CONTAINER, PORTION PACKAGE IN WHICH FLUID IS SEALED IN THE CONTAINER, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE PORTION PACKAGE, AND OPENING METHOD OF THE PORTION PACKAGE

Abstract

A container includes a container body having a short pipe shape in which one end is an open end and the other end is provided with a bottom plate which is formed with a pouring hole and a first sealing member which is joined to an end surface of the open end of the container body to seal the open end.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application JP 2010-192985, filed Aug. 30, 2010 and Japanese Patent Application JP 2011-035225, filed Feb. 21, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, the same as if set forth at length.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container which contains fluid such as liquid or a gel-like body, a portion package in which fluid is sealed in the container, a manufacturing method of the portion package, and an opening method of the portion package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portion packages are known in which fluid such as liquid or a gel-like body (contents) is sealed in a container (refer to JP-UM-A-56-141173 and JP-T-2003-512107 (The symbol “JP-T” as used herein means a published Japanese translation of a PCT patent application.), for example).

A portion package container disclosed in JP-UM-A-56-141173 is provided with a pipe-shaped container body which is open at one end and has a bottom at the other end. The bottom of the container body is formed with a discharge hole for discharging the fluid contained. The open end of the container body is sealed with a sealing member that is fitted in the open end, and the bottom discharge hole is sealed with a lid member that covers the bottom end. Fluid is poured into the container through its open end in a state that the discharge hole is sealed with the lid member, and sealed in the container by fitting the sealing member into the open end.

A portion package container disclosed in JP-T-2003-512107 is provided with a pipe-shaped container body which is open at both ends. Each open end of the container body is sealed by welding a film-Like sealing member to the end surface. Fluid is poured into the container through one open end in a state that the other open end is sealed with the sealing member, and sealed in the container by welding the sealing member to the end surface of the one open end.

In each of the portion packages disclosed in JP-UM-A-56-141173 and JP-T-2003-512107, the open end or one of the open ends serves as an opening for fluid pouring. With this structure, it is difficult to pour fluid into the container so as to fill it up.

As for fluid that has been poured into a container, surface tension makes a peripheral portion of the surface of the fluid higher than a central portion. Even if a peripheral portion of the surface of the fluid is in contact with the edge of an open end, a central portion of the surface of the fluid is lower than the peripheral portion. As a result, the amount of poured fluid is insufficient. Where an open end is used as an opening for pouring, the pouring opening is necessarily made large and a rise of a peripheral portion of the surface of fluid makes the amount of pouring of fluid more insufficient as the pouring opening becomes larger. If fluid is poured further, a peripheral portion of the surface of the fluid may pass the edge of the open end and expand to wet the end surface. Having a relatively small area, the end surface is easily covered with the expanding fluid. In the case of a container in which the open end serving as a poring opening is sealed by welding a sealing member to the end surface of the open end, the above phenomenon may obstruct joining of the sealing member to the end surface of the open end and thereby render the sealing of the open end with the sealing member incomplete.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is therefore to facilitate charging of a portion package container with fluid and to enable reliable sealing of its pouring opening (or holes) with a sealing member.

(1) A container comprising a container body having a short pipe shape in which one end is open and the other end is provided with a bottom plate which is formed with a pouring hole in a partial region; and a first sealing member which is joined to an end surface of an open end of the container body and thereby seals the open end.

(2) A portion package comprising the container of item (1); fluid contained in the container; and a second sealing member which is joined to an outside surface of the bottom plate and thereby seals the pouring hole.

(3) A manufacturing method of a portion package, comprising the steps of pouring fluid through a pouring hole into a short-pipe-shaped container in which one, open end is sealed with a first sealing member and a bottom plate which is provided at the other end is formed with the pouring hole; and sealing the pouring hole by joining a second sealing member to an outside surface of the bottom plate of the container into which the fluid has been poured.

According to the invention, one end of the container body is provided with the bottom plate which is formed with the pouring hole in a partial region. Therefore, the surface of fluid that has been poured into the container is flattened by means of the bottom plate. In this manner, the container can be charged with fluid easily.

Since the first sealing member is joined to the end surface of the open end of the container body to seal the open end before pouring of fluid, fluid being poured does not obstruct joining of the first sealing member to the open end of the container body. The second sealing member is joined to the outside surface of the bottom plate having the pouring hole to seal the pouring hole after pouring of fluid. And the outside surface of the bottom plate is wider than an end surface that would be obtained if the bottom-plate-side end of the container body were an open end. Therefore, even if fluid expands to wet a portion around the pouring hole, a joining region can be obtained on the outside surface of the bottom plate outside that portion so as to surround the pouring hole. The pouring hole can thus be sealed reliably with the second sealing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an example container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an example portion package according to the embodiment of the invention in which fluid is sealed in the container of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of the portion package of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of part V, enclosed by a chain-line circle, of FIG. 4D.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are sectional views illustrating an example opening tool for the portion package of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example container sealing machine according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing, in detail, a container conveyor and a sealing member feeder of the container sealing machine of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are schematic diagrams illustrating a process of sealing the container of FIG. 1 using the container sealing machine of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an example container according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion package in which fluid is sealed in the container of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of part XII, enclosed by a broken-line circle, of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a modification of the container of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The container 1 is provided with a container body 2 and a first sealing member 3.

The container body 2 is shaped like a short pipe, and its one end is open and the other end is provided with a bottom plate 4. The bottom plate 4 is formed with openings 5. In the illustrated example, the container body 2 is shaped like a short pipe that is generally rectangular in a plan view and the openings 5 occupy four corner portions of the bottom plate 4 and are generally circular in a plan view. When fluid is poured into the container 1, part of the openings 5 may serve as pouring holes with the other openings 5 used as outlets for venting air out of the container 1.

Furthermore, the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 is formed with plural annular ribs 6, each of which is formed so as to surround the associated opening 5 and to be distant from the edge of the associated opening 5 and the associated portion of the edge of the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. The distance between each rib 6 and the associated opening 5 is set so that fluid 12 that overflows the container 1 after its capacity is reached is contained inside each rib 6 taking into consideration a variation of a pouring amount of fluid 12 when it is poured into the container 1 using a dispenser or the like.

The first sealing member 3 is joined to an end surface 7a of an open end 7 of the container body 2, whereby the open end 7 is sealed. The first sealing member 3 is formed by, for example, laminating a metal foil of aluminum or the like on the surface of a thermoplastic resin film, and is typically welded to the end surface 7a of the open end 7. However, the method for joining the first sealing member 3 to the end surface 7a of the open end 7 is not limited to welding. For example, the first sealing member 3 may be joined to the end surface 7a of the open end 7 with adhesive that is applied to the end surface 7a of the open end 7. Therefore, the first sealing member 3 is not limited to weldable members.

FIG. 3 shows an example portion package in which fluid 12 is sealed in the container 1.

The portion package 10 is configured in such a manner that a second sealing member 11 is joined to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 of the container 1 which is filled with the fluid 12 and all of the openings 5 of the bottom plate 4 are sealed. The fluid 12 has been poured into the container 1 until its capacity is reached substantially and is sealed in the container 1.

The second sealing member 11 is formed by, for example, laminating a metal foil of aluminum or the like on the surface of a thermoplastic resin film, and is typically welded to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 of the container 1. However, the method for joining the second sealing member 11 to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 is not limited to welding. For example, the second sealing member 11 may be joined to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 with adhesive that is applied to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. Therefore, the second sealing member 11 is not limited to weldable members.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a manufacturing process of the portion package 10.

Fluid 12 is poured through the openings 5 of the bottom plate 4 into the container 1 whose open end 7 is sealed with the first sealing member 3. Fluid 12 is poured by approximately a prescribed amount using a dispenser, for example. The fluid 12 that has been poured into the container 1 has a concave surface, that is, because of its surface tension, a peripheral portion 12a of its surface that is in contact with the inside surface of the side wall of the container 1 is higher than a central portion 12b (see FIG. 4A).

After the peripheral portion 12a of the fluid 12 has reached the inside surface 4b of the bottom plate 4 of the container 1, the peripheral portion 12a remains there even if further fluid 12 is poured into the container 1. On the other hand, since a space exists between the central portion 12b of the surface of the fluid 12 and the inside surface 4b of the bottom plate 4, the central portion 12b rises gradually and comes into contact with the inside surface 4b of the bottom plate 4 as further fluid 12 is poured into the container 1. That is, the surface of the fluid 12, which has been concave, is flattened by means of the inside surface 4b of the bottom plate 4. The container 1 is thus filled with the fluid 12 (see FIGS. 4B and 4C).

Then, the second sealing member 11 is joined to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. All of the openings 5 of the bottom plate 4 are sealed with the second sealing member 11, whereby the fluid 12 is sealed in the container 1 (see FIG. 4D).

FIG. 5 illustrates, in detail, a joining state of the container 1 and the second sealing member 11 around one opening 5.

Because of a variation of the amount of fluid pouring by a dispenser and other factors, fluid 12 that overflows the container 1 after its capacity is reached may expand to wet the portion, around each opening 5, of the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. FIG. 5 shows a state that fluid 12 has expanded to wet the portion around the opening 5.

The second sealing member 11 is joined to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 in a state that fluid 12 has expanded to wet the portion around each opening 5. Since the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 is wider than an end surface that would be obtained if the bottom-4-side end of the container 1 were an open end, even if fluid 12 expands to wet the portion around each opening 5, a joining region can be formed between the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 and the second sealing member 11 outside that portion so as to surround each opening 5.

In particular, the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 is formed with the plural annular ribs 6 and each rib 6 surrounds the associated opening 5 so as to be distant from the edge of the associated opening 5. And each rib 6 is distant from the associated portion of the edge of the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. Therefore, expanding fluid 12 is dammed up by each rib 6 and a joining region can be secured outside each rib 6 so as to surround the associated opening 5.

As described above, when the second sealing member 11 is joined to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4, each opening 5 is surrounded by a joining region of the second sealing member 11 and the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4, whereby the openings 5 can be sealed reliably with the second sealing member 11.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate an example opening tool for the portion package 10 and an example process of opening the portion package 10 using the opening tool.

The opening tool 20 is equipped with a projection 22 which is provided on the top surface of a substrate 21 at the center and a sharp nail 23 which projects from a portion of the edge of the top surface of the projection 22. The projection 22 can be inserted into the container 1 from the open end 7 side of the container 1 of the portion package 10 and, when inserted, fitted in the container 1 loosely.

The first sealing member 3 with which the open end 7 of the container 1 of the portion package 10 is sealed is pressed against the projection 22 and perforated by the nail 23 of the top surface of the projection 22 (see FIG. 6A).

The first sealing member 3 continues to be pressed against the projection 22, whereby the first sealing member 3 is broken starting from the hole formed by the nail 23 and the portion package 10 is opened. The projection 22 is inserted into the container 1. The fluid 12 that has been sealed in the portion package 10 pressed out by the projection 22. The pressed-out fluid 12 is received by the substrate 21 and collected (see FIG. 6B).

When the projection 22 is inserted fully into the container 1, the inside space of the container 1 is occupied by the projection 22, whereby the fluid 12 that was sealed in the portion package 10 can be collected substantially in its entirety (see FIG. 6C).

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example container sealing machine for sealing the openings 5 of the container 1.

The sealing machine 100 seals the openings 5 of the container 1 by joining the second sealing member 11 to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 of the container 1. Plural containers 1 are arranged on each pallet 108 and containers 1 are supplied to the sealing machine 100 on a pallet-by-pallet basis. FIG. 7 is simplified in that only one container 1 is shown for each pallet 108.

The sealing machine 100 is equipped with a conveyor 101 for conveying pallets 108 on which containers 1 are arranged, a supplying unit 102 for supplying a sealing material 120 which is a material of second sealing members 11, a feeding unit 103 for feeding the sealing material 120 supplied from the supplying unit 102, a pouring unit 104 for pouring fluid into containers 1, a joining unit 105 for joining part of the sealing material 120 to each container 1 mounted on each pallet 108, a cut-out unit 106 for cutting a joined portion (second sealing member 11) that has been joined to each container 1 on each pallet 108 out of the sealing material 120, and a separating unit 107 for separating the cut-out joined portion (second sealing member 11) from the other part of the sealing material 120.

The conveyor 101 includes a guide rail 110 which extends along a pallet conveying path, an engaging member 111 for engaging with plural pallets 108 which are to engage with pallets 108 mounted on the guide rail 110 in a disengageable manner, and a drive mechanism 112 for driving the engaging member 111.

The engaging member 111 has a base 113 which is disposed under and extends parallel with the guide rail 110 and plural pins 114 which are erected from the base 113 with a prescribed pitch.

The drive mechanism 112 has elevation drive mechanisms 115 such as cylinder-piston units which support and drive (i.e., elevate and lower) the engaging member 111 and a translation drive mechanism 116 such as a linear motor which reciprocation-drives the elevation drive mechanisms 115 in the pallet conveying path.

When elevated being driven the elevation drive mechanisms 115, the engaging member 111 causes the pins 114 to engage with plural pallets 108 mounted on the guide rail 110. Then, driven by the translation drive mechanism 116, the elevation drive mechanisms 115 and the engaging member 111 supported by them go forward along the conveying path and the plural pallets 108 which are engaged with the pins 114 go forward on the guide rails 110 together with the engaging member 111. Then, lowered being driven the elevation drive mechanisms 115, the engaging member 111 is causes the pins 114 to disengage from the plural pallets 108. Subsequently, driven by the translation drive mechanism 116, the elevation drive mechanisms 115 and the engaging member 111 supported by them go back along the conveying path and the engaging member 111 and return to the initial positions. As the above cycle is performed repeatedly, pallets 108 are conveyed intermittently along the conveying path.

The sealing material 120 is a long film made of a thermoplastic resin, and the supplying unit 102 includes a row material roll 121 which is wound with the sealing material 120, a take-up roll 122 for taking up the sealing material 120 from the row material roll 121, and plural auxiliary rolls 123.

The row material roll 121 and the take-up roll 122 are driven by respective motors (not shown). This is not to control feeding of the sealing material 120 but to prevent loosening of the sealing material 120 by applying prescribed tension to it.

Disposed between the row material roll 121 and the take-up roll 122 as appropriate, the plural auxiliary rolls 123 define a sealing material feeding path. An interval of the sealing material feeding path is parallel with the pallet conveying path, and in that interval the sealing material 120 is placed on the outside surfaces 4a of the bottom plates 4 of the containers 1 mounted on pallets 108.

In the pallet conveying path, the pouring unit 104 is disposed upstream of the interval, parallel with the pallet conveying path, of the sealing material feeding path. The pouring unit 104 includes dispensers 140 and a sensor (not shown). When a pallet 108 being conveyed is located under the pouring unit 104, the pouring unit 104 detects the pallet 108 with the sensor and pours fluid 12 into the containers 1 mounted on the pallet 108 by causing the dispensers 140 to operate on the basis of a detection signal of the sensor.

In the pallet conveying path, the joining unit 105 is disposed in the interval, parallel with the pallet conveying path, of the sealing material feeding path. The joining unit 105 includes a heat welding head 150 which is elevated and lowered and a sensor (not shown).

When a pallet 108 being conveyed is located under the joining unit 105, the joining unit 105 detects the pallet 108 with the sensor and lowers the heat welding head 150 on the basis of a detection signal of the sensor. The sealing material 120 is pressed against the containers 1 mounted on the pallet 108 by means of the heat welding head 150 being lowered and is thereby welded to the outside surfaces 4a of the bottom plates 4 of the containers 1. The openings 5 of each container 1 are thus sealed. The method for joining the sealing material 120 to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 of each container 1 is not limited to welding. For example, the sealing material 12Q may be joined to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 of each container 1 with adhesive that is applied to the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. In this case, for example, in the pallet conveying path, adhesive is applied to the outside surfaces 4a of the bottom plates 4 of the containers 1 upstream of the interval, parallel with the pallet conveying path, of the sealing material feeding path.

The cut-out unit 106 is disposed downstream of the joining unit 105 in the interval, parallel with the pallet conveying path, of the sealing material feeding path. The cut-out unit 106 includes a laser marker 160 and a sensor (not shown).

When a pallet 108 being conveyed is located under the cut-out unit 106, the cut-out unit 106 detects the pallet 108 with the sensor and causes the laser marker 160 to operate on the basis of a detection signal of the sensor. The laser marker 160 applies laser light to the sealing material 120 which is welded to the containers 1 mounted on the pallet 108. The laser light is applied along the edge of the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4 of each container 1. As a result, second sealing members 11 are cut out of the sealing material 120 in a state that they are welded to the outside surfaces 4a of the bottom plates 4 of the containers 1. Alternatively, second sealing members 11 may be punched out of the sealing material 120 by pressing a punch against the pallet 108 which serves as a die.

The separating unit 107 is disposed downstream of the cut-out unit 106 and defines the downstream end of the interval, parallel with the pallet conveying path, of the sealing material feeding path. The separating unit 107 includes a slide contact member 170 which is in slide contact with the sealing material 120 and a roll 171 which is disposed downstream of the slide contact member 170 and guides the sealing material 120 upward.

Whereas the sealing material 120 is bent upward immediately downstream of the slide contact member 170 and goes away from the conveying path, the second sealing members 11 that have been punched out of the sealing material 120 move along the pallet conveying path because they are joined to the containers 1. As a result, relative movements occur between the second sealing members 11 and the other part of the sealing material 120 and the second sealing members 11 are separated from the other part of the sealing material 120.

The feeding unit 103 is disposed between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106 in the pallet conveying path. The feeding unit 103 includes a pair of gripping mechanisms 130 which are disposed on both sides of the sealing material 120 and grip or release edge portions of the sealing material 120. The gripping mechanisms 130 are fixed to one of the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which are reciprocation-driven along the conveying path by the translation drive mechanism 116 in the conveying unit 101, and are moved together with the one elevation drive mechanism 115.

The gripping mechanisms 130 grip the sealing material 120 when the engaging member 111 which is engaged with pallets 108 and the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which support the engaging member 111 go forward to convey the pallets 108 in each pallet conveying cycle of the conveying unit 101. As the gripping mechanisms 130 go forward together with the one elevation drive mechanism 115, the sealing material 120 which is gripped by the gripping mechanisms 130 is fed in the sealing material feeding path. When the engaging member 111 which has been disengaged from the pallets 108 and the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which support the engaging member 111 go back and return to the initial positions, the feeding unit 103 causes the gripping mechanisms 130 to release the sealing material 120. The gripping mechanisms 130 go back together with the one elevation drive mechanism 115 and returns to the initial position. As the above-described cycle is performed repeatedly, the sealing material 120 is fed intermittently along the sealing material feeding path. As described above, in feeding the sealing material 120, the feeding unit 103 is moved together with the conveying unit 101 while holding the sealing material 120. As a result, the feeding of the sealing material 120 and the conveyance of pallets 108 can easily be synchronized with each other from joining of the sealing material 120 to the containers 1 mounted on the pallets 108 to separation of joined portions (second sealing members 11).

The feeding unit 103 holds the sealing material 120 in the interval, between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106, of the pallet conveying path, and can thereby prevent a phenomenon that the feeding of the sealing material 120 and the conveyance of pallets 108 fall out of synchronism with each other in the interval between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106 due to expansion of the sealing material 120.

It is possible to convey pallets 108 using a belt conveyor. However, since each portion of a belt returns to the initial position after a circulation, to convey pallets 108 continuously and feed the sealing material 120 in synchronism with the conveyance of the pallets 108, the feeding unit 103 needs to have plural pairs of gripping mechanisms 130. In contrast, in the configuration in which the conveying unit 101 conveys pallets 108 by reciprocation-driving, along the pallet conveying path, the engaging member 111 which is engaged with pallets 108 in a disengageable manner and the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which support the engaging member 111, as described above it suffices to dispose the pair of gripping mechanisms 130. The machine configuration can thus be simplified.

In the feeding unit 103, the gripping mechanisms 130 grip the sealing material 120 only while pallets 108 exist in the interval, between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106, of the pallet conveying path. Whether or not pallets 108 exist in the interval between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106 is judged by, for example, counting the number of pallets 108 that have passed the joining unit 105 and the number of pallets 108 that have passed the cut-out unit 106 using sensors provided in the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106, respectively, and comparing the two numbers.

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate a process of sealing plural containers 1 sequentially using the container sealing machine 100 having the above configuration.

FIGS. 9A-9D show a state that two pallets 108a and 108b of plural pallets 108 being conveyed have a long interval P which is longer than the distance L between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106 as measured along the pallet conveying path. Such a state may occur in, for example, a case that pallets 108 are supplied to the container sealing machine 100 manually. FIGS. 9A-9D are simplified in that only the two pallets 108a and 108b having the long interval P are shown.

When the leading pallet 108a is located under the joining unit 105, a sealing material 120 is welded to the containers 1 mounted on the pallet 108a. As a result, the openings 5 of the containers 1 are sealed (see FIG. 9A).

Then, the pallets 108a and 108b are conveyed by the conveying unit 101 which operates cyclically in the above-described manner. The pallet 108a is located in the interval, between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106, of the pallet conveying path. Therefore, the gripping mechanisms 130 of the feeding unit 103 grip the sealing material 120 as the engaging member 111 and the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which support the engaging member 111 go forward to convey the pallet 108a in one pallet conveying cycle of the conveying unit 101. As the gripping mechanisms 130 go forward together with the one elevation drive mechanism 115, the sealing material 120 gripped by the gripping mechanisms 130 is fed along the sealing material feeding path. Since the gripping mechanisms 130 which are holding the sealing material 120 move together with the one of the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which are conveying the pallet 108a, the feeding of the sealing material 120 is synchronized with the conveyance of the pallet 108a reliably. As a result, the sealing material 120 can be prevented from being peeled off a container 1 mounted on the pallet 108a (see FIG. 9B).

The above-described cycle is performed repeatedly by the conveying unit 101, whereby the leading pallet 108a comes to be located under the cut-out unit 106. Second sealing members 11 are cut out of the sealing material 120 in a state that they are welded to the containers 1. The sealing of the containers 1 mounted on the pallet 108 is thus completed. The interval P between the pallets 108a and 108b is longer than the distance L between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106 as measured along the pallet conveying path. Therefore, at a time point when the leading pallet 108a is located under the cut-out unit 106, the following pallet 108h is located upstream of the joining unit 105 along the pallet conveying path (see FIG. 9C).

The pallet 108b is conveyed to under the joining unit 105 as the conveying unit 101 repeats the above-described cycle further. No pallet 108 exists in the interval, between the joining unit 105 and the cut-out unit 106, of the pallet conveying path until the pallet 108b reaches the position of the joining unit 105. Therefore, until the pallet 108b reaches the position of the joining unit 105, the gripping mechanisms 130 do not grip the sealing material 120 (i.e., the sealing material 120 is kept released) while the engaging member 111 which is engaged with the pallets 108 and the elevation drive mechanisms 115 which support the engaging member 111 go forward in the pallet conveying cycles of the conveying unit 101 to convey the pallets 108. Although the gripping mechanisms 130 go forward together with the one elevation drive mechanism 115, the sealing material 120 is not fed along the sealing material feeding path. That is, only the pallets 108a and 108b are moved. The sealing material 120 is thus saved (see FIG. 90).

FIG. 10 shows a container according to another embodiment. Members etc. having the same ones in the above-described container 1 will be given the same reference symbols as the latter and will be described in a simplified manner or will not be described at all.

The container 31 is provided with a container body 32 and a first sealing member 3.

The container body 32 is shaped like a short pipe, and its one end is open and the other end is provided with a bottom plate 34. The bottom plate 34 is formed with openings 35. In the illustrated example, the container body 32 is shaped like a short pipe that is generally rectangular in a plan view and the openings 35 occupy two diagonal corner portions of the bottom plate 34 and are generally circular in a plan view. When fluid is poured into the container 31, one of the two openings 35 serves as a pouring hole and the other opening 35 serves as an outlet for venting air out of the container 31.

Each opening 35 has a step-like shape in which the opening diameter φ2 of a second end portion 35b that is connected to the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 is larger than the opening diameter φ1 of a first end portion 35a that is connected to the inside surface 34b of the bottom plate 34. The first end portion 35a and the second end portion 35b are connected by a horizontal surface 38. The opening diameter φ2 of the second end portion 35b is set so that fluid 12 that overflows the container 31 after its capacity is reached is contained inside each second end portion 35b taking into consideration a variation of a pouring amount of fluid 12 when it is poured into the container 31 using a dispenser or the like.

The first sealing member 3 is joined to an end surface 37a of an open end 37 of the container body 32, whereby the open end 37 is sealed.

FIG. 11 shows an example portion package in which fluid 12 is sealed in the container 31.

The portion package 40 is configured in such a manner that a second sealing member 11 is joined to the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 of the container 31 which is filled with the fluid 12 and both openings 35 of the bottom plate 34 are sealed. The fluid 12 has been poured into the container 31 until its capacity is reached substantially and is sealed in the container 31. The second sealing member 11 is joined to the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 39 of the container 31 by welding.

FIG. 12 illustrates, in detail, a joining state of the container 31 and the second sealing member 11 around one opening 35.

Because of a variation of the amount of fluid pouring by a dispenser and other factors, fluid 12 that overflows the container 31 after its capacity is reached may enter the openings 35. FIG. 12 shows a state that fluid 12 has entered the openings 35.

As described above, each opening 35 has the step-like shape in which the opening diameter φ2 of the second end portion 35b that is connected to the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 is larger than the opening diameter φ1 of the first end portion 35a that is connected to the inside surface 34b of the bottom plate 34. The first end portion 35a and the second end portion 35b are connected by the horizontal surface 38. Fluid 12 that has entered each opening 35 merely expands to wet the horizontal surface 38 and does not expand so as to wet the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 of the container 31. A joining region that surrounds each opening 35 is thus secured in the outside surface 34a.

In the above-described container 1, the regions where overflow fluid 12 expands to wet their surfaces are provided on the outside surface 4a and those regions are flush with the joining region of the second sealing member 11 and the outside surface 4a of the bottom plate 4. In contrast, in the container 31 according to this embodiment, the regions where overflow fluid 12 expands to wet their surfaces correspond to the horizontal surfaces 38 that are located inside the openings 35 and hence are not flush with the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 where the joining region of the second sealing member 11 and the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 is provided. As a result, the second sealing member 11 can be joined to the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 more reliably.

FIG. 13 shows a modification of the container 31.

In the container 31a shown in FIG. 13, the outside surface 34a of the bottom plate 34 is formed with plural annular ribs 36. Each rib 36 is formed around the edge of the associated opening 35 so as to surround the associated opening 35. Like the ribs 6 of the container 1, the ribs 36 have the function of damming up expanding fluid 12. Furthermore, the ribs 36 are used as thinning margins when the second sealing member 11 is welded to seal the container 31a. The second sealing member 11 is welded to the tip portions of the respective ribs 36.

By virtue of the ribs 36 serving as thinning margins, formation errors of the individual members of the container 31a in which the bottom plate 34 is formed with the plural openings 35 and the openings 35 can be sealed reliably. Furthermore, when plural containers 31a are sealed at one time by the above-described sealing machine 100, formation errors among the containers 31a can be absorbed and the containers 31a can be sealed reliably.

It is preferable that the tip portion of each of the ribs 36 to which the second sealing member 11 is welded have a flat surface. This makes it possible to secure sufficient joining areas for welding and to thereby improve the sealing performance. Where the second sealing member 11 is formed by laminating a metal foil of aluminum or the like on the surface of a thermoplastic resin film, an event that the film is pierced and the laminated metal foil is corroded being exposed to the fluid 12 can be prevented.

As described above, this specification discloses containers of the following items (1)-(6).

(1) A container comprising a container body having a short pipe shape in which one end is open and the other end is provided with a bottom plate which is formed with a pouring hole; and a first sealing member which is joined to an end surface of an open end of the container body and thereby seals the open end.

(2) The container of item (1), wherein the pouring hole has a step shape in which a second end portion that is connected to an outside surface of the bottom plate is larger in opening area than a first end portion that is connected to an inside surface of the bottom plate.

(3) The container of item (2), wherein the outside surface of the bottom plate is formed with a rib around an edge of the pouring hole in such a manner that the rib surrounds the pouring hole.

(4) The container of item (3), wherein a tip portion of the rib has a flat surface.

(5) The container of item (1), wherein an outside surface of the bottom plate is formed with a rib which is distant from an edge of the pouring hole and surrounds the pouring hole.

(6) The container of any one of items (1)-(5), wherein the first sealing member can be broken by pressing it.

The specification discloses portion packages of the following items (7) and (8).

(7) A portion package comprising the container of any one of items (1)-(6); fluid contained in the container; and a second sealing member which is joined to an outside surface of the bottom plate and thereby seals the pouring hole.

(8) A portion package comprising the container of item (3) or (4); fluid contained in the container; and a second sealing member which is joined to the outside surface of the bottom plate so as to be welded to a tip portion of the rib, and thereby seals the pouring hole.

Furthermore, the specification discloses a manufacturing method of a portion package, comprising the steps of pouring fluid through a pouring hole into a short-pipe-shaped container in which one open end is sealed with a first sealing member and a bottom plate which is provided at the other end is formed with the pouring hole; and sealing the pouring hole by joining a second sealing member to an outside surface of the bottom plate of the container into which the fluid has been poured.

Still further, the specification discloses an opening method of the portion package of item (7), comprising the steps of breaking the first sealing member; and pushing out the fluid contained in the container by inserting a thing that fits in the container into the container through the open end.

The specification discloses another opening method of the portion package of item (7), comprising the step of breaking the first sealing member by pressing the first sealing member against a front surface of a thing that fits in the container and is oriented so as to be suitable for insertion into the container.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a container body having a short pipe shape in which one end is an open end and the other end is provided with a bottom plate which is formed with a pouring hole; and

a first sealing member which is joined to an end surface of the open end of the container body to seal the open end.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring hole has a step shape in which a second end portion that is connected to an outside surface of the bottom plate is larger in opening area than a first end portion that is connected to an inside surface of the bottom plate.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the outside surface of the bottom plate is formed with a rib around an edge of the pouring hole in such a manner that the rib surrounds the pouring hole.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein a tip portion of the rib has a flat surface.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein an outside surface of the bottom plate is formed with a rib which is distant from an edge of the pouring hole and surrounds the pouring hole.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing member is capable of being broken by pressing the first sealing member.

7. A portion package comprising:

the container according to claim 1;

fluid contained in the container; and

a second sealing member which is joined to an outside surface of the bottom plate to seal the pouring hole.

8. A portion package comprising:

the container according to claim 3;

fluid contained in the container; and

a second sealing member which is joined to the outside surface of the bottom plate so as to be welded to a tip portion of the rib, and thereby seals the pouring hole.

9. A manufacturing method of a portion package, comprising:

pouring fluid through a pouring hole into a short-pipe-shaped container in which one, open end is sealed with a first sealing member and a bottom plate which is provided at the other end is formed with the pouring hole; and

sealing the pouring hole by joining a second sealing member to an outside surface of the bottom plate of the container into which the fluid has been poured.

10. An opening method of the portion package according to claim 7, comprising:

breaking the first sealing member; and

pushing out the fluid contained in the container by inserting a thing that fits in the container into the container through the open end.

11. An opening method of the portion package according to claim 7, comprising:

breaking the first sealing member by pressing the first sealing member against a front surface of a thing that fits in the container and is oriented so as to be suitable for insertion into the container.