Fruit bag

Abstract

To prevent a surface of a fruit from coming into close contact with an inner surface of a fruit bag and to prevent sunburn.SOLUTION: A fruit bag is configured to place a mesh lining inside an outer bag. The outer bag is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of 0.03 to 0.06 mm, which is thick enough to prevent holes from being created by beetles when they bite into it, and which deforms in response to wind force when the wind blows. It also has an opening at the top edge. The lining is a mesh that is arranged inside the outer bag to prevent an inner surface of the outer bag from coming into contact with a surface of a fruit and to retain moisture generated by the fruit itself. By creating at least one narrow slit of a predetermined length on outer and bottom edges of the outer bag, the moisture can be drained out of the fruit bag.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fruit bag used for bagging fruit, and more particularly to a fruit bag made of a synthetic resin sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] In fruit cultivation, if fruit is left to ripen, it often rots for various reasons. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in soft fruits such as figs. Most of the rot is caused by fungi transmitted by insects or underground fungi that are splashed up by rain and attach to the leaves. To prevent this, pesticide spraying and bagging are carried out, but there is a certain resistance from consumers to pesticide spraying due to the use of pesticides.

[0003] In view of the above circumstances, prior art that attempts to prevent damage caused by insects and pests can be found in patent and non-patent literature.

[0004] The fruit bag disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2009-65907 A) is made up of an outer layer, a middle water-absorbing layer, and an inner layer with numerous holes inside that, which allows moisture generated inside to escape to the outside.

[0005] In Patent Document 2 (JP 2013-233091 A), a "part" is inserted between the fruit bag and the fruit to prevent the insect's proboscis from reaching the fruit's outer skin, ensuring a certain distance between the fruit bag and the fruit. Although the actual nature of this "part" is unclear, it can be considered a kind of spacer.

[0006] Patent Document 3 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 64-56646) describes a structure in which a breathable inner liner is placed inside a breathable outer bag. The liner has many micropores with a diameter of 50 to 100 μm to ensure breathability. The outer bag has perforations at the top, which can be cut off at the appropriate time along the perforations to allow sunlight to reach the fruit.

[0007] Furthermore, in Patent Document 4 (JP 2019-201573 A), the applicant has proposed a fruit bag made of a synthetic resin sheet that is resistant to insects and bacteria and does not require the spraying of pesticides. That is, the bag is equipped with a strap at a predetermined width in the center of the upper width direction, the volume of the body is larger than the fruit, and the diameter of the opening corresponding to the strap is large enough to hold young fruit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-65907 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-233091 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 64-56646 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-201573 [Patent Document 5] Patent No. 4237141 [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) data (http: / / www.naro.affrc.go.jp / org / karc / seika / kyushu_seika / 2006 / 2006175.html) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Pesticides are usually sprayed on fruits during their growth process or at specific times before harvest to kill pathogens, but this does not eliminate consumer fears about pesticides, and although the apparent value of the product may increase, it does not alleviate psychological anxiety.

[0011] Bagging reduces the infestation of insects and vermin, and reduces the chance of the above-mentioned bacteria attaching to the fruit, resulting in fewer fruits rotting in a short period of time, but this is not complete, and spraying with pesticides is essential to compensate for this imperfection.

[0012] The applicant of the present application has disclosed in Patent Document 4 that spraying of pesticides is unnecessary if the young fruits are bagged from the time they are young. In this case, since the young fruits need to be exposed to sunlight during their growth, a transparent or translucent material (synthetic resin material) is used as the bag material.

[0013] However, if transparent or translucent materials are used for the bags, the inside of the bag can become hot and dry under the summer sun, causing the fruit trees to get sunburned. To prevent this, an umbrella is usually attached to the bag to block direct sunlight.

[0014] Furthermore, if the smooth surface of the synthetic resin sheet comes into close contact with the surface of the fruit tree, spoilage bacteria will grow in that area, making it impossible to harvest or causing the fruit to rot after harvest. This adhesion is caused by the large amount of water vapor that the fruit gives off during its growth process. In other words, the water vapor that the fruit gives off during its growth process turns into droplets on the inner wall of the bag, as shown in Figure 13, and surface tension causes the inner surface of the bag to stick to the surface of the fruit tree.

[0015] To avoid this, for example, in Patent Document 5, a large number of micropores are made in the material. This allows the moisture released by the fruit to be quickly discharged outside the bag, but on the other hand, it also causes the problem of "sunburn" mentioned above.

[0016] As will be explained below, the present invention involves bagging young fruits, so it is essential to use transparent or translucent materials, whereas Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3 are based on the premise that bags will be bagged after the fruits have ripened, and therefore have structures that do not place importance on translucency, and are therefore not applicable to the present invention.

[0017] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and there is a need for a fruit bag that can be used to bag young fruits, prevent the surface of the fruit from coming into close contact with the inner surface of the bag, and allow the fruit to be left in that state until harvest without being sunburned, and that does not require the spraying of pesticides. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The present invention is configured such that a mesh lining is placed inside the outer bag.

[0019] The outer bag is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin sheet with a thickness of 0.03 to 0.06 mm, which is thick enough to prevent holes from being made when beetles bite into it, and which deforms in accordance with the force of the wind when it blows, and which has an opening on the upper edge.

[0020] The lining is a mesh that is placed inside the outer bag, prevents the inner surface of the outer bag from coming into close contact with the surface of the fruit, and retains moisture that is generated by the fruit itself.

[0021] By providing at least one narrow slit of a predetermined length on the outer and lower sides of the outer bag, the moisture can be discharged outside the bag. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] By inserting the mesh lining, the outer bag and the fruit tree face each other across the lining threads (lines), preventing them from coming into contact with each other. Furthermore, the mesh retains moisture released by the fruit tree for a long time, preventing the bag from drying out too much. The moisture is then gradually released to the outside of the outer bag through the slits. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the fruit bag of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sealing unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the procedure for using fruit bags using the sealing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a continuation of the procedure of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing the steps of opening the fruit bag of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a sealing unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure for using a fruit bag using the sealing unit of Example 2 of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a continuation of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional fruit bag. [Figure 10] 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example for figs. [Figure 11] 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example of peaches. [Figure 12] 1 is a photograph showing an example and a comparative example of apples. [Figure 13] This is a photo showing an example of the "sweat" that fruit trees produce. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] <Prerequisites> Fruit-rotting bacteria are present on the surface of flowers or young fruit to some extent, and grow as ants and thrips swarm around them. Furthermore, as explained below, the applicant of this application has demonstrated through the implementation of the invention disclosed in JP 2019-201573 A that bagging young fruit in non-breathable synthetic resin bags suppresses the growth of spoilage bacteria and produces fruit that is less susceptible to spoilage. However, when bagging young fruit in non-breathable synthetic resin bags, the temperature inside the bags rises and dries out on sunny days, causing 10% to 20% of the bagged young fruit to suffer from sunburn.

[0025] This "sunburn" occurs when the inside of the bag becomes dry, so it is necessary to keep the inside of the bag from becoming extremely dry.

[0026] On the other hand, fruits produce a large amount of moisture ("sweat") during their growth. According to the applicant's observations, this "sweat" itself does not affect the fruit, but when the fruit is bagged using a synthetic resin bag, the "sweat" causes the fruit to stick to the synthetic resin, and rot progresses in the areas of contact.

[0027] Therefore, in this invention, a mesh is placed inside the transparent or translucent outer bag. The first function of this mesh is to prevent the fruit from coming into close contact with the inner bag. The second function is to retain the "sweat" released by the fruit. The moisture released by the fruit initially appears as extremely fine water vapor, which adheres to the surface of the contents of the outer bag. However, as the amount gradually accumulates, it turns into droplets (see Figure 13). Without the mesh lining, the water droplets would gradually become heavy and accumulate at the bottom of the bag, or, if there are water holes, they would be expelled to the outside through them.

[0028] However, with the mesh of the present invention, the water droplets in the compartments are held in place for a long time, instead of falling to the bottom. Even if there is sunlight in this state, the water will evaporate and the heat of evaporation will be absorbed within the bag, so the inside of the bag will not become extremely hot or dry.

[0029] <Basic structure> FIG. 1 shows a fruit bag of the present invention.

[0030] A mesh lining 2 is inserted inside a transparent or semi-transparent outer bag 1 made of synthetic resin such as vinyl or nylon, and a sealing unit is further provided to seal the opening at the top end of the outer bag.

[0031] <Outer bag> The outer bag 1 must be strong (thick) enough to prevent holes from being made by gnawed at by pests such as thrips, but if it is too thick, it will be impossible to seal the opening, as described below, so its thickness must be within the range of 0.03 to 0.06 mm. This thickness is based on polyethylene, but is roughly the same for other resins.

[0032] The upper edge 11a of the outer bag 1 forms an opening 12, and the left and right side edges 11b, 11c and the lower edge 11d of the outer bag 1 are sealed. In addition, multiple drainage slits 16 are formed on the outer periphery of the outer bag 1. The slits 16 are simply narrow cuts made with scissors to a predetermined depth and a predetermined length (for example, about 1 cm) inward. Because they are narrow, they prevent pests such as thrips from entering but allow moisture to escape from the inside.

[0033] <Outer bag thickness> As mentioned above, the outer bag 1 must be at least 0.03 mm thick so that it will not tear even if an insect bites into it, but there are two problems related to the thickness of the outer bag. One is "sealing" and the other is "wind."

[0034] By using the sealing unit 30 described below, sealing between the fruit stalk C and the outer bag 1 can be achieved, but if the outer bag 1 is thick, the sealing portion (between the fruit stalk and the outer bag) will lack flexibility, making it impossible to achieve the above-mentioned sealing, and allowing rainwater or insects to enter.

[0035] Next, if the thickness of the outer bag 1 exceeds a certain value, the bag becomes too rigid and is more likely to catch wind, causing the fruit to fall. In order to ensure that the bag is flexible enough to deflect the wind and deform when the wind blows, the upper limit of the thickness is set.

[0036] With a thickness within the above range, the opening is sealed sufficiently, and even when a strong wind blows, the bag can flexibly change shape in response to the wind (even taking into consideration the liner 2 described below). In this regard, in the prior art documents 1 and 3, the thickness (thickness of outer bag 1 + thickness of liner 2) is too large, making the bag more susceptible to wind and resulting in a very high probability of fruit dropping.

[0037] <Interior> The lining 2 is specifically a mesh made of synthetic resin.

[0038] The mesh is composed of threads (0.1 to 0.3 mm) thick enough to prevent the inner surface of the outer bag 1 from "adhering tightly" to the surface of the fruit when the fruit is inside, and mesh of a predetermined size (each side is approximately 3 to 10 mm).

[0039] However, the thickness of the thread and the size of the mesh are relative to each other, and the thinner the thread, the smaller the mesh. However, if the mesh is too small, it becomes impossible to observe the state of the fruit from the outside. From this perspective, the mesh size needs to be at least 3 mm, and in that case, the thread thickness needs to be about 0.1 mm.

[0040] In addition, in the case of relatively hard fruits such as apples, the material of the netting body can be hard, but when applied to soft fruits such as figs, the threads that make up the mesh will rub against the fruit due to wind, etc., damaging the fruit, so the net needs to be made of as soft a material as possible.

[0041] In the applicant's experiments, acrylic netting used for waterproofing rooftops of buildings was found to be optimal, and polyester netting commercially available for agricultural use could also be used, but it is a little hard for use on figs or peaches. The acrylic netting is flexible yet taut, and when the outer bag 1 is closed as described above, it expands into a bell shape, reducing contact between the young fruit and the netting, particularly when the fruit is young, and maintaining a space between the fruit and the outer bag.

[0042] The liner 2 is formed below the opening 12 of the outer bag 1, avoiding the area where the sealing unit 30 (described later) is formed. This is because the sealing unit 30 area must be as thin as possible to provide flexibility, as it is necessary for the fruit stalk and the outer bag to be in close contact with each other.

[0043] The lining 2 may be formed over the entire area below the portion where the sealing unit 30 is formed, but it is preferable to form it over the range from the upper half to the upper one-third of the inside of the outer bag 1.

[0044] As mentioned above, the function of the inner lining 2 is to catch the "sweat" that the fruit produces, which is a fine mist that tends to concentrate and adhere to the upper part of the bag. Also, even if the ripe fruit is to be prevented from coming into contact with the inner surface of the outer bag 1, it is sufficient that it is only present in the upper part of the bag. Also, this is because the development of the fruit can be observed from the transparent part that is not covered by the lining.

[0045] If we assume that the surface of the fruit comes into direct contact with the inner surface of the outer bag 1 without using the liner 2, the "sweat" generated by the fruit will adhere to the inner surface of the outer bag 1, causing close contact between the surface of the fruit and the inner surface of the outer bag 1. However, since a considerable amount of putrefactive bacteria is already attached to the fruit, the close contact described above will cause the putrefactive bacteria to multiply.

[0046] In addition, the "sweat" produced by the fruit adheres directly to the inner surface of the outer bag, forming droplets that collect at the bottom of the bag, and if there are slits or holes, they are expelled through them. If there is strong sunlight during the day in this state, the inside of the bag will dry out, resulting in the aforementioned "sunburn" condition.

[0047] The mesh lining 2 prevents the above-mentioned adhesion from occurring. In addition, the water droplets that adhere to the inner surface of the outer bag 1 can be stored for a long time in each section of the mesh. Even if exposed to sunlight in this state, the water droplets will evaporate and remove the heat of evaporation from the bag, so the probability of "sunburn" occurring is extremely low. According to the applicant's observations, this occurred in approximately 1% of all bagged items.

[0048] Furthermore, the inner lining 2 has a certain degree of elasticity, which allows the bag to expand like a skirt from the tie opening, preventing direct contact between the surface of the fruit tree and the inner surface of the outer bag 1, especially when the fruit is young, and preventing contact between most of the surface of the fruit tree and the inner surface (lining) of the outer bag even after the fruit has ripened.

[0049] <Sealing unit> [Example]

[0050] Corresponding to the opening 12 at the top edge of the outer bag 1, a sealing unit 30 consisting of a first sealing tool and a second sealing tool is constructed as will be described below.

[0051] That is, as shown in Figure 2(a), the upper ends of the side edges 11b, 11c at both the left and right ends of the opening 12 are cut to a predetermined depth to form hole spaces 3a, 3b where the two front and back sheets are separated, and as shown in Figure 2(b), the hole spaces 3a, 3b are folded back and the ends are welded to the bag body to form front and back through holes 32a, 32b parallel to the upper edge of the outer bag.

[0052] Next, the wire 33a, which deforms in response to an external force, is folded in half, and one tip is inserted into one of the front through-holes 32a and the other tip into one of the rear through-holes 32b, causing the two tips to protrude to the other side of the through-holes 32a, 32b, and the two protruding tips are twisted together to form a first sealing device (Figure 2(c)).

[0053] Similarly, the wire 33b, which deforms in response to an external force, is folded in half, and the two ends of the wire 33b are inserted through the other of the through holes 32a, 32b, respectively, so that they protrude to one side, and the two ends on the protruding side are twisted together to form a second sealing device.

[0054] As will be explained later, in the above configuration, the frictional resistance between the through holes 32a, 32b and the wires 33a, 33b that deform in response to an external force is extremely small, so that with young fruits placed in the fruit bag, the outer bag can be closed simply by pulling the wires 33a, 33b that deform in response to an external force in opposite directions from both sides (see Figure 3(c)). Conversely, when it is time to harvest, the outer bag can be easily opened by pulling the opening 12 from both sides without tearing it (see Figures 5(a) → 5(b)).

[0055] Furthermore, the wires 33a and 33b, which are deformed in response to external forces, can be easily bent and twisted, making it easy to maintain the seal and attach them to the branch (see FIG. 4). Specifically, iron wires coated with synthetic resin are used as the wires 33a and 33b that deform in response to an external force. This not only significantly improves the efficiency of bagging work, but also the efficiency of harvesting work, and by washing and disinfecting the bags, they can be reused the following year or the year after that. [Example]

[0056] The sealing unit 30 is made up of two sealing members, as in the first embodiment, but the configurations of the sealing members are different.

[0057] That is, as shown in Figure 6(a), the hole openings 3a and 3b are folded back and the ends are welded to the bag body, and front and back through holes 32a and 32b parallel to the upper end edge 11a of the outer bag are formed, which is the same as in Example 1 (Figure 2(a) → Figure 2(b)).

[0058] A wire 33c that deforms in response to a third external force is inserted into one of the front and rear through holes 32a and both ends are twisted outside the through hole 32a to form a third sealing device. Also, a wire 33d that deforms in response to a fourth external force is inserted into the other of the front and rear through holes 32d and both ends are twisted outside the through hole to form a fourth sealing device (Fig. 6(b) → Fig. 6(c)).

[0059] As in the first embodiment, iron wires coated with synthetic resin are used as the wires 33c and 33d that deform in response to an external force.

[0060] As will be explained in detail later, some fruit species, such as peaches, have extremely short stalks. If the above-mentioned Example 1 is used, the wires 33c, 33d that deform in response to external forces and the material of the outer bag that forms the through holes 32a, 32b will be in a shrunk state and will be interposed between the branch B and the fruit A, damaging the fruit. However, if the above-mentioned Example 2 is used, only the outer bag 1 can be interposed between the branch B and the fruit A, so there is no need to worry about damaging the fruit (see Figure 7(c) → Figure 8(a)).

[0061] <Usage Instructions> (Fruit bag using the sealing unit of Example 1) The procedure for using the fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of Example 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5. The length of the pedicel B connecting the young fruit A to the branch B varies depending on the fruit species. In figs, the pedicel B is an extension of the fruit, and is thinner than the fruit. In peaches, the pedicel is only a few millimeters long at most.

[0062] First, it is preferable to disinfect and sterilize young fruit A (approximately 30-50 mm in diameter), but this is not essential.

[0063] Next, the opening 12 of the outer bag 1 is opened, and the young fruit is inserted into the outer bag 1 through the opened opening 12 (FIG. 3a → FIG. 3b).

[0064] Next, when the tips of the wires 33a and 33b that deform in response to the external force are pulled from both sides, the fruit stalk C and the outer bag 1 are closed without any gaps (Fig. 3b → Fig. 3c). Even if left in this state for a long time, there is little risk of rainwater or beetles entering through the opening 12. However, since the frictional resistance between the wires 33a and 33b that deform in response to the external force and the outer bag 1 is small because both are made of synthetic resin, the opening will tend to open if left for a long time. On the other hand, the iron wire at the core of the wires that deform in response to the external force can be bent and stretched freely.

[0065] Therefore, as shown in Figure 4(a), by folding both ends of wires 33a and 33b, which deform in response to external forces, inward, the sealing state of opening 12 can be easily maintained. Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), by wrapping wires 33a and 33b around a branch with a fruit stalk and twisting it once or twice, the sealing state of outer bag 1 can be maintained and the fruit can be prevented from falling even when the wind blows. Which form to select can be chosen depending on the type of fruit.

[0066] In this way, the young fruit A covered by the fruit bag grows over time, and when it becomes a fruit, the surface of the fruit may come into contact with the inner surface of the lining 2. However, even when the fruit grows large, the lining 2 remains between the surface of the fruit and the inner surface of the outer bag 1, forming the gap described above.

[0067] At this time, the moisture produced by the fruit is trapped within the mesh compartments of the inner lining 2, so even in strong sunlight, it turns into steam and the temperature inside the bag is lost through the heat of vaporization, reducing the chance of "sunburn." Excess moisture is discharged to the outside of the outer bag 1 through the drainage slits 16.

[0068] The most efficient way to harvest is to separate the fruit from the branch with the sac still attached, and then remove the sac. Of course, it is also possible to remove the sac before separating the fruit from the branch.

[0069] In any case, to remove the fruit bag from the fruit, hold both ends of the opening 12 of the outer bag 1 and pull gently. Since there is little resistance between the wire that deforms in response to external force and the outer bag 1, the opening 12 can be opened with little force (see Figure 5(a) → (b)).

[0070] The twist shown in Figure 4(b) above can be easily removed by twisting it back in the opposite direction, after which the harvesting process can be carried out in the same manner as described above.

[0071] Although the above describes an example of bagging the young fruit, the same effect can be obtained by bagging the fruit after it has ripened, disinfecting it with electrolyzed ion water or an appropriate disinfectant, as in the past.

[0072] This reduces bagging and unbagging to just a few seconds each, significantly improving cost performance. In addition, because the bag itself is not damaged, the same fruit bags can be used the following year or even the year after, resulting in significant cost performance.

[0073] (Fruit bag using sealing unit of Example 2) The procedure for using the fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The fruit bag using the sealing unit 30 of the second embodiment is applied to fruits in which the length of the stalk B connecting the fruit A to the branch B is extremely short (for example, peaches, usually about 2 mm).

[0074] The opening 12 of the outer bag 1 is left open, and the young fruit is inserted into the outer bag 1 through the opened opening 12 (Fig. 7a → Fig. 7b). At this time, the two through holes 32a and 32b on the front and back should be parallel to the direction in which the branch B extends.

[0075] Next, when the tips of the wires 33c and 33d that deform in response to the external force are pulled, the branch B becomes fitted into the opening 12 (between the through-holes 32a and 32b) (Fig. 7b → Fig. 7c).

[0076] Next, one of the through holes 32a is overlapped on the other through hole 32b on the branch A (Fig. 7c → Fig. 8a), and the two thin wires 33c and 33d, which deform in response to an external force, are twisted (Fig. 8a → Fig. 8b).

[0077] As a result, even when the young fruits grow, the wires 33c, 33d that deform in response to external forces and the shrunken portions of the material of the outer bag 1 at the through-holes 32a, 32b do not get in between the fruit and the branch B, allowing the fruit to grow without being damaged. At this time, the through-holes 32a and 32b overlap the branch B, so the opening 12 is sealed above the branch B, preventing the intrusion of rainwater and pests. In this example, it is desirable to leave a large hole allowance in order to ensure sufficient overlap between the through-holes 32a, 32b on the branch B.

[0078] <Comparison with other conventional products> The above series of operations will be compared with the case where a string made of synthetic or natural fiber material is used instead of a wire (coated wire) that deforms in response to an external force.

[0079] The process from Figure 3(a) → Figure 3(b) → Figure 3(c) (Figure 7(a) → Figure 7(b) → Figure 7(c)) can proceed at about the same speed for both.

[0080] However, in the steps of Figures 4(a) and 8(a) to prevent the opening of the opening 12, if strings are used, it is necessary to tie both strings together, which is time-consuming. Similarly, in the steps of Figures 4(b) and 8(b) to prevent the fruit from falling, it is also necessary to tie both strings together on the branches, which is time-consuming.

[0081] Even when string is used, the fruit is left for long periods while it develops, during which time the opening of the outer bag is kept fastened with both strings, or both strings are tied together, or both strings are tied together on the branch.

[0082] At harvest time, when fruit A is separated from the branch B along with the bag and the bag is removed, the string expands due to wind and rain, and even if you try to open it by holding the opening, it is difficult to open without applying a lot of force. In other words, the process of Figure 5(a) → (b) in the present invention does not proceed smoothly. Therefore, it is necessary to perform an operation such as cutting the bag with scissors. If the bag is cut with scissors, it cannot be reused. Furthermore, if the string is knotted, it is difficult to untie the knot at harvest time, and the string itself must be cut, and the difficulty of opening the opening is the same as above.

[0083] In other words, a major feature of the present invention is that by using a thin wire that deforms in response to external force, it is possible to easily form the state shown in Figures 4(a), (b) or 8(b) that maintains the seal, and in addition, it is extremely easy to remove the bag at the time of harvest, as shown in Figure 5(a) → (b).

[0084] As explained above, the present invention provides effects that go beyond simply replacing a string with a wire that deforms in response to an external force.

[0085] Next, in the case of fruit bags in which an iron wire is embedded in one end of the upper end of the bag as shown in Figure 9, when installing the bag, it is necessary to wrap the iron wire around the short fruit stalk with the fingers, which requires skill and can cause damage to the fruit.

[0086] In contrast, the feature of the present invention is that it is possible to pull the ends of the wires 33a and 33b, which deform in response to external forces at a position away from the fruit, as shown in Figures 3(b) → (c) and 7(b) → (c), or to then fold the wires 33a and 33b as shown in Figure 4(a), or further to twist the wires 33a and 33b on the branch as shown in Figures 4(b) and 8(b), thereby offering the advantage of significantly improving workability.

[0087] <Examples of harvested fruits> As described above, the present invention has the following advantages: (1) The opening 12 of the fruit bag is tightly sealed at the stalk, preventing rainwater from entering. (2) The fruit itself breathes and releases moisture from its surface, but the mesh lining prevents the fruit from adhering to the outer bag, preventing the growth of spoilage bacteria. (3) In addition, slits around the outer bag allow moisture to evaporate easily, further enhancing the effect of (2). (4) A wire that deforms in response to external forces is used to seal the opening 12 of the outer bag, making the process of hanging and removing the bag extremely efficient.

[0088] These are the four points. The effect of (4) above has been explained in the section on "Work Procedures" above, so here we will provide examples of the effects of (1) and (2) above. Note that color versions of the monochrome photographs used here (Figures 10 to 13) will be submitted separately as reference photographs. Figs are soft in both skin and flesh, and are easily spoiled. Even if they are kept on the tree until fully ripe, decay will progress. Therefore, it is difficult to find fully ripe figs on the market.

[0089] Figure 10 is a photograph of a fig (Masui Dauphin) that was covered with a bag of the present invention and allowed to ripen fully while still attached to the tree without the application of pesticides. It is nearly impossible to allow a fig to ripen fully while still attached to the tree, but this has been made possible by using the fruit bag of the present invention. Figure 10(a) shows the exterior, and Figure 10(b) shows the fig in half. Whether it can be sold on the market is another matter, but there is no sign of decay and it is at least in a state where it can be eaten. In contrast, Figure 10(c) shows an example of a fig that was left unbagged. It has ants infesting it and is no longer worthy of eating.

[0090] Figure 11(a) is a photograph of peaches harvested using the bag of the present invention without spraying pesticides. On the other hand, Figure 11(b) is an example of peaches harvested without bagging. Peaches are also a fruit that is susceptible to spoilage, but by using the fruit bag of the present invention, peaches can be harvested that are not eaten by insects or spoiled, even without spraying pesticides.

[0091] Figure 12(a) is a photograph of apples harvested using the bag of the present invention without spraying pesticides. On the other hand, Figure 12(b) is an example of apples harvested using a conventional paper bag (different variety). In Figure 12(b), the apples have been nibbled by insects despite being bagged. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 outer bag 2 Lining 11(11a~11d) Each side of the outer bag 12 Opening 16 Slit 30 Sealing unit 32a, 32b through holes 33a 33b Wire rod that deforms in response to external force A young fruit B branch C Fruit stalk

Claims

1. an outer bag made of a transparent synthetic resin sheet, having a thickness of 0.03 to 0.06 mm so that it will not be punctured by beetles when bitten, and which will deform in response to the force of wind when the wind blows, and which has an opening at the top edge; A mesh lining is disposed inside the outer bag and provides a gap between the inner surface of the outer bag and the fruit to prevent them from coming into close contact with each other. A fruit bag characterized by comprising: a fruit bag having a

2. 2. The bag for fruit trees according to claim 1, wherein at least one slit having a predetermined length, which is a narrow cut, is provided on the side and bottom edges of the outer bag.

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