JP2011509897A - Container mouth for flexible liquid storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container opening for a flexible liquid storage container, a generally cylindrical neck and a pair of facing generally triangular sections extending in a lateral direction characterized by a container opening film or a welded joint of the container opening Including. Embodiments of the invention include the use of a container mouth material having a melting temperature that substantially matches at least a portion of a film container mouth or film weld joint that is part of a flexible liquid storage container film, and a substantially flat shape and / or Or use of welded joint shape of container mouth with concave and undulated surface shape such as holes and recesses, preferably over the concentrating part (apex of triangular part) on both sides of container mouth or welded joint part of container mouth Use of at least one stress delocalization feature that is a flexible appendage at the neck forming part of the weld joint of the container mouth extending into the container and / or the neck of the container mouth This includes the use of the end of the container mouth and / or the weld joint of the container mouth with flexibility compared to the part.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

Background In the field of flexible liquid storage containers, particularly those that include two facing film panels that are selectively adhered to each other and that incorporate a closable container mouth therebetween, between the facing film panel and the container mouth Attention has been directed to providing a reliable and durable bond. Various attempts have been made to include surface features such as ribs, lands (specific regions) and / or grooves in the container mouth in order to enhance the adhesive properties between the film and the container mouth. Although aimed at addressing possible problems, such a method is not without its drawbacks. In addition, little attention has been paid to the chemical properties and optimization of the parameters related to the components, ie the container mouth and film.

  First of all, in the incidental to the physical properties of the container mouth, the shape of the prior art container mouth ribs generally applies excessive pressure to the weld joint and causes adjacent material on the container mouth ribs. Instead of adhering to the film material, the film material was adhered to the moved container mouth. Because of the movement of this material, the film remaining at this location could be greatly weakened and tear.

  Furthermore, when the liquid storage container is almost full, the conventional container mouth is the corner of the container mouth (often the corner of the container mouth faces two of the weld joints of the container mouth. In many cases, it included a container mouth shape that caused stress concentration at the side faces). This inherent stress was greatly amplified when the container was exposed to additional loads such as a “drop test”. In addition, the conventional container mouth shape, in which a hard material is particularly selected, results in high stress generation and film wear at locations around the inner edge of the container mouth. This can lead to premature malfunction of the film in this area.

  As mentioned above, conventional container mouths for flexible liquid storage containers have a melting temperature that is compatible with the melting temperature of the target film intended for welding by heat or radio frequency (RF) welding to it. Was not known or designed to hold. For this reason, when such a container mouth and a target film become the object of such welding, desired adhesive quality was not necessarily achieved. One solution has been to apply excessive heat and / or pressure to overcome these discrepancies, but such solutions detract from the performance characteristics of the raw material, especially in sensitive films. In some cases, the melting temperature of the base material of the container mouth, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), is 8 ° C higher than the base material of the film adhesive layer, such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), which is insufficient. It was the final welding result. For this reason, the flexible liquid storage container formed from the film material welded to such a container mouth has caused a poorly bonded state at this bonding surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to provide a container mouth, particularly a flexible liquid storage container mouth including a facing film panel, such as those commonly characterized as personal liquid storage containers. , Minimize stress and wear due to the manufacture and / or use of such containers, and enhance the adhesion / adhesion strength between the film and the container mouth. Various inventive embodiments minimize the stress and wear on the container film by developing a unique container mouth shape, and welding between the film and container mouth through material selection and container mouth surface properties. / Increase adhesive strength. These details will be disclosed in the following description.

  Each container port according to the present invention includes a pair of facing surfaces including a substantially cylindrical neck portion and a container port-film joint portion (hereinafter, also referred to as “weld joint portion of the container mouth”) extending laterally therefrom. And a substantially triangular portion. The neck portion includes an axis extending in the longitudinal direction. Depending on the embodiment, there may be one or more welded joints at the neck at the neck.

  For the purposes of this patent, the terms “region”, “boundary”, “part”, “part (part)”, “surface”, “area” and their synonyms, equivalents and plurals used herein. Is intended to be a commentary on the article and / or process being described. These and similar or equivalent terms are deemed to be intended to limit or define the components of the referenced article, unless otherwise apparent from the drawing and / or content in which the term is used. Should not. In particular, a “welded joint” as used herein includes a plurality of shapes and vice versa. The invention of the embodiments and claims should not be limited to any one form based on only one selected item or method of use.

  An embodiment of the container mouth of the present invention includes a film and a container mouth that are part of a flexible liquid storage container film (herein also referred to as “film weld joint”) at least at the weld joint of the container mouth. At least one material having a melting temperature substantially coincident with at least a portion of the joint. By bringing the melting temperature of the two bonding materials at the welded joint of the film / container port preferably close to at least 5 ° C., and more preferably within 2 ° C., it is possible to remove inconvenient material deviation at the welded joint. (Assuming substantially uniform material temperature). By reducing, and preferably eliminating, material slippage during the welding process, significant weld failure and / or material failure that would otherwise occur in the weld joint and / or film area near the weld joint It has been proved by experiments. Therefore, the film welded joint is generally, but not always, the inner surface of the film of the welded joint, and the material is preferably LLDPE, but not always but generally the film of the welded joint film. The outer surface, preferably having a melting temperature that substantially matches the melting temperature of the material at the weld joint of the container mouth, which is LLDPE. Such a preferred configuration that includes LLDPE at the weld joint of the film and the container mouth provides a convenient means for matching the melt temperature conditions.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the pre-welded or exposed container mouth and / or film weld joint material may not be the primary or ultimate adhesive medium. They may be able to be removed or vanished during the bonding process (as in the case of volatile coatings that are flashed (fastened) or fluxed (flowed)) during the bonding process). However, in a preferred embodiment, the pre-bonded container mouth and / or film weld joint substantially conforms to form a suitable bond during a bonding or welding process involving the use of heat and / or radio frequency (RF) energy. With melting temperature material. Thus, the choice of welding material is not limited to the container mouth and / or film outer surface or exposed surface material, but to the functional material (surface) exposed during the bonding operation.

  Embodiments of the container mouth of the present invention also provide an improved container mouth weld joint surface and cross-sectional properties and shape. The surface features comprise a substantially flat and / or smooth surface, providing a uniform and / or low material compression pressure during welding as compared to the prior art. Minimizing the difference in cross-sectional thickness of adjacent portions of the weld joint of the container mouth, for example, linear ridges, lands, protrusions or the like present in at least one substantial part of the weld joint of the container mouth By substantially eliminating the convex undulation shape, the deviation / protrusion of the film welded joint material is greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to maintain the thickness and integrity of the film at and near the film welded joint during and after the bonding process.

  Some embodiments of the type described above can also include a concave and contoured surface shape such as a hole or recess formed by the surface of the weld joint at the container mouth. Contrary to convex and concave surface shapes, concave and concave surface shapes such as recesses and holes favor the release of air trapped between the film and the welded joint at the container mouth during bonding. The film / container mouth adhesiveness is improved because it does not adversely affect the desired welding. Furthermore, such a film / container mouth material having a deviated surface shape can be accepted, and the adhesion between them is further improved.

  Regarding the above explanation, if it is an expert, the container mouth having the welded joint portion consisting of the land portion and the groove includes a substantially flat surface (not having a convex undulating shape), but is recessed linearly. It will be appreciated that a depressed relief shape including a raised relief is also not equal to the weld joint defined. In the foregoing example, the top of the land portion herein does not provide the “surface” as meant by the present invention. As used herein, “surface” means the nominal surface of the material. Furthermore, the recessed surface features of various inventive embodiments are generally limited by the cross-sectional thickness of the weld opening weld joint, and the protruding undulating features do not have such equivalent limitations.

  In addition to the above description, the container mouth embodiment of the present invention includes at least one portion that functions for stress delocalization (stress distribution) (stress delocalization function: SDF). be able to. This is particularly useful when the container mouth according to the present invention is used in a flexible liquid storage container having a film panel facing at the weld joint of the container mouth. As described above, the displacement of the liquid storage container panel at the welded joint portion of the container port causes stress localization (stress concentration) along the free end (peripheral portion) of the welded joint portion. This stress localization is often a preceding phenomenon of weld / adhesion imperfection at the container mouth / panel weld joint. By having at least one SDF, the stress that would otherwise be directed to the weld joint is spread over a wide area (both container opening and panel), reducing the possibility of imperfections in the weld joint To do.

  As one form of SDF, it is preferable that one of the weld joints of the container mouth extending into the liquid storage container at the converging parts (vertex of the triangular part) on both sides of the container mouth or beyond the weld joint of the container mouth. A flexible appendage can be provided at the neck forming the part. These flexible attachments allow the container to reduce the force applied to the panel by also applying to the SDF a “peeling” force from the panel to the container mouth that is generated by the various bends of the facing film panel. It is mounted on the welded joint of the mouth so as to be functionally movable (to operate like a hinge). In this manner, due to the shape of the SDF, with respect to the welding between the container mouth and the panel, the shear stress becomes dominant and the peeling stress is weakened. The remaining peel stress is generally directed to the container mouth itself, which is much stronger than the film.

  Preferably, the SDF in some invention embodiments does not have a constant longitudinal shape and does not require a straight end. A tapered shape (tapered shape), preferably including a curved end, most effectively delocalizes the force that would otherwise be directed to the weld joint at the container mouth It is thought to let you.

  The prior art relies heavily on a container mouth having a body that is generally rigid. This is desirable at the container mouth neck where the cap is fitted, but bonding to it results in stress localization and wear of the flexible film panel. Accordingly, selected embodiments of the present invention include a flexible container mouth end and / or container mouth weld joint as compared to the container mouth neck. Such an arrangement, in contrast to the localization of stress around the welded joint of the container mouth, causes the container mouth part to be bent in response to the bending of the film panel, so that the film panel in this region is bent. Significantly reduce stress and wear. This flexible property is also a form of SDF.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention welded to a flexible liquid storage container. FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention having another weld joint process, in which the left side is a plurality of depressed undulating elements, and the right side is a plurality of weld joints. The welding joint part of the container opening containing the hole part is shown. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3A-3A in FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3B-3B in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a front view of the end of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a front view of the end of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Introduction: In the drawings, numerically drawn lead lines indicate structures and objects relating to the description of such objects, if relevant to the structures and objects described below. It is intended to be exemplarily identified and related. Unless otherwise explained or clear from the drawings or content in which the term is used, it is not intended and should not be construed as limiting or defining the boundaries of the target object. Unless otherwise explained or apparent from the drawing or content in which the term is used, all terms and drawings are provided in a general commercial and / or scientific sense consistent with what is disclosed herein. Should be understood.

  In several figures, several numerically marked parts, in particular FIGS. 1 to 4, show a first embodiment of the invention. The container port 10 includes a neck portion 20 having an outer thread portion 26 on its outer surface 24. The neck portion 20 further includes a portion 28 including a part of the weld joint 30 of the container mouth.

  The container mouth weld joint 30 generally includes extending portions 32a and 32b, each having a container mouth weld joint surface 34a and 34b. These surfaces together with the neck portion 28 form the entire surface that is adhered or welded to the facing film panels 82a and 82b of the liquid storage container 80. The extending portion 32 (32a, 32b) further includes a peripheral end portion 36 and a converging end portion 38, respectively. Adjacent portions of the peripheral edge 36 and the container mouth welded joint 30 are somewhat flexible in that they converge and spread (diverge, branch) relative to each other. This is because it does not include support elements or structural elements that regulate such movement. This flexibility to the neck portion 20 provides a means for reducing stress and wear on the film panels 82a and 82b at, for example, the film welded joint 90, and thus the stress delocalization feature or SDF. One form is provided.

  With respect to vessel mouth weld joint surfaces 34a and 34b, FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate several configurations that exist on these surfaces. In addition to a flat surface, the vessel mouth weld joint surfaces 34a and 34b can also include a recessed shape 40, such as a plurality of recesses 42 or holes 44. These depressed contours favor the effect of gas trapped between the facing film panels 82a and 82b of the container 80 and the weld joint surfaces 34a and 34b of the container mouth during the welding / bonding process. Provide a means for mitigating and / or providing a place for material misalignment (movement) caused by these processes.

  The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a flexible appendage 50 with a stretch body 52. The stretched body portion 52 of the flexible appendage 50 is linked to the stretched portion 32 via a hinge element (member-to-member joint element) 54 and further includes a curved peripheral portion 56. The facing film panels 82a and 82b of the container 80 can be bonded to the appendage 50, but may not be bonded. In either case, when the film panels 82a and 82b facing the hydrostatic pressure in the container 80 are widened, the stretched body 52 will rotate around the hinge element 54 to maintain contact with both panels. . As a result, the separating force that causes localization of the peel force at the peripheral edge 36 that would otherwise have been directed to the panel alone is partially distributed in the flexible appendage 50, and so on. It acts compressively on the part of the facing film panels 82a and 82b that would otherwise have been unaffected. In this manner, the flexible appendage 50 functions as an SDF.

  FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention that is substantially similar to the first embodiment except that a flexible appendage 50 'is proximate the portion 28 of the neck portion 20. FIG. Since the flexible appendages 50 or 50 'are intended to function as SDF, the greatest benefit obtained from them is that these appendages are less flexible than the other parts of the weld joint 30 of the container mouth. This is achieved by being disposed at or adjacent to the portion. In many cases, the least flexible part of the weld joint at the container mouth is present at the convergent end 38 or the neck part 28. In this second embodiment, the flexible appendage 50 'is located at or adjacent to the neck portion 28 (in the first embodiment, the flexible appendage 50 is at the converging end 38, or It was placed adjacent to this). Burst test data prove that stress delocalization similar to the first example occurs in the second example. In many other respects, these two embodiments are similar.

Claims (38)

A container opening for a flexible liquid storage container, the liquid storage container having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one film weld joint composed of a material having a known melting temperature _TF. Comprising at least one film material comprising:
The container mouth
A substantially cylindrical neck,
And it extends from the neck portion comprises at least one container mouth of the welded joint is formed of a material having a known melting temperature T _S,
A container mouth for a flexible liquid storage container, characterized in that the difference between T _S and T _F is within ± 5 ° C. The container mouth according to claim 1, wherein the difference between T _S and T _F is within ± 2 ° C.   The container mouth according to claim 1, wherein the material of the welded joint portion of at least one of the container mouths is the same type of material as that of the at least one film welded joint material.   The container mouth according to claim 1, wherein the material of at least one kind of the film welded joint portion is a part of the inner surface of the film material.   The container mouth according to claim 1, wherein the material of at least one of the film welding joints exists between the inner surface and the outer surface of the film.   The container opening according to claim 3, wherein the welding joint material and the film welding joint material of the container mouth contain linear low density polyethylene. A container opening for a flexible liquid storage container, the liquid storage container comprising at least one film material having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one film weld joint;
The container mouth
A substantially cylindrical neck,
And at least one container mouth welded joint extending from the neck and having an exposed surface, wherein at least a large portion of the exposed surface is flat. And container mouth for flexible liquid storage container.   The container mouth according to claim 7, further comprising a large portion of at least a part of the exposed surface having a plurality of holes.   8. The container mouth of claim 7, further comprising a large portion of at least a portion of the exposed surface having a plurality of recessed undulating surface shapes.   8. The container mouth of claim 7, further comprising a large portion of at least a portion of the exposed surface having a plurality of holes and a plurality of recessed surface features. A container opening for a flexible liquid storage container, the liquid storage container comprising at least one film material having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one film weld joint;
This container mouth
A substantially cylindrical neck,
For a flexible liquid storage container, characterized by comprising at least one container mouth weld joint extending from said neck and having at least one stress delocalization feature Container mouth.   The container mouth according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the stress delocalization function portions includes a peripheral end portion having flexibility as compared with the neck portion.   The at least one stress delocalization feature includes at least one flexible appendage extending longitudinally from a weld joint of at least one of the container openings. Item 11. A container mouth according to Item 11.   14. A container mouth according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flexible appendage is at or adjacent to the top of the weld joint of at least one of the container mouths. .   14. A container mouth according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flexible appendage is present at or adjacent to the neck of the weld joint of at least one of the container mouths.   16. A container mouth according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the at least one flexible appendage includes a curved peripheral edge.   17. A container mouth according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein at least one of the flexible appendages includes an irregular longitudinal shape.   18. The at least one flexible appendage can be at least partially mechanically coupled to at least a portion of at least one film material of the container. Container mouth.   19. The container mouth according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the container mouth comprises four flexible appendages.   The at least one stress delocalization function portion includes at least one flexible extension extending in a longitudinal direction from a flexible peripheral end portion and at least one weld joint portion of the container mouth as compared with the neck portion. The container mouth according to claim 11, further comprising an appendage. A container port for a flexible liquid storage container, the liquid storage container comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one film weld joint composed of a material having a known melting temperature _TF ; Comprising at least one film material comprising:
The container mouth
A substantially cylindrical neck having a longitudinally coincident axis;
And extends from the neck portion, for flexible liquid storage container, characterized in that it comprises at least one portion of the container mouth of the welded joint is formed of a material having a known melting temperature T _S Container mouth. T _S and the container mouth according to claim 21, wherein the difference is characterized in that it is within ± 5 ℃ between T _F. The container mouth according to claim 21, wherein the difference between T _S and T _F is within ± 2 ° C.   The container opening according to claim 21, wherein the welding joint material of at least one of the container mouths is the same type of material as at least one kind of the film welding joint material.   The container opening according to claim 21, wherein the weld joint portion of at least one of the container openings includes at least one stress delocalization function portion.   26. The container mouth according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the stress delocalization function portions includes a peripheral end portion having flexibility as compared with the neck portion.   26. The at least one stress delocalization feature includes at least one flexible appendage extending longitudinally from at least one weld joint of the container port. The container mouth described.   28. A container mouth according to claim 27, wherein the at least one flexible appendage is at or adjacent to the top of the weld joint of at least one of the container mouths.   28. A container mouth according to claim 27, wherein the at least one flexible appendage is present at or adjacent to the neck of the weld joint of at least one of the container mouths.   30. A container mouth according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the at least one flexible appendage includes a curved peripheral edge.   31. A container mouth according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the at least one flexible appendage includes an irregular longitudinal shape.   32. At least one said flexible appendage can be at least partially mechanically coupled to at least a portion of at least one of said film materials of a container. Container mouth.   33. A container mouth as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein the container mouth includes four flexible appendages.   At least one of the stress delocalization function portions is at least one extending in a longitudinal direction from a peripheral end portion having flexibility as compared with the neck portion, and at least one weld joint portion of the container mouth. 26. A container mouth according to claim 25 including two flexible appendages.   The container opening according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the welding joints of the container opening has an exposed surface, and at least a part of the exposed surface is flat. .   36. A container mouth according to claim 35, further comprising at least a large portion of the exposed surface having a plurality of holes.   36. The container mouth of claim 35, further characterized in that a large portion of at least a portion of the exposed surface has a plurality of recessed and contoured surface shapes.   36. A container mouth according to claim 35, further comprising at least a large portion of the exposed surface having a plurality of holes and a plurality of recessed undulating surface shapes.

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