WO2021117865A1 - Packaging container for sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a packaging container provided with a container body including an accommodation part and a flange part. The flange part has a primary seal region that is primarily sealed with a lid member, a secondary seal region that is secondarily sealed with the lid member, a flange uppermost part that is positioned at the highest position of an upper surface of the flange part in an upper surface, a flange lower part that is positioned at a position lower than the upper surface of the flange uppermost part in the upper surface, and a penetration region that is positioned on an inner side than the primary seal region and provided with a penetration hole penetrating the flange part. The flange part is configured so that, when the primary seal region is sealed, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the flange lower part and the lid member, a circulation path that allows circulation of gas between an outside and the accommodation part is formed between the flange part and the lid member, and the circulation path is closed when the secondary seal region is sealed.

Description

Packaging container for sterilization Cross-reference of related applications

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-223878 and is incorporated in the description of the present application by citation.

The present invention relates to a packaging container for sterilization treatment, and relates to a packaging container that can be suitably used when sterilizing food such as prepared foods as contents.

Some packaged foods are foods cooked and processed in food factories, etc., which are stored in a container with an opening and distributed with a top sheet or a cover on the container. However, since packaged foods using top sheets and cover lids are not completely sealed, outside air may enter the container. Therefore, the shelf life of these packaged foods is very short, about 1 to 2 days, and there is a problem that the disposal loss rate is very high (product yield is poor).

Recently, as such packaged foods, packaged foods with a container and a lid that are heat-sealed and the inside of the container are completely sealed to extend the shelf life have been distributed. Some packaged foods can last for more than two weeks when stored refrigerated.

However, although it is possible to prevent the invasion of bacteria from the outside by sealing the container with a heat seal or the like, the inside of the molded container is not completely sterile. Therefore, it is quite possible that bacteria in the container will propagate due to changes in the environment during the distribution process. Therefore, in order to further prolong the shelf life, it is necessary to strictly control the cleanliness in order to make the working environment in the food factory aseptic as possible. Conventionally, a method has been proposed in which a food is sterilized by heating while being contained in a container, and then the container body is sealed with a lid member in a clean room (sterile room) (Patent Document 1), for example, cooked and processed. The cleanliness of the work environment in which food is handled may be controlled to a high level such as 10000 or 1000 levels in a NASA standard clean room. However, when such a clean room is introduced, there is a problem that the installation and maintenance of the air conditioning equipment requires a great deal of cost.

In addition to foods, there are various objects that should be sterilized before being distributed as products on the market, and it is required to efficiently sterilize those objects.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-9937

An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging container that can be suitably used when sterilizing the contents. For example, the present invention is suitably used for the sterilization treatment of foods, which is an example of contents, and the quality retention period of foods. The subject is to provide a packaging container that can be lengthened.

The packaging container according to the present invention is a packaging container for sterilization treatment for sterilizing the contents contained therein by exposing them to a sterilizing gas, and then sealing and distributing the contents. A container body including an accommodating portion having an opening and accommodating the contents and a flange portion extending outward from the opening edge of the accommodating portion is provided, and the flange portion is primary with a lid member covering the opening. The primary sealing area that is primarily sealed in the sealing process, the secondary sealing area that is secondarily sealed in the secondary sealing step after the lid member and the primary sealing step, and the uppermost surface of the flange portion on the upper surface. At least one penetration provided with a top portion of the lid to be located, a lower portion of the lid located below the top surface of the top of the flange on the top surface, and a through hole located inside the primary seal region and penetrating the flange portion. When the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed with a region, the outside and the inside of the accommodating portion are between the lid member supported by the uppermost portion of the flange and the lower portion of the flange. A flow passage through which gas can flow is formed between the two, and the flow passage is closed when the lid member and the secondary seal region are sealed. ..

Further, in the packaging container, the through hole may be formed by forming a rift in a part of the through region.

The penetrating region has a curved surface that bulges upward, and the upper end of the curved surface may form the uppermost portion of the flange.

Further, in the packaging container, the penetrating region is a recess that is recessed downward, and the rift may be formed in the recess.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion may be provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge of the accommodating portion, a plurality of the penetrating regions may be provided, and may be arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion.

Another packaging container of the present invention is a packaging container for sterilizing the contents contained therein by exposing them to a sterilizing gas, and then sealing and distributing the contents, and has an opening at the top. A container body including an accommodating portion having and accommodating the contents and a flange portion extending outward from the opening edge of the accommodating portion is provided, and the flange portion is provided with a lid member covering the opening and in a primary sealing step. It has a primary seal region to be primarily sealed, a lid member and a secondary seal region to be secondarily sealed in a secondary seal step after the primary seal step, and the lid member and the primary seal region are When the lid member is sealed, a flow passage through which gas can flow is formed between the outside and the inside of the housing portion between the lid member and the lid member, and when the lid member and the secondary seal region are sealed. It is characterized in that the flow passage is configured to be blocked.

Further, the flange portion of the packaging container is provided with at least one through hole penetrating the flange portion inside the primary seal region so that the through hole becomes a part of the flow passage. It may be configured.

Further, in the packaging container, the through hole may be formed by forming a rift in a part of the flange portion.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion has a flange uppermost portion formed by deforming a part of the flange portion upward with the crevice as a boundary, and is supported by the flange uppermost portion. The flow passage may be formed between the lid member and the flange portion.

Further, in the packaging container, a part of the flange portion that is deformed upward may have a curved surface that bulges upward.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion has a flange uppermost portion whose upper surface is located at the uppermost position of the upper surface of the flange portion, and the lid member supported by the flange uppermost portion and the flange portion. The flow passage may be formed between them.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion may be provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge of the accommodating portion, a plurality of the through holes may be provided, and may be arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion.

Further, in the packaging container, the upper surface of the primary seal region is located at the uppermost position of the upper surface of the flange portion, and the upper surface of the secondary seal region is located below the upper surface of the primary seal region. The flange portion is configured so that when the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the secondary seal region and the lower surface of the lid member. However, it may be configured to be a part of the flow passage.

Further, in the packaging container, the accommodating portion may include a bottom plate on which the contents are placed, and the upper surface of the bottom plate may have an uneven shape.

The packaging container of the present invention further includes a lid member, and the container body and the lid member may be composed of a multilayer structure including at least one gas barrier layer.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of an embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the embodiment of the packaging container, and is a side view of the packaging container. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1A. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing each step in the method for manufacturing the packaging container. FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the through hole forming step and the food storage step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 4B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step and the food storage step of the packaging container, and is a side view of the packaging container. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 4A. FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the primary sealing step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the packaging container after the primary sealing step, and is a side view of the packaging container. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6A. FIG. 8A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 8B is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step, and is a side view of the packaging container. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 8A. FIG. 10A is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 10B is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 10A. FIG. 11A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the through hole forming step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 11B is a schematic view of the packaging container after the through hole forming step, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 11A. FIG. 12A is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 12B is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 12A. FIG. 13A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step according to another embodiment, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 13B is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step according to another embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 13A. FIG. 14A is a schematic view of the packaging container shown in FIG. 12A after the secondary sealing step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. 14B is a schematic view of the packaging container shown in FIG. 12A after the secondary sealing step, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line at the XIV-XIV position of FIG. 14A. FIG. 15A is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 15B is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view at the XV-XV position of FIG. 15A. FIG. 16A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step according to another embodiment, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 16B is a schematic view after the secondary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container, and is a cross-sectional view at the XVI-XVI position of FIG. 16A. FIG. 17A is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container before the through hole forming step. FIG. 17B is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container after the through hole forming step. FIG. 18A is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 18B is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 18A. FIG. 19A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 19B is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 19A at the XIX-XIX position. FIG. 20A is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 20B is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX-XX of FIG. 20A. FIG. 21A is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 21B is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI position of FIG. 21A. FIG. 22A is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 22B is a schematic view after the primary sealing step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXII-XXII of FIG. 22A. FIG. 23A is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 23B is a schematic view of the packaging container after the secondary sealing step, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 23A. FIG. 24A is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 24B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 24A. FIG. 25A is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 25B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXV-XXV of FIG. 25A. FIG. 26A is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view showing a modified example of FIG. 24A. FIG. 26B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a partial plan view showing a modified example of FIG. 25A. FIG. 27A is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of FIG. 24. FIG. 27B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of FIG. 25A. FIG. 28A is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container. FIG. 28B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 28A. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the through hole forming process in the packaging container, and shows the state before the through hole forming process. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the process of forming a through hole in the packaging container, and shows the process of forming a crevice in a flange portion. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the process of forming a through hole in the packaging container, and shows the process of forming the uppermost part of a flange. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the process of forming a through hole in the packaging container, and shows the state after forming the uppermost part of a flange. FIG. 30A is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container before the through hole forming step. FIG. 30B is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 30A. FIG. 30C is a schematic view according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view after the through hole forming step. FIG. 31A is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a plan view of the packaging container before the through hole forming step. FIG. 31B is a schematic view of another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 31A. FIG. 31C is a schematic view according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view after the through hole forming step. FIG. 32A is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a schematic view showing a first modification. FIG. 32B is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a schematic view showing a second modification. FIG. 32C is a schematic view after the through hole forming step according to another embodiment of the packaging container of the present invention, and is a schematic view showing a third modification.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. 1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of a packaging container according to the present invention. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the packaged food manufacturing method according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 9 are views showing each step of the manufacturing method in order.

First, the structure of the packaging container according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The packaging container according to the present embodiment sterilizes food as an example of the contents contained therein by exposing it to heated steam as an example of a sterilizing gas, and then seals the contents (for example, food). It is a packaging container for sterilization treatment for stopping and distributing as packaged food. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging container 1 includes a container body 4 including an accommodating portion 2 having an opening 20 upward and a flange portion 3 extending outward from the opening edge 21 of the accommodating portion 2.

Hereinafter, the vertical direction of the packaging container 1 coincides with the vertical direction in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to 9. Further, the inner and outer sides of the flange portion 3 coincide with the side near and far from the opening edge 21 of the flange portion 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the container body 4 is a container that can be closed by a lid member. The container body 4 of the present embodiment has a tray shape, but any shape such as a cup shape or a bottle shape can be adopted. The material of the container body 4 is a synthetic resin. The thickness of the container body 4 is non-uniform depending on the parts, but may be the same at any part. In the container body 4 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the flange portion 3 is larger than the thickness of the accommodating portion 2. In the container body 4 of the present embodiment, the accommodating portion 2 and the flange portion 3 are composed of one member. Specifically, the container body 4 is formed by molding a single sheet.

Further, the lid member of the present embodiment has flexibility. The lid member is made of, for example, a synthetic resin film material. Specifically, the film material constituting the lid member is a biaxially stretched plastic film material.

The storage unit 2 is a part that stores food. The accommodating portion 2 of the present embodiment includes a bottom plate 22 located below. Further, the accommodating portion 2 includes a side wall 23 extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 22.

The bottom plate 22 is, for example, a rectangular plate with rounded corners. Further, the bottom plate 22 has a bottom plate upper surface 220 that comes into contact with food, and a bottom plate lower surface 221 that is a surface that is placed on the mounting surface when the container body 4 is placed on the mounting surface.

The bottom plate upper surface 220 has an uneven shape. Specifically, a plurality of bottom plate protrusions 222 projecting upward from the bottom plate upper surface 220 are provided at the central portion of the bottom plate upper surface 220 excluding the four corners. Further, each of the four corners of the bottom plate upper surface 220 is composed of a bottom plate inclined surface 223 located higher toward a portion closer to the apex of the corner.

Each of the bottom plate protrusions 222 is arranged at substantially even or unevenly spaced intervals. A steam flow section through which steam flows is formed between the pair of bottom plate protrusions 222 and 222. The bottom plate protrusion 222 supports the contents housed in the container body 4 in the form of point contact or line contact, for example. Further, the protrusion 222 is designed so that the contact area between the bottom plate protrusion 222 and the content is reduced as much as possible.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, a plurality of steam flow portions formed between the bottom plate protrusions 222 and 222 are arranged at substantially equal intervals. According to such a configuration, when the contents (for example, food) contained in the container body 4 are sterilized by steam, not only the upper surface and the side surface of the contents but also the upper surface and the side surface of the contents are sterilized through the steam flow passage formed at the bottom. , Steam can also flow in from the underside of the contents. This allows for more even and more efficient sterilization of the contents with steam.

The height of the bottom plate protrusion 222 is not necessarily limited, but is, for example, 2 mm or more, 3 mm or more, or 4 mm with reference to the innermost lower surface of the bottom of the container (that is, the lowest height on the inner surface of the container body 4). That is all. The height of the bottom plate protrusion 222 is not necessarily limited, but is, for example, 15 mm or less, 13 mm or less, or 10 mm or less with respect to the innermost lower surface of the bottom of the container. When the height of the bottom plate protrusion 222 is within such a range, steam can be more easily flowed into the steam flow passage, and steam sterilization on the lower surface side of the contents can be performed more effectively.

The height of the bottom plate protrusion 222 may be 10% or more and 40% or less of the depth of the container body 4 (that is, the distance from the opening 20 of the container body 4 to the lowest portion of the inner surface in the vertical direction). preferable. According to this configuration, since the cross-sectional area of the steam flow passage is increased, steam is more likely to flow into the steam flow passage, and steam sterilization on the lower surface side of the contents can be performed more effectively.

The bottom plate inclined surface 223 is provided to eliminate the corner portion of the accommodating portion 2. For example, the bottom plate inclined surface 223 prevents the food from accumulating in the vicinity of the corners of the bottom plate 22 when the food stored in the storage portion 2 is taken out, and makes it easy to take out the food from the storage portion 2. Further, the bottom plate inclined surface 223 is arranged in a state of being spaced apart from the bottom plate protrusion 222.

The side wall 23 is configured so that, for example, a portion located above the side wall 23 expands in a plan view. The upper end edge of the side wall 23 constitutes the opening edge 21 of the accommodating portion 2.

The flange portion 3 is a portion to be sealed with the lid member. The flange portion 3 is provided, for example, on the entire circumference of the opening edge 21 in the circumferential direction. The flange portion 3 of the present embodiment has a substantially plate shape, and is arranged in an annular shape so as to surround the accommodating portion 2 in a plan view. Specifically, the flange portion 3 is an annular shape having four corner portions in a plan view.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 3 has a flange upper surface 30 facing upward and a flange lower surface 35 facing downward. Further, the flange portion 3 has a lid member covering the opening 20 and a primary sealing region 31 to be sealed in the primary sealing step, and a secondary sealing region 32 to be sealed with the lid member in the secondary sealing step. Further, the flange portion 3 has a flange uppermost portion 33 and a flange lower portion 34. The flange uppermost portion 33 has a flange uppermost upper surface 330 located at the uppermost position of the flange upper surface 30. The flange lower portion 34 has a flange lower upper surface 340 located below the flange uppermost upper surface 330.

The flange portion 3 of the present embodiment has a through region 36 provided with a through hole penetrating the flange portion 3 (see FIG. 1A). In the present embodiment, the through hole, that is, the through region 36 is located inside the primary seal region 31. The through hole provided in the through region 36 penetrates between the flange lower surface 35 and the flange upper surface 30. Further, in the flange portion 3 of the present embodiment, a plurality of through regions 36 are provided.

The number of through regions 36 provided in the flange portion 3 may be one, but both the through holes for allowing gas to flow into the flange portion 3 and the through holes for allowing gas to flow out from inside the flange portion 3 are flanged. Since it is preferable to provide it in the part 3, a plurality of parts is preferable. Specifically, in the flange portion 3, the number of through regions 36 is the same as the number of corner portions of the flange portion 3 (for example, four in the present embodiment).

The primary seal region 31 is a part of the flange portion 3 and is an region for temporarily sealing the lid member and the flange portion 3 by the primary seal process. The primary sealing step is performed after the food is stored in the storage unit 2 and before the stored food is sterilized.

The primary seal region 31 of this embodiment is located on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3. Further, the primary seal region 31 is continuous in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21. Specifically, the primary seal region 31 extends inward of the outer peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3 and continuously extends in the circumferential direction. More specifically, the primary seal region 31 extends inward of the outer peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3 and continuously extends over the entire circumference of the opening edge 21 in the circumferential direction.

The secondary seal area 32 is an area in which the lid member and the flange portion 3 are sealed in the secondary seal process as the sealing process. The secondary sealing step is performed after sterilizing the food contained in the container 2. The secondary seal region 32 is at least a part of the flange portion 3. Further, the secondary seal region 32 may include a region that overlaps (same) as the primary seal region 31. The secondary seal region 32 of the present embodiment is the entire area of the flange portion 3.

The position (height) of the upper surface 30 of the flange portion 3 in the vertical direction is non-uniform because the flange portion 3 includes the uppermost flange portion 33 and the lower flange portion 34 (see FIG. 1B).

The uppermost portion 33 of the flange is a portion where the upper surface is relatively upward. The upper surface 330 of the uppermost flange of the present embodiment is located, for example, 1 mm or more above the upper surface 340 of the lower flange. The flange uppermost portion 33 may support the lid member above the flange lower upper surface 340 after the primary sealing step and before the secondary sealing step.

Specifically, the flange uppermost portion 33 is a convex portion formed by partially extruding the flange portion 3 from the lower side to the upper side. As a result, the upper surface 330 of the uppermost portion of the flange projects upward. The uppermost flange 33 of the present embodiment is hollow, but may be solid.

The flange portion 3 of the present embodiment is provided with a flange uppermost portion 33 having a different shape. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, the flange uppermost portion 33 includes a first flange uppermost portion 33A having an elliptical shape in a plan view and a second flange uppermost portion 33B having a circular shape in a plan view. .. Both the first flange uppermost portion 33A and the second flange uppermost portion 33B are convex portions in which the flange uppermost upper surface 330 has a curved surface shape. Further, each of the first flange uppermost portion 33A and the second flange uppermost portion 33B is a convex portion whose height (dimensions in the vertical direction) is smaller than the outer diameter in a plan view.

Further, the flange uppermost portion 33 of the present embodiment is provided in the vicinity of the penetration region 36. For example, at least one of the flange uppermost portions 33 is provided inside the penetration region 36. All of the flange uppermost portions 33 of the present embodiment are provided inside the penetration region 36. Specifically, a plurality (for example, one pair) of flange uppermost portions 33 are provided inside each through region 36. The flange uppermost portion 33 may be provided one by one inside the flange uppermost portion 33 so as to correspond to each through region 36, but the lid member is supported by the plurality of flange uppermost portions 33 after performing the primary sealing step. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a plurality of them.

The lower flange 34 is a portion where the upper surface is relatively downward. The lower flange portion 34 of the present embodiment is a portion of the flange portion 3 excluding the uppermost flange portion 33.

The penetration region 36 is arranged at an opposite position that sandwiches the accommodating portion 2, for example. When the flange portion 3 has an annular shape having four corners, it is preferable that the through regions 36 are formed at four locations in total, one at each corner of the flange portion 3 in a plan view. It is preferable that the shapes of the penetrating regions 36 are all the same.

Further, in the present embodiment, the penetration region 36 is a concave portion recessed downward. Further, the penetration region 36 has a circular shape in a plan view. Specifically, the penetrating region 36 is a recess that is recessed downward in a substantially hemispherical shape.

A groove 360 is further formed in the recess of the penetration region 36 in the present embodiment. Specifically, the upper surface 361 of the penetration region 36 is recessed downward, and the upper surface 361 is provided with a groove portion 360 recessed downward.

The shape of the groove portion 360 is, for example, a cross shape that intersects at the lowest point, which is the lowest point of the penetration region 36 (for example, substantially orthogonal to this lowest point). In other words, the groove portion 360 has a shape that extends radially from the center of the penetration region 36 in a plan view. The width of the groove portion 360 (dimension in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove portion 360) is, for example, 0.5 mm.

Next, a method for sterilizing the object to be treated using the packaging container according to the present invention will be described. The sterilization treatment method in one embodiment contains food as a content, and as main steps, a food storage step, a through hole forming step, a primary sealing step, a sterilizing step, and a secondary sealing step are sequentially performed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a food storage step, a through hole forming step, a primary sealing step, a degassing step, a sterilization step, a cooling step, a gas replacement step, and a secondary sealing step are performed in this order. Hereinafter, each step in this embodiment will be described. Moreover, as the method of this embodiment, the case where the packaging container 1 of the said embodiment is used will be described.

First, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, after performing the food storage step of storing the food F in the packaging container 1, a through hole penetrating the through region 36 inside the primary seal region 31 of the flange portion 3 A through hole forming step of forming 38 is performed. As the food F, for example, any food such as daily food, that is, food cooked and processed in a food factory or the like, chilled processed food, or the like can be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the through hole 38 of the present embodiment is formed by forming a crevice 380 in a part of the through region 36. In the through hole forming step of the present embodiment, the through region 36 is located below the surrounding region in a state where the outer peripheral edge 363 of the through region 36 is continuous with the region around the through region 36 of the flange portion 3. It will be in the state of. In other words, the penetrating region 36 is located below the region around the penetrating region 36 of the flange portion 3 with the outer peripheral edge 363 of the penetrating region 36 as a boundary.

In the through hole forming step of the present embodiment, the crevice 380 is formed by tearing the through region 36 from above. When forming the crevice 380, for example, a method of piercing the perforation needle into the penetration region 36 by using a perforation jig (not shown) provided with a perforation needle at the tip can be adopted. The perforation needle is guided by the groove 360 provided in the penetration region 36, pierces the lowest point of the penetration region 36, and the penetration region 36 tears along the groove 360. As a result, the penetrating region 36 is divided into four parts with the cross-shaped crevice 380 as a boundary.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, after performing a primary sealing step of sealing the lid member 5 covering the opening 20 of the accommodating portion 2 and the primary sealing region 31 of the flange portion 3. A sterilization step is performed in which the heated steam S is circulated in the accommodating portion 2 through the flow passage R formed between the flange portion 3 and the lid member 5 and the food F is exposed to the heated steam S to sterilize the food F. (See FIG. 7). The primary sealing step of the present embodiment is a step of linearly sealing the primary sealing region 31 and the lid member 5, which are the outer peripheral portions of the flange portion 3, in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3 (see FIG. 6A). ). Further, in this primary sealing step, the lid member 5 is heat-welded to the primary sealing region 31 by using, for example, a heat sealing machine (not shown).

In this embodiment, a case where the sterilization process is performed using a short-time cooking sterilizer RIC (hereinafter, also simply referred to as RIC) manufactured by Hisaka Works, Ltd. will be described. Here, the short-time cooking sterilizer RIC (not shown) includes a processing tank capable of accommodating food in a container to be processed, a steam supply device for supplying steam to the processing tank, and the inside of the processing tank. It is provided with a decompression device for degassing and creating a vacuum state, and a heating device for heating the inside of the processing tank.

In the present embodiment, the degassing step of degassing the inside of the housing portion 2 is performed before the sterilization step. When performing the degassing step, a process of arranging a plurality of packaging containers 1 in which food F is stored on a tray and the lid member 5 is primarily sealed, and further stacking the trays in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction to form an RIC. Store in a tank. After closing the lid of the treatment tank and sealing the treatment tank, the inside of the treatment tank is degassed to a vacuum state. When the inside of the processing tank is degassed to a vacuum state, the air in the accommodating portion 2 is also degassed through the flow passage R, and the inside of the accommodating portion 2 also becomes the same vacuum state as the inside of the processing tank.

In the sterilization step, the heated steam S is supplied into the treatment tank and the temperature in the treatment tank is set to, for example, 100 ° C to 145 ° C. The heated steam S supplied into the processing tank flows from below the flange portion 3 into the accommodating portion 2 through the flow passage R (through hole 38 and gap C). As a result, the food F stored in the storage unit 2 is sterilized by the heated steam S.

In the present embodiment, the cooling step of cooling the food F is performed after the sterilization step. In the cooling step, the inside of the treatment tank is depressurized to discharge the heated steam S, and the inside of the treatment tank is put into a vacuum state to evaporate the water content and remove latent heat from the food F, so that the food F is cooled. To.

Further, after the cooling step, the lid of the processing tank is opened and the packaging container 1 containing the food F is taken out together with the tray.

After that, preferably a gas replacement step is carried out. In the gas replacement step, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide gas is supplied into the accommodating portion 2 via the flow passage R.

The gas replacement step and the secondary sealing step of the present embodiment are performed in a state where the packaging container 1 is placed on the mold of the heat sealing machine. The mold is provided with a supply path capable of supplying the inert gas through the through hole 38 formed in the container body 4 when the packaging container 1 is placed. In the gas replacement step of the present embodiment, the inert gas is supplied to any one of the four through holes 38 via the mold supply path. Further, the mold also has an air discharge path formed at a position corresponding to the remaining three through holes 38, and the air in the packaging container 1 extruded by the supplied inert gas is released. , It is discharged to the outside through the discharge path.

After performing the gas replacement step, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a secondary sealing step of sealing the lid member 5 and the secondary sealing region 32 is performed. As a result, the packaged food 6 composed of the packaging container 1, the lid member 5, and the food F can be obtained.

The secondary sealing step of the present embodiment is a step of sealing the secondary sealing region 32, which is the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3, and the lid member 5 in a planar shape. In the secondary sealing step, the lid member 5 is heat-welded to the secondary sealing region 32 by using a heat sealing machine (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the heat-sealing machine includes the mold (reception mold) on which the container body 4 is placed and gas-replaced, and a mold (heat-sealing mold) that presses the lid member 5 from above. In the secondary sealing step, the packaging container is quickly sealed while being placed on the receiving mold after gas replacement, so that the oxygen concentration in the packaging container 1 can be maintained in an extremely low state.

Since the secondary seal region 32 of the packaging container 1 covers the entire area of the flange portion 3, the entire area of the flange portion 3 is pressurized from above and below when performing the secondary seal, and as shown in FIG. The through hole 38 is closed, the uppermost portion 33 of the flange is also crushed, and the gap C is also closed. In the packaging container 1 of the present embodiment, in the packaging container 1 after the secondary sealing, the through hole 38 is closed only by the lid member 5, but the upper surface becomes a flat surface when the secondary sealing is performed. By pressurizing the entire area of the flange portion 3 from the vertical direction while the flange portion 3 is placed on the mold, the through hole 38 is deformed in addition to the lid member 5 in the packaging container 1 after the secondary sealing (). It may be blocked by the (crushed) penetrating region 36. Further, when performing the secondary sealing, the entire area of the flange portion 3 except the flange uppermost portion 33 may be pressurized from the vertical direction. In this case, the gap C is closed with the uppermost portion 33 of the flange remaining without being crushed.

In the above packaging container 1, for example, the food F is stored in the storage portion 2, the through hole 38 is provided in the through region 36 of the flange portion 3, and then the lid member 5 and the primary seal region 31 of the flange portion 3 are sealed. Further, the packaged food 6 that seals the lid member 5 and the secondary sealing region 32 of the flange portion 3 after sterilizing the food F by circulating the heated steam S through the flow passage R in the accommodating portion 2. Can be suitably used as the packaging container 1 of the above.

In this packaging container 1, when a through hole 38 is provided inside the primary seal region 31 of the flange portion 3, the through hole 38 forms a part of the flow passage R. Further, when the primary seal region 31 and the lid member 5 are sealed, a gap C is generated between the flange lower portion 34 and the lid member 5, and this gap C forms a part of the flow passage R. Therefore, when the food F is sterilized, the heated steam S flows from below the flange portion 3 into the accommodating portion 2 through the flow passage R formed by the through hole 38 and the gap C, whereby the accommodating portion 2 is sterilized. It is possible to sterilize the food F inside.

In particular, in this packaging container 1, since the upper surface 330 of the upper end of the flange is located above the upper surface 340 of the lower surface of the flange, the uppermost 33 of the flange holds the gap C included in the flow passage R when the food F is sterilized. To do. Therefore, the heated steam S can be circulated in the accommodating portion 2 while the state in which the gap C is not closed by the flange uppermost portion 33 is surely maintained.

Further, in the packaging container 1, the lid member 5 is located on the flow passage R, that is, the flow passage R is not exposed on the lid member 5, so that the falling bacteria enter the packaging container 1 through the flow passage R. Hard to mix. Further, since the secondary seal region 32 is sealed with the lid member 5 to close the flow passage R, the packaging container 1 is formed by the secondary seal between the lid member 5 and the container body 4. Food F can be completely sealed.

In the packaging container 1 of the present embodiment, if the through hole 38 is provided by forming a crevice 380 in a part of the through region 36 (see FIG. 5), a part of the flange portion 3 is broken when the through hole 38 is formed. No fragments of the flange portion 3 are generated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent debris from the flange portion 3 from being mixed into the accommodating portion 2.

Further, in the packaging container 1 of the present embodiment, since the through region 36 is a concave portion recessed downward (see FIG. 2), when forming the through hole 38, the perforation needle is pierced into the recessed through region 36. Therefore, the perforated portion of the penetration region 36 is held while being positioned below the other region of the flange portion 3 (see FIG. 5), and it is difficult to return upward from the state of being positioned below this. As a result, it is possible to prevent the through hole 38 from being blocked, and the through state of the through hole 38 can be maintained until the secondary seal region of the flange portion 3 and the lid member 5 are sealed.

Further, in the packaging container 1 of the present embodiment, since the through region 36 is arranged at a position sandwiching the accommodating portion 2 (see FIG. 1A), if the through hole 38 is provided at this position, the through hole 38 is accommodated. By circulating the gas from both sides of the part 2 (see FIG. 4A), uneven heating of the food F can be suppressed.

The container body 4 and the lid member 5 used in the present embodiment preferably have a gas barrier layer. That is, it is preferable that the container body 4 and the lid member 5 are composed of a multilayer structure including at least one oxygen barrier layer. By providing the container body 4 and the lid member 5 with a gas barrier layer, the growth of aerobic bacteria after the sterilization treatment can be suppressed more efficiently, so that the quality retention period achieved in the square embodiment can be extended. .. As the gas barrier layer, an oxygen barrier layer can be considered.

The oxygen barrier layer is a layer having a function of preventing the permeation of gas. For example, it conforms to JIS-K7126-2 (2006) Part 2 (isobaric method) under the conditions of 20 ° C. and 65% RH. The layer has an oxygen permeability of 100 cc · 20 μm / (m2 · day · atm) or less, preferably 50 cc · 20 μm / (m2 · day · atm) or less, more preferably 10 cc · 20 μm / (m2 · day · atm) or less.・ Atm) The following layers. Here, the oxygen permeability of "10 cc / 20 μm / (m2 / day / atm)" means one day under 1 atm of oxygen in a barrier material of 20 μm (meaning that it is composed of an oxygen barrier layer alone). The oxygen permeation amount of is 10 cc.

The oxygen barrier layer is, for example, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter, also referred to as “EVOH”), a composite structure containing phosphorus and a polyvalent metal element, processed starch, polyamide, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, and acrylonitrile. Includes gas barrier materials such as copolymers, polyvinylidene fluoride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, inorganic layered compounds, inorganic vapor deposition layers, and metal foils. In particular, the oxygen barrier layer preferably contains EVOH, polyamide, and modified starch, or a combination thereof, because it has good oxygen barrier properties and melt moldability, and has particularly excellent melt moldability. It is more preferable to contain EVOH for the reason that it is contained.

(EVOH)
EVOH can be obtained, for example, by saponifying an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer. The ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer can be produced and saponified by a known method. Examples of vinyl esters that can be used in this method include fatty acid vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl formate, vinyl propionate, vinyl pivalate, and vinyl versatic acid.

In the present invention, the ethylene unit content of EVOH is preferably, for example, 20 mol% or more, 22 mol% or more, or 24 mol% or more. The ethylene unit content of EVOH is preferably, for example, 60 mol% or less, 55 mol% or less, or 50 mol% or less. When the ethylene unit content is 20 mol% or less, its melt-forming property and oxygen barrier property at high temperature tend to be improved. When the ethylene unit content is 60 mol% or less, the oxygen barrier property tends to be improved. The ethylene unit content in such EVOH can be measured by, for example, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method.

In the present invention, the saponification degree of the vinyl ester component of EVOH is preferably, for example, 80 mol% or more, 90 mol% or more, or 99 mol% or more. By setting the saponification degree to 80 mol% or more, for example, the oxygen barrier property of the oxygen barrier layer can be enhanced. On the other hand, the saponification degree of the vinyl ester component of EVOH may be, for example, 100% or less and 99.99% or less. The degree of saponification of EVOH can be calculated by measuring the peak area of hydrogen atoms contained in the vinyl ester structure and the peak area of hydrogen atoms contained in the vinyl alcohol structure by 1H-NMR measurement. When the saponification degree of EVOH is within the above range, it is possible to provide good oxygen barrier properties to the oxygen barrier layer constituting the container body 4 and the lid member 5.

EVOH may also have units derived from ethylene and vinyl esters and other monomers other than saponified products thereof, as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. When EVOH has such other monomeric units, the content of the other monomeric units in the total structural units of EVOH is, for example, 30 mol% or less, 20 mol% or less, 10 mol% or less or It is 5 mol% or less. Further, when EVOH has a unit derived from the other monomer, its content is, for example, 0.05 mol% or more or 0.1 mol% or more.

Other monomers that EVOH may have include, for example, alkenes such as propylene, butylene, penten, hexene; 3-acyloxy-1-propene, 3-acyloxy-1-butene, 4-acyloxy-. 1-butene, 3,4-diasiloxy-1-butene, 3-acyloxy-4-methyl-1-butene, 4-acyloxy-1-butene, 3,4-diasiloxy-1-butene, 3-acyloxy-4- Methyl-1-butene, 4-acyloxy-2-methyl-1-butene, 4-acyloxy-3-methyl-1-butene, 3,4-diasiloxy-2-methyl-1-butene, 4-acyloxy-1- Penten, 5-Asiloxy-1-Pentene, 4,5-Diacyroxy 1-Pentene, 4-Acyloxy-1-hexene, 5-Acyloxy-1-hexene, 6-Acyloxy-1-hexene, 5,6-Diacyloxy-1 -Ester group-containing alkenes such as hexene, 1,3-diacetoxy-2-methylenepropane or saponified products thereof; unsaturated acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid and itaconic acid or anhydrides, salts or monos thereof or Dialkyl esters and the like; nitriles such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile; amides such as acrylamide and methacrylamide; olefin sulfonic acids such as vinyl sulfonic acid, allyl sulfonic acid and metaallyl sulfonic acid or salts thereof; vinyl trimethoxysilane and vinyl triethoxy Vinyl silane compounds such as silane, vinyltri (β-methoxy-ethoxy) silane, γ-methacryloxypropylmethoxysilane; alkyl vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones, N-vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and the like can be mentioned.

The EVOH may be an EVOH modified by a method such as urethanization, acetalization, cyanoethylation, or oxyalkyleneization. The EVOH modified in this way tends to improve the melt moldability of the oxygen barrier layer.

As the EVOH, two or more types of EVOH having different ethylene unit content, degree of saponification, copolymer component, presence / absence of modification, type of modification, etc. may be used in combination.

EVOH can be obtained by a known method such as a massive polymerization method, a solution polymerization method, a suspension polymerization method, or an emulsion polymerization method. In one embodiment, a massive or solution polymerization method is used in which the polymerization can proceed in a solvent-free solution or in a solution such as alcohol.

The solvent used in the solution polymerization method is not particularly limited, but is, for example, an alcohol, preferably a lower alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, or propanol. The amount of the solvent used in the polymerization reaction solution may be selected in consideration of the viscosity average degree of polymerization of the target EVOH and the chain transfer of the solvent, and the mass ratio of the solvent contained in the reaction solution to all the monomers (solvent). / Total monomer) is, for example, 0.01 to 10, preferably 0.05 to 3.

Examples of the catalyst used for the above polymerization include 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2-azobis- (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), and 2,2-azobis- (4-methoxy). Azo-based initiators such as -2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) and 2,2-azobis- (2-cyclopropylpropionitrile); isobutyryl peroxide, cumylperoxyneodecanoate, diisopropylperoxycarbonate, Examples thereof include organic peroxide-based initiators such as di-n-propylperoxydicarbonate, t-butylperoxyneodecanoate, lauroyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, and t-butyl hydroperoxide.

The polymerization temperature is preferably 20 ° C. to 90 ° C., more preferably 40 ° C. to 70 ° C. The polymerization time is preferably 2 hours to 15 hours, more preferably 3 hours to 11 hours. The polymerization rate is preferably 10% to 90%, more preferably 30% to 80% with respect to the charged vinyl ester. The resin content in the solution after polymerization is preferably 5% to 85%, more preferably 20% to 70%.

In the above polymerization, after polymerization for a predetermined time or after reaching a predetermined polymerization rate, a polymerization inhibitor may be added as necessary to evaporate and remove unreacted ethylene gas to remove unreacted vinyl ester. ..

Next, an alkaline catalyst is added to the copolymer solution to saponify the copolymer. As the saponification method, either a continuous method or a batch method may be adopted. Examples of the alkali catalyst that can be added include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, alkali metal alcoholate and the like.

EVOH after the saponification reaction contains an alkaline catalyst, by-products such as sodium acetate and potassium acetate, and other impurities. Therefore, it is preferable to remove them by neutralizing or washing as necessary. Here, when the EVOH after the saponification reaction is washed with water containing almost no predetermined ions (for example, metal ions and chloride ions) (for example, ion-exchanged water), by-products such as sodium acetate and potassium acetate are produced. The salts may not be completely removed and some of them may remain.

EVOH is another thermoplastic resin, metal salt, acid, boron compound, plasticizer, filler, blocking inhibitor, lubricant, stabilizer, surfactant, colorant, ultraviolet absorber, antistatic agent, desiccant, cross-linking agent. , Reinforcing materials such as various fibers, and other components may be contained. It is preferable to contain a metal salt and an acid because the oxygen barrier layer has good thermal stability and adhesiveness to other resins.

As the metal salt, it is preferable to use an alkali metal salt from the viewpoint of improving interlayer adhesion, and it is preferable to use an alkaline earth metal salt from the viewpoint of improving thermal stability. When EVOH contains a metal salt, the content thereof is, for example, 1 ppm or more, 5 ppm or more, 10 ppm or more, or 20 ppm or more in terms of metal atoms of the metal salt with respect to EVOH. When EVOH contains a metal salt, the content thereof is, for example, 10,000 ppm or less, 5000 ppm or less, 1000 ppm or less, or 500 ppm or less in terms of metal atoms of the metal salt with respect to EVOH. When the content of the metal salt is within the range composed of the lower limit and the upper limit, the thermal stability of EVOH when recycling the container body 4 is maintained while maintaining good interlayer adhesion of the oxygen barrier layer. Tends to keep good.

Examples of the acid include carboxylic acid compounds and phosphoric acid compounds. These acids are useful in that they can enhance the thermal stability of EVOH during melt molding. When EVOH contains a carboxylic acid compound, the content of carboxylic acid (that is, the content of carboxylic acid in the dry composition of the oxygen barrier layer containing EVOH) is, for example, 1 ppm or more, 10 ppm or more, or 50 ppm or more. is there. The content of the carboxylic acid compound is, for example, 10000 ppm or less, 1000 ppm or less, or 500 ppm or less. When EVOH contains a phosphoric acid compound, the phosphoric acid content (that is, the phosphoric acid root equivalent content of the phosphoric acid compound in the oxygen barrier layer containing EVOH) is, for example, 1 ppm or more, 10 ppm or more, or 30 ppm or more. .. The content of the phosphoric acid compound is, for example, 10000 ppm or less, 1000 ppm or less, or 300 ppm or less. When EVOH contains a carboxylic acid compound or a phosphoric acid compound within the above range, the thermal stability of EVOH during melt molding tends to be improved.

When EVOH contains the above-mentioned boron compound, its content (that is, the boron-equivalent content of the boron compound in the dry composition of the oxygen barrier layer containing EVOH) is, for example, 1 ppm or more, 10 ppm or more, or 50 ppm or more. is there. The content of the boron compound is, for example, 2000 ppm or less, 1000 ppm or less, or 500 ppm or less. When EVOH contains a boron compound or a phosphoric acid compound within the above range, the thermal stability of EVOH during melt molding tends to be improved.

The method for incorporating the carboxylic acid compound, the phosphoric acid compound, or the boron compound into the oxygen barrier layer containing EVOH is not particularly limited, and for example, these are added and kneaded at the time of pelletizing the composition containing EVOH. You may. The method of adding the carboxylic acid compound, the phosphoric acid compound, or the boron compound is not particularly limited, and the method of adding as a dry powder, the method of adding in the form of a paste impregnated with a predetermined solvent, or the method of suspending in a predetermined liquid Examples thereof include a method of adding in a state of being added, a method of dissolving in a predetermined solvent and adding as a solution, a method of immersing in a predetermined solution, and the like. In particular, since these compounds can be uniformly dispersed in EVOH, it is preferable to adopt a method of dissolving them in a predetermined solvent and adding them as a solution, and a method of immersing them in a predetermined solution. The solvent used in such a method is not particularly limited, but water is preferable in consideration of the solubility, cost, ease of handling, safety of the working environment, and the like of these compounds added as additives.

When the oxygen barrier layer in the multilayer structure contains EVOH as a main component, the proportion of EVOH in the oxygen barrier layer is, for example, 60% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 80% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, or It is 100% by mass. Here, the term "main component of the oxygen barrier layer" used in the present specification refers to a component having the largest mass% among the components constituting the oxygen barrier layer.

When the oxygen barrier layer in the multilayer structure contains EVOH as a main component, the average thickness of the oxygen barrier layer is, for example, 3 μm or more, 5 μm or more, or 10 μm or more, and the average thickness of the oxygen barrier layer is For example, 100 μm or less, or 50 μm or less. Here, the term "average thickness of oxygen barrier layer" used in the present specification refers to the total thickness of the entire oxygen barrier layer containing EVOH as a main component contained in the multilayer structure. It refers to the value divided by the number of layers. When the average thickness of the oxygen barrier layer is within the above range, the durability, flexibility, and appearance characteristics of the container body 4 and the lid member 5 constituting the packaging container of the present invention tend to be good.

(Composite structure containing phosphorus and multivalent metal elements)
The composite structure containing phosphorus and a polyvalent metal element has a barrier layer formed by the reaction of the phosphorus compound and the compound of the polyvalent metal. In this structure, a solution containing a phosphorus compound and a solution or dispersion containing a compound of a polyvalent metal are mixed to prepare a coating agent, and the coating agent is applied onto a substrate to obtain a compound of the polyvalent metal. It can be formed by reacting with a phosphorus compound. Here, when the polyvalent metal atom is represented by M, a bond represented by MOP is formed between the polyvalent metal atom M and the phosphorus atom. The MOP bond can be observed in the region where the characteristic absorption band in the infrared absorption spectrum is 1080 cm-1 to 1130 cm-1, and in the infrared absorption spectrum of the composite structure, 800 cm-1 to 1400 cm-1. The maximum absorbed wave number in this region is preferably in the range of 1080 cm-1 to 1130 cm-1. When the maximum absorbed wave number of the composite structure is within the above range, the composite structure tends to have an excellent oxygen barrier property.

The base material to which the coating agent is applied is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include resins such as thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins; fiber aggregates such as fabrics and papers; wood; glass and the like. In particular, a thermoplastic resin and a fiber aggregate are preferable, and a thermoplastic resin is more preferable. The form of the base material is not particularly limited, and may be a layer such as a film or a sheet. As the base material, one made of a thermoplastic resin film and paper is more preferable, and a thermoplastic resin film is further preferable. Polyester is preferable as the thermoplastic resin film, and polyethylene terephthalate is more preferable because it can impart good mechanical strength to the composite structure.

The polyvalent metal element is not particularly limited as long as it is a polyvalent metal element capable of reacting two or more molecules of a phosphorus compound, and any element can be used. For example, the polyvalent metal element may be a semi-multivalent metal element. Examples of polyvalent metal elements include elements such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, aluminum, silicon, titanium and zirconium. Aluminum is particularly preferable.

The compound of the polyvalent metal element is not particularly limited as long as it can react with the phosphorus compound to form a composite structure, and any compound can be used. Further, the polyvalent metal compound may be used as a solution dissolved in a solvent or as a dispersion liquid in which fine particles of the polyvalent metal compound are dispersed in a solvent. For example, an aqueous solution containing aluminum nitrate as a polyvalent metal compound may be used. Can be used.

Further, fine particles of the multivalent metal compound may be dispersed in water or an aqueous solvent and used as a dispersion liquid. As such a dispersion, a dispersion of aluminum oxide fine particles is preferable. In general, fine particles of a multivalent metal oxide have a hydroxyl group on its surface, and the presence of the hydroxyl group can react with the phosphorus compound to form the bond. Fine particles of a polyvalent metal oxide can be synthesized, for example, by using a compound in which a hydrolyzable characteristic group is bonded to a metal atom as a raw material, hydrolyzing the compound, and condensing the hydrolysis product. Examples of raw materials include aluminum chloride, aluminum triethoxydo, and aluminum isopropoxide. Examples of the method for condensing the hydrolysis products include a liquid phase synthesis method such as a sol-gel method. Further, the fine particles of the polyvalent metal oxide preferably have a spherical, flat, polyhedral, fibrous, or needle-like morphology, and are fibrous or fibrous because the oxygen barrier property can be enhanced. It preferably has a needle-like shape. Further, the average particle size of the polyvalent metal oxide fine particles is preferably 1 nm or more and 100 nm or less in order to enhance the oxygen barrier property and transparency.

The phosphorus compound is not particularly limited as long as it can react with a compound of a polyvalent metal to form the above bond, and any phosphorus compound can be used. Examples of the phosphorus compound include a phosphoric acid-based compound and a derivative thereof. Specific examples include phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, and phosphonic acid. Examples of the polyphosphoric acid include pyrophosphate, triphosphate, and polyphosphoric acid obtained by condensing four or more phosphoric acids. Examples of the derivative of the phosphoric acid-based compound include phosphates, esters (for example, trimethyl phosphate), halides, and dehydrated products (for example, phosphorus pentoxide).

This phosphorus compound can be used as a solution, for example, it can be used as an aqueous solution using water as a solvent or a solution containing a hydrophilic organic solvent such as a lower alcohol solution.

The coating agent can be obtained by mixing a solution or dispersion of a polyvalent metal compound with a solution of a phosphorus compound. Other components may be added to the coating agent. Examples of other components include polymer compounds, metal complexes, viscosity compounds, cross-linking agents, plasticizers, antioxidants, UV absorbers, flame retardants and the like. Examples of polymer compounds include polyvinyl alcohols, partially saponified products of polyvinyl acetate, polyhydroxyethyl (meth) acrylates, polysaccharides (eg starch), acrylic polymers (eg polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, acrylics). Acid-methacrylic acid copolymers) and their salts, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, Examples thereof include an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer and a saponified product of an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer.

The coating film obtained by applying the above coating agent, removing the solvent, and drying is, for example, heat-treated to react the polyvalent metal compound with the phosphorus compound to form the above bond, thereby forming phosphorus and poly. A composite structure containing a valent metal element can be formed. The temperature used for the heat treatment is preferably 110 ° C. or higher, more preferably 120 ° C. or higher, further preferably 140 ° C. or higher, and particularly preferably 170 ° C. or higher. When the temperature adopted for the heat treatment is low, it takes more time to form a sufficient bond, which may reduce the productivity. The upper limit of the temperature adopted for the heat treatment varies depending on the type of the base film, and is, for example, 240 ° C. or 220 ° C. The time required for the heat treatment is, for example, 0.1 seconds or more, 1 second or more, or 5 seconds or more. The time required for the heat treatment is, for example, 1 hour or less, 15 minutes or less, or 5 minutes or less. In addition, such a heat treatment may be performed in an air atmosphere, a nitrogen atmosphere, or an argon atmosphere.

The lower limit of the average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer containing a composite structure containing phosphorus and a polyvalent metal element as a main component is, for example, 0.05 μm or more, or 0.1 μm or more. The average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer containing a composite structure containing phosphorus and a polyvalent metal element as a main component is, for example, 4 μm or less, or 2 μm or less. The term "the average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer containing a composite structure containing phosphorus and a polyvalent metal element as a main component" as used in the present specification means the above-mentioned composite structure included in the multilayer structure. Refers to the value obtained by dividing the total thickness of the entire oxygen barrier layer containing the above as the main component by the number of layers of the oxygen barrier layer. If the average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer is smaller than the above lower limit, it becomes difficult to form a layer having a uniform thickness, and the durability of the obtained multilayer structure may be lowered. If the average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer exceeds the above upper limit, the flexibility, stretchability, thermal formation, etc. of the obtained multilayer structure may decrease.

(Modified starch)
The starch used as a raw material for modified starch is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include those derived from wheat, corn, tapioca, potato, rice, embuck, arrowroot, and pea raw material. As the starch, high amylose starch is preferable, and high amylose corn starch and high amylose tapioca starch are more preferable.

The modified starch is preferably a starch obtained by chemically modifying the starch so that the hydroxy group is substituted with a functional group which is an ether, an ester or a combination thereof. The modified starch may be one obtained by modifying the starch so as to contain a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or one obtained by reacting the starch with a carboxylic acid anhydride. preferable. When the processed starch is obtained by modifying the above starch so as to contain a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, the processed starch has a functional group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms as a substituent of the processed starch. It is preferable to have a hydroxyethyl group or a hydroxybutyl group capable of producing a hydroxyether substituent, for example, and the processed starch is modified by reacting the starch with a carboxylic acid anhydride. As the functional group, a butanoic acid ester or a lower homologous group is preferable, and an acetate ester is more preferable. Dicarboxylic acid anhydrides such as maleic acid, phthalic acid or octenyl succinic anhydride can also be used to produce ester derivatives.

As the modified starch, hydroxypropylated amylose starch containing a hydroxypropyl group is preferable, and hydroxypropylated high amylose starch is more preferable.

The degree of substitution of modified starch is represented by the average number of substituents per anhydrous glucose unit, and the maximum value is usually 3, and the degree of substitution of the modified starch is preferably 0.05 or more and less than 1.5.

Modified starch may contain other starches. Other starches include, for example, a mixture of high amylose starch and low amylose starch.

Modified starch may contain water. For modified starch, water can act as a plasticizer. The water content is, for example, 20% by mass or less, or 12% by mass or less. The water content of the oxygen barrier layer containing modified starch as a main component is generally the equilibrium water content at relative humidity under the usage environment.

Modified starch may contain one or more water-soluble polymers. The water-soluble polymer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. In particular, polyvinyl alcohol is preferable. The content of one or more water-soluble polymers is, for example, 20% by mass or less, or 12% by mass or less. The content of the one or more water-soluble polymers is, for example, 1% by mass or more, or 4% by mass or more.

Modified starch may contain one or more plasticizers. The plasticizer is not particularly limited, but a polyol is preferable. Examples of the polyol include sorbitol, glycerol, maltitol, and xylitol, and combinations thereof. The content of one or more plasticizers in the modified starch is, for example, 20% by mass or less, or 12% by mass or less.

Modified starch may contain a lubricant. Examples of lubricants include fatty acids having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, fatty acid salts having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof. The content of the lubricant in the modified starch is, for example, 5% by mass or less.

The average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer containing modified starch as a main component is, for example, 10 μm or more, or 100 μm or more. The average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer containing modified starch as a main component is, for example, 1000 μm or less, or 800 μm or less. The term "average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer containing modified starch as a main component" as used in the present specification refers to the entire oxygen barrier layer containing the modified starch contained in the multilayer structure as a main component. It refers to the value obtained by dividing the total thickness of the oxygen barrier layer by the number of layers of the oxygen barrier layer. If the average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer is smaller than the above lower limit, it becomes difficult to form a layer having a uniform thickness, and the durability of the obtained multilayer structure may be lowered. If the average thickness of one layer of the oxygen barrier layer exceeds the above upper limit, the flexibility, stretchability, thermal formation, etc. of the obtained multilayer structure may decrease.

(Inorganic layered compound)
The barrier layer containing the inorganic layered compound is, for example, a layer that exhibits barrier properties due to the inorganic layered compound when the inorganic layered compound is dispersed in the thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin used for the barrier layer containing the inorganic layered compound is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyamides and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers.

Examples of the inorganic layered compound include inorganic layered compounds such as swelling mica, clay, montmorillonite, smectite, and hydrotalcite. Further, the inorganic layered compound may be an organically treated organically modified inorganic layered compound.

The inorganic layered compound is composed of, for example, plate-like crystals, and has an arbitrary appearance such as circular, non-circular, elliptical, substantially oval, and substantially cocoon-shaped. The inorganic layered compound preferably has an average length of long sides of plate crystals that can be measured by an electron microscope and satisfies a predetermined range.

The average length of the long side of the inorganic layered compound is preferably 70 nm or more, more preferably 80 nm or more, and even more preferably 90 nm or more. The inorganic layered compound is oriented in the film surface due to the stress generated during stretching, but if the average length of the long side of the inorganic layered compound is less than 70 nm, the degree of orientation is insufficient and sufficient oxygen permeation performance is obtained. It may not be obtained. On the other hand, the average length of the long side of the inorganic layered compound may be 2000 nm or less.

It is also preferable that the inorganic layered compound does not contain a coarse substance having a thickness of more than 2 μm. When the inorganic layered compound contains a coarse substance exceeding 2 μm, the transparency and stretchability may decrease.

The content of the inorganic layered compound in the barrier layer containing the inorganic layered compound is preferably 0.3 to 20% by mass based on the mass of the barrier layer.

(Inorganic vapor deposition layer)
The inorganic vapor deposition layer is, for example, a barrier layer obtained by depositing an inorganic substance on a base material. Examples of the base material that can form the inorganic vapor deposition layer include resins such as thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins; fiber aggregates such as fabrics and papers; wood; glass and the like. Thermoplastic resins and fiber aggregates are preferred, with thermoplastic resins being more preferred. When the base material is composed of the above resin, it is preferable that the base material has a layered form such as a film or a sheet.

Examples of the thermoplastic resin used for the base material include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene; polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof; Polyamide-based resins such as nylon-6, nylon-66, and nylon-12; hydroxyl group-containing polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers; polystyrene; poly (meth) acrylic acid ester; polyacrylonitrile; polyvinyl acetate; Examples thereof include polycarbonate; polyarylate; regenerated cellulose; polyimide; polyetherimide; polysulfone; polyethersulphon; polyether ether ketone; ionomer resin and the like. At least one thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon-6, and nylon-66 is preferred.

When a film made of a thermoplastic resin is used as a base material, the base material may be either a stretched film or a non-stretched film. Since the obtained multilayer structure is excellent in processability (printing, laminating, etc.), it is preferably a stretched film, and more preferably a biaxially stretched film. The biaxially stretched film may be a biaxially stretched film produced by any one of a simultaneous biaxial stretching method, a sequential biaxial stretching method, and a tubular stretching method.

Examples of papers that can be used as the base material include kraft paper, high-quality paper, imitation paper, glassin paper, parchment paper, synthetic paper, white paperboard, Manila balls, milk carton base paper, cup base paper, and ivory paper.

When the form of the base material is layered, the thickness thereof is preferably 1 μm to 1,000 μm, more preferably 5 μm to 500 μm, and 9 μm, because the mechanical strength and workability of the obtained multilayer structure are improved. It is more preferably about 200 μm.

Examples of the inorganic substance include metals such as aluminum, tin, indium, nickel, titanium and chromium; metal oxides such as silicon oxide and aluminum oxide; metal nitrides such as silicon nitride; metal nitride oxides such as silicon oxynitride; charcoal. Examples thereof include metal nitrides such as silicon nitride. An inorganic vapor-deposited layer formed from any one of aluminum, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon nitride, etc., or a combination thereof is preferable because it has an excellent barrier property against oxygen or water vapor.

The method for forming the inorganic vapor deposition layer is not particularly limited, and for example, a vacuum vapor deposition method (for example, resistance heating vapor deposition method, electron beam deposition method, molecular beam epitaxy method, etc.), ion plating method, sputtering method (dual magnetron sputtering, etc.), etc. Physical vapor deposition method; thermochemical vapor deposition method (eg, catalytic chemical vapor deposition method), photochemical vapor deposition method, plasma chemical vapor deposition method (eg, capacitive coupling plasma method, induced coupling plasma method, surface) Chemical vapor deposition methods such as wave plasma method, electron cyclotron resonance plasma method, etc.), atomic layer deposition method, organic metal vapor deposition method, etc. can be mentioned.

The thickness of the inorganic thin-film deposition layer varies depending on the type of the components constituting the inorganic thin-film deposition layer, but is preferably 0.002 μm to 0.5 μm, more preferably 0.005 μm to 0.2 μm, and further preferably 0.01 μm to 0.1 μm. preferable. Within this range, it is possible to select a thickness that improves the barrier properties and mechanical properties of the multilayer structure. If the thickness of the inorganic thin-film deposition layer is less than 0.002 μm, the reproducibility of the barrier property development of the inorganic vapor-deposited layer against oxygen and water vapor tends to decrease, and when the inorganic thin-film deposition layer does not exhibit sufficient barrier property. There is also. Further, when the thickness of the inorganic thin-film deposition layer exceeds 0.5 μm, the barrier property of the inorganic thin-film deposition layer tends to be easily lowered when the multilayer structure is pulled or bent.

(Metal leaf)
The metal foil is a single-layer or multi-layer structure composed of a metal having excellent malleability. Examples of the metal contained in the metal foil include aluminum. The metal foil has, for example, the form of aluminum foil or aluminum tape.

According to the packaging container having the gas barrier layer as described above, it is possible to prevent the invasion of oxygen and maintain the quality of the contained sterilized contents for a longer period of time.

It should be noted that the packaging container of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the configuration of one embodiment can be added to the configuration of another embodiment, and a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. In addition, some of the configurations of certain embodiments can be deleted.

The uppermost flange portions 33A and 33B of the above embodiment are both convex portions whose height (dimensions in the vertical direction) is smaller than the outer diameter in a plan view, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is conceivable that the flange portion 3 is provided with the third flange uppermost portion 33C having substantially the same height and outer diameter in a plan view. The uppermost portion 33C of the third flange has a circular shape in a plan view.

The through hole 38 of the above embodiment is formed by piercing a perforation needle into the through region 36 of the flange portion 3 (that is, breaking the through region 36), but is not limited to this. For example, it is conceivable that the through hole 38 is formed by punching out the through region 36 of the flange portion 3.

When the through hole 38 is formed by punching the through region 36 of the flange portion 3 in the through hole forming step, the through region 36 is removed from the flange portion 3 as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. In this configuration, since the flow of gas to the through hole 38 is not obstructed by the through region 36 from the time when the through hole forming step is performed to the time when the secondary seal region 32 is sealed, the heated steam S is not obstructed. The through hole 38 can be smoothly distributed.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the flange uppermost portion 33 is located inside the penetration region 36, and the primary seal region 31 is located outside the penetration region 36, that is, the flange uppermost portion 33 and the primary seal region 31 are located. Although separated, the flange uppermost portion 33 may also serve as the primary seal region 31. Since the primary seal region 31 needs to be located outside the penetration region 36, in this configuration at least one of the plurality of flange tops 33 will be located outside the penetration region 36. For example, it is conceivable that the flange uppermost portion 33 has a fourth flange uppermost portion 33D located outside the through region 36 and also serves as the primary seal region 31.

The flange top 33 may be the convex fourth flange top 33D. Further, in the flange uppermost portion 33, the upper surface (flange uppermost upper surface 330) may be a flat surface like the upper surface of the fourth flange uppermost portion 33D (see FIG. 12B). When the uppermost portion 33 of the flange is a convex strip, for example, it may be provided continuously in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21. Specifically, it is conceivable that the uppermost portion 33 of the flange is a ridge that is continuously provided on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the secondary seal region 32 is provided in the entire area of the flange portion 3, but it may be provided in a part of the flange portion 3. Of the flange lower parts 34, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B showing the state after the secondary sealing step is performed in the configuration in which the flange uppermost portion 33 also serves as the primary sealing region 31 (see FIGS. 12A and 12B). It is conceivable that the region located inside the primary seal region 31 also serves as the secondary seal region 32.

Further, in the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the surface sealing is performed in the secondary sealing step, but the surface sealing may be performed by a line sealing continuous on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21. For example, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, line sealing may be performed. In this case, the secondary seal region 32 is considered to be a ridge protruding upward.

Further, in this case, the upper surface of the secondary seal region 32 is located below the upper surface 330 of the uppermost flange (the upper surface of the uppermost 33D of the fourth flange that also serves as the primary seal region 31). Further, the flange portion 3 is configured so that when the lid member 5 and the primary seal region 31 are sealed, a gap C is formed between the upper surface of the secondary seal region 32 and the lower surface of the lid member 5. ing. Thereby, after the primary sealing step is performed and before the secondary sealing step is performed, that is, when the food F is sterilized, the lid member 5 supported by the flange uppermost upper surface 330 and the flange lower upper surface 340 are supported. A gap C is formed between the two, and the upper surface 230 of the first flange holds the gap C to ensure that the gap C is not closed, so that the heated steam S can flow into the accommodating portion 2 via the flow passage R. It is distributed to.

In the above embodiment, the flange portion 3 is provided with a convex portion such as the flange uppermost portion 33, but a concave portion recessed downward may be provided, and as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the flange portion. A groove 39 may be provided in 3 as a flange lower portion 34. For example, it is conceivable that the groove 39 is continuous in the circumferential direction along the opening edge 21. Specifically, it is conceivable that the groove 39 is continuous with the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21.

In such a configuration in which the flange portion 3 is provided with a recess, a penetration region 36 may be provided in the recess. For example, it is conceivable that the through region 36 is provided in the groove portion 39 of the flange portion 3. Specifically, it is conceivable that the through regions 36 are provided on the pair of sides of the groove 39 that is continuous on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21 and that face each other across the accommodating portion 2. In this case, the penetration regions 36 provided on each side are arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion 2, for example. In this configuration, when the through hole forming step is performed, the through hole 38 is provided in the groove 39 of the flange portion 3.

Further, in this case, it is conceivable that the primary seal region 31 is continuously provided on the outside of the groove portion 39 of the flange portion 3 (the uppermost portion 33 of the flange) in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21. Specifically, it is conceivable that the primary seal region 31 is continuous on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21.

In the configuration in which the through region 36 is provided in the groove portion 39 of the flange portion 3 described above (see FIGS. 15A and 15B), as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the secondary seal region 32 is the groove portion 39 of the flange portion 3. It is conceivable that the inside is continuously provided along the opening edge 21 in the circumferential direction. Specifically, it is conceivable that the secondary seal region 32 is continuous on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21. In the flange portion 3 having the above configuration, the groove portion 39 provided with the through region 36 is arranged inside the primary seal region 31, and the secondary seal region 32 is further arranged inside the groove portion 39.

Further, the penetration region 36 may be provided only at a part of the plurality of corners of the flange portion 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 17A, only a pair of through regions 36 may be provided at positions of the corners of the flange portion 3 that sandwich the accommodating portion 2. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17B, the through holes 38 are provided only at a pair of corners of the flange portion 3 at positions sandwiching the accommodating portion 2.

Further, the flange uppermost portion 33 may be the fifth flange uppermost portion 33E of a mound-shaped convex portion such as a hemispherical shape. The uppermost portion 33 of the flange may have other shapes such as a conical shape, a truncated cone shape, a columnar shape, a polygonal columnar shape, and a polygonal pyramid shape.

The bottom plate 22 of the accommodating portion 2 of the above embodiment had a substantially rectangular plate shape, but it is conceivable that the bottom plate 22 has a substantially square plate shape. The bottom plate 22 may have a polygonal plate shape, a disk shape, or the like, in addition to the quadrangular plate shape.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the through region 36 is provided in the flange portion 3, and the through hole 38 is provided in the flange portion 3 by performing the through hole forming step. However, the through region 36 is provided in the flange portion 3. It does not have to be provided. As such a configuration, the configurations of FIGS. 18 to 21 and the like can be considered.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the flange portion 3 has a primary sealing region 31 that is sealed with the lid member 5 in the primary sealing step, and the lid member 5 and the primary sealing region 31 are sealed. At that time, it is considered that the flow passage R through which the gas can flow is formed between the lid member 5 and the outside and the inside of the accommodating portion 2. In this configuration, the uppermost portion 33 of the flange is a ridge extending in a long shape in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21 with gaps at the four corners of the flange portion 3. Further, the uppermost portion 33 of the flange also serves as the primary seal region 31. Further, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, a portion of the lower flange portion 34 that is continuously provided on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21 also serves as the secondary seal region 32.

In this case, the upper surface of the primary seal region 31 (for example, the upper surface 330 of the upper end of the flange) is located at the uppermost position of the upper surface 30 of the flange, and the upper surface of the secondary seal region 32 (for example, the opening edge 21 of the upper surface 340 of the lower portion of the flange). A portion continuously provided on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the above is located below the upper surface of the primary seal region 31 (for example, the upper surface 330 of the uppermost portion of the flange). Further, when the lid member 5 and the primary seal region 31 are sealed, the flange portion 3 has a gap C between the upper surface of the secondary seal region 32 (for example, the upper surface of the lower flange portion 340) and the lower surface of the lid member 5. Is formed so that the gap C becomes a part of the flow passage R.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the primary sealing step is performed by line sealing, but it may be performed by spot sealing that seals at least one point. For example, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, it is conceivable that the flange portion 3 is provided with a plurality of convex portions as the sixth flange uppermost portion 33F, and the sixth flange uppermost portion 33F also serves as the primary seal region 31. The shape of the uppermost flange 33F is, for example, a truncated cone shape. Further, it is conceivable that the flange uppermost portion 33F is provided at the four corner portions of the flange portion 3 and at the center of each side of the flange portion 3. In this way, when a plurality of primary seal regions 31 are provided with a gap in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21, the heated steam S passes through the gap between the primary seal regions 31 in the circumferential direction after the primary seal step is performed. Therefore, since it is circulated in the accommodating portion 2, a sufficient amount of the heated steam S can be circulated in the accommodating portion 2.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, a plurality of recesses may be provided in the flange portion 3 as the flange lower portion 34. It is conceivable that the flange lower portion 34 is arranged with a gap in the circumferential direction of the opening edge 21, and is located at, for example, the four corners of the flange portion 3. In this case, the flange uppermost portion 33 is located on each side of the flange portion 3. In this configuration, the flange uppermost portion 33 also serves as the primary seal region 31. Further, in this configuration, after the primary sealing step is performed, a gap C is generated between the lower surface of the lid member 5 and the upper surface 340 of the lower flange portion, and the gap C is located at the four corners of the flange portion 3. , The heated steam S flows from the four corners of the flange portion 3 into the accommodating portion 2.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the shape and size of the through holes 38 formed in the flange portion 3 are the same, but may be different. For example, as shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, through holes 38A are provided in a pair of adjacent corners of the four corners of the flange portion 3, and the adjacent pair of the four corners of the flange portion 3 is provided. It is conceivable that a through hole 38B having a size different from that of the through hole 38A is provided in a pair of corner portions other than the corner portion of the above. The diameter of the through hole 38A is larger than the diameter of the through hole 38B.

Further, the flange uppermost portion 33 may be a U-shaped or arc-shaped convex line in a plan view. For example, the uppermost portion 33G of the seventh flange located outside the through hole 38A is considered to be a U-shaped convex line in a plan view. The uppermost portion 33G of the seventh flange is provided along a portion located on the outer side of the outer circumference of the through hole 38A. Inside the through hole 38A, a plurality of (for example, three) fifth flange uppermost portions 33E are provided along the opening edge 21. In this packaging container 1, the primary seal region 31 is the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 3.

As described above, since the flange uppermost portion 33 is provided at both the outer and inner positions of the through hole 38A inside the primary seal region 31, the upper surface 330 of the flange uppermost portion is provided on the outer side and the inner side of the through hole 38A. Supports the lid member 5, so that a gap C is held between the through hole 38A and the lid member 5, and thus the through hole 38A can be prevented from being blocked.

In the above embodiment, the flange portion 3 is provided with a groove 39 as a recess, but a spot-shaped recess 39 may be provided. For example, it is conceivable that the recesses 39 are provided at the four corners of the flange portion 3. Further, a through hole 38B may be provided at the bottom of the recess 39.

Further, after performing the secondary sealing step, a part of the flange portion 3 including the through hole 38 may be removed. For example, in a configuration in which through holes 38 are provided at the four corners of the flange portion 3 described above (see FIGS. 22A and 22B), as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, the flange top portion 33E and the through holes 38 It is conceivable that the flange portion 3 is cut at the cutting line L between the through hole 38 and the secondary sealing region 32 after the secondary sealing region 32 is provided between them and the secondary sealing step is performed. In the configuration in which the through hole 38 is located between the primary seal region 31 and the secondary seal region 32, water droplets tend to collect around the through hole 38 in the flange portion 3, but the through hole 38 in the flange portion 3 is formed. By removing a part of the mixture, it is possible to prevent such water droplets from affecting the packaging container 1.

In FIG. 23, the cutting line L is provided so as to cut off the four corners of the flange portion 3, but extends between the through hole 38 and the secondary seal region 32 and is the circumference of the opening edge 21. It may be provided so as to continuously cut off the entire circumference in the direction. That is, the cutting line L may be provided so as to cut off the outer peripheral portion including the through hole 38 of the flange portion 3.

The through region 36 of the above embodiment has a circular shape in a plan view, but may have an elliptical shape or the like, and in this case, the through hole 38 may have a slit shape or the like. Further, the through hole 38 of the above embodiment was formed by forming a crevice 380 or punching the through region in the through region 36 provided with the cross-shaped groove portion 360, but it is formed by another method. You may.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, it is conceivable that each through hole 38 is formed by forming a U-shaped crevice 380 in the flange portion 3 in a plan view. In this configuration, the flange portion 3 is the eighth flange uppermost portion 33H formed by deforming a part of the flange portion 3 (for example, the penetration region 36) upward with the crevice 380 as a boundary. The upper surface has an eighth flange uppermost portion 33H located at the uppermost position of the upper surface 30 of the flange portion 3. Further, a flow passage R is formed between the lid member 5 and the flange portion 3 by the uppermost portion 33H of the eighth flange. Specifically, a U-shaped crevice 380 is formed in the penetration region 36, and the crevice 380 is formed. The inner portion of the U-shaped crevice 380 is bent upward from the other region of the flange portion 3 with the straight line 381 connecting the base end portions of the flange portion 3 as a boundary, whereby the through hole 38 is formed and the first portion is formed. The uppermost portion 33H of the eight flanges is formed. Further, the uppermost portion 33B of the second flange may be provided in the vicinity of the through hole 38.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, it is conceivable that each through hole 38 is formed by forming one linear crevice 380 in the flange portion 3. In this configuration, the through hole 38 is formed by the through region 36 being lifted above the region other than the through region 36 of the flange portion 3 with a pair of straight lines 381 extending from both ends of the crevice 380 as a boundary. At the same time, the uppermost portion 33H of the eighth flange is formed.

In this way, in the configuration in which the through hole 38 is formed by deforming the through region 36 above the region other than the through region 36 of the flange portion 3, the heated steam S is accommodated from below the flange portion 3. When the through region 36 is distributed to the portion 2, the through region 36 is easily held in a raised state by the heated steam S, so that the through hole 38 can be easily maintained in an open state.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 26B, the through region 36 is located above the region other than the through region 36 of the flange portion 3, so that the through hole 38 is formed and the uppermost portion of the eighth flange is formed. In the configuration in which 33H is formed, the uppermost portion 33C of the third flange may be provided in the vicinity of the through hole 38.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, when the penetrating region 36 is deformed upward, a recess is formed at the boundary 382 between the flange portion 3 and the penetrating region 36 by using a jig from above, and the recess is formed. It is preferable to deform the penetrating region 36 upward from the starting point. In this case, the boundary 382 of the flange portion 3 is easily bent, and the penetration region 36 is easily held in a raised state.

According to this configuration, a part of the flange portion 3 is deformed with the crevice 380 as a boundary to form the eighth flange uppermost portion 33H, and the eighth flange uppermost portion 33H forms the flow passage R, so that heating is performed. The steam S can be circulated in the accommodating portion 2 through the flow passage R.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, when the through hole 38 is formed so as to be the eighth flange uppermost portion 33H, the flange portion 3 is designated as the eighth flange uppermost portion 33. Only the top 33H of the flange may be provided. According to such a configuration, in addition to the eighth flange uppermost portion 33H, even if the flange uppermost portion 33 is not separately formed in the flange portion 3, a crevice 380 is formed in the flange portion 3 to form a through hole 38. Therefore, the flow passage R through which the heated steam S flows can be formed.

In the configuration in which the through region 36 becomes the uppermost portion 33H of the eighth flange when the through hole 38 is formed, for example, the through hole 38 may be formed by the following process. First, as shown in FIG. 29A, positioning is performed to form a crevice 380 in the flange portion 3, and as shown in FIG. 29B, the crevice 380 is formed by a shearing jig. Further, as shown in FIG. 29C, a jig for forming a depression is driven into the boundary 382 of the through region 36, and the impact thereof deforms the through region 36 upward to form the through hole 38. Can be done.

As shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, the penetration region 36 is a convex portion that projects upward, and the upper end of the convex portion may form the uppermost portion 33H of the eighth flange. Further, it is conceivable that the penetrating region 36 has, for example, a curved surface that bulges upward. In the penetration region 36, the upper end of the curved surface constitutes the uppermost portion 33H of the eighth flange. The penetration region 36 of this embodiment is bowl-shaped. The entire upper surface of the penetration region 36 is a curved surface. Further, the outer peripheral edge of the penetrating region 36 has an arc-shaped portion and a linear portion. On the outer peripheral edge of the penetration region 36 of the present embodiment, the arcuate portion is arranged inside the linear portion. Further, in this configuration, a crevice 380 is formed in a part of the outer peripheral edge of the penetrating region 36 (for example, an arc-shaped portion), and the penetrating region 36 is deformed upward, as shown in FIG. 30C. The penetrating region 36 becomes a curved surface that is convex upward.

When the penetrating region 36 is a convex portion protruding upward, the entire upper surface of the convex portion may be an inclined surface that is not curved, or only a part of the upper surface of the convex portion may be a curved surface. Good. For example, as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, the penetration region 36 is a convex portion in which the upper portion of the upper surface is a curved surface that bulges upward, and the upper end of the curved surface is the uppermost portion 33H of the eighth flange. It may be configured. The lower part of the upper surface of the penetration region 36 is an inclined surface. The outer peripheral edge of the penetration region 36 has a rectangular shape with rounded corners. Further, in this configuration, a crevice 380 is formed in a part of the outer peripheral edge of the penetration region 36 (for example, a portion of the outer peripheral edge excluding one side located on the outer side, that is, three sides and a pair of corners of the rectangular outer peripheral edge). By forming the penetrating region 36 and deforming the penetrating region 36 upward, as shown in FIG. 31C, the penetrating region 36 becomes a curved surface that bulges upward.

In the configuration in which a part of the flange portion 3 (for example, the penetrating region 36) that is deformed upward is a curved surface that bulges upward in this way, the primary seal region 31 and the lid member 5 are formed. When sealed, the convex curved surface bent upward by forming a crevice 380 in the flange portion 3 can stably support the lid member 5 without damaging it.

In the above embodiment, in the packaging container 1 of FIGS. 24 to 31, the penetration region 36 is located above the other region of the flange portion 3 with the crevice 380 as a boundary, but penetrates by being located below. Holes 38 may be formed. In this case, a portion of the flange portion 3 other than the penetration region 36 may form the flange uppermost portion 33.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the through hole 38 is arranged at the corner of the flange portion 3, but as shown in FIG. 32A, the through hole 38 is arranged in a region other than the corner of the flange portion 3. You may. Further, although the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment includes one accommodating portion 2, as shown in FIGS. 32B to 32C, a plurality of accommodating portions 2 may be provided. In this case, it is conceivable that the through hole 38 is arranged between the adjacent accommodating portions 2 (the region sandwiched between the accommodating portions 2).

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the flange portion 3 is provided with the through region 36, but instead of the through region 36, the flange portion 3 may be provided with a through hole 38 in advance. In this case, the method for producing the packaged food 6 does not include the through-hole forming step, but includes the food storage step, the primary sealing step, the sterilization step, and the secondary sealing step.

In the method for producing packaged foods of the above-described embodiment, the food storage step, the through-hole forming step, the primary sealing step, the sterilizing step, and the secondary sealing step are performed in order. A containment step may be performed. Further, the packaging container 1 is provided with a through hole 38 in the through region 36 of the flange portion 3 to accommodate the food F in the accommodating portion 2, and then seals the lid member 5 and the primary seal region 31 of the flange portion 3, and further. , Packaging of packaged food 6 such that the lid member 5 and the secondary sealing region 32 of the flange portion 3 are sealed after the heated steam S is circulated in the accommodating portion 2 through the flow passage R to sterilize the food F. It can also be suitably used as a container 1.

The flange portion 3 of the above embodiment is provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge 21 in the circumferential direction, but may be provided in a discontinuous state (at intervals) in this circumferential direction.

In the packaging container 1 of the above embodiment, the accommodating portion 2 and the flange portion 3 are composed of one member, but may be composed of different members. For example, the container body 4 is configured by forming an accommodating portion 2 and a flange portion 3 as separate members, and adhering the accommodating portion 2 and the flange portion 3 with an adhesive to connect the accommodating portion 2 and the flange portion 3. It is possible that it will be done.

Further, in the present invention, various contents can be contained as sterilization objects. The contents are, for example, articles that do not want to come into contact with contaminants such as bacteria and dust and oxygen during storage or transportation, and are foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, medical equipment, hygiene products, physics and chemistry products. , Bio-related products, etc. are included. Among them, foods are preferable, and foods that can maintain appearance and quality in steam sterilization under high temperature and high pressure (for example, foods that are solid during storage) are preferable.

Further, as the sterilizing gas used in the present invention, heated steam was used in the above embodiment, but there are other bactericidal actions such as ozone gas, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, acetic acid, ethylene oxide, chlorine dioxide, etc. depending on the contents. Gas may be used.

From the above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging container that can be suitably used when sterilizing the contents and can maintain the quality of the sterilized contents for a long period of time.

The packaging container according to the present invention is a packaging container for sterilization treatment for sterilizing the contents contained therein by exposing them to a sterilizing gas, and then sealing and distributing the contents. A container body including an accommodating portion having an opening and accommodating the contents and a flange portion extending outward from the opening edge of the accommodating portion is provided, and the flange portion is primary with a lid member covering the opening. The primary sealing area that is primarily sealed in the sealing process, the secondary sealing area that is secondarily sealed in the secondary sealing process after the lid member and the primary sealing, and the uppermost position on the upper surface of the flange portion. The uppermost portion of the lid to be formed, the lower portion of the flange located below the upper surface of the uppermost portion of the flange on the upper surface, and at least one through region having a through hole located inside the primary seal region and penetrating the flange portion. And, when the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed, the outside and the inside of the accommodating portion are between the lid member supported by the uppermost portion of the flange and the lower portion of the flange. A flow passage through which gas can flow is formed between the two, and the flow passage is closed when the lid member and the secondary seal region are sealed.

In the packaging container having such a configuration, for example, the contents are stored in the storage portion and a through hole is provided in the through region of the flange portion, or a through hole is provided in the through region of the flange portion to store food in the storage portion. Later, the lid member and the primary seal area of the flange portion are sealed, and further, the sterilizing gas is circulated in the accommodating portion through the flow passage to sterilize the contents, and then the secondary seal region of the lid member and the flange portion It is suitable as a container used for sealing.

In this packaging container, when a through hole is provided inside the primary sealing area of the flange portion, this through hole constitutes a part of the flow passage. Further, when the primary seal region and the lid member are sealed, a gap is generated between the lower portion of the flange of the flange portion and the lid member, and this gap forms a part of the flow passage. Therefore, when sterilizing the contents, the sterilizing gas flows from below the flange portion into the accommodating portion through a flow passage formed by through holes and gaps, so that the contents in the accommodating portion can be sterilized. Become.

In particular, in this packaging container, since the upper surface of the uppermost portion of the flange is located above the upper surface of the lower portion of the flange, the uppermost portion of the flange supports the lid member when sterilizing the contents, so that the uppermost portion of the flange distributes the container. The sterilizing gas can be circulated in the accommodating portion while the state in which the gap constituting the road is not closed is surely maintained.

Further, in this packaging container, the lid member is located above the flow path, that is, the flow path is not exposed on the lid member, so that the falling bacteria enter the container through the flow path even after sterilization with the sterilizing gas. Hard to mix. Further, since the flow passage is closed by sealing the secondary seal region and the lid member, the packaging container can completely seal the contents by sealing with the lid member.

Further, in the packaging container, the through hole may be formed by forming a rift in a part of the through region.

According to this configuration, when a through hole is formed in the through region, a part of the flange portion is not broken and fragments of the flange portion are not generated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent debris from the flange portion from being mixed into the accommodating portion.

The penetrating region has a curved surface that bulges upward, and the upper end of the curved surface may form the uppermost portion of the flange.

According to such a configuration, when the primary seal region and the lid member are sealed, the curved surface can support the lid member without damaging it.

Further, in the packaging container, the penetrating region is a recess that is recessed downward, and the rift may be formed in the recess.

According to such a configuration, when the through hole is formed, the penetrating region recessed downward is perforated from above, so that the perforated portion of the penetrating region remains facing downward from the other regions of the flange portion. It is easy to hold, and thus it is possible to prevent the through hole from being blocked by this site.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion may be provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge of the accommodating portion, a plurality of the penetrating regions may be provided, and may be arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion.

According to such a configuration, since the penetrating region is arranged at the opposite position sandwiching the accommodating portion, if the penetrating hole is provided at this position, gas is circulated from both sides of the accommodating portion through the through hole, so that the food can be prepared. It is possible to suppress uneven heating.

Another packaging container of the present invention is a packaging container for sterilizing the contents contained therein by exposing them to a sterilizing gas, and then sealing and distributing the contents, and has an opening at the top. A container body including an accommodating portion having and accommodating the contents and a flange portion extending outward from the opening edge of the accommodating portion is provided, and the flange portion includes a lid member covering the opening and a primary sealing step. It has a primary seal region to be primary sealed, a lid member and a secondary seal region to be sealed in a secondary seal step after the primary seal, and the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed. At that time, when a flow passage through which gas can flow is formed between the lid member and the outside and the inside of the storage portion, and the lid member and the secondary seal region are sealed, the flow passage is formed. Is configured to be closed.

In the packaging container having such a configuration, the contents are stored in the storage portion, the lid member and the primary sealing area of the flange portion are sealed, and the sterilizing gas is circulated in the storage portion through the flow passage to store the contents. After sterilization, it can be suitably used as a container for sealing the lid member and the secondary sealing area of the flange portion.

In this packaging container, when the primary seal area and the lid member are sealed, when the contents are sterilized, the sterilizing gas flows from below the flange portion into the accommodating portion through the flow passage, thereby causing the inside of the accommodating portion. It is possible to sterilize the contents of.

Further, in this packaging container, the lid member is located above the flow path, that is, the flow path is not exposed on the lid member, so that the falling bacteria enter the container through the flow path even after sterilization with the sterilizing gas. Hard to mix. Further, since the flow passage is closed by sealing the secondary seal region and the lid member, the packaging container can completely seal the contents by sealing with the lid member.

Further, the flange portion of the packaging container is provided with at least one through hole penetrating the flange portion inside the primary seal region so that the through hole becomes a part of the flow passage. It may be configured.

According to such a configuration, in the state after the primary sealing step, the sterilizing gas flows from the lower part of the flange portion to the inside of the accommodating portion through the through hole which becomes a part of the flow passage, thereby sterilizing the food in the accommodating portion. Is possible.

Further, in the packaging container, the through hole may be formed by forming a rift in a part of the flange portion.

According to this configuration, when the through hole is provided, a part of the flange portion is not broken and no fragment of the flange portion is generated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent debris from the flange portion from being mixed into the accommodating portion.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion has a flange uppermost portion formed by deforming a part of the flange portion upward with the crevice as a boundary, and is supported by the flange uppermost portion. The flow passage may be formed between the lid member and the flange portion.

According to this configuration, the through hole and the uppermost portion of the flange can be formed at the same time by forming a crevice in the flange portion.

Further, in the packaging container, a part of the flange portion that is deformed upward may have a curved surface that bulges upward.

According to such a configuration, when the primary seal region and the lid member are sealed, the curved surface can support the lid member without damaging it.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion has a flange uppermost portion whose upper surface is located at the uppermost position of the upper surface of the flange portion, and the lid member supported by the flange uppermost portion and the flange portion. The flow passage may be formed between them.

According to such a configuration, the lid member is supported by the uppermost portion of the flange between the time when the primary sealing process is performed and the time when the secondary sealing process is performed, that is, when the contents are sterilized. The sterilizing gas can be more reliably circulated in the accommodating portion through the flow passage.

Further, in the packaging container, the flange portion may be provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge of the accommodating portion, a plurality of the through holes may be provided, and may be arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion.

According to this configuration, uneven heating of food can be suppressed by allowing gas to flow from both sides of the accommodating portion through through holes arranged across the accommodating portion.

Further, in the packaging container, the upper surface of the primary seal region is located at the uppermost position of the upper surface of the flange portion, and the upper surface of the secondary seal region is located below the upper surface of the primary seal region. The flange portion is configured so that when the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the secondary seal region and the lower surface of the lid member. However, it may be configured to be a part of the flow passage.

According to such a configuration, the upper surface of the primary sealing region is positioned above the upper surface of the secondary sealing region during the period from the primary sealing step to the secondary sealing step, that is, when the food is sterilized. Therefore, in order to hold the gap in which the primary seal region becomes a part of the flow path, the primary seal region ensures that the gap is not closed and allows gas to flow into the accommodating portion through the through hole. be able to.

Further, in the packaging container, the accommodating portion may include a bottom plate on which the contents are placed, and the upper surface of the bottom plate may have an uneven shape.

According to this configuration, when the contents are arranged in the accommodating portion, a gap is generated below the contents. Therefore, when the sterilizing gas is circulated in the accommodating portion, the sterilizing gas is circulated not only above the contents but also below the contents. Will be distributed. Therefore, the contents can be sterilized from both above and below by the sterilizing gas.

The packaging container of the present invention further includes a lid member, and the container body and the lid member may be composed of a multilayer structure including at least one gas barrier layer.

According to this configuration, the container body and the lid member are provided with the gas barrier layer, so that the sterilized state in the packaging container can be maintained for a longer period of time.

From the above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging container that can be suitably used when sterilizing the contents and can maintain the quality of the sterilized contents for a long period of time.

1 ... Packaging container, 2 ... Storage part, 3 ... Flange part, 4 ... Container body, 5 ... Lid member, 6 ... Packaged food, 20 ... Opening, 21 ... Opening edge, 22 ... Bottom plate, 23 ... Side wall, 30 ... Flange Top surface, 31 ... Primary seal area, 32 ... Secondary seal area, 33 ... Flange top, 33A ... First flange top, 33B ... Second flange top, 33C ... Third flange top, 33D ... Fourth flange Top, 33E ... 5th flange top, 33F ... 6th flange top, 33G ... 7th flange top, 33H ... 8th flange top, 34 ... flange bottom, 35 ... flange bottom surface, 36 ... penetration area, 38, 38A, 38B ... Through holes, 39 ... Grooves (recesses), 220 ... Bottom plate upper surface 221 ... Bottom plate lower surface 222 ... Bottom plate protrusions 223 ... Bottom plate inclined surface, 230 ... First flange upper surface, 330 ... Flange top top Upper surface, 340 ... Flange lower upper surface, 360 ... Groove, 361 ... Upper surface, 362 ... Lower surface, 363 ... Outer peripheral edge, 380 ... Rift, 381 ... Straight line, 382 ... Boundary, C ... Gap, F ... Food, L ... Cutting line, R ... flow passage, S ... heated steam

Claims (15)

A packaging container for sterilization treatment for sterilizing the contents contained therein by exposing them to a sterilizing gas, and then sealing and distributing the contents.
A container body including an accommodating portion having an opening at the top and accommodating the contents, and a flange portion extending outward from the opening edge of the accommodating portion.
The flange portion is
A lid member that covers the opening, a primary seal region that is primarily sealed in the primary seal process, and a primary seal area.
The lid member and the secondary sealing region where the contents are completely sealed by the secondary sealing in the secondary sealing step after the primary sealing step, and the secondary sealing region.
On the upper surface, the uppermost portion of the flange located at the uppermost position of the upper surface of the flange portion, and the uppermost portion of the flange.
On the upper surface, the lower part of the flange located below the upper surface of the uppermost part of the flange, and
It has at least one through region located inside the primary seal region and provided with a through hole penetrating the flange portion, and has.
When the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed, gas can flow between the lid member supported by the uppermost portion of the flange and the lower portion of the flange, and between the outside and the inside of the accommodating portion. A packaging container characterized in that the flow passage is closed when a path is formed and the lid member and the secondary seal region are sealed. The packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is formed by forming a rift in a part of the through region. The penetrating region has a curved surface that bulges upward.
The packaging container according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of the curved surface constitutes the uppermost portion of the flange. The packaging container according to claim 2, wherein the penetrating region is a concave portion recessed downward, and the crevice is formed in the concave portion. The flange portion is provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge of the accommodating portion.
The packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the penetrating regions are provided and arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion. A packaging container for sterilizing the contents contained therein by exposing them to a sterilizing gas, and then sealing and distributing the contents.
A container body including an accommodating portion having an opening at the top and accommodating the contents, and a flange portion extending outward from the opening edge of the accommodating portion.
The flange portion is
A lid member that covers the opening, a primary seal region that is primarily sealed in the primary seal process, and a primary seal area.
It has the lid member and a secondary sealing region that is secondary sealed in the secondary sealing step after the primary sealing step, and has a secondary sealing region.
When the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed, a flow passage through which gas can flow is formed between the lid member and the inside of the accommodating portion, and the lid member and the secondary seal region are sealed. A packaging container characterized in that the flow passage is closed when the sealing area is sealed. The flange portion is provided with at least one through hole penetrating the flange portion inside the primary seal region.
The packaging container according to claim 6, wherein the through hole is configured to be a part of the flow passage. The packaging container according to claim 7, wherein the through hole is formed by forming a rift in a part of the flange portion. The flange portion has a flange uppermost portion formed by deforming a part of the flange portion upward with the crevice as a boundary.
The packaging container according to claim 8, wherein the flow passage is formed between the lid member supported by the upper end of the flange and the flange portion. The packaging container according to claim 9, wherein a part of the flange portion that is deformed upward has a curved surface that bulges upward. The flange portion has an uppermost flange portion located on the upper surface of the upper surface of the flange portion.
The packaging container according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the flow passage is formed between the lid member supported by the uppermost portion of the flange and the flange portion. The flange portion is provided on the entire circumference of the opening edge of the accommodating portion.
The packaging container according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein a plurality of the through holes are provided and arranged at opposite positions sandwiching the accommodating portion. The upper surface of the primary seal region is located at the uppermost position of the upper surface of the flange portion.
The upper surface of the secondary seal region is located below the upper surface of the primary seal region.
The flange portion is configured so that when the lid member and the primary seal region are sealed, a gap is formed between the upper surface of the secondary seal region and the lower surface of the lid member.
The packaging container according to claim 7, wherein the gap is configured to be a part of the flow passage. The housing includes a bottom plate on which the contents are placed.
The packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the upper surface of the bottom plate has an uneven shape. The packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 14 further includes a lid member.
A packaging container in which the container body and the lid member are composed of a multilayer structure including at least one gas barrier layer.

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