Sheet container

Abstract

Provided is a sheet container which has a lid that can be moved to a closed state after a sheet has been removed, and which is capable of suppressing defects caused by the continuation of a state in which a removal opening remains unclosed. A sheet container (1) accommodates a collection (40) of a plurality of sheets. The sheet container includes: a container body (20) that stores the collection and that has a sheet removal opening; a lid (30) that is configured to be capable of moving between an open state in which the removal opening (25) is open and a closed state in which the removal opening is closed; and an automatic closing mechanism (50) that moves the lid in the open state to the closed state.

Description

Seat storage unit

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet container that stores a collection of a plurality of sheets.

[0002] A sheet container for storing a collection of multiple sheets has been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sheet container includes a container body that stores the collection and has a sheet outlet, and a lid that is movable between an open state that opens the outlet and a closed state that closes the outlet. When using a sheet container configured in this manner, a user operates the lid to the open state and removes a sheet through the outlet of the container body.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-196517

[0004] In recent years, sheet containers have been used in a variety of situations, including commercial facilities and other locations where an unspecified number of users use the container. In these locations, the lid may not be closed after the container has dispensed the sheets, leaving the dispenser outlet open. This can lead to the sheets being unable to maintain their hygiene. Furthermore, if the sheets are in the form of wet tissues, leaving the dispenser outlet open can cause the sheets to dry out, preventing them from functioning as wet tissues.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a sheet container that stores a collection of multiple sheets, in which the lid can move to a closed state after the sheets are removed, thereby suppressing problems caused by the removal opening remaining unblocked.

[0006] A sheet container according to one aspect stores a collection of multiple sheets. The sheet container includes a storage body that stores the collection and has a sheet outlet, a lid that is movable between an open state that opens the outlet and a closed state that closes the outlet, and an auto-close mechanism that moves the lid from the open state to the closed state.

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet container with the lid in an open state. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet container with the lid in an open state. Fig. 3 is a side view of the sheet container. (A) is a view of the lid in a closed state, and (B) is a view of the lid in an open state. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheet container. Fig. 5 is a view showing a lid and a biasing means according to a first modified example. Fig. 6 is a view showing a locking mechanism of the lid according to a second modified example.

[0008] (1) Overview of the Embodiments At least the following points become clear from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. The invention according to Aspect 1 is a sheet container that contains an assembly of multiple sheets. The sheet container includes a container body that contains the assembly and has a sheet outlet for the sheets, and a lid that is configured to be movable between an open state that opens the outlet and a closed state that blocks the outlet. The sheet container has an auto-close mechanism that moves the lid from the open state to the closed state. According to this aspect, the auto-close mechanism moves the lid from the open state to the closed state. This prevents the outlet from remaining unblocked, and prevents problems caused by the outlet remaining unblocked.

[0009] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 2 may have the following features in the invention according to Aspect 1. The auto-close mechanism has a biasing means that deforms when the lid body is in the open state and biases the lid body from the open state to the closed state. According to this aspect, the biasing means moves the lid body from the open state to the closed state, thereby preventing problems caused by the removal opening remaining unblocked. Because the biasing means acts regardless of the angle of the sheet container, the lid body can be moved to the closed state by the biasing means even if the installation angle of the sheet container is changed, such as when the sheet container is placed sideways.

[0010] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 3 may have the following features in the invention according to Aspect 1 or Aspect 2. The lid is configured to realize the open state and the closed state by rotating about a rotation axis. The biasing means is disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the rotation axis. With this configuration, the biasing means can easily apply force in the rotational direction about the rotation axis, moving the lid in the rotational direction and more easily moving the lid from the open state to the closed state.

[0011] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 4 may have the following features in the invention according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3. The lid is configured to realize the open state and the closed state by rotating about a rotation axis. When the sheet container is installed upside down, the lid moves from the open state to the closed state. According to this aspect, the auto-close mechanism can move the lid to the closed state against the weight of the lid. Therefore, even when the lid is installed at an angle that is different from the normal installation state, the lid can be moved to the closed state.

[0012] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 5 may be the invention according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, and may have the following features. The lid is configured to achieve the open state and the closed state by rotating about a rotation axis. In a side view on an extension of the axial direction of the rotation axis, the lid has a base end position located on the rotation axis side and a tip end position on the opposite side from the rotation axis. The tip end position of the lid in the open state is located higher than the tip end position of the lid in the closed state. The center of gravity of the lid is located closer to the tip end position than an intermediate position between the tip end position and the base end position. According to this aspect, because the center of gravity of the lid is located closer to the tip end position, the weight of the lid is more likely to affect the rotational moment in the direction in which the lid is closed, and the rotational force due to the weight of the lid makes it easier to move the lid from the open state to the closed state.

[0013] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 6 may have the following feature in the invention according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5. The sheet container has a temporary fixing mechanism that temporarily fixes the lid in the open state. According to this aspect, the temporary fixing mechanism can maintain the lid in the open state, and can prevent the lid from unintentionally moving to the closed state while removing sheets, etc.

[0014] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 7 may have the following features in the invention according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6. The sheet container does not have a locking mechanism that locks the lid in the closed state. According to this aspect, the removal opening can be opened simply by moving the lid, without having to release the locking mechanism. This reduces the need to touch the sheet container before removing sheets, allowing sheets to be removed hygienically even when hands are dirty or when the container is used by an unspecified number of people.

[0015] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 8 may have the following features in the invention according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7. When the lid is in the closed state, a recess is provided between the lid and the storage body. According to this aspect, the lid can be operated from the closed state to the open state by hooking a part of the hand (fingers, back of the hand, etc.) in the recess. This reduces the area that comes into contact with the sheet storage body when opening the lid, allowing sheets to be removed hygienically even when hands are dirty or when an unspecified number of people are using the device.

[0016] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 9 may be the invention according to Aspect 8, and may have the following features. The lid is configured to realize the open state and the closed state by rotating about a rotation axis. In a side view on an extension of the axial direction of the rotation axis, the lid has a base end position located on the rotation axis side and a tip end position on the opposite side from the rotation axis. The recess has a tapered shape from the tip end position side to the base end position side. The boundary between the lid and the storage body is located at the apex of the recess. According to this aspect, by inserting part of the hand (fingers, back of the hand, etc.) along the tapered shape, the hand can be moved toward the boundary between the lid and the storage body, and the lid can be moved in a direction away from the storage body.

[0017] According to a preferred aspect, the invention according to Aspect 10 may have the following feature in the invention according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9: the sheet container has a locking mechanism that locks the lid in the closed state. According to this aspect, the lid in the closed state can be prevented from unintentionally moving to the open state, allowing sheets to be stored hygienically.

[0018] (2) Overall Configuration of Sheet Container According to the Embodiment Hereinafter, the sheet container 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the ratios of the dimensions may differ from those of the actual parts. Therefore, the specific dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. Furthermore, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sheet container 1 with the lid 30 in an open state, as viewed from below. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet container 1 with the lid 30 in an open state, as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a side view of the sheet container 1, as viewed from a side on an extension of the axial direction S (see FIG. 2) of a rotation shaft 51, which will be described later. FIG. 3(A) is a view of the sheet container 1 with the lid 30 in a closed state, and FIG. 3(B) is a view of the sheet container 1 with the lid 30 in an open state. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheet container 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a plane that passes through the center of the axial direction S of the rotation shaft 51 and is perpendicular to the axial direction S. The cross-section shown in FIG. 4 is a surface on which the biasing means 55 is not arranged, but on which the rotation shaft 51 and the rotation hole 52 are arranged.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4 , the sheet container 1 is configured to store an assembly 40 of multiple sheets 41. The assembly 40 may be formed by connecting multiple sheets 41 via a fragile portion, or by stacking multiple separate sheets 41. The fragile portion can be, for example, a perforation. The assembly 40 may be formed by winding multiple sheets 41 into a roll, as in the first embodiment, or by folding multiple sheets 41 and stacking the sheets 41. In the assembly 40 of this embodiment, multiple sheets 41 are connected via a perforation, and the continuous sheets are wound into a roll.

[0021] The sheet 41 may be a dry sheet (e.g., nonwoven fabric, paper towel) or a wet sheet (e.g., wet tissue). The sheet 41 in this embodiment is a wet tissue. In the case of wet tissue, the sheet 41 may be impregnated with a liquid (medicine or the like), and for example, 100 parts by mass of the assembly (in a dry state) may be impregnated with 150 to 300 parts by mass of liquid. The assembly 40 may be contained in the storage body 20 in a state where it is packaged in a packaging material such as a film, or the assembly 40 alone may be contained in the storage body 20 without being packaged in a packaging material.

[0022] The sheet container 1 includes a container body 20 and a lid 30. The container body 20 includes at least a container space 24 for storing the assembly 40 and an outlet 25 for the sheets 41. The outlet 25 is an opening for removing the sheets 41. When the assembly 40 is packaged in a package, the outlet 25 is disposed so as to overlap at least a portion of a packaging opening formed in the package, and the sheets 41 are removed through the outlet 25 and the packaging opening. A separation guide portion 26 configured to guide the separation of the sheets 41 may be provided around the outlet 25. When the sheets 41 are removed, the sheets 41 may contact the separation guide portion 26, and the sheets 41 may be removed from the outlet 25 in a separated state one by one. The separation guide portion 26 may be a protrusion that protrudes inward in a plan view and guides the separation of the sheets 41.

[0023] The storage body 20 has at least a first surface 21 on which the outlet 25 is located, a second surface 22 opposite the first surface 21, and a third surface 23 connecting the first surface 21 and the second surface 22. In this embodiment, the storage body 20 is cylindrical, with the first surface 21 being the top surface, the second surface 22 being the bottom surface, and the third surface 23 being a side surface that extends in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the installation surface of the sheet storage body 1 in its normal installation state is the second surface 22, which is the bottom surface. In addition, when the sheet storage body 1 is installed upside down, the second surface 22, which is the bottom surface, faces upward and the first surface 21, which is the top surface, faces downward. In a storage body having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the third surface 23 may be composed of four surfaces that are perpendicular to each other. The outlet 25 may be located on the top surface of the storage body 20, and configured so that the sheets are pulled out from the top side of the storage body 20. Alternatively, the outlet 25 may be located on the front side of the sheet storage body 1, and configured so that the sheets 41 are pulled out from the front side of the storage body 20.

[0024] The storage body 20 may have a storage opening for inserting and removing the assembly 40. In this embodiment, the storage body 20 has a first body 28 and a second body 29 configured to be separable and engageable with each other. The first body 28 has an outlet 25 and is configured to be engageable with the lid 30. The second body 29 is configured to be engageable with the first body 28. The first body 28 and the second body 29 may have a thread on one side and a groove that screws into the thread on the other side, or may have a claw on one side and a hook that hooks onto the claw on the other side. An opening on the top surface of the first body 28 forms the storage opening, and the storage opening is opened by separating the first body 28 and the second body 29, allowing the assembly 40 to be inserted and removed. Note that in this embodiment, the first body 28 and the lid 30 are integrated and separate from the second body 29. However, in other embodiments, the first body 28 and the second body 29 may be molded as an integrated unit.

[0025] The lid body 30 is configured to be movable between an open state (see FIG. 3A ) in which the outlet 25 is opened and a closed state (see FIG. 3B ) in which the outlet 25 is blocked. The lid body 30 may achieve the open state and the closed state by moving in a rotational direction via the rotation shaft 51 with respect to the storage body 20, or may achieve the open state and the closed state by sliding relative to the storage body 20. The lid body 30 of this embodiment is configured to achieve the open state and the closed state by rotating around the rotation shaft 51. The rotation shaft 51 may be provided on the lid body 30, on the storage body 20, or separately from the lid body 30 and the storage body 20. The rotation shaft 51 of this embodiment is provided on the lid body 30 and engages with the storage body 20. More specifically, a rotation hole 52 that rotatably supports the rotation shaft 51 is formed in the first body 28 that constitutes the storage body 20. The rotation shaft 51 is configured to be rotatable while engaged with the rotation hole 52.

[0026] The sheet container 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the lid 30 can move to a closed state after the sheet 41 is removed, thereby preventing problems caused by the outlet 25 remaining unblocked. Next, a configuration for preventing problems caused by the outlet 25 remaining unblocked will be described in detail. The sheet container 1 has an auto-close mechanism 50 that moves the lid 30 from an open state to a closed state. The auto-close mechanism 50 moves the lid 30 from an open state to a closed state. This prevents the outlet 25 from remaining unblocked, thereby preventing problems caused by the outlet 25 remaining unblocked.

[0027] The auto-close mechanism 50 moves the lid 30 from an open state toward a closed state until the lid 30 is in the closed state. This concept does not include a mechanism that moves the lid 30 just before the closed state but does not move the lid 30 all the way to the closed state. The auto-close mechanism 50 moves the lid 30 using the sheet container 1 alone, without requiring an external power supply such as a motor, and may move the lid 30 using power (e.g., magnetic force, elastic force, gravity) possessed by the sheet container 1. Preferably, the auto-close mechanism 50 may move the lid 30 to the closed state using elastic force. The preferred auto-close mechanism 50 may use at least one of magnetic force and gravity in addition to elastic force to move the lid 30 to the closed state. The sheet container 1 has an auto-close mechanism that automatically moves from the open state to the closed state, but does not have an auto-open mechanism that automatically moves from the closed state to the open state. Therefore, the user must perform an operation to move the lid 30 from the closed state to the open state when removing a sheet.

[0028] The auto-close mechanism 50 may include a biasing means 55 that deforms when the lid 30 is in the open state and biases the open lid 30 toward the closed state. The biasing means 55 may be, for example, elastically deformable rubber or a spring. The elastic deformation may be achieved by being pressed in the open state and then using the repulsive force to achieve the closed state, or by expanding in the open state and then using the contractile force to achieve the closed state. In this embodiment, the biasing means 55 is configured as a torsion coil spring. As shown in FIG. 3 , the biasing means (spring) elastically deforms in the open state, and the elastic force of the spring biases the lid 30 toward the closed state. With this configuration, the biasing means 55 moves the open lid 30 to the closed state, thereby preventing problems caused by the access opening 25 remaining unblocked (not being in the closed state). Furthermore, since the elastic force-driven biasing means 55 acts regardless of the angle of the sheet container 1, the lid body 30 can be moved to the closed state by the biasing means 55 regardless of the installation angle of the sheet container 1, even if the installation direction is changed, such as to be sideways.

[0029] The biasing means 55 may be arranged along the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft 51. With this configuration, the biasing means 55 can easily apply force in the rotational direction around the rotation shaft 51, moving the lid body 30 in the rotational direction and more easily moving the lid body 30 from the open state to the closed state. Preferably, the biasing means 55 may be arranged to cover 360 degrees of the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft 51. This prevents the biasing means 55 from separating from the rotation shaft 51 due to rotation of the rotation shaft 51, and can continue to bias the lid body 30 toward the closed state.

[0030] The biasing means 55 may be arranged on both sides in the axial direction S across the center of the axial direction S of the rotating shaft 51. The configuration in which the biasing means 55 are arranged on both sides in the axial direction S across the center 51CL of the axial direction S of the rotating shaft 51 is intended to exclude a configuration in which the biasing means 55 are arranged only on one side in the axial direction S with respect to the center 51CL of the axial direction S of the rotating shaft 51, and the biasing means 55 may be arranged across the center of the axial direction S of the rotating shaft 51. This suppresses bias in the biasing force of the biasing means 55, allowing the lid 30 to move stably.

[0031] Here, the biasing means 55 may have other configurations. FIG. 5 shows a sheet container 1X according to Modification 1, which is an example of another configuration. The biasing means 55 shown in FIG. 5 is formed of rubber that is curved (U-shaped) in cross section. The lid 30 is connected to a synchronous rotation unit 53 disposed on either side of a rotation shaft 51. The lid 30 and the synchronous rotation unit 53 rotate synchronously. When the lid 30 moves away from the container body 20 (upward in FIG. 5 ) around the rotation shaft 51 to open the outlet 25, the synchronous rotation unit 53 moves into the container body 20 (downward in FIG. 5 ) around the rotation shaft 51. When the lid 30 moves to the open state, the synchronous rotation unit 53 presses the rubber as the biasing means 55, causing the rubber to elastically deform. The repulsive force (elastic force) of the rubber biases the lid 30 toward the closed state, and the lid 30 enters the closed state.

[0032] 3 , the lid 30 may have a base end position 32 located on the rotation shaft 51 side in a side view along an extension of the axial direction S of the rotation shaft 51, and a tip end position 31 on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 51. The base end position 32 is located near the rotation shaft 51 and moves a shorter distance as the lid 30 opens and closes compared to the tip end position 31. On the other hand, the tip end position 31 is located away from the rotation shaft 51 and moves in an arc as the lid 30 rotates, and moves a longer distance as the lid 30 opens and closes compared to the base end position 32. In a side view along an extension of the axial direction S of the rotation shaft 51, the distance between the tip end position 31 and the center of the rotation shaft 51 is longer than the distance between the base end position 32 and the center of the rotation shaft 51.

[0033] In the normal installation state (a state in which the second surface 22 faces downward), the tip position 31 of the lid body 30 in the open state may be located higher than the tip position 31 of the lid body 30 in the closed state. That is, the lid body 30 moves against gravity when moving from the closed state to the open state. The rotational force due to the weight of the lid body 30 may assist in moving the lid body 30 from the open state to the closed state. By assisting in moving the lid body 30 from the open state to the closed state using the rotational force due to the weight of the lid body 30, it is possible to prevent the outlet 25 from remaining unblocked, thereby preventing problems caused by the outlet 25 remaining unblocked. That is, the lid body 30 in the open state may be moved to the closed state using the rotational force due to the weight of the lid body and the biasing force of the biasing means.

[0034] The lid 30 may be configured to move from an open state to a closed state when the sheet container is installed upside down. For example, the side of the sheet container 1 is grasped and the lid 30 is placed in the open state by placing the sheet container 1 upside down. If the lid 30 is left in this state for a certain period of time (e.g., 60 seconds) and moves from the open state to the closed state, the lid 30 will break when it moves from the open state to the closed state when the sheet container is installed upside down. According to this aspect, the auto-close mechanism can move the lid to the closed state against the weight of the lid. Therefore, the lid can be moved to the closed state even when the sheet container is installed at an angle that is different from the normal installation state.

[0035] The center of gravity of the lid body 30 may be located closer to the distal end position than an intermediate position 33 between the distal end position 31 and the base end position 32. With this configuration, since the center of gravity of the lid body 30 is located closer to the distal end position 31, the weight of the lid body 30 is more likely to act on the rotational moment in the direction in which the lid body 30 closes, and the rotational force due to the weight of the lid body 30 makes it easier to move the lid body 30 from the open state to the closed state. Examples of ways to position the center of gravity of the lid body 30 closer to the distal end position 31 include increasing the thickness on the distal end position 31 side, increasing the volume on the distal end position 31 side by forming a hollow portion on the base end position 32 side, or adding (adding weight to) a component such as an operating unit on the distal end position 31 side.

[0036] As shown in the modified example of FIG. 5 , the sheet container 1 may have a temporary fixing mechanism 54 that temporarily fixes the lid 30 in the open state. In FIG. 5 , when the lid 30 is in the open state, the synchronous rotation portion 53 engages with a portion of the rubber that serves as the biasing means, maintaining the lid 30 in the open state. Therefore, the rubber constitutes the biasing means 55 and the temporary fixing mechanism 54. The temporary fixing mechanism 54 can maintain the lid 30 in the open state and prevent the lid 30 from unintentionally moving to the closed state, for example, while removing the sheet 41. The user does not need to hold the lid 30 to open the lid, allowing for hygienic removal of the sheet 41. The temporary fixing mechanism 54 may be configured to directly engage with the lid 30 to temporarily fix the lid 30 in the open state, or it may be configured to engage with another portion (in this embodiment, the synchronous rotation portion 53) that interacts with the lid 30 to temporarily fix the lid 30 in the open state.

[0037] The sheet container 1 does not need to have a locking mechanism that locks the lid 30 in the closed state. With this configuration, the outlet 25 can be opened simply by moving the lid 30 to the open state without disengaging the locking mechanism. This reduces the need to touch the sheet container 1 before removing the sheets 41, allowing the sheets 41 to be removed hygienically even when hands are dirty or when the container is used by an unspecified number of people.

[0038] In another embodiment, the sheet container 1 may have a locking mechanism that locks the lid 30 in a closed state. FIG. 6 shows a sheet container 1Y according to a second modification. The sheet container 1Y according to the second modification includes a locking mechanism 70. FIG. 6(A) is a plan view of the sheet container 1Y, and FIGS. 6(B) and 6(C) are views based on a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 6(A). FIG. 6(B) shows the state in which the locking mechanism 70 is unlocked, and FIG. 6(C) shows the state in which the locking mechanism 70 is locked. The locking mechanism 70 includes a locking member 74 and a hole 73 that allows the locking member 74 to slide therein. The hole 73 penetrates the top surface of the first main body 28 of the storage body 20 and the lid 30 in the thickness direction. As shown in FIGS. 6(B) and 6(C), when the lid 30 is closed, the hole in the lid 30 and the hole in the first main body 28 overlap. The locking member 74 has a first locking portion 71 that contacts the top surface of the lid 30, a second locking portion 72 that contacts the bottom surface of the first body, and a connecting portion 75 that connects the first locking portion 71 and the second locking portion 72. A user operates the locking member 74 from the top surface of the lid 30 and slides it along the longitudinal direction of the hole. This allows the locking member 74 to clamp the lid 30 and the storage body 20, locking the lid 30 (as shown in FIG. 6C ), and to unlock the lid 30 (as shown in FIG. 6B ), eliminating the locking member 74 clamping the lid 30 and the storage body 20. This configuration prevents the lid from unintentionally moving from the closed state to the open state, allowing the sheet 41 to be stored hygienically. The locking mechanism is not limited to this configuration and may have other configurations.

[0039] When the lid 30 is in the closed state, a recess 60 may be provided between the lid 30 and the storage body 20. According to this configuration, the lid 30 can be changed from the closed state to the open state by hooking a part of the hand (fingers, back of the hand, etc.) on the recess 60. This reduces the area that comes into contact with the sheet storage body 1 when opening the lid 30, allowing the sheets 41 to be removed hygienically even when hands are dirty or when the lid 30 is used by an unspecified number of people. The recess 60 may be provided in a form that does not particularly have a locking mechanism. When changing from the closed state to the open state, the sheets 41 can be removed hygienically by hooking a part of the hand on the recess 60 and moving the lid 30 to the open state.

[0040] The recess 60 may be provided in the lid body 30, the housing body 20, or may be formed by a gap between the lid body 30 and the housing body 20. The shape and dimensions of the recess 60 are not limited as long as it is configured to allow a part of a hand to be inserted. The recess 60 may have a width of 10 mm or more so that a typical index finger width (10 mm) can be inserted therein. The recess 60 may be provided at the tip position 31 of the lid body 30. With this configuration, it becomes easier to apply force to the tip position 31 of the lid body 30 via the recess 60, making it easier to perform opening and closing operations centered on the rotation axis 51 even with a small force.

[0041] The recess 60 may have a tapered shape from the distal end position 31 toward the proximal end position 32. In other words, the distance of the gap between the storage body 20 and the lid 30 may increase from the apex of the recess 60 toward the distal end position 31. The apex 61 of the recess 60 may be located at the boundary between the lid 30 and the storage body 20. According to this configuration, by inserting part of a hand along the tapered shape, the hand can be moved toward the boundary between the lid 30 and the storage body 20, thereby moving the lid 30 in a direction away from the storage body 20. Furthermore, as in the present embodiment, the upper surface (the surface facing the lid) of the storage body 20 that forms the recess 60 may be inclined from the distal end position 31 toward the apex 61. According to this configuration, by moving the hand along the inclined surface of the storage body 20, the storage body 20 and the lid 30 can be separated, thereby moving the lid 30 from the closed state to the open state.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention.

[0043] For example, the sheet container may be rectangular rather than cylindrical. Furthermore, the first surface of the sheet container having the outlet may be disposed facing the front or on the top surface. The sheet container may be configured to accommodate a collection of sheets, and may include the collection, or may not include the collection but may be configured so that the user can store the collection when using the sheet container.

[0044] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-145254, filed on September 7, 2023, are incorporated herein by reference.

[0045] It is possible to provide a sheet container that can move the lid to a closed state after the sheets are removed, and can prevent problems caused by the removal opening remaining unblocked.

[0046] 1, 1X, 1Y: Sheet container 20: Container body 25: Discharge opening 30: Lid 31: Tip position 32: Base position 33: Intermediate position 40: Assembly 41: Sheet 50: Auto-close mechanism 51: Rotating shaft 54: Temporary fixing mechanism 55: Urging means 60: Recess 70: Locking mechanism

Claims

1. A sheet container that contains a collection of multiple sheets, comprising: a container body that contains the collection and has an outlet for the sheets; a lid that is movable between an open state that opens the outlet and a closed state that closes the outlet; and an auto-close mechanism that moves the lid from the open state to the closed state.

2. The sheet container according to claim 1, wherein the auto-close mechanism has a biasing means which is deformed when the lid body is in an open state and biases the lid body from the open state to the closed state.

3. The sheet container according to claim 2, wherein the lid is configured to realize the open state and the closed state by rotating about a rotation shaft, and the biasing means is disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft.

4. A sheet container as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid body is configured to realize the open state and the closed state by rotating around a rotation axis, and when the sheet container is installed upside down, the lid body moves from the open state to the closed state.

5. A sheet container as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid body is configured to realize the open state and the closed state by rotating around a rotation axis, and when viewed from the side on an axial extension of the rotation axis, the lid body has a base end position located on the rotation axis side and a tip position opposite the rotation axis, the tip position of the lid body in the open state is located higher than the tip position of the lid body in the closed state, and the center of gravity of the lid body is located on the tip position side of an intermediate position between the tip position and the base end position.

6. The sheet container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a temporary fixing mechanism for temporarily fixing the lid in the open state.

7. A sheet container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which does not have a locking mechanism for locking the lid in the closed state.

8. The sheet container according to claim 7, wherein a recess is provided between the cover and the container body when the cover is in the closed state.

9. The sheet container of claim 8, wherein the lid body is configured to achieve the open state and the closed state by rotating about a rotation axis, and when viewed from the side on an axial extension of the rotation axis, the lid body has a base end position located on the rotation axis side and a tip end position on the opposite side to the rotation axis, the recess has a tapered shape from the tip end position side toward the base end position side, and the boundary between the lid body and the container body is located at the apex of the recess.

10. A sheet container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the lid in the closed state.

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