Container manufacturing method and container manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a container includes: a container preparing step of placing a filling space of the pouch inside a receiving space of an outer container; and a pouch expanding step of supplying air to the filling space of the pouch and expanding the pouch toward the receiving space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a container,
 wherein the container comprises: an outer container and a pouch, wherein the pouch is made of an elastic material, coupled to the outer container, and having a filling space therein,   wherein the method comprises:
 a container preparing step of placing the filling space of the pouch inside a receiving space of the outer container; and a pouch expanding step of supplying air to the filling space of the pouch and expanding the pouch toward the receiving space. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pouch expanding step comprises:   a pouch stretching step of elastically deforming the pouch towards an end portion of the outer container while the pouch is placed in the receiving space of the outer container, wherein the end portion of the outer container is located opposite to an opening of the outer container; and   a pouch pressurizing step of injecting air into the pouch, which is elastically deformed in the pouch stretching step, and expanding the filling space of the pouch.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pouch stretching step comprises:
 inserting an air pressurizing/depressurizing unit into the filling space of the pouch; and   moving the air pressurizing/depressurizing unit from the opening of the container to the end portion of the container to elastically deform the pouch.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the pouch expanding step further comprises:
 a pouch depressurizing step of depressurizing the filling space of the elastically deformed pouch to a first reference depressurizing pressure using the air pressurizing/depressurizing unit, wherein the first reference depressurizing pressure is equal to or less than the atmospheric pressure; and 
 an outer container depressurizing step of depressurizing the receiving space of the container to a second reference depressurizing pressure through a through-hole formed on the container, wherein the second reference depressurizing pressure is equal to or less than the atmospheric pressure, 
 wherein the pouch pressurizing step comprises: 
 when a pressure of the receiving space of the outer container is equal to or less than the second reference depressurizing pressure, supplying air to the filling space of the pouch at a pressure equal to or greater than the atmospheric pressure and expanding the filling space of the pouch. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein, in the outer container depressurizing step, the receiving space of the outer container communicates with the outside of the receiving space only through the through-hole.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 ,
 wherein, in the pouch pressurizing step,   a portion closer to the opening and a portion farther from the opening are expanded simultaneously.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, in the pouch expanding step, air is supplied to the filling space of the pouch and the filling space expands into the receiving space, air in the receiving space is discharged to the outside of the outer container through a through-hole, wherein the through-hole is formed on the outer container,   wherein the container manufacturing method further comprises: a pouch-expanded-state-maintaining step of blocking the through-hole of the outer container keeping the filling space in an expanded state,   wherein, in the pouch-expanded-state-maintaining step, an internal pressure of the filling space of the pouch is smaller than a restoring force of the pouch, and   wherein a force applied onto an inner surface of the pouch by the internal pressure of the filling space of the pouch and a force applied onto an outer surface of the pouch by a pressure of the receiving space between the pouch and the outer container are in equilibrium with the restoring force of the pouch.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a liquid filling step of filling a liquid-state content into the filling space of the pouch in an expanded state,   wherein the liquid-state content are filled into the filling space of the pouch in the atmospheric pressure state without applying an additional pressure to the liquid-state content.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the container preparing step comprises:   a first-external-container-gripping step of gripping an end portion of the outer container opposite to an opening of the outer container; and   a second-external-container-gripping step of gripping the opening of the outer container.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pouch expanding step comprises:   a pouch stretching step of elastically deforming the pouch towards an end portion of the outer container opposite to an opening of the outer container while the pouch is place inside the receiving space of the outer container; and   a pouch pressurizing step of injecting a liquid content into the pouch, which is elastically deformed in the pouch stretching step, and expanding the filling space of the pouch.   
     
     
         11 . A manufacturing apparatus of a container, wherein the container comprises an outer container and a pouch, wherein the pouch is made of an elastic material, is coupled to the outer container, and having a filling space formed therein, the apparatus comprising:
 an air pressurizing/depressurizing unit movable into and out of the filling space of the pouch; and   air holes formed at an outer surface of the air pressurizing/depressurizing unit and injecting or exhausting air into or from the filling space,   wherein the air pressurizing/depressurizing unit is movable from an opening of the pouch toward an end portion of the pouch in a sliding manner.   
     
     
         12 . The container manufacturing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air pressurizing/depressurizing unit comprises:
 a unit body which is slidingly movable; and   a head portion provided on the unit body,   wherein the air holes are formed in the head portion, and   wherein an end portion of the head portion is rounded.   
     
     
         13 . The container manufacturing apparatus of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the air holes are formed on a side surface of the head portion or the end portion of the head portion.   
     
     
         14 . The container manufacturing apparatus of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the outer container is provided with an opening,   wherein a locking portion of the pouch is coupled with the opening of the outer container,   wherein the opening of the outer container communicates with a receiving space of the outer container, and   wherein the container manufacturing apparatus further comprises a first gripping unit which pressurizes the end of the outer container to allow the outer container gripped.   
     
     
         15 . The container manufacturing apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a stage unit,   wherein the locking portion of the pouch, which is coupled to the opening of the outer container, is seated on the stage unit,   wherein the air pressurizing/depressurizing unit is installed on the stage unit,   wherein the stage unit moves downward by a predetermined distance when the first gripping unit pressurizes the end of the outer container.   
     
     
         16 . The container manufacturing apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a second gripping unit,
 wherein the second gripping unit grips an end of the outer container in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first gripping unit grips the outer container.   
     
     
         17 . The container manufacturing apparatus of  claim 14 ,
 wherein a through-hole is formed on the end of the outer container and communicates with the receiving space, and   wherein the first gripping unit comprises:   a first gripping unit body;   a suction passage formed on the first gripping unit body and communicating with the through-hole; and   an elastic gripping portion contacting the end of the outer container while the through-hole of the outer container is in contact with the suction passage.   
     
     
         18 . A container manufactured by the container manufacturing method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling unit,   wherein the coupling unit is fitted into an opening of the pouch when the outer container and the pouch are coupled to each other,   wherein the coupling unit includes a through space,   wherein the through space connects the filling space of the pouch to an outside, and   wherein the coupling unit pressurizes a part of the pouch to an internal wall of an opening of the outer container.