Dispensing container

Abstract

To provide a discharge container that can be formed using a small amount of resin.SOLUTION: A discharge container 1 has: a laminate peelable container 2 which is formed by an outer layer body 2a and an inner layer body 2b forming a storage space 12 for storing contents C into a shape which has a mouth part 4, a shoulder part 5, a trunk part 6, a heel part 7 and a bottom part 8 in this order, has an outside air introduction inlet 9 and can introduce outside air to a space between the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b through the outside air introduction inlet 9 in association with a volume reduction and deformation of the inner layer body 2b; and a discharger 3 mounted on the mouth part 4. The discharger 3 has a feeding mechanism 3d having a discharge port 3c and a cylinder 3f, can suck in the contents C from the storage space 12 by reducing the pressure in the cylinder 3f and can discharge the contents C through the discharge port 3c by increasing the pressure in the cylinder 3f. The wall thickness of the trunk part 6 is 0.25 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and the inner layer body 2b is peeled off from the outer layer body 2a in the trunk part 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge container.

Background Art

[0002] A discharge container having a laminated peeling container and a discharger is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] From the viewpoint of reducing the environmental load, etc., reduction of the amount of resin used is required. However, when the laminated peeling container becomes thin, when the internal pressure of the container decreases with the discharge of the content by the discharger, the rigidity of the outer layer body is insufficient, and the laminated peeling container (outer layer body) is more likely to be dented and deformed than the inner layer body peeling off from the outer layer body.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a discharge container that can be realized with a small amount of resin used.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The discharge container of the present invention is formed into a shape having a mouth part, a shoulder part, a body part, a heel part, and a bottom part in this order by an outer layer body and an inner layer body that forms an accommodation space for accommodating the content, has an outside air introduction port, and is a laminated peeling container capable of introducing outside air from the outside air introduction port between the outer layer body and the inner layer body as the inner layer body is reduced in volume and deformed, and a discharger attached to the mouth part. The laminated peeling container has a flat shape in which the width when viewed in a first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is larger than the width when viewed in a second direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the first direction. The shoulder portion has an upper shoulder portion that is a portion above a predetermined height at the shoulder portion and a lower shoulder portion that is a portion below the predetermined height at the shoulder portion. The upper shoulder portion has a conical shape that expands in diameter downward. The lower shoulder portion has a constant diameter dimension downward when viewed in the second direction and has a shape that expands in diameter downward when viewed in the first direction. The laminated peeling container has two circumferential grooves at the boundary between the shoulder portion and the body portion. These two circumferential grooves are provided one on each of both surfaces in the first direction, and each of the circumferential grooves extends continuously in the circumferential direction so as not to reach both ends in the left-right direction of the body portion when viewed in the first direction. The laminated peeling container has two circumferential grooves at the boundary between the body portion and the heel portion. These two circumferential grooves are provided one on each of both surfaces in the first direction, and each of the circumferential grooves extends continuously in the circumferential direction so as not to reach both ends in the left-right direction of the body portion when viewed in the first direction. The discharger has a delivery mechanism having a discharge port and a cylinder. The content can be suctioned from the accommodation space by decompression in the cylinder, and the content can be discharged from the discharge port by pressurization in the cylinder. The wall thickness of the barrel portion is 0.25 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and in the state before use before discharging the content, the inner layer body is peeled off from the outer layer body in the barrel portion.

[0007] In the discharge container of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the wall thickness of the barrel portion is 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0008] The discharge container of the present invention preferably includes a molding step of forming the laminated peeling container by extrusion blow molding, and a peeling step of introducing air between the outer layer body and the inner layer body from the outside air introduction port provided in the outer layer body to peel the inner layer body from the outer layer body while reducing the volume of the inner layer body, and a restoring step of introducing air from the mouth portion into the accommodation space to restore the inner layer body from the state of reduced volume deformation.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a discharge container that can be realized with a small amount of resin used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge container 1 has a laminated peeling container 2 and a discharger 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the laminated peeling container 2 has a mouth portion 4, a shoulder portion 5, a body portion 6, a heel portion 7, and a bottom portion 8 in this order with the bottom portion 8 facing downward.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the vertical direction means the direction along the central axis O of the laminated peeling container 2, the upward direction means the direction from the bottom portion 8 toward the mouth portion 4, the downward direction means the opposite direction, the radial direction means the direction along a straight line perpendicular to the central axis O, and the circumferential direction means the direction around the central axis O.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the laminated peeling container 2 has a flat shape in which the width when viewed in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 4) perpendicular to the vertical direction is larger than the width when viewed in the second direction D2 (see FIG. 4) perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the first direction D1 (see FIG. 3). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a non-flat configuration may also be used.

[0015] The mouth portion 4 has a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis O and has a male screw 4a for locking the discharger 3. Note that the locking structure for locking the cap to the mouth portion 4 is not limited to the male screw 4a, and for example, an annular convex portion for locking the cap by a stopper may be used. Further, the mouth portion 4 may have a cylindrical shape other than a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the mouth portion 4 has two bead portions 4b below the male screw 4a, but the present invention is not limited to this. The mouth portion 4 has outside air inlets 9 at two positions sandwiching the central axis O in the first direction D1, respectively.

[0016] The shoulder part 5 is connected to the lower end of the mouth part 4 and widens downward. The upper part 5a of the shoulder above a predetermined height in the shoulder part 5 is conical. The lower part 5b of the shoulder below a predetermined height in the shoulder part 5 has a constant diameter dimension downward when viewed in the second direction D2 and has a shape that expands in diameter downward when viewed in the first direction D1.

[0017] The shoulder part 5 has two vertical ribs 10 corresponding to each outside air inlet 9. That is, the shoulder part 5 has four vertical ribs 10. When viewed in the first direction D1, two vertical ribs 10 are provided substantially directly below one outside air inlet 9. Each vertical rib 10 is concave (that is, it protrudes inward of the container) and extends from the upper side to the lower side straddling the upper part 5a of the shoulder to the lower part 5b of the shoulder.

[0018] The shoulder part 5 (including the four vertical ribs 10) has a shape that is symmetric with respect to a plane including the central axis O and perpendicular to the second direction D2, and also has a shape that is symmetric with respect to a plane including the central axis O and perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0019] The body part 6 is connected to the lower end of the shoulder part 5. The body part 6 has a constant width in the vertical direction and has a spindle shape in the cross-sectional shape centered on the central axis O. The width of the body part 6 when viewed in the first direction D1 is larger than the width of the body part 6 when viewed in the second direction D2.

[0020] The heel part 7 is connected to the lower end of the body part 6. The heel part 7 reduces in diameter downward both when viewed in the first direction D1 and when viewed in the second direction D2, but the degree of diameter reduction is greater when viewed in the first direction D1.

[0021] The bottom part 8 is connected to the lower end of the heel part 7 and has a grounding part 8a, a bottom concave part 8b provided radially inward of the grounding part 8a and protruding inward of the container, a pinch-off part 8c provided in the bottom concave part 8b and extending in the second direction D2, and a bottom groove part 8d extending in the first direction D1 through the center of the bottom concave part 8b and having both ends provided in the heel part 7.

[0022] The laminated peeling container 2 has two circumferential grooves 11 at the boundary between the shoulder portion 5 and the body portion 6. These two circumferential grooves 11 are provided one on each side in the first direction D1, and each circumferential groove 11 extends continuously in the circumferential direction so as not to reach both ends in the left - right direction of the body portion 6 when viewed in the first direction D1. By these circumferential grooves 11, the rigidity of the outer layer body 2a can be improved.

[0023] The laminated peeling container 2 also has two circumferential grooves 11 at the boundary between the body portion 6 and the heel portion 7. These two circumferential grooves 11 are provided one on each side in the first direction D1, and each circumferential groove 11 extends continuously in the circumferential direction so as not to reach both ends in the left - right direction of the body portion 6 when viewed in the first direction D1. By these circumferential grooves 11, the rigidity of the outer layer body 2a can be improved.

[0024] The laminated peeling container 2 is made of synthetic resin, and a cylindrical laminated parison is formed by co - extruding in a molten state the synthetic resin forming the outer layer body 2a and the synthetic resin forming the inner layer body 2b, and the laminated parison is sandwiched between molds and blow - molded (extrusion blow - molding).

[0025] The outer layer body 2a has a single - layer structure made of polypropylene (PP), and the inner layer body 2b has a single - layer structure made of nylon. Note that either one or both of the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b may have a laminated structure. Also, the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b may be made of resins other than the above.

[0026] The laminated peeling container 2 may have one or more adhesive bands (adhesive layers) made of an adhesive resin that extends from the upper side to the lower side between the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b and partially adheres the inner layer body 2b to the outer layer body 2a.

[0027] A liquid - like content C (not shown) is accommodated in the accommodation space 12 formed on the inner surface of the inner layer body 2b. Note that the content C is not limited to being liquid, and the discharger 3 may adopt a structure suitable for the type of the content C.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the discharger 3 includes a mounting cap 3a attached to the mouth portion 4 of the laminated peeling container 2 via a male screw 4a, an operated portion 3b that receives an operation for discharging the content C, and a feeding mechanism 3d that sucks the content C of the laminated peeling container 2 in response to an operation on the operated portion 3b and sends it to the discharge port 3c for discharging.

[0029] In this embodiment, the discharger 3 is of a nozzle head type having a nozzle head 3e having a top surface serving as the operated portion 3b and a discharge port 3c, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be configured as a trigger type having a trigger as the operated portion 3b. The feeding mechanism 3d includes a discharge port 3c, a cylinder 3f extending in the vertical direction, a piston (not shown) slidable within the cylinder 3f, and a stem (not shown) capable of moving up and down in cooperation with the piston. The content C can be sucked from the accommodation space 12 by the reduced pressure within the cylinder 3f accompanying the sliding of the piston, and the content C can be sent to the discharge port 3c through the stem and discharged from the discharge port 3c by the increased pressure within the cylinder 3f accompanying the sliding of the piston.

[0030] Due to the reduced pressure of the accommodation space 12 accompanying the discharge of the content C by the discharger 3, the inner layer body 2b is separated from the outer layer body 2a while introducing outside air through the outside air inlet 9 into the space between them, so that only the inner layer body 2b can be deformed, that is, volume-reduced deformed, while maintaining the shape of the outer layer body 2a so that the volume of the accommodation space 12 decreases. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce outside air for replacing the content C into the accommodation space 12 as the content C is discharged, and the contact of the content C with the outside air can be suppressed to keep the quality of the content C good.

[0031] A dip bar 3g is attached to the lower end portion of the cylinder 3f. The dip bar 3g can suppress the situation where the inner layer body 2b blocks the suction port of the cylinder 3f when the volume reduction deformation of the inner layer body 2b progresses, or the inner layer body 2b is extremely constricted and blocked at the middle portion in the vertical direction, making it impossible to suck the content C from below the blocked portion. The cross-sectional shape of the dip bar 3g can be appropriately set, such as a cross shape, an H shape, or a superimposed shape of these.

[0032] When the content C is used up to the limit, etc., the laminated peeling container 2 can be flattened and folded along the upper and lower circumferential grooves 11, which can contribute to space-saving and efficient recycling or disposal.

[0033] In the present embodiment, in order to realize the discharge container 1 using such a laminated peeling container 2 with a small amount of resin used, the wall thickness of the body portion 6 is set to be 0.25 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0034] Immediately after blow molding, the laminated peeling container 2 is in a state where the inner layer body 2b is pseudo-adhered to the outer layer body 2a. In a conventional laminated peeling container with a thick wall thickness of the body portion 6, even if such a laminated peeling container 2 in a pseudo-adhered state is used as it is, when the container internal pressure decreases with the discharge of the content C by the discharger 3, the inner layer body 2b can be peeled from the outer layer body 2a, and the container appearance (the shape of the outer layer body 2a) can be maintained.

[0035] However, when the laminated peeling container 2 is thin-walled as in the present embodiment, as described above, when the container internal pressure decreases with the discharge of the content C by the discharger 3, the rigidity of the outer layer body 2a is insufficient, and there is a risk that the laminated peeling container 2 (the outer layer body 2a) will be dented and deformed rather than the inner layer body 2b being peeled from the outer layer body 2a.

[0036] Therefore, in the present embodiment, after the molding step of forming the laminated peeling container 2 by extrusion blow molding, a peeling step of reducing the volume of the inner layer body 2b to peel it from the outer layer body 2a and a restoring step of restoring the inner layer body 2b from the state of reduced volume deformation are performed. That is, the discharge container has a molding step, a peeling step, a restoring step, a filling step of filling the accommodation space 12 with the content C, and a mounting step of attaching the discharger 3 to the mouth portion 4 after the filling step.

[0037] In the peeling process, it is preferable to introduce air between the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b from the outside air inlet 9 provided in the outer layer body 2a, and peel the inner layer body 2b from the outer layer body 2a while reducing the volume and deforming it. Further, in the returning process, it is preferable to introduce air from the mouth portion 4 into the accommodation space 12 to restore and deform the inner layer body 2b from the state of being reduced in volume and deformed.

[0038] Through the above-described peeling process and returning process, in the laminated peeling container 2 of the present embodiment, the inner layer body 2b is peeled from the outer layer body 2a in the body portion 6. Further, preferably, the inner layer body 2b is configured to be peeled from the outer layer body 2a over the entire length of the body portion 6 in the vertical direction. It is preferable that the portion of the inner layer body 2b below the outside air inlet 9 is peeled from the outer layer body 2a over as wide a range as possible except for the pinch-off portion 8c (and the adhesive zone if an adhesive zone is provided).

[0039] By adopting the configuration in which the inner layer body 2b is peeled from the outer layer body 2a in the body portion 6 as described above, even though the wall thickness is reduced, the shape of the outer layer body 2a can be maintained when the content C is discharged, and it is easy to maintain the appearance of the container.

[0040] Also, in the present embodiment, the four vertical ribs 10 can facilitate securing the introduction path of the outside air from the outside air inlet 9 to the body portion 6. From this point as well, it is easy to maintain the appearance of the container when the content C is discharged. Note that the number and arrangement of the vertical ribs 10 can be set as appropriate.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[0042] Therefore, the discharge container 1 of the above-described embodiment can be variously modified as described below, for example.

[0043] The discharge container 1 of the above-described embodiment is formed into a shape having a mouth portion 4, a shoulder portion 5, a body portion 6, a heel portion 7, and a bottom portion 8 in this order by an outer layer body 2a and an inner layer body 2b that forms a storage space 12 for storing the content C. It has an outside air inlet 9 and is a laminated peeling container 2 capable of introducing outside air between the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b from the outside air inlet 9 as the inner layer body 2b is reduced in volume and deformed, and a discharger 3 attached to the mouth portion 4. The discharger 3 has a feeding mechanism 3d having a discharge port 3c and a cylinder 3f. The content C can be sucked from the storage space 12 by depressurization in the cylinder 3f, and the content C can be discharged from the discharge port 3c by pressurization in the cylinder 3f. As long as the body portion 6 has a wall thickness of 0.25 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less and the inner layer body 2b is peeled off from the outer layer body 2a in the body portion 6, various modifications are possible.

[0044] For example, the number and arrangement of the outside air inlets 9 can be set as appropriate. A configuration may be adopted in which the inner layer body 2b is peeled off from the outer layer body 2a at the pinch-off portion 8c, and a slit-shaped outside air inlet 9 is formed by this peeling. Alternatively, the outside air inlet 9 may be provided in the shoulder portion 5 or the body portion 6. A configuration without providing the longitudinal rib 10 may also be adopted. The shoulder portion 5 is not limited to a configuration divided into an upper shoulder portion 5a and a lower shoulder portion 5b. The shapes of the body portion 6, the heel portion 7, and the bottom portion 8 can be set as appropriate.

[0045] In the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the discharge container 1 of the above-described embodiment has a wall thickness of the body portion 6 of 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0046] Further, the discharge container 1 of the above-described embodiment is preferably manufactured by a method having a molding step of forming the laminated peeling container 2 by extrusion blow molding, a peeling step of introducing air between the outer layer body 2a and the inner layer body 2b from the outside air inlet 9 provided in the outer layer body 2a to peel the inner layer body 2b from the outer layer body 2a while reducing the volume and deforming the inner layer body 2b, and a restoring step of introducing air into the storage space 12 from the mouth portion 4 to restore and deform the inner layer body 2b from the state of being reduced in volume and deformed.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0047] 1 Discharging container 2 Laminated peeling container 2a Outer layer body 2b Inner layer body 3 Discharger 3a Mounting cap 3b Operated part 3c Discharge port 3d Feeding mechanism 3e Nozzle head 3f Cylinder 3g Dip bar 4 Mouth part 4a Male thread 4b Bead part 5 Shoulder part 5a Upper shoulder part 5b Lower shoulder part 6 Barrel part 7 Heel part 8 Bottom part 8a Grounding part 8b Bottom recess 8c Pinch-off part 8d Bottom groove 9 Outside air inlet 10 Vertical rib 11 Circumferential groove 12 Accommodation space C Contents D1 First direction D2 Second direction O Central axis

Claims

1. It is formed into a shape having a mouth part, a shoulder part, a body part, a heel part, and a bottom part in this order by an outer layer body and an inner layer body that forms an accommodation space for accommodating the content, has an outside air inlet, and is a laminated peelable container capable of introducing outside air from the outside air inlet between the outer layer body and the inner layer body as the inner layer body reduces in volume and deforms, and has a discharger attached to the mouth part. The laminated peelable container has a flat shape in which the width when viewed in a first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is larger than the width when viewed in a second direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the first direction. The shoulder part has an upper shoulder part which is a part above a predetermined height at the shoulder part and a lower shoulder part which is a part below the predetermined height at the shoulder part. The upper shoulder part has a conical shape that expands in diameter downward. The lower shoulder part has a constant diameter dimension when viewed in the second direction and has a shape that expands in diameter downward when viewed in the first direction. The laminated peelable container has two circumferential grooves at the boundary between the shoulder part and the body part, and these two circumferential grooves are provided one on each side in the first direction. Each of the circumferential grooves extends continuously in the circumferential direction so as not to reach both ends in the left - right direction of the body part when viewed in the first direction. The laminated peelable container has two circumferential grooves at the boundary between the body part and the heel part, and these two circumferential grooves are provided one on each side in the first direction. Each of the circumferential grooves extends continuously in the circumferential direction so as not to reach both ends in the left - right direction of the body part when viewed in the first direction. The discharger has a delivery mechanism having a discharge port and a cylinder, and the content can be sucked from the accommodation space by depressurization in the cylinder, and the content can be discharged from the discharge port by pressurization in the cylinder. The wall thickness of the body part is 0.25 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. A discharge container in which the inner layer body is peeled from the outer layer body in the body part in a state before use, before discharging the content.

2. The discharge container according to Claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the body part is 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

3. A molding step of forming the laminated peelable container by extrusion blow molding, and a peeling step of peeling the inner layer body from the outer layer body while reducing the volume and deforming the inner layer body by introducing air between the outer layer body and the inner layer body from the outside air inlet provided in the outer layer body. A method for manufacturing a discharge container according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a restoring step of restoring the inner layer body from a reduced volume and deformed state by introducing air from the mouth portion into the storage space.

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