Tube outlet

Abstract

To provide a spout for a tube that can perform an unsealing operation in one operation, and can realize removability that allows a sealing material to be easily removed and a sufficient welding strength.SOLUTION: A container port part 3 is integrated with a tube body 5, an easy-open seal material 20 is arranged on a stepped part 11 provided on a nozzle inner peripheral surface 10 of the container port part 3, and an inner stopper 12 screwed to the container port part 3 is mounted, the easy-to-open seal material 20 arranged within a nozzle part 8 is sandwiched between the stepped part 11 and an inner ring tip 19 facing the stepped part 11, a one side surface layer 21 of the front and back sides of the easy-to-open seal material 20 is welded to the inner ring tip 19 by induction heating, welding the other side surface layer 22 to the stepped part 11 by induction heating, a peel strength of the one side surface layer 21 is made stronger than the peel strength of the other side surface layer 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spout for a tube, and relates to a technique that contributes to the ease of opening a tube container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional techniques of this type include, for example, those described in Patent Document 1. This is a cap in which a cap body attached to a container has a dispensing tube, and an upper lid is attached to the cap body.

[0003] The top lid has an inner ring, the pouring tube has a seal part that abuts on the tip surface of the inner ring, and the seal part is provided with a gas barrier film.

[0004] The gas barrier film is held in a state sandwiched between the seal portion and the tip surface of the inner ring, and when the top cover is opened, it adheres to the tip surface of the inner ring and peels off from the seal portion.

[0005] There is also one described in Patent Document 2. In this spout plug, the spout plug has a spout body with a cylindrical tubular portion and a cap that covers the tubular portion of the spout body, and the cap has a cylindrical side wall, a top surface portion that covers one end of the side wall, and a laminated film.

[0006] The plug body has an opening that connects one end of the tubular portion to the other end and has an abutment portion that protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion. The cap has a columnar portion that protrudes from the top surface toward the opening.

[0007] The laminated film is provided between the abutment portion and the columnar portion to close the opening, with one surface layer sealed to the end of the columnar portion and the other surface layer sealed around the entire periphery surrounding the opening of the abutment portion. An aluminum layer is laminated between the one surface layer and the other surface layer, and the seal strength between the one surface layer and the columnar portion is higher than the seal strength between the other surface layer and the abutment portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-134002 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-37983 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In recent years, there has been a growing need for easy-to-open technology that allows packages to be easily opened by hand in order to achieve barrier-free access in an aging society and to meet consumer expectations for convenience.

[0010] When opening a conventional tube container, consumers must follow the following steps: First, remove the cap from the container, peel off the easy-open seal, reattach the cap to the container, open the cap, and dispense the contents.

[0011] In other words, the opening process required many steps, and did not adequately address barrier-free accessibility and convenience.

[0012] Furthermore, in easy-open technology, the peelability of the sealing material and the welding strength are in a trade-off relationship; increasing the welding strength to improve the sealing performance causes problems with peelability, while prioritizing peelability makes it difficult to achieve the welding strength required to ensure the sealing performance.

[0013] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a spout for a tube that can be opened in a single operation, has releasability that allows the sealing material to be easily peeled off, and has sufficient welding strength. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the spout for a tube according to the present invention comprises a container mouth portion which is molded integrally with the tube body, and a hinge cap which is attached to the container mouth portion, the container mouth portion having a mouth opening which leads to the inside of the tube body, a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface around the mouth opening, and a nozzle portion which has a nozzle opening which leads to the mouth opening, the nozzle portion having a stepped portion which forms an annular shape around the nozzle axis on the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle, the hinge cap having an inside stopper and an upper lid which is integral with the inside stopper via a hinge, the inside stopper having a stepped portion which forms an annular shape around the nozzle axis on the inner peripheral surface of the inside stopper The seal has a female screw portion that screws into the male screw portion, and the top cover has an inner ring on its inner top surface that is inserted into the nozzle portion, the inner ring fits into the nozzle opening and has an easy-to-open seal material that is pushed into the nozzle portion, the easy-to-open seal material is sandwiched between the step portion and the tip of the inner ring that faces the step portion in the direction of the nozzle axis, and one surface layer on the front and back of the easy-to-open seal material is welded to the tip of the inner ring by induction heating and the other surface layer is welded to the step portion by induction heating, and the peel strength of the one surface layer is stronger than the peel strength of the other surface layer.

[0015] In the spout for a tube according to the present invention, the easy-open seal material moves upward together with the top cover which swings about the hinge as a fulcrum, and the surface layer on the other side peels off from the step portion.

[0016] In the spout for a tube according to the present invention, the male threaded portion of the container mouth and the female threaded portion of the inner stopper form a pressure adjustment portion, and the pressure adjustment portion adjusts the pressing force applied by the step portion and the tip of the inner ring to the easy-open sealing material by moving the inner stopper relative to the container mouth in the axial direction of the inner stopper due to the threaded connection between the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion.

[0017] In the tube spout according to the present invention, the easy-open sealing material is composed of an aluminum metal layer that forms a gas barrier layer, a polyethylene resin layer with strong weldability that is provided on one side of the aluminum metal layer, and a polyethylene resin layer with easy-peel properties that is provided on the other side of the aluminum metal layer, and is characterized in that the polyethylene resin layer with strong weldability on one side of the front and back surface is welded to the tip of the inner ring by induction heating, and the polyethylene resin layer with easy-peel properties on the other side surface is welded to the step portion by induction heating. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] With the above-described configuration, when manufacturing a container, a hinge cap is attached to the container mouth with the easy-open seal material forced into the nozzle portion. That is, an inner plug is attached to the container mouth by screwing, an inner ring that fits into the nozzle mouth is inserted into the nozzle portion in the nozzle axial direction, and the easy-open seal material, positioned by the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle and arranged in a fixed position to close the nozzle mouth, is sandwiched between the step portion and the tip of the inner ring.

[0019] Therefore, when the hinge cap is attached, the easy-open seal material can be reliably positioned in the appropriate position without causing displacement of the easy-open seal material.

[0020] In addition, in the pressure adjustment section, the screw connection between the male and female threads allows the pressure applied to the easy-open seal material by the stepped portion and the tip of the inner ring to be adjusted, so that the degree of clamping of the easy-open seal material can be adjusted by adjusting the tightening of the screw connection, and the welding strength of the easy-open seal material to the tip of the inner ring and the stepped portion can be controlled, making it possible to achieve both a peel strength on the other side surface layer that achieves appropriate peelability of the easy-open seal material and a peel strength on one side surface layer that ensures sufficient sealing.

[0021] The easy-to-open seal material moves upward along with the top lid, which swings around the hinge as a fulcrum, and the other surface layer peels off from the step.This means that the opening operation can be achieved with a single action of simply pushing up the top lid with a finger, and the one-action characteristics of a hinge cap can also be used with tube containers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an unopened, capped state of a spout for a tube according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the opened state of the tube spout according to the embodiment after unsealing. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a top view of the hinge cap of the tube spout according to the embodiment in an open state. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge cap of the tube spout according to the embodiment in an open state. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the hinge cap of the tube spout according to the embodiment in an open state. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a container opening is formed and welded to the tube body according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a tube container with a hinge cap attached to the container opening according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a tube container with an easy-open seal and a hinge cap attached to the container opening according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a state in which the tube container according to the embodiment is filled with contents and the opening is sealed with a straight seal. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the tube container according to the embodiment in a state where the contents are filled and the opening is sealed with a straight seal. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a product in which the tube container according to the embodiment is filled with contents. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tube container according to the embodiment is opened and unsealed with one action. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the contents are being poured out of the tube container according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. A tube spout 2 of a tube container 1 according to this embodiment has a container mouth 3 and a hinge cap 4. The container mouth 3 is integrally molded and welded to a tube body 5 on one side in the axial direction of the container, and has a mouth opening 6 that leads to the inside of the tube body 5 and a male thread portion 7 formed on the outer peripheral surface around the mouth opening 6.

[0024] The container mouth portion 6 has a nozzle portion 8 on the other side in the container axial direction, and the nozzle portion 8 has a nozzle opening 9 that communicates with the mouth opening 6, and has a step portion 11 on the nozzle inner surface 10 that forms a ring around the nozzle axis and protrudes radially inward of the nozzle 9.

[0025] The hinge cap 4 has an inner plug 12 and an upper lid 14 that is integral with the inner plug 12 via a hinge 13, and the upper lid 14 can swing between a closed position and an open position with the hinge 13 as a fulcrum. The upper lid 14 has a flange 14a on its outer periphery at a position facing the hinge 13.

[0026] The inner plug 12 has a female thread portion 16 on its inner surface 15 that screws onto the male thread portion 7 of the container mouth 3, a finger recess 12a on its outer surface at a position corresponding to the flange portion 14a of the top lid 14, and an opening 12c on the top part 12b of the inner plug through which the nozzle portion 8 passes.

[0027] The top cover 14 has an inner ring 18 on its inner top surface 17 that is inserted into the nozzle portion 8, and the inner ring 18 has a cylindrical shape that fits inside the nozzle opening 9, and the inner ring tip 19 on the tip side in the axial direction of the cylinder faces the step portion 11 in the axial direction of the nozzle.

[0028] An easy-to-open seal material 20 is arranged in the step portion 11 of the nozzle portion 8, and the easy-to-open seal material 20 is pressed into the inside of the nozzle portion 8 and sandwiched between the step portion 11 and the tip end 19 of the inner ring in the axial direction of the nozzle.

[0029] The easy-open seal material 20 is made of a gas barrier film, and is a laminated film-like member composed of a metal layer and a resin layer. The metal layer forms a gas barrier layer and is made of an aluminum layer. The resin layer provided on one side of the aluminum layer is made of a polyethylene layer with strong welding properties. The resin layer provided on the other side of the aluminum layer is an easy-peel layer, i.e., a layer with low peel strength that is easy to peel, and is made of a polyethylene layer with easy-peel properties.

[0030] The easy-open seal material 20 has a highly adhesive polyethylene layer 21 on one side of the front and back that is welded to the inner ring tip 19 by induction heating, and a polyethylene layer with easy peel properties 22 on the other side that is welded to the step portion 11 by induction heating.

[0031] Therefore, the peel strength of the one-side surface layer 21 against the inner ring tip 19 is stronger than the peel strength of the other-side surface layer 22 against the step portion 11. Then, as shown in Figure 2, the easy-open seal material 20 moves upward together with the top cover 14 which swings about the hinge 13 as a fulcrum, and the other-side surface layer 22 peels off from the step portion 11.

[0032] The male thread portion 7 of the container mouth 6 and the female thread portion 16 of the inside plug 12 form a pressure adjustment portion 23. The pressure adjustment portion 23 moves the inside plug 12 relative to the container mouth 6 in the axial direction of the inside plug due to the threaded connection between the male thread portion 7 and the female thread portion 16. When the inner ring tip 19 approaches the step portion 11, the pressing force exerted by the step portion 11 and the inner ring tip 19 on the easy-open seal material 20 increases, and when the inner ring tip 19 moves away from the step portion 11, the pressing force exerted by the step portion 11 and the inner ring tip 19 on the easy-open seal material 20 decreases. Therefore, the pressing force exerted by the step portion 11 and the inner ring tip 19 on the easy-open seal material 20 can be adjusted.

[0033] Next, a method for manufacturing the tube container 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6, the tube body 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape by laminating laminate films into a sleeve shape and cutting them to a predetermined length. The laminate film has a film structure including a barrier layer, and is made of, for example, PE / Si-deposited PET / PE or PE / EVOH / PE. The container opening 3 is formed and welded to one end of this cylindrical tube body 5.

[0035] Then, the easy-open seal material 20 having a predetermined circular shape is pushed into the nozzle portion 8 from the nozzle opening 9 and placed in the step portion 11. The easy-open seal material 20 is surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle and positioned above the nozzle opening 9. Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge cap 4 is attached to the container opening 3 with the easy-open seal material 20 pressed into the nozzle 8.

[0036] That is, the inner plug 12 is attached to the container opening 3 by screwing, and the inner ring 18 that fits inside the nozzle opening 9 is inserted into the nozzle part 8 in the direction of the nozzle axis. Then, the easy-open seal material 20, which is positioned by the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle and placed in a fixed position to close the nozzle opening 9, is sandwiched between the step portion 11 and the tip 19 of the inner ring.

[0037] Therefore, when the hinge cap 4 is attached, the easy-open seal material 20 can be reliably positioned in the appropriate position without being displaced.

[0038] Then, with the hinge cap 4 and the easy-open seal material 20 attached to the container mouth 3, they are heated by electromagnetic induction, and one surface layer 21 on the front and back of the easy-open seal material 20 is welded to the inner ring tip 19, and the other surface layer 22 is welded to the step portion 11.

[0039] At this time, the distance between the stepped portion 11 and the inner ring tip 19 can be adjusted by screwing, so the easy-open seal material 20 can be reliably pressed against the stepped portion 11 and the inner ring tip 19, stabilizing the electromagnetic induction welding. If the distance between the easy-open seal material and the welding surface is fixed, as in the past, the electromagnetic induction welding may become unstable.

[0040] Furthermore, the welding strength is controlled as necessary by the pressure adjusting unit 23. That is, the pressure applied to the easy-open seal material 20 by the stepped portion 11 and the inner ring tip 19 is adjusted by the screw joint between the male screw portion 7 and the female screw portion 16, and the degree to which the easy-open seal material 20 is sandwiched is adjusted by the degree to which the screw joint is tightened, thereby controlling the welding strength of the easy-open seal material 20 to the inner ring tip 19 and the stepped portion 11.

[0041] This control makes it possible to achieve both the peel strength of the other surface layer 22, which ensures appropriate peelability of the easy-open seal material 20, and the peel strength of the one surface layer 21, which ensures sufficient sealing. Next, as shown in Figures 9 to 11, the tube container 1 is filled with the contents, and the opening is sealed with a straight seal 24 to complete the product.

[0042] 12, when opening the package, a finger is placed on flange 14a and top cover 14 is pushed up. Top cover 14 swings around hinge 13, and the easy-open seal material moves upward together with top cover 14, causing other surface layer 22 to peel off from step 11.

[0043] Therefore, the opening and unsealing operations can be achieved with a single action of simply pushing up the top lid 14 with a finger, and the one-action characteristics of the hinge cap 4 can also be utilized in the tube container 1. Then, as shown in Figure 13, the contents can be poured out from the tube container 1 that has been opened and unsealed with a single action. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 tube container 2 Tube outlet 3 Container opening 4 Hinge caps 5 Tube body 6 Mouth opening 7 Male thread 8 Nozzle section 9 Nozzle mouth 10 Nozzle inner surface 11 Step 12 Inner stopper 12a Recess 12b Top of inner stopper 12c opening 13 Hinge 14 Top lid 14a Tsuba 15 Inner surface of inner plug 16 Female thread 17 Inner top surface 18 Inner Ring 19 Inner ring tip 20 Easy-to-open seal material 21 One side surface layer 22 Other side surface layer 23 Pressure adjustment unit 24 Straight stickers

Claims

1. The container has a mouth portion integrally formed with the tube body and a hinge cap attached to the mouth portion of the container, the container opening has a mouth opening communicating with the inside of the tube body, a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface around the mouth opening, and a nozzle portion formed with a nozzle opening communicating with the mouth opening; the nozzle portion has a stepped portion on an inner peripheral surface of the nozzle that is annular around the nozzle axis, The hinge cap has an inner plug and an upper cover that is integral with the inner plug via a hinge, The inner plug has a female screw portion on its inner circumferential surface that screws into the male screw portion of the container opening, The top cover has an inner ring on the inside top surface that is inserted into the nozzle portion, and the inner ring fits into the nozzle opening. The nozzle has an easy-open seal material that is pressed into the nozzle portion, and the easy-open seal material is sandwiched between the stepped portion and a tip of an inner ring that faces the stepped portion in the axial direction of the nozzle, The easy-open sealing material is a tube spout characterized in that one surface layer on the front and back sides is welded to the tip of the inner ring by induction heating, and the other surface layer is welded to the step portion by induction heating, and the peel strength of the one surface layer is stronger than the peel strength of the other surface layer.

2. 2. The spout for a tube according to claim 1, wherein the easy-open seal material moves upward together with the top cover which swings about the hinge as a fulcrum, and the surface layer on the other side peels off from the step portion.

3. The male screw part of the container opening and the female screw part of the inner plug form a pressure adjustment part, The spout for a tube according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure adjustment portion adjusts the pressing force exerted by the stepped portion and the tip of the inner ring on the easy-open seal by moving the inner stopper relative to the container mouth in the axial direction of the inner stopper through the threaded connection between the male thread portion and the female thread portion.

4. 4. The spout for a tube according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the easy-open sealing material is composed of an aluminum metal layer that forms a gas barrier layer, a polyethylene resin layer with strong weldability that is provided on one side of the aluminum metal layer, and a polyethylene resin layer with easy-peel properties that is provided on the other side of the aluminum metal layer, and the polyethylene resin layer with strong weldability on one side of the front and back surface layer is welded to the tip of the inner ring by induction heating, and the polyethylene resin layer with easy-peel properties on the other side surface layer is welded to the stepped portion by induction heating.

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