Packaging system

ES 2 393 167 T3

DESCRIPTION

Lid for a modified atmosphere container

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a cap according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

The fresh produce industry incorporates the use of stackable corrugated fiber cardboard boxes or returnable plastic packaging of various sizes and shapes to house a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for transport to market. In general, there are two general categories of stackable corrugated fiberboard boxes used in the product industry, open-style boxes that incorporate openings such as handles and recesses for cooling air circulation, and closed-style boxes that do not include the openings. nor the concavities but which incorporate selective gas-permeable membranes to limit gas exchange between the sealed containers and the ambient atmosphere.

The main advantages of open style boxes allow direct on-site packaging of the collected product in the boxes, followed by refrigeration and transport to market. The simple packaging and refrigeration of the product provides significant savings in time, labor and costs. The main disadvantages of this type of packaging is that the free movement of oxygen around the product reduces the amount of time that the product can be stored and / or transported. To avoid some of these detrimental effects, the product is harvested earlier during the growing season, usually before it has developed optimal nutritional values ​​and desirable flavors, thereby reducing the quality of the product delivered to the market. Another disadvantage of open-style packaging is the minimal protection offered against temperature variations that occasionally occur during transport to market.

The lack of air and insulating packaging material surrounding the product allows temperature changes to impact more quickly on the stored product. In temperature-sensitive agricultural products (eg, peaches), a prolonged refrigeration failure could result in the loss of an entire shipment of produce. Examples of typical stackable containers include US Pat. 5,121,877 to Bodary et al., Which discloses palletized containers for ripening fruit during transport and storage; US Patent 3,871,570 to Garmon, which discloses a stackable tray for transporting fresh fruits and vegetables; US Pat. 5,967,406 to Moorman, which discloses a Bliss-style stackable transport container that can be reconfigured as a retail, club, or wholesale display container; US Patent 5,052,615 to Ott et al., which discloses another transport and display box; US Patent 4,101,048 to Rieben et al., which discloses another stackable box for products; and US Pat. 3,863,831 to Wozniacki et al., Which discloses a stackable shipping box that allows ventilation and / or cooling of the contents of the box.

Document EP 0 330 024 A1 discloses a lid according to the preamble of claim 1 and a food container comprising upper and lower elements, the lower element including a lower base wall and a side wall extending towards up. Separate downwardly extending depressions are formed in the lower base wall and each of these depressions has an inner wall surface spaced inward from the surrounding side wall. The interior wall surfaces of the depressions collectively define a contour and the top member has a raised central portion whose contour is substantially identical to but slightly less than the contour defined by the depressions.

Corrugated cardboard boxes incorporating gas permeable membranes are known in the related art as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Modified atmosphere packaging is available in various shapes and sizes and generally includes lids or flaps that are integral with the carton. The main advantages of using MAP is that the life of the product on packaging in an unmodified atmosphere is extended between 10 and 25 days depending on the specific product to be packaged and weight loss due to refrigeration is greatly reduced. The extended shelf life of the product allows the product to be harvested closer to maturity, thus retaining optimal nutritional values ​​and desirable flavors and facilitates longer transport times, a particularly important consideration when transporting fresh fruits and vegetables from tropical growing regions to the markets located all over the world (eg bananas).

MAP's ability to extend product life is extremely important in the premium fresh produce industry, where considerable cost savings can be achieved over normal cardboard boxes in which such product would have to be transported. by air rather than using considerably cheaper transportation alternatives, such as cargo ships and / or ground transportation. Sealed packaging also offers greater protection against temperature variations due to the better insulating properties of the modified atmosphere and the wrapping cardboard that surrounds the product. There are, however, several disadvantages of related art modified atmosphere packaging, including difficulties in re-cooling palletized or stacked product during transport due to the inability to provide adequate chilled air circulation around cartons. of product palletized and / or stacked,

ES 2 393 167 T3 in particular the inner cartons which are insulated from the cooled air by the outer cartons that surround them.

Another disadvantage of related art modified atmosphere packaging is that generally once the cartons have been sealed there is no way to visually inspect the product inside. Damaged product, insect infestations, and other problems may not be discovered until the product is delivered to its final destination. Examples of packaging incorporating modified atmosphere technologies include US Pat. 5,575,418 to Wu et al., Which discloses a corrugated carton that includes a gas-permeable membrane incorporated within the package for transporting fresh produce and cut flowers; European Patent Application 0 282 180 to Greengrass discloses a container, bag or wrap that incorporates a gas-permeable membrane for delayed ripening of the product wrapped by the permeable membrane. US Pat. 4,515,266 to Myers discloses a sealed container filled with a preservative gas to inhibit bacterial growth; and US Patent 6,050,412 to Clough et al. discloses a method and apparatus for packaging and transporting cut flowers using modified atmosphere packaging.

None of the cited references provides a stackable container that incorporates modified atmosphere technology, allows refrigerated ventilation of stacked and / or palletized containers, and facilitates visual inspection of the container's contents without having to open the sealed container.

Therefore, what is needed is a corrugated container that incorporates modified atmosphere technology, allows the collection and packaging of the product either on site or in a centralized facility, allows the refrigerated ventilation of stacked and / or palletized containers directly in the modified atmosphere container, allow visual inspection of packaged product at any time after packaging and provide the ability to restore product refrigeration during transit.

Summary

Objects and advantages

The object of the invention is to provide a lid that can be sealingly engaged to a container for a modified atmosphere packaging system.

The present invention addresses the above-described limitations and provides a cap as defined in claim 1.

The ability of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to extend shelf life in transport and storage has been recognized for many years. MAP is defined as the packaging of a perishable product in an atmosphere, which has been modified in such a way that its composition is different from that of ambient air. MAP's huge rise in popularity is based on a growing consumer demand for fresh fruits and vegetables and a consumer desire for preservative-free products.

As defined herein, the term "carton" is intended to include a box or tray.

Dependent claims 2 to 5 are directed to preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. When possible, the same reference numbers and characters are used to denote similar features, elements, components, or portions of the invention. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made in the described embodiment without departing from the true scope of the object of the invention as defined by the claims.

FIG. 1 - Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a basic embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 - Figure 2 represents a side view of the basic embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A - Figure 3A represents a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B - Figure 3B represents a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 - Figure 4 represents a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 - Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the basic embodiment of the invention shown in a palletized arrangement.

Detailed description

With reference to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a basic embodiment of the invention is shown where

ES 2 393 167 T3 use a corrugated cardboard box 10 and a transparent lid 5 to maintain a modified atmosphere for the delayed ripening of the product contained therein. The lid 5 is sealingly attached to the carton 10 using packing tape 30. Alternative sealing attachment means for attaching the lid 5 to the carton 10 include the use of melt glue or an elastic gasket positioned between the inner surface of a flange 20 associated with the lid 5 and the outer surface of the walls. sides of the cardboard box 10.

The lid 5 includes a plurality of raised stacking structures 15, generally rectangular or triangular, disposed around each of the four corners of the lid 5. In one embodiment of the invention, each of the raised stacking structures 15 includes a horizontal groove 25 extending longitudinally through each raised stacking structure 15. The grooves 25 are laterally offset with respect to a lateral center line of the raised stacking structure 15 such that each groove 15 is disposed closer to the closest lateral edge of the lid 5.

Each groove is aligned uniformly about a longitudinal axis of a lid such that the longitudinally adjacent grooves are disposed approximately the same distance from the nearest lateral edge of the lid 5. The height of each of the raised stacking structures 15 is at least 0.5 cm above a general horizontal surface of the lid 5, generally in the range of between 0.5 cm and 5 cm. The height of the raised stacking structures 15 provides an air gap between a bottom of another carton, allowing cooling air to flow both laterally and longitudinally through an outer surface of the lid 5 and the bottom of the carton. another carton when vertically stacked two or more in height and / or when uniformly arranged in multiple columns and rows on a pallet.

In the same way, the grooves 25 included in each of the raised stacking structures 15 allow the flow of cooling air to penetrate between opposing stacking structures. A bottom side of each of the raised stacking structures 15 forms a sealed depression in the lid 5 that provides an interior chamber in the carton to accumulate the respiratory gases generated by the product and can also be used to maintain a gas reservoir. coverage if required to maintain a particular type of product.

In an alternative embodiment the lid 5 includes a saddle-shaped depression between adjacent raised stacking structures 15 both laterally and longitudinally such that a lower side of the lid 5 conforms to the upper vertical edges of a carton. Bliss or other styles commonly used to pack fresh produce.

The lid 5 is constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid polymeric material such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or polyethylene and is dimensioned to fit over the corrugated cardboard box and conform to the vertical edges of the side walls. The lid 5 includes a flange 20 that extends downwardly enough to cover downwardly facing recesses incorporated in the vertical side walls of the common carton in Bliss or other packaging. For example, the cardboard box shown in US Patent 5,052,615, deOtty others.

The thickness of the lid 5 can be varied to obtain the desired structural strength for stacking, with a general range of between about 0.25 mm and 2 mm. The inner surface of the lid may be treated with an anti-fog coating or film to limit the generation of condensation on the inner surface that would limit the ability to view the contents of the carton.

The carton 10 is constructed of corrugated fiber and may include a permeable selective membrane or active oxygen scavenging polymer incorporated into its construction. The carton 10 includes four vertical side walls attached perpendicular to a bottom of bonded fiber that form a regular polygon in the shape of either a square or rectangular box.

The cardboard box is designed to have a standard footprint (dimensions) of 40 cm x 60 cm but other dimensions are also contemplated, such as 40 cm x 30 cm. The top of the carton is open, allowing unrestricted access to the interior storage volume defined by the vertical side walls and bottom. The vertical height of the side walls is variable, typically in the range of 10 cm - 30 cm, and largely dependent on the packaging density of the product to be placed inside the carton. In general, the product should be positioned so that it reaches a height equal to or less than the lower open top edge of the vertical side walls. The permeability of the selective membrane will be chosen based on the respiratory nature of the product to be contained within the container. A type of corrugated bonded fiber construction suitable for the present invention is described in US Patent 5,575,418 to Wu. Other polymeric films suitable for this use are available from numerous suppliers. For example, Cryovac Division of WR Grace & Company of Duncan, SC, www.crvovac.com (See PD 900 family of films).

With reference to FIG. 2, a longitudinal dimension side view of a modified atmosphere packaging system is shown in which the lid 5 includes a saddle-shaped profile to conform to the vertical top edges of the carton 10. The downward facing edge 20 of the cap 5 is held so that

ES 2 393 167 T3 sealed to carton 10 using sealing tape 30 for packaging. The raised stacking structures 15 are shown with a generally flat outer surface that is substantially parallel to the outer surface of the lid 5. The grooves 25 are designed to coincide with the grooves 75 included in the carton 10 which allows the lid 5 is flush with the vertical edges of the carton. The dotted line indicates the end of the flange 20 facing downwards that is covered by the sealing tape 30. The downward facing flange 20 extends vertically downward along the outer surface of the four vertical sidewalls to completely enclose any exposed concavity associated with the vertical sidewalls and allows suitable contact surfaces for application of the tape. package into an interface where the end of the flange and the exposed portion of the vertical side walls of the carton meet. The sealing tape 30 can be used as an indicator of product tampering or another seal can be placed on the tape 30.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in which one or more openings 35a, 35b, 35c are provided in one or more surfaces such as the lid, one or more of the vertical side walls or the bottom of the box. of cardboard. The openings fully penetrate the lid, side walls and / or bottom of the carton such that the external ambient air is in continuous contact with the interior storage volume of the carton. One or more permeable selective membranes in the form of adhesive patches 40a, 40b are applied over the openings and adhered to the lid 5 and / or the vertical side wall of the carton 10 to establish a modified atmosphere within the interior storage volume. out of the cardboard box. Adhesive patches 40a, 40b, 40c are sized to completely enclose and seal the openings.

Adhesive patches 40a, 40b, 40c suitable for use with this invention are available from a number of suppliers including Landec Corporation, at 3603 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, www.Landec.com (See Intellipac® ​​smart labels), River Ranch Technology, Incorporated, at 1156 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA, www.rlverranchfreshfoods.com/FreshHold/freshhold.html.

In this embodiment of the invention, the lid 5 and carton 10 do not include modified atmosphere packaging technology but will otherwise retain a modified atmosphere established using adhesive packages. The carton 10 used in this embodiment of the invention will need to be sealed and generally airtight to avoid loss of the modified atmosphere. The lid 5 is sealed to the carton 10 using the sealing tape 30 or an alternative sealing fastener described above.

With reference to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of a lid 5 that can be used in the modified atmosphere packaging system is shown. Cap 5 is essentially the same as that shown in FIG. 1, with the addition of vertical stacking tabs 45 arranged at each of the corners of the lid 5.

The vertical stacking tabs 45 allow the modified atmosphere packaging system to be vertically stacked with returnable plastic boxes (RPCs) that are occasionally used to transport fresh produce to market. Each of the vertical stacking tabs 40 includes a right angle that matches each corner of the lid. The right angle portion of each of the vertical stacking tabs 40 is of sufficient height to engage with a bottom side of an adjacent corner of the bottom of a returnable plastic box, generally in the range of 0.5 cm to 5 cm. cm. The bottom corners of the returnable plastic box are supported by the four raised stacking structures 15.

With reference to FIG. 5, a perspective view of the modified atmosphere packaging system is shown in which a plurality of containers are palletized and stacked in rows and columns. Raised stacking structures 25 allow cooled air to flow laterally 50 and longitudinally 55 through a plurality of air gaps 70a, 70b created between a bottom of a carton stacked vertically and evenly and supported by a raised structure 15 stack located on an underlying combination of lid 5 and carton 10. This arrangement allows a more efficient re-cooling of the inner packages placed on the pallet. The transparent lid 5 allows visual inspection of the product in order to detect insects, mold, decomposition or contraband without having to unseal the containers.

The modified atmosphere packaging system can be used for on-site harvesting of fresh produce or used in a central packaging facility. To obtain satisfactory results, the correct container with a selective gas-permeable membrane must be selected, suitable for use with the fresh product to be packaged. Once the correct container has been selected, the fresh product is placed inside the cardboard boxes. The cardboard boxes containing the product must then be refrigerated.

After cooling, the lids should be placed on the cardboard boxes containing the fresh product and if it is advantageous for the particular type of product, a coating gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide can be added by lifting the lids slightly to allow introduction. from a coating gas discharge nozzle into the inner storage volume of the carton and discharging the coating gas, followed immediately by the sealed fastening of the transparent lid to said corrugated cardboard box. Alternatively, the lid can be sealed to the carton and the gas injected and the cap plugged.

ES 2 393 167 T3 plugged injection hole as described in US Patent 5,575,418 to Wu et al. If no coating gas is to be supplied, the lid should be sealed to the cartons immediately after cooling.

In an alternative embodiment where one or more openings are provided in either the lids and / or the cartons, the lid may be attached to the carton prior to applying the coating gas. The coating gas discharge nozzle can be positioned within the opening and allowed to discharge the coating gas, immediately thereafter applying one or more selective gas-permeable membranes to the openings associated with either the clear lid or the carton. corrugated.

In all embodiments, temperature variation sensors, oxygen sensors, and / or tamper detection seals can be applied to the container.

The above embodiments of the invention are provided as illustrations and descriptions. They are not intended to limit the invention to the precise form described. In particular, it is contemplated that the functional implementation of the invention described herein may be constructed with varying materials and with different packaging arrangements. Other variations and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings and this Detailed Description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but rather to be limited by the following

Claims herein.