WO2004085281A2

WO2004085281A2 - Container, method and sheet material for the sales display of vegetables

Info

Publication number: WO2004085281A2
Application number: PCT/FR2004/000706
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hubert Capelle; Guy Breger
Original assignee: Breger Emballages
Priority date: 2003-03-24
Filing date: 2004-03-23
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: EP1606188A2; WO2004085281A3; FR2852931A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) which is made at least partially from a flexible sheet which is impermeable to gas and ultraviolet radiation with the exception of at least one transparent window (10) having a surface area that occupies between 2 % and 50 % of the total surface area of the container.

Description

Container, process and sheet material for the presentation of plants for sale.

The present invention relates to a container, method and sheet material for the display of plants for sale.

It is already known, to present plants for sale, for example salads, to enclose them in a closed flexible bag and to place said bags on a display stand. These sachets are made of a transparent plastic film, carrying prints allowing to inform the customers on the plants thus presented, their weight, their origin, the brand of the seller, etc ... and, in general, to present the different terms mandatory. Such a presentation is more attractive to customers than the bulk presentation and it generally applies to quality plants.

However, it should be noted that the appeal of this presentation is ephemeral, because, if the plants are not sold quickly and stay for some time at the display, they quickly wilt to the point of becoming unsaleable and the internal wall of their sachets are covered with mist and water droplets.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to prolong the conservation of plants exposed for sale by the use of an active container, making it possible to control the chloropoly function.

To this end, according to the invention, the container for the presentation for sale of at least one plant enclosed in said closed container is remarkable in that it is produced at least in part by a flexible sheet, which is waterproof gases and ultraviolet rays, with the exception of at least one transparent window, the overall surface of which is between 2% and 50% of the total surface of said container.

This window, the outline of which can correspond to a free design (for example the silhouette of the plants), therefore constitutes a zone of exchange of gases with the outside, which, taking into account the impermeable zones of the container, makes it possible to create, around the plant, a natural atmosphere with controlled gas concentration. The plant can breathe normally, gas exchanges with the outside being possible through the window (s). The plant therefore remains alive longer without wilting and fogging is slowed down, if not prevented. In addition, thanks to the invention, the plant is particularly well protected, by the rest of the flexible sheet, against ultraviolet rays, which constitute one of the important causes of the wilting of plants.

Tests have shown that, thanks to the present invention, the appearance of freshness can be maintained for a long time not only in rustic plants, such as salads, but also in extremely fragile plants, such as endives. With regard to the latter, said tests have also shown that the overall surface of said transparent window should advantageously be between 5% and 15% of the total surface of said container. More particularly, for a chicory of 150 grams, it is advantageous that the overall surface of said transparent window is at least approximately equal to 9% of the total surface of said container.

Optionally, to perfect the gas exchanges between the interior and the exterior of said container, it is possible to pierce said flexible sheet of microperforations - each of which may be small enough not to be visible to the naked eye - at places the most adequate.

To reinforce the anti-fogging effect, it is also possible to coat the internal face of said container with an anti-fogging surface surfactant product. The container according to the present invention can be in many forms. For example, it may comprise a shell made of a rigid material impermeable to gases and to ultraviolet rays and a cover, sealed on said shell and produced in said flexible sheet.

However, according to a preferred embodiment, it is in the form of a flexible bag, entirely produced in said flexible sheet.

In accordance with the present invention, the method of presenting for sale, on a display support, at least one plant enclosed in a closed container, is remarkable in that:

- Said container is produced at least in part in a flexible sheet which is impermeable to gases and to ultraviolet rays, with the exception of a transparent window; and - exposing said container on said display support with its window facing the latter, so that said window is hidden directly by said display support or indirectly by SOUS-JSCΘΠTS containers.

The flexible material for producing said sheet of said container may comprise a transparent base plastic film, for example made of polypropylene, coated on at least one of its faces with a metallic film, for example aluminum, of which at least one zone is eliminated, for example an electrolytic treatment, through a mask carried by said metallic film and formed by at least one layer of varnish or the like deposited by printing.

From this basic minimum structure, the flexible sheet of the invention can have many variant embodiments. For example : - Said metal film is covered with a layer of paint which hides the metal film and which is itself covered with a printing layer;

- said printing layer is covered with an additional transparent plastic film;

- The internal face of said basic plastic film is covered with an additional transparent plastic film to avoid any contact between the vegetable and the ink;

- an additional paint layer is interposed between said base plastic film and said additional transparent plastic film;

- an additional metal film is interposed between said base plastic film and said additional transparent plastic film;

an additional layer of paint is interposed between said additional metallic film and said additional transparent plastic film;

- Said transparent base plastic film carries an additional metallic film on its internal face; and

- Said additional metallic film is covered with an additional transparent plastic film. Said transparent base film, as well as any additional transparent plastic films (which, preferably, are similar to said base film) may have a thickness of between 6 and 150 microns, preferably 20 microns. Furthermore, the metal film, as well as any additional metal films (which, preferably, are similar to said metal film), preferably have a thickness of less than 1 micron.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements. Figure 1 is a front view, flat, of a preferred embodiment of the container according to the present invention in the form of a bag, said bag being empty.

FIG. 2 is a view of the rear face, flat, of the empty bag of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section along line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates the presentation method according to the present invention, said bag being shown in schematic longitudinal section.

FIGS. 5 to 10 illustrate, in very enlarged cross-sections, six examples of flexible complex materials for producing the bag of FIGS. 1 to 3.

Figures 1 1, 1 2 and 1 3 illustrate, respectively in top view, in side view and in bottom view, an alternative embodiment of the container according to the present invention.

The embodiment of the container according to the present invention, shown empty in FIGS. 1 to 3, is in the form of a sachet 1 which is particularly suitable for the individual presentation for sale of endives 2, as this is illustrated in FIG. 4. In addition to this endive 2, each sachet 1 can enclose a sachet of sauce (not shown) allowing the corresponding endive to be seasoned immediately. For this particular application making it possible to present endives individually, the bag 1 can have a length L of the order of 20 to 25 cm and a width £ of the order of 10 to 15 cm.

The wall of the bag 1 is made of a flexible sheet material (examples of which are given with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10) and said bag is sealed by longitudinal weld lines 3 and transverse 4 and 5. This wall has a front face 6 and a rear face 7, connected by lateral fold lines 8 and 9.

The entire flexible wall 6 to 9 of the bag 1 is impermeable to gases and to ultraviolet rays, with the exception of a transparent window 10, formed in said rear face 7.

Furthermore, the flexible wall 6 to 9 of the bag 1 is pierced with microperforations 1 1 and / or 12, either over its entire surface, or only in local areas 1 3 thereof. In FIG. 2, microperforations 1 1 have been shown (although they may not be visible to the naked eye) formed in an area 1 3, impermeable to ultraviolet rays, of the rear face 7 of the bag 1. However, the perforations 1 1 could be on the front face 6 of the latter and / or the perforations 1 2 could be made in the transparent window 10, as is illustrated diagrammatically with reference to FIGS. 5 to 1 0. The experience has shown that, for the sachet 1 containing a single endive 2, the area of the through passage resulting from the sum of the areas of the through passages of the individual perforations 1 1 and / or 1 2 must be at least equal to 100 microns ² . As a general rule, the flexible wall 6 to 9 of the bag 1 is perforated to allow gas exchanges between the plant or plants with the outside to constitute exchange surpluses of between 100 microns ² and 100,000 microns ² , preferably 1 40,000 microns ² .

The front 6 and rear 7 faces can carry prints 1 4, a bar code 1 5, etc. In addition, it is advantageous that the front face 6 has a representation 1 6 of the plant 2 enclosed in the bag 1.

The internal face of the flexible wall 6 to 9 is optionally coated with an anti-fog surface surfactant, not shown in Figures 1 to 3 but illustrated by layer 29 in Figures 5 to 10. This layer 29 is made up a coating of surfactant at a rate of 0.001 g / m ² to 3 g / m ² , preferably 0.5 g / m ² , to avoid or slow down the condensation of the water vapor emitted by the plant or plants contained in the sachet 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bag 1, containing the endive 2, is presented for sale on a display support 1 7 and it is arranged there so that its rear face 7 is turned towards said support d 'display 1 7. Thus, the transparent window 10 is hidden by the latter or by any other underlying bag 1.

It results from what has just been described that the endive 2, on the one hand, breathes normally thanks to the window 10 and to the microperforations 1 1 and / or 1 2 and, on the other hand, is completely protected from the 'action of ultraviolet radiation 1 8 reaching the bag which wraps it. This endive 2 therefore keeps its state of freshness for a long time, although it is displayed on display. When a customer wishes to examine the endive 2, he grasps the bag 1 on the display support 17, turns it over and looks at the endive through the transparent window 1 0. If he does not buy the bag, he rests on the display support 1 7. If it rests with the window 1 0 opposite the display support 1 7, that is to say exposed to ultraviolet rays 1 8, the merchant can return the sachet thus rested so that said window 1 0 is again hidden by said display support 1 0 or by an underlying sachet 1.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show, in large-scale section, examples of flexible sheet material in the form of complex films 20 to 25 constituting the flexible wall 6 to 9 of the bag 1. The simple embodiment 20, represented in FIG. 5 and showing no imprint 14, 15, 16, 6 is based on a transparent film 26 of a polymer, such as for example oriented polypropylene, the thickness of which can be between 6 and 150 microns, preferably 20 microns. The outer face of the base film 26 is covered by a film. metal plate 27, for example aluminum. The metallic film 27 may have a thickness of between 1 50 and 1000 angstroms, preferably 350 angstroms. Finally, the metal film 27 is covered with a layer of varnish 28, the thickness of which is, for example, of the order of 2 microns. The metallic film 27 may have been deposited, for example by metallization, uniformly on the base film 26. On the other hand, at the location of the window 10, there was no coating by printing the layer of varnish 28 and an electrolytic treatment eliminated the metallic film 27 in correspondence, so that the film 26 is bare, said layer of varnish 28 thus forming a mask for the metallic film 27, during said electrolytic treatment. FIG. 5 also shows a microperforation 1 1 passing through the entire thickness of the complex film 20 and a microperforation 12, placed opposite the window 1 0 and passing only through the base film 26. In addition, the internal face of said base film 26 carries a layer 29 of an anti-fog surface surfactant.

In embodiment 21 of FIG. 6, there is the base film 26, the metal film 27, the layer of varnish 28 and the anti-fog layer 29. However, in this complex film 21, the metal film 27 is covered with a layer of paint 30, itself coated with a printing layer 31. It is the latter which carries the layer of varnish 28. In this case, at the location of the window 10, the layer of varnish 28, the printing layer 31 and the layer of paint 30 have not covered the metallic film 27, so that the corresponding zone thereof can be removed, for example by electrolytic treatment. The purpose of the layer of paint 30, which is for example white, is to hide the metallic film 27 and reinforce the opacity of the complex film 21. The thickness of layer 30 can be of the order of 2 microns. The printing layer 31, for example polychrome, corresponds to prints 14, 1 5, 1 6 and its thickness can be of the order of 4 microns. The microperforations 1 1 pass through the entire thickness of the complex film 21, while the microperforations 1 2 pass only through the base film 26, the films and layers 27, 28, 30 and 31 being locally eliminated at the location of window 1 0.

The embodiment 22 of FIG. 7 takes up the superimposition of the film, film and layers 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31 described above. In this case, the printing layer 31 is covered by a layer of adhesive 32 (replacing the varnish layer 28), itself coated with a transparent polymer film 33, for example similar to the base film 26. The glue layer 32 can have a thickness of the order of 2 microns. The microperforations 1 1 pass through the entire thickness of the complex film 22. The window 1 0 is made in the film and layers 27, 30 and 31 (as described above) and the microperforations 1 2 pass through, on the one hand , the base film 26 and, on the other hand, the film 33 and the layer 32.

In FIG. 8, the embodiment 23 comprises the superimposition 26, 27, 30, 31 and 28 of FIG. 6. On its face opposite to the metallic film 27, the base film 26 carries an additional layer of paint 34, for example similar to layer 30, which is itself covered by a layer of glue 35 making it possible to secure a transparent polymer film 36 to the assembly, for example similar to the basic filter 26. The anti-fog layer 29 is applied to the face of the filter 36, opposite to the adhesive layer 35. The paint layer 34 has, as soon as it is coated by printing, an opening 37 in correspondence with the window 1 0. The microperforations 1 1 pass through the entire thickness of the complex film 23. The microperforations 12 pass through the two polymer films 26 and 36 and the opening 37.

Like the embodiment 23 of FIG. 8, the embodiment 24 of FIG. 9 comprises the superimposition 26, 27, 30, 31 and 28 of FIG. 6. On its face opposite to the metallic film 27, the base film 26 carries an additional metallic film 38, for example similar to this film 27, covered with a layer of opacity reinforcement 39 (for example similar to layer 30), itself carrying a transparent polymer film 40 (for example similar to base film 26) by means of a layer of adhesive 41 (for example similar to layer 35). The anti-fog layer 29 is carried by the face of the film 40, opposite to the adhesive layer 41. The metal film 38 and the paint layer 39 have an opening 42 corresponding to the window 10. The microperforations 1 1 pass through the entire thickness of the complex film 24, while the microperformations 1 2 pass through the two polymer films 26 and 40 and the opening 42.

The embodiment 25 of FIG. 1 0 comprises the superposition 26, 27, 28 of FIG. 1. On the face of the base film 26, opposite the film 27, is applied an additional metal film 43 (for example similar to the film 27) to which is applied a transparent polymer film 44 (for example similar to the base film 26 ) with the interposition of a layer of varnish 45 (for example similar to layer 28 and making it possible to form the window in the metallic film 43). The anti-fog layer 29 is carried by the face of the film 44, opposite the layer of varnish 45. In the metal film 43 and the layer of varnish 45 is therefore an opening 46 in correspondence with the window 1 0. The microperforations 1 1 pass through the entire thickness of the complex film 25, while the microperforations 1 2 pass through the two polymer films 26 and 44 and the opening 46.

In the embodiments described above, the microperforations 1 1 and 1 2 can be produced by tearing, by fusion and / or by punching. The embodiment 50 of the container according to the present invention, shown in Figures 1 1, 1 2 and 1 3, comprises a plastic shell 51, rigid and impervious to gases and ultraviolet rays. This plastic shell 51, which contains plants (not visible), is closed in a leaktight manner by a sheet 52, gas and ultraviolet ray tight, sealed (at 53) on the flange 54 of said shell. The sheet 52 comprises windows 55, transparent to gases and to ultraviolet rays, the overall surface of which is between 2% and 50%, and preferably between 5% and 15%, of the total surface of the container 50. The sheet 52 can present the structure of any of the embodiments 20 to 25 described above, the windows 55 then being similar to said windows 1 0.

Claims

1. Container (1, 50) for the presentation for sale of at least one plant (2) enclosed in said closed container, characterized in that it is produced at least in part by a flexible sheet (20-25, 52) , which is impermeable to gases and to ultraviolet rays, with the exception of at least one transparent window (1 0, 55), whose overall surface is between 2% and 50% of the total surface of said container.

2. Container according to claim 1, intended to contain at least one endive, characterized in that the overall surface of said transparent window (10, 55) is between 5% and 15% of the total surface of said container.

3. Container according to claim 2, for an endive of 1 50 grams, characterized in that the overall surface of said transparent window (10,

55) is at least approximately equal to 9% of the total surface of said container.

4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said flexible sheet (20-25, 52) is pierced with microperforations (1 1, 1 2).

5. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a shell (51) made of a rigid material impermeable to gases and to ultraviolet rays and a cover (52), sealed on said shell and made in said flexible sheet. 6. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is in the form of a flexible bag (1), entirely made in said flexible sheet (20-25).

7. Method of presenting for sale, on a display support (1 7), at least one plant (2) enclosed in a closed container (1), characterized in that:

- Said container (1) is produced at least in part in a flexible sheet which is impermeable to gases and to ultraviolet rays (1 8), with the exception of a transparent window (1 0); and - exposing said container (1) on said display support (1 7) with its window (1 0) turned towards the latter, so that said window (10) is hidden directly by said display support (1 7) or indirectly by underlying containers (1).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the internal face of said container is coated with an anti-fog surface surfactant product (29).

9. Flexible sheet material for producing the sheet of the container specified under any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a transparent basic plastic film (26), coated on at least one of its faces with a metallic film

(27), at least one area of which is eliminated through a mask carried by said metallic film and formed by at least one layer of varnish or the like (28) deposited by printing.

10. Flexible material according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one additional transparent film (33, 36, 40, 44), laminated.

1 1. Flexible material according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that said metallic film (27) is covered with a layer of paint (30), itself covered with a printing layer (31).

1 2. flexible material according to claim 1 1, characterized in that said printing layer (31) is covered with an additional transparent plastic film (33).

1 3. Flexible material according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the internal face of said basic plastic film (26) is covered with an additional transparent plastic film (36, 40).

1 4. Flexible material according to claim 1 3, characterized in that an additional layer of paint (34) is interposed between said base plastic film (26) and said additional transparent plastic film (36).

1 5. flexible material according to claim 1 3, characterized in that an additional metal film (38) is interposed between said base plastic film (26) and said additional transparent plastic film (40).

1 6. flexible material according to claim 1 5, characterized in that an additional layer of paint (39) is interposed between said additional metallic film (38) and said additional transparent plastic film (40).

1. Flexible material according to claim 9 or 1 Q, characterized in that the transparent base plastic film (26) carries an additional metallic film (43) on an external face.

1 8. Soijiple material according to claim! 1 7, characterized in that said additional metallic film (43) is covered with an additional transparent plastic film (44).

1 9. Flexible material according to one of claims 9 to 1 8, characterized in that said metallic film (27), as well as any additional metallic film (38, 43), is made of aluminum with a thickness between 1 50 and 1000 angstroms, preferably 350 angstroms.

20. Flexible material according to one of claims 9 to 1 9, characterized in that said transparent base plastic film (26), as well as any additional transparent plastic film (33, 36, 40, 44), is in polypropylene. 21. Flexible material according to one of claims 9 to 20, characterized in that the said plastic film or films are perforated to allow gas exchanges to constitute exchange surpluses between 100 microns ² and 1 00,000 microns ² , preferably 40,000 microns ² . 22. Flexible material according to one of claims 9 to 21, characterized in that the said plastic film or films bear, on their face intended to be in contact with or of the plants, an anti-fog treatment consisting of a coating of a surfactant at a rate of 0.001 g / m ² to 3 g / m ² , preferably 0.5 g / m ² , to avoid condensation of the water vapor emitted by said plants.