WO2018233853A1 - Appareil et procédé d'emballage - Google Patents

Appareil et procédé d'emballage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2018233853A1
WO2018233853A1 PCT/EP2017/065613 EP2017065613W WO2018233853A1 WO 2018233853 A1 WO2018233853 A1 WO 2018233853A1 EP 2017065613 W EP2017065613 W EP 2017065613W WO 2018233853 A1 WO2018233853 A1 WO 2018233853A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
micro
packaging material
packaging
wholesale
web
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2017/065613
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martijn Willem De Bruin
Bastiaan Rinke Antony GROENEWEG
Original Assignee
Perfo Tec B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Perfo Tec B.V. filed Critical Perfo Tec B.V.
Priority to PCT/EP2017/065613 priority Critical patent/WO2018233853A1/fr
Publication of WO2018233853A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018233853A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/36—Removing material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
    • B23K26/083—Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction
    • B23K26/0838—Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction by using an endless conveyor belt
    • B23K26/0846—Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction by using an endless conveyor belt for moving elongated workpieces longitudinally, e.g. wire or strip material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/36—Removing material
    • B23K26/38—Removing material by boring or cutting
    • B23K26/382—Removing material by boring or cutting by boring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/36—Removing material
    • B23K26/40—Removing material taking account of the properties of the material involved
    • B23K26/402—Removing material taking account of the properties of the material involved involving non-metallic material, e.g. isolators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/02—Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
    • B65B25/04—Packaging fruit or vegetables
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • B65B61/025—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/04—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages
    • B65B61/12—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by tearing along perforations or lines of weakness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K2103/00—Materials to be soldered, welded or cut
    • B23K2103/30—Organic material
    • B23K2103/42—Plastics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/22—Interconnected packages concurrently produced from the same web, the packages not being separated from one another

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to packaging of respiring produce, in particular vegetables, fruits and/or herbs, more in particular vegetables, fruits and/or herbs that are minimally processed.
  • the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for making perforations in a packaging material and a method of producing micro-perforated bags.
  • the produce such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, mushrooms and/or flowers
  • a grower possibly preceded by sowing, multiplication and/or nursing in a separate culturing and/or nursing facility.
  • the harvested products are then transported to a packing facility or: "packer", usually in boxes, crates or similar containers.
  • the packer collects harvested produce, sometimes from several growers and growing sites, and reassembles the collected produce into wholesale portions
  • the wholesale clients may then divide the wholesale portions into retail portions and
  • the primary packer therefore is confronted with a supply stream of grower' s products from different origin and with different quality, from which wholesale orders according to diverse, well-defined parameters have to be assembled.
  • the parameters comprise wholesale client specifications such as portion size, quality requirements and possible consumer
  • the transport demands comprise transport demands for the long-range transport between the packer and the wholesale clients, possibly also extending to transport between the wholesale client and the retailer.
  • the transport demands may relate to the duration and/or the means of the transportation, e.g. road and/or railroad transport, sea transport, inland waterways transport, air transport, and combinations thereof.
  • Long-range transport comprises at least one of transport in a conditioned container, such as a controlled atmosphere shipping container or a reefer shipping container, e.g. of standard 40-foot size, air
  • the transport demands may further relate to customs requirements, including pest control and/or quarantine.
  • the packer therefore is sometimes also referred to as "order decoupling station" between a production supply chain and a transport and sales supply chain.
  • the produce can be packed using so-called controlled atmosphere packaging (CAP) technology, in which the produce is packed in a micro-perforated film allowing restricted exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases between the interior of the package and the ambient atmosphere.
  • CAP controlled atmosphere packaging
  • This causes one or more of: reducing respiration, slowing down ripening processes, reducing spread of pathogens, preventing softening, preventing changes in colour, smell and/or taste of the produce.
  • MAP modified atmosphere packaging
  • CAP and MAP may be combined.
  • packaging film- and bag suppliers have specialised in development and manufacture of more different packaging materials, e.g. improving bag making machines and perforation machines. Although working very successfully, such machine tends to be bulky and take up valuable real estate.
  • packers In view of the afore-mentioned diversity in supply and/or demand properties, and in view of the common quality fluctuations in packaging materials and long delivery times, often lasting longer than a harvesting campaign, packers should maintain large and diverse stocks of packaging material. This has proven to be not feasible and packers have to rely on best fit packaging material suitable for most produce, e.g.
  • micro-perforating packaging films for CAP and/or MAP are already known, e.g. from WO 02/12068, EP 2 300 323, WO 2011/151245, WO 2011/151305 and WO 2014/129904. Although these techniques are now tried and trusted, further improvements in one or more of reliability, efficiency and cost effectiveness of packaging of wholesale portions of respiring produce are still desired.
  • the apparatus is for making perforations in a tubular packaging material, in particular a tubular polymer film.
  • the apparatus comprises a micro-perforator, a bag sealer, a cutter, and a conveyor for transporting a web of tubular packaging material along a path through the apparatus, e.g. from a supply reel to a take-up reel, passing the micro-perforator, the bag sealer and the cutter for forming the packaging material into micro-perforated wholesale packaging bags.
  • the presently provided apparatus itself produces from a packaging material web micro- perforated wholesale bags. This improves quality control since the web and the apparatus need be adjusted only once instead of anew for each different apparatus. Further, the risk of mistakes between successive manufacturing steps is minimized.
  • presently available packaging material may have a tolerance no better than 50% or occasionally even 100% of the rated and/or intended transmission for oxygen, carbon dioxide, ethylene and/or water.
  • Prototypes of apparatus according to the present principles have already achieved less than 10% variation from their rated and/or intended transmissions.
  • the present apparatus also facilitates relating bag sizes and the micro- perforations (number and/or sizes) to each other on a single web of material.
  • each known bag-forming apparatus and film perforator apparatus operating on a web requires a labyrinth for tensioning the respective web.
  • a labyrinth may be obviated or a single labyrinth of limited length, e.g. down to a single tensioner roll or "dancer", suffices. This reduces production space.
  • the apparatus is for making perforations in a packaging material, in particular a tubular packaging material, more in particular a polymer film.
  • the apparatus comprises a micro-perforator and optionally one or more of a cutter, a bag sealer and a printer.
  • the apparatus further comprises a conveyor for transporting a web of the packaging material along a path through the apparatus, e.g. from a supply reel to a take-up reel, passing the micro-perforator and one or more of the cutter, the bag sealer and the printer.
  • the conveyor comprises one or more servo motors and/or stepper motors for the transporting of the web and/or the conveyor is provided with at least one distance detector, e.g. based on an encoder wheel, detecting displacement of the web at or near at least one of the supply reel, the micro-perforator, the take-up reel, the cutter, the bag sealer, and the printer, if present.
  • at least one distance detector e.g. based on an encoder wheel
  • the apparatus may be configured for forming the
  • a servo motor, stepper motor and/or a distance detector enables accurate detection of and/or control over displacement of the web. This may also obviate a labyrinth or other systems in the apparatus to control displacement of the web by tension regulation. Thus, the apparatus may have a comparably small size. Further, accurate feedback control may be facilitated improving consistency, predictability and therewith quality of the formed material.
  • the servo motor, stepper motor and/or a distance detector may also obviate a single "dancer" and/or improve control over (movement of) a tubular foil, since stress and/or deformation of the web, e.g. due to thickness of the web and/or (tendency of) movement of the different layers relative to each other may be regulated and/or prevented.
  • micro-perforations are perforations with an open surface area below 1 square millimetre, typically with a diameter of about 100 to 1000 micrometre and/or an open surface area of about 0,01 to 0,8 square millimetre, e.g. in a range of 100 to 500 micrometre diameter and/or 0,01 to 0,2 square millimetre open surface area, like 200-350 micrometre diameter and/or 0,03-0,1 square millimetre open surface area.
  • a wholesale container is a container with sufficient volume to contain a plurality of regular consumer portions, for instance a container with sufficient volume to contain typically more than 1 kg of the produce, e.g. 2,5 kg, 5 kg or more of a produce as berries, or a container with a volume V > 1,5 litre, typically V > 2,5 litre or V > 5 litre. Suitable sizes may depend on the produce, e.g. ca . 100 oranges or more, ca. 25 bell peppers or more, 6 water melons or more, ca. 5 kilogrammes of spinach leaves or more, 100 or more stems of cut flowers.
  • the containers can be crates, boxes, bottles or any other suitable types of palletizable containers. Particularly useful are rectangular stackable boxes without protruding parts, such as cardboard boxes or plastic crates.
  • WVTR water vapor transmission rate
  • RH relative humidity
  • the WVTR is mainly determined by the type of film material used. Good results are for example obtained with films comprising biodegradable polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) , poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) , polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) ,
  • the film may for example comprise a partly or fully laminated structures, or a single layer
  • substrate for instance multi-layer paper laminate, polymeric laminate, single layer polymeric films etc.
  • the film can for example be made by extrusion processes such as blowing, casting or
  • the film may for example have an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) between 1000 - 4000 CC/24hr/m2 at 23° C, measured in accordance with ASTM standard F2622.
  • OTR oxygen transmission rate
  • the conveyor may be configured for transporting the web of tubular packaging material packaging material in flattened form through the apparatus, such that opposite wall portions of the packaging material lie close to each other, in particular against each other, the apparatus being configured for
  • the flattened form may be provided by a simple pressing down of the tubular material and/or by providing one or more gussets along the material.
  • the apparatus may comprise a press in the conveyor path and/or a support in the conveyor path having a curved surface over which the
  • flattened packaging material may be done with sufficient
  • micro-perforated bags may be made from tubular material instead of from micro-perforated sheets that thereafter are
  • tubular material When the tubular material is fabricated directly in a tubular shape (e.g. by extrusion, blowing, casting, etc.) it lacks a longitudinal closure like a seam, a weld or other closure, which obviates the material associated with such closure. Moreover, a constant material thickness and material strength around the package may be provided. Thus, cost benefits and structural benefits are achievable compared to forming a bag into a tubular shape from sheet material as a secondary production step. Moreover, the width of a tubular web to be handled by the apparatus for a package with a given size will generally be less than half the width of a single sheet film to be formed into a bag afterward. Note further that most single sheet films for packaging material have actually been formed from tubular foils that have been cut open and turned into two single sheet films of narrower width. Micro-perforating a tubular film therefore may save a significant number of
  • the apparatus may be provided with a supply of tubular web material, the tubular web material preferably being a polymer material, e.g. a polymeric film and/or a polymer laminate.
  • the supply is provided on a reel.
  • the cutter may be configured to fully cut the web, providing separate bags, and/or to partly cut the web, e.g.
  • the apparatus may comprise a pick-up reel for the series of bags for later separation.
  • the apparatus may comprise a container-lining device and/or a container packing device to provide boxes, crates, tubs or similar shape-maintaining self-supporting containers with a micro-perforated bag as a liner.
  • the apparatus may wrap such container in a micro-perforated bag.
  • the cutter may provide straight separation lines and/or nonlinear separation lines, e.g. for providing bags with tabs and/or handles .
  • the apparatus may comprise a packager comprising a feeder for wholesale containers, e.g. boxes or crates,
  • the packer may be configured to provide the container with a micro-perforated bag thus forming a Controlled Atmosphere Packaging ("CAP") wholesale package.
  • the micro-perforator may be a laser perforator. This is hygienic and provides a large degree of freedom for setting and maintaining specifications for the micro-perforations made.
  • the apparatus may comprise a printer for printing symbols on the packaging material along the path.
  • the symbols may comprise eye marks for triggering subsequent process steps.
  • the symbols may comprise indications related to a bag size and/or to indications related to parameters of the micro- perforations and/or to product specifications. Such indication may be related to at least one of a parameter of one or more micro-perforations made in the web by the micro-perforator, to a parameter of the packaging material, e.g. a transmission rate, and/or a bag size, and to a parameter of the produce to be packaged in the material .
  • the apparatus may comprise an optical detector, in particular a camera, being configured to inspect one or more micro-perforations. This enables quality control and feedback on the production process, e.g. checking correct focusing of the laser .
  • An optical detector in-line with the perforator is beneficial in that it enables quality control of the micro- perforations, possibly including quality control and/or
  • optical detectors may have a very sharply defined depth of focus and may therefore be used for detection of a single layer
  • multiple optical detectors with different focus position and/or depth of focus may be employed.
  • An optical detector may be provided on same the side and/or on an opposite side of the material as the micro-perforator.
  • the apparatus may comprise a detector, for determining at least one of a sealing site, a cutting site and a micro- perforation site, e.g. an optical detector configured to detect a site indication and/or an eye mark. Such detector facilitates the production process and may enable determination of a correct bag size, correct placement of micro-perforations etc.
  • the apparatus may comprise a controller connected with the micro-perforator, the bag sealer and the cutter and
  • the controller may be configured to control operation of the apparatus in dependence of data from, when present, one or more of the micro-perforator, the bag sealer, the cutter, the printer, the detector and a material supply detector.
  • a material supply detector may comprise an optical detector, a weighing device, an encoder coupled with a roller, etc.
  • the system may comprise a distance detector, e.g. an encoder wheel driven by the conveyor and/or by the packaging material. Also or alternatively, a commercial eye mark-triggered cutter may be utilized.
  • the apparatus may comprise both a printer and an optical detector in succession for printing and then detecting eye marks. Triggering process steps by eye marks is a developed technology and devices may be readily available. Printing eye marks in relation to preceding process steps for subsequent detection for other process steps within one apparatus
  • the apparatus may comprise, or at least be connected to, at least one of a gas composition detector, a thermometer, a hygrometer, a weight detector.
  • a gas composition detector e.g., a thermometer, a hygrometer, a weight detector.
  • a method of producing micro-perforated bags comprises conveying a web of tubular packaging material along a path through an apparatus for making perforations in a tubular packaging material, in particular a tubular polymer film, wherein the method comprises, each along the track, micro- perforating portions of the tubular film, sealing portions of the tubular film, and severing the film along separation lines associated with the sealed portions to divide the tubular film into a plurality of micro-perforated bags.
  • the method steps may be done in any desired suitable sequence, however, it may be preferred that sealing is performed prior to micro-perforating since this may (further) fixate separate layers of the packaging material to each other and improve quality of the micro- perforations.
  • the bag production step may be carried out on an apparatus according to this disclosure.
  • the method may comprise printing symbols on the packaging material along the path, e.g. such as eye marks, package specifications and/or closing indications.
  • a method of packaging respiring produce comprises the steps of: providing a wholesale container with the micro- perforated packaging bag;
  • respiring produce such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and/or flowers
  • the method comprising the steps of:
  • determining a respiration rate of the produce which optionally comprises determining a respiration rate of at least part of the batch of the produce, in particular measuring a respiration rate and possibly calculating a respiration rate based on measurement data, determining a package volume for each of the wholesale packages,
  • Determining a respiration rate of the produce and/or at least part of the batch of the produce may comprise measuring a respiration rate and it may comprise calculating a respiration rate based on measurement data, wherein transport variables and/or storage variables may be taken into account, e.g.
  • Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for making perforations in a packaging material
  • Fig. 2 shows a number of bags
  • Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of an apparatus
  • Fig. 4 indicates steps of a method provided herewith.
  • Fig. 1 shows a preferred apparatus 1 for making perforations in a packaging material, in particular a web 2 of a tubular polymer film, comprising a supply reel 3, a take-up reel 4, and guides 5, 6 together defining a conveyor for transporting the web 2 along a path through the apparatus 1.
  • the supply reel 3 and take-up reel 4 are controllably driven by respective servo motors (see arrows) .
  • Suitable polymer films are generally known and include films made of polyethylene, polypropylene,
  • polyester, polyamide, and cellophane in monolayers and
  • the packaging material is provided as a tubular material in the conveying direction of the conveyor; in the shown apparatus the packaging material is flattened and
  • the apparatus may comprise as part of the path a web tensioner, e.g. one or more rollers and/or stationary guides (not shown) .
  • the apparatus 1 further comprises a laser 7, here having a focal point adjustable in both size and position relative to the position of the web 2, and an optional in-line detector, in this example an optical detector such as a
  • (digital) camera 8 for measuring one or more parameters of the perforations made with the laser. More than one laser and/or one detector may be provided. An optional light source 9 is
  • the apparatus further comprises a printer 10, a bag sealer 11 and a bag cutter 12, here being integrated in one device.
  • the laser 1 , the camera 8, the printer 10, the bag sealer 11 and the bag cutter 12 are each connected to a controller 13.
  • the motors of the conveyor are also connected to the controller 13 (not shown) .
  • the laser 7 comprises an optional lens and the focal point of the laser 7 can adjusted by moving at least part of laser 7 and/or the lens up or down (as indicated by the double arrow) .
  • at least part of the camera 8 and/or a lens of the camera 8 may be adjustable (not shown) .
  • the shown apparatus comprises an optional support S in the conveyor path, having a support surface over which at least a portion of the web 2 is guided, being supported by the surface of the support S at or near the position of the laser 7 and/or the camera 8, preferably in both positions as shown here.
  • the web 2 is taut over the support S, for which (part of) the support S and/or one or more guides 5, 6 may be adjustable, e.g. in height and/or parallel to the web 2, e.g. for particular webs and/or positions of (the holes in) the web 2, and/or for regulating a compression force for holding
  • a layer of air between the layers of the web 2 at the operative position of the laser beam (where the micro-perforation is (to be) made may cause scattering of the laser beam and/or cause (further) separation of the layers due to molten material of the top layer, thus affecting the focus on the lower layer; pressing together the web layers prevents such air layer and improves the quality of the micro-perforations.
  • the supporting surface 13 of the support 12 may have a predetermined curvature.
  • the (supporting surface 13 of the) support 12 preferably comprises a smooth, hard and/or low friction surface, e.g. comprising polished metal, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and/or polytetrafluorethene (PTFE, Teflon®) and may have rounded edges. This may prevent harming the film.
  • the support S may comprise a slot in or through the support surface, which is arranged along at least part of the intended path of a perforation and overlaps the position of the laser beam, and which preferably has dimensions wider than that of the diameter of the perforations to be made. This prevents deforming and/or closing perforations by smearing still-molten material from the edges of freshly-made perforations improving quality and repeatability. It also assists providing and
  • an optional produce detector D is connected to the controller 13. It is noted that the controller 13 may also be provided with a memory and/or be connected with a storage device for storing and/or retrieving produce data, package data and associated apparatus settings.
  • the memory may be a remote memory and the connection may be via the Internet.
  • the web 2 is conveyed along the path through the apparatus from the supply reel 3, to the take-up reel 4.
  • portions of the web 2 are optionally printed with markings by the printer 10, portions of the web 2 are micro-perforating by the laser 7 and inspected, e.g. for quality control with the camera 8, sealed portions are defined in the web 2 by the sealer 11 and the web is partly cut by the cutter 12 providing tear lines for separating individual micro- perforated bags from the web 2.
  • Prototypes have already proven consistency between large numbers of micro-perforation to within 10% variation of open surface area between all openings (top layer and bottom layer) and to within 10% deviation from one or more desired transmission rates of the film and better than 15% has proven readily achievable.
  • Fig. 2 shows a portion of the web 2 in which three micro-perforated bags 14A, 14B, 14C are defined by seals 15 and tear lines 16, each bag 14A, 14B, 14C has a series of micro- perforations 17A, 17B, 17C.
  • the seals 15 provide a bottom of each bag.
  • the tear lines 16 facilitate separation of the
  • Tear lines 16 may be made adjacent each seal 15 in the web for providing a
  • Each bag 14 is further provided with optional markings 18 identifying a filling height and/or ac losing position and markings 19A-19C of the bag size, of characteristics of the micro-perforations 17A, 17B, 17C of the respective bag 14A, 14B, 14C and possibly an eye mark (not shown) which may be detected by the perforator 7, the sealer 11 and/or the cutter 12 for respectively micro- perforating, sealing and/or cutting the respective bag (-to-be) .
  • all bags 14A-14C differ from each other, but several or all bags from one web 2 of packaging material may be
  • the bag cutter 12 may fully separate individual bags .
  • the filling height and/or a closing position may be marked (see markings 18) to assist in and/or ensure that the bags are appropriately filled and closed and correct head space is defined for establishing an optimum CAP package atmosphere.
  • Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of an apparatus 100.
  • the apparatus 100 comprises a packager 20 comprising a feeder 21 for wholesale containers 22, here boxes.
  • the packager 20 is configured to provide the
  • CAP Controlled Atmosphere Packaging
  • the bag 14 is separated from the web 2 and inserted into the container 22 by action of a cutter 23 and inserter 24 which may be known per se.
  • a packager configured to pack the container in a micro-perforated bag, instead of or in addition to packing the micro-perforated bag in the container, may be provided.
  • Fig. 4 indicates a typical embodiment of a method 100 for packaging wholesale portions of respiring produce, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and/or flowers.
  • a batch of the produce is collected.
  • the collected batch of produce is divided, graded, (re-) distributed and/or otherwise assembled into a number of wholesale portions having a produce portion size.
  • step 110 the CAP wholesale packages are thereafter transported to wholesale clients .
  • CAP Controlled Atmosphere Packaging
  • micro-perforated bags are produced as described above, generally indicated as a step 108 in Fig. 4, wherein the number and/or size of the micro-perforations is controlled to desired CAP-parameters .
  • steps 108 in Fig. 4 In order to determine the correct CAP- parameters, several method steps (not indicated in Fig.
  • determining a respiration rate of the produce which optionally comprises determining a respiration rate of at least part of the batch of the produce; determining a package volume for each of the wholesale packages; determining a package amount of packaging material for each of the wholesale packages; providing an amount of tubular packaging material having a material transmission rate for one or more vapours and/or gases, which may comprise providing an amount of tubular packaging material and
  • determining from the provided material a material transmission rate for one or more vapours and/or gases In dependence of one or more of the produce portion size, the respiration rate, the package volume, the package amount and the material transmission rate, a package transmission rate for each of the wholesale packages is determined and associated numbers and/or sizes of micro-perforations to be provided in the packaging material are determined, which may include determining positions of the micro-perforations in the packaging material. Then, one or more bags are produced with the determined bag sizes and micro- perforations from the packaging material, separated and filled with the appropriate (amount of) produce (which may be
  • the bag size may be larger than required for the final package to allow for an amount of material for closing the bag, e.g. refer to (the positions of) the closure markings 18 discussed above.
  • Closing the bag may be done by hand with a closing device (e.g. tie, clip, tape, elastic band etc.) and/or by folding and/or knotting. Also or alternatively, the bag may be (further) closed by other techniques, e.g. by welding using a hand-held welding device or an automated device which may be comprised in the apparatus .
  • a closing device e.g. tie, clip, tape, elastic band etc.
  • the bag may be (further) closed by other techniques, e.g. by welding using a hand-held welding device or an automated device which may be comprised in the apparatus .
  • the bag may be closed immediately after filling or produce may be filled in the bag and the bag being closed after a further treatment step and/or conditioning step, e.g. cooling.
  • a further treatment step and/or conditioning step e.g. cooling.
  • bag size may be determined as desired from the web so that material use associated with oversized bags is reduced.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil (1) pour réaliser des perforations dans un matériau d'emballage. Dans un aspect, l'appareil comprend un microperforateur (7), une ensacheuse (11), un dispositif de coupe (12), et un transporteur (3, 4, 5, 6) pour transporter une bande (2) de matériau d'emballage tubulaire le long d'un trajet traversant l'appareil, par exemple d'une bobine d'alimentation (3) à une bobine réceptrice (4), en passant par le microperforateur, l'ensacheuse et le dispositif de coupe, pour transformer le matériau d'emballage en sacs d'emballage de gros microperforés. Dans un autre aspect, un appareil pour réaliser des perforations dans un matériau d'emballage comprend un microperforateur, et un transporteur pour transporter une bande de matériau d'emballage le long d'un trajet traversant l'appareil. Le transporteur comprend un ou plusieurs servomoteurs et/ou moteurs pas à pas pour le transport de la bande; et/ou le transporteur comprend au moins un capteur de distance qui détecte le déplacement de la bande. L'invention concerne également des procédés associés.
PCT/EP2017/065613 2017-06-23 2017-06-23 Appareil et procédé d'emballage WO2018233853A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2017/065613 WO2018233853A1 (fr) 2017-06-23 2017-06-23 Appareil et procédé d'emballage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2017/065613 WO2018233853A1 (fr) 2017-06-23 2017-06-23 Appareil et procédé d'emballage

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2018233853A1 true WO2018233853A1 (fr) 2018-12-27

Family

ID=59285157

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2017/065613 WO2018233853A1 (fr) 2017-06-23 2017-06-23 Appareil et procédé d'emballage

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2018233853A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3838553A1 (fr) * 2019-12-18 2021-06-23 Industrias Tecnológicas de Mecanización y Automatizaciòn, S.A. Système de prédécoupe de récipients
DE102020123555A1 (de) 2020-09-09 2022-03-10 Hefa Holding Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur automatisierten Qualitätskontrolle für Schneidanlagen von flexiblen Materialteilen
US20220324058A1 (en) * 2021-04-09 2022-10-13 INTERLAS GmbH & Co. KG Microperforation method with a moving web
US11717587B2 (en) 2020-05-08 2023-08-08 Robust AI, Inc. Ultraviolet cleaning trajectory modeling

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002012068A1 (fr) 2000-08-03 2002-02-14 Backus Sormac B.V. Procede d'emballage de produits enclins a se gater
US20070259082A1 (en) * 2004-01-28 2007-11-08 Raymond Clarke Packaging
US20090252440A1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2009-10-08 John Biese Arrangement and method of making a bag using a vision system arrangement
EP2300323A1 (fr) 2008-04-29 2011-03-30 PerfoTec B.V. Procédé permettant de réaliser des perforations dans une matière de film plastique
WO2011151305A1 (fr) 2010-06-01 2011-12-08 Perfotec B.V. Emballage destiné à préserver des produits respirants et appareil permettant de fabriquer ledit emballage
WO2011151245A1 (fr) 2010-06-01 2011-12-08 Perfotec B.V. Appareil destiné à pratiquer des perforations dans un matériau d'emballage et procédé de réglage d'un tel appareil
US20120211537A1 (en) * 2007-02-05 2012-08-23 Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft M.B.H. Process for producing web sections from a flexible web material as well as for producing packing containers
WO2012174351A1 (fr) * 2011-06-16 2012-12-20 Preco, Inc. Système de traitement laser et procédé d'utilisation
WO2014129904A1 (fr) 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Perfo Knowledgy B.V. Procédé et système d'emballage de produits respirants
WO2015031467A1 (fr) * 2013-08-28 2015-03-05 Odds, Llc Système de suremballage d'aliments utilisant un film perforé au laser
WO2016071922A1 (fr) 2014-11-03 2016-05-12 Ashok Chaturvedi Emballage souple amélioré permettant de conditionner des produits frais et constitué d'un film souple biodégradable

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002012068A1 (fr) 2000-08-03 2002-02-14 Backus Sormac B.V. Procede d'emballage de produits enclins a se gater
US20070259082A1 (en) * 2004-01-28 2007-11-08 Raymond Clarke Packaging
US20120211537A1 (en) * 2007-02-05 2012-08-23 Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft M.B.H. Process for producing web sections from a flexible web material as well as for producing packing containers
US20090252440A1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2009-10-08 John Biese Arrangement and method of making a bag using a vision system arrangement
EP2300323A1 (fr) 2008-04-29 2011-03-30 PerfoTec B.V. Procédé permettant de réaliser des perforations dans une matière de film plastique
WO2011151305A1 (fr) 2010-06-01 2011-12-08 Perfotec B.V. Emballage destiné à préserver des produits respirants et appareil permettant de fabriquer ledit emballage
WO2011151245A1 (fr) 2010-06-01 2011-12-08 Perfotec B.V. Appareil destiné à pratiquer des perforations dans un matériau d'emballage et procédé de réglage d'un tel appareil
WO2012174351A1 (fr) * 2011-06-16 2012-12-20 Preco, Inc. Système de traitement laser et procédé d'utilisation
WO2014129904A1 (fr) 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Perfo Knowledgy B.V. Procédé et système d'emballage de produits respirants
WO2015031467A1 (fr) * 2013-08-28 2015-03-05 Odds, Llc Système de suremballage d'aliments utilisant un film perforé au laser
WO2016071922A1 (fr) 2014-11-03 2016-05-12 Ashok Chaturvedi Emballage souple amélioré permettant de conditionner des produits frais et constitué d'un film souple biodégradable

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3838553A1 (fr) * 2019-12-18 2021-06-23 Industrias Tecnológicas de Mecanización y Automatizaciòn, S.A. Système de prédécoupe de récipients
US11717587B2 (en) 2020-05-08 2023-08-08 Robust AI, Inc. Ultraviolet cleaning trajectory modeling
DE102020123555A1 (de) 2020-09-09 2022-03-10 Hefa Holding Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur automatisierten Qualitätskontrolle für Schneidanlagen von flexiblen Materialteilen
DE102020123555B4 (de) 2020-09-09 2022-10-06 Hefa Holding Gmbh Schneidanlage und Verfahren zur automatisierten Qualitätskontrolle für Schneidanlagen von flexiblen Materialteilen
US20220324058A1 (en) * 2021-04-09 2022-10-13 INTERLAS GmbH & Co. KG Microperforation method with a moving web

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8237084B2 (en) Laser microperforated fresh produce trays for modified/controlled atmosphere packaging
US7083837B1 (en) Registered microperforated films for modified/controlled atmosphere packaging
WO2018233853A1 (fr) Appareil et procédé d'emballage
US7950207B2 (en) Packaging machine
US11572206B2 (en) Packaging system
US9334074B2 (en) Method and machine for cutting thermoformed packages
US20070127851A1 (en) Reclosable stand-up package and method of manufacturing same
US11247793B2 (en) Method and apparatus for packaging respiring produce
CN102762462A (zh) 香蕉储存和运输袋
US20110084077A1 (en) A polymer bag
US20120297736A1 (en) In-line production of a cardboard container
EP3475187A1 (fr) Emballage de produit respirant
US20110239592A1 (en) Packaging method and apparatus
US20140352259A1 (en) Method and apparatus for forming a flexible pouch with fitment
EP2762416A2 (fr) Les matériaux d'emballage en particulier pour les fruits et légumes et un procédé de fabrication du matériau d'emballage
JP7139020B2 (ja) 食品包装
US11279524B2 (en) Method for manufacturing a packaging material, a packaging material, and a packaging
US9139321B2 (en) Method and device for packaging a product
EP3765232B1 (fr) Microperforations réalisées au laser dans des films
KR100654332B1 (ko) 샌드위치 포장대의 포장장치
EP2762413A1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif pour emballer un produit et un produit emballé
EP4068022A1 (fr) Installation de remplissage et procédé de fonctionnement d'une installation de remplissage d'emballage de produits alimentaires pouvant être versés dans des emballages composites
US20200115081A1 (en) Pallet bag gathering apparatus and process for use
US20240140634A1 (en) Device, system, method and product for stretch wrapping
JPH03227228A (ja) 包装方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 17735421

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 17735421

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1