...first connecting end, 132...second connecting end, 133...connecting annular portion, 134...first elastic piece portion, 135...second elastic piece portion.

Claims

1. A container spout opening and closing device provided at the spout of a container, A flow path forming member that forms a flow path of the spout; and an insertion member that is inserted into the flow path forming member, The insertion member has a valve body that is displaceable along the flow path formed by the flow path forming member, and a biasing body that biases the valve body from the tip end side to the base end side of the spout, the flow passage forming member has a valve seat portion that annularly surrounds the periphery of the flow passage, The valve body has a pressure-receiving surface that receives an external force along the flow direction of the contents in the flow path, and when the weight of the contents acts on the valve body from the base end side to the tip end side, the valve body can be switched between a closed position in which it contacts the valve seat portion to close the flow path and an open position in which it is displaced toward the tip end side of the spout relative to the valve seat portion to open the flow path, This opening and closing device for a container spout is characterized in that when the tip side of the spout is pointed downward, the valve body switches from the closed position to the open position, and when the angle at which the tip side of the spout is pointed downward becomes smaller, the valve body switches from the open position to the closed position, and switching is automatically performed by the biasing force of the biasing body.

2. The opening and closing device for a container spout as described in claim 1, characterized in that the insertion member has a fixing annular portion whose outer circumferential side can be fixed to the flow path forming member and whose inner circumferential side surrounds the flow path, and the biasing body is arranged between the fixing annular portion and the valve body.

3. The insertion member has the biasing body on a tip end side of the spout relative to the valve body and on a base end side of the spout relative to the valve body, When the valve body receives an external force from the base end side of the spout, the valve body is displaced toward the tip end side of the spout, and the biasing body biases the valve body from the tip end side of the spout toward the base end side, A container spout opening and closing device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the valve body receives an external force from the tip side of the spout, the valve body is displaced toward the base end side of the spout, and the biasing body is capable of biasing the valve body from the base end side to the tip side of the spout.

4. 3. The opening and closing device for a container spout according to claim 1, wherein the insertion member has the biasing body on a tip side of the spout relative to the valve body.

5. A container spout opening and closing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the insertion member has a support annular portion between the valve body and the biasing body, which is displaceable together with the valve body relative to the flow path forming member and surrounds the flow path on its inner side.

6. 6. The opening and closing device for a container spout according to claim 5, wherein the insertion member has an opening between the support annular portion and the valve body in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the flow passage.

7. 7. The opening and closing device for a container spout according to claim 1, wherein the flow path forming member has an opening in a direction intersecting with the flow direction of the flow path.

8. 7. The opening and closing device for a container spout according to claim 1, wherein the flow path forming member is tubular and has openings at both the tip end and base end.

9. The opening and closing device for a container spout described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the opening and closing device for a container spout is used for a pouch container in which the spout is formed from a film, and the flow path forming member has a joining area that is joined to the film.

10. The container spout opening and closing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the flow path forming member has a base portion at a base end side that is joined to the main container, and a tip side of the flow path forming member protrudes from the main container.

11. A container provided with the opening and closing device for a container spout according to any one of claims 1 to 10 at the spout of the container.

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