JP7164145B2 - Stopper type cap and spout plug - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spout plug provided in, for example, an inner bag of a back-in box in which liquid is contained, and a plugging-type cap used therefor.

For example, a spout plug used in a bag-in-box includes a spout welded to, for example, a polyethylene inner bag, and a stopper-type cap fitted to the spout spout tube. .

The spout and the capping cap are separately molded with resin. It is often shipped with a plug-type cap fitted.

For this reason, the filling company first removes the cap from the spout by having a machine called a decapper grasp the outer periphery of the cap and pull it out straight in the axial direction of the spout. After the inner bag is filled with the liquid through the spout, the spout is capped again by the capping machine and sealed.

Since the content to be filled in such a spout plug is a liquid, a spout and a stopper-type cap are used to prevent the internal liquid from leaking out through the spout plug during transportation, storage, etc. When both are molded from a hard resin, fitting dimensions and the like are set so that the cap is strongly fitted to the spout.

For this reason, it is easy to remove the stopper type cap when it is pulled out straight along the axial direction from the spout by the decapper. Even if you try to use leverage, it won't come off easily.

When the cap is formed of a hard resin such as polyethylene, it is difficult to deform by the force of a human hand. This is because the wall will not deform and will continue to get caught in the spout opening.

Also, spout plugs must be molded within dimensions that are compatible with decappers and capping machines. For this reason, it is not possible to bulge the cap to the outer peripheral side so much with respect to the outer diameter of the pouring tube of the spout, and it is not possible to secure a large portion where a finger can be caught. Therefore, the force applied to the finger is concentrated and painful, and the force applied to the cap is also reduced, making it difficult to remove the cap from the spout by hand.

In order to solve this problem, as shown in Patent Document 1, the cap can be made softer than before by making the cap thinner or molding it with a soft resin such as an elastomer. can be considered.

However, if the stopper type cap is formed softly with the structure as described in Patent Document 1, the fit may be weakened to such an extent that the cap may come off from the spout due to impact during transportation or the like. Also, if the cap is molded from a soft resin such as an elastomer, for example, if it is stored in a warehouse for a long period of time in the summer, the cap will be plastically deformed due to thermal deformation, creating a gap with respect to the spout. And sometimes it becomes impossible to seal. Furthermore, since soft resins such as elastomers are more expensive than general-purpose hard resins such as polyethylene, the use of soft resins raises the manufacturing cost of the cap.

Japanese Patent No. 473359

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made with the intention of solving the above-described problems at once. To provide a plugging type cap which can be opened by human hands from a state fitted to a cap.

That is, the stopper-type cap according to the present invention is a stopper-type cap fitted to a spout having a pouring cylinder serving as an inflow and outflow passage for liquid, and covers the pouring opening of the pouring cylinder. a top plate, an inner annular wall erected against the back surface of the top plate and fitted with the inner peripheral surface of the pouring tube, and an inner annular wall erected against the back surface of the top plate and from the inner annular wall an outer annular wall formed on the outer peripheral side and arranged outside the outer peripheral surface of the pouring cylinder; a ridge portion provided annularly on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the top plate; and one or more cut-throughs extending radially therethrough.

With such a device, since the cut-through is provided so as to penetrate the ridge in the radial direction, a person can hook the ridge and lift the spout obliquely. When pulled upwards, it is easy to deform the side surfaces of the cut through so as to bring them closer to each other. As a result, the cap as a whole can be easily deformed into a substantially V shape, so that the cap can be easily removed from the spout by human hands. In addition, since the cap itself can be easily deformed by human hands, it is also possible to easily fit the cap to the spout by hand.

Furthermore, since the cut-through ensures ease of deformation, it is possible to mold the stopper type cap with a hard resin such as polyethylene. Therefore, the degree of fitting of the cap to the spout can be maintained at the same level, and it is possible to prevent the cap from being easily dislodged by an impact during transportation or the like.

In addition, since it can be formed from a hard resin such as polyethylene, it may be thermally deformed by the ambient temperature like when it is molded from a soft resin such as an elastomer. can be prevented. Therefore, it is also possible to guarantee long-term quality stability. In addition, since hard resins such as polyethylene are cheaper than soft resins such as elastomers, it is easy to reduce the manufacturing cost of the stopper-type cap and make it inexpensive.

Further, when removing the cap by obliquely lifting it from the spout, it is not necessary to apply a very large force. It doesn't have to be easy. Therefore, conventional decappers and capping machines can be used as they are. In addition, since it is possible to suppress the amount of protrusion of the ridge portion in the outer peripheral direction, for example, an accident in which the ridge portion is caught by something during transportation and the plugging-type cap comes off from the spout is less likely to occur. can do.

In order to easily deform the top plate of the stopper type cap into a substantially V-shape, at least two cut-throughs are formed, and the two cut-throughs are arranged so as to face each other in the radial direction. All you have to do is

In order to make it easier to bend the top plate and the ridges regardless of where a person's hand touches the ridges, the cut-throughs should be arranged every 90° in the circumferential direction. .

In order to make the top plate easier to bend than before and to make it easier to remove the stopper type cap from the spout even by hand, a groove is formed on the surface of the top plate on the inner peripheral side of the ridge portion. is further provided.

In order to make the deformation directions of the top plate and the ridge substantially the same, and to increase the amount of deformation of the stopper type cap when the stopper type cap is removed from the spout by hand, the groove is formed. , extending radially between two opposite said cut-throughs.

In order to facilitate deformation of the top panel regardless of where a person's fingers are placed on the protrusion, the grooves should be formed at intervals of 90° in the circumferential direction.

In order for the outer annular wall to be easily deformed together with the top plate and the ridge portion when the cap is removed, the inner surface of the outer annular wall should be positioned at the same position as the cut through in the circumferential direction. It suffices if it has a notch extending in the axial direction.

When the cap is removed from the spout, the outer annular wall can be bent and deformed to make it easier to remove the cap. It may further include one or more cutouts extending radially through the side ends.

In order to make it easier for the outer annular wall to deform into a substantially V-shape when viewed from the side surface side, and to prevent the outer annular wall from getting stuck in the spout when the cap is removed from the spout, the lack of It suffices that at least two portions are formed and the two missing portions are arranged so as to face each other in the radial direction.

In order to make it easier to deform the outer annular wall regardless of where a person's fingers are placed on the protruding portion, the lacking portions may be arranged at every 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.

In order to allow the protrusion and the outer annular wall to form the same deformation mode, and to facilitate manual removal of the cap from the spout, the cut-out portion is formed in the circumferential direction as the cut-through. It is sufficient if they are arranged in the same position.

A spout plug comprising the cap according to the present invention and a spout to which the cap is fitted can be easily opened and closed by hand while maintaining almost the same airtightness as the conventional one. can.

As described above, according to the plugging-type cap according to the present invention, since the cut-through is formed in the projected ridge, the top plate and the ridged portion are arranged with the radial direction in which the cut-through is formed as an axis. For example, it can be easily bent into a V shape. Therefore, even if a person does not lift the cap from the spout straight along the axial direction but obliquely pulls it upward, it can be easily removed from the spout. Therefore, it is not necessary to mold the stopper type cap softly using a soft resin such as an elastomer, and it is possible to mold the cap using a hard resin such as polyethylene. Therefore, as in the conventional case, it is less likely to be affected by thermal deformation due to ambient temperature, and the reliability of sealing performance can be maintained over a long period of time. Moreover, since a hard resin such as polyethylene, which is cheaper than a soft resin such as an elastomer, can be used, it is easy to reduce the manufacturing cost of the cap.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an outlet plug according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the spout of the spout plug according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a plugging-type cap of the spout plug according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional perspective view of the stopper type cap according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view of a spout and a stopper type cap according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the stopper type cap according to the first embodiment as seen from the bottom side. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a stopper-type cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a stopper-type cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a stopper-type cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 4A and 4B are schematic views showing before and after deformation of the cap of the fourth embodiment; FIG.

A spout plug 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG.

The spout plug 200 of the first embodiment is used for containers containing liquids such as juice, wine, and seasonings. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the spout plug 200 is attached to, for example, the inner bag of the back-in box BB to form a spout 101 and a and a stopper type cap 100 to be fitted. Also, the spout plug 200 of the first embodiment is injection-molded with a hard resin.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the spout 101 includes a pouring tube 2 serving as an inflow/outflow path for liquid, and a flange portion 1 extending outward on the base end side of the pouring tube 2 . The spout 101 is fixed to the upper surface of the flange portion 1 by heat-sealing it to an inner bag made of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene. A cap 100 is fitted to the tip of the pouring tube 2 so as to close the opening.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plugging cap 100 has a substantially disk shape and is fitted so as to close the opening at the tip of the spout 101 . In the first embodiment, the cap 100 is injection-molded with a hard resin, and is configured to exert strength to the extent that it can be struck against the spout 101 in the axial direction at least by a capping machine. . On the other hand, the cap 100 of the first embodiment is configured to allow bending in two directions.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the plugging-type cap 100 includes a circular top plate 3, an outer annular wall 5 which is two annular walls erected from the back surface of the top plate 3, and an inner annular wall. It is provided with a wall 4 and a ridge part 6 protruding outward from the surface of the top plate 3. - 特許庁

The top plate 3 has a back surface that closes the opening of the spout 101 and a surface exposed to the outside, and is formed in a flat plate shape in the first embodiment.

The inner annular wall 4 is inserted into the tip of the spout 101 by its outer peripheral surface and engages the inner peripheral surface of the spout 101 . The inner annular wall 4 and the spout 101 of the spout 101 are interlocked with the inner peripheral surface of the spout tube 2 at, for example, a predetermined fitting intersection. It is constructed so that it does not leak.

The outer annular wall 5 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the back surface of the top plate 3 , and is arranged outside the pouring tube 2 in a state where the cap 100 is fitted to the spout 101 . That is, when the cap 100 is fitted to the spout 101, the tip of the pouring cylinder is sandwiched between the inner annular wall 4 and the outer annular wall 5. As shown in FIG. Further, the outer annular wall 5 is formed to protrude from the top plate 3 more than the inner annular wall 4 and has substantially the same wall thickness as the inner annular wall 4 . An undercut formed in the vicinity of the top plate 3 of the outer annular wall 5 is configured to engage with a convex portion formed at the tip of the pouring tube 2 . Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the inner side surface of the outer annular wall 5 and the outer side surface of the pouring tube 2 .

The ridge portion 6 is formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the top plate 3 . The ridge portion 6 is formed to protrude outward from the outer annular wall 5 and is thicker than the outer annular wall 5 and the inner annular wall 4 . The upper surface of this ridge is struck by a stoppering machine when, for example, the stopper type cap 100 is fitted to the spout 101 to close it. Further, the inner side surface of the ridge portion 6 is inclined from the upper surface side toward the top panel 3 side, while the outer side surface of the ridge portion 6 is straight along the axial direction. For example, when the stopper type cap 100 fitted to the spout 101 is removed by a machine such as a decapper, the outer side surface of the ridge portion 6 is pinched all around or at a plurality of points, or the ridge portion 6 is pinched. A member such as a nail is hooked on the lower surface. In addition, the lower surface of the protrusion 6 that protrudes outward is used by a person to put his/her finger on when removing the cap 100 that is fitted to the spout 101 .

Furthermore, the stopper type cap 100 of the first embodiment has a configuration for making it easier for a person to manually remove the stopper type cap 100 that is fitted to the spout 101 . That is, this plugging-type cap 100 includes four cutouts 7 formed in the ridge 6, cross-shaped grooves 8 formed in the surface of the top panel 3, and inner side surfaces of the outer annular wall 5. and four cutouts 9 that are formed. In the first embodiment, the positions where the cut-throughs 7, the grooves 8, and the notches 9 are formed are arranged so as to line up along the radial direction.

The cut-through 7 is provided so as to penetrate the ridge 6 in the radial direction, and is substantially V-shaped when viewed from the radial direction. The four cutouts 7 are formed at every 90° in the circumferential direction with respect to the center of the top panel 3 . That is, two sets of cutouts 7 are arranged so as to face each other.

Four cross-shaped grooves 8 formed on the surface of the top plate 3 are formed along the radial direction between two pairs of opposed cut-throughs 7 .

Four cutouts 9 formed in the outer annular wall 5 are arranged below the general cutout 7, as shown in FIGS.

With the stopper type cap 100 of the first embodiment configured in this way, when the stopper type cap 100 that is fitted to the spout 101 is manually removed, the stopper type cap 100 is bent and deformed. It is easy to remove and can be removed without much effort.

More specifically, since two sets of incisions 7 are arranged to face each other on the ridge 6, each side surface of the incision 7 can be brought closer by putting a finger on the lower surface of the ridge 6 and lifting it upward. , and the ridges 6 do not become a hindrance against bending deformation.

Also, the top plate 3 can be easily bent along the groove 8 formed between the two cut-throughs 7 . Furthermore, since the notch 9 is formed in the outer annular wall 5 and the thickness of this portion is made small, the outer annular wall 5 also easily allows bending deformation.

For these reasons, it is possible to remove the cap 100 from the spout 101 by bending and deforming the cap 100 by hand without softening the whole by forming the cap 100 from a soft resin. It can be done easily.

In addition, since the force required for removal can be kept from being so large, it is not necessary to increase the amount of protrusion 6 that bulges toward the outer periphery so that it is not easy to place a finger thereon. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the dimensions that can be handled by a capping machine or a decapper conventionally used by a liquid filling company or the like, and it is possible to avoid the need for special equipment renewal.

In addition, since the cutouts 7, the grooves 8, and the notches 9 are arranged at every 90° with respect to the circumferential direction, no matter where the finger is placed, the Easy to bend and deform.

Furthermore, since the cap 100 can be made of a hard resin such as polyethylene, the cap 100 and the spout 101 can be thermally deformed even if the cap 100 is stored in an unused state for a long period of time and the temperature changes. It is also possible to prevent gaps from occurring. Moreover, since hard resin such as polyethylene, which is less expensive than soft resin such as elastomer, is used, the manufacturing cost of the cap 100 can be reduced, and the unit price can be suppressed.

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the stopper type cap 100 of the second embodiment, the cut through 7 is formed as a through hole instead of the V-shaped opening groove 8 . That is, a bridging portion 71 that is flush with the upper surface of the ridge portion 6 is formed in the upper portion of the cut through 7 . The thickness of the bridging portion 71 is set, for example, to be equal to or less than the thickness of the top plate 3 so as not to interfere with bending deformation.

With such a cap, it can be easily bent and deformed when it is removed by hand, and the part to be struck by a capping machine can be formed into a complete circular flat surface. can be more easily fitted to the spout 101 .

Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the stopper-type cap 100 of the third embodiment is configured such that two cut-throughs 7 and two grooves 8 are aligned along the radial direction.

Even in such a case, the stopper type cap 100 is easily bent and deformed around the radial direction in which the cutouts 7 and the grooves 8 are arranged, so that the spout 101 is fitted to the spout 101 even by a human hand. The stopper type cap 100 can be easily removed.

Further, in the third embodiment, there is no need to divide the mold for forming the surface side of the top plate 3, and it is possible to form the shape with one mold, which facilitates the manufacture of the mold. , the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the stopper type cap of the fourth embodiment, a structure similar to the cut-through formed in the ridge is also formed in the outer annular wall, and only the top plate and the ridge are formed. In addition, the outer annular wall is also made susceptible to bending deformation to facilitate removal of the cap from the spout.

Specifically, in the stopper type cap of the fourth embodiment, four recessed portions, which are grooves penetrating in the radial direction, are formed in the tip portion, which is the end portion of the outer annular wall opposite to the top plate, in the circumferential direction. are formed every 90°.

The cut-out portion is a substantially V-shaped groove with a rounded bottom surface, and is arranged at the same position as the cut through formed in the ridge portion in the circumferential direction. That is, when viewed from the side, the missing portion and the cut through are arranged so as to be aligned in the axial direction. The groove depth of the cutout portion is about half that of the outer annular wall, and the remaining portion is solidly formed of resin. Therefore, the strength required for the outer annular wall is maintained.

The effect of the stopper type cap of the fourth embodiment configured in this way will be described. FIG. 10(a) shows the plugging-type cap fitted to the spout, and FIG. 10(b) shows the plugging-type cap fitted to the spout with one side of the ridge part obliquely upward. It shows the state in which it is lifted and deformed.

As shown in FIG. 10(b), when one side of the ridge is lifted obliquely upward, the ridge has a cut through, and the ridge has an approximate V shape so that the side walls of the cut come closer to each other. can be transformed into On the other hand, the outer annular wall can be deformed into a substantially V-shape so that the side walls of the missing portion are separated from each other. Therefore, when the cap is removed from the spout, not only the ridge portion but also the outer annular wall are less likely to become a hindrance to bending deformation. Therefore, the force required to cause bending deformation when the cap is removed from the spout can be further reduced, and the cap can be removed easily. In addition, since only a small force is required for removal, it is possible to reduce the burden on fingers placed on the protruding portion and the feeling of pain or the like.

Other embodiments will be described.

The stopper-type cap may not have grooves and notches, and may have only cut-throughs formed in the protruding portion. Even with this kind of thing, since it is possible to eliminate the part that is stuck against bending deformation in the ridge part that is the strongest and is easy to form, it is possible to eliminate the need to manually fit the spout. The plug-type cap can be easily removed.

The arrangement of cuts, grooves, and notches is not limited to those shown in each embodiment, and for example, two cuts, grooves, and notches may be arranged so as not to face each other. The number of cut-throughs provided for the ridge portion may be one. Further, the shape of the groove is not limited to the V-shaped groove, and may be a rectangular groove or a semi-cylindrical groove. In addition, the shape of the top plate is not limited to a plate-like one covering the outside of the tip of the spout as shown in each embodiment. It may be configured to be inserted into the inside of the discharge tube. In the case of such a configuration, the recessed portion of the top plate itself may be used as the inner annular wall and fitted to the pouring tube.

The axially extending length dimension of the outer annular wall may be configured to be shorter than the axially extending length dimension of the inner annular wall. Similarly, the thicknesses of the outer annular wall and the inner annular wall may be different, for example, the inner annular wall may be configured to have a greater radial thickness than the outer annular wall. The inner peripheral side surface of the ridge may also extend straight with respect to the axial direction without being inclined, or the outer peripheral side surface of the ridge may be inclined.

The number and positions of the cutouts formed on the outer annular wall are not limited to those shown in the fourth embodiment. For example, only two recesses may be provided and arranged radially opposite each other. Also, a bridging portion may be formed in the same manner as the cut-through. The positions of the cutouts and the cutouts in the circumferential direction do not have to be exactly the same, and they may be shifted. In other words, the plurality of cuts and the plurality of cutouts may be out of phase with respect to their arrangement.

The liquid contained in the inner bag provided with the spout plug is not limited to those exemplified in each embodiment, and various fluid foods and the like may be used.

In addition, part of each embodiment may be modified or combined without departing from the gist of the present invention.

200... spout plug 100... plugging type cap 101... spout 1... flange 2... spout cylinder 3... top plate 4... inner annular wall 5... outer side Annular wall 51 ... missing part 6 ... projected streak part 7 ... cut through 71 ... bridging part 8 ... groove 9 ... notch

Claims (14)

A plugging-type cap that is fitted to a spout attached to a bag that contains a liquid and that has a pouring cylinder that serves as an inflow and outflow path for the liquid,
a top plate covering the spout of the spout;
an inner annular wall erected against the back surface of the top plate and fitted with the inner peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
An outer annular wall that is erected against the back surface of the top plate, is formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner annular wall, and is arranged outside the outer peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
a ridge portion provided annularly on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the top plate ;
a plurality of cut-throughs radially penetrating the ridge,
At least two of the cut-throughs are formed, and the two cut-throughs are arranged so as to face each other in a radial direction, so that the cap can be removed from the spout. A plugging-type cap characterized in that the ridge portion is configured to allow bending deformation . 2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein said cut-throughs are circumferentially spaced every 90 degrees. 2. The plugging-type cap according to claim 1, further comprising a groove formed on the surface of said top plate on the inner peripheral side of said ridge portion. 4. The cap of claim 3, wherein said groove is formed to extend radially between two opposing said cutouts. 4. The stopper type cap according to claim 3, wherein said grooves are formed at every 90[deg.] in the circumferential direction. 2. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of said outer annular wall is provided with an axially extending notch circumferentially at the same position as said notch. 2. The stopper type cap according to claim 1, further comprising one or more cutouts radially penetrating the end of said outer annular wall opposite said top plate. 8. The stopper type cap according to claim 7, wherein at least two of said lacking portions are formed, and the two lacking portions are arranged so as to face each other in a radial direction. 8. The stopper type cap according to claim 7, wherein said cutouts are circumferentially arranged at every 90[deg.]. 8. The cap according to claim 7, wherein said cutout is circumferentially located at the same position as said cutout. A stopper type cap that is fitted to a spout having a spout that serves as an inflow and outflow path for liquid,
a top plate covering the spout of the spout;
an inner annular wall erected against the back surface of the top plate and fitted with the inner peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
An outer annular wall that is erected against the back surface of the top plate, is formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner annular wall, and is arranged outside the outer peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
a ridge portion provided annularly on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the top plate;
two opposing cuts extending radially through the ridge;
a groove formed on the surface of the top plate on the inner peripheral side of the ridge,
A stopper-type cap, wherein said groove is formed to extend radially between two opposing said cut-throughs. A stopper type cap that is fitted to a spout having a spout that serves as an inflow and outflow path for liquid,
a top plate covering the spout of the spout;
an inner annular wall erected against the back surface of the top plate and fitted with the inner peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
an outer annular wall that stands on the back surface of the top plate, is formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner annular wall, and is arranged outside the outer peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
a ridge portion provided annularly on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the top plate;
one or more cut-throughs radially penetrating the ridge,
A stopper-type cap, wherein the inner surface of the outer annular wall is provided with an axially extending notch circumferentially at the same position as the notch. A stopper type cap that is fitted to a spout having a spout that serves as an inflow and outflow path for liquid,
a top plate covering the spout of the spout;
an inner annular wall erected against the back surface of the top plate and fitted with the inner peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
an outer annular wall that stands on the back surface of the top plate, is formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner annular wall, and is arranged outside the outer peripheral surface of the pouring tube;
a ridge portion provided annularly on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the top plate;
one or more cuts radially penetrating the ridge;
one or more cutouts radially penetrating the end of the outer annular wall opposite the top plate;
A stopper-type cap, wherein the cut-out portion is circumferentially arranged at the same position as the cut-through. a plugging-type cap according to any one of claims 1 to 13;
and a spout into which the cap is fitted.

Images