Liquid container and method for reducing splashing of liquid

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel liquid container which reduces splashing of liquid when the container is opened. Provided is a liquid container in which an opening is formed by cutting along a score, wherein the inner side of a planned opening area that is partially or entirely surrounded by the score is liquid-repellent.

Description

Liquid container and method for suppressing liquid splashing

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid container and a method for suppressing liquid splashing.

[0002] Pull-ring caps, which are opened by hooking a finger into the ring on the lid of plastic or metal containers and tearing them, have long been popular for containers of food, beverages, medicines, etc., due to their airtightness during distribution, easy opening (one-touch opening) when consumed, and guarantee that the container is unopened at the time of purchase.

[0003] However, there has been a problem in that the contents adhere to the inside of the lid member during distribution, and when the container is opened, the contents adhering to the inside of the lid member splash out.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for suppressing oil splashes when a container is opened, in which an inert gas is filled into the head space of the container filled with oil and fat, and then the container is sealed.

[0005] JP 2010-126608 A

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel liquid container that suppresses splashing of liquid when the container is opened, and a novel method for suppressing splashing of liquid when the container is opened.

[0007] The present invention that solves the above problems is the following [1] to [8].

[0008] [1] A liquid container in which an opening is formed by cutting a score, and the inside of the intended opening portion surrounded in part or in whole by the score has liquid-repellent properties.

[0009] [2] The liquid container according to [1], wherein the liquid repellency is imparted by a coating selected from the group consisting of a silicon oxide coating, a silicone resin coating, and a fluorine-based coating.

[0010] [3] The liquid container according to [1] or [2], wherein the liquid repellency is imparted by vapor deposition of a compound having liquid repellency by plasma CVD.

[0011] [4] A liquid container according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the opening is formed by a pull tab or a stay-on tab.

[0012] [5] The liquid container according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the liquid container has a cap, and the score is provided on the cap.

[0013] [6] A liquid container according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the liquid contains oil and fat, and the liquid repellency is oil repellency.

[0014] [7] A liquid container according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the liquid is edible oil or dressing.

[0015] [8] In a liquid container in which an opening is formed by cutting a score, a method for preventing liquid from splashing when the opening is formed by imparting liquid repellency to the inside of the intended opening portion, which is partially or completely surrounded by the score.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid container that suppresses splashing of liquid when the container is opened. Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress splashing of liquid when the container is opened.

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid container according to the present invention will be described. Note that this embodiment is specifically described to provide a better understanding of the gist of the invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0018] A liquid container according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body and a cap having an intended opening part that is partially or entirely surrounded by a score.

[0019] The cap is attached to the mouth of the main body and includes a cylindrical side wall and a closing portion that closes at least the upper end portion of the cylindrical side wall.

[0020] The closing portion has a score for forming an opening formed therein, the score having either an end or an endless shape, and a planned opening portion that is surrounded in part or in whole by the score is provided.

[0021] A pull ring for breaking the score is provided on the upper surface of the intended opening portion via a support positioned in an area completely surrounded by the score. By pulling the pull ring, the score is cut, the intended opening portion is separated from the closure portion, and an opening for pouring out the contents is formed. In this embodiment, the opening is formed by a pull tab (pull ring) system, but in another embodiment of the present invention, the opening may be formed by a stay-on tab system. In the case of the stay-on tab system, the score-breaking tab is raised, and the intended opening portion, partially surrounded by the score, opens toward the main body portion, thereby forming an opening for pouring out the contents.

[0022] The material of the cap is not particularly limited as long as it is one that is commonly used for liquid containers, and examples thereof include resin materials and metal materials. Resin materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, vinyl chloride, and ABS resin. Metal materials include aluminum and iron.

[0023] The inner side (lower side) of the intended opening portion is liquid-repellent. By making the inner side (lower side) of the intended opening portion liquid-repellent, it is possible to prevent the liquid contents from adhering to the inner side (lower side) of the intended opening portion. This makes it possible to suppress splashing of the liquid when the score is cut by pulling the pull ring to form an opening.

[0024] In this embodiment, the liquid repellency is oil repellency. Since the inner side (lower surface side) of the intended opening portion has oil repellency, splashing of the liquid can be suppressed when the opening is formed, even if the contents are a liquid containing oil or fat, such as cooking oil or dressing.

[0025] The method for imparting liquid repellency to the inside (lower surface) of the intended opening portion is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a functional coating having liquid repellency. Examples of functional coatings having liquid repellency include silicon oxide-based coatings, silicone resin coatings, and fluorine-based coatings. Examples of silicon oxide-based coatings include silicon oxide vapor deposition films such as those described in JP 2023-95740 A. Examples of silicone resin coatings include those obtained by immersing a substrate in a dimethylpolysiloxane solution and then baking the resulting film to form a thin film of silicone resin on the surface. Examples of fluorine-based coatings include Teflon (registered trademark)-based coatings. It is particularly preferable to form a functional coating having liquid repellency by vapor-depositing a liquid-repellent compound using plasma CVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition).

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, liquid repellency may be imparted by adding fine particles to the raw material of the intended opening portion. By adding fine particles to the raw material of the intended opening portion, it is possible to form irregularities on the surface of the intended opening portion, thereby imparting liquid repellency. For example, the fine particles may be inorganic materials such as metal oxides (e.g., silica, alumina, etc.), or organic materials such as cured resins. The particle size of the fine particles is not particularly limited as long as it is a particle size that can impart liquid repellency, but may be, for example, 5 to 100 μm.

[0027] The main body contains a liquid. There are no particular limitations on the main body as long as it can contain a liquid, and it can be a common body such as a bottle or a tube. The size and shape of the main body can also be selected arbitrarily.

[0028] The liquid contained in the main body is preferably a liquid containing oil or fat. Examples of liquids containing oil or fat include edible oils and oils such as dressings. Examples of edible oils include palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, rice oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and their fractionated oils and interesterified oils. Since oil or fat can be liquefied and discharged by heating, in the present invention, even solid fats that are solid at room temperature are heated to liquefy and are discharged from the main body, and therefore, regardless of whether they are liquid oil or solid fat, oil or fat is treated as a liquid. In the present invention, it is preferable that the oil or fat be liquid at 0°C.

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cap may be formed integrally with the main body. For example, when the main body is a resin container, the main body and the cap can be formed integrally by molding them using a mold having a shape in which the main body and the cap are integrated.

[0030] The present invention can be used for a container for storing a liquid.

Claims

1. A liquid container in which an opening is formed by cutting a score, wherein the inside of the intended opening portion, which is partially or completely surrounded by the score, is liquid-repellent.

2. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid repellency is imparted by a coating selected from the group consisting of a silicon oxide coating, a silicone resin coating, and a fluorine-based coating.

3. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid repellency is imparted by vapor deposition of a compound having liquid repellency by plasma CVD.

4. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening is formed by a pull tab or a stay-on tab.

5. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid container has a cap, and the score is provided on the cap.

6. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid contains oil and fat, and the liquid repellency is oil repellency.

7. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid is edible oil or dressing.

8. A method for preventing liquid from splashing when an opening is formed in a liquid container in which an opening is formed by cutting a score, by imparting liquid repellency to the inside of the intended opening portion, which is partially or completely surrounded by the score.