Container, liquid holder, production method for container component, production method for container, and production method for liquid holder

Abstract

A container (9000) comprises: a first component (901) that includes a mouth part (110) that surrounds an opening space (A1), a body part (120) that surrounds an inside space (A2) that communicates with an outside space (A3) via the opening space (A1), and a bottom part (130) that is opposite the opening space (A1) across the inside space (A2); and a second component (102) that is connected to the mouth part (110). The first component (901) includes a first resin layer (911) and a second resin layer (912) that are joined to each other. The first resin layer (911) of the body part (120) and the second resin layer (912) of the body part (120) are layered in a direction (R1) that is orthogonal to a straight line (C1) that passes through the opening space (A1), the inside space (A2), and the bottom part (130). The mouth part (110) has a first gate mark (118) that is formed in the first resin layer (911) of the mouth part (110). The bottom part (130) has a second gate mark (918) that is formed in the second resin layer (912) of the bottom part (130).

Description

Container, liquid holder, container part manufacturing method, container manufacturing method, and liquid holder manufacturing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a container, a liquid holder, a method for manufacturing a container part, a method for manufacturing a container, and a method for manufacturing a liquid holder.

[0002] Injection molding is known as a method for molding a molded product having a mouth and a body. Patent Document 1 discloses an injection-molded product in which a gate mark is formed on the end face of the mouth and a recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth, recessing from the outer peripheral surface toward the inner peripheral surface, and the gate mark and the recess are opposite each other in the height direction.

[0003] Patent Document 2 also discloses a method of injection-molding a preform and then stretch-blow-molding the preform. Patent Document 2 discloses a molding die having a cavity shaped to correspond to the preform, with the molding die having a ring-shaped upper gate connected to a position corresponding to the side wall of the mouth and a lower gate connected to a position corresponding to the bottom. Patent Document 2 also discloses that a polyester resin and a barrier resin are injected into the cavity through the lower gate, and a heat-resistant resin is injected into the cavity through the ring-shaped upper gate. The preform disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a mouth portion composed of a heat-resistant resin layer and a polyester resin layer, and a body portion composed of a polyester resin layer and a barrier resin layer.

[0004] JP 2022-11654 A JP 4-49010 A

[0005] However, when the molded article is removed from the mold, the molded article may be deformed due to after-shrinkage. In particular, the mouth of the molded article requires high dimensional accuracy in the diameter direction of the mouth, and it is desirable that the amount of deformation of the mouth due to after-shrinkage be small.

[0006] A first aspect of the present disclosure is a container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, and a second part coupled to the mouth, wherein the first part comprises a first resin layer and a second resin layer bonded to each other, the mouth comprising the first resin layer, the body comprising the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the bottom comprising the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the second part being in contact with the first resin layer of the mouth, the first resin layer of the body and the second resin layer of the body overlapping each other in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space, and the bottom, the mouth having a first gate mark formed in the first resin layer of the mouth, and the bottom having a second gate mark formed in the second resin layer of the bottom.

[0007] A second aspect of the present disclosure is a method for manufacturing a container part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space that communicates with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, the method comprising: injecting a first resin material into the mouth cavity of a first molding die having a mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth from a first gate connected to a position corresponding to a side wall of the mouth, causing the first resin material to flow circumferentially around the mouth cavity and filling the mouth cavity with the first resin material; injecting a second resin material into the second bottom cavity of a second molding die having a second bottom cavity corresponding to the bottom and a second body cavity corresponding to the body from a second gate connected to the second bottom cavity, filling the second bottom cavity with the second resin material, and then filling the second body cavity with the second resin material.

[0008] The present invention provides an advantageous technique for improving the dimensional accuracy of the nozzle in the diametric direction. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0009] 1 is a perspective view of an ink bottle according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an ink bottle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container part according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a container part according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a preform according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a container part according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing an ink bottle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing an ink bottle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an ink bottle according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a container part according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a container part according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a preform according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a preform according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of a method for manufacturing a preform according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing method for an ink bottle according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing method for an ink bottle according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a container part according to Example 1. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a container part according to Example 1. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a container part according to Example 2. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a container part according to Example 2.FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preform according to Example 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container part according to Example 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container part according to Example 3. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preform according to Example 4. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container part according to Example 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the container part according to Example 4. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing process of a molded product of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing process of a molded product of Comparative Example 2. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing process of a molded product of Comparative Example 3.

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples, and those skilled in the art can appropriately modify and implement the detailed configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0011] In the drawings referred to in the following description of the embodiments, elements denoted by the same reference numerals have the same functions unless otherwise specified. When a plurality of identical elements are arranged in a drawing, the assignment of the reference numerals and their explanation may be omitted. Furthermore, since the drawings may be represented schematically for the convenience of illustration and explanation, the shape, size, arrangement, etc. of elements depicted in the drawings may not strictly correspond to elements depicted in other drawings or to actual objects.

[0012] In the following embodiments, directions are indicated by an XYZ coordinate system, which is a Cartesian coordinate system. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are perpendicular to one another. The direction of the X-axis is also referred to as the X-direction, the direction of the Y-axis as the Y-direction, and the direction of the Z-axis as the Z-direction. For example, a plane including the X-axis and Y-axis is referred to as the XY plane.

[0013] The containers described below may be containers capable of holding liquids or solids such as ink, food and drink, cosmetics, detergents, medicines, toner, etc. Below, an ink bottle containing ink inside the container will be described as an example of a liquid holder.

[0014] [First Embodiment] Figure 1A is a perspective view of an ink bottle 1000 according to the first embodiment, and Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 1000 according to the first embodiment. The central axis C1 of the ink bottle 1000 shown in Figure 1B is a straight line parallel to the Z axis. Figure 1B shows a cross section of the ink bottle 1000 taken along a plane parallel to the XZ plane and including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0015] The ink bottle 1000 includes a container 100 and ink IK contained inside the container 100. The ink IK is an example of a liquid. The ink IK is ink for use in an inkjet printer (not shown).

[0016] The container 100 has a container part 101, a cap 102, and a lid 103. The container part 101 is an example of a first part. The cap 102 is an example of a second part. The lid 103 is an example of a third part. The container part 101, the cap 102, and the lid 103 are resin parts containing resin as a main component. The outer shape of the container 100 is approximately rotationally symmetrical about the central axis C1.

[0017] Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the container part 101 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the container part 101 according to the first embodiment. The central axis C1 shown in Fig. 2B is also the central axis of the container part 101. Fig. 2B shows a cross-section of the container part 101 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0018] The container part 101 is a container body. The container part 101 has a mouth part 110, a body part 120, and a bottom part 130, and ink IK shown in Fig. 1B is contained in a space surrounded by the mouth part 110, the body part 120, and the bottom part 130. The diameter direction R1 of the mouth part 110 is a direction perpendicular to the central axis C1 and also a thickness direction of each part of the container part 101.

[0019] The mouth portion 110 is a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding the opening space A1. The body portion 120 is a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding the inner space A2. The inner space A2 is connected to the outer space A3 via the opening space A1. The central axis C1 is an imaginary line passing through the opening space A1, the inner space A2, and the bottom portion 130. The bottom portion 130 is a substantially disk-shaped portion facing the opening space A1 via the inner space A2. The mouth portion 110, the body portion 120, and the bottom portion 130 are integrally formed. In the first embodiment, the mouth portion 110, the body portion 120, and the bottom portion 130 are formed of the same resin material. That is, the container part 101 is composed of at least one continuous resin layer. Note that a film or label may be disposed on the outside of the container part 101.

[0020] The resin material of the container part 101 is preferably a resin material containing an oriented component (oriented component). The oriented component may be a crystalline resin and / or a filler. Examples of the crystalline resin include polyolefins such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), and polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Examples of the filler include glass and carbon fiber.

[0021] The tip end of the mouth 110 in the positive direction of the Z axis is the open end of the container part 101, and the body 120 is disposed at the rear end side of the mouth 110 in the positive direction of the Z axis. The bottom 130 is disposed at the rear end side of the body 120 in the positive direction of the Z axis.

[0022] When the ink bottle 1000 is placed on a horizontal surface so that the bottom 130 is in contact with the horizontal surface, the ink IK inside the container 100 is located at least in the inner space A2.

[0023] The cap 102 is in contact with the mouth 110, and the cap 102 and the mouth 110 are joined at the contact portion between the cap 102 and the mouth 110. The cap 102 has a hole 121 that connects the open space A1 and the outer space A3. The hole 121 is a through-hole. The lid 103 is detachably attached to the cap 102 so as to cover the hole 121 of the cap 102.

[0024] The mouth portion 110 has an inner wall 111, an outer wall 112, and an end face 113. The inner wall 111 is an inner wall surface (inner peripheral surface) facing the open space A1. The outer wall 112 is a wall surface opposite the inner wall 111 and is an outer wall surface (outer peripheral surface) facing the outer space A3 via the cap 102. The end face 113 is an end face between the inner wall 111 and the outer wall 112 and faces in the positive direction of the Z axis. The mouth portion 110 is configured so that the container part 101 opens toward the outer space A3 on the side of the end face 113.

[0025] The mouth portion 110 has a rib 114, an engagement portion 115 located closer to the open end of the container part 101 than the rib 114 in the Z direction, and a portion 116 located closer to the open end of the container part 101 than the engagement portion 115. The rib 114, the engagement portion 115, and the portion 116 are generally cylindrical portions. The portion 116 includes the end face 113. The engagement portion 115 is a portion between the rib 114 and the portion 116, and has a larger outer diameter (external dimension) than the portion 116 and a smaller outer diameter (external dimension) than the rib 114. The engagement portion 115 is a portion with which the cap 102 engages. The rib 114 has a larger outer diameter (external dimension) than the engagement portion 115.

[0026] The cap 102 may be configured to screw onto the engaging portion 115 of the mouth 110 so that it is easy to remove the cap 102 from the mouth 110 of the container part 101, but in the first embodiment, the contact portion between the cap 102 and the mouth 110 is fixed by welding so that the cap 102 cannot be easily removed from the mouth 110.

[0027] The engaging portion 115 includes a contact surface 117 that contacts the cap 102. The contact surface 117 is a cylindrical surface that is an outer peripheral surface of the engaging portion 115 that is included in the outer wall 112. In the first embodiment, the cap 102 is welded to the contact surface 117 of the engaging portion 115.

[0028] Examples of resin materials used for the cap 102 and the lid 103 include resins such as polyolefin and polyester, and resins containing fillers such as glass and carbon fiber.

[0029] The cap 102 has a threaded portion 122. In the ink bottle 1000, the lid 103 is threaded onto the threaded portion 122 of the cap 102 so as to be detachable from the cap 102.

[0030] The lid 103 is removed from the cap 102, and the hole 121 of the cap 102 is connected to a continuous ink supply device of a printer (not shown) with the hole 121 of the cap 102 facing the direction of gravity. This releases a sealing mechanism (not shown) having a spring provided in the cap 102, and the ink IK in the container 100 is replenished to the continuous ink supply device of the printer. After replenishment of the ink IK is complete, the container 100, now empty of ink IK, is removed from the continuous ink supply device of the printer. The lid 103 is then reattached to the cap 102, and the container 100, now empty of ink IK, is collected for recycling.

[0031] At least one of the side walls 111, 112 of the mouth portion 110, i.e., the outer wall 112 in the first embodiment, has a gate mark 118 formed during molding of the resin layer. The gate mark 118 is a mark left by a gate used during molding of the resin layer. The gate mark 118 is an example of a first gate mark. Specifically, the gate mark 118 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114. The width of the gate mark 118 in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110 is smaller than the outer peripheral length of the mouth portion 110. The gate mark 118 is a discontinuous gate mark in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110. In other words, the gate mark 118 is not a ring-shaped gate mark that is continuous in the circumferential direction D1. If the gate mark 118 were continuous in the circumferential direction D1, the width of the gate mark 118 in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110 would be equal to the outer peripheral length of the mouth portion 110. The circumferential direction D1 is also a circumferential direction about the central axis C1.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the container part 101 is manufactured by injection molding and stretch blow molding. Specifically, a preform is formed by injection molding, and the preform is stretch blow molded to form the container part 101. The mouth portion 110 is a portion that is not stretched by stretch blow molding.

[0033] Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a preform 1010 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the preform 1010 according to the first embodiment. A central axis C1 shown in Fig. 3B is a straight line parallel to the Z axis and is also the central axis of the preform 1010. Fig. 3B shows a cross section of the preform 1010 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0034] The preform 1010 has a generally test-tube shape that opens in the positive direction of the Z axis, and has a mouth portion 110, a body portion 1200, and a bottom portion 1300. The mouth portion 110 of the preform 1010 is a portion that is not stretched by stretch blow molding, and therefore has the same configuration as the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101.

[0035] The mouth portion 110 is a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding the opening space A1. The body portion 1200 is a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding the inner space A20. The inner space A20 is connected to the outer space A3 via the opening space A1. The central axis C1 is a virtual straight line passing through the opening space A1, the inner space A20, and the bottom portion 1300. The bottom portion 1300 is a substantially disk-shaped portion facing the opening space A1 via the inner space A20. The mouth portion 110, body portion 1200, and bottom portion 1300 are integrally formed. In the first embodiment, the mouth portion 110, body portion 1200, and bottom portion 1300 are formed from the same resin material. That is, the preform 1010 is composed of a single continuous resin layer, and the mouth portion 110, body portion 1200, and bottom portion 1300 include a continuous resin layer. The resin material of the preform 1010 is the same as the resin material of the container part 101. Both the preform 1010 and the container part 101 are resin molded articles for containers. Note that the preform 1010 itself can also be used as the container part 101 without being stretch-blow molded.

[0036] The tip end of the mouth portion 110 in the positive direction of the Z axis is the open end of the preform 1010, and the body portion 1200 is disposed on the rear end side of the mouth portion 110 in the positive direction of the Z axis. The bottom portion 1300 is disposed on the rear end side of the body portion 1200 in the positive direction of the Z axis.

[0037] Here, we will explain three molded articles obtained by injection molding, Comparative Examples 1 to 3. FIG. 22A is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing process of the molded article of Comparative Example 1. Comparative Example 1 corresponds to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-11654. FIG. 22A schematically illustrates the internal space of a mold. As shown in FIG. 22A, molten resin flows into a mouth cavity 604 via a runner 601 and a pin gate 603 provided at a position corresponding to an end face 602 of the mouth, and then flows in a direction 606 from the mouth cavity 604 toward a body cavity 605. Because orientation components such as molecules and fillers are oriented in the direction 606 in the mouth cavity 604, the mouth of the molded article is prone to post-shrinkage in the diametric direction after the molded article is removed from the mold, and high dimensional accuracy in the diametric direction of the mouth may not be achieved.

[0038] FIG. 22B is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing process of a molded product of Comparative Example 2. Comparative Example 2 corresponds to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-49010. FIG. 22B is a schematic diagram of the internal space of a mold. As shown in FIG. 22B, molten resin flows into the mouth cavity through a ring-shaped gate 607 provided around the entire circumferential direction of the mouth cavity, and then flows in a direction 608 toward the end face of the mouth cavity and a direction 609 from the mouth cavity toward the body cavity. Because orientation components such as molecules and fillers are oriented in directions 608 and 609, similar to Comparative Example 1, after the molded product is removed from the mold, the mouth of the molded product is prone to post-shrinkage in the diametric direction, which may prevent high dimensional accuracy in the diametric direction of the mouth.

[0039] 22C is an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing process of the molded article of Comparative Example 3. FIG. 22C is a schematic diagram of the internal space of the mold. As shown in FIG. 22C, a gate 610 is connected to a bottom cavity 611. The molten resin flows into the bottom cavity 611 through the gate 610, and then flows through the body cavity 612 and the mouth cavity 613 in a direction 614 toward the end face of the mouth cavity 613. Because the orientation components of molecules, fillers, etc. are oriented in the direction 614, as in Comparative Example 1, after the molded article is removed from the mold, the mouth of the molded article is likely to shrink in the diametrical direction, and high dimensional accuracy in the diametrical direction of the mouth may not be achieved.

[0040] Although not shown, direct blow molding may also be used to manufacture container parts. In direct blow molding, a cylindrical molten resin is poured from the top to the bottom of a mold, and air is blown into the cylindrical molten resin to expand it and press it against the inner surface of the mold, resulting in a molded product. In this direct blow molding method, the molten resin is solidified by cooling it while applying a low pressure of about 3.0 MPa, thereby forming a molded product. Therefore, high dimensional accuracy in the diameter direction of the opening may not be achieved.

[0041] If the dimensional accuracy in the diameter direction of the mouth is low, there is a risk that the contents, such as ink, will leak from the container, and such molded products are rejected as defective, so there is a demand for an improvement in the rate of non-defective products.

[0042] A manufacturing method for manufacturing the preform 1010 by injection molding will be described below. Figures 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B are explanatory views of the manufacturing method for the preform 1010 according to the first embodiment. Figures 4A, 4B, and 5B show cross sections of the mold 1004 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane. Figure 5A shows a cross section of the mold 1004 along a plane parallel to the XY plane to explain the flow of molten resin inside the mold 1004.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4A , a mold 1004 having a fixed-side mold 1001 and a movable-side mold 1003 is prepared. The mold 1004 is a molding die and is an example of a first molding die. The movable-side mold 1003 is moved by a clamping mechanism (not shown) so as to come into contact with the fixed-side mold 1001 and move away from the fixed-side mold 1001. The mold 1004 is clamped when the movable-side mold 1003 comes into contact with the fixed-side mold 1001, and the mold 1004 is opened when the movable-side mold 1003 moves away from the fixed-side mold 1001. Note that FIGS. 4A , 4B , 5A , and 5B show the mold 1004 in a clamped state.

[0044] In the first embodiment, the method for manufacturing the preform 1010 includes a mold clamping step, an injection step, a pressure holding step, a cooling step, a mold opening step, and a runner removal step.

[0045] In the mold clamping step, the mold 1004 is clamped. When the mold 1004 is clamped, a sprue 1006, a runner 1007, a gate 1008, and a cavity 1009 are defined inside the mold 1004. The cavity 1009 is a space for forming the preform 1010, and has the same shape as the preform 1010.

[0046] The sprue 1006 is defined in the fixed mold 1001, and a nozzle of an injection molding machine (not shown) is connected to the sprue 1006. The sprue 1006 communicates with a runner 1007, and the runner 1007 communicates with a cavity 1009 via a gate 1008. The runner 1007 is defined between the fixed mold 1001 and the movable mold 1003, and the gate 1008 is defined in the movable mold 1003. The gate 1008 is an example of a first gate.

[0047] The cavity 1009 includes a mouth cavity 1009a corresponding to the mouth 110 of the preform 1010, a body cavity 1009b corresponding to the body 1200 of the preform 1010, and a bottom cavity 1009c corresponding to the bottom 1300 of the preform 1010. The mouth cavity 1009a, the body cavity 1009b, and the bottom cavity 1009c are defined between the fixed mold 1001 and the movable mold 1003. The gate 1008 is connected to the mouth cavity 1009a at a position corresponding to the outer wall 112 of the mouth 110. The body cavity 1009b is an example of a first body cavity. The bottom cavity 1009c is an example of a first bottom cavity.

[0048] In an injection molding machine, a resin material, which is a molding material, is heated and melted. In the injection process, as shown in FIG. 4B , molten resin M1, which is the molten resin material, is injected from a nozzle of the injection molding machine into a sprue 1006. The molten resin M1 is an example of a first resin material. The molten resin M1 flows into a cavity 1009 via the sprue 1006, a runner 1007, and a gate 1008. As shown in FIG. 5A , the molten resin M1 flows in a circumferential direction D1 through a mouth cavity 1009a of the cavity 1009 and fills the mouth cavity 1009a.

[0049] That is, in the injection process, molten resin M1 is injected into the mouth cavity 1009a from the gate 1008, and the molten resin M1 flows in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth cavity 1009a to fill the mouth cavity 1009a with the molten resin M1.

[0050] The molten resin M1 contains an oriented component (orientation component) that is a crystalline resin and / or a filler. In the crystalline resin, the molecules contained in the crystalline resin have orientation. In the mouth cavity 1009a, the molten resin M1 is caused to flow in the circumferential direction D1 so that the orientation component is oriented in the circumferential direction D1.

[0051] The molten resin M1 is filled into the mouth cavity 1009a and then into the body cavity 1009b. At this time, the molten resin M1 is caused to flow in the negative direction of the Z axis toward the bottom cavity 1009c in the mouth cavity 1009a so that the orientation component is oriented in the Z direction parallel to the central axis C1. As shown in FIG. 5B , the molten resin M1 is filled into the body cavity 1009b and then into the bottom cavity 1009c.

[0052] After filling the cavity 1009 with the molten resin M1, pressure is applied to the molten resin M1 filled in the cavity 1009 in a pressure holding process. Then, in a cooling process, the molten resin M1 is cooled and solidified. In a mold opening process, the mold 1004 is opened, and the preform 1010 with the runner resin bonded thereto is released from the mold 1004. Then, in a runner removal process, the runner resin is removed from the preform 1010, thereby obtaining the preform 1010 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B . The above-described injection molding method results in the preform 1010 being an injection-molded product in which the mouth portion 110, the body portion 1200, and the bottom portion 1300 are all made of the same resin material. A gate mark 118 is formed on the outer wall 112 of the mouth portion 110 by removing the runner resin.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preform 1010 according to the first embodiment. The mouth portion 110 contains an orientation component B1 oriented in the circumferential direction D1. The orientation component B1 is an example of a first component. The body portion 1200 contains an orientation component B2 oriented in the Z direction parallel to the central axis C1. The orientation component B2 is a second component. The orientation components B1 and B2 are made of the same material. The orientation components B1 and B2 are crystalline resins and / or fillers, similar to the orientation components contained in the molten resin M1. Because the orientation component B1 of the mouth portion 110 is oriented in the circumferential direction D1, post-shrinkage of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is suppressed, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1. The orientation of the orientation components B1 and B2 can be measured, for example, using a molecular orientation analyzer such as X-ray diffraction.

[0054] In this way, high dimensional accuracy can be obtained in the diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 1010, so the number of defective products is reduced and the yield rate of the manufactured preforms 1010 is improved.

[0055] 3B , in a diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 perpendicular to the central axis C1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 1010 is preferably greater than the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200. In other words, the thickness of the mouth cavity 1009a is preferably greater than the thickness of the body cavity 1009b. The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 may be the thickness of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110.

[0056] Because the thickness T1 is greater than the thickness T20, the conductance of the mouth cavity 1009a is greater than the conductance of the body cavity 1009b, making it easier for the molten resin M1 to flow through the mouth cavity 1009a. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4B, 5A, and 5B, the molten resin M1 can be filled into the mouth cavity 1009a in the circumferential direction D1 and then flow into the body cavity 1009b. Therefore, the orientation component B1 of the mouth portion 110 is oriented in the circumferential direction D1. Because the orientation component B1 in the mouth portion 110 is oriented in the circumferential direction D1, post-shrinkage of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is suppressed, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1.

[0057] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of moldability of the preform 1010, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is, for example, 1.10 times or more, preferably 1.25 times or more, more preferably 1.50 times or more, and even preferably 2.00 times or more, of the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 30 times or less, preferably 20 times or less, more preferably 10 times or less, and may be 5.00 times or less of the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200. In addition, in the diameter direction R1, it is preferable that the inner dimension S11 of the mouth portion 110 is less than the inner dimension S21 of the body portion 1200, and in the example of FIG. 3B, the inner dimension S11 is the same as the inner dimension S21.

[0058] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the moldability of the preform 1010, the length in the Z direction of the preform 1010 is preferably 30 mm or more and 180 mm or less. From the viewpoint of the moldability of the preform 1010, the outer dimension in the diameter direction R1 of the body portion 1200 of the preform 1010 is preferably 10 mm or more and 50 mm or less.

[0059] In addition, other methods may be used to encourage the molten resin M1 to first fill the mouth cavity 1009a along the circumferential direction D1 and then flow into the body cavity 1009b, in addition to the method described above.

[0060] For example, a method may be used in which the shape between the mouth cavity 1009a and the body cavity 1009b is locally narrowed to suppress the inflow of the molten resin M1 into the body cavity 1009b.

[0061] For example, while the mouth cavity 1009a is being filled with molten resin M1, a mold piece may be used to physically block the gap between the mouth cavity 1009a and the body cavity 1009b, thereby preventing the molten resin M1 from flowing into the body cavity 1009b, and after the mouth cavity 1009a is filled with the molten resin M1, the mold piece may be moved to allow the molten resin M1 to flow into the body cavity 1009b.

[0062] As described above, the outer wall 112 of the mouth portion 110 has a gate mark 118 corresponding to the gate 1008. The gate mark 118 is preferably located on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114 of the mouth portion 110, but may be located at a location on the outer wall 112 other than the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114. In terms of the structure of the mold 1004, the gate mark 118 is preferably located on the outer wall 112, but may be located on the inner wall 111 of the two side walls 111, 112.

[0063] From the viewpoint of orienting the orientation component B1 in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth portion 110, it is preferable that the gate 1008 is discontinuously connected in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth cavity 1009a. That is, it is preferable that the gate 1008 is not a ring-shaped gate that is continuous in the circumferential direction D1. For example, it is preferable that the gate 1008 is any one of a pin gate, a side gate, a tab gate, a submarine gate, and a direct gate. In the preform 1010, it is preferable that the gate mark 118 formed in the mouth portion 110 is discontinuous in the circumferential direction D1, that is, not continuous in a ring shape.

[0064] Furthermore, the number of gates 1008 is preferably one from the viewpoint of orienting the orientation component B1 in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth portion 110, but may be two or more. If the number of gates 1008 is two or more, it is preferable that the number be four or less. That is, multiple gate marks 118 may be arranged at intervals from each other in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth portion 110.

[0065] Next, a method for producing the container part 101 by stretch blow molding a preform 1010 formed by injection molding will be described. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of stretch blow molding according to the first embodiment.

[0066] The preform 1010 has a non-blow section 1010-1 and a blow section 1010-2. The non-blow section 1010-1 is a section whose shape does not change substantially before and after blow molding, and corresponds to the mouth section 110. The blow section 1010-2 is formed into a container shape during blow molding, and corresponds to the body section 1200 and bottom section 1300 whose shape changes before and after blow molding.

[0067] The non-blown portion 1010-1 of the preform 1010 is molded into the container part 101 without substantially changing its shape, and the blown portion 1010-2 of the preform 1010 is molded into the container part 101 with its shape changed. Therefore, the orientation component B1 of the mouth portion 110 is determined by the flow direction of the molten resin M1 during preform molding. Note that the orientation component B2 of the body portion 1200 during preform molding flows from the vicinity of the mouth portion 110 toward the vicinity of the bottom portion 1300, and is therefore oriented in the direction of the central axis C1.

[0068] The preform 1010 is set on a carrier 1 in a stretch blow apparatus. The preform 1010 set on the carrier 1 is moved to a heating zone 10. The preform 1010 is rotated around a central axis C1 on the carrier 1 while being moved in the heating zone 10, thereby applying heat uniformly to the preform 1010.

[0069] In the heating zone 10, a plurality of heaters 2 are arranged at a predetermined pitch at positions away from the preform 1010. The blow section 1010-2, which is the section of the preform 1010 to be stretched, is heated from the outside by the heater 2. The output of the heater 2 is adjusted so that the blow section 1010-2 reaches a temperature at which it can be stretched, and the heater 2 heats the blow section 1010-2 for several tens of seconds. When heating the blow section 1010-2, a blower 3 is used to blow air onto the surface of the preform 1010 so that heat is transmitted evenly to the inside of the preform 1010.

[0070] The temperature of the preform 1010 immediately after heating, i.e., the temperature of the outer layer of the preform 1010 immediately before blow molding, is measured using a non-contact temperature sensor 4. The heated preform 1010 is moved to the mouth of a blow mold 5, inside which a cavity is formed by combining a left mold 5-1 and a right mold 5-2. It is preferable to place the preform 1010 in the mouth of the blow mold 5 in a short time (for example, within 10 seconds) so that the temperature of the heated preform 1010 does not drop before the stretching process begins.

[0071] The preform 1010 placed in the blow mold 5 is stretched in the longitudinal direction using the stretch rod 6. This is called the primary stretching. In the primary stretching, it is preferable to inject gas so that the preform 1010 does not come into contact with the stretch rod 6, and the pressure of the gas at this time is called the primary blow pressure.

[0072] After the primary stretching, gas is introduced into the opening 110 of the preform 1010 to expand the preform laterally (diametrically outward). This is called secondary stretching. The gas pressure at this time is called secondary blow pressure. Examples of gases that can be blown include air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon.

[0073] By performing the primary and secondary stretching, the preform 1010 expands in each direction indicated by the arrows 8, adheres to the inner wall of the blow mold 5, and solidifies by cooling in that state. Next, the left mold 5-1 and the right mold 5-2 of the blow mold 5 are separated, and the blow-molded article 9 is removed from the blow mold 5. Through the above steps, a container part 101, which is a blow-molded article, is produced.

[0074] Figure 8 is an oblique view of the container part 101 according to the first embodiment. The mouth portion 110 contains an orientation component B1 oriented in the circumferential direction D1. The orientation component B1 is an example of a first component. The body portion 120 contains an orientation component B2 oriented in the direction of the Z axis parallel to the central axis C1. The orientation component B2 is a second component. The orientation components B1 and B2 are made of the same material. The orientation components B1 and B2 are crystalline resins and / or fillers, similar to the orientation components contained in the molten resin M1. The orientation of the orientation components B1 and B2 can be measured, for example, by a molecular orientation meter such as X-ray diffraction.

[0075] In this way, even in stretch blow molding, thermal shrinkage of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101 is suppressed. As with the mouth portion 110 of the preform 1010, high dimensional accuracy can be obtained in the diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101, so the number of defective products is reduced and the yield rate of the container part 101 is improved.

[0076] The container part 101 may also be manufactured by a one-stage method in which, after injection molding the preform 1010, it is immediately kept at or heated to the blow molding temperature and then blow molded to obtain the container part 101. The one-stage method is an apparatus in which an injection molding apparatus and a blow molding apparatus are integrated.

[0077] 2B , from the viewpoint of blow molding, the shape of the container part 101 is preferably cylindrical. In terms of the size that can be stretched from the preform 1010, the height of the container part 101 in the Z direction is preferably 40 mm or more and 200 mm or less. In addition, from the viewpoint of blow molding, the outer diameter of the body portion 120 of the container part 101 is preferably 10 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0078] In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T2 of the body portion 120 of the container part 101 is determined based on the size of the preform 1010 and the size of the container part 101 after blow molding. The thickness T2 of the body portion 120 is preferably 0.01 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

[0079] Furthermore, it is preferable that the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101 is greater than the thickness T2 of the body portion 120 in the diameter direction R1. The thickness T2 of the body portion 120 is smaller than the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200 of the preform 1010 shown in FIG. 3B . The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101 is the thickness of the continuous resin layer included in the mouth portion 110 and the body portion 120 at the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1. The thickness T2 of the body portion 120 of the container part 101 is the thickness of the continuous resin layer included in the mouth portion 110 and the body portion 120 at the body portion 120 in the diameter direction R1. The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 may be the thickness of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110.

[0080] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of moldability in stretch blow molding, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is, for example, 1.25 times or more, preferably 1.50 times or more, more preferably 2.00 times or more, and even preferably 3.00 times or more, the thickness T2 of the body portion 120. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 30 times or less, preferably 20 times or less, more preferably 10 times or less, and may be 5.00 times or less, the thickness T2 of the body portion 120.

[0081] As a result of blow molding, the inner dimension S2 of the body portion 120 of the container part 101 in the diameter direction R1 is equal to or greater than the outer dimension S1 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101. The outer dimension S1 of the mouth portion 110 is the outer dimension of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110. Furthermore, the inner dimension S11 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is equal to or smaller than the inner dimension S2 of the body portion 120.

[0082] Next, a method for manufacturing the ink bottle 1000 having the blow-molded container part 101 will be described. Figures 9A to 9D are explanatory diagrams of the method for manufacturing the ink bottle 1000 according to the first embodiment.

[0083] Fig. 9A shows the container part 101 after stretch blow molding. A nozzle of an ink injector (not shown) is inserted into the container part 101 through the opening 110 of the container part 101, and as shown in Fig. 9B, ink IK is injected into the container part 101 through the nozzle of the ink injector. The ink IK fills at least a portion of the inner space A2, and in the example of Fig. 9B, the entire inner space A2. Note that the ink IK may also fill a portion of the opening space A1.

[0084] In the first embodiment, the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101 are welded together by spin welding. With the container part 101 containing the ink IK fixed, as shown in Fig. 9C , the cap 102 with the lid 103 engaged is rotated about the central axis C1 and moved in the negative direction of the Z axis toward the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101. As the cap 102 rotates while in contact with the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101, frictional heat is generated between the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110, and the entire circumference of the contact surface 117 of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110 is welded to the cap 102, resulting in the ink bottle 1000 shown in Fig. 9D .

[0085] The method for welding the cap 102 to the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101 is not limited to spin welding, and other welding methods may be used as long as the engaging portion 115 of the mouth portion 110 is welded to the cap 102 over the entire circumference. For example, the welding method may be ultrasonic welding using a tool horn.

[0086] In addition, the example described above is one in which the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 are welded together while the lid 103 is engaged with the cap 102, but this is not limited to this, and the lid 103 may be attached to the cap 102 after the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 are welded together.

[0087] Here, if the gate mark 118 of the container part 101 interferes with the cap 102 when welding the cap 102 to the mouth part 110, there is a risk of poor welding. Therefore, it is preferable to have a clearance between the gate mark 118 of the container part 101 and the cap 102. For this reason, the gate mark 118 is located at a position other than the contact surface 117, and in the first embodiment, on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114. This ensures good bonding between the cap 102 and the mouth part 110. Even when the cap 102 and the mouth part 110 are bonded together, the gate mark 118 remains on the mouth part 110 of the container part 101. In the ink bottle 1000, the gate mark 118 is covered by the cap 102.

[0088] The above describes the case where the container part 101 is a blow-molded product, but this is not limited to this, and the container part 101 may also be an injection-molded product formed in the same manner as the preform 1010.

[0089] [Second embodiment] A second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, elements with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment will be considered to have substantially the same configurations and functions as those described in the first embodiment unless otherwise specified, and differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0090] Figure 10A is a perspective view of an ink bottle 9000 according to the second embodiment, and Figure 10B is a cross-sectional view of the ink bottle 9000 according to the second embodiment. The central axis C1 of the ink bottle 9000 shown in Figure 10B is a straight line parallel to the Z-axis. Figure 10B shows a cross-section of the ink bottle 9000 taken along a plane parallel to the XZ plane and including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y-axis.

[0091] The ink bottle 9000 includes a container 900 and ink IK contained inside the container 900. The ink IK is an example of a liquid. The ink IK is ink for use in an inkjet printer (not shown).

[0092] The container 900 has a container part 901, a cap 102, and a lid 103. The container part 901 is an example of a first part. The cap 102 is an example of a second part. The lid 103 is an example of a third part. The container part 901, the cap 102, and the lid 103 are resin parts containing resin as a main component. The outer shape of the container 900 is approximately rotationally symmetrical about the central axis C1.

[0093] In the second embodiment, the configuration of a container part 901 is different from the configuration of the container part 101 in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the case where the container part 101 is configured as a single resin layer made of one material has been described. In the second embodiment, the container part 901 is configured as two or more resin layers bonded to each other. Hereinafter, the case where the container part 901 is configured as two resin layers bonded to each other will be described.

[0094] Fig. 11A is a perspective view of a container part 901 according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the container part 901 according to the second embodiment. The central axis C1 shown in Fig. 11B is also the central axis of the container part 901. Fig. 11B shows a cross-section of the container part 901 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0095] The container part 901 is a container body. The container part 901 has a mouth portion 110, a body portion 120, and a bottom portion 130, and ink IK shown in Fig. 10B is contained in a space surrounded by the mouth portion 110, the body portion 120, and the bottom portion 130. The diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 is a direction perpendicular to the central axis C1 and also the thickness direction of each portion of the container part 901.

[0096] The mouth portion 110 is a portion that surrounds the opening space A1. The body portion 120 is a portion that surrounds the inner space A2. The inner space A2 communicates with the outer space A3 via the opening space A1. The bottom portion 130 is a portion that faces the opening space A1 via the inner space A2. The mouth portion 110, body portion 120, and bottom portion 130 are integrally formed.

[0097] In the second embodiment, the container part 901 is composed of two resin layers 911 and 912 bonded to each other. The resin layer 911 is an example of a first resin layer, and the resin layer 912 is an example of a second resin layer. The mouth portion 110 includes the resin layer 911. The body portion 120 includes the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912. The bottom portion 130 includes the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912. A film or a label may be disposed on the outside of the container part 901.

[0098] The resin layer 911 of the body portion 120 and the resin layer 912 of the body portion 120 overlap each other in the diameter direction R1. The resin layer 911 of the body portion 120 is located between the inner space A2 and the resin layer 912 of the body portion 120. The resin layer 911 of the bottom portion 130 is located between the inner space A2 and the resin layer 912 of the bottom portion 130.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 10B, a resin layer 911 is located between at least a portion of the cap 102 and the open space A1 in the diameter direction R1.

[0100] In the second embodiment, the entire mouth portion 110 is made of the resin layer 911. The body portion 120 has a two-layer structure of a resin layer 911 and a resin layer 912, with the resin layer 911 being the inner layer and the resin layer 912 being the outer layer. The bottom portion 130 has a two-layer structure of a resin layer 911 and a resin layer 912, with the resin layer 911 being the inner layer and the resin layer 912 being the outer layer.

[0101] The resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may have the same composition but may be manufactured in different processes, but in the second embodiment, the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 have different compositions. For example, the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 have different average molecular weights.

[0102] The resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 contain a common resin component. The common resin component is preferably polyolefin or polyester. The polyolefin is, for example, polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). The polyester is, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0103] In the second embodiment, the resin material of the resin layer 911 is a virgin material, and the resin material of the resin layer 912 is a recycled material. The recycled material contains more impurities than the virgin material. That is, the recycled material contains a wider variety of components than the virgin material.

[0104] The resin material of the resin layer 911 is the same as the resin material of the container part 101 of the first embodiment, and contains an orientable component (orientation component).

[0105] When the ink bottle 9000 is placed on a horizontal surface so that the bottom 130 is in contact with the horizontal surface, the ink IK inside the container 900 is located at least in the inner space A2. The cap 102 is in contact with the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110, and the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 are joined at the contact portion between the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110. The cap 102 has a hole 121 that connects the open space A1 and the outer space A3. The hole 121 is a through hole. The lid 103 is removably attached to the cap 102 so as to cover the hole 121 in the cap 102.

[0106] The contact portion between the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 is fixed by welding so that the cap 102 cannot be easily removed from the mouth portion 110. In the second embodiment, the cap 102 is welded to the contact surface 117 of the engagement portion 115. The lid 103 is threaded onto the threaded portion 122 of the cap 102 so as to be removable from the cap 102.

[0107] The ink IK in the ink bottle 9000 is supplied to a continuous ink supply device of a printer (not shown), and the container 900 empty of the ink IK is collected for recycling.

[0108] At least one of the side walls 111, 112 of the mouth portion 110, i.e., the outer wall 112 in the second embodiment, has a gate mark 118. The gate mark 118 is an example of a first gate mark. Specifically, the gate mark 118 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114 of the mouth portion 110. In other words, the gate mark 118 is formed in the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110. The width of the gate mark 118 in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110 is smaller than the outer peripheral length of the mouth portion 110. The gate mark 118 is a discontinuous gate mark in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110. In other words, the gate mark 118 is not a ring-shaped gate mark that is continuous in the circumferential direction D1. Note that if the gate mark 118 were continuous in the circumferential direction D1, the width of the gate mark 118 in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110 would be equal to the outer peripheral length of the mouth portion 110.

[0109] The bottom portion 130 also has a gate mark 918 formed in the resin layer 912 of the bottom portion 130. The gate mark 918 is an example of a second gate mark.

[0110] In the second embodiment, the container part 901 is manufactured by injection molding and stretch blow molding. Specifically, a preform is formed by injection molding, and the preform is stretch blow molded to form the container part 901. Note that the mouth portion 110 is a portion that is not stretched by stretch blow molding.

[0111] Fig. 12A is a perspective view of a preform 9010 according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the preform 9010 according to the second embodiment. The central axis C1 shown in Fig. 12B is a straight line parallel to the Z axis and is also the central axis of the preform 9010. Fig. 12B shows a cross section of the preform 9010 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0112] The preform 9010 has a generally test-tube shape that opens in the positive direction of the Z axis, and has a mouth portion 110, a body portion 1200, and a bottom portion 1300. The mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010 is a portion that is not stretched by stretch blow molding, and therefore has the same configuration as the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901.

[0113] The mouth portion 110 is a portion that surrounds the opening space A1. The body portion 1200 is a portion that surrounds the inner space A20. The inner space A20 communicates with the outer space A3 via the opening space A1. The bottom portion 1300 is a portion that faces the opening space A1 via the inner space A20. The mouth portion 110, body portion 1200, and bottom portion 1300 are integrally formed.

[0114] In the second embodiment, the preform 9010 is composed of two resin layers 911 and 912 bonded to each other. The mouth portion 110 includes the resin layer 911. The body portion 1200 includes the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912. The bottom portion 1300 includes the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912.

[0115] The resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200 and the resin layer 912 of the body portion 1200 overlap each other in the diameter direction R1. The resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200 is located between the inner space A20 and the resin layer 912 of the body portion 1200. The resin layer 911 of the bottom portion 1300 is located between the inner space A20 and the resin layer 912 of the bottom portion 1300.

[0116] In the second embodiment, the entire mouth portion 110 is the resin layer 911. The body portion 1200 has a two-layer structure of a resin layer 911 and a resin layer 912, with the resin layer 911 as the inner layer and the resin layer 912 as the outer layer. The bottom portion 1300 has a two-layer structure of a resin layer 911 and a resin layer 912, with the resin layer 911 as the inner layer and the resin layer 912 as the outer layer. The resin layers 911 and 912 are generally test-tube shaped.

[0117] In the preform 9010, the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 are preferably bonded to each other, but may be in a state in which they can be peeled from each other. For example, the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may be bonded to each other using compatible materials, or may be bonded with an adhesive. Alternatively, the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may not be bonded to each other, and may be naturally peeled from each other by, for example, deformation of the resin layer 911.

[0118] The mouth portion 110, which requires high precision in the diameter direction R1, is preferably composed of a resin layer 911, but may also include a resin layer 912. The layer structure of the mouth portion 110 may be determined from the standpoint of mold configuration, moldability, etc.

[0119] Like the container part 901 , the preform 9010 also has a gate mark 118 formed in the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 and a gate mark 918 formed in the resin layer 912 of the bottom portion 1300 .

[0120] A manufacturing method for manufacturing the preform 9010 by injection molding will be described below. Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing method for the preform 9010 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 13 shows a cross section of the mold unit 1100 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane. In the second embodiment, the preform 9010 is manufactured by two-color molding.

[0121] The mold unit 1100 has a mold 1101 which is an example of a first molding mold, and a mold 1102 which is an example of a second molding mold. The mold 1101 is a primary molding mold used to form the resin layer 911 of the preform 9010. The mold 1102 is a secondary molding mold used to form the resin layer 912 of the preform 9010. The molds 1101 and 1102 are set in an injection molding system which includes a first injection molding machine (not shown), a second injection molding machine (not shown), and a turntable 1105.

[0122] In the state shown in Figure 13, the mold 1101 has a fixed-side mold 1101a and a movable-side mold 1101b. The mold 1102 has a fixed-side mold 1102a and a movable-side mold 1102b. The movable-side mold 1101b and the movable-side mold 1102b have the same configuration. In the second embodiment, the movable-side mold 1101b and the movable-side mold 1102b are configured to be interchangeable with each other. Therefore, when the movable-side mold 1101b is included in the mold 1102, the movable-side mold 1102b is included in the mold 1101. The movable-side mold 1101b and the movable-side mold 1102b are each an example of a first mold member. The fixed-side mold 1101a is an example of a second mold member. The fixed-side mold 1102a is an example of a third mold member. An example of the state shown in Figure 13 will be described below.

[0123] The fixed molds 1101a and 1102a are fixed to a fixed platen (not shown) of the injection molding unit. The movable molds 1101b and 1102b are arranged on a movable platen (not shown) of the injection molding unit. The movable molds 1101b and 1102b are fixed to a turntable 1105 via the movable platen. The turntable 1105 rotates about a rotation axis C10 with the molds 1101 and 1102 open, thereby rotating the movable molds 1101b and 1102b about the rotation axis C10.

[0124] The injection molding system has a mold clamping mechanism (not shown) that moves the turntable 1105 along the rotation axis C10. The movable mold 1101b is moved by the mold clamping mechanism (not shown) so as to contact and separate from the fixed mold 1101a. The movable mold 1102b is also moved by the mold clamping mechanism (not shown) so as to contact and separate from the fixed mold 1102a. The mold 1101 is clamped when the movable mold 1101b comes into contact with the fixed mold 1101a, and the mold 1101 is opened when the movable mold 1101b moves away from the fixed mold 1101a. Similarly, the mold 1102 is clamped when the movable mold 1102b comes into contact with the fixed mold 1102a, and the mold 1102 is opened when the movable mold 1102b moves away from the fixed mold 1102a. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the molds 1101 and 1102 are clamped.

[0125] When the mold 1101 is clamped, a sprue, a runner, a gate 1118, and a cavity 1119 are defined inside the mold 1101. The gate 1118 is defined in the movable mold 1101b. The sprue inside the mold 1101 is defined in the fixed mold 1101a, and a nozzle of a first injection molding machine (not shown) is connected to the sprue.

[0126] Inside the mold 1101, the sprue communicates with a runner, and the runner communicates with a cavity 1119 via a gate 1118. The gate 1118 is an example of a first gate.

[0127] The cavity 1119 is a space for forming the resin layer 911 of the preform 9010 , and has the same shape as the shape of the resin layer 911 of the preform 9010 .

[0128] When the mold 1102 is clamped, a sprue, a runner, a gate 1128, and a cavity 1129 are defined inside the mold 1102. The gate 1128 is defined in the fixed mold 1102a. A sprue inside the mold 1102 is defined in the fixed mold 1102a, and a nozzle of a second injection molding machine (not shown) is connected to the sprue.

[0129] Inside the mold 1102, the sprue communicates with a runner, and the runner communicates with a cavity 1129 via a gate 1128. The gate 1128 is an example of a second gate.

[0130] The cavity 1129 is a space for forming a resin layer 912 on the resin layer 911 of the preform 9010, and has the same shape as the resin layer 912 of the preform 9010 when the resin layer 911 is placed in the mold 1102. The gate 1128 is an example of a second gate.

[0131] The cavity 1119 includes a mouth cavity 1119a corresponding to the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010, a body cavity 1119b corresponding to the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200 of the preform 9010, and a bottom cavity 1119c corresponding to the resin layer 911 of the bottom portion 1300 of the preform 9010. The mouth cavity 1119a, the body cavity 1119b, and the bottom cavity 1119c are defined between the fixed mold 1101a and the movable mold 1101b. The gate 1118 is connected to the mouth cavity 1119a at a position corresponding to the outer wall 112 of the mouth portion 110. The body cavity 1119b is an example of a first body cavity. The bottom cavity 1119c is an example of a first bottom cavity.

[0132] The cavity 1129 includes a body cavity 1129b corresponding to the resin layer 912 of the body 1200 of the preform 9010, and a bottom cavity 1129c corresponding to the resin layer 912 of the bottom 1300 of the preform 9010. The body cavity 1129b and the bottom cavity 1129c are defined between the fixed mold 1102a and the movable mold 1102b. The gate 1128 is connected to the bottom cavity 1129a at a position corresponding to the outer wall of the bottom 1300. The body cavity 1129b is an example of a second body cavity. The bottom cavity 1129c is an example of a second bottom cavity.

[0133] A resin material, which is a molding material, is heated and melted in a first injection molding machine (not shown). The molten resin M1, which is the molten resin material, is injected from the nozzle of the first injection molding machine into the sprue of the mold 1101. The molten resin M1 is an example of a first resin material. The molten resin M1 flows into the cavity 1119 via the sprue, runner, and gate 1118. The molten resin M1 flows in the circumferential direction D1 through the mouth cavity 1119a of the cavity 1119 and fills the mouth cavity 1119a.

[0134] That is, molten resin M1 is injected into the mouth cavity 1119a from the gate 1118, and the molten resin M1 flows in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth cavity 1119a, filling the mouth cavity 1119a with the molten resin M1.

[0135] The molten resin M1 contains an oriented component (orientation component) that is a crystalline resin and / or a filler. In the crystalline resin, the molecules contained in the crystalline resin have orientation. In the mouth cavity 1119a, the molten resin M1 is caused to flow in the circumferential direction D1 so that the orientation component is oriented in the circumferential direction D1.

[0136] The molten resin M1 is filled into the mouth cavity 1119a and then into the body cavity 1119b. At this time, the molten resin M1 is caused to flow in the negative direction of the Z axis toward the bottom cavity 1119c in the mouth cavity 1119a so that the orientation component is oriented in the Z direction parallel to the central axis C1. After filling the body cavity 1119b, the molten resin M1 is filled into the bottom cavity 1119c.

[0137] After the cavity 1119 is filled with the molten resin M1, pressure is applied to the molten resin M1 filled in the cavity 1009. The molten resin M1 is then cooled and solidified to form the resin layer 911. In a mold opening step, the molds 1101 and 1102 are opened, and the movable mold 1101b and movable mold 1102b holding the resin layer 911 are rotated 180° around the rotation axis C10, and the molds 1101 and 1102 are clamped again.

[0138] A resin material, which is a molding material, is heated and melted in a second injection molding machine (not shown). The molten resin M2, which is the molten resin material, is injected from the nozzle of the second injection molding machine into the sprue of the mold 1102. The molten resin M2 is an example of a second resin material. The molten resin M2 flows into the cavity 1129 via the sprue, runner, and gate 1128. The molten resin M2 flows into the bottom cavity 1129c of the cavity 1129, filling the bottom cavity 1129c, and then flows into the body cavity 1129b, filling the body cavity 1129b. That is, the molten resin M2 is injected into the bottom cavity 1129c through the gate 1128, and flows into the bottom cavity 1129c, filling the bottom cavity 1129c with the molten resin M2. The molten resin M2 is filled into the bottom cavity 1129c and then into the body cavity 1129b. The body cavity 1129b preferably has a uniform thickness along the central axis C1 so that the molten resin M2 can easily flow in the positive direction of the Z axis.

[0139] After filling the cavity 1129 with the molten resin M2, pressure is applied to the molten resin M2 filled in the cavity 1029. The molten resin M2 is then cooled and solidified to form the resin layer 912. In the mold opening process, the molds 1101 and 1102 are opened, and the preform 9010 to which the runner resin is bonded is released from the mold 1102. The runner resin is then removed from the preform 9010, thereby obtaining the preform 9010 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. The above injection molding method results in the preform 9010, which is an injection-molded product, in which the resin layers 911 and 912 are integrated. A gate mark 118 is formed on the outer wall 112 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 by removing the runner resin, and a gate mark 918 is formed on the outer wall of the resin layer 912 of the bottom portion 130 by removing the runner resin.

[0140] In the above example, the case where the preform 9010 is manufactured by two-color molding has been described as an example, but the method is not limited to two-color molding. For example, after forming the resin layer 911 in a first mold by insert molding, the resin layer 911 may be released from the first mold, set in a second mold, and the resin layer 912 may be formed on the resin layer 911 in the second mold. Also, for example, the resin layers 911 and 912 may be formed by injection molding or compression molding, respectively, and the resin layers 911 and 912 may be fitted together outside the mold to assemble the preform 9010.

[0141] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a resin layer 911 of a preform 9010 according to the second embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the resin layer 912 of the preform 9010 is not shown in Fig. 14.

[0142] The resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 contains an orientation component B1 oriented in the circumferential direction D1. The orientation component B1 is an example of a first component. The resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200 contains an orientation component B2 oriented in the Z direction parallel to the central axis C1. The orientation component B2 is a second component. The orientation components B1 and B2 are the same material. The orientation components B1 and B2 are crystalline resins and / or fillers, similar to the orientation components contained in the molten resin M1. Since the orientation component B1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is oriented in the circumferential direction D1, post-shrinkage of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is suppressed, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1. The orientation of the orientation components B1 and B2 can be measured, for example, using a molecular orientation meter such as X-ray diffraction.

[0143] In this way, high dimensional accuracy can be obtained in the diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010, reducing the number of defective products and improving the yield of non-defective preforms 9010 produced.

[0144] 12B , in a diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 perpendicular to the central axis C1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010 is preferably greater than the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200. In other words, the thickness of the mouth cavity 1119a is preferably greater than the thickness of the body cavity 1119b. The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 may be the thickness of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110.

[0145] Because the thickness T1 is greater than the thickness T20, the conductance of the mouth cavity 1119a is greater than the conductance of the body cavity 1119b, making it easier for the molten resin M1 to flow through the mouth cavity 1119a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13 , the molten resin M1 can be filled into the mouth cavity 1119a in the circumferential direction D1 and then flow into the body cavity 1119b. Therefore, the orientation component B1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is oriented in the circumferential direction D1. Because the orientation component B1 in the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is oriented in the circumferential direction D1, post-shrinkage of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is suppressed, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1.

[0146] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of moldability of the preform 9010, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is, for example, 1.10 times or more, preferably 1.25 times or more, more preferably 1.50 times or more, and even preferably 2.00 times or more, of the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 30 times or less, preferably 20 times or less, more preferably 10 times or less, and may be 5.00 times or less of the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200. In addition, in the diameter direction R1, the inner dimension S11 of the mouth portion 110 is preferably less than the inner dimension S21 of the body portion 1200; in the example of FIG. 12B, the inner dimension S11 is the same as the inner dimension S21.

[0147] Furthermore, in the diameter direction R1, from the viewpoint of effectively utilizing recycled materials, it is preferable that the thickness T202 of the resin layer 912 of the barrel portion 1200 be larger than the thickness T201 of the resin layer 911 of the barrel portion 1200. Furthermore, in the diameter direction R1, the thickness T202 of the resin layer 912 of the barrel portion 1200 is, for example, 1.10 times or more, preferably 1.25 times or more, and more preferably 1.50 times or more, the thickness T201 of the resin layer 911 of the barrel portion 1200. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T202 of the resin layer 912 of the barrel portion 1200 is preferably 10 times or less, more preferably 5.00 times or less, the thickness T201 of the resin layer 911 of the barrel portion 1200.

[0148] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ensuring the strength of the mouth portion 110, it is preferable that the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 be greater than the thickness T201 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200. Furthermore, in the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 1.10 times or more, preferably 1.25 times or more, more preferably 1.50 times or more, and even preferably 2.00 times or more, the thickness T201 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 30 times or less, preferably 20 times or less, more preferably 10 times or less, and may be 5.00 times or less, the thickness T201 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200.

[0149] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the moldability of the preform 9010, the length in the Z direction of the preform 9010 is preferably 30 mm or more and 180 mm or less. From the viewpoint of the moldability of the preform 9010, the outer dimension in the diameter direction R1 of the body portion 1200 of the preform 9010 is preferably 10 mm or more and 50 mm or less.

[0150] In addition, other methods may be used to encourage the molten resin M1 to first fill the mouth cavity 1119a along the circumferential direction D1 and then flow into the body cavity 1119b, in addition to the method described above.

[0151] For example, a method may be used in which the shape between the mouth cavity 1119a and the body cavity 1119b is locally narrowed to suppress the flow of molten resin M1 into the body cavity 1119b.

[0152] For example, while the mouth cavity 1119a is being filled with molten resin M1, a mold piece may be used to physically block the gap between the mouth cavity 1119a and the body cavity 1119b, thereby preventing the molten resin M1 from flowing into the body cavity 1119b, and after the mouth cavity 1119a is filled with molten resin M1, the mold piece may be moved to allow the molten resin M1 to flow into the body cavity 1119b.

[0153] As described above, the outer wall 112 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 has a gate mark 118 corresponding to the gate 1008. The gate mark 118 is preferably disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114 of the mouth portion 110, but may be disposed at a location on the outer wall 112 other than the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114. In terms of the structure of the mold, the gate mark 118 is preferably disposed on the outer wall 112, but may be disposed on the inner wall 111 of the two side walls 111, 112.

[0154] From the viewpoint of orienting the orientation component B1 in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth portion 110, it is preferable that the gate 1118 is discontinuously connected in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth cavity 1119a. That is, it is preferable that the gate 1118 is not a ring-shaped gate that is continuous in the circumferential direction D1. For example, it is preferable that the gate 1118 is any one of a pin gate, a side gate, a tab gate, a submarine gate, and a direct gate. In the preform 9010, it is preferable that the gate mark 118 formed in the mouth portion 110 is discontinuous in the circumferential direction D1, that is, not continuous in a ring shape.

[0155] Furthermore, the number of gates 1118 is preferably one from the viewpoint of orienting the orientation component B1 in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth portion 110, but may be two or more. If the number of gates 1118 is two or more, it is preferable that the number be four or less. That is, multiple gate marks 118 may be arranged at intervals from each other in the circumferential direction D1 in the mouth portion 110.

[0156] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-49010 discloses that the container is made of multiple types of resin. However, the mouth is susceptible to force, and as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-49010, if there is a boundary between two types of resin near the boundary between the mouth and the body, breakage or the like is likely to occur at that boundary, so there is room for improvement from the standpoint of reliability.

[0157] In contrast, in the second embodiment, the inner dimension S11 of the mouth portion 110 is equal to or greater than the inner dimension S21 of the body portion 1200 in the diameter direction R1, and preferably the inner dimension S11 of the mouth portion 110 is the same as the inner dimension S21 of the body portion 1200 as shown in Fig. 12B. The resin layer 911 that constitutes the mouth portion 110 extends to the body portion 1200, and the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 are overlapped in the diameter direction R1 (thickness direction of the body portion 1200) in the body portion 1200, thereby reinforcing the resin layer 911 that constitutes the mouth portion 110 in the body portion 1200. This provides a highly reliable preform 9010.

[0158] Furthermore, the mouth portion 110, which is required to be strong, is formed of a resin layer 911, which is a virgin material. The portion that will later come into contact with the ink IK is also formed of the resin layer 911. That is, the inner layers of the body portion 1200 and the bottom portion 1300 are formed of the resin layer 911.

[0159] Next, the method for producing the container part 901 by stretch blow molding the preform 9010 formed by injection molding is the same as the method for producing the container part 101 by stretch blow molding the preform 1010 described in the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0160] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a resin layer 911 of a container part 901 according to the second embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the resin layer 912 of the container part 901 is not shown in Fig. 15.

[0161] The resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 contains an oriented component B1 oriented in the circumferential direction D1. The oriented component B1 is an example of a first component. The resin layer 912 of the body portion 120 contains an oriented component B2 oriented in the direction of the Z axis parallel to the central axis C1. The oriented component B2 is a second component. The oriented components B1 and B2 are made of the same material. The oriented components B1 and B2 are crystalline resins and / or fillers, similar to the oriented components contained in the molten resin M1. The orientation of the oriented components B1 and B2 can be measured, for example, using a molecular orientation meter such as X-ray diffraction.

[0162] In this way, even in stretch blow molding, thermal shrinkage of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901 is suppressed. As with the mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010, high dimensional accuracy can be obtained in the diameter direction R1 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901, so the number of defective products is reduced and the yield rate of the container part 901 is improved.

[0163] 11B, from the viewpoint of blow molding, the shape of the container part 901 is preferably cylindrical. In terms of the size that can be stretched from the preform 9010, the height of the container part 901 in the Z direction is preferably 40 mm or more and 200 mm or less. In terms of blow molding, the outer diameter of the body portion 120 of the container part 901 is preferably 10 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0164] In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T2 of the body portion 120 of the container part 901 is determined based on the size of the preform 9010 and the size of the container part 901 after blow molding. The thickness T2 of the body portion 120 is preferably 0.01 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

[0165] In addition, in the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901 is preferably larger than the thickness T2 of the body portion 120. Note that the thickness T2 of the body portion 120 is smaller than the thickness T20 of the body portion 1200 of the preform 9010 shown in FIG. 12B . The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 may be the thickness of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110.

[0166] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of moldability in stretch blow molding, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 is, for example, 1.25 times or more, preferably 1.50 times or more, more preferably 2.00 times or more, and even preferably 3.00 times or more, the thickness T2 of the body portion 120. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 30 times or less, preferably 20 times or less, more preferably 10 times or less, and may be 5.00 times or less, the thickness T2 of the body portion 120.

[0167] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of effectively utilizing recycled materials, it is preferable that the thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the barrel portion 120 in the diameter direction R1 be greater than the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the barrel portion 120. Furthermore, it is preferable that the thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the barrel portion 120 in the diameter direction R1 be, for example, 1.10 times or more, preferably 1.25 times or more, and more preferably 1.50 times or more, the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the barrel portion 120. It is preferable that the thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the barrel portion 120 in the diameter direction R1 be 10 times or less, and more preferably 5.00 times or less, the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the barrel portion 120.

[0168] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ensuring the strength of the mouth portion 110, it is preferable that the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 in the diameter direction R1 be greater than the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120. Furthermore, in the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 1.10 times or more, preferably 1.25 times or more, more preferably 1.50 times or more, and even preferably 2.00 times or more, the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120. In the diameter direction R1, the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 is, for example, 30 times or less, preferably 20 times or less, more preferably 10 times or less, and may be 5.00 times or less, the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120.

[0169] As a result of blow molding, the inner dimension S2 of the body 120 of the container part 901 in the diameter direction R1 is equal to or greater than the outer dimension S1 of the mouth 110 of the container part 901. The outer dimension S1 of the mouth 110 is the outer dimension of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth 110.

[0170] In the second embodiment, the inner dimension S11 of the mouth portion 110 is equal to or smaller than the inner dimension S2 of the body portion 120 in the diameter direction R1. The resin layer 911 that constitutes the mouth portion 110 extends to the body portion 120, and the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 are overlapped in the diameter direction R1 (thickness direction of the body portion 120) in the body portion 120, thereby reinforcing the resin layer 911 that constitutes the mouth portion 110 in the body portion 120. This provides a highly reliable container part 901.

[0171] Furthermore, the mouth portion 110, which is required to be strong, is formed of a resin layer 911, which is a virgin material. The portion that will later come into contact with the ink IK is also formed of the resin layer 911. That is, the inner layer of the body portion 120 and the bottom portion 130 is formed of the resin layer 911.

[0172] Next, a method for manufacturing an ink bottle 9000 having a blow-molded container part 901 will be described. Figures 16A to 16D are explanatory diagrams of a method for manufacturing an ink bottle 9000 according to the second embodiment.

[0173] Fig. 16A shows the container part 901 after stretch blow molding. A nozzle of an ink injector (not shown) is inserted into the container part 901 through the opening 110 of the container part 901, and as shown in Fig. 16B, ink IK is injected into the container part 901 through the nozzle of the ink injector. The ink IK fills at least a portion of the inner space A2, and in the example of Fig. 16B, the entire inner space A2. Note that the ink IK may also fill a portion of the opening space A1.

[0174] In the second embodiment, the cap 102 and the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901 are welded together by spin welding. With the container part 901 containing the ink IK fixed, as shown in Fig. 16C , the cap 102 with the lid 103 engaged is rotated about the central axis C1 and moved in the negative direction of the Z axis toward the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901. As the cap 102 rotates while in contact with the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901, frictional heat is generated between the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110, and the entire circumference of the contact surface 117 of the engagement portion 115 of the mouth portion 110 is welded to the cap 102, resulting in the ink bottle 9000 shown in Fig. 16D .

[0175] The method for welding the cap 102 to the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901 is not limited to spin welding, and other welding methods may be used as long as the engaging portion 115 of the mouth portion 110 is welded to the cap 102 over the entire circumference. For example, the welding method may be ultrasonic welding using a tool horn.

[0176] In addition, the example described above is one in which the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 are welded together while the lid 103 is engaged with the cap 102, but this is not limited to this, and the lid 103 may be attached to the cap 102 after the cap 102 and the mouth portion 110 are welded together.

[0177] Here, if the gate mark 118 of the container part 901 interferes with the cap 102 during welding of the cap 102 to the mouth part 110, there is a risk of poor welding. Therefore, it is preferable to have a clearance between the gate mark 118 of the container part 901 and the cap 102. For this reason, the gate mark 118 is located at a position other than the contact surface 117, or in the second embodiment, on the outer peripheral surface of the rib 114. This ensures good bonding between the cap 102 and the mouth part 110. Even when the cap 102 and the mouth part 110 are bonded together, the gate mark 118 remains on the mouth part 110 of the container part 901. In the ink bottle 9000, the gate mark 118 is covered by the cap 102.

[0178] The above describes the case where the container part 901 is a blow-molded product, but this is not limiting, and the container part 901 may also be an injection-molded product formed in the same manner as the preform 9010.

[0179] Next, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described. Figures 17A to 17G are explanatory views of a container according to a modified example of the second embodiment. Figures 17A to 17G show cross sections of the container.

[0180] 17A , a resin layer 911 may be disposed on the outside of the resin layer 912, and the cap 102 may be disposed so as to contact the outer wall of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110. The resin layer 911 may extend from the mouth portion 110 to the body portion 120, and the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may be overlapped in the diameter direction R1 in the body portion 120. The bottom portion 130 may be formed only by the resin layer 912.

[0181] 17B , a resin layer 911 may be disposed inside a resin layer 912, and the cap 102 may be disposed so as to contact the inner wall of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110. The resin layer 911 may extend from the mouth portion 110 to the body portion 120, and the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may be overlapped in the diameter direction R1 in the body portion 120. The bottom portion 130 may be formed only by the resin layer 912.

[0182] 17C , the resin layer 911 may be disposed on the outside of the resin layer 912, and the cap 102 may be disposed so as to contact the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 at the end surface of the mouth portion 110. The resin layer 911 may extend from the mouth portion 110 to the body portion 120, and the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may be overlapped in the diameter direction R1 in the body portion 120. The bottom portion 130 may be formed only by the resin layer 912.

[0183] 17D , the resin layer 911 may be disposed inside the resin layer 912, and the cap 102 may be disposed so as to contact the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 at the end surface of the mouth portion 110. The resin layer 911 may extend from the mouth portion 110 to the body portion 120, and the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912 may be overlapped in the diameter direction R1 in the body portion 120. The bottom portion 130 may be formed only by the resin layer 912.

[0184] 17E , the mouth portion 110 may be made of a resin layer 911, and the resin layer 911 constituting the mouth portion 110 may extend to the body portion 120, with the resin layer 911 located on the outer side of the body portion 120 and the resin layer 912 located on the inner side being overlapped in the diameter direction R1. The bottom portion 130 may be made of only the resin layer 912.

[0185] 17F , the mouth portion 110 may be made of a resin layer 911, and the resin layer 911 constituting the mouth portion 110 may extend to the body portion 120, with the resin layer 911 located on the inside of the body portion 120 and the resin layer 912 located on the outside being overlapped in the diameter direction R1. The bottom portion 130 may be made of only the resin layer 912.

[0186] 17G , the mouth portion 110 may be made of a resin layer 911, and the resin layer 911 constituting the mouth portion 110 may extend over the entire body portion 120 and the entire bottom portion 130, with the resin layer 911 located on the inside of the body portion 120 and the resin layer 912 located on the outside being overlapped in the diameter direction R1. The bottom portion 130 may be made of the resin layer 911 and the resin layer 912.

[0187] [Example 1] Example 1 will be described. Fig. 18A is a perspective view of a container part 101 according to Example 1. Fig. 18B is a cross-sectional view of the container part 101 according to Example 1. Fig. 18B shows a cross-section of the container part 101 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0188] In Example 1, a molten molding material was injected into a mold using an injection molding machine to produce an injection-molded container part 101. Polypropylene (PP) was used as the molding material. An injection molding machine (SE180DU, manufactured by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.) was used for injection molding.

[0189] The total length of the container part 101 in the Z direction was 100 mm, the diameter of the container part 101 in the diameter direction R1 was 40 mm, the thickness T1 of the mouth part 110 was 2.4 mm, and the thickness T2 of the body part 120 was 0.8 mm. The thickness T1 of the mouth part 110 was three times the thickness T3 of the body part 120.

[0190] During injection molding, the nozzle temperature of the injection molding machine was set to 200°C and the mold temperature was set to 40°C, and the container part 101 was produced by filling the cavity in the mold through a single gate (side gate) located at a position corresponding to the gate mark 118 on the outer wall 112 of the mouth portion 110.

[0191] During injection molding, the molten resin was made to flow in the circumferential direction of the mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth portion 110, and then the molten resin was made to flow into the body cavity corresponding to the body portion 120. The flow of the molten resin was confirmed from a short shot of the manufactured container part 101. Furthermore, as a result of measuring the orientation of the oriented components in the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101, it was confirmed that the oriented components were oriented in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110. As a result of measuring the diameter of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 101, the diameter of the mouth portion 110 was within the allowable value, and a good container part 101 was obtained.

[0192] [Example 2] Example 2 will be described. Fig. 19A is a perspective view of a container part 901 according to Example 2. Fig. 19B is a cross-sectional view of the container part 901 according to Example 2. Fig. 19B shows a cross-section of the container part 901 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0193] In Example 2, a container part 901, which is an injection-molded product, was produced by two-color molding. The container part 901 is composed of two layers, a resin layer 911 and a resin layer 912. The mouth part 110 is composed of the resin layer 911. The body part 120 is composed of two layers, the inner layer being the resin layer 911 and the outer layer being the resin layer 912. The bottom part 130 is composed of two layers, the inner layer being the resin layer 911 and the outer layer being the resin layer 912. That is, in the body part 120 and the bottom part 130, the resin layer 911 is covered with the resin layer 912. The thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 is greater than the thickness T2 of the resin layer 912.

[0194] Virgin polypropylene (PP) was used as the molding material for resin layer 911. Recycled polypropylene (PP) was used as the molding material for resin layer 912. The injection molding machine used was a rotary two-material injection molding machine (SE75DU-Ci, manufactured by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.) equipped with two plasticizing devices and rotating a movable mold. Two molds for two-color molding were also prepared.

[0195] The total length of the container part 901 in the Z direction was 100 mm, and the diameter of the container part 901 in the diameter direction R1 was 40 mm. The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was 2.4 mm. The thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120 was 0.8 mm. The thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the body portion 120 was 1.0 mm. The thickness T2 of the body portion 120 was 1.8 mm.

[0196] The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was 1.33 times the thickness T2 of the body portion 120. The thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the body portion 120 was 1.25 times the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120. The thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 was three times the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120.

[0197] During injection molding, two-color molding was performed with the nozzle temperatures of both injection molding machines set to 200° C. and the temperatures of both molds set to 40° C. Resin layer 911 was produced by filling the cavity in the mold with molten resin through a single gate (side gate) located at a position corresponding to gate mark 118 on outer wall 112 of resin layer 911 of mouth portion 110.

[0198] After the molds were opened, the movable mold holding the resin layer 911 was rotated by a turntable so as to switch from one fixed mold to the other fixed mold, thereby causing the movable mold holding the resin layer 911 to face the other fixed mold. The molds were then clamped, and molten resin was injected into the cavity in the molds through a gate (direct gate) arranged at a position corresponding to the gate mark 918 on the outer wall of the resin layer 912 of the bottom 130, thereby producing a resin layer 912 bonded to the resin layer 911, and the container part 901 was obtained.

[0199] During injection molding of the resin layer 911, the molten resin was made to flow in the circumferential direction of the mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth portion 110, and then the molten resin was made to flow into the body cavity corresponding to the body portion 120. The flow of the molten resin was confirmed from a short shot of the resin layer 911 in the manufactured container part 901. Note that, as a result of measuring the orientation of the oriented components in the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901, it was confirmed that the oriented components were oriented in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110. As a result of measuring the diameter of the mouth portion 110 of the container part 901, the diameter of the mouth portion 110 was within the allowable value, and a good container part 901 was obtained.

[0200] [Example 3] Example 3 will be described. Fig. 20A is a perspective view of a preform 1010 according to Example 3. Fig. 20B is a perspective view of a container part 101 according to Example 3. Fig. 20C is a cross-sectional view of the container part 101 according to Example 3. Fig. 20C shows a cross-section of the container part 101 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0201] In Example 3, a molten molding material was injected into a mold using an injection molding machine to produce a preform 1010, which was an injection-molded product. Polypropylene (PP) was used as the molding material. An injection molding machine (SE180DU, manufactured by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.) was used for injection molding.

[0202] The total length of the preform 1010 in the Z direction was 100 mm, the outer diameter in the diameter direction R1 of the body portion 1200 of the preform 1010 was 30 mm, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was 3.0 mm, and the thickness of the body portion 1200 was 1.0 mm. The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was three times the thickness of the body portion 1200.

[0203] During injection molding, the nozzle temperature of the injection molding machine was set to 190°C and the mold temperature was set to 25°C, and preform 1010 was produced by filling the cavity in the mold through a single gate (side gate) located at a position corresponding to the gate mark 118 on the outer wall 112 of the mouth portion 110.

[0204] During injection molding, the molten resin was made to flow in the circumferential direction of the mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth portion 110, and then the molten resin was made to flow into the body cavity corresponding to the body portion 1200. The flow of the molten resin was confirmed from a short shot of the produced preform 1010. Furthermore, as a result of measuring the orientation of the orientation components in the mouth portion 110 of the preform 1010, it was confirmed that the orientation components were oriented in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110. As a result of measuring the diameter of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 1010, the diameter of the mouth portion 110 was within the allowable value, and a good preform 1010 was obtained.

[0205] Next, the produced preform 1010 was used to perform stretch blow molding in a stretch blow molding machine (FRB-1, manufactured by Frontier Corporation).

[0206] In the stretch blow molding, first, while rotating the preform 1010, the preform 1010 was heated from the outside of the preform 1010 using a halogen heater. Specifically, six heaters were arranged at a pitch of 17 mm at a position 20 mm from the outer surface of the preform 1010, and the preform 1010 was heated for 60 seconds. The output value of the heater was adjusted so that the outer layer temperature of the preform 1010 after the heating step was 130°C or higher and 160°C or lower.

[0207] The molding temperature was confirmed by using a non-contact temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the preform 1010 immediately after heating, that is, the temperature of the outer layer of the preform 1010 immediately before stretch blow molding.

[0208] The heated preform 1010 was inserted into a stretch blow mold set at a temperature of 25° C., and then the stretch blow mold was clamped.

[0209] Next, the stretch bar was inserted into the interior of the preform 1010 from the retracted position through the opening of the preform 1010 and advanced until it contacted the bottom 1300 of the preform 1010 .

[0210] 0.5 seconds after the stretch bar began to advance through the opening of the preform 1010, primary air was introduced into the interior of the preform 1010. The pressure of the primary air was set to 0.6 MPa. Then, 3.0 seconds after the introduction of the primary air, secondary air was introduced. The pressure of the secondary air was set to 3.0 MPa. Thus, air was introduced into the interior of the preform 1010 over a period of 5.0 seconds from the start of the introduction of the primary air. Next, the pressure inside the preform 1010 was returned to normal pressure over a period of 1.5 seconds.

[0211] A container part 101 was produced by the above stretch blow molding. The container part 101 had a total length of 110 mm, a diameter of 40 mm, a thickness T1 of the mouth part 110 of 3.0 mm, and a thickness T2 of the body part 120 of 0.6 mm. Therefore, the thickness T1 of the mouth part 110 was five times the thickness T2 of the body part 120.

[0212] The diameter of the mouth 110 of the container part 101 was measured and found to be unchanged from the diameter of the mouth 110 of the preform 1010, and the diameter of the mouth 110 was within the allowable range, meaning that a good container part 101 could be obtained.

[0213] [Example 4] Example 4 will be described. Fig. 21A is a perspective view of a preform 9010 according to Example 4. Fig. 21B is a perspective view of a container part 901 according to Example 4. Fig. 21C is a cross-sectional view of the container part 901 according to Example 4. Fig. 21C shows a cross-section of the container part 901 along a plane parallel to the XZ plane, including the central axis C1, viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis.

[0214] In Example 4, a preform 9010, which is an injection-molded product, was produced by two-color molding. The preform 9010 is composed of two layers, a resin layer 911 and a resin layer 912. The mouth portion 110 is composed of the resin layer 911. The body portion 1200 is composed of two layers, with the resin layer 911 as the inner layer and the resin layer 912 as the outer layer. The bottom portion 1300 is composed of two layers, with the resin layer 911 as the inner layer and the resin layer 912 as the outer layer. That is, in the body portion 1200 and the bottom portion 1300, the resin layer 911 is covered with the resin layer 912. In the preform 9010, the thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 is greater than the thickness of the resin layer 912.

[0215] Virgin polypropylene (PP) was used as the molding material for resin layer 911. Recycled polypropylene (PP) was used as the molding material for resin layer 912. The injection molding machine used was a rotary two-material injection molding machine (SE75DU-Ci, manufactured by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.) equipped with two plasticizing devices and rotating a movable mold. Two molds for two-color molding were also prepared.

[0216] The total length of the preform 9010 in the Z direction was 95 mm, and the outer diameter of the body portion 1200 of the preform 9010 in the diameter direction R1 was 30 mm. The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was 3.0 mm. The thickness of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200 was 0.9 mm. The thickness of the resin layer 912 of the body portion 1200 was 2.1 mm. The thickness of the body portion 1200 was 3.0 mm.

[0217] The thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was the same as the thickness of the body portion 1200. The thickness of the resin layer 912 of the body portion 1200 was 2.33 times the thickness of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200. The thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 was 3.33 times the thickness of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 1200.

[0218] During injection molding, two-color molding was performed with the nozzle temperatures of both injection molding machines set to 190° C. and the temperatures of both molds set to 25° C. Resin layer 911 was produced by filling the cavity in the mold with molten resin through a single gate (side gate) located at a position corresponding to gate mark 118 on outer wall 112 of resin layer 911 of mouth portion 110.

[0219] Then, after the molds were opened, the movable mold holding the resin layer 911 was rotated by a turntable so as to switch from one fixed mold to the other fixed mold, thereby making the movable mold holding the resin layer 911 face the other fixed mold. Then, the molds were clamped, and molten resin was filled into the cavity in the molds through a gate (direct gate) arranged at a position corresponding to the gate mark 918 on the outer wall of the resin layer 912 of the bottom 1300, thereby producing a resin layer 912 bonded to the resin layer 911, and a preform 9010 was obtained.

[0220] During injection molding of the resin layer 911, the molten resin was made to flow in the circumferential direction of the mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth portion 110, and then the molten resin was made to flow into the body cavity corresponding to the body portion 1200. The flow of the molten resin was confirmed from a short shot of the resin layer 911 in the produced preform 9010. Note that, as a result of measuring the orientation of the oriented components in the mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010, it was confirmed that the oriented components were oriented in the circumferential direction D1 of the mouth portion 110. As a result of measuring the diameter of the mouth portion 110 of the preform 9010, the diameter of the mouth portion 110 was within the allowable value, and a good preform 9010 was obtained.

[0221] Next, the produced preform 9010 was used in a stretch blow molding machine (FRB-1, manufactured by Frontier Corporation) to perform stretch blow molding in the same manner as in Example 3, to produce a container part 901.

[0222] The overall length of the container part 901 was 110 mm, and the diameter of the container part 101 was 40 mm. The thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 was 3.0 mm. The thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120 was 0.6 mm. The thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the body portion 120 was 1.2 mm. The thickness T2 of the body portion 120 was 1.8 mm. Therefore, the thickness T1 of the mouth portion 110 was 1.67 times the thickness T2 of the body portion 120. The thickness T22 of the resin layer 912 of the body portion 120 was twice the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120. The thickness T1 of the resin layer 911 of the mouth portion 110 was five times the thickness T21 of the resin layer 911 of the body portion 120.

[0223] The diameter of the mouth 110 of the container part 901 was measured and found to be unchanged from the diameter of the mouth 110 of the preform 9010, and the diameter of the mouth 110 was within the allowable range, meaning that a good container part 901 could be obtained.

[0224] [Other Modifications] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and many modifications of the embodiments are possible within the technical concept of the present disclosure. For example, at least two of the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined. Furthermore, the effects described in the present embodiment are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the effects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those described in the present embodiment.

[0225] The disclosure of this specification includes not only what is explicitly described in this specification, but also all matters that can be understood from this specification and the drawings attached hereto. The disclosure of this specification also includes the complement of the individual concepts described in this specification. In other words, if this specification states, for example, that "A is B," it can be said that this specification discloses that "A is not B," even if it omits the statement that "A is not B." This is because when "A is B," it is assumed that the case where "A is not B" is taken into consideration.

[0226] The disclosure of the above embodiments includes the following sections.

[0227] (Item 1) A container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, wherein the mouth and the body include a continuous resin layer, and a side wall of the mouth has a gate mark formed during molding of the resin layer.

[0228] (Item 2) A container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, wherein the mouth includes a resin layer, a side wall of the mouth has a gate mark formed during molding of the resin layer, and the width of the gate mark in the circumferential direction of the mouth is smaller than the length of the outer periphery of the mouth.

[0229] (Item 3) A container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an open space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the open space, and a bottom facing the open space via the inner space, wherein the mouth contains a first component oriented in the circumferential direction of the mouth.

[0230] (Item 4) The container according to item 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of the resin layer of the mouth portion is greater than the thickness of the resin layer of the body portion in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space, and the bottom portion.

[0231] (Item 5) The container according to Item 4, wherein the thickness of the resin layer of the mouth portion is 1.25 times or more and 30 times or less the thickness of the resin layer of the body portion in the direction.

[0232] (Item 6) The container according to any one of Items 1 to 5, wherein the inner dimension of the body is equal to or greater than the outer dimension of the mouth in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space, and the bottom.

[0233] (Item 7) The container according to any one of items 1 to 6, further comprising a second part connected to the opening.

[0234] (Item 8) A container according to any one of items 4 to 6, further comprising a second part coupled to the mouth portion, the mouth portion having a portion including a contact surface that contacts the second part, and the thickness of the resin layer of the mouth portion being the thickness of the portion of the mouth portion.

[0235] (Item 9) The container according to item 1 or 2, further comprising a second part connected to the mouth portion, wherein the gate mark is covered by the second part.

[0236] (Item 10) The container according to item 1 or 2, further comprising a second part coupled to the mouth portion, the mouth portion having a portion including a contact surface that contacts the second part, and the gate mark being located at a position other than the contact surface.

[0237] (Item 11) The container according to any one of Items 7 to 10, wherein the opening and the second part are welded together.

[0238] (Item 12) The container according to any one of Items 7 to 11, wherein the second part has a hole that connects the open space and the outer space.

[0239] (Item 13) The container according to Item 12, further comprising a third part that covers the hole.

[0240] (Item 14) The container according to item 13, wherein the third part is threadedly engaged with the second part.

[0241] (Item 15) The container according to item 1 or 2, wherein the mouth portion contains the first component oriented in the circumferential direction of the mouth portion.

[0242] (Item 16) The container according to item 3 or 15, wherein the first component is a crystalline resin and / or a filler.

[0243] (Item 17) The container according to item 3, 15, or 16, wherein the body contains a second component oriented in a direction parallel to a line passing through the open space, the inner space, and the bottom.

[0244] (Item 18) The container according to Item 17, wherein the second component is a crystalline resin and / or a filler.

[0245] (Item 19) A container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, and a second part coupled to the mouth, wherein the first part comprises a first resin layer and a second resin layer bonded to each other, the mouth comprises the first resin layer, the body comprises the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the bottom comprises the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the second part is in contact with the first resin layer of the mouth, and the first resin layer of the body and the second resin layer of the body overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space, and the bottom.

[0246] (Item 20) A container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, and a second part coupled to the mouth, wherein the inner dimension of the mouth is equal to or smaller than the inner dimension of the body in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space, and the bottom, the first part comprises a first resin layer and a second resin layer bonded to each other, the mouth comprises the first resin layer, the body comprises the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the bottom comprises the second resin layer, the second part is in contact with the first resin layer of the mouth, and the first resin layer of the body and the second resin layer of the body overlap each other in the direction.

[0247] (Item 21) The container according to Item 19 or 20, wherein the first resin layer of the body portion is positioned between the inner space and the second resin layer of the body portion.

[0248] (Item 22) The container according to Item 20, wherein the bottom portion includes the first resin layer.

[0249] (Item 23) The container according to Item 19 or 22, wherein the first resin layer of the bottom is positioned between the inner space and the second resin layer of the bottom.

[0250] (Item 24) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 23, wherein the first resin layer is located between at least a portion of the second component and the opening space in the direction.

[0251] (Item 25) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 24, wherein the second part and the first resin layer of the mouth portion are welded together.

[0252] (Item 26) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 25, wherein the thickness of the mouth portion is greater than the thickness of the body portion in the direction.

[0253] (Item 27) The container according to Item 26, wherein the thickness of the mouth portion is 1.25 times or more and 30 times or less the thickness of the body portion.

[0254] (Item 28) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 27, wherein the inner dimension of the body is equal to or greater than the outer dimension of the mouth in the direction.

[0255] (Item 29) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 28, wherein the thickness of the second resin layer of the body is greater than the thickness of the first resin layer of the body in the direction.

[0256] (Item 30) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 29, wherein the thickness of the first resin layer of the mouth portion is greater than the thickness of the first resin layer of the body portion in the direction.

[0257] (Item 31) The container described in Item 30, wherein the first resin layer of the mouth portion has a portion including a contact surface that contacts the second part, and in the direction, the thickness of the first resin layer of the mouth portion is the thickness of the portion of the first resin layer of the mouth portion.

[0258] (Item 32) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 31, wherein the second part has a hole that connects the inner space and the outer space.

[0259] (Item 33) The container according to Item 32, further comprising a third part that covers the hole.

[0260] (Item 34) The container according to item 33, wherein the third part is threadedly engaged with the second part.

[0261] (Item 35) A container described in any one of Items 19 to 34, wherein the mouth portion has a first gate mark formed in the first resin layer of the mouth portion, and the bottom portion has a second gate mark formed in the second resin layer of the bottom portion.

[0262] (Item 36) The container according to Item 35, wherein the first gate mark is covered by the second part.

[0263] (Item 37) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 36, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer have different compositions.

[0264] (Item 38) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 37, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer contain a common resin component.

[0265] (Item 39) The container according to Item 38, wherein the common resin component is polyolefin or polyester.

[0266] (Item 40) The container according to any one of Items 19 to 39, wherein the first resin layer of the mouth portion contains a first component oriented in the circumferential direction of the mouth portion.

[0267] (Item 41) The container according to Item 40, wherein the first component is a crystalline resin and / or a filler.

[0268] (Item 42) A container according to Item 40 or 41, wherein the first resin layer of the body portion contains a second component oriented in a direction parallel to the straight line.

[0269] (Item 43) The container according to Item 42, wherein the second component is a crystalline resin and / or a filler.

[0270] (Item 44) The container according to any one of Items 1 to 43, wherein the first part is an injection molded product or a blow molded product.

[0271] (Item 45) A liquid holder comprising the container according to any one of Items 1 to 44 and a liquid placed in the internal space.

[0272] (Item 46) The liquid holder according to Item 45, wherein the liquid is ink for an inkjet printer.

[0273] (Item 47) A preform having a mouth portion surrounding an opening space, a body portion surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom portion facing the opening space via the inner space, wherein the mouth portion and the body portion include a continuous resin layer, and a side wall of the mouth portion has a gate mark formed during molding of the resin layer.

[0274] (Item 48) A preform having a mouth portion surrounding an opening space, a body portion surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom portion facing the opening space via the inner space, wherein the mouth portion includes a resin layer, a side wall of the mouth portion has a gate mark formed during molding of the resin layer, and the width of the gate mark in the circumferential direction of the mouth portion is smaller than the length of the outer periphery of the mouth portion.

[0275] (Item 49) A preform having a mouth portion surrounding an open space, a body portion surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the open space, and a bottom portion facing the open space via the inner space, wherein the mouth portion contains components oriented in the circumferential direction of the mouth portion.

[0276] (Item 50) The preform according to Item 48, wherein the preform includes a first resin layer and a second resin layer bonded to each other, the mouth portion includes the first resin layer, the body portion includes the first resin layer and the second resin layer, and the gate mark is formed in the first resin layer.

[0277] (Item 51) The bottom portion includes the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the gate mark is a first gate mark, and a second gate mark is formed in the second resin layer of the bottom portion. A preform according to item 50.

[0278] (Item 52) The first resin layer of the body portion and the second resin layer of the body portion overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space, and the bottom portion. A preform according to item 50 or 51.

[0279] (Item 53) A method for manufacturing a container part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, the method comprising: injecting a first resin material into the mouth cavity of a first molding die having a mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth from a first gate connected to a position corresponding to a side wall of the mouth; and causing the first resin material to flow circumferentially around the mouth cavity to fill the mouth cavity with the first resin material.

[0280] (Item 54) A method for manufacturing a container part as described in Item 53, wherein the first resin material contains a component that is a crystalline resin and / or a filler, and the first resin material is caused to flow in the circumferential direction in the mouth cavity so that the component is oriented in the circumferential direction.

[0281] (Item 55) A method for manufacturing a container part according to Item 53 or 54, wherein the first gate is any one of a pin gate, a side gate, a tab gate, a submarine gate, and a direct gate.

[0282] (Item 56) A method for manufacturing a container part described in any one of Items 53 to 55, wherein the first molding die has a first body cavity corresponding to the body, and the first resin material injected from the first gate is filled into the mouth cavity and then filled into the first body cavity.

[0283] (Item 57) A method for manufacturing a container part described in Item 56, wherein the first molding die has a first bottom cavity corresponding to the bottom, and the first resin material injected from the first gate is filled into the first body cavity and then filled into the first bottom cavity.

[0284] (Item 58) A method for manufacturing a container part described in any one of items 53 to 57, wherein a second resin material is injected into a second bottom cavity of a second molding mold having a second bottom cavity corresponding to the bottom and a second body cavity corresponding to the body from a second gate connected to the second bottom cavity, and the second resin material injected from the second gate is filled into the second bottom cavity and then filled into the second body cavity.

[0285] (Item 59) A method for manufacturing a container part described in Item 58, wherein the first mold includes a first mold member and a second mold member, and the mouth cavity is formed between the first mold member and the second mold member, and the second mold includes the first mold member and a third mold member, and the second bottom cavity is formed between the first mold member and the third mold member.

[0286] (Item 60) A method for manufacturing a container part according to Item 59, wherein the first gate is provided on the first mold member, and the second gate is provided on the third mold member.

[0287] (Item 61) A method for manufacturing a container part according to any one of Items 53 to 57, wherein a preform made of the first resin material is stretch-blow molded.

[0288] (Item 62) The method for manufacturing a container part according to any one of Items 58 to 60, wherein a preform made of the first resin material and the second resin material is stretch-blow molded.

[0289] (Item 63) A method for manufacturing a container, comprising: a step of manufacturing the container part by the manufacturing method according to any one of Items 53 to 62; and a step of welding a resin part to the opening portion.

[0290] (Item 64) A method for manufacturing a liquid holder, comprising: a step of manufacturing the container part by the manufacturing method described in any one of Items 53 to 62; a step of placing a liquid in the internal space; and a step of welding a resin part to the opening portion after the liquid has been placed in the internal space.

[0291] The present invention can be embodied in a resin container capable of containing a liquid such as ink, a liquid holder having the container and the liquid, and methods for manufacturing these.

[0292] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention.

[0293] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-059822, filed April 2, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0294] A1...opening space, A2...inner space, A20...inner space, A3...outer space, B1...oriented component (first component), B2...oriented component (second component), C1...central axis (straight line), D1...circumferential direction, IK...ink (liquid), M1...molten resin (first resin material), M2...molten resin (second resin material), R1...diameter direction, 100...container, 101...container part (first part), 102...cap (second part, resin part), 103...lid (third part), 110...mouth portion, 111...inner Side wall (side wall), 115...engagement portion (portion), 118...gate mark (first gate mark), 120...body portion, 130...bottom portion, 900...container, 901...container part (first part), 911...resin layer (first resin layer), 912...resin layer (second resin layer), 918...gate mark (second gate mark), 1000...ink bottle (liquid holder), 1010...preform, 1200...body portion, 1300...bottom portion, 9000...ink bottle (liquid holder), 9010...preform

Claims

1. A container comprising a first part having a mouth surrounding an opening space, a body surrounding an inner space communicating with an outer space via the opening space, and a bottom facing the opening space via the inner space, and a second part bonded to the mouth, wherein the first part comprises a first resin layer and a second resin layer bonded to each other, the mouth comprises the first resin layer, the body comprises the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the bottom comprises the first resin layer and the second resin layer, the second part is in contact with the first resin layer of the mouth, the first resin layer of the body and the second resin layer of the body overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to a line passing through the opening space, the inner space and the bottom, the mouth has a first gate mark formed in the first resin layer of the mouth, and the bottom has a second gate mark formed in the second resin layer of the bottom.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first gate mark is formed on the side wall of the mouth.

3. A container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the first gate mark in the circumferential direction of the mouth is smaller than the outer circumferential length of the mouth.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the first resin layer at the mouth is greater than the thickness of the first resin layer at the body in the direction.

5. A container as described in claim 4, wherein the thickness of the first resin layer of the mouth portion is 1.10 times or more and 30 times or less the thickness of the first resin layer of the body portion in the said direction.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner dimension of the body is equal to or greater than the outer dimension of the mouth in the direction.

7. A container as described in claim 4, wherein the mouth portion has a portion including a contact surface that contacts the second part, and the thickness of the first resin layer of the mouth portion in the direction is the thickness of the portion of the mouth portion.

8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first gate mark is covered by the second part.

9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the mouth portion has a portion including a contact surface that comes into contact with the second part, and the first gate mark is located at a position other than the contact surface.

10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the mouth and the second part are welded together.

11. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second part has a hole that connects the open space with the outer space.

12. The container of claim 11, further comprising a third part covering said hole.

13. A container according to claim 12, wherein said third part is threadably engaged with said second part.

14. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the mouth contains a first component oriented circumferentially around the mouth.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein the first component is a crystalline resin and / or a filler.

16. A container according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the body contains a second component oriented in the direction.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the second component is a crystalline resin and / or a filler.

18. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the inner dimension of the mouth is equal to or smaller than the inner dimension of the body in the direction.

19. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the first resin layer of the body is located between the inner space and the second resin layer of the body.

20. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the first resin layer of the bottom is located between the inner space and the second resin layer of the bottom.

21. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the first resin layer is located between at least a portion of the second component and the open space in the direction.

22. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the thickness of the mouth is greater than the thickness of the body in said direction.

23. A container according to claim 22, wherein the thickness of the mouth is 1.25 times or more and 30 times or less the thickness of the body in the said direction.

24. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the thickness of the second resin layer of the body is greater than the thickness of the first resin layer of the body in the direction.

25. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer have different compositions.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer contain a common resin component.

27. The container of claim 26, wherein the common resin component is a polyolefin or polyester.

28. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the first part is an injection molded or blow molded part.

29. A liquid holder comprising the container according to any one of claims 1 to 28 and a liquid disposed in the internal space.

30. The liquid holder according to claim 29, wherein the liquid is ink for an ink-jet printer.

31. A method for manufacturing a container part having a mouth surrounding an open space, a body surrounding an internal space communicating with an external space via the open space, and a bottom facing the open space via the internal space, comprising the steps of: injecting a first resin material into the mouth cavity of a first molding die having a mouth cavity corresponding to the mouth from a first gate connected to a position corresponding to a side wall of the mouth, causing the first resin material to flow circumferentially around the mouth cavity and filling the mouth cavity with the first resin material; and injecting a second resin material into the second bottom cavity of a second molding die having a second bottom cavity corresponding to the bottom and a second body cavity corresponding to the body from a second gate connected to the second bottom cavity, filling the second bottom cavity with the second resin material and then filling the second body cavity.

32. A method for manufacturing a container part as described in claim 31, wherein the first resin material contains a component that is a crystalline resin and / or a filler, and the first resin material is caused to flow in the circumferential direction in the mouth cavity so that the component is oriented in the circumferential direction.

33. A method for manufacturing a container part according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the first gate is any one of a pin gate, a side gate, a tab gate, a submarine gate, and a direct gate.

34. A method for manufacturing a container part described in any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the first molding die has a first body cavity corresponding to the body, and the first resin material injected from the first gate is filled into the mouth cavity and then filled into the first body cavity.

35. A method for manufacturing a container part as described in claim 34, wherein the first molding die has a first bottom cavity corresponding to the bottom, and the first resin material injected from the first gate is filled into the first body cavity and then filled into the first bottom cavity.

36. A method for manufacturing a container part according to any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein the first mold comprises a first mold member and a second mold member, the mouth cavity is formed between the first mold member and the second mold member, the second mold comprises the first mold member and a third mold member, and the second bottom cavity is formed between the first mold member and the third mold member.

37. A method for manufacturing a container part according to claim 36, wherein the first gate is provided in the first mold member, and the second gate is provided in the third mold member.

38. A method for manufacturing a container part according to any one of claims 31 to 37, wherein a preform made of the first resin material and the second resin material is stretch-blow molded.

39. A method for manufacturing a container, comprising the steps of: manufacturing the container part by the manufacturing method described in any one of claims 31 to 38; and welding a resin part to the opening portion.

40. A method for manufacturing a liquid holder, comprising the steps of: manufacturing the container part by the manufacturing method described in any one of claims 31 to 38; placing a liquid in the internal space; and welding a resin part to the opening portion after the liquid has been placed in the internal space.

Images