WO2021244777A1

WO2021244777A1 - A wet cold chain distribution system and apparatus therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2021244777A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/025199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edwin Francis Tattam
Original assignee: Softbox Systems Limited
Priority date: 2020-06-05
Filing date: 2021-06-07
Publication date: 2021-12-09
Also published as: GB202108135D0; GB202017346D0; US20230227234A1; GB202008550D0; GB2598026A; EP4161846A1; GB2598026B

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of the transportation and storage of goods and to temperature control systems for such, commonly referred to as cold chain systems or distribution. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system, apparatus and a method for a wet cold chain distribution system. There is a growing concern with the over-use of plastics in the packaging industry and the present invention seeks to provide a wet distribution box having being formed from a cardboard blank. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the problems addressed above. The present invention also seeks to provide a temperature controlled transport/storage assembly that can be made from cardboard and recycled materials and be further re-used or recycled in due course.

Description

A WET COLD CHAIN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the transportation and storage of goods and to temperature control systems for such, commonly referred to as cold chain systems or distribution. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system, apparatus and a method for a wet cold chain distribution system.

Background to the Invention

[0002] All food spoils. Although often taken for granted by consumers in modern, developed societies, maintaining a reliable food supply has always played a major role in the history of our species. The inescapable realities that food production is inherently patchy in both time and space and that all food inevitably spoils have led to numerous technological innovations in preservation, storage, and transportation.

[0003] Depending on temperature, water content, nutrient composition, and the presence or absence of antibiotic compounds, many foodstuffs can remain nutritious and nontoxic to humans for periods from a few hours to many years. Food scientists use shelf life to quantify the length of time a food can be stored and remain suitable for human consumption or commercial sale, but the storage times and temperatures can vary by orders of magnitude depending on the type of the foodstuff, environmental conditions, and methods of preservation. At one extreme, fresh fish, meat, shellfish, and many fruits and vegetables can be stored for only a few days, even under refrigeration

[0004] Nonetheless, most spoilage of food meant for human consumption is caused by microorganisms, which effectively compete with humans for limited and valuable food resources. Given access to unprotected foodstuffs, bacteria and fungi rapidly colonize, increase in population, and produce toxic and distasteful chemicals. To help prevent food spoilage by microbe and fungi, humans use two main strategies, namely: obstruction and inhibition.

[0005] Obstruction techniques reduce microbial and fungicidal access to susceptible foodstuffs. Given that microbes are extremely small, have such enormous populations, and often disperse as resistant air-borne, water-borne, or soil-borne spores, they rapidly colonize unprotected foodstuffs. Fungi such as moulds and mushrooms can be quite large, but spores thereof are also extremely small. Colonization can be retarded by covering or otherwise isolating foods, but it can be prevented only by sealing sterile food in an impermeable container. In the case of wet produce such as fresh fish, this is extremely difficult to achieve. [0006] The alternative, more commonly employed strategy is to retard spoilage by creating conditions that inhibit the growth or limit the size of microbial and/or fungal populations. Microbial and/or fungal population growth rates depend on environmental conditions. Washing food, for example, removes some microbes from the surface whilst other techniques create an unfavourable environment, such as salination, drying, pasteurization and irradiation kill or reduce the fecundity of microbes. Temperature is especially important because the metabolic rates and population growth of food-spoiling microbes are effectively zero when below freezing and increase approximately exponentially with temperatures over the range of 0-40°C. This can be quantified in terms of Q10, the factor by which growth rate increases with every 10°C increase in temperature. The typical Q10 values for microbes that spoil food range between 2.3 and 4.1. To appreciate the implications, note that with Q10 = 3, a single microbe that doubles every two days at 4°C will double about every hour at 34°C and will produce roughly 280 trillion (2.8 x 1014) descendants over a 2-day time period.

[0007] Microbial and/or fungal growth rates are generally highest on substrates that provide a well-hydrated, well-balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids and sufficient quantities of essential minerals. These conditions are most readily met on fresh meat, fish and seafood, in particular. Microbial and/or fungal growth rates are lower, and may approach zero, when the composition of food deviates from such ideal mixtures. Water content is especially important. Microbes and/or fungi growing on fresh animal and plant tissues are in approximate osmotic balance, because the water content of active bacterial and fungal cells and of these substrates are similar.

[0008] In the field of logistics, that is the field of movement and supply of produce and materials, refrigerated trucks, trailers and ISO containers are commonly used to transport perishable commodities in a cold chain distribution system for supermarket distribution. In the transport of seafood such as fish, fish will be packed within packs of ice and will be maintained at a particular temperature. During storage and transport within an ambient atmosphere, the ice will be heated and become liquid water. It is known that storing and transporting fish and like goods within water will deleteriously affect the quality of the goods. Fish has been transported over the years over great distances only once salted or smoked. Otherwise fish was typically consumed fresh only within a short distance from where it was landed. With the development of railway 8i road communications in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, baskets such as wicker baskets for local use were - as seen in Figure 1 - replaced with wooden boxes- as seen in Figure 2. The wooden boxes were filled with fish for local transport and with ice for transport as ice machines became available.

[0009] Before the invention of the refrigerator, icehouses were used to provide cool storage for most of the year. Placed near freshwater lakes or packed with snow and ice during the winter, they were once very common. The first commercial refrigerators became available after mid eighteen-hundreds, but it was not until the early twentieth century that domestic refrigerators became readily available - albeit such refrigerators initially cost many times more than motor cars, which then were still of high value and only a small percentage of the population could readily afford such. Wooden boxes, in turn, were replaced with plastic boxes firstly of rigid plastics - as seen in Figure 3, where an underside of a box 30 is shown with drainage holes 31. Presently, expanded polystyrene, has tended to replace rigid plastics, where benefits of low thermal conductivity has been of considerable benefit. All these boxes have been characterized in that they are employed wet, with boxes arranged such that there are gaps between slats of a base portion of a wooden box, with slots or other holes moulded apertures in a base panel of a plastics box to permit water from frozen ice to pass to from the box. This allows a low temperature environment to be created but without the existence of standing water to achieve an environment which inhibits growth and existence of bacteria and fungi. It is notable that in passive cold chain shipping systems, in recent years, there has been an increasing use of phase change materials (PCM) - which are stored in plastic containers and are re-usable - can generally provide superior temperature control over extended periods relative to ice. However, in view of the nature of wet goods such as fish, the expense of PCMs and the fact that for hygiene reasons there would be a need to clean the PCM containers, ice has remained a coolant of choice. In view of the amount of fluids, cardboard has not generally been employed in the wet distribution industry. Indeed, any biodegradable system will breakdown in the presence of water and this has led to the maintenance of the use of plastics in particular expanded polystyrene - which is well known for its tendency to break-up into environment-unfriendly beads which are difficult to collect and dispose of in a simple fashion.

[0010] GB1356804 (Svein Stromberg) provides a box suitable for transporting fish, formed from a plastics material and having a pair of opposite side walls each wall in its upper portion being inclined inwardly and then continuing substantially vertically upwards before being directed substantially horizontally outwards to form an integral flange and the corners of the box being formed as hollow pillars open at at least one end. US4386700 (Nestier Corp) provides a plurality of identical open top containers which may be vertically stacked, for the transport of items, such as fish, involving liquid that is desirably drained from each container. Drainage from one container into a lower container and therefore contamination of the lower container is prevented by drain holes in each of the stacking feet communicating directly with the upper inlet end of a downwardly and outwardly sloping channel in the support portion of the next lower container, in the stacked position. W09607603 (Norsk Hydro) Provides a transport box for handling fresh food such as fish, meat or the like, comprises a bottom section, sidewalls and possibly a lid. The interior side of the bottom is provided with draining means for draining liquid such as serum or the like that exudes from the food.

Object of the Invention

[0011] There is a growing concern with the over-use of plastics in the packaging industry and the present invention seeks to provide a wet distribution box having being formed from a cardboard blank. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the problems addressed above. The present invention also seeks to provide a temperature controlled transport/storage assembly that can be made from plant-based cellulose products, such as cardboard and recycled materials and be further re-used or recycled in due course.

Statement of Invention

[0012] In accordance with a general aspect of the invention, there is provided a transport/storage container for transporting/storing wet distributions goods.

[0013] In accordance with a first embodiment to of the invention, there is provided a wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container for the transport /storage of wet products comprising: a corrugated board box and an insert; wherein the corrugated board box comprises at least a base panel and a wall panel, the wall panel having a height defined by an upper edge with respect to the base, the corrugated board box being provided with at least one aperture in a wall portion proximate to or within the base panel, the base and wall panel having inside faces and an external faces; wherein the insert comprises a waterproof membrane in a general bag-like shape having an open end with a perimeter edge, a sleeve portion which terminates at a closed end and a height being greater than twice the height of the sidewall of the box; wherein the closed end of the insert is arranged against the inside base panel of the box and the closed end is provided with at least one aperture, each said at least one aperture being associated with a corresponding aperture of the box; wherein the perimeter edge of the open end of the insert is arranged about the external faces of the wall panel depending below the base of the box lowermost outside, wherein a further aperture within the sleeve portion and in correspondence with an aperture of the closed end to form an aperture pair, each aperture pair being sealed together to form a unitary aperture; the transport /storage container permitting placement of wet goods within the insert, the or each aperture pair permitting drainage of fluid from within the insert, outside of the container. By having drainage outwith a box, board products of a fibrous nature with little or no waterproofing can be employed, whereby inexpensive board can be used; the waterproof bag can conveniently be manufactured from a variety of plastics films, with polyethylene being readily available. The plastics bags need to be sufficiently robust to maintain integrity despite coming into contact with products such as crushed ice, the fins of fish and the jagged edges of crustacean as well as being suitable for use with foods and be sufficiently flexible. Various forms of bag construction can be employed, including laminates can be used when the physical properties are needed.

[0014] Conveniently, the corrugated board is formed from paperboard, but other forms of cellulose fibre board could be employed, including bamboo and hemp. Preferably, the transport/storage container comprises a box having rectangular dimensions, which are widely used in industry. The rectangular boxes can be of various dimensions but are ideally shaped to fully occupy the surface area of a pallet, such as a Euro pallet, of 800mm x 1200mm, with the boxes being arranged such that boxes of different layers are arranged to enable overlap of subsequent boxes, to provide stability. Typically, in the fish industry, three 400mm x 800mm fish boxes will be used, to cover a Euro pallet, with four or more layers frequently being employed, to maximize transport volumes. The so-called Euro-boxes come in a number of heights suitable for 25kg and lOKg loads. The aperture in the box may be arranged such that it is defined within a wall panel proximate the base panel, but may be defined within a base panel proximate a wall panel.

[0015] The invention may be arranged as a system of containers comprising at least first and second containers, wherein a second box is placed upon a first box, the arrangement permitting drainage of any wet goods associated with the second box through at least one drainage aperture or tube thereof, the drainage being arranged such that the aperture or tube is operable to drain clear of the lower, first box.

[0016] Preferably the containers comprise stacking formations able to interlock with corresponding formations on a like container when the containers are in the erect or collapsed condition, and are stacked one upon the other, the stacked containers being substantially prevented from relative movement by the interlocking of the stacking formations. The stacking formations may comprise projections and recesses. The stacking formations are preferably arranged to prevent containers sliding one on the other when stacked.

[0017] The invention also provides a blank for the construction of a cellulose board container comprising a base, side walls having an erect condition and a collapsed condition, the container side wall and/or base panel being provided with apertures for drainage tubes to pass through. Alternatively, nozzle assemblies may be placed within apertures defined within the bag. The nozzles may have surfaces bearing adhesive and / or liquid adhesive may be used to ensure that liquid passes from the bag to the outside. Conveniently, the nozzle is formed from a rigid, but not brittle plastics material. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a box.

[0018] It will be apparent from the following description that the features of the first aspect of the invention set out above can be used along with the features of the second aspect of the invention as set out above, in various combinations.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0019] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the Figures as shown in the accompanying drawing sheets, wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a view of a fish basket in use where a catch of herrings is processed;

Fig. 2 shows the use of fish boxes in a harbour setting;

Fig. 3 shows the underside of a plastics moulded box;

Fig. 4i - 4iv shows an example of a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5i, ii show, respectively a second embodiment of the invention together with an insert associated therewith;

Fig. 6 shows how the insert membrane can be placed within a box in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 7 shows how a number of boxes in accordance with a first embodiment can be arranged in a stacked relationship;

Figure 8 shows a second box style, with two in a stacked relationship;

Fig. 9 shows a third box in accordance with the invention;

Figure 10 shows a schematic outline of a simple system for producing plastics bags; Fig. 11 details a nozzle in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 12 shows a view from inside a box with the nozzle per Figure 11 in position; Fig. 13 details an inside view of a wall-wall-base corner of a box;

Fig. 14 shows an exemplary set of grommets;

Figs 14i - 14iv show variant sin grommet design and size; and Fig. 15 shows an example of an insert nozzle.

Detailed description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0020] There will now be described, by way of example only, the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the present invention. In the following description, numerous specific details are set out in order to provide a complete understanding to the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be put into practice with variations of the specific.

[0021] Referring to Figure 4i there is shown a first embodiment of the invention wherein an open-top produce box 40 is shown have upstanding walls 41 extending from a base panel indicated at 42. The produce box 40 is provided with horizontal supports 43 at corners 44. Produce boxes having an open top and horizontal support 43, whether extending across all side, opposite short sides or just the corners serve to provide an easy to fill box, with extra strength arising from the horizontal portions, are typically used in many fisheries and agricultural scenarios and are sometimes referred to as facepack boxes. At each of the lower corners of the shorter sidewalls there are provided apertures 47 within the box 40. If only present on a side wall 41 of the box, it is preferable the aperture 47 is as close to the bottom of the wall panel as possible. Indeed, it may share a perimeter with the base, and be in the general shape of an inverted "U". A bag like insert 45, is provided having a mouth or open end 51 (outside perimeter of insert) defining a main opening 55 to permit wet goods to be inserted therein and a closed end. The closed end is shown as it is being placed in the box; the outside mouth - depending by a throat section 52 has yet to be pulled down as will be shown in the following figure, Figure 4ii. In the manufacture of such boxes, compressed gases (suitable for intended use of box) can be employed to assist in the placement of the insert bag, although other mechanical systems can be deployed, as would be known to those skilled. Whilst the carton or box 40 can be simply be manufactured using suitable strength corrugate cardboard e.g. of twin ortri-wall, e.g. of 12-15mm thick (as opposed to polystyrene of 20-25mm thickness), additional insulation material could be placed, such as single card inserts, or one or more windings of single-face corrugated board - i.e. more volume per box can be reasonably envisaged. External layers could be provided, but this could compromise an ability to stack on a pallet.

[0022] Whilst Figure 4i shows the box with only the insert 45 in place within the box 40, Figure 4ii shows the mouth part or perimeter portion 51 of the insert element depending around the outside walls 41 of the container 40. In particular, a throat part 52 of the insert element 45, adjacent the mouth or perimeter 51 of the insert/bag element depends below the lowermost edges of the sidewalls 41 and extends over the apertures 47 in the box 40. Accordingly, there is an area of overlap of plastic film between the inside insert film and the outside depending throat part 52 of the insert, which is sealed together to form an aperture 46. The aperture 46, in accordance with the invention, is conveniently formed by means of one of heat-sealing, grommet-insertion, crimping or otherwise, whereby to provide a port 46i through which fluids can flow, whether directly or via a conduit or tubular element (indicated as 46i per Figure 5i). That is to say, the aperture 46 is contiguous about its perimeter i.e., any excess fluid from goods within the box is permitted to pass though the aperture if above the level of the lowest part of the aperture, when the aperture is associated with a side wall - this consideration must be provided to any slope upon which the box may be placed - noting that the box - conveniently several boxes - will be typically placed upon a pallet or similar support, whereby a number of boxes can be transported together. The apertured panel may comprise only the base panel, but whilst this does not cause any problems for a lowermost box, this can impede seepage of excess water, for second an further upper layers of boxes when stacked, due in part to surface tension effects and a proximity of a lid of a lower container. The aperture associated the closed end of the insert may be formed simultaneously with the aperture associated with the inlet end 51 of the throat 52 of the insert 45, for example by means of an grommet/ eyelet inserting tool or machine, having either hand pressed or pneumatically inserting/mating tool elements which crimp an eyelet or grommet to define an aperture whilst simultaneously providing an eyelet/grommet to seal the two sheets of plastic and define aperture through which fluids may pass. As will be understood by those skilled, the fastening tool or mating tool elements must be arranged such that they can meet the base or adjacent the base whilst extending over the sidewalls of the box, i.e. the throat of the tool must be sufficiently large.

[0023] Referring to Figure 4iii, there is shown a complete box 40 with a lid 40i. Lid is provide by a paperboard or cardboard element that is sheathed in a plastics bag or film 52i, in common with the method of sealing of the main box 40, with insert 52, as sealed in the form as shown in Figure 4iv, where the depending elements

51 are heated so as to melt and define a closed membrane 52i about box 40. It will be appreciated that plastic films could be arranged in a similar fashion, rather than a generally bag-shaped insert as such, although there would typically be less wastage with an insert 52. The apertures may be provided with a filter, to be placed about the aperture, for example formed from a foamed plastic / nylon mesh filter operable to prevent fish scales and the like or other debris from causing a blockage to flow through the nozzle.

[0024] Referring to Figure 5i there is shown a second embodiment of the invention wherein an open-top produce box 40 is shown, in common with the first embodiment, with upstanding side walls 41 extending from a base panel indicated at 42. The produce box 40 is provided with horizontal supports 43 at corners 44. At each of the lower corners of the shorter sidewalls there are provided apertures 47. A bag like insert 45 is provided having an open end 51 defining a main aperture

52 to permit wet goods to be inserted therein and a closed end 53 being provided with four tubular elements 46 extending outwardly from the closed end. The closed end is placed in the box and the open end or mouth 31 is folded over, the apertures 46 are defined and sealed between the two sheets or films of the plastics insert 45 (per Figure 4ii) as discussed above and the tubular elements 46i are arranged to be inserted through the at least one aperture 46 - and through the aperture 47 defined within a side wall 41 of the box or possibly about an edge adjacent the base panel 42 and side wall. If only present on a single side wall 41 of the box, it is preferable that the aperture 47 is as close to the bottom of the wall panel as possible. Whilst in the limit there may be only one tubular element 46i, where there are multiple tubular elements, it is convenient for them to be spaced apart in terms of the closed end of the plastic bag 45 - and, conveniently for example for a rectangular box, along all sides of the box, whereby drainage will occur, irrespective of any sloping surface that the box may be placed upon. Applicants have found that the tubes can drain by capillary action: i.e. the tubes do not need to be comprised of a solid tube and may have a flexible end section, which self closes, although if there is an excess of fluid, gravity action will provide the predominant water transport effect. This means that the tubes do not necessarily need to be kept in an open state, but must not be folded over to prevent flow. Notwithstanding, this a filter may be placed about the aperture, for example formed from a foamed plastic / nylon mesh filter operable to prevent fish scales and the like from blocking a nozzle. [0025] Figure 5ii shows an exemplary plastic bag insert 45 without a box present and is provided with four tubular elements about a base surface 53 which generally corresponds in dimensionally with the base panel of a rectangular box; the outlet tubes 46 being arranged to emerge through corresponding apertures in two opposing side panels of the box; equally a single tube 46i can be provided for each side wall 41 of a box.

[0026] Figure 6 shows how the plastic bag 45 can be placed within the box, in a manual fashion by inserting the tubular elements 46 through their respective outlets 47 placed at the base of the box; the closed end is brought into contact with the inside face of the box and the open end is extended up and over a top edge of the box and the bag is brought down such that the although this can also be performed by automated systems. The height of the plastic bag - that is the distance from the closed end to the edge of the aperture 51 is conveniently slightly greater than twice the high of the sidewall : this permits the bag to be placed inside the box and to be returned around the outside of the box such that it depends to at least the base of the box. In use, with wet goods placed within the plastic-bag lined box, the outlet tubes permit excess water to drain, and when a similar box is placed upon a first box and filled with goods, it will be appreciated that the water emanating from the upper box will pass over the folded back plastic-bag of the lower box, preventing the drainage water of the upper box from contacting the side walls of the lower box.

[0027] Typically, each container shown in the Figures herein has a generally rectangular base 42 from which the four side walls 41 extend upwardly when the container is in the erect condition, the box being constructed from cardboard. Those skilled in the art will realize that ordinarily cardboard is susceptible to weakness when damp. However, cardboard can be treated to make it water resistant, at least on one side, whereby the cardboard remains an inexpensive yet recyclable construction material. If substantial weather-proof coatings are applied, then not only does the cost of the cardboard increase, but also the cardboard my then not be easily recycled. It has been found satisfactory to apply a weather resistant coating on one side - the outside of the box - which also corresponds with the lower surface of base panel 42, whereby a proximity of such a base panel surface, even a touching contact, to a wet distribution product doesn't weaken the box to prevent the box from performing its storage function.

[0028] Figure 7 shows how five boxes are placed together, with a stack of three boxes together with a stack of two boxes. The drainage tubes 46i are arranged so that the fluid emanating from the wet goods is passed out of the box, to a floor area, which in the environment of a harbour or dedicated transport vehicle will be provided with drainage channels. The upper boxes will be permitted to enable fluid flow to occur about the folded-over waterproof inserts, about the outside of lower placed boxes, whereby preventing passage of fluid against any board panel of the box. The folded-over waterproof inserts of one box upon another, due to their length, provide an overlap similar to the arrangement of tiles upon the roof of a building, preventing contact of water with respect to the box, which can therefore be made from products such as cardboard without the need for the presence of a high level of plastics or other waterproofing agents, whereby to assist recycling and reducing unit cost. Figure 8 shows two stacked boxes of a reduced sidewall height as a first variant.

[0029] In a further variant, a lid is provided to close a top of the box. In a still further variant, the sidewall panels extend beyond the height of the box, with a crease to enable folding, as shown in Figure 9, to dispense with the need of a separate lid. It will be seen that the sidewall thereby provide an overlapping arrangement to define at least a partial cover.

[0030] It has not been simple to mould bags as shown in Figure 5, with repeatable tolerances at low cost. In a first alternative, a bag with two tubes can be simply mass produced. With reference to Figure 10, a simple system for producing such bags is shown: a heater 20 receives pellets 20a of plastics material, such as a polymer, which are heated to a molten state and fed to extruder system 21 to form a basic element of sack manufacture being a tube of plastics film by extruding the plastics melt under high pressure. The machine 21 will have a screw feeder forcing the melt through an annular die 21a, which benefits from a molten polymer passing about the complete cross section of the die before exiting the die. The molten plastic is cooled somewhat before leaving the die to yield a weak semi-solid tube 22, the diameter of which is caused to expand by the use of air pressure whereby the tube's diameter is rapidly expanded whilst the melt is reduced in temperature as the tube is drawn upwards with rollers 23, stretching the plastic in both the transverse and draw directions.

[0031] The drawing and blowing cause the film to be thinner than the extruded tube, and also preferentially aligns the polymer molecular chains in the direction that sees the most plastic strain. If the film is drawn more than it is blown i.e. the final tube diameter is close to the extruded diameter, then the polymer molecules will be highly aligned with the draw direction, making a film that is strong in that direction, but weak in the transverse direction. As the film continues to cool, it is drawn through several sets of nip rollers 23 to flatten it into lay-flat tubing, which can then be further processed including the steps of being tensioned prior to being uniformly cut by way of a die-board cutting process or similar in a bag forming machine 24., which outputs multiple single bag units 25, which are arranged in bundles 26.

[0032] Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, in particular, there is shown a drainage tube 46i in detail, which comprises a flange 101 at a proximal end thereof, to be associated with an aperture 47 defined in a lower portion of the box; the aperture 47 for a drainage tube 46 may be offset. The flange 101 may be circular, although it may have a reduced collar downwardly (i.e. be of a general inverted "U" shape, with the straight part adjacent the base 42 of the box) to enable the aperture 46 and correspondingly an opening of the tube 102 to sit adjacent the base 42 of the box and permit water flow through the flange and along an inside channel defined therein to enable drainage water to pass through under gravity to a distal end 104 of the tube 103. The section of the tube conveniently reduces in cross-section as the channel passes toward the exit 104, providing a benefit with respect to a gentle widening of an aperture in the film of the plastics bag upon installation, whereby the plastics film engages with a stretched portion of the plastics, and can adhere to an adhesive 107 applied to the outside of the nozzle or to a liquid adhesive applied upon manual application.

[0033] Once the nozzle assembly has been placed within a box and referring to Figure 12, where the assembly is shown from one side, in partial cross-section (in plane of absent wall) and in partial perspective and an inside view of the box, respectively. The plastic film of the bag 45, is shown passing upward upon wall 41 and then passes down on the other side, extending to below the base of the box, 42. It is clear that the flange enables the plastic bag to engage about the proximal portion, in contact with the adhesive section 107; the procedure is followed with regard to another aperture associated with the bag, towards the open end of the bag. A similar procedure of attachment can be made; alternatively or additionally, liquid adhesive, tape or heat sealing could also be enabled to ensure that the nozzle tip 104 can pass water out of the box, without necessarily causing problems through, for example, surface tension effects. The flange is shown as being of a reduced size with respect to the aperture or cut-out 47 in the sidewall 41 of the box, but this has not been found to be a problem. Indeed, it provides a benefit in that if the nozzle assembly is knocked, it does not cause the fitment of the nozzle with respect to the aperture to become damaged.

[0034] Nonetheless, in a further variant, with reference to Figure 13, when the bag 45 is shown passing up the wall 41 and then passing down the other side, one could place an eyelet 130 in position, ideally punching out the two sheets of plastics film at the same time, noting that to be performed sequentially, possibly with distinct equipment could make the holes become misaligned. Eyelets are known from various industries and can be manufactured form a range of metals and plastics and in a range of sizes, such as with internal diameters of 15mm, 25mm and 40mm, with different neck lengths. With reference to Figure 14, an eyelet 1401 is shown with a backing washer 1402; Figures 14i - 14iii show 25, 16 and 40mm eyelets, indicating some typical dimensions; Figure 14iv shows another type of eyelet, together with typical washer element which can be used to assist placement.

[0035] Figure 15 shows a nozzle 1403 having a decreasing diameter nozzle element 1404 which opens up to a flange element 1405, which conveniently has a rubber cuff or additional sealant member, for abutting about an inside diameter the eyelet. By pairing an eyelet with a nozzle or funnel-like element, having dimensions to provide an interference fit between the external wall of the nozzle and the inside aperture of the eyelet, a watertight seal can be simply and easily fabricated. In some cases, the different materials of the eyelet and the nozzle re complementary whereby the parts are elastically retained to one another. Various styles of nozzles are readily available, with many being made for use with, for example, dispensing of sealants, mastics and similar viscous products. It will also be appreciated, that the nozzles could be associated with tubing, conveniently joining multiples tubes via manifolds, whereby to assist in disposing of fluids.

[0036] In the fabrication of the apertures and eyelets therefor, simple equipment can be utilised. For Example, Hanolex Limited of Rochdale, are a supplier of eyelets and equipment for affixing to sheet material. In particular, it has been found that eyelets with an inside diameter of between 5 and 10 mm have provided favourable results, which holes are not blocked by debris, seaweed, etc particularly easily. Notwithstanding this, as is known, for particular wet goods the sizes provided and the shapes of the apertures could be varied. Indeed, it would be possible to provide the apertures with integral gauze or filters, whilst filter media in the form of gauze, filamentous elements, removable pads etc. The skilled person will also realize that different sizes can be provided, to suit the particular wet distribution commodity. The equipment can be manually operated of be provided, with assistance, for example operating under pneumatic control, noting that to extend over the sides of boxes, the throat from a punch tool and the support arm must be sufficiently large to operate. Hanolex Ltd. produce various types of eyelets, sometimes together with a washer, such features being dependent upon the thickness and type of material employed. Indeed, there are a number of eyelet manufacturers who produce eyelets that can be recycled it has been found to be relatively simple to place a bag within a box, Corrugated cardboard comes in a range of sizes, strengths and types - relating to the size of the flute, the thickness of the boards and the numbers of layers of corrugation - as well as the type of fibre, typically being wood-pulp fibre. The skilled man will realize how to specify the thickness and strength of the cardboard for a particular function with a particular we distribution product. Whilst, it has been mentioned that the bag is a stretchable plastics bag, the bag could be a paper bag that has been treated with a waterproof coating, although such bags have been found not to stretch as readily as a plastics bag and perform better if liquid adhesive is applied about the nozzle when assembled. In the event that an insert bag is placed within a box and then permitted to drape about the sides of the box, prior to fastening, it would also be possible to provide a degree of rigidity and additional degree of waterproofing by the provision of a stretch-wrap or similar wrapping of sheet plastics to be arranged about the external sides of the box, and conveniently also the base. A further alternative would be to have an external bag int which the box is placed and then the insert bag arranged as discussed above, with these two variations benefitting in providing a greater degree of plastics film/sheeting to define the aperture, when thermo formed, for example.

[0037] The present invention can assist in providing a simple to implement, cheap to produce cellulose-based board such as cardboard/fibreboard carton/container wherein a product can be used multiple times and at the end of use can be separated into distinct recyclable plastics and reusable wood fibre. It will be apparent from the above description that many variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, many different sizes of container could be designed, with corresponding arrangements of interlocking formations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container for the transport /storage of wet products comprising: a corrugated board box and an insert; wherein the corrugated board box comprises at least a base panel and a wall panel, the wall panel having a height defined by an upper edge with respect to the base, the corrugated board box being provided with at least one aperture in a wall portion proximate to the base panel or within the base panel, the base and wall panel having inside faces and an external faces; wherein the insert comprises a waterproof membrane in a general bag-like shape having an open end with a perimeter edge, a sleeve portion which terminates at a closed end and a height being greater than twice the height of the sidewall of the box; wherein the closed end of the insert is arranged against the inside base panel of the box and the closed end is provided with at least one aperture, each said at least one aperture being associated with a corresponding aperture of the box; wherein the perimeter edge of the open end of the insert is arranged about the external faces of the wall panel depending below the base of the box lowermost outside, wherein a further aperture within the sleeve portion and in correspondence with an aperture of the closed end to form an aperture pair, each aperture pair being sealed together to form a unitary aperture; the transport /storage container permitting placement of wet goods within the insert, the or each aperture pair permitting drainage of fluid from within the insert, outside of the container.

2) A wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container according to claim 1, wherein the box is provided with a lid comprising a flat portion in correspondence with the plan dimensions of the box, with edge portions depending downwardly to secure the lid to the box.

3) A wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height of the insert is such that the perimeter edges of the insert can be sealed together to provide a waterproof box.

4) A wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container according to claim 2, wherein the lid is formed from cardboard and is enclosed with a waterproof covering.

5) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein corrugated board is formed from paperboard.

6) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein each pair of apertures is sealed by means of an eyelet system.

7) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein each pair of apertures is sealed by means of a heat crimp.

8) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein a nozzle is provided to assist in drainage of fluid from the inside of the box.

9) A wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container according to claim 8, wherein a manifold system is provided to drain the or each nozzle from one or more boxes.

10) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein the box is provided with reinforcement section about the upstanding edge corners to permit stacking of boxes.

11) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 10, wherein corrugated board wherein the box has a rectangular base and four upstanding wall panels.

12) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 11, wherein the box is provided with reinforcement section about the upstanding edge corners to permit stacking.

13) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according to any one of claims 1 - 12, wherein there is an aperture defined within a wall panel proximate the base panel.

14) A wet cold chain distribution transport/storage container according any one of claims 1 - 13, wherein there is an aperture defined within a base panel.

15) A wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exterior walls of the box is sheathed in plastics film prior to placement of the insert.

16) A wet cold chain distribution transport/ storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the box is placed within a first bag-like element, such that the sides of the box are at least partially sheathed, whereupon placement of the insert within the box and depending of the circumferential rim and throat of the insert down the sides of the box, the integrity of the cellulose box is maintained in use.

17) A system of containers comprising at least first and second containers in accordance with any one of claims 1 - 16, wherein a second box is placed upon a first box, the arrangement permitting drainage of any wet goods associated with the second box through at least one drainage tube thereof, the drainage tube being arranged such that the tube is operable to drain clear of the lower, first box.