GB2537894A

GB2537894A - Improvements in and relating to insulated packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2537894A
Application number: GB1507382.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frances Morris Angela
Original assignee: Wool Packaging Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wool Packaging Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-30
Filing date: 2015-04-30
Publication date: 2016-11-02
Also published as: GB201507382D0

Abstract

A fibrous textile material 3 including or adjacent discrete storage containers 4, each container storing a Phase Change Material (PCM). The textile material may be sheeps wool. The PCM containers may be spherical or elongate. The material may be applied to the inside of a carton 1 or a blank thereof. The outer membrane of the storage container may be waterproof and compostable. The PCM containers may be arranged in a discrete row between a wall of corrugated cardboard 2 and a wall of woollen fibres. The woollen fibres may be detachable from the row of PCM containers. The material is intended to keep the contents of the carton within a given temperature range. The carton may be used for the transport of vaccines.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO INSULATED PACKAGING

This invention relates to insulated packaging of the type that is typivally used to transport temperature-sensitive materials such as vaccines or other medicines, while keeping the transported materials within a.retatively narrow temperature band, such as between 2 and 8°C for periods sometimes in excess of 72 hours.

One approach to transporting temperature-sensitive materials is to combine the properties of phase change materials (PCNits) inchiding ice with artificial insulating packaging such as polystyrene, the combination therefore keeping the contents of the packaging cool or otherwise within the required temperature range for a reasonably long duration. In the case of PCM's in the form of ice it will be understood that the ice itself has to be contained within one or more waterproof containers so that as it gradually melts the temperature-sensitive materials being transported do not become contaminated. The cost of using ''e as the *PCM for insulated packaging can be significant, and the ice itself is quite heavy such that in combination with the accompanying polystyrene insulation the overall size, cost and weight of such packaging can be significant, Also when the insulated packaging has been delivered it is not readily recyclable and neither can it be composted, leaving land-fill as the only practical solution for disposing of t.

Another approach to insulated packaging is described in W020141008290, which utifises the hygroscopic propetlies of natural wool to provide humidity control on the inside of the packaging, allowing it to absorb or exude moisture from within the packaging during transport, thereby providing a "mini-chmate" within the packaging in which temperature is maintained within a relatively narrow band, such as between 2 and 8°C, although a PCM such as ice is still required, but in smaller amounts, typically 50% less by weight. This provides a very co parA arrangement in contrast to e use of polystyrene insulation, is lightweight and has the further advantage of being environmentally friendly in that the packaging can be composted after use The present invention is derived from the realisation thal the hygroscopic properties of wool can be further enhanced when used for insulated packaging by the additional use rtain kinds of PCM's organic n-orga PCM's of the type described in vw.tgees.tom/productsocm_ball.php, if such material can be attached to or combined with strands of wool, either molecularly or with electro-spun fibres, or by using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma treatment, or by bonding, coating, laminating, finishing or meft spinning, which is thereafter in the construction of insulated packaging.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fibrous hygrscopic textile material having interspersed therethrough or thereagainst discrete storage containers, each storing a PC.tiVi, such as a bio-based or non-organic PCM, each PCM contain hereby providing within its respective vicinity and in coniunction with the hygroscopc properties of the fibres a temperature-controlled atmosphere.

With this arrangement the te e material c n be used as part of the inside was of insulated packaging either bondedflaminated to the outer container or just as a separate liner in hid], due to the combinat hygroscopic properties ci lbsdjacent fibres, typically woollen fibres, and the heat storage and release rties of the PCM containers, it can provide a controlled atmosphere n the packaging allowing control of the temperature within a required range.

According to a second aspect of the inventon there is provided a packaging carton in which at least the inside walls of the GSton comprise or include a fibrous hygroscopic textile mater' in accordance wfth the first aspect of the invention, Conveniently, the canon according to the second aspect of the invention includes a water or moisture impermeable outer membrane which may itself be cornpostabie so that, virhen used, the carton may then be conveniently recycled In accordance with either of the first and second embodiments of the invention hygroscopic material is preferably wool, such as sheeps' wool.

In accordance wit h a third aspect of the invention there is provided a foldable sheet for constructing an insulated packaging carton which includes at least on one side thereof, fibrous wool textile matenal in accoioance with tie first aspect of the invention incorporating or adjacent discrete storage containers of PC M's The invention will now be described, by way of example n!y, wtth reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cress-sectional view of a carton according to a first aspect of the invention, an Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of part of n according to a second aspect of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 part of a carton shown generally at 1 comprises a corrugated cardboard outer wall 2 and a non-woven inner waif of woollen fibres 3 Embedded within the inner wall of woollen fibres 3 at spaced intervals are discrete sphencal containers 4, each containing a PCM with which to interact locally with the strands of woollen fibres.

In use, although the carton 1 May be adjusted as to temperature prior to use, such as by being placed in a refrigerator for a chosen period of time, the carton 1 may also nclude e.g plastic-wrapped ice cubes whereby the temperature arton 1 can be cooled and maintained within a required temperature range by the combination of the phase change the ice as it gradually melts and the interaction between the PCM containers 4 and the woollen fibres 3, In the event that n 1 is to be used for storage and transport of e.g. vaccines the required temperature range can therefore he maintained by the interaction between the hygroscopic properties of tie wool fibre with the PCM c 4.

Figure 2 show tve arrangement of carton la in which the PCM containers 4 are arranged in a dis:crete row between the inside well of the corrugated cardboard 2 and the outer wall of woollen fibres 3, which may be detachable from the row of PCM containers 4.

In either of the arrangements shown wnh reference to Figure I or Figure 2 there may be permeable, semi-permeable, or impemieable barriers between or outside any of the cardboard 2, wool 3 01 f CM containers 4, depending upon rational requirements for the carton 1, la.

Although the PCM containers 4 are descibed as being spherical, will be understood that they may be of ani convetSnt shape and, particularly in the embodiment shown with reference to 2, they may be elongate, extending substantially the entire length of each side of the carton la with each PCM container being separated from an adjacent PCM container by a required distance sufficient to allow each to interact beaky with the hygroscopic fibres 3 to provide a temperature controlled local atmosphere.

The provision of PCM embedded containers 4 within or adjacent the wool fibres 3 provides a versatile means by which the combination can be used to control the temperature any type or shape of container, whether or not made from cardboard. However, the invention also extends to a foldable sheet onto or into which the fibrous hygroscopic textile material such as wool 3 and PCM containers 4 are incorporated, the sheet transportable for use in making cartons or for temperature control is required. therefore being easily purposes where local

Claims

CLAWSA fibrous hygros.copic textile material having interspersed therethrough or thereagainst discrete storage conta.ners each storing a PCIVI, such as a bo- 5. or non-organic RCM, each PCM container thereby providing within its respective vicinity and in conjunction with the hygroscopic properties of the fibres a temper.aturscontrofled. atmosphere.
A fibrous textile material according to Claim I wheren the marial is sheeps wooi.
3. A fibrous textile material according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the PCM containers are spherical.
4. 3. A fibrous textile material accordin 1 or Claim wherein the PCM containers are elongated.
5. A packaging carton in which at least the inside walls of the carton comprise or include a fibrous hygroscopic textile erial having a fibrous hy9.roscopic textile material having interspersed therethrough or thereagainst eta storage containers, each storing a PCM, such as a bio-based or nonanic PCM, each PCM container thereby providing within its respective vicinity and in conjunction with the hygroscopic properties of the fibres a temper controlled atmosphere.
A carton according to Claim 5 havng a water or moisture impermeable euler membrane which is comp table.
7. A carton according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 whereIn thehygroscopic uc..h as sheeps wool.
A foldable sheet for constructinci an insulated packaging carton which. includes at least on one side thereof, fibrous wool textile material incorporating or adjacent discrete storage containers of PCM's.
9, A sheet according to Claim 5 having embed spherical containers, each containing a PCM with which to interact locally with the strands of woollen fibres.
10. A sheet according to Claim 8 having ern dded therein. POIM containers arranged in a discrete row between a wail of corrugated cardboard and a waR of wooDen fibres.
11. A sheet according to Claim 10 wherein the all of wooDen fibres is detachable from the row of PCM contauiers