WO2010044107A2

WO2010044107A2 - Thermal control container for perishable and non-perishable products

Info

Publication number: WO2010044107A2
Application number: PCT/IN2009/000591
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neelam Lalwani; Teluguntla Manojkumar
Original assignee: Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-10-16
Filing date: 2009-10-16
Publication date: 2010-04-22
Also published as: WO2010044107A3

Abstract

A container adapted for storage and transport of product. The container comprises plurality of boxes, made of insulating material wherein inner box (7a) houses the product and coolant pads (3a, 6b) and is further wrapped or laminated with heat resistant material, and is placed in an outer box (7b) containing coolant pads (6b).

Description

THERMAL CONTROL CONTAINER FOR PERISHABLE AND NON-PERISHABLE PRODUCTS

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to a container adapted for storage and transport of perishable and non perishable products including Pharmaceutical products such as tablets, capsules, liquid and injections; Ayurvedic products; Food products; Medical products; Beverages products; Cosmetics; Liquor products; Confectionaries and Bakery products at different temperatures such as freezed, cold or ambient according to requirements. More particularly the present invention relates to a container comprising plurality of boxes, preferably EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) boxes with different temperature coolant pads.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The conventional way of packing (for any freezed, cold and ambient temperature required products) provides required temperature for a short duration only and in some cases 18- 36 hours duration during transportation and storing (without electrical support). However such conventional single EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) box with necessary coolant pads do not provide freezed, cold and ambient temperature for longer duration for transportation and storage.

WO98/31608 ('608 in short) teaches insulated package combination which includes a product container having a reflective outer surface, said container being disposed within a transport container having internal protrusions on its bottom and sides to create an air space between the reflective outer surface of the product container and the transport container walls

By providing an air space between the walls of the rigid transport container and the product container and incorporating a reflective surface on the outer surface of the product container, the insulating performance is enhanced without significant change to the packaging wall space or packaging weight The product container may conveniently be a flexible bag of reflective foil. For applications where the product container needs to be liquid tight a laminate of a polymeric film and a reflective layer is used to form the product bag. The function of the protrusions on the inner wall of the rigid transport container is to prevent the inner product container from contacting the greater portion of the wall surface so that an air space is formed between the outer surface of the product container and the inner surface of the lidded container. The protrusions may be a series of upstanding ribs or baffles arranged on the base and the side and end walls of the transport container. These can be aligned horizontally, vertically or both, although in moulded containers a vertical orientation is easier to form. Baffles or ribs can be provided on the lid but, as there is usually an air gap between the product container and the lid, these baffles are generally superfluous.

The material of the transport container can be any suitable insulating material such as wood, moulded plastic such as polystyrene, plastic foams such as expanded polystyrene [EPS], or polyurethane, corrugated cardboard or combinations of these. The baffles need not be formed of the same material as the container.

The product container may be rigid but is preferably flexible. Conveniently the product container is a foil coated bag made from a foil laminate such as reflective aluminium/polyethylene. For non-water proof applications only foil need be used

An alternative to a foil/film laminate is metallised polymeric film suitable for packaging such as metallised polyethylene, polyester, or polypropylene. Inside the product container there may be a product tray or other ancillary packaging materials used for the particular product. The product container may be vacuum evacuated and sealed.

Coolant preferably water ice, is also included inside the product container or the transport container. The coolant must be present in sufficient quantity and at an initial temperature which ensures that it is not completely melted before the product is ready for presentation. Thus in '608 air space is required to be present between the product container and the transport container which are mainatined by baffles. Moreover the product container is not rigid so that transport requires extra care. Furher the product container is provided with outer reflecting surface which adds on to the cost.

Thus there is need to provide containers with plurality of boxes such that appropriate temperature may be maintained in the boxes so as to provide better and longer storage in combination and at the same time is cost effective.

OBJECTS QF THE INVENTION

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a container for storage and transport of perishable and non perishable product and maintenance of required temperature over long period of time

Another object is to provide a container for storage and transport of perishable and non perishable product which is cost effective

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for storage and transport of perishable and non perishable product, said container comprising plurality of boxes made from insulating materials preferably EPS and having coolants

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a container adapted for storage and transport of perishable product, said container comprising plurality of boxes, made of insulating material wherein inner box housing the product and coolant pads, is further wrapped or laminated with heat resistant material, and is placed in an outer box containing coolant pads. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings describe very briefly the formation of the container of the present invention in a 2 dimensional format : - Fig. 1 shows the Inner EPS box with lid

Fig. 2 shows that the Inner EPS box is wrapped or laminated with Heat Resistant material in increase the Insulating properties, and also a Rubber sheet on the box top surface.

Fig. 3 shows that Inner EPS box is being placed with coolant pads (ice gel or dry ice or liquid nitrogen )

Fig. 4 shows the completely packed and sealed Inner EPS box.

Fig. 5 shows the Outer EPS box and lid.

Fig. 6 shows the Outer EPS box is being placed with coolants pads (ice gel or dry ice or liquid nitrogen ) Fig. 7 shows that an Inner EPS box is being placed inside an Outer EPS box.

Fig. 8 shows the completely packed and sealed Outer EPS box of present invention which is ready for transportation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The present inventors have found that container comprising plurality of boxes made form insulating material and provided with coolants provide the required temperature for the appropriate length of time to facilitate transport without further use of additional equipments. The container of the present invention has been developed to provide required temperatures to product.

Non-limiting examples of insulating material according to present invention are wood; plastics including molded plastic such as polystyrene, plastic foams such as polyurethane, expanded polystyrene; laminates, paper substrates or a combination thereof. The container of present invention is provided with 2 level EPS boxes as inner and outer with different temperatures permutation and combination coolants to maintain the temperature as per requirement of product for necessary transportation and storage.

The inner EPS box is provided with coolants adapted to provide the required temperature control. The product is first packed in a suitable primary pack as per its stability / compatibility, and placed inside the Inner EPS box along. The Inner EPS box is further provided with heat resistant material which is wrapped or laminated on it. These material enhance the insulating properties of the box and improve the duration of the required temperature.

Non-limiting examples of heat resistant material according to present invention are plastics, metals, laminates, paper substrates or a combination thereof.

In case of air ingress inside the inner EPS box the product achieves equilibrium temperature very fast, therefore box is specially designed with rubber sheet between box and lid. This arrangement ensures box is sealed properly.

This inner EPS box is disposed inside an outer EPS box along with freezed coolants. The coolants of outer EPS box enhance the inner EPS box temperature and allow to maintain the required temperature for longer duration.

As there are two different EPS boxes having different temperature coolant pads, the container of the present invention is used to transport and store the different temperature control product within an enclosed container.

Optionally the outer EPS box is further placed in a 5 ply corrugated fibreboard box for transportation based on its requirement. The present invention is directed to a container, which is useful for storing and transport of perishable and non perishable products including Pharmaceutical products such as tablets, capsules, liquid and injections; Ayurvedic products; Food products; Medical products; Beverages products; Cosmetics; Liquor products; Confectionaries and Bakery products.

The invention is now described with reference to the nonlimiting illustrative drawings and example

As shown in Fig.l, the box of present invention is made up of EPS box (Expanded Polystryrene) or any other suitable insulating properties material. This box {as shown inl(b)} has a lid {as shown in 1 ( a) }which is used to seal the box. The Box and Lid can be made either in single piece (inbuilt lid) or two piece (detachable / attachable lid). This box and lid is selectively shaped as square, circle, rectangular, triangle, cylindrical and the like but not limited to.

As show in Fig.2, the EPS box and lid {as shown in 2 (a) and 2 (b) }is provided with outer wrapping or lamination with heat resistant material selected from plastics, laminates, metals, paper substrates etc. but not limited to. This increases the insulating properties of the box. These insulating materials enhances the box performance and improve the required storage condition to the product inside the box. As shown in 2 (b), box top surface {as shown in 2 (c) }is provided with Rubber sheet which allows box and lid to seal properly and stop the ingress of air.

As shown in Fig.3, the box is provided with coolant pads inside {as shown in 3 (a) }. These coolants provide the required temperature to the product as per required duration (Freezed, Cold and Ambient temperature). The temperature of the coolants is decided based on the requirement of the products and its duration. The product is placed inside the box. The box volume and number of coolant pads and its temperature is decided based on product requirement and its duration for transportation and storage. These coolant pads are selectively made of ice gel or dry ice or liquid nitrogen and is selectively packed in pouches, containers, bottles with any shape and sizes, but not limited to.

As shown in Fig.4, the present invention of Inner EPS box is packed and sealed for its transportation and storage.

As shown in Fig.5, the outer EPS box comprises box { as shown in 5 (b) } and a Hd {as shown in 5 ( a) }which is used to seal or affix the box. The box and lid can be made either in single piece (inbuilt lid) or two piece (detachable / attachable lid). This box and lid are selectively shaped as square, circle, rectangular, triangle, cylindrical and the like but not limited to. This box accommodates the inner EPS box. The box size and volume is based on inner EPS box requirement and product temperature requirement.

As shown in Fig. 6, the present invention of outer EPS box is provided with required number of coolant pads { as shown in 6 (b) }. The quantity and weight of coolant pads is decided based on products required temperatures (Freezed, Cold and Ambient temperature) and its duration for transportation and storage. These coolant pads are selectively made of ice gel or dry ice or liquid nitrogen and are selectively packed in pouches, containers, bottles with any suitable sizes and shapes, but not limited to.

As shown in Fig. 7, the present invention of inner EPS box {as shown in 7 (a) } is placed in an outer EPS box { as shown in 7 (b) }. These EPS boxes are of any shape and dimensions but not limited to below defined shape and size. Based on product, duration for transportation and storage, inner and outer EPS box volume, size and number of coolant with weight are decided.

As shown in Fig.8, present invention of outer EPS box which is packed and sealed shown {as shown in 8 (a) and 8 (b) }, which has inside Inner EPS box. This box optionally packed in a corrugated fibreboard box based on its requirement for transportation. This present invention provides necessary temperature storage condition of freezing, cold and ambient to products of perishable and non perishable products.

Example:

Packed product is kept inside an Inner EPS box, subsequently 4 coolant pads were placed (each 250 g weight) inside the box. The coolants were having temperature of O⁰C. This Inner EPS box was laminated/wrapped with insulating properties material (Tyvek paper) to increase the required temperature duration inside the container. To close Inner EPS container with its Hd, rubber sheet was introduced to stop ingress and egress of air. Finally container was sealed with BOPP tape. Activated Data logger was (Gemini Data Loggers) kept inside the container to measure the temperature for every one hour.

The above Inner EPS box was further kept in an Outer EPS box. 12 coolant pads having temperature of -16.O⁰C with 250 g weight each was placed in the outer EPS box. This Outer EPS box with 12 coolant pads was introduced to increase the Inner EPS container required temperature for longer duration. Activated Data Logger (Gemini Data Loggers) was kept in the outer EPS box, to measure the temperature for every one hour. This EPS box was closed with its container lid. Finally, the outer EPS box was sealed with BOPP tape.

With the above arrangement, product could be stored at desired temperature below 8⁰C temperature for more than 84 hours duration as shown in Table 1.

Table 1:

Claims

1. A container adapted for storage and transport of product, said container comprising plurality of boxes, made of insulating material wherein inner box housing the product and coolant pads is further wrapped or laminated with heat resistant material, and is placed in an outer box containing coolant pads.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1 comprises two or more levels of boxes.

3. The container as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the product is in a suitable primary pack in the inner box.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer box is further placed in a corrugated box.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is selected from wood, plastics, laminates, and paper substrates.

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the insulating material is selected from tyvek, polystyrene, polyurethane, expanded polystyrene and thermocol.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the insulating material is expanded polystyrene.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the heat resistant material is selected from plastics, metals, laminates, and paper substrates.

9. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the coolant pads are made from ice gel, dry ice or liquid nitrogen.

10. A container adapted for storage and transport of products as substantially herein described and illustrated with reference to the drawings and examples.