Abstract:
A container for storing capsules and discharging them individually, including an upwardly open capsule-holding receptacle, a cap rotatably mounted on the receptacle, an upright screw shaft with an external spiral groove fixedly mounted in the receptacle, and a hollow cylinder concentrically surrounding the screw shaft within the receptacle and coupled to the cap for rotation therewith. A thread on the inner surface of the cylinder faces and cooperates with the spiral groove to receive capsules admitted from the receptacle through an entry port in the cylinder and, as the cap is rotated, to raise the admitted capsules one by one to a central discharge port in the cap.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the right to priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119(a), of Republic of Korea patent applications Nos. KR 10-20150185530 filed Dec. 24, 2015, and KR 10-20160065021 filed May 26, 2016, the disclosures of both being incorporated herein by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to containers for storing capsules, and more particularly to such containers providing discharge of capsules individually, i.e., one by one. 
         [0003]    A variety of products, including cosmetics, drugs, foods, detergents and the like, are commonly prepared in the form of capsules, which are packaged in bottles or other containers for storage and sale. In general, a capsule container includes a body constituting a receptacle for holding a plurality of capsules, and a lid for closing the receptacle. To obtain one or more capsules from the container, a user may take off the lid and tilt the open receptacle to cause capsules to fall out, or reach into the receptacle to remove capsules with the fingers. 
         [0004]    Such operations present problems, however, in that when the open receptacle is tilted, an undesired excess of capsules may come out, while manual extraction of capsules from within the receptacle is not easily accomplished. In either case, there is a danger that capsules not intended to be withdrawn may be contaminated by contact with surfaces outside the container or with the user&#39;s fingers inside the container. Additionally, if the capsules are of low strength (as are some cosmetic capsules), attempted extraction with the fingers may subject them to breakage. 
         [0005]    Expedients for overcoming these difficulties have heretofore been proposed, for example in Republic of Korea registered utility model No. 20-0334691 and Republic of Korea patent No. 10-1342843. The proposed expedients, however, do not entirely prevent discharge of more than one capsule at a time, may exert pressure sufficient to cause breakage of low-strength cosmetic capsules, and may require inconveniently complex manipulation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the invention is to provide a capsule container that discharges capsules individually, i.e., one by one, reliably and with manipulative simplicity. Another object is to provide such a container that does not exert crushing pressure on capsules incident to discharge. 
         [0007]    To these and other ends, the present invention broadly contemplates the provision of a capsule container for storing plural capsules and discharging the stored capsules individually, comprising an upwardly open container body including a receptacle portion for holding a plurality of capsules; a cap mounted on the container body for manual rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis and having a discharge port; an upright screw shaft disposed within and fixedly secured to the receptacle portion and having a circumferential spiral groove; and a hollow cylinder coupled to the cap for rotation therewith, extending downwardly from the cap through the receptacle portion in surrounding concentric relation to the screw shaft, the cylinder having an inner surface bearing a screw thread facing the spiral groove, a lower part of the cylinder having an entry port for admitting stored capsules from the receptacle portion individually into the cylinder, and the cylinder communicating upwardly with the discharge port, wherein the thread and the groove are coaxial and are mutually dimensioned and configured to receive between them an individual capsule admitted into the cylinder through the entry port and, upon rotation of the cap in a particular direction relative to the container body, to cause admitted capsules to be raised one by one from the entry port to the discharge port. 
         [0008]    The container body may include a main body portion joined to a lower part of the receptacle portion. The spiral groove and the screw thread have opposite senses of rotation, and the screw shaft may have an upper end exposed above the hollow cylinder. In addition, the hollow cylinder advantageously includes a capsule inflow guide protruding outwardly from the cylinder on one side of the entry port; and the container may have a container lid mounted over the cap. Multiple first interlocking protrusions may be formed on the cap and multiple second interlocking protrusions may be formed on the cylinder for coupling with the first interlocking protrusions so that the cylinder rotates with the cap. The container may also include a first ratchet gear provided on the container body and a second ratchet gear provided on the cap, wherein the first and second gears interlock to restrict rotation of the cap about the vertical axis to the aforesaid particular direction. 
         [0009]    Further embodiments of the invention include features for addressing the following problems: If, when a capsule is discharged, only a part of the capsule is exposed at the top of the hollow cylinder and the screw shaft, a user must grasp a small-sized capsule carefully with the fingers, which is inconvenient and problematical. When the receptacle contains multiple capsules, the weight of capsules pressing down on those capsules at the level of the entry port may cause more than one capsule to enter the cylinder at the same time. Also, if a capsule does not flow readily by friction with the bottom surface of the receptacle or vessel when the hollow cylinder is rotated, the capsule may become pressed into the capsule inflow guide protruding from the cylinder, resulting in waste of the capsule and dirtying of the interior of the receptacle. 
         [0010]    To avoid such problems, these further embodiments of the invention include a discharge cover provided with a discharge outlet (port) centrally disposed on the cap on the capsule-holding vessel (receptacle), so that when the cap and cylinder are rotated and capsules move from the receptacle through the entry port into the rotating cylinder, the capsules are raised upwardly by the spiral groove of the screw shaft and the thread of the cylinder and are easily discharged one by one to the upper surface of the cap through the discharge port of the discharge cover. The entry port of the cylinder is provided with a capsule inflow guide protruding outwardly from one side of the port and an upper cover protruding outwardly from the top of the entry port. In addition, an anti-friction part may be formed on the bottom of the receptacle. With the spiral groove of the screw shaft and the thread of the cylinder having opposite senses of rotation, each capsule is easily introduced into the rotating cylinder through the entry port as it naturally moves when the cap rotates, and follows the spiral of the cylinder thread at the point of intersection of the thread and the spiral groove of the screw shaft, advancing smoothly upward to the discharge cover and discharge port on the cap. 
         [0011]    Again the container may include a main container body coupled to the exterior of the vessel (receptacle). Moreover, a first sealing ring may be formed on the inside of the vessel or receptacle so as to be in close contact with the inner periphery of the vessel. The container may also have a vessel lid removably mounted in a closed position on the vessel, the lid having a second sealing ring of elastic material formed on the inside of the vessel lid so as to be in close contact with a top surface of the cap when the vessel lid is in the closed position, such that at times of carrying or storage of the container, the sealing force on the inside of the vessel is improved. Furthermore, a sealing driver may be formed in close contact with the second sealing ring of the vessel lid on the top surface of the rotary cap. A slope may be formed on the lower side of the discharge port so that capsules can be naturally discharged from the discharge port. 
         [0012]    Terms such as “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “upper,” “lower,” “vertically,” “horizontally,” “top,” “bottom” and the like, as used herein, will be understood to refer to positions, directions and orientations subsisting when the container is standing upright on a table. 
         [0013]    Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description set forth below, together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a capsule container embodying the present invention in a particular form; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the capsule container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a sectional elevational view of the capsule container of  FIG. 1 , showing the lid separated from the top; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4 a    is a plan view of the capsule container of  FIG. 1 , omitting the cap, illustrating the situation during rotation of the hollow cylinder of the container; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4 b    is a view similar to  FIG. 4 a    illustrating the situation when capsules are caused to flow into the inside of the hollow cylinder via the entry port as a result of rotation of the hollow cylinder; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5 a    is a sectional elevational view of the capsule container of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the situation when capsules are being caused to flow into the inside of the hollow cylinder via the entry port as a result of rotation of the hollow cylinder; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5 b    is a view similar to  FIG. 5 a    illustrating the situation when capsules are being caused to move upwards as a result of rotation of the hollow cylinder; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5 c    is another view similar to  FIG. 5 a    showing the situation when capsules are being discharged one by one from the discharge port as a result of rotation of the hollow cylinder; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the capsule container of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the situation when capsules are being discharged from the discharge port of the container; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a sectional elevational view of a modified embodiment of the capsule container of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the capsule container of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the capsule container of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a sectional elevational view of the capsule container of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is another sectional elevational view of the capsule container of  FIG. 8 , showing the lid separated from the cap; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12 a    is a plan view of the capsule container of  FIG. 8 , omitting the cap, illustrating the situation during rotation of the hollow cylinder; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12 b    is a view similar to  FIG. 12 a   , illustrating the situation when capsules are caused to flow into the inside of the hollow cylinder through the entry port as a result of rotation of the cylinder; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13 a    is a sectional elevational view of the capsule container of  FIG. 8 , illustrating the situation when the hollow cylinder rotates with the rotary cap and capsules flow into the cylinder through the entry port; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13 b    is a view similar to  FIG. 13 a    illustrating the situation when the hollow cylinder rotates with the rotary cap and capsules move to the top of the container; 
           [0032]      FIG. 13 c    is another view similar to  FIG. 13 a    showing the situation when the hollow cylinder rotates with the rotary cap and capsules are discharged individually through the discharge port of the container; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the capsule container of  FIG. 8 , showing the situation in which a capsule is discharged individually to the top surface of the rotary cap of the container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    An illustrative embodiment of the capsule container of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , and a modification thereof is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0035]    This embodiment includes a container body having a receptacle portion in which a plurality of capsules are internally stored. A screw shaft having a spiral groove formed on its outer circumference is fixed and bonded in the center of the interior of the container; a rotary cap is rotatably coupled to the upper side of the container; a rotary hollow cylinder having a screw thread formed on its inner periphery is coupled to the lower side of the center of the rotary cap and is disposed outside and in surrounding concentric relation to the screw shaft; an entry port is formed on one side of the lower part of the cylinder; and a discharge port is formed at the center of the upper part of the rotary cap. Thereby when the rotary cap is rotated, the rotary cylinder is rotated, the capsules contained in the interior of the container (receptacle portion) are caused to enter the entry port of the rotary cylinder, and thereafter, caused to move upwards by the thread of the rotary cylinder and the spiral groove of the screw shaft, enabling ready discharge of capsules one by one through the discharge port of the rotary cap. 
         [0036]    Moreover, a capsule inflow guide is protrusively formed on one side of the entry port of the rotary cylinder, so that when the rotary cap is rotated, the capsules contained in the receptacle portion are easily caused to flow into the inside of the rotary cylinder; and the spiral groove of the screw shaft and the thread of the rotary cylinder are formed with mutually opposite directions (senses of rotation) so thereby the capsules are smoothly carried upwards at the point of intersection between the spiral grooves of the screw shaft and the threads of the rotary cylinder. A container main body is coupled to the lower parts of the container, and a container lid is provided on the top part of the rotary cap. A sealing ring is attached to the inside of the top parts of the container lid. 
         [0037]    Stated with more particular reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the container therein shown is constructed as a capsule container having a receptacle  10  in which a multiplicity of capsules  50  are internally stored, a screw shaft  20  which is fixed and bonded in the center of the interior of the container receptacle portion  10 , a rotary cap  30  which is coupled rotatably with the upper side of the container  10  and formed with a discharge port  32  in the center, and a rotary hollow cylinder  40  which is coupled to the lower side of the center of the rotary cap  30  and is disposed on the outside of the screw shaft  20  in concentric surrounding relation thereto. The hollow cylinder is formed with an entry port  44  on one side at its lower part. A spiral groove  22  is formed on the outer circumference of the screw shaft  20  and a thread  42  is formed on the inner circumference (inner surface) of the rotary cylinder. 
         [0038]    Inside the container receptacle  10  is a capsule storage space  12  wherein the capsules  50  (shown as spherical) are stored. The contents of the capsules  50  stored in container receptacle  10  may be cosmetics, tablets, gum or the like, for example cosmetic capsules; the term “cosmetic capsules” herein refers to capsules formed of bead-shaped thin film wherein a gel- or liquid-form cosmetic material is filled within the capsules, and the contents filling the inside of the capsules are discharged by breaking the thin film for use. 
         [0039]    A toothed first ratchet gear  14 , rotatable in just one direction, is formed on the outer circumference of the upper part of the capsule container  10 . A first fastening protruding ring  15 , to which the rotary cap  30  is coupled in an undercut manner, is also formed on the outer circumference of the container  10 . A lower extending protruding ring  16  which protrusively extends is formed on the lower side of the first fastening protruding ring  15 , a first mounting protruding ring  162  is formed in an inwardly extending manner on the inner circumference of the lower extending protruding ring  16 , and an open-and-closure groove  164  is formed on one side of the outer circumference. 
         [0040]    The internal bottom surface of the container receptacle  10  is concave in form, and a through-hole  17  through which the screw shaft  20  penetrates from underneath is formed in the center of the bottom surface. An installation groove  18  into which the rotary hollow cylinder  40  couples (i.e., in which the circular lower end of cylinder  40  is rotatably received, for support and stabilization of the cylinder by the receptacle) is formed outside the through-hole  17 , and an installation protruding ring  182  is formed in the inner bottom surface of the receptacle on the internal side surface of the installation groove  18 . 
         [0041]    The screw shaft  20  is fixed in the center of the interior of the container  10 , being inserted from underneath into the through-hole  17  in the center of the container  10 , and is forcibly fitted to the through-hole  17  by multiple interlocking protrusions  24  formed on the outer circumference on the lower side of the screw shaft  20 . 
         [0042]    A spiral groove  22  is formed on the outer circumference (outer surface) of the screw shaft  20 , and the top part of the screw shaft  20  is exposed out above the rotary cylinder  40 . Since the screw shaft  20  thus extends higher than the cylinder  40 , the capsules  50  discharged from the container are completely exposed from the cylinder  40  by the screw shaft  20 . 
         [0043]    As an alternative to the above-described mounting of the screw shaft  20  in the container  10 , the screw shaft  20  can be integrally formed in the center of the bottom surface of the container receptacle  10 , in the modified embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , which may in other respects be essentially identical to that of  FIGS. 1-6 ; in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , like reference numerals indicate like features and elements. 
         [0044]    Referring further to  FIGS. 1-6 , a container main body  60  that holds the container receptacle portion  10  is attached to the lower part of portion  10 . A second mounting protruding ring  62  formed on the top outer circumference of the container main body  60  couples in an undercut manner with the first mounting protruding ring  162  of the container receptacle portion  10 . 
         [0045]    The cap  30  is coupled rotatably with the upper sides of the container  10  and has a discharge port  32 , from which the capsules are discharged, formed in the center. A plurality of first interlocking protrusions  34  that are coupled to the cylinder  40  are formed extending downwards on the outside of the discharge port  32  of the cap  30 , an inner wall  36  in close contact with the upper inner circumference of the container  10  is formed extending downwards on the outside of the first interlocking protrusions  34 , and an outer wall  38  is formed extending downwards on the outside of the inner wall  36 . 
         [0046]    An upper extending protruding ring  35  is formed extending upwards above the first interlocking protrusions  34 . A second fastening protruding ring  382 , formed on the bottom inner circumference of the outer wall  38 , is coupled in an undercut manner with the first fastening protruding ring of the container  10 . 
         [0047]    A second ratchet gear  384  that interlocks with the first ratchet gear  14  of the container  10  is formed on the top inner circumference of the outer wall  38 . Accordingly, the rotary cap  30  rotates in just one direction with respect to the container  10 , and reverse rotation is prevented. Furthermore, when the cap  30  is rotated, a sound is created while the second ratchet gear  384  of the cap slides over the first ratchet gear  14  of the container  10  so as to alert the user that capsules  50  are being raised. 
         [0048]    The cylinder  40  is coupled to the underside of the cap  30  in the center, and is also disposed on the outside of the screw shaft  20 , in concentric surrounding relation thereto. A plurality of second interlocking protrusions  43 , formed on the top outer circumference of the rotary cylinder  40 , couple with the first interlocking protrusions  34  of the rotary cap  30  such that when the cap  30  is rotated while the second interlocking protrusions are interlocked with the first interlocking protrusions  34 , the cylinder  40  does not remain static but rotates together with the cap  30 . 
         [0049]    An entry port  44  into which capsules  50  flow is formed on one side at the lower part of the cylinder  40 , and an inflow guide  46  is formed protruding outwardly on one side of the entry port  44 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , when the cylinder  40  is rotated, the inflow guide  46  is also rotated to cause horizontal pressure on the capsules  50  stored inside the container  10 , thereby enabling ready inflow of capsules  50  into the entry port  44  of the cylinder  40 . 
         [0050]    An installation ring-shaped groove  48  is formed on the bottom inner circumference of the cylinder  40  and is rotatably coupled with the installation protruding ring  182  of the container  10 . 
         [0051]    A thread  42  is formed on the inner circumference of the cylinder  40 . This thread  42  of the cylinder  40  and the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  are formed in mutually opposing directions. When the cap  30  is rotated, although the screw shaft  20  is fixed in the container  10 , the cylinder  40  rotates together with the cap  30 , and as shown in  FIG. 5 a   , pushes up the capsules  50  that have entered via the entry port  44 . Because the thread  42  of the rotary cylinder  40  and the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  are formed in mutually opposing directions, as shown in  FIG. 5 b    the capsules are smoothly carried upwards at the point where the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  and the thread  42  of the rotary cylinder  40  intersect, via the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  and while borne on the thread  42  of the rotary cylinder  40 , and are discharged at the end of the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  as shown in  FIG. 5   c.    
         [0052]    Accordingly, the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  forms a path for the capsules  50 , and the thread  42  of the cylinder  40  enacts a pushing role on the capsules  50 . 
         [0053]    A container lid  70  for opening and closure of the discharge port  32  of cap  30  is provided and mounted on the upper part of the cap  30 . This container lid  70  comprises an inner container lid  71  and an outer container lid  72  to be joined onto the outside of the inner container lid  71 . A first tight closure protruding ring  74  is formed extending downwards on the inside of the top surface of the inner lid  71 , and a second tight closure protruding ring  75  is formed extending downwards on the outside of the first tight closure protruding ring  74  at a fixed interval. 
         [0054]    A tightly sealing ring  76  for sealing the interior of the container  10  is combined between the first tight closure protruding ring  74  and the second tight closure protruding ring  75 . When the container lid  70  is closed, the sealing ring  76  makes close contact with the top part of the upwardly extending protruding ring  35  of the rotary cap  30 . The tightly sealing ring  76  is formed from an elastic material, and preferably comprises one or more materials selected from among natural rubbers, elastomers, silicone rubbers and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubbers, or is constructed from polypropylene or polyethylene. 
         [0055]    An opening and closure protrusion  78  is formed in the internal circumference on the lower part of the container lid  70 . This protrusion fits into an opening and closure groove  164  of the container  10 . 
         [0056]    In a method of assembling the capsule packaging container of  FIGS. 1-6 , a screw shaft  20  is first fixed and bonded in the center in the inside of container receptacle  10  as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ; the screw shaft is inserted from underneath the through-hole  17  of the container  10  and thereafter forcibly interlocked. The container receptacle  10  is then inserted into the top of the container main body  60  and fixed and bonded. Next, the rotary hollow cylinder  40  is fitted together with the installation groove  18  of the container receptacle  10 , wherein, while the screw shaft  20  is disposed inside the cylinder  40 , the installation protruding ring  182  of the container  10  is inserted in the installation ring-shaped groove  48  of the cylinder  40 . 
         [0057]    Capsules  50  are then charged into the interior of the container receptacle  10 . Next, the rotary cap  30  is rotatably coupled to the upper part of the container  10 , with the first interlocking protrusions  34  of the rotary cap  30  inserted into the second interlocking protrusions  43  of the rotary cylinder  40 , and at the same time, the first ratchet gear  14  of the container  10  is made to interlock with the second ratchet gear  384  of the cap  30 , and the first fastening protruding ring  15  of the container  10  is coupled in an undercut manner with the second fastening protruding ring  382  of the rotary cap  30 . 
         [0058]    Finally, the lid  70  is fitted on top of the container  10 , with the tightly sealing ring  76  inserted between the second tight-closure protruding ring  75  and the first tight closure protruding ring  74  of the lid  70 , and the opening and closing protrusion  78  of the lid  70  is horizontally inserted into the opening and closure groove  164  of the container  10 , thereby completing the assembly of the container. 
         [0059]    In use of the packaging container of  FIGS. 1-6 , the lid  70  is first detached from the container  10 . The user, holding the container main body  60  with one hand, then rotates the cap  30  with the other hand. 
         [0060]    When the cap is thus rotated, the cylinder  40  is rotated together with the cap, and as shown in  FIG. 4 a    the inflow guide  46  of the cylinder  40  exerts horizontal pressure on the capsules  50  stored inside the container receptacle  10 , causing capsules to enter one by one inside the cylinder  40  via the entry port of the cylinder as shown in  FIG. 4   b.    
         [0061]    Thereafter, when the cap  30  is further rotated as shown in  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , while the screw shaft  20  remains fixed in the container  10 , the cylinder  40  rotates with the cap  30  and the capsules  50  that have entered via the entry port  44  are caused to slide upwards. Because the thread  42  of the cylinder  40  and the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  are formed in mutually opposing directions, as shown in  FIG. 5 b    the capsules  50  are smoothly carried upwards at the point where the spiral groove  22  and the thread  42  intersect, via the spiral groove and while borne on the thread  42 , and are discharged at the end of the spiral groove as shown in  FIG. 5 c   . A capsule thus discharged via the discharge port  32  of the cap  30  is picked up by the user and applied to the skin. 
         [0062]    The screw shaft  20  is formed higher than the rotary cylinder  40 , so that capsules  50  discharged from the container  10  can be completely exposed out of the cylinder  40  by the screw shaft  20 . 
         [0063]    To recapitulate, in the capsule container of  FIGS. 1-6  the receptacle portion  10  and the screw shaft  20  are fixed to each other while cap  30  and the hollow cylinder  40  coupled to the cap rotate together, relative to the receptacle portion and screw shaft, when the cap is rotated manually on the container. The vertical geometric axes of the receptacle portion, the screw shaft and the hollow cylinder are coincident with each other and also with the axis of rotation of the cap and cylinder relative to the receptacle portion and screw shaft as well as with the axes of the helices of the screw shaft spiral groove  22  and the hollow cylinder internal thread  42 . 
         [0064]    Thus, manual rotation of the cap (and of the cylinder with it) moves the inflow guide  46  on the cylinder through the multiple capsules  50  held in the stationary receptacle outside the cylinder, so that the guide pushes capsules individually from the receptacle through the entry port  44  into the cylinder interior where each introduced capsule is received in turn in a gap or space defined between the cylinder thread  42  (rotary) and the screw shaft spiral groove  22  (stationary). Cooperation between the rotating helical thread  42  and the stationary helical groove  22  (opposite in rotational sense to the thread) causes each capsule to move upwardly, in a helical path around the common axis of the shaft and cylinder, until the capsule emerges through the discharge port  32  in the cap  30 , successive capsules thereby being discharged individually (one by one) as desired. Such upward movement of the capsules requires that the cap be turned (rotated) by the user in a particular direction dependent on the rotational senses of the cylinder thread and the spiral groove. The ratchet gears  14  and  384  assure that the manual turning of the cap is permitted only in that particular direction which causes the capsules to move upwardly. 
         [0065]    Another embodiment of the capsule container of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 8-14 ; in  FIGS. 1-7 and 8-14 , like reference numerals indicate like features and elements. 
         [0066]    The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-14  includes a capsule container receptacle or vessel for holding a plurality of capsules wherein a spiral rod or screw shaft having a spiral groove on its outer circumference is affixed to and formed on the center inside the container receptacle and a rotary cap is rotatably coupled to the top of the container receptacle, a rotary hollow cylinder is coupled to the lower center of the rotary cap and disposed on the outside of the screw shaft in surrounding concentric relation thereto, a discharge cover provided with a discharge outlet is formed on the top center of the rotary cap, a spiral thread is formed on the inner periphery of the rotary cylinder, and an inlet part or entry port is formed on one lower side of the cylinder. Thus, when the rotary cap is rotated, after capsules held in the receptacle enter the rotating cylinder through the entry port, the capsules are moved to the top of the container by the spiral groove of the screw shaft and the thread of the cylinder and easily discharged one by one to the upper surface of the rotary cap through the discharge port of the discharge cover. 
         [0067]    Further, an anti-friction part is formed on the bottom of the receptacle, an inflow guide is formed so as to project to one side of the entry port of the rotary cylinder, and the spiral groove and the thread of the cylinder are formed in mutually opposite directions, so that when the cap is rotated, after capsules are easily introduced through the entry port into the rotary cylinder as it naturally moves, each capsule follows the spiral thread of the rotary cylinder at the point of intersection of the thread and the spiral groove of the screw shaft and is smoothly moved to the top of the container. A slope is formed on the lower part of the discharge cover so that the capsule may be naturally discharged. The inflow guide formed on one side of the entry port of the rotary cylinder is constituted of an upper cover formed so as to protrude on the top of the entry port, and a side cover formed so as to protrude on one side of the entry port. 
         [0068]    In addition, the container has a lid. A first sealing ring is formed on the inside of the container vessel or receptacle so as to come into close contact with the inner periphery of the receptacle, and a second sealing ring of an elastic material is formed on the inside of the vessel lid such that when the lid is closed, the second sealing ring comes in close contact with the top surface of the rotary cap; therefore, during transport or storage of the container, the sealing force of the inside of the container is improved. 
         [0069]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 8-10 , which are respectively a perspective view, an exploded perspective view and a sectional elevational view of this embodiment, the container shown includes a vessel or receptacle  10  inside which a plurality of capsules  50  are stored; a spiral rod or screw shaft  20  fixedly coupled to the center of the receptacle  10  inside the receptacle; a rotary cap  30 , rotatably coupled to the receptacle  10 ; and a rotary cylinder  40 , disposed on the outside of (concentrically surrounding) the screw shaft  20  and provided with an entry port  44 . A spiral groove  22  is formed on the outer periphery of the screw shaft  20 , a spiral thread  42  is formed on the inner surface of the cylinder  40 , and a discharge cover  32  provided with a discharge port  322  is formed in the center of the cap  30 . 
         [0070]    This interior of the container vessel or receptacle  10  is a capsule-receiving space  12 , in which a plurality of capsules  50  are accommodated. These capsules, in form and content, may be as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         [0071]    A first ratchet gear  14  of saw-toothed shape is formed on the upper, outer periphery of the receptacle  10  so that the cap  30  can be rotated only in one direction relative to the receptacle. A first fastening extension  15  is formed on the outer periphery of the receptacle  10  to which cap  30  is undercut-coupled. 
         [0072]    A lower extending extension  16  is extended to the lower side of the first fastening extension  15 , a first installing extension  162  is formed so as to extend inward to the inner periphery of the lower extending extension  16 , and an opening groove  164  is formed on one side of the outer periphery. 
         [0073]    The inner bottom surface of the receptacle  10  is of a concave shape. A screw shaft coupling groove  17 , to which the screw shaft  20  is fixed and coupled, is formed on the center of the receptacle bottom surface, and a mounting groove  18 , to which the rotary cylinder  40  is rotatably coupled, is formed outside of and in concentric relation to the coupling groove  17 . 
         [0074]    An anti-friction part  13  may be formed on the bottom of the receptacle  10 . This anti-friction part is formed in the shape of a radial-shaped groove on the bottom of receptacle  10 . For the anti-friction part  13  to reduce the area where the bottom inner surface of the receptacle  10  and capsules  50  are in contact so that capsules flow easily, when the capsules are caused to move horizontally while the inflow guide  46  of cylinder  40  is rotated, friction is generated by surface contact of capsules with the bottom surface of the receptacle, preventing crushing by pressing on the inflow guide  46 . 
         [0075]    A first sealing ring  19  for sealing the inside of the container receptacle  10  is formed on the inside of, and in close contact with the inner periphery of, receptacle  10 . When the container is transported or stored, the moisture content of the capsules  50  accommodated within the receptacle is maintained by the first sealing ring  19 , and drying of the capsules is prevented. 
         [0076]    A container body  60  surrounding the receptacle  10  is coupled on the outside of the receptacle. A second installing extension  62  is formed on the upper outer periphery of the body  60  and undercut coupled with the first installing extension  162  of the receptacle  10 . 
         [0077]    The screw shaft  20 , as stated, is fixed and coupled to the center of the inside of container receptacle  10 , the lower end of the screw shaft being force fit-coupled or screw-coupled to the coupling groove  17  of the receptacle. Alternatively, the screw shaft  20  may be integrally formed on the center of the bottom surface of receptacle  10 . The screw shaft, having spiral groove  22  formed on its outer periphery, extends upward; the top of the screw shaft is positioned on the inner side of the discharge cover  32  of the rotary cap  30 . 
         [0078]    A fixing groove  24  is formed on the upper end of the screw shaft  20 , and a fixing protrusion  326  of the rotary cap  30  is inserted therein. The rotary cap  30 , rotatably coupled to the top of receptacle  10 , bears the discharge cover  32  at its center; cover  32  is provided with discharge port  322  formed on one side thereof. The discharge cover may either be formed integrally with the cap  30  or it may be separately formed. 
         [0079]    A slope  324  is formed on the lower side of the discharge port  322  of the discharge cover so that capsules  50  are naturally discharged. A capsule, moved to the top by means of the spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  and the spiral thread  42  of the cylinder  40 , follows slope  324  from the upper side end of groove  22 , naturally tumbles down and is discharged to the top surface of the cap  30 . 
         [0080]    The fixing protrusion  326 , formed on the inner side of the discharge cover  32  and inserted into the fixing groove  24  of the screw shaft  20 , keeps the shaft centered so that the shaft does not tilt in any direction. 
         [0081]    An insertion groove  328 , into which the rotary cylinder  40  is inserted, is formed on the lower inner periphery of the discharge cover  32 . The top surface of the rotary cap  30  is of a concave curved shape; a closed protrusion  39 , in close contact with a second sealing ring  79  of the container lid  70 , may be formed on one side of the cap top surface. 
         [0082]    A first lower extending extension  34  is formed on the bottom of the rotary cap  30  so as to extend downward, a second lower extending extension  36  is spaced at regular intervals outwardly from the first lower extending extension  34 , and a third lower extending extension  38  is formed so as to be spaced at regular intervals outwardly from the second lower extending extension  36 . A fitting groove  342  is formed on the inner periphery of the first lower extending extension  34  by coupling with the rotary cylinder  40 . A first sealing ring  19  is inserted between the second lower extending extension  36  and container receptacle  10 , and seals the inside of receptacle  10 . 
         [0083]    A second fastening extension  385  is formed so as to protrude to the inner periphery of the third lower extending extension  38  and undercut couples with the first fastening extension  15  of the receptacle  10 . 
         [0084]    A second ratchet gear  384  engaging with the first ratchet gear  14  of the receptacle  10  is formed on the top outer periphery of the third lower extending extension  38 . Therefore, the rotary cap  30  can rotate in only one direction relative to the container receptacle  10 , and reverse rotation is prevented. Also, when the cap  30  is rotated, the second ratchet gear  384  of cap  30  follows the first ratchet gear of receptacle  10  and a sound is made when the second gear goes beyond the first gear, so that the user may know that a capsule is rising. 
         [0085]    The rotary cylinder  40  is installed on the outside of (concentrically surrounding) the screw shaft  20 ; at the same time, the cylinder is coupled to the central lower side of the rotary cap  30 , the top of cylinder  40  being inserted into the insertion groove  328  of the cap and the bottom of the cylinder being rotatably coupled with the mounting groove  18  of receptacle  10 . 
         [0086]    Fitting protrusion  43  is formed on the outer periphery of the top of the rotary cylinder  40  and coupled with fitting groove  342  of the cap  30 . When the fitting protrusion  43  fits into fitting groove  342  and the cap rotates, the cylinder  40  does not run in a disengaged manner; this serves to ensure that rotation of the cylinder occurs together with rotation of the cap  30 . 
         [0087]    The inlet or entry port  44  is formed on the lower side of the cylinder  40  so that capsules  50  are introduced one by one into the cylinder, and the inflow guide  46  is formed so as to protrude outwardly at one side of port  44 . This inflow guide includes a top cover  462  protruding at the top of entry port  44  and a side cover  464  protruding at one side of entry port  44 . 
         [0088]      FIGS. 13 a , 13 b  and 13 c    are sectional elevational views, similar to each other, illustrating the container of  FIG. 8  while the cylinder  40  and cap  30  are rotating together relative to the receptacle  10  and screw shaft  20 .  FIG. 13 a    shows the situation in which capsules  50  flow into the cylinder from the receptacle through entry port  44 ;  FIG. 13 b    shows the situation in which capsules are moving upwardly to the top of the receptacle; and  FIG. 13 c    shows the situation in which capsules are discharged individually (one by one) through the discharge port  322  onto the concave top surface of the cap. 
         [0089]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 8-14  addresses the problem that, as the multiple capsules  50  accommodated within the receptacle  10  are pressed by gravity, two or more of the capsules may enter the cylinder  40  through entry port  44  together. As  FIGS. 13 a -13 c    show, with the inflow guide top cover  462  formed so as to protrude outwardly at the top of the entry port  44 , capsules  50  positioned at the front of the entry port are not pressed by other capsules, and enter the entry port one at a time. 
         [0090]      FIGS. 12 a  and 12 b    are cross-sectional views (sectional plan views), similar to each other, illustrating the container of  FIG. 8  while the cylinder  40  is rotating relative to the receptacle  10  and screw shaft  20 . In particular,  FIG. 12 b    shows the situation in which capsules  50  flow individually (one by one) into the cylinder through the entry port  44 . As will be apparent from these Figures, as the cylinder  40  rotates, the inflow guide side cover  464  rotates together with it, horizontally pushing capsules  50  accommodated within the receptacle  10 . Therefore, a capsule  50  is easily pushed and enters the entry port  44  of the rotary cylinder. 
         [0091]    As explained, the spiral thread  42  on the inner periphery (inner surface) of the cylinder  40  and the spiral groove  22  of screw shaft  20  are formed in mutually opposite directions. Thus, when the cap  30  is rotated, while the screw shaft is fixed to receptacle  10 , as shown in  FIG. 13 a   , the cylinder  40  rotates with the cap  30  and a capsule  50  introduced through entry port  44  is pushed up, so that as shown in  FIG. 13 b   , the capsule is placed on the thread  42  of the cylinder at the point of intersection of the screw shaft spiral groove  22  and the cylinder thread  42 , and follows the screw shaft groove  22  so that it moves gently upwards, and as shown in  FIG. 13 c    is discharged form the end of screw shaft groove  22  to the outside through the discharge port  322 . The spiral groove  22  of the screw shaft  20  therefore becomes a path over which the capsule  50  passes, and the spiral thread  42  of the rotary cylinder  40  performs a role of pushing up the capsule  50 . 
         [0092]    A lid  70 , for opening and closing the discharge port  322  of the cap  30 , is coupled to the top of the cap  30 . A ring-shaped sealing member  72  is coupled to the inside of the lid  70 ; this sealing member is undercut-coupled or screw-coupled to the outer periphery of a coupling port  73  formed so as to protrude to the lower side of the lid  70 . A second sealing ring  79  of elastic material is formed on the lower side of the sealing member  72 ; when the lid  70  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the second sealing ring  79  is in close elastic contact with sealing extension  39  of cap  30 . The second sealing ring  79  is formed of elastic material; preferably it consists of one or more materials selected from among natural rubber, elastomer, silicone rubber and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), or of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) material. 
         [0093]    An opening and closing protrusion  74  is formed on the lower inner periphery of the lid  70  and coupled with opening and closing groove  164  of the receptacle  10 . 
         [0094]    To assemble the container of  FIGS. 8-14 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the screw shaft  20  is first fixed and coupled to the center of the inside of receptacle  10 , and the lower end of the screw shaft  20  is coupled to the coupling groove  17  of receptacle  10 . Next, the receptacle  10  is fixed and coupled to the container body  60  while being inserted into the container body through the top thereof. After that, the lower end of cylinder  40  is rotatably coupled to the mounting groove  18  of the receptacle  10 , so that screw shaft  20  is disposed inside (concentrically surrounded by) the cylinder. 
         [0095]    The inside of the receptacle  10  is then filled with capsules  50 , and the first sealing ring  19  is fitted to the inner periphery of the top of receptacle  10 . Following this, the cap  30  is rotatably coupled to the top of receptacle  10 , the fitting protrusion  43  of cylinder  40  is fitted in the fitting groove  342  of the cap, and the first fastening extension  15  of the receptacle  10  and the second fastening extension  385  of the cap  30  are undercut-coupled while the first ratchet gear  14  of the receptacle  10  and the second ratchet gear  384  of cap  30  are matched. 
         [0096]    At the same time, the outer periphery of second lower extending extension  36  of the cap  30  is made to be in close contact with the first sealing ring  19 , and fixing protrusion  326  of cap  30  is inserted into fixing groove  24  of screw shaft  20 . Next, sealing member  72  is coupled to coupling port  73  of lid  70 , and second sealing ring  79  is fitted into the lower side of the sealing member  72 . Finally, lid  70  is coupled to the top of receptacle  10 , and opening/closing protrusion  74  of lid  70  is horizontally inserted into opening/closing groove  164  of receptacle  10 , to complete the assembly of the container of  FIGS. 8-14 . 
         [0097]    In use of the container of  FIGS. 8-14 , as shown in the elevational sectional view of  FIG. 11 , the lid  70  is first separated from the receptacle  10 . The user then holds the container body  60  with one hand while holding the rotary cap  30  with the other hand and rotating the cap manually (relative to the body  60  and the receptacle  10 ) in the one direction permitted by the ratchet gears  14 ,  384 . 
         [0098]    As the cap  30  is rotated, the cylinder  40  rotates therewith, and as shown in  FIG. 12 a    the inflow guide side cover  464  on cylinder  40  horizontally pushes a capsule  50  accommodated within the receptacle  10 , so that the capsule enters the inside of cylinder  40  through the entry port  44  of the cylinder. The inflow guide top cover  462 , protruding outwardly at the top of entry port  44 , prevents a capsule  50  positioned in front of the entry port from being pressed by other capsules  50  within the receptacle, so that the capsules enter the entry port one at a time. 
         [0099]    Further, anti-friction part  13 , formed on the bottom of the receptacle, serves to reduce the area where the bottom surface of the receptacle and a capsule  50  are in contact. Consequently, the capsule  50  flows easily within the receptacle. 
         [0100]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b   , while the cap  30  is continuously rotated, with screw shaft  20  fixed to receptacle  10  and cylinder  40  rotating together with cap  30  relative to the shaft and receptacle, each capsule  50  introduced to the cylinder  40  through entry port  44  is pushed up to the top of the container. 
         [0101]    Since the thread  42  of cylinder  40  and the spiral groove  22  of screw shaft  20  are formed in mutually opposite directions, as shown in  FIG. 13 b    each capsule  50  is placed on the cylinder thread  42  at the point of intersection of the screw shaft spiral groove  22  and thread  22 , and follows the spiral groove  22  so that it moves gently upwards, and as shown in  FIG. 13 c    it is discharged to the top surface of cap  30  through discharge port  322 . 
         [0102]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the situation in which a capsule is discharged to the top surface of cap  30 . The capsule  50  follows the slope  324  (formed on the lower side of the discharge port  322 ) from the upper side end of spiral groove  22 , naturally tumbling down, and is discharged individually (i.e., one capsule at a time) to the top surface of the cap  30 . 
         [0103]    After the desired capsule (or desired number of capsules) has been discharged, the lid  70  is closed on the container and the container is stored or carried. As noted above, when lid  70  is coupled to receptacle  10 , the second sealing ring  79  provided on the inner side of the lid is elastically in close contact with the sealing extension  39  formed on the top surface of the cap  30 , and the first sealing ring  19  is in close contact with the inner periphery of the top of receptacle  10  and the outer periphery of second lower extending extension  36  of cap  30 , and the inside of receptacle  10  is sealed. 
         [0104]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the features and embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth, but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit.