JP2024103825A - Cap and processing method for said cap - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cap that can improve sealing performance and suppress scattering of a liquid in a container.SOLUTION: A cap 1 includes: a cap body 2 that is attached to a container B; an upper lid 3 that is detachable from the cap body 2; and an auxiliary stopper 4. The cap body 2 has a pouring cylinder 24. The upper lid 3 has a cylindrical inner cylinder 34 that fits into an inner surface 244 of the pouring cylinder 24. The auxiliary stopper 4 is arranged inside the inner cylinder 34, protrudes toward the outside of the inner cylinder 34, and holds a content L in the container B. The auxiliary stopper 4 has an auxiliary cylinder 41 and a partition 42. The cylindrical auxiliary cylinder 41 fits with an inner surface 341 of the inner cylinder 34. The partition 42 divides an inner space of the auxiliary cylinder 41 into a space 42A on the upper lid 3 side and a space 42B on the cap body 2 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a cap that is attached to a container and a processing method for the cap.

Caps that cover containers containing liquids such as dressing or soy sauce are designed to be opened and closed depending on the need for the liquid.

When the liquid in the container is simply stored, the consumer keeps the cap closed. Since it is undesirable for the liquid in the container to leak out through a closed cap, the cap is required to have a high level of sealing ability to seal the liquid inside the container.

On the other hand, when the liquid in the container is needed, the consumer opens the cap and pours out the liquid from the container. At this time, it is undesirable for the liquid adhering to the cap to drip and splash outside the container and the cap. Therefore, the cap is required to have the function of keeping the liquid adhering to the cap inside the cap when the cap is closed.

Furthermore, many people (consumers) use caps. Therefore, cap manufacturers need to mass-produce the caps. Therefore, it is required that the caps be easy to manufacture.

One example of a cap that meets the above requirements is a pouring cap, which is described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2022-101320 A

The pouring cap in Patent Document 1 seals the container body by fitting a sealing tube into the pouring tube. However, deformation of the pouring tube and/or the sealing tube that creates a gap between the pouring tube and the sealing tube can cause a problem in which liquid leaks out of the container through the gap between the pouring tube and the sealing tube.

Furthermore, the pouring cap of Patent Document 1 prevents liquid in the container from seeping into the sealed cylinder by fitting a vertically long, rod-shaped inner stopper into the sealed cylinder. However, when the top lid of the pouring cap of Patent Document 1 is opened, liquid adhering to the bottom of the inner stopper flows down the tapered surface of the inner stopper onto the outer surface of the sealed cylinder and the inner surface of the top plate of the top lid. Liquid that flows into such places causes the problem of splashing in places unintended by the consumer.

The present invention aims to provide a cap that can improve sealing performance and reduce splashing of liquid in a container to the surrounding area, a cap for easily manufacturing the cap, and a processing method for the cap.

In order to solve the above problems, the cap according to the first invention is a cap comprising a cap body that is attached to a container and a top lid that is detachable from the cap body, and is provided with a cap body having a pouring tube, a top lid having a cylindrical inner tube that fits with the inner circumferential surface of the pouring tube, and an auxiliary plug that is disposed inside the inner tube and presses against the outside of the inner tube while retaining the contents in the container, and is characterized in that the auxiliary plug has a cylindrical auxiliary tube that fits with the inner circumferential surface of the inner tube, and a partition that divides the space inside the auxiliary tube into a space on the top lid side and a space on the cap body side.

The cap according to the second invention is the cap according to the first invention, characterized in that the auxiliary tube further has a protrusion that protrudes toward the space on the cap body side.

The cap according to the third invention is a cap comprising a cap body to be attached to a container and a top lid that can be attached and detached to the cap body, the cap body having a pouring tube, the top lid having a cylindrical inner tube that fits to the inner circumferential surface of the pouring tube, a weakened portion provided on the cap body that breaks when a force is applied in a certain direction of the top lid when the top lid is attached to the cap body, and an auxiliary plug that is disposed on the inside of the pouring tube and is held to the cap body via the weakened portion, the top lid having a holding portion capable of holding the auxiliary plug on the inside of the inner tube, the auxiliary plug having a cylindrical auxiliary tube that can fit to the inner circumferential surface of the inner tube, a partition portion that divides the space inside the auxiliary tube into a space on the top lid side and a space on the cap body side, and a held portion that is held by the holding portion.

The processing method for the cap according to the third invention is characterized by comprising a molding step of molding the cap according to the third invention, and a separation step of pressing the auxiliary plug of the cap molded in the molding step toward the upper lid in a state in which the upper lid of the cap molded in the molding step is attached to the cap body of the cap molded in the molding step, thereby breaking the weakened portion and separating the auxiliary plug from the cap body.

The cap of the present invention has an improved sealing performance because the auxiliary tube and the partition push outward against the inner tube, preventing a gap between the pouring tube and the inner tube that connects the space inside the container to the space outside the container. In addition, when liquid is poured out from within the container without the top lid attached to the cap body, the liquid adhering to the auxiliary tube and the partition remains in the space on the cap body side inside the auxiliary tube, reducing the liquid in the container from splashing around.

In addition, with the cap of the present invention, there is no need to provide a part that functions as an auxiliary plug in the cap body and/or the top lid, so the structure of the top lid and the cap body is simplified. Therefore, the cap can be easily manufactured.

According to the processing method for the cap of the present invention, the cap can be manufactured by simply pressing the auxiliary plug toward the top lid while the top lid is attached to the cap body. Therefore, according to the processing method for the cap of the present invention, the cap can be easily manufactured.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the top lid in a closed state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap with the top lid open. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap, showing an enlarged view of the left side periphery of the auxiliary plug shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap and a container to which the cap is attached, showing the state in which the cap is sealing the container. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cap and a container to which the cap is attached, showing a state in which liquid in the container is poured out of the pouring tube. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap, showing the state before the auxiliary plug is separated from the cap body. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cap, illustrating the first stage of a molding step in a manufacturing method of the cap. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cap, illustrating a latter stage of the molding process in the manufacturing method of the cap. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the molded cap, illustrating a separation step in the manufacturing method of the cap. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the molded cap, illustrating a holding step in the manufacturing method of the cap. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the molded cap and a container with the cap attached, illustrating the process of attaching the cap to the container containing a high-temperature liquid. FIG.

The cap 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for manufacturing the cap 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the direction indicated by the arrow with the word "down" indicates the direction of gravity. In the specification, the direction of gravity is referred to as the "downward direction". In the specification and drawings, the direction opposite the downward direction is referred to as the "upward" direction, the direction perpendicular to the upward and downward directions and toward the left side of the paper is referred to as the "leftward" direction, and the direction opposite the leftward direction is referred to as the "rightward" direction. Furthermore, in the following, a cylindrical body or cylindrical member will be described. In the specification, the direction connecting both ends having an entrance and exit of these hollow parts is referred to as the longitudinal direction, and the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is referred to as the radial direction.

First, the cap 1 of the embodiment will be described, and then a manufacturing method of the cap 1 will be described. The cap 1 of the embodiment is a hinge type. However, the present invention is not limited to the hinge type cap 1.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cap 1 of the embodiment includes a cap body 2 that is attached to a container B, a top lid 3 that is detachable from the cap body 2, and an auxiliary plug 4 that is attached to the top lid 3.

The cap body 2 is attached to the mouth m of the container B. For this reason, the cap body 2 has a base portion 20 that covers the mouth m from the outside of the container B, an outer tube portion 21 that is connected to the base portion 20 and contacts the mouth m from the outer periphery, and an inner tube portion 22 that is connected to the base portion 20 and contacts the mouth m from the inside. In other words, the base portion 20, outer tube portion 21, and inner tube portion 22 of the cap body 2 are configured to sandwich the mouth m. In addition, the top lid 3 is attached to the cap body 2 (the top lid 3 is closed). For this reason, the cap body 2 has an engagement portion 23 that engages with the top lid 3.

The cap body 2 has a pouring tube 24 for pouring out the contents in the container B. The contents of the container B are, for example, liquid L such as dressing or soy sauce. The pouring tube 24 is a cylindrical body having a pouring outlet 241, which is an opening through which the liquid L in the container B is poured out, a pouring passage 242 that leads to the pouring outlet 241, and an inlet 243, which is an opening through which the liquid L in the container B enters the pouring passage 242. The pouring tube 24 is provided on the base part 20 so that the pouring outlet 241 is disposed on the outside of the container B and the inlet 243 is disposed on the inside of the container B. As a result, the pouring passage 242 communicates with the space outside the container B and the space inside the container B. By providing the pouring tube 24 on the base part 20 in this way, when the container B is tilted, the liquid L in the container B enters the pouring passage 242 from the pouring outlet 241 and is poured out of the container B from the pouring outlet 241.

The top lid 3 has a top plate 31 that covers the pouring outlet 241 from the outside of the pouring passage 242 when the top lid 3 is in the closed state, and a cylindrical skirt 32 that extends from the top plate 31 toward the cap body 2 in the above state. The skirt 32 is connected to the cap body 2 via a hinge 5.

By deforming the hinge 5, the top lid 3 can move back and forth between a closed position and a position in which the top lid 3 is not attached to the cap body 2 (top lid 3 is open). The inner edge of the skirt 32 on the cap body 2 side is provided with an engaged portion 33 that engages with the engaging portion 23 of the cap body 2. When the top lid 3 moves to the closed position, the engaging portion 23 engages with the engaged portion 33. This holds the top lid 3 in the closed position.

In order for the top lid 3 in the closed position to seal the container B, the top lid 3 has an inner cylinder 34 that extends from the surface of the top plate 31 on the cap body 2 side in the closed position toward the cap body 2. The inner cylinder 34 is a cylindrical body that fits into the inner surface 244 of the pouring tube 24 from the inside. When the inner cylinder 34 fits into the pouring tube 24, the entire circumference of the inner surface 244 of the pouring tube 24 abuts against the inner cylinder 34, and the top plate 31 covers the pouring outlet 241. In FIG. 3, the entire circumference of the lower part of the inner surface 244 of the pouring tube 24 abuts against the lower part of the inner cylinder 34. As a result, the top plate 31 and the inner cylinder 34 prevent the liquid L in the container B from passing out of the container B through the inlet 243. In other words, when the top lid 3 is placed in the closed position, the top plate 31 and the inner cylinder 34 seal the container B.

However, when the cap 1 is molded or when the top lid 3 is repeatedly opened and closed, the pouring tube 24 and/or the inner tube 34 may deform, compromising the sealing performance of the cap 1. The deformation of the pouring tube 24 and the inner tube 34 in such cases will be described in detail below.

When the pouring tube 24 is deformed in a direction away from the inner tube 34 in the closed position of the top lid 3, the sealing performance of the cap 1 is impaired. Specifically, when the pouring tube 24 is deformed toward its radially outward direction, the sealing performance of the cap 1 is impaired. Such deformation includes the case where the inner surface 244 of the pouring tube 24 is partially deformed toward its radially outward direction. The pouring tube 24 has a base end 245 on the base 20 side and a tip end 246 on the opposite side. The above deformation also includes deformation of the tip end 246 toward its radially outward direction, centered on the base end 245. When the pouring tube 24 is deformed in this way, a gap that communicates the pouring outlet 241 and the injection port 243 is generated between the pouring tube 24 and the inner tube 34 when the top lid 3 is closed. If the liquid L in the container B enters such a gap, the liquid L in the container B will flow out of the container B from the pouring outlet 241. In other words, the occurrence of the gap impairs the sealing of the container B. Hereinafter, the gap that occurs between the pouring tube 24 and the inner tube 34 when the top lid 3 is closed, and that connects the pouring outlet 241 and the pouring port 243, will be referred to as the "leakage gap."

When the inner cylinder 34 is deformed in a direction away from the dispensing tube 24 when the top lid 3 is in the closed position, the sealing performance of the cap 1 is impaired. Specifically, when the inner cylinder 34 is deformed toward its radially inward direction, the sealing performance of the cap 1 is impaired. Such deformation includes a case where the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 34 is partially deformed toward its radially inward direction. The inner cylinder 34 has a base end 342 on the top plate 31 side and a tip end 343 on the opposite side. The above deformation also includes deformation of the tip end 343 toward its radially inward direction, centered on the base end 342. When the inner cylinder 34 is deformed in this way, a leakage gap occurs, as in the case where the dispensing tube 24 is deformed toward its radially outward direction. This impairs the sealing performance of the container B.

The auxiliary plug 4 is disposed inside the inner cylinder 34. The auxiliary plug 4 presses outward against the inner cylinder 34, and temporarily holds the liquid L adhering to the auxiliary plug 4 when the top lid 3 is open. For this reason, the auxiliary plug 4 has a cylindrical auxiliary cylinder 41 that fits into the inner surface 341 of the inner cylinder 34, and a partition 42 that separates the space inside the auxiliary cylinder 41.

The auxiliary tube 41 is attached to the top lid 3. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, the top lid 3 is provided with a holding portion 35 for holding the auxiliary tube 41 on the inside of the inner tube 34. The holding portion 35 has a holding tube 351 that extends from the top plate 31 toward the cap body 2 when the top lid 3 is closed, and a holding protrusion 352 that protrudes toward the outside of the holding tube 351. The part of the auxiliary tube 41 on the top lid 3 side is provided with a held portion 412 that protrudes toward the inside of the auxiliary tube 41. With the auxiliary tube 41 sandwiched between the inner tube 34 and the holding tube 351, the held portion 412 of the auxiliary plug 4 engages with the holding protrusion 352 of the top lid 3, so that the auxiliary plug 4 is held by the top lid 3.

The partition 42 divides the space inside the auxiliary tube 41 into a space 42A on the top lid 3 side and a space 42B on the cap body 2 side. Specifically, the partition 42 is provided on the auxiliary tube 41 so as to cross the space inside the auxiliary tube 41 in a cross-sectional view when the top lid 3 is closed. As a result, the partition 42 is pressed against the inner tube 34 radially outward via the auxiliary tube 41. Therefore, even if a leakage gap occurs, the inner tube 34 is deformed radially outward due to the pressing of the partition 42. This deformation causes the inner tube 34 to fill the leakage gap. As a result, the sealing of the container B by the cap 1 is ensured.

In addition, since the partition 42 is pressed against the inner cylinder 34, it is not necessary to provide the inner cylinder 34 with a structure for suppressing deformation of the inner cylinder 34 toward its radial inward direction. In other words, it is not necessary to provide the inner cylinder 34 with a thick structure such as a rib that increases the rigidity of the inner cylinder 34 in order to suppress deformation of the inner cylinder 34. Therefore, the inner cylinder 34 can have a simple structure that is less likely to produce sink marks, which are depression-like deformations caused by the shrinkage of the resin, during cooling during injection molding. This prevents sink marks from occurring on the surface of the inner cylinder 34 that abuts against the inner surface 244 of the pouring tube 24 when the top lid 3 is closed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent leakage gaps from occurring due to sink marks. As a result, the sealing of the container B by the cap 1 is ensured.

The preferred form of the cap 1 is described below with reference to Figure 3.

The auxiliary plug 4 preferably further has a protrusion 43 that protrudes toward the space 42B on the cap body 2 side. Specifically, the auxiliary tube 41 has a first portion 416 that is closer to the cap body 2 than the partition portion 42, and a second portion 417 that is closer to the top lid 3 than the partition portion 42. The protrusion 43 protrudes from the inner circumferential surface 413 of the first portion 416 toward the space 42B on the cap body 2 side. The protrusion 43 is provided on the entire circumference or a part of the inner circumferential surface 413 of the first portion 416. The protrusion 43 shown in FIG. 3 protrudes from the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface 413 toward the space 42B on the cap body 2 side.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the auxiliary plug 4 has two protrusions 43 provided around the entire inner circumferential surface 413, which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the auxiliary tube 41 when the top cover 3 is closed.

It is preferable that the partition 42 partitions the space inside the auxiliary tube 41 so that the space 42A on the top lid 3 side does not communicate with the space 42B on the cap body 2 side. Specifically, the partition 42 is structured so that there is no through hole or the like that would communicate the space 42A on the top lid 3 side with the space 42B on the cap body 2 side.

The partition 42 is preferably a plate-like portion having a surface along the radial direction of the inner cylinder 34. Specifically, the partition 42 shown in FIG. 3 is plate-like, and the planar portion of the plate is shaped along the left-right direction, i.e., the radial direction of the inner cylinder 34. In this way, the partition 42 can be directly pushed outward in the radial direction of the inner cylinder 34. Therefore, even if the deformation of the pouring tube 24 and/or the inner cylinder 34 is large, the partition 42 can deform the inner cylinder 34 to fill the leakage gap caused by the deformation.

It is preferable that the auxiliary tube 41 covers the inner circumferential surface 341 from the tip end 343 to the base end 342.

It is preferable that the inner surface 415 of the second portion 417 of the auxiliary tube 41 abuts against the retaining tube 351 of the top lid 3. In this way, in response to deformation of the pouring tube 24 and/or the inner tube 34 that creates a gap between the pouring tube 24 and the inner tube 34, the retaining tube 351 of the top lid 3 also presses against the inner tube 34 from the inside. Therefore, even if a leakage gap occurs, the inner tube 34 is deformed radially outward due to the pressing of the partition portion 42 and the retaining tube 351. This deformation causes the inner tube 34 to fill the leakage gap. As a result, the sealing of the container B by the cap 1 is ensured.

It is preferable that the thickness of the first portion 416 (the left-right length of the first portion 416 in FIG. 3) is greater than the thickness of the second portion 417 (the left-right length of the second portion 417 in FIG. 3). In this way, the second portion 417 effectively prevents the tip portion 343 from deforming radially inward of the inner tube 34. As a result, the sealing of the container B by the cap 1 is ensured.

The function of the cap 1 will be explained below with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, by tilting container B at an angle with top lid 3 closed, liquid L in container B reaches pouring tube 24. This liquid L enters pouring passage 242 from inlet 243, but is prevented from moving toward pouring outlet 241 by inner peripheral tube 34. Therefore, even if container B with top lid 3 closed is tilted at an angle, liquid L does not come out from pouring outlet 241.

The top lid 3 moves back and forth between a closed position and an open position. When the top lid 3 is repeatedly opened and closed, the pouring tube 24 may deform radially outward and/or the inner tube 34 may deform radially inward. Even if a leakage gap occurs due to such deformation of the pouring tube 24 and/or the inner tube 34, the inner tube 34 deforms radially outward due to the tension of the partition portion 42 against the inner tube 34. This deformation causes the inner tube 34 to fill the leakage gap. As a result, even if the pouring tube 24 and/or the inner tube 34 are deformed by repeatedly opening and closing the top lid 3, the liquid L does not come out of the pouring outlet 241 when the top lid 3 is closed.

In addition, if the partition 42 is structured so that the space 42A on the top lid 3 side and the space 42B on the cap body 2 side are not connected to each other, the partition 42 will prevent the liquid L from entering the space 42A on the top lid 3 side. This prevents the liquid L in the container B from adhering to the top lid 3.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, by tilting container B with the top lid 3 open, the liquid L in container B is poured out of container B through the spout 241.

When liquid L is poured out from the spout 241, liquid L adhering to the auxiliary cylinder 41 and/or the partition 42 is retained in the space 42B on the cap body 2 side. Specifically, due to its viscosity, liquid L is held on the inner circumferential surface 413 of the first part 416 of the auxiliary cylinder 41 and on the surface of the partition 42 on the cap body 2 side. For this reason, liquid L adhering to the auxiliary plug 4 when the top lid 3 is closed is unlikely to splash in places other than the top lid 3.

In addition, if the auxiliary plug 4 has a protrusion 43, the liquid L flowing from the partition 42 along the inner circumferential surface 413 of the first portion 416 toward the end 414 of the auxiliary tube 41 on the cap body 2 side is stopped by the protrusion 43. This keeps the liquid L between the protrusion 43 and the partition 42. As a result, the liquid L is less likely to splash in places other than the top lid 3.

Furthermore, if the auxiliary plug 4 has two protrusions 43 spaced apart in the vertical direction, the liquid L can be retained not only between the protrusions 43 and the partition 42, but also between the two protrusions 43. Such an auxiliary plug 4 can retain a larger amount of liquid L in the space 42B on the cap body 2 side than when there is only one protrusion 43.

In addition, if the partition 42 does not connect the space 42A on the top lid 3 side to the space 42B on the cap body 2 side, the partition 42 will prevent the liquid L remaining in the space 42B on the cap body 2 side from flowing into the space 42A on the top lid 3 side. This prevents the liquid L from entering the space 42A on the top lid 3 side in the container B and adhering to the top lid 3.

The manufacturing method of the cap 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 10. The manufacturing method of the cap 1 includes a molding process for integrally molding the cap 9 for manufacturing the cap 1, a processing process for the cap 9, which includes a separation process for separating the auxiliary plug 4 from the cap body 2, and a holding process for holding the auxiliary plug 4 in the top lid 3.

As shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the cap 9 formed by the molding process has the auxiliary plug 4 held by the cap body 2 via the weakened portion 44. Specifically, the weakened portion 44 is a portion whose thickness is smaller along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the pouring tube 24 than its surroundings. Therefore, the weakened portion 44 is easily broken by the application of a force in the upward or downward direction. The auxiliary plug 4 held by such a weakened portion 44 is pressed upward, i.e., toward the top lid 3, with the top lid 3 closed. As a result, the weakened portion 44 breaks, and the auxiliary plug 4 moves toward the top lid 3, after which the auxiliary plug 4 is held by the top lid 3. In this way, since there is no need to provide a portion having the function of the auxiliary plug 4 in the cap body 2 and/or the top lid 3, the structure of the top lid 3 and the cap body 2 is simplified. Therefore, the molding of the top lid 3 and the cap body 2 is facilitated. The weakened portion 44 may have any structure as long as it is easily broken when a force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the dispensing tube 24.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the weakened portion 44 connects the inner portion of the inner tube 34 in the cap body 2 to the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary tube 41 in the auxiliary plug 4. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the weakened portion 44 is disposed at a position where the auxiliary tube 41 is sandwiched between the partition portion 42.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the molding process, a high-temperature synthetic resin with good fluidity is poured into a mold for integrally molding the cap body 2, the top lid 3, and the auxiliary plug 4. The synthetic resin poured into the mold is, for example, a polyethylene resin. The mold illustrated in FIG. 7 includes an upper mold UM that can be moved upward, and a lower mold LM that can be moved downward. The synthetic resin is poured into the space that is created between the upper mold UM and the lower mold LM when the upper mold UM is aligned with the lower mold LM.

The synthetic resin poured into the space between the upper mold UM and the lower mold LM begins to harden as its temperature drops. The upper mold UM shown in FIG. 7 has a structure that can be separated into multiple parts, and has a central upper mold UM1 for molding a portion of the auxiliary plug 4 that includes the inner surface 415 of the second portion 417, and an outer upper mold UM2 that surrounds the central upper mold UM1. When the synthetic resin has hardened to a certain extent, the outer upper mold UM2 is released from the cap 9. After this, the central upper mold UM1 is released from the cap 9.

When the central upper mold UM1 moves upward, that is, away from the cap 9, the central upper mold UM1 is caught by the retained portion 412 of the auxiliary plug 4. Therefore, the auxiliary plug 4 is pulled upward by the central upper mold UM1. On the other hand, since the protruding portion 43 of the auxiliary plug 4 is caught by the lower mold LM, the auxiliary plug 4 is pulled downward by the lower mold LM. In other words, the force applied to the auxiliary plug 4 when the cap 9 is released from the central upper mold UM1 is received by the lower mold LM, not the weakened portion 44. As a result, the central upper mold UM1 is separated from the cap 9 without breaking the weakened portion 44, and the cap 9 is released from the upper mold UM. In other words, the protruding portion 43 makes it possible to release the cap 9 from the upper mold UM simply by moving the upper mold UM in a direction away from the cap 9. Therefore, the protruding portion 43 makes it easier to manufacture the cap 9.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the auxiliary plug 4 having two protrusions 43 spaced apart in the vertical direction has a larger area that catches on the lower mold LM compared to when the protrusion 43 is provided in one place, and the lower mold LM can receive a larger force. Therefore, the auxiliary plug 4 having the two protrusions 43 can make the area of the undercut portion in the part molded by the upper mold UM larger than when the protrusion 43 is provided in one place.

After the cap 9 is released from the upper mold UM, the lower mold LM is also released from the cap 9 as shown in Figure 8. The lower mold LM shown in Figures 7 and 8 has a structure that can be divided into multiple parts, similar to the upper mold UM, and has a central lower mold LM1 for molding a portion of the auxiliary plug 4 including the inner surface 413 of the first part 416, and an outer lower mold LM2 that surrounds the central lower mold LM1. The outer lower mold LM2 has a portion that faces the end 414 of the auxiliary plug 4 on the cap body 2 side from below. In the lower mold LM, first, the central lower mold LM1 is released from the cap 9. Thereafter, the outer lower mold LM2 is released from the cap 9. By doing this, even if the protruding portion 43 of the auxiliary plug 4 gets caught on the central lower mold LM1 when the cap 9 is released from the central lower mold LM1, the outer lower mold LM2 abuts against the end portion 414 on the cap body 2 side from below and receives the downward force applied to the auxiliary plug 4. In other words, when the cap 9 is released from the lower mold LM, no force is applied to the weakened portion 44 in the downward direction, i.e., in the direction in which the lower mold LM moves away from the cap 9. This prevents the weakened portion 44 from breaking when the cap 9 is released from the lower mold LM.

In the explanation of the molding process, for the sake of convenience, it has been explained that the upper mold UM moves upward and the lower mold LM moves downward. However, the direction of movement of the mold is not limited to upward or downward, and is determined for each molded product. In addition, the number of divisions of the mold used for molding is determined appropriately depending on the shape of the product to be molded.

Figure 9 shows the separation process, which is a processing method performed on the cap 9. In the separation process, the top lid 3 is first closed. In the separation process, the partition 42 is pressed upward, i.e., from the cap body 2 toward the top lid 3, by the separation tool ST. The separation tool ST shown in Figure 9 is cylindrical, and its circular surface is pressed against the underside of the partition 42, i.e., the surface on the cap body 2 side.

When the auxiliary plug 4 is pressed upward by the separation tool ST, that is, in the direction from the cap body 2 toward the top lid 3, the weakened portion 44 breaks and the auxiliary plug 4 moves upward. If the weakened portion 44 connects the inner part of the inner tube 34 in the cap body 2 to the outer surface of the auxiliary tube 41 in the auxiliary plug 4, as shown in FIG. 10, a part of the broken weakened portion 44 remains on the outer surface of the auxiliary plug 4. Therefore, a part of the broken weakened portion 44 enters between the auxiliary tube 41 and the inner tube 34. This part of the weakened portion 44, together with the auxiliary tube 41 and the partition portion 42, also braces against the deformation of the pouring tube 24 and/or the inner tube 34. In other words, the part of the broken weakened portion 44 also contributes to improving the sealing performance of the cap 1. Furthermore, if the weakened portion 44 connects the cap body 2 and the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary cylinder 41 and is positioned to sandwich the auxiliary cylinder 41 with the partition portion 42, a portion of the broken weakened portion 44 is positioned to be sandwiched between the inner cylinder 34 and the partition portion 42 via the auxiliary cylinder 41. Therefore, the portion of the broken weakened portion 44, together with the partition portion 42, is directly pushed toward the radially outer side of the inner cylinder 34. Therefore, even if the pouring cylinder 24 and/or the inner cylinder 34 are significantly deformed, the partition portion 42 and the portion of the broken weakened portion 44 deform the inner cylinder 34 to fill the leakage gap.

The auxiliary plug 4 is pushed up until the retained portion 412 of the auxiliary tube 41 engages with the retaining projection 352 of the top lid 3. The retaining projection 352 of the top lid 3 engages with the retained portion 412 of the cap body 2, thereby retaining the auxiliary plug 4 in the top lid 3. In this manner, the cap 1 is manufactured.

As shown in FIG. 11, after the cap 1 is manufactured, it is attached to the mouth m of the container B containing the liquid L. Here, the liquid L to be put into the container B may be hot. In this case, the cap 1 made of synthetic resin is heated and softened by the hot liquid L put into the container B. When the temperature of the cap 1 softened at a high temperature drops, a local temperature difference may occur and the cap 1 may deform. For example, if the inner cylinder 34 is deformed, a problem occurs in which the sealing property is impaired. However, the auxiliary cylinder 41 covers the inner surface 341 from the tip end 343 to the base end 342 side. Therefore, when the cap 1 is attached to the mouth m, the auxiliary cylinder 41 receives the liquid L toward the inner cylinder 34. Therefore, the auxiliary cylinder 41 prevents the hot liquid L from adhering to the inner surface 341 of the inner cylinder 34. Therefore, the inner surface 341 of the inner cylinder 34 is not easily heated, and deformation of the inner cylinder 34 is suppressed. As a result, deterioration of the sealing performance due to deformation of the inner cylinder 34 is prevented.

The embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications equivalent to the meaning and scope of the claims. Configurations other than those described as embodiments of the invention are optional and may be deleted or modified as appropriate.

B Container 1 Cap 2 Cap body 3 Top lid 4 Auxiliary plug 24 Spout tube 41 Auxiliary tube 42 Partition portion 43 Protruding portion 44 Weakened portion

Claims (4)

A cap comprising a cap body attached to a container and a top lid that is detachable from the cap body,
A cap body having a pouring tube;
An upper lid having a cylindrical inner circumferential tube that fits into the inner circumferential surface of the pouring tube;
and an auxiliary plug disposed inside the inner cylinder, pushing against the outer side of the inner cylinder and retaining the contents in the container;
The auxiliary plug is
a cylindrical auxiliary cylinder that fits onto the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral cylinder;
A cap comprising: a partition portion that partitions a space inside the auxiliary cylinder into a space on the upper lid side and a space on the cap body side. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary plug further has a protrusion that protrudes toward the space on the cap body side. A cap comprising a cap body attached to a container and a top lid that is detachable from the cap body,
A cap body having a pouring tube;
An upper lid having a cylindrical inner circumferential tube that fits into the inner circumferential surface of the pouring tube;
a weakened portion provided on the cap body, the weakened portion being broken when a force is applied in a direction toward the top cover when the top cover is attached to the cap body;
an auxiliary plug that is disposed inside the pouring tube and is held by the cap body via the weakened portion;
the upper lid has a holding portion capable of holding the auxiliary plug inside the inner peripheral cylinder,
The auxiliary plug is
a cylindrical auxiliary cylinder that can be fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral cylinder;
a partition portion that divides the space inside the auxiliary cylinder into a space on the upper lid side and a space on the cap main body side;
A cap comprising a held portion that is held by the holding portion. A processing method for the cap according to claim 3, comprising the steps of:
A molding step of molding the cap according to claim 3;
A processing method for a cap, comprising a separation process in which, with the top lid of the cap molded in the molding process attached to the cap body of the cap molded in the molding process, an auxiliary plug of the cap molded in the molding process is pressed toward the top lid to break the weakened portion and separate the auxiliary plug from the cap body.

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