JP7774404B2 - container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container.

Patent Document 1 describes a self-standing cylindrical container that includes a cylindrical member made of a cylindrical laminated film having a bonding layer on its outermost surface that is bonded to a sealant layer on its innermost surface, a top surface member provided on the top surface, and a bottom surface member provided on the bottom surface.

Patent Document 2 describes a paper container for liquids that uses at least a paper substrate, has sides with see-through films on the front and back of the substrate, and has a window section on the side that has no substrate.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-1715 JP 2015-98339 A

In recent years, there have been attempts to reduce the amount of plastic used in containers and packaging and increase the use of biodegradable materials such as paper and cellophane. However, in areas where plastic containers have traditionally been used, when trying to replace them with paper or cellophane, it has been difficult to reproduce the luxurious design that can be achieved with plastic.

Furthermore, when paper is used as the base material for the container, there is a risk of delamination occurring in the paper layer. For example, if the paper layer is formed into a cylindrical shape, the ends of the paper layer may become exposed along the length or circumference of the tube, causing the paper layer to deteriorate. Furthermore, even if the paper layer is not at its end, it may still deteriorate due to delamination when an external force such as squeezing is applied.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a container that has a low environmental impact, is aesthetically pleasing, and can prevent delamination of the paper layers.

To solve the above problem, the present invention provides a container having a body for accommodating contents, wherein the body is formed from a laminate having a paper layer forming an intermediate layer, an inner resin layer laminated on the inside of the paper layer, and an outer resin layer laminated on the outside of the paper layer, wherein the paper layer has a plurality of through holes formed throughout the body, and the inner resin layer and the outer resin layer are bonded together at the plurality of through holes.

The inner resin layer and the outer resin layer may each be formed from an adhesive resin layer or a sealant resin layer.
The laminate may have a printing substrate layer having a printing layer on at least one side thereof, and an adhesive resin layer that adheres the printing substrate layer to the paper layer from the outside of the paper layer.
The inner or outer surface of the body may have irregularities corresponding to the shape of the through-hole.

The laminate may have a first sealant resin layer that forms the inner surface of the body portion and a second sealant resin layer that forms the outer surface of the body portion, and the body portion may be formed into a cylindrical shape by joining the inner surface of the body portion and the outer surface of the body portion at both circumferential ends.
The body portion may be cylindrical, and a molding member or an end member may be joined to at least one end of the body portion in the length direction.
The molding member or the end member may have an opening for removing the contents.

The present invention provides a container that has a low environmental impact, is highly aesthetically pleasing, and can prevent delamination of the paper layers.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a laminate. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a laminate having a printing substrate layer. 1A to 1D are plan views illustrating examples of through-hole patterns in a laminate. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the container of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a container according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a container according to a third embodiment.

The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show examples of laminates 10 and 100 according to the embodiments. Figures 3(a) to 3(d) are plan views illustrating the patterns of through holes 14 in the laminates 10 and 100.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the laminate 10, 100 of this embodiment has a paper layer 12, which serves as an intermediate layer, having multiple through holes 14 formed throughout the laminate 10, 100. The through holes 14 penetrate between the inner and outer surfaces of the paper layer 12. In addition to the paper layer 12, the laminate 10, 100 has at least an inner resin layer 11 laminated on the inner side of the paper layer 12 and an outer resin layer 13, 17 laminated on the outer side of the paper layer 12. The inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layer 13, 17 close the through holes 14.

The inside is the side closer to the space in the body where the contents are stored, and the outside is the side farther from the space in the body where the contents are stored. The inside surface is called the inner surface, and the outside surface is called the outer surface; and sometimes the inside and outer surfaces together are called both surfaces.

The container of this embodiment has a body formed from the laminate 10, 100. The through holes 14 are distributed throughout the body. Both surfaces in the thickness direction of the laminate 10, 100 can form the inner and outer surfaces of the body, respectively. When forming the body from the laminate 10, 100, another layer may be laminated on the inner surface of the laminate 10, 100, and the inner surface of the body may be formed from that other layer. Alternatively, another layer may be laminated on the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100, and the outer surface of the body may be formed from that other layer. These other layers include a coating layer, a cover film layer, etc.

The laminates 10, 100 have an adhesive portion 15 inside the through hole 14, where the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layer 13, 17 are bonded. The adhesive portion 15 may be formed by welding the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layer 13, 17 together. If either the inner resin layer 11 or the outer resin layer 13, 17 is an adhesive resin layer, the adhesive portion 15 may be formed by the adhesive strength of the adhesive resin layer. In this way, the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layer 13, 17 may be in direct contact with each other at the adhesive portion 15, or the adhesive portion 15 may be formed by an adhesive interposed between the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layer 13, 17. In the following description, the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layer 13, 17 may be collectively referred to as the resin layers 11, 13, 17.

By forming an adhesive section 15 consisting of resin layers 11, 13, and 17 inside the through-hole 14, delamination of the paper layer 12 can be suppressed. For example, when cutting the laminate 10, 100 to the shape and dimensions of the body, the paper layer 12 is not continuous in the direction along the edge of the laminate 10, 100, and portions of the paper layer 12 and portions where the adhesive section 15 is formed inside the through-hole 14 alternate. This improves the strength of the paper layer 12 at the edge of the laminate 10, 100.

The through holes 14 with adhesive portions 15 formed therein do not necessarily have to be located on the ends of the laminate 10, 100; they may be located near the ends of the laminate 10, 100. Furthermore, the through holes 14 with adhesive portions 15 formed therein are distributed throughout the entire laminate 10, 100, even in areas other than the ends of the laminate 10, 100. This prevents delamination of the paper layers 12 even when an external force such as ironing is applied to the laminate 10, 100, improving the strength of the container.

The laminate 10, 100 can be used as a raw roll for forming a body section. The raw roll for the body section may have an area large enough to form multiple body sections from one sheet. The through holes 14 and adhesive sections 15 need only be formed in the area of the raw roll where the body section will be formed. In areas where no body section will be formed, for example, areas that will become cutting waste when the raw roll is cut to form the body section, the formation of the through holes 14 or adhesive sections 15 may be omitted.

In a plane intersecting the thickness direction of the paper layer 12, the percentage (area ratio) of the area of the through holes 14 to the total area of the paper layer 12, including the through holes 14, can be, for example, approximately 1-99%, or approximately 10-90%. The larger the area ratio of the through holes 14, the larger the area ratio where the adhesive joints 15 are formed, thereby improving the reinforcing effect of the paper layer 12. The larger the area ratio of the paper layer 12 excluding the through holes 14, the more paper can be used and the less resin can be used. Specific examples of the area ratio of the through holes 14 include, but are not limited to, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, or intermediate or nearby values thereof.

The pattern of the multiple through holes 14 in a plane intersecting the thickness direction of the paper layer 12 is not particularly limited and may be regular or irregular. Within a unit area containing a specific number of through holes 14, the through holes 14 may be arranged with less regularity, with the unit area being regularly repeated in a specified direction of the body. If the laminate 10, 100 forms a long web, the pattern of through holes 14 may be repeated in the machine direction (MD), width direction (TD), or diagonal direction. If the body is cylindrical, square, or other tubular, the pattern of through holes 14 may be repeated in the circumferential direction, length direction, or diagonal direction of the body.

The circumferential direction of a cylindrical body is the direction along the annular cross section of the body in a cross section that cuts across the cylindrical body. The longitudinal direction of a cylindrical body is the direction connecting both open ends of the cylindrical body. When a cylindrical body is placed upright, the longitudinal direction is the same as the height direction. The radial direction of a cylindrical body is the direction connecting any point on the annular cross section of the body to the center point in a plane that intersects with the longitudinal direction.

The plan views shown in Figures 3(a) to (d) are developed views in which the left-right direction of the paper corresponds to the circumferential direction of the body and the up-down direction of the paper corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the body. Figures 3(a) and (b) show an example in which the through holes 14 are quadrangular (approximately square), while Figures 3(c) and (d) show an example in which the through holes 14 are circular. Figures 3(a) and (c) show an example in which adjacent through holes 14 are repeatedly arranged diagonally. Figures 3(b) and (d) show an example in which adjacent through holes 14 are repeatedly arranged in the up-down and left-right directions.

The shape of the through holes 14 is not limited to a rectangle or a circle, and any shape can be used. The through holes 14 may be polygonal, such as a triangle, pentagon, or hexagon, or may be curved, such as an ellipse or egg shape. Linear through holes 14 with a desired width may be arranged in an appropriate shape, such as a wave shape, cloud shape, or mountain shape. Two or more types of through holes 14 with different shapes, dimensions, etc. may be mixed. Tools such as punching or press dies may be used to form the through holes 14 in the paper layer 12.

The diameter of the through hole 14 is, for example, within the range of 1 to 20 mm. When the shape of the through hole 14 is polygonal, the diameter is the distance between opposing vertices, sides, or vertices and sides. When there are two or more of these, it is preferable that the minimum and maximum values are within the above range. When the shape of the through hole 14 is non-circular, such as elliptical, the diameter is, for example, the maximum distance between any two points on the periphery of the through hole 14. Specific examples of the diameter of the through hole 14 are not particularly limited, but include, for example, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, etc., or intermediate or nearby values among these.

The spacing between adjacent through holes 14 can be, for example, within the range of 1 to 20 mm. For example, the spacing between the through holes 14 can be the minimum distance between any one point on the outer periphery of the first through hole 14 and any one point on the outer periphery of the second through hole 14 of two adjacent through holes 14. Specific examples of the spacing between the through holes 14 include, but are not limited to, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, etc., or intermediate or nearby values among these.

When the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 laminated in the through holes 14 of the laminate 10, 100 are transparent, the contents can be seen from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100. In the case of a laminate 100 having a printed substrate layer 16, the state of the contents can be visually confirmed from the outer surface of the laminate 100, depending on the transparency of the printed substrate layer 16. Even when the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 are colored or hazy, the amount, shape, etc. of the contents can be confirmed from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100 as a shadow through the inside of the through holes 14. The term "transparent" does not necessarily mean colorless transparent, but can also mean colored transparent.

When the laminate 10, 100 is transparent through the through-hole 14, the color, shape, etc. of the contents can be displayed at the position of the through-hole 14, and by combining this with the color, etc. of the laminate 10, 100 around the through-hole 14, a design that changes over time can be realized. For example, the contents may be a liquid containing particles with a diameter similar to or smaller than the diameter of the through-hole 14. Specific examples include beverages, seasonings, medicines, etc. with dispersed granular material.

The paper layer 12 is formed from a paper sheet. Examples of fibers that make up the paper include plant fibers, animal fibers, mineral fibers, synthetic fibers, and recycled fibers. From the perspective of reducing the petroleum dependency of the laminates 10 and 100, paper manufactured by agglutinating plant fibers such as wood pulp, bamboo pulp, straw pulp, bast fibers, seed hair fibers, leaf vein fibers, and grass fibers is preferred. Because resin layers 11, 13, and 17 are laminated on both sides of the laminates 10 and 100, there is no need to provide a resin layer on the paper that forms the paper layer 12. From the perspective of making the laminates 10 and 100 thin and facilitating processing of the body, it is preferable that the basis weight of the paper layer ¹² be approximately 7 to 60 g/m2.

The color of the paper layer 12 is not particularly limited and may be white or a color such as brown or yellow. When coloring the paper layer 12, a coloring agent such as a dye may be added to the pulp during papermaking, or the paper layer 12 may be adsorbed with a coloring agent such as a dye after papermaking. The paper layer 12 may have two or more colors in each region, such as a gradation or pattern, or the coloring may form a pattern. Some or all of the paper regions forming the paper layer 12 may be colored by dyeing, metal vapor deposition, or the like. The color of the paper layer 12 may be visible from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100 through the outer resin layer 13, 17. In this case, the colored paper layer 12 will be visible from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100.

In the laminate 10 shown in FIG. 1, the inner resin layer 11 is formed from a first sealant resin layer 11 on both sides of the paper layer 12, and the outer resin layer 13 is formed from a second sealant resin layer 13. The first sealant resin layer 11 forms the inner surface of the body, and the second sealant resin layer 13 forms the outer surface of the body. For the laminate 10, the same reference numeral is used for the inner resin layer 11 and the first sealant resin layer 11, and the same reference numeral is used for the outer resin layer 13 and the second sealant resin layer 13.

In the laminate 100 shown in FIG. 2, a printing substrate layer 16 and an adhesive resin layer 17 are laminated between a paper layer 12 and a second sealant resin layer 13. On both sides of the paper layer 12, an inner resin layer 11 is formed from a first sealant resin layer 11, and an outer resin layer 17 is formed from an adhesive resin layer 17. The adhesive resin layer 17 is used for interlayer adhesion between at least the paper layer 12 and the printing substrate layer 16. Furthermore, the adhesive resin layer 17 may be adhesive to the first sealant resin layer 11. For the laminate 100, the inner resin layer 11 and the first sealant resin layer 11 are designated by the same reference numeral, and the outer resin layer 17 and the adhesive resin layer 17 are designated by the same reference numeral.

By bonding the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layers 13, 17 inside the through hole 14, irregularities corresponding to the shape of the through hole 14 are formed on the surfaces of the laminate 10, 100, which form the inner and outer surfaces of the body. The surface of the first sealant resin layer 11 is formed with recesses 11a recessed according to the depth to which the inner surface of the inner resin layer 11 has fallen into the through hole 14, and protrusions 11b consisting of the surface remaining around the recesses 11a. The surface of the second sealant resin layer 13 is formed with recesses 13a recessed according to the depth to which the inner surface of the outer resin layer 13, 17 has fallen into the through hole 14, and protrusions 13b consisting of the surface remaining around the recesses 13a.

The inner resin layer 11 laminated on the inner surface of the paper layer 12 does not necessarily have to be the first sealant resin layer 11 that forms the inner surface of the barrel. Another layer (not shown) may be interposed between the first sealant resin layer 11 and the paper layer 12, and an adhesive resin layer may be laminated to bond the other layer to the inner surface of the paper layer 12. In this case, the adhesive resin layer becomes the inner resin layer 11. Examples of other layers include, but are not limited to, a resin layer, a paper layer, a metal layer, a cellophane layer, etc.

Figures 1 and 2 show the inner resin layer 11 and outer resin layers 13, 17 respectively dropping into the through-hole 14 from both sides of the paper layer 12. As a result, recesses 11a, 13a and protrusions 11b, 13b are formed on the surfaces of the first sealant resin layer 11 and the second sealant resin layer 13, respectively. In the following description, the first sealant resin layer 11 or the second sealant resin layer 13 may be collectively referred to as sealant resin layers 11, 13.

Although not specifically shown, only the inner resin layer 11 may be recessed into the through hole 14, with recesses 11a and protrusions 11b formed only on the surface of the first sealant resin layer 11, which forms the inner surface of the barrel. Alternatively, only the outer resin layers 13, 17 may be recessed into the through hole 14, with recesses 13a and protrusions 13b formed only on the surface of the second sealant resin layer 13, which forms the outer surface of the barrel.

By forming recesses 11a, 13a on the surface of the sealant resin layers 11, 13, it is possible to adjust or improve the tactile sensation of fingers gripping the contents or container. The recesses 13a and protrusions 13b formed on the second sealant resin layer 13, which forms the outer surface of the body, provide anti-slip properties and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The recesses 11a, 13a in the sealant resin layers 11, 13 tend to create shadows at the location of the through-hole 14. If the resin layers 11, 13, 17 of the through-hole 14 are transparent, the shadows created by the recesses 11a, 13a, the colors of the resin layers 11, 13, 17, and the contents of the body visible through the through-hole 14 will overlap, allowing for a variety of designs to be realized.

When both the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layers 13, 17 each sink into the through hole 14 and block the cross section of the through hole 14, the thickness of each resin layer 11, 13, 17 can be made thinner, and the thickness of the laminate 10, 100 can be made thinner overall, compared to when only one of the inner resin layer 11 or the outer resin layers 13, 17 sinks into the through hole 14 and blocks the cross section of the through hole 14.

When bonding the inner resin layer 11 and the outer resin layers 13, 17 inside the through-hole 14, the direction or depth to which the resin layers 11, 13, 17 sink into the through-hole 14 can be adjusted by adjusting the direction and strength of pressure applied to the laminate 10, 100 from the inside or outside. If the resin layers 11, 13, 17 are heated and melted when pressure is applied to the resin layers 11, 13, 17, the fluidity of the resin layers 11, 13, 17 increases, making it easier to close the through-hole 14. Vibrations may be applied using ultrasound or other means to prevent air bubbles from remaining.

The resin layers 11, 13, and 17 in contact with the paper layer 12 preferably have appropriate fluidity when heat-welded or molded to the paper layer 12. For example, the melt (mass) flow rate (MFR) at the heat-welding or molding temperature is preferably approximately 5 to 20 g/10 min. Before laminating the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 onto the paper layer 12, the surface of the paper layer 12 may be subjected to a surface treatment such as anchor treatment to improve adhesion to the resin layers 11, 13, and 17.

The inner resin layer 11 may be first laminated toward the inner surface of the paper layer 12 having the through hole 14, and then the outer resin layers 13, 17 may be laminated on the outer surface of the paper layer 12. Alternatively, the outer resin layers 13, 17 may be first laminated toward the outer surface of the paper layer 12 having the through hole 14, and then the inner resin layer 11 may be laminated on the inner surface of the paper layer 12. When laminating the resin layers 11, 13, 17 on one side of the paper layer 12 having the through hole 14, a receiving surface such as rubber or film may be provided on the surface of the paper layer 12 opposite the resin layers 11, 13, 17.

The sealant resin forming the sealant resin layers 11, 13 may be at least one of polyolefin resins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA), cyclic olefin resins such as cycloolefin polymer (COP) and cycloolefin copolymer (COC), thermoplastic resins, adhesive resins, coating agents, etc. The sealant resin layers 11, 13 may be made of any resin that is weldable to the same type of sealant resin layer 11, 13. The thickness of each of the first sealant resin layer 11 and the second sealant resin layer 13 is, for example, 10 to 50 μm, and may be approximately 25 to 30 μm.

Since the sealant resin layers 11, 13 are laminated on both sides of the laminate 10, 100, when forming a cylindrical body from the laminate 10, 100, it is preferable to bond the inner surface of the laminate 10, 100 at one circumferential end of the body to the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100 at the other circumferential end of the body in a facing relationship. By bonding the inner surface and outer surface of the body at both circumferential ends of the body, when forming the laminate 10, 100 into a cylindrical shape, the bonded portion does not protrude radially from the body, as would occur if the inner surfaces or outer surfaces of the laminate 10, 100 were bonded together. This improves the design and feel of the bonded portion.

When the body portion is formed from the laminate 10, 100 by heat sealing using the sealant resin layers 11, 13, there are no problems with adhesive overflow or insufficient application, compared to joining the laminate 10, 100 by partial application of adhesive, and the laminate 10, 100 can be joined more reliably. The sealant resin in at least one of the sealant resin layers 11, 13 may melt to cover the edges of the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16. Furthermore, a coating agent such as resin or varnish may be applied to cover the edges of the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16 at the circumferential edges of the laminate 10, 100.

In the cylindrical body, at or near the joint where the circumferential ends of the laminates 10, 100 are joined, as described above, the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 laminated on both sides of the paper layer 12 are joined inside the through hole 14. This prevents delamination of the paper layer 12 at the end of the paper layer 12 that contacts the joint.

The adhesive resin that forms the adhesive resin layer 17 may be at least one of polyolefin resins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA), cyclic olefin resins such as cycloolefin polymer (COP) and cycloolefin copolymer (COC), thermoplastic resins, coating agents, etc. It is preferable to use an adhesive resin that is appropriate for the material and surface condition of the paper layer 12 and the printing substrate layer 16. The thickness of the adhesive resin layer 17 is, for example, 10 to 50 μm, and may be approximately 25 to 30 μm.

The thickness of each of the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 in contact with the paper layer 12 is preferably at least 5 μm thick, and more preferably at least 10 μm thick, half the thickness of the paper layer 12 having the through hole 14. This allows the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 to be more uniformly adhered to the surface of the paper layer 12 surrounding the through hole 14, even if part of the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 falls into the through hole 14.

It is preferable that at least one of the sealant resin layers 11, 13 or the adhesive resin layer 17 contains a biomass resin. The sealant resin or adhesive resin may be a mixture of a biomass resin and another resin. The sealant resin or adhesive resin may be formed solely from a biomass resin. Examples of biomass resins that can be used as sealant resins or adhesive resins include biomass polyethylene, biomass polypropylene, biomass polyethylene terephthalate, and biomass polylactic acid.

While synthetic resins derived from fossil fuels such as petroleum do not contain radioactive carbon ( ¹⁴ C) with a mass number of 14, biomass resins derived from biomass such as plants contain ¹⁴ C in carbon, making it possible to distinguish between the two. The proportion of carbon derived from biomass (biomass ratio) can be measured based on the ¹⁴ C content. The biomass ratio of biomass resins is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and most preferably 100%.

Since the second sealant resin layer 13 is laminated on the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16, it is preferably a highly transparent sealant resin so that at least one of the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16 can be seen from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100. Highly transparent sealant resins such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), which have lower crystallinity than high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are preferred because of their excellent heat-sealing properties and transparency. By laminating the second sealant resin layer 13 on the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16, it is possible to protect the design of the printed layer formed on the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16, provide waterproofing and stain resistance, and suppress color fading.

The printing substrate layer 16 is formed from a printing substrate and a printing layer laminated on at least one side of the printing substrate. Examples of printing substrates include paper, cellophane, resin film, and metal foil. When the printing substrate is transparent, such as cellophane or resin film, the printing layer may be formed on the inner surface of the printing substrate. When printing layers are laminated on both sides of the printing substrate, the designs of these printing layers can be overlapped and made visible from the outside of the laminate 10, 100.

When the printed layer is formed on the entire surface of the laminate 10, 100, the paper layer 12 can be made invisible from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100. By omitting part of the printed layer, for example, the paper layer 12 laminated inside the printed layer can be made visible from the outer surface of the laminate 10, 100. The printed layer can be formed from an ink layer containing a coloring material such as a pigment or dye, and a binder such as a resin or oil.

A solid print layer may be formed on the entire surface of the printing substrate, and then a pattern print layer may be overlaid on top of it. The pattern print may be a pattern print that includes multiple colors. There is no particular limit to the number of colors in the multi-color print, but examples include two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight colors. The pattern print may be overlaid on the entire surface of the solid print. The pattern print may be overlaid on only a partial area of the solid print. Two or more layers of pattern print may be overlaid.

The thickness of the laminate 10, 100, for example, is preferably 500 μm or less as the total thickness of each layer, but may be approximately 350 μm or 200 μm. The percentage of the thickness of the laminate 10, 100 that is accounted for by the paper layer 12 may be, for example, 5-95%, 10-90%, or 20-80%. The percentage of the thickness of the laminate 10, 100 that is accounted for by the printing substrate layer 16 may be, for example, 5-95%, 10-90%, or 20-80%. The percentage of the thickness of the laminate 10, 100 that is accounted for by the total thickness of the sealant resin layers 11, 13 or adhesive resin layers 17 may be, for example, 5-95%, 10-90%, or 20-80%. In the laminates 10 and 100, the balance of the materials, thicknesses, etc. of the paper layer 12, printing substrate layer 16, sealant resin layers 11 and 13, and adhesive resin layer 17 can be designed as appropriate.

The laminates 10, 100 may have layers other than those described above. For example, a transparent resin film may be laminated between the paper layer 12 and the second sealant resin layer 13 as a base layer, reinforcing layer, etc. The transparency of the transparent resin film is not limited to colorless transparency, but may also be colored transparency. A desired resin film may be laminated between the paper layer 12 and the first sealant resin layer 11 as a base layer, reinforcing layer, etc.

The material of the resin film that can be laminated as an intermediate layer of the laminate 10, 100, other than the sealant resin layers 11, 13, is not particularly limited, but examples include polyamide resins such as nylon; polyester-based resins such as polyethylene terephthalate; and polyolefin-based resins such as polyethylene-based resins, oriented polypropylene resins, and cyclic olefin-based resins. The thickness of the resin film used as the intermediate layer is, for example, 5 to 50 μm, and more preferably 7 to 30 μm.

The laminate 10, 100 may be a packaging material without a barrier layer. Alternatively, the laminate 10, 100 may be a packaging material with a barrier layer. The barrier layer is a layer that reduces the permeability of water vapor or oxygen. Examples of the barrier layer of the laminate 10, 100 include a metal foil such as aluminum foil, a resin film vapor-deposited with a metal such as aluminum, or a metal oxide such as silica or alumina. Even when the laminate 10, 100 does not have a barrier layer, the sealant resin layers 11, 13 are laminated on both sides of the laminate 10, 100, thereby reducing the permeability of water vapor, oxygen, etc. compared to the paper layer 12. It is preferable that the sealant resin layers 11, 13 have lower permeability than the paper layer 12.

By covering the inner surface of the paper layer 12 with the first sealant resin layer 11 and the outer surface of the paper layer 12 with the second sealant resin layer 13 or adhesive resin layer 17, the water absorption of the laminate 10, 100 can be suppressed. Even when paper, cellophane, or the like is used as the printing substrate for the printing substrate layer 16, by covering the inner surface of the printing substrate layer 16 with the first sealant resin layer 11 or adhesive resin layer 17 and covering the outer surface of the printing substrate layer 16 with the second sealant resin layer 13, the water absorption of the laminate 10, 100 can be suppressed. This improves the water resistance of the laminate 10, 100 and also suppresses wrinkles and poor appearance of the laminate 10, 100 caused by moisture absorption by the paper layer 12 or printing substrate layer 16.

The method for laminating the layers that form the laminate 10, 100 is not particularly limited, but examples include dry lamination, extrusion lamination, and co-extrusion. An adhesive layer made of an adhesive, adhesive resin, anchoring agent, or the like may be provided between the layers. The laminate 10, 100 may be endowed with one or more functionalities, such as oxygen absorption, odor absorption, or non-adsorption. Therefore, the laminate 10, 100 may have a functional layer with one or more functionalities, such as oxygen absorption, odor absorption, or non-adsorption.

The functional layer having an oxygen absorbing function (oxygen absorbing layer) may be formed from a resin layer containing an oxygen absorbent such as a conjugated diene polymer or a transition metal compound.
A functional layer (such as an odor absorbing layer or deodorizing layer) having an odor absorbing function may be formed, for example, from a resin layer or paper layer containing an odor absorbing agent. Examples of odor absorbing agents include deodorizers that decompose or absorb odorous components such as ammonia, amines, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, chlorine compounds, and aldehydes, and fragrances and air fresheners that alleviate the sense of odorous components. An appropriate agent may be used as the odor decomposing agent for each target odorous component. Porous materials such as activated carbon, wood and bamboo charcoal, and zeolite may also be used as odor adsorbents.
The functional layer having a non-adsorption function (non-adsorption layer) may be, for example, a resin layer containing a non-adsorption resin such as a polyester resin or a cyclic olefin resin laminated as a sealant layer that comes into contact with the contents or an inner layer that is close to the contents.

The container of this embodiment has a body in which the storage space for the contents is surrounded by the laminate 10, 100 described above. The contents stored in the body are not particularly limited and can be any material, such as liquids, solids, powders, granules, or a mixture of two or more of these. The contents stored in the body are surrounded by the laminate 10, 100 described above. The types of contents are not particularly limited and include beverages, food products, seasonings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents, adhesives, household goods, industrial products, etc.

The cylindrical body has end faces that open at both ends in the length direction. The shape of these end faces is not limited to circular, but may be elliptical, oval, oval, polygonal, etc. Examples of polygonal end face shapes include triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, nonagons, and decagons. The shapes of both end faces of the body do not necessarily have to be congruent (same shape and same dimensions); for example, the body may have a taper so that one end face is larger or smaller than the other end face. For example, the shapes of both end faces of the body may differ from each other, such as one end face being circular and the other being polygonal.

The diameter of the body is not particularly limited, but is, for example, within the range of 5 to 250 mm, preferably within the range of 10 to 200 mm. When the body is rectangular, the diameter refers to the distance between opposing vertices, sides, or vertices and sides; if there are two or more of these, it is preferable that the minimum and maximum values are within the above ranges. The diameter of the body is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 20 mm, 50 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm, etc.

A shaped member or end member may be joined to at least one longitudinal end of the cylindrical body. The shaped member or end member may close the end of the body. The shaped member or end member may be provided with an opening for removing the contents. The shaped member may be a three-dimensional molded product. The end member may be a thin member with a two-dimensional flat or curved surface, such as a sheet-like film or laminate.

The shaped member or end surface member can be arranged on the upper surface (top surface) or lower surface (bottom surface) when the length direction of the body is arranged vertically. Even if the length direction of the body is not vertically aligned, the shaped member or end surface member can be arranged on at least one of the end surfaces of the body.

The molded member can be formed from metal, resin, wood, etc. It is preferable that the molded member be formed from a molding resin such as a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, or a photocurable resin. The molding resin may contain additives such as fillers and stabilizers. Examples of molding resins include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene; polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid; and other thermoplastic resins.

At the joint between the laminate 10, 100 forming the body and the molding member, the edges of the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16 may be coated with resin by melting either the sealant resin layer 11, 13 or the molding resin. Furthermore, a coating agent such as resin or varnish may be applied to cover the edges of the paper layer 12 or the printed substrate layer 16 at the longitudinal ends of the laminate 10, 100.

The end surface members may be formed from the same laminated body 10, 100 as the body portion, or from other sheet-like materials. Other sheet-like materials from which the end surface members can be formed include resin films, paper substrates, and laminate films in which different materials such as paper or metal foil are laminated to resin. If the laminate film has a sealant resin layer on at least one side, the sealant resin layer of the end surface members can be bonded to the sealant resin layers 11, 13 of the body portion. The paper substrate of the other sheet-like members may be a paper layer without through holes 14.

When joining an end member to the longitudinal end of the body, the joining can be performed by aligning at least one of the sealant resin layers 11, 13 of the laminate 10, 100 that forms the body with at least one surface of the end member in the thickness direction. The peripheral portion of the end member may be bent in the longitudinal direction of the body along the inner or outer surface of the body.

The molded member or end surface member may be a non-flexible plate. The molded member or end surface member may be a bottom plate at the bottom of the body. The bottom plate is formed, for example, from a hard resin. Examples of materials that can be used to form the bottom plate include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), and polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The bottom plate can be produced, for example, by injection molding.

Heat sealing (thermal welding) can be used to join the bottom plate to the body. There are no particular limitations on the method of joining by thermal welding, but examples include ultrasonic welding, high-frequency welding, and laser welding. The bottom plate and body may also be joined with an adhesive.

As described above, at or near the joint where the body portion and the molded member or end surface member are joined, the resin layers 11, 13, and 17 laminated on both sides of the paper layer 12 having the through hole 14 are joined inside the through hole 14. This prevents delamination of the paper layer 12 at the end of the paper layer 12 that contacts the joint.

<Cylindrical container>
4 shows a cylindrical container 20 as a container of the first embodiment. The cylindrical container 20 includes a body 21 formed from the laminate 10, 100 described above, a shoulder 22 joined to the upper end of the body 21, a cap 24 that closes the spout 23 of the shoulder 22, and a bottom 25 joined to the lower end of the body 21. The shoulder 22 may be formed from the molded member described above. The bottom 25 may be formed from the end surface member described above or from the molded member described above.

The spout 23 may be formed integrally with the shoulder 22. If the top surface is formed from a flat end member instead of the shoulder 22, the molded spout 23 may be joined to the end member, and pouring may be possible from an opening formed in the end member. The cap 24 may be connected to the spout 23 by screws, adhesives, thin-walled sections, fitting, elastic contraction force, etc. The connection between the spout 23 and the cap 24 may allow repeated attachment and detachment (resealing). The spout 23 may be designed so that it cannot be resealed once the cap 24 has been opened. The spout 23 may be reclosable using an opened cap 24, while allowing visual confirmation that the cap 24 has been opened.

The means for closing the spout 23 is not limited to the cap 24, and any other structure may be used. For example, a sealing film may be attached to the spout 23, and the contents may be sucked out by inserting a straw into the film. Although not specifically shown, the spout 23 and cap 24 may be connected via a thin portion such as a hinge. In this case, the shoulder 22, spout 23, and cap 24 may be formed as a single molded member.

If the end surface member of the bottom 25 of the cylindrical container 20 is omitted, it is possible to close the body radially to form a tube container. A sealing portion for sealing the bottom 25 of the tube container can be formed by welding the first sealant resin layers 11 on the inner surface of the laminate 10, 100 to each other. A coating agent such as resin or varnish may be applied to the end of the laminate 10, 100 at the sealing portion to cover the end of the paper layer 12.

In a cylindrical container 20 having a body 21 formed into a cylindrical shape, if the body 21 were formed only from a flexible resin film, the weight of the contents would cause the body 21 to deform when filled, resulting in a poor appearance. In the case of the cylindrical container 20 of the embodiment, the body 21 is formed from a laminate 10, 100 including a paper layer 12 having a through hole 14 and resin layers 11, 13, 17 covering both sides of the paper layer 12. This provides appropriate durability and deformability, preventing deformation of the body 21, such as swelling of the lower part of the body 21 due to the weight of the contents.

<Jar container>
5 shows a jar 30 as a container of the second embodiment. The jar 30 includes a body 31 formed from the laminate 10, 100 described above, an annular member 32 joined to the upper end of the body 31, a lid 33 that seals an opening formed in the annular member 32 in an openable and closable manner, and a bottom 34 joined to the lower end of the body 31. The annular member 32 may be formed from the molded member described above. The bottom 34 may be formed from the end surface member described above.

If the contents do not need to be sealed, the lid portion 33 may be provided with holes or a mesh or lattice. The lid portion 33 may be formed from a molded member that is integrated with the annular member 32 via a hinge or the like. The lid portion 33 may be molded separately from the annular member 32 so that the lid portion 33 can be connected to the annular member 32 by screws, fitting, or the like. A ring-shaped edge with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the lid portion 33 may protrude from the top surface of the annular member 32, and the edge of the annular member 32 and the outer periphery of the lid portion 33 may overlap radially.

The portion of the annular member 32 that is joined to the body 31 may be designated as the first annular member, and the portion that is joined to the lid 33 may be designated as the second annular member, with the first and second annular members being formed as separate bodies. In this case, the process of joining the first annular member to the body 31 and the process of connecting the second annular member to the first annular member can be carried out in stages. The structure for joining the lid 33 to the second annular member may be similar to the structure for joining the lid 33 to the annular member 32 described above.

Examples of structures for connecting the first and second annular members include thermal welding of the resin that forms the annular members, bonding using an adhesive, insert molding in which one annular member is molded integrally with the other annular member, screws, and fitting. A ring-shaped edge portion with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the second annular member may protrude from the upper surface of the first annular member, and the edge portion of the first annular member and the second annular member may overlap radially. A ring-shaped edge portion with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first annular member may protrude from the lower surface of the second annular member, and the edge portion of the second annular member and the first annular member may overlap radially.

<Rod-shaped container>
6 shows a rod-shaped container 40 as a container of the third embodiment. The rod-shaped container 40 includes a body 41 formed from the above-described laminate 10, 100, and lid members 42, 43 that seal both longitudinal ends of the body 41. The lid members 42, 43 can each be formed from the above-described molded member.

The rod-shaped container 40 is suitable for storing rod-shaped items such as syringes, lipstick, and sweets. The syringe may be a pharmaceutical container pre-filled with an injection solution. A holding member of an appropriate structure can be stored in the rod-shaped container 40 to hold the rod-shaped item inside the rod-shaped container 40. The holding member may be fixed to the rod-shaped container 40 and the rod-shaped item may be held by the holding member. The holding member holding the rod-shaped item may also be stored inside the rod-shaped container 40 without being fixed to the rod-shaped container 40.

To prevent the rod-shaped container 40 from rolling when placed on its side, the lid members 42, 43 may be polygonal. The polygon has approximately 3 to 10 corners or sides, such as a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, or decagon. The shape of the body 41 is a polygonal prism with approximately 3 to 10 side faces on the outer surface of the body 41, such as a triangular prism, square prism, pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, heptagonal prism, octagonal prism, nonagonal prism, or decagonal prism. The lid members 42, 43 may have protrusions on their outer peripheries to prevent rolling.

At least one of the lid members 42, 43 may have an installation surface. This allows the rod-shaped container 40 to be placed upright with the installation surface facing downward. For example, the installation surface may be set on a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical body 41. The outer periphery of the installation surface may be flat, with a recess on the inside of the outer periphery. Three or more protrusions may be formed on the installation surface, and the rod-shaped container 40 may be placed upright with the tips of the protrusions facing downward.

When opening the rod-shaped container 40, an access port may be provided in at least one of the lid members 42, 43. For example, the lid members 42, 43 may be ring-shaped, with the inside of the ring serving as the access port. To close the access port, a closure such as a cap or plug may be attached to the lid members 42, 43. The access port may also be formed as an opening in the body 41. If the opening in the body 41 or the lid members 42, 43 serves as the access port, the access port may be closed by adhering a covering material such as film, sheet, or paper around the periphery.

When opening the rod-shaped container 40, the body 41 may be torn to form an access opening. To make the body 41 torn, a tear line such as a dotted line or a continuous line may be formed in at least one layer of the laminate 10, 100 that forms the body 41. The tear line may be formed, for example, by laser processing, mechanical processing, or the like. Because the paper layer 12 has excellent tearability, an opening initiation portion such as a notch-shaped cut or a tongue-shaped tab may be formed at the end of the body 41. By starting to tear from the opening initiation portion, a tear in the body 41 can easily be formed along the extension of that line within the desired range.

The present invention has been described above based on preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Modifications include adding, substituting, omitting, or otherwise altering components in the embodiments or examples. It is also possible to combine components used in two or more examples as appropriate.

The container of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and can be applied to various packaging containers, etc. The body is not limited to being formed from a single laminate 10, 100, but may also be formed from two or more laminates 10, 100.

10, 100...Laminate, 11...First sealant resin layer (inner resin layer), 11a...Concave portion of first sealant resin layer, 11b...Convex portion of first sealant resin layer, 12...Paper layer, 13...Second sealant resin layer (outer resin layer), 13a...Concave portion of first sealant resin layer, 13b...Convex portion of first sealant resin layer, 14...Through hole, 15...Adhesive portion, 16...Printing substrate layer, 17...Adhesive resin layer (outer resin layer), 20...Cylindrical container, 21, 31, 41...Body portion, 22...Shoulder portion, 23...Pouring spout, 24...Cap, 25, 34...Bottom portion, 30...Jar container, 32...Annular member, 33...Lid portion, 40...Rod-shaped container, 42, 43...Lid member.

Claims (5)

A container having a body for accommodating contents,
the body portion is formed from a laminate having a paper layer forming an intermediate layer, an inner resin layer laminated on the inner side of the paper layer, and an outer resin layer laminated on the outer side of the paper layer,
a plurality of through holes are formed in the paper layer throughout the body portion, and the inner resin layer and the outer resin layer are bonded to each other through the plurality of through holes;
A container characterized in that the body portion is cylindrical, the pattern of the through holes is repeated in the circumferential direction, longitudinal direction, or diagonal direction of the body portion, and adjacent through holes are repeated in a diagonal direction. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner resin layer and the outer resin layer are each formed from an adhesive resin layer or a sealant resin layer. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner or outer surface of the body has irregularities corresponding to the shape of the through-hole. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the body portion is cylindrical, and a molded member or an end member is joined to at least one end of the body portion in the length direction. 5. The container according to claim 4 , wherein the molding member or the end member has an opening for removing the contents.