JPH0891445A - Cold storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] As a container for both vacuum precooling and differential pressure precooling, a part of the container can be opened during vacuum precooling without the need for manual opening and closing operations. In this case, the lids can be pulled out in a stacked state so that a part of both side portions can be opened or closed. [Structure] A cutout opening 13 is provided on one side wall of the container body 1 and is dropped substantially vertically from the open end 11, and is fitted to one side of the lid body 2 so as to be pulled out from above the cutout opening 13. A hanging wall 23 is provided. Cutouts 15 and 16 for air supply and exhaust are provided at two locations on the other side wall of the container body 1, and the cutouts 15 and 16 corresponding to the cutouts 15 and 16 are fitted to the cutouts from above. Further, a first valve body 25 and a second valve body 26 that engage with each other inwardly or outwardly and can be elastically deformed inside or outside due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container are provided. Is elastically deformed inward when the pressure is higher than the outside
The valve body 16 is configured so that when the outside of the container has a higher pressure than the inside, the valve body 16 is elastically deformed to the outside to perform the opening operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cold storage container suitable for precooling and shipping mainly agricultural products such as vegetables.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when shipping and transporting strawberries, pods, carrots, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and other agricultural produce to a distant place, they are stored in a heat-insulating container under vacuum precooling. The differential pressure precooling is performed and the cold storage state is maintained.

For example, in the differential pressure precooling, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a container (A) containing vegetables in a cooling chamber (B).
A large number are stacked and juxtaposed, and while supplying cool air from the cooling device (C) into the cooling chamber (B), a pressure difference is applied to both sides of the row of the container (A) by a blowing means such as a fan or a suction means. The vegetables in the container are cooled by allowing the cold air to flow inside the container.

In the vacuum precooling, the interior of the container is evacuated and cooled by decompressing and vacuuming the cooling chamber.

Such a container for pre-cooling and shipping needs to have a heat insulating property for keeping cold, and at the same time, a part of the container can be opened during the pre-cooling.
That is, during the differential pressure pre-cooling described above, it is necessary to be able to open so that cold air can flow through the container containing the vegetables in the stacked state of the containers. It is necessary that a part of the container can be opened so that the air in the container can be discharged as the vacuum is applied, and when the pressure is returned to the normal pressure after cooling, conversely, the air flows into the container.

In order to cope with both the differential pressure precooling and the vacuum precooling, in a container comprising a container body made of synthetic resin foam and a lid body fitted inside the opening, one side wall of the container body By cutting out the upper end of the container and providing a lid that can close the upper opening so that it can be pulled out to one side, the stacking state can be maintained during and after precooling by inserting and removing the lid from one side of the container. However, a container has been proposed in which both sides of the container can be easily opened and closed partially at the same time (Actual Kaihei No. 2-111666), and further, a lid body in a state where the above containers are stacked and banded. Has been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-40180).

The above-mentioned container is
Since parts of the side walls facing each other of the container can be easily opened or closed, the vegetables such as carrots, lettuce and broccoli can be stacked in multiple stages for differential pressure precooling or vacuum precooling. It can be suitably used as a container for precooling and shipping.

[0008]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned container, the lid can be opened and closed only by the pulling-out operation of the lid, so that the lid can be opened and closed laterally not only in the differential pressure precooling but also in the vacuum precooling. It is necessary to open and close the lid to open it after pre-cooling, and to open and close it again, which is extremely troublesome.

Particularly, since the vacuum precooling is more expensive than the differential pressure precooling, it is desired that the precooling work be performed with the least effort, that is, that a part of the precooling can be opened / closed without performing the opening / closing operation.

An example of such a container is Shoukai 63-46.
No. 376 is composed of a container body made of synthetic resin foam and a lid fitted inside the opening of the container body, and provided with a vent hole penetrating in the thickness direction of the lid, and a vacuum is provided inside the vent hole. There is shown a cold-retaining container that can perform a pre-cooling process by incorporating a one-way open valve that is opened by a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container such as pressure.

However, in this container, it is extremely difficult to integrally mold the lid including the valve because the structure of the lid is complicated. Even if the lid can be integrally molded, such a lid is molded. In order to do so, a very complicated molding die is required, so that the manufacturing cost of the container is very high.

Further, as described above, by providing a one-way opening valve that is opened by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container, vacuum precooling can be performed, but in the case of differential pressure precooling, the pressure difference is small. Since the valve could not be opened and closed at that time, differential pressure pre-cooling could not be performed, so it was necessary to change the container used according to the pre-cooling method of vacuum pre-cooling or differential pressure pre-cooling, which was inconvenient. .

Therefore, in the present invention, as a cold storage container capable of supporting both precooling of vacuum precooling and precooling of differential pressure, particularly in vacuum precooling, the lid is opened / closed by a valve body having a relatively simple shape. You can open and close a part without precooling, and in the case of differential pressure precooling, you can pull out the lid in a state that the containers are stacked in multiple stages and easily open a part of both sides facing each other. Alternatively, the present invention provides a cold container that can be closed.

[0014]

The cold-insulating container of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems is a container made of a synthetic resin foam and is fitted to the container body which opens upward and the opening end of this container body. And a cutout opening formed by being dropped substantially vertically from the opening end on at least one side wall of the container body, and the cutout opening is formed on one side of the corresponding cover body. A hanging wall that fits so that it can be pulled out from above, and at least two other side walls of the container body are provided with two types of cutouts for exhaust and air supply that are formed by dropping from the open end. Provided at the side portion of the lid body corresponding to the above, fitted into each of the cutouts from above and engaged with the cutout peripheral edge inward or outward,
A valve body for air supply and exhaust is provided which can be elastically deformed inside or outside due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container.The valve body for exhaust is elastically deformed to the outside when the inside of the container is higher in pressure than the outside, and opens. The air valve is characterized in that the outside of the container is elastically deformed inward when the pressure is higher than the inside of the container so that the opening operation is performed.

In the above, when a container is laterally stacked with the side wall having the cutout opening facing the upper surface on the outer side end portions of either one of the side wall having the cutout opening of the container body and the side wall facing the side wall. It is desirable to provide a convex portion for maintaining the gap.

[0016]

According to the cold-insulating container of the present invention having the above-described structure, when the lid is fitted to the opening end of the container body, the notch opening provided on one side wall of the container body hangs down the lid. The wall is fitted and closed, and the two kinds of notch openings for exhaust and air supply, which are provided at least at two positions on the side wall, are fitted and closed by the valve bodies connected to the lid body.

Therefore, the exhaust valve body and the air supply valve body are elastically deformed outward to open when the pressure inside the container becomes higher than the pressure outside due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container. Alternatively, when the pressure in the outside of the container becomes higher than that in the inside, the container is elastically deformed inward and the opening operation is performed.

Therefore, when vacuum pre-cooling is carried out, if the chamber is placed in the cooling chamber so that a gap is formed between the side surfaces having the valve body, and the cooling chamber is decompressed and evacuated, the inside of the container will be When the pressure becomes higher than the outside, the valve body of the exhaust notch port elastically deforms outward against the elastic force of the material, and the notch port is opened, whereby the internal air is discharged and the container The inside is evacuated to vacuum and cooled. At this time, the valve body of the notch for air supply is held in a state of being engaged with the peripheral edge of the notch without elastically deforming.

Further, when the pressure is returned to the normal pressure after the cooling, the outside pressure becomes higher than the inside of the depressurized and evacuated container as the cooling chamber returns to the normal pressure. The valve body is held in a closed state in which it engages with the peripheral edge of the cutout opening, but the valve body of the other cutout opening for air supply is elastically deformed toward the inside to open the cutout opening, Air flows in and the inside of the container returns to normal pressure. When the inside of the container returns to normal pressure, the valve body is held in engagement with the peripheral edge of the notch by elastic restoring force.

Further, in the lid body fitted to the opening end of the container body, the hanging wall at one side thereof is fitted to the notched opening portion of the one side wall of the container body so as to be pulled out from above. ,
Further, since both of the valve bodies are fitted into the notch opening of the container body from above, the valve body is not completely separated within the fitting length range of the hanging wall and the notch opening, but is moved upward without being completely separated. It can be withdrawn.

Therefore, when the differential pressure precooling is performed, the cold insulating containers are stacked side by side in the cooling chamber with the side walls having the cutout openings facing upward. In this way, by pulling out the lid within the range of the fitting length of the hanging wall and the cutout opening, the upper opening of the sideways container main body can be opened on one side of the juxtaposed container rows, and the bottom of the cutout opening is formed. One side can be open on the other side of the row. As a result, both side portions of the horizontally placed container can be simultaneously opened as ventilation parts, and differential pressure precooling can be performed as it is.

After the differential pressure precooling, the lid drawn out to one side of the container may be pushed in again, whereby the upper opening can be closed again and the notch opening can be closed by the hanging wall. , Can be held in a predetermined closed state.

Particularly, in the case where convex edges for maintaining a gap are provided at both side edges of the outer surface of the side wall having the notch opening and the hanging wall as in claim 2, between the containers stacked in the vertical direction. Since the gap is held in the stack, the lid can be pulled out without resistance as described above even in the stacked state, and the gap for circulating the cool air can be held.

[0024]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, (1) is a container body which is made of synthetic resin foam and has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and which opens upward.
(2) is a lid made of the same material as described above, and is fitted from above by an uneven fitting means to the open end (11) of the container body (1) as described later.

In the case of the figure, a concave groove (12) is formed in the center of the upper surface of the opening end (11) of the container body (1), and the concave groove is formed on the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the lid (2) corresponding thereto. Groove (12)
Is provided with a tongue (22) that fits in the. Of course, contrary to the above, a convex edge is provided at the opening end (11) to cover the lid (2).
It is possible to implement by various other fitting structures such as a fitting structure in which a concave groove for fitting the convex edge is provided on the lower surface of the peripheral edge portion, a structure in which the lower surface of the lid is fitted inside the opening end, and the like. is there.

One side wall of the container body (1), for example, one side wall (10a) of the opposite side walls (10a) (10c) on the long side is substantially perpendicular to the opening end (11). A relatively wide notch opening (13) is formed by notching and dropping to a required depth. On the other hand, the notch opening is provided on one side of the lid (2) corresponding thereto. (13)
A hanging wall (23) fitted so as to be able to be pulled out from above is vertically provided with the same thickness as the side wall (10a).

Further, the notch opening (13) and the hanging wall (23) are fitted by means of concave and convex fitting means. For example, as shown in the figure, the notch opening (13) of the container body (1).
A groove (14) is provided at the center of the thickness on the peripheral surface of the groove, and the groove (1) is formed on the peripheral surface of the other hanging wall (23).
4) is provided with a convex edge (24), and the hanging wall (23) is closely fitted to the notch opening (13) so that it can be pulled out only upward. Of course, conversely to the above, it is also possible to provide a convex edge on the peripheral surface of the notch opening (13) and a concave groove on the peripheral surface of the hanging wall (23).

The notch opening (13) and the hanging wall (2)
3) means a side wall (10a) having a notch opening (13)
In order to increase the strength of the container, the strength of the hanging wall (23), or to set the opening of the notch opening (13) by pulling out the lid to a large size, the container is formed so as to occupy most of the width of one side surface of the container. It is preferable to keep this notch opening (13)
It is also possible to reduce the width of the hanging wall (23) and separate it into a plurality of pieces. As mentioned above, the sidewall (10a)
If they are fitted near the side walls (10b) and (10d) adjacent to, the shape retention and stability when the container is placed horizontally and the lid (2) is pulled out are preferable.

Further, the opening end portion (1) is provided at two locations on the other side walls (10b) (10d) of the container body (1) which face each other.
Two types of cutouts (15) and (16) for exhaust and air supply during vacuum precooling formed by dropping from 1) are provided. Of these, the exhaust cutout (15) has a cutout step (15a) on the inner surface side of the peripheral wall thickness, and the air supply cutout (1).
In 6), a notch step portion (16a) is formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the wall thickness. On the other hand, in the lid (2), the cutouts (15) and (16) are provided at the opposite side portions corresponding to the exhaust and supply cutouts (16) and (17).
A first valve body (25) and a second valve body (26) which are fitted from above and which engage inwardly or outwardly with the peripheral edge of the notch.

That is, as shown in the figure, the first valve body (25) fitted into the exhaust notch (15) is thinner than the side wall (10b) of the container body (1) and has a side wall. (1
0b) a plate-like portion (25a) which fits in the notch step portion (15a) on the inside and engages inward, and a plate-like portion (25a) which fits in the inner periphery of the notch opening (15). A tongue shape is formed by the reinforcing projection (25b) projecting on the inner surface, and is elastically deformable by utilizing the gap of the notch step (15a) due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container during vacuum cooling. However, only when the inside of the container has a higher pressure than the outside, the container is elastically deformed to the outside and the opening operation is performed.

The second valve body (26) fitted into the air supply cutout (16) is thinner than the thickness of the side wall (10d) and inside the cutout (16) the cutout step (16a). ), And a tongue formed by a plate-like portion (26a) fitted on the outer surface of the plate-like portion (26a) and a reinforcing projection (26b) protruding from the plate-like portion (26a) so as to fit on the inner circumference of the cutout (26). It is formed in a piece shape and is elastically deformable by utilizing the gap of the notch step portion (16a) due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container during vacuum cooling in the fitted state with respect to the notch opening (27). Is elastically deformed inward to open when only the pressure is higher than the inside.

The valve bodies (25) and (26) are formed, for example, in a substantially rectangular shape so as to be fitted into the notch openings (15) and (16) from above.

The exhaust and air supply notches (15) and (16) and the exhaust and air supply valve bodies (25) and (26) fitted therein are as shown in the figure. Not only on the side walls (10b) and (10d) facing each other, but also on the notch opening (13) and the hanging wall (2) for precooling the differential pressure.
Other side walls (10b) except the side wall (10a) according to 3)
It may be provided in at least two places of either (10c) or (10d).

Further, the notch opening (1) of the container body (1)
3) either the side wall (10a) or the side wall (10c) facing the side wall (10c), for example, on the outer surface of the side wall (10a), both sides along the pulling direction of the hanging wall (24) of the lid body (2). The end portion is provided with a convex portion (17) for holding a gap when the containers are stacked horizontally. If this convex portion (17) is provided at a location corresponding to the banding when a plurality of containers are stacked side by side, it is possible to prevent depression deformation due to tightening of the tightening band. The height of the convex portion (17) can be appropriately set depending on the type of foam of the constituent material, the expansion ratio, and the like, and is usually about 2 to 5 mm.

A projecting edge (18) is provided on the bottom surface of the container body (1) at the peripheral edge and inward, and a guide projecting edge (28) is provided on the upper surface of the peripheral edge of the lid (2). Is provided,
When stacked, the lateral positioning can be performed along the outside of the projecting edge (18) of the upper layer container.

The above-mentioned container body (1) and lid (2)
Is prepared by pre-expanding expandable resin particles obtained by mixing a volatile foaming agent such as butane or pentane in a synthetic resin such as polystyrene resin to obtain pre-expanded particles, which are then filled in the cavity of the molding die. Can be produced by an in-mold bead foam molding method in which foaming is performed by heating with a heating medium such as steam.
In particular, if the structure of the lid body (2) is as described above, the valve body (25)
(26) has a structure in which it is hung on the lower surface of the lid (2) like the hanging wall (23), so that it can be molded by a molding means similar to the conventional one without using a complicated molding die. it can.

The foaming ratio of the foam thus formed is preferably 20 to 150 times, more preferably 50 to 150 times.
It is 100 times. The particle size of the expanded particles is 1 to 15
mm. As the synthetic resin material used for this, expanded particles such as polystyrene resin and polyolefin resin can be used.

The polystyrene resin is not limited to a homopolymer of a styrene monomer and includes a copolymer. In addition to styrene, styrene-based monomers include methylstyrene, ethylstyrene and the like. Further, the copolymer contains a copolymer containing 50% or more of styrene monomer. As the counterpart monomer of the copolymer, methacrylic acid ester such as methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid ester, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile,
Maleic anhydride etc. are mentioned.

Examples of the polyolefin resin include polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers thereof, copolymers with other polymers copolymerizable therewith, and mixtures thereof.

A resin obtained by copolymerizing polyethylene resin and styrene can also be preferably used. Further, a reinforcing skin layer may be provided on the surface if necessary.

The foamed resin particles used in the present invention may contain a flame retardant, a stabilizer, a cell regulator, a colorant, etc., if necessary.

The cold storage container (A) constructed as described above will be described in terms of use. The vegetables (a) such as carrot and asparagus are stored in the container, and the lid body (2) is attached to the container body (1). The opening end (11) is fitted and the lid is closed.

For example, when storing asparagus,
It is desirable to store the container in an upright state with respect to the container (A) in order to prevent bending deformation during transportation and the like. Therefore, in general, the container body is placed horizontally to accommodate asparagus, but in the case of the above-mentioned container, in addition to the upper opening, the container body (1) has a notch formed by relatively large drop into one side wall (10a). Since it has an opening (13), by horizontally laying this notch opening (13) upward as shown in FIG. 4,
Since it opens not only in the front but also in the upper part, it is easy to store asparagus. At the time of transportation, the covered lid body (2) faces the upper surface.

When differential pressure precooling is performed, the required number of containers (A) are stacked side by side so that the lid (2) fitted to the container body (1) faces the side. To do. At this time, the lower layer containers (A) are stacked in layers with the required gaps provided by the convex edges (17) on both side surfaces (FIG. 6).

In such a stacked state, the hanging wall (2) is formed so that the lid body (2) of each container (A) is disengaged from the opening end (11) of the container body (1).
4) and the notched opening portion (13) are slidably pulled out to the side within the range of the fitting length so that the lid peripheral edge portion and the opening end portion (11) of the container body (1). And the bottom side of the notch opening (13) is opened upward by pulling out the hanging wall (23) (FIG. 5). That is, containers placed horizontally side by side (A)
Both side portions of the row are open (FIG. 6).
(19) and (29) are marks that indicate the appropriate pull-out position of the lid body (2).

In this state, since the hanging wall (23) of the lid (2) is partially fitted in the cutout opening (13), the lid (2) is completely separated from the container body (1). Without being carried out, the state of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is maintained.

In this state, cold air is supplied into the cooling chamber, and a blowing means such as a fan or a suction means is used to create a pressure difference between the side from which the lid body (2) is drawn out and the other side. Cold air is passed from one side to the other. The cold air flows into the container (A) from the opening side of the container, flows in the container, and flows out from the opening portion on the bottom side by the notch opening portion (13). In this way, the vegetables (a), which are the items stored in the container, are cooled while the cool air flows through the container (A).

When the pre-cooling is completed by cooling for a certain time, the hanging wall (23) fits into the notch opening (13) by simply pushing in the lid (2) pulled out as described above. The peripheral edge of the lid is fitted to the open end (11) of the container body (1) and is held in a predetermined closed state.

When the container (A) is used for vacuum precooling, vegetables are stored inside and the lid (2) is fitted to the open end (11) of the container body (1). At
First and second valve bodies (25) (2) for air supply and exhaust
On the side having 6), juxtaposed in the cooling chamber so as to maintain a gap between the containers. At this time, you may stack
Moreover, it is also possible to stack horizontally as in the above.

In this way, if the cooling chamber is evacuated to vacuum,
Along with this, the pressure inside the container becomes higher than the outside, and the first exhaust valve element (25) is elastically deformed toward the outside of the container against the elastic force of the material, and the exhaust cutout ( 15) is in an open state (chain line in FIG. 7), whereby internal air is discharged, the inside of the container is evacuated and cooled, and cooling is performed. At this time, the second valve body (26) for air supply is engaged with the notch step (26a) of the notch so that the notch (16) for air supply is kept closed.

Further, when the pressure is returned to the normal pressure after the cooling, the outside pressure becomes higher than the inside of the depressurized and evacuated container as the cooling chamber returns to the normal pressure. The valve body (25) is engaged with the notch step portion (25a) at the peripheral edge of the notch and is held in the closed state, but the second valve body (2) for air supply is provided.
6) is elastically deformed toward the inside of the container, the notch (16) for air supply is opened (chain line in FIG. 8), and the inside of the container returns to normal pressure. When the pressure in the container returns to normal pressure, the valve body (26) is held in the closed state in which the valve body (26) is fitted and engaged with the notch (16) by the elastic restoring force.

Therefore, the vacuum precooling can be carried out without requiring any manual opening / closing operation.

Further, the container of the present invention is not limited to those used for precooling and shipping vegetables as described above, but can be used for packaging other cold-insulating products.

[0055]

As described above, according to the cold insulation container of the present invention, not only is it made of a synthetic resin foam and is excellent in heat insulation, but it is also compatible with both vacuum precooling and differential pressure precooling.
In particular, during vacuum precooling, the two types of valve bodies provided in the container automatically open and close according to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container, so that vacuum precooling can be performed without any manual opening and closing operation. Also, by stacking the containers horizontally, you can pull out the lid and open both sides of the container in the stacked state, and just push the lid to fit and close the lid. It can be put into a state, and its opening and closing work is easy, and differential pressure precooling can also be easily performed.

In particular, in the case of the present invention, although the valve body is provided with two types of valve bodies, the valve body is vertically hung on the lid body and has a simple structure which can be fitted into the notch of the container from above. because there is,
As described above, the opening / closing operation by pulling out the lid body can be performed without any problem, and the lid body provided with the valve body can be easily manufactured by integral molding and can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a container body and a lid body are separated from each other, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same container body and lid.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a container body and a lid.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the container body is placed horizontally.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in which a container is placed horizontally and a lid body fitted to the container body is partially pulled out.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the same stacking state.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cutout port for exhaust and a valve body portion.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a valve body portion of a notch for air supply.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a differential pressure precooling system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (A) Container (1) Container body (10a) (10c) One opposite side wall (10b) (10d) The other opposite side wall (11) Open end (12) Recessed groove (13) Notched opening (14) Recessed groove (15) Exhaust notch (16) Air supply notch (17) Convex part (2) Lid body (22) Convex edge (23) Hanging wall (24) Convex edge (25) Exhaust first valve body (26) Air supply second valve body

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A container made of synthetic resin foam, comprising: a container body that opens upward; and a lid that fits into an opening end of the container body, the container body having an opening on at least one side wall. A cutout opening is formed so as to be dropped substantially vertically from the end portion, and a hanging wall that is fitted to the cutout opening so as to be pulled out from above is provided at one side portion of the lid body corresponding thereto. At least two places on the other side wall of the container body are provided with two kinds of notches for exhaust and air supply, which are formed by being dropped from the opening end, and the corresponding side portions of the lid body are A valve body for supplying air and a valve body for exhausting that are fitted into the respective cutouts from above and engage inwardly or outwardly with the peripheral edges of the cutouts, and can be elastically deformed to one of the inside and the outside by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container. Provided, the exhaust valve body is located outside when the pressure inside the container is higher than the outside. Open work by sex deformed, the valve body for supply air is cold, characterized in that the exterior of the container is provided so as to opening operation is elastically deformed inwardly in the high pressure at from inside the container. 2. A container is laterally stacked with the side wall having a cutout opening facing the upper surface at the outer side edge of either one of the side wall having the cutout opening and the side wall facing the side wall. The cold insulation container according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion for maintaining a gap is provided.