U.S. patent application number 14/395594 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-12 for container superior in air-tightness and a method of keeping gas molecules or volatile components in the container.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYDROGEN HEALTH MEDICAL LABO CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Hydrogen Health Medical Labo Co., Ltd., Nano Jet Japan Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hiroshi Harada, Tadashi Kishimoto, Kenji Nakamoto, Shigeo Ohta.
Application Number | 20150069056 14/395594 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49383598 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150069056 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kishimoto; Tadashi ; et
al. |
March 12, 2015 |
CONTAINER SUPERIOR IN AIR-TIGHTNESS AND A METHOD OF KEEPING GAS
MOLECULES OR VOLATILE COMPONENTS IN THE CONTAINER
Abstract
A bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate does likely undergo
that a gas having a small molecular weight or volatile component
escapes from the bottle in a short time in comparison with a glass
bottle, steel can, and aluminum can. For a countermeasure, a simple
operation prevents hydrogen molecules, helium gas, and volatile
component from scattering and being lost. A container filled with
gas, or liquid or viscous fluid in which gas is dissolved, or metal
granules adsorbing gas is given a cap, and then, the whole of the
container including the cap is packed with a metal foil laminated
film superior in gas-barrier properties to be vacuum packaged.
Inventors: |
Kishimoto; Tadashi;
(Ohzu-shi, JP) ; Nakamoto; Kenji; (Hiroshima-shi,
JP) ; Harada; Hiroshi; (Ohzu-shi, JP) ; Ohta;
Shigeo; (Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nano Jet Japan Co., Ltd.
Hydrogen Health Medical Labo Co., Ltd. |
Ohzu-shi
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYDROGEN HEALTH MEDICAL LABO CO.,
LTD.
Tokyo
JP
NANO JET JAPAN CO., LTD.
Ohzu-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
49383598 |
Appl. No.: |
14/395594 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
April 22, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/061757 |
371 Date: |
October 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.87 ;
206/524.8; 53/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 31/00 20130101;
B65D 77/04 20130101; B65B 5/045 20130101; B65D 81/20 20130101; B65D
77/0406 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/23.87 ;
206/524.8; 53/449 |
International
Class: |
B65D 77/04 20060101
B65D077/04; B65B 5/04 20060101 B65B005/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2012 |
JP |
2012-096330 |
Mar 26, 2013 |
JP |
2013-064196 |
Claims
1. A container superior in air-tightness characterized in that the
container is filled with hydrogen molecules, helium gas, smell
component, or liquid, viscous fluid, or solid body each containing
any of these gases and is given a cap or sealed, and the whole of
the container including the cap or seal is then packed with a metal
foil laminated film superior in resistance against gas permeability
(gas-barrier properties) to be vacuum packaged.
2. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 1
wherein the container is vacuum packaged with a film superior in
gas-barrier properties, so that the surface of the container and
the inner surface of the film high adhere to each other to unite
the container and the film, thereby preventing the gas components
from scattering and being lost from the inside of the container and
improving the gas-barrier properties.
3. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 1
wherein when the container filled with hydrogen molecules, helium
gas, smell component, or liquid, viscous fluid, or solid body each
containing any of these gases is given a top or cap, and the whole
of the container including the top or cap is then covered with a
metal foil laminated film to be vacuum packaged, a pressure gauge
of a vacuum packaging apparatus is -760 mmHg to -740 mmHg (gauge
pressure notation/absolute vacuum is -760 mmHg).
4. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 1
wherein the liquid or viscous fluid containing hydrogen molecules
is filled in the container up to its mouth without having any space
(dead volume) at the upper part of the container.
5. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 1
wherein the container may employ a container made of resin provided
by molding a material among resin such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon), polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) into a solid in shape of a bottle having
thickness of 150 .mu.m or more; a container in form of a bag made
using a film less than 200 .mu.m thick, such as a medical drip bag
having a mouth for coinjection and a discharge port; a stand pouch
type container (including gazette pouch) having a mouth cap
(mouthpiece), or three-way-sealed packaging bag (including
three-way-sealed packaging bag having back-bonding part), or
four-way-sealed packaging bag, etc.; a metal can having a screw cap
or a crown; a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, or a container made
of paper, wood, or bamboo.
6. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container characterized in that the container filled with hydrogen
molecules, helium gas, smell component, or liquid, viscous fluid,
or solid body each containing any of these gases is given a cap or
sealed, and the whole of the container including the cap or seal is
then packed with a metal foil laminated film superior in resistance
against gas permeability (gas-barrier properties) to be vacuum
packaged.
7. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 6 wherein the container is vacuum
packaged with a film superior in gas-barrier properties, so that
the surface of the container and the inner surface of the film high
adhere to each other to unite the container and the film, thereby
preventing the gas components from volatilizing and evaporating
from the inside of the container and improving the gas-barrier
properties.
8. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 6 wherein when the container filled
with hydrogen molecules, helium gas, smell component, or liquid,
viscous fluid, or solid body each containing any of these gases is
given a top or cap, and the whole of the container including the
top or cap is then covered with an aluminum foil laminated film to
be vacuum packaged, a pressure gauge of a vacuum packaging
apparatus is -760 mmHg to -740 mmHg (gauge pressure
notation/absolute vacuum is -760 mmHg).
9. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 6 wherein the liquid or viscous
fluid containing hydrogen molecules is filled in the container up
to its mouth without having any space (dead volume) at the upper
part of the container.
10. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 6 wherein the container may employ
a container made of resin provided by molding a material among
resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon),
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) into a solid in shape of a
bottle having thickness of 150 .mu.m or more; a container in form
of a bag made using a film less than 200 .mu.m thick, such as a
medical drip bag having a mouth for coinjection and a discharge
port; a stand pouch type container (including gazette pouch) having
a mouth cap (mouthpiece), or three-way-sealed packaging bag
(including three-way-sealed packaging bag having back-bonding
part), or four-way-sealed packaging bag, etc.; a metal can having a
screw cap or a crown; a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, or a
container made of paper, wood, or bamboo.
11. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 2
wherein when the container filled with hydrogen molecules, helium
gas, smell component, or liquid, viscous fluid, or solid body each
containing any of these gases is given a top or cap, and the whole
of the container including the top or cap is then covered with a
metal foil laminated film to be vacuum packaged, a pressure gauge
of a vacuum packaging apparatus is -760 mmHg to -740 mmHg (gauge
pressure notation/absolute vacuum is -760 mmHg).
12. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 2
wherein the liquid or viscous fluid containing hydrogen molecules
is filled in the container up to its mouth without having any space
(dead volume) at the upper part of the container.
13. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 3
wherein the liquid or viscous fluid containing hydrogen molecules
is filled in the container up to its mouth without having any space
(dead volume) at the upper part of the container.
14. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 2
wherein the container may employ a container made of resin provided
by molding a material among resin such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon), polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) into a solid in shape of a bottle having
thickness of 150 .mu.m or more; a container in form of a bag made
using a film less than 200 .mu.m thick, such as a medical drip bag
having a mouth for coinjection and a discharge port; a stand pouch
type container (including gazette pouch) having a mouth cap
(mouthpiece), or three-way-sealed packaging bag (including
three-way-sealed packaging bag having back-bonding part), or
four-way-sealed packaging bag, etc.; a metal can having a screw cap
or a crown; a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, or a container made
of paper, wood, or bamboo.
15. A container superior in air-tightness as set forth in claim 3
wherein the container may employ a container made of resin provided
by molding a material among resin such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon), polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) into a solid in shape of a bottle having
thickness of 150 .mu.m or more; a container in form of a bag made
using a film less than 200 .mu.m thick, such as a medical drip bag
having a mouth for coinjection and a discharge port; a stand pouch
type container (including gazette pouch) having a mouth cap
(mouthpiece), or three-way-sealed packaging bag (including
three-way-sealed packaging bag having back-bonding part), or
four-way-sealed packaging bag, etc.; a metal can having a screw cap
or a crown; a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, or a container made
of paper, wood, or bamboo.
16. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 7 wherein when the container filled
with hydrogen molecules, helium gas, smell component, or liquid,
viscous fluid, or solid body each containing any of these gases is
given a top or cap, and the whole of the container including the
top or cap is then covered with an aluminum foil laminated film to
be vacuum packaged, a pressure gauge of a vacuum packaging
apparatus is -760 mmHg to -740 mmHg (gauge pressure
notation/absolute vacuum is -760 mmHg).
17. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 7 wherein the liquid or viscous
fluid containing hydrogen molecules is filled in the container up
to its mouth without having any space (dead volume) at the upper
part of the container.
18. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 8 wherein the liquid or viscous
fluid containing hydrogen molecules is filled in the container up
to its mouth without having any space (dead volume) at the upper
part of the container.
19. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 7 wherein the container may employ
a container made of resin provided by molding a material among
resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon),
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) into a solid in shape of a
bottle having thickness of 150 .mu.m or more; a container in form
of a bag made using a film less than 200 .mu.m thick, such as a
medical drip bag having a mouth for coinjection and a discharge
port; a stand pouch type container (including gazette pouch) having
a mouth cap (mouthpiece), or three-way-sealed packaging bag
(including three-way-sealed packaging bag having back-bonding
part), or four-way-sealed packaging bag, etc.; a metal can having a
screw cap or a crown; a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, or a
container made of paper, wood, or bamboo.
20. A method for keeping gas molecules or volatile components in a
container as set forth in claim 8 wherein the container may employ
a container made of resin provided by molding a material among
resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (nylon),
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) into a solid in shape of a
bottle having thickness of 150 .mu.m or more; a container in form
of a bag made using a film less than 200 .mu.m thick, such as a
medical drip bag having a mouth for coinjection and a discharge
port; a stand pouch type container (including gazette pouch) having
a mouth cap (mouthpiece), or three-way-sealed packaging bag
(including three-way-sealed packaging bag having back-bonding
part), or four-way-sealed packaging bag, etc.; a metal can having a
screw cap or a crown; a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, or a
container made of paper, wood, or bamboo.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container, such as a
bottle or a film-use type container, which container is to be
filled with gases such as hydrogen molecules (molecular hydrogen.
Molecular formula H.sub.2), helium gas, or smell components, a
liquid, a viscous fluid, or a solid body containing any of these
gases, and is further given a cap or sealed, and the whole of the
container including the cap or the seal is packed with a metal foil
laminated film superior in gas-barrier properties to be vacuum
packaged, thereby preventing permeable gases such as hydrogen
molecules of small molecular weight from scattering and being lost.
The invention does relate also to a method of keeping air-tightness
of the container. Herein, keeping air-tightness includes also
restraining specific molecules from scattering and being lost
through permeation. Oxygen gas, carbonic acid gas, and, nitrogen
gas larger in size than hydrogen molecules possibly evaporate and
volatilize through apertures of unglazed earthenware and containers
made of wood, bamboo, or paper which apertures of these materials
are large in size. But, vacuum packaging with a metal foil
laminated film superior in gas barrier properties prevents
evaporation and volatilization of the gases. Here, evaporation and
volatilization include also that gas molecules dissolved in a
solution in a container permeate the container to scatter and be
lost.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A bottle made of resin (plastic), particularly, of
polyethylene terephthalate is substantially excellent in gas
barrier properties and is widely used as a container for drinks or
beverages such as water, juice, liquors, carbonated drinks,
seasonings such as soy sauce, etc. and liquid shampoo, liquid
detergents. It is however widely known that gases or volatile
components smaller in molecular weight than base materials (barrier
layer) of the container (i.e., the polyethylene terephthalate
bottles) could escape from the bottle in a short time in comparison
with traditional glass or ceramic bottles, steel cans, and aluminum
cans. Recently, alcoholic beverages such as wines are bottled in a
polyethylene terephthalate bottle having coating with silica
deposition or the like and are on the market. It is known to public
that such bottle is not capable of keeping air-tightness at the
same level as the traditional bottles.
[0003] The present inventors made such comparison and inspection
regarding air-tightness, with hydrogen molecules-dissolved water
(water dissolving hydrogen molecules in concentration of
approximately 1000 ppb) being filled in a polyethylene
terephthalate bottle which bottle then capped, followed by vacuum
packaging the whole of the polyethylene terephthalate bottle
entirely by use of an aluminum foil laminated film. We found that
this bottle showed such result that concentration of remaining
hydrogen molecules is dominantly high and shows a large difference
in comparison with a polyethylene terephthalate bottle which bottle
is packed using an aluminum foil laminated film but is not vacuum
packaged.
[0004] Needless to say, it is broadly known to public that hydrogen
molecules completely permeate a bottle made of resin, such as a
polyethylene terephthalate bottle within several hours to several
days and scatter to be lost since hydrogen molecule is smallest in
mass as confirmed on the Earth.
[0005] When hydrogen molecules in the hydrogen dissolved water are
capable of being kept in the container for some days, then, helium
gas, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, ethyl alcohol, and other organic
smell component larger in molecular weight than hydrogen molecules
can naturally be kept in the container for a longer time than
conventional technological performance.
[0006] It has recently been found that hydrogen water is capable of
reducing and eliminating hydroxy radical which is a typical
reactive oxygen in vivo, and the fact that hydrogen water has
effects on treatment and prevention of various diseases has been
being clarified. Thus, hydrogen water is given attention in the
field of beverages. Various goods using hydrogen water filled in
containers are supplied on the market. The containers are generally
a bag made of an aluminum foil laminated film. This is because a
polyethylene terephthalate bottle, which although broadly used as a
container for beverage, does merely allow hydrogen molecules to be
lost from the bottle within several days. Moreover, for screw type
or crown type metal cans such as aluminum or steel cans, and glass
bottles or ceramic bottles, air-tightness or water tightness is
kept by disk or ring made of cork, resin (plastic) or rubber which
fit on the inside of the cap to press edge of mouth of the cans and
bottles. Hydrogen molecules do however volatilize and evaporate
from the part of ring made of resin, and can be kept only in a
short time. Otherwise even when kept longer, concentrations of
hydrogen molecules gradually become lower, leading to be
problematical in terms of quality. Meanwhile, the cap of screw type
or crown type is metallic such as aluminum generally, but rather
made of resin with its inside top having an integrally molded
double steps. In the container having this cap, hydrogen molecules
permeate the resin part. Thus, it is needed to provide
vacuum-packaging using a metal foil laminated film which is low in
gas permeation properties.
[0007] Moreover, in the medical field, it have been made studies of
use of hydrogen molecules in a medicament drip infusion bag since
it have been gradually found notable effects of performing drip
infusion with hydrogen molecules with respect to a cerebral
infarction and diseases of a circulatory organ. A container used
for drip is generally made of polyethylene and polyethylene resin
is high in gas permeation rate, so that hydrogen molecules are
completely lost from the container approximately within two days.
Besides, aluminum foil cannot be applied to the container since a
solution in the container must be seen through from the outside of
the container. Thus, the fact that the container made of
polyethylene is good in gas permeation properties at present is
made use of in such manner that the container containing a liquid
to be dripped is soaked in a vessel having hydrogen water at high
concentration and the container is then used. Naturally, the soaked
container having therein the liquid to be dripped is to be used
immediately after addition of hydrogen molecules. In other words,
at present, to apply hydrogen molecules into the liquid to be
dripped cannot be performed without a special apparatus and is not
yet generalized but being still studied. If hydrogen molecules in
the liquid to be dripped are capable of being kept in a long time,
studies and applications will progress by far, needless to say.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTATION
Patent Documents
[0008] Patent Document 1: Unexamined Patent Application
2004-124253, Patent Document 2: Unexamined Patent Application
2007-099365 [0009] As is mentioned above, it is a significant task
to keep long hydrogen molecules in hydrogen water or in a liquid to
be dripped containing hydrogen molecules. A remarkable advance can
be prospected if hydrogen molecules are capable of being kept in a
long time by use of an ordinarily employed container such as a
bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate. But, in the present
scientific technology, a container made of resin (a container in
the type of a bottle) does not have air-tightness at a level
obtainable with traditional glass or ceramic bottles, steel cans,
and aluminum cans. Even when competent air-tightness in the bottle
type container is realized, it is difficult, as widely known, to
keep air-tightness at a mouth cap (a cap) of the bottle-type
container, since the mouth cap (cap) is made of resin which is low
in air-tightness such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and so
on.
[0010] A proposal has been made regarding an apparatus for forming
a membrane having gas-barrier properties on the inner peripheral
surface of the bottle made of resin (the patent document 1). The
apparatus provides that gas component serving as a membrane-forming
material is connected, in a vacuum chamber, to a high frequency
power source or an ionization power source to thereby be brought
into a state of plasma, whereby undergoing vapor deposition on the
inner peripheral surface of the bottle made of resin to form a
membrane.
[0011] However, that apparatus requires many vacuum chambers and
has a quite complicated structure. Besides, the specification of
the patent document 1 does not disclose how much the gas-barrier
properties is improved. And the cap part is made of polyethylene or
polypropylene high in gas permeation properties, so that gas
leakage from the cap part is not prevented.
[0012] The patent document 2 discloses such technology that a
container such as a glass bottle is filled with sake or the like
and given a top, followed by covering almost entirely the
container's external surface (which external surface preliminarily
having a label or others put thereon) by use of a sealing-up outer
packaging bag, thereby generating such state of an inside air
pressure 1 to 5 hPa (hectopascal) between the container's external
surface and the inner surface of the sealing-up outer packaging
bag. In this case, the sealing-up outer packaging bag is provided
not for preventing evaporation and volatilization of gases from the
inside of the glass bottle but for protecting the label or others
put on the outside of the glass bottle. Thus, the sealing-up outer
packaging bag is characterized in that covering the container is
performed with a transparent film through which the label put on
the container's outside is seen. The present application is quite
different from the patent document 2 in that since the whole of the
container including the cap is covered with the metal foil
laminated film, the contents of the covering of the container,
namely, a label or others put on the container cannot be seen
through from the outside. It is so referred to in the patent
document 2 that the external surface of the container on which a
label or others is put on is almost entirely covered by use of a
sealing-up outer packaging bag. The container or the like is not
completely covered. For the invention of the present application,
if the container is not covered completely, hydrogen molecules or
others will leak from there. Both inventions differ from each other
also in this point.
GIST OF THE INVENTION
Tasks the Invention is to Solve
[0013] The present invention has a task to provide that the
product, which employs not only a bottle made of polyethylene
terephthalate but also a bottle type container low in gas barrier
properties as made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, can
prevent volatilization and evaporation of gas components from the
bottles made of resin (plastic) and also can prevent lowering of
concentrations of gas components in fluids and viscous fluid in the
bottle type containers. The invention can make use of the
conventional manufacturing facilities (for bottling liquids, etc.)
as they are and can be realized merely by partially adding the
packaging process (the packaging line) to be performed after the
contents filling process into the bottle type containers. Hence,
keeping air-tightness of the bottle type container made of resin
can be achieved at a low cost and with ease. According to this
method, application of the invention is enabled to the feature of
aluminum pouch type container using, for a mouthpiece at a part of
the container, resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene low in
gas barrier properties.
[0014] If hydrogen water is sealed in aluminum can, hydrogen
molecules must be long kept. But, aluminum cans require a small
special space ("dead volume") for preventing a solution put in the
can from spilling out of the can when opened. Moreover, when
heating and sterilizing is performed for the solution put in the
can, volume of the solution increases as temperature rises, needing
gas for allowing the change of volume, and the dead volume is
needed also for this purpose. Hydrogen molecules in saturation can
be soluble and exist as gas (1 atm) merely in quantity of 10 mL or
less in water of 500 mL. Thus, If the dead volume is 10 mL, half of
hydrogen molecules escapes into gaseous phase. As a result,
hydrogen molecules do not escape to the outside from the aluminum
can, but, for the above-mentioned reason, hydrogen water put in the
aluminum can is not able to keep hydrogen molecules of high
concentration. Practically, concentration of hydrogen molecules of
hydrogen water product filled in aluminum cans is low. When an
aqueous solution is filled in a bottle made of polyethylene
terephthalate, (since the bottle is flexible differing from the
aluminum can,) the bottle may be subjected to circumferentially
slightly applied pressure to deform upon closing a cap of the
bottle (without providing the dead volume in the bottle), so that
the aqueous solution can be prevented from spilling out of the
bottle when opened.
[0015] The invention provides also that a film-use type container
such as a medical drip container (made of polyethylene) prevents
gas components such as hydrogen molecules or the like from
permeating the contents, scattering and being lost from the
contents of the film-use type container, and concentration of gas
components in fluid or viscous fluid in the film-use type container
is prevented from lowering. The present invention can make use of
the conventional manufacturing facilities (such as those for
filling liquid into bags) as they are, and can be realized merely
by partially adding the packaging process (the packaging line) to
be performed after the process of filling the contents into the
film-use type containers. Hence, keeping air-tightness of a
film-use type container made of resin can be achieved at a low cost
and with ease.
[0016] As above-mentioned, hydrogen molecules may escape into
gaseous phase of the dead volume when exists at the upper part of a
container. Thus, a liquid or viscous fluid containing hydrogen
molecules when filled into a container such as a bottle made of
polyethylene terephthalate or the medical drip bag is needed to be
filled in fully to the mouth of the container in order to have no
special space (the dead volume) at the upper part of the
container.
[0017] For a manufacturing facility (packaging facility) and a
metal foil laminated film required to realize the present
invention, a newly development of technology is not necessary since
the conventional technologies for them are made use of. Besides,
design of packaging can be carried out in consideration of cost
performance since the metal foil laminated film can be designed and
selected according to product's permeability into specific
components which product filled in the bottle made of resin (for
example, to be designed and selected are such factors as thickness
and/or kinds of metal foil, and kinds, number and/or thickness of
resin film to be adhered to the metal foil).
[0018] According to the present invention, it is not necessary to
add additives to the bottle-making resin and further not necessary
to provide coating, etc. to the bottle made of resin. Thus, the
container in type of a bottle made of resin can be readily
recycled, so that an effect of lessening carbon dioxide can be
expected. The "container" referred to in the present invention
includes the mentioned bottle made of resin and film-use type
container and also includes containers having screw type or crown
type caps, such as aluminum cans, steel cans, and glass bottles and
ceramic bottles, and other containers made of paper, wood, or
bamboo.
Means for Solving the Task
[0019] To attain the above-mentioned object, the present invention
does provide that a container (a bottle type container, a film type
container) in which filled in are gases such as hydrogen molecules,
helium gas, smell components, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, carbonic
acid gas, or a liquid, viscous fluid, or, solid body each
containing any of these gases, a metallic container in the type of
screw-cap or crown, a glass bottle, a ceramic bottle, and a
container made of wood or bamboo, those containers being first
provided with a cap or sealing, and then, the whole of each
container including the cap or sealing being packed with a metal
foil laminated film superior in gas barrier properties to be vacuum
packaged. To be noted is that gases referred to here are hydrogen
molecules having a smallest molecular weight, helium gas and smell
component such as wine. For unglazed earthenware, and a container
made of paper, wood, or bamboo, the gases may be also oxygen gas,
nitrogen gas, and carbonic acid gas larger than hydrogen molecules.
The film superior in gas barrier properties may be also a film
produced by metal vapor deposition additionally to the metal foil
laminated film. As seen from the fact that a balloon using a film
made by aluminum vapor deposition and filled with helium gas will
begin deflating two days later, the aluminum vapor deposition film
is substantially poor in gas barrier properties in comparison with
the metal foil laminated film.
[0020] The container packed with the metal foil laminated film when
vacuum packaged will become as if unified, whereby providing the
gas barrier properties to the container. Degree of vacuum upon
vacuum packaging is that a pressure gauge of a vacuum packaging
apparatus shows about -760 mmHg to -740 mmHg (gauge pressure
notation (indication)). The higher the degree of vacuum is, the
higher the adhesion of the container and the metal foil laminated
film becomes, and air-tightness of the container made of resin is
kept high. Absolute vacuum is -760 mmHg (gauge pressure). Even when
reading of the pressure gauge is -760 mmHg, an actual value may be
about -759 mmHg. Besides, it may be influenced by atmospheric
pressure fluctuation. A preferable gauge pressure for operation is
-760 mmHg to -750 mmHg. Upon vacuum packaging in an apparatus
(using a chamber type apparatus) at this degree of vacuum for 20 to
40 sec, the container and the metal foil laminated film adhere to
each other, so that hydrogen molecules can be kept in the container
for a long time.
[0021] A container for fluid or viscous fluid among the containers
made of resin (plastic) (bottle-type) is almost a bottle made of
polyethylene terephthalate. The polyethylene terephthalate bottle
is a molded product made of PET resin (polyethylene terephthalate,
a kind of saturated polyester), and non-reinforced PET has been
enabled to manufacture a highly efficient polyethylene
terephthalate bottle through development of stretch blow molding
technology. And a polyethylene terephthalate bottle is rich of
smoothness and shows appearance with gloss and an excellent
dimensional stability. Meanwhile, polyethylene terephthalate resin
itself does show substantial gas-barrier properties and
smell-keeping properties and its gas barrier properties for oxygen
and carbonic acid gas is at a level enough to be used practically.
Thus, When the polyethylene terephthalate bottle is provided at its
outside with vacuum for a short time, the bottle is not broken and
a liquid put in the bottle does not spill.
[0022] Accordingly, the present invention provides that a bottle
type container or a film type container in which a fluid or viscous
fluid is filled is first capped, covered or sealed, and then the
whole of the container with the cap, cover or seal is packed by use
of a metal foil laminated film superior in gas barrier properties
to be then vacuum packaged.
[0023] Any kinds of metal foil such as aluminum foil have a
capacity of obstructing hydrogen molecules' permeating through the
metal foil. Applicable metals for the metal foil may be aluminum,
aluminum alloy, and titanium, stainless steel, nickel, permalloy,
beryllium copper, phosphor bronze, nickel silver, molybdenum,
brass, nichrome, tantalum, zinc, tin, silver solder, silver,
copper, iron, lead, Kovar, or, zirconium. Practically, aluminum
foil much commercially available is employed. Thickness of the
metal foil may be about 6 to 30 .mu.m for a packaging material, but
about 12 to 18 .mu.m practically.
[0024] But, metal foil is liable to have a pinhole. Hydrogen
molecules possibly scatter to be lost through the pinhole when the
metal foil's thickness is about 12 to 18 .mu.m. It is said that
metal foil in thickness of more than 50 .mu.m is to be employed for
zeroing the pinholes. But, aluminum foil in thickness of more than
50 .mu.m is hard and not suitable for use for packaging. Hence, the
metal foil may be used doubly so that the pinholes can be
completely covered, whereby enabling hydrogen molecules in hydrogen
water to be preserved in a long time. And the feature is suitable
for packaging any products such as medical supplies for which
keeping concentration of hydrogen molecules is important.
[0025] The metal foil laminated film may use a multilayer laminate
such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/metal foil/polyethylene,
nylon/metal foil/polyethylene (or polypropylene), or PET/metal
foil/high density polyethylene, or the like. The latter example of
metal foil laminated film using aluminum foil is praisefully used
for packaging retort food. Thickness of these films may be about 8
to 30 .mu.m. And laminating of the film with the metal foil may be
performed mainly by dry laminate and otherwise performed through
melt extrusion or calendering method.
[0026] Hydrogen water is excellent as is mentioned above but is
very problematic in respect of preservation in view of such fact
that even when hydrogen water is put in a polyethylene
terephthalate bottle, hydrogen molecules in the hydrogen water
completely come out of the bottle within few days. This bottle was
vacuum packaged, for example, with aluminum foil laminated film
comprising nylon/aluminum foil/polyethylene, so that there was
found that hydrogen molecules in the hydrogen water were able to be
kept for more than 40 days. Also, hydrogen water was filled in a
medical drip bag made of polyethylene, and the drip bag was packed
with aluminum foil laminated film comprising nylon/aluminum
foil/polyethylene and vacuum packaged, so that hydrogen molecules
were kept for more than 40 days similarly to the above-mentioned
case.
[0027] Those examples relate to hydrogen molecules dissolved water.
Meanwhile, it has been performed that hydrogen molecules are
adsorbed to metal granules, so that hydrogen molecules can be
generated from the metal granules to be fed to a fuel cell. In such
case, since hydrogen molecules evaporate and volatilize from a
container made of resin when applied, a metal container is
employed, which metal container however has such defects that it is
heavy and costs high. Thus, the container is made, for example, of
a tough material such as resin, for example, polyethylene
terephthalate, and packed with a film such as aluminum foil
laminated film excellent in gas barrier properties and further
vacuum packaged using a vacuum packaging apparatus, thereby
enabling hydrogen molecules to be kept for a long time which merit
was not obtained in the conventional feature of merely putting
hydrogen molecules in the container made of resin.
[0028] To be noted is that upon use of the hydrogen molecules
dissolved water, a film applied for vacuum packaging of the
container will be broken. A film applied for vacuum packaging of a
fuel cell will be kept as it is upon use of the fuel cell.
[0029] The above-mentioned explanation relates to a mineral water
to which hydrogen molecules are added. Adding hydrogen molecules
can be performed to any liquid or viscous fluid such as juice,
carbonic acid drink, green tea drink, coffee drink, milk, yogurt,
or the like. Meanwhile, oxygen and carbonic acid gas can be kept by
use of a polyethylene terephthalate bottle, but it is hard for a
specific kind of smell component such as of wine to be kept by the
polyethylene terephthalate bottle. To be noted is that the smell
component is defined as a volatile substance which is contained in
food and has smell, and usually consists of many compounds. Some
substances among those forming the smell component can permeate the
bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate. This can be said from
the fact that when wine is filled in a polyethylene terephthalate
bottle, as time elapses, smell and taste of wine will change subtly
and will do not taste good. Accordingly, taste and smell of wine or
the like are also capable of being kept for a long time by first
filling in a polyethylene terephthalate bottle, then packing the
bottle with aluminum foil laminated film or the like superior in
gas-barrier properties, followed by vacuum packaging using a
vacuum-packaging apparatus.
[0030] In the meantime, when wine is bottled in the bottle made of
polyethylene terephthalate, the bottle needs to be provided at its
inside with a membrane having gas-barrier properties as mentioned
previously. It is because smell changes due to that low molecular
smell components evaporate and volatilize to the outside of the
container when a bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate is
merely used. The smell components may be ethyl acetate, acetoin,
higher alcohol, various ester, or the like. These have higher
molecular weight than oxygen and carbonic acid gas. But, it is said
that smell components of wine are of 500 or more kinds, and it is
so inferred or concluded that any smell component of wine evaporate
or volatilize from the polyethylene terephthalate bottle. It is
otherwise so inferred or concluded that smell components change and
smell changes due to oxidization by oxygen which enters the bottle
for a long time. This can also be prevented completely by vacuum
packaging using the metal foil laminated film according to the
present invention.
Effect of the Invention
[0031] The effect of the present invention does, as explained
above, provide that there are filled in a container hydrogen
molecules, helium gas, or smell component, or water, other liquids,
or viscous fluid each dissolving therein any of these gases, or
metal granules adsorbing gases, and the container is vacuum
packaged with a metal foil laminated film superior in gas-barrier
properties, whereby enabling gas molecules to be kept longer
several or dozens of times than the feature merely filling the gas
molecules or others in the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 A front view of a bottle, according to an example of
the present invention, made of polyethylene terephthalate and
vacuum packaged with an aluminum foil laminated film (Example
1).
[0033] FIG. 2 A front view of a bottle made of polyethylene
terephthalate, showing a comparative example (Comparative example
3).
[0034] FIG. 3 A front view of a bottle made of polyethylene
terephthalate, showing another example of the present invention,
vacuum packaged with an aluminum foil laminated film (Example
2).
[0035] FIG. 4 A front view of a bottle made of polyethylene
terephthalate, the same bottle 1 as that of the example 1 vacuum
packaged at a lower level of vacuum (Comparative Example 1).
[0036] FIG. 5 A graph showing concentration of hydrogen molecules
in Table 1 (Example 1)
[0037] FIG. 6 A front view of a medical drip bag, showing other
example of the present invention, vacuum packaged with an aluminum
foil laminated film (Example 4).
[0038] FIG. 7 A front view of the drip bag with an aluminum foil
laminated film shown in FIG. 6 being partially broken (Example
4).
[0039] FIG. 8 A front view of a medical drip bag showing a
comparative example (Comparative Example 4).
[0040] FIG. 9 A perspective view showing a square cell-culturing
container vacuum packaged with an aluminum foil laminated film
(Example 6).
[0041] FIG. 10 A graph showing concentration of hydrogen molecules
in Table 2 (Example 7).
[0042] FIG. 11 A front view of a tubular container made of
polyethylene terephthalate, showing a further different other
example according to the present invention, vacuum packaged with an
aluminum foil laminated film, with metal granules (which adsorb
hydrogen molecules) being filled in the tubular container (Example
5).
[0043] FIG. 12 A further other example is shown. FIG. 12(a) is a
front view showing a transparent film type container filled with a
beverage, and FIG. 12(b) is also a front view of the container
shown in FIG. 12(a) when formed with an aluminum foil laminated
film (Example 8).
[0044] FIG. 13 A front view of other different transparent film
type container filled with a beverage and vacuum packaged with an
aluminum foil laminated film (Example 9).
[0045] FIG. 14 An enlarged view of an example of a conventional
metal can with a screw-type cap to be mounted to the can.
[0046] FIG. 15 A further different other example according to the
present invention, showing a front view of a metal can type
container vacuum packaged with an aluminum foil laminated film.
(Example 10).
[0047] FIG. 16 An enlarged view of a crown cap to be put to a
conventional glass bottle.
[0048] FIG. 17 A different example according to the present
invention, showing a front view of a glass bottle vacuum packaged
with an aluminum foil laminated film. (Example 11).
[0049] FIG. 18 A sectional view showing an example of a metal foil
laminated film.
EMBODIMENTS FOR USING THE INVENTION
[0050] A container is vacuum packaged with a metal foil laminated
film superior in gas-barrier properties, so that the container's
surface and the inner surface of the film are highly adhered to
each other and unified, thereby preventing gas components from
volatilizing and evaporating out of the inside of the container.
Hereunder, the present invention will be detailed with referring to
the Examples and Comparative Examples but is not limited to such
Examples.
Example 1
[0051] FIG. 1 shows an example of the present invention. Filled up
to a mouth of a bottle 1(the container), capacity of 500 cc, made
of polyethylene terephthalate was a hydrogen molecules dissolved
water 2 dissolving hydrogen molecules at concentration of
approximately 1000 ppb. The polyethylene terephthalate bottle 1 was
packed with an aluminum foil laminated film 3 and vacuum packaged,
so that the film 3 was tightly adhered to the bottle 1, thereby
achieving a container A containing hydrogen water and superior in
air-tightness. Reference numeral 1a designates a cap (made of
polyethylene) for the polyethylene terephthalate bottle 1.
[0052] Ten containers A superior in air-tightness were manufactured
by packing the polyethylene terephthalate bottle 1 filled with the
hydrogen water with an aluminum foil laminated film 3, and vacuum
packaging the same. And the package was opened one by one every few
days to measure concentration of hydrogen in the hydrogen water.
Table 1 shows the result of the measurement. As seen from the table
1, concentration of hydrogen molecules did not change even after
more than one month (32 days). FIG. 5 is a graph made based on the
table 1.
[0053] ([Table 1] as Shown)
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 PET bottle 1/28, DH on 2/05 Test section
manuf. DH 2/15 DH 2/22 DH 3/01 DH 3/03 DH 3/15 DH 3/22 DH 3/29 DH
4/05 DH Example 1, packaged with 1,058 1,051 1,068 1,060 1,053
1,062 1,060 1,062 1,058 1,052 aluminum foil film (-760 mmHg)
Comparative Example 1, 1,063 310 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 packaged with
aluminum foil film (-740 mmHg) Comparative Example 2, 1,060 280 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 packaged with aluminum foil film (Air-containing
packaging) Comparative Example 3, without 1,067 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
packaging (PET bottle alone) Example 3, packaged with 1,059 1,060
1,059 1,055 copper foil film (-760 mmHg) The value shown in 1/28 is
that obtained from measuring upon manufacturing. Other values are
those obtained from measuring of hydrogen water taken out of
containers. * DH: an amount of dissolved hydrogen (unit: ppb)
[0054] The vacuum packaging apparatus is semi-automatic type
Kashiwa Vacuum Equipment (NPC Incorporated) and did suction for 20
to 30 sec at vacuum of -760 mmHg. Concentration of hydrogen
molecules in hydrogen water was measured with a portable dissolved
hydrogen meter ENH1000 (TRUSTLEX Incorporated). Hydrogen water
subjected to measurement was around 300 cc for each case.
[0055] An aluminum foil laminated film 3 employed for the packaging
consists of aluminum foil of 16 .mu.m thickness and 20 .mu.m thick
nylon and 50 .mu.m thick polyethylene each dry-laminated to the
aluminum foil's respective sides. And the films 3 with the
polyethylene surfaces being faced to each other are subjected to
heat-seal for packaging. Although aluminum foil laminated film 3 is
illustrated as being transparent in FIG. 1, the polyethylene
terephthalate bottle 1 can in fact not be seen through from the
outside as hindered by aluminum foil 3a. Aluminum foil 3a is seen
through since each resin film on both sides is transparent.
Comparative Example 1
[0056] FIG. 4 shows a comparative example of the present invention.
In detail, ten bottles 1 manufactured, similarly to Example 1, made
of polyethylene terephthalate and filled with hydrogen water were
each packed with an aluminum foil laminated film 3 and vacuum
packaged at vacuum of -740 mmHg, forming containers C. In this
example, the aluminum foil laminated film 3 and the bottle 1 had
poor adhesion to each other, so that when the bottle 1 was forced
to be turned, the bottle 1 turned as separating from the film 3.
And the packages of the bottles were opened one by one on the same
days as Example 1 to measure hydrogen concentration of hydrogen
water. Result of the measurement is shown in Table 1. As seen, when
eight days elapsed, hydrogen molecules quantity became about one
forth. In half a month, dissolved hydrogen molecules quantity
notably reduced to one twentieth.
Comparative Example 2
[0057] Ten containers B containing hydrogen water were manufactured
using a bottle 1 made of polyethylene terephthalate and filling
hydrogen water and having a polyethylene cap (FIG. 2), similarly to
Example 1. The polyethylene terephthalate bottle filled with
hydrogen water was packed with an aluminum foil laminated film 3
(not performing vacuum packaging: air-containing packaging). And
the packages of the bottles were opened one by one on the same days
as Example 1 to measure hydrogen molecules concentration in
hydrogen water. Result of the measurement is shown in Table 1. As
seen, when eight days elapsed, hydrogen molecules quantity became
about one forth. In half a month, dissolved hydrogen molecules
quantity became zero. The same reference numerals as of FIG. 1 are
used here.
Comparative Example 3
[0058] Ten containers B containing hydrogen water were manufactured
using a bottle 1 made of polyethylene terephthalate and filling
hydrogen water and having a polyethylene cap (FIG. 2), similarly to
Example 1. The containers were left as they were under normal
temperature. And the caps of the bottles were taken off on the same
days as Example 1 to measure hydrogen molecules concentration in
hydrogen water in the container. Result of the measurement is shown
in Table 1. As seen from Table 1, when eight days elapsed, hydrogen
molecules concentration became 0 ppb. The same reference numerals
as of FIG. 1 are used here.
Example 2
[0059] FIG. 3 shows a container A' containing hydrogen water and
superior in air-tightness which container is provided by that a
bottle 1 made of polyethylene terephthalate was, similarly to FIG.
1, packed with an aluminum foil laminated film 3 and then vacuum
packaged at vacuum of -760 mmHg. And a label 4 was put on at the
upper part of the aluminum foil laminated film packaging 3 and
there is written an indication 5 such as the name of contents of
the polyethylene terephthalate bottle, the date of bottling,
deadline for consumption, etc. Reference numeral 6 is a hole for
suspending the whole package of bottle.
Example 3
[0060] A bottle 1 made of polyethylene terephthalate provided in a
similar manner to Example 1 was packed with a copper foil laminated
film and vacuum-packaged to cause the film to adhere to the bottle
1, thereby obtaining a container containing hydrogen water and
superior in air-tightness. Ten such containers were prepared and
dissolved hydrogen was measured in a similar manner to Example 1.
As shown in table 1, concentration of hydrogen molecules did not
change even after 20 days passed.
Example 4
[0061] FIG. 6 is a front view of a container (a film-use type
container) D superior in air-tightness and containing hydrogen
water, showing a further different other example according to the
present invention, and provided by that a transparent bag 7 made of
polyethylene to serve as a medical drip type container of 500 cc is
filled, up to the mouth of the bag 7 without dead volume, with a
drip water 8 in which hydrogen molecules dissolve at concentration
of 1000 ppb, and the transparent bag 7 is packed with an aluminum
foil laminated film 3 and vacuum packaged at vacuum of -760 mmHg.
Reference numeral 7a is a cap of the transparent bag and the cap
also made of polyethylene. Also in this example, the aluminum foil
laminated film 3 is illustrated as being transparent in the
drawing. But, actually, the contents, i.e., the transparent bag 7
cannot be seen through from the outside due to aluminum foil 3a. In
the drawing, the reference numeral 3a designates aluminum foil. To
be noted is that upon use of the drip type container, it is
necessary to completely remove the aluminum foil laminated film
3.
[0062] Ten containers D made of resin (plastic) and containing
hydrogen water were manufactured provided by that the transparent
bag 7 filled with a drip liquid having hydrogen molecules added was
vacuum packaged with aluminum foil laminated film 3. And the
packages were opened one by one every few days to take out 300 cc
of drip liquid to measure concentration of hydrogen molecules.
Result of measurement is shown in Table 2. As seen from the table
2, concentration of hydrogen molecules did not at all change even
after one month (32 days). The same apparatuses were used as in
Example 1 for vacuum packaging and measuring concentration of
hydrogen molecules. FIG. 10 is a graph made based on Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Drip container 3/04, DH on 3/07 Test section
manuf. DH 3/15 DH 3/22 DH 3/30 DH 4/06 DH 4/07 DH 4/08 DH 4/09 DH
4/10 DH Example 4, packaged with 1,055 1,065 1,060 1,058 1,055
1,057 1,058 1,059 1,060 1,061 aluminum foil film (-760 mmHg)
Comparative Example 4, 1,063 187 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 packaged with
aluminum foil film (-740 mmHg) Comparative Example 5, 1,065 85 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 packaged with aluminum foil film (Air-containing
packaging) Comparative Example 6, without 1,058 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
packaging (Drip container alone) Example 5, packaged with 1,061
1,059 1,062 1,055 copper foil film (-760 mmHg) The value shown in
3/04 is that obtained from measuring upon manufacturing. Other
values are those obtained from measuring of hydrogen water taken
out of the container. * DH: an amount of dissolved hydrogen (unit:
ppb)
[0063] However, for the container D containing hydrogen water,
since the transparent bag 7 to be used as a medical drip container
is covered with the aluminum foil laminated film 3 upon
preservation or any other time for being dealt in any way, the
contents of names of drugs and pharmaceutical manufacturers, use or
application of drugs, and so on cannot be seen through from the
outside. Thus, indication 3b of these matters is to be put on the
aluminum foil laminated film 3. To be noted is that in Example 1
and this example, even when a seal or film indicating contents of
drugs and names of pharmaceutical manufacturers is attached to the
polyethylene terephthalate bottle 1 or drip container 7, there is
no obstruction when vacuum packaging is performed with aluminum
foil laminated film 3.
[0064] FIG. 7 is a front view of a container D made of resin
(plastic) and containing hydrogen water in the state that the
aluminum foil laminated film 3 is partially torn to expose the
transparent bag 7. In Example 1 and this example, the aluminum foil
laminated film 3 may be merely opened to be readily removed.
Comparative Example 4
[0065] A transparent bag 7 obtained similarly to Example 4 and
filled with drip water 8 dissolving hydrogen molecules was packed
with an aluminum foil laminated film 3 and vacuum packaged at
vacuum of -740 mmHg. And the vacuum packaged containers were opened
one by one on the same dates as those of Example 3 to measure
concentration of hydrogen molecules in hydrogen water. As a result
of the measurement, as seen in Table 2, the quantity of hydrogen
molecules became about one fourth after eight days passed. And the
quantity of dissolved hydrogen molecules became zero in half a
month.
Comparative Example 5
[0066] Ten containers E containing hydrogen water (FIG. 8) were
manufactured provided by a transparent bag 7 filled with hydrogen
water manufactured similarly to Example 4 and provided with a cap
7a made of polyethylene. Each container E made of resin and filled
with hydrogen water was packed with an aluminum foil laminated film
3 (without vacuum-packaging). The containers E were opened one by
one on the same dates as of Example 3 to measure concentration of
hydrogen molecules in hydrogen water. Result of the measurement is
shown in Table 2. As seen from the Table 2, concentration of
hydrogen molecules became almost less than ten percent after eight
days passed, and hydrogen molecules had completely left after 18
days passed. Reference numeral 7b designates indication of names of
drugs and pharmaceutical manufacturers and so on, as 3a in FIG.
6.
Comparative Example 6
[0067] Ten containers E containing hydrogen water were manufactured
provided by a drip container 7 filled with hydrogen water
manufactured similarly to Example 4 and provided with a cap made of
polyethylene (FIG. 7). The containers E were left as they were
under normal temperature. The caps of the containers E were taken
one by one on the same dates as of Example 4 to measure
concentration of hydrogen molecules in hydrogen water inside the
containers E. Result of the measurement is shown in Table 2. As
seen from the Table 2, concentration of hydrogen molecules became 0
ppb after eight days elapsed. Reference numerals are the same as in
FIG. 6.
Example 5
[0068] Ten containers (a film-use type container) containing
hydrogen water and being superior in air-tightness were obtained
provided by that a transparent bag 7 filled with hydrogen molecules
dissolved drip water 8 provided similarly to Example 4 was packed
with a copper foil laminated film and vacuum packaged at vacuum of
-760 mmHg. And the containers packages were opened one by one every
few days on and after March 15 to take out 300 cc of drip liquid to
measure concentration of hydrogen molecules. Result of the
measurement is shown in Table 2. As seen in Table 2, concentration
of hydrogen molecules did not at all fluctuate even when 20 days
passed.
Example 6
[0069] FIG. 9 shows a further different other example according to
the present invention which is a square container 9 for cell
culture, the container 9 being vacuum packaged with an aluminum
foil laminated film 3' and filled with medium 10 containing
hydrogen molecules for culturing cells. The aluminum foil laminated
film 3' consists of an aluminum foil laminated at each side with a
film of nylon or polyethylene terephthalate, or, polypropylene or
polyethylene.
[0070] And the whole of the vacuum packaged container F is
subjected to heating-processing (pressurizing and heating
sterilization at more than 100.degree. C. or heating sterilization
at less than 100.degree. C. by autoclave, etc.), whereby enabling
manufacture of mediums containing hydrogen molecules which mediums
are in a germ-free condition or have quite less number of germs.
Shapes of the container may be round or polygonal as well as being
square.
Example 7
[0071] FIG. 11 shows a further different other example according to
the present invention, showing a front view of a container G
comprising a cylindrical container 11 made of PET (polyethylene
terephthalate) filled with metal granules 13 adsorbing hydrogen
molecules 12 and vacuum-packaged with an aluminum foil laminated
film 3. Reference numeral 14 is a pipe for taking out hydrogen
molecules, and 15 a cock, both metallic. To be noted is that
examples 1 through 6 remove the aluminum foil laminated film 3 upon
use of the contents. This example keeps intact the aluminum foil
laminated film 3.
Example 8
[0072] FIG. 12(a) shows a film-use type container 16 unique in
style, made of a transparent plastic and filled with something to
drink 17 (medicament). Reference numeral 18 designates a mouthpiece
made of plastic and in the shape of straw, and 19 a cap for the
mouthpiece, and 16a a sleeve made of a tubular protection film
extended from the film-use type container 16.
[0073] Now, FIG. 12(b) shows a film-use type container 20 made of
an aluminum foil laminated film and filled with something to drink
21 (medicament). Extended part of the container 20 is a tubular
sleeve 20a made similarly of an aluminum foil laminated film.
Reference numeral 22 designates a mouthpiece and 23 a cap for the
mouthpiece. And the film-use type container 20 may be placed in a
vacuum-packaging apparatus to be vacuum packaged, whereby providing
a container H superior in air-tightness with the tubular sleeve
part 20a being vacuum packaged while packing the mouthpiece 21. If
hydrogen molecules have been blown into the thing to drink 21,
since the container body 20b is made of an aluminum foil laminated
film, hydrogen molecules do not leak from the container body.
Moreover, since the mouthpiece region 22 is vacuum packaged with
the sleeve part 20a, hydrogen molecules do not leak from the
mouthpiece region, too. Reference numeral 20c designates aluminum
foil which can be seen through a transparent plastic film employed
at both sides of the container.
Example 9
[0074] FIG. 13 shows another pouch type container 24 whose upper
part is cut at one lateral side 24a where a mouthpiece 25 is
provided. Reference numeral 26 designates a cap for the mouthpiece.
The mouthpiece 25 and cap 26 are made of polyethylene, and the
pouch body is made of aluminum foil laminated film. And both sides
of the mouthpiece 25 region are covered with aluminum foil
laminated films and vacuum packaging is performed. Then, hydrogen
water 27 is filled into the container 24 through an opening 24b at
its upper part, and the container 24 is sealed without having
special space (the dead volume) at its upper part. Thus, hydrogen
water is protected by the aluminum foil laminated film, and the
mouthpiece 25 region is also vacuum packaged with aluminum foil
laminated film, whereby enabling hydrogen water to be effectively
kept in the container 24 for a long time.
Example 10
[0075] FIG. 14 is an enlarged front view of a mouthpiece 28a of a
metal can 28. Reference numeral 29 designates a screw cap on whose
inner side fit is a pressure member 30 made of resin to pressure
the edge 28b of the mouthpiece of the metal can 28 when the cap 29
is put on and tightened. The pressure member 30 made of resin
functions for air-tightness and water-tightness to prevent the
contents 31 of the metal can from flowing out when the contents 31
is under normal pressure. But, when that the contents 31 is
hydrogen water, hydrogen molecules leak from the pressure member 30
made of resin to the outside. The same problem arises when caps are
screw type with respect to glass bottles or ceramic containers as
well as the metal can 28.
[0076] FIG. 15 shows a further different other example according to
the present invention, showing a front view of a container J
consisting of a metal can 28 (having a screw cap 29) vacuum
packaged with aluminum foil laminated film 3 and filled with water
31 containing hydrogen molecules. Vacuum packaging with aluminum
foil laminated film 3 prevents hydrogen molecules from scattering
and being lost from hydrogen water 31.
Example 11
[0077] FIG. 16 is an enlarged front view of a mouth 32a of a glass
bottle 32. Reference numeral 33 designates a crown. A cap opening
means 33a in a pull-top type is provided at a lateral side of the
crown 33. A pressure member 34 made of resin (plastic) is fit
inside the crown 33, so that the pressure member 34 pressures a
mouth edge 32b of the glass bottle when the crown 33 is tightened.
The pressure member 34 made of resin functions for being air-tight
and water-tight to prevent the contents 35 from flowing out of the
glass bottle when the contents 35 is under normal pressure. But,
when the contents 35 is hydrogen water, hydrogen molecules leak
from the pressure member 34 made of resin to the outside. The same
problems arise when the cap is a crown type with respect to a
pottery type container as well as the glass bottle 32.
[0078] FIG. 17 shows a further different other example according to
the present invention, showing a front view of a container K
consisting of a glass bottle 32 (having a crown 33) vacuum packaged
with aluminum foil laminated film 3 and filled with water 35
containing hydrogen molecules. Vacuum packaging with aluminum foil
laminated film 3 prevents hydrogen molecules from scattering and
being lost from hydrogen water 35.
[0079] Aluminum foil laminated film employed in those mentioned
examples does consist of an aluminum foil in thickness of 16 .mu.m
and nylon in thickness of 20 .mu.m and polyethylene in thickness of
15 .mu.m each dry-laminated on respective sides of the aluminum
foil. But, not only aluminum foil, but also other metal foils in
thickness of 30 .mu.m or less cannot escape a possibility of having
pinholes. Besides, even when the metal foil is laminated with a
film, the metal foil has a possibility of having pinholes at its
parts being bent or scratched.
[0080] For fully ensuring to keep hydrogen molecules in a long
time, it may be achieved, as shown in FIG. 18, by that aluminum
foil or other metal foils 36, 37 are used double, a film made of
resin (plastic) 38 is interposed between two metal foils, and films
made of resin 39, 40 are laminated on the respective outside of the
metal foils, whereby forming a four-fold metal foil laminated film
41 serving as more than enough feature.
INDUSTRIAL USABILITY
[0081] A container made of resin such as a bottle made of
polyethylene terephthalate or a medical drip bag is filled with a
gas or a liquid or a viscous fluid in which a gas is dissolved, or
metal granules adsorbing a gas, and is vacuum packaged with a metal
foil laminated film superior in gas-barrier properties, whereby
keeping air-tightness of the containers.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0082] 1: Bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate [0083] 1a: Cap
for the polyethylene terephthalate bottle [0084] 2: Hydrogen
molecules dissolved water [0085] 3: Aluminum foil laminated film
[0086] 3a: Aluminum foil [0087] 3b: Indication of names of drugs,
pharmaceutical manufacturers, and so on [0088] 3'': Aluminum foil
laminated film [0089] 4: Label [0090] 5: Indication [0091] 6: Hole
[0092] 7: Transparent bag made of polyethylene (Medical drip type
container) [0093] 7a: Cap of the drip container [0094] 7b:
Indication of names of drugs, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and so
on [0095] 8: Hydrogen molecules dissolved drip water [0096] 9:
Container for cell culture [0097] 10: Medium [0098] 11: Tubular
container made of polyethylene terephthalate [0099] 12: Hydrogen
molecules [0100] 13: Metal granules [0101] 14: Pipe for taking out
hydrogen molecules [0102] 15: Cock [0103] 16: Film-use type
container [0104] 17: Something to drink (medicament) [0105] 18:
Mouthpiece [0106] 19: Cap for mouthpiece [0107] 20: Film-use type
container [0108] 20a: Sleeve [0109] 20b: Body of the container
[0110] 20c: Aluminum foil [0111] 21: Something to drink
(medicament) [0112] 22: Mouthpiece [0113] 23: Cap for mouthpiece
[0114] 24: Pouch type container [0115] 24a: Lateral side at the
upper part [0116] 25: Mouthpiece [0117] 26: Cap for mouthpiece
[0118] 27: Hydrogen water [0119] 28: Metal can [0120] 28a:
Mouthpiece [0121] 28b: Edge of the mouthpiece [0122] 29: Screw cap
[0123] 30: Pressure member made of resin [0124] 31: Contents
(hydrogen water) [0125] 32: Glass bottle [0126] 32a: Mouth [0127]
32b: Mouth edge [0128] 33: Crown [0129] 33a: Cap opening means
[0130] 34: Pressure member made of resin [0131] 35: Contents
(hydrogen water) [0132] 36: Metal foil [0133] 37: Metal foil [0134]
38: Film made of resin (plastic) [0135] 39: Film made of resin
[0136] 40: Film made of resin [0137] 41: Four-fold metal foil
laminated film [0138] A: Container containing hydrogen water and
superior in air-tightness (bottle type container) [0139] A':
Container containing hydrogen water and superior in air-tightness
(bottle type container) [0140] B: Container containing hydrogen
water (bottle type container) [0141] C: Container containing
hydrogen water poor in adhesion to aluminum foil laminated film
[0142] D: Container containing hydrogen water and superior in
air-tightness (Film-use type container) [0143] E: Container
containing hydrogen water (film-use type container) [0144] F:
Culturing container containing hydrogen molecules [0145] G:
Container (in tubular shape) superior in air-tightness and filled
with metal granules [0146] H: Container superior in air-tightness
(film-use type container) [0147] I: Container superior in
air-tightness (film-use type container) [0148] J: Container
superior in air-tightness (metal can type container) [0149] K:
Container superior in air-tightness (glass bottle type
container)
* * * * *