TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a wipe packaging body in which a stacked body of
overlapping wipes is stored in a container structural body.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A wipe packaging body is configured such that a stacked body formed from a plurality
of stacked wipes is stored in a container structural body. The wipes are moist sheets
obtained by impregnating sheets made of paper or nonwoven fiber, such as web sheets,
with a chemical solution such as an antiseptic solution or a sterilization solution
or the like, and are stored hermetically in the container structural body so as to
remain moistened by the chemical solution or the like. The wipes can be extracted
from the container structural body when required and used in a wide variety of applications,
such as wiping the hands and wiping the posterior.
[0003] The container structural body is configured by forming a storage container using
plastic, a flexible film material, or the like as appropriate, and hermetically joining
an extraction port member having an extraction port for extracting the wipes one at
a time to the outside from the stack of wipes stored in the storage container to an
opening portion of the storage container. When a wipe is extracted to the outside
from the stack of wipes stored in the container structural body, a resistance force
is applied between a wipe that is extracted initially and a following wipe as the
wipes pass through an orifice or the like in the vicinity of the extraction port such
that the wipes are separated from each other at a separation portion, and as a result,
the leading wipe is separated from the stack of wipes in the container structural
body and extracted. At this time, a tip end part of the following wipe projects slightly
toward the extraction port. Hence, during a subsequent use, the following wipe can
be extracted from the continuous wipe body by gripping the projecting part of the
following wipe and pulling the wipe in a direction leading out of the container structural
body.
[0004] In this type of wipe packaging body, when the extraction port of the packaging body
is left open, the projecting tip end part of the following wipe, and indeed the entire
stack of wipes, are likely to dry out more quickly. The container structural body
of the wipe packaging body is therefore typically provided with a lid body that is
capable of hermetically sealing and opening the extraction port repeatedly (Patent
Documents 1 and 2, for example). As a result, the interior of the container structural
body in this type of packaging body can be maintained effectively in a hermetically
sealed condition, thereby effectively preventing volatilization of the chemical solution
or the like with which the wipes constituting the stack of wipes stored in the container
structural body are impregnated.
[0005]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-196303
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-173649
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] As the wipes stored in the wipe packaging body are consumed, the number of wipes
constituting the stack of wipes in the container structural body gradually decreases,
leading to a reduction in a bulk of the stack of wipes. Accordingly, since the orifice
is typically provided in the vicinity of the extraction port, an interval between
a surface of the stack of wipes in the container structural body and the orifice widens.
When, in this condition, further wipes are extracted, the wipes pass through the orifice
more easily, and as a result, a delay is more likely to occur in a timing at which
the wipes are separated from each other at the separation portion. An excessively
large part of the wipe that follows the initially extracted wipe may therefore be
extracted, and as a result, the tip end portion may project to the outside from the
extraction port by an excessively large amount.
[0007] When the tip end portion of the following wipe projects from the extraction port
by an excessively large amount, it becomes difficult to close the extraction port
securely with the lid body, and therefore the interior of the container structural
body cannot be hermetically sealed reliably. As a result, a serious problem arises
in that it becomes impossible to maintain the stack of wipes in a moistened condition.
[0008] Furthermore, when the number of wipes constituting the stack of wipes decreases such
that the interval between the surface of the stack of wipes and the orifice widens,
the tip end of the wipe that remains in the container structural body after being
separated at the separation portion may not be held by the orifice, and as a result
may fall back into the container structural body. In this case, picking up the tip
end part of the fallen wipe in order to extract the wipe again is difficult, laborious,
and so on.
[0009] In a case where the storage container of the container structural body is a bag-shaped
body formed from a flexible film material or the like, the following wipe can be prevented
from escaping through the orifice by crushing the storage container so as to narrow
the interval between the surface of the stack of wipes and the extraction port. When
the storage container is crushed, however, a crease may form in the storage container
such that the storage container becomes more likely to split along the crease. When
the storage container splits even slightly, the hermetic seal applied to the container
structural body may greatly deteriorate such that the wipes dry out even more quickly.
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a wipe packaging body with which
wipes can be separated from each other and extracted reliably from a container structural
body storing a moistened stack of wipes, the wipes can be prevented from drying out
even when a bulk of the stack of wipes decreases without complicating a process for
closing the container structural body using a lid body, and the wipes can be extracted
more easily by picking up a tip end part of each wipe.
[0011] The present invention is
(1) a wipe packaging body formed by storing a stack of wipes constituted by a plurality
of overlapping wipes in a storage container of a container structural body, wherein
in the container structural body, an extraction port member having an extraction port
for extracting the wipes from the storage container is hermetically joined to an opening
portion of the storage container, and an orifice member that applies two types of
resistance in order to separate a wipe extracted initially from the stored stack of
wipes from a following wipe is provided in a position further within the storage container
than the extraction port of the extraction port member, the orifice member having
a pressing portion that presses the stack of wipes so as to apply a first resistance
to the wipes and an orifice that applies a second resistance generated by frictional
force to the wipes, and
the container structural body has a lid body that can be opened and closed freely,
and is capable of hermetically sealing the extraction port,
(2) the wipe packaging body described in (1), wherein the orifice member is supported
by the extraction port member,
(3) the wipe packaging body described in (1) or (2), wherein the orifice member is
configured to move toward a rear of the storage container while pressing the stack
of wipes in accordance with an amount by which a bulk of the stack of wipes decreases
as the wipes are extracted,
(4) the wipe packaging body described in any of (1) to (3), wherein a force required
to separate the wipes from each other is between 20 and 800 mN/cm,
(5) the wipe packaging body described in any of (1) to (3), wherein the orifice member
is constituted by an elastic member,
(6) the wipe packaging body described in any of (1) to (3), wherein the orifice member
includes a base end and a free end, the orifice member is supported within the storage
container in a cantilevered fashion at the base end, and the pressing portion is provided
in a part of the orifice member other than the base end,
(7) the wipe packaging body described in any of (1) to (3), wherein the orifice member
is supported within the storage container at both of two base ends sandwiching the
orifice, and the pressing portion is provided in a part of the orifice member other
than the two base ends,
(8) the wipe packaging body described in any of (1) to (3), wherein the orifice member
includes a curved portion that projects toward the rear of the storage container,
and
the orifice is formed in the curved portion, and
(9) the wipe packaging body described in any of (1) to (3), wherein, when a force
required to separate the wipes from each other is F0, the first resistance, which
serves as a pressing force applied to the wipes by the orifice member, is F1, and
the second resistance, which serves as the frictional force applied to the wipes by
the orifice member, is F2, a relationship of F1 < F0 < F1 + F2 is established between
F0, F1, and F2.
[0012] The wipe packaging body according to the present invention is provided with the orifice
member including the pressing portion that applies the first resistance by pressing
the stack of wipes and the orifice that applies the second resistance generated by
frictional force. Hence, when a wipe is to be extracted, two types the resistance
are applied to separate the leading wipe from the following wipe, and therefore the
wipe extracted initially from the stack of wipes can be separated from the following
wipe reliably and extracted. Further, even when the bulk of the stack of wipes stored
in the storage container decreases, the tip end of the following wipe is not extracted
by an excessive amount, and therefore the interior of the container structural body
can be hermetically sealed reliably by the lid body so that the wipes are prevented
from drying out. Moreover, the wipes can be extracted more easily by picking up the
tip end part of the wipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013]
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an outer configuration of a wipe packaging
body according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a condition of a cross-section
taken along an A-A line in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3A is a schematic perspective view showing an outer configuration of a structural
part of the wipe packaging body, the structural part being constituted by an extraction
port member, an orifice member, and a lid body, and Fig. 3B is a schematic perspective
view showing an outer configuration of the structural part constituted by the extraction
port member, the orifice member, and the lid body from a lower surface side;
Fig. 4A is an illustrative view showing a condition in which a wipe is extracted through
an extraction port, Fig. 4B is an illustrative view showing a condition in which the
wipe has been extracted, and Fig. 4C is an illustrative view showing a condition in
which the extraction port is closed by the lid body after extracting the wipe;
Fig. 5 is an illustrative view showing a condition in which a wipe is extracted through
the extraction port in a case where a bulk of a stack of wipes has decreased;
Fig. 6 is a side view showing an example of a stack of wipes that can be stored in
the wipe packaging body;
Fig. 7 is a side view showing another example of a stack of wipes that can be stored
in the wipe packaging body;
Fig. 8 is a schematic illustrative view showing an outer configuration of the orifice
member removed from the wipe packaging body in a condition where a wipe on a surface
of the stack of wipes is extracted through an orifice of the orifice member;
Fig. 9 is an illustrative view showing an example of a case in which the wipe packaging
body is used upright;
Fig. 10 is an illustrative view showing another example of a case in which the wipe
packaging body is used upright;
Fig. 11 is an illustrative view showing a case in which an elastic body is attached
to the orifice member;
Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an outer configuration of an orifice
member removed from a wipe packaging body according to a second embodiment;
Fig. 13 is an illustrative view showing a condition in which the orifice member is
provided in the wipe packaging body according to the second embodiment, and depicting
orifice member forming pieces forming the orifice member in a case where the bulk
of the stack of wipes has decreased;
Fig. 14 is an illustrative view showing an example of a case in which an orifice member
is attached to an extraction portion according to a third embodiment;
Fig. 15 is an illustrative view showing an example of a case in which a rib is attached
to the orifice member;
Fig. 16 is an illustrative view showing an example of a case in which a curved portion
is formed on the orifice member and the curved portion is formed so as to curve in
two directions;
Fig. 17 is an illustrative view showing a wipe packaging body according to a fourth
embodiment and a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a longitudinal section
that corresponds to Fig. 2; and
Fig. 18 is a view showing various shapes of the orifice.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
[0014] A configuration of a wipe packaging body 1 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 1 and so on.
[0015] In this specification, upward, downward, frontward, rearward, leftward, and rightward
directions are, unless specified otherwise, defined as follows. When the wipe packaging
body 1 is disposed such that an extraction port 12 faces an opposite side to a disposal
surface side, a direction heading from a stacked body 6 toward the extraction port
12 is defined as an upward direction. In this case, a direction corresponding to a
thickness direction of the stacked body 6 is defined as an up-down direction. In the
wipe packaging body 1, as shown in Fig. 1, when an xyz three-dimensional space defined
by three mutually orthogonal axes, namely an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis, is envisaged,
a z axis direction and a y axis direction correspond respectively to the up-down direction
and a front-rear direction. In this case, an x axis direction corresponds to a left-right
direction. Further, in the wipe packaging body 1, a direction heading away from the
extraction port 12 of a container structural body 3 and heading toward an interior
of the container structural body 3 is defined as a rearward direction. Furthermore,
a case in which the wipe packaging body 1 is seen from above corresponds to a case
in which the wipe packaging body 1 is viewed in a downward direction from the upward
direction.
[0016] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the wipe packaging body 1 according to the present invention
is formed by hermetically joining an extraction port member 17 including the extraction
port 12 to an opening portion 16 of a storage container 15. The opening portion 16
of the storage container 15 and the extraction port member 17 joined to the opening
portion 16 together constitute an extraction portion 11, and a wipe 7 is extracted
to the outside of the container structural body 3 through the extraction port 12 of
the extraction portion 11. The stack of wipes 6 (referred to hereafter simply as the
stacked body 6) is formed from a plurality of overlapping wipes 7 and stored in the
storage container 15. An orifice member 4 that applies two types of resistance in
order to separate a wipe extracted initially from the stacked body 6 stored in the
packaging container from a following wipe is provided in the container structural
body 15 in a position located further within the storage container 15 than the extraction
port 12 of the extraction port member 17.
(Storage container 15)
[0017] The storage container 15 may be formed in any shape as long as the shape in which
the storage container 15 is formed includes an interior space in which the stacked
body 6 can be stored. The storage container 15 may be a bag-shaped body obtained by
forming a flexible film material or the like into a bag shape, or a box-shaped body
formed from a resin material such as plastic. When the storage container 15 is a bag-shaped
body, a hermetically sealed bag is used as the bag-shaped body. More specifically,
the bag-shaped body is preferably formed from a flexible plastic film or the like
in the shape of a pillow-shaped bag such as that shown in Fig. 1 and so on, for example.
(Opening portion 16)
[0018] A shape and a size of the opening portion 16 formed in the storage container 15 may
be selected appropriately as long as the wipes 7 can be extracted through the opening
portion 16. In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2, and so on, the opening portion 16
is formed as a substantially square-shaped opening in a predetermined region on an
upper surface side of the storage container 15. However, the size and shape of the
opening portion 16 are not limited to this example.
(Extraction port member 17)
[0019] The extraction port member 17 is attached to the storage container 15 so that when
the wipe packaging body 1 is seen from above, at least a part of the extraction port
12 is positioned within the region of the storage container 15 in which the opening
portion 16 is formed. To ensure that the wipes 7 can be extracted easily, however,
the extraction port member 17 is more preferably attached to the storage container
15 so that when the wipe packaging body 1 is seen from above, the entire extraction
port 12 is positioned within the region of the storage container 15 in which the opening
portion 16 is formed. There are no particular limitations on a material of the extraction
port member 17, and a thermoplastic resin material such as polyethylene or polypropylene
or the like may be selected. However, the extraction port member 17 is preferably
formed from a harder material than the storage container 15. In the container structural
body 3, the opening portion 16 and a periphery thereof can be effectively strengthened
by hermetically joining the extraction port member 17 to the opening portion 16 of
the storage container 15.
(Extraction port 12)
[0020] The extraction port 12 of the extraction port member 17 may be formed in any shape
and size as long as the wipes 7 can be extracted to the outside of the container structural
body 3 from the stacked body 6 stored in the interior of the container structural
body 3.
(Extraction portion 19)
[0021] As shown in Figs. 3A, 3B, and so on, the extraction port member 17 is formed to have
a substantially square outline when the wipe packaging body 1 is seen from above and
a lid body 5 is closed. The extraction port member 17 may be attached so as to face
an outer surface side of the opening portion 16 of the storage container 15, or so
as to face an inner surface side of the opening portion 16 of the storage container
15. In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and so on, an upper side surface of the
extraction port member 17 serves as an extraction portion 19, and the extraction port
member 17 is attached such that the extraction portion 19 faces the inner surface
side of the opening portion 16 of the storage container 15. Hot-melt adhesion, welding,
and so on may be cited as examples of methods of attaching the extraction port member
17 to the storage container 15, but the present invention is not limited thereto,
and various methods selected as desired may be used.
(Lid body 5)
[0022] The lid body 5 is provided on the container structural body 3 so as to be opened
and closed freely, and is capable of hermetically sealing the extraction port 12.
In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and so on, the lid body 5 is attached to the
extraction port member 17 via a hinge portion 5a.
[0023] The lid body 5 may be molded integrally with the extraction port member 17 via the
hinge portion 5a. Alternatively, the hinge portion 5a and the extraction port member
17 may be formed separately and then joined integrally. When the lid body 5 is molded
integrally with the hinge portion 5a and the extraction port member 17, the orifice
member 4, to be described below, may also be molded integrally with the lid body 5,
the hinge portion 5a, and the extraction port member 17. The lid body 5 may be molded
integrally with the hinge portion 5a but formed separately to the extraction port
member 17. The lid body 5 may be formed from a similar material to the extraction
port member 17, for example a thermoplastic resin material such as polyethylene or
polypropylene. As shown in Fig. 4C, by providing the wipe packaging body 1 with the
lid body 5, a situation in which the wipes 7 are exposed from the container structural
body 3 can be reliably prevented from occurring using the lid body 5, and as a result,
drying out of the stored stacked body 6, and therefore the wipes 7, can be suppressed
effectively.
(Wipe 7)
[0024] The wipe 7 is a moist sheet that is molded using paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric,
or the like constituted by synthetic or natural fibers, for example, and impregnated
with a chemical solution or the like. Examples of the chemical solution or the like
include alcohol, water, or a mixture thereof. Further, a perfume, an antibacterial
agent, a deodorant, a surfactant, an antiseptic, a dye, an antifoaming agent, an antioxidant,
a clarifier, a solubilizing agent, a pH regulating agent, or the like may be selected
as desired and blended into the chemical solution. Note that the materials cited above
are examples of the sheets, chemical solutions, and so on constituting the stacked
body 6, and other materials may be selected and used as desired. In the present invention,
the wipe 7 refers to both a sheet-shaped member separated from the stacked body 6
and a sheet-shaped member within the stacked body constituting the stacked body 6.
(Stacked body 6)
[0025] The stacked body 6, as shown schematically by a dotted line in Fig. 2, is a structural
body formed by stacking the plurality of wipes 7. The stacked body 6 may be formed
as a folded structure or wound into a roll structure. Note that when the stacked body
6 is a folded structure, the stacked body 6 is less likely to become wrinkled and
lose its shape following repeated operations to extract the wipes 7 from the container
structural body 3 of the wipe packaging body 1, and therefore a folded structure is
preferable.
[0026] The stacked body 6, when formed as a folded structure, may be a stacked body (referred
to hereafter simply as a sheet-type stacked body) formed by partially overlapping
and stacking a plurality of independent wipes, or a stacked body (referred to hereafter
simply as a perforated stacked body) formed by stacking adjacent wipes connected via
perforations. Further, when wound into a roll structure, the stacked body 6 may be
a stacked body (referred to hereafter simply as a perforated roll-type stacked body)
formed by stacking adjacent wipes connected by perforations into a roll shape.
[0027] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the overlapping parts or perforations of the wipes 7 in
the stacked body 6 form separation portions 10, and when the operation to extract
the wipe 7 from the wipe packaging body 1 is performed, the wipe 7 that is extracted
from the stacked body 6 through the extraction port 12 initially and the following
wipe 7 are pulled apart from each other by the separation portion 10.
[0028] According to the present invention, in the case of the sheet-type stacked body, the
wipe 7 is separated from the stacked body 6 when the leading wipe 7 is pulled away
from the stacked body 6 and separated from the following wipe in a part where the
two wipes 7, 7 contact each other. Further, in the case of the perforated stacked
body and the perforated roll-type stacked body, the wipe 7 is separated from the stacked
body 6 when the leading wipe 7 is torn apart from the following wipe 7 in the position
of the perforations or the like.
(Orifice member 4)
[0029] The orifice member 4 includes a pressing portion 18 and an orifice 13 for respectively
applying a first resistance to the wipe 7 by pressing the stacked body 6 and applying
a second resistance generated by frictional force to the wipe 7 when the wipe 7 is
extracted from the stacked body 6. The orifice member 4 moves toward a rear of the
storage container 15 while pressing the stacked body 6 in accordance with an amount
by which a bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases as the wipes 7 are extracted through
the extraction port 12. Accordingly, the orifice 13 likewise moves toward the rear
side (in the direction of an arrow K in Fig. 2) of the storage container 15. The pressing
portion 18 of the orifice member 4 contacts the stacked body 6 so as to press the
stacked body 6, and as the orifice member 4 moves in accordance with the amount by
which the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases, the position of the pressing portion
18 serving as a contact portion between the orifice member 4 and the stacked body
6 also moves. There are no particular limitations on a material of the orifice member
4, and a thermoplastic resin material such as polyethylene or polypropylene or the
like may be used.
[0030] In the example shown in Fig. 1, the orifice member 4 is supported in a cantilevered
fashion by the extraction portion 11 of the extraction port member 17 at a base end
21 thereof. The orifice member 4 is formed from a material possessing elasticity,
for example, and the orifice member 4 shown in this example extends so as to tilt
diagonally toward the rear side of the storage container 15 from a predetermined position
on the base end 21 side toward a free end 22 side. The free end 22 side of the orifice
member 4 is moved toward the rear side of the storage container 15 by an elastic force
of the material constituting the orifice member 4 or a biasing force generated by
a spring or the like, and as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the orifice member 4
(T0) is shaped such that in a natural condition not pressing the stacked body 6, the
free end 22 is positioned below a bottom portion of the storage container 15 (in an
imaginary condition where the bottom portion of the storage container 15 does not
exist). In a condition where the orifice member 4 presses the surface of the stacked
body 6, as shown in Fig. 2, the orifice member 4 deforms elastically from this imaginary
condition so as to rotate about the base end 21 in accordance with the amount by which
the bulk of the stacked body 6 has decreased, and as a result, the free end 22 moves
toward the rear side of the storage container 15. Note that although the orifice member
4 does not have to be attached to the extraction portion 11, the orifice member 4
is preferably supported by the extraction port member 17 on a peripheral portion of
the extraction portion 11 or the like.
(Pressing portion 18)
[0031] The pressing portion 18 of the orifice member 4 is a site that presses the stacked
body 6 in order to apply the first resistance to the wipes. Hence, the pressing portion
18 of the orifice member 4 serves as the part that contacts and presses the stacked
body 6, and therefore any site of the orifice member 4 other than the base end 21
supported by the extraction portion 11 may function as the pressing portion 18. The
orifice member 4 is configured to move toward the rear side of the storage container
15 as the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases, and therefore the pressing portion
18 of the orifice member 4 remains pressed against the surface of the stacked body
6 so as to press the stacked body 6 even when the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases.
As a result, the first resistance is applied to the stacked body 6 continuously.
(Orifice 13)
[0032] As shown in Figs. 4A, 4B, 8, and so on, when the wipe 7 is extracted through the
extraction port 12, the wipe 7 is pulled through the orifice 13. Accordingly, the
orifice 13 applies the second resistance generated by frictional force to the wipe
7 while holding a tip end portion of the following wipe 7 (a tip end 6a of the stacked
body 6). The second resistance applied to the wipe 7 by the orifice 13 as frictional
force acts together with the first resistance generated by the pressing portion 18
as a force for separating the leading wipe 7 from the following wipe 7. The orifice
13 is provided in a part of the cantilever-supported orifice member 4 other than the
base end 21 of the orifice member 4, and a formation position thereof may be selected
appropriately as desired. However, the orifice 13 is preferably formed in a central
position of the orifice member 4 to ensure that even when the frictional resistance
between the orifice 13 and the wipe 7 increases to a certain extent, unintended deformation
of the orifice member 4 caused by the frictional resistance can be suppressed easily.
[0033] There are no particular limitations on a shape and a structure of the orifice 13,
but in the example shown in Fig. 8, the orifice 13 is formed to include an elongated
hole-shaped gripping hole portion 28 that extends in the left-right direction (the
x axis direction).
[0034] The orifice 13 may be formed from the gripping hole portion 28 alone, but instead,
as shown in Fig. 8, thin, elongated auxiliary holes 33, 34 may be formed at intervals
so as to extend in a width direction (a short diameter direction) of the gripping
hole portion 28 in positions slightly removed from the gripping hole portion 28, and
the orifice 13 may be constituted by slits 37 connecting the gripping hole portion
28 to the auxiliary holes 33 and slits 38 connecting the auxiliary holes 33 to the
auxiliary holes 34. When the orifice 13 is configured thus, and an attempt is made
to extract the tip end portion 6a of the stacked body 6 through the orifice 13, the
tip end portion 6a of the stacked body 6 and a peripheral part thereof pass through
the auxiliary holes 33, 34 and the slits 37, 38 as well as the gripping hole portion
28, and therefore friction can be applied to the wipe 7 from the auxiliary holes 33,
34 and the slits 37, 38 as well as the gripping hole portion 28. When the orifice
13 is configured to include the auxiliary holes provided in the width direction of
the gripping hole portion 28 and the slits in addition to the gripping hole portion
28, as shown in Fig. 8, and the stacked body 6 is formed by folding and overlapping
the plurality of wipes 7, the width direction (the short diameter direction) of the
gripping hole portion 28 is preferably provided parallel to a width direction of the
wipes 7. Note that the gripping hole portion 28 is not limited to being formed in
the elongated hole shape shown in Fig. 8, and there are no particular limitations
on the shape thereof. However, the gripping hole portion 28 is preferably large enough
to insert a finger therein. The gripping hole portion 28 may be a narrow slit-shaped
opening, and by forming the orifice 13 from a flexible sheet, the orifice 13 can be
configured to open widely only when the wipe 7 is extracted and to be returned to
the narrow slit shape by elastic force thereafter so as to apply frictional resistance
to the extracted wipe 7. Furthermore, the gripping hole portion 28 of the orifice
13 may be partitioned by a linear or planar elastic member.
[0035] The orifice 13 is not limited to the shape shown in Fig. 8, and may take various
forms, such as those shown in Figs. 18A to 18D. Moreover, the gripping hole portion
28, the auxiliary holes 33, 34 provided in the width direction thereof, and the slits
37, 38 are not limited to a symmetrical arrangement such as that shown in Fig. 8,
and instead, the auxiliary holes 33 and the slits 37 may be disposed asymmetrically
relative to the gripping hole portion 28, as shown in Figs. 18A and 18B, or the auxiliary
holes 33, 34 and the slits 37, 38 may be disposed asymmetrically relative to the gripping
hole portion 28, as shown in Fig. 18D. With these arrangements, the wipe 7 can be
extracted from the stacked body 6 through only the auxiliary holes 33, 34 and slits
37, 38, which have a smaller hole diameter than the gripping hole portion 28. As a
result, frictional force can be applied to the wipe 7 in a larger amount than when
the auxiliary holes 33, 34 and the slits 37, 38 are disposed symmetrically relative
to the gripping hole portion 28, and therefore the leading wipe 7 can be separated
from the following wipe 7 more reliably. Fig. 8 shows the orifice 13 having a structure
in which the gripping hole portion 28 and the auxiliary holes provided in the width
direction thereof are connected by the slits. When the width direction of the gripping
hole portion 28 is set to correspond to the width direction of the wipes, the wipe
7 is less likely to be wrinkled when friction is applied thereto by the orifice 13
during the extraction process, which is preferable in terms of the outer appearance
of the wipe 7. The orifice is not limited to the orifice shape shown in Fig. 8, and
may be formed in any shape that can prevent the wipe 7 from being tightly squeezed
by the orifice 13. As a result, wrinkles can be prevented from forming on the extracted
wipe 7.
[0036] In the orifice member 4 supported in cantilevered fashion by the extraction portion
11 as described above, the pressing portion 18 exerts a force for pressing the stacked
body 6 as the free end 22 side of the orifice member 4 moves toward the rear side
of the container structural body 3. Accordingly, the free end 22 side of the orifice
member 4 rotates about the base end 21 side in accordance with the reduction in the
bulk of the stacked body 6 so that the pressing portion 18 contacts the top surface
of the stacked body 6 and presses the stacked body 6 at all times, and as a result,
the first resistance is applied by the pressing portion 18 continuously.
[0037] As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the orifice member 4 is configured such that as the bulk
of the stacked body 6 decreases, the orifice 13 moves toward the rear side of the
storage container 15 while the pressing portion 18 presses the stacked body 6 so as
to apply the first resistance thereto. In Fig. 2, a reference symbol 4 (T1) indicated
by dot-dash lines denotes the orifice member 4 in a condition where the bulk of the
stacked body 6 has decreased, and a reference symbol 4 (T2) indicated by dot-dot-dash
lines denotes the orifice member 4 in a condition where the bulk of the stacked body
6 has decreased further. A reference symbol 13 (T1) indicated by dot-dash lines denotes
the orifice 13 of the orifice member 4 (T1), and a reference symbol 13 (T2) indicated
by dot-dot-dash lines denotes the orifice 13 of the orifice member 4 (T2). Furthermore,
in Fig. 5, a reference symbol 7 (N2) denotes the wipe 7 following an extracted wipe
7 (N1). Note that in the example of Fig. 2, the orifice member 4 bends in a predetermined
position during elastic deformation thereof so as to form a bent portion 23, but this
is merely an example, and the bent portion 23 need not be formed during elastic deformation
of the orifice member 4.
[0038] When the wipe 7 is extracted such that the leading wipe and the following wipe are
separated from each other, the first resistance is applied by the pressing portion
18 and the second resistance is applied by the orifice 13. The leading wipe 7 and
the following wipe 7 are separated by these two types of resistance, and as a result,
tip end of the following wipe 7 is held by the frictional force exerted thereon by
the orifice 13 so as to project from the orifice 13. The leading wipe 7 and the following
wipe 7 are separated at a favorable timing by the action of the two types of resistance,
namely the first resistance applied by the pressing portion 18 and the second resistance
applied by the orifice 13, with the result that the following wipe 7 is held in the
orifice 13 by the frictional force such that the tip end portion thereof projects
by an appropriate amount. Hence, the tip end of the following wipe is not extracted
in an excessively large amount, and does not fall back through the orifice 13. The
lid body 5 can therefore be closed securely so as to prevent the remaining wipes 7
from drying out, and the following wipes can be extracted without difficulty.
[0039] When a force required to separate the wipes from each other is F0, the first resistance
applied to the stacked body 6 by the orifice member 4 is F1, and the second resistance
generated by the frictional force applied to the wipe by the orifice 13 of the orifice
member 4 is F2, a relationship of

is preferably established between F0, F1, and F2. When the inequality shown in (1)
is established between F1 and F2 in relation to the force F0 required to separate
the wipes from each other, the wipe 7 that is extracted from the stacked body 6 initially
can be separated from the following wipe 7 reliably and extracted, while the tip end
portion of the following wipe 7 can be pulled up to the orifice 13 and held reliably
in the orifice 13. When F0 < F1, on the other hand, the leading wipe 7 can be separated
from the following wipe 7 and extracted, but the tip end of the following wipe may
not be pulled up to the position of the orifice 13, and it may therefore be difficult
to hold the tip end of the following wipe 7 in the orifice 13. As a result, it becomes
difficult and laborious to extract the following wipe 7. Furthermore, when F1 + F2
< F0, the leading wipe 7 may not be separated from the following wipe 7, and as a
result, the wipes 7 may be extracted while still connected. Note that the first resistance
F1 corresponds mainly to the pressing force generated by the pressing portion of the
orifice member 4, while the second resistance F2 is the frictional force 18 generated
between the wipe and the orifice 13. However, the first resistance F1 serves as a
pressing force for pressing the wipes 7 when the wipes 7 are stacked, and includes
both the pressing force and the frictional force generated by the pressing force and
applied to the wipes 7 when the wipes 7 are extracted.
(Force required to separate wipes from each other)
[0040] In the present invention, when the wipe 7 is extracted from the stacked body 6, the
force required to separate the wipes from each other so that the wipes 7 are separated
reliably and extracted one at a time is preferably between 20 and 800 mN/cm, and more
preferably between 54 and 399 mN/cm. The force for separating the wipes from each
other takes a value measured in accordance with method A (a strip method) of JIS L
1096.
[0041] Results obtained by measuring the force required to separate the wipes from each
other in the sheet-type stacked body and the perforated roll-type stacked body will
be described below.
(Measurement of sheet-type stacked body)
[0042] With respect to nine types of sheet-type stacked bodies shown on Table 1, a force
required to separate a first wipe (a wipe positioned on an uppermost surface of the
stacked body) from the stacked body, a force required to separate a wipe positioned
on the upper surface of the stacked body when a thickness of the stacked body has
halved, and a force required to separate a wipe positioned on an upper surface side
of the final two wipes of the stacked body were measured using a tension testing machine
(a 50 N load cell having a constant rate of extension, manufactured by Orientec Co.,
Ltd.) at chuck intervals of 20 cm and a tension speed of 10 cm/minute. A strength
P1 (N) upon separation of the wipes was then measured, whereupon a strength (mN/cm)
per unit width (cm) of the wipe was determined and an arithmetic mean value of the
strength determined from the measurements performed in the three locations was set
as the force (a wipe separation force) required to separate the wipe from the stacked
body. Results are shown on Table 1. The width of the wipe, a surface area of the overlapping
portion, and a moistening ratio of the respective stacked bodies used in the test
are also shown on Table 1. A similar measurement was performed on a stacked body of
dry tissues having a width and an overlapping portion surface area shown on Table
1. However, the wipe separation force in this case was lower than 2 mN/cm, 2 mN/cm
being a lower limit value that can be measured by the testing machine, and therefore
the measurement could not be performed.
[Table 1]
Test No. |
Type of stack of wipes |
Wipe separation force (mN/cm) |
Width (cm) |
Surface area of overlapping portion (cm2) |
Moistening ratio (%) *1 |
No. 1 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
118 |
13.8 |
23.6 |
255.2 |
No. 2 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
118 |
13.9 |
21.1 |
258.6 |
No. 3 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
54 |
13.5 |
39.9 |
245.7 |
No. 4 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
95 |
13.3 |
43.4 |
232.1 |
No. 5 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
101 |
14.8 |
60.8 |
229.3 |
No. 6 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
237 |
16.0 |
67.2 |
245.6 |
No. 7 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
127 |
16.9 |
72.5 |
299.8 |
No. 8 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
399 |
15.2 |
66.2 |
280.0 |
No. 9 |
Sheet-type stacked body |
70 |
13.7 |
46.1 |
231.6 |
No. 10 |
Perforated roll-type stacked body |
200 |
15.0 |
- |
318.7 |
No. 11 |
Perforated roll-type stacked body |
301 |
13.0 |
- |
274.8 |
No. 12 |
Perforated roll-type stacked body |
191 |
12.3 |
- |
291.1 |
No. 13 |
Perforated roll-type stacked body |
183 |
14.0 |
- |
310.2 |
No. 14 |
Perforated roll-type stacked body |
191 |
14.4 |
- |
306.6 |
No. 15 |
Stacked body of dry tissues |
Not measurable (less than 2 mN/cm) |
23.4 |
189.9 |
8.2 |
*1 The moistening ratio was determined using a following equation from a mass (a pre-drying
mass) of the moistened wipe prior to drying and a mass (an absolute dry mass) after
the moist wipe is dried in a drier at 105°C ± 5°C until the wipe reaches a constant
mass and then cooled to room temperature.

|
(Measurement of perforated roll-type stacked body)
[0043] With respect to the five types of perforated roll-type stacked bodies shown on Table
1, the force required to separate the first wipe (the wipe positioned on the uppermost
surface of the stacked body) from the stacked body, the force required to separate
the wipe positioned on the upper surface of the stacked body when a diameter of the
roll has halved, and the force required to separate the wipe positioned on the upper
surface side of the final two wipes of the stacked body were measured using a tension
testing machine (a 50 N load cell having a constant rate of extension, manufactured
by Orientec Co., Ltd.) at chuck intervals of 20 cm and a tension speed of 10 cm/minute.
A strength P2 (N) upon separation of the wipes was then measured, whereupon the strength
(mN/cm) per unit width (cm) of the wipe was determined and the arithmetic mean value
of the strength determined from the measurements performed in the three locations
was set as the force (the wipe separation force) required to separate the wipe from
the stacked body. Results are shown on Table 1. The width and moistening ratio of
the respective stacked bodies used in the test are also shown on Table 1.
(Rib 40)
[0044] As shown in Fig. 15, ribs 40 may be erected on the orifice member 4 on either side
of the orifice 13. There are no particular limitations on the shape of the ribs 40,
but in the example of Fig. 15, the ribs 40 are formed to extend in a direction heading
from the base end 21 toward the free end 22. The orifice 13 includes an application
point at which stress acts between the orifice 13 and the wipe 7, and therefore a
load is more likely to be exerted on this point than on other parts of the orifice
13. When the applied load is large or a load is applied many times, the orifice 13
and the vicinity thereof may deform, but by forming the ribs 40 on the orifice member
4 as described above, the orifice 13 and the vicinity thereof can be increased in
rigidity, and as a result, deformation of the orifice 13 and the vicinity thereof
can be suppressed.
(Elastic body 24)
[0045] Fig. 11 shows a modified example of the first orifice member 4, in which an elastic
body 24 that applies a force for pressing the stacked body 6 is attached to the orifice
member 4 in a predetermined position on the base end 21 side of the orifice member
4. A spring material constituted by a plastic material, a metallic material, or the
like, silicone rubber, and so on may be selected appropriately as the elastic body
24. By attaching the elastic body 24 to the orifice member 4, the force generated
by the orifice member 4 in the direction of the rear side of the container structural
body 3 can be increased effectively. Hence, the structure with which to apply a force
for pressing the stacked body 6 can be formed on the orifice member 4 as desired.
(Distance between base end 21 and free end 22)
[0046] In the orifice member 4 according to the first embodiment, there are no particular
limitations on a distance between the base end 21 and the free end 22. However, the
distance between the base end 21 and the free end 22 in a condition where the free
end 22 has moved to the rearmost side of the container structural body 3 preferably
equals or exceeds a distance from the extraction portion 11 to a bottom position of
the stacked body 6 so that the pressing portion 18 of the orifice member 4 can press
the surface of the stacked body 6 until the final wipe 7 is extracted, thereby preventing
the stacked structure of the stacked body 6 from collapsing.
[0047] The orifice member 4 may be molded integrally with the extraction port member 17
and the lid body 5 by injection molding or the like. Alternatively, the individually
molded members may be combined and joined integrally by any desired joining means.
When the orifice member 4 is molded integrally with the extraction port member 17
and the lid body 5, however, a process for manufacturing the wipe packaging body is
simplified, and as a result, the wipe packaging body 1 can be manufactured easily
and economically.
(Uses of wipe packaging body 1)
[0048] The wipe packaging body 1 is not limited to being disposed on a carrying surface
25 such that the extraction port 12 faces upwards, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and so
on. In a case where the wipe packaging body 1 is configured such that the stacked
body 6 is stored in the container structural body 3 serving as a casing, as shown
in Fig. 9, for example, the wipe packaging body 1 may be used while disposed on the
carrying surface 25 in a condition where a formation surface of the extraction port
12 in the container structural body 3 is upright relative to a horizontal plane such
that the extraction port 12 is oriented in a different direction to the up-down direction.
This use will be referred to as upright use (vertical use) of the wipe packaging body
1. In this case, it may be thought that the stacked structure of the stacked body
6 in the wipe packaging body 1 will collapse more easily, but with the wipe packaging
body 1 according to the first embodiment, the free end 22 side of the orifice member
4 moves toward the rear side of the container structural body 3 such that the pressing
portion 18 presses the stacked body 6, and therefore, as shown in Fig. 9, the stacked
body 6 is pressed in the rearward direction of the container structural body 3 from
the upper side of the stacked body 6. Hence, the stacked structure of the stacked
body 6 is held reliably, thereby suppressing the danger of collapse.
[0049] Further, as shown by an example in Fig. 10, the wipe packaging body 1 may be used
upright such that the base end 21 side of the orifice member 4 is positioned further
toward the upper side than the free end 22 side. In this case, even when the stacked
structure of the stacked body 6 starts to collapse, the stacked body 6 is supported
by the orifice member 4, and therefore collapse of the stacked structure of the stacked
body 6 is likewise suppressed.
[0050] Specific examples of the sheet-type stacked body and the perforated stacked body
will be described below.
(Example of sheet-type stacked body 6)
[0051] As shown in Fig. 6, for example, a structure formed by partially overlapping a plurality
of independent wipes 7 folded into a predetermined folding structure such that overlapping
portions 10a are formed may be used as the sheet-form stacked body 6. In this case,
the overlapping portion 10a serves as the separation portion 10. Fig. 6 shows a Z-folded
stacked body 6 formed by stacking wipes 7 having a folding structure known as a Z
fold, or in other words wipes 7 folded into a Z shape. The stacked body 6 is not limited
to the Z fold, and a W fold obtained by folding the wipes 7 into a W shape or a WZ
fold obtained by alternately stacking a Z-folded wipe 7 and a W-folded wipe 7 may
also be used. The folding structure of the wipes 7 is not limited to the W fold and
the Z fold, and as long as the stacked body 6 can be configured as shown in Figs.
4A to 4C such that when the leading wipe 7 is pulled up, the following wipes 7 are
pulled up continuously in sequence, and when the leading wipe 7 is separated from
the following wipe 7, as shown in Fig. 4B, the tip end portion of the following wipe
7 (i.e. the tip end portion 6a of the stacked body 6) projects from the orifice 13,
to be described below, in the manner shown in Fig. 4C, or in other words is held by
the orifice 13, the stacked body 6 may be formed from wipes 7 having another folding
structure, or from a combination of W-folded wipes, Z-folded wipes, and wipes having
another folding structure.
[0052] In the stacked body 6 shown in Fig. 6, the overlapping portion 10a is formed by overlapping
wipes 7a, 7b such that a terminal end side upper surface 7c of the wipe 7a intended
to be extracted first opposes a starting end side lower surface 7d of the following
wipe 7b. When the leading wipe 7a is pulled out of the container structural body 3
storing the stacked body 6, the terminal end of the wipe 7a pulls up the starting
end of the wipe 7b by an adhesive force that acts between the wipes 7a, 7b in the
overlapping portion 10a such that the overlapping portion 10a on the terminal end
side of the wipe 7a moves toward the orifice 13. As the wipe 7a is extracted, the
overlapping portion 10a eventually passes through the orifice 13. At this time, the
following wipe 7b receives the first resistance F1 from the pressing portion 18 of
the orifice member 4 while the overlapping portion 10a receives the second resistance
F2 in the form of frictional resistance from the orifice 13, and as a result, the
overlap between the wipes 7a, 7b is more likely to be released. Once the starting
end of the wipe 7b has been extracted by a certain extent to the outside of the orifice
13, to be described below, the terminal end of the wipe 7a and the starting end of
the following wipe 7b separate such that the overlapping portion 10a disappears. In
other words, the overlapping portion 10a formed in the part where the terminal end
of the wipe 7a and the starting end of the following wipe 7b overlap serves as the
separation portion 10 such that the wipe 7a is pulled away from the stacked body 6
including the following wipe 7b at the separation portion 10.
(Example of perforated stacked body 6)
[0053] As shown in Fig. 7, the stacked body 6 is formed by repeatedly folding back an elongated
wipe sheet 14 on which detachment portions 10b are formed as the separation portions
10 so as to form a plurality of folded back portions 8, 9. The elongated tissue sheet
14 is structured such that the wipes 7, 7 are arranged in a line in planar sequence
in a lengthwise direction and partially connected to each other. At this time, a structural
portion in which the wipes 7, 7 are partially connected to each other serves as the
separation portion 10. In this case, the separation portion 10 serves as a part in
which the wipes 7, 7 are detached from each other by the pressing force that acts
thereon when the tip end portion of the stacked body 6 is pulled out of the container
structural body 3 and the frictional force received from the orifice 13, and therefore
serves as the part where the wipe 7 is pulled away from the stacked body 6. The separation
portion 10 may be formed as desired, for example in the form of perforations or in
another form.
[0054] Note that the stacked body 6 shown in Fig. 7 is configured such that the separation
portions 10 are positioned substantially centrally within the stacked body 6, but
this is merely an example, and the positions of the separation portions 10 when viewing
the stacked body 6 from the up-down direction may be selected appropriately as desired.
Further, the stacked body 6 is not limited to a pattern in which a layer including
the separation portion 10 and a layer not including the separation portion 10 occur
alternately, as shown in Fig. 7, and the pattern in which the separation portions
10 occur may be selected appropriately.
(Storage space 26)
[0055] As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and so on, the orifice member 4 may be configured such that
a storage space 26 is formed between the extraction port 12 and the orifice member
4. The storage space 26 may be formed as a space portion between the orifice member
4 and the extraction port 12 by forming the orifice member 4 in a plate shape having
a curved portion 27 that curves so as to project toward the rear side of the container
structural body 3. By forming the storage space 26 in the wipe packaging body 1, the
part of the wipe 7 that projects to the outside through the orifice 13 can be stored
in the storage container 15 more effectively. When the orifice member 4 is formed
with the curved portion 27, the orifice 13 is preferably formed in a predetermined
position in the curved portion 27. Note that the orifice member 4 does not have to
be formed in a plate shape.
(Connecting portion 47)
[0056] As shown in Fig. 3, by forming a connecting portion 47 that connects the interior
space of the storage container 15 to the storage space 26 in a part excluding the
orifice 13 in a case where the storage space 26 is formed in the wipe packaging body
1 between the extraction port member 17 and the orifice member 4, the space between
the extraction port 12 and the orifice member 4 and the interior space of the storage
container, which is connected thereto via the connecting portion 47, may be used as
the storage space 26, and as a result, a volume of the space for storing the tip end
portion of the following wipe 7 projecting from the orifice 13 can be enlarged. For
example, the connecting portion 47 can be formed specifically by forming the orifice
member 4 in a projecting shape and connecting the interior space of the storage container
15 to the storage space 26 on respective side portions of the projecting part of the
orifice member 4. Further, when the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases such that
the orifice member 4 moves toward the rear of the storage container 15, the connecting
portion 47 is also formed at the free end 22 of the orifice member. By forming the
connecting portion 47 in the wipe packaging body 1, a part of the wipe 7 that cannot
be stored completely within the storage space 26 when the wipe 7 is pressed into the
storage space 26 can easily move toward the interior space of the storage container
15 through the connecting portion 47. In particular, when the bulk of the stacked
body 6 is high (at the start of use), a sufficient volume cannot be secured in the
storage space 26, and therefore, by providing the connecting portion 47, the tip end
portion of the following wipe 7 projecting from the orifice 13 can be stored easily
and securely in the storage container. Furthermore, the volume of the storage space
26 itself increases as the orifice member 4 moves downward, and therefore, when the
storage space 26 is connected to the container interior via the connecting portion
47, the wipe projecting from the orifice 13 can be pushed back into the container
and stored even more effectively.
[0057] In the wipe packaging body 1 according to the present invention, as shown in Fig.
2, the position of the orifice 13 moves towards the rear side in response to movement
of the orifice member 4 as the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases, and as a result,
a space that gradually increases in size is formed between the extraction port 12
and the orifice 13 and the peripheral part thereof. Hence, even when the curved portion
27 is not provided in the orifice member 4 so that the storage space 26 and the connecting
portion 47 are not formed, a space between the extraction port 12 and the orifice
member 4 and a space connecting the free end 22 of the orifice member 4 to the interior
of the storage container 15, these spaces being formed in response to movement of
the orifice member 4 as the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases, may be used as a
storage space. Accordingly, even when the tip end portion of the following wipe 7
projects to the outside by a large amount from the orifice 13, the projecting part
can be pushed into the container structural body 3 by the extraction portion 11, and
by closing the lid body 5, the wipe 7 can be prevented from drying out. Moreover,
when the storage space 26 and the connecting portion 47 are provided, a wipe projecting
from the orifice 13 can be stored reliably even while the bulk of the stacked body
6 is high. Hence, the storage space 26 and the connecting portion 47 are preferably
provided.
[0058] In the example shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the orifice member 4 curves in a direction
heading from the base end 21 side toward the free end 22 side so as to form the curved
portion 27, but the curve direction of the curved portion 27 is not limited thereto.
Note that in Fig. 3, an arrow C1 indicates the curve direction. As shown in Fig. 16,
the curved portion 27 may be formed to curve in a direction (a direction of an arrow
C2 in Fig. 16) that transects the direction heading from the base end 21 side toward
the free end 22 side. At this time, the curved portion 27 is preferably formed to
curve in both the direction (the curve direction C1 in Fig. 16) heading from the base
end 21 side toward the free end 22 side and the direction (the curve direction C2,
for example) that transects the direction heading from the base end 21 side toward
the free end 22 side. By forming the curved portion 27 to curve in two directions,
the strength of the orifice member 4 can be improved, and as a result, unintended
deformation of the orifice member 4 can be suppressed.
[0059] Furthermore, in the wipe packaging body 1 according to the present invention, as
shown in Fig. 5, an interval between the separation portion 10 positioned on the rear
end side of the initially extracted wipe 7 (N1) and the orifice 13 is unlikely to
widen, and therefore a situation in which the initially extracted wipe 7 is separated
from the following wipe 7 before the following wipe 7 passes through the orifice 13
is unlikely to occur.
[0060] Moreover, when the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases, the orifice 13 tilts such
that the free end 22 side moves further inward toward the container structural body
3 side, and therefore, even in a case where the tip end of the following wipe 7 that
remains within the container structural body 3 after being separated at the separation
portion 10 cannot be held by the orifice 13 so as to fall back into the container
structural body 3, the tip end part of the wipe 7 can easily be picked up by the fingertips
and extracted.
[Second Embodiment]
[0061] In the wipe packaging body 1 according to the first embodiment, the orifice member
4 is formed from a single piece, but the orifice member 4 provided in the wipe packaging
body 1 is not limited to this configuration, and instead, the orifice member 4 may
be formed from a combination of a plurality of orifice member forming pieces 44. A
second embodiment will now be described on the basis of Figs. 12 and 13.
[0062] The wipe packaging body 1 according to the second embodiment, shown in Figs. 12 and
13, differs from the wipe packaging body 1 according to the first embodiment in that
the orifice member 4 is formed from a combination of two orifice member forming pieces
44, while all other configurations may be identical to the first embodiment. Hence,
description of locations having identical configurations to the first embodiment has
been omitted, and identical reference symbols have been applied thereto.
[0063] The orifice member 4 according to the second embodiment is supported by the extraction
portion 11 in cantilevered fashion such that when the wipe packaging body 1 is seen
from above, the direction heading from the base end 21 side toward the free end 22
side of one of the two orifice member forming pieces 44 is opposite to that of the
other orifice member forming piece 44.
[0064] In the orifice member 4 shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the orifice 13 is formed when two
orifice member forming pieces 44a, 44b are combined, and the respective orifice member
forming pieces 44a, 44b are respectively supported by the extraction portion 11 in
cantilevered fashion such that a supported end serves as the base end 21 and an opposite
end thereto serves as the free end 22. Cutout portions 46 in shapes corresponding
to respective halves of the gripping hole portion 28 and the auxiliary holes 33, 34,
which are shaped similarly to those of the orifice 13 according to the first embodiment,
are formed in the orifice member forming pieces 44a, 44b. By disposing the orifice
member forming pieces 44a, 44b so that a side end surface of the orifice member forming
piece 44a opposes a side end surface of the orifice member forming piece 44b, and
aligning the cutout portions 46 of the orifice member forming piece 44a with the cutout
portions 46 of the orifice member forming piece 44b, the orifice 13 is formed in a
similar shape to the orifice 13 according to the first embodiment.
[0065] In the example shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the orifice 13 is formed by combining the
two orifice member forming pieces 44a, 44b, but the present invention is not limited
thereto, and an orifice member may be formed by combining three or more orifice member
forming pieces. Moreover, the orifice 13 may be formed in only a part of the plurality
of orifice member forming pieces, and parts constituting the periphery of the orifice
13 may be formed on another orifice member forming piece.
[0066] With the wipe packaging body 1 according to the second embodiment, as shown in Fig.
13, when the bulk of the stacked body 6 decreases, the plurality of orifice member
forming pieces 44a, 44b rotate about the respective base ends 21 thereof such that
the free ends 22 move toward the rear side of the storage container 15 (in Fig. 13,
a direction in which the respective free end 22 sides of the plurality of orifice
member forming pieces 44a, 44b move is indicated by an arrow K). Hence, the stacked
body 6 can be maintained in a condition of being pressed in the rearward direction
of the container structural body 3 by the respective pressing portions 18 of the plurality
of orifice member forming pieces 44a, 44b, and as a result, the stacked structure
of the stacked body 6 is held more securely. Note that in Fig. 13, reference symbols
44a (T1) and 44b (T1) respectively denote the orifice member forming pieces 44a, 44b
in a condition where the bulk of the stacked body 6 has decreased.
[0067] Further, with the wipe packaging body 1 according to the second embodiment, when
the wipe packaging body 1 is used upright, the plurality of orifice member forming
pieces 44 respectively press the stacked body 6 in the rearward direction of the container
structural body 3 such that the stacked body 6 is pressed in the rearward direction
of the container structural body 3 in a plurality of positions. As a result, collapse
of the stacked structure of the stacked body 6 can be suppressed even more reliably.
[Third Embodiment]
[0068] In the wipe packaging body 1 according to the first embodiment, the orifice member
4 is supported by the extraction portion 11 in cantilevered fashion, whereas in a
third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 14, the orifice member 4 is supported by the extraction
portion 11 at both ends. Note that in the present invention, the term "supported at
both ends" is used in relation to cantilever support, and is not limited to a configuration
in which the orifice member 4 is supported at only two points on the base end. Instead,
the term "supported at both ends" also includes a configuration in which the orifice
member 4 is supported around an entire periphery of the base end.
[0069] The wipe packaging body 1 according to the third embodiment differs from the wipe
packaging body 1 according to the first embodiment in the support configuration of
the orifice member 4, while all other configurations may be identical to the first
embodiment. Hence, description of locations having identical configurations to the
first embodiment has been omitted, and identical reference symbols have been applied
thereto.
[0070] In a configuration shown in Fig. 14A, for example, respective ends of the orifice
member 4 are attached to a bellows 51 fixed to the extraction portion 11, and the
orifice member 4 is moved toward the rear side of the container structural body 3
(in a direction of an arrow L) by a restoring force of the compressed bellows 51.
Further, in a configuration shown in Fig. 14B, the orifice member 4 is fixed to respective
other ends of springs 52 fixed to the extraction portion 11, and the orifice member
4 is moved toward the rear side of the container structural body 3 (in the direction
of the arrow L) by a restoring force of the compressed springs 52. Furthermore, in
a configuration shown in Fig. 14C, the orifice member 4 is fixed to elastic bodies
53 instead of springs, and when the elastic bodies 53 are compressed so as to curve,
the orifice member 4 is moved toward the rear side of the container structural body
3 (in the direction of the arrow L) by a restoring force of the compressed elastic
bodies 53. Note that the elastic bodies 53 may be separate bodies or an integrated
structure provided around the periphery of the orifice member 4. Moreover, in a configuration
shown in Fig. 14D, one end of a rod -shaped support body 54 constituted by an elastic
body or the like is folded and attached to the extraction portion 11, another end
of the support body 54 is fixed to the orifice member 4, and the orifice member 4
is moved toward the rear side of the container structural body 3 (in the direction
of the arrow L) by a restoring force generated when the folded portion is compressed.
Rubber, plastic, or the like, for example, may be used as the elastic body, but the
elastic body is not limited thereto, and any material possessing elasticity may be
used, although rubber and plastic are typically preferable. Note that the configurations
shown in Figs. 14A to 14D are examples, and the present invention is not limited to
these examples.
[Fourth Embodiment]
[0071] In the first to third embodiments, the orifice member 4 is supported by the extraction
portion 11 either in cantilevered fashion or at both ends, whereas in a fourth embodiment,
the orifice member 4 is not supported mechanically by the extraction portion 11.
[0072] The wipe packaging body 1 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the wipe
packaging body 1 according to the first embodiment in that the orifice member 4 is
not supported by the extraction portion 11, while all other configurations may be
identical to the first embodiment. Hence, description of locations having identical
configurations to the first embodiment has been omitted, and identical reference symbols
have been applied thereto.
[0073] As shown in Fig. 17, in the wipe packaging body 1 according to the fourth embodiment,
the orifice member 4 is not supported by the extraction portion 11, and therefore,
when the wipes 7 are extracted from the stacked body 6 such that the stacked body
6 decreases in thickness, the orifice member 4 falls under its own weight such that
the orifice 13 of the orifice member 4 moves toward the rear side of the container
structural body 3 (in a direction of an arrow M in Fig. 17). Note that in Fig. 17,
a reference symbol 4 (T1) denotes the orifice member 4 in a condition where the bulk
of the stacked body 6 has decreased by a predetermined amount, and a reference symbol
13 (T1) denotes the orifice 13 of the orifice member 4 (T1).
[0074] In the wipe packaging body 1, a condition in which the orifice member 4 is placed
on the uppermost surface of the stacked body 6 can be realized easily, and therefore
the interval between the orifice 13 and the separation portion 10 positioned on the
rear end side of the initially extracted wipe 7 can be prevented from widening. Hence,
a condition in which an appropriate frictional force is applied to the wipe 7 from
the orifice 13 can be maintained easily, and as a result, the leading wipe 7 and the
following wipe 7 are more likely to be separated from each other at an appropriate
timing.
(Extension portion 45)
[0075] In the wipe packaging body 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the orifice member
4 may include an extension portion 45 that is formed by extending at least part of
an outer peripheral end of the orifice member 4 in a direction corresponding to a
surface direction of the stacked body 6. By forming the extension portion 45, the
orifice member 4 can easily be made less likely to move in the surface direction of
the stacked body 6 even when the orifice member 4 moves in a thickness direction of
the stacked body 6. Moreover, the weight of the orifice member 4 can be increased.
[0076] The wipe packaging bodies 1 described in detail above are merely examples of embodiments
of the wipe packaging body 1 according to the present invention, and other appropriate
embodiments may be employed within a scope that does not depart from the spirit of
the present invention.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0077]
- 1
- wipe packaging body
- 3
- container structural body
- 4
- orifice member
- 5
- lid body
- 6
- stack of wipes
- 7
- wipe
- 8, 9
- folded back portion
- 10
- separation portion
- 10a
- overlapping portion
- 10b
- detachment portion
- 11
- extraction portion
- 12
- extraction port
- 13
- orifice
- 14
- wipe sheet
- 15
- storage container
- 16
- opening portion
- 17
- extraction port member
- 18
- pressing portion
- 19
- attachment portion
- 21
- base end
- 22
- free end
- 23
- bent portion
- 24
- elastic body
- 25
- carrying surface
- 26
- storage space
- 27
- curved portion
- 28
- gripping hole portion
- 33, 34
- auxiliary hole
- 37, 38
- slit
- 40
- rib
- 41
- base end portion
- 42
- free end portion
- 43
- central portion
- 44
- orifice member forming piece
- 45
- extension portion
- 46
- cutout portion
- 47
- connecting portion
- 51
- bellows
- 52
- spring
- 53
- elastic body
- 54
- support body