The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for improving storage and/or transportation of food, flowers, plants, or the like.

A filling machine for filling containers with fruit or vegetables products includes a transportation system for step-by-step conveying the containers to be filled along a horizontal predetermined direction; a primary plain belt conveyor system for products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to generate a main bulk filling of the containers; a secondary belt conveyor system for single products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to cooperate simultaneously with the primary belt conveyor system so as to complete the entire final filling of the containers; a motion system applied to both the principal and the secondary belt conveyor systems for a reciprocating motion of the primary and secondary belt conveyor systems in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and at least one weighing station for constant weighing the containers during filling.

A filling machine for filling containers with fruit or vegetables products includes a transportation system for step-by-step conveying the containers to be filled along a horizontal predetermined direction; a primary plain belt conveyor system for products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to generate a main bulk filling of the containers; a secondary belt conveyor system for single products fed parallel to the horizontal direction and adapted to cooperate simultaneously with the primary belt conveyor system so as to complete the entire final filling of the containers; a motion system applied to both the principal and the secondary belt conveyor systems for a reciprocating motion of the primary and secondary belt conveyor systems in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and at least one weighing station for constant weighing the containers during filling.

The invention relates to a device for grouping into batches at least semi-buoyant objects belonging to the group of fruit and vegetables, comprising a plurality of accumulation channels (11), a hydraulic supply device for each accumulation channel (11), a device for supplying objects to an upstream portion of each accumulation channel, a collecting channel downstream of each accumulation channel (11), a device (14) for holding/releasing the objects in each accumulation channel Each accumulation channel (11) comprises at least one bypass passage (30) for the hydraulic stream extending from at least one inlet of the bypass passage (30) located upstream of the holding/releasing device (14) to at least one outlet of the bypass passage (30) issuing downstream of the holding/releasing device (14). A bypass valve (32) allows adjustment of said part of the diverted flow.

An automatic packaging apparatus is provided, having a conveyor, a continuous longitudinally folded web, cutting and sealing mechanisms for forming flexible pouches from the web. The apparatus also includes processing stations for loading the pouches, transferring fluids (typically gases) into and out of the pouches, and sealing the pouches. Various alternative methods and devices are provided for separating each sealed pouch from the web by either making a continuous cut across a connecting strip of web material downline of the processing stations or pre-perforating the connecting strip upline of the processing stations. When the connecting strip is pre-perforated, a sealed pouch of sufficient weight may be separated from the web passively by a takeaway conveyor, and a lighter sealed pouch may be separated from the web by a tear-off mechanism that grips and pulls the web.

An automatic packaging apparatus is provided, having a conveyor, a continuous longitudinally folded web, cutting and sealing mechanisms for forming flexible pouches from the web. The apparatus also includes processing stations for loading the pouches, transferring fluids (typically gases) into and out of the pouches, and sealing the pouches. Various alternative methods and devices are provided for separating each sealed pouch from the web by either making a continuous cut across a connecting strip of web material downline of the processing stations or pre-perforating the connecting strip upline of the processing stations. When the connecting strip is pre-perforated, a sealed pouch of sufficient weight may be separated from the web passively by a takeaway conveyor, and a lighter sealed pouch may be separated from the web by a tear-off mechanism that grips and pulls the web.

A packaging box 100 for mailing fruit and vegetables for delivery to the home comprises a box body 114 configured to receive the fruit or vegetables, a lid 102 configured to close the box body to provide a closed box, and at least one partitioning member 106 configured to divide the box body into at least two compartments. The partitioning member 106 is configured for attachment to the lid 102, whereby to connect the lid 102 to the box body 114 when the box is closed.

Described herein are sealable, breathable bags for packaging, storing, and transporting fresh fruit in boxes. The bags protects the fruit from outside contaminants while maintaining a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit to preserve the freshness of the fruit. Furthermore, the bags are constructed in such a way that they have a flattened closed configuration and an fully opened configuration that allows them to efficiently fit into a generally cuboid, open-topped packaging box to be filled with fresh fruit and then seal around the fruit in the box, such as by sliding a slider across an upper closure of the bag.

This invention relates to an antimicrobial cover comprising or consisting of an antimicrobial agent-generating article for use with a container for transporting or storage of fruit and a container comprising the antimicrobial of the invention. The invention further relates to a method of preventing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, particularly fungal organisms, in packaged fruit comprising the use of the antimicrobial of the invention.

The object of the invention is to realize an apparatus for automatically and precisely filling single containers in succession with a pre-defined amount of products; each container is filled with two distinct loads of products, wherein the first load is determined according to its weight roughly measured, and the second load is determined numerically based on the difference between said first load and a pre-defined conventional weight; the apparatus comprises a first conveyor, a second conveyor loaded automatically with the products transported by the first conveyor, a third conveyor which is loaded with the agricultural products transported by the second conveyor and that transfers the products poured and present onto it inside a succession of single containers, weighing means able of weighing the total weight of the products on the whole present on the second conveyor, wherein the third conveyor is able of transferring the products poured and present on it in a succession of single containers; there is arranged a fourth conveying means preferably “V”-shaped and able of pouring a numerically controlled quantity of similar products onto the third conveying means, which, in the end, pours it onto a container below with a motion of going on and partial rotation.