GB2188901A

GB2188901A - Packaging seeds

Info

Publication number: GB2188901A
Application number: GB08612448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stringer; John Arnold
Original assignee: UNWINS SEEDS Ltd
Current assignee: UNWINS SEEDS Ltd
Priority date: 1986-05-22
Filing date: 1986-05-22
Publication date: 1987-10-14
Also published as: GB8612448D0

Abstract

A package comprises a tube of plastics material containing seeds and with a permanent seal at each end. The tube may have an inner diameter ranging from 1mm to 2cm, preferably from 1mm to 2mm, and be provided with a metallic foil or deposited layer.

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging seeds This invention relates to packaging seeds, part icularly, but not exclusively, very small seeds such as those of begonias and petunias.

Recent years have seen the introduction of airtight packaging of seeds. Measured quantities of seed are sealed in afoil sachetwhich is then packaged within a decorated paper envelope which identifies the seeds and carries other information. The foil may be aluminium foil, with, for sealing purposes, a very thin internal layer of thermoplastic material.

Packaging ofthistype raises two problems. Firstly there is limited protection for the seeds against crushing. Secondly it can be difficult to extract seeds from the sachet. Particularly when the seeds are small,theytend to be retained inthecornersor merely to be held tothe inner surface of the sachet, presumably by electrostatic forces, andthisten- dency becomes more pronounced the more the sachet is handled.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tube of plastics material containing seeds and with a permanent seal at each end.

The seals may, for instance, be effected chemically, with a solvent, but the preferred method is by heating the end of the tube and pressing it, axially our transversely so as to crimp it, until the tube is closed.

At the time of use the seeds, which have been protected meanwhile, are released by cutting off the end of the tube. They can then simply be dispensed in a controlled way. If necessary, the user can gently tap the tube. However, it has been found that the electrostatic problems referred to above are significantly minimised or eliminated altogether by using the present invention.

Preferably, the tube is of a clear plastics material, for instance polythene, polyethylene or another appropriate, preferably thermoplastic plastics material.

For small seeds, such as mentioned above, the tube may typically have a 2 mm internal diameter and a wall thickness of 1 mm. However, the invention also has application for larger seeds, particularly expensivy seeds of sizes upto 1 cm or more. Thus in general, the internal diameter may range from 1 mm to 1.5cm oreven 2 cm,with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. Forsmall seeds, an internal diameter of 1 to 4 mm is preferred.

Preferably, the plastic is rendered hermetic by the provision of a metal foil or deposited layer on the inside or outside of the tube. This precludes air penetration to the seed. This is particularly important in protecting the seeds over long periods from matter which may be given off by the envelope in which the tube is packaged and in particular by the printing thereon. Such tubes are most appropriately closed by crimping under heat.

While the tube will normally be of circular cross section, this is not essential, it could also be of another smooth curved cross section.

Various types of apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of seeds into packets are known rely ing, for instance, on weight orcounting techniques.

These can be readily adapted to the present invention. One way of filling the tubes according to the invention involves supplying the tube from a coil, feeding the tube to a first station in a carousel at which a selected length is cut off, sealing the lower end ofthe cut offtube by heat and pressure at a second station, filling the tube with seed at a third station, sealing the upper end by heat and pressure at a fourth station from whence the tube can go to be placed in a packaging envelope.

1. Atube of plastics material containing seeds and with a permanent seal at each end.

2. Atube according to claim 1 wherein the seal is made by heat and pressure applied to the end ofthe tube.

3. Atube according to claim 2 wherein the pressure is applied axially or transversely of the ends of the tu be.

4. A tu be according to claim 1,2 or3 of clear plastics material.

5. Atube according to claim 1,2,3 or 4 of plastics material which is rendered hermetic by provision of a metalliclayerorfoil.

6. Atube according to anypreceding claim wherein the internal diameter is from 1 mm to 1.5cm or2 cm and the wall thickness is from 0.5 to 5 mm.

7. Atube according to any preceding claim in which the internal diameter is from 1 to 2 mm.

8. Atu be according to any preceding claim of which the internal diameter is 2 mm and the wall thickness mm.

9. Atube of plastics material containing seeds and substantially as hereinbefore described.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (b) Newortextually amended claims have been filed as follows: 1. Atube of plastics material containing seeds and with a permanent seal ateach end, and a wall thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm and from which, atthetime of use, seeds can be dispensed upon opening the tube.

2. Atube according to claim 1 wherein the seal is made by heat and pressure applied to the end of the tube.

3. Atube according to claim 2 wherein the pressure is applied axially or transversely ofthe ends of the tube.

4. Atube according to claim 1,2 or3 ofclear plas- tics material.

5. Atube according to claim 1,2,3 or40f plastics material which is rendered hermetic by provision of a metalliclayerorfoil.

6. Atube according to any preceding claim in which the internal diameter is from 1 to 2 mm.

7. Atube according to any preceding claim of which the internal diameter is 2 mm andthewall thickness 1 mm.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Packaging seeds This invention relates to packaging seeds, part icularly, but not exclusively, very small seeds such as those of begonias and petunias. Recent years have seen the introduction of airtight packaging of seeds. Measured quantities of seed are sealed in afoil sachetwhich is then packaged within a decorated paper envelope which identifies the seeds and carries other information. The foil may be aluminium foil, with, for sealing purposes, a very thin internal layer of thermoplastic material. Packaging ofthistype raises two problems. Firstly there is limited protection for the seeds against crushing. Secondly it can be difficult to extract seeds from the sachet. Particularly when the seeds are small,theytend to be retained inthecornersor merely to be held tothe inner surface of the sachet, presumably by electrostatic forces, andthisten- dency becomes more pronounced the more the sachet is handled. According to the present invention, there is provided a tube of plastics material containing seeds and with a permanent seal at each end. The seals may, for instance, be effected chemically, with a solvent, but the preferred method is by heating the end of the tube and pressing it, axially our transversely so as to crimp it, until the tube is closed. At the time of use the seeds, which have been protected meanwhile, are released by cutting off the end of the tube. They can then simply be dispensed in a controlled way. If necessary, the user can gently tap the tube. However, it has been found that the electrostatic problems referred to above are significantly minimised or eliminated altogether by using the present invention. Preferably, the tube is of a clear plastics material, for instance polythene, polyethylene or another appropriate, preferably thermoplastic plastics material. For small seeds, such as mentioned above, the tube may typically have a 2 mm internal diameter and a wall thickness of 1 mm. However, the invention also has application for larger seeds, particularly expensivy seeds of sizes upto 1 cm or more. Thus in general, the internal diameter may range from 1 mm to 1.5cm oreven 2 cm,with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. Forsmall seeds, an internal diameter of 1 to 4 mm is preferred. Preferably, the plastic is rendered hermetic by the provision of a metal foil or deposited layer on the inside or outside of the tube. This precludes air penetration to the seed. This is particularly important in protecting the seeds over long periods from matter which may be given off by the envelope in which the tube is packaged and in particular by the printing thereon. Such tubes are most appropriately closed by crimping under heat. While the tube will normally be of circular cross section, this is not essential, it could also be of another smooth curved cross section. Various types of apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of seeds into packets are known rely ing, for instance, on weight orcounting techniques. These can be readily adapted to the present invention. One way of filling the tubes according to the invention involves supplying the tube from a coil, feeding the tube to a first station in a carousel at which a selected length is cut off, sealing the lower end ofthe cut offtube by heat and pressure at a second station, filling the tube with seed at a third station, sealing the upper end by heat and pressure at a fourth station from whence the tube can go to be placed in a packaging envelope. CLAIMS

4. A tu be according to claim 1,2 or3 of clear plastics material.

8. Atube of plastics material containing seeds and substantially as hereinbefore described.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (b) Newortextually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. Atube of plastics material containing seeds and with a permanent seal ateach end, and a wall thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm and from which, atthetime of use, seeds can be dispensed upon opening the tube.

4. Atube according to claim 1,2 or3 ofclear plas- tics material.