Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
   The present invention relates to a liquid container, a liquid container manufacturing method, and a metallic mold used for a liquid container manufacturing method. In particular, it relates to such a multi-layer liquid container that is manufactured by blow molding, and is provided with a liquid outlet to be connected to the inlet of an external object to which the liquid is supplied, a method for manufacturing such a multi-layer liquid container, and a metallic mold used for a method for manufacturing such a multi-layer liquid container. 
   In recent years, a multi-layer container formed by blow molding has come to be used as a liquid container in various fields. Blow molding is a manufacturing method. In blow molding, thermoplastic resin is formed into a tubular parison by extrusion; a parison is sandwiched by metallic molds from the direction perpendicular to the axial line of the parison, making the tubular parison into a pouch; air is blown into the pouch-like parison to inflate the parison so that the wall of the inflated parison is pressed against the internal surface of the metallic molds, without leaving a gap. 
   When manufacturing a container with a basic blow molding method, a portion called a pinch-off portion is formed at one or both of the two ends of a tubular parison of thermoplastic resin, at which one of the mutually facing portions of the parison wall meets with the other portion of the parison wall, and welds thereto. When the welding seam is weak, the container can be cracked along the welding seam by external impact or the like. Thus, it is very desirable from the standpoint of safety, in particular, when ink, a chemical, or the like, is stored therein, that the welding seam is highly impact resistant and leakproof. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a referential code  100  designates a conventional liquid container formed by blow molding (which hereinafter may be referred to as a blow molded container). In the case of this container  100 , in order to improve the fastness of the welding seam in the pinch-off portion  101  of the liquid container  100 , the pinch-off portion  101  was allowed to outwardly protrude to increase the welding surface in the pinch-off portion. 
   Also referring to  FIG. 1 , the blow molded container  100  is a multi-layer container, and generally comprises an outer layer, a middle layer  100   b , and an inner layer  100   c . The fastness of the welding seam of this type of multi-layer container is dependent upon not only the strength of the adhesion between the adjacent two layers of the container wall, but also upon the how the opposing two portions of the inner layer  100   c  are welded to each other. Thus, simply allowing the pinch-off portion  101  to outwardly protrude allows the portions of the middle and inner layers  100   b  and  100   c  in the pinch-off portion to remain virtually the same in thickness from the base portion of the pinch-off portion to the tip of the pinch-off portion. Therefore, simply allowing the pinch-off portion to outwardly protrude does not substantially increase the strength of the welding seam, although it increases the welding surface. 
   In order to solve this problem, a blow molded container such as a container  110  shown in  FIG. 3  has been proposed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 7-88943). 
   The pinch-off portion  111  of the blow molded container  110  in the above proposal has two recesses  112  and  113 , which are on the opposite sides of the pinch-off portion  110  and are staggered relative to each other in the height direction of the pinch-off portion  110 . The recesses  112  and  113  are formed when the container  110  is formed by blow molding using a two-piece mold, which have a protrusion which protrudes from the portion correspondent to the pinch-off portion  111  of the container  110 . More specifically, the protrusion of the left piece of the mold and the protrusion of the right piece of the mold are staggered in terms of the height direction of the pinch-off portion  111 . Thus, as the left and right pieces of the mold are clamped against each other, the middle and inner layers  110   b  and  110   c  are pushed up, increasing the welding surface at which the left and right portions of the outer layer  110   a  weld to each other. 
   As is evident from the above description, according to the above described proposal, the fastness of the welding seam of the multi-layer liquid container formed by blow molding, in terms of impact resistance and being leakproof, is improved by allowing the pinch-off portion to outwardly protrude. 
   There has been another proposal (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 5-310265) for improving the fastness of the welding seam of the multi-layer container. This proposal concerns a blow molded multi-layer liquid container which has an outer layer, which is not likely to be deformed by external pressure, and an inner layer which is deformable by pressure. Also in this proposal, the pinch-off portion is caused to outwardly project to increase the welding surface between the opposing portions of the inner layer, in the pinch-off portion. 
   However, in both of the above described proposals, the pinch-off portions are caused to outwardly protrude from the outward surface of the liquid container. Therefore, the protruding pinch-off portion of the container hinders container usage, sometimes preventing the container from properly functioning. Further, if the position of the pinch-off portion of a container coincides with the portion of the container, which is directly grasped by the hand of a user, the container is difficult to handle, and also there is a possibility that the hand of a user might be injured. Also, the protruding pinch-off portion is undesirable in terms of external appearance. 
   In the case of a container, the multiple layers of which are separable among themselves, even when the welding surface between the opposing portions of the inner layer was increased by causing the pinch-off portion to outwardly protrude, the fastness of the welding seam could not be increased in terms of impact resistance and being leakproof, because the outer and inner layers of the container are separable from each other. 
   The primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container, the pinch-off portion of which does not outwardly protrude from the outward surface of the liquid container, in practical terms, and which is manufacturable by blow molding, and is superior to a conventional blow molded container in impact resistance and being leakproof. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the above-described liquid container, and a metallic mold used for such a manufacturing method. 
   According to one of the characteristic aspects of the present invention, a liquid container comprises: an external shell which constitutes the external wall of the container; a flexible internal pouch, which constitutes the internal wall of the container, is virtually identical in shape to the internal space of the external shell, contains liquid, and is separable from the external shell; and one or more pinch-off portions, in which the welding seam between the opposing portions of the internal wall is sandwiched by the opposing portions of the external wall, wherein the internal wall is provided with a pair of regions, which are thicker than the surrounding regions, and are located in a manner to sandwich the welding seam of the internal wall, and in which an air gap is provided between the outward surface of the internal wall and the inward surface of the outer wall. 
   With the provision of an air gap between the external shell and internal pouch, in the case portion of the pinch-off portion of a liquid container, the air gap functions as a damper when the liquid container is subjected to external impact. Further, the thick regions of the internal wall function like a reinforcement beam, preventing the welding seams of the internal wall from slipping out of the pinch-off portion, preventing thereby the internal pouch from irregularity deforming. As a result, it is difficult for impact to transmit to the internal pouch, and therefore, the pinch-off portion is prevented from being damaged. 
   Further, the employment of such a structure that makes an air gap function as a damper eliminates the need for making the pinch-off portion of a liquid container outwardly protrude from the outward surface of the liquid container, making it therefore possible to provide a container, the pinch-off portion of which is virtually flush with its adjacencies. 
   Further, increasing the thickness of the external shell of a container, in the pinch-off portion of the container, not only increases the strength of the external shell, but also increases the welding surface between the opposing portions of the internal pouch, in the pinch-off portion, adding to the fastness of the welding seam of the internal pouch. 
   According to another characteristic aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a liquid container in accordance with the present invention comprising: an external shell which constitutes the external wall of the container, a flexible internal pouch, which constitutes the internal wall of the container, is virtually identical in shape to the internal space of the external shell, is used to contain liquid, and is separable from the external shell; and one or more pinch-off portions, in which the welding seam between the opposing portions of the internal wall are sandwiched by the opposing portions of the external wall, includes: a step in which a metallic mold, the inward surface of which is virtually identical in shape to the external surface of the liquid container, a first parison which is approximately cylindrical, is smaller in diameter than the mold, and is formed into the external wall of the liquid container, and a second parison which also is smaller in diameter than the mold and is formed into the internal wall of the liquid container, are prepared; a step in which a combination of a part of the resinous first parison and a part of the resinous second parison is pressed into a space between the two halves of the mold, which is correspondent to the pinch-off portion of the liquid container, as the two halves of the mold are clamped in a manner to sandwich the first and second parisons; and a step in which air is blown into the internal space of the second parison to inflate the first and second parisons so that the extended walls of the first and second parisons conform in shape to the inward surface of the mold, with the first and second parisons, that is, the external and internal walls, respectively, remaining separable from each other; and a step in which the internal and external walls are separated from each other, in the immediate adjacencies of the pinch-off portion, to create air gaps in the adjacencies of the pinch-off portion. 
   According to another characteristic aspect of the present invention, the metallic mold for blow molding a liquid container in accordance with the present invention comprises a combination of the left and right pieces, wherein the portion of the left piece of the metallic mold, correspondent to the pinch-off portion of the container, and the portion of the right piece of the metallic mold, correspondent to the pinch-off portion of the container, are provided with a parison pressing portion for holding a part of the resinous parison, correspondent to the pinch-off portion, to press a part of this portion of the parison into the mold as the left and right pieces of the metallic mold are clamped together, and wherein the portion of the left piece of the metallic mold, correspondent to the pinch-off portion of the container, and the portion of the right piece of the metallic mold, correspondent to the pinch-off portion of the container, are constructed so that a small gap remains between them after the left and right pieces of the metallic mold are clamped together. 
   Incidentally, in this specification of the present invention, “multi-layer blow molding” means the so-called co-extrusion multi-layer blow molding, in which a multi-layer parison extruded by co-extrusion is sandwiched by a multi-piece mold, and pressurized fluid is introduced into the parison to inflate it. 
   Further, a term “liquid” is used to include sol as well as plain liquid. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of an example of a liquid container formed by a blow molding method in accordance with a prior art, and the adjacencies thereof. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of an example of a liquid container formed by another blow molding method in accordance with a prior art, and the adjacencies thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a rough perspective view of an embodiment of an ink container in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the ink container shown in  FIG. 3 , at a plane which includes the welding seam of the container. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of the ink container shown in  FIG. 3 , and its adjacencies, at a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the pinch-off portion of the container. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the air vent of the ink container shown in  FIG. 3 , and its adjacencies, at a plane which includes the axial line of the air vent. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of the ink container shown in  FIG. 3 , and its adjacencies, for depicting the reaction of the pinch-off portion which occurs as the ink container is subjected to external force. 
       FIG. 8  is a rough perspective view of the second embodiment of a liquid container in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of the liquid container shown in  FIG. 8 , and its adjacencies, at a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the pinch-off portion. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of the ink container shown in  FIG. 8 , and the portion of a metallic mold for forming the ink container, correspondent to the pinch-off portion, for depicting the method for manufacturing the ink container, 
       FIGS. 10(   a ) and  10 ( b ) showing the pinch-off portion during the clamping of the molding, and the pinch-off portion after the clamping of the molding, respectively. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Next, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings. 
   Embodiment 1 
     FIG. 3  is a rough perspective view of the ink container in an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the ink container shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The ink container  1  in this embodiment is a hollow container approximately in the form of a polygonal pillar (portions correspondent to edges and points are rounded). It is provided with an ink outlet  4 , which projects outward from one end of the ink container, and a knob  3  which projects from the other end. It is removably mounted into a holder (unshown). The ink outlet  4  is provided with a plug (unshown) for hermetically sealing the internal portion  12 , which will be described later. As the ink container  1  is mounted into the holder, the connector portion of the holder and the internal space of the internal pouch  12  become connected through the plug, so that the ink within the ink container  1  can be consumed through the connecting portion. The knob  3  is where a user places a hand when removing the ink container  1  from the holder. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the ink container  1  is formed by multi-layer blow molding, and has an external shell  11  which constitutes the external wall of the ink container  1 , and an internal pouch  12  which constitutes the internal wall of the ink container  1 . When fully inflated, the internal pouch  12  is equal or similar, in shape and volume, to the internal space of the external shell  11 . 
   The internal wall (pouch)  12  is flexible, and is separable from the external wall (shell)  11 . Therefore, as the ink within the ink containing portion, that is, the internal space of the internal pouch  12 , is led out, the internal pouch  12  is allowed to deform without causing the external shell  11  to deform. The internal pouch  12  is constructed so that the thickness of each section of the wall of the internal pouch  12  in the form of an approximately polygonal pillar gradually reduces from the center toward the edges to make the corner portions (which may be rounded) of each section of the wall thinner than the center portion of each section of the wall; in other words, each section of the wall of the internal pouch  12  slightly bulges inward of the internal pouch  12 . The direction in which each section of the wall of the internal pouch  12  bulges is the same as the direction in which each section of the wall deforms. Therefore, this structural arrangement for the internal pouch  12  helps the deformation of the ink storing portion; in particular, in the inkjet filed, it helps maintain an optimum amount of negative pressure at the ink outlet  4  as the liquid is led out of the ink storing portion, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 9-267483. Incidentally,  FIG. 4  was intended to mainly show the laminar structure of the ink container, and does not show the actual relationship in thickness among the plurality layers of the wall of the ink container  1 . 
   The ink container  1  is also provided with an air vent  14 , which is located next to one end of the pinch-off portion  13  of the ink container  1 , which will be described later. The air vent  14  is a gap between the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12 . With the provision of the air vent  14 , external air can be introduced between the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  through the air vent  14 , allowing the internal pouch  12  to easily deform as the ink within the ink storing portion is consumed. 
   The internal pouch  12  is a laminar pouch having three layers: liquid contact layer  12   c , elasticity control layer  12   b , and gas barrier layer  12   a , listing from the inward side. The liquid contact layer  12   c  is resistant to ink, and the gas barrier layer  12   a  is superior in preventing gas permeation. These three layers are independent from each other in terms of function, but remain adhered to each other. The elasticity control layer  12   b  remains virtually constant in elasticity as long as ambient temperature remains with the range in which the ink container  1  is normally used. Thus, the elasticity of the internal pouch  12  is kept virtually constant by the elasticity control layer  12   b  as long as the ink container  1  is used within the normal temperature range. As long as the liquid contact layer  12   c  constitutes the innermost layer of the internal pouch  12 , the elasticity control layer  12   b  and gas barrier layer  12   b  may be switched in position; the elasticity control layer  12   b  and gas barrier layer  12   a  may constitute the outermost layer and middle layer, respectively. 
   Since the internal pouch  12  is structured as described above, the internal pouch  12  satisfactorily displays each of the functions of the liquid contact layer  12   c , elasticity control layer  12   b , and gas barrier layer  12   a . In other words, the elasticity or the like of the internal pouch  12  is prevented, by the provision of only a small number of functional layers, from being seriously affected by the change in ambient temperature. 
   Regarding the materials for the internal pouch  12 , polypropylene is used as the material for the liquid contact layer  12   c , or the innermost layer; copolymer of cyclic olein, as the material for elasticity control layer  12   b , or the middle layer; and EVOH (saponified EVA (copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate)) is used as the material for the gas barrier layer  12   a , or the outermost layer. As for the material for the external shell  11 , polypropylene, that is, the same material as that for the innermost layer of the internal pouch  12 , is used. 
   The adhesive strength between the adjacent two layers of the three layers of the internal pouch  12  is rendered sufficiently large compared to the adhesive strength (peel strength) between the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12 . Therefore, when the ink container  1  is in use, the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  easily separate from each other while the layers of the internal pouch  12  do not separate from each other. 
   Since the ink container  1  is formed by multi-layer blow molding as described above, it has two pinch-off portions  13 , one on the ink outlet  14  side and the other on the knob  3  side, or the side opposite to the ink outlet side  14 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , one of the pinch-off portions  13  extends from a part of the knob  3 , or the rear end of the ink container  1  in terms of the ink container insertion direction, toward the bottom portion of the ink container  1 . The other pinch-off portion  13 , or the pinch-off portion on the ink outlet  14  side, is not shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   Next, the structure of the pinch-off portion  13  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 , which is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of the ink container  1  shown in  FIG. 3 , at a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the pinch-off portion  13 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the tip of the pinch-off portion  13  is not protruding outward from its adjacencies, being virtually flush with the external surface of the ink container  1 . Making the pinch-off portion  13  flush with its adjacencies improves the ink container  1  in terms of handing; it makes the ink container  1  easer to handle. It also prevents a safety problem; it prevents a hand from being cut by the pinch-off portions  13 . Further, making the pinch-off portion  13  flush with its adjacencies prevents the pinch-off portion  13  from degrading the external appearance of the ink container  1 . 
   The above described structure can be realized using the metallic ink container mold, which does not have a recess, as the reservoir for holding the portion of the resinous parison correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13 . More specifically, as the parison to be formed into the ink container  1  is sandwiched by the two-piece metallic mold as the two pieces of the metallic mold are clamped toward each other, the portion of the parison correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13  is pushed inward of the internal space of the mold, by the invasion of the portion of the parison, which has failed to escape into the aforementioned resin reservoir, into the aforementioned small gap between the opposing portions of the two pieces of the metallic mold correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13 . As a result, the walls of the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  are made thicker, creating an inwardly bulging portion  21  (external shell  11 ) and an inwardly bulging portion  22  (internal pouch  12 ), on both sides of the welding seam between the opposing portions of the liquid contact layer  12   c  of the ink container  12 . 
   At this time, referring to  FIG. 10 , the description of the process for forming the bulges  21  and  22  will be supplemented.  FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the essential portions of the ink container  1  and metallic mold during the molding of the ink container  1 , for describing the method for manufacturing the ink container  1  shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIGS. 10(   a ) and  10 ( b ) showing the pinch-off portion during the clamping of the molding, and the pinch-off portion after the clamping of the molding, respectively. As shown in  FIG. 10(   a ), the metallic mold  30  comprises the left and right pieces. The portion of the left piece of the metallic mold  30  correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13  is provided with a dam  30   b  as a parison sandwiching portion for squeezing a parison  40  formed by multi-layer co-extrusion, which will be described later. The parison is cylindrical and is formed by multi-layer co-extrusion, has a resin layer  11  to be formed into the external wall, or the external shell  11 , and the resin layers  12   a – 12   c  to be formed into the layers of the internal pouch  12 . These resin layers  11  and  12   a – 12   c  are concentric. When sandwiching the parison  40  with the left and right pieces of the metallic mold  30 , first, the parison  40  is pinched by the projection  30   a  of the left piece, and the portion  30   d  of the right piece, which is the counterpart of the projection  30   a . As the metallic mold  30  is clamped, the portion  40   a  of the parison  40 , that is, the portion which has failed to escape into the resin reservoir  30   e , which is the open space on the outward side of the mold  30  with respect to the line connecting the tips of the projection  30   a  and portion  30   d , is pushed into the dam  30   b . During this process, as the gap between the projection  30   a  and portion  30   d  reduces, the resin portion  40   a  within the dam  30   b  is squeezed, being partially moved inward of the metallic mold, into the area in which the pinch-off portion  13  forms, in the direction indicated by an arrow mark in the drawing (from the outward side of the external shell to the inward side of the internal pouch). 
   Next, referring to  FIG. 10(   b ), after the completion of the clamping of the mold  30  and the subsequent inflation of the parison with the use of fluid such as air, the bulge  21  of the external shell and the bulge  22  of the internal pouch, have been formed by the part of the portion  40   a  of the parison  40  having been forced into the internal space of the mold  30 . In the state shown in  FIG. 10(   b ), the portion of the parison  40  having been squeezed out into the space  30   f  is still in the space  30   f , being connected to the part of the portion  40   a  in the pinch-off portion  13 , and the part of the portion  40   a  in the dam  30   b . These parts of the portion  40   a , or flashes, are removed during the deflashing process carried out after the ink container  1  is removed from the mold  30 . During the deflashing process, the flashes are removed with reference to the outward surface of the external shell so that the pinch-off portion  13  becomes virtually flush with its adjacencies, and also that the welding seam between the opposing portions of the inner walls is partially exposed. This exposure of the welding seam is useful when forming a gap which will be described later. 
   In this embodiment, the metallic mold  30  is structured so that at the end of the clamping of the mold  30 , the left and right pieces of the mold  30  meet each other without a gap along the parting line, except for the portion correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13  where the parison is pinched; it is structured so that a small gap  30   f  is provided between the left and right piece of the mold  30 , at the position correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13 . In other words, the left and right pieces of the mold  30  do not contact each other at the position correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13 ; it is desired that a small gap  30   f  is provided between the left and right pieces of the pinch-off portion  13  at the position correspondent to the pinch-off portion  13 . This is for the following reason. That is, with the presence of the gap  30   f , it is assured that the aforementioned resin portion  40   a  is partially and continuously pushed into the inside of the mold  30  until the clamping of the mold  30  is completed. Thus, it does not occur that at the end of the clamping of the mold  30 , the resinous material is held in the dam  30   b  by the amount greater than the dam capacity. Therefore, productivity improves. 
   The thicknesses of the bulge  21  of the external shell and the bulge  22  of the internal pouch are determined by the amount of the portion  40   a , that is, the portion of the parison in the area where the parison is pinched, and the viscosity and elasticity of the parison material in the plastic state. In this embodiment, if it is required to increase the thicknesses of the bulges  21  and  22 , the distance the projection  30   a  projects may be increased to increase the amount of the resin to be pushed into the dam  30   b , or the capacity of the dam  30   b  is reduced to make more resin flow into the metallic mold  30 , provided that the resin to be used remains the same in viscosity and elasticity. 
   As for the configuration of the projection  30   a , it does not need to be limited to the above described one as long as the projection  30   a  is enabled to confine a certain amount of the resin in a manner to prevent it from escaping into the open resin reservoir  30   e . More concretely, referring to the sectional view in  FIG. 10(   b ), what is necessary is for the distance between the tips of the projection  30   a  and portion  30   d  before the completion of the clamping of the metallic mold  30  to be smaller than the distance between the mutually facing portions of the left and right pieces of the mold  30 , which mold the pinch-off portion of the ink container  1 . 
   Further, the dam  30   b  as a resin pressuring portion (squeezing portion) has only to be enabled to push the portion of the parison resin outside the mold  30  into the position of the internal space of the mold  30 , in which the pinch-off portion  13  is formed. More concretely, instead of the provision of the projection  30   a , the portion of each of the left and right pieces of the mold  30 , correspondent to the pinch-of portion  13 , may be increased in thickness, and shaped so that a gap, which leads outward to the open resin reservoir on the outward side of the mold  30 , like the one in this embodiment, remains between the two pieces of the mold  30  after the completion of the clamping of the mold  30 . However, providing a projection such as the one in this embodiment which prevents the resin from escaping into the resin reservoir is preferable, since the provision of such a projection assures that the resin is pushed into the internal space of the metallic mold. 
   As described above, the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  are separable from each other. In other words, the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  have not been welded to each other, and therefore, the portion of the internal pouch  12  in the pinch-off portion  13  is held in the pinch-off portion  13  by remaining pinched between the two bulges  21  of the external shell  11 . Since the internal pouch  12  remains pinched by the bulges  21  of the external shell  11 , the portion of the internal pouch  12  in the pinch-off portion  13  is prevented from separating from the external shell  11  even though the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  have not been welded to each other. Further, should the internal pouch  12  and external shell  11  become temporarily separated from each other, the internal pouch  12  is prevented from irregularly deforming, since the ink container  1  is configured so that it is difficult for the internal pouch  12  to become separated from the external shell  11 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the air vent  14  ( FIG. 4 ) is formed by separating the external shell  11  from the internal pouch  12 . However, the ratio in size of the air vent  14 , that is, the ratio in size of the area in which the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  became separated from each other, relative to the entirety of the pinch-off portion  13 , is small. Therefore, the effect of the presence of the air vent  14  upon the retainment of the internal pouch  12  by the external shell  11  is small. 
   On the other hand, making the internal pouch  12  bulge at the pinch-off portion  13  makes the liquid contact layer  12   c , elasticity control layer  12   b , and gas barrier layer  12   a  thicker, increasing therefore the strength of the internal pouch  12  at the base portion of the pinch-off portion  13 . Further, making the internal pouch  12  bulge at the pinch-of portion  13  increases welding surface between the opposing two portions of the wall of the internal pouch  12  in the pinch-off portion  13 , adding to the fastness of the resultant welding seam. According to the experiments carried out by the inventors of the present invention in order to realize the above described effects of this embodiment, it is desired that the thickness of the bulge  22  of the internal pouch  12  is within a range of 1.5–4.0 times the average thickness of the internal pouch  12  excluding the two bulges  22 . 
   Further, there is provided a cavity or an air gap  20   a  between the bulge  21  of the external shell  11  and the bulge  22  of the internal pouch  12 . However, what is desirable here is that there is an air gap between the outward surface of the bulge  22  of the internal pouch  12  and the corresponding inward surface of the external shell  11 . In other words, the presence of the bulge  22  of the external shell  11  is not necessarily required. 
   There are various methods for creating this air gap; for example, (1) press the pinch-off portion, or apply pressure upon the pinch-off portion, from the outward side of the container in the direction perpendicular to the container surface; (2) allow ambient air to enter the pinch-off portion by temporarily separating the internal pouch and external shell in the pinch-off portion by introducing ambient air between the internal pouch and external shell through an air vent made in the external shell, at an optimal location; (3) allow ambient air to enter the pinch-off portion by deforming the ink container by directly pressing, or indirectly applying pressure upon, the ink container. 
   Next, referring to  FIG. 7 , the function of this air gap  20   a  will be described.  FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the pinch-off portion of the ink container shown in  FIG. 3 , for showing the reaction of the pinch-off portion which occurs as the ink container is subjected to external impact. 
   As the ink container  1  is subjected to external impact, for example, as the ink container  1  is dropped, the impact from the fall is transmitted from the external shell  11  to the internal pouch  12 . Since there is the air gap  20   a  between the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12 , on both sides of the base portion of the pinch-off portion  13 , the air gaps  20   a  play the role of a damper for absorbing the impact, reducing the impact in magnitude as the impact is transmitted to the internal pouch  12 . 
   Further, there is the air gap  20   a  on each side of the pinch-off portion. Therefore, as the impact transmits to the internal pouch  12 , the internal pouch  12  is allowed to sway left, right, or both left and right, depending upon the direction of the impact, to absorb the impact, as shown in  FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b ). As a result, the impact is reduced in terms of its effect upon the welding seam of the internal pouch  12 . Therefore, the ink leakage from the pinch-off portion  13  attributable to the damage to the pinch-off portion, for example, tearing of the pinch-off portion  13 , is prevented. 
   Further, the external shell  11  and internal pouch  12  are separable from each other. Therefore, as the impact applies, an air gap  20   b  is momentarily formed between the external shell  11  and  12 , in the area in which the internal pouch  12  remains pinched by the bulges  21  of the external shell  11 . During the presence of the air gap  20   b , the impact which has applied to the external shell  11  is virtually blocked by the air gap  20   b . Therefore, the impact is further reduced in magnitude as the impact is transmitted to the internal pouch  12  from outside the pinch-off portion, further assuring that the damage to the pinch-off portion  13  by external impact is prevented. 
   Since the presence of the air gap  20   b  is momentary, it does not occur that the internal pouch  12  becomes separated from the external shell  11  due to the presence of the air gap  20   b . After swaying as shown in  FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b ), the internal pouch  12  returns to the state shown in  FIG. 5 , and is cradled by the external shell  11 . 
   As described above, when the ink container  1  is subjected to external impact, the portion of the internal pouch  12 , in the pinch-off portion  13 , can be prevented from being damaged, by each of the functions of the air gaps  20   a  and  20   b . Of course, the fact that the pinch-off portion  13  is flush with the outward surface of the ink container  1  also makes it difficult for the impact to directly apply to the pinch-off portion  13 , substantially contributing to the prevention of the damage to the pinch-off portion  13  by the external impact. It is possible to modify the ink container  1  in terms of external shape, weight distribution, and the like, to prearrange the positions of these two types of the air gaps  20   a  and  20   b  so that the probability that the air gaps  20   a  and  20   b  take the external impact, and the efficiency with which the air gaps  20   a  and  20   b  dump the external impact, are increased; such a modification can better prevent the damage to the pinch-off portion  13 . 
   Embodiment 2 
     FIG. 8  is a rough perspective view of the liquid container in the second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the essential portion of the pinch-off portion of the liquid container shown in  FIG. 8 , at a plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the pinch-of portion. 
   The liquid container  50  in this embodiment has an internal pouch which also is separable from the external shell as is the internal pouch in the first embodiment. The internal pouch of this liquid container  50 , however, is for containing such liquid as shampoo or rinse, and is provided with a pump  51 , which is fitted in the outlet  53  of the liquid container  50 . The pump  51  is provided with a nozzle  52 . The liquid container  50  is also provided with a tube  55 , which is connected to the pump  51 , and extends through the internal pouch, with its bottom end  55   a  reaching close to the bottom wall of the liquid container  50 . This bottom wall  56  has a pinch-off portion  58 . There is provided an air gap  57  between the outward surface of the thick portion of the internal pouch wall (unshown in  FIG. 8 ), and the inward surface of the external shell, in the adjacencies of the pinch-off portion  58 , on both sides, as there is the air gap  20   a  in the first embodiment. The liquid container  50  is also provided with an air vent  54 , which is drilled in the neck portion  53  of the external shell, with the use of an optical processing means. 
   Next, referring to  FIG. 9 , the adjacencies of this pinch-off portion  58  will be described in detail. 
   Also in this embodiment, the air gap  57  is located between the bulge  61  of the bottom wall  56  of the external shell and the bulge  60  of the internal pouch  59 , as is the air gap  20   a  located between the bulge  21  of the external shell  11  and the bulge  22  of the internal pouch  12 , in the first embodiment. This embodiment, however, is different from the first embodiment in that the internal pouch  59  has only two layers: inner layer  59   a  formed of polypropylene to which adhesive resin has been added, and a barrier layer  59   b  formed of EVOH or the like. Of course, the internal pouch  59  may have only a single layer, depending on the type of the liquid to be stored in the liquid container  50 . 
   The external shell in this embodiment is formed of polypropylene. The outward surface  56   b  of the bottom wall  56  constitutes the surface which contacts the object on which the container  55  is placed, and the inward surface of the  56   a  of the bottom wall  56  slightly bulges inward of the container  55 , except for the center portion of the surface, creating a recess in the center. In this recess, the pinch-off portion  58 , which protrudes outward, fits, with the corresponding portion of the bulge  61  of the external shell  56  forming a projection  56   c . Even in the case of a liquid container such as the one in this embodiment, the pinch-off portion of the liquid container can be protected by the provision of the above described air gaps, when the liquid container is subjected to external impact. 
   A liquid container such as the one in this embodiment can be used, with good results, as a container for storing viscous food such as mayonnaise or ketchup, viscous/foaming cosmetics such as shaving cream, liquid soap, jellied face wash, or the like, in addition to shampoo or rinse. Depending on the liquid to be stored, the outlet of the liquid container may be fitted with a pump such as the one in this embodiment, or may be left as a simple opening. 
   As described above, according to the present invention, an air gap which is capable of functioning as a damper is provided between the external shell and internal pouch, in the base portion of the pinch-off portion of a multi-layer liquid container, which is formed by multi-layer blow molding, and the layers are made separable among them. Therefore, when the liquid container is subject to external impact, the air gaps functions as a damper, preventing the pinch-off portion from being damaged, preventing therefore the ink leakage from the pinch-off portion. 
   Also according to the present invention, the pinch-off portion is made virtually flush with its adjacencies, on its outward side. Therefore, the various problems which occur if the pinch-off portion is projecting from the outward surface of the liquid container can be prevented. 
   Also according to the present invention, the thickness of the external shell is increased in the adjacencies of the pinch-off portion, and/or the thickness of the internal pouch is increased on both sides of the pinch-off portion in which the opposing portions of the internal pouch are welded to each other. Therefore, the strength of the portions of the external shell and internal pouch, in the pinch-off portion and in its adjacencies, is increased, and also the welding surface between the opposing two portions of the internal pouch is increased, increasing the fastness of the welding seam in the pinch-off portion. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: b