A tetrahedral-shaped pouch can be opened by tearing from a cut in a first lateral sealing edge and along a longitudinal sealing substantially perpendicular to the first lateral sealing edge to conveniently access non-liquid food contents, such as seeds or nuts. A short longitudinal cut can be made into but not all the way through the first lateral sealing edge, adjacent where the longitudinal sealing is positioned on the first lateral sealing edge. When opening the pouch, by initiating a tear starting at the cut, the packaging material will tear along, but not cross the longitudinal sealing, since the longitudinal sealing is formed from an overlapped and doubly thick section of packaging material. The pouch will therefore open, on at least one side of the tetrahedron, along a predictable tear line following the longitudinal sealing, to form a bowl-shaped receptacle from which the contained food product can be conveniently accessed.

A method is disclosed for forming a covered cardboard container from a single template. The template is configured such that, when side panels are lifted off the top face of the template, a front panel and rear panel are lifted together with the side panels. The container is formed when the two side panels, the front panel and the rear panel are all in a substantially vertical position.

After the container is formed it is filled with product, such as apples, pears, avocados, and the like. The container has two top panels that are folded over the product and adhered to one another to form a lid. Score lines in the top panel allow the container to accommodate products of varying size.

A method is disclosed for forming a covered cardboard container from a single template. The template is configured such that, when side panels are lifted off the top face of the template, a front panel and rear panel are lifted together with the side panels. The container is formed when the two side panels, the front panel and the rear panel are all in a substantially vertical position.

After the container is formed it is filled with product, such as apples, pears, avocados, and the like. The container has two top panels that are folded over the product and adhered to one another to form a lid. Score lines in the top panel allow the container to accommodate products of varying size.

This invention relates to a unique food preservation system that is used to extend the shelf life of food items by automatically modulating the gas composition within an air-tight container to the optimal atmospheric conditions for the specific food item(s) being stored in these containers. In order to extend the shelf life of food items, the optimal levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen must be maintained within the food storage container at all times. This is accomplished by constant real-time monitoring of the atmosphere within the food storage container and actively as well as passively controlling the atmosphere.

This invention relates to a unique food preservation system that is used to extend the shelf life of food items by automatically modulating the gas composition within an air-tight container to the optimal atmospheric conditions for the specific food item(s) being stored in these containers. In order to extend the shelf life of food items, the optimal levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen must be maintained within the food storage container at all times. This is accomplished by constant real-time monitoring of the atmosphere within the food storage container and actively as well as passively controlling the atmosphere.

Apparatuses and methods are provided for storing and preserving product, such as to extend shelf life of the same. In one optional method, liquid-exuding product is placed in a product containing space of a container atop a platform of a support structure. The container can include an internal compartment having the product containing space. The structure can define the platform for supporting the product. The internal compartment can further include a reservoir, configured to retain liquid, below the platform. At least one of the platform or the support structure can be configured to direct liquid exuded from the product to the reservoir. Optionally, the reservoir comprises or contains an absorbent material for absorbing liquid in the reservoir.

An end effector adapted to be carried by a robot positioning apparatus for packing items of produce, the end effector adapted in use for holding an open topped elongate container (tube) in an inverted orientation, wherein the tube has a closed bottom end and an open top end; the end effector comprising: at least one actuatable movable element located on the end effector so as to be adjacent the open end of a tube held by the end effector; wherein the actuatable movable element is configured to be operable between: an extended position which at least partially extends over the open end of a tube held by the end effector to at least partially obstruct the open end of the tube; and a retracted position so that the open end of the container is substantially unobstructed to allow items of produce to be received in the tube.

An end effector adapted to be carried by a robot positioning apparatus for packing items of produce, the end effector adapted in use for holding an open topped elongate container (tube) in an inverted orientation, wherein the tube has a closed bottom end and an open top end; the end effector comprising: at least one actuatable movable element located on the end effector so as to be adjacent the open end of a tube held by the end effector; wherein the actuatable movable element is configured to be operable between: an extended position which at least partially extends over the open end of a tube held by the end effector to at least partially obstruct the open end of the tube; and a retracted position so that the open end of the container is substantially unobstructed to allow items of produce to be received in the tube.

A produce tray assembly includes a plurality of produce trays and a box. Each produce tray includes a plurality of bases, a plurality of inner and outer sidewalls, a lip, and a handle. The sidewalls extending from the bases. The sidewalls define cavities sized and configured to receive produce. The lip extends from the outer sidewalls. The lip includes a planar surface. The box is configured to hold a first amount of produce trays in response to the of produce trays being oriented in a horizontal position where the planar surface extends horizontally. The box is configured to hold a second amount of produce trays in response to the produce trays being oriented in a vertical position where the planar surface extends vertically. The second amount of the produce trays is greater than the first amount of produce trays.

A product stacking system may include an open bag detection subsystem and a product stacking subsystem. The open bag detection subsystem may agitate bags to cause product to be displaced out of open bags and determine if a bag is open by comparing a weight of the bag after the agitation to a target threshold. The product stacking subsystem may include a robotic arm and a controller that moves the robotic arm between posts of a bin based on an orientation of the bin. A turntable rotates the bin and can operate as an additional axis of movement of the robot.