AIR FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING

Abstract

An air flow control system for packaging, which facilitates the passage of air currents into the packaging in which it is used in any direction of the X, Y and Z axes, allowing to maintain a sufficient air flow to prevent deterioration of the products contained inside, being also adapted to interact jointly with other similar packaging arranged adjacently and/or stacked, and/or grouped in packing, in such a way that in all and each of the packing, a necessary and sufficient air flow is maintained for the good conservation of the products.

Claims

1. An air flow control system for packaging characterized in that it comprises: at least one lateral slot (1) arranged in each of the side walls of the packaging, each of said lateral slots (1) having a suitable shape to promote the passage of air into the packaging; and at least one lower slot (2), arranged at the base of the packaging, with a configuration that allows air to pass through and prevents the products inside the packaging from coming out; having said at least one lateral slot (1) and said at least one lower slot (2) an opening area for total ventilation that corresponds between 8% and 16% of the total area of the packaging, of which the intended area for the air flow in the X and Z axes direction is between 80% and 95% respect to the opening area for total ventilation, while the area for the ascending and descending air flow in the Y axis direction is between 5% and 20% respect to said opening area for total ventilation.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises: at least one second lateral slot (4), arranged on each side of a packing intended for storing the packaging, said at least one second lateral slot (4) being in such an arrangement and location that a passage is formed for the free air flow from said at least one second lateral slot (4) towards said at least one lateral slot (1), said at least one second lateral slot (4) having a ventilation opening area respect to the total packaging area between 3% and 6% in the X axis direction, and between 0.5% and 2% in the Z axis direction; and at least one bottom slot (5), which has an opening area respect to the total packing area between 0.4% and 1.5% in the Y axis direction and is arranged at the packing base in such a location that a passage is formed for the free air flow from said at least one bottom slot (5) towards said at least one lower slot (2) of the packaging.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises at least one upper slot (3) arranged in a lid of the packaging, which has a ventilation opening area between 1% and 8% respect to the total area of the surface of said lid, in such a way that said at least one upper slot (3) allows the entry and exit of an ascending and/or descending air flow that crosses the packaging between said at least one upper slot (3) and the at least one lower slot (2) of the packaging, also allowing the escape of vapors and condensates formed on the products contained in the internal cavity of the packaging.

4. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that each packing can contain up to four packaging, said packaging being in a grid-type arrangement, in such a way that said packaging are adjusted to each other, each one of at least a lower slot (2) of each packaging being above the at least one bottom slot (5) of the packaging, allowing air flow in the Y direction; while each of the at least one lateral slot (1) of the packaging faces the at least one lateral slot (1) of a packaging adjacent or faces to at least one of the second lateral slots (4) of the packing, allowing transversal air flows in the X and Z directions.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the side walls of the packing have a height that exceeds the height of the side walls of the packaging, in such a way that the packaging is protected inside the packing, and the packaging can be stacked one on top of the other to form a packing tower that can be placed on top of a pallet for transport.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one second lateral slot (4) of each packing in a tower is adapted to face the at least one second lateral slot (4) of a packing at the same level in an adjacent tower, in such a way that transversal air flow is allowed in the X and Z directions through the packaging when several packing towers are placed on the same pallet.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

[0026] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view that shows, in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, a packaging with the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the packaging illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the packaging illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an illustrative example of a packing with packaging, showing the application of the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a view of the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention on a pallet on which multiple packing with packaging have been stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present invention provides an air flow control system for packaging that facilitates the passage of air currents into the packaging where it is used, without affecting the structural integrity of its walls. Likewise, the system of the present invention is designed to favor the entry and exit of air currents from the packages, even when they are contained inside packing adapted for their transportation.

[0032] Additionally, the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention is designed to allow the free air flow into the packaging, even after said packaging is placed on shelves for sale to the public, thus guaranteeing a adequate air flow to increase the useful life of perishable products stored in said packaging, by improving aeration inside the packaging, thus avoiding the creation of conditions that favor the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the products.

[0033] In the context of the present invention, packaging refers to any recipient or container that contains a product and is in contact with it. Likewise, opening area for ventilation should be understood as the area for air flow formed by the slots provided in the packaging and/or packing.

[0034] To achieve the advantages described above, the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention is made up of a series of slots arranged and distributed in the packaging and/or packing in a predetermined manner to achieve specific air flows in the packaging and/or packing in the directions of the X, Y and Z axes, said air flows being sufficient to achieve adequate aeration for the best conservation of the packaged product.

[0035] The air flow control system for packaging of the present invention comprises at least one lateral slot (1) arranged in each of the side walls of the packaging, each of said at least one lateral slot (1) having adequate shape to encourage the passage of air into the packaging; and at least one lower slot (2), arranged at the base of the packaging, with a configuration such that it allows the passage of air, such that said at least one lateral slot (1) and said at least one lower slot (2), allow air flow into the packaging, but prevent the exit of the product, and together, have a total ventilation opening area that corresponds to at least between 8% and 16% of the packaging total area.

[0036] Likewise, the at least one lateral slot (1) and said at least one lower slot (2) are configured and arranged in such a way that they allow obtaining an opening area for ventilation between 80% and 95% in the direction of the X and Z axes respect to the opening area for total ventilation, while the area for the upward and downward air flow in the direction of the Y axis is between 5% and 20% respect to said opening area for total ventilation. The opening area for total ventilation of the air flow control system of the present invention allows a free air flow into the internal cavity of the packaging, with a sufficient volume to promote the correct aeration of the products contained in the packaging cavity, at the same time limiting excessive accumulation of moisture in order to avoid generating adequate conditions for the growth of microorganisms.

[0037] Likewise, the air flow control system of the present invention, in one of its preferred embodiments, also comprises at least one upper slot (3) arranged in a lid of the packaging, which has an opening area between 18 and 8% respect to the total area of the surface of said lid, in such a way that said at least one upper slot (3) allows the entry and exit of an ascending and/or descending air flow that passes through the packaging between said at least one upper slot (3) and at least one lower slot (2), also allowing the escape of vapors and condensates formed on the products contained in the internal cavity of the packaging.

[0038] Additionally, the air flow control system of the present invention is adapted to allow sufficient air flow to preserve the product in optimal conditions even when the packaging is arranged in packing for transportation and storage. In this embodiment, the system also comprises at least a second lateral slot (4), arranged on each side of the packaging. The configuration, number and arrangement of the at least one second lateral slot (4) are such that they provide a ventilation opening area respect to the total area of the packing between 3% and 6% in the X axis direction, and between 0.5% and 2% in the Z axis direction, and between said at least a second lateral slot (4) and said at least one lateral slot (1), a passage is formed for the free air flow, which maintains the same air flow volume as with the packaging alone. Likewise, at least one bottom slot (5) with a ventilation opening area respect to the total area of the packaging between 0.4% and 1.5% in the Y axis direction, is arranged at the base of the packaging in such a location that a passage is formed for the free air flow from said at least one bottom slot (5) towards said at least one lower slot (2) of the packaging. Therefore, the total ventilation opening area obtained in the X, Y and Z directions is such that said at least one second side slot (4) and said at least one bottom slot (5) allow a free air flow through them that affects the at least one lateral slot (1) and said at least one lower slot (2) of the packaging respectively, which is sufficient to cause the passage of an air flow towards the internal cavity of the packaging that is sufficient to allow proper aeration of the stored products, while at the same time preventing excessive accumulation of humidity even when several packages are placed in the same packing.

[0039] The air flow control system for packaging of the present invention allows several packaging to be placed in the same packing; for example, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention represented in FIG. 4, each packing can contain up to four packaging, said packing remaining in a grid-type arrangement, in such a way that said packages are adjusted to each other, and each of the at least one lower slot (2) of each packaging is above of at least one bottom slot (5) of the packing, allowing air flow in the Y direction; while at least one of the at least one lateral slot (1) of the packaging faces at least one of the at least one lateral slots (1) of a neighboring packaging or faces at least one of the second lateral slots (4) of the packing, thus allowing transversal air flows in the X and Z directions. In the previously described embodiment, the side walls of the packing have a height that exceeds the height of the side walls of the packaging, in such a way that the packaging is protected inside the packing, and the packaging can be stacked one on top of the other such as to form a packing tower that can be placed on top of a pallet for transport (FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the at least one second lateral slot (4) of each packing in a tower is adapted to face the at least one second lateral slot (4) of a packing at the same level in an adjacent tower, in such a way that transversal air flow is allowed through the packing and packaging even when several packing towers are placed on the same pallet. Therefore, the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention favors a free air flow through the packing and into the packaging, even when these are grouped within packing stacked in towers adjacent to each other, in such a way that the air flow that passes through all the packing and packaging, even when stacked on top of each other, is maintained with a sufficient volume to promote correct aeration of the products contained inside the packaging and limiting the accumulation of moisture on stored products.

[0040] The packages in which the air flow control system of the present invention has been applied, allow a more efficient air flow in said packaging, for example, when they are placed on refrigerated shelves such as those used to display fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets. When the packages with the air flow control system of the present invention are placed on a refrigerated shelf, the at least one side slot (1) and the at least one lower slot (2), allow the exchange between cold air that circulates through the refrigerated shelf and the air contained inside the packaging, in such a way that an air flow is generated that crosses the packaging in the X, Y and Z directions with a volume sufficient to keep the product contained at a constant temperature, with good air exchange and without excessive moisture accumulation or the deposition of condensate films.

[0041] Additionally, a substantially rectangular configuration packaging made of an environmentally friendly material was used so that the packing can be reused for the transportation of packaging on multiple occasions and recycled after the end of its useful life.

[0042] Likewise, in a further embodiment of the present invention, both the packaging and the packing in which the air flow control system is used, have a complementary configuration that improves the packaging reception within the packing, in such a way that unwanted movements of the packaging are avoided during transport maneuvers. For example, if the packaging has a substantially rectangular shape, the packing will have a complementary shape that will allow it to receive the packaging in a 22, 23, 33 grid, or any other configuration adequate that maximizes the effective storage area of said packing. Additionally, the walls of the packing may have any suitable adaptation to facilitate stacking, such as receiving tabs and/or projections on its walls.

[0043] To demonstrate the efficiency and operation of the air flow control system for packaging of the present invention, and as an illustrative, but not limiting, example of the present invention, the air flow control system was tested in a substantially rectangular packaging of the type used to contain fruits and vegetables, such as those used to transport strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, mulberries and blueberries. In this illustrative example, both the at least one lateral slot (1) and said at least one lower slot (2) of the system have a width that is less than the smallest diameter of the berries to be contained, in such a way that the exit thereof from the internal cavity of the packaging is avoided. The packaging material used was suitable to withstand cold transport chain storage conditions between 0 C. and 5 C., and humidity between 75% and 95%.

[0044] The air flow control system of the present invention was also tested using compostable and biodegradable packaging that maintained the structural integrity of its walls and also limited the excessive humidity accumulation inside their storage cavities. In these tests, the at least one side slot (1) and said at least one lower slot (2), have a suitable shape and configuration to avoid the loss of the structural integrity of the packaging, so they do not affect the resistance of the walls of it. Additionally, in the biodegradable and compostable material packaging, lids made of polylactic acid (PLA) were used, and the at least one upper slot (3) was circular.

[0045] The air flow control system for packaging of the present invention was tested in the packaging of strawberries from post-harvest to placement at the point of sale, through transportation and storage, and probed to be able to increase the half-life of stored products, improving their aeration and avoiding excessive accumulation of humidity. Additionally, the system of the present invention increased the shelf life of the strawberries since it can easily interact with any air flow direction incident on the product, so the system is also not limited to being used on shelves of specific construction.

[0046] It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the configuration of the at least one side slot (1) and the at least one lower slot (2) may be any suitable shape to contain the product to be packaged. Likewise, the number and distribution of the at least one side slot (1) and the at least one lower slot (2) may vary depending on the shape and dimensions of the packaging, the packaging material and the type of product to be stored, and that said variations are included within the scope of the present invention, provided that the opening areas for ventilation are maintained in the percentages specified here.

[0047] The present invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment; however, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.