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US20180208337A1 - Spout-equipped container and refilling method - Google Patents

Spout-equipped container and refilling method Download PDF

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Publication number
US20180208337A1
US20180208337A1 US15/755,295 US201615755295A US2018208337A1 US 20180208337 A1 US20180208337 A1 US 20180208337A1 US 201615755295 A US201615755295 A US 201615755295A US 2018208337 A1 US2018208337 A1 US 2018208337A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
container
spout
nozzle portion
content material
nozzle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US15/755,295
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Shinji Watanabe
Yoshinori Inagawa
Fumihito Suzuki
Mitsugu Iwatsubo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kao Corp
Fuji Seal International Inc
Original Assignee
Kao Corp
Fuji Seal International Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kao Corp, Fuji Seal International Inc filed Critical Kao Corp
Assigned to KAO CORPORATION, FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC. reassignment KAO CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WATANABE, SHINJI, INAGAWA, YOSHINORI, IWATSUBO, MITSUGU, SUZUKI, FUMIHITO
Publication of US20180208337A1 publication Critical patent/US20180208337A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5861—Spouts
    • B65D75/5872—Non-integral spouts
    • B65D75/5877—Non-integral spouts connected to a planar surface of the package wall
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B3/10—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by application of pressure to material
    • B65B3/12—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by application of pressure to material mechanically, e.g. by pistons or pumps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/008—Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5861—Spouts
    • B65D75/5866—Integral spouts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a spout-equipped container, and a refilling method.
  • Dispensing containers (dispenser containers) are known that contain a content material, such as shampoo, hair rinse, or conditioner, and dispense the content liquid through a discharge opening formed in a press head through operation of a pump mechanism by pressing the press head. Also, discharging containers with a discharge nozzle-equipped cap are widely used for liquid detergents such as laundry detergent and dish washing detergent, liquid food products such as soy sauce and other sauces, and the like.
  • Dispensing containers and discharging containers as described above are often commercially available in the form of disposable packages containing a content material.
  • these containers are increasingly being provided as containers to be refilled so that they can be used repeatedly by being refilled with a content liquid from a refill container.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses, although it does not relate to a technique for refilling a refillable container with a content material that is contained in a refill container, a cap-equipped container and a filling nozzle.
  • a configuration is used in which a ring-shaped protruding portion is provided within the container opening. With this configuration, the content material can be injected, with the filling nozzle being inserted to the position of the protruding portion within the container opening of the refillable container.
  • Patent Literature 2 discloses a configuration in which ribs are provided in a protruding manner so as to extend along a flow path on the inner surface side of a nozzle portion of a refill container.
  • Patent Literature 1 JP 2015-24848A
  • Patent Literature 2 JP 2006-89133A
  • the present invention relates to a spout-equipped container that is used to refill a refillable container with a content material.
  • the spout-equipped container includes: a refill container spout; and a flexible container body portion, the container body portion containing the content material.
  • the refill container spout includes a tubular nozzle portion that brings the inside and outside of the container body portion into communication with each other, and a fixing portion that is fixedly attached to the container body portion.
  • the nozzle portion When the nozzle portion is divided in a height direction of the nozzle portion into three equal parts, and the three equal parts are respectively defined as an upper portion that includes a discharge-side opening portion, an intermediate portion, and a lower portion, the nozzle portion includes, on an inner surface side in the lower portion, a throttle projection that protrudes toward a center of the nozzle portion.
  • the throttle projection forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction of the throttle projection, a flow path through which the content material passes, and the throttle projection extends along a circumferential direction of the nozzle portion, and has a length more than 50% of a total circumferential length of an inner surface of the nozzle portion.
  • the container body portion includes a top surface portion, a front surface portion, a back surface portion, and a bottom portion.
  • the fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixedly attached to the top surface portion.
  • the present invention relates to a refilling method for refilling a refillable container with a content material by using the spout-equipped container as described above.
  • the method includes the step of inserting the nozzle portion of the spout-equipped container into a container opening of the refillable container and injecting the content material into the refillable container, with the spout-equipped container being held upside down.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spout-equipped container according to an embodiment of the present invention that is a refill container.
  • FIGS. 2( a ) to 2( c ) are diagrams showing a refill container spout that is attached to the spout-equipped container shown in FIG. 1 , with FIG. 2( a ) being a perspective view, FIG. 2( b ) being a cross sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 2( c ) , and FIG. 2( c ) being a plan view.
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a nozzle portion when the spout-equipped container shown in FIG. 1 is capped.
  • FIG. 4( a ) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state immediately after refilling has been started when a refillable container is refilled with a content material from the spout-equipped container shown in FIG. 1
  • FIG. 4( b ) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to FIG. 4( a ) after completion of refilling.
  • FIG. 5( a ) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state immediately after refilling has been started when a refillable container is refilled with a content material from a spout-equipped container that does not include a throttle projection
  • FIG. 5( b ) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to FIG. 5( a ) after completion of refilling.
  • FIGS. 6( a ) to 6( d ) are illustrative diagrams showing throttle projections according to preferred embodiments, each showing a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section taken along a plane including the central axis of the nozzle portion.
  • FIGS. 7( a ) to 7( e ) are illustrative diagrams showing throttle projections according to other preferred embodiments, each showing a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section taken along the plane including the central axis of the nozzle portion.
  • FIGS. 8( a ) to 8( c ) are diagrams showing other examples of throttle portions that are each formed in the nozzle portion by the throttle projection (corresponding to FIG. 2( c ) ).
  • FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a refill container spout according to another embodiment.
  • FIGS. 10( a ) to 10( d ) are schematic diagrams showing a refilling process of refilling a refillable container with a content material from the spout-equipped container shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the protruding portion disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is formed within the container opening of the refillable container into which the content material is filled through the filling nozzle, rather than within the nozzle portion of the refill container, and Patent Literature 1 does not disclose a configuration for reducing the amount of content material that remains in the nozzle portion of the refill container as much as possible.
  • the protruding ribs provided on the inner surface of the nozzle portion disclosed in Patent Literature 2 are ribs that extend along the flow path, and thus there is no or minimal effect of reducing the amount of content material that remains in the nozzle portion.
  • a spout-equipped container 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a spout-equipped container according to an embodiment of the present invention that is a refill container, and includes a refill container spout 1 configured as shown in FIG. 2( a ) to FIG. 2( c ) .
  • the spout-equipped container 100 includes the refill container spout 1 , a container body portion 2 , and a cap 3 .
  • the refill container spout 1 being fixed to the container body portion 2 that has a bag shape, it is possible to obtain a spout-equipped container 100 that includes a nozzle portion 11 that is internally provided with a content material discharging path 12 A.
  • the refill container spout 1 shown in FIGS. 2( a ) to 2( c ) is fixedly attached to the container body portion 2 that is made of a soft packaging material.
  • the refill container spout 1 includes, as shown in FIGS. 2( a ) to 2( c ) , the nozzle portion 11 that has a tubular shape and brings the inside and outside of the container into communication with each other, and a fixing portion 19 that is fixedly attached to the container body portion 2 .
  • the nozzle portion 11 of the container spout 1 has a cylindrical shape with openings at its upper and lower ends.
  • the nozzle portion 11 includes a discharge-side opening portion 12 that serves as a discharge opening for discharging a content material 5 during a refilling operation, and a container body-side opening portion 13 that is located on the opposite side of the discharge-side opening portion 12 .
  • the nozzle portion 11 includes an outer surface 11 a that forms an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, an upper end portion 11 b that forms a circumferential edge portion of the discharge-side opening portion 12 , an inner surface 11 c that forms an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder, and a lower end portion 11 d that forms a circumferential edge portion of the container body-side opening portion 13 .
  • the fixing portion 19 is provided continuously with the nozzle portion 11 so as to extend horizontally outward from the lower end portion of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the fixing portion 19 shown in FIGS. 2( a ) to 2( c ) is an annular plate-like body that has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, but the shape of the fixing portion 19 can be changed to any shape.
  • the fixing portion 19 may be an annular plate-like body that extends substantially horizontally outward from the outer surface of the nozzle portion 11 , and the shape of its outer edge as viewed in plan view may be a circular shape, an elliptic shape, a hexagonal shape, or the like.
  • the container body portion 2 of the spout-equipped container 100 includes a top surface sheet portion 21 , a front surface sheet portion 22 , a back surface sheet portion 23 , and a bottom surface sheet portion 24 .
  • a top surface portion is formed by the top surface sheet portion 21
  • a front surface portion is formed by the front surface sheet portion 22
  • a back surface portion is formed by the back surface sheet portion 23
  • a bottom portion is formed by the bottom surface sheet portion 24 .
  • side edge portions 22 s and 22 s on both lateral sides of the front surface sheet portion 22 and side edge portions 23 s and 23 s on both lateral sides of the back surface sheet portion 23 are bonded together, and a lower end portion of a tubular body that is composed of the front surface sheet portion 22 and the back surface sheet portion 23 and a circumferential edge portion of the bottom surface sheet portion 24 are bonded together.
  • the container body portion 2 In an upper portion of the container body portion 2 , an upper end edge 22 t of the front surface sheet portion 22 and a front surface-side edge 21 s of the top surface sheet portion 21 are bonded together, and an upper end edge 23 t of the back surface sheet portion 23 and a back surface-side edge 21 s ′ of the top surface sheet portion 21 are bonded together.
  • the container body portion 2 according to the present embodiment is formed so as to have a bag shape by bonding together the respective portions of the top surface sheet portion 21 , the front surface sheet portion 22 , the back surface sheet portion 23 , and the bottom surface sheet portion 24 , thereby forming a container portion 25 that is capable of containing a liquid content material.
  • the spout-equipped container 100 according to the present embodiment is a pouch container in which the container body portion 2 is made of a flexible sheet material.
  • the spout-equipped container according to the present invention is not limited to a self-standing container, but the spout-equipped container 100 according to the present embodiment is a self-standing container at least while it contains a content material.
  • the front surface portion, the bottom surface portion, the back surface portion, and the top surface portion that constitute the container body portion 2 may be made of a single continuous sheet material.
  • the container body portion 2 can be produced by using the production method and apparatus disclosed in WO 2008/096392. It is also possible to form any two or three portions of the front surface portion, the bottom surface portion, the back surface portion, and the top surface portion by using a single continuous sheet, and form the remaining portions by using another sheet. It is also possible to form the front surface portion, the bottom surface portion, the back surface portion, and the top surface portion by using separate sheets.
  • the container body portion 2 includes, in the top surface portion that is composed of the top surface sheet portion 21 , a through hole 21 a for attaching a spout, and the container spout 1 described above is fixedly attached to the container body portion 2 by bonding an upper surface of the plate-like fixing portion 19 to a lower surface of the top surface portion, more specifically, the lower surface of the top surface sheet portion 21 , with the nozzle portion 11 being inserted into the through hole 21 a.
  • the bonding method for bonding the sheet portions that constitute the container body portion 2 and the bonding method for fixedly attaching the fixing portion 19 to the container body portion 2
  • various types of known methods can be used such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, high frequency sealing, and using an adhesive.
  • the nozzle portion 11 of the container spout 1 As shown in FIG. 2( b ) , where a central axis L of the nozzle portion 11 is set to be parallel to the vertical direction, with the discharge-side opening portion 12 of the nozzle portion 11 facing vertically upward, the nozzle portion 11 is divided in a height direction Y that extends along the vertical direction into three equal parts, and the three equal parts are respectively defined as an upper portion A that includes the discharge-side opening portion 12 , an intermediate portion B, and a lower portion C, the nozzle portion 11 includes, on the inner surface 11 c side in the lower portion C, a throttle projection 14 that protrudes toward the center of the nozzle portion 11 . More specifically, the throttle projection 14 protrudes in the horizontal direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the central axis L of the nozzle portion 11 , so as to approach the central axis L.
  • the throttle projection 14 is provided to reduce the horizontal cross sectional area of the space in the nozzle portion 11 , as well as limiting the horizontal cross sectional area of the content material 5 that flows through the nozzle portion 11 to part of or the entire area of the lower portion C of the nozzle portion 11 in the height direction, and preferably to part of the lower portion C.
  • the throttle projection 14 forms a throttle portion 12 A′ within the nozzle portion 11 , the throttle portion 12 A′ being a member that partially reduces the horizontal cross sectional area of the space in the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the throttle projection 14 forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction of the throttle projection 14 , a flow path through which the content material passes.
  • the throttle projection 14 is formed so as to form a main flow path on the leading end side in the protrusion direction of the throttle projection 14 within the nozzle portion 11 .
  • a throttle projection 14 -free portion that is provided in a portion of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 in the circumferential direction forms a part of the flow path.
  • the throttle projection 14 is formed in an annular shape on the inner surface 11 c side of the nozzle portion 11 , and the throttle projection 14 has a length that is more than 50% of the total circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the throttle projection 14 have the same length as the circumferential length of the nozzle portion 11 , specifically, the total circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 , or in other words, the throttle projection 14 have a length equal to 100% of the total circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the nozzle portion 11 according to the present invention may include a throttle projection 14 -free portion in a portion of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 in the circumferential direction, as in refill container spouts shown in Table 1 used in Examples 2 to 4, which will be described later.
  • the nozzle portion 11 according to the present invention may include a throttle projection 14 that is composed of a plurality of segments that are provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 11 , as in refill container spouts shown in Table 1 used in Examples 3 and 4, and Comparative Example 1.
  • the throttle projection 14 according to the present invention has a length more than 50% and 100% or less of the total circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 , preferably 60% or more and 100% or less, and more preferably 85 to 100%.
  • the circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 refers to the length of the nozzle portion 11 that extends along the circumferential direction, and is obtained through measurement along the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the throttle projection 14 is composed of a plurality of segments that are provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 11
  • the total value of the length of each of the plurality of segments of the throttle projection 14 is referred to as “the length of the throttle projection 14 ”.
  • the length of the throttle projection 14 means the length at a base end portion of the throttle projection 14 in the protrusion direction, or in other words, the length at a boundary between the throttle projection 14 and the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion 11 , and is obtained by measuring the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion 11 along the circumferential direction.
  • the terms “upper side”, “above”, “horizontal direction”, and “height direction” are directions that are, in a state in which the central line L of the tubular nozzle portion 11 is set to be parallel to the vertical direction Y, with the discharge-side opening portion 12 facing vertically upward, parallel to the upper side in the vertical direction, vertically upside, the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction), and the vertical direction Y
  • the spout-equipped container 100 is preferably used as a refill container that is used to refill or top up a refillable container such as a dispensing container (dispenser container), or a discharging container that includes a discharge nozzle-equipped cap with a content material 5 to be discharged or dispensed.
  • a refillable container such as a dispensing container (dispenser container), or a discharging container that includes a discharge nozzle-equipped cap with a content material 5 to be discharged or dispensed.
  • the container spout 1 and the spout-equipped container 100 as shown in, for example, FIGS. 4( a ) and 4( b ) , when a refillable container 4 is refilled with the content material 5 from the spout-equipped container 100 , the amount of the content material 5 that remains in the nozzle portion 11 after the refillable container 4 has been refilled with the content material 5 can be reduced significantly.
  • the content material 5 that has flowed into the nozzle portion 11 through the container body-side opening portion 13 flows toward the discharge-side opening portion 12 , with the cross-sectional area of the flow of the content material 5 being throttled by the throttle projection 14 . Then, the content material 5 is injected into the refillable container 4 through the discharge-side opening portion 12 . With this configuration, the extent to which the content material 5 comes into contact with the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion 11 is reduced, which minimizes the amount of the content material 5 that remains in the nozzle portion 11 after refilling has been performed.
  • the nozzle portion 11 does not include the throttle projection 14
  • the content material 5 that has flowed into the nozzle portion 11 through the container body-side opening portion 13 flows toward the discharge-side opening portion 12 while coming into contact with a wide area of the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the content material 5 is injected into the refillable container 4 through the discharge-side opening portion 12 .
  • FIG. 5( b ) a large amount of the content material 5 is likely to remain in the nozzle portion 11 after refilling has been performed.
  • the container spout 1 B shown in FIG. 5 has the same configuration as the container spout 1 shown in FIG. 2 , except that the throttle projection 14 is not provided on the inner surface side of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the refillable container 4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a tubular container opening portion 41 at an upper end portion of a body portion 42 such that the content material 5 can be injected into the refillable container 4 , with the container spout 1 and the nozzle portion 11 of the spout-equipped container 100 according to the present embodiment being inserted into the container opening portion 41 .
  • the refillable container 4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be used as a dispensing container or a discharging container by detachably attaching a dispenser-equipped cap or a discharge nozzle-equipped cap to the container opening portion 41 .
  • the refilling method according to the present invention is a method for refilling a refillable container with a content material by using the above-described spout-equipped container.
  • the refilling method according to the present invention includes the step of inserting the nozzle portion of the spout-equipped container into a container opening of the refillable container and injecting the content material into the refillable container, with the spout-equipped container being held upside down.
  • the procedure includes, for example, the following steps:
  • step 1 of holding the spout-equipped container 100 according to the present invention with one hand, and the refillable container 4 with the other hand see FIG. 10( a ) );
  • step 2 of inserting the nozzle portion 11 of the spout-equipped container 100 into the container opening portion 41 of the refillable container 4 (see FIG. 10( a ) );
  • step 5 of squeezing out the content material 5 from the spout-equipped container 100 while the container body portion 2 is held flat see FIG. 10( d ) ).
  • the refilling method described above may be displayed on any portion of the spout-equipped container.
  • the refilling method is preferably displayed on the container body portion, and is preferably displayed on the front surface portion or the back surface portion.
  • any method can be used such as attaching a label, or direct printing or transfer thereof onto the container body portion.
  • liquid content material 5 to be injected into the refillable container 4 examples include: liquid hair care agents such as shampoo, hair conditioner, hair rinse; liquid soaps such as body soap and hand soap; liquid detergents such as laundry detergent and dish washing detergent; softening agents; bleaching agents; liquid cleaning agents for cleaning bathrooms and floors; liquid cosmetics; and liquid pharmaceuticals.
  • liquid hair care agents such as shampoo, hair conditioner, hair rinse
  • liquid soaps such as body soap and hand soap
  • liquid detergents such as laundry detergent and dish washing detergent
  • softening agents such as laundry detergent and dish washing detergent
  • bleaching agents bleaching agents
  • liquid cosmetics liquid pharmaceuticals.
  • a highly viscous liquid such as conditioner or hair rinse is likely to adhere to the inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 of the refill container and remain in the nozzle portion 11 . Accordingly, the present invention provides an even greater advantage.
  • liquids such as those with a viscosity of 10,000 mPa ⁇ S or more and 65,000 mPa ⁇ S or less measured using the method described below are examples. Even a liquid having a viscosity within the above range is unlikely to remain in the nozzle portion 11 as shown in FIG. 4( b ) .
  • Viscosity at a temperature of 30° C. is measured by using a BR-type viscometer (TVB-10 available from Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) that is a B-type viscometer, and a rotor No. T-C (10 rpm, 1 minute).
  • a BR-type viscometer (TVB-10 available from Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) that is a B-type viscometer, and a rotor No. T-C (10 rpm, 1 minute).
  • the throttle projection 14 is preferably formed on a container body portion-side end portion of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the container body portion-side end portion of the nozzle portion 11 refers to the end portion of the nozzle portion 11 that is on the container body-side opening portion 13 side in the height direction Y.
  • a distance Tu from an upper end 14 u of the maximum protruding portion of the throttle projection 14 to the upper end portion 11 b of the nozzle portion is preferably 85% or more of the height T of the nozzle portion 11 , and more preferably 90% or more, and preferably 98% or less, and more preferably 95% or less, and preferably 85% or more and 98% or less, and more preferably 90% or more and 95% or less.
  • the distance Tu is preferably 110% or more of an inner diameter L 1 (equivalent circle diameter in the case where the cross section is non-circular) of the nozzle portion 11 , and more preferably 116% or more, and preferably 127% or less, and more preferably 123% or less, and preferably 110% or more and 127% or less, and more preferably 116% or more and 123% or less.
  • the height T of the nozzle portion 11 is, for example, preferably 15 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or more and 25 mm or less.
  • the inner diameter L 1 of the nozzle portion 11 is, for example, preferably 12 mm or more and 24 mm or less, and more preferably 16 mm or more and 20 mm or less from the viewpoint of achieving ease of refilling the refillable container with the content material even when the content material is highly viscous, and further reducing the amount of the content material that remains in the nozzle portion.
  • the inner diameter L 1 of the nozzle portion 11 is obtained by measuring the inner diameter L 1 at a throttle projection-free area of the nozzle portion 11 in the height direction of the nozzle portion 11 , and preferably at a central position of the nozzle portion 11 in the height direction.
  • the throttle projection 14 has a protruding height T 3 (see FIG. 2( b ) ) of preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 2 mm or more, and preferably 4 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or less, and preferably 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or more 3 mm or less.
  • T 3 protruding height
  • the X direction is the direction in which the throttle projection 14 protrudes.
  • the protruding height T 3 is preferably 4% or more of the inner diameter L 1 (equivalent circle diameter in the case where the cross section is non-circular) of the nozzle portion 11 , and more preferably 10% or more, and preferably 17% or less, and more preferably 13% or less, and preferably 4% or more and 17% or less, and more preferably 10% or more and 13% or less.
  • the throttle projection 14 has an inclination angle ⁇ 1 of preferably 120° or less, more preferably 100° or less, and even more preferably 95° or less, and preferably 30° or more, more preferably 60° or more, and even more preferably 85° or more, the inclination angle ⁇ 1 being an inclination angle of a surface 14 a that is on the discharge-side opening portion 12 side of the nozzle portion 11 with respect to the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion.
  • the throttle projection 14 can have an inclination angle ⁇ 2 in a range above 0° and less than 180, and preferably 90° or more and 150° or less, the inclination angle ⁇ 2 being an inclination angle of a surface 14 b that is on the container body portion side of the nozzle portion 11 with respect to the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the inclination angle ⁇ 1 and the inclination angle ⁇ 2 are measured on a vertical cross section taken along a plane passing through the central axis L of the nozzle portion.
  • the inclination angle ⁇ 1 and the inclination angle ⁇ 2 are both set to 90°.
  • the inclination angle ⁇ 1 is set to 45°
  • the inclination angle ⁇ 2 is set to 120°.
  • the surface 14 a of the throttle projection 14 that is on the discharge-side opening portion 12 side is preferably substantially vertical to the inner surface 11 c of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the inclination angle ⁇ 1 is 85° or more and 95° or less.
  • the arrow F indicates the direction of movement of the content liquid when the refillable container is refilled with the content liquid in the refill container via the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the surface 14 b that is on the container body portion side of the nozzle portion 11 is preferably inclined toward the discharge-side opening portion 12 of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • a leading end 14 t of the throttle projection 14 is chamfered along the circumference of the container body-side opening portion 13 of the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the surface 14 b that is on the container body portion side of the nozzle portion 11 is inclined toward the discharge-side opening portion 12 of the nozzle portion 11 , when the refillable container is refilled with the content material contained in the container body portion 2 , the content material flows more smoothly into the nozzle portion 11 , and it is therefore possible to even more reliably reduce the amount of content material that remains in the container body portion 2 and the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the throttle projections 14 that have the cross-sectional shapes shown in FIGS. 6( a ) to 6( d ) are also formed so as to extend along the total circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion, but may be formed in a portion of the nozzle portion in the circumferential direction or may be formed by a plurality of segments separately provided in the circumferential direction.
  • the container spout 1 includes, on the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 11 , threads 15 for threaded engagement with the cap.
  • the cap 3 includes threads 33 for threaded engagement with the threads 15 , on an inner circumferential surface 32 a of a tubular portion 32 that extends downward from an edge portion of a top surface portion 31 .
  • the cap 3 includes an annular inner ring 35 that is suspended from the top surface portion 31 at a position spaced apart from the tubular portion 32 in the top surface portion 31 , and thus the sealing properties when the spout-equipped container is capped are improved.
  • the refill container spout 1 is preferably made of a synthetic resin.
  • the throttle projection 14 is preferably molded into one unit with the nozzle portion 11 .
  • the nozzle portion 11 and the fixing portion 19 are preferably molded into one unit through injection molding of a synthetic resin.
  • the synthetic resin that constitutes the refill container spout include: polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polybutene; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyamides; polyvinyl chloride; polystyrene; and polylactic acid.
  • the cap 3 is also preferably made of a synthetic resin.
  • the refill container spout 1 and the cap 3 are preferably made of a synthetic resin, they may be made of a metal such as aluminum or a ceramic.
  • the flexible sheet that forms the container body portion 2 according to the embodiment described above can be, but is not limited to, a monolayer or multilayer film or a stacked sheet made of a synthetic resin such as a polyolefin, a polyester, or a polyamide, or a combination thereof, a stacked sheet obtained by adding a metal deposition layer made of aluminum to the monolayer or multilayer film or the stacked sheet described above, or the like.
  • the spout-equipped container and the refilling method according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiment given above, and can be changed as appropriate.
  • the flexible container body portion 2 to which the refill container spout 1 is attached may be a flexible bag-like container or a thin-walled container (for example, a container that has a thickness of 700 ⁇ m or less, and more preferably 500 ⁇ m or less) formed through blow molding, such as the bag-like container disclosed in JP 2009-280228A.
  • the container body portion 2 being flexible, even when the content material is a highly viscous liquid (for example, a liquid that has a viscosity of 10,000 mPa ⁇ S or more as described above), the content material 5 can be injected into the refillable container 4 while squeezing the container body portion 2 of the spout-equipped container 100 that is held upside down from the bottom surface portion toward the nozzle portion 11 as described above.
  • the content material is a highly viscous liquid (for example, a liquid that has a viscosity of 10,000 mPa ⁇ S or more as described above)
  • throttle projection provided on the nozzle portion of the refill container spout only one annular throttle projection as shown in FIG. 2 may be provided.
  • a plurality of throttle projections that have the same length or different lengths, the length extending in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion, may be provided in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion so as to form an annular shape.
  • the throttle projection may be configured as any one of the projections that have the shapes shown in FIGS. 7( a ) to 7( e ) .
  • the inclination angle ⁇ 1 is set to 90.
  • the shape as viewed in plan view may be, in addition to a circular or a substantially circular shape as shown in FIG. 2( c ) , other shapes such as a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, and a star shape as shown in FIGS. 8 ( a ) to 8 ( c ).
  • annular extending portions 16 and 17 are provided on the outer circumference of the nozzle portion 11 of the refill container spout 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the annular extending portions 16 and 17 being provided, when the nozzle portion 11 of the spout-equipped container 100 is inserted into the container opening portion 41 of the refillable container 4 , the outer circumferences of the annular extending portions 16 and 17 come into contact with the inner circumference of the container opening portion 41 .
  • the orientation of the spout-equipped container 100 can be thereby stabilized, and the content material can be injected into the refillable container more easily.
  • the nozzle portion may have, instead of the circular tubular shape, a rectangular tubular shape.
  • the refill container spout according to the present invention may be configured as in the refill container spout shown in FIG. 8 such that the throttle projection 14 is formed at a position spaced apart from the lower end portion 11 d of the tubular nozzle portion 11 .
  • the refill container spout according to the present invention may be configured as in the refill container spout shown in FIG. 9 such that the throttle projection 14 is formed at a position spaced apart from the lower end portion 11 d of the tubular nozzle portion 11 .
  • the central axis L of the nozzle portion of the refill container spout 1 according to the present invention may be non-parallel to the vertical direction as long as advantageous effects of the present invention can be obtained.
  • the present invention further discloses the following spout-equipped container and refilling method.
  • the container body portion containing the content material
  • the refill container spout includes a tubular nozzle portion that brings the inside and outside of the container body portion into communication with each other, and a fixing portion that is fixedly attached to the container body portion,
  • the nozzle portion when the nozzle portion is divided in a height direction of the nozzle portion into three equal parts, and the three equal parts are respectively defined as an upper portion that includes a discharge-side opening portion, an intermediate portion, and a lower portion, the nozzle portion includes, on an inner surface side in the lower portion, a throttle projection that protrudes toward a center of the nozzle portion,
  • the throttle projection forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction of the throttle projection, a flow path through which the content material passes, and the throttle projection extends along a circumferential direction of the nozzle portion, and has a length more than 50% of a total circumferential length of an inner surface of the nozzle portion,
  • the container body portion includes a top surface portion, a front surface portion, a back surface portion, and a bottom portion, and
  • the fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixedly attached to the top surface portion.
  • ⁇ 2> The spout-equipped container as set forth in clause ⁇ 1>, wherein the content material has a viscosity of 10,000 mPa ⁇ s or more and 65,000 mPa ⁇ s or less.
  • ⁇ 3> The spout-equipped container as set forth in clause ⁇ 1> or ⁇ 2>, wherein the fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixed with an upper surface of the fixing portion being fixedly attached to a lower surface of the top surface portion.
  • ⁇ 4> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of clauses ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 3>, wherein the throttle projection is formed on an end portion on the container body portion side of the nozzle portion.
  • ⁇ 5> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of clauses ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 4>, wherein an annular extending portion is provided in an outer circumferential portion of the nozzle portion.
  • ⁇ 6> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of clauses ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 5>, wherein the throttle projection has an inclination angle ⁇ 1 of 120° or less, the inclination angle ⁇ 1 being an inclination angle of a surface that is on the discharge-side opening portion side of the nozzle portion with respect to the inner surface of the nozzle portion.
  • ⁇ 7> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of clauses ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 6>, wherein the top surface portion includes a through hole, and the spout is fixedly attached to the container body portion, with the nozzle portion being inserted into the through hole.
  • ⁇ 8> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of clauses ⁇ 1> to ⁇ 7>, wherein the throttle projection has a length equal to 85% to 100% of a total circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion.
  • a spout-equipped container with the configuration shown in FIG. 1 was produced.
  • a refill container spout that was made of a high density polyethylene and had the mode shown in FIG. 2 was used.
  • the throttle projection 14 of the refill container spout had an inclination angle ⁇ 1 of 90°, an inclination angle ⁇ 2 of 90°, and a protruding height T 3 of 2 mm, the inclination angle ⁇ 1 being an inclination angle of the surface 14 a on the discharge-side opening portion side, and the inclination angle ⁇ 2 being an inclination angle of the surface 14 b on the container body 2 side.
  • the throttle projection 14 had an annular shape extending along the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle portion, and the percentage of the length of the throttle projection in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 11 with respect to the total length of the inner circumference of the nozzle portion was 100%.
  • the height T and the inner diameter L 1 of the nozzle portion 11 were 22 mm and 17 mm, respectively.
  • Refill containers that had the same configuration as that of the refill container of Example 1 were produced except that the percentage (indicated as “Percentage” in Table 1) of the length of the throttle projection in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 11 with respect to the total length of the inner circumference of the nozzle portion was changed to 87.5% (Example 2), 75.0% (Example 3), 62.5% (Example 3), and 50.0% (Comparative Example 1) respectively by removing one or a plurality of portions of the throttle projection in the circumferential direction of the throttle projection.
  • Each of the produced refill containers was filled with 340 g of commercially available hair conditioner (Essential Rich Damage Care Conditioner with a viscosity of about 33000 mPa ⁇ S available from Kao Corporation), and each of the spout-equipped containers was used as a refill container, and a refillable container was refilled with hair conditioner serving as the content material by holding the spout-equipped container upside down as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the viscosity was measured at a temperature of 30° C. by using the BR-type viscometer (TVB-10 available from Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) and the rotor No. T-C (10 rpm, 1 minute) that were mentioned above.
  • a synthetic resin container that had a sufficient capacity to contain 340 g of hair conditioner was used. The test was performed at room temperature (20 to 25° C.), and the viscosity of the hair conditioner was measured at a temperature of 30° C. by using the viscosity measurement method described above.
  • Table 1 shows each nozzle portion before refilling and the nozzle portion after refilling.
  • the spout-equipped container With the spout-equipped container according to the present invention, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of content material that remains in the nozzle portion after the refillable container has been refilled with the content material.
  • the refilling method according to the present invention it is possible to facilitate the refilling operation of refilling the refillable container with the content material. It is also possible to significantly reduce the amount of the content material that remains in the nozzle portion after refilling the refillable container with the content material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US15/755,295 2015-08-31 2016-08-29 Spout-equipped container and refilling method Abandoned US20180208337A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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JP2015170136 2015-08-31
JP2015-170136 2015-08-31
PCT/JP2016/075250 WO2017038783A1 (ja) 2015-08-31 2016-08-29 スパウト付容器及び詰め替え方法

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US (1) US20180208337A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP6901835B2 (ja)
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US20200095042A1 (en) * 2018-09-26 2020-03-26 Robert C. Kelly Standing pouch with cap on folded edge
US20220267059A1 (en) * 2021-02-25 2022-08-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid refill container for refilling liquid discharge apparatus with liquid, and reuse system using liquid refill container
US11541620B2 (en) * 2018-12-27 2023-01-03 Fuji Seal International, Inc. Method and apparatus for manufacturing spouted pouch containers
US11655089B2 (en) * 2017-06-22 2023-05-23 Hosokawa Yoko Co., Ltd. Spout-equipped packaging bag and manufacturing method therefor, and spout-equipped packaging bag that contains contents
CN117580773A (zh) * 2021-10-21 2024-02-20 花王株式会社 再填充容器用栓体和具有它的再填充容器

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JP2019182489A (ja) * 2018-04-11 2019-10-24 朋和産業株式会社 詰め替え袋

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US2092455A (en) * 1936-10-26 1937-09-07 California Florida Company Bottle collar
US3792793A (en) * 1972-08-09 1974-02-19 A Rose Safety closure
US4362255A (en) * 1980-10-24 1982-12-07 Liqui-Box Corporation Barrier spout and cap for flexible bags or pouches
US5249695A (en) * 1991-03-05 1993-10-05 Portola Packaging, Inc. Spout fitment closure plug
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US11655089B2 (en) * 2017-06-22 2023-05-23 Hosokawa Yoko Co., Ltd. Spout-equipped packaging bag and manufacturing method therefor, and spout-equipped packaging bag that contains contents
US20200095042A1 (en) * 2018-09-26 2020-03-26 Robert C. Kelly Standing pouch with cap on folded edge
US11952192B2 (en) * 2018-09-26 2024-04-09 Robert C. Kelly Standing pouch with cap on folded edge
US11541620B2 (en) * 2018-12-27 2023-01-03 Fuji Seal International, Inc. Method and apparatus for manufacturing spouted pouch containers
US20220267059A1 (en) * 2021-02-25 2022-08-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid refill container for refilling liquid discharge apparatus with liquid, and reuse system using liquid refill container
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US11708197B2 (en) * 2021-02-25 2023-07-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid refill container for refilling liquid discharge apparatus with liquid, and reuse system using liquid refill container
CN117580773A (zh) * 2021-10-21 2024-02-20 花王株式会社 再填充容器用栓体和具有它的再填充容器

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TW201711931A (zh) 2017-04-01
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JP6901835B2 (ja) 2021-07-14
TWI673212B (zh) 2019-10-01

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