JP2011521860A - Liner for packing and transporting fruits - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a liner for a container and a method for packing and transporting fruits or vegetables using the liner, and the container is for packing, transporting and displaying fruits or vegetables, The liner has a base and at least four sidewalls, at least one sidewall having a removable portion that is movable over the top of the container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention described herein relates generally to liners for containers for fruit, vegetable packaging, transportation and sale. In particular, the present invention is directed to a liner for packing, transporting and selling bananas, but the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

Background Art Many fruits and vegetables are easily dented, and such dents are usually the starting point of damage. Currently, large quantities of paper and plastic materials are used in the packaging process to minimize damage during the packing and transport of fruits and vegetables. Thus, a major problem with fruit and vegetable packaging is the amount of material used to protect the fruits and vegetables from denting so that they are best delivered to the destination market.

  Many of the materials used to protect fruits or vegetables in the packaging process are eventually discarded. Some of the materials currently in use are recyclable, but not all materials are recyclable. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of packaging material used in order to reduce resource consumption. Furthermore, the materials used must be made sufficiently recyclable to reduce waste and environmental impact. The large consumption of packaging materials increases the final cost to the consumer, not only in terms of the actual price paid for fruits and vegetables, but also in terms of costs to the environment.

  In addition, many fruits and vegetables tend to be dented, and consumers demand higher quality fruits and vegetables, so producers, wholesalers and retailers can minimize dents. Many people in the industry, including traders, want the container in which the fruits and vegetables are initially packaged to be the container that is transported and displayed for retail sale.

  Although it is desired that the same containers be used for retail and transportation, many retailers prefer to show fruits and vegetables in their favorite display containers because appearance is important. Appearance is particularly important for products that have niche places on the market, including berries such as cherries and lady finger bananas.

  Some people think that ready-fingered bananas are small in production and because of their wonderful fragrance, but they are required to be more expensive than many other cultivated bananas. The price is requested. In addition, cherries are easily recessed during transport. Thus, it is particularly important that such products are not only delivered to the retail market in good condition, but are also properly displayed.

  Therefore, it would be advantageous to be able to provide container liners for the packing and transport of fruits and vegetables, and liners that can also be optionally displayed for sale, at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages being eliminated, and beneficial or commercial Will provide a choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a liner for a container, the container is for fruit or vegetable packaging and transportation, the liner comprising:
a) a base;
b) having at least four side walls;
At least one sidewall has a removable portion that is movable over the top of the container.

In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method for packing and transporting fruits and vegetables, the method comprising:
a) positioning the liner in the container, wherein the liner is i) a base;
ii) having at least four side walls, at least one side wall having a removable portion;
b) packing fruit or vegetables in a liner;
c) moving the removable part over the top of the container before shipping;
d) moving the removable part from the top of the container so that it can be unpacked and displayed for fruit and vegetables after transport.

  The container for packing and transporting fruits and vegetables can be any kind of container as long as it is suitable for the purpose. In addition, the container is suitable for display purposes. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a single container that can be used for all three stages: packaging, transportation and display. The container can thus be a box, tray or crate, which has a base and at least four side walls, the base and side walls defining a cavity. The container is preferably adapted so that a plurality of containers can be stacked.

  The container is made from a known suitable material, including wood, cardboard, or plastic. In particular, in a preferred embodiment, the container is made of plastic.

  The base and side walls of the liner define a cavity for positioning the fruit or vegetable, and when the liner is positioned in a container for fruit and vegetable packaging, transportation and optional display, the fruit or vegetable is liner. In the cavity. The liner thereby serves to protect the fruit or vegetable during packaging and shipping.

  The liner base can be of any size that fits snugly within the cavity defined by the base and side walls of the container and sufficiently covers the base of the container. Similarly, the at least four side walls of the liner can be of any size that fits snugly within the cavity defined by the base and side walls of the container and sufficiently covers the side wall of the container.

  With respect to the first embodiment characterized above, the removable part is movable over the top of the container so that the removable part covers the opening to the cavity defined by the base and side walls of the liner. . It is desirable that the removable part sufficiently covers the fruit or vegetable in the liner. The removable part thus further protects the fruit or vegetable during transport.

  The removable part can be removed but can be either reversible or non-reversible. The removable portion can be attached to the liner sidewall by any known and suitable method. The removable part can therefore be attached to the side wall of the liner by stitching so that the removable part can be easily removed. Simple tacking stitches or parallel chain stitches are examples of stitches where the removable part can be easily removed.

  In a particularly desirable embodiment, the removable part is attached to the side wall of the liner through a perforation so that it can be easily removed by tearing the removable part from the side wall, and the fruit or vegetable packaging Can be displayed. In this way, the fruits or vegetables can be displayed in the same transported container, thereby minimizing the handling of the fruits or vegetables and minimizing their damage.

  In a further embodiment, each of the two sidewalls of the liner can be removable. Each removable part is sized to sufficiently cover the opening to the cavity defined by the base and side walls of the liner, thereby protecting the fruit or vegetable within the liner during transport. Alternatively, the two removable parts combined are sized so as to sufficiently cover the opening to the cavity defined by the base and side walls of the liner, thereby enabling fruit Or protect the vegetables in the liner.

  In yet another embodiment, one removable portion can be used to cover the first layer of fruit or vegetable disposed within the liner. A second layer of fruit or vegetable can be placed on this removable part and serves as a cushion between the two layers of fruit or vegetable. The second removable portion is sized to sufficiently cover the second layer of fruit or vegetable and the opening to the cavity, thereby protecting the fruit or vegetable in the liner during transport.

  Typically, the liner can be made from any material suitable for use in fruits and vegetables. The liner is made of a relatively thin and soft material and is preferably cushioned against fruits or vegetables. Thus, the liner can be made of a material such as paper, thin cardboard, plastic material or cloth. In particular, the liner is preferably made of a cloth, and in particular, a cloth that allows the fruit or vegetable to breathe.

  While it is important that the fruit or vegetable can be breathed by the liner, it is also important that the fruit or vegetable does not dry out during transport. Therefore, it is desirable that the liner be made of a material that will allow the fruit or vegetable to breathe and not promote drying.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the liner is made of a material that is capable of providing moisture and that retains moisture. Thus, a moistened liner creates moisture in the container, and even if the liner is made of a material that breathes fruit and vegetables, the moisture produced from the moistened liner is Prevent fruits and vegetables from drying out during transport.

  The liner can be hydrated by any suitable fluid. Desirably, the liner uses water. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hydration fluid additionally comprises an ethylenated absorbent or ethylenic retarder such as gibberellin.

  The liner can be hydrated at any time during the fruit and vegetable packaging and transport process. Thus, the liner can be moistened before placing the liner in the container, or the liner can be moistened after placing the liner in the container. After placing the liner in the container, the liner can be moistened either before or after packing the fruit or vegetable into the liner, wherever the moistened the liner.

  In order to reduce the cost to the environment, it is desirable that the material used for the liner be recyclable. In a more preferred embodiment, the liner is made from a recyclable polymeric material. Thus, the liner can be made from a polypropylene fabric. The liner can also be made from a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

  In particular, in a more preferred embodiment, the liner is made from polyester fibers or polyester fleece. Polyester fibers or fleeces can be made from virgin polyester, recycled PET, or a combination of virgin polyester and recycled PET. Suitable for protecting fruits and vegetables during transportation, whatever the proportion of recycled PET, if the liner is made from a combination of virgin polyester and recycled PET Become a liner.

  The thickness of the polymeric fabric used to make the liner depends on the fruits and vegetables being packed, transported and displayed. Soft and brittle products such as drupe require thicker and therefore more cushioning fabrics than stiffer products such as cabbage.

  The thickness of the polymeric fabric is directly related to the density expressed in grams per square meter (gsm). The density of the polymeric material can vary from about 20 gsm to about 140 gsm. The density of the polymeric material is desirably in the range of about 40 gsm to about 120 gsm. Even more preferred is a range from about 50 gsm to about 110 gsm. For polymeric fabrics, it is particularly desirable to have a density of about 100 gsm.

  If additional cushioning is required, it is possible to make the liner from a roughened or scuffed low density material as an alternative to using a liner made of a thicker material. By roughening or scuffing the material, the liner has a tufted appearance. The material can be roughened or scuffed on one or both sides of the surface, thereby creating a liner with improved cushioning.

  In a further embodiment, the natural cushioning properties of the materials used to make the liner can be increased by stacking. The additional cushioning provided by the roughened or stacked material not only enhances the protection of the fruits and vegetables placed in the liner, but also absorbs more sap from the stems of bananas and mangoes. become.

  The liner can further include at least one partition member that serves to divide the cavity defined by the base and side walls of the liner into a plurality of regions. The at least one partition member can divide the cavity into separate regions of approximately equal size or separate.

  If the liner has two or more partition members, each partition member can be oriented to divide the liner in the same direction, or can be oriented to separate in different directions. In a more preferred embodiment, the liner has two partition members so that the cavity is divided into three separate regions of approximately equal size.

  The at least one partition member can be made from any material suitable for use in fruits and vegetables. It is desirable that the at least one partition member is made of a relatively thin and soft material and has cushioning properties against fruits or vegetables. Thus, the at least one partition member can be made from a material such as paper, thin cardboard, plastic material or cloth.

  The at least one partition member can be made from the same material as the liner or can be made from a different material than the liner material. Desirably, the at least one partition member is made from the same material as the liner. More desirably, the at least one partition member is made from a fabric. Desirably, the at least one partition member is made from a cloth that allows the fruit or vegetable to breathe. In particular, in a preferred embodiment, the at least one partition member is made from a polymeric fabric.

  At least one partition member is attachable to the liner, but may be either reversible or non-reversible. In another embodiment, the at least one partition member can be integrally formed with the liner.

  In the first embodiment characterized above, the liner may further comprise an attachment method that allows the liner to be attached to a container for packing and transporting fruits or vegetables. The attachment method may be any known appropriate attachment method so that the liner can be reversibly attached to the container.

  The attachment method can have such a method as a knob, a ring or a hole. The type of attachment method depends on the container to which the liner is attached. The attachment method can be any suitable location on the liner.

  In a more preferred embodiment, the attachment method has at least one hole so that the at least one hole fits snugly into a corresponding protrusion on the container so that the connection keeps the liner in place. To work. Desirably, at least one hole is provided so that when the hole fits snugly into the corresponding protrusion of the container, the sidewall of the liner remains open and the fruit or vegetable in the liner can be easily unpacked or securely displayed. Is to be positioned.

  Optionally, the liner can be attached with a print. The printed material can be applied to the liner by any suitable method. Thus, the print can be printed directly on the liner or can be attached by an adhesive label. The printed matter may include matters relating to any one or more of the following. Producers, wholesalers and retailers. The print can include information about the fruit or vegetable in the liner.

  In order that the present invention may be readily understood and practiced, one or more embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 shows the material currently used to pack a box of bananas for transport. FIG. 2 illustrates the material used to pack a box of bananas for transport in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is an illustration of a liner according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned on a plastic crate. FIG. 3B is another view of the embodiment of FIG. 3A. FIG. 4 is a top view of a liner according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned in a cardboard box. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a liner according to one embodiment showing a removable portion of two sidewalls folded over a cavity formed by the liner. FIG. 6 is a view showing the base of the liner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a liner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring first to FIG. 1, a container 10 for packing bananas is shown. The amount of packaging material currently used to protect fruits during transport is shown. This material consists of a bubble cushion 12, paper 14 and a plastic sheet 16, showing the actual amount required to pack a single container 10. Depending on the amount and type of material required, it is necessary to unpack and remove the packaging material in order to display the fruit for retail sale.

  In order to contrast the reduction in packaging material provided by the present invention, FIG. 2 is used to pack a banana of a single container 10 for transportation (folded) according to an embodiment of the present invention. ) Liner 18 is shown.

  FIG. 3A is an illustration of a liner 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned on a plastic plate 20. The liner 18 comprises a base 22, a side wall 24 and a removable portion 26. The liner further includes a divider 28 to further protect the fruits or vegetables packaged within the liner 18. The two side walls 24 having the removable part 26 further have holes 30. In use, the holes 30 fit snugly into corresponding protrusions (not shown) on the crate 20 and the bond serves to hold the liner within the crate 20. The interconnection between the holes 30 and the protrusions also holds the side wall 24 with the removable portion 26 vertically so that the fruits or vegetables can be displayed when the removable portion 26 is removed for sale. work.

  FIG. 3B is another view of the liner 18 of FIG. 3A, with corresponding appearances numbered similarly.

  FIG. 4 is a top view of liner 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned on cardboard box 10. The appearance corresponding to the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B is similarly numbered.

  FIG. 5 is an illustration of a liner 18 according to one embodiment positioned within the container 10. The two side walls of the liner (not visible in the figure) have a removable partition 28 that is folded over the cavity formed by the liner 18. A removable partition 28 protects the fruits and vegetables in the liner 18 during transport.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing the upper surface of the liner 18 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The liner 18 has a base 22 and four side walls 24. The base 22 is divided into three regions by a partition 28. The divider 28 serves to protect the fruits and vegetables positioned in the liner 18.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of liner 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The liner 18 has a base 22 and a side wall 24. Two of the side walls have removable portions 26. The removable part 26 is connected to the side wall 24 by perforations. The perforation 32 allows the removable portion 26 to be easily removed after transport so that the contents of the liner 18 can be displayed for retail sale.

  The liner 18 further includes a partition 28 to divide the liner 18 into separate regions, further protecting against the contents of the liner 18. The liner 18 further includes a hole 30 that provides a means for coupling the liner 18 to a container (not shown) for transport. In use, the holes 30 fit snugly into the corresponding protrusions of the container and serve to hold the position of the liner 18 and also to hold the side wall 24 of the liner 18 vertically in the container. Assist in displaying things.

  As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a liner for a fruit or vegetable container, which protects the fruit or vegetable during packaging, transportation and display. The liner eliminates the need for large amounts of packaging material and eliminates the need for unpacking to display fruits or vegetables for retail sale. In addition, the liner of the present invention provides a low cost and sufficiently recyclable means to replace current packaging methods.

  The above-described embodiments show only the principle of the present invention, and various improvements and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art. The invention can be implemented and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting.

  The terms “comprising” and variant terms such as “having” are used herein to indicate a specified single or multiple specified integer values and are exclusive of the context or term. It is not intended to exclude any other single integer value or multiple integer values, unless the use is required to be understood.

  Any reference to the publications cited herein is not an admission that the disclosure has common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (23)

A liner for a container, wherein the container is for packing and transporting fruit or vegetables;
a) a base;
b) having at least 4 side walls, at least one side wall having a removable part;
A liner that is removable over the top of the container.   The liner of claim 1, wherein the liner base and sidewall define a cavity for positioning the vegetable or fruit when the liner is positioned in a container for packing and transporting the fruit or vegetable.   The liner according to claim 2, wherein the removable portion sufficiently covers the opening of the cavity.   The liner of claim 2, wherein the two sidewalls of the liner each have a removable portion.   The liner of claim 4, wherein the two removable portions together sufficiently cover the opening of the cavity.   The liner of claim 1, wherein each removable portion is connected to a side wall of the liner by a perforation.   The liner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liner is made from a recyclable polymeric material washed from a polypropylene fabric and a polyester fabric.   The liner according to claim 7, wherein the liner is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester cloth.   The liner of claim 7 or 8, wherein the polymeric material is of a thickness having between about 20 and about 140 per square meter (gsm).   The liner of claim 9, wherein the polymeric material is about 40 and about 120 gsm thick.   The liner of claim 10, wherein the polymeric material is about 100 gsm thick.   The liner according to claim 7, wherein the polymer material is capable of supplying moisture and retaining moisture.   13. The liner of any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the liner further comprises at least one partition member that serves to divide the cavity defined by the base and sidewalls of the liner into separate regions.   The liner according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the container is further used to display fruits or vegetables. A method of packing and transporting fruits or vegetables,
a) positioning the liner within the container, wherein the liner is
i) the base;
ii) having at least four side walls, at least one side wall having a removable portion;
b) packing fruits or vegetables in the liner;
c) moving the removable part over the top of the container before shipping;
d) moving the removable part from the top of the container so that the fruit and vegetable packaging can be unpacked or displayed.   16. The method of claim 15, wherein the liner is made of a recyclable polymeric material selected from polypropylene fabric or polyester fabric.   The method of claim 16, wherein the liner is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester fabric.   18. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the polymeric material is of a thickness having between about 20 and about 140 per square meter (gsm).   The method of claim 18, wherein the polymeric material is about 40 and about 120 gsm thick.   The method of claim 19, wherein the polymeric material is about 100 gsm thick.   The method of claim 15, further comprising watering the polymeric material.   22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying moisture to the polymeric material is performed prior to positioning the liner within the container or after positioning the liner within the container.   23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 22 wherein the liner further comprises at least one partition member that serves to divide the cavity defined by the base and the sidewalls of the liner into separate regions.

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