Patent ID: 12251869

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, embodiments to be described below are examples suitable for understanding technical features of a container forming apparatus, a container forming method, a container, and an instant food packaging method using a container according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not restricted and applied to the embodiments to be described below, or the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the embodiments to be described, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope of the present invention.

FIGS.1and2illustrate a container10formed by a container forming apparatus100according to the present invention and a method thereof,FIGS.3to6illustrates the container forming apparatus100according to the present invention, andFIG.7illustrates Comparative Example of the container forming apparatus100according to the present invention.FIG.8illustrates a flowchart of a container forming method according to the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, the container10according to the present invention includes a bottom portion20, a side portion30, and an upper end portion40.

The bottom portion20may be formed in various shapes as long as it may be seated on the ground. When the container10is placed on the ground, a portion in contact with the ground may be defined as a bottom surface of the bottom portion20. In addition, an inclined portion may be formed on the inside and/or outside of the bottom surface in contact with the ground, but such an inclined portion may be included in the bottom portion20when the inclined portion is distinguished from a slope of the side portion30. For example, the bottom portion20may include a finely inclined portion at a portion to which the bottom surface and the side portion30are connected, but this portion is in contrast to the slope of the side portion30and is configured as a part of the bottom portion20.

The side portion30is formed to be inclined upward from the bottom portion20and includes a stepped portion33protruding stepwise along a circumferential direction thereof. Specifically, the side portion30may be a side wall which is connected to the bottom portion20to form an accommodation space in which the contents are accommodated. The side portion30may be formed to be inclined, and the stepped portion33may protrude in a strip shape along an outer circumferential surface of the side portion30. Here, the stepped portion33may be formed adjacent to the bottom portion20. The stepped portion33protrudes from the side portion30to reinforce the rigidity of the side portion30of the container10.

The upper end portion40is provided on the upper side of the side portion30and provided with a flange41.

Specifically, the upper end portion40may include a skirt42extending upward from the side portion30and a flange41connected to the skirt42. If an angle of the skirt42is larger than that of the side portion30with respect to the bottom surface, the angle thereof is not limited. For example, the skirt42may be 90° or more, particularly 94° to 99°, and more particularly 96° to 97° from an extension line formed by extending the bottom surface in an outer direction of the container.

Here, the side portion30may include a first side surface31and a second side surface35provided in a vertical direction. The first side surface31extends to be inclined upward from the bottom portion20, inclined at a first slope based on the bottom surface of the bottom portion20, and formed with a stepped portion33. The second side surface35extends to be inclined upward from the first side surface31and may be inclined at a second slope greater than the first slope with respect to the bottom surface.

The container10may be a container manufactured by thermoforming, and specifically, may be a container manufactured by pressure and/or vacuum. For example, the container10may be a container manufactured using the container forming apparatus100to be described below.

Referring toFIGS.3to6, the container forming apparatus100according to the present invention is based on forming the container10by thermoforming, and includes a first mold part200and a second mold part300.

Specifically, the container forming apparatus100according to the present invention may manufacture a container by thermoforming, and more specifically, may form a container by pressure vacuum forming. That is, a sheet may be formed by being in close contact with the first and second mold parts200and300by injection of compressed air and vacuum suction. However, the thermoforming method to be applied to the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be formed by, for example, at least one of injection of compressed air and vacuum suction.

The first mold part200includes a bottom forming part210for forming the bottom portion20of the container10, and a side forming part230for extending to be inclined upward from the bottom forming part210and forming a part of the side portion30of the container10. The first mold part200is lifted upward to separate and take out the container10in which the forming is completed to press the container10.

Specifically, referring toFIGS.3and6, the first mold part200may include the bottom molding part210and the side molding part230. The bottom molding part210may form the bottom portion20of the container10and may be provided to correspond to the shape of the bottom portion20of the container10to be formed.

The side molding part230may form a lower portion which is a part of the side portion30of the container10, and may extend to be inclined upward from the bottom molding part210. That is, the first mold part200may form a part of the lower portion of the bottom portion20and the side portion30of the container10.

In addition, referring toFIG.4, the first mold part200may be provided to be lifted upwardly. Specifically, when the forming of the container10is completed, the first mold part200is lifted upwardly to press the container10, thereby separating and taking out the container10from the second mold part300. That is, the first mold part200may serve as a knockout for ejecting a formed product in which the forming is completed.

The second mold part300is disposed outside the first mold part200and forms the remaining portion except for the part of the side portion30. Here, the second mold part300may be a cavity mold together with the first mold part200.

Specifically, the second mold part300may be disposed around the outer circumference of the first mold part200to form the side portion30of the container10. That is, the second mold part300may form the side portion30of the container10together with the side forming part230of the first mold part200. More specifically, the upper portion of the side portion30, which is a portion excluding a part of the lower portion of the side portion30formed by the side forming part230, may be formed. InFIG.3, H1and H2(not illustrated) are vacuum air holes for vacuum suction for bringing the sheet into close contact with the first mold part200and the second mold part300.

As described above, in the container forming apparatus100according to the present invention, the first mold part200serving as a knock-out has a structure formed to include not only the bottom portion20of the container10but also the side portion30of the container10to press the side portion30of the container10to be included when taking out. Accordingly, when the container10is taken out, it is possible to facilitate the taking-out by further increasing a pressing force and improve poor mold release such as crushing of the bottom surface of the container10.

Specifically, as Comparative Example illustrated inFIG.7, when the first mold part200is provided to press only the bottom portion20of the container10, an appropriate pressing force is not applied to the container10, so that it may be difficult to be taken out and crushing of the bottom surface of the container10may occur. In particular, in the case of forming a thin sheet, when pressing a narrow surface of the bottom of the container10, the bottom of the container10may be crushed. Accordingly, it may be advantageous to press the side portion30that may receive a relatively larger force. Accordingly, according to the present invention, the first mold part200presses the side portion30of the container10to be included, thereby improving such poor mold release.

In addition, according to the present invention, when taking out, the first mold part200and the second mold part300are separated from the side portion30of the container10, so that a parting line P (see the stepped portion33ofFIGS.1and2) may be formed on the side portion30of the container10. In the parting line P formed on the side portion30of the container10, the stepped portion33in the form of a rib protruding finely is formed to reinforce the strength of the side portion30of the container10.

Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the contractional deformation of the container10in the product packaging and distribution process of the container10.

Specifically, the container10packaging foods such as aseptic cooked rice and the like is sealed and packaged in a hot state, and may be naturally or forcibly subjected to a cooling process. At this time, as the hot air is cooled, air contraction occurs, so that the pressure inside the container10may become a negative pressure state that is lower than that of the outside. As such, when the negative pressure is applied, a thin portion or a portion subjected to excessive force of the container10may be easily contracted and deformed, and particularly, the side portion30of the container10is frequently contracted and deformed. Accordingly, in the container10according to the present invention, a rib (stepped portion) by the parting line P is formed on the side portion30of the container10to reinforce the strength of the side portion30of the container10, thereby minimizing product defects due to such contractional deformation.

In addition, according to the present invention, the side portion30of the container10is pressed to be included when taking out, thereby minimizing defects occurring on the bottom portion20of the container10by the angle of the skirt42when taking out. Specifically, the skirt42is configured at the angle as described above and is a portion having an inverted tapered structure, and a lot of force is applied to the when taking out, and in particular, in the case of molding using a thin sheet such as a container for instant food, the deformation rate of the bottom portion is high when pressing the bottom portion20.

However, when a small area of the bottom portion20of the container10is pressed when taking out, the stress may be concentrated to increase a defect rate. Accordingly, according to the present invention, since a large area of the bottom portion is pressed when taking out and the side portion30including an inclined surface is pressed, the force applied to the bottom portion20may be distributed over a large area. As a result, even in the case of forming the container having the skirt42having an inverted tapered structure using the thin sheet according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the deformation of the bottom portion20.

Meanwhile, as described above, the side portion30of the container10may include a first side surface31which extends to be inclined upward from the bottom portion20and has a first slope with respect to the bottom surface of the bottom portion20, and a second side surface35which extends to be inclined upward from the first side surface31and has a second slope with respect to the bottom surface. In addition, the side forming part230provided in the first mold part200may be formed to be inclined with the first slope.

Here, the first slope and the second slope may be the same as or different from each other, and more specifically, the first slope may be provided more gently than the second slope. Accordingly, the first mold part200presses a portion of the side portion30of the container10with a gentle slope at the bottom. Accordingly, even if the first mold part200presses the side surface of the container10, there is an advantage that the upper end portion40of the container10is not broken.

In addition, the inclination angle of the side portion30of the container10is not limited, and may be provided at, for example, about 15° or more with respect to the bottom surface. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the inclination angle may be modified at various angles if the damage to the upper end portion40may be prevented when the first mold part200presses the container10.

Meanwhile, referring toFIGS.3and4, the second mold part300may include a first inclined surface310and a second inclined surface320.

The first inclined surface310is inclined at the first slope with respect to the reference surface of the bottom forming part210at the same angle as the bottom surface, and may form a first side surface31together with the side forming part230. In addition, the second inclined surface320may extend from the first inclined surface310, inclined at the second slope with respect to the reference surface, and form a second side surface35.

Referring toFIG.2, the first side surface31provided on the side portion30of the container10may include a first region31aand a second region31b. The first region31ais a region that continues from the bottom part20, and the second region31bmay be located above the first region31a. In addition, on a cross section perpendicular to the bottom portion20(seeFIG.2), the length of the first region31amay be shorter than the length of the second region31b.

In addition, the side forming part230of the first mold part200forms the first region31a, and the first inclined surface310of the second mold part300may form the second region31b. Accordingly, the first mold part200and the second mold part300may be separated between the first region31aand the second region31bwhen taking out.

More specifically, the side portion30further includes a stepped portion33, and the stepped portion33is located between the first region31aand the second region31band may protrude stepwise along a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface of the first side surface31. That is, the stepped portion33may be formed on the parting line P where the first mold part200and the second mold part300are separated. Here, since the length of the first region31ais shorter than the length of the second region31b, the stepped portion33may be formed adjacent to the bottom portion20.

Meanwhile, the second mold part300may be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the first mold part200to the outside. More specifically, the first inclined surface310may be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the side forming part230(see d ofFIG.5).

As such, since the first mold part200and the second mold part300are provided to be spaced apart from each other, it is possible to prevent abrasion due to the lifting operation of the first mold part200when taking out. In addition, since the size of the stepped portion33formed on the parting line may be further increased by a distance d between the first mold part200and the second mold part300, the strength of the side portion30of the container10may be further reinforced.

Here, the distance d between the first mold part200and the second mold part300may be variously applied, and may be provided with, for example, about 0.3 mm. However, the distance d between the first mold part200and the second mold part300is not limited thereto, and may be modified in various sizes if the distance may prevent abrasion due to the lifting operation.

Meanwhile, the present invention may further include a driving part (not illustrated) and a guide part500.

The driving part may drive the first mold part200upward. As long as the driving part may drive the first mold part200upward, the type thereof is not limited. For example, the first mold part200may be driven by a cam member or air pressure, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The guide part500may guide the vertical movement of the first mold part200. The guide part500may be provided in the form of a guide shaft like the illustrated example, but is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, referring toFIG.3, the present invention may further include a third mold part400.

The third mold part400may include a skirt forming part420and a flange forming part410. In addition, the third mold part400may further include a cutting part430. The skirt forming part420is provided on the upper side of the second mold part300to form the skirt42of the container10, and the flange forming part410may form a flange41of the container10.

In addition, the cutting part430may be provided outside the flange forming part410to cut the container10in which the forming is completed.

Hereinafter, as another aspect of the present invention, a container forming method will be described with reference toFIGS.3to6and8.

The container forming method according to the present invention includes a heating step (S110), a thermoforming step (S130), and a taking-out step (S170). In the heating step (S110), a sheet to be formed into the container10is heated.

In the thermoforming step (S130), the heated sheet is press-fitted in the first mold part200forming a part of the bottom portion20and the side portion30of the container10and the second mold part300provided outside the first mold part200and forming the remaining portion except for the part of the side portion30and comes into close contact with the first mold part200and the second mold part300by injection of compressed air and vacuum suction to form the bottom portion20and the side portion30.

Specifically, when the sheet having a predetermined thickness is heated at a temperature suitable for forming, the sheet may be first press-fitted into the first mold part200and the second mold part300using a plug. In addition, by injecting compressed air, the sheet may come into close contact with the first mold part200and the second mold part300. At this time, the sheet may be brought into close contact with the sheet by vacuuming the first mold part200and the second mold part300by vacuum suction. Accordingly, the bottom portion20and the side portion30of the container10may be formed. In the thermoforming step (S130), the upper end portion40of the container10may be formed through the third mold part400.

In the cutting step (S150), the container10in which the forming is completed may be cut. The cutting step (S150) may be performed before or after the taking-out step (S170). Hereinafter, a case in which the cutting step (S150) is performed before the taking-out step (S170) is described as an example, but is not limited thereto, and the cutting step (S150) may be performed before or simultaneously with the taking-out step (S170).

In the taking-out step (S170), the first mold part200is lifted upwardly, and the container10, in which the forming is completed, is separated from the second mold part300and taken out.

Specifically, in the taking-out step (S170), when the container10, in which the forming is completed, is cut, the container10may be taken out. Referring toFIG.4, while the first mold part200is lifted upwardly, the container10may be separated from the second mold part300, and the separated container10may be taken out. A series of thermoforming steps including the heating step (S110), the thermoforming step (S130), the cutting step (S150), and the taking-out step (S170) may be performed at high speed in a short time.

Meanwhile, in the thermoforming step, the stepped portion33may protrude stepwise from the side portion30through a spaced gap between the first mold part200and the second mold part300.

Hereinafter, as yet another aspect of the present invention, an instant food packaging method using a container will be described.

The packaging method of instant food using a container according to the present invention includes preparing a container, putting instant food into the container, sealing the container, and cooling the container.

So long as the instant food applied to the present invention requires cooling in the packaging process, the type thereof is not limited, and for example, the instant food may include instant rice, instant soup, instant porridge, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

In the sealing of the container, the means and method for sealing the container are not limited, and various materials and methods may be applied. For example, the upper end of the container may be sealed by using a lead film.

In the cooling of the container, the cooling temperature may be applied without limitation as long as the temperature is a temperature lower than the temperature of the instant food in the putting of the instant food into the container.

According to the present invention, in the container forming apparatus and the container forming method, the first mold part serving as a knock-out has a structure formed to include not only the bottom portion of the container but also the side portion of the container to press the side portion of the container to be included when taking out. Accordingly, when the container is taken out, it is possible to facilitate the taking-out by further increasing a pressing force and improve poor mold release such as crushing of the bottom surface of the container.

Further, according to the present invention, since the stepped portion protrudes from the side portion of the container, the strength of the side portion of the container is reinforced, thereby minimizing product defects due to contractional deformation of the container.

While the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made without changing the subject matter of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.